Perfectionism is a topic close to my heart and, as a recovering perfectionist myself, I know it's something many of you are navigating too. This two-part episode is inspired by a conversation with my dear friend Martina Fink—a specialist in self-care and helping perfectionists embrace change.

Perfectionism can be a tricky hurdle for many entrepreneurs. I've been open about my battles with it, a struggle familiar to many of my clients. Martina emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from external validation to living from the inside out. This means detaching from others' expectations and instead doing what truly brings you joy and fulfillment.

Martina and I first connected at a mastermind event in 2017 and have since become the best of friends. I’m thrilled to share insights from our chat, focusing on showing up in the online space as a perfectionist, trusting oneself, and taking bold steps as entrepreneurs and women.

Inside this two-episode special of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

How to build a brand when you struggle with comparisonitis and the perfectionism trap on social media.
One of the most powerful journal prompts from Martina, to help you discover your true passions.
How to take action or make big changes when you’re worried about looking silly or failing publicly.
The process of trusting yourself as a business owner and perfectionist.

**I’ve included the main points below, but I encourage you to dive into the full episode via audio or video!

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episodes 125 and 126 or explore the video on the Brandmerry YouTube channel.

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Self-Discovery and Authentic Branding

A major theme of our conversation was the importance of self-discovery in authentic brand building.

So many entrepreneurs struggle with defining who they are and how they want to present themselves.

Journal prompts and reflective questions can help you to start shifting focus from external pressures to internal passions.

Two journal prompts Martina shared were:

If money was no issue, what would I want? What would I do with my time, my energy?
If you knew everyone would be excited about what you do, what would you do? If everyone was cheerleading you on what would you do? What would excite you?

Social media can be a daunting, perfectionism-driven space if you're not grounded in who you are.

Many of you might find yourself mimicking others, which is often a sign of not having clarity about your own brand identity. Martina suggests using structure to guide your content creation while also allowing space for creativity and authenticity.

This is why we’re big fans of doing the internal story work FIRST before building your brand and business. It’s one of the pre-work sections inside of You! Branded.

Getting Unstuck as a Perfectionist

One of the biggest challenges for perfectionists is the fear of taking action due to potential rejection or failure.

Identifying what you’re afraid of and understanding the worst-case scenarios can help you confront these fears. Martina is a big fan of adopting a mindset of “better done than perfect” which can liberate you from perfectionism, allowing your true self to shine through.

When it comes to taking action as a perfectionist a lot of it depends on trusting yourself and your decisions. Often times when we feel stuck it’s because we are second-guessing ourselves.

Trusting your instincts and decisions is pivotal for overcoming perfectionism. Whether trying something new or allowing yourself to take a break when uninspired, it's important to create self-trust. This gives you the confidence to make decisions aligned with your authentic self and business goals and the confidence to take aligned action.

The Journey of Trusting Yourself

Martina and I addressed a crucial question: How do we learn to trust ourselves, especially when external pressures are overwhelming? This journey of self-trust often begins at a breaking point, a moment where you realize the need for change becomes undeniable.

We discussed how businesses and lives transition through seasons and emphasized the necessity of granting ourselves permission to change our paths. In entrepreneurial ventures, where the drive to succeed can sometimes overshadow intuition, understanding when to pause, reflect, and pivot becomes well, pivotal.

Perhaps, my favorite part of the conversation was when Martina provided an amazing perspective on making choices from a place of love rather than fear.

She suggests that when faced with decisions, we should focus on what feels expansive in our body, like a sensation of openness in the chest or a lightness in our thoughts.

This choice, cultivated through practice, leads to decisions that align more closely with our true desires. By practicing intuition with everyday small choices, like deciding between matcha or coffee, we can gradually strengthen this skill and apply it to more significant life decisions.

The Foundation of Sustainable Self-Care

During our chat, Martina highlighted three critical elements of self-care: quality sleep, setting boundaries, and journaling. Perfectionists often overlook these essentials, prioritizing tasks for others over their own needs.

Taking time for oneself doesn't have to mean a rigid routine; it should be about what truly nurtures you.

Self-care should not become another checkbox on a list. Instead, it should be about listening to your physiological needs and simplifying your approach. Start small, and gradually make time for these activities without feeling overburdened by the need for perfection.

Martina has put together a Self-Care Planner for Perfectionists that you can get here.

CONNECT WITH MARTINA

Website: https://martinafink.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/martinaglows

Ecstatic Dance Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecstaticdancewinterthur

Get the Free Planner: martinafink.lpages.co/planner

MARTINA’S STORY

Martina's entrepreneurial journey began over ten years ago as a full-time store manager at Apple. Despite enjoying her work environment, she sensed something was missing. Driven by her artistic inclinations and parental influences to pursue passion-driven work, she embarked on a journey in makeup artistry, gradually evolving into a health coach. Her focus transitioned from external beauty to inner confidence and holistic health—integrating emotional wellness, relationships, and self-worth, which are crucial for overcoming perfectionism.

Martina Fink is a certified Holistic Health Coach, Ecstatic Dance DJ, and the host of The Glow Life Podcast. She helps high achievers overcome overwhelm, trust their intuition, and feel light and free in their body, so they can find emotional peace, have a life outside of work, and glow from the inside out. She has helped hundreds of women simplify self-care and feel more confident by helping them fill their own cups first, so they can show up as the best version of themselves.

Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Podcasts to hear the full episode and all the tips.

P.S. Ready to build a revenue-generating brand? One that not only stands out online but also makes it easier than ever to create high-value content? Tune in to my free brand class and learn my Build a Better Brand Method. Watch now at brandmerry.com/class.

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