Career and parenting advice from the Formula Fig x Andrea Barr event

Blog

Mar 12

We’ve all had those moments where life feels like a bit too much—trying to juggle career, family, personal goals, and that constant pressure to figure it all out. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why the Formula Fig x Andrea Barr event was so special. A room full of ambitious women, all navigating the same chaos, all searching for clarity and direction.

And our panelists—Taylor Aller, Lisa Michaud, and Joanna Brewster—delivered some of the most powerful, actionable insights I’ve ever heard.

If you couldn’t make it (or just want to relive the magic), here’s a little story about what we learned—and how it could change the way you lead your life and career moving forward.

The Struggle

You know that feeling when you’re trying to do it all? Career growth, being present for your family, taking care of yourself—and somehow making it all look effortless?

Most of us know it well. And yet, the more we try to do it all, the more overwhelmed we feel.

The more pressure we put on ourselves, the harder it becomes to figure out what’s actually important.

That’s exactly where Taylor, Lisa, and Joanna’s wisdom comes in.

At the event, Taylor, Lisa, and Joanna shared their own stories—the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the hard-earned lessons that helped them find more balance, freedom, and fulfillment.

And their advice followed a powerful, natural flow:

1. Let Go of What’s No Longer Serving You

First, you need to clear the clutter. Joanna Brewster reminded us that growth starts with letting go of what’s no longer serving you.

Whether it’s emotional patterns, limiting beliefs, or autopilot reactions—you can’t create space for something new if you’re holding on to old patterns.

Joanna walked us through a simple but powerful framework to help recognize and shift emotional patterns:

When I… (Feel, think, do)

Then I… (Feel, think, do)

Now consider: If you were to change one part of that pattern, how would it change what’s typical for you?

For example:

• When I feel overwhelmed, I fritz out.

• New pattern: When I feel overwhelmed, I pause, breathe, and recognize I have options.

She also shared 3 powerful questions to help shift from autopilot reaction to intentional response:

1. What am I feeling? (Self-awareness)

2. What are my options? (Self-management)

3. What do I really want? (Self-direction)

Letting go of these old patterns isn’t easy—but it’s the first step toward creating a life that feels intentional and aligned.

2. Reimagine What’s Possible

Once you’ve let go of what’s no longer serving you, the next step is figuring out what you actually want.

Lisa Michaud reminded us that the biggest barrier to success isn’t external—it’s the internal stories we tell ourselves.

We’ve all been conditioned to believe we can’t have what we want:

• “I’m not qualified enough.”

• “It’s not the right time.”

• “I’m not experienced enough.”

Lisa’s message was simple but powerful: You are not stuck. The limits you think you have? They’re not real.

Her advice? Stop playing small. Start trusting your instincts and listening to your own vision.

Ask yourself:

What would I do if I truly believed I was capable?

Once you’ve cleared the old baggage, you need to give yourself permission to dream big again.

3. Take Focused Action

It’s one thing to know what you want—it’s another thing entirely to figure out how to make it happen.

That’s where Taylor Aller stepped in.

Taylor reminded us that you can’t do everything all at once—and you don’t have to.

Her advice? Create a “Not Yet” List—a place to park ideas, goals, and projects that you know you want to tackle eventually, but not right now.

This helps you stay focused on what’s truly important while giving yourself permission to delay or delegate the rest.

Taylor also shared two guiding questions when you’re deciding what to focus on next:

• Can you do it? (Do you have the capacity and resources?)

• Should you do it? (Is this aligned with your priorities and goals?)

Taylor reminded us that progress comes from making thoughtful, strategic moves—not from trying to do it all at once.

The Transformation

Here’s the thing:

We all know life isn’t going to slow down. But we can slow down our own internal chaos.

Joanna taught us to let go of the patterns and habits that are holding us back.

Lisa showed us how to create a vision for what’s possible—without the mental chains of self-doubt.

Taylor helped us figure out how to take intentional action toward that vision without feeling overwhelmed.

That’s how you lead your life and career—not by doing it all, but by doing what matters most.

Biggest Takeaway? You’ve Got This.

You are not stuck.

You are capable.

And you don’t have to do it alone.

Let this be your reminder that you don’t need to figure it all out today—but you can take one intentional step toward the life you want.

Want More?

Catch more insights from Taylor and Lisa on the All Figured Out Podcast:

🎙️ Taylor Aller (Ep. 2: Taylor Aller on figuring out her multi-passionate career – Spotify or Apple)

🎙️ Lisa Michaud (Ep. 53: Generational wealth and real estate investing with Lisa Michaud – Spotify or Apple)

🎙️ Joanna Brester (stay tuned!)

We’ve got more events (and more conversations like this) coming soon—check them out here!

About the Speakers

Taylor Aller – Six-figure entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, and Consultant based in British Columbia. Co-Founder of The P2P SUMMIT and team member at Free to Be Talks. @tayloraller | www.TaylorAller.com

Lisa Michaud – Wealth Building Success Coach, Real Estate Investor, and Host of the Goalden Girls Podcast. Helps ambitious women design lives they love while building wealth and impact. @thelisamichaud | lisa@lisamichaud.com

Joanna Brewster – Emotional intelligence and leadership coach. Specializes in helping individuals and organizations improve self-awareness, communication, and decision-making. @heartalks_withjoannabrewster | hello@joannabrewster.com

Photography by Hannah van Zanten – Vancouver-based photographer and videographer, co-founder of J&H Creative Co. Captures life’s best moments with heart and authenticity. @hannershannahphoto | www.jandhcreativeco.com