logo.png

Why Perfectionism is the Secret Enemy of Your Business Progress

Michael Schuneman

Monday, May 09, 2022

The Lifelong Learner Blog/Biggest Lesson Of The Week (BLOTW)/Why Perfectionism is the Secret Enemy of Your Business Progress

NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase something through the link, at no additional cost to you, I could be paid a commission. I only recommend things I trust and would recommend anyways.

Last week, I was listening to a podcast: just your typical drive-time listening about sales, marketing, and personal development. I was nodding along, enjoying the insights, until the very end.

The guest shared one piece of advice that figuratively punched me in the gut.

It was one of those truths that hits you right where it hurts because you know, deep down, it’s the exact thing holding you back. For a fellow perfectionist, it was a wake-up call I didn't know I needed.

If you’ve followed my journey, you might know that I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. I like to think of myself as a "recovering perfectionist," but lately, I’ve noticed the old patterns creeping back in. Projects that should have been finished weeks ago are dragging on because they "aren’t quite right yet."

Maybe you’ve felt that way too?

The advice that hit me so hard was just five words: “Perfection is the enemy of progress.”

​In this post, we’re going to dive into why this mindset is the silent killer of business growth strategies and how you can break the cycle to finally get your message out to the world.

Perfectionism is Just Procrastination in a Fancy Suit

We often wear our perfectionism like a badge of honor. We tell ourselves it’s because we have "high standards" or because we "care about quality." But if we’re being honest, most of the time, perfectionism is just a sophisticated form of procrastination.

When you delay launching that new funnel, sending that email, or recording that video because it’s not "perfect," you aren’t protecting your brand: you’re hiding.

​For many small business owners, the entrepreneur mindset is often stuck in a loop of overthinking. We spend hours tweaking the color of a button or rewriting a single sentence in an email, while the actual needle-moving tasks: like talking to customers or making offers: get pushed to the side.

The Hidden Cost of Waiting

Every day you wait to launch is a day you aren't getting real-world data. In the world of digital marketing, data is king. You can guess what your customers want all day long, but you won't actually know until you put something in front of them.

  • Missed Opportunities: Your competitors are out there launching "imperfect" products and winning customers while you’re still polishing your logo.
  • Slower Learning Curves: You learn more from one "failed" launch than from six months of theoretical planning.
  • Revenue Stagnation: You can't sell a product that doesn't exist in the marketplace yet.

The ClickFunnels Way: Progress > Perfection

One of the biggest influences on my business is the teaching of Russell Brunson and the team over at ClickFunnels. If there is one thing Russell hammers home, it’s this: Launch before you’re ready.

In his book DotCom Secrets, Russell talks about the importance of getting your "Minimum Viable Funnel" live. He doesn't say "wait until you have the world's best copy and a million-dollar design." He says to get the offer out there.

A comparison between a complex, non-working "perfect" funnel and a simple, hand-drawn "imperfect" funnel that is actually attracting customers.

The ClickFunnels philosophy is built on iteration, not idealization. You launch a simple version (Version 1.0), see how people react, and then you improve it based on what the data tells you.

As the saying goes in the community: “Imperfect funnels in the market beat perfect funnels in your head every single time.”

Tactical Shifts for the Recovering Perfectionist

So, how do we actually stop the cycle? How do we move from "recovering perfectionist" to "productive action-taker"? Here are a few business growth strategies I’m implementing right now to keep the momentum going:

1. Set a "Hard" Deadline (And Stick to It)

Perfectionism loves an open-ended timeline. Give yourself a strict window to complete a task. If you’re writing an email, give yourself 20 minutes. If you’re building a landing page, give yourself three days. When the timer hits zero, it’s "done enough" to ship.

2. The B-Minus Work Permission Slip

This one is a game-changer. Explicitly give yourself permission to do "B-minus" work on your first draft. Most of the time, your "B-minus" work is still better than 90% of what's out there anyway. By aiming for "good enough," you remove the paralysis of trying to reach "perfect."

3. Focus on Service, Not Performance

When we obsess over perfection, we’re usually focused on ourselves: how we look, what people will think of us, or whether we’ll be judged. When you shift your focus to helping your customer, the pressure of perfection fades. Your customers don't need you to be perfect; they need you to solve their problems.

A close-up of a hand about to press a glowing 'GO' button, representing the moment of choosing action over hesitation.

Tactical Shifts for the Recovering Perfectionist

I sincerely believe that you should do good work and try your best. This isn't an excuse to be lazy or sloppy. But there is a massive difference between "doing your best" and "waiting for perfect."

If you never actually get something out to the world because it isn't perfect, there is no progress. And without progress, your business will eventually stall.

For my fellow perfectionists out there: It is good enough. Let it go.
​

Everything doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, it probably never will be! There will always be something you could have said differently or a design element you could have tweaked. Don’t let that stop you from making progress and doing awesome things.

Your 30-Day Action Plan

If you’re feeling stuck today, here is a simple challenge to kickstart your entrepreneur mindset shift:

  • Pick one project that has been dragging on for more than two weeks.
  • Identify the "Minimum Viable" version of that project. What is the bare minimum you need to get it live?
  • Set a launch date for 48 hours from now.
  • Publish it. Don't look back. Don't check for typos ten times. Just hit "send" or "publish."
A path of hand-laid bricks leading toward a sunrise, symbolizing that small, imperfect steps lead to long-term business success.

Progress is a path made of imperfect steps. Each brick you lay might not be perfectly straight, but as long as you keep laying them, you’re moving toward the sunrise.

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. It’s not coming. Instead, create the moment by taking action today.

Ready to build your first "imperfect" funnel? Check out the ClickFunnels 30-Day Challenge to get started with a community that values progress over everything else.

Let’s get to work.

The people around you quietly shape what you believe is normal, including how you work, market, sell, and grow your business. Michael Schuneman explores how to choose an environment that supports the person and business you want to become.

New tools, tactics, supplements, and strategies are exciting, but they cannot replace the basics. Michael Schuneman explores why strong foundations in health and business create the conditions where everything else can finally work.

A disappointing campaign, quiet launch, or underperforming funnel does not have to mean your business has failed. Michael Schuneman explores the one decision that turns a setback into a true failure and how small business owners can keep learning, adapting, and moving toward what still matters.

Dr. Michael Schuneman, DC

Hi, I'm Michael

Chiropractor · Entrepreneur · Lifelong Learner

I don't write because I've figured everything out. I write because I'm still figuring it out — and I've found that the lessons that hit hardest are usually the ones worth passing along.

This blog is where I think out loud about mindset, health, business, and what it means to build a life you're actually proud of.

Free Resource

Feeling Stuck?
​This Might Help

15 questions designed to help you reconnect with your purpose and get moving again. No fluff. Just honest questions that cut through the noise.

Schuneman Enterprises, LLC logo

Dr. Michael Schuneman, DC

Chiropractor · Entrepreneur · Lifelong Learner

Building wealth without selling my soul, and sharing what I've learned along the way.

CONNECT