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250,000 years ago, a single mistake could get you killed.
Failing to gather food. Breaking a tool. Losing a hunt.
Back then, being excluded wasnât just awkwardâit was a death sentence.
We donât live in that world anymore⌠but your brain doesnât know that.
It still treats mistakes like life-threatening risks. And every time you try something new, it kicks into survival modeâtelling you:
âBe careful. Donât mess this up. Your life depends on it.â
That paralysisâthe hesitation, the second-guessing, the need to get it just right before you start?
Thatâs what we now call perfectionism.
In the book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin says:
âGrowth comes at the point of resistance. We learn by pushing ourselves and finding what really lies inside.â
But your brain is not wired for growth. Itâs wired for survival.
And when it sees a chance of failure? It slams the brakes.
But what if the real problem is not that youâre a perfectionist⌠but that you are just using perfectionism as an excuse for not starting?
And if thatâs true⌠then maybe the way forward is not to fight perfectionismâbut to let it become part of the process instead of part of the problem.
Perfect (adj.) vs. Perfect (verb)
Think of a blank canvas.
The first brushstroke looks messy, unclear, unfinished⌠imperfect.
The point is⌠It doesnât look like much. But as you keep adding layersârefining colors, sharpening detailsâthe painting starts to emerge from the chaos.
Without the imperfect strokes of your draft thereâs no masterpiece.
So when you think of âperfectâ as an adjective, itâs rigid, unattainable. It feels final, like something you either achieve or you donât.
But when you think of âperfectâ as a verb, itâs activeâitâs about refining, improving, and evolving.
Think about your favorite artist, musician, or speaker. Do you think they were âperfectâ the first time they picked up a brush, an instrument, or a microphone?
No. They kept refining. They perfected, instead of trying to be perfect.
Each action you take, each attempt to do something new is a brushstroke.
It might feel small on its own, but they create the basis of every masterpiece.
So, how do you move from âperfectâ, as a state, to âperfectâ, as a process? How do you create progress that feels tangible, even when things feel imperfect?
Weâre going to use The Brushstroke Method. A system to break free of perfectionism paralysis and replace it with progress, just like painting a beautiful piece of art goes from an imperfect sketch to a masterpiece.
Painting Your Progress: The Brushstroke Method
The Brushstroke Method gives you three simple steps:
1. Sketch the Outline
2. Add the Base Colors
3. Add depth
Each brushstroke builds on the last, layer by layer, until progress becomes visible and tangible.
Brushstroke 1: Sketch the Outline
The first brushstroke is to sketch the outline.
In The Brushstroke Method, this means defining your Improvement Zoneâa small, focused part of a skill or project.
If you focus on the final masterpiece, like âbecome a better readerâ or âmaster public speaking,â it feels overwhelming. Itâs too big. Too vague.
The path feels unclear, and the goal seems too far away. Thatâs what leads to perfectionism paralysisâyou donât know where to start, so you donât start at all.
But when you focus on one specific aspect, the path forward becomes clear. You only have to take one step.
Letâs say public speaking is the skill you want to master.
What exactly do you want to improve? Think of key aspects like:
Vocal delivery â Controlling your tone, volume, and pacing.
Engagement â Keeping the audience hooked with body language and eye contact.
Transitions â Moving smoothly from one point to the next.
Now, pick one aspect.
For example, if you choose transitions, your Improvement Zone might be:
- Using a transitional phrase (e.g., âThat brings us toâŚâ) to connect ideas.
Thatâs your first brushstrokeâone small, specific improvement that moves you forward.
Brushstroke 2: Add the Base Colors
The second brushstroke is to add the base colors. This is the broad, foundational stroke that creates structure for the painting.
In The Brushstroke Method, this is about creating Micro Refinementsâsmall, deliberate actions that build momentum.
These refinements donât need to be polished. Theyâre about progress, not perfectionâlaying down a base that will later be sharpened and refined.
Think of it this way: If your Improvement Zone is using a transitional phrase (e.g., âThat brings us toâŚâ) to connect ideas, your base colors might look like this:
Write down your main talking points and script a transition phrase between each one.
Practice saying your transitions aloud 3-5 times until they feel natural.
Record yourself speaking and listen for any awkward jumps, adjusting with a smoother phrase.
These are your base colorsâthe refinements that give life to your sketch.
Brushstroke 3: Add Depth
Now comes the fun part: Itâs time to add depth.
In The Brushstroke Method, this is about Iterationâadjusting and improving whatâs already there.
Hereâs the beauty of iteration: It doesnât erase mistakesâit transforms them. It builds on whatâs already there, turning rough strokes and base colors into refined details.
Maybe your transitions still sound robotic or unnatural. Thatâs fineâiteration will refine them:
Experiment with different phrasing.
Try varying your voice tone.
Incorporate natural body language.
These small adjustments add depth, clarity, and confidenceâbut that mastery wouldnât exist without the base layers underneath.
Progress isnât about getting it perfect on the first try.
The Brushstroke Method doesnât fight against perfectionismâit works with it.
- Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, you create momentum.
- Instead of chasing flawless results, you focus on layering progress.
- And just like a masterpiece, your skills take shapeâone brushstroke at a time.
The One Question That Kills Perfectionism for Good
But even when you know thisâwhen youâre applying the Brushstroke Methodâthereâs still something that happensâŚ
That hesitation. The second-guessing. The tiny voice saying, âMaybe just one more tweak before I put this out there.â
Why does this happen? Why, even when youâre making progress, does perfectionism still try to creep back in?
Well⌠remember where we started.
Your brain still thinks mistakes mean danger.
So, what do you do when that happens?
First, remember to shift how you see âperfect.â
âPerfectâ (adj.) is something you are or you arenât.
âPerfectâ (verb.) is something you do or you donât.
Perfect is not about who you areâitâs about what you do, and what you do is always progressing.
So, whenever that hesitation creeps in, ask yourself:
What would this feel like if it were just the next brushstroke?
Thatâs it. One question. One shift. One step forward And perfectionism loses its grip.
- Instead of waiting to be ready, you start.
- Instead of obsessing over details, you refine.
- Instead of fearing imperfection, you embrace progress.
Because thatâs how masterpieces are made.
Not in one stroke. Not in one moment of genius.
But in layers, built over time.
And now, you have everything you need to do the same.
So⌠whatâs your next brushstroke?
Whatever it isâdo it now.
One small brushstroke at a time, and soon, you wonât just create something incredible.
You will look back and realizeâyou were building it all along.