Launching Through Imperfection
How I Overcame My Perfectionist Tendencies to Publish My Latest Book
I wouldn’t call myself a traditional perfectionist, but I do have perfectionist tendencies. They show up in unexpected ways, like obsessing over the details of a project or constantly finding new things to tweak. This has been both a blessing and a curse throughout my life. Perfectionism, in any form, can push you to produce high-quality work, but it can also hold you back—especially when you’re trying to launch something big, like a book.
When I started writing The B:Side Way, I knew I wanted it to be something I could be proud of—a reflection of the leadership lessons I’ve learned over the years, wrapped in a narrative that could inspire others. The problem was, every time I thought it was “done,” I found something else to tweak, another sentence to rewrite, or a concept that could be expanded upon. It’s the curse of the perfectionist: the job is never truly finished.
As Katherine Morgan Schafler points out in The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control, this constant drive for perfection is both a gift and a burden. We perfectionists often feel compelled to bridge the gap between what is and what could be, pushing relentlessly toward an ideal that exists only in our minds . I wanted The B:Side Way to be perfect—until I realized that if I didn’t let go of that need, the book would never make it into the world.
Letting Go of “Perfect” to Embrace “Good Enough”
One of the key lessons Schafler shares is that perfectionism doesn’t have to be eradicated—it just needs to be managed. She describes how perfectionism can be a power, something to harness rather than suppress . I related to that idea. For years, I thought my perfectionist tendencies were something to overcome, something that held me back from being efficient or spontaneous. But Schafler’s approach helped me see that perfectionism isn’t inherently bad. It’s about how you use it.
As she says, adaptive perfectionism can be a tremendous asset—if you let it fuel your work without allowing it to control you . The trick is to recognize when it becomes maladaptive. For me, that moment came when I realized that no amount of tweaking would make The B:Side Way “perfect.” I had to accept that it would always be a work in progress, even after publication.
The Power of Completion Over Perfection
In The Perfectionist’s Guide, Schafler talks about the struggle perfectionists have with letting go of control . This resonated deeply with me. Publishing a book—or any large, complex project—requires accepting that at some point, you must relinquish control. You need to say, “This is good enough,” and trust that it will resonate with your audience, even if it isn’t flawless.
I learned that striving for excellence doesn’t mean you can’t let something go into the world. It means you launch, knowing that you’ve done your best given the time, resources, and knowledge you had at that moment.
That’s how I finally managed to publish The B:Side Way. By recognizing that my need for perfection was preventing me from completing the project, I was able to take a step back, trust my instincts, and hit “publish”—even though I knew there would always be things I could improve upon.
The Cost of Holding On Too Tight
Perfectionists tend to hold on to projects much longer than they should, waiting for the right moment to release them. But here’s the harsh truth: that perfect moment doesn’t exist. Schafler’s work reminded me that the longer we hold on to something, the more we risk losing the opportunity to make an impact .
The world is constantly moving, and perfectionists risk missing the boat if they wait too long. I didn’t want The B:Side Way to be another unfinished project, stuck in development because of my inability to let go. So, I embraced the philosophy of “done is better than perfect.”
Launching and Letting Go
One of the most freeing concepts I learned from Schafler’s book was the idea of failing forward . As a perfectionist, failure is the ultimate fear. But if you’re always afraid of failing, you’ll never take the risks needed to succeed. In launching The B:Side Way, I had to accept that not everyone would love it. Some might criticize the ideas, others might find the writing lacking in some areas. And that’s okay.
What matters is that I got the book out into the world, and I’m proud of the work I’ve done. If I’d waited until it was perfect, I’d still be sitting here with a manuscript no one had ever seen.
Final Thoughts
Perfectionism can be a great driver, but it can also be a heavy burden if not managed properly. The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control helped me see that the real power lies not in achieving perfection, but in understanding when to let go. Publishing The B:Side Way was a lesson in embracing imperfection, trusting the process, and knowing that “good enough” can sometimes be the best outcome of all.
If you’re a perfectionist like me, remember: launching something—whether it’s a book, a business, or a new initiative—will never feel perfect. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth launching.