Execution, Not Perfection

That's what I'm currently learning to be okay with. To simply execute and not hold myself to unrealistic standards of perfection.

I've been writing and publishing my work everyday for a week, which I've been wanting to do for years now. I've got so many drafts and ideas accumulated over the years—unwritten, unfinished.

What got me to do it this time is our accountability group. We write everyday, publish our work, and hold each other accountable. It gives me healthy pressure to just hit publish, even when I'm not ready.

This practice has helped me:

Let go of perfectionism. The pieces I write don't have all the information I want there, because there's no time to do the research and write in-depth articles. I don't get to revise them as much as I'd like. But that's okay. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Face my fear of judgment. After just one week, I'm less embarrassed, less scared. It's still there, but I shouldn't let it hinder me.
Write faster, think clearer. I see this as training a muscle, and I'm sure the benefits will compound. In a few months, it'll be easier to think of new ideas and write better. I'm also able to think clearer, because the writing forces me to do so.
Pinpoint what I don't know. Writing tells us what we don't know, or don't know enough about. It highlights where we lack certain information. And that's a good thing, because then we know what we should study.
Put myself out there. The past months made me realize how important it is to put yourself out there—show the world who you are and what you do. It'll open up opportunities. People won't reach out to you if you don't make yourself visible, and if they don't know how to help you in the first place. Right now, I just want to start building connections online.

I always knew that I'm weak at execution. I consider myself a thinker. I like ideating and planning. But execution? Nope. I get stuck creating the perfect plan, and my projects are put on hold even before it's game time.

This is good practice for me, which I intend to follow in the other aspects of my life. I can't wait to see the compounding results.