The Power of Imperfect Action: Why Perfection in Real Estate Investing is not the best way to start.
When it comes to pursuing our dreams or setting big goals, it’s easy to feel paralyzed by the fear of not doing things perfectly. We draft plans, research, gather resources, and wait for the perfect moment to make our move. But what if the magic doesn’t lie in waiting or perfecting, but rather in the power of simply starting — even if that start is messy and imperfect?
The concept of “imperfect action” has gained a lot of traction in recent years, but it’s more than just a motivational buzzword. It’s a practical approach to getting things done, learning along the way, and achieving the kind of progress that perfectionism often holds hostage. Here’s why taking imperfect action is one of the most powerful strategies you can adopt.
1. Being Perfect is the Enemy of Progress
Being Perfect is often disguised as a commitment to high standards, but in reality, it can be the greatest barrier to achieving anything at all. The pursuit of flawlessness can leave you endlessly preparing and tweaking, but rarely, if ever, hitting “go.”
Take this example: you have a business idea that you’re excited about. You know it has potential, but the fear of launching something subpar stops you in your tracks. Instead of building, testing, and iterating, you spend months — or even years — waiting to get every aspect of it perfect. Meanwhile, someone else, willing to put out something “good enough” and learn from it, has already captured the market.
Imperfect action is what sets ideas in motion. It gives you the chance to start the feedback loop and learn what actually works versus what you merely think should work. Because, spoiler alert: real-world experience often beats even the most finely crafted plans.
2. Action Breeds Clarity
There’s a common misconception that you need to have complete clarity before taking action. In reality, action often leads to clarity. The more you do, the clearer things become. When you act, you generate real-life feedback. You learn what resonates and what doesn’t, what sticks and what needs tweaking.
Imagine you’re writing a book. You could spend endless hours outlining, researching, and planning every detail, yet never feel ready to put words on the page. Or you could start writing, knowing it won’t be perfect at first but trusting that the act of writing will give you more direction. As you put words on paper, ideas come alive, and the structure becomes clearer.
Action illuminates the path forward. The imperfect steps you take can reveal solutions and opportunities you would have never considered had you stayed in planning mode.
3. Momentum is Everything
Taking any step, no matter how small or flawed, creates momentum. This momentum is crucial because it helps you build habits and keeps you moving forward. There’s a reason you hear so many successful people talk about the importance of consistency and just showing up: it’s because action leads to more action.
Consider the power of compounding. Just like small investments grow over time, so do small, imperfect actions. When you take one imperfect step, it leads to another, and then another, each building on the last. It’s a positive feedback loop that starts with one small act of courage.
Momentum transforms what feels impossible into something manageable. By simply getting started and staying in motion, even at a minimal pace, you set yourself up for incremental wins that compound over time.
4. Learning by Doing
One of the biggest advantages of taking imperfect action is that it teaches you through experience. There’s no better classroom than the real world, and the lessons learned by doing are far more impactful than anything you can get from books or theories alone.
Let’s say you want to start a business but know very little about marketing. You could spend months studying the subject, or you could launch a small marketing campaign with your limited knowledge and adjust as you go. Sure, you’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also gain a real understanding of what works and what doesn’t — and that kind of insight is invaluable.
Embrace the idea of being a lifelong learner. When you focus on progress over perfection, you develop resilience and adaptability. You become more confident in your ability to handle setbacks, because you know that every mistake is a stepping stone to mastery.
5. Progress Over Perfection
The mindset of prioritizing progress over perfection doesn’t mean settling for mediocrity. Instead, it’s about accepting that growth comes from continuous improvement. Rather than waiting until everything is flawless, you allow yourself to evolve and improve over time.
Take a look at tech companies, for instance. They’re masters of imperfect action. The first version of any major app or software is almost always full of bugs and features that need refining. Yet, they launch anyway, collecting user feedback and rolling out updates to make it better. If they waited for perfection, they’d never get anything to market.
Perfection is not the goal; progression is. Your first draft, your first project, or your first attempt may be rough around the edges, but with each iteration, you get better. The key is to give yourself permission to be a work in progress.
6. Embracing Discomfort
Imperfect action requires embracing discomfort. It’s uncomfortable to know you’re putting something out into the world that isn’t flawless, and it’s uncomfortable to admit you might fail or get things wrong. But leaning into that discomfort is where growth happens.
The willingness to feel discomfort is what separates those who achieve their dreams from those who merely dream. Every time you act despite the fear of imperfection, you build courage. And courage, more than talent or perfect planning, is what often determines success.
How to Start Taking Imperfect Action Today
- Set a Clear, Achievable Goal: Break down your big goal into smaller, manageable steps. Choose one thing you can do today, even if it’s small.
- Commit to a Timeframe: Give yourself a deadline. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, but having a time-bound goal creates urgency.
- Launch Before You’re Ready: Whether it’s writing that blog post, recording that podcast, or pitching that idea, do it before you feel fully prepared.
- Reflect and Adjust: Take time to reflect on what you’ve learned from your action. What went well? What didn’t? Use this feedback to make your next step better.
- Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate every bit of progress you make. It’ll keep you motivated and remind you that you’re moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Imperfect action is a game changer. It’s the antidote to procrastination, the path to clarity, and the gateway to progress. By letting go of the idea that everything needs to be perfect, you give yourself permission to learn, grow, and ultimately succeed.
In real estate investing, imperfect action isn’t just about taking risks for the sake of it. It’s about understanding that no amount of preparation will replace real-world experience. By taking that first step, even if it’s messy or scary, you open yourself up to opportunities and lessons that waiting would never bring.
So, stop waiting for the perfect deal, the perfect market conditions, or the perfect amount of knowledge. The best way to learn is by doing. Take the leap, embrace the mistakes, and remember that progress is more powerful than perfection. Real estate success is built one imperfect step at a time.
Ready to start? Your next deal could be your stepping stone to a future you’ve always dreamed of. Take action, learn as you go, and watch your real estate journey unfold in ways you never imagined.
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