Episode 222: How to Redefine Success, with "No Half Cakes" Podcast Host and HeartCore Growth Founder Jim Sabellico

“I was standing there in front of this half-eaten birthday cake realizing like... what am I doing? This is not success.”

No Half Cakes Founder and Podcast Host Jim Sabellico

How do you define success?

Most of us are or were under the impression that success means money, status, and stuff--all obtained through a brutal amount of work and time.

Jim Sabellico thought so too. At least until the night his wife had to relight the candles on his six-year-old son's half-eaten birthday cake so he could sing Happy Birthday to his boy. Jim missed the family moment because he was "busy working."

Men have generally been tasked with being "successful" to provide for their families. Unfortunately, the definition of success has too often focused on money and materialism while leaving out family, relationships, presence and purpose.

Jim's wake-up moment changed that for him. He began to reset by owning his situation clarifying his values (family, honor and integrity), and taking action to rise and rebuild his definition of success.

Jim's commitment to reshaping his life served as a model for not only himself, but his children and others, particularly men who have sacrificed their relationships and sense of self to "success." That's when the No Half Cakes podcast was born. Since then, Jim has made it his mission to share his strategies for genuine personal and professional success through the No Half Cakes podcast and his HeartCore Program.

Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we recognize the power of perspective and taking the time to know and be true to your values to live a Brilliantly Resilient life. Learn more about Jim's work here, and be sure to listen to the No Half Cakes podcast. Tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast to hear more of Jim's wisdom and listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:

• “I had no relationship with my kids, no relationship with my wife... and by every other metric, I was a total failure.”
• “After I made the promise to myself, I started the hard part—recognizing that it’s not everyone else’s fault. I had to stop placing blame.”
• "If you don’t know where you are, no instructions will get you where you’re going. You need to know your starting point.”
• “You can't be good for other people if you're not good for yourself first.”
• “Your kids need to see you struggle. They need to understand that mom and dad are not perfect—and how we handle that matters.”
• “Children cannot be what they cannot see... you have to model the life you want them to emulate.”
• “I now live like there’s a documentary crew following me—I act with honor and integrity so there’s nothing to hide.”
• “Start journaling, talking, or even just voicing your feelings to yourself. That’s how you find the real you underneath it all.”
• “This isn’t an on/off switch. It’s a 0.2% shift every day. I’m a totally different person than I was five years ago—and that’s the goal."

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran