Episode 238: How to Move from Grief to Growth, with ExpressIt Delivery Owners Andi Shaughnessy and Danielle Carter

“Respect—of each other, of our team, of the process—was everything.” Andi Shaughnessy and Danielle Carter, Co-owners of ExpressIt   What would you do if you were suddenly in charge of running a business, despite having no experience doing so? Andi Shaughnessy and Danielle Carter were not business women--not by a long shot. But their father had built a business that they respected, and which they were handed after his untimely passing. After the death of their father, Andi and Danielle found their focus shifted in ways they weren't expecting. Grief clarified their priorities and deepened their commitment to continuing their father's legacy, and building something that reflected their, and his, values.  Neither of the sisters began with business plans, MBAs, or corporate blueprints. They started with a dedication to their father's work, a shared vision, and a willingness to move forward before they felt ready. Though they had no experience running a company, they chose imperfect action over paralysis--a Brilliantly Resilient strategy that involves examining what you can control, trusting your transferable skills, and taking the next step even when the path isn’t fully visible. Andi and Danielle leaned into faith and trust—not just in the process, but in the people around them. They respected expertise where they didn’t have it, brought in the right support, and built their business collaboratively rather than defensively, building a complementary tribe that worked with their personal skill sets. Resilience isn’t white-knuckled independence; it’s knowing when to ask for help and honoring the strengths others bring to the table. Andi and Danielle offer a powerful example of perception shaping possibility. Instead of seeing “We’ve never done this before” as a stop sign, they reframed it as a starting line, focusing on progress, not perfection. Adapting, trusting and evolving, they they revealed their brilliance—not because they had certainty, but because they had courage. Learn more about Andi and Danielle's journey, and about ExpressIt here. Follow them on Instagram on @unlikelybosses Tune in to this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of the sisters' wisdom, and be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance: “We had never run a business before. Not even close.” “We didn’t know what we didn’t know—but we knew we could figure it out." "We just kept taking the next right step.” “If someone knew more than we did, we listened.” “We had to trust the people we brought in to help us.” “It wasn’t about ego. It was about building something that worked.” “There were moments we thought, ‘What are we doing?’ But we kept going.” “Faith played a huge role. We believed it would unfold.” “Respect—of each other, of our team, of the process—was everything.”   Thank you, Andi and Danielle, for sharing your Brilliantly Resilient journey.  Let's all be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO,  Mary Fran