Trying to get something “perfect” or waiting for the “perfect time” is often a pattern we fall into that keeps us stuck. To avoid that fate, try these 4 tips:

First, keep the BIG PICTURE in mind. You’ve got to stop trying to plan for everything and obsessing over every detail. Handle issues as they arise and make decisions based upon the current information that you have. Don't paralyze yourself by worrying about things that might not happen. You can’t really plan for or anticipate everything that could come up. Whatever you are about to do, make it the best you possibly can with your current ability and then do it, launch it, ship it, send it, or whatever step is needed. And then get ready for tip number two.

Second, WELCOME FEEDBACK. Once you’ve done it, launched it, or whatever, ask a trusted friend for feedback and check in with yourself, too. Here’s a personal example. My guitar teacher wants daily videos from me to document my progress. But my tendency is to try to make them “perfect” before sending them. This is actually defeating the purpose of the video interaction. The point of the videos is to do my best on whatever lesson I’m working on, shoot the short video, and hit send. I’ll get feedback that is usually in the form of, “Great job sending the video and I see progress, what I want you to pay attention to on the next video is…..” And with that I can improve and move on to the third tip.

Third, set DEADLINES and stick to them. Do the best you can in the time you have allowed yourself. If you are always giving yourself an “out” on your deadline you are not honoring your commitment to yourself (or the other person if someone else is waiting on you) and you are just staying in this cycle of being stuck. This is usually because you need to deal with tip number four.

Fourth, deal with the FEAR. Too often we are afraid to repeat some past mistake or error (as we see it). But you’ve got to remember that any past mistake or error is actually a learning experience. You’ve got information on what didn’t work so that you can make a change in your process and figure out what will work. The past will only repeat itself if you do it the same way as before. So don’t do that unless you liked the past result. Learn from the mistake and take corrective action, but don't allow the mistake to cause non-action.

Don't let perfectionism keep you from making progress on your goals. Now go finish a goal that you’ve been trying to make perfect.