When Being Liked Becomes a Limiter
Brilliant Balance
Are you ready to reevaluate how much being liked really matters? In this episode, I’m talking about the surprising, powerful, and sometimes uncomfortable truth that seeking approval can actually keep us from reaching our full potential. I’ll explain how the need to be liked is a fuel woven into our early lives and careers, but then becomes a constraint as we step into midlife and leadership roles. I’ll show you why we need to trade our need for approval for clarity, courage, and the kind of power that inspires true leadership—the power of shifting focus from managing perceptions to...
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Carrying the Family: The Burden & Blessing of Daughtering with Dr. Allison Alford
Brilliant Balance
Today, I’m joined by communication scholar and Baylor professor Dr. Allison Alford to shine a light on a topic that speaks directly to the heart of so many women—the often unseen work of “daughtering.” If you’re the steady anchor of your family, the go-to for remembering birthdays, managing sibling dynamics, and smoothing over tensions before anyone else even notices, this conversation is for you! Dr. Alford is the author of Good Daughtering and brings wisdom, empathy, and refreshing clarity to the subtle yet significant roles that many professional women carry as adult daughters,...
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Decide Like the Woman You’re Becoming
Brilliant Balance
If you’re like me, you know you aren’t the same woman you were a year or even a month ago. In this episode, I’m inviting you to make a powerful shift—to make decisions like the woman you're becoming, not the one you’re outgrowing. I’ll talk about how easy it is to default to comfort zones, old identities, or the opinions of others, the pitfalls of letting those steer our lives, and why that keeps us playing small. Let’s explore how tapping into the insight, courage, and vision of our future selves can lead us to choices that have the power to excite, stretch, and fulfill us. This...
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Success Looks Different in Every Season—Cherylanne Is Interviewed by Molly Asplin
Brilliant Balance
Today, I’m handing over the host chair and letting you in on a different conversation, where I’m the one answering the questions! In this episode, which I’m re-airing after we recorded it for her show, Molly Asplin interviews me about the story behind Brilliant Balance, my leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and why our personal definitions of success matter more than any universal standard. We talk about the seasons of our lives, the messy reality behind the highlight reels, and how giving ourselves permission to embrace the “now” can change everything. If you’ve ever...
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You vs. You: Why Inner Conflict Makes Everything Harder with Dana Bernstein
Brilliant Balance
Ever find yourself stuck in an endless loop of overthinking, self-doubt, or battling between what you want and what you “should” do? To get to the heart of this inner tug-of-war, today, I’m joined by Dana Bernstein, principal of Dare to Live Brave and author of It's the Thought that Counts: Mastering the Art of YOU vs. You. Dana is a conflict resolution coach, helping professionals in high-stakes environments like universities, government, banking, and the court system. We’re talking real-life inner conflict between ambition and self-doubt, or when your values feel like they’re...
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Don’t Miss the Life You’re Actually Living
Brilliant Balance
Ever feel like you're always racing toward the next big milestone and forgetting to savor the moments of the life you’re actually living? In this episode, I’m discussing how we can easily overlook the lives we’re truly living, continually focused on what’s next, waiting for things to settle down, missing out on the present. I’m talking about my own recent experience of this and the common patterns I see among high-achieving women: treating our current chapter as just a stepping stone, constantly planning, or having trouble letting the good moments sink in. With relatable reflections...
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When Health Optimization Becomes Another Job
Brilliant Balance
Today, I’m taking a closer look at the growing pressure so many of us feel around health optimization, especially during midlife, when simply keeping up with the latest wellness and beauty trends and advice can start to feel like another full-time job. I’m breaking down why health information and solutions constantly inundate us, and the mental and financial costs of trying to do it all, and I'm sharing practical ways to bring more ease and intention back into our daily routines. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by constantly shifting “rules” or found yourself buried in trackers,...
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The ROI of Invisible Labor: A New Lens on Women’s Leadership with Aimee Rickabus
Brilliant Balance
This week, I’m sitting down with Aimee Rickabus, powerhouse entrepreneur, author, mother of six, and CEO of Tomahawk Information Solutions, to shine a light on the invisible labor women manage every day and reveal its surprising ROI. Aimee shares her experience of managing both her business and a bustling family, and how she has built executive-level skills along the way, turning household micro decision power into strategic thinking and leadership. We discuss the idea that success shouldn’t be viewed as a relentless climb up a ladder, but more as tending to a garden, acknowledging the...
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Building habits for your hard days
Brilliant Balance
If you’re tired of seeing your good habits crumble when life gets messy, today’s episode is a must-listen. I’m revealing why our routines often fail, and it’s not because we aren’t disciplined. You’ll learn my “minimum viable dose” strategy, which makes it easy to stick with your habits even when motivation is low or your schedule is off track. I’ll show you how making small adjustments can help you keep promises to yourself, with actionable tips for building your Plan A, Plan B (and Plan C!), so you can keep moving forward even on the toughest days. Say goodbye to...
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Accountability is a forcing function
Brilliant Balance
Today, I’m looking at the idea of using accountability as a “forcing function” that can transform our cherished goals from wishful intentions into accomplished realities. If you ever wonder why our work projects always seem to get done while personal goals keep getting relegated to “someday,” this episode will hit home. I’m sharing why our personal lives lack the built-in accountability and structures that make professional commitments non-negotiable, because, get this, motivation isn’t enough. I’ll explain that with examples, insights from behavioral science, and actionable...
info_outlineI’m so happy to have workplace strategist, bestselling author, and people-connection expert Erica Keswin join me in this episode for a timely conversation about life and workplace transformations in this age of AI. How can we stay connected in our technology-reshaped realities without sacrificing the values that make us uniquely human?
Erica and I reflect on her journey as a lifelong connector, how technology has both empowered and challenged our ability to build meaningful relationships, and why intentionality is now more important than ever. She shares practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries with technology, fostering connection in hybrid and remote workplaces, and re-centering human purpose and presence in an increasingly digital era. We also discuss the anxieties around AI and job security, and why staying curious and learning about these changes (especially for women) is essential.
Whether you’re embracing new tech or feeling cautious, I hope this episode offers inspiring guidance and helps you focus on what matters most: your relationships, rituals, and sense of purpose.
Show Highlights:
- The need to rethink perpetual multi-device connectivity. [03:01]
- Consider setting daily limits to default tech use. [06:12]
- Why intentional touchpoints matter in remote and hybrid work. [10:21]
- Discover the 3 Ps of people-centered leadership. [12:59]
- Does technology empower or hinder relationships? [16:31]
- Fears and opportunities related to AI and the future of work. [22:09]
- What the data reveals about women’s disadvantage with AI. [26:25]
- The power of handwritten to-do lists. [28:24]
- Protect human uniqueness while integrating tech. [29:40]
To find Erica's work, go to www.ericakeswin.com.
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