~ 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

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

~Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek AI Expert and Author of: Your AI Roadmap: Actions to Expand Your Career, Money and Joy"

Are you afraid of AI?

Artificial Intelligence has long been the stuff of science fiction, with the "artificial" becoming real and taking over the world. Yikes. But AI is here to stay, and according to AI expert, Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek, there ways to both utilize this amazing tool to work and live more efficiently and effectively, as well as to prepare for the changes, particularly in our work lives, that are to come.

In her book, Your AI Roadmap: Actions to Expand Your Career, Monay and Joy, Dr. Bajorek speaks directly to the fear and uncertainty that many professionals feel as AI transforms the job landscape. Yes, it can be scary, but AI also offers tremendous opportunities. Her first tip: get curious about AI. Acknowledge what's happening and play.

Play? Yes. Simply opening Chat GPT or trying AI with a friend can not only decrease anxiety, but shift the mindset from fear to learning and intention.

Further, it's essential to elevate your own profile or brand to become well known for your skill set--and AI can help to create a powerful online profile. It's also important to recognize that human relationships are still a major part of finding opportunities. Dr. Bajorek cites that 70% of post-COVID job seekers landed their next role through personal introductions—not job boards. Take control of your own narrative and actively engage with relationship building while utilizing AI as a tool. And AI is a tool, not a replacement. Humans still bring the creativity, strategy and discernment behind the machine.

Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we recognize the value of imperfect action--the playing in this scenario--to learn and build confidence. Play, and use AI as a tool to grow, enhancing your value and impact as we all move forward in this strange new world. Tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Dr. Bajorek's wisdom and listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:

• “We don’t have to be alone… Maybe you do it with a friend. Honestly, just having community around it—we don’t have to be alone.”
• “The number one thing I get is, ‘How do I get a job in AI?’ … In my book, the first part is about actually personal brand—being known for the work you’ve already done and being known for it online.”
• “Your network—how do people know you? … That’s the main route [to the next opportunity, not the side route.”
• “Even if you are in a supposedly stable career… take on some side projects, take on mentoring, because you never know when that kind of thing is going to lead to something else.”
• “Document your prompts in a Word doc. Keep those things—next time you do this task, here it is. You can do the next job more efficiently and well.”
• “I think the way I really see it...is that people who aren’t using these tools may be the ones first impacted by layoffs versus the ones that are working to augment, upskill, etc.”

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran