Progress Over Perfection: Credibility, Control, and the Small Moments That Make Leaders

I stood in front of my peers at my Chief Petty Officer pinning ceremony, reciting the CPO Creed from memory. Halfway through, I realized I’d skipped an entire section.

My stomach dropped. I kept going.

Afterward, everyone told me I crushed it. “That was incredible.” “You nailed it.” Meanwhile, I’m standing there thinking, I literally missed a section of it.

Here’s the thing: nobody cared about the missing words. They felt the energy. They saw the preparation. They experienced someone who showed up fully, even imperfectly.

That moment taught me something I keep coming back to: Don’t aim for perfection. Focus on progression.

The Myth of the Flawless Leader

We’ve been sold this lie that leaders need to have it all figured out. Perfect speeches. Perfect balance. Perfect presence.

But real credibility? It doesn’t come from flawlessness. It comes from alignment: when your words match your actions, even when things get messy.

The same week as that pinning ceremony, I came home early and got to walk around the neighborhood with my youngest daughter, Solenn, while we waited for my oldest, Ella Rose, to get off the school bus. Small moment. Nothing Instagram-worthy.

But that? That was a massive win.

Because leadership isn’t just about the big stages. It’s about showing up in the small moments: the ones nobody applauds but everyone remembers.

Control vs. Being Controlled

A few days later, my wife and I took the girls to the mall playground. Sounds simple enough, right?

Except whoever designed that playground put it right next to the escalators. So there we were, chasing two little girls who kept trying to make a break for it. Solenn wanted to ride up and down. Ella was so tired she just laid on the floor.

Parenting chaos at its finest.

In that moment, I was reminded of something I journaled that week: You’re either in control, or you’re being controlled.

Now, I’m not talking about controlling everything around you: that’s impossible (especially with kids). I’m talking about controlling your response. Your focus. Your presence.

When you’re reactive, you’re being controlled by circumstances. When you’re intentional, you’re the creator of your experience.

Are you running your day, or is your day running you?

Credibility Over Popularity

That same Sunday, we went to church. My wife went to receive the anointing of oil while I hung out with the girls in the conference room. Solenn cried. Ella sat quietly with me, eventually laying on the floor. We were all exhausted.

I watched the other kids playing and wished my girls could join in more easily. But they couldn’t. And that’s okay.

Here’s what hit me that day: It’s great to be respected by your peers. But it’s even greater to be respected AND have credibility.

Respect can be given. Credibility is earned: through consistency, through showing up, through living what you communicate.

The leaders who last aren’t the ones with the loudest voices. They’re the ones whose actions back up every word they speak.

When the Pressure Hits

Later that week, I flew to Phoenix for RALNATCON: a real estate investing conference. I finally got to meet Paul, someone I’d been connected with online. I talked with other Inner Circle members and heard incredible success stories.

But here’s what was really on my mind: my daughter Solenn was back home, sick and throwing up.

The guilt was real. Wishing I could be there for them while knowing I needed to be present where I was.

That tension? That’s leadership. That’s parenthood. That’s life.

You don’t get to pause one role while you’re in another. You carry them all.

The morning after, I went for a trail run and did a Facebook Live titled “How Invested Are You?” Because that’s the real question, isn’t it?

How invested are you in your growth?
How invested are you in your family?
How invested are you in becoming who you’re meant to be?

Hearing those success stories at the conference lit a fire under me. But it also brought pressure. What do we need to do to be up there next year?

And that’s when I reminded myself: Stop being a victim. Be the creator of your life.

Live What You Communicate

Date night with my wife that week was a walk to Comanche Lookout Park. No fancy dinner. No reservation. Just a walk and conversation.

And honestly? It was one of the best dates we’ve had in a while.

Why? Because we were present. Connected. Real.

That conversation reinforced something I wrote in my journal: Live what you communicate, and you will connect with more people.

It applies to marriage. It applies to leadership. It applies to everything.

People don’t follow polished presentations. They follow authenticity. They follow someone who’s actually living what they’re preaching.

The Framework: Progress Over Perfection in Practice

So how do you actually apply this? Here’s a simple framework I use:

1. Celebrate the Small Wins

Waiting at the bus stop with my daughters. A good conversation on a walk. These matter. Stop waiting for the big moments to feel successful.

2. Align Words with Actions Daily

Ask yourself each morning: What did I commit to yesterday, and did I follow through? Credibility is built in the gap between what you say and what you do.

3. Control What You Can, Release What You Can’t

You can’t control sick kids or chaotic playgrounds. You can control your response, your attitude, and your presence.

4. Walk in Gratitude First

I journaled this during the conference: First walk in the energy of gratitude. More opportunities will come towards you, than away from you. Gratitude shifts your posture from scarcity to abundance.

5. Show Up Imperfectly

I missed a small part of the CPO Creed. Nobody cared. They cared that I showed up prepared and present. Done beats perfect every single time.

Your Reflection Questions

Before you close this tab and move on, sit with these:

• Where are you chasing perfection when progression would serve you better?
• Are you in control of your day, or is your day controlling you?
• What small moment this week could become a massive win if you were fully present for it?
• Do your actions match your words: really?

From Drift to Intentional Legacy

Here’s the truth: most leaders aren’t failing because they lack talent or opportunity. They’re drifting because they’re waiting for perfect conditions that never come.

Progress over perfection isn’t just a catchy phrase. It’s a daily discipline. It’s choosing to show up, even when you’re tired. Even when the kids are sick. Even when you miss part of the speech.

The small moments make leaders. The aligned actions build credibility. The intentional choices create legacy.

Stop drifting. Start building.

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