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Summary
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The Decade-Long Delay
I've been thinking about starting this blog for years—actually, more than a decade. I planned, researched, and then planned and researched some more, but never took action. The blog existed perfectly in my mind but remained invisible to the world.
Sound familiar?
We've all been there. That business idea, creative project, or personal goal that sits perpetually on tomorrow's to-do list. According to research from the American Psychological Association, about 20% of adults identify as chronic procrastinators. But when it comes to creative endeavors, that number seems to skyrocket. We become trapped in what author Steven Pressfield calls "the Resistance" in his book The War of Art—that invisible, powerful force that prevents us from doing our most important work.
The Liberating Mantra
Taking action, however imperfect, is the key. My friend David always says, "Get it out, then get it right." Those words have become my new mantra, pushing me past the paralysis of perfectionism.
This philosophy aligns with what productivity expert James Clear calls "motion versus action" in his bestselling book Atomic Habits. Motion is when you're planning, strategizing, and learning. Action is the behavior that delivers results. I had been stuck in motion for years, mistaking busyness for progress.
The Hidden Cost of Waiting
When you let ideas fester unattended and unexpressed, they die on the vine. All that potential withers away while you're busy "getting ready" to start. The truth is, nothing breaks through procrastination like actually doing the thing you've been avoiding.
Consider these silent casualties of perfectionism:
Lost opportunities: While you're perfecting your approach, the window of opportunity may close
Diminished enthusiasm: Initial excitement fades with each delay
Missed feedback: You can't improve what you haven't created
Accumulated pressure: The longer you wait, the more monumental the task seems
The Momentum Effect
I needed to put this blog out there to get my creative juices flowing and motivation working. There's something powerful about seeing progress on that important goal you set for yourself years ago—even if that progress is messy and unpolished.
Psychologists call this the "progress principle"—the discovery that of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and perceptions during a workday, the single most important is making progress in meaningful work. Even small wins can boost what researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer call "inner work life."
Embracing Imperfection
Is this blog perfect? Not even close. Is it finished? Absolutely not. It's very much a work in progress.
But here's the critical difference: it's begun.
And sometimes, that first step is the hardest part of the journey.
The Science of Starting
What makes beginning so difficult? Research in neuroscience offers some insights:
The Zeigarnik Effect: Our brains are wired to remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones, creating mental tension until we take action
Loss Aversion: We tend to fear potential criticism of imperfect work more than we value potential gains from sharing it
Activation Energy: Starting requires more mental energy than continuing, which is why the first step feels disproportionately difficult
Once you start, physics works in your favor. Newton's First Law of Motion applies to productivity too: objects in motion tend to stay in motion. The hardest part is generating that initial momentum.
Strategies for Getting Started
Here are some practical approaches that helped me finally launch this blog after years of delay:
1. Set Embarrassingly Small Goals
Don't aim to write the perfect 5,000-word post. Start with a paragraph. As author Tim Ferriss suggests, "lower the bar for the win." My first goal wasn't to launch a complete blog—it was simply to write the first post, however brief.
2. Use Time Constraints
Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time available. I gave myself a strict 60-minute window to draft this post. With limited time, perfectionism becomes impossible.
3. Adopt a Public Accountability System
Tell someone about your plan to start. Social commitment is powerful. I shared my intention to launch this blog with three friends and gave them a specific date to check in.
4. Embrace the MVP Mindset
In product development, the "Minimum Viable Product" approach emphasizes launching with core functionality, then improving based on feedback. Apply this to your project—what's the simplest version you could release?
Your Turn to Begin
What have you been putting off? What brilliant idea has been languishing in your mind for months or years? Maybe it's time to just get it out—and worry about getting it right later.
Remember, done is better than perfect. The world needs your ideas, your voice, your contribution—even in its unpolished form.
As author and artist Austin Kleon writes in his book Show Your Work!: "In this age of information abundance and overload, those who get ahead will be the folks who figure out what to leave out, so they can concentrate on what's important to them."
I've finally figured out what to leave out: perfectionism.
What will you leave behind to move forward?
What project have you been delaying due to perfectionism? Share in the comments below, and let's commit to taking that first step together.
