Progress over Perfection, and Doing It Any Way

“Was I going to play my position as a child of God and trust that he knew more than me, or was I going to succumb to fear, play it safe and back out?” – Yvonne Orgi, “Bamboozled by Jesus”

Have you ever been so gripped by fear you couldn’t move? Like what you wanted most in life was right before you, beckoning you, but you were too afraid to seize it?

Fear takes many forms. For some, it’s the terror of failure or the unknown; for others, it’s the fear of not being enough. And sometimes, it’s the voice that tells us we’re not qualified. Even Moses—the guy who led an entire nation—tried to dodge greatness by claiming he wasn’t “eloquent” enough. Relatable, right? I mean, who among us hasn’t waved the “I’m not ready” flag to get out of something big?

For years, I let perfectionism hold me hostage, convinced that anything less than flawless wasn’t good enough. But fear doesn’t just go away because you procrastinate, does it? Growing tired of the analysis paralysis and waiting for perfect conditions that never come, I asked myself: What if I don’t wait for perfect? What if I start now, in the middle of the mess, and while I still have questions? 

This is the story of how I did exactly that. How I stopped hiding behind excuses, leaped into putting progress over perfection and certainty, and began writing and sharing my voice. It’s not perfect. But it’s real, it’s honest, and it’s happening. Because sometimes, the most inspiring thing you can do is to begin.

High Kicks, Pirouettes, and the Shocker

During a strategy meeting, a senior director once told me that he needed my work by a specific deadline. I pushed back, explaining that quality takes time and I’d need a later timeline. Clearly over the nerve of me, he sighed and said, “Erin, you’re going to have to get comfortable with publishing work that may only be 75% complete.” Seventy-five percent?! Do you know me?! In what world do you tell a seasoned perfectionist to deliver a work of art that is only seventy-five percent complete? Blasphemy.

This went against everything I believed about myself: Erin always delivers excellent work. But then I had to pause. Who said it wasn’t excellent just because it wasn’t 100% done? The shocking answer: I did.

Perfectionism wasn’t just a habit for me—it was a lifestyle. Growing up in Silicon Valley, and as the youngest sibling to a charismatic, popular brother and a stunningly beautiful sister, brilliance felt like the baseline. Oh, and let’s not forget my years as a pro cheerleader for national icons like the San Francisco 49ers and Golden State Warriors, where perfection and competition were house rules.

From choreography to physical and public appearances, every move had to be “on point.” But here’s a secret: I wasn’t technically trained like many of my teammates. My skills? All natural, baby (I get it from my mama). And while I held my own through confidence, performance, and relentless practice, I knew my high kick wasn’t as high, and my pirouettes weren’t as polished. Sure, I earned my spot on world-class teams—an achievement that should have been affirming enough. And yet, somehow, it wasn’t.  

Bamboozled by Jesus

The turning point came when I stumbled across Yvonne Orji’s book Bamboozled by Jesus: How God Tricked Me Into the Life of My Dreams. Yvonne’s humor-meets-faith approach was a revelation. She reminded me that God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. That Moses moment I mentioned earlier? Yeah, it started making sense.

By this time, I was already deep in a year of self-rediscovery and upskilling: devouring books, attending courses, registering for conferences, engaging in daily bible study and adding to my morning God time, bingeing lectures and videos from folks like Barbara O’Neill, Dr. Steven Gundry, and the many insightful women of faith featured on TBN. I had even filled a journal with notes from all my studies. 

But even with all that wisdom and all that knowledge, I still found myself holding back. I kept saying, “Just one more course,” “A little more research,” “Hire a writing coach first,” or, “Yes, I have 99 signs, but wait for one more.” That’s when I realized I could keep learning forever, endlessly chasing that elusive moment when I’d finally feel “ready.” But as Yvonne so eloquently puts it, “Faith without works is a dead-end street, but believing is the juice that turns the streetlights on.”

So I decided to stop acting like a little punk and start anyway.

The path He had for me

I launched my blog and company with trembling hands, fully aware that they weren’t perfect. Was I scared? Absolutely. But I couldn’t keep postponing this creative gift I deeply desired to share. I had to finally surrender to God’s will and the path He had clearly prepared for me. That looked like letting go of my need for ‘just right’ and showing up as I was—sharing vulnerable but fun-to-write pieces of myself and publishing a website I loved, even though it wasn’t quite finished. 

And you know what? The world didn’t end. In fact, something beautiful happened: I started connecting with people who saw themselves in my stories and were genuinely seeking what I had to offer.

The world doesn’t need your perfect

Perfection is a myth. Waiting until you’re “ready” is just fear in a fancy outfit and is often a cop-out. By embracing imperfection and recognizing that what I want—exactly how I want it—might not be here yet, I learned that the journey is what makes us, not the polished outcome. The effort we put in along the way deserves some shine too.

Whether you’re launching a business, reevaluating a relationship, writing your first blog post, or just trying to get through Monday, remember this: progress beats perfection every time. A step forward could be as simple as shifting your perspective or recognizing that advancing doesn’t always look how you expect.

So why am I telling you this? Because someone out there needs to hear it. Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s your friend who’s always saying ‘someday’ or ‘I hope’ but never actually takes action. Either way, take a page from my playbook (work-in-progress and all) and start. God will make something out of nothing if you let Him. When you feel hesitant, not worthy, or unsure, you can trust in His power. The world doesn’t need your perfect—it needs your real right now.

“When we tap into our most authentic selves, we have an opportunity to be the thing that people didn’t even know they were looking for, but now can’t live without” – Yvonne Orgi, “Bamboozled by Jesus”

A note from Erin: If these ideas or perspectives resonate with you, I’d love for you to subscribe or share them with someone you care about. If you’re looking to make a change or when the time feels right, I’m here to help. Check out my new “WORK WITH ME” page to explore how we can collaborate—or swing by my “CONTACT” page to say hello, ask a question, or start a conversation.