I’m Only 70% Ready to Publish This Post
Am I a perfectionist? I didn’t think so. But when I misspelled Grammys as Grammies in a text to my friend last weekend, I couldn’t shake it.
“I set the DVR for the Grammies at 7, so come over whenever!”
It lingered in my mind long after I hit send. Should I correct it? Maybe follow up with a playful, self-aware text with a laughing face emoji, proving that I do, in fact, know the proper plurality of Grammy is Grammys?
I almost sent the follow-up text. More than once.
But then, I remembered something I’d read last week in a newsletter by Oliver Burkeman about the 70% rule—about how a 70% readiness is fine to put most things into the world, even if they feel unfinished, imperfect, or below our best. That idea stuck with me so much that I had actually written back to Burkeman (which I rarely do) applauding his work. (He even wrote me back—I’d say he went above 70% on that one.)
I’m currently making my way through Burkeman’s small book, Meditation for Mortals (25% so far), reading 1 chapter a day for the 28 days of February, even though it doesn’t feel like the perfect time to do so. I read his Four Thousand Weeks (all 100% of it) in 2021 (see my review here: “How to Win Your Fight with Time”) and it profoundly impacted me about the truth that I’ll never win my struggle with time, so just use this minute well instead.
But despite all that reflection, here I am, unable to let go of a minor spelling mistake in a casual text.
Why? Maybe because it’s uncomfortable to release things into the world that feel flawed. I don’t want to look foolish. Or lazy. Or even careless. I’d rather be perceived as smart and industrious and put-together.
But really? Are those my actual goals in life? And do those goals include proving I’m a flawless speller?
When I think about this hard enough—about my writing or anything else—I know those aren’t my goals at all. My goals are to live my values.
And those values include loving people, intentionally being kind and respectful, living at peace (as much as I can), and being compassionate with myself when I do it all imperfectly.
Perfect spelling is not on my values list.
So even though this blog post doesn’t feel quite finished to me—maybe I could share another anecdote, edit each word a bit more, restructure the arguments more logically—I’m going to take Burkeman’s advice and launch it into the world at feeling 70% ready instead of not sending it at all.
Not because I’m settling for less. But because I want to live more.
If the goal is to do the thing—to show up, to participate, to contribute—then done is not only good enough, it is perhaps even better than perfect.
Getting to perfect takes too long. It holds me back. But 70% allows me to engage right now, to put myself out here as I am today, flaws and all.
I’m not working for an A+ (even though I do love those, not gonna lie). Instead, I’m living for meaning, for connection, for purpose. And that doesn’t require perfect spelling.
The text was sent. The message was received. My goal was met.
Does this resonate with you? Are you a recovering perfectionist, too? Share your thoughts in the comments.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I identified with your post today, Lisa, but I’ll try, and least giving it 70% – LOL! I’m a recovering perfectionist, too, and it isn’t easy, is it? But truly, life is for living, not for spelling. This sounds like a book I could benefit from reading. Blessings!
Great post, Lisa. And I laughed at Martha J Orlando’s comment that she called herself a “recovering perfectionist.” I can relate as well. I have an idea of perfect and it is hard to relax that.
It does resonate with me! I’ll be checking out Oliver Burkemann’s work! I find as I have gotten older, I worry more about making mistakes. And I seem to be growing my hard-on-myself tendencies! Maybe this is part of my aging process? Regardless, I like the idea of focusing on how we did living out our values to measure our days, rather than the little mistakes we may have made along the way. Spelling is not on my value list either!
I so identify with this, Lisa. 🙂 I, too, am a “recovering perfectionist.” Nearly fifty years ago, a personality test said I was a perfectionist and a worrywart! I’ve tried to overcome that, and I thought I had accomplished it only to discover it pervades various areas of my life. Still working on it! Thanks for understanding! Love and blessings to you!
I groaned inwardly as I read, Lisa! My heart rate increases when I think about typos and grammatical errors…
Definitely need your insights today!
as a three on the enneagram I don’t like to fail anytime so 70% or looking foolish would never work with my ego…I am learning but ooo does it hurt…and of course just like your other post I had to order this book too from the library. You are such a good source of good reading material for me. Thanks again.
I’m definitely a 70% gal or less. I caught myself on “Read More Hear” today. Fortunately, I caught it, but I took the time to do the 100% job in order to get to the 70% mark. I used to be well above average in all my subjects including spelling, but that either had deteriorated, or I was only good on tests, and that is not a good representation of who we are 100% of the time. 🙂 Great post, Lisa.
Oh I needed this; I notice spelling or even grammar mistakes so many times after posting a blog post or commenting on someone else’s blog and it drives me nutty every single time. I often start to spiral too hoping that the other person knows I KNOW I made a mistake and don’t actually think that I never noticed my mistake.
For my blog which is a hobby, it’s “better finished than perfect” posts. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
Hi, Lisa – Thank you for this VERY relatable post. I always labour over my posts, and Goodread reviews for waaaay tooooo long! Why? I have no idea. But I continue to do it anyway. Thank you for the reminder of the 70% ready rule. <3
Such a wonderfully times post for me to read, thank you for putting it out there. I am a recovering perfectionist and it’s helpful to know I’m not alone 😉
interesting timing on this, Lisa, ’cause the post i put out earlier this week was very quickly done. and yes, i went back after it was sent out and did a few corrections.
i do aim for excellence but not perfection. i think there’s a subtle difference somewhere in there. i’m not sure what it is …
This is so relatable, Lisa. My husband sometimes gets fed up with me using a word/ phrase in a conversation and then running to the dictionary to check the pronunciation or meaning/usage!
I’m glad you’re enjoying Meditations for Mortals. I like Burkeman’s idea of embracing our imperfections too. Really liberating. Done IS better than perfect.
Well, I have actually felt that way about some blog posts that I’ve done…even though I hit the preview button first and have ample time to change what I think would make it 100% good instead of the 70%. Then I hit the publish button and end up going back in and doing an edit. Then there are the days that I hope that my readers are able to get the point that I’m trying to make. 🙂
I try to avoid mistakes more from PTSD from people’s responses growing up. It depends on the audience, really, if I make a correction. One friend might worry I’m not well, with another it’s a humor connection; some won’t care, so I don’t. My kiddos would worry – LOL. Yes, I am a writer who needs an editor — accepting that I cannot reach that Utopian perfection idea was a big step!
Yep. Totally me. There have been times when I came across one of my previous comments and found a spelling error—like “they’re” instead of “their”—and was sure that everyone in the world was laughing at me. Ridiculous, I know. But I know you know. I love this idea of the 70% and your practical example of your text with your friend: “The text was sent. The message was received. My goal was met.” Maybe I should borrow this and make it my mantra next time this happens. Thank you for this today, Lisa.
I just put that book four thousand weeks on my TBR list. I love the thought of “use this minute well”. I also do that when I make a mistake…I feel the need to correct it immediately because I am good at spelling and grammar. Oh, I love the “living my values” thought too. There are so many good little nuggets of truth in this post Lisa!
I’m definitely a 70% kind of person. I see it as maybe it’s an opportunity get feedback. Maybe grow from it so maybe the next time I do something I get to release 110%. The nice thing about blogging is that even if it feels incomplete, you can revisit it on a future blog post. I have some “incomplete” thoughts and I see it as still processing. With time, I can add more if needed. Maybe my thoughts have grown since I posted.