As women entrepreneurs, we’re often brilliant at visioning—mapping out our dreams with precision and clarity. Yet, when it comes to implementation, we get stuck. Why? Because perfectionism and procrastination step in, fueled by fear of failure, overwhelm, or judgment.

In this episode, I’ll unpack how these high standards, while valuable, can also hold us back from fully showing up. We’ll explore the power of taking messy action and why this approach is the antidote to perfectionism. If you’ve been delaying a big project—whether it’s writing a book, launching a new offer, or building a website—this is for you. Let’s explore why messy action is still action, and how it can lead you to the breakthroughs you’ve been waiting for.

We’ll explore how you can feel safer being messy in my upcoming, free workshop: The Burnout Cure. Save your seat at programs-saraavantstover.com/workshop.

And, as a special gift, I want to offer you free access to one of my most popular programs, “Getting Out of Your Own Way” (an IFS Daily Parts Meditation Kit to help you cultivate inner wholeness, harmony, and Self-Leadership at the start of each day).

All you have to do is:

1) Leave a review of this podcast.

2) Email a screenshot of your review to hello@saraavantstover.com

It’s as simple as that!

In this Episode We Explore:

00:00 - 00:34 Introduction to the concept of perfectionism and how it leads to procrastination.

00:35 - 01:42: Discussion of messy action and its importance in overcoming perfectionism.

01:43 - 02:55: Relating perfectionism to women entrepreneurs and the difficulty of implementing big visions.

02:56 - 04:25: Update on personal life: wedding dress, workshop announcement, and changing seasons.

04:26 - 05:36: Observations on the current election season and its impact on people's energy levels and stress.

05:37 - 07:05: The common struggle of having big visions but feeling stuck when it comes to implementation.

07:06 - 08:05: Reflection on the quote "easy choices, hard life; hard choices, easy life."

08:06 - 09:32: The challenge of high standards and the importance of allowing imperfection to get started.

09:33 - 11:05: Introduction to the practice of Morning Pages from The Artist's Way and its benefits.

11:06 - 12:32: Discussion of Anne Lamott's concept of the "shitty first draft" and how it helps overcome perfectionism.

12:33 - 14:12: Applying the concept of minimal viable products (MVP) to entrepreneurship and creative work.

14:13 - 15:05: The importance of feedback, both positive and negative, in refining work.

15:06 - 16:44: Sharing personal experiences of failure and learning, emphasizing the importance of these for growth.

16:45 - 18:02: Encouragement to take imperfect action towards one's goals and visions.

18:03 - 19:26: How to manage inner fears and support oneself while pursuing bold moves and bigger goals.

20:43 - 22:25: Final thoughts on the importance of imperfection.

Resources:

Free Workshop– The Burnout Cure: The Secret to REAL Self-Care for Female Entrepreneurs
New Year’s Retreat for Women Leaders & Entrepreneurs
Try Your Free, 30-day Trial with Kajabi
Order Sara’s new book: Handbook for the Heartbroken
Subscribe to Sara’s Sunday Journal
Connect with Sara on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

her Self CEO Early Reg Dynamic Ad

her Self CEO Early Reg Dynamic Ad

Initial NBA and Stanley Cup Final Thoughts, French Open Quarterfinals + Pricing the Jets, Bears