The Wicked Curse of Overthinking and Optimizing Too Soon

Ahh!!! Analysis paralysis strikes again!

Do you overthink and wait until your plan is "perfect" before starting something?

If so, I can relate.

I have wrestled with this issue for years.

I'm a big advocate for SOPs, optimized systems, and efficient processes.

So, I would spend days, weeks, and even years trying to figure out the "perfect" way to do something.

The result?

I wouldn't even leave the starting gate. I would never produce anything (or very little).

I'd get bogged down by the details and lose momentum.

I had to figure something out and look at other examples for guidance and inspiration.

One example I thought of was Noah.

Before starting, did he wait until he fully understood how to build the ark?

No. He acted in faith and figured things out along the way.

How about Abraham?

God told him to leave everything he knew and to journey into the unknown.

Did he fully map out his path before venturing out? No, he acted in faith without a perfect plan.

How about Apple releasing the iPhone?

Did Apple wait until they decked out the iPhone with every feature before releasing it?

No. They launched it and then made updates and added new features AFTER millions of users gave them feedback and usage data.

We want to approach our projects and goals the same way.

Don't focus on optimization or efficiency at first. That will come after you have made progress and have some real-world data or results.

Whatever projects you're working on. Whatever your goals and ambitions.

Just get started. Do the work.

You won't be efficient at first. That's ok and to be expected.

Embrace the chaos and imperfect processes in favor of doing the work.

What project has been sitting on the shelf that you really want to launch or make progress on?

Figure out the next easy, logical step to move it forward and knock it out quickly. No overthinking.

Remember Newton's Law… an object in motion tends to stay in motion.

This also applies to writing your next article, creating your next course, launching your next e-commerce product, or starting your next habit.

Spark a little momentum and see the magic of small, consistent progress.

Until next time,

Josh