You're Just To Close To It

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The first time I finished a major project, a website I spent days building, I thought it was garbage. Not because it didn’t function, but because every time I glanced at the website, every flaw, every bug, every color was screaming inadequacy. When I handed it off to the client, I braced myself for less than stellar reviews.

Instead, they loved it.

That moment taught me two things that stuck:

1. We’re often the worst judges of our own work.

2. Don’t worry, just get it done.

When you’re building, designing, or learning something new, you’re extremely aware of every compromise and misstep you made along the way. That proximity can cloud your perception. It makes your progress feel small and your accomplishments feel unworthy. This is where imposter syndrome thrives. When you’ve convinced yourself that nothing you do is good enough, and that people who praise your work must be mistaken.

But here’s the truth: your proximity doesn’t invalidate your effort or your results.

That project you almost didn’t share? It could be the breakthrough someone else is waiting to see.

That blog post you never published? It might answer the exact question another developer has been Googling for days.

Just because you see the flaws doesn’t mean others won’t see the value.

Next time you start picking your work apart, pause. Ask yourself: Is this actually bad? Or am I just too close to it?

Confidence isn't about being perfect. It's about being willing to ship even when you're unsure.

So, publish that blog. Submit that pull request. Present your design.

Let others decide the value. Your job is to keep showing up.

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