I want to share something with you in the hopes that it will inspire you.

To start, I want to properly set expectations that this is more of a little push of inspiration than it is some grand, life-altering idea.

Here goes...

I want to encourage you to launch something before you’re ready, and I want you to do it as soon as possible.

I’m going to give you a few reasons why and then share some examples of projects I’ve launched before they were done, and why despite any of the shortcomings of those projects, I still think it was the best thing I could’ve done.

A quick but, profoundly important note: I am not suggesting that you skip the planning and strategy process. I'm talking about after you know what you're trying to accomplish and why, avoiding the trap of getting caught up in the nitty gritty details to the degree that you keep pushing out the deadline for launch.

Why launch before you’re ready?

The first question you might be thinking is: why should anyone launch before they’re ready?

I will answer that by first asking you a different question: what is the risk of launching too late or not at all?

In my super unscientific study, I’ve found that people are far more likely to wait too long or give up than they are to launch something too early. I’ve gathered this information over my lifetime of hearing countless ideas from friends and peers that never made it past the conversation phase. Even in the conversation phase, I’ve watched people talk themselves out of a good idea.

In working with clients, I’ve seen deadlines pushed time and time again, with only the occasional hasty decision to move too quickly. Even in those situations where the client moved too quickly, any post-launch problems were usually quickly resolved.

Again, super unscientific study here so, take it with the appropriate amount of salt.

The point I’m trying to make is that we often doubt ourselves. We question whether our contribution is worth it. We consider all of the ways in which it could fail, and let it hold us back, ironically, avoiding to see the obvious failure of not launching at all.

Here’s my reasons why you should launch something

“To the third grader, the fourth grader is an expert.” - I don’t know who first said this and neither does Google but shoutout to whoever said it to me

You have something to share with the world. Everyday you don’t, is withholding a gift from someone.

At the same time, in the midst of a sea of imposter syndrome, every day you wait for “perfect,” you are robbing yourself of the sweet evidence that you are making a contribution.

“The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” - Walt Whitman

By launching your project, you are contributing a verse.

If you are not yet swayed by the idea that you have something valuable to contribute or that someone could learn from you, then let me offer this: people will notice.

While most people stay in the garage unwilling to release their beta, fearful of it not being ready, or of the criticism, or of the myriad reasons it might fail...you will have put something out into the world for people to notice. You can talk to them about it, ask questions, gather information and insights. You can engage the people who gravitate toward the concept and invite them to co-create the project.

Your project is something to talk about, a conversation starter, an opportunity to learn.

In my experience...

I have developed a tendency to move fast and launch before something is ready. In some cases this takes the form of having an idea, building a landing page in a day, and