Dare to Suck: Why Imperfect Action Might Be the Bravest Thing You Do

“Dare to suck.”

Not exactly the inspirational quote you’d expect to find on a coffee mug.

But years ago, Jessica and I coached a 90-day program, and those three words became our mantra.

Every week, we’d remind our clients—and ourselves:

Dare to suck.

Why?

Because whenever you try something new, there’s a pretty damn good chance you’re not going to be great at it.

Your first speech probably won’t be your best.

Your first sales conversation might be awkward.

Your first video may make you cringe.

Your first networking event might feel uncomfortable.

Your first attempt at setting a boundary might come out completely wrong.

And that’s okay.

Actually, it might be exactly what needs to happen.

We’ve Been Taught Not to Suck

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that if we couldn’t do something well, we shouldn’t do it at all.

We became experts at protecting ourselves from embarrassment, criticism, rejection and judgment.

So instead of risking looking foolish…

We stay quiet.

We wait.

We overthink.

We prepare a little longer.

We tell ourselves we’ll do it when we’re more confident, more qualified or more ready.

But tomorrow rarely feels easier.

And “ready” has a funny way of continually moving the goalpost.

Confidence Comes After the Courage

Here’s something I’ve learned:

Confidence doesn’t usually come before you do the scary thing.

It comes because you did it.

I certainly wasn’t born knowing how to speak on stage.

I wasn’t naturally comfortable putting myself out there.

I didn’t magically wake up confident one morning.

I simply kept showing up before I felt ready.

Sometimes I was good.

Sometimes I wasn’t.

Sometimes I probably sucked. 😂

But every imperfect action became evidence:

I can do hard things.

I can figure shit out.

I can survive being uncomfortable.

I don’t have to get it perfect to keep going.

And little by little, confidence followed.

What If You Let Yourself Be Bad at It?

Think about something you’ve been wanting to do.

Maybe it’s a conversation you’ve been avoiding.

A boundary you know you need to set.

A business idea you haven’t launched.

A video you keep recording and deleting.

An opportunity you’re afraid to say yes to.

A dream you’ve quietly put on a shelf until you feel “qualified.”

Now ask yourself:

Am I actually not ready - or am I afraid I won’t be good at it?

There’s a difference.

Because if you’re waiting for the fear of getting it wrong to disappear, you might be waiting a very long time.

Instead, what if you gave yourself permission to suck?

To stumble over your words.

To have the awkward conversation.

To make the imperfect offer.

To post the damn video.

To be a beginner.

To let someone judge you.

And to discover that none of it destroys you.

Something More Delicious Might Be Waiting

Looking back, some of the biggest breakthroughs in my life started with me feeling uncertain and looking pretty average.

I just kept showing up.

And so often, when I took one courageous step, something even more delicious unfolded than I could have planned.

That’s the funny thing about courage.

It rarely rewards you with exactly what you expected.

Sometimes it gives you something even better.

A connection.

An opportunity.

A realization.

A new version of yourself you couldn’t have met while standing safely on the sidelines.

So, Where Are You Refusing to Dare to Suck?

That’s my challenge for you.

What keeps whispering to you while your old programming keeps shouting:

Not yet.

Take the step anyway.

Let it be messy.

Let it be imperfect.

Hell, let it suck.

Because you don’t become extraordinary by waiting until you’re ready.

You become extraordinary by showing up long enough to discover what you’re truly capable of.

So the next time fear whispers, “What if I mess this up?”

Smile.

And answer:

“Good. That means I’m growing.”

Then take the damn step.

Ready to Piss Off Perfect?

If this hit a little close to home, there’s a reason Jessica and I created Piss Off Perfect.

September 24–27, we’re bringing a small group of women together in Colorado for four days of letting go of the proving, pleasing, performing, overthinking and trying to get everything “right.”

Not so you can become a better version of yourself.

So you can let go of the shit that’s been covering up who you already are.

Less perfect. More YOU.

And yes… you may just have to dare to suck along the way. 😉🔥

https://www.presariogroup.com/pissoffperfect