Brilliantly Resilient

Understand what the situation needs and bring the tigers. There's too much emphasis placed on being the lone wolf. ~ Steven Rudolph We Americans love our independence. It's kind of our thing, going all the way back to our founding as a country. There's something about individual success that's empowering. Saying "I did it–all by myself!" makes us feel strong. It can also make us feel lonely. And contrary to what we may think, taking on challenges as a "lone wolf," in the words of our friend Steven Rudolph, doesn't always give us the best results. Steven Rudolph believes in tigers. Not only the big cats, but the tigers we all have inside of us. Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we see our tigers as our Brilliance. And Brilliance is meant to be shared. As Steven reminds us, when we bring our tigers, or Brilliance, and encourage others to do the same, we discover better solutions to challenges and build better teams, as everyone brings their best selves to each situation. Our tigers are our strengths, and combined with the strengths of others–our tribe–we are more productive, successful and stronger. We're all just better. Tune in for more of Steven's Brilliance on this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, KS & MFB

The Surgeon General has pointed to a loneliness epidemic. Losing your support group is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. We have to invest in our relationships. ~ Julie Schechter How many Facebook friends do you have? How about Instagram followers? What's your count of LinkedIn connections? Isn't it amazing to have so many friends? If you're on social media, odds are you have thousands of "friends." But how many of those are people whom you really know, and who know you? Even with so many connections, we can still feel isolated and alone. Our real relationships often get lost in the shuffle as we forget birthdays, anniversaries, or even making a phone call (???!!!) to let someone know we're thinking of them. Julie Schechter reminds us that our relationships are the most important parts of our lives, impacting both our mental and physical health. The former ballet dancer and lawyer wants to help us reconnect with those we care about through her company Small Packages. Julie began her values-based business after realizing that she herself was missing out on her relationships, and admitting that she needed a way to let those she cared about know she was thinking of them. By building a business with intention (97% of Julie's products come from small suppliers), Julie encourages people to send small gift packages (pre-packaged or personally chosen) to loved ones as a tangible reminder that we care–especially appreciated in our electronic world. Here at Brilliantly Resilient, we know the value of a tribe. Be sure to nurture your relationships, both personal and professional, and show appreciation for the "real" people in your life. Tune in to learn more about Julie here, and be sure to learn more on this week's podcast! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, KS & MFB