There’s a particular kind of pressure that comes with being a solopreneur.

You’re the visionary, the designer, the developer, the marketer, the customer support – you wear every single hat.

And when it comes to building your website, the digital storefront for your entire operation, that pressure can become immense. It's like a whisper in your ear, telling you it has to be perfect.

This need for perfection, this internal desire to make sure everything is flawless before it sees the light of day, is something I struggle with constantly.

In fact, it might be the single biggest challenge I face, and not just in business. It infiltrates so many areas, subtly holding me back, keeping me from taking the leap until everything feels “just right.”

The truth is, I’m far more comfortable hiding behind my computer screen, endlessly tweaking a pixel here, adjusting a margin there.

I can design and design, sometimes even publish things, but then I’ll hesitate, sometimes indefinitely, to market them.

Why? Because on a deep, primal level, I’m scared to be judged. It’s a fundamental part of human nature – the fear of being ostracized, of not being accepted by the “tribe.” In a way, getting “kicked out” in our evolutionary past meant a much more serious fate.

This fear manifests as a reluctance to ship something that doesn’t feel absolutely perfect. I worry that people will see what I’ve created and think, “Is that all he can do?” when I know, deep down, that I’m capable of more.

But in the context of building a business, this pursuit of perfection becomes a significant hindrance.

It stalls progress, delays crucial feedback from the real world, and ultimately, slows down the path to achieving success.

This newsletter is no exception

Even this very newsletter that you're reading right now, is a living example of this struggle.

Writing doesn’t come as naturally to me as design does. There’s a deep insecurity about my writing not being “good enough,” that it could always be better. And in many ways, it could.

But if I waited until my writing felt perfect, I would never publish a single sentence.

I would still be stuck on draft zero, lost in the endless cycle of editing and self-doubt. And that’s where the simple, yet incredibly difficult, mantra comes in: progress is better than perfection.

It’s easy to say, much harder to live, especially when that little voice of self-doubt is so loud.

But through trial and error, and a lot of conscious effort, I’ve found a few things that have genuinely helped me overcome this hurdle and actually put things out there.

Nobody actually cares (that much)

This might sound a bit harsh, but bear with me.

We often overestimate how much critical attention others are paying to our work, especially in the early stages.

While it’s true that people will have opinions, the vast majority aren’t scrutinizing your website with a magnifying glass, looking for every little flaw. They’re looking for a solution to their problem.

Furthermore, even if someone does judge your “imperfect” website or your less-than-perfect prose, are they the people whose opinions truly matter to you and your business? Probably not.

The people who will benefit from what you offer will see past the rough edges to the value you provide.

Focusing on the opinions that genuinely count – those of your ideal customers – can be incredibly liberating.

Connect with your “why”

Simon Sinek popularized the concept of “Start With Your Why,” and it’s a powerful tool against perfectionism.

When you’re clear on your long-term goals, the reason why you’re building this website or writing this newsletter, the small imperfections lose some of their power.

You realize that shipping, getting your message out there, and connecting with your audience is a necessary step towards achieving those larger aspirations.

My goals for the future give this writing a more tangible purpose. They provide a motivation that outweighs the fear of imperfection because I know that putting this content out there, even if it’s not “perfect” in my eyes, is moving me closer to where I want to be.

The illusion of a perfect launch is just that – an illusion.

In reality, launching your website, even when it feels like a slightly messy work in progress, is simply the starting line, not the finish line.

It’s the point where real learning begins. You’ll get feedback, you’ll see how users actually interact with your site, and you’ll identify the areas that truly need improvement, not just the ones your internal critic is fixating on.

Embracing “good enough” is your superpower as a solopreneur.

It allows you to gain momentum, to start serving your audience, and to gather invaluable insights that will inform future iterations.

A website that is launched and generating feedback, even with its flaws, is infinitely more valuable than a “perfect” website that only exists in your head or on your hard drive.

How to adopt a “good enough” mindset

There are a few things you can do to help you overcome your fear of publishing.

• Set realistic deadlines
  Give yourself a launch date and stick to it. This external pressure can be a positive force against endless tinkering.

• Prioritize core functionality
  Focus on the essential features that allow users to understand what you do and take the desired action. The bells and whistles can come later.

• Get early feedback
  Don’t wait until it’s “ready” to show it to potential users. Get feedback on even rough drafts or wireframes. It's okay to frame the conversation as 'work in progress'.

• Frame mistakes as learning opportunities
  Every bug, every piece of constructive criticism, is a chance to learn and improve.

• Focus on solving the problem
  Remember that your website’s primary purpose is to solve a problem for your audience. If it does that effectively, minor imperfections are forgivable.

The solo journey of building your online presence isn’t about achieving a state of flawless perfection right out of the gate. It’s about making progress, learning continuously, and adapting based on real-world interaction.

It’s about embracing the messy middle, the iterative process that ultimately leads to a stronger, more effective outcome.

Don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back any longer.

Take that leap.

Launch your “good enough” website.

The learning, the growth, and the connection with your audience that follows will be far more rewarding than the elusive pursuit of perfection.