April 16, 2025 • 24 mins
Are you a small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur held back by the need for everything to be "just right" before you launch? Host Steph Blain shares relatable experiences and practical strategies to break free from perfection paralysis. Learn to embrace imperfect action, effectively organize business finances, and find more work life balance by launching before you're 100% ready. This podcast for entrepreneurs offers real-world advice for navigating the challenges of starting a business.
Inside This Episode:
- Steph Blain's Vulnerable Launch Story [0:45]: Relatable honesty about launching outside the comfort zone.
- Defining Perfection Paralysis [2:15]: The frustrating state of stalled progress in your financial organization.
- The Fear Behind the Facade [5:30]: Exploring the anxieties fueling perfectionism (failure, judgment, imposter syndrome) as a business owner.
- Lost Opportunities: The Price of Waiting for Perfect [8:30]: Real-world consequences of delay when building your small business.
- Key Mindset Shifts for Progress:
- Done > Perfect (in your bookkeeping & accounting)
- Embrace the First Draft
- Service Over Self
- Fear as a Sign of Growth
- Compare Less
- Actionable Strategies to Launch Now:
- Set a Public Deadline
- Break it Down
- Define Non-Negotiables
- Embrace "Good Enough" & Beta
Take Imperfect Action Now:
- [24:15] What's one tiny, imperfect step you can commit to in the next 24 hours?
- Ready to ditch perfectionism and grow? Get a FREE consultation with Steph at Starlight Bookkeeping to discuss your business goals!
- Solidify your foundation first! Download our FREE "Leaky Bucket Report" and find hidden funds for growth.
- Subscribe to Balanced: Get more real-world tips for launching and growing! .
- Share this episode: Help a fellow entrepreneur break free from perfection paralysis!
Want more tips on balancing business and life? Follow me on Instagram for insights on bookkeeping, business, and everything in between!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Steph Blain (00:04):
Hey there, and welcome to Balanced the Podcast,
all about finding that sweetspot between running a business
and living a life.
I'm Stephanie, your host,bookkeeper by trade business,
owner by heart, and trust me,always working to keep all the
plates spinning.
Balanced is your go-to for real,down to earth conversations
about the highs and lows ofrunning a business.
(00:25):
With the right tools, I believeyou can grow your business
without burning out and findthat harmony in your books, your
business, and your life.
So grab a coffee, get comfy, andlet's dive into some practical
tips, real stories, and a fewlaughs as we navigate this
balanced life together.
(00:45):
Hello and welcome back to TheBalanced Podcast.
The episode today is calledPerfection Paralysis, launching
before you're 100% ready.
I am so happy you're here withme today.
I have to tell you, I am extraexcited and a tiny bit nervous
right now because I'm in themidst of my own big leap.
As you know, I just launchedthis brand new podcast and this
(01:08):
is one of five episodes droppedas part of our launch day
celebration.
It is beyond exciting andhonestly way out of my comfort
zone.
And in the spirit of fullhonesty, I definitely don't feel
100% ready.
But you know what?
I am here and I hit publishanyways, and that's exactly what
we're gonna talk about today.
(01:28):
I.
If you've ever held yourselfback from starting something new
until everything was justperfect, oh my goodness, friend,
you are in the right place.
Consider this your friendly peptalk to kick perfection
paralysis to the curb and starttaking action before you feel
totally ready.
Does that sound good?
Alright, let's dive in.
(01:48):
So first let's get on the samepage.
What do I mean by perfectionparalysis?
Well, have you ever had an ideaor a project that you really
cared about but you kept puttingit off, tweaking and refining
endlessly because it never feltperfect enough to share with the
world?
Maybe you've said things like.
I'll launch my website after Ijust fix a few more things, or I
(02:09):
can't start promoting my productuntil I redo the logo again and
get the perfect photos.
If that sounds familiar, thenyou experience perfection
paralysis.
Perfection paralysis is thatfrustrating state where the
pursuit of perfect actuallyprevents you from moving forward
at all.
It's like your foot is on thebrake when you really wanna hit
the gas.
You become so fixated on makingevery little detail flawless
(02:32):
that you end up paralyzed, stuckin place, making zero real
progress.
The result, the website nevergoes live.
The product never launches.
The podcast episode never getsreleased and.
Because it wasn't 100% ready.
If you're nodding alongthinking, oh my gosh, yep,
that's me.
Please know that you are notalone.
(02:53):
I think every entrepreneur orcreative person has fallen into
this trap at one time oranother.
I have my hand raised over here.
I am a hundred percent percentguilty of this.
We set such high standards forourselves and our work, which is
admirable.
Excellence is a great goal, butchasing perfection can slip into
something unhealthy andcounterproductive.
(03:14):
So if you've ever been stuckpolishing and polishing a
project that no one ever sees,you've tasted perfection,
paralysis, and it can sneak upin any area of business.
Writing the perfect businessplan before pitching your idea,
spending weeks, choosing a fontfor your branding instead of
actually selling your product orwaiting to record videos until
you lose 10 pounds or get theperfect equipment.
(03:37):
It is all perfectionism, playingdress up as preparation.
It's just procrastination,wearing a fancy disguise.
So why does this happen?
Why do smart, ambitious peoplelike you and me get stuck in
this perfectionism?
Quicksand in a word, fearperfectionism is so often a
pretty cover for plain old fear.
(03:58):
There's a great quote byElizabeth Gilbert that I love.
Perfectionism is just fear infancy shoes and a mink coat
pretending to be elegant whenactually it's terrified.
Yes, perfectionism oftenpretends to be about high
standards, but underneath it'susually fear of something.
Fear of failure, fear ofcriticism or judgment, fear of
(04:18):
not being good enough, fear ofthe unknown.
So let's unpack these a littlebit.
Number one, the fear of failureor rejection.
We figure that if we make ourproject perfect, it won't fail,
right?
If it's flawless, no one cancriticize it.
We won't face rejection.
The irony though, is that bynever finishing or launching, we
(04:38):
actually ensure failure becausenothing happens at all.
Number two, imposter syndrome.
Many entrepreneurs secretlythink, who am I to do this?
People will realize, I have noidea what I'm doing.
So we over prepare and perfectand stall, hoping to finally
feel legit before we putourselves out there.
We think that if everythinglooks perfect, no one will
(05:01):
question our credentials.
But spoiler alert, that imposterfeeling usually doesn't go away
until after you've taken actionand gain experience.
Number three, overwhelm.
Sometimes the project just feelsso big.
We have a grand vision and wewanna do it justice, but the
sheer size of what we're tryingto do perfectly becomes
(05:22):
overwhelming.
So we end up doing nothing atall.
It's easier to just keepresearching, planning, adjusting
than to actually take the leapand risk messing it up.
Number four, identity and highstandards.
If you're someone who's alwaystaken pride in doing things
well, perfectionism can feellike a part of you.
Maybe you got straight A's inschool, or you're known for your
(05:43):
attention to detail.
The idea of putting outsomething with flaws might feel
against your nature.
We convince ourselves if it'snot the best, it's not worth
doing.
Meanwhile, in reality, done isbetter than perfect.
Recognizing these fears is hugebecause once you know why you're
clutching to that project sotightly, you can start to loosen
the grit.
(06:04):
For me, launching this podcastis scary because my fear chimed
in with what if nobody listens?
What if I'm awkward?
What if it's not as good as theother podcast I listen to?
All of those lovely feargremlins chirping away at me and
trust me, I tried to busy myselfperfecting things to soothe
those fears.
New cover art designsrerecording the intro a dozen
(06:24):
times, you name it.
But I realized that those werestalling tactics.
My fear was at the wheel, not mypassion.
Take a second and think whatfear might be hiding underneath
your own perfection paralysis.
Is it the fear of someonecalling your work ugly fear of
only getting crickets when youlaunch?
Fear of not living up to yourown expectations, it's okay to
(06:46):
admit it.
When we shine a light on thosefears, we talk about them,
suddenly they're not so powerfulas the saying goes, expose your
shadow to the light, and itdisappears.
Now let's get real about thecost of waiting until you're
100% ready.
Perfection paralysis doesn'tjust steal time.
It can steal opportunities andmomentum from you and your
(07:07):
business.
Imagine this, you have anamazing idea for an online
course that could genuinely helpyour customers.
You've been nurturing this ideafor months, maybe even years,
but you keep delaying thelaunch.
I just need to refine the slidesa bit more.
I should record the videos onemore time.
Maybe I'll hire a professionaldesigner for the workbook first.
Meanwhile, someone else outthere with a similar idea is
(07:29):
taking action, reaching the verypeople that you wanted to help.
They're not as experienced asyou.
Their course content might evenbe a little rough around the
edges, but they launched.
They're getting feedback,growing an audience, making an
income, and making an impact.
And your course still on yourhard drive unseen by anyone
helping no one.
(07:50):
It's a hard truth, but that'sthe cost of waiting for perfect.
If you're not embarrassed by thefirst version of your product,
you've launched too late.
That's a quote by Reid Hoffman,the co-founder of LinkedIn.
I remember the first time Iheard that quote.
It stopped me in my tracks.
Reid Hoffman, a super successfulentrepreneur, basically saying
that your first version shouldembarrass you a bit.
(08:13):
In other words.
If you did wait until it wasabsolutely impeccable, you
probably waited too long andmissed your window of
opportunity.
This has become one of myfavorite mantras, better to
start and improve than to neverstart at all.
I actually have a sticky notethat says, launch over Polish
right by my desk.
It reminds me that action iswhat leads to improvement, not
(08:34):
endless thinking.
Consider any successful businessor product that you admire.
Chances are their firstiteration was light years behind
what they are now.
The first iPhone, pretty basiccompared to the latest model.
Early YouTube videos from yourfavorite influencer probably
filmed on a webcam in theirbedroom with zero editing.
Those big name entrepreneursthat you look up to, their first
(08:56):
workshops probably had threepeople attending in a slideshow
that makes them cringe now, butthose first imperfect versions
were the necessary steppingstones to get to the great stuff
that they're doing today.
They launched, learned anditerated.
That's how progress works.
You can't skip to version 10without doing versions one
through nine.
If you try to make version oneas perfect as version 10 in your
(09:17):
head, you'll never actually getstarted.
It's like standing at the footof a staircase trying to jump to
the top in one go, you'll eitherfreeze up or fall on your face.
Instead, you take the first stepand then the next small doable
steps that might be wobbly, butthey move you upward.
And here's something interestingyour audience or customers don't
(09:39):
want.
Perfect.
I know it seems weird, but thinkabout it.
Perfect.
Can be intimidating or evenboring.
People appreciate real, theylove seeing growth, evolution,
authenticity, and that buildstrust and relatability.
So in a weird way, yourimperfections can actually be an
asset.
They can make you relatable andshow others what's possible,
(10:01):
even if everything isn'tpristine.
All right, so now that we knowwhat perfection paralysis is and
why it's such a dream killer,let's talk about how to shift
out of that mindset because it'sa mindset shift.
First and foremost, before weeven get into the practical
tips, we need to get our head inthe right place, a place of
progress over perfection.
(10:22):
Here are a few key mindsetshifts to embrace number one.
Done is better than perfect.
Focus on progress.
This little phrase is famous fora reason.
Done is better than perfect.
Repeat it to yourself wheneveryou feel the itch to keep
tweaking.
Your goal is to make progress,to finish and share something,
not to polish it endlessly inprivate.
(10:44):
A finished iner product stillhas the chance to change
someone's life or improve yourbusiness An unfinished perfect
in your head project or producthelps no one remember, an 80%
great launch that happens isinfinitely more valuable than a
100% great launch that no oneever sees, or it never leaves
(11:04):
your notebook.
Number two, treat everything asa first draft or experiment.
Take the pressure off by framingyour project as version 1.0, a
pilot or a learning experienceyou're testing, experimenting,
playing even.
It's not the be all, end allfinal project that represents
your worth.
It's just the beginning.
When I thought about thispodcast as, let's see how
(11:26):
episodes one through five go andI'll learn and refine for future
episodes.
It felt way easier to start.
Give yourself permission to be awork in progress.
Think of your business, like asoftware that has updates and
patches.
Version 1.0, version 1.1, 1.2.
You get it.
You can't get to version 2.0without first releasing version
(11:48):
1.0.
Number three, focus on service,not perfection.
One huge mindset shift is putyour focus on the people that
you wanna help or serve, ratherthan how you'll be judged.
When we're stuck inperfectionism, we're often very
self-focused.
How will I look?
My reputation, my fears shiftthat to, if I keep waiting, who
(12:10):
out there am I leaving hanging?
Think of that one person whoreally needs what you have to
offer.
Maybe it's a client who's beenstruggling and your course could
help them, or a reader who'sdesperate for the blog post that
you've been too scared topublish.
When you focus on them, yourealize that by getting it out
there, even in imperfectly, it'san act of service.
You'll be more driven by purposethan by fear.
(12:33):
For example, I reminded myselfthat even if this first podcast
episode isn't my best ever,there might be one listener who
hears it and feels less alone intheir perfectionism struggle or
gets inspired to finally starttheir thing, whatever that is,
and that, to me makes it worthit.
Number four is embrace the fear.
It's a sign that you're growing.
(12:54):
Here's a reframe.
Feeling scared or unready is nota sign to stop.
It's actually often a sign thatyou're onto something important.
You're stretching beyond yourcomfort zone.
Of course, it feelsuncomfortable.
That doesn't mean something iswrong.
It means that you're growing.
Courage isn't the absence offear.
It's moving forward with feartaking along.
So if you feel those nerves orthat inner perfectionist voice
(13:17):
screaming, abort mission, take adeep breath and say.
Hey, I see you fear.
I know you're trying to protectme, but I've got this, those
butterflies in your stomach,they're the feeling of you about
to soar.
Number five, compare less,especially your beginning to
others' Middles.
I.
In the age of Instagram andconstant highlight reels, it is
(13:38):
so easy to fall into thecomparison trap.
Look at her business launch.
It's so polished andprofessional, and here I am with
my little DIY logo.
Remember, you're likelycomparing your behind the scenes
to someone else's publichighlight reel, and you might be
comparing your chapter one totheir chapter 20.
That's unfair, right?
Every expert was once abeginner.
(14:00):
Every successful entrepreneurthat you see was once nervously
hitting publish on their firstblog post or product, wondering
if anyone would ever care.
When you catch yourself thinkingit's not as good as so-and-so's
gently remind yourself thatso-and-so started somewhere too.
The only fair comparison is youyesterday versus you today.
(14:21):
Are you making progress?
That's what matters.
Adopting these mindsets is ofcourse not an overnight thing.
Trust me, I am a recoveringperfectionist myself, probably
always will be, and I have tocontinually practice these
shifts.
But each time that youconsciously choose progress over
perfection, it gets easier.
It's like building a muscle, atfirst, taking imperfect action
(14:43):
will feel uncomfortable and youmight cringe a little, but each
small win, each time you putsomething out there and realize
the world didn't end, peopleactually appreciate it, and hey,
you're learning and improving.
You reinforce the belief thatimperfect action beats inaction.
One mindset I love is thinkingof it all as a game or adventure
approach your new project withcuriosity.
(15:04):
I wonder what will happen when Ilaunch this, or I wonder what
I'll learn.
This could be fun.
It takes the pressure off.
It's not a pass fail exam.
It's an experiment.
Okay.
Now that we've done some mentalrecalibration, let's get down to
some practical steps.
How do we actually break out ofperfection, paralysis, and start
taking action?
What are some steps that you cantake today to launch that thing
(15:27):
that you've been sitting on?
Let's talk some strategies.
I'm all about mindset.
But I also love me someactionable steps.
So here are a handful ofpractical strategies to help you
launch before you're 100% ready,and keep perfectionism from
slowing you down.
These are the same approaches Iuse to push myself forward,
literally use a few of these toget this podcast out into the
world.
(15:47):
So feel free to jot these down.
Number one, set a deadline andmake it public.
Nothing lights a fire like areal deadline.
Pick a launch date for yourproject and mark it on your
calendar.
Make it a non-negotiable.
This is key.
Tell people about it.
Announce it on social media, ortell a few friends or
colleagues, I'm launching my newwebsite course or podcast on
(16:11):
this date.
Once you put it out there,you'll be extra motivated to
follow through and you'll thinktwice about indefinitely
delaying just to perfect things.
Fear hates accountability, bythe way.
This podcast was actuallyoriginally supposed to be
launched back in January, but Ipushed it back more than once.
It wasn't until I finally postedon social media that the
(16:33):
official launch date would beApril 16th, that things really
shifted for me.
Sure.
I only got a handful of peoplewho noticed that post, but that
small bit of accountability wasall it took to get me to follow
through, and I'm so glad that Idid number two, break it down
into bite-sized pieces.
Big projects feel less scary andless overwhelming when you break
(16:54):
them into smaller tasks.
Perfectionism often strikes whenwe're staring at this huge
mountain of a project andthinking that we have to deliver
a masterpiece.
Instead, chunk it down.
Ask yourself, what's the minimumviable version of this that I
can create and launch?
Or, what's one small step that Ican take today to move forward?
(17:14):
Make a list of the next few tinyactions.
For example, if you're launchinga blog, maybe step one is simply
writing a rough draft of yourfirst post.
Step two, pick a simpleWordPress template, not design a
custom website from scratch.
Number three, hit publish onthat one post and shared on
LinkedIn.
Each small step is doable on itsown, and as you complete them,
(17:37):
you build that momentum.
One of my favorite sayings is,how do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time.
Break your elephant size goalinto bite-sized tasks and tackle
them one by one.
Number three is define yournon-negotiables and be flexible
on the rest.
This one's a little mindset anda little practical.
Decide which parts of yourproject truly matter for success
(18:00):
and which parts are nice to haveor can be improved later.
Do you find one to threenon-negotiables, the core things
that need to meet yourstandards?
Everything outside of those giveyourself permission to go with
good enough for now.
For example, your non-negotiablemight be that your course
content actually deliversresults for your clients.
(18:20):
That's the heart of it, butmaybe the slide design or the
background music in your videos,those could be B plus quality
for now, and it would still bean awesome course for this
podcast.
My non-negotiables wereproviding valuable content and
showing up in a relaxed, excitedheadspace.
But things like perfect editingor having the fanciest
microphone, I decided that thosewere details I could refine as I
(18:43):
go.
You can always improve graphicsor update equipment later.
Don't let the small details holdthe whole thing hostage.
Number four, embrace good enoughand launch a beta.
If the thought of a full scalelaunch is freaking you out.
Consider doing a beta launch ora soft launch.
This means you intentionallyrelease a simpler or earlier
(19:05):
version of your product orservice to a small group, gather
feedback and improve it overtime.
It takes some pressure offbecause it's supposed to be a
learning experience.
For instance, if you aredeveloping an app, launch a beta
version to a handful of userswho understand that this is not
the final product.
If you wanna start a workshopbusiness, run a pilot workshop
(19:25):
with a small group first.
You'll get real world insightsand testimonials that you can
use for the bigger launch later.
Plus, psychologically you thinkit's just a test I can fix
things, which really helps youto actually start and remember.
You can't improve something thatdoesn't exist, so get that
version one out there and let itevolve.
(19:45):
Done is better than perfect anddone, can become perfect over
time.
Number five is seekaccountability and support.
Don't do it alone.
If you struggle to followthrough, get a friend or a
mentor to keep you accountable.
Tell a fellow entrepreneur aboutwhat you're launching and by
when, check in with themregularly or even involve your
audience in the process.
(20:06):
Coming soon, my new product.
Stay tuned.
Now you have people waiting forit and sometimes a little
external pressure and supportdoes wonders to beat
procrastination.
Also, surround yourself eitherin person or online with people
who encourage progress overperfection.
If you have a business coach orfollow inspiring people, lean
(20:27):
into that inspiration in mycase.
I told my email list andInstagram followers that this
podcast was coming on April16th, so backing out would be
way more embarrassing than anyimperfection in the episodes
themselves.
Accountability for the win rightthere.
Number six is reward Action, notOutcome.
One more tip is to give yourselfa pat on the back for taking
(20:49):
action regardless of theoutcome, often we only celebrate
when something is a crazysuccess.
But to break the perfectionisthabit, start celebrating the
process.
Did you finally hit publish onthat sales page?
Victory.
Treat yourself.
By rewarding the action oflaunching your Etsy shop or
posting your first YouTubevideo, you train your brain to
enjoy moving forward instead ofonly chasing that impossible,
(21:12):
perfect result.
This makes it more fun andmotivating to keep going.
Remember, every expert startedwith a first attempt.
You deserve to feel proud foreach courageous step that you
take.
So I know that that was a lot oftips thrown at you, but even
just one or two of these canhelp you break free from
analysis paralysis and startdoing.
(21:33):
You don't have to applyeverything at once.
Pick whatever resonates with youand try it out.
The goal is to get somemomentum, because momentum is
the antidote to paralysis.
Once you start moving even alittle, you'll likely find that
your fear of launching begins toshrink and your excitement will
grow.
Now as we wrap up, I want you totake away one core message.
(21:54):
You will likely never feel 100%ready, and that is okay.
Don't wait for perfect becauseperfect is a mirage.
Chasing it will only keep youstuck.
Instead, take that imperfectaction.
Start before you're ready,launch when it's good enough,
and trust that you can make itbetter as you go.
I know that it's scary and Iknow that it's uncomfortable
(22:16):
even now as I launch thispodcast.
I have butterflies, but I'm alsofilled with excitement and pride
that I'm actually doing itregardless of the outcome.
And I want the same for you.
I want you to experience therush of putting your work out
into the world of seeing realpeople engage with it and making
an impact that joy.
Far outweighs the temporarydiscomfort of pushing past
(22:37):
perfectionism.
So consider this your gentleshove.
What is one small step that youcan take today towards a project
that you've been delaying?
Maybe it's sending an email toyour list, announcing an
upcoming launch.
Maybe it's finally hittingpublish on a blog post that's
90% done.
Maybe it's recording the firstepisode of your own podcast with
(22:58):
whatever microphone you haveright now.
Whatever it is, promise meyou'll do something in the next
24 hours to move it forward.
I'm cheering you on, and I trulybelieve that once you start
moving, you'll wonder why youdidn't do it sooner.
Remember, the magic happens whenyou start, not when you're stuck
in your head.
You've got so much brilliance toshare and the world needs to
(23:18):
hear it now, not in somedistant, perfect future.
So take the leap my friend.
Your future self is already highfiving you for it.
Thank you so much for hangingout with me today and listening.
I really hope this pep talk gotyou fired up to go launch
something amazing before youfeel totally ready.
If this episode resonated withyou, if you had an aha moment,
(23:40):
or even if you're just feeling alittle more courageous, I love
to hear about it.
Seriously, it would make my dayto know that this helped you.
So do me a favor, subscribe tothis podcast so you don't miss
any upcoming episodes, becausethis is just the beginning of
our journey.
And send me a DM on Instagramand let me know what hit home
for you.
I am always eager to connect andI'm cheering you on over here.
(24:03):
So until next time.
Keep taking messy action andtrust that you're capable of
figuring things out as you go.
I am right here alongside youdoing the same.
We've got this now.
Go out there, do the thing.
Imperfectly and proud, youdeserve to shine just as you are
right now.
So subscribe, DM me and let'skeep this conversation going.
(24:24):
See you in the next episode.
Hey there, and welcome to Balanced the Podcast,
all about finding that sweetspot between running a business
and living a life.
I'm Stephanie, your host,bookkeeper by trade business,
owner by heart, and trust me,always working to keep all the
plates spinning.
Balanced is your go-to for real,down to earth conversations
about the highs and lows ofrunning a business.
(00:25):
With the right tools, I believeyou can grow your business
without burning out and findthat harmony in your books, your
business, and your life.
So grab a coffee, get comfy, andlet's dive into some practical
tips, real stories, and a fewlaughs as we navigate this
balanced life together.
(00:45):
Hello and welcome back to TheBalanced Podcast.
The episode today is calledPerfection Paralysis, launching
before you're 100% ready.
I am so happy you're here withme today.
I have to tell you, I am extraexcited and a tiny bit nervous
right now because I'm in themidst of my own big leap.
As you know, I just launchedthis brand new podcast and this
(01:08):
is one of five episodes droppedas part of our launch day
celebration.
It is beyond exciting andhonestly way out of my comfort
zone.
And in the spirit of fullhonesty, I definitely don't feel
100% ready.
But you know what?
I am here and I hit publishanyways, and that's exactly what
we're gonna talk about today.
(01:28):
I.
If you've ever held yourselfback from starting something new
until everything was justperfect, oh my goodness, friend,
you are in the right place.
Consider this your friendly peptalk to kick perfection
paralysis to the curb and starttaking action before you feel
totally ready.
Does that sound good?
Alright, let's dive in.
(01:48):
So first let's get on the samepage.
What do I mean by perfectionparalysis?
Well, have you ever had an ideaor a project that you really
cared about but you kept puttingit off, tweaking and refining
endlessly because it never feltperfect enough to share with the
world?
Maybe you've said things like.
I'll launch my website after Ijust fix a few more things, or I
(02:09):
can't start promoting my productuntil I redo the logo again and
get the perfect photos.
If that sounds familiar, thenyou experience perfection
paralysis.
Perfection paralysis is thatfrustrating state where the
pursuit of perfect actuallyprevents you from moving forward
at all.
It's like your foot is on thebrake when you really wanna hit
the gas.
You become so fixated on makingevery little detail flawless
(02:32):
that you end up paralyzed, stuckin place, making zero real
progress.
The result, the website nevergoes live.
The product never launches.
The podcast episode never getsreleased and.
Because it wasn't 100% ready.
If you're nodding alongthinking, oh my gosh, yep,
that's me.
Please know that you are notalone.
(02:53):
I think every entrepreneur orcreative person has fallen into
this trap at one time oranother.
I have my hand raised over here.
I am a hundred percent percentguilty of this.
We set such high standards forourselves and our work, which is
admirable.
Excellence is a great goal, butchasing perfection can slip into
something unhealthy andcounterproductive.
(03:14):
So if you've ever been stuckpolishing and polishing a
project that no one ever sees,you've tasted perfection,
paralysis, and it can sneak upin any area of business.
Writing the perfect businessplan before pitching your idea,
spending weeks, choosing a fontfor your branding instead of
actually selling your product orwaiting to record videos until
you lose 10 pounds or get theperfect equipment.
(03:37):
It is all perfectionism, playingdress up as preparation.
It's just procrastination,wearing a fancy disguise.
So why does this happen?
Why do smart, ambitious peoplelike you and me get stuck in
this perfectionism?
Quicksand in a word, fearperfectionism is so often a
pretty cover for plain old fear.
(03:58):
There's a great quote byElizabeth Gilbert that I love.
Perfectionism is just fear infancy shoes and a mink coat
pretending to be elegant whenactually it's terrified.
Yes, perfectionism oftenpretends to be about high
standards, but underneath it'susually fear of something.
Fear of failure, fear ofcriticism or judgment, fear of
(04:18):
not being good enough, fear ofthe unknown.
So let's unpack these a littlebit.
Number one, the fear of failureor rejection.
We figure that if we make ourproject perfect, it won't fail,
right?
If it's flawless, no one cancriticize it.
We won't face rejection.
The irony though, is that bynever finishing or launching, we
(04:38):
actually ensure failure becausenothing happens at all.
Number two, imposter syndrome.
Many entrepreneurs secretlythink, who am I to do this?
People will realize, I have noidea what I'm doing.
So we over prepare and perfectand stall, hoping to finally
feel legit before we putourselves out there.
We think that if everythinglooks perfect, no one will
(05:01):
question our credentials.
But spoiler alert, that imposterfeeling usually doesn't go away
until after you've taken actionand gain experience.
Number three, overwhelm.
Sometimes the project just feelsso big.
We have a grand vision and wewanna do it justice, but the
sheer size of what we're tryingto do perfectly becomes
(05:22):
overwhelming.
So we end up doing nothing atall.
It's easier to just keepresearching, planning, adjusting
than to actually take the leapand risk messing it up.
Number four, identity and highstandards.
If you're someone who's alwaystaken pride in doing things
well, perfectionism can feellike a part of you.
Maybe you got straight A's inschool, or you're known for your
(05:43):
attention to detail.
The idea of putting outsomething with flaws might feel
against your nature.
We convince ourselves if it'snot the best, it's not worth
doing.
Meanwhile, in reality, done isbetter than perfect.
Recognizing these fears is hugebecause once you know why you're
clutching to that project sotightly, you can start to loosen
the grit.
(06:04):
For me, launching this podcastis scary because my fear chimed
in with what if nobody listens?
What if I'm awkward?
What if it's not as good as theother podcast I listen to?
All of those lovely feargremlins chirping away at me and
trust me, I tried to busy myselfperfecting things to soothe
those fears.
New cover art designsrerecording the intro a dozen
(06:24):
times, you name it.
But I realized that those werestalling tactics.
My fear was at the wheel, not mypassion.
Take a second and think whatfear might be hiding underneath
your own perfection paralysis.
Is it the fear of someonecalling your work ugly fear of
only getting crickets when youlaunch?
Fear of not living up to yourown expectations, it's okay to
(06:46):
admit it.
When we shine a light on thosefears, we talk about them,
suddenly they're not so powerfulas the saying goes, expose your
shadow to the light, and itdisappears.
Now let's get real about thecost of waiting until you're
100% ready.
Perfection paralysis doesn'tjust steal time.
It can steal opportunities andmomentum from you and your
(07:07):
business.
Imagine this, you have anamazing idea for an online
course that could genuinely helpyour customers.
You've been nurturing this ideafor months, maybe even years,
but you keep delaying thelaunch.
I just need to refine the slidesa bit more.
I should record the videos onemore time.
Maybe I'll hire a professionaldesigner for the workbook first.
Meanwhile, someone else outthere with a similar idea is
(07:29):
taking action, reaching the verypeople that you wanted to help.
They're not as experienced asyou.
Their course content might evenbe a little rough around the
edges, but they launched.
They're getting feedback,growing an audience, making an
income, and making an impact.
And your course still on yourhard drive unseen by anyone
helping no one.
(07:50):
It's a hard truth, but that'sthe cost of waiting for perfect.
If you're not embarrassed by thefirst version of your product,
you've launched too late.
That's a quote by Reid Hoffman,the co-founder of LinkedIn.
I remember the first time Iheard that quote.
It stopped me in my tracks.
Reid Hoffman, a super successfulentrepreneur, basically saying
that your first version shouldembarrass you a bit.
(08:13):
In other words.
If you did wait until it wasabsolutely impeccable, you
probably waited too long andmissed your window of
opportunity.
This has become one of myfavorite mantras, better to
start and improve than to neverstart at all.
I actually have a sticky notethat says, launch over Polish
right by my desk.
It reminds me that action iswhat leads to improvement, not
(08:34):
endless thinking.
Consider any successful businessor product that you admire.
Chances are their firstiteration was light years behind
what they are now.
The first iPhone, pretty basiccompared to the latest model.
Early YouTube videos from yourfavorite influencer probably
filmed on a webcam in theirbedroom with zero editing.
Those big name entrepreneursthat you look up to, their first
(08:56):
workshops probably had threepeople attending in a slideshow
that makes them cringe now, butthose first imperfect versions
were the necessary steppingstones to get to the great stuff
that they're doing today.
They launched, learned anditerated.
That's how progress works.
You can't skip to version 10without doing versions one
through nine.
If you try to make version oneas perfect as version 10 in your
(09:17):
head, you'll never actually getstarted.
It's like standing at the footof a staircase trying to jump to
the top in one go, you'll eitherfreeze up or fall on your face.
Instead, you take the first stepand then the next small doable
steps that might be wobbly, butthey move you upward.
And here's something interestingyour audience or customers don't
(09:39):
want.
Perfect.
I know it seems weird, but thinkabout it.
Perfect.
Can be intimidating or evenboring.
People appreciate real, theylove seeing growth, evolution,
authenticity, and that buildstrust and relatability.
So in a weird way, yourimperfections can actually be an
asset.
They can make you relatable andshow others what's possible,
(10:01):
even if everything isn'tpristine.
All right, so now that we knowwhat perfection paralysis is and
why it's such a dream killer,let's talk about how to shift
out of that mindset because it'sa mindset shift.
First and foremost, before weeven get into the practical
tips, we need to get our head inthe right place, a place of
progress over perfection.
(10:22):
Here are a few key mindsetshifts to embrace number one.
Done is better than perfect.
Focus on progress.
This little phrase is famous fora reason.
Done is better than perfect.
Repeat it to yourself wheneveryou feel the itch to keep
tweaking.
Your goal is to make progress,to finish and share something,
not to polish it endlessly inprivate.
(10:44):
A finished iner product stillhas the chance to change
someone's life or improve yourbusiness An unfinished perfect
in your head project or producthelps no one remember, an 80%
great launch that happens isinfinitely more valuable than a
100% great launch that no oneever sees, or it never leaves
(11:04):
your notebook.
Number two, treat everything asa first draft or experiment.
Take the pressure off by framingyour project as version 1.0, a
pilot or a learning experienceyou're testing, experimenting,
playing even.
It's not the be all, end allfinal project that represents
your worth.
It's just the beginning.
When I thought about thispodcast as, let's see how
(11:26):
episodes one through five go andI'll learn and refine for future
episodes.
It felt way easier to start.
Give yourself permission to be awork in progress.
Think of your business, like asoftware that has updates and
patches.
Version 1.0, version 1.1, 1.2.
You get it.
You can't get to version 2.0without first releasing version
(11:48):
1.0.
Number three, focus on service,not perfection.
One huge mindset shift is putyour focus on the people that
you wanna help or serve, ratherthan how you'll be judged.
When we're stuck inperfectionism, we're often very
self-focused.
How will I look?
My reputation, my fears shiftthat to, if I keep waiting, who
(12:10):
out there am I leaving hanging?
Think of that one person whoreally needs what you have to
offer.
Maybe it's a client who's beenstruggling and your course could
help them, or a reader who'sdesperate for the blog post that
you've been too scared topublish.
When you focus on them, yourealize that by getting it out
there, even in imperfectly, it'san act of service.
You'll be more driven by purposethan by fear.
(12:33):
For example, I reminded myselfthat even if this first podcast
episode isn't my best ever,there might be one listener who
hears it and feels less alone intheir perfectionism struggle or
gets inspired to finally starttheir thing, whatever that is,
and that, to me makes it worthit.
Number four is embrace the fear.
It's a sign that you're growing.
(12:54):
Here's a reframe.
Feeling scared or unready is nota sign to stop.
It's actually often a sign thatyou're onto something important.
You're stretching beyond yourcomfort zone.
Of course, it feelsuncomfortable.
That doesn't mean something iswrong.
It means that you're growing.
Courage isn't the absence offear.
It's moving forward with feartaking along.
So if you feel those nerves orthat inner perfectionist voice
(13:17):
screaming, abort mission, take adeep breath and say.
Hey, I see you fear.
I know you're trying to protectme, but I've got this, those
butterflies in your stomach,they're the feeling of you about
to soar.
Number five, compare less,especially your beginning to
others' Middles.
I.
In the age of Instagram andconstant highlight reels, it is
(13:38):
so easy to fall into thecomparison trap.
Look at her business launch.
It's so polished andprofessional, and here I am with
my little DIY logo.
Remember, you're likelycomparing your behind the scenes
to someone else's publichighlight reel, and you might be
comparing your chapter one totheir chapter 20.
That's unfair, right?
Every expert was once abeginner.
(14:00):
Every successful entrepreneurthat you see was once nervously
hitting publish on their firstblog post or product, wondering
if anyone would ever care.
When you catch yourself thinkingit's not as good as so-and-so's
gently remind yourself thatso-and-so started somewhere too.
The only fair comparison is youyesterday versus you today.
(14:21):
Are you making progress?
That's what matters.
Adopting these mindsets is ofcourse not an overnight thing.
Trust me, I am a recoveringperfectionist myself, probably
always will be, and I have tocontinually practice these
shifts.
But each time that youconsciously choose progress over
perfection, it gets easier.
It's like building a muscle, atfirst, taking imperfect action
(14:43):
will feel uncomfortable and youmight cringe a little, but each
small win, each time you putsomething out there and realize
the world didn't end, peopleactually appreciate it, and hey,
you're learning and improving.
You reinforce the belief thatimperfect action beats inaction.
One mindset I love is thinkingof it all as a game or adventure
approach your new project withcuriosity.
(15:04):
I wonder what will happen when Ilaunch this, or I wonder what
I'll learn.
This could be fun.
It takes the pressure off.
It's not a pass fail exam.
It's an experiment.
Okay.
Now that we've done some mentalrecalibration, let's get down to
some practical steps.
How do we actually break out ofperfection, paralysis, and start
taking action?
What are some steps that you cantake today to launch that thing
(15:27):
that you've been sitting on?
Let's talk some strategies.
I'm all about mindset.
But I also love me someactionable steps.
So here are a handful ofpractical strategies to help you
launch before you're 100% ready,and keep perfectionism from
slowing you down.
These are the same approaches Iuse to push myself forward,
literally use a few of these toget this podcast out into the
world.
(15:47):
So feel free to jot these down.
Number one, set a deadline andmake it public.
Nothing lights a fire like areal deadline.
Pick a launch date for yourproject and mark it on your
calendar.
Make it a non-negotiable.
This is key.
Tell people about it.
Announce it on social media, ortell a few friends or
colleagues, I'm launching my newwebsite course or podcast on
(16:11):
this date.
Once you put it out there,you'll be extra motivated to
follow through and you'll thinktwice about indefinitely
delaying just to perfect things.
Fear hates accountability, bythe way.
This podcast was actuallyoriginally supposed to be
launched back in January, but Ipushed it back more than once.
It wasn't until I finally postedon social media that the
(16:33):
official launch date would beApril 16th, that things really
shifted for me.
Sure.
I only got a handful of peoplewho noticed that post, but that
small bit of accountability wasall it took to get me to follow
through, and I'm so glad that Idid number two, break it down
into bite-sized pieces.
Big projects feel less scary andless overwhelming when you break
(16:54):
them into smaller tasks.
Perfectionism often strikes whenwe're staring at this huge
mountain of a project andthinking that we have to deliver
a masterpiece.
Instead, chunk it down.
Ask yourself, what's the minimumviable version of this that I
can create and launch?
Or, what's one small step that Ican take today to move forward?
(17:14):
Make a list of the next few tinyactions.
For example, if you're launchinga blog, maybe step one is simply
writing a rough draft of yourfirst post.
Step two, pick a simpleWordPress template, not design a
custom website from scratch.
Number three, hit publish onthat one post and shared on
LinkedIn.
Each small step is doable on itsown, and as you complete them,
(17:37):
you build that momentum.
One of my favorite sayings is,how do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time.
Break your elephant size goalinto bite-sized tasks and tackle
them one by one.
Number three is define yournon-negotiables and be flexible
on the rest.
This one's a little mindset anda little practical.
Decide which parts of yourproject truly matter for success
(18:00):
and which parts are nice to haveor can be improved later.
Do you find one to threenon-negotiables, the core things
that need to meet yourstandards?
Everything outside of those giveyourself permission to go with
good enough for now.
For example, your non-negotiablemight be that your course
content actually deliversresults for your clients.
(18:20):
That's the heart of it, butmaybe the slide design or the
background music in your videos,those could be B plus quality
for now, and it would still bean awesome course for this
podcast.
My non-negotiables wereproviding valuable content and
showing up in a relaxed, excitedheadspace.
But things like perfect editingor having the fanciest
microphone, I decided that thosewere details I could refine as I
(18:43):
go.
You can always improve graphicsor update equipment later.
Don't let the small details holdthe whole thing hostage.
Number four, embrace good enoughand launch a beta.
If the thought of a full scalelaunch is freaking you out.
Consider doing a beta launch ora soft launch.
This means you intentionallyrelease a simpler or earlier
(19:05):
version of your product orservice to a small group, gather
feedback and improve it overtime.
It takes some pressure offbecause it's supposed to be a
learning experience.
For instance, if you aredeveloping an app, launch a beta
version to a handful of userswho understand that this is not
the final product.
If you wanna start a workshopbusiness, run a pilot workshop
(19:25):
with a small group first.
You'll get real world insightsand testimonials that you can
use for the bigger launch later.
Plus, psychologically you thinkit's just a test I can fix
things, which really helps youto actually start and remember.
You can't improve something thatdoesn't exist, so get that
version one out there and let itevolve.
(19:45):
Done is better than perfect anddone, can become perfect over
time.
Number five is seekaccountability and support.
Don't do it alone.
If you struggle to followthrough, get a friend or a
mentor to keep you accountable.
Tell a fellow entrepreneur aboutwhat you're launching and by
when, check in with themregularly or even involve your
audience in the process.
(20:06):
Coming soon, my new product.
Stay tuned.
Now you have people waiting forit and sometimes a little
external pressure and supportdoes wonders to beat
procrastination.
Also, surround yourself eitherin person or online with people
who encourage progress overperfection.
If you have a business coach orfollow inspiring people, lean
(20:27):
into that inspiration in mycase.
I told my email list andInstagram followers that this
podcast was coming on April16th, so backing out would be
way more embarrassing than anyimperfection in the episodes
themselves.
Accountability for the win rightthere.
Number six is reward Action, notOutcome.
One more tip is to give yourselfa pat on the back for taking
(20:49):
action regardless of theoutcome, often we only celebrate
when something is a crazysuccess.
But to break the perfectionisthabit, start celebrating the
process.
Did you finally hit publish onthat sales page?
Victory.
Treat yourself.
By rewarding the action oflaunching your Etsy shop or
posting your first YouTubevideo, you train your brain to
enjoy moving forward instead ofonly chasing that impossible,
(21:12):
perfect result.
This makes it more fun andmotivating to keep going.
Remember, every expert startedwith a first attempt.
You deserve to feel proud foreach courageous step that you
take.
So I know that that was a lot oftips thrown at you, but even
just one or two of these canhelp you break free from
analysis paralysis and startdoing.
(21:33):
You don't have to applyeverything at once.
Pick whatever resonates with youand try it out.
The goal is to get somemomentum, because momentum is
the antidote to paralysis.
Once you start moving even alittle, you'll likely find that
your fear of launching begins toshrink and your excitement will
grow.
Now as we wrap up, I want you totake away one core message.
(21:54):
You will likely never feel 100%ready, and that is okay.
Don't wait for perfect becauseperfect is a mirage.
Chasing it will only keep youstuck.
Instead, take that imperfectaction.
Start before you're ready,launch when it's good enough,
and trust that you can make itbetter as you go.
I know that it's scary and Iknow that it's uncomfortable
(22:16):
even now as I launch thispodcast.
I have butterflies, but I'm alsofilled with excitement and pride
that I'm actually doing itregardless of the outcome.
And I want the same for you.
I want you to experience therush of putting your work out
into the world of seeing realpeople engage with it and making
an impact that joy.
Far outweighs the temporarydiscomfort of pushing past
(22:37):
perfectionism.
So consider this your gentleshove.
What is one small step that youcan take today towards a project
that you've been delaying?
Maybe it's sending an email toyour list, announcing an
upcoming launch.
Maybe it's finally hittingpublish on a blog post that's
90% done.
Maybe it's recording the firstepisode of your own podcast with
(22:58):
whatever microphone you haveright now.
Whatever it is, promise meyou'll do something in the next
24 hours to move it forward.
I'm cheering you on, and I trulybelieve that once you start
moving, you'll wonder why youdidn't do it sooner.
Remember, the magic happens whenyou start, not when you're stuck
in your head.
You've got so much brilliance toshare and the world needs to
(23:18):
hear it now, not in somedistant, perfect future.
So take the leap my friend.
Your future self is already highfiving you for it.
Thank you so much for hangingout with me today and listening.
I really hope this pep talk gotyou fired up to go launch
something amazing before youfeel totally ready.
If this episode resonated withyou, if you had an aha moment,
(23:40):
or even if you're just feeling alittle more courageous, I love
to hear about it.
Seriously, it would make my dayto know that this helped you.
So do me a favor, subscribe tothis podcast so you don't miss
any upcoming episodes, becausethis is just the beginning of
our journey.
And send me a DM on Instagramand let me know what hit home
for you.
I am always eager to connect andI'm cheering you on over here.
(24:03):
So until next time.
Keep taking messy action andtrust that you're capable of
figuring things out as you go.
I am right here alongside youdoing the same.
We've got this now.
Go out there, do the thing.
Imperfectly and proud, youdeserve to shine just as you are
right now.
So subscribe, DM me and let'skeep this conversation going.
(24:24):
See you in the next episode.
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