New Year’s resolutions feel productive, but most of them collapse by February. In this episode, we break down more durable alternatives, such as building a personal five-year plan and revisiting it quarterly, instead of chasing short-term motivation. We talk through how long-range thinking creates better decisions, clearer priorities, and more realistic progress.

We also explore the value of committing to learning one new skill each year—not as a hobby checklist, but as a way to keep your brain adaptable, curious, and relevant over time. This episode is about trading performative goal-setting for systems that actually work. If you’re tired of resetting goals every January, this episode gives you a framework that actually lasts.

“Be yourself.” We’ve all heard it, and most of us have said it. But let’s be honest: it’s vague, unhelpful, and often a cop-out masquerading as support. In this episode, we break down why this popular phrase fails the people who need real guidance and why it can actively stunt growth when someone is asking for clarity or confidence.

We share personal stories of receiving this advice, the moments we’ve unintentionally given it, and what was actually needed in those situations. Then we get practical:

• How to replace “be yourself” with coaching that actually moves someone forward

• How to ask clarifying questions that surface real strengths and blind spots

• How to push past generic encouragement and give feedback people can use tomorrow

• What to do when you are the one hearing “just be yourself” before a big moment

If you want to support people with more intention, or you’re tired of getting vague advice when you need something actionable, this episode gives you the tools and language to do better.

Forget the gimmicks and get real about resumes. Allie breaks down common resume myths and shares insider tips from 17+ years of coaching professionals through interviews, career pivots, and job searches. Learn why starting from scratch is better than using a generic template, how to use AI wisely without losing your voice, and what actually catches a recruiter’s eye in those first 6 seconds. Whether you’re re-entering the job market or just giving your resume a tune-up, this episode will help you hit refresh with confidence—and a little humor.