You Chose: Perfect or Ready?

An infectious grin and a happy dance–what happened when a 13-year-old said her name correctly for the first time. Ashley Christensen, the founder of the phenomenally creative My Magic Words online articulation program has seen this kind of life-changing moment again and again. Creating her innovative program and curriculum took a year of long hours while juggling a busy family life. She says, “It was hard but worth it.”?

She turned her passion as a certified speech therapist into a sought-after program that could reach even more people. It’s working. When asked for her best suggestion for other entrepreneurs she said, “If you have an idea, don’t think about it too much. What’s going to help is just jumping in. Find your strength, capitalize on it, and you will pick up the other pieces along the way.”?

This advice is especially significant because this woman color-coordinated her clothes closet...at age four. I know. In full disclosure, I’m her mother. But that doesn't change the truth.

This gal is a perfectionist. When she throws even a birthday party, every detail is attended to. She is meticulous. So how can she not overthink it? How can "just jump in” be her answer? After all, wouldn’t she feel that her brand deserves as much attention as say, matching the color of craft aprons to cupcakes??

Yes, she does care about her brand. If you check out her content and branding, it’s clear that she is not shortchanging value or excellence. But she built as she went and she didn’t start with perfect. She started with passion and upheld her own style while learning as she went. It’s paying off. Not just for her but for those who are now benefiting from her having the courage to start.?

Brené Brown says, “Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth; it's a shield.” Yikes. Others say it is a form of procrastination.?

Jen Gottlieb says in her book Be Seen that “Perfectionism is the enemy of growth. When we aim for perfection, we miss out on the messy, imperfect, but often beautiful journey that leads to true growth.”

What about you? Perfectionism? Or Ready or not, here you come?

Here’s hoping that you can have the courage to be imperfect and the creativity to be your own secret sauce of authentically brilliant. Because honestly, the best kind of "perfect" is genuine.

Entrepreneurs are often driven and tend to be perfectionists. What are your secrets to balancing the perfectionist in you with the entrepreneur?

#EntrepreneurLife #EmbraceImperfection #YouGotThis #PassionOverPerfection #AuthenticEntrepreneur #MagicInImperfection #BeSeen @MyMagicWords