The Perfectionism Project

When we're people pleasing, we're lying. It's hard to hear - but it's true! While people pleasing can feel like a selfless and noble act of love, it's really just a strategy we use to avoid discomfort and rejection. Which means that the reason we people please has nothing to do with the people we're pleasing and everything to do with us!

In this episode, I'm sharing 5 practical tips to stop being a people pleaser. I'm still on this journey myself but I hope this advice will help you begin to strengthen your integrity with yourself and those around you. Even just a small change in your behaviour can make a huge difference!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why people pleasing is a selfish behaviour
• The real reason that we people please
• Why it's so important to see what people pleasing is costing you
• How to say no without making excuses
• Why it's so uncomfortable to stop people pleasing
• What other people will do when you stop people pleasing and why that's ok
• The power of self-compassion and why it's needed throughout this process

Featured In The Episode:

• Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our membership community
• The Life Coach School Podcast with Brooke Castillo

Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our membership community Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.

When you join our global community of recovering perfectionists, you'll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcome perfectionism and become your best self - it includes masterclasses, coaching calls, journaling exercises, workbooks, meditations and more.

And you'll have the option to learn everything on the go with easy mobile access. Plus with judgement-free support from our beautiful community every step along the way, you'll never have to feel alone again. It's time to create the success you deserve.

Join our membership community today at samlaurabrown.com/membership.

If you google the phrase "waking up early" you'll find a stream of tips to help you get up at 5am and lengthy articles about the benefits of this habit. On the other hand, if you google the phrase "staying up late" you'll see articles designed to comfort those who feel bad for this habit alongside warnings that staying up late might lead you to an early grave. Interesting, right?

In the personal development world, it's often said that waking up early is the key to success. To support this - lists of successful people who wake up early are given as evidence. But is waking up early a habit that everyone should pursue? I personally don't think so! In this episode, I'm sharing some questions that will help you figure out if you should wake up early or if you really shouldn't. I hope you find it helpful and that this gives you permission to feel good about whatever time of day you choose to wake up.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why waking up early might not be for you
• The thought process behind my personal decision to wake up early
• 5 questions to help you decide when you should wake up early
• Why it's so important to have a compelling reason to wake up early
• The real reasons you find it so hard to wake up on your alarm

Featured In The Episode:

• Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our membership community
• Episode 95: The Secret To Waking Up Early

Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our membership community Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.

When you join our global community of recovering perfectionists, you'll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcome perfectionism and become your best self - it includes masterclasses, coaching calls, journaling exercises, workbooks, meditations and more.

And you'll have the option to learn everything on the go with easy mobile access. Plus with judgement-free support from our beautiful community every step along the way, you'll never have to feel alone again. It's time to create the success you deserve.

Join our membership community today at samlaurabrown.com/membership.

There's so much fluffy advice about how to overcome perfectionism that we hear all of the time - like "just remember that nobody's perfect" and "it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks". But what are you meant to do when you intellectually understand those statements and yet you still find yourself shooting for perfection on every occasion? You do what I'm sharing in this episode!

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what you need to do in order to overcome perfectionism. Tune in to learn the complete 6 step process to overcome perfectionism.

I'm also excited to announce that my course Get Out Of Your Own Way, which teaches each of these 6 steps in detail, has now been added to our membership Perfectionists Getting Shit Done. Click here to find out more about our membership community and join us today.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• 6 steps to overcome perfectionism
• The importance of understanding what perfectionism is and isn't
• Why you haven't been able to believe you're good enough yet
• How to create self-confidence and take action even when you don't feel ready
• The power of being decisive
• Why setting big goals will help you overcome perfectionism
• How to stop letting the fear of disappointment hold you back
• The exciting new addition to Perfectionists Getting Shit Done that will help you get out of your own way

Featured In The Episode:

• Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our membership community

Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our membership community Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.

When you join our global community of recovering perfectionists, you'll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcome perfectionism and become your best self - it includes masterclasses, coaching calls, journaling exercises, workbooks, meditations and more.

And you'll have the option to learn everything on the go with easy mobile access. Plus with judgement-free support from our beautiful community every step along the way, you'll never have to feel alone again. It's time to create the success you deserve.

Join our membership community today at samlaurabrown.com/membership.

Despite it now being my day job to talk about perfectionism, it was only a few years ago that I actually realised I was a perfectionist! There are so many misconceptions around perfectionism that until my mid-twenties, I thought I wasn't perfect enough to be a perfectionist. And because I didn't realise I was a perfectionist, I felt like I was the only one struggling with procrastination, crippling self-doubt, overthinking and being all-or-nothing.

Realising that I'm a perfectionist gave me a whole new vocabulary that has allowed me to change my life for the better - because it's only when you realise you're a perfectionist that you become empowered to overcome perfectionism.

In this episode, I'm opening up about my journey with perfectionism and the important points along the way. I can't remember everything but I hope that what I share in this episode helps you understand yourself a little bit more.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why I didn't think I was a perfectionist until I was in my mid-twenties
• The most common misconceptions about perfectionism
• The childhood experience that I made mean I wasn't good enough
• Why it's not necessary to dissect your past in order to overcome perfectionism
• What caused my perfectionist tendencies to begin causing problems
• The most important teachers on my personal development journey

Featured In The Episode:

• Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our membership community
• Mindset by Carol Dweck
• Carol Dweck interview with Tom Bilyeu
• Episode 22: How Personal Development Helped Me Overcome Self-Doubt
• Episode 45: 10 Signs You're A Perfectionist
• Episode 57: 7 Differences Between Perfectionists + High Achievers
• Episode 59: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
• Episode 118: Thoughts That Create A Growth Mindset
• Episode 135: 7 Signs You Have A Fixed Mindset
• Episode 158: 5 Life-Changing Lessons About Perfectionism From Brené Brown

Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our membership community Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.

When you join our global community of recovering perfectionists, you'll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcome perfectionism and become your best self - it includes masterclasses, coaching calls, journaling exercises, workbooks, meditations and more.

And you'll have the option to learn everything on the go with easy mobile access. Plus with judgement-free support from our beautiful community every step along the way, you'll never have to feel alone again. It's time to create the success you deserve.

Join our membership community today at samlaurabrown.com/membership.

Procrastination is a topic that's close to many perfectionists' hearts and most of us are trying to stop the habit by following advice from others. But sometimes, there are pieces of advice that do more harm than good - especially if you have a perfectionist mindset! So in this episode, I'm sharing 3 common procrastination tips that don't work for perfectionists, why they don't work and what to do instead. I hope you find it helpful!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why blocking the internet won't help you beat procrastination long-term
• The practical way I stop myself from getting distracted when doing deep work
• The reason that changing your environment doesn't provide long-lasting motivation
• How to be productive regardless of your environment
• Why intellectually knowing that perfection isn't possible doesn't actually help

Featured In The Episode:

• Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our membership community
• Episode 7: How To Stop Procrastinating
• Episode 156: Once A Procrastinator, Always A Procrastinator?
• Episode 160: How To Be More Productive When Working From Home

Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our membership community Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.

When you join our global community of recovering perfectionists, you'll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcome perfectionism and become your best self - it includes masterclasses, coaching calls, journaling exercises, workbooks, meditations and more.

And you'll have the option to learn everything on the go with easy mobile access. Plus with judgement-free support from our beautiful community every step along the way, you'll never have to feel alone again. It's time to create the success you deserve.

Join our membership community today at samlaurabrown.com/membership.

I used to believe - hand on heart - that it was impossible for me to be productive at home. When I was a student, I went to the library to study. When I was an accountant, I stayed back late in the office. And when I became an entrepreneur, I worked from a co-working space. If I needed to get shit done, I needed to be out of the house to do it.

That was, until I changed a few important things that made it easy to be productive from home - even after a decade of believing it couldn't be done! In this episode, I'm sharing 5 ways to be more productive from home. Many of which you probably haven't heard before. Enjoy!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why believing you can't be productive from home is a self-fulfilling prophecy
• The reason it's so important to create boundaries around when you will and won't work
• How to say no to people who want to see you during your work hours
• The power of constraint and why you need to create time for yourself to rest without guilt
• Why planning your time makes all the difference (even if you feel too busy for planning)
• Why self-respect will make you more productive from home

Featured In The Episode:

• Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our membership community
• Episode 75: How To Stop Working For Work's Sake
• Myleik Teele's Podcast

Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done:

If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our membership community Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.

When you join our global community of recovering perfectionists, you'll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcome perfectionism and become your best self - it includes masterclasses, coaching calls, journaling exercises, workbooks, meditations and more.

And you'll have the option to learn everything on the go with easy mobile access. Plus with judgement-free support from our beautiful community every step along the way, you'll never have to feel alone again. It's time to create the success you deserve.

Join our membership community today at samlaurabrown.com/membership.

I always talk about the fact that personal development is uncomfortable, but this month I was really reminded of that. Behind the scenes I've been building our team so we can impact more people - which means I've had to learn a lot about empowering others and letting go (which isn't easy for a perfectionist). I've also been preparing for a month overseas, creating business systems and struggling not to hit snooze.

I record a personal growth update every month so you can get a feel for what personal development is really like. Spoiler alert: it's not an endless stream of breakthroughs, aha moments and checked off to-do lists! I hope these episodes make you feel less alone on your personal development journey and that they help you to embrace the messiness that comes along with it. Enjoy!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why I was snoozing my alarm and how I got myself back on track
• What I've learned about focus and what I'm focusing on right now
• Why being focused means saying no
• What I've done in my business to get organised for my overseas trip
• The sneaky self-sabotage I've noticed this month
• Why it's empowering that there is no 'formula' to personal growth or business

Featured In The Episode:

• Our membership community, Perfectionists Getting Shit Done

I've learned more lessons from Brené Brown about perfectionism than I can count. And I largely have Brené to thank for the progress I've made when it comes to the progress I've made with perfectionism. So I thought there would be no better time than now to share 5 life-changing lessons about perfectionism from Brené Brown.

Tune in to hear about the huge breakthrough that Brené Brown helped me to achieve and learn why perfectionism actually hampers achievement, how perfectionism protects us from vulnerability, why perfectionism is not self-improvement, the connection between perfectionism and shame as well as why it's so important to dare greatly. I hope you enjoy this episode on life-changing lessons about perfectionism from Brené Brown.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• The life-changing breakthrough that Brené Brown helped me to achieve
• How perfectionism differs to healthy striving
• Why perfectionism hampers success
• The 3 tools we have in our 'vulnerability arsenal'
• The difference between perfectionism and self-improvement
• Why perfectionism is actually a form of shame
• The reason that daring greatly is the key to overcoming perfectionism

Featured In The Episode:

• Our membership community, Perfectionists Getting Shit Done
• Episode 22: How Personal Development Helped Me Overcome Self-Doubt
• Episode 57: 7 Differences Between High Achievers And Perfectionists
• Episode 59: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown: Lessons + Takeaways
• Episode 157: How To Stop A Shame Spiral
• Follow me on Instagram @perfectionismproject

Where we struggle with perfectionism is where we struggle with shame. While shame is an unavoidable human emotion, there are a few things you can do to stop a shame spiral in it's tracks - so that's what I'm sharing in this episode!

Tune in to learn a powerful 3 step process I've learned from Brené Brown that will help you develop shame resilience and stop a shame spiral. You'll also discover the 3 key ways we react to shame, how to spot shame in others and why stopping a shame spiral can be so challenging. I also share some of my personal experiences with shame too.

I hope you find this episode helpful! What I share in this episode on how to stop a shame spiral has been completely life-changing for me.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why perfectionists struggle with shame and why shame can't be avoided
• Whether shame comes from our circumstances or our thoughts
• Some of the most common thoughts that create shame
• What a 'shame screen' is and which one you use the most often
• 3 practical steps to stop a shame spiral, as taught by Brené Brown
• Why it can be empowering to acknowledge the physical sensation of shame
• What 'speaking shame' means and who you should and shouldn't speak shame to

Featured In The Episode:

• Our membership community, Perfectionists Getting Shit Done
• Episode 59: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown: Lessons + Takeaways

• Episode 62: How To Stop Negative Self-Talk + Beating Yourself Up

Many perfectionists consider themselves natural procrastinators. They've procrastinated for their entire life and feel like it's just the way they are.

If that sounds familiar, this episode is going to help! I'm sharing whether it's possible to break-free from procrastination even if it's a habit you've had your entire life.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Whether procrastination is genetic
• The real cause of your procrastination habit
• Why it's important to be kind to yourself as you learn how to beat procrastination
• The role that identity plays in your procrastination habit
• The truth about how beating procrastination feels
• Why procrastination strategies and tactics aren't working for you
• The reason I consider procrastination to be the habit of avoiding discomfort

Featured In The Episode:

• Our membership community, Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - Sign up today!
• Episode 26: The Power of Self-Image