Don't Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Done
Publish often and improve instead of trying to catch the squirrel of perfection.
I can smell it: the pursuit of perfection. It smells like the squirrel with the gimpy leg that I still can never quite catch.
Human, you’re trying to create something perfect. It seems like a noble goal. Who wouldn’t want perfection? But somehow no matter what you try, however long you work on or edit or tweak your creation, it doesn’t feel perfect yet, so it’s not done. Not yet.
Just a little more, you tell yourself. I’ll try it a different way, or change a couple more things, or even start again from scratch. Then it might be perfect.
The problem is:
Perfect doesn’t exist.
And if you keep chasing perfection like it’s that maddeningly elusive squirrel (seriously, HOW is he so fast??) your work will never be done.
You know what does exist? A quadrillion beautiful, flawed, wondrous things that your fellow humans (supported by loyal dogs, of course) put out in the world.
Things like:
Murals, paintings, drawings, and sculptures
Novels, board books, articles, and blogs
Apps, games, music, and videos
Businesses, nonprofits, and charities that help the world
Chicken-and-waffle artisanal pet treats (I need these!)
The humans who dreamed up all those things put their creations into the world knowing they are imperfect, knowing that they themselves are imperfect. But also knowing that unless they declare something done, they can’t share it with the world. And until they share it, it has no value to anyone. (Or their dogs.)
Human, your work has value, imperfect as it is.
You have value, imperfect as you are.
(If you want to help that concept sink in, check out The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. It’s probably at your library! Or check out her Gifts of Imperfection Ted Talk.)
Done is your goal.
Done lets you connect with the world.
Don’t let the myth of perfection keep you from progress. Ignore the squirrel, even though he’s RIGHT THERE SO CLOSE I KNOW I CAN GET HIM THIS TIME …
Drat. He got away again.
Where was I?
Finish your work, and call it done.
Then put it out for others to see, or hear, or taste.
Sharing your imperfect work is the only way to make your dream happen.
You’ll get feedback. You’ll confront those flaws you knew were there (and more you hadn’t noticed yet. Grr!). It’ll be uncomfortable. Painful, even.
But you’ll get stronger, and so will your work.
You’ll look back after ten works, or ten months, or ten years, and marvel at how far you’ve come.
But not if you let perfect stop you from sharing at all.
Is there anything you’re struggling to declare done? Or, if you’re good at ignoring that squirrel, what tips help you to publish your work despite imperfection?