Are You a Perfectionist?

If so—welcome. You’re in good company.

Now take a moment to reflect:
How has perfectionism shaped your life?
-Do you hold yourself to impossibly high standards?
Is making a mistake something you just can’t accept?
-Does criticism feel less like feedback and more like a personal attack? (Just me?)
-Do you crave approval—wanting everyone to be proud of you and your choices?
-Do you avoid taking risks, speaking your truth, or putting yourself out there?

I see this all the time—especially with the people I coach. Almost every single one of them identifies as a perfectionist.

They want to do it right. They want to do it well.
Which is admirable… but also incredibly limiting.

Perfectionism can feel like a cozy little safety cage—comfortable, familiar… and totally confining.

It holds us back from discovering what’s truly possible.
From exploring what we really want.
From living fully—and having fun while we’re at it.

We’re conditioned from an early age to strive for perfection:
A+ grades. Gold stars. Praise for doing things “the right way.”
But at some point, you start to realize… that stuff doesn’t actually matter.

What matters is creating a life that feels authentic.
A life that’s fulfilling, aligned—and yes, even fun.

And if starting a business is something you’ve been dreaming about, please don’t let perfectionism be the thing that stops you.

In this week’s video, I’m talking to Karen, a coach who helps mid-life women feel empowered with their finances—so they can live a life they love now and in retirement.

Karen shares how building her business helped her finally let go of perfectionism, find her voice, and build real confidence in herself.

You can follow along with Karen here:

Website: www.karencarle.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@KarenCarleCoaching

If you want support with starting or building your coaching or wellness business:

Watch my free training that shows you the 6 steps to attract consistent clients in your coaching business (in a way that feels authentic and aligned): https://kristinhartjes.com/consistentclients

If you're interested in working together to build your business, you can apply to do so here: https://kristinhartjes.com/apply

CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://www.kristinhartjes.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube/kristinhartjes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinhartjes/

Most medical professionals enter the field with passion and purpose—bright-eyed, full of hope, and committed to making a real difference. The dream? To heal, to help, and to feel deeply fulfilled by meaningful work.

But the reality? For many, it's a far cry from that dream.

Instead, they find themselves stuck in a system they didn’t choose—one that:
-Rewards speed over depth, pushing them to see as many patients as possible
-Prioritizes prescriptions over true healing
-Requires endless paperwork just to get services covered
-Limits patient care to what insurance will allow
-Largely ignores prevention, root-cause healing, and holistic approaches

For practitioners who value integrity, this model feels completely out of alignment. But stepping outside the system often comes with consequences—reprimands, restrictions, or worse.

After years of following rules that clash with your core values, burnout is almost inevitable. And with it comes a deep longing for freedom—to practice medicine on your own terms, in your own way, wherever you choose.

That’s why so many health professionals are now turning to health coaching and launching their own businesses—to reclaim their autonomy and do the work they actually believe in.

And that’s exactly what Nicole did.

Nicole, a physician assistant, started her own coaching business focused on helping menopausal women lose weight—a topic she’s both professionally experienced in and personally passionate about.

Her business took off quickly. In fact, demand grew so rapidly that within just a few months, Nicole launched a group coaching program to accommodate the influx of clients eager to work with her.

Incredible, right?

If you want to follow along with Nicole, you can find her here:
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/600438808861705/
YouTube
https://youtube.com/@nicoledaltonhealthcoaching

If you want support with starting or building your coaching or wellness business:

Watch my free training that shows you the 6 steps to attract consistent clients in your coaching business (in a way that feels authentic and aligned): https://kristinhartjes.com/consistentclients

If you're interested in working together to build your business, you can apply to do so here: https://kristinhartjes.com/apply

CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://www.kristinhartjes.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube/kristinhartjes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinhartjes/

Building a coaching business isn’t just about websites, clients, or content. It’s about becoming the kind of person who can hold space for others—while still holding space for your own growth.

It’s a path of self-discovery, resilience, and deep alignment.

You’ll meet imposter syndrome head-on. You’ll question your direction (probably more than once). There will be flashes of total clarity, followed by moments of “Wait… what am I even doing?”

That’s all part of it.

The truth is, your business evolves as you evolve. Every single step—whether it’s landing your first client or navigating a slower season—is shaping you into the coach you’re here to be.

So if you’re in the thick of it right now—refining your niche, designing your offer, learning to trust yourself—you’re not alone. The journey is messy, meaningful, and far more powerful than any plug-and-play strategy.

And yes, it’s worth it.

It’s worth it to…
✨ Do work that actually lights you up and reflects your passions and wisdom
✨ Call your own shots—you decide when, where, and how you work
✨ Stop wondering what if and finally find out what you're capable of (Spoiler: it’s more than you think)

That’s why I’m so excited to share stories from a few of my past clients—coaches who’ve been in business for over a year and have learned so much through the ups and downs.

Each journey is completely unique, which is why I’m a huge believer in a personalized, heart-centered approach to building your business.

First up: Becky.

A former nurse turned health coach, Becky now guides her clients through sustainable, empowering weight loss transformations.

What I love most about Becky’s journey is how intentionally she’s built real, meaningful relationships with other business owners in her local community. This one decision has allowed her to grow her practice almost entirely through referrals.

And let’s be honest—there’s something kind of magical about a referral-based business. Imagine this: people in your network consistently sending ideal clients your way. No pressure to post on social media. No constant content creation. Just genuine connection and word-of-mouth doing the heavy lifting.

It’s a beautiful reminder that there are many ways to build a successful coaching business—and that the most aligned path is the one that feels true to you.

If you want to follow along with Becky, you can find her here:
Website
https://healthtransformersmaine.com/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@healthtransformersmaine

If you want support with starting or building your coaching or wellness business:

Watch my free training that shows you the 6 steps to attract consistent clients in your coaching business (in a way that feels authentic and aligned): https://kristinhartjes.com/consistentclients

If you're interested in working together to build your business, you can apply to do so here: https://kristinhartjes.com/apply

CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://www.kristinhartjes.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube/kristinhartjes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinhartjes/