You know that thing you’ve been meaning to start? The course, the business idea, the creative project that’s been sitting in the queue — half-written, half-formed, waiting for the moment when everything lines up just right.
The gentle but honest truth?…that moment ain’t coming!
Not because you’re not capable. Not because the idea isn’t good enough. But because perfectionism is a con artist and it’s been nicking your dreams right out from under you.
If you’re neurodivergent and you’ve spent the better part of your life feeling like you were playing the wrong song in the wrong key, this one’s written for you.
The Equation That Changes Everything
There’s a formula and personal mantra I keep coming back to, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it:
“People Pleasing + Perfectionism = Procrastination”
That’s it. That’s the whole trap. We wait till things are perfect — not for ourselves, but ’cos we’re terrified of what other people will think.
We need all our ducks in a row before we’ll launch the website, send the email, start the course, pick up the instrument or take the class.
And in the meantime? Nothing gets done, the idea gathers dust and our inner critic (who is a bit of a dickhead, let’s be honest!) has an absolute field day.
As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, eloquently puts it:
“Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking. You don’t need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started.”
The view won’t change from the car park. You actually have to START walking.
Done Is Better Than Perfect (No, Really!)
Say you’re a coach and you’ve been sitting on a new programme for six months because the slides aren’t quite right and you haven’t figured out the perfect pricing yet.
Here’s what’s actually happening: your future clients can’t benefit from something that doesn’t exist. Every tweak you make in the waiting room is a week someone won’t get the help they desperately need.
You can always improve things once they’re out there. You’ll get real feedback from real people and that’s worth infinitely more than another round of self-editing in isolation. The more you take action — one small, imperfect, slightly wobbly step at a time — the more confidence you build.
Momentum is the goal: Mastery comes later.
This applies whether you’re launching a business, writing a blog, learning to drive, or signing up for that evening class you’ve had bookmarked for two years.
If it’s 99% there and you’re happy with your progress — just press PLAY.
Enter the SMART Goal: Your Setlist for the Next 90 Days
Right. So you’ve agreed to ditch perfect and take some action. Brilliant. But action without direction is just noise, so here’s where we bring in a bit of structure.
SMART goals are not corporate jargon (I promise you). They’re just a genuinely useful framework to make sure your goal is actually achievable rather than a vague wish floating around in the ether.
SMART stands for:
🎵 Specific — What exactly are you going to do?
🎵 Measurable — How will you know when you’ve done it?
🎵 Achievable — Is this actually within your reach right now?
🎵 Realistic (and Relevant) — Does it fit your life as it actually is, not as you’d like it to be?
🎵 Timely — By when?
Here’s a real example. When writing Sing Like No-One’s Listening — my book for late bloomers who are done waiting in the wings — my SMART goal was:
“I will write 20,000 words of the first draft of my MicroBook by 30 June 2025.”
Simple, specific, time-bound. And honestly? I still got it wrong! I wildly underestimated everything that comes after a first draft (beta readers, editing, proofreading, typesetting… the works). The first draft landed two months late and the final version five months after that.
But here’s the thing: having that SMART goal meant I got started. And starting was everything.
(If that resonates and you fancy reading the full story, the book is available to order now (add SING20 for 20% off) and officially lands on 15 April 2026 — grab your copy here.)
Break It Down: The Joy of the Micro-Step
Once you’ve got your 90-day SMART goal written down, the next job is to break it down into the smallest possible actions — weekly or monthly steps that move you steadily towards it.
Not giant leaps. Not a complete transformation by Tuesday. Just the next small thing.
And here’s the bit that especially matters if your brain works differently: tick ’em off as you go. Physically cross them out.
That small dopamine hit of visible progress is not trivial — it’s fuel. It shows you how far you’ve come, and it gives you the nudge to keep going when the initial buzz has worn off and the hard middle bit kicks in.
If a step doesn’t get done this week, roll it over to next week. No drama. No spiral. Just keep going and going and going.
Your Playlist for This Chapter
Every good journey needs a soundtrack. Here are three tracks to add to your playlist while you’re taking those first imperfect steps:
🎵 Anything’s Possible — Lea Michele
🎵 Rule the World — Walk Off the Earth
🎵 Couldn’t Be Better — Kelly Clarkson
Stick them on, press play, and go do the thing.
Ready to Go Deeper?
This blog is just a taster. Sing Like No-One’s Listening is a whole book’s worth of honest, practical, occasionally sweary encouragement for late bloomers (like the author – that’s me, by the way!) who are finally ready to take the stage — on their own terms and in their own time.
It’s packed with real stories, musical wisdom and actionable steps to help you stop waiting and start living.
And the good news? You don’t have to wait much longer — it’s available to order directly right now with worldwide release from 15 April 2026.
👉 Pre-order your copy of Sing Like No-One’s Listening here
And as a little thank you for reading — pop the SING20 code at checkout for 20% off. No strings, no fuss. Just a discount if you’re ready to press play.
Late bloomers – let’s make some noise! 🎤