Why speed, not perfection, wins in the end
Read time: 5 minutes
A year ago, I met up with an old colleague for coffee. We talked about life and career paths, and she told me she’d been unhappy in her current role for over a year.
As a gifted creative, her plan was to leave and start her own agency.
Last week, we caught up again—and not much had changed. Still unhappy in her job. Still dreaming of launching something of her own.
When I asked what had held her back, she said,
- I want to make sure the timing’s right.
- I’m fine-tuning my business plan.
- I need to update my portfolio.
I get it—it’s hard. Looking back, I probably stayed in medicine for two years longer than I should have. You become institutionalised and a bit too comfortable. Then you wait for ‘later’ hoping that will make it easier.
But I’ve learnt that momentum doesn’t come from ideas alone—it comes from motion.
Too many people get stuck prepping, over-analysing, testing, tweaking plans, waiting for the stars to align or the perfect moment to begin.
Meanwhile others, sometimes less ‘qualified’, are already flying because they get on with it.
I've learnt that in today’s world, motion is the real advantage.
The person who takes initiative usually wins.
In an environment where attention is currency, speed is leverage. And the ability to make decisions and move forward quickly is worth more than ever.
3 habits that build unstoppable momentum
1. Focus on the work that’s right in front of you
Too often, we overcomplicate things. But most of the time, the next step is simple and obvious—it just needs doing.
What are the two or three most straightforward things I could do today to move things forward?
Then do them. Forget the 12-step plan, keep it simple. It’s usually about improving the product, building relationships, or getting your work in front of more people.
Action: Begin each day by identifying two tasks that will move the needle. Then commit to completing them before anything else.
2. Back yourself to figure it out along the way
It’s easy to retreat when things feel uncertain. I know I’ve done this before, but what helps is adopting the belief that most things can be figured out.
The people I admire most aren’t necessarily “experts”—they’re the resourceful ones who act first, and figure it out on the go.
Basically, you don’t need all the answers in advance. You just need to believe you’ll find a way.
Action: Next time you feel blocked, find one small way to move forward. Google it, ask ChatGPT, speak to someone—whatever it takes. Then take a rough first step and build momentum from there.
3. Create urgency, and move fast
If there’s one thing that slows progress, it’s unnecessary delay. The good ideas fade away, excitement dies down and people move on.
I’ve seen projects die not because they were bad, but because they limped along with slow replies and delayed launches that meant the moment was missed.
I’ve noticed that whether you’re building a business, growing an audience, or chasing an opportunity, how fast you act matters.
Action: Build a habit of moving faster. Following up, responding quickly, cutting deadlines. If something feels like a “next week” task, aim for two days.
TL;DR
The winners aren’t always the most qualified or those that plan the most. They’re the ones who take a decisive step, iterate, and keep things moving.
I’m still learning this myself—but I’m convinced of one thing: speed and execution are a genuine edge.
So if you’ve been stuck in thought-mode for too long, take this as your sign to start small, move quickly, and trust yourself to figure it out on the way.
Hope this helps!
Speak soon,
Dupé
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