Permission to Be Terrible at Something New

How to Stop Perfect-Planning and Start Imperfect-Doing

Hi Friend,

Is there something you've always wanted to do? Write a book, start a business, take a month-long vacation, get a new job, change careers? Yet you find yourself stuck and struggling with getting started?

You're not alone. I've been there more times than I'd like to admit.

Lately, I've been feeling drawn to public speaking. The idea excites me, but every time I think about actually pursuing it, I freeze. Where do I even begin? What if I'm terrible? What if I don't have anything interesting to say?

Sound familiar?

What's Really Happening in Your Brain

Our brains are wired to seek progress, not perfection. Harvard Business School researcher Teresa Amabile spent years studying what she calls "the progress principle," and what she found is that when we make progress on meaningful work - even tiny progress - our brains release dopamine, that feel-good neurotransmitter that motivates us to keep going.

But perfectionism hijacks this natural system. When we demand everything be perfect before we start, we're essentially blocking our brain's reward system. We never get that dopamine hit because we never actually begin.

The result? We stay stuck, overthinking instead of doing, planning instead of progressing.

The Power of Small Wins

Dr. BJ Fogg at Stanford has discovered that tiny behaviors create massive change through what he calls behavior design. When we take small actions and acknowledge them (even if they're imperfect), three important things happen:

First, our brain gets immediate feedback that we're capable.

Second, we start to see ourselves as "someone who does this thing."

Third, each small action makes the next one easier.

It's like compound interest for personal growth.

My Small Win Experiment

Instead of researching the perfect speaking coach or trying to craft the perfect talk, I started ridiculously small. I recorded a two-minute voice memo about something I know well - happiness and positive psychology.

Was it good? Absolutely not. I said "um" more times than I care to count. But you know what? I did it. And my brain registered that as progress.

The next day, I recorded another one. Still not great, but slightly better. Each small step built momentum for the next one.

I've literally laid out a calendar of 1 small item I can do each day to get me closer to this goal.

The Secret Weapon

Want to know the difference between those small wins that fizzle out after a week and the ones that actually get you somewhere?

It's not willpower. It's not motivation.

It's having someone who gives a damn about whether you follow through.

Here's a stat that'll blow your mind: people have a 65% chance of completing a goal if they commit to someone else. But get this - when they have regular check-ins with that person? That number shoots up to 95%. NINETY-FIVE PERCENT.

When you're only accountable to yourself, it's laughably easy to rationalize why today isn't the day. "I'll record that voice memo tomorrow when I'm feeling more articulate." "I'll start that business plan next week when things are less crazy."

Your brain is basically a smooth-talking lawyer who always gets you off the hook.

But when you know you'll have to look someone in the eye (or text them) and admit you bailed on yourself again? Game changer.

When you share your tiny victories with someone who genuinely celebrates them, your brain gets a double hit of that good dopamine we talked about. When your friend gets genuinely excited about your terrible two-minute recording or your one crappy paragraph, your brain thinks, "Oh, this matters to people I care about. Let's keep doing this."

Now, sometimes you need more than a well-meaning friend.

Sometimes you need someone who's actually trained to help you navigate the mental obstacles that keep tripping you up.

Someone who can spot your patterns, call you on your excuses (lovingly), and guide you through the mindset shifts that turn "someday" into "done."

I've got a few spots open this month for people who are tired of being stuck in planning mode and ready to start taking messy, imperfect action toward something that actually matters to them.

If you're ready to stop being your own worst accountability partner, let's talk. [Drop me a line here] and we'll figure out how to turn your ideas into actual progress.

Because honestly? The world needs what you're not starting.

Your Small Wins Challenge

Whatever you've been "perfect-planning" instead of starting, here's what I want you to try:

First, identify one thing you've been overthinking. Maybe it's that business idea, the novel you want to write, or the career change you've been considering.

Next, find the tiniest possible first step. I mean embarrassingly small. If you want to write a book, today's win is opening a document and writing one paragraph. If you want to start a business, it might be spending 10 minutes researching your idea online.

Then, and this is crucial, find your accountability buddy. Choose someone who will genuinely care about your progress and commit to checking in regularly about your small wins.

Give yourself permission to do it imperfectly. Your goal isn't to create something amazing - it's simply to start and keep going, one tiny step at a time.

The Bottom Line

Progress isn't about doing things perfectly. It's about doing things, period. Your brain doesn't need your first attempt to be Instagram-worthy. It just needs you to show up consistently, with someone cheering you on along the way.

Those small, imperfect steps you've been avoiding? They're not just moving you closer to your goals - they're rewiring your brain to believe you're capable of achieving them. And with the right accountability partner, you're 95% more likely to actually get there.

What small win are you working on this week? I'd love to hear about it - hit reply and let me know what tiny step you're taking toward your bigger goal, and whether you've found your accountability partner yet.

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Keep progressing, not perfecting,

With love,

Katherine

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