Hey everyone,
Just wanted to share something I’ve been feeling lately while working on my current project — and maybe some of you can relate.
I’ve got this clear vision in my head of what I want to build. The problem is, every time I get into the weeds of development, I start second-guessing whether I’m building too much too soon. Should I strip it down and launch earlier? Should I add more polish before going public?
Some days I’m in flow mode, shipping features like a machine. Other days I stare at the same function for an hour wondering if I’m even solving the right problem 😅
I know “just ship it” is solid advice, but how do you all balance staying lean and fast without losing sight of long-term quality or your original vision?
Would love to hear how others manage this — whether you’re a solo builder, in a small team, or juggling side projects.
How do you decide when something’s “good enough” to release?
And how do you keep momentum when motivation starts dipping?
Appreciate any insights 🙏
Totally feel this. You’re definitely not alone — that tension between “just ship it” and “it needs to be perfect” is something every builder struggles with.
For me, I’ve learned (the hard way) that momentum is everything. If I sit on something too long trying to make it perfect, I lose steam, start overthinking, and eventually the excitement fades. But when I release early — even if it’s a little rough — the feedback, reactions, and small wins re-energize me like nothing else.
That said, I’ve also shipped too early and ended up buried in rework or support, so yeah… balance matters 😅
A few things that help me:
-
Define a clear v1 line: What’s the absolute core value my product needs to deliver? Everything else can wait.
-
Keep a “not now” list: Every time I think “oh, this would be cool,” I write it down instead of building it right away. It helps me stay focused and keeps the vision intact without scope creep.
-
Schedule a “polish pass” sprint: I try to give myself dedicated time after the functional stuff is done to do a round of UX/UI cleanup — that way it doesn’t slow me down during core building.
-
Small launches > big reveals: I’ve started treating launches more like checkpoints than finish lines. Ship to a few people, learn, refine, repeat.
As for motivation dips — I try to build systems, not rely on motivation. Set micro-goals, timebox sessions, or even just change locations. And if it’s really not flowing, I remind myself it’s okay to take a step back — sometimes clarity comes from stepping away for a bit.
You're clearly putting heart into your work, which is awesome. Don’t let the perfection monster steal your progress. You’ve got this 💪
