The Lesson from the Clay

Brian, a pottery teacher, once split his students into two groups.

• Group A had one rule: make a pot every single day for 30 days—no matter how imperfect.
• Group B had another rule: spend the entire 30 days perfecting just one pot.

At the end of the month, something surprising happened. The best pots—the ones with the most refined shapes, smoothest textures, and strongest structures—all came from Group A.

Why? Because they focused on action, iteration, and improvement through experience. Meanwhile, Group B got stuck in overthinking, hesitation, and the illusion of perfection.

Let Me Explain

We often believe that perfection comes from careful planning and endless refinement. But the truth is, progress comes from doing, learning, and improving through repetition.

The more you create, the better you get. The more you try, the faster you learn.

This applies to everything—writing, business, art, fitness, and even relationships.

“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” – Linus Pauling

Let’s Deep Dive

1. The Myth of Perfection

Perfectionism kills creativity. It makes you hesitate, procrastinate, and fear failure. Group B, who spent 30 days on one pot, got caught in this trap. But perfection isn’t the goal—progress is.

How to apply it:

• Stop over-planning. Start executing.
• Learn through trial and error.
• Accept imperfection as part of growth.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

2. The Power of Repetition

Group A got better because they practiced every single day. Each pot taught them something new—what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve.

How to apply it:

• Write every day if you want to be a great writer.
• Sell every day if you want to build a thriving business.
• Train every day if you want to master a skill.

“An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they can’t get it wrong.”

3. Momentum > Hesitation

The hardest part of any goal is getting started. But once you commit to consistent action, momentum takes over. Group A built a habit of daily progress. Group B stayed stuck in their heads.

How to apply it:

• Start before you feel ready.
• Build small daily habits.
• Focus on progress, not perfection.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Bringing It Home

Success isn’t about waiting for the perfect idea, the perfect time, or the perfect plan. It’s about starting, doing, learning, and improving along the way.

The best creators, entrepreneurs, and athletes succeed because they practice more, experiment more, and fail more—until excellence becomes inevitable.

Your Turn

What’s something you’ve been overthinking instead of taking action on?

Commit to starting today. Do it imperfectly, but do it consistently.

Book Recommendation: If this resonated with you, read Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland. It’s a powerful book on creativity, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of showing up every day.

Learning never stops.
Take a moment to reflect and act on what resonates with you.
Keep evolving.

— MJ Nyota