In this episode of Be Anomalous, Cici Stefanova joins me for a raw, thoughtful conversation about curiosity, perfectionism, and what it actually takes to build brands — and yourself — in real time.
Before the titles, before the companies, before the external validation, Cici describes herself simply as a curious, creative human who likes doing hard things — even when she’s not immediately good at them.
That mindset has shaped everything she’s built.
Cici is a founder and brand builder who didn’t wait to feel “ready.” She experimented. She tried things. She failed fast. She learned faster. And she gave herself permission to evolve publicly, imperfectly, and with intention.
In a world obsessed with polished outcomes, Cici chose process.
In this conversation, we discuss what it means to stay curious in a results-driven culture, how perfectionism can both fuel and hinder growth, and why learning to be bad at something might be the most underrated skill in entrepreneurship.
We also dig into the emotional side of building — the identity shifts, the pressure to have it all figured out, and the quiet resilience required to keep showing up when the path isn’t linear.
If you’re building something — a brand, a business, or a new version of yourself, and you’re tired of pretending you have all the answers, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen to the episode:
What You’ll Learn
Why curiosity is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) founder traits
How to move forward without needing to feel confident first
The difference between productive discomfort and burnout
Why perfectionism isn’t the enemy — but unchecked perfectionism is
How trying things (and being bad at them) accelerates growth
The identity shifts that happen when you evolve faster than your environment
What it really means to trust yourself while building in public
Favorite Quote
“Life happens for you, not to you.”
Cici’s reflection:
So many people stop before they start because they’re afraid of being seen in the learning phase. But growth requires friction. Skill requires repetition. And confidence is built after action, not before it. Permitting yourself to be a beginner isn’t a weakness. It’s a strategy.
Favorite Book
Personal:
📖 Trick Mirror — Jia Tolentino
A collection of essays that helped Cici reframe self-optimization culture, social media, and the pressure to constantly “level up.” She’s rereading it because it creates distance from the noise and clarity around identity.
Professional:
📖 The Tipping Point — Malcolm Gladwell
A foundational book she’s reading now to better understand how ideas, products, and brands move from niche to mainstream — and how to intentionally work toward that moment in business.
In This Episode, We Cover
(00:00) Introducing Cici — beyond titles and roles
(02:00) Curiosity, creativity, and liking hard things
(05:00) Perfectionism: when it helps and when it holds you back
(08:00) Learning to be bad at something — on purpose
(12:00) Building brands through experimentation, not certainty
(17:00) Identity shifts and evolving publicly
(22:00) The emotional resilience required to keep going
(27:00) Trusting yourself before the external proof arrives
(33:00) What growth really looks like behind the scenes
(40:00) Letting go of timelines and expectations
(45:00) Redefining success on your own terms
Referenced in This Episode
Brand building through experimentation
Founder identity and evolution
Learning in public vs. waiting for perfection
New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday.
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