Become an imperfectionist

We often get paralyzed right before starting a new project because we're afraid of not meeting our own high expectations.

Hello there beautiful people! My name is Ash Lamb, and this is The Visual Growth Letter. An illustrated newsletter about life and creativity.

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The perfectionist monster feeds on our insecurities, whispering doubts and fueling the fear of making mistakes. It convinces us that unless we can guarantee flawless results, we shouldn't even bother starting.

I'm a chronic perfectionist and the thought of publishing something that I haven't spent an eternity of time on frightens me.

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In the realm of creativity, I find myself grappling with the relentless pursuit of perfection.

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It's a quality that has become ingrained in me. I’ve become a chronic perfectionist, always striving for flawlessness. However, this fixation on perfection has often stopped me from sharing my work, keeping tons of ideas to myself because of my self-imposed limitations.

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I'm too calculative and refined by nature.

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I'm perpetually concerned about how others will perceive my work so I'm capable of postponing something worth sharing for weeks if not months all because I convince myself that if the font I've chosen isn't perfect or the color palette is not attention-grabbing enough, people won't connect with my message at all.

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It's finally time to shed these limiting beliefs and simply document my journey with the flow.

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I’ve realized that not everything needs to be meticulously refined. There is value in maintaining a sense of rawness and purity in our creations.

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In fact, I have come to love the philosophy of perfection through iteration over revision.

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Iteration is about launching an unpolished, yet functional version of a product, and refining it later on with every new work cycle. This approach, while perhaps less glamorous, is sustainable and incredibly effective.

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On the other hand, revision entails holding off on launching a product (or even not showing it to anyone at all) until it has been refined and perfected through countless work cycles. This path often leads to never launching the product. By the time we feel ready (which is often never), we find ourselves contemplating new ideas and projects instead.

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Sometimes, the creator's genuine ideas are overshadowed by unnecessary production. Overcomplicating things and succumbing to perfectionism stop us from pursuing the lives we envision.

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Procrastination and overcomplication can be seen as forms of denial.

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We convince ourselves that hiding our work never to be seen is better than having to face the unrealistic expectations we have set.

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Popular startup phrases like "go big or go home" reinforce this counterproductive narrative. Even in movies, we witness characters spending extensive periods of time locked away, working on projects that will supposedly revolutionize the world when unveiled.

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Unfortunately, this mindset extends beyond the creative realm and affects other aspects of life, such as fitness.

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To have a great workout, you don't need the latest Apple watch or an overly technical outfit. Simply put on some basic shorts, a T-shirt, and shoes, and go for a run. Sometimes, less is truly more.

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At the end of the day, consistently showing up for several years is 90% of the game. Everything else can be figured out along the way.

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As the popular Spanish poet Antonio Machado brilliantly wrote:

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"Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar."

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Translated as "Traveler, there is no path, the path is made by walking."

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This sentiment encapsulates the idea that our journey unfolds through action and progress. It's time to embark on this path, embracing imperfections and leaving refined perfectionism behind.

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And last but not least, here's a very interesting message from Casey Neistat, the renowned YouTuber, entrepreneur, and filmmaker, to a beginner creator seeking advice:

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Thank you so much for reading!

I truly appreciate your readership and support. Without you, this project wouldn't be the same. :)

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Great love and respect,

Ash