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Brilliant Balance: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Cherylanne Skolnicki
You deserve a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it. The Brilliant Balance Podcast helps women in leadership design their next chapter for sustainable success—without burnout. Every week, host Cherylanne Skolnicki, a leading expert in work-life balance, leadership growth, and mindset coaching, shares ideas, inspiration, and insights to help high-achieving women align their ambition with personal fulfillment. Through conversations on leadership mindset, time management, and personal growth, you'll gain the tools to thrive in both your career and personal life. Whether you're considering a career pivot or craving more time for your personal life, you might find yourself asking: How do I advance my career—without working 24/7? Can I achieve my goals while still having time for my family? How do I stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling in control? What's next for me—and how do I design it intentionally? If you've ever wondered how to fulfill your potential without breaking your life, this podcast is for you. In addition to sharing her own insights, Cherylanne sits down with experts, thought leaders, and ambitious women who reveal their strategies for burnout recovery, productivity for women, and redefining success on their terms. You'll love the Brilliant Balance Podcast if you like podcasts like: Unlocking Us or Dare to Lead with Brene Brown, Women at Work by Harvard Business Review, The Midlife with Reshma Saujani, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, The Mel Robbins Podcast, HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
Latest Episodes
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- Today27 min
The Good Mother Rulebook Nobody Published but Everyone Follows
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
- 1 weeks ago29 min
They're Not Oblivious. The System Just Lives in Your Head.
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
- 2 weeks ago23 min
The All-Or-Nothing Trap
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
- 3 weeks ago32 min
What Happens When You Stop Doing Everything Yourself
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
- 4 weeks ago21 min
What If You Let Them Take the Wheel?
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
- May 12, 202623 min
What Conversation Do You Need to Have?
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
- May 5, 202624 min
The Hidden Costs of Drive
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
- Apr 28, 202631 min
Why Highly Competent Women Still Feel Overwhelmed (And What I Built to Help)
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
About Brilliant Balance
You deserve a big, full life and the freedom to enjoy it. The Brilliant Balance Podcast helps women in leadership design their next chapter for sustainable success—without burnout. Every week, host Cherylanne Skolnicki, a leading expert in work-life balance, leadership growth, and mindset coaching, shares ideas, inspiration, and insights to help high-achieving women align their ambition with personal fulfillment. Through conversations on leadership mindset, time management, and personal growth, you'll gain the tools to thrive in both your career and personal life. Whether you're considering a career pivot or craving more time for your personal life, you might find yourself asking: How do I advance my career—without working 24/7? Can I achieve my goals while still having time for my family? How do I stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling in control? What's next for me—and how do I design it intentionally? If you've ever wondered how to fulfill your potential without breaking your life, this podcast is for you. In addition to sharing her own insights, Cherylanne sits down with experts, thought leaders, and ambitious women who reveal their strategies for burnout recovery, productivity for women, and redefining success on their terms. You'll love the Brilliant Balance Podcast if you like podcasts like: Unlocking Us or Dare to Lead with Brene Brown, Women at Work by Harvard Business Review, The Midlife with Reshma Saujani, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, The Mel Robbins Podcast, HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
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