What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Done Is Better Than Perfect: The Advice That Helped Me Overcome Perfectionism
Done is better than perfect is the best piece of advice I have ever received. It completely changed my creative journey and taught me that overcoming perfectionism isn’t about becoming flawless—it’s about having the courage to begin.
I didn’t learn this lesson from a book or a motivational quote.
I learned it from my mentor… and one imperfect illustration that I almost never shared.
Why I Was Afraid to Share My First Digital Illustration✨
If there is one piece of advice that quietly changed my life, it was this:
“Done is better than perfect.”
When I joined my digital fashion illustration course, I had one tiny problem.
Actually… several tiny problems.
I knew hand illustration.
I knew nothing about Photoshop.
And laptops?
Let’s just say, if technology were a language, I’d still be stuck at A for Apple. 😄
Then came our first digital illustration assignment.
After wrestling with layers, tracing, brushes, and enough confusion to question all my life choices, I somehow managed to create my very first digital portrait.
It wasn’t great.
It wasn’t even “almost great.”
Let’s just say… my portrait and the original model looked like they belonged to two completely different families. 😂
I proudly sent it to my mentor.
She looked at it and said,
“Wonderful. Now post it on social media.”
Excuse me… WHAT?
I immediately replied,
“Ma’am, I can’t! People will laugh. They’ll wonder what exactly I’ve illustrated.”
The Advice That Changed My Perspective✨
That’s when she said something I’ll never forget.
“If you keep waiting for perfection, you’ll miss the entire journey that leads to it.”
She continued,
“Nothing starts perfect. Even ten years from now, you’ll look at your work and find something you’d improve. Perfection isn’t a destination you suddenly reach one day. It’s simply the result of showing up, making mistakes, learning from them, and doing it again.”
And then came the line that stayed with me.
“You can only improve what you’re willing to show.”
This wasn’t perfect. But posting it was the most perfect decision I made.
How I Started Overcoming Perfectionism✨
That day, I understood something.
Perfection doesn’t build confidence.
Action does.
The funny part?
If I had waited until I felt “good enough,” I’d probably still be staring at that same unfinished illustration… while Photoshop continued staring back at me. 😄
Today, when I look at that first design, I smile.
Not because it’s perfect.
But because it exists.
It reminds me that every piece of work I create today began with one imperfect attempt that I almost never shared.
Why Done Is Better Than Perfect✨
Perfection is a moving target.
No matter how experienced we become, there will always be something we’d like to improve.
The real magic isn’t in creating something perfect.
It’s in creating something at all.
Every finished piece teaches us something.
Every imperfect attempt makes us better.
Every mistake becomes a lesson we couldn’t have learned by waiting.
My Biggest Lesson as a Creative✨
So here’s my little reminder for anyone waiting for the “perfect time.”
Post it.
Write it.
Paint it.
Start it.
Because unfinished dreams hidden in drafts never become success stories.
Sometimes, done really is better than perfect.
And for that lesson, I’ll always be grateful to my mentor, who saw possibility in me long before I could see it in myself.
This illustration didn’t build my confidence.
Sharing it did.
Looking at it today, I don’t remember the fear.
I remember the moment I chose progress over perfection.
Now I’m curious… what’s one thing you’ve been waiting to share because you’re afraid it isn’t perfect yet? I’d love to hear your story. 🤍🦋
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Until the next whisper…
—Rajeshwari 🧿💕
© Nihshabd by Rajeshwari
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If this whisper stayed with you, you may also enjoy reading A Blank Canvas and a Blank Page
Creative Chaos & Quiet Feelings ✨😄
