Embracing Imperfection and Taking Action

Do you know how long I’ve wanted to build my own birdhouse? 

No, of course not, because you don’t know me (unless you’re my dad reading this hi), but for about 18 years! 

The reason I never attempted it was very stupid. I just didn't think it would come out great. I know, I said it was stupid. 

I got fed up with that feeling and finally committed to getting exactly what I needed for my birdhouse and I was going to build it!

I set aside time on the weekend, and a birdhouse was, in fact, built. It wasn’t the prettiest, and the walls were definitely not even, but honestly, I was pretty impressed with how it came out. I even got some great ideas for my next model. Let me know what you think of my first attempt!

Why This Matters in Marketing

Taking action, even imperfect action, is better than waiting around.

Sometimes, the most crucial step in marketing is to simply take action. 

If we wait for the perfect moment or expect perfection right off the bat, we’re only setting ourselves up for failure. 

I couldn’t help but think of Jay Schwedelson's journey, which is highlighted in episode 43 of the Be a Marketer podcast. 

Jay grew up in a direct mail business environment, witnessing the evolution of marketing firsthand. His transition into email marketing and the creation of subjectline.com was fueled by a willingness to jump at opportunities and learn on the go. He didn’t wait for the perfect tool to launch; he started with what he had and refined it over time. This not only started a dialogue with his audience but let him gather real feedback to make intentional improvements.

I loved his approach to learning from imperfections. Each campaign and subject line provided helpful feedback that Jay used to improve. He saw the imperfections as opportunities for growth, which helped him stay ahead in email marketing. 

Jay echoed that perfection really is the enemy of progress. Many of us fall into the trap of waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect email, or the perfect marketing campaign. But in reality, waiting for perfection often leads to inaction.

What opportunities are you missing while not taking action, and what could happen if you just took that first step today? 

🎯 Action Item for the week: Take ONE marketing task you’ve been putting off this week, prioritize it, and get it DONE.

- Kelsi Carter

⭐ Go deeper:

• 12 Tips for Creating the Best Email Subject Lines (with Examples)

• Call to Action Ideas: Get Clicks — and Results

• LinkedIn 101

👉 Are you a Constant Contact customer with a burning marketing question? Go here for a chance to have your question featured in an upcoming episode.