Why You Need to Ditch Perfectionism and Just Launch

"I'll launch when everything's perfect."

Funny thing – I used to say this all the time, while simultaneously claiming I wasn't a perfectionist. Here's what threw me off: in my client work, I was the definition of confident adaptability. Questions during a live session? No problem. Shifting strategies on the fly? Second nature. After all, this was my zone of expertise – I could do it in my sleep.

But when it came to creating my first course? Suddenly, perfectionism crept in wearing the world's cleverest disguise. Even though I had years of expertise and could handle any client curveball, I found myself stuck in an endless cycle of "it's not ready yet." The real problem? It wasn't about my expertise at all – it was about feeling like a newbie at video recording and course creation.

Let me guess – any of these sound familiar?

I'm calling myself out here because I did exactly this. Even though I had a writing degree and years of expertise in tech consulting, I decided to create my first course in health and wellness since I’m a trained chef with education in nutrition – a field I was passionate about but it wasn't my day job. Talk about adding an extra layer of perfectionist pressure! I spent months creating an entire course – eight comprehensive modules plus bonuses that could've been courses on their own – before I had a single sale. The irony? In my client work, I never second-guessed my tech consulting expertise. But as soon as I stepped into course creator mode in a new field, I convinced myself I needed to know more, do more, perfect more.

Here's the kicker: as a business owner, I could keep pushing back launch dates (unlike those client sessions where I had to show up ready or not). So I did. Now I know that's the course creator's equivalent of building an entire restaurant before asking if anyone's hungry – all because the restaurant owner thinks they need to master food photography before serving their first dish (even though they've been cooking amazing meals for years).

Here's what waiting for perfect actually costs you:

But most importantly? It's costing you the chance to help people who need what you know right now.

Want to know a secret? Your first launch doesn't need to be perfect. In fact, it shouldn't be. Because here's what actually happens when you embrace "done" over "perfect":

Ready to break free from perfectionism's sneaky grip? Here's your permission slip to launch before you're ready:

Instead of an eight-module masterpiece, start with a mini-course or workshop. Think appetizer, not seven-course meal. Your expertise is probably overwhelming you with possibilities – pick ONE thing and start there.

Mark it on your calendar. Tell someone about it. Sell it before you create it. Make it real. Nothing beats perfectionism like a deadline and paying customers waiting for your knowledge.

List the absolute minimum requirements for launch. I mean minimum. Does it solve a problem? Can people access it? Can they pay for it? Great. Everything else goes on the "Version 2.0" list.

Here's a game-changer: launch your first version as a pilot program. Not only does this take the pressure off, but it turns your early customers into invested partners in your success. These wonderful humans get to shape your course's future – and let me tell you, there's something magical about telling a pilot customer "Remember that suggestion you made? Check out the new module I created based on your feedback!"

I've seen pilot customers become your biggest cheerleaders because they get to watch their ideas come to life in future versions. Plus, they love telling other people "I was there when this course first launched, and wow, you should see it now!" It's like having a team of friendly co-creators who are genuinely excited to help you build something amazing.

Here's what finally broke my perfectionist paralysis: I realized that by trying to make everything perfect, I was actually being selfish. Harsh, right? But think about it – while I was tweaking and adjusting and "making it better," people who needed my help weren't getting it.

Your knowledge, right now, even delivered imperfectly, could be exactly what someone needs to move forward. Are you really willing to keep that from them while you wait for perfect?

Consider this your official permission to:

Because here's the truth: the perfect time to start is now, and the perfect version doesn't exist. What exists is the version you create, the people you help, and the business you build – one imperfect action at a time.

Want to know the best part? You've already got everything you need to get started. 

All of these are valuable content just waiting to be shared with a wider audience.

Grab our free guide, "25 Smart Ways to Share Your Expert Knowledge," and you'll discover how to turn your everyday client work into courses, workshops, and digital products – without starting from scratch or getting stuck in perfectionism paralysis. Because sometimes the simplest way to start is by simply reshaping what you're already doing brilliantly.

P.S. If you're sitting there thinking "but my situation is different, I really do need everything to be perfect before I launch," – that's just perfectionism wearing a really convincing costume. Trust me, I've tried them all. Download the guide and let's start with what you already have.