Chidozie ChimaPerfection is a myth. A glorified excuse. A productivity killer dressed up as a virtue.
And yet, we all chase it.
We tell ourselves we’ll launch when it’s “just right.” We’ll publish when it’s “flawless.” We’ll send that email when we’ve rewritten it for the fiftieth time. And in the process, we sit on unfinished work, half-baked ideas, and projects that never see the light of day—because they’re never “ready.”
The problem? Nothing is ever ready.
The Perfectionist’s Trap
The pursuit of perfection is really just fear in disguise. Fear of being judged. Fear of releasing something that isn’t world-class. Fear of looking back and thinking, I could have done better.
So we tweak. We refine. We waste hours on pixel-perfect alignments, the “ideal” shade of blue, and code that nobody but us will ever care about. And in the end, does it really make a difference?
99% of the time, no.
Because while we’re busy obsessing over perfection, someone else is shipping. Someone else is getting feedback, improving, and moving forward while we’re still stuck in revision hell.
Good Enough is Better Than Perfect
Here’s the reality: Perfection is subjective. What’s perfect to you is irrelevant if nobody else ever sees it. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
The best designers, developers, writers, and creators don’t get stuck in the endless loop of making things “just a little better.” They release, get feedback, improve, and iterate.
Apple doesn’t wait for the perfect iPhone—they release one every year and let the market tell them what to fix. The best writers don’t sit on drafts forever—they publish, adjust, and grow.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about getting better, one iteration at a time.
The 80% Rule
A rough truth? The last 20% of “perfecting” something is usually just wasted effort. That final polish rarely moves the needle. The difference between really good and perfect is often invisible to everyone but you.
Instead of chasing 100%, aim for 80%. If it works, if it delivers value, if it does what it needs to—ship it. You can always refine later.
Perfect Doesn’t Exist—Finished Does
The most successful people aren’t the ones who aim for perfection. They’re the ones who hit publish, ship the product, launch the site, send the email, and move on.
So, whatever you’re sitting on right now—just release it. You’ll never get it perfect, but you can get it done. And that’s what actually matters.