Permission to Faceplant: Why Messy Starts Lead to Epic Systems
Building great systems starts with embracing the chaos—and trusting the process.
You’ve decided to tackle your systems, only to find yourself knee-deep in spreadsheets, sticky notes, and to-do lists that seem to multiply by the minute. It’s messy, frustrating, and overwhelming. But here’s the thing: messy starts are where the magic begins.
Great systems aren’t born fully formed—they’re the result of trial, error, and yes, a few faceplants along the way. If you’ve been holding off on starting because you’re afraid of the chaos, this is your permission to dive in.
1. Every Great System Starts With a Mess
Let’s debunk a myth: organized people didn’t start out that way. Behind every smooth system is a chaotic trial phase where things got worse before they got better.
What This Looks Like:
Mapping out every step of your messy workflows to identify inefficiencies.
Trying tools that feel clunky at first because they require a learning curve.
Sorting through outdated processes to figure out what still works (and what doesn’t).
Pro Tip:
Embrace the mess as part of the process. Chaos isn’t failure—it’s a sign you’re doing the work to build something better.
2. Start Small, Dream Big
You don’t need to overhaul your entire business in a day. Instead, pick one messy area to start with and focus on creating a system that works.
Where to Start:
Client Onboarding: Simplify how you collect contracts, payments, and questionnaires.
Task Management: Organize your to-dos in one tool, like ClickUp or Trello.
Email Overload: Set up folders, filters, or even an autoresponder to tame your inbox.
Pro Tip:
Tackle one area at a time and build momentum. Progress beats perfection every single time.
3. Experimentation Is the Name of the Game
The first system you try might flop—and that’s okay. Building epic systems requires testing, tweaking, and learning from what doesn’t work.
How to Experiment:
Treat every new tool or workflow as a trial run, not a final decision.
Gather feedback from your team to see how it’s working in real life.
Be willing to pivot if something feels off.
Pro Tip:
Set a 30-day review date for any new system to evaluate what’s working and make adjustments.
4. Document the Ugly Phase
As you work through the chaos, document each step. This not only helps you refine your systems but also creates a playbook you can pass on to your team.
What to Document:
The steps you’re taking (even the messy ones).
Pain points you’ve identified.
Adjustments that made things smoother.
Pro Tip:
Use a tool like Loom to record walkthroughs of your processes for future reference or team training.
5. Celebrate the Small Wins
Building systems is hard work, and it’s easy to get stuck in the frustration of what’s not perfect yet. But every step forward is a win worth celebrating.
How to Celebrate Progress:
Acknowledge when something works better than before (even if it’s just a tiny improvement).
Reward yourself and your team for sticking with the process.
Reflect on how far you’ve come—mess and all.
Pro Tip:
Keep a “Systems Glow-Up” list where you track every workflow you’ve improved. It’s a great motivator when you’re feeling stuck.
Why Faceplants Lead to Epic Systems
The messy starts, failed attempts, and faceplants aren’t just part of the journey—they’re the foundation of systems that actually work. When you embrace the chaos, you give yourself the freedom to experiment, learn, and grow.
So if you’re staring at a mountain of sticky notes or a cluttered inbox right now, take a deep breath. Start somewhere—anywhere. Permission to faceplant granted.