#Perfectionism

Why Starting Badly Beats Waiting Perfectly

Finally, “starting badly” doesn’t mean being careless; it means choosing forward motion with a bias toward learning. The practical standard is simple: start in a way that is safe, reversible, and informative. For example, you might launch to a small audience, set a short deadline, and define one metric you want to learn from the attempt. Then you improve what you can measure. In that sense, the quote becomes a philosophy of progress: action first, refinement second, and excellence as the result of many imperfect beginnings. [...]

Choosing Progress Over Perfection Unlocks Real Opportunities

Innovation cultures operationalize this truth. The Lean Startup (Ries, 2011) advocates the minimum viable product to start the build–measure–learn loop, while Pixar’s Braintrust relies on candid feedback to improve rough cuts (Catmull, Creativity, Inc., 2014). Early outputs are intentionally imperfect, because only shipped work can be seen, critiqued, and improved. Thus, iteration does not lower standards—it invites reality to co-author excellence, opening doors to partnerships, customers, and unexpected pivots. [...]

Progress, Not Perfection: The Craftsman of Success

Consequently, putting the principle to work means operationalizing progress. Start with a Minimum Viable Step—one action that produces real feedback—then time-box refinement, define a simple success metric, and close the loop. A writer drafts 200 words daily before editing; a team releases a small feature to 50 users, echoing Eric Ries’s “minimum viable product” in The Lean Startup (2011). Over time, these modest cycles compound, and success arrives looking suspiciously handmade. [...]

There's No Way to Be a Perfect Mother and a Million Ways to Be a Good One — Jill Churchill

This quote highlights the understanding that perfection is an impossible standard for mothers. Instead of striving for unattainable perfection, mothers should focus on doing their best and understanding that many approaches can be successful in raising children. [...]

Nothing Will Ever Be Attempted If All Possible Objections Must First Be Overcome - Samuel Johnson

Johnson emphasizes the importance of accepting that some level of uncertainty or imperfection will always exist. Waiting for a perfect scenario is futile and can prevent meaningful action from happening. [...]

The Importance of Starting Now - Ivan Turgenev

Waiting for everything to be ready may stem from a fear of failure. This quote confronts that fear by suggesting that beginning is more important than achieving a perfect start. [...]

If We Wait Until We're Ready, We'll Be Waiting for the Rest of Our Lives - Lemony Snicket

It highlights the common human tendency to hesitate due to fear of failure or uncertainty. By waiting for readiness, we may miss opportunities and limit our potential. [...]