Done is Better Than Perfect—So, Why Are We All Still Obsessed with Perfection?
The Real Goal Isn’t Perfection—It’s Growth
You’ve heard it, right? The classic, “Done is better than perfect.” It’s a catchy quote, but man, does it feel hard to live by?
Who Here Has Never Struggled with Perfectionism?
I used to feel like perfection was something everyone else nailed — except me. I’d scroll through feeds and polished articles, wondering, “Did they actually nail it on the first try?” Spoiler: they didn’t.
The filters, retakes, endless edits—those were part of everyone’s process, but no one’s admitting it.
The Consequence of Perfectionism
We get so tangled up in the idea that we need to look polished and put-together…and it shows up everywhere. In social media, presentations, even in conversations, we’re second-guessing every word and action.
How much mental energy are we wasting just trying to appear perfect?
It’s like every time I’d finally hit “publish” on an article, I’d see someone else’s and think…wait, is mine even good enough?
And the stress is real, right?
Constantly comparing, never satisfied…it’s a trap that sucks the joy out of creating anything.
My Early Days with Perfectionism
When I was younger, I’d throw on costumes I made up, putting on skits with my friends and “killing” it in being entertaining. It didn’t matter whether I screwed something up or was plain boring. I was completely in it for the fun. But somewhere along the way, things changed.
Years later (many years later), I cared about looking like I had it all figured out.
I started following my favorite creators and obsessing over how they presented themselves. Slowly, I became more focused on emulating than creating.
I’d polish every tiny detail, and yet, “done” started feeling like a mythical place I’d never actually reach.
That’s the thing about perfectionism—it’s a moving target, and it loves to leave you stranded.
Perfectionism’s Biggest Lies
Let’s get into the three lies perfectionism loves to sell us:
If it’s perfect, you’ll be proud of it forever.
Nope. In reality, you’ll always find a way to criticize it.Flawlessness is what people seek.
People actually connect with authenticity, not perfection.Messing up means you’re not cut out for this.
Everyone fails — everyone!
Failure isn’t a sign you should quit; it’s part of the process. Growth lives in those “whoops” moments.
What Happens When We Embrace Imperfections?
For one, the world doesn’t end. And—surprise—you start actually having fun again. Think about any time you’ve finally let your hair down…didn’t it feel like you could breathe?
It’s like realizing that showing up as yourself, messy bits and all, is more than okay…it’s where your best work lives.
Every time I’d convince myself to start a new project or publish a new post, my mind would scream, “What if you screw it up?!”
The cycle was relentless.
But the moment I decided to lean into the idea of learning through mistakes, it was like I hit reset on my creative life. It didn’t have to be perfect. It had to be real.
My Journey Out of Perfectionism
I realized that if I kept waiting for perfection, I’d still be waiting…forever. So, I made a choice:
I started before I was ready.
It was terrifying. But I hit “post” before I convinced myself I shouldn’t, and guess what? Nothing bad or unfixable.
I welcomed small failures.
Turns out, my biggest learning moments came from things that didn’t go as planned. When you stop trying to control things, they happen.
I reframed “perfect.”
Instead of aiming for problem-free, I focused on progress. What can I learn here? What parts are working?
Reclaiming Your Creativity
Here’s what I recommend for anyone tired of letting perfectionism win:
Set a “good enough” benchmark.
Assign a real deadline to put things out in the world. Knowing it may not be complete and totally fixable.Schedule time to mess up.
Yes, you need to schedule some let’s break this thing time. Experimenting gives you the permission to freely make things happen.
Talk back to the perfectionist voice.
That inner critic that follows you around? Kick them to the curb. Remind yourself that mistakes happen and you’re allowed to make them.
Celebrate the messy wins.
Every time you make something happen—no matter how it turns out—give yourself credit. You showed up.
Have a non-negotiable “done” deadline.
Tell yourself you’re going to finish by a specific date, even if it’s not perfect. And don’t kick that deadline down the road.
The Real Goal Isn’t Perfection—It’s Growth
And that’s really it. The best work? It isn’t flawless—it’s real. True confidence isn’t about knowing you’ll be perfect; it’s about trusting that you can handle whatever comes next.
If you’re still thinking, “Maybe I’ll start next week…” here’s your reminder: you don’t need anyone’s permission to be imperfect. Honestly, you’re the only one keeping score.
People aren't concerned with the minor imperfections we obsess over. They’re not noticing the lighting isn’t perfect in your video, the lawn guy making noise outside, or that one typo on page ten.
What you really want is freedom. Freedom to try new things, freedom to make mistakes, freedom to grow. And if you let yourself, you might find you’re capable of more than you ever imagined.
The Takeaway: Start. Fail. Learn. Repeat.
So, are you ready to start before you’re ready? Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. Embrace it all…and just get it done.
It's a constant struggle of mine, but the results of letting go of perfection have helped me get much better at letting it go!