Ditching Perfectionism In Entrepreneurship: How To Start Taking Imperfect Action

As entrepreneurs, we often hold ourselves to impossibly high standards. Whether you're a coach, healer, or service-based business owner, the desire to deliver perfect results can become more than a little overwhelming.

While attention to detail and quality are important and matter to your overall business success, perfectionism in entrepreneurship can become more of an obstacle than a key to your growth. 

The irony of it all? Your clients aren't looking for perfection at all – they're looking for authentic, valuable solutions to their problems. 

Yet many of us find ourselves stuck in endless cycles of revision, refinement, and doubt, and it all keeps us from making the impact we want to.

Let’s look at how to recognize when perfectionism is holding you back and discover simple ways to take the imperfect action that moves your business forward.

Signs You're Letting Perfectionism Take The Wheel

Before we can work to overcome perfectionism, we need to recognize the sneaky ways it’s been showing up in our business. 

Here are some of the tell-tale signs:

Constant Revision and Tweaking

• Endlessly editing your website copy 

• Rerecording videos multiple times

• Constantly changing your brand elements

• Never feeling your work is "good enough"

Delayed Launches or Projects

• Programs that never quite launch

• Content that stays in draft form

• Services that remain "coming soon"

• Ideas that never see the light of day

Overthinking Decisions

• Analyzing every possible outcome to the point of in-action

• Seeking endless opinions before making a decision

• Unable to commit to a direction within your messaging, marketing or overall plan

• Second-guessing your choices no matter how small 

Fear of Judgment or Criticism

• Hesitating to share your work 

• Comparing yourself to others in your industry

• Worrying about what people might think and letting it keep you stagnant

• Holding back from being visible online or in person

Analysis Paralysis

• Getting stuck in research mode for an extended period of time

• Unable to make simple decisions without consensus or committee 

• Overwhelmed by options no matter how few

• Difficulty taking action regardless of how small and simple

If you recognize yourself in any of these patterns, you're not alone. 

Perfectionism is particularly common among passionate entrepreneurs who care deeply about their work. The good news? Awareness is the first step toward change.

Let's explore why perfectionism can be so costly to your business growth and discover how to move past it.

The Hidden Costs of Perfectionism in Entrepreneurship

You may feel that your drive to be “perfect” is simply having high standards for yourself and your business. But, unfortunately, it could be costing more than you realize. 

Missed Opportunities & Delayed Growth

When you’re stuck in perfectionism, you’re usually spending lots of time planning and not taking action. This leaves time and space for competitors to speak to, connect with and launch to your shared audience. 

And it’s not just your competitors leaving you in the dust! Potential clients who need what you have right now will find their solutions elsewhere. 

Overall, a delayed market presence will be a detriment to your business and perfectionism causes delay 

A Mental & Emotional Toll

Perfectionism is going to negatively impact your business. But what about its effects on your mental and emotional well being?

If you are spending so much time focused on a perceived level of perfection you’re most likely also increasing your stress, your anxiety and blocking some transformational creativity. 

Not to mention the burnout and overwhelm that so often accompanies perfectionism! These are the sort of “silent” effects that will impact not only your business but your overall quality of life. 

Financial Implications

A perfection focused business plan will impact you in lots of ways but what it will ultimately come down to is a very real financial hit.

Lost revenue potential, wasted money making hours and unnecessary revision costs will all affect your bottom line. 

The Power of Imperfect Action

We’ve all heard the phrase “progress over perfection” And there is so much truth in that. 

Taking imperfect action is often far more valuable than chasing some version of perfect before taking action. That’s the whole point - doing it before you might feel ready and refining as you go.

Imperfect action will look different for everyone but the whole point is progress and forward motion.

"Done" is Better Than "Perfect"

Perfect doesn't exist, but done creates results. When you complete and launch something, you:

• Start generating revenue

• Begin building momentum

• Create opportunities for feedback

• Gain real-world experience

Learning By Doing

Every "imperfect" action provides:

• Real time market feedback

• Practical insights into your content & efforts

• Client interaction opportunities

• Growth experiences

Building Continual Momentum

Action creates energy. When you start taking imperfect action, you:

• Build confidence through experience

• Create forward movement

• Develop implementation skills

• Generate enthusiasm and motivation

The Benefit of Client Feedback

Your clients can become your best teachers when you:

• Listen to their actual needs

• Adjust based on real feedback

• Improve through interaction

• Co-create better solutions

Remember, every successful business owner started somewhere, and their first attempts weren't perfect. The difference between those who succeed and those who don't often comes down to their willingness to take action despite imperfection.

Simple Strategies for Shifting A Perfectionist Mindset

Let's explore tangible ways to overcome perfectionism while developing a healthier approach to business growth:

Set Realistic Standards

• Define "good enough" criteria for projects and stick to it

• Create clear project completion checkpoints for yourself 

• Set reasonable timelines and stick to them

• Focus on progress rather than perfection, even if the progress feels small 

• Use time-blocking for tasks to keep you from spending too much time on one thing

• Set firm launch dates

• Implement "done by" deadlines

• Use timers for decision-making

Building Support Systems

• Find an accountability partner

• Join a business community

• Share your goals publicly

• Create a feedback circle

Embrace Progress Over Perfection

   • Celebrate small wins

   • Document your growth

   • Focus on improvement, not perfection

   • Keep a "lessons learned" journal

   • Use setbacks as data points

Practice Self-Compassion

   • Talk to yourself like you'd talk to a client

   • Acknowledge your efforts

   • Remember everyone starts somewhere

The thing to remember if you’re ready to start fighting back against perfectionism, is that the goal isn't to lower your standards but to find a balance between quality and action. 

Your imperfect action right now is for more powerful than a perfect plan tomorrow.

Want to create systems that help you move past perfectionism? Automation on a Mission can help you create and implement consistent, effective processes that free you to take bold action in your business - all of the progress without the overwhelm of perfection! 

Book your free demo and learn more about how we can support your business growth!