Stop Waiting for Perfect: The Power of Getting Started Anyway

In this episode of "Get Over Your Shit," host Malinda Watt tackles the pervasive myth of perfect timing and readiness that often stalls progress for entrepreneurs and business owners. By discussing her own experiences, including an eight-year delay in launching her podcast, she highlights the importance of imperfect action in building clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Perfect timing is a myth; waiting for it delays progress and opportunities.
• Taking imperfect action helps build clarity and confidence.
• Fear should be seen as a sign of meaningful growth instead of a reason to stop.
• Progress is more valuable than perfection; celebrate small wins.
• Start taking actions today, even if they are small and imperfect.

"The world is waiting for you to start, not to be perfect."

Additional Links & Resources:

• Stop letting content keep you stuck—jumpstart your website planning with clarity and confidence! Get your content organized in just a few hours: https://malindawatt.com/planner
• Try Siteground, my favorite website hosting company: Siteground.com
• Learn more about me and my work at malindawatt.com

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Get Over Your Sh!t! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. Share this with someone who needs a push to start taking action—because we’re all about moving forward together!

Hosted by Malinda Watt
Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios
Music License purchased from stockmusic.com

Transcript

0:00:00 - (Malinda Watt): Hello and welcome to get over your Shit, the podcast dedicated to helping digital course creators, entrepreneurs, and small business owners stop overthinking and start executing. I'm Melinda Watt, your host and fellow overthinker, here to guide you through the maze of self doubt and procrastination that keeps us from reaching our full potential. If you're here, you're probably someone who's ready to get out of your own way, step into your power, and build a life you're actually excited about.

0:00:31 - (Malinda Watt): But here's the thing. Today, we're diving into something that's probably holding a lot of you back. I call it the myth of perfect timing and being fully ready. Spoiler alert. Perfect doesn't exist. And if you're waiting for it, you're just waiting around and missing opportunities. So, let's talk about the power of getting started. Because if you're serious about your growth, your business, your dreams, whatever it is you're working towards, then sitting around waiting to feel ready is not an option.

0:01:05 - (Malinda Watt): So let's start with a question. How many times have you thought, I'll do it when I'm ready or I'll start when things settle down? I've been there too, trust me. Waiting until I felt like I had all the pieces in place. But here's the truth. Perfect timing doesn't exist. And perfection is actually a myth that keeps us from making any progress at all. If you're someone who's waiting until your brand message is perfectly polished, until you've got your entire marketing strategy mapped out, or until you feel 100% confident, you're just delaying.

0:01:43 - (Malinda Watt): The world is not waiting for you to be perfect. It's waiting for you to start. Let that sink in. The world is waiting for you to start, not to be perfect. Now let's talk about what happens when you take imperfect action. Because here's what I've found, and I'm sure you have too, if you're paying attention. Action builds clarity. Action builds confidence. Every small step forward is momentum that you cannot get by sitting on the sidelines and waiting to feel fully ready.

0:02:20 - (Malinda Watt): This has been my biggest lesson in simply even launching this podcast. I had been waiting 8 years. 8 years lost. Missed opportunity, really, in taking imperfect action and showing up and building confidence. Think about this. Some of the most successful brands and businesses out there didn't start with perfection. They started with a messy first draft. They put themselves out there, made tweaks as they went, and learned along the way.

0:02:52 - (Malinda Watt): Imperfect action teaches you things you'll never know if you just sit around planning and waiting. So, what small action could you take today to move closer to your goal, even if it's not perfectly aligned or polished? Just one small Action One of the biggest reasons we avoid getting started is fear. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of messing up. And that's totally normal. But here's a little perspective shift.

0:03:24 - (Malinda Watt): Fear isn't a sign to stop. It's actually a sign you're stepping into something meaningful. Here's a tip I use regularly to reframe my thinking. I also share it with my clients who feel paralyzed by fear. Ask yourself, what's the worst that could happen if I start today? Then, ask, what's the best that could happen? More often than not, the risk of not starting far outweighs any fear of messing up. Remember, you're not married to every decision you make. You can adjust, pivot, learn, and grow as you go, but none of that happens until you take the first step.

0:04:06 - (Malinda Watt): You have to take the actions to be able to move through and learn and grow. This is one of my favorite topics. Progress over perfection. You've probably heard this before, but I'm going to give it to you straight. Waiting for perfection is the surest way to stay stuck. Growth is messy. Growth is filled with mistakes and tweaks. But every bit of forward movement you make, no matter how small or imperfect, is a step closer to where you want to be.

0:04:39 - (Malinda Watt): I want you to start celebrating small wins. Did you put yourself out there today? Even if it felt a little rough? Amazing? Did you try a new approach in your marketing? Even if it didn't land perfectly awesome. Each step builds momentum. It shifts your experience into reality instead of the reality you've created in your head. And action is infinitely more valuable than waiting for the right time to begin.

0:05:07 - (Malinda Watt): So here's the takeaway, and I want you to really let this sink in. The perfect time to start is now. Whatever you're dreaming of building or growing, don't wait. Don't let perfection keep you from progress. Take one action today. It doesn't have to be huge. Just one small step in the direction of your goals. And here's what I challenge you to do. As soon as you finish listening to this episode, take five minutes to write down one action you're going to take in the next 24 hours.

0:05:39 - (Malinda Watt): Don't overthink it. Just one step. And if you're feeling bold, share it with me on social media or drop me a message. I'd love to hear what you're committing to. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of get over your Shit. If you found this helpful, be sure to subscribe. Share this episode with a fellow overthinker and leave a review. Your feedback helps podcast grow and reach more people who need to hear this message.

0:06:02 - (Malinda Watt): Until next time, remember, progress over perfection. You've got this.