Progress Over Perfection: How Small Steps Keep Us Moving Forward

Motivation can be a powerful force in both our professional and personal lives, but it doesn't always come steadily. Sometimes, it shows up in short bursts rather than being a constant presence. This was a lesson I was reminded of recently while working on a painting of my black lab. It took me a year to finish, and during that time, I only felt motivated to work on it a few times. In total, it was about four hours of work spread out over twelve months.

This experience served as a reminder that motivation doesn’t need to be constant for us to make progress. We often wait for the perfect moment or a strong surge of inspiration to get started, but those moments are rare. Waiting for them can mean not moving forward at all.

I also remembered that chasing perfection isn't always necessary. The painting isn't perfect, but I’m satisfied with it. Instead of striving for an unattainable ideal, I focused on the value of making consistent progress and seeing it through to the end.

This lesson is relevant in our professional lives as well. We won’t always feel motivated every day to handle every task or project. Progress is not always about making big leaps forward; it often comes from taking small, steady steps. It’s about showing up, doing what we can, and understanding that even small efforts contribute to the bigger picture.

Whether you’re working on a significant professional project or a personal goal, remember that motivation is helpful, but not essential. Embrace it when it’s there, but rely on discipline and commitment when it isn’t. Even small steps forward are still steps forward.

The reminder here is to find satisfaction in making progress, even if it’s not perfect. That’s where true growth lies.