As a parent, I’m always encouraging my kids to dive into new things... even if they won’t be perfect right away. Ironically, I have found myself stuck in the same trap (multiple times). I procrastinated on posting videos and sharing ideas because I worried they wouldn’t be perfect. But the truth is, the real growth kicked in once I got comfortable with imperfection. So today, let’s explore how being effectively imperfect can actually make us more effective.

Tip of the Week: Letting go of perfection frees up your energy, speeds up your progress, and makes you a lot more effective (and happier) along the way.

Side Note: Embracing imperfection is powerful, but it’s hard to do if your calendar, inbox, and systems are demanding perfection at every turn. If you're stuck in rework, unclear priorities, or feeling buried by constant noise, it's not a mindset problem... it’s a workload design problem.

That’s exactly what I built the Effective Workload Management Systems course to solve. It helps you clear the clutter, let go of perfectionism, and focus on the work that truly matters. This latest version is the strongest yet—refined through real-world use by over 70,000 Amazonians. Check it out.

The Theory Behind

Perfectionism often leads to procrastination. Dr. Tim Pychyl’s research shows that when we chase perfection, we often delay action out of fear of falling short. This creates a cycle where we wait to “feel ready” instead of just starting. This leads to us using multiple excuses not to do what we know we have to do.

“Good enough” often gets more done. Decision-making theory introduces the idea of satisficing: choosing an option that meets the need, even if it’s not perfect. Books like The Good Enough Job and Good Enough Parenting actually reinforce the idea that good enough can actually be great, especially when it helps you move forward.

We humans are naturally imperfect. The Stoic philosophers believed that embracing our flaws is part of living a meaningful life. Trying to be flawless not only sets us up for stress, it also ignores the beauty and adaptability in being human. As they very popularly say: To err is human.

Growth beats perfection. Carol Dweck’s “growth mindset” teaches us that success is about learning and effort, not flawless outcomes. When we see imperfect first tries as part of the journey, we unlock real, lasting improvement.

What I’ve Learned

Your first try will always be a bit messy. I learned this firsthand when I started sharing content online. It felt awkward at first, but each attempt got a little easier. Inspired by creators like Ed Sheeran sharing their early drafts, I embraced the idea that everyone starts out rough... and that’s okay.

Make It Happen

1. Start before you feel ready. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect, just begin. Most confidence comes from momentum, not preparation.

2. Finish something at 90%. Aim for “done” instead of “perfect.” If it’s 90% solid, that’s often more than enough to move forward.

3. Set a deadline to stop polishing. Give yourself a time or energy limit (e.g. "I’ll stop editing after 30 minutes") to prevent overthinking.

4. Celebrate your imperfect firsts. Take pride in version 1. Share it. Reflect on it. Label it a “draft” if it helps, but don’t hide it.

5. Keep a “progress journal.” Regularly document small wins or lessons learned. It’ll remind you how far you’ve come, and that imperfect steps still count. This helps for long journeys (weight loss, strength training, self-developing)

6. Practice public imperfection. Post something raw: a rough idea, a sketch, an early insight. Showing the messy middle helps others feel brave too.

7. Ask for feedback instead of praise. Instead of aiming to impress, aim to improve. Ask: “What’s one thing I could do better next time?” Then apply it and move on.

Even the best songs started as voice notes. So go ahead...be effectively imperfect, and watch how far you go. If you read this far, reply to this message with something you want to imperfectly start trying to do.

Perfctly,

Jorge Luis Pando

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PS: Wow, you made it all the way down here? You must really care about your personal development! Here are 3 ways I can help you grow even faster:

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Enjoying what you’re reading? Help a friend out… and you will win something for yourself too.