How perfectionism and strategy overload nearly killed my writing habit as an content creator. How the military phrase: get it done first and make it good later helps me from perfectionism.
If you’ve ever served in the military, you’ve probably heard this phrase: "Get it done first, make it good later." (先求有，再求好).
To be honest, this phrase goes against every fiber of my nature. I’m a "high-standards" kind of guy. If something doesn't meet the bar in my head, I’d rather keep it tucked away than show it to the world. In my professional life, this was my safety net; I’d analyze every potential "what if" and prepare solutions before even starting.
On paper, this sounds like a solid strategy for success. In reality? The more I thought, the slower I moved. I’d get paralyzed by my own planning and end up racing against the clock at the very last minute.
When I started my personal website, this old ghost came back to haunt me. I wanted "web traffic." I wanted "more visitors." So, I spent weeks agonizing over the "perfect" strategy: Should I pivot the niche? What about SEO? Is my content hitting the right audience? Do I need a newsletter? Should I jump into YouTube or Podcasts? These are all important questions for a creator, but for me, they became a mountain of psychological baggage. The more I over-analyzed, the more anxious I felt. I was losing that original "spark"—that version of myself whose eyes lit up at the thought of sharing ideas and connecting biotech professionals across the world.
One night, after my wife and I finally got the kids to sleep, we were just chatting in bed. She called me out on it. She pointed out that I wasn't stuck because I lacked ideas—I was stuck because I was trapped by my own perfectionism.
I realized that by obsessing over web traffic and AI’s impact on web search, I was playing defense. I was so busy designing the "perfect" strategy that I forgot to actually create anything. I was spending all my mental energy on the plan, leaving zero fuel for the creator work.
I had to go back to the basics and ask: Why did I start this website in the beginning?
The answer was simple: Because it was supposed to be fun. I love the biotech industry. I love diving into market strategies and business models. I wanted to meet new people, spark new ideas, and bridge the gap between Taiwan and the international community. "Fun" is the ultimate fuel for my long-term creation. If it’s not fun, it’s not sustainable for me.
If you’re like me—struggling with that mix of perfectionism and procrastination—here is my advice: Just ship it. Optimize later.
I recently revisited a story from Atomic Habits about a photography class. One group was graded on quantity (how many photos they took), and the other on quality (one single, perfect photo). The surprise? The best photos came from the "quantity" group. While the "quality" group sat around debating the theory of a perfect shot, the other group was out there shooting, failing, and learning.
This is the PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) in action. The magic isn't in the "Plan"—it’s in the Check and Act phases. Real growth doesn't come from a flawless blueprint; it comes from messy, consistent iterations.
Consistent output is a workout for your brain. It refines your thinking, your structure, and your voice. Each post is just a practice run. As the old saying goes: Practice makes perfect.
So, to my fellow perfectionists: Stop overthinking. Just start. In the world of creation, a finished "B-" project is infinitely better than a "perfect" project that never leaves your drafts!
