How can I stop using perfectionism as a place to hide?

"Why do founders get stuck researching instead of launching?"

Sometimes the work that looks productive is actually protecting you from finding out whether something will work. In this episode, Linda looks at the founder who is not overwhelmed by too many decisions, but stuck because they keep waiting until they feel completely sure.

What You'll Learn:

The Hook: Why some founders stay busy refining, researching, and aligning instead of making the decision that would move things forward.

Reality Check: Linda shares the story of a founder who spent eight months preparing to launch a service while the bar kept moving.

The Shift: Most delayed decisions are not one-way doors; they are two-way doors you can walk back through, adjust, and learn from.

The Move: Three ways to stop hiding inside productive-looking work:

• Sort your decisions by asking whether you can course correct if you get it wrong.
• Run the fear game by naming the real worst case, its likelihood, and what you would do.
• Separate important from impactful by asking what changes if this is perfect versus good enough.

The Wrap: Ask whether you are doing real work, or doing work that protects you from finding out.

Key Takeaway: The eight months of preparation do not eliminate the risk; they only delay the moment you find out if it works.

FAQs This Episode Answers:

How do I know if I am procrastinating or avoiding a decision? If you are busy doing real work but the decision still does not get made, you may be avoiding the moment of finding out. Research, feedback, refinement, and alignment can all be useful, but if the bar keeps moving every time one concern is resolved, the issue may be fear dressed up as diligence.

What is the difference between a one-way door and a two-way door decision? A one-way door decision is hard or impossible to undo, so it deserves careful thought. A two-way door decision can be adjusted, reversed, or learned from, which means the bigger risk is often not deciding at all.

How can I stop perfectionism from delaying a launch or important business move? Sort the decision first: if you can course correct, set a deadline to decide. Then name the real worst case, check how likely it is, and ask what changes if the work is perfect versus good enough.

Ready to make the decision you have been circling? Visit https://www.lindavanegmond.com/ and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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