Progress Over Perfection: How To Let Go of Perfectionism and Take Action

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If you’re an artist, maker, or creative entrepreneur who wants to grow your business without burning yourself out, today’s episode is for you. We’re digging into one of the biggest obstacles creatives face: perfectionism — especially the subtle version that looks productive, but actually keeps you stuck.

If you’ve ever found yourself over-editing, endlessly planning, or waiting until something feels “just right,” this conversation will help you finally get unstuck and start moving forward with clarity and confidence.

 Why Perfectionism Holds Creatives Back

Perfectionism doesn’t always look like obsessing over tiny details.
For most creatives, it shows up as:

• “I’m not quite ready yet.”
• “I just need to refine this.”
• “I’ll launch when I feel more confident.”
• “Let me gather a little more information first.”

And before you know it, weeks or months have passed and the idea still hasn’t left your notebook.

Perfectionism feels responsible… but it’s actually fear disguised as productivity. Fear of being judged. Fear of starting small. Fear of not being good enough.

But here’s the truth: perfectionism doesn’t protect you — it prevents you from growing.

How Perfectionism Slows Down Artists & Makers

Creative perfectionism impacts your business in sneaky ways:

1. Over-editing and revising endlessly

You spend hours rewriting captions, tweaking product descriptions, or adjusting your booth layout.

2. Getting stuck in planning mode

You consume tutorials, read books, brainstorm ideas… but you don’t implement them.

3. Delaying launches and new projects

You want your photos, website, products, or brand identity to be perfect before anyone sees them.

4. Losing momentum and confidence

The longer you wait, the harder it is to take action and the more self-doubt grows.

But you can’t grow your creative business if your work never sees the light of day.

✨ 5 Ways to Break the Perfectionism Cycle

If you feel caught in overthinking or over-editing, try these practical strategies to move forward with confidence:

1. Set a “good enough” deadline

Give yourself a time limit or a publish date and stick to it.
Done is better than perfect, especially when you’re building momentum.

Announce it publicly if you need accountability!

2. Allow Version 1 to exist

Your booth, photos, products, and branding will evolve, but you can’t get to version 2 if version 1 never launches.

3. Trust your creative intuition

If you’ve already thought it through… it’s probably ready.
Trust your instincts more than your fear.

4. Use the One-Pass Rule

Edit once. Revise once. Then release it.
Your future self will learn and improve through action, not hesitation.

5. Ask: “Will this matter a year from now?”

If the answer is no, stop spending energy on it.
Put it out into the world and move forward.

Why Imperfect Work Is Better Than Unfinished Work

Your audience cannot connect with work they never see.

No one remembers your early posts, first booth, or beginner photos. People remember the feeling you give them, not the perfection of your output.

When you show up imperfectly:

• You build trust and authenticity
• You gain real-world feedback
• You increase confidence through action
• You create momentum and consistency
• You make space for growth

Your customers don’t want perfect.
They want you.
Your humanity. Your voice. Your evolving creativity.

💛 A Loving Reminder for Creatives

If perfectionism has been slowing you down, hear this:

• You’re not behind.
• You’re not doing it wrong.
• You’re not the only one who feels this way.

Perfectionism often means your work matters to you, but it cannot be the thing that keeps you from moving forward.

Take imperfect action.
Show up messy.
Let yourself grow publicly.
Your dream audience will root for you every step of the way.

🎧 Season 1 Wrap-Up + What’s Coming Next

This is the final episode of Season 1 of Hey, Beautiful Creative! — thank you for making it such a meaningful beginning. I’m taking a short break to rest, recharge, and prepare for a fresh new season launching in the new year.

What’s ahead in Season 2:

• Artist interviews
• Creative business deep dives
• Mindset episodes
• Practical tools to help you grow
• And maybe even… a boot camp, group coaching, or a future retreat

If you want to stay updated, join the email list at heybeautifulcreative.com — you’ll get all the news, plus weekly inspiration.

📚 Free Resources for Creative Entrepreneurs

Head to heybeautifulcreative.com/resources for tools to help you grow your creative business, including:

• Craft market sales guide
• Goal-setting planner
• Book lists for creative inspiration
• The 5-day Creative Confidence Kickstart challenge

These resources are free and designed to help you build momentum.

👩‍🎨 Special Thanks

Huge gratitude to Eric Gibbons — podcast editor, musician, and incredible artist.
Find more of his work here:

• Sink Sandwich Records – sinksandwich.com
• Eric Gibbons Art on Instagram – @ericgibbonsart
  
  

✨ Let’s Stay Connected

If this episode helped you, please share it with a creative friend who needs encouragement. And leaving a review helps more artists and makers find the show.

Here’s to progress over perfection — today and every day.