Get Unstuck! March Intention: Experiment and Iterate
My intention for March is to Experiment and Iterate. Working with several clients last month revealed a common obstacle: progress stalls when we fixate on finding the right answer. This perfectionist mindset not only delays action but often leads to missed opportunities. While I don't advocate rushing every decision, small experimental steps typically yield better results than endless analysis—providing real-world feedback without major commitment. Embracing experimentation over perfection allows us to adjust quickly and bypass the anxiety that can make decisions feel overwhelming.
Many of us are more familiar than we would like with how perfectionism can make us feel stuck as we endlessly analyze which path to take. When the analysis leads to increased anxiety it can be even harder to take the first step. By embracing experimentation and iteration instead, we start to gather real-world feedback that will guide us to our goals.
5 reflections on how to get unstuck
Below are five reflections to help break free from decision paralysis and embrace the power of experimentation:
Overcome the Paralysis of Perfection
The search for the "perfect" approach often prevents us from taking any approach at all, turning our desire for excellence into a barrier to progress. When we demand certainty before beginning, we deny ourselves the very experiences that would provide that certainty.
Where in your life are you waiting to "figure it all out" before taking action?
What small step could you take today, even without complete certainty?
Start Small, Learn Big
Small steps aren't just easier to take; they generate disproportionately valuable feedback that informs your next move. By breaking down a large goal into tiny experiments, you create a low-risk environment where each action teaches you something meaningful.
What goal feels overwhelming right now that you could break down into a series of small experiments?
What's the smallest possible test you could run this week?
Reframe "Failure" as Data
When an experiment doesn't work as expected, you haven't failed - you've simply eliminated one possibility and narrowed your focus for the next attempt. Each trial provides specific information about what adjustments to make, moving you closer to what works.
Think about a recent "failure" - what specific data did it give you?
How might your next attempt change based on this information?
The Compass, Not the Map
We don't need a complete roadmap before starting; we just need a general direction and willingness to adjust our course as we go. The terrain ahead becomes visible only as we move forward, revealing opportunities and challenges that couldn't be seen from the starting point.
What destination or outcome are you confident about, even if the exact path remains unclear?
How comfortable are you with discovering the route as you go?
Permission to Prototype
Give yourself explicit permission to create "rough drafts" of your solutions, understanding that first attempts are meant to be improved upon. Designers expect to revise their work multiple times, and you can approach your goals with the same creative flexibility.
In what area of your life do you need to give yourself permission to create an imperfect prototype?
What would a "rough draft" version of your desired outcome look like?
Micro-Experiments To Get Unstuck
The Micro-Step: Break down tasks into their smallest components. What is the smallest step you can take to get started? If a step feels difficult, divide it further until it becomes doable. Then act.
The Five-Minute Test: Commit just five minutes to a postponed task. Note what obstacles or insights emerge during this brief engagement.
The Pain-Gain Method: For binary decisions, map the positives and challenges of both options, including how each makes you feel. See the blog post to follow the steps.
The Daily Micro-Experiment: Challenge yourself to get used to micro-experiments by trying one small change every day this month—take a new route, rearrange your routine, or shift your perspective. Record outcomes on your March Intention Sheet.
The Iteration Loop Thought Experiment: When stuck, identify three small adjustments that could improve your approach. Try one or all.
Try Structured Procrastination: Complete a less important task first. Once you feel the joy of accomplishment, either tackle your original task or use it to avoid something even more daunting. See the blog for a summary of the Structured Procrastination book.
The Helpful Environment: It can be hard to get started or make progress on a task when our environment is distracting. Change your scenery—go outside or simply move to a different space to refresh your thinking.
The Helpful Object: Look around your area and pick one thing that catches your attention. Examine it closely and imagine what guidance it might offer for your current challenge. What is it telling you?
Summary
By embracing experimentation as a lifestyle, we free ourselves from the tyranny of getting it right the first time. The path to our best work and most fulfilling life isn't a straight line but a series of thoughtful iterations, each one bringing us closer to what truly matters.
