How do you overcome perfectionism?
I created a simple tool by myself (not as part of a team), but I always feel like certain features aren't good enough or appealing enough. I understand that perfectionism can be harmful, but I really want to know how others overcome this mindset.
A friend of mine deals with it by simply closing their eyes, hitting publish, and turning off all notifications.
Does this mean that, at our core, we are afraid of receiving feedback from others?
Replies
I remind myself that nobody remembers version 1.0 if you keep improving. Done is better than perfection :)
@hamza_afzal_butt Thanks!!! That helps a lot!
Graphify
@hamza_afzal_butt That's really good advice. Every app and idea will change over the course of time and creation, so overthinking and trying to make everything perfect in the first run is a waste of time. Trying to ship fast and grow with feedback is way better. That way, your app or tool can chase perfectionism.
@hussein_r, you got it :)
@affectionate_code Sharing your project ideas with others can be really helpful, as you'll likely get useful feedback and suggestions. In China, there's a funny saying that means "just shit it out there," which, although very rude, captures the idea of taking the first step.
When it comes to writing my novel, I've adopted this approach. Even though I haven't published it yet, I've started by sharing it with friends to hear their thoughts.
Hope this saying can help you too.
minimalist phone: creating folders
To be honest, I haven't overcome completely. That's why I need a sparing partner to push me through anyway. :)
@busmark_w_nika Having someone to keep you on track is really important. I'll try to find some friends who can give me a little push. Thanks for sharing! ❤️
minimalist phone: creating folders
@gin_6078 I have my fingers crossed for you! :)
I choose to talk with people in the community—just like this, asking questions and sharing thoughts. Hearing from others who’ve been through the same thing really helps. That kind of connection softens the fear of facing the unknown alone. You realize you’re not the only one feeling this way, and that makes a huge difference.
@supa_l Thank you for sharing! In my view, PH definitely has that kind of vibe.😊
accepted it as a fact
@rudi_bokowski Accept it like you would the weather, right?
@gin_6078 yeah, as a defolt
In my case, I don't think it's the fear of getting feedback—it's the fear of not getting feedback while people silently think the project is bad.
I actually handle feedback pretty well, even when it's negative or unfair. What really gets to me is the thought that some peers (like my LinkedIn followers) might see what I made and think, "That’s crap." That’s what triggers perfectionism for me.
@stefanfis The idea of dividing evaluations into two categories—user feedback and peer feedback—is quite insightful. For me personally, it's true that being considered foolish by peers is indeed harder to accept, haha.
@gin_6078 My real problem is to think my peers consider my work negative without telling me so. If they'd say: "Hey, the app you created is junk!" I could handle it, ask them why they think so, etc.
But the idea they might just think this and never tell me, that's really hard.
Exceptional sharing, I love this masterpiece.
Totally feel this @gin_6078
For me, perfectionism often masks fear - of judgment, of not being "good enough." What helps is reminding myself that done means I can learn and improve, while perfect often means never sharing at all. Feedback isn’t failure - it’s fuel.
@marina_luchenko Indeed, as many people in the comments have pointed out, feedback from real users, whether positive or negative, is always valuable.
Transparency: don't hide the stage you are at from users/community. In fact promote it.
This is an opportunity for feedback, not for a full fledged product. The goal is to gather direct or indirect feedback and if you are transparent, people are more likely to give it to you.
Nothing is ever perfect. The world changes, users change, tech changes, etc... Getting something out into the wild now is better than something "more perfect" 6 months from now.
Focus on the core problem you are solving. If you are doing that, then people will use your product despite any imperfections.
@burninator The third point is truly enlightening! It makes so much sense— the world is changing too rapidly, and current evaluations can never fully keep up with the future. Thanks for sharing that!!
Perfectionism is rooted in fear. Of what? Well, it could be several things, from fear of failure, fear of success, or rejection. At its core, fear remains the driving force. We all have it at times, but how do we manage it?
In India and other countries, craftspeople intentionally weave imperfections into their intricate rugs to symbolize human fallibility and the idea that perfection is unattainable. Perfection may be attained in death, but not in life. When I see it this way, I think, "Well, I am NOT racing to my death so I can be perfect, so better get started on putting out what I have created, NOW!" :)
Another way of looking at it is that waiting to be perfect means nothing gets released. There will always be a new module, a new coding method, and a new UX tool in the future. Using our current tools and knowledge to release what we have lays the groundwork for a better version of it—and ourselves—in the future. We can't improve on something that doesn't exist!
As a coach for artists, the first thing I tell them is, "Someone is going to "hate" your song." And that is a good thing. If everyone liked (pick a genre you don't care for), it would be a pretty boring world. So expect and welcome the haters. It means you are doing something they can't do, so all they have left is to complain and hate. Critics criticize because they can't or won't do what we do.
And finally, failure is just data. Data that we use to do it better/different the next time. Fail Forward. Do the work, test, bring in a beta group, collect data, revise, and release. As soon as V1 is out the door, stop thinking about it. Take the incoming data or notes that you have made and start on making V1.1.1!
@bigbreakmusic Thank you for your thoughtful sharing! We should see feedback, whether positive or negative, as beneficial. Opinions from those who have genuinely experienced something reflect true user value. However, negative reviews from those who haven't experienced it aren't what we should be truly concerned about.
it's hard, but with each project iteration, I get more and more comfortable with launching before things are perfect. Reps make you numb to it, which is a win.
If I'm feeling embarrassed about something, but deep down I know it's good enough to launch, I always ask myself:
"Do you wanna avoid being cringe at all costs, or do you wanna make money?"
That usually pushes me over the line
@emikes919 Being honest about your true desires is so cool!
@gin_6078 keep grinding! and when it doubt, just release and test!
I share the same confusion as you do, and I can't help but hope to perfect all the functions.
MoneyVision
@timobechtel Good advice! And yes, take it as a Version 1.0.
CoLaunchly
@alex_cloudstar Agree, it's a straightforward principle, just like my friend who closes their eyes and hits the publish button. The key is to take action without overthinking.
CoLaunchly
Headliner
I think if you have the concept and the bones are good, just go for it! A large part of releasing, especially in Beta, is the willingness to iterate, learn, and grow.
People will tell you what they like and don't like—especially if you ask!
@elissa_craig Agreed, releasing version 1.0 first and optimizing it quickly afterward is far better than sitting around worrying about achieving perfection.
Such a relatable struggle, @gin_6078 . I’ve battled with perfectionism too, especially when putting something I created out into the world. For me, it often comes down to fear — not just of feedback, but of feeling exposed, like every flaw is a reflection of my worth.
But something that helped was shifting my mindset from 'This has to be perfect' to 'This is a step in a longer journey.' I remind myself that every version, even the 'imperfect' ones, is a snapshot of progress. And sometimes, the feedback you fear actually becomes a gift — it helps you improve.
How do you decide when something is 'good enough' to publish? Do you have a checklist or just trust your gut?
@ambika_vaish I am currently following my friend's advice: wait until I'm in a great mood to publish everything at once, then leave it alone and come back a couple of days later to gather feedback.😊
@altsyset Thanks for sincere sharing!
SlashPage
It's something I can really relate to. I set deadlines and try not to break them as much as possible, and then I fix it later.
@elly_sp Your dedication to keeping promises to yourself is truly commendable to me! Thanks for sharing!
Algebras AI
@olgacherepanova Yes, the only thing we can truly control is our own thoughts. We must learn to focus entirely on our own actions and goals, rather than being preoccupied with others' opinions.
This happens to solo founders a lot - Myself included. I truly believe it takes at least 2 people to run anything...your partner's validation will help a lot in this case.