Issue 45: It's peRfeCt!

🎶 Oh, the weather outside is … confusing frickin freezing 🥶

Remember how I said to bring a trunk of clothes last week? Well, you’ll need it to climb inside. It’s in the teens as I write this and adolescence is back with a vengeance.

While there’s no perfect time, now’s a good a time as any to talk about this week’s episode on perfection syndrome. Besides, the typing will help keep the blood circulating.

-John

Moving Forward 496 495 : A look back at letting go of perfection syndrome

I could pretty much end the issue here with the headline above.

Oy, I’m a hot mess. Figuratively, figuratively. I’d welcome that adjective right about now as I’m sitting in my office waiting for the heat to crank up, watching my breath form icicles, rubbing my hands while wearing my coat and scarf like a modern day Bob Cratchit. At least he had a single lump of coal to keep him company.

Last week’s issue had a numeric error as I’ve been prone to making these last few weeks. Seriously, I don’t know how I got caught up in number soup between keeping count of episodes, newsletter issues, seasons, the date, what time it is, and countless other numerals that have dogpiled over the past month.

I have a pretty solid memory, to the point where I’ve freaked people out with my recall of the minutest details from random past events. But when it comes to numbers, I’m quite adept at mixing up dates, misreading calendars (hence the mixing up dates), and catching last week’s headline error while writing this week’s issue; namely, captioning last week’s episode “495,” which is this week’s episode. I only caught the mishap as I was typing out “496,” which caught me off guard. I paused and asked myself, “I know I’m close to the end but that seems a little too close.” I logged into my podcast host provider and sure enough got confirmation of the blunder. So this week’s episode is 495. But as I like to bowtie my faux pas with a teachable lesson; mostly to draw attention away from said error, this is a great springboard to talk about this week’s episode (which is still 495).

It’s not that big of a deal. We’re talking podcast episodes and newsletter issues rather than a more pressing or important job that would require numeric precision (which, thankfully, I’m not in). I bet none of you noticed the error until I just called it out and yet, there was a time when catching something like this would have thrown me into a tailspin of “woe is me” for an hour while burying my head in the proverbial sand.

Today, not so much. I haven’t lasted 12 seasons and 495 (soon to be 496) episodes by clinging to my perfectionist tendencies of the past. I long ago let go of that hang-up when I realized I was spending more time editing podcast episodes than recording them; an inverse relationship that is neither fun nor sustainable.

Instead, I accepted that I’m human and prone to little errors along the way, and have gotten better about not harping on them; except when it comes to newsletter content. I’m careful about the big details, and meticulous with the small ones when there’s a lot at stake. However, when it comes to this podcast, a few errors here and there won’t really throw anyone off but me on a random morning, and that’s only if I let it.

So my advice to you future podcasters is to learn how to edit but don’t wield it like a badge. It’s a tool rather than an end to itself. The point of a podcast isn’t to show off your editing prowess (unless that’s your job) but to improve over time. A few “uhs,” “ums” or even a little word salad isn’t going to kill your podcast. And if you’re feeling off kilter with a recording, rather than try and rehab it with editing surgery, just start over. For the most part, a hiccup will smooth itself out on a fresh take and flow much more naturally than if you try to Frankenstein it.

Anyway, here’s to letting go of perfection syndrome in favor or progress and growth in 2025. After all, that’s what Moving Forward has always been about.

Catch this week’s episode on Spotify.

Moving Forward is also available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart, CastBox, Pocket Casts, Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor), and Audible.

^{*Affiliate disclosure: these are links through which I earn a commission from qualifying referrals and / or purchases.}

Moving Forward

What’s ahead this season.

1. Moving Forward season 12: Moving Forward’s final season will be split into three parts with the first seven episodes serving as a retrospective. Part III will wrap the show with episode 500, the series finale.

2. Moving Forward release schedule:

   • Season 12, Part 1 (episodes 493-496) will air Thursdays, starting Jan. 9th, and concluding on Thursday, Jan. 30th.

   • Season 12, Part 2 (episodes 497-499) will air Thursdays, starting Feb. 13th, and concluding on Thursday, Feb. 27th.

   • Season 12, Part 3 (episode 500) will air sometime in late March 2025.

3. The Weekly Quirk: The newsletter resumes today (Friday, Jan. 10th) with issue 43. The remaining issues will be released on Fridays, coinciding with the podcast schedule, and concluding with issue 50 on Friday, Feb. 28th sometime in late March.

_{[Note: Upon conclusion of the podcast and newsletter, all Moving Forward episodes and The Weekly Quirk issues will remain available to stream and read online so long as I’m able to keep them published cost-free via their respective host providers. However, while I would like to keep them preserved for posterity sake, I can’t guarantee they will be available forever. Additional note: the copyright to all content, including audio and literary rights, remains with me, my assigns, and my heirs, regardless of publication status.]}

Available now at my bookstore on Pangobooks

The collected works of someone who didn’t let perfection syndrome hinder his voice or message.

Quirky reads 📚

Speaking of good books, here are some titles I’ve been reading lately.

[Affiliate disclosure: these are affiliate links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.]

• Extinction by Douglas Preston (****)

• Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations and to see what else I’m reading.

Upcoming (January 28th, 2025)

Five spots left! My next writing class starts next Tuesday (Jan. 28th) - virtual class through Johns Hopkins Odyssey (open to all with discounts for Hopkins alum).

Upcoming (February 20, 2025)

Declutter Your Home and Free Your Life - in person class through Johns Hopkins Osher (Osher membership required).

Upcoming (March 25, 2025)

Declutter Your Home and Free Your Life - virtual class through Johns Hopkins Odyssey (open to all with discounts for Hopkins alum).

Resources

Teach a man to fish, you know the rest (if you don’t, check these out).

• Book a coaching call with me on Clarity.

• Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations.

• Check out one of my favorite daily newsletters Morning Brew (affiliate referral link).

Books

I wrote most of these so spruce up your home library and look smart in the process.

• The Poshmark Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses (Paperback, Kindle, Audible) 

• The Poshmark Guide for Individuals and Small Businesses (Apple audiobooks)

• The Poshmark Journal for Individuals and Small Businesses

• The Corporate Cliches Adult Coloring Book

• I Am a Professional Metalhead (audiobook) (Audible affiliate link) written by Angelo Spenillo, narrated by John Lim

Support the newsletter and podcast

“What are you selling?!?” -actual quote from a b-school classmate

• Books! Check out my used bookstore on Pangobooks.

• Try out Audible (affiliate paid link).

• Try out Amazon Prime (affiliate paid link)

Affiliate disclosure

Note: Links to Amazon and Audible products are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.