Why Your Need for Perfection is Killing Your Progress

The entrepreneur’s journey is often celebrated as a testament to flawless execution, but the truth is far grittier. Behind every successful venture lies a trail of missteps, pivots, and "good enough" moments. The problem is, many aspiring builders get trapped in the pursuit of perfection, a psychological block that leads to a failure to launch. We know this all too well. This episode is our raw, honest conversation about why a progressive mindset is not just an alternative, but the only path forward.

In the startup world, founders have a mantra: if you’re going to fail, fail fast. The idea is simple. You put your idea out there, see how customers react, and then you know how to tweak it. You can’t wait for the perfect product.

This mindset is critical, because perfection builds pressure, and pressure breeds fear. The last thing you need is for your team to feel fear because when that is happening, they will never get anything done. They will worry if something is "good enough". When we build a business, we have to encourage a culture where people are proud of their work, but not paralyzed by an impossible standard.

The CPA and dental industries might seem like they require absolute perfection, and in many ways, they do. We talk about how our work has to be in compliance with the board’s requirements, and that there's a certain standard of quality that we demand. I tell my team, "if this will not go in your mom's mouth, then don't do it." But there is a line. Perfection is a must for things that are standardized, like a math problem where one plus one always equals two. It is not a must for things in uncharted territory.

We learned this when building our businesses. When you're making a decision that relies on an external party and isn't in your full control, that is where there needs to be some grace. That is where you exercise a progressive mindset, a good enough mindset, over a perfect one. This is how you avoid the "my way or the highway" mentality that so many founders fall into. My way works unless you have a better way, and we can find a better way by using data. The data should always trump seniority.

We also learned the importance of having an outside perspective. For those who are working alone, you need an advisor. This advisor can help you step back and see if your product is working and if the market actually wants it. This helps you determine if the issue is a design flaw or just your emotional attachment.

Don't wait for the perfect moment. There is no such thing. If you’re trying to start a business, just jump out. Build a minimum viable product and see what happens. Take that first step. This isn't about rushing into failure; it’s about embracing progress.

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Watch the full episode at https://youtu.be/EgdY6NqK1FE.