I’m so glad you’re here!
My name is Sam Laura Brown (just call me Sam!) and I’m a perfectionism coach, founder and creator of the popular group coaching program for perfectionists, Perfectionists Getting Shit Done. I’m also the host of The Perfectionism Project – one of the top self-help podcasts on iTunes. Since you’re here, I’m guessing you’re ready to get out of your own way and become the best version of yourself that you can be. And you’re in exactly the right place!
The truth about perfectionism
One of the funny things about perfectionism is that most perfectionists don’t even realise they are one. And because they don’t know there’s a name for all of that frustrating self-sabotaging behaviour, they don’t know where to turn for help and stay stuck forever. And I don’t want that to be you! Do you want to know the biggest myth about perfectionism? It’s that perfectionists are neat and organised. It’s totally untrue! Perfectionists definitely dream of being neat and organised but more often than not, they have the opposite experience. Does this sound familiar…
Procrastinating
You love planning but fear and self-doubt stop you from following through. You’re scared you won’t live up to your insanely high expectations so you don’t try to live up to them at all. You hate feeling lazy so you procrastinate with things that keep you from feeling too unproductive, like Pinterest and an overflowing plate of commitments.
People pleasing
You never feel good enough, no matter what you achieve, but that doesn’t stop you from trying. You’re smart and ambitious but you obsess over what others think and live your life to please. You know you’d be doing something different with your life if you weren’t so scared of what people think.
All-or-nothing
You’re either doing everything perfectly or you’re not doing anything at all. You’re scared to set yourself big goals because you don’t know if you can handle the disappointment of abandoning them. No matter how motivated and excited you feel at the start, you struggle to stick to anything for more than a few weeks.
So… you’re a perfectionist
If you feel like I just read your mind, it’s a good thing! It means you’re not alone. It means I get you. It means I can help. Just because you’re a perfectionist doesn’t mean you can’t reach your full potential, I’m living proof. It just means you need to learn how to stop holding yourself back and I can teach you how!
The Perfectionism Project
The Perfectionism Project is a podcast sharing personal growth and honest advice for perfectionists and is one of the top self-help podcasts on iTunes. As a perfectionism coach, entrepreneur and personal development addict, I share life lessons and relatable stories as well as practical advice to help ambitious business owners and entrepreneurs get out of their own way. I also give my insights on a range of topics including perfectionism, confidence, mindset, productivity, career, entrepreneurship and everything in between. New episodes are released every Monday.
Perfectionist Power-Up
Sign up to receive a daily motivational boost straight to your inbox!
How This Became My Life
In August 2013, while procrastinating on study for an upcoming law exam in my university library, I decided to start a blog. I didn’t hate my life but I knew I was capable of more. The problem was I had no idea what to do so I decided to blog about it and Smart Twenties was born (that’s what this blog used to be called).
I may appear confident now but when I first started blogging I experienced crippling self-doubt and was too ashamed to share my blog with anyone – including those closest to me. In fact, it’s blogging that made me realise I was a perfectionist.
While I was on the traditional path to success my need to please hadn’t caused too many problems. As soon as I decided to put myself out there, the procrastination and people pleasing soared to a whole new level. After two frustrating years of getting in my own way, I’d had enough.
At that point, I’d graduated with a Bachelors of Commerce/Laws and a Diploma of French and was working full-time at a big accounting firm, but it didn’t matter – I was finally ready to go all-in. I hired a coach, I invested in blogging courses, I doubled down on personal development and I worked my tail off.
In March 2017, I mustered up the courage to quit my full-time job for blogging. It’s been a wild ride to get to where I am today but I’m living proof that it’s possible to get out of your own way – and I’m going to teach you how to do the same!
About Me
I’m an INFJ which means I’m a dreamer, I’m creative and I always look for the good in others. It also means I tend to burn out easily. (Don’t know what personality type you are? Take this free online personality test to find out – it’s so fun).
I may know a lot about personal development and perfectionism but I’m not your average expert. I love making self-help relatable and openly share the ups and downs of my own personal development journey so you can see what works and what doesn’t. And so you know you’re not alone!
I’m 29 and live in my hometown of Brisbane, Australia with my partner Steve. We’ve been together since we were 16 and bought our first house together last year. We have a Samoyed puppy called Cotton and just welcomed our first child.
