Recovering Perfectionist

I am currently in the process of releasing version 3.0 of 10FastFingers, a project I started all the way back in 2008.

For a perfectionist, “releasing” is a terrifying word. It takes an immense amount of mental energy to actually push the button. In fact, many of us never do. Most projects never see the light of day because we would rather keep them hidden and “perfect” than release them and risk a bruise to our ego.

That is one of the reasons 10FastFingers v3.0 has taken so long. I wanted it to be so flawless that no one could find a reason to criticize me. (Burnout, as I’ve mentioned, was the other major factor).

I’ve had to come to terms with a hard truth: I will be criticized anyway. That is the nature of change. People generally dislike it. There is a “loud majority” effect, when users like a product, they stay quiet and enjoy it. When they don’t, they suddenly find the energy to write a scathing Amazon review.

I’ve been that person! I’ve shaken my fist at the air because an app changed a UI element, only to realize a week later that the new flow was actually better.

So, how do I deal with the stress of releasing a new product? Here are the mindsets that I try to incorporate going forward:

Perfection is the enemy of the good. My first goal is simply to make the version exist in the world. Once it exists, I can work on making it good. You can’t iterate on a ghost.

This is a tough pill to swallow, but a liberating one: Nobody is thinking about you as much as you are. I don’t have a “public persona” or a global brand that needs 24/7 protection. Once you release something, the world keeps spinning. The ego wants to protect a “perfect” image, but reality doesn’t care.

It is okay to release something that isn’t perfect. In fact, it’s necessary. It trains your brain to prioritize the habit of creating over the habit of polishing. It shifts your identity from “The Perfectionist” to “The Person Who Actually Ships Things.”

I’m a recovering perfectionist, and the road ahead is long. Right now, I’m forcing myself to release things that are simply ‘okay.’ Every fiber of my being struggles against it, but I know that shipping is the only way to improve.

I’m curious: Are you a fellow “recovering perfectionist” or are you someone who can ship “okay” work without breaking a sweat? What’s your secret?