Perfectionism stalls progress. Fight back and get unstuck.

Perfectionism is a sneaky obstacle. It presents itself as a commitment to excellence, but more often than not, it’s a trap that keeps us from actually making progress. It stalls us, holding us back from sharing our work with the world because it’s “not quite ready yet.” And let me tell you—I’ve lived in this world. I own this t-shirt in many colors.

Recently, I revisited Seth Godin’s book The Practice, which talks a lot about the concept of showing up, doing the work, and learning to embrace the journey, imperfections and all. Godin emphasizes that perfection isn’t the goal; progress is. The real work happens when we let ourselves create without the constant pressure to get everything perfect on the first try.

I had to remind myself of this: Perfectionism stalls progress. It’s a form of procrastination that hides behind the guise of high standards. But in reality, it keeps us from putting ourselves out there, from improving, and from growing. I’ve had a whole course ready for 2 years that I’ve done nothing with because it wasn't good enough. The truth is, if we wait until we feel our work is perfect, we’ll never ship it. We’ll never share it. We’ll never learn.

Learning to Embrace the Journey

Fear is often at the root of perfectionism. Entrepreneurship and creativity are anything but neat. They’re full of obstacles, shit shows, and unforeseen challenges—often all at once. And that's the point. When we stop worrying about perfection and start embracing the process, we allow ourselves to grow amid the chaos. We learn by doing, by failing, and by navigating through the mess. It's not about getting it right immediately; it's about showing up consistently, putting in the work, and learning from each step, no matter how rough.

Here’s what I’m working on to overcome perfectionism:

1. Show Up, Even When It’s Not Perfect: I remind myself that it’s okay if what I create today isn’t perfect. The act of showing up consistently is more important than having everything polished. Each time I show up, I get a little better.
2. Redefine Success: Instead of seeing success as flawless execution, I’m starting to see it as making progress. Did I learn something new today? Did I push my work forward, even if it was just a little bit? If the answer is yes, then that’s success.
3. Celebrate the Imperfect Wins: Just like with accountability, celebrating is important here too. I’m learning to celebrate the imperfect wins—the moments when I shared something even though it wasn’t perfect, the times when I took a risk and put my work out there. These are the moments that deserve recognition.
4. Trust the Process: Seth Godin talks about trusting the process and doing the work for the sake of the work itself, not for the outcome. This shift in mindset has been huge for me. When I focus on the process, I free myself from the fear of judgment, and I get to enjoy the act of creating.

If perfectionism is something that’s holding you back, know that you’re not alone. It’s something many of us struggle with, but it’s also something we can overcome. Start by showing up, by embracing the messy parts, and by letting yourself progress without needing everything to be flawless. When you hear the phrase, face your fears... This may be a fear that's holding you back that's hiding in plain sight. "Ship the work".

So, what can you do today that moves you forward, even if it’s not perfect?