Brilliant Balance

Nearly 40% of American mothers are now primary earners, but the culture hasn't fully caught up with what that actually requires. In this episode, I'm joined by Alexis Contos, founder of The Breadwinners, a community built around the realities of building a career while raising a family. Alexis shares why she walked away from a 20-year corporate career, how one dinner at South by Southwest turned into a growing movement, and what she's learning about creating a different path for working mothers. We also talk about guilt, ambition, integration, personal agency, and why we need to stop trying to do everything perfectly. Show Highlights: What Alexis was like growing up and how relationships shaped her. [02:30] Why Alexis left her 20-year corporate career without knowing what she'd do next. [07:10] How one dinner at South by Southwest became the beginning of The Breadwinners. [10:05] Why women showed up to the dinner and why they needed that community. [13:05] Why Alexis prefers "integration" over "balance." [19:00] How Alexis defines a breadwinner as someone who brings important things into the home. [25:00] Why ambition is about aligning your time with your values. [27:15] How to replace guilt with confidence, agency, and community. [28:30] How Alexis structures her day to make space for both work and family. [34:00] Why aspiring breadwinners are joining the community and helping write a new playbook for working mothers. [38:00] Resources Mentioned: Find Alexis on Substack (and get a discounted subscription) at: https://wearethebreadwinners.substack.com/738ea8e9 Find Alexis on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/wearethebreadwinners/ Learn more about The Breadwinners: https://thebreadwinners.co To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Have you ever looked at your calendar and realized you've created a week that works for everyone else, but leaves very little space for you? In this episode, I'm exploring how we end up in this pattern and what it takes to create a week that supports the life we actually want. I'm talking about why "life is full" is a more empowering way to think about busy seasons, and why waiting until everything else is done before making time for yourself often means that time never comes. Together, we'll explore how to rethink your priorities, protect what matters most, and create more room for the things that help you feel like yourself. Show Highlights: ● Why full and busy are not the same thing. [04:42] ● How we accidentally create weeks that leave us out. [08:10] ● Why the "work first, play later" mindset stops working. [12:32] ● The hidden costs of constantly putting yourself last. [19:40] ● How losing touch with yourself happens over time. [24:58] ● The power of "crowding out" what doesn't serve you. [29:44] ● How to put the most important things into your week first. [33:22] ● Creating a week that works for you, too. [42:10] Join The Coaching Circle to attend the September masterclass, Run Your Week Your Way, and learn the complete system for designing a week that reflects your priorities. Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: https://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

We all have good intentions. The challenge is turning those intentions into action. In this episode, I'm revisiting one of the very first episodes of the Brilliant Balance podcast because the message is just as relevant today as it was then. As I navigate a busy season of travel, family transitions, and sending another child off to college, I'm putting this principle into practice myself. If you've ever wondered where the time went or why the things that matter most keep getting pushed aside, this episode will show you a simple shift that can help your calendar reflect your priorities. Show Highlights: Why I'm bringing back one of the earliest episodes of the podcast. [00:00] The simple principle that has guided my planning for years. [02:00] Why it's not enough to know what you want to do. [08:00] How to use your calendar to protect what matters most. [11:30] The difference between a to-do list and a real plan. [20:00] Why scheduling your tasks reduces procrastination and increases follow-through. [29:30] The biggest mistake people make when they become more productive. [39:30] How to align your calendar with your values and priorities. [34:00] Resources Mentioned: Join The Coaching Circle to attend the September masterclass, Run Your Week Your Way, and learn the complete system for designing a week that reflects your priorities. Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Change is hard. But it isn't because people resist it. In this episode, I'm joined by Kristy Ellmer, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group and co-author of How Change Really Works. We explore why so many personal and organizational changes fail, what behavioral science teaches us about making change stick, and the simple shifts that can help us move forward with more confidence. Whether you're leading a team, navigating a career transition, or trying to create new habits at home, this conversation will change the way you think about transformation. Show Highlights: How Kristy's early career shaped her approach to uncertainty and change. [04:15] Why most transformations fail and what "change distance" really means. [10:20] The surprising role agency plays in helping people embrace change. [15:10] Why rituals matter more than willpower when creating lasting change. [23:30] The biggest misconception about how people respond to change. [34:15] How curiosity creates an opportunity for change to succeed. [36:45] What the IKEA Effect teaches us about getting people to buy into change. [42:30] Why a "fresh start" can be the key to rebuilding momentum. [1:05:10] How understanding your emotions can reduce cognitive load during periods of change. [1:16:40] Resources Mentioned: How Change Really Works by Kristy Ellmer, Julia Darr, and Philip Jamieson: https://amzn.to/3S1UZuO Connect with Kristy Ellmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-r-ellmer-b25b7a23/ Follow Kristy Ellmer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristy_ellmer/ To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: https://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

What does it take to build an ambitious career without losing sight of what matters most? In this episode, I'm joined by Betsy Hamm, former CEO of Duck Donuts and founder of Loud & Lifted. Betsy shares the unexpected career moves that took her from marketing iconic brands to leading a company through rapid growth, private equity, and international expansion. Along the way, she opens up about the invisible rules she had to rewrite, both at work and at home. If you're navigating a season of growth, leadership, or reinvention, this conversation offers a refreshing reminder that success doesn't have to come at the expense of your values. Show Highlights: How Betsy's career evolved from Hershey to Duck Donuts. [08:30] What it was like to help grow Duck Donuts from 20 to 200 locations. [26:10] Why she stepped into the CEO role during one of the most challenging seasons. [45:15] The pressure of leading through private equity, rapid growth, and COVID. [49:30] The invisible rules she had to let go of at home and at work. [1:00:20] Why delegating at home was harder than delegating at work. [1:02:15] What she learned about building the right leadership team. [1:10:30] How leaving the CEO role led to an unexpected new chapter. [1:20:45] The mission behind Loud & Lifted and creating spaces where women support women. [1:28:20] The legacy Betsy hopes to leave for her daughters. [1:40:15] Resources Mentioned: Learn more about Betsy Hamm: https://betsyhamm.com Listen to the Loud & Lifted Podcast: https://loudandliftedpodcast.com Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyhamm/ To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

How many decisions do you make based on what you think other people will think? In this episode, I'm unpacking the quiet fear of judgment that shapes so many of our choices. Whether it's speaking up in a meeting, showing up at a reunion, making a career change, or simply deciding what to wear, we often act as though everyone is watching our every move. The truth is, they're usually much more focused on themselves. We'll explore why this happens, what it costs us, and how to stop performing for an audience that mostly exists in our own minds. Show Highlights: The surprising lesson I learned from a summer full of high-stakes moments. [05:20] Why we overestimate how much other people notice us. [15:10] The psychology behind the "spotlight effect." [21:40] The hidden cost of performing for an imaginary audience. [31:15] Why fear of judgment keeps us from pursuing what we really want. [40:20] What to do when people really are judging you. [50:45] A simple mindset shift that can change the way you make decisions. [59:10] How to stop asking, "What will people think?" and start asking a better question. [1:05:30] Building the emotional resilience to move forward anyway. [1:11:20] Join The Coaching Circle to attend the August masterclass on Emotional Resilience and apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Have you ever finally done something you've been putting off and immediately wondered, Why did I wait so long? In this episode, I'm exploring what avoidance really is and why so many of us stay stuck, even when we know exactly what we need to do. From difficult conversations and health decisions to everyday life admin, avoidance often looks like being busy or waiting for the "right time." But underneath it is usually something else. If there's something you've been circling for weeks, months, or even years, this episode will help you understand what's keeping you stuck and how to start moving forward. Show Highlights: The personal health decision I avoided for years and what finally changed. [04:30] Why avoidance is more than procrastination. [14:10] The hidden emotional cost of putting things off. [20:45] Why difficult conversations rarely get easier with time. [27:15] The surprising ways avoidance shows up in parenting, health, and everyday life. [36:50] How the "complexity illusion" keeps us from taking action. [47:20] Why the things we avoid are often easier than we imagine. [55:40] What avoidance teaches us about ourselves and why it always comes with a price. [1:02:30] One simple question that can help you take your next step. [1:08:10] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

What makes someone command a room? It isn't having the perfect script. In this episode, I'm sharing what I've learned from hundreds of speaking engagements, including the biggest mistake I made at my very first live event. It taught me that presence doesn't come from memorizing every word. It comes from connection. Whether you're leading a meeting, giving a presentation, interviewing for a job, or stepping onto a stage, these lessons will help you communicate with more confidence, connect more naturally, and hold the room without trying to perform. Show Highlights: The painful lesson from my first live event and what it taught me about presence. [04:20] Why speaking is always a two-way conversation. [16:15] The audience signals every speaker should learn to recognize. [23:40] How to stop letting one disengaged person steal your attention. [32:10] Why connection should come before credentialing. [37:55] The hidden cost of over-scripting your message. [46:20] How to prepare for high-stakes moments without memorizing every word. [55:10] Simple ways to calm your nervous system before you speak. [1:02:45] The habits that help you show up with more confidence and presence. [1:09:30] Planning an event? Learn more about booking Cherylanne for keynotes, workshops, coaching roundtables, and fireside chats: https://brilliant-balance.com/speaking To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Can you be both warm and ambitious? Kind and confident? Supportive and successful? In this episode, I'm joined by organizational psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Alison Fragale to talk about why women often feel like they have to choose between being liked and being respected. We unpack the science behind status, influence, and reciprocity, and why the most successful women learn to build both warmth and confidence at the same time. If you've ever worried about being "too nice" or "too much," this conversation will change the way you think about leadership, relationships, and the way people experience you. Show Highlights: How Alison's childhood shaped her understanding of warmth and assertiveness. [06:10] Why being liked is one of the most overlooked sources of influence. [15:20] The difference between status, power, and respect. [27:45] What it really means to be a "Likeable Badass." [33:30] Why women don't have to choose between confidence and connection. [43:15] The surprising truth behind feedback like "you're too nice" or "you're too aggressive." [53:40] Practical ways to build stronger relationships without feeling transactional. [1:08:10] Simple daily habits that strengthen your network over time. [1:17:20] Alison's favorite status-building practice that anyone can start today. [1:24:40] Order your copy of Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve by Dr. Alison Fragale : Paperback: https://amzn.to/4vgAMQw Hardcover: https://amzn.to/449v9aK Kindle: https://amzn.to/4uCUBjy To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Have you ever tried to do something good for yourself, only to feel guilty the second someone else had a reaction to it? In this episode, I'm answering listener questions about what happens when self-care becomes visible and the people around us have feelings about it. I'm talking about morning workouts, girls' trips, hobbies, and the guilt that can show up when we start making room for ourselves. Underneath each question is a deeper one: how do I get my own needs met without feeling like the villain in someone else's story? This episode is for you if you're ready to protect the practices that help you feel like yourself, without over-explaining, hiding, or asking for permission. Show Highlights: ● Why visible self-care can feel so complicated. [02:02] ● The listener question behind this Dear Cherylanne episode. [03:34] ● Why self-care does not need to become a debate. [12:12] ● How to handle guilt around time away. [18:58] ● The difference between privacy and secrecy. [27:04] ● Why hobbies deserve space in a full life. [31:30] ● How guilt changes as kids get older. [33:12] ● The difference between guilt, judgment, and grief. [40:52] ● What it means to be strategically selfish. [45:08] Submit a Dear Cherylanne question: https://brilliant-balance.com/dear-cherylanne Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Every Mother's Day, I see the same message on cards: Thank you for giving up everything for us. But the cards my own kids write tell a different story. In this episode, I'm talking about what we're teaching the people around us when we treat ourselves like we don't matter. I unpack the Type C pattern, why being endlessly capable gets rewarded, and the cost of always putting yourself last. This is not about self-care days or finding more time. It's about making room for the things that matter to you, even in small ways. Because people learn from what we do, not just what we say. Show Highlights: The pattern I keep noticing in the Mother's Day card aisle. [01:30] What my kids' handwritten cards taught me instead. [05:15] The Type C personality and why the world rewards it. [11:40] What kids actually absorb when they watch us disappear. [16:20] Why I'm not telling you to go get a massage. [22:10] What microdosing your own needs really looks like. [25:45] Real examples from my own porch, my workouts, and my travel. [29:30] Why strategic selfishness might be the most generous thing you can model. [34:50] To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

How do you grow your career and your family at the same time without losing yourself in the process? In this episode, I'm exploring why that question feels so familiar to high-achieving women. I'm talking about the invisible math of work, home, and you, and why your own needs are often the first to get squeezed out. Instead of waiting to see what's left after everyone else gets your time and energy, I'm inviting you to protect space for what helps you feel healthy, whole, and human. This episode is for you if you're ready to stop putting yourself last and start making room for yourself in the middle of a full life. Show Highlights: ● The core question so many working mothers are trying to solve. [01:02] ● Why "losing yourself" is often the missing part of work-life balance. [03:10] ● The invisible math of work, home, and you. [05:04] ● How your own needs slowly get crowded out. [06:42] ● The mental model that keeps women at the bottom of the list. [13:15] ● What happens when you protect your own non-negotiables. [16:28] ● How Parkinson's Law explains the way work fills available time. [18:42] ● Why constraints can create clarity and better choices. [22:10] ● A client story about making room for a more spacious season. [26:28] ● The question that helps you work backward from what you truly want. [30:38] ● How to begin making room for what makes you feel like yourself. [38:52] To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explore Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Do you ever feel like you're measuring yourself against an invisible standard of what a "good mother" should be? In this episode, I'm unpacking the unwritten rulebook so many mothers follow without even realizing it. I'm sharing a personal story from my son's preschool years that triggered a shame spiral over something he doesn't even remember. That moment helped me see how many standards I had absorbed from childhood, culture, comparison, and expectations I never consciously chose. Today, I'm inviting you to look at your own Good Mother Rulebook, decide which rules truly reflect your values, and release the ones creating unnecessary guilt or pressure. Show Highlights: ● The invisible Good Mother Rulebook most of us are following. [00:38] ● My preschool picture day story. [02:38] ● Why one forgotten moment felt like a parenting failure. [07:18] ● The difference between embarrassment and shame. [08:03] ● How motherhood standards become internalized over time. [11:22] ● Why high achievers are especially vulnerable to unwritten rules. [13:58] ● Where our ideas of "good mothering" often come from. [15:28] ● How comparison quietly shapes our personal rulebooks. [18:26] ● Examples of rules you may be carrying without realizing it. [20:04] ● Why most motherhood rules are more negotiable than they feel. [21:18] ● Three steps to uncover and rewrite your own rulebook. [23:48] ● Choosing standards that reflect your values instead of inherited pressure. [28:03] ● The few things in motherhood that are truly non-negotiable. [29:05] To register for the Couples Workshop, click here: https://members.brilliantbalance.net/couplesworkshop Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

It turns out I'm carrying an invisible operating system that runs beneath the surface of my entire life, and chances are, you are too. This one is for the women who are tired. Not just physically, but tired of carrying so much that nobody else can even see. I explore why the people around us aren't oblivious on purpose, and what we can actually do to close the gap between how much we're doing and how little of it is seen. Show Highlights: The invisible mental checklist no one else knows is running. [02:10] Why the people around you aren't lazy, they just can't see it. [08:45] Where resentment quietly grows. [11:20] Step one: making the invisible visible, to yourself first. [16:05] Step two: giving yourself credit before anyone else does. [20:30] Step three: getting honest about what you actually want. [23:15] Handing off systems, not just tasks. [27:00] How to start the conversation even when it feels impossible. [31:40] To register for the Couples Workshop, click here: https://members.brilliantbalance.net/couplesworkshop Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe for weekly content from Cherylanne straight to your inbox: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Have you ever abandoned a goal entirely because you couldn't pursue it perfectly? In this honest and deeply personal episode, Cherylanne pulls back the curtain on her own all-or-nothing pattern and helps you find your own. This episode names the trap clearly: dichotomous thinking, also known as black-and-white thinking, is one of the most common cognitive distortions identified in psychology. Cherylanne unpacks the three root causes: our evolutionary wiring for binary decisions, the standards we absorbed growing up, and socially prescribed perfectionism, and explains why high achievers are specially prone to this pattern. Most importantly, she shares what she is actually doing about it, and how you can begin to do the same. If there is a dream, practice, or project you have put off because you couldn't do it exactly right, this episode is for you. Show Highlights: ● The book Cherylanne has wanted to write for most of her adult life and why she hasn't done it yet. [01:15] ● How all-or-nothing thinking shows up in fitness and meal planning. [07:30] ● What dichotomous thinking is and where it comes from in psychology. [13:02] ● Cause #1: The evolutionary roots of binary thinking. [14:10] ● Cause #2: The standards we internalized growing up. [16:35] ● Cause #3: Socially prescribed perfectionism and the imagined audience. [19:20] ● Why "if I can't do it right, why bother?" has such a high cost. [22:45] ● What Cherylanne is actually doing now—the Substack, the outline, the chapters. [25:10] ● Why imperfect action creates momentum that doing nothing never will. [27:40] ● Finding your own "book"—and what exists between perfect and nothing. [30:00] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Substack: https://brilliantbalance.substack.com/ Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Ever feel like you're carrying the weight of the world on your own shoulders—handling every email, project, and task yourself? I've been there, telling myself it was the smart and responsible way to run my business, until I realized what I was missing out on by not letting go. In this episode, I'm revealing exactly what happens when you stop doing everything yourself and start getting results through others. We'll talk about how this shift can give you precious time back, multiply your impact, and create new opportunities—not just for you, but for everyone on your team and in your life. By leveraging others and learning to trust, we're able to embrace new possibilities. If you're ready for bigger results and a richer life, this episode is for you! Show Highlights: Solo startup narratives of handling all tasks yourself. [00:48] The risk of operating alone becoming a habit and identity. [02:58] My epiphany of A. G. Lafley leading P&G by leveraging others. [04:08] Why delegation is essential in both teams and homes. [07:26] The power of reclaiming specialist time with a client example. [09: 21] How effective leaders delegate and multiply impact. [15:22] Outsourcing tasks in personal life—but which ones? [18:36] Giving others opportunities by delegating meaningful work. [20:11] The transformation of who you become by letting go. [24:20] What are your emotional barriers to delegating and outsourcing? [27:45] Join The Coaching Circle's June master class on delegation. [29:09] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Do you always end up taking charge of others' problems because you know you can solve them faster or better? I know I do, and if you're a high-achiever, this episode will hit close to home. Today, I'm sharing why so many highly competent women have this pattern of taking the wheel for others. I'm inviting you to consider how our can-do mindset, while celebrated, can quietly drain our energy, stunt others' growth, and even erode our closest connections. Discover the telltale signs of over-helping, the hidden costs, and how to reclaim your time and sanity without sacrificing your drive. Let's learn to let go, let others step up, build true confidence, and create space for everyone—including ourselves—to thrive. Show Highlights: The high-performer's instinct to solve problems. [01:15] Hardwired servant leadership vs. detrimental overhelping. [02:52] When is it right to grab the wheel from your leaner-driver teen? [04:50] Micromanaging at work and how it stifles others' growth. [07:48] How arguing over doing chores your way leads to overload. [10:10] Learning to listen, not solve. [12:30] What to tell a chronic helper to help them step back. [13:41] The importance of letting others build skills and confidence. [14:55] Eroded connection and people avoiding opening up. [17:02] Why habitual problem-solvers rarely get to feel supported. [18:04] The power supportive coaching with The Coaching Circle. [19:19] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Are you avoiding that one conversation you know you need to have? I get it, most of us have a tricky topic we're sidestepping at work, at home, or even with a friend. In this episode, I'm sharing why everything you want—whether it's more flexibility, healthier relationships, or a sense of confidence—is often waiting for you on the other side of a courageous conversation. I'll walk you through the emotions that hold us back, reveal my story of asking for something that felt impossible (and actually getting it!), and challenge you to take that first step, even if it's uncomfortable. This is your moment to take a breath, get honest, and watch what happens when you speak up for what you truly want. Let's rewrite your story, one conversation at a time. Show Highlights: Are you avoiding having difficult but necessary conversations? [00:48] The power of courageous, imperfect conversations. [02:31] What chronic problems in life manifest from. [04:30] The emotions, stories, and "crystal ball" view behind avoidance. [05:53] Link desired outcomes to the conversation they need. [09:34] An example of how to ask for more flexibility at work. [10:35] Approaching sensitive topics with your Mom, friend, or teen. [12:29] Discover an effective workplace practice for clearing the air. [15:32] Three key freedoms courageous conversations build up. [17:33] Shift from knowing to doing with The Coaching Circle. [20:27] Take this week's action step and share with us how it went. [22:02] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Ever feel like the very drive that's building your dreams is running your life instead of serving it? If you're the woman everyone admires for getting it all done, but you secretly wonder what it's costing you, this episode is for you. Today, I'm calling out the hidden costs of unchecked overdrive and allowing drive to become our default operating system: constant urgency, the struggle to pause for what really matters, and the slow fade of relationships we hold dear. But there's a solution for this and I'll explain why it isn't eliminating ambition and how to restore your balance. This conversation is about more than productivity. It's about making sure our ambition actually takes us somewhere we want to go. Let's make every effort and every moment count. Show Highlights: A story about missing out due to drive and what caused it. [00:46] Identifying the line between ambition and overdrive. [03:05] The gift of drive as a tool vs. an operating system. [05:58] How the Coaching Circle resolves deeply wired imbalances. [08:27] The costs of constant internal urgency. [09:07] What's the actual pace of recovery we need? [10:35] The problem of optimizing the wrong problems. [11:56] How overdrive leads to relationship drift. [14:07] The skill of intentional drive modulation. [17:54] Exiting overdrive culture for a setting for retraining healthy drive. [19:32] The value of the Coaching Circle and how to sign up. [21:04] Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki

Have you ever wondered why, despite being wildly competent and organized, you sometimes still feel like everything is just too much? I know that feeling well, and I'm sharing my take on why so many accomplished women live in overwhelm - it's certainly not because we aren't capable! Sometimes we even know what to do but we can't make time to do it. So this week I'm introducing something brand new - The Coaching Circle - to bridge the gap between knowing and doing when it comes to Brilliant Balance practices. If you're ready for more ease, less overwhelm, and a circle of women who truly get it, this one's for you. Show Highlights: When overwhelm hit the tipping point in my personal story. [00:54] How getting coaching provided me with a "map" and ease. [03:21] The undercurrent of pressure in competent women. [06:17] Can an outdated "life OS" manage peak complexity levels? [07:57] The crisis of insight not leading to action and change. [11:03] Introducing The Coaching Circle by Brilliant Balance [14:03] How the Coaching Circle works and its unique benefits. [17:52] Structural challenges women face that aren't personal failures. [20:49] Learn who this is ideal for and see if or sounds like you. [22:15] Discover the three elements that drive real change. [26:57] Details and topic of the first Coaching Circle master class. [28:26] If you're ready to have structure and support to apply the ideas you learn on the podcast, check out The Coaching Circle: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle Subscribe to the Brilliant Balance Weekly: www.brilliant-balance.com/weekly Follow Cherylanne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cskolnicki