Hitting publish is the only path to mastery

Perfection is a myth. 

We tell ourselves we’re refining the details, but we’re really just hiding from the discomfort of making mistakes in public. 

We say it’s not quite finished, but the reality is that it was good enough to share a long time ago. 

The product is ready. 

But we’re not. 

In a world where anyone can build an app, start a business, or record a song, the single greatest differentiator will always be execution. 

Output. 

Because if you want to see results, you have to step out of the safety of the hard drive and into the risk of the arena. 

You have to be willing to look foolish. 

To get it wrong in public. 

And to accept that failure is a fundamental part of the process. 

If you want your life to change, you have to stop thinking about doing the thing and actually do the thing.

Perfection is procrastination

Most people see the idea of "perfect" as a badge of honor. 

In reality, it’s a crutch to avoid the sting of falling short. 

We pore over branding, relentlessly dial in presets, and tweak ideas for years without ever sharing them. 

And then we have the audacity to wonder why “perfect” never comes. 

Believe me, I’ve done it too. 

But the truth is that silence is often the loudest form of feedback you’ll get. 

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

Because the internet is a laboratory, not a museum. 

And we should all act accordingly.

Of course, the irony is that by holding onto your work until it’s "ready," you’re actually robbing yourself of the data you need to get it ready in the first place. 

If you really want to create something that’s perfect, you have to create (and share) a lot of things that aren’t, first. 

The magic of feedback 

Mastery isn’t a destination or an achievement. 

It’s a journey and a process, and an endless one at that. 

I know, so cliché. 

But that doesn’t mean it’s not true. 

Creativity is rooted in evolution, which means you have to evolve. 

And the best way to do that is to create a ton, share a ton, and iterate a ton. 

This means taking calculated risks and listening to what the market tells you. 

Because you’re not gonna find product / market fit in a vacuum. 

You won’t know what your audience wants without releasing music. 

And you’ll never serve your customers if you don’t know what their problems are in the first place. 

When you ship things, the world becomes your teacher. 

You learn what resonates, what doesn’t, and what actually delivers transformation. 

And transformation is the goal. 

Putting it all together 

Success is a numbers game. 

The person who posts 100 times has a higher probability of hitting a home run than the one who spends a year “refining” a single article or video. 

Momentum begets momentum. 

The more you ship, the more proficient you become. 

The more proficient you become, the easier it is to ship. 

And the more fun you have in the process. 

It’s a win / win. 

So if you want to build a sustainable creative business, you have to get over the fear of looking stupid. 

Because we all look stupid from time to time, myself included. 

Every person you know who is creating online has said, done, or posted something incredibly stupid. 

Because they’re human beings, just like you. 

The difference is that those who win focus on the inputs—the daily reps—because that is the only thing they can control. 

So if you want to change your life through creativity, artistry, or entrepreneurship, stop striving for perfection and start hitting publish. 

On anything. 

On everything. 

It’s the only way you’re truly going to figure it out. 

And it’s more fun anyway.