When I was young, I used to want things perfect. It didn’t take long for me to realize that perfection is just not within the cards; I was never smart enough :D.
I tried so hard because my parents wanted, with good intentions, my best. But what I saw, through years of trying, was a self-awareness that I can get to 70–80% faster than most people. I could build the frame, find the spark, and get the engine running while everyone else was still checking the manual.
But that last push to 100%? It felt excruciatingly hard, boring, and meaningless.
The Problem with the 100% Club
Furthermore, I noticed something about the folks who were actually able to reach 100%. They took a LONG LONG time to get started. There was so much planning and doing and blablabla. They were so worried about the finish line that they were paralyzed at the starting blocks. My dad was really good at letting me explore different interests… Maybe this was his plan all along!
I saw that the way I naturally do things is not a negative. I’m different and it works for me.
My “lack of perfection” actually made me work very well as a prototyper, an entrepreneur, and a spotter of other people’s talents.
While the perfectionists are still polishing their first draft, I’ve already built three different versions, tested them, and found the right person to take the best one to the finish line.
In the world of entrepreneurial mindset and creative productivity, speed and “good enough” usually beat “perfect and never finished.”
Why Prototyping Beats Planning
If you are like me, you’ve probably felt the guilt of not being a “finisher.” But the world needs innovators now more than ever! We are the ones who are vibe coding. We find the directionality; we are the ones who prove the concept.
The stoic wisdom here is simple: recognize your nature and use it. If your talent is seeing the big picture and getting the ball rolling, don’t let the “perfectionist fear” tell you that you’re failing. You’re just operating at a different frequency. You are the Ronin amidst carrots, moving quickly while others are rooted in place by their own anxieties.
Stop Planning, Start Commencing
And hence, I ask you… would you rather put your perfectionist fears aside and just get started with what you’ve been holding off?
Do you want to plan a few more days, on the off chance that you feel “prepared” or in the mood to be kick-ass enough to commence?
The truth is, the “perfect mood” is a myth. The “perfect plan” is a ghost. There is a massive competitive advantage in just being the person who starts. Whether you’re building a business, writing a comic, or just trying something new, 70% and “done” is always better than 100% and “someday.”
And hence, I ask you… would you rather put your perfectionist fears aside and just get started with what you’ve been holding off? or do you want to plan a few more days, on the off chance that you feel prepared or in the mood to be kick ass enough to commence?
