Notes on Being Perfect! Blog 24

It was a fitness YouTuber who explained in 2011 in one of his videos that it is always better to start something imperfectly than to procrastinate perfectly. This thought has stuck with me until today.

If You Are Looking for A Sign, This Is It

Perfection is the enemy of action. This idea is not new. Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180 AD) urged in his writings to start doing instead of anxiously waiting.

“The first step: Don’t be anxious. Nature controls it all. And before long you’ll be no one, nowhere — like Hadrian, like Augustus. The second step: Concentrate on what you have to do. Fix your eyes on it. Remind yourself that your task is to be a good human being; remind yourself what nature demands of people. Then do it, without hesitation, and speak the truth as you see it. But with kindness. With humility. Without hypocrisy.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Knowing that the idea of starting something without having it all figured out has been around for 2000 years doesn’t make it any less important or relevant.

I am a firm believer in doing one’s job properly. This includes cross-checking my documents for font sizes, revision numbers and revision dates at the bottom of the pages. Even if I’m the only one working on them.

But one thing I can do is imperfectly try a new thing. And I am proud of that.

Embarass Yourself

I once tried selling imported homemade honey from Germany in Jakarta through Facebook Marketplace, with the ambition to make it big. I started a website and Instagram profile for a bar I was sure I would open that same year. A year ago, I started posting YouTube vlogs.

I had no idea about honey, running a bar or editing videos. Most of the groups I posted my marketplace ads in were public and therefore showed up in my friends’ Facebook feeds. Needless to say, that I received provocative messages from my friends. My Instagram posts promoting a bar that didn’t even exist were pathetic, I’m not going to lie. My video intros were embarrassing.

Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.

Paulo Coelho

I love trying things out. Putting ideas into action, even if I know little about them. No matter how crappy they go, somehow most of my ideas take me to awesome places. They always involve a ninety-degree turn, but that makes it even more interesting. There is something about not knowing where I’ll end up this time.

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Why Not Today

The best thing about starting something even if you are not perfect at it is that it gives you opportunities to learn.

I learned a fair bit about filming videos on a smartphone. Editing videos taught me a lot about the importance of cutting out unnecessary parts. My Not Today Bar website became the very blog you are reading today. And I learned that there is a surprisingly high demand for raw, unheated honey in Jakarta(?). Nosh should we get back into business?

Why not start something today? Whatever it is. I know you can.

If you are looking for a sign, this is it.

D