You ever notice how easy it is to get stuck on the little things that really don’t matter? Like whether a logo should be a pixel to the left or if the shade of blue you’re using is the “right” one? If you’ve worked in a corporate setting or as a designer, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

This obsession with the details—colors, fonts, favicon placement—often feels critical when we’re in the moment. But I’ve learned something from running my own business: in the grand scheme of things, these minor decisions don’t move the needle. And yet, in corporate environments, we often waste hours, sometimes days, debating them.

When I started my cheesecake business, I fell into the same trap. I spent weeks fussing over things like the packaging design, the website, even the thank-you cards. But one day it hit me—I could’ve launched a year earlier if I wasn’t so obsessed with getting every detail “just right.”

So, what’s the difference between obsessing over every pixel in the corporate world versus in your own business? It’s simple: control and impact.

In corporate life, there are stakeholders. You’re designing for people who want to feel involved in every step. They need their voices heard, even if it’s just about the shade of blue. And you can’t always push back without consequences. As a business owner, it’s just you. Every decision matters more because it directly affects your bottom line, but you also realize that perfection is a myth. The real question is—does it help the customer? If it does, great. If not, move on.

This brings me to something bigger: momentum versus stagnation. In corporate environments, decision-making often grinds to a halt because too many cooks are in the kitchen, each with their own agenda. You’re constantly defending your work to stakeholders, navigating politics, and shoring up your defenses before you even start the work.

But when you’re on your own, you’re free to move as fast as you want. You don’t have to ask permission to pivot or iterate. You just do it. And that’s where the magic happens.

I see this often with new designers who are fresh to the industry. They’re laser-focused on making sure every button, every line of text, and every pixel is perfect. And hey, I get it. I was there once, too. But the truth is, obsessing over these details won’t get you where you want to go.

If I could offer advice to early-career UX designers, it would be this: zoom out. Ask yourself why you care so much about a particular detail. Is it because it truly affects the user experience or is it because you’re trying to prove something? You’ll find that most of the time, it’s the latter.

Here’s the thing—when you’re running your own business, you realize quickly that speed and execution are often more important than perfection. The people who thrive are the ones who can recognize where to invest their energy and where to let things slide. Your customers don’t care about the color of your logo—they care about the experience you give them, the product you deliver, and how well it solves their problem.

In the end, it’s all about balancing the craft with the bigger picture. Yes, details matter—but not all of them. Focus on what moves the needle. And if you’re still hung up on whether that button is the right shade of blue, remember this: your customers probably haven’t even noticed.

If you’re in a corporate role, you may not have the luxury of total control, but you can still bring this mindset to the table. Instead of letting the minutiae bog you down, focus on what’s actually driving value for the business. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most.

Keep it simple, keep it moving, and remember: Done is better than perfect.