Why I'm Already Restarting My 2026 (And Why That's Actually a Smart Strategy)

It's January 4th, and I already want to start over. A do-over! Already.

Here's the transparent truth: I've been working behind the scenes for months on this new coaching website. I had hoped to roll it out by now. It's not finished, and I'm disappointed. But if I'm honest, maybe what I'm really feeling is fear. Fear of failure before I've even begun.

Sound familiar? I hope not, though I know many people have a perfectionist side. The part that fears rejection and criticism because our work isn't perfect yet.

The Myth of the Perfect Launch

Guess what? It never will be perfect. Life isn't perfect, but social media, magazines, and success stories tell a different tale. Make it perfect before you ship. (Remember Martha Stewart's magazine empire? Reality check - she had a massive staff behind that perfection.)

But business and life are messy and hard, beautiful and a struggle. When the hard parts show up, it's what we do that matters.

Do I bemoan all the fixes my website needs? Yes. Do I sometimes eat Christmas cookies and binge-watch The Landman instead of working? Maybe for a little bit. Then I dust off the crumbs and get back to work. I try again, holding myself with grace for being a human with feelings.

January 1st Is Just Another Thursday.

We don't need more inner criticism. We need compassion and understanding over self-doubt. January 1st is just another day. Every day is another day to start. It's not failure when you miss a day or need to pivot.

Here's what I'm learning through my Buddhist studies: clarity comes from staying with the process, not from having perfect conditions. Winter isn't the season for harvest - it's the season for planting seeds in the dark.

The Strategy of Starting Imperfectly

Even in winter, gardeners are working. They're ordering catalogs, sketching layouts, preparing for what's to come. To build a sustainable life: dream of what you want to create, then take one imperfect action. Book the class. Take the step. Hire the coach

Each action is a vote for the future human you are becoming.

Action over perfection. Get going.

Start tomorrow. Start again next week. Keep going. The only failure is to give up on your dream. Don't give up.

I believe in you. I believe in myself, too.

P.S. I skipped sending my newsletter last week, but today I started again. One more action that reinforces the idea that I am a writer. I'll keep working on my website copy too - imperfectly, but consistently.