Breaking Perfect for High Achievers with Chris Oeurn
Featured Guest: Chris Oeurn, Camera Operator
Instagram: @chrisoeurn | Website: https://framingup.com
Breaking Perfect: What High Achievers With Immigrant Parents Need To Hear
If you grew up with immigrant parents, you probably learned to hold yourself together before you ever learned how to hold your breath.
Be grateful.
Work hard.
Don’t mess up.
And whatever you do… be perfect.
But here’s the thing I keep coming back to lately.
Most of us weren’t chasing perfection because we wanted gold stars.
We were chasing perfection because it felt like safety.
In this week’s episode of Empowered with Immigrant Parents, I sat down with my longtime friend and incredibly talented camera operator, Chris Oeurn, to talk about what it actually looks like to break out of “perfect” when your whole upbringing taught you to avoid mistakes at all costs.
And honestly… this conversation was great (so great I couldn’t find the right words at times).
Why High Achievers With Immigrant Parents Struggle With “Good Enough”
So many of us grew up learning that being prepared wasn’t optional.
It was a necesity.
One wrong move could bring criticism, more challenges, shame or self doubt.
And when you take that mindset into adulthood, especially into high-pressure or creative careers, the stakes feel even higher.
You’re not just doing your job.
You’re proving you belong.
In the episode, Chris shares what this looks like inside the film industry, but the deeper themes hit home for any cycle-breaker:
Visibility
Pressures to succeed
Cultural expectations
Identity, belonging
Adaptability
Rewriting the Story
If You’re a High Achiever Who Wants to Break Perfect, and start to be more of who you are without the extra internal pressures you put on yourself (on top of ALL the external pressures) … This Episode Is For You
And if you don’t have immigrant parents… You will love this episode if you’ve ever:
struggled with perfectionism or overachieving
felt pressure to “earn” your place
been the only person of your background in a professional space
carried your parents’ sacrifices like a quiet weight
wanted permission to be human, not perfect
questioned whether you’re “doing enough” even when you’re doing everything
needed a reminder that you’re allowed to grow at your own pace
This conversation is validating, grounding, and honestly pretty healing to listen to.
Check out the Episode
🎧 Breaking Perfect for High Achievers With Immigrant Parents
