The problem with being perfect
When over-preparing doesn’t prevent failure, it quietly causes it.
One of the things I’m trying to do in 2026 is to be less perfect.
OK, so hear me out. This post is all about the times where I’ve been waiting for everything to be absolutely perfect, before taking action.
It’s a brilliant trap that’s easy to fall into…
What’s your balance of prepping v.s. execution?
Mine historically has been woeful. Obsessing over building the perfect system, setting up the best approach with all the different hardware and software to deliver the best end result.
But here’s the thing - there is NO end result if you’re just spending all your time preparing.
Three of my recent examples:
Video/podcast creation
Writing
Prepping a garage gym to get fit
With the podcast videos, I must have spent days watching youtube videos, getting various bits of kit, setting up a the perfect home studio and having all the lights, cameras, microphones positioned just right.
But then what - the system was created, but there’s no value UNLESS you hit record.
I did it again with writing. I’ve been wanting to write articles for many years, but rather than JFDI-ing the writing, I’ve spent more time trying different writing apps than actually writing.
”Perhaps if I get this app setup, that’ll make me so efficient and streamlined at writing that it’ll be effortless” was often my thought process.
In any case, in both instances ZERO value was created without actually following through and writing or recording.
The lesson with the videos really struck a chord with me, because it was only when sitting down to film a podcast, that I made real progress. When it finally came to USING all this gear I’d agonised setting up for so long, what happened… there were a tonne of issues!
The camera overheated
The SD card filled up
I messed up the microphone / sound
So what are lessons…
Prep, yes for sure - do enough prep to get familiar enough with the process then just DO it
Action… fast action so that you can adapt and adjust whilst making progress
If the result is truly terrible, it’s a simple case of deleting / adjusting / improving on the fly
Make the systems SIMPLE > too complex and you won’t bother using it
Above all it’s about remembering what part of the process actually provides the value. Tinkering with systems and processes will only get you so far. At some point you actually need to break out of the preparation phase, into the ACTION phase.
Thinking about going to the gym won’t make you fit after all (if only!).
What are you still prepping for? Are you using preparation as a form of procrastination?
And what is there that you could just start (badly) this week?