(How to Get Unstuck in Life & Business)

That business idea you've been sitting on for months? That offer you keep "perfecting"? That bold move you're waiting to feel ready for? Sis, what if I told you that the "perfect time" you're waiting for will never come—and that's actually good news?

Let me tell you about the year I almost didn't start.

It was 2018, and I had this burning vision for a business that would help women find their voice and build confidence online. But I kept telling myself "not yet."

Not yet, because I need more training.
Not yet, because I need more followers.
Not yet, because my website isn't perfect.
Not yet, because what will people think?
Not yet, because I'm not qualified enough.

"Someday" became my favorite word. Someday when the kids are older. Someday when I have more time. Someday when I feel more confident. Someday when everything aligns perfectly.

But you know what? Someday never came.

It took a hard conversation with myself (and God) to realize that "waiting for the perfect time" was just fear wearing a responsible mask. My perfectionism wasn't protecting me from failure—it was guaranteeing I'd never succeed.

Sis, is perfectionism holding you back too?

If you're reading this and feeling that uncomfortable truth settling in your chest, keep reading. Because what I'm about to share might just be the permission slip you've been waiting for.

The Perfectionism Trap: When "Not Yet" Becomes Never

Let's be real about what "waiting for the perfect time" actually looks like in your day-to-day life:

You're researching instead of doing. You've taken three courses on the same topic, read 47 books about starting a business, and watched countless YouTube tutorials—but you still haven't launched anything.

You're planning instead of posting. Your content calendar is beautifully color-coded (for the third time this month), but your actual social media hasn't been updated in weeks.

You're perfecting instead of progressing. You've rewritten your About page seventeen times, redesigned your logo four times, and you're currently on version 5.0 of your signature offer—that nobody has bought yet because you haven't offered it.

You're waiting for "signs" instead of obeying what you already know. God already told you to move, but you're looking for more confirmation, more clarity, more certainty before you take the first step.

How This Shows Up for Women in Business

For us—especially as moms and faith-driven entrepreneurs—the perfectionism trap has some unique flavors:

The "Good Mom" Trap: "I'll start my business when my kids are in school full-time so I can give it my full attention." Translation: I'm using motherhood as an excuse to stay safe.

The "Qualified Enough" Trap: "I need one more certification before I can call myself an expert." Translation: I'm hiding behind credentials because I don't trust my experience.

The "Godly Woman" Trap: "I'm just waiting on God's timing." Translation: I'm using spirituality to mask my fear of failure or judgment.

The "Everything Must Align" Trap: "When my finances are better, my marriage is stronger, my health improves, then I'll pursue my dream." Translation: I'm waiting for a perfect life before I'll risk building my business.

Can I tell you something that might sting but will also set you free?

Perfectionism is fear in disguise. And fear is not from God.

2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

That need for everything to be perfect before you start? That's not wisdom. That's not prudence. That's not even good stewardship. That's fear trying to keep you small, safe, and stuck.

What Happens When We Wait Too Long

Here's what nobody tells you about waiting for the "perfect time": the cost isn't just what you don't start—it's everything that doesn't happen as a result.

Missed Opportunities

That client who needed exactly what you offer? She hired someone else—someone who showed up imperfectly but consistently.

That collaboration that could have changed your trajectory? It went to someone who said yes before they felt ready.

That income your family needed? It stayed in the account of the entrepreneur who launched messy instead of waiting for polished.

That woman who needed your story to give her courage? She's still stuck because you haven't shared it yet.

The Emotional and Mental Toll

But the external cost isn't even the heaviest part. Let's talk about what waiting does to your soul:

Comparison intensifies. When you're not taking action yourself, you're watching everyone else move forward. You're measuring their Chapter 20 against your Chapter 1 that you still haven't started. Every success story you see becomes a reminder of what you're not doing.

Shame accumulates. You start feeling like a fraud. You have this big vision, but you're not walking it out. You talk about your dreams, but your actions don't match. The gap between who you want to be and who you're actually being widens every day you wait.

Anxiety builds. The longer you wait, the bigger the gap becomes, and the scarier the leap feels. What started as "I'll wait a few months" becomes "I've waited so long now that starting feels impossible."

Regret settles in. You look back at all the time you spent waiting and realize you could have been learning, growing, and serving. You could have been "bad" at this for a year and gotten better. Instead, you're still preparing to start.

A Real Story: The Cost of Waiting

I watched a woman in my community sit on a course idea for two full years. TWO YEARS. She kept saying she needed to perfect it, add more modules, make it more "professional."

Meanwhile, another woman took the same concept, created a "messy" version in two weeks, and launched it. Her first version wasn't perfect—she even told her students it was a beta. But you know what? She made $8,000 in that first month. More importantly, she learned what her audience actually needed (which was different from what she thought they needed).

Fast forward one year: the woman who launched imperfectly now has a refined, successful program based on real feedback and actual results. She's served hundreds of women and generated over $100k.

The woman who waited for perfect? She finally launched... to crickets. She had spent so much time perfecting something in a vacuum that it no longer resonated with what people actually needed. And worse—she had built up so much expectation in her mind that the slow start crushed her confidence.

Waiting for perfect didn't protect her from failure. It guaranteed a harder version of it.

God Moves When We Move

Here's what I've learned through multiple launches, failed attempts, and hard-won victories:

Obedience beats perfection in the Kingdom every single time.

God doesn't need your perfect plan. He needs your willing heart. He doesn't need your flawless execution. He needs your faithful steps.

Look at Ecclesiastes 11:4: "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap."

In other words: If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never start. If you wait until everything is ideal, you'll never sow. If you wait until you can see the complete picture, you'll never step into your purpose.

The Pattern in Scripture

Think about every major move of God in the Bible:

Noah started building the ark before the rain came. He looked foolish until he looked faithful.

Abraham left everything familiar without knowing his destination. He moved on a promise, not a plan.

Moses had to stretch out his hand before the Red Sea parted. The miracle came after the obedience, not before.

Peter had to step out of the boat before he walked on water. The impossible became possible in the act of moving.

David faced Goliath with inadequate weapons and no military training. He moved in what he had, not what he wished he had.

Mary said yes to God's plan before she understood it, before it was convenient, before she had support. Her obedience preceded her understanding.

See the pattern? God meets us in motion. The path appears when we start walking.

How Messy Action Builds Confidence

Here's the secret nobody tells you about confidence: You don't get it and then take action. You take action and then get it.

Confidence is built in the doing. Every time you do something scared, you prove to yourself that you can. Every time you show up imperfectly and survive, you build evidence that imperfect is enough. Every time you obey despite uncertainty, you strengthen your trust muscle.

I didn't feel confident when I launched my first course. I shook the entire time I hit "publish." But you know what? I felt more confident the second time. And even more the third time. Now? I can launch in my sleep.

The confidence comes through the action, not before it.

5 Steps to Start Where You Are

Okay, sis. Enough about why. Let's talk about how. Here are five practical steps you can take right now—today—to start where you are:

Step 1: Name the Next Right Thing

You don't need to see the whole staircase. You just need to see the next step.

Ask yourself: "What is the one thing I know I need to do next?"

Not five things. Not the entire business plan. Just the next right thing.

Maybe it's:

Writing that "About" page you've been avoiding
Recording that video you keep talking yourself out of
Sending that email to a potential client
Posting about your offer for the first time
Scheduling that call you're nervous about

Mini CTA: Write down the next right thing on a sticky note and put it where you'll see it. This is your marching order for today.

Step 2: Set a "Good Enough" Deadline

Perfectionism loves open-ended timelines. Give yourself a deadline that forces action.

Not "someday." Not "when it's ready." A real date on a real calendar.

And here's the key: Make it uncomfortably soon.

If you think you need two weeks, give yourself one. If you think you need a month, give yourself two weeks. Parkinson's Law says work expands to fill the time available. So shrink the time and watch yourself get it done.

Mini CTA: Open your calendar right now. Pick a date within the next 7 days. Tell one person who will hold you accountable. That's your deadline.

Step 3: Share Your Imperfect Beginning

Go public with your messy start. Post about what you're creating before it's finished. Share your behind-the-scenes. Let people see you in process.

Why? Because:

Accountability increases completion rates
Public declaration builds commitment
Your "messy" is someone else's "inspiring"
It gives people permission to start imperfectly too

You don't need a perfect announcement. You just need an honest one:

"I'm working on something and it's not perfect yet, but I'm excited to share it with you soon."

"Taking messy action today because done is better than perfect."

"Launching scared because staying stuck is scarier."

Mini CTA: Right now—before you finish this post—go share ONE thing you're working on. Instagram story, Facebook post, text to a friend. Make it real by making it public.

Step 4: Expect and Accept Imperfection

This is the mindset shift that changes everything: decide in advance that it won't be perfect, and that's okay.

Your first version will have flaws. Your early content will be clunky. Your initial offer will need refinement. That's not failure—that's data. That's learning. That's growth.

Give yourself permission to:

Make mistakes publicly and learn from them
Launch version 1.0 knowing version 2.0 will be better
Serve imperfectly instead of sitting out perfectly
Improve with real feedback instead of imaginary perfection

Mini CTA: Say this out loud: "My first version doesn't have to be my best version. It just has to exist." Say it until you believe it.

Step 5: Celebrate Small Obedience

Don't wait for the big win to celebrate. Honor the small obediences.

Did you hit publish when everything in you wanted to delete it? Celebrate.
Did you show up on video even though you felt unprepared? Celebrate.
Did you make the offer even though your voice shook? Celebrate.
Did you keep your deadline even though it wasn't as polished as you wanted? Celebrate.

Every act of obedience matters. Every step of courage counts. Every moment you choose faith over fear is worth acknowledging.

Mini CTA: After you complete your next small step, do something to mark it. Coffee with a friend, favorite treat, dance party in your kitchen, post celebrating your courage. Make it memorable.

Reflection & Journal Prompts

Take some time to sit with these questions. Get honest with yourself and with God:

1. What am I really waiting for? (Dig past "the right time" to the real fear underneath)

2. What has waiting cost me so far? (Opportunities, relationships, income, peace, confidence)

3. What would I do today if I already felt confident? (That's probably the thing you need to do)

4. What's the smallest version of this I could start with? (How can you make the first step smaller and less scary?)

5. What would I tell my daughter/friend/sister if she was stuck like I am? (Often we have better wisdom for others than ourselves)

6. What does God keep bringing back to my mind? (That recurring thought is probably your assignment)

7. What will I regret more: trying and failing, or never trying at all? (Be honest)

Reflection Assignment: Journal your answers to these questions. Then share one insight in the comments below or in our Facebook community. Your revelation might be someone else's confirmation.

A Faith-Filled Prayer for Courage

Let me pray over you right now, sis:

Father,

I pray for every woman reading this who has been waiting for permission, waiting for perfection, waiting for confidence that feels out of reach.

Right now, would You replace her fear with faith? Would You exchange her hesitation for holy boldness? Would You turn her "someday" into "today"?

Remind her that You've already equipped her with everything she needs. That Your calling on her life doesn't require her perfection—it requires her willingness. That You're not looking for her to have it all figured out—You're looking for her to take the next step.

Give her the courage to start messy, the grace to learn as she goes, and the wisdom to see that obedience matters more than outcomes.

Silence the voices of comparison, criticism, and doubt. Let Your voice be the loudest one she hears—the voice that says "I am with you" and "You can do this" and "I chose you for this."

Let this be the moment something shifts. Let this be the day she stops waiting and starts walking. Let this be the turning point where fear loses and faith wins.

We trust You with the results. We trust You with the timeline. We trust You with the process.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Your Next Move Starts Right Now

Sis, reading this blog post doesn't count as action. Nodding your head in agreement doesn't count as obedience. Feeling inspired doesn't count as moving.

Here's your real next step:

1. Listen Deeper

This blog post is based on an episode of my podcast, Beyond The Comfort Zone: For Thriving Women in Business. If this message resonated, go listen to the full episode where I share even more stories, practical tips, and encouragement to get you unstuck.

🎧 Listen to the podcast episode here

2. Join the Sisterhood

You don't have to do this alone. Inside Sisters in Success, my free Facebook community, you'll find thousands of women who are taking imperfect action, supporting each other's brave beginnings, and celebrating messy progress.

We have weekly "Imperfect Action" check-ins where women share what they're launching, creating, or stepping into—without needing it to be perfect first.

👯‍♀️ Join Sisters in Success here

For those ready for deeper support, Unmuted & SEEN is my membership community where we dive even deeper into overcoming perfectionism, building faith-filled businesses, and taking bold action consistently.

✨ Learn about Unmuted & SEEN here

3. Get Your Visibility Checklist (Free)

Not sure where to start with showing up online? I created a Visibility Checklist specifically for women who are ready to stop hiding and start being seen—imperfectly.

This free resource breaks down exactly how to increase your visibility in small, doable steps. No overwhelm. No perfection required. Just practical action you can take today.

📋 Download your free Visibility Checklist here

The Time is Now

Sis, I need you to hear this one more time:

The perfect time you're waiting for? It's not coming.

There will never be a moment when everything aligns perfectly. There will never be a day when you feel 100% ready. There will never be a season when fear completely disappears and confidence feels guaranteed.

But here's what is true:

You are more ready than you think you are.
You have more to offer than you realize.
The world needs what you're carrying—messy version and all.

So stop waiting for permission from the universe. Stop waiting for certainty from circumstances. Stop waiting for perfection from yourself.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

And watch how God meets you in the movement. Watch how the path appears as you walk it. Watch how confidence builds through the doing. Watch how your obedience becomes someone else's inspiration.

The time is now.
The version is imperfect.
And that's exactly as it should be.

Now go—take that next step you've been avoiding. Your future self will thank you.

What's the one thing you're going to do today to stop waiting and start moving? Drop it in the comments below and let's cheer each other on!

Tammy Maynard is the founder of The Unmuted CEO and creator of Unmuted & SEEN, helping faith-driven mom entrepreneurs stop hiding behind perfectionism and start showing up boldly for their calling. After years of her own "waiting for perfect" seasons, she now helps women recognize that obedience beats perfection every time. Connect with her at Sisters in Success, listen to her podcast Beyond The Comfort Zone, or learn more at beacons.ai/tammymaynard.

Stop Waiting for the 'Perfect Time'—Start Where You Are