Perfection is for Insecure People

Perfection is Just Insecurity in Disguise

It’s 3:00 AM. I’m standing in the living room, rocking baby Amir back and forth, eyes wide open.

This is the early season of being a new dad. Very little sleep. Trying to figure out Amir’s tiny cues. And trying to process every thought in the universe.

Truth is, tiredness can drag you into the pit of I’m done. I give up. The only thing holding me together right now?

Leaning on simple anchors: eating, running at the gym, and grabbing naps when I can.

And being in the moment as best I can for Hannah and supporting her.

My author clients have been amazing, kind, and thoughtful as I navigate my way in and out of working with them during these times.

Still finding a way to serve my clients, even though I haven’t taken much of a paternity leave.

My marketing hasn't fallen off a cliff. I’m still here. Still writing this. Still posting when I can. Still sending messages daily.

Honestly, not because I have to, but I get to and I want to.

Because that tiny thread of consistency? It’s everything.

I might not be consistent by some algorithm’s standard, but I’m ruthlessly consistent where it counts most, with my family.

It’s that season. Summer’s slower for most businesses anyway. So I’m using it to clean house, rebuild quietly, and tend to what matters in those stolen baby nap hours.

The Insecurity That Stole My Opportunities

Here’s what most people won’t admit (and I wouldn’t have either, a few years back):

Perfection isn’t noble. It’s fear. A costume your insecurities wear.

I’ve lost opportunities in my life because I was too busy obsessing over the perfect angle, the flawless line, the bulletproof plan. I’ve talked myself out of sharing ideas that could’ve changed everything — all because I was terrified someone would see the cracks.

Meanwhile, less talented, less thoughtful, less “ready” people ran laps around me. Not because they were better. But because they dared to be seen.

It’s humbling. And it’s why I refuse to play that game anymore.

I’d rather be in motion, a little rough around the edges, than be perfectly invisible.

The Wisdom of a Humble Classic

One of my all-time favorite books is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Know how it came to be? Ruiz was a Mexican surgeon who nearly died in a car accident. That moment shattered his old life and pushed him to study ancient Toltec wisdom — the heart of how humans can live free of self-sabotage.

He didn’t write that book to become a personal branding juggernaut. He wrote it because he felt compelled to share the truths that saved his own life.

Those agreements?

• Be impeccable with your word.

• Don’t take anything personally.

• Don’t make assumptions.

• Always do your best.

Notice — none say “be perfect.” That last one is the clincher: Do your best. Not your flawless, filtered, insecurity-proof best. Just the best you can with the messy moment you’re in.

That’s usually all that separates the brands that grow from the ones that quietly fade away.

Most People Are Just Decorating Their Cage

They obsess over the dream website, the slickest graphics, the clever bio line.

All important, we literally build those for authors. But the real game?

Trust. Relevance. Visibility. That’s what gets neglected.

It’s like buying $300 running shoes, top-tier headphones, a smart hydration pack — then never stepping onto the damn trail.

Meanwhile, the ones who win are out there in beat-up sneakers, taking steps.

Be a Meaningful Specific

The not-so-secret trick? Show up.

Show up with your flaws, your fresh thoughts, your half-baked ideas. Let people see you. Hear you. Trust you.

Stop being a wandering generality. Start being a Meaningful Specific.

Vanilla, try-to-please-everyone marketing fades. But your raw, slightly risky, fully human take? That’s what people remember. That’s what draws the right people in.

How Does This Actually Pay Off?

You’re still wondering:

“Alright Hussein, I get it. Show up, be human. But how does that turn into clients? Into a real brand?”

It’s simple. Familiarity breeds trust. The more they see you, the safer you become. Trust grows. Trust turns into sales. Sales turn into reputation, referrals, and momentum.

You don’t need to be flawless. You just need to be there enough that when someone’s pain hits crisis mode, your name is the first that pops into their mind.

Before I Sign Off…

If you want to hear someone else wrestle with these ideas, check out my latest podcast episode.

In this episode of The Rising Author Experience, I speak with Annette Luise Dernick - Create a peaceful thriving work culture a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and “workplace peace” strategist from Germany.

We dive into how love, respect, and emotional clarity can transform team culture and drive real productivity. Annette shares how her own childhood trauma woke her up to a mission — and how she now coaches leaders worldwide to build healthier, more humane workplaces.

It’s honest, raw, and might flip how you think about leadership and impact. Go give it a listen at Rising Authors.

A Few Questions For Your Next Quiet Moment

• Where are you still hiding behind the excuse of “getting it perfect first”?

• What’s one simple way you could show up this week — messy, human, real?

• What would your marketing look like if you cared less about impressing, more about serving?

Because at 3:00 AM, rocking a newborn in the dark, nothing feels perfect. But it’s the most important work I’ll ever do.

Your brand is the same. It won’t always be neat. It won’t always feel on top of things. But it’s still your most important work.

Keep showing up.

When You’re Ready, Here’s How I Can Help

I help authors build brands that echo.

• Power Pack Pro — Brand foundation, website, coaching, messaging.

• Power Pack Boost — Full-funnel marketing, social growth, systems.

• Power Pack Ultra — Done-for-you author growth engine, start to finish.

DM me if you’re tired of silence.

— Hussein