The Smart Twenties Podcast

Following George Floyd’s tragic death and the long overdue worldwide conversation around racial injustice, I’ve spent a lot of time learning about systemic racism, white privilege and how to be anti-racist. And I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know more, and hadn’t been doing more, about this issue sooner - that alone is proof of how much white privilege I have. Becoming anti-racist is important work that I’ll be doing for a long time and I still have SO MUCH to learn, but I recorded this podcast episode on how anti-racism, perfectionism and shame - based on what I’m learning as a student of this work - as my experience over the last few weeks has shown me how shame and perfectionism can stop us from doing this work when it’s not addressed. Even though I feel like I have jumbled my words in this podcast episode I don’t care - I’ve been silent on this issue for too long and that is part of the problem. Black Lives Matter. Featured In The Episode: Rachel Cargle - @rachel.cargle, @thegreatunlearn Danielle Coke

In Perfectionists Getting Shit Done, I’ve been talking about our future selves A LOT. When I’m coaching our PGSDers, I’m often asking them what advice their future self would give them and I often ask myself the same thing! So I wanted to record an episode to share a little more about your future self and 3 ways you can nurture your relationship with her. In This Episode You’ll Learn: How to access your future self’s wisdom Why beating your past self up will destroy your relationship with your future self The best journaling exercise to connect you with your future self Why your future self’s self-image is so important   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - my group coaching program FREE Productivity Masterclass   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfectionists, you’ll get instant access to our eve

Self-reflection is an important part of personal development. But how do you tell when you’re doing too much self-reflection? That’s what I’m answering in this episode! In This Episode You’ll Learn: What procrasti-learning is and why perfectionists love doing it How to tell whether you’re procrasti-learning or procrasti-researching Whether action or self-reflection should come first What to do when your personal development journey becomes too intellectual   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 103: How To Escape Indecision Fatigue Episode 179: How To Be Decisive   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for 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

Do you wish others were more supportive of you? Or that they told you what a great job you’re doing? Or how good you look today? If so, then this episode is for you because I’m sharing the best way to get praise and approval. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why perfectionists crave praise and approval from others Why you don’t believe the compliments you receive How to give yourself praise and approval, and why it feels strange at first   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 199: Beating Yourself Up Versus Holding Yourself Accountable Episode 62: How To Stop Negative Self-Talk + Beating Yourself Up FREE 5-Day Overcome Perfectionism Challenge   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfectionists, you’ll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal developme

During our 30-Day Stop Overthinking Challenge inside Perfectionists Getting Shit Done, one of our PGSDers asked whether she should feel bad for not following through with her plans. What followed was the advice I’m giving to you in this podcast episode! If you ever feel guilty for not following through with your plans or you worry that not beating yourself up will make you lazy or complacent - this episode is going to help you understand the difference between beating yourself up and holding yourself accountable and why they’re NOT the same thing. As well as some helpful advice on the most empowering way not to let yourself off the hook. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why beating ourselves up is addictive The real reason that beating yourself up won’t motivate you to be better How to hold yourself accountable with compassion Why following through with your plans is an act of self-care What to do when you catch yourself beating yourself up   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our gro

On a recent coaching call inside Perfectionists Getting Shit Done, I coached one of our PGSDers on her struggle to follow through with her plans. She told me that when the time comes to work on her blog, she always chooses to do housework or teaching work instead. She said that she’s been trying to wake up early to work on her blog, but feels so tired from the day that she almost never makes it. And that the progress she’s made so far has been in spurts of motivation that have not been consistent. Sound familiar? Then this episode will help! Press play to discover the real reason that you’re too tired to follow through with your plans and what to do about it. In This Episode You’ll Learn: The hidden reason you’re too tired to follow through with your plans What to do when pursuing your goal feels unsustainable Why resting without guilt will help you to get shit done My best advice if you struggle to wake up on your alarm every morning What to do if you’re genuinely too tired to complete your to-do list Why y

Every month I share a behind the scenes look at my own personal growth journey. I do this in the hopes it will remind you that personal development isn’t all rainbows and daisies, that the journey is to be enjoyed (because the journey is all there is) and that I’m not that different to you. In this month’s personal growth update, I chat about why I’m not posting on Instagram right now, what a typical day in quarantine looks like for me and why I’ve barely read anything this month. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why posting on instagram isn’t what I’m focusing on right now The real reason that it’s important to work towards one clear goal at a time How resting without guilt will make you more productive and why I work every weekend   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 26 - The Power of Self-Image Entrepreneurial Management The Reno School   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checki

Personal development is like a rollercoaster. The dips, turns and loop-the-loops are the scariest part - but they’re the reason you got on the ride. So in this episode, I’m sharing how to navigate 12 common challenges that you can expect on your personal development journey. I hope this episode reminds you that you’re exactly where it should be, encourages you to keep going even when it’s scary and helps you feel less alone. Personal development is hard and you can do hard things! In This Episode You’ll Learn: 4 ways that personal development threatens your relationships Why fear and doubt is a normal part of your personal development journey How to overcome overwhelm on your personal development journey The power of investing in yourself and when to do it Why you need to watch out for procrasti-learning on your personal development journey Why personal development is hard and why that’s ok   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program FREE 5-Day Overcome Perfecti

There’s a good chance that you’re not investing in your mental health, your personal development, your physical health or what’s most convenient because you believe it’s irresponsible to do so. Or maybe you do invest money in these things but you feel guilty the whole time you’re doing it! If this sounds familiar, this episode of the podcast will help you to ease some for that guilt and become better with money too! In this episode I also share a journaling exercise that’ll help you to apply what you learn in this episode and redefine what being responsible and irresponsible with money means to you. I recommend listening to the episode before you do this exercise but am also sharing it here so it’s easy for you to complete: Get a piece of paper and draw a line in the middle to create two columns. Write ‘responsible’ at the top of the left hand column and ‘irresponsible’ at the top of the right hand column. Look at your bank statement for the last month and without overthinking, categorise each expense as ‘re

If you’re on the journey of overcoming perfectionism, you might be wondering if there’s anything you’re doing that might be slowing you down. So in this episode, I’m sharing 10 things you shouldn’t do when you’re trying to overcome perfectionism! In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why telling yourself ‘I am enough’ won’t help you feel more worthy Where perfectionism really comes from Why making your goals more ‘realistic’ won’t help you overcome perfectionism Practical things you can do when you have negative thoughts   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program FREE 5-Day Overcome Perfectionism Challenge Episode 193: The 3 Stages of Overcoming Perfectionism   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfectionists, you’ll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal developme

Overcoming perfectionism is no mean feat. So if you don’t know that overcoming perfectionism is a journey, with 3 distinct stages along the way, you might quit even though you were on the right path. Tune in to learn about the 3 stages of overcoming perfectionism. This will help you take stock of your personal development journey so far and discover what you need to do next! In This Episode You’ll Learn: How to tell whether or not you’re a perfectionist Why taking steps towards a big dream will turn perfectionism into a problem What it means if you spend most of your time procrasti-learning Whether it’s possible to completely overcome perfectionism   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program FREE 5-Day Overcome Perfectionism Challenge Instagram - @samlaurabrown Episode 163: 6 Steps To Get out Of Your Own Way   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfection

A perfectionist’s worst nightmare is being called a try hard. To a perfectionist, natural and effortless success is the only option. But by avoiding giving life our best, we’re avoiding the best of life. Tune in to learn why you should be a try hard and the best way to do it. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why there’s no such thing as wasted effort Why effort is not a sign of inadequacy The reason that challenges are so important for fulfilment Why protecting your potential is the same as not reaching your potential How to maximise your personal growth   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfectionists, you’ll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, overcom

Every month I share a behind the scenes look at my own personal growth journey. I do this in the hopes it will remind you that personal development isn’t all rainbows and daisies, that the journey is to be enjoyed (because the journey is all there is) and that I’m not that different to you. In this month’s personal growth update, I’m sharing how we got our new Samoyed puppy, Cotton, as well as how I’ve been navigating these uncertain times behind the scenes. Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 149: How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome The Life Coach School Podcast - Moving Forward 3         Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfectionists, you’ll get instant access to our ever-growing library of personal development tools designed to help you beat procrastination, over

The question of how to stop overthinking is one that all perfectionists face. So in this episode, I’m sharing the real reasons we overthink and practical tips to help you stop doing it. This is some of my best advice on how to stop overthinking, learned from years of my own struggles. I hope you find it helpful! And if overthinking has been stopping you from reaching your potential, I invite you to join us for our 30-Day Stop Overthinking Challenge inside our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done. This challenge will give you something positive to focus on and will help you to get out of your own way and get shit done. We get started on 6 April 2020 and you can sign up here to join us: samlaurabrown.com/membership. In This Episode You’ll Learn: The real reasons you can’t stop overthinking Why perfectionists overthink everything Why creating more will help you to overthink less How to stop overthinking a big decision Practical tips to help you stop overthinking   Featured In The Episode: P

In our Perfectionists Getting Shit Done Forum, one of our PGSDers asked whether changing circumstances means she should change her fitness goal to a business goal that’s a little more scary - or if she should keep it the same. This is a question that comes up so often, with all kinds of goals, that I thought I’d share my answer on the podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing practical advice that will help you determine whether you should change your goal or stick with it. If you’re a PGSDer, be sure to work through the Should You Change Your Goals Workbook as it’ll help you put what you’ve learned from this episode into practice. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why it’s so tempting to change your goal Why changing your goal won’t actually help you to feel better Common signs that you should NOT change your goal When it’s ok to change your goal   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this po

If you ever feel like you’re not ‘perfect’ enough to help or inspire others, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to discover 5 reasons the world needs imperfect leaders like you - and why you don’t have to have everything ‘figured out’ before you can In This Episode You’ll Learn: How being perfect actually stops you from helping and inspiring others Why it’s so important to lead by example and how to do it Why you should share your message, even when others are sharing it too The power of imperfect leadership and why it works What to do if you feel like you’re not ‘good enough’ to lead others   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 94 - Overcoming The Curse of Knowledge Episode 149 - How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfection

When your daily routine has been disrupted, due to world events or anything else, it can be challenging to be as productive as usual. And it’s easy to tell yourself that you should be able to do everything as normal. In this episode, I’m sharing 6 tips to help you stay grounded and create a new normal. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why you need to have compassion for yourself when you’re experiencing disruption Three questions to help you take wisdom from similar past experiences What a minimum baseline routine is and why you need one Why it’s so important to focus on getting grounded during a period of disruption How to feel your feelings and why you need to allow yourself to do it   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program   Join us in Perfectionists Getting Shit Done If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I highly recommend checking out our group coaching program Perfectionists Getting Shit Done.  When you join our community for recovering perfectionists,

I believe that working from your calendar is one of the best ways to get shit done without feeling overwhelmed. When I started working from my calendar, my productivity levels soared to an all-time high and I stopped feeling ‘behind’. Even though I love working from my calendar, there are times I seriously resist planning my time. So in this episode, I’m sharing exactly what I do to overcome that resistance and get myself back on track. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why you feel resistant to planning your time The real reason that you stay overwhelmed, even though you hate feeling that way What to do to overcome resistance to planning your time Why you’ll rarely feel motivated to plan your time Whether you should give yourself a time limit when planning What to do when you keep getting distracted from planning your time   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 26: The Power of Self-Image Episode 129: Should You Work From A To-Do List, Planner or Calen

Most perfectionists struggle to create content consistently. They’re scared of what people will think, that they’ll say the wrong thing, that no one will like their posts, that their friends will laugh at them, that it’ll be a waste of effort, the list goes on! In this episode, I’m sharing 10 tips I’ve learned over the last 6 years as a content creator that have helped me get out of my own way, show up consistently as who I truly am and change the lives of thousands of women around the world in the process. I hope these tips help you to stay consistent too! In This Episode You’ll Learn: How to feel confident when creating content, even if you’re not an expert Why you should focus on ‘documenting’ rather than creating (and what it looks like) The reason you should ignore your brain when it says your content isn’t good enough Why you shouldn’t focus on creating a content “streak” and what to do instead How to stop feeling scared of creating imperfect content Why sharing your imperfections is the best way to cr

Many perfectionists struggle to follow through with their plans, so much so that most stop making plans altogether. But this only makes us deplete our self-trust even further - which is why it’s so important to learn how to follow through with them. In this episode, I’m sharing 7 tips to help you stick to your plans even when you don’t feel like it. If you’re constantly looking for advice on how to stay motivated, this one’s for you! In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why following through with your plans matters How follow through helps to build self-trust and avoid fear of disappointment Why I don’t believe in the mantra “no expectations, no disappointment” Why you should expect to not feel like following through How to coach yourself out of overwhelm How to create a self-image that will help you follow through with your plans   Featured In The Episode: Perfectionists Getting Shit Done - our group coaching program Episode 26 - The Power of Self-Image Episode 174 - 3 Reasons You Can’t Follow Through With Your