Perfection Might Be Killing Your Creativity
As creatives, we’re our own worst critics. We obsess over the smallest details, constantly tweaking, fine-tuning, and pushing to make things “just right.” We plug away at work that never quite feels finished, always convinced we can make it better, and while there’s nothing wrong with striving for quality, after all, craft matters! There’s a point where perfection starts to get in the way.
The Problem with Perfection
The pursuit of perfection can slow your progress. You overthink, delay, and sometimes never even share your work. You convince yourself it’s not ready, not good enough, not your best, but here’s something I’ve experienced time and time again: the concept I’m least confident in often ends up being the one that gets chosen. The piece I doubted? The one that gets the strongest reaction.
Creativity Is Subjective
That’s the thing, when it comes to creativity, there is no right or wrong. Everything is subjective. What doesn’t feel like your finest work might be exactly what someone else needed to see. Your “just okay” could be someone else’s “that’s brilliant.” We forget that design, art, branding, whatever your creative field, isn’t about reaching some perfect, universal standard. It’s about connection, clarity, and resonance. And that doesn’t require perfection. It requires presence.
Done Is Better Than Perfect
Perfectionism tricks you into hiding. It convinces you not to share. And in doing so, it robs the world of your perspective and your work. So here’s the shift:
Done > Perfect
Progress > Polish
Excellence > Flawlessness
Keep showing up. Keep sharing. Let people into your process. There’s magic in momentum, and there’s power in being seen, even when your work feels “unfinished.” If you’ve been holding back because something’s not quite there yet, consider this your sign to put it out. Someone might see it and love it in a way you didn’t expect.
I’d love to hear from you:
Have you ever held back your work chasing perfection? What happened when you finally let it go? Drop your thoughts below or share this with a creative who needs to hear it.
