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, this is for you. 

Today we’re talking about something that every artist, maker, and creative entrepreneur deals with...

Perfectionism.

Not the obvious kind where you spend five hours polishing a photo or redoing a display for the 12th time. I’m talking about the quiet kind — the kind that sneaks in and convinces you that you need to wait, plan, keep gathering information, or “get it right” before you can take action.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in planning mode, rewriting things over and over, or feeling like your work is “not quite ready”…
this is going to feel like a deep breath of relief.

We’re going to look at:

• The hidden ways perfectionism slows down creatives.
• How to stop over-editing, over-planning, and overthinking.
• Why imperfect work is better than unfinished work.

Alright, let’s get to it. Be honest. Is there something that you’re holding back on? Something that doesn’t feel quite ready or you just can’t quite push go on getting it out there? 

I definitely have perfectionist tendencies. I don’t like to be bad at things in front of other people. I want everything I do to be perfect, which is an impossible order. I love learning so I have a tendency to keep gathering information without putting it into practice, thinking if I just keep learning more everything will be great. So I’m right there with you.

Here’s How Perfectionism Sneaks In (and Slows You Down)

Perfectionism for creatives doesn’t usually look like perfection.
It looks like:

• “I just need to refine this one more time.”
• “I’ll post it when I feel more confident.”
• “I want my booth / product photos / website to look perfect before launching.”
• “It’s not good enough yet — I’ll come back to it later.”

And suddenly...
“later” turns into never.

Perfectionism hides in over-editing, over-planning, and overthinking.
It makes you feel like you’re being responsible — when really, it’s slowing your momentum, draining your energy, and keeping you from sharing your work.

Here’s the truth most creatives don’t hear enough:
Perfectionism is often just fear wearing a fancy outfit.

Fear of judgment.
Fear of failing.
Fear of being seen starting small.
Fear of not being “good enough.”

But perfectionism doesn’t protect you — it stops you.
And your work deserves better than that.

When you’re stuck in that holding pattern you’re depriving yourself of an opportunity to learn and grow. And you’re depriving other people from experiencing your work and whatever may come of that. It’s never going to be perfect. You’re never going to feel ready. You have to take those scary steps forward and just get it out there. You can always refine it later if you want to. 

How do you stop the Cycle of Over-Editing & Overthinking?

1. Set a “good enough” deadline

Tell yourself: I’m giving this 45 minutes or I’m posting this today no matter what.
A time limit forces your brain to move from perfection to completion. Done is better than perfect.

One thing that I do is that I publicly announce a date that something is going to happen. Then I feel accountable because I’ve said I’m going to do something and that makes me stick to it, whether I feel ready or not. Post on your social media, send a newsletter, or even tell a friend if you are setting a deadline so you have someone to be accountable to. You’ll be less likely to keep pushing the deadline forward once you’ve let people know something is coming.

2. Make peace with version 1

Everything evolves — your booth, your brand photos, your logo, your captions, your art.
Let version 1 be allowed to exist so version 2 and 3 and 10 can actually happen.
Think of it as an evolution. You’re always evolving, growing and changing as a person and so can your business.

3. Trust your creative intuition more than your fear

If you’ve spent even a little time thinking it through… it’s probably ready.
You don’t need more time.
You need more trust.

4. Use the “one-pass rule”

Edit once.
Polish once.
Then let it go.

Put it out there and see what happens. Again, done is better than perfect.

5. Ask yourself: “Will this matter in a year?”

If not… don’t spend any more time worrying about it. Ship it. Get it out there.

Why Imperfect Work Is Better Than Unfinished Work

Here’s something I wish someone told me a decade ago when I was first working on a business similar to Hey Beautiful Creative! It was called Sparkle Blossom Life Design and I had business cards made and was starting to work on a website, but I never got that one off the ground because I let all my self doubt take over.

You cannot improve what you don’t release.

Your audience can’t fall in love with your jewelry, your art, your writing, or your ideas if they never see them.

Nobody is going to notice that it isn’t “perfect”. Honestly, everyone is so wrapped up in their own world, they aren’t paying as close of attention to what you’re doing as you are. I promise. 

Nobody remembers your early posts.
Nobody is studying your booth display.
Nobody cares if your product photos were taken on your iPhone in bad lighting.

But they WILL remember the feeling you give them.
The way you show up.
The way you keep going.
The way you share your journey.
They will remember how your work makes them feel.

Choose progress over perfection. Get the work out there, see what happens, get the feedback, and then make any necessary changes.

Confidence doesn’t come from perfect work.
Confidence comes from doing it anyway.

Your imperfect action will always take you further than your perfect intention.

In a world of the internet and AI, people are looking to connect with other human beings. It’s the small imperfections and the humanness of what you’re doing that are going to attract other people to you and your work. Let them see you trying. Let them see you iterate something. Let them watch you grow and evolve over time. It will make you more human in their eyes.

Hey Beautiful Creative (both the podcast and the business) are proof that you can launch before things feel ready to you. Is my podcast the best ever?  No, but I keep putting it out every week anyway. Is my website as polished as I’d like it to be? No. I use canva to make my graphics and often use stock photos, even though I love photography, because I know that I don’t have time to take the right photos every week. I would never be happy with them. If I tried to do that it would bring everything to a complete stop. It would never get finished. It wouldn’t exist and I wouldn’t be here right now talking to you. I’m putting out the best work that I can with the time and tools I have available to me at this moment. And I know that I can grow and improve over time.

A Loving Reminder for You

If you’re listening to this and you feel like perfectionism has been slowing you down, here is my loving reminder for you…

You’re not behind.
You’re not doing it wrong.
And you’re not alone.

Perfectionism is simply a sign that your work matters to you.
But it cannot be the thing that stops you from moving forward.

Push through this discomfort.

Your dream customers don’t need perfect.
They need you.
Showing up.
Trying things.
Sharing your creative magic in all its evolving, imperfect glory.

Okay?

If you have a friend who could use a little nudge forward - maybe they are feeling stuck or struggling to put their work out there - please forward this to them! Let’s encourage and support each other! 

Here’s to progress over perfection, today and every day!