~ Sara Connell, Best-selling Author and Founder of Thought Leader Academy

Have you ever thought about writing a book but believe you have nothing to say?

For those of us living "ordinary" lives, it's easy to feel our stories have little meaning beyond our own lives. Yet Sara Connell holds the opposite to be true.

As founder of the Thought Leader Academy and a 5x Bestselling author, Sara knows that even everyday stories can have profound impact. In fact, the experiences that test us but which we often overlook as meaningless to others can be the very ones that inspire people to uncover their own resilience and reclaim their power.

Sharing our stories enables us to give voice to our own truth, find meaning, and heal as we rise from challenges. Each time we share our journey--the messy parts--the vulnerable parts, we strengthen our own resilience and provide a roadmap for someone else to rise.

Ultimately, Sara notes that Brilliance is not about a perfect story, but about sharing authenticity. Our stories, no matter their scope, hold the potential to heal, connect, and inspire, becoming catalysts for resilience, transformation, and brilliance that ripple outward into the world.

Learn more about Sara and the Thought Leader Academy where she helps coaches, experts and entrepreneurs scale impact + create 6-7 figures by becoming bestselling authors and in demand/TEDx speakers. Tune in for more of her wisdom on this week's Brilliantly Resilient podcast and be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance and check out Sara's FREE GIFTS BELOW:

• “Stories are the bridges that connect us—we heal ourselves and others every time we tell them.”
• “You don’t need a blockbuster story to make an impact. Your everyday story can be the light someone else needs.”
• “When we give voice to our story, we reclaim our power.”
• “Your story isn’t what happened to you—it’s the meaning you choose to create from it.”
• “Stories are proof that we survived, and they become roadmaps for others to rise too.”
• “The very thing you’re afraid to say is often what will inspire someone else to keep going.”
• “Sharing your story doesn’t just free you—it gives others permission to share theirs.”
• "Every time you tell your story, you expand the possibility of what’s available—for yourself and for others.”
• “Brilliance isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up in your truth, story and all.”
  
  

Check out these FREE GIFTS from Sara!

7 Steps to Write a Revenue Generating Bestselling Book
(in as little as 2 months even if you’ve never written before)
PLUS: Sara’s bonus templates and worksheets that have generated hundreds of bestsellers: https://www.saraconnell.com/7-steps-to-write-a-revenue-generating-bestselling-book

6-Step Pitch Power Training:
In this training, Sara shows you her 6-Step Pitch- which has resulted in thousands of podcasts, conferences, virtual events, and media appearances: https://saraconnellcoaching.lpages.co/pitch-process/Sara has two free gifts she’d like to share with your audience:

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

When you began your work life, do you remember thinking about retirement?

For many decades, retirement was the 65-year-old's goal: the end of the "job" and the entry into leisure and relaxation until...um...the end???

Too often, though, the relaxation didn't materialize--at least not in the way it was intended, especially for those who not only enjoyed working, but whose work life seemed to define them. Too many retirements seemed less than satisfying, maybe downright boring.

Elizabeth Zelinka Parsons challenges the traditional narrative of retirement. Using a Brilliantly Resilient mindset and adjusting perspective, Elizabeth advises viewing retirement as a "graduation" instead of a final chapter. She reframes retirement as a vibrant reset—a time to step into freedom, creativity, and self-defined purpose. With warmth and humor, she reminds us that “nobody really wants 365 Saturdays,” because lasting fulfillment comes from living with intention, not just endless leisure.

By encouraging curosity, Elizabeth offers those in retirement the opportunity to explore passions they may have set aside during their working years, and see retirement as a season for growth rather than retreat. Whether that growth comes from volunteering, traveling, starting a new venture, or learning a skill just for fun, she proves that energy and excitement aren’t bound by age or career stage.

Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we know that our Brilliance is always available to us. As Elizabeth notes, it doesn't "retire when we do." Our knowledge, experiences and passions can be transferred into this life phase, creating excitement and repurposing our lives with possibilty, resilience and joy.

Get your copy of Encore, a High Achievers Guide to Thriving in Retirement. here, and tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast to hear more of Elizabeth's wisdom. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance (note the relationship of the quotes to the Brilliantly Resilient method):

1. Retirement isn’t the end of your story—it’s the start of a whole new chapter you get to write.”
   Reset: See it as a fresh beginning, not a closing door.

2. “If you wait for life to slow down before you start living, you’ll wait forever.”
   Rise: Take action toward the life you want now.

3. “The goal isn’t to stop working—it’s to start living with more freedom and joy.”
   Reveal: Redefine what work and purpose mean to you.

4. “Your identity isn’t your job title. Who you are goes far deeper.”
   Reset: Separate self-worth from professional labels.

5. “You can bring your brilliance into retirement—it doesn’t retire with you.”
   Rise: Use your skills and wisdom in new, meaningful ways.

6. “The happiest people in retirement are the ones who stay curious.”
   Reveal: Curiosity keeps you engaged, joyful, and resilient.

7. “It’s not about filling your time, it’s about fulfilling your soul.”
   Reset: Align your days with your core values.

8. “Retirement is your opportunity to finally create without constraint.”
   Rise: Give yourself permission to explore bold new ideas.

9. “Every transition is an invitation to grow—even the ones we think should be all rest and relaxation.”
   Reveal: Brilliance evolves through every life stage.

10. “Nobody really wants 365 Saturdays in a row.”
    Reset: True happiness blends leisure with purpose.

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran