Many aspiring entrepreneurs end up stuck in a rut a few days, weeks, or even months after coming up with a business idea. The reason? Not laziness or lack of passion, but something completely opposite - perfectionism.
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Waiting for everything to be ironed out before jump-starting your business may seem to be a logical plan. However, this is actually a bad idea because in reality, “everything” will never be ironed out completely and simultaneously.
There will always be aspects of the business that will need improvement - there will always be missing ingredients. Choosing not to begin your business while you don’t see everything in order is a trap.
Perfectionism can lead to procrastination and inaction. It will hold you back. And it will make you lose the momentum in your entrepreneurial journey.
In his book Ready, Fire, Aim, multi-million dollar businesses developer Michael Masterson talks about the secret behind getting your business rolling instead of getting stuck. As the title suggests, Masterson advises three steps in setting up and growing a business - getting ready, firing and aiming.
“The Ready, Fire, Aim concept is about velocity, about the profound benefits of moving from an idea into action at the fastest possible speed,” Masterson writes in the book. “But Ready, Fire, Aim doesn’t mean reckless abandon. It doesn’t mean bolting into action before you are ready. It’s Ready, Fire, Aim, not Fire at Will."
That's your anti-perfectionism pill.
Though the get ready phase may seem grueling and taxing for aspiring entrepreneurs, Masterson believes it could be done within 24 hours after coming up with a business idea. How? By answering these seven questions:
- Do I have a good idea?
- Does it feel like it will work?
- Are my sales targets realistic?
- Can I afford to test this idea?
- Do I know the basic tasks that need to be done?
- Do I have the people who can do the tasks?
- Do I have a Plan B, an exit plan, in case my good idea turns out to be a bad one?
Once the seven questions are answered, don’t be stuck in an attempt for perfection. Fire right then and there! Yes, it’s not perfect and there would be points for improvement, but it’s all part of learning. Aim by adjusting as you move forward and progress.
The ready, fire, aim method is a great one to consider if you’re the type of entrepreneur who always starts with a brilliant business idea but never seems to get anything started because of striving for perfection. Remember: it’s not how well you start, but how much you learn that will make your business expand.