Perfection Doesn't Exist: Stop Trying to Be Perfect, Getting 80% There Is More Than Good Enough
We live in a time where we’re constantly fed filtered realities. Instagram influencers with picture perfect lives. Self help gurus selling ten step blueprints to greatness. Motivational speakers proclaiming you must hustle your way to flawless success.
It’s all a bit exhausting.
Somewhere along the line, striving for perfection became the default setting. But here’s the truth most won’t say out loud: perfection is a myth. And worse, chasing it often becomes the very thing that holds people back.
In the early stages of any kind of self development, whether it’s business, health or mindset, most people get caught up waiting. Waiting for the right moment. The right tools. The right version of themselves. But none of that matters if you don’t take action.
Why Perfection is the Enemy of Progress
From a young age, we’re taught to aim high. Top grades. Top jobs. Impeccable performance. But that conditioning comes at a cost.
People delay launching their ideas because they want everything to be just right. They spend hours tweaking logos, rewriting mission statements, watching yet another tutorial, all while their idea sits idle in a notebook.
It’s procrastination disguised as preparation.
Worse still, the fear of getting it wrong becomes so strong that they never even begin. I’ve seen this time and time again. Smart people with great ideas paralysed by the pressure of needing to get it all perfect from day one.
But here’s the thing. You learn by doing. And you grow by failing.
No One Builds Anything Great By Playing It Safe
Every breakthrough you’ve ever seen, every product, every movement, every business, started with someone who was willing to act without all the answers.
The most interesting people I know are not perfect. They’re flawed, messy, creative, and unafraid to look a bit ridiculous. That’s where real innovation lives. In the mess. In the version one. In the draft, not the final.
It’s not about making something polished. It’s about making something happen.
What to Do Instead
1. Embrace the version one
Start where you are. Use what you’ve got. Whether it’s a business, a fitness journey or a new habit, launch the first version and be proud that it’s not perfect. That’s how you grow.
2. Set bold goals but break them down
Big dreams are great. But they’re built on small actions. Don’t wait to feel ready. Get a few small wins under your belt and build from there.
3. Learn on the move
You don’t need to know everything before you start. You won’t. And even if you did, the rules will change by the time you get going. Learn through action. Real feedback comes from reality, not theory.
4. Be ruthlessly consistent
Perfectionists wait. Professionals show up. Day after day. Even when the mood isn’t right or the motivation’s missing. Consistency beats brilliance when brilliance doesn’t show up.
5. Build resilience through failure
Failure isn’t the enemy. It’s the feedback. And when you stop seeing it as something to avoid, you become bulletproof. Every stumble adds armour. Every rejection sharpens your focus.
6. Make your brand, your work, your life interesting
Forget being perfect. Be compelling. Be original. Tell stories. Show flaws. People are drawn to realness, not robots.
The Real Secret?
The ones who make it are not the ones who had the perfect plan. They’re the ones who started, learned, adapted, and refused to quit.
So don’t sit around waiting for your life to look like someone else’s highlight reel. That’s not the goal. The goal is progress. Growth. Freedom. Purpose. All of which are unlocked not by perfection, but by taking that first step, again and again, even when it’s messy.
Imperfect action always wins.