Perfection is Missing the Point

If you’ve ever found yourself trapped in the loop of over-preparing, over-editing, or endlessly refining before taking action, this story might feel familiar.

Last month, as I put the final touches on my manuscript before sending it to my book designer, I was haunted by a feeling my fellow perfectionists may recognize.

I closed the file, thinking it was finished. Ten minutes later, an anxious thought appeared: Did I update that reference?

Back to my desk I went, flipping through the pages. “Oh good, it’s there.”

An hour later, another thought. Who did I forget to include in the acknowledgments? Cue another frantic review—only to find everything exactly as it should be.

This scene repeated itself several times, even after I’d sent the final version to my designer and sworn, “No more edits.” (I still worry about that acknowledgments section. There are so many wonderful people who’ve helped me, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten some. I hope they’ll forgive me.)

As I reflected on this cycle, I realized how similar it felt to preparing for an overseas trip.

I love to travel. I’ve taken many extended trips abroad and I’m generally good at adapting when things go awry. And yet, every time I prepare for a trip, I find myself compulsively checking and rechecking my bag, my itinerary, my documents. I become so preoccupied with preparation that I momentarily forget what it’s for.

The purpose of preparing for a trip is to have an adventure. Obsessing over perfect preparation misses the point.

Just as a well-organized suitcase is helpful—but not essential—for a great trip, a perfect manuscript is helpful, but not essential, to achieve the purpose of a book: to share ideas.

The same is true of leading change.

Strikingly, leading change combines both of these aims: we are embarking on an adventure inspired by a shared idea. A well-considered plan is useful, but not essential, to begin. Thoughtful communications are useful, but not essential, to begin.

What is essential is stepping out of thinking and stepping into conversation with the world.

When we release the need for perfection, we create space for connection, learning, and movement. We stop waiting to be “ready” and begin building the bridge—one step, one conversation, one imperfect action at a time.