I made a promise to myself — to smack the perfectionism out of me
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Let’s get into this week’s post!
Sometimes, life has a funny way of teaching us lessons, and my journey with imperfection is no exception. Just last month, I decided to declare war on my own perfectionism, pledging to embrace the messy, chaotic beauty of imperfection.
Why, you ask? It's simple: less perfectionism means more decisions, and more decisions mean more of my ideas and products can finally see the light of day. After all, in the world of startups, there's no room for perfectionism.
But my newfound love for imperfection didn't come without its own set of challenges. As it turns out, my first test came sooner than I thought – and it was a rollercoaster of emotions that I'll never forget.
In an attempt to promote my latest project, Dispatch, I sent out a newsletter offering a monthly subscription for world-class design at a fraction of the cost of an in-house designer. Excited to share my baby with the world, I typed up the email and hit send real quick.
But there was a problem: I'd typed the link wrong. I spelled Dispatch as Dispatcg. So close, yet so far.
As my inbox flooded with messages from subscribers, team members, and clients all pointing out my mistake – and poking fun at my blunder – I felt like I was being punched in every direction. Frustrated and embarrassed, I went for a walk to clear my head.
And then, something magical happened.
When I returned from my walk, I discovered over $1.4 million in qualified leads had reached out, all clamoring for more information on Dispatch. Was it a good idea? Or had I stumbled into an accidental marketing goldmine?
In the end, it didn't matter. What mattered was that my typo – the very mistake I'd made while trying to shed my perfectionist skin – had opened up a world of possibilities.
It's been said that we make over 30,000 decisions every day, from the big decisions at work to the small ones like which socks to wear. In the world of the internet, those decisions become even more critical. If we're too afraid to make mistakes, we're destined to have a terrible time.
My mistake wasn't fatal; it was actually a blessing in disguise. Now, I can't help but wonder: would Dispatch have been as successful without that very public mistake? Is there something to be said for making mistakes – intentional or not – that sparks intrigue and conversation?
So, the next time you make a crucial mistake, give it time. Don't be too quick to judge it as a failure. My mistake could have been the Titanic, but luckily, it turned out to be the Concord.
My point: embrace your imperfections, and you might just unlock a new level of productivity you never knew existed. There is beauty in imperfections.
Btw, I hope this link points to the right Dispatch. Note: we’ll probably increase prices soon because demand is high.
Be well,
Greg Isenberg
I can feel the blood rush to my face just thinking about this happening to me. Can’t wait to see a class of indie hackers deploy this strategy. Tougher skin, better leads.