Yes, I’m kicking this one off with a Bigfoot analogy, Lets Go!

Waiting for the perfect moment to take action is like waiting for Bigfoot to show up. We’ve all heard about it, but nobody’s ever actually seen it. Yet somehow, we still sit around waiting for all the stars to align before we make a move. Here’s the harsh reality: perfection is a myth, and waiting for the “right time” is nothing more than a sneaky form of procrastination.

The idea that you need everything to be perfect before you start is just fear in disguise. You tell yourself, “Once this is done, or once I have this, then I’ll go for it,” but the truth is, you’re just delaying action because you’re scared. Perfectionism keeps you safe, or at least it feels that way, but really, it’s keeping you stuck. Every day you spend waiting for that perfect moment is another day wasted, another opportunity missed. The perfect moment doesn’t exist, and chasing it is a great way to never actually get anything done.

The Myth of Perfect Timing

We’re taught from a young age that timing is everything. That the right moment, the right opportunity, or the right set of circumstances will somehow fall into our laps and magically make everything better. But that’s not how life works. If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to start a business, end a relationship, or pursue a dream, guess what? You’ll be waiting forever. Perfection is a moving target, and the more you chase it, the further it gets.

Perfectionism tricks you into thinking you’re being methodical, cautious, and smart, but in reality, it’s just holding you back. Research from Stanford shows that perfectionism is a major cause of procrastination. The fear of not doing something perfectly becomes so overwhelming that it stops you from doing anything at all. It convinces you that if you wait just a little longer, everything will fall into place. Spoiler alert: it won’t.

The Stats: Perfectionism Leads to Procrastination

A Stanford University study found that perfectionists are significantly more likely to procrastinate because they’re so focused on getting everything exactly right that they never actually begin. It’s that classic “analysis paralysis” where you’re stuck in a loop of overthinking every little detail, afraid to move forward until things are perfect. But here’s the kicker. Perfection isn’t real, and chasing it is a surefire way to stay stuck in the same place.

Psychologists also found that perfectionism leads to higher levels of stress and burnout. When you hold yourself to an impossible standard, you’re setting yourself up for failure. And guess what happens when you fail? You feel even worse about yourself, and the cycle continues. Perfectionism isn’t a path to success; it’s a trap that keeps you from even starting.

A Tale of Two Projects: Perfection vs. Action

Let me give you two examples of how perfectionism vs. action plays out. I knew someone who had a brilliant business idea. They were going to revolutionize their industry. The only problem? They couldn’t pull the trigger. They spent years tweaking, refining, and waiting for the “perfect” time to launch. Guess what? They never launched. All that potential, all that brilliance, wasted because they were too busy obsessing over getting it just right.

Now let’s contrast that with someone who had an average idea but just went for it. They launched, made a ton of mistakes, but learned along the way. They adjusted, pivoted, and kept moving. The difference? One person is still talking about what could have been, while the other is actually living it. They didn’t wait for perfection, they took action, and that’s why they succeeded.

The lesson here is simple. Waiting for perfection means waiting forever. Action, even if it’s messy, is what moves you forward. Perfection doesn’t create success, action does.

Perfection Is Like Bigfoot

Newsflash: the “perfect moment” is like Bigfoot. Everyone’s heard about it, but no one’s ever actually seen it. If you spend your life waiting for everything to line up perfectly, you’ll find yourself stuck in a cycle of tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll start. Tomorrow I’ll launch. Tomorrow I’ll finally make that decision. But tomorrow never comes because there’s always something else that needs to be perfect before you begin.

The truth is, the right time is now, flaws and all. The people who are out there crushing it aren’t waiting for the stars to align. They’re taking action, making mistakes, and learning along the way. Action beats perfection every single time. It’s what gets you from where you are to where you want to be, while waiting keeps you exactly where you are, stuck.

Why Action Beats Perfection

The biggest problem with waiting for perfection is that it stops you from taking action. And without action, you don’t get results. Mistakes aren’t something to fear, they’re part of the process. Everyone who’s ever achieved something meaningful has made mistakes along the way. But they learned from them, adjusted, and kept moving forward.

When you take action, you build momentum. You start learning what works and what doesn’t, and you get closer to your goals with every step. Perfection doesn’t move you forward, action does. When you’re stuck waiting for everything to be perfect, you’re essentially standing still. You’ll never be ready if you’re always waiting for the “right” moment, and that’s why action beats perfection every time.

How to Stop Waiting for the Perfect Moment

1. Set a Deadline
   Stop waiting until you feel ready. Set a firm deadline for taking action and stick to it. Whether it’s launching a project, making a decision, or pursuing a goal, give yourself a specific date to start, no excuses. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to act.
2. Embrace Imperfection
   Accept that mistakes are inevitable. The sooner you let go of the idea that everything has to be perfect, the faster you’ll move forward. Every step you take teaches you something new, and that’s where real growth happens, not in planning but in doing.
3. Break It Down
   Overwhelmed by the size of the task? Break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Start with the first step and go from there. You don’t have to conquer everything in one go. Progress is progress, no matter how small.
4. Shift Your Focus
   Stop obsessing over the outcome and focus on the process. It’s the journey that counts, not the destination. By focusing on the actions you can take today, you’ll find that perfection becomes less important and progress becomes your main goal.
5. Take One Small Step Today
   What can you do right now to move the needle? Take that small step. Action breeds momentum, and once you get moving, it’s easier to keep going. Stop overthinking and start doing.

Your Empowerment Moment™

This is it, Your Empowerment Moment™. Perfection is the biggest con in the book. It tricks you into thinking that waiting is smart, but really, it’s just keeping you stuck. Clarity comes from action, not endless planning. Confidence is built through mistakes and learning, not from waiting for everything to align. And control comes when you stop letting fear dictate your choices and start making moves, even when things aren’t perfect.

Stop waiting for perfection. Stop waiting for the right moment. The power to move forward is already in your hands. You just have to take the first step.

From My Heart to Yours

Waiting for perfection is like putting your life on hold, hoping for an invitation that’s never going to come. The truth is, you don’t need everything to be perfect to start. You just need to start. Mistakes will happen, but that’s where the real growth and learning come from. It’s the action, the process, the steps you take that make the difference.

Stop letting the fear of imperfection hold you back. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to begin. Take that first step, and trust that you’ll figure out the rest along the way.

Bill G. Wolcott