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

"The 20s are not the best days of your life. It is a myth that needs to be busted.”
~ Kate Berski, Author: 30 Phobia: Why Your 20s Suck and How to Get Unstuck

Ah, to be 20 again, right? After all, the 20s are supposed to be the best time of our lives, right?

Not so fast.

Kate Berski, author of 30 Phobia: Why Your 20s Suck and How to Get Unstuck notes that despite the myth, the 20's are a "tumultuous decade" full of self-doubt, unhealthy comparisons and societal pressure.

Saddled with a demanding timeline that prescribes benchmarks that "should" be achieved, Kate recognizes that the To-do list for 20-somethings is not one-size-fits-all. She advises young people to take the time to reflect on what fits them, choosing to reset old standards with intention to fit their own values, skills and wants.

With small, purposeful steps, 20-somethings can Rise to create a life that fits not predetermined milestones--get the corporate job, get married, buy the house, have the kids--but individual ones that evolve with a changing mindset and changing goals. The 20's can be a starting line fo discovery, provided we support young people who choose to forge a path that fits them.

Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we're firm believers in ditching what "should be" to make room for what "could be." In this case, a fulfilling life that allows individual Brilliance and Resilience to shine, without comparisons.

Be sure to pick up a copy of 30 Phobia and tune in to hear more of Kate's brilliance on this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Listen for these additional bits of brilliance:

• “I started to question the internal societal timeline I had internalized to the point of panic.”
• “Uncertainty is just a flag for opportunity.”
• “You don’t have to wedge yourself into a particular life path at 18.”
• “Stop looking out. Start looking in.”
• “You’re not failing. You’re not stuck. You’re just on someone else’s timeline."
• “There are no deadlines on dreams.”

The 20's can be a time rife with opportunity--as long as young people have the courage to set their own goals and timeline. Let's support our young adults, and...

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“Great leadership starts by leading with a mindset that's scalable—being willing to see things bigger. What would this look like if...?”

~ Ivy Slater, CEO of Slater Success and Author of Best of the Best: Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy

What does the word "scalable" mean to you?

If you are an entrepreneur, or work with an organization seeking to build (aren't we all?), the word "scalable" should motivate and inspire. Yet, "scalable" also holds some weight, and can be intimidating.

Slater Success CEO and author Ivy Slater reminds us that all businesses are scalable. And if the word intimidates, Ivy says, “Scaling is intimidating to you? Throw the word out. Just say: I'm going to grow.” Grow. Yes; that we can do.

Ivy reminds us that growth takes intention, flexibility, the willingness to pause, reevaluate and accept that scaling often comes not in giant leaps but in grounded, thoughtful steps.

One of the most basic steps is intentional alignment with values-driven leadership, thus providing a strong foundation for present and future growth. Followed by imperfect but intentional action, scaling becomes a manageable process that also begins to create a legacy for a sustainable, growth-oriented organization. Ivy also reminds us to build relationships--one former client returned to her years later with a new project based upon their past relationship.

Values, tribe, imperfect intentional action--all foundations of the Brilliantly Resilient method, useful in business and in life.

Be sure to pick up your copy of Best of the Best: Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy. Tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast to hear more of Ivy's wisdom and be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:

• “When you're faced with an obstacle and you're just looking at the obstacle, it doesn't disappear.”
• “It is not easy. When you're dealing with things that are spinning… what we want to do is ground it. And you ground it by stepping away, shifting your perspective, and asking: what is actually possible right now?”
• “Stop and take a breath. Walk away from your desk. Shift your environment, because when we stay in the same environment, we are a horse in a horse race running with blinders.”
• “If you're scaling a company and you don't know your values, it reflects in your hiring. It reflects in your clients. There has to be alignment or there's no opportunity to scale.”
• “Great leadership starts with leading with a mindset that's scalable—being willing to see things bigger. What would this look like if...?”
• “When you respond with an emotional reaction, you're doing a disservice to yourself. You don't get to look as brilliant as you truly are.”
  “Your best resources show up with an open mind and an open heart to see things from an unbiased opportunity.”

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran