Brilliantly Resilient

Have you ever made a mistake? One that changed your life, and not for the better? We all make mistakes, but usually, we do so without ill intent. Mistakes, by their nature, aren't intentional. We don't mean to screw up.

That's why Jeffrey Abramowitz, this week's guest on the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, makes a distinction. Having spent five years in prison for a financial crime, Jeffrey notes that he made a choice that led to consequences. Consequences that changed his life forever.

Jeffrey learned much while serving his sentence, and it brought him to his true purpose, to advocate for justice and education for those reentering society after incarceration. Jeffrey learned that two things are essential to successfully rebuild a life--responsibility and education. Once Jeffrey accepted his responsibility for his own actions, he dedicated himself to a life helping others, teaching inmates while serving his sentence and advocating for education to prepare inmates to re-enter society and build a life. Jeffrey encourages others to look forward and gives them the skills to do just that.

By acknowledging our responsibility for our choices, we empower ourselves to move forward. Tune in to hear more about Jeffrey's mission and listen for these additional bits of brilliance:

"I don't think any of us should spend time looking in the rear-view mirror. We can learn lessons, but we need to look forward."

"It took me to really lose everything before I learned the lessons I needed to learn. But then I could define what the next chapter of my life could be."

"We have to bring humanity back into our system, but the self-responsibility piece is the first thing you have to accept. I opened a door and I needed to accept everything that happened after that."

"It's simple if you take just one little step. Turn the chair around." (Listen for this super-cool story!)

~ Jeffrey Abramowitz (https://www.jeffrey-abramowitz.com/)

Let's be Brilliantly resilient together!

KS & MFB

Just a few more days to go before we welcome in the New Year! Who's ready to see 2022 hit the road?? The last few years certainly haven't been easy. And there's a great temptation to feel little enthusiasm for what's to come. BUT, throwing yourself a big, 'ol pity party doesn't provide much satisfaction--at least not long term.

So here it is, our most listened to episode from 2022, and it features our friend, Keith Baldwin. If there were ever an example of how to live a Brilliantly Resilient life in the midst of a giant pile of poo, Keith provides it. And although Keith loves a good party, his best advice involves putting the breaks on one. Read on to hear more from Keith and listen to how he managed a major sucker punch BRILLIANTLY!!!

Thanks to Keith and all of our Brilliantly Resilient guests for sharing their wisdom, humor and humanity with us in 2022. We are beyond grateful. And thanks to all of you who listen to learn how to live a Brilliantly Resilient life--we're still learning right along with all of you! Happy New Year to all and here's to a fabulous 2023!!!

~ Keith Baldwin

Have you ever thrown yourself a Pity Party? Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we were experts at it. When life hits you with a sucker punch, it seems like you’re entitled to feel sorry for yourself. And you are–to a point. But you can’t live in that place of pain. Acknowledge it, feel it, and then get the heck out of there!

This week’s guest, Keith Baldwin decided to make 2020 a year of firsts and wrote a book (A Leap Year of Firsts) about his experiences. But what started out as fun and games quickly turned serious when the pandemic produced some unwanted firsts–as when Keith had to lay off his entire workforce.

After realizing that feeling sorry for himself wasn’t helping him or his staff, Keith got to work, finding a unique solution to his problem and hiring all 45 workers back within hours of laying them off.

Remember, sometimes life just sucks. The question is, are you just visiting that place of yuck or are you going to live there? Tune in to this week’s episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast to hear more about Keith Baldwin and his Leap Year of Firsts!

XO,

KS & MFB

The critic is the voice of fear; the coach is the voice of love. Talk to yourself like you want yourself to win.

~ Kristin & Mary Fran

Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we can really be mean. To ourselves, that is.

It’s hard to imagine, but statistics show that we talk to ourselves thousands of times a day, and it’s often 80% negative. And not only does that negative thinking apply to our circumstances (the person paying by check in the express checkout lane–Grrrrrr!!!),it also affects the way we speak to ourselves.

How often have you berated yourself for failing at something, making a mistake, or just forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning? If you’re like most of us, you do it frequently, and you’re none too nice to yourself in the process.

That inner critic is the voice of fear–reminding us that we’ll never be good enough, at even small things, let alone the big ones. But if we can turn that fear into love, our inner critic can become our coach.

The next time you find your inner critic giving you a mental bashing, think about how you would talk to your child or your best friend. Then take that loving, nurturing, assuring voice and use it on yourself–turning your inner critic into your supportive coach.

When we tune into our inner coach, we set ourselves, and our brains, up to create winning strategies. We build our own confidence and set out on a path of successful action. Quiet the critic and let the coach take over the game.

For more with us, tune into this week’s episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Let’s be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

KS & MFB

Do others have low expectations of you? Worse, do you have low expectations of yourself?

This week's guest is Philly native and cheesesteak god, Derrick Hayes! Derrick grew up in West Philly, a tough part of the city, and knew that the world expected little of him. But Derrick was determined to fulfill his dreams and rise above others' expectations, and oh my, has he!

Tune in and hear how Derrick combines determination, faith and trust and to take action and Rise with Resilience, building his highly successful, award winning business while serving his community through Big Dave's Cheesesteaks, named in honor of his father. Big Dave's Cheesesteaks, located in Georgia, often sports lines wrapped around the downtown venue with customers yearning for a taste of Philly. During COVID, the restaurant gave out free meals to health care heroes and went as far as distributing face masks and other medical supplies to neighboring hospitals in the area.

You can rise above low expectations and live a Brilliantly Resilient life, too! Listen and hear how Derrick uncovers his life's purpose to make a brilliant impact on the world.

XO,

KS & MFB

Vincent James and Joann Pierdomenico are not only role models for living Brilliantly Resilient, they are showing the world how music is a universal tool of resilience. We all can attest to the brilliance that music unleashes. These founders of Kids Music Day and Keep Music Alive as well as authors of 88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life went from never heard of and getting no after no after no for their ideas... to hanging out with Jack Canfield (the brilliant founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul mega hits) Julie Andrews, Richie Sambora, and more incredible A-listers. This episode is packed with inspiration and take-a-ways that YOU can put into practice on your own journey to living Brilliantly Resilient! Learn more about Vincent & Joann at https://www.keepmusicalive.org. Join the Brilliantly Resilient Community on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/groups/BrilliantlyResilient.