Episode #374 – The best advice I gave (and took) in 2024

This is episode 374 of the Brilliant Balance podcast. Today, I’m sharing some of the best advice I gave and took in 2024. You know how you can give brilliant advice when a friend asks for it, but then totally ignore that same advice when it applies to you? This is where we find ourselves saying, “Do as I say, not as I do,” because we are not always great at taking our own advice. I definitely had a few of those moments this year where I heard myself giving advice to someone in the BOLD community, in coaching sessions, over a DM, or even within my own family, and then realized I wasn’t taking my own advice.

I’ve also had times where I did take my own advice. The very same things I shared with members of our BOLD community were lessons I had already learned and applied personally. As we wrap up this year, I thought it might be fun to look back at some of the best pieces of advice I shared—whether at retreats, in coaching sessions, or on the podcast—and reflect on how they stuck with me in surprising ways.

These lessons span personal growth, leadership, work-life balance, parenting, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and grappling with perfectionism. These themes often come up in the Brilliant Balance community. Looking at this collective of women—whether podcast listeners, members of the Facebook group, or our paid client community—I notice common challenges where I’m asked to provide perspective. I want to share five pieces of advice that I both gave and took this year.

The first piece of advice is one I’m always sharing: “Done beats perfect.” We often let perfect be the enemy of the good. It’s infuriating to watch myself do this—and equally frustrating to see clients do it—because the potential is right there, but they’re stuck at the starting line or in the messy middle, unable to finish. I constantly emphasize the power of taking imperfect action.

When I first started talking about this concept, it was eye-opening for many women in the coaching community. For some, the idea of doing something less than perfectly seemed like heresy. They were conditioned to believe that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Many of the women I work with have received accolades for their achievements, and this deeply ingrained perfectionism can make it hard to start—or finish—projects unless the conditions are perfect.

Personally, I’ve become a champion of the “messy first draft.” Inspired by Brene Brown’s take on this concept, I’ve made it a habit to just get something down on paper. Often, I find it’s already good enough and doesn’t require much revision. This practice has been especially helpful with the podcast, which requires weekly discipline to produce new episodes. Starting creates momentum, and momentum leads to growth. So, the takeaway here is: imperfect action is a powerful momentum builder.

The second piece of advice is: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” I work with incredibly talented women who are often overwhelmed with opportunities. They fear that saying no might mean missing out or losing future chances. I encourage clients to protect their time and energy by being decisive about what aligns with their vision and values.

This year, I had to take my own advice when a lucrative speaking engagement came my way. The event required significant custom content that didn’t align with the Brilliant Balance brand or my personal goals. Saying no created space for more aligned opportunities. Every no creates space for a better yes. Trusting ourselves to make these decisions is vital, even when it’s uncomfortable.

The third piece of advice is to get quiet. In a world that celebrates constant busyness, carving out quiet time can feel like an act of rebellion. However, the classroom of silence, as Matthew Kelly calls it, holds incredible wisdom. This year, I embraced practices like morning journaling, solo walks without distractions, and beginner meditation. These quiet moments allowed me to reflect, reset, and access clarity. When life is noisy and demanding, quiet time creates space for profound insights.

The fourth piece of advice is to embrace resistance. Reflecting on Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, I’ve learned that resistance often signals that something is worth doing. However, it’s crucial to discern between resistance that stems from fear of meaningful growth and resistance that indicates we’re off track. For example, my company made a significant pivot this year to focus entirely on BOLD. While it brought up fear and doubt, I knew it was the right move, and pushing through that resistance led to momentum and progress.

The fifth and final piece of advice is to celebrate milestones. I’ve historically been bad at this, always focusing on “what’s next.” However, I’ve come to understand the importance of pausing to honor achievements, big or small. This year, I celebrated milestones like crossing the 15-year mark as an entrepreneur, reaching over a million podcast downloads, and personal family milestones. Celebrating reminds us of how far we’ve come and keeps us motivated.

As we close out this year, I invite you to reflect on your own year. What’s the best advice you gave? What’s the best advice you took? I’d love to hear your stories—send me a DM on Instagram or reply to our weekly email. Let’s carry these lessons into the new year and continue building big, full lives that feel as good as they look.

That’s all for today, my friends. Till next time, let’s be brilliant.