I've been disappointed in myself quite a few times in the past. Mostly, it was one of two reasons.
Reason #1: Too afraid to start
I used to look at the enormity of the project in front of me, knowing how much work I'd have to do and how little chance there was that everything would run smoothly all the way through. And I'd chicken out. I didn't even start it.
Often times, when we're not sure we can finish a project and there are too many unknowns, we don't even start.
Reason #2: Too hung up on perfection
When I was so close to finishing a project, I'd always find little things to touch up. The little details that no one would really know or see, but I would. Oh, I would know that imperfection was there. And it was these little details that stopped me from ever finishing the project.
Often times, because nothing short of perfect would do, we never finish.
Once I started taking accessibility seriously and turning it into a full time job, I swore I'd never let unknowns at the beginning and imperfections at the end prevent me from completing projects.
I've learned that starting, even with uncertainty, is better than never beginning at all. Breaking down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks makes them less daunting. And while attention to detail is important, perfection shouldn't be the enemy of good. This is especially true in accessibility.
My advice and what's worked for me so far. Focus on delivering value rather than achieving perfection. Every project I complete, even with its minor flaws, helps more people than a perfect project that never sees the light of day. This mindset has transformed my work in accessibility.
And I hope this little nugget can help you as well.