February 27, 2025

Minimal Viable Habits: The Antidote to Perfectionism

13 minutes

In this thought-provoking episode, Scott Smith tackles the perfectionism that keeps us stuck and introduces the concept of "minimal viable habits" – the art of doing just enough to get momentum without overcomplicating your life. Drawing inspiration from the business concept of minimal viable products, Scott challenges listeners to examine whether they're creating unnecessary fires in their own lives.

With his characteristic blend of tough love and practical wisdom, Scott explores how waiting for perfect conditions often means missing out on your dreams entirely. He shares personal insights and client stories that illustrate how embracing the "make the mess, then clean it up" approach can lead to remarkable success.

Whether you're struggling with perfectionism in your personal goals or business ventures, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on simplifying your approach and taking action before you feel completely ready.

Featured Story:

Scott shares a compelling story about a client he met in Chandler, Arizona while producing a television show for the client's large martial arts school. Despite looking exhausted with dark circles under his eyes and losing hair from stress, the client embraced a philosophy that would later lead to his remarkable success: "When I get successful, then I'll just clean up the mess." Twenty years later, Scott reconnected with this same client who had indeed achieved massive success by focusing on the minimal viable approach in his business while postponing "cleaning up the mess" until after reaching his goals.

Key Takeaways:

The perfectionist mindset often delays progress by waiting for ideal conditions that rarely arrive

Taking action at 70% readiness is better than waiting for 100% that may never come

Examine whether you're complicating your life by being both the "arsonist and the fireman"

Business and personal life are "living, breathing beasts" that will always present challenges

The "minimal viable habit" approach focuses on doing just enough to gain momentum

Life will never completely settle down – expecting it to is setting yourself up for frustration

Perfectionism has its place in certain scenarios, but shouldn't become a universal approach

Waiting to get everything perfect means missing out on dreams and opportunities

Memorable Quotes:

"If it's going really well when you first meet, it's probably worth pursuing. If it's not, it's probably worth running." - Scott Smith

"If you are always putting out fires around you, have you over-complicated your life to the point that you're putting out fires everywhere you go?" - Scott Smith

"If you're waiting to get it all perfect, you are missing out on your dreams." - Scott Smith

Scott's Three-Step Approach:

Accept Imperfection - Recognize that waiting for perfect conditions is a form of procrastination. Aim for 70% readiness instead of 100% before taking action.

Make the Mess First - Get things going even if it's not perfect. Create momentum first, then refine as you go. As Scott's client said, "When I get successful, then I'll just clean up the mess."

Simplify Your Approach - Identify the minimal viable habits or actions needed to move forward. Eliminate unnecessary complications that make you both the "arsonist and fireman" in your own life.

Connect With Scott:

Search for The Daily Boost on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Email: [email protected]

Visit: https://www.faceyourpassion.com/

Learn More: https://www.9minuteclaritycode.com/

Visit: https://www.perfectweekplanner.com/

Learn More: https://www.dailyawarenessdiary.com/

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By Scott Smith - Motivation and Coaching

3.9

12771,277 ratings