E-couragement: Done is Better than Perfect
“To make new action possible, we need to create new thought and new feelings from that new thought.” Bruce Schneider
Friday June 1 was a humid and overcast afternoon. My partner and writing coach, Jerome Daley and I were convening at my home office to create curriculum for a client. Upon arriving, Jerome handed me a small package found resting on the porch. Before opening it I proclaimed, “Do you know what this is? It’s the book!” In a moment of serendipity, my writing coach presented me with the final draft of my book, Your Employees Have Quit—They Just Haven’t Left. I was holding an object that represented three years of intense labor, belief overcoming doubt, and the manifestation of a dream. Yet, there were times when this dream felt more like a nightmare.
It all started in 2005, shortly after being accepted as a member of the National Speakers Association. During one of my first meetings I heard a colleague say, “If you want to be a successful professional speaker, write a book.” I thought to myself; this is not why I’m here. What is she talking about? My immediate reaction was to reject this advice as I was still holding a belief acquired in elementary school which said I was a below average speller and slow reader. How could a kid who had struggled with Dick and Jane write a book of his own? Instead I decided to begin with a more reasonable goal of journaling and blogging. As an unexpected result, many of these blog posts morphed into chapters for my book which was conceived in 2009.
Completing this book was not a linear process—rather a journey filled with peaks, valleys, unplanned stops, and detours. At times I’d spend days laboring over details in each chapter, then I received another gift from a professional speaker friend who was discussing the topic of completing a book. Understanding how easy it is for the voices of perfection to stall a writing project, he said, “Done is better than perfect.” That statement resonated within my mind and heart. Waiting on perfection doesn’t place my book in the hands of customers. Delaying for perfection doesn’t help sell my book online. Done makes both possible. I committed to finish my writing and ignore the clanging voice of perfection rattling around my brain.
My book is finally done. Not perfect, simply done. One last read through and it’s off to the printer. At the same time, I’m wondering what have you been working on that needs to be done rather than perfect? Is it a magazine article, book, art project, business proposal, entrepreneurial dream? What might you accomplish by releasing the voice of perfection from holding you hostage? Go on now and get it done. No one can benefit from your talents and gifts if you continue to wait on perfection.
Leave your comment: What are you contemplating that should be done rather than perfect?