This article will help you rethink how you approach progress. We’ll explore how overthinking can hold you back, why chasing perfection keeps you from taking action, and how mistakes can become powerful allies in your personal and professional growth.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ARTICLE:

– Why overthinking kills momentum – understand how the pursuit of perfection holds you back and why action matters more than planning.

– Why consistency beats perfection – learn why continuous improvement outperforms flawless execution.

– How to overcome fear of making mistakes – explore the psychology behind perfectionism and how to shift toward a growth mindset.

Have you ever started planning something but never made progress? I have, and in most cases, I was overthinking the project. I thought about every detail, trying to create the perfect solution, imagining how my idea would change the world.

Then, when I finally started, I realized I was far from what I had envisioned—or worse, I wanted to start over because it wasn’t perfect yet. This process led to frustration, and eventually, I gave up on the idea.

That’s because I was chasing perfection instead of focusing on getting things done.

Run a marathon

“The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago. The second best time to plant the tree of self-discipline is today.” – Eliud Kipchoge

Let’s take the example of running a marathon.

The fastest average marathon speed recorded is 20.01 km per hour by Samuel Kamau Wanjiru. But he didn’t start the race at full speed—no one does. Every marathon begins at 0 km/h, and each step builds momentum until the runner reaches their peak pace.

That’s exactly how Eliud Kipchoge approached his journey. His goal was to become the first man to run a sub-2-hour marathon, but he didn’t achieve it overnight. Through years of training, competing, and learning from unsuccessful attempts, he gradually improved. Eventually, he made history by breaking the 2-hour barrier in Vienna.

The same applies to our goals. We don’t need to be perfect from the start—we just need momentum. And the best way to build momentum? By taking action.

In the past, extensive planning was necessary before executing an idea. But today, things evolve so quickly that if you spend too much time planning without doing, the market will move on without you.

The Past Prioritized Perfection

Before the internet, fixing mistakes was a slow and costly process. Take newspapers, for example—if an article contained an error, the correction could only be published in the next day’s edition. This made perfection a necessity, as mistakes were difficult to fix and could result in financial losses.

Today, things are different. A journalist can instantly update an article on a website, correcting errors in real time. The urgency for absolute perfection has faded—what matters now is progress, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Perfection Is an Illusion, Consistency Is Real

Nowadays, we can just sell perfection as an illusion, because even the most successful technologies have flaws that require ongoing fixes. Nothing is totally perfect.

Take Gmail as an example. It remained in beta for five years, yet millions of people used it daily. Even today, long after leaving beta, it continues to receive regular updates based on user feedback. You can check this in their release updates:

Google understood that waiting for a “perfect” product is unnecessary. Instead of chasing perfection, they focused on continuous improvement—getting things done and refining them along the way.

Fear of Making Mistakes

“Well, it ain’t perfect but I don’t mind. Because it’s worth it.” – Mac Miller, Perfecto

The obsession with perfection often stems from a deep-rooted fear of failure. In the past, mistakes were costly and difficult to fix. But today, we can adapt and correct mistakes faster than ever—so why fear them?

Take SpaceX as an example. Their journey to success was built on trial and error. They experienced multiple rocket failures before achieving their first successful orbit. Instead of fearing mistakes, they embraced them as essential learning opportunities. Want to develop this mindset? Check out our article on how to learn from mistakes with a growth mindset.

This mindset is what drives rapid progress. Overplanning delays action, while doing and adjusting along the way leads to real growth.

Stop Overthinking, Start Doing – Final Thoughts

Progress doesn’t come from perfect plans – it comes from imperfect action. Every great achievement begins with a single step. The difference between the ones who dream and those who succeed isn’t necessarily talent or timing; it’s the will to begin, even if they don’t feel ready.

Acting allows us to learn, adapt, and grow. On the other hand, waiting only strengthens our doubts.

You’ll probably never find the answers before you begin, and that’s alright! Your path forward will reveal itself through action, not thoughts. There’s no need to overanalyze every move or wait for the right moment, because the right moment is right now.

Take the first step, regardless of how small it is, and trust that progress will follow. Remember that done is better than perfect and that consistency is the real secret to mastery.

Ready to turn ideas into action?

At KWAN, we believe progress is built one step, one iteration, one project at a time. Our teams don’t wait for the “perfect moment”, they build, test, learn, and grow alongside our partners.
Join the community where action beats overthinking and talent turns vision into reality! Apply here.