Do What Is Required | Overcoming the Perfection Trap and Taking Action

Action Over Perfection

How many times have you hesitated to start something because you thought it needed to be perfect? Maybe it was a business idea, a fitness journey, or even just writing that first page of a book. You tell yourself, "I’ll start when I have it all figured out," or "I just need a little more time to get it right." And so, you wait. And wait. And wait.

You wait because perfection is a trap. It keeps you frozen in place, and convinces that, if you can’t do something flawlessly, it’s not worth doing at all. But the truth is: you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to do what is required.

Think about a builder working on a house. If he sat there obsessing over every single measurement before laying the first brick, nothing would ever get built. The foundation wouldn’t be poured, the walls wouldn’t go up, and the roof would remain just an idea. But what does the builder do? He starts with the basics. He follows the process. And brick by brick, he creates something real.

The same applies to you. Whether it’s a new goal, a skill you want to master, or a dream you’ve been pushing aside, the most important thing you can do is take the first step. Because action—not perfection—is what leads to progress.

One reason we fall into the perfection trap is fear. We fear judgment, failure, or looking like we don’t know what we’re doing. But have you ever looked at someone who is just starting out and thought, “Wow, they should have been perfect from the start”? Of course not. You probably admire their courage for trying. So why do you hold yourself to an impossible standard?

Another reason why people wait is that they think perfection equals success. But look at the most successful people in any field. They didn’t wait until they were perfect to begin. They took the leap, made mistakes, and adjusted along the way. They all started somewhere—usually far from perfect. But they committed to the process, improving step by step.

So, how do you break free from the perfection mindset and just do what is required?

First, redefine success.

Instead of seeing success as being flawless, see it as making progress. A rough draft is better than no draft. A short workout is better than no workout. A single step forward is better than standing still.

Second, embrace imperfection as part of the process.

You won’t get everything right the first time. And that’s okay. Mistakes are not proof of failure; they are proof that you are trying. The sooner you start, the sooner you learn, grow, and improve.

Third, focus on action.

Just ask yourself, "What is the next step I need to take?" Not the next ten steps, not the whole plan—just the very next thing that needs to be done. Then do it.

If you started today and did just a little bit each day, where could you be in six months? A year? Five years? But if you keep waiting for the perfect time, where will you be? The answer is, right where you are now.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up. You just need to take action. Because once you do, you’ll realize that progress, not perfection, is what matters.

So whatever it is you’ve been putting off, whatever dream or goal you’ve been afraid to chase—start now. Do what is required. And the rest will follow.