Why You Shouldn't Aim to Climb Perfectly

Forget Perfect — Climb for Real

Even in climbing, where every slip can feel like failure, aiming for perfection might be the wrong goal.

The truth? Perfection is like chasing the wind. You’ll never catch it — and worse, you’ll miss out on the skills that actually make you better.

Perfection Is a Trap

There’s a tempting idea in climbing (and life) that if we just train hard enough, visualize correctly, and execute flawlessly, we’ll send. We’ll perform. We’ll win.

But perfect conditions are rare. Perfect moves are rarer. And perfect outcomes? Almost mythical.

Resilience Is What Matters

What separates a good climber from a great one isn’t how perfect their first try was — it’s how quickly they recover from a slip. How calmly they reset. How creatively they adapt.

The ability to find a new foothold, adjust your grip, or shift your beta mid-climb? That’s a real skill. One that takes repetition, patience, and a little humility.

This Goes Beyond the Gym

Climbing mirrors life. In school, jobs, relationships — perfection is rare. What matters more is how effectively you can fix things when they go sideways.

A project crashes. A deadline gets missed. Your kid throws a tantrum in the middle of your Zoom call. That’s the real crux.

Surprises Make the Story Worth Telling

Mistakes aren’t just inevitable — they’re useful. The send that came after 12 failed attempts? Way more satisfying than the flash. The joke that bombed before the crowd favorite? Part of the charm.

Perfection makes things predictable. But life (and climbing) gets good when it’s unpredictable.

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” — Seneca

The more climbs I do, the more I realize: something always goes wrong. A hold spins. A shoe slips. A plan changes. Learning to navigate that — with grace, curiosity, and resilience — is the most valuable skill of all.