Progress Not Perfection: Mindset Monday to Move Forward Fast!
Stuck in Perfectionism? Why 'Progress, Not Perfection' is the Only Way Forward
Mindset Monday: Welcome to your weekly dose of inspiration to reset, refocus, and conquer the week ahead. Today, we’re tackling one of the biggest dream-killers of our time: the paralyzing trap of perfectionism.
Do you have a project, a goal, or a dream that’s been stuck in your head for months, or even years? You’ve planned it, re-planned it, and envisioned the flawless final product.
But there’s one problem: you haven’t started. The desire for everything to be meticulously, impossibly perfect has created a wall so high you can’t see over it.
You’re not alone. This is the perfectionist's trap, and it’s time we dismantled it, brick by brick.
The Perfectionist's Prison: A Personal Story
For most of my life, I was a willing inmate in that prison. As a Virgo, I wore the "perfectionist" label like a badge of honor. It was ingrained in my very being. Every email had to be flawless, every plan foolproof, every launch perfect.
The result? A whole lot of creating and very little sharing. Thinking and not doing. My dreams were like beautifully polished cars sitting in a garage with the engine off, looking pretty but going nowhere.
✅The turning point came for me on a specific, memorable day: January 17th, 2025. I looked at my long list of "someday" projects and felt a wave of frustration.
I realized that my pursuit of perfection wasn't a noble quest for excellence; it was a sophisticated form of fear. Fear of judgment, fear of failure, fear of not being good enough. On that day, I made a conscious, deliberate choice. I decided to choose progress!
This blog post you are reading right now is a direct result of that decision. It’s not perfect. But it exists. It’s moving forward. I jumped.
"First you jump off the cliff and you build your wings on the way down."- Ray Bradbury
This quote became my new mantra. It captures the essence of choosing Progress over Perfection. You don’t wait until you’re ready. You don’t wait until the plan is flawless. You take the leap, trusting that you’ll figure out how to fly as you’re falling. That is progress in its purest form.
🟢 This idea—that our past and our perceived limitations don't have to define our future—is a powerful one. It’s a fundamental shift in mindset that separates those who dream from those who do. No one embodies this better than Steve Harvey.
His journey has been anything but a straight, perfect line. In this video, he cuts through the noise and gets to the core of what it takes to change your entire trajectory.
As Steve Harvey so powerfully illustrates, your starting point is irrelevant. What matters is the unshakeable faith you have in your ability to move forward. It’s not about religion; it’s about the unwavering belief that your thoughts can and will create your new reality. Let that sink in.
One simple baby step can turn into a Giant Leap!
Why "Baby Steps" Are the Secret Weapon
Okay, so you’ve decided to jump. Now what? The thought of building wings mid-air can still be terrifying. This is where one of the most brilliant, and hilariously simple, philosophies comes in: "Baby steps."
Remember the movie What About Bob? Bill Murray’s character, Bob Wiley, uses this mantra to overcome his crippling anxieties, from simply leaving his apartment to sailing a boat. While comedic, the principle is profound.
The reason we procrastinate is that the mountain looks too big to climb. So, don’t look at the mountain. Look only at the single pebble in front of you.
Want to write a book? Your baby step is to write one sentence.
Want to get fit? Your baby step is to put on your workout shoes.
Want to start a business? Your baby step is to register the domain name.
These actions are so small they feel almost ridiculous, which is precisely why they work. They bypass the brain's fear response! You can’t argue with putting on your shoes. Once you do, momentum takes over!!
One tiny little move in the direction of your dream life is infinitely more powerful than a grand, perfect plan that never leaves the notebook. Look at Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates—they didn't wait for a diploma to give them permission; they took a baby step that turned into a giant leap.
The goal is to get it out of your head and into the world!
How to Weave "Progress, Not Perfection" into Your Daily Life
Adopting this mindset is a daily practice. It’s about consciously choosing action over inaction, again and again. Here’s how you can make it a part of your operating system:
Redefine "Done. "Perfectionism tells you "done" is a flawless masterpiece. Progress tells you "done" is "shipped." It’s complete enough to be out in the world. Done is better than perfect.
Set Process Goals, Not Just Outcome Goals. Instead of "I need to lose 20 pounds" (an outcome), your goal becomes "I will walk for 20 minutes, three times this week" (a process). You have 100% control over the process, which builds confidence and momentum.
Celebrate the Tiny Wins. Did you write that one sentence? Acknowledge it! Did you make that one phone call? Give yourself a mental high-five. Celebrating progress reinforces the behavior and makes you want to do more. IT WORKS!✋
Embrace the "Good Enough" First Draft. Whether it's a report, a piece of art, or a new recipe, give yourself permission to create a "version 1.0" that is simply good enough. You can always iterate and improve later. The goal is to get it out of your head and into the world.
The choice is always yours.
Your 5-Minute Action Plan for This Monday
Don't just read this—do it. Set a timer for five minutes and complete these steps right now.
Identify Your "Stuck" Thing: Think of one task or project you’ve been avoiding because you want it to be perfect. Write it down.
Find the First, Tiniest Step: What is the absolute smallest, most laughably easy first action you can take? Not the second step, just the first. (e.g., "Open the document," "Find the phone number," "Google one idea.")
Do ONLY That First Step: For the next three minutes, doonlythat tiny, first step. Don't think about step two. Don't worry about the outcome. Just complete the first action.
Acknowledge the Progress: When the timer goes off, say out loud: "I made progress." Feel the shift. You are no longer stuck; you are in motion.
Schedule Your Next Baby Step: Put a 15-minute block in your calendar for tomorrow to take the next tiny step.
Keep moving forward. Progress is the Only Path!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What if my small steps feel insignificant and pointless?
A: They are not. Momentum is a powerful force. Small, consistent actions compound over time into massive results. A single drop of water is nothing, but many drops can carve a canyon. Trust the process and focus on the action, not the immediate, massive outcome.
Q2: How do I deal with the fear of my "imperfect" work being judged by others?
A: First, recognize that most people are too busy worrying about their own lives to scrutinize yours. Second, reframe feedback. It’s not judgment; it’s data. An "imperfect" first draft allows you to gather valuable feedback that makes your next version stronger. Hiding your work guarantees it will never improve.
Q3: Is it ever okay to aim for perfection?
A: Aim for excellence, not perfection. Excellence is about doing your best with the resources and knowledge you have right now. Perfection is an unattainable, shifting standard that leads to paralysis. Strive to be excellent in your progress, and you will achieve more than you ever thought possible.
Kick some A** today, and remember to keep moving forward. Progress is the Only Path!
Don't miss a beat! Sign up for the Daily Upgrades!👇
🎯Daily Upgrades (Free): Get short daily emails + a 5-minute Theta Routine to rewire your mindset and momentum! Free daily email. Real solutions. No fluff.
Pay It Forward! 🚀
~Brett
TheMorningMotivator.com · CompleteBusinessFitness.com
You’re Upgrading 1%+ Every Day! Keep Going!
Start Here (best next step):
Morning Toolkit: Kickstart your day with my core tools and prompts – your best “Day One” starting point.
Daily Support & Focus:
Daily Upgrades (Free): Get short daily emails + a 5-minute Theta Routine to rewire your mindset and momentum.
Simplify Your Business Workflow:
Two-Tool Business Blueprint (Free Download): See exactly how I use AI + automation to streamline content and tasks.
Quick Clarity in 30 Seconds:
Freedom Blocker Quiz: Find the #1 mindset block keeping you stuck.
Success Blocker Quiz: Reveal your biggest business bottleneck and where to focus next.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for reading and supporting the work!
