Why ‘Good Enough’ Is Sometimes the Perfect Plan

Letting Go of Perfection to Make Progress

Let me set the stage: It’s a Saturday afternoon, you’ve finally got some free time, and you decide to dive into your shiny new woodworking hobby. You’ve got tools that would make a pro jealous, you’ve spent weeks building an amazing workbench to house all your gadgets, and your Pinterest board is overflowing with ideas. But after all that, you realize… you haven’t actually made anything yet.

Or maybe you’re gearing up to be the next Tiger Woods. You’ve got the latest clubs, a high-tech swing trainer, and a course membership you never use because you’re too busy tweaking your stance in the mirror. The dream’s there, but the action? MIA.

Sound familiar? That’s the perfection trap—a sneaky little bastard that keeps you planning, prepping, and fine-tuning but never actually pulling the damn trigger. It’s a cycle that traps the best of us.

Let’s talk about why, good enough is exactly what you need to get moving.

Planning is a Trap

Planning feels productive. Hell, sometimes it even looks productive from the outside. You’re researching, organizing, and strategizing like a boss. But if you’re stuck in the planning stage, you’re not actually doing anything.

It’s like spending hours writing the world’s best workout plan but never stepping foot in the gym. Or mapping out your dream road trip with every stop planned down to the minute—only to never leave your driveway. Planning can become the ultimate procrastination tool because it lets you avoid the messy, uncomfortable part: Action.

And let’s be real, action is where the magic happens.

The Perfect Bench That Never Makes a Chair

Back to the woodworking example. Imagine this: you’ve spent weeks crafting a flawless workbench. It’s sturdy, it’s beautiful, it’s the envy of every hobbyist on Reddit. But after that? Crickets. The tools sit there collecting dust because you’ve poured all your energy into preparing instead of creating.

Or think about golf. You’ve got a bag full of the newest clubs, a swing trainer in your living room, and a driving range membership you only use once a month. You’ve prepared yourself to be an incredible golfer, but you’re not actually golfing.

These examples are everywhere in life—when you’re too focused on building the perfect setup, you forget to actually start.

Beware the Planning Trap: Action Feels Bigger Than It Is

Here’s a sneaky little thing about planning: it can feel like a major accomplishment when, really, it’s just a step. You’ve seen it before—hell, you might’ve even done it yourself. Spent hours, maybe days, meticulously outlining every detail, mapping out every possible scenario, and then… stopped.

Why? Because planning feels like a big move. It tricks your brain into thinking, Hey, I did something huge today. But here’s the kicker—you’re still the same person, sitting safely in your comfort zone, clutching a notebook full of ideas you haven’t acted on.

It’s like journaling your frustrations at the end of the day—feels cleansing, but those words didn’t fix anything. Planning works the same way. It can help you organize your thoughts, but until you take that first step, you haven’t actually done anything.

The Key to Success: Action

Here’s the cold, hard truth: The only thing that matters is action.

It doesn’t matter how much you plan, how many tools you buy, or how detailed your roadmap is if you never take the first step. Perfection doesn’t get you results. Action does.

There’s an old saying that I love: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” The same goes for your career, your hobbies, your goals—whatever it is you’ve been dreaming about.

And yeah, action is messy. It’s uncomfortable. You’re going to screw up, make changes, and pivot along the way.

But here’s the thing: that’s the point. Tinkering, experimenting, and learning as you go is how progress happens.

Are You a Big Thinker or a Doer?

Some people are big thinkers—they can map out massive plans and envision the endgame like it’s a movie playing in their head. But here’s the problem: they can’t break it down into steps, so their grand ideas just sit there collecting dust.

If that’s you, here’s my advice: stop spinning your wheels alone and find people who are doers. Network with those action-takers who can help bring your ideas to life. And let’s be real—if you’re afraid of asking for help because you think you’re bothering someone, maybe your big plan just sucks, because it doesn’t sound like you are married to it.

If you don’t believe in it enough to pitch it to someone else, then why the hell are you holding onto it?

Now, if you’re a doer, why the hell are you even here reading this? Seriously, quit procrastinating and get to work. Pick an idea—any idea—and just start. You don’t need permission, a perfect blueprint, or someone to cheer you on. You’ve got what it takes, so stop overthinking and make it happen.

Big thinkers, pass the ball to someone who can run with it. Doers, lace up and hit the field.

Write the Cookbook or Make the Meal

Here’s yet another metaphor to chew on (pun intended):

A well-thought-out plan is like writing a cookbook. You’ve got precise measurements, and step-by-step instructions. It’s great for the kitchen, but when it comes to making big life or career changes, sometimes you’ve just gotta open the cabinet, see what’s there, and start cooking.

The question is: are you writing the cookbook, or are you making the meal?

My Own Battle with Perfection

I’ll be honest—this is something I’ve struggled with myself. I’m a big-picture guy. I can dream up the wildest ideas and see the potential in everything, but sometimes that vision gets so big it feels paralyzing.

I’ve spent weeks, even months, tinkering with plans that never saw the light of day because I wanted them to be perfect. And you know what? Perfection never came. Shit the project never even got off the ground in most cases.

It wasn’t until I started taking messy, imperfect action that things started to click. Businesses don’t build themselves. Life doesn’t hand you success on a platter. You’ve got to get out there, make mistakes, and adjust as you go.

One thing I can say for sure, is if you are reading this there is a reason why. You need to start listening to yourself.

Progress Over Perfection

So here’s my challenge to you: stop waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect setup. Start with what you’ve got, where you are, and make some damn progress.

Whether you’re building a business, pursuing a hobby, or trying to make a major life change, the key is to take action. Adjust as you go. Pivot when you need to. But don’t let the idea of perfection keep you standing still.

The 30-Second Rule

I’ll leave you with this: next time you’re tempted to over-plan or hesitate, give yourself 30 seconds to make a move. It doesn’t have to be the right move—just a move. Send the email. Make the call. Write the first sentence. Whatever it is, just start.

Because at the end of the day, good enough is often more than enough to get you where you want to go. And hey, it sure as hell beats sitting on the sidelines waiting for perfection to show up.

Now, stop overthinking and get to work. Your future self will thank you.