Written by Danielle Van de Velde, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium, and Author Dani Van de Velde is a passionate advocate for living a spiritually aligned life in the modern world. She is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and author of Spirited. She is the founder of Spirited Living and Spirited Business online communities, a broadcaster on News for the Soul Radio, and host of The Modern Crone podcast. We are at the halfway point in The Mind & Magic of Manifesting, my annual program within the Spirited Living Community. The process combines psychology, personal responsibility, and magic, and something fascinating is unfolding. The changes people are experiencing have a less apparent connection to the goals they set at the beginning and a stronger connection to deep personal transformation. Some are releasing beliefs they have carried for decades. Others are finding themselves unexpectedly uncomfortable as old identities begin to fall away. Several have realised they were aiming too small. Many have stopped trying to force a particular relationship, outcome, or opportunity and have instead become curious about what might be possible beyond the narrow vision they originally held. A few have stumbled across books, mentors, opportunities, or pieces of guidance that seem to have appeared at exactly the right moment. Almost all of them are reporting an increase in synchronicities. Yet, if you asked them whether their manifestation had arrived, some would have clear evidence, and many would still say, “Not yet.” I would argue that it is absolutely happening. We expect the wrong evidence When people begin consciously working with manifestation, they often seek immediate external proof. The new job. The relationship. The money. The opportunity. The contract. The thing itself. But manifestation is rarely an isolated event. It is a process. Before our external world can change, things within us must change first. The person who can sustainably hold the relationship may be different from the person seeking it today. The person capable of leading the business, writing the book, earning the income, or stepping into the purpose may need to grow into that version of themselves. Having facilitated this program for over a decade, and through my own manifestation work, I have seen that, in many cases, the manifestation begins long before the evidence arrives. The expansion before the arrival One of the most common experiences I see is expansion. Someone joins the Mind & Magic of Manifesting hoping to attract a specific outcome. Then, somewhere along the journey, they realise the outcome itself was too small. What they truly desire is bigger. More aligned. More authentic. The goal changes because they change. What once felt impossible begins to feel attainable. What once felt ambitious begins to feel normal. Their capacity expands. This is manifestation in action. Discomfort is often a sign of growth Another misconception is that manifestation should feel exciting, easy, and uplifting all the time. In reality, growth is often uncomfortable. Why? Because the beliefs, habits, and fears that have shaped our lives do not disappear quietly. Because we build the story of our identity from them. When we begin questioning long held assumptions about our worth, our potential, our relationships, or what we are capable of creating, friction naturally arises. We are stepping beyond the familiar. That discomfort is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. Quite often, it is evidence that something is changing. We consistently see this pattern in nature. The caterpillar does not become a butterfly without completely reorganising itself. The atmosphere cannot change without a storm first. The seed’s hard shell must crack for the root to emerge. Humans are no different. The Anima Mundi loves a rhyme Ancient traditions spoke of the Anima Mundi, the World Soul, a living intelligence woven through all things. Whether we call it Spirit, God, Source, Nature, Consciousness, or simply Life itself, many mystical traditions share a common understanding that the world is not inert. It is participatory. There is a conversation taking place between our inner world and the greater field around us. One of my favourite ways to describe manifestation is that the Anima Mundi loves a rhyme. When we carry old stories of unworthiness, limitation, scarcity, or fear, life often echoes those assumptions back to us. We unconsciously seek evidence that confirms what we already believe. As we begin releasing those stories, something shifts. Our frequency changes. Our expectations change. Our willingness changes. Our capacity to receive changes. And life begins to rhyme with that new state of being. Many of the ancient mystery traditions taught that the outer world reflects the inner world. The Hermetic axiom, “As within, so without,” suggests that what unfolds in our lives is often preceded by a shift in consciousness. Before circumstances change, perception shifts. Before opportunities arrive, possibility expands. Before we receive something new, we often become someone new. This is why manifestation is not simply about getting what we want. It is about becoming energetically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually aligned with what we seek. It is then that a new opportunity appears; a chance meeting occurs; a long hidden pathway reveals itself; a teacher, book, conversation, or invitation arrives at precisely the right moment. The inner world changes first. The outer world follows. From a magical perspective, these moments are not random events. They are correspondences. Reflections. Rhymes between the inner and outer worlds. The manifestation is not simply arriving to us. The manifestation is responding to who we are becoming, and the world can only rhyme with the song we are actually singing, not the one we merely wish to hear. The wisdom of keeping silent One of the oldest pieces of magical advice is surprisingly simple: keep silent. In a culture that encourages us to announce every goal, post every milestone, and broadcast every intention, this can seem strange. Yet many magical traditions teach that there is a period during manifestation when the energy is still forming. Like a seed beneath the soil, it is alive but not yet visible. When we share too widely and too soon, we can unintentionally dissipate energy. We invite doubt, projection, opinion, and scrutiny into something that is still taking shape. Many share their rituals and spells on social media. This is a red flag for me; it signals performative magic rather than a true understanding of manifestation magic. There is a sacredness in tending something privately until it develops enough strength to emerge into the world on its own. Nature does not announce the sprouting seed. Magic requires participation One of the biggest misconceptions about manifestation is that it is passive. Set an intention. Light a candle. Create a vision board. Say an affirmation. Then wait. Yet genuine magical traditions have never taught passivity. They teach participation. Magic is not about convincing the universe to deliver something to our doorstep while we remain unchanged. It is about entering into a conscious relationship with creation itself. Every intention asks something of us. A new relationship may require greater self worth, clearer boundaries, or deeper vulnerability. A thriving business may require courage, visibility, consistency, and the willingness to be seen. A healthier body may require different habits and choices. A more meaningful life may require difficult conversations and bold decisions. This is why manifestation work is ultimately a path of personal responsibility. We begin recognising that our beliefs, choices, actions, expectations, and responses all contribute to the reality we experience. We stop waiting for life to happen to us and begin participating in its creation. In this sense, magic is not an escape from reality, but a deeper engagement with it. The spell, ritual, prayer, intention, or visualisation is only the beginning. The real magic unfolds in the choices we make afterwards. Every aligned action becomes a vote for the future we are creating. Detached anticipation Perhaps the greatest manifestation skill is learning to hold certainty in the absence of evidence, a certainty that movement is occurring. This requires a delicate balance that I call “detached anticipation.” There is desire, but not grasping. Hope, but not desperation. Expectation, but not force. The ancient Hermetic teachings described the Law of Rhythm, the understanding that everything unfolds in cycles, seasons, tides, and timing. We do not dig up a seed each day to check whether it is growing. We trust the process unfolding beneath the surface. Manifestation asks the same of us. Can we remain available to possibility before proof arrives? Can we continue tending our inner world when the outer world has not yet caught up? Can we trust that the rhythm of life may be preparing conditions we cannot yet see? Often, the most magical thing we can do is remain steady while reality reorganises itself around a new frequency. The evidence arrives. The practice is learning to hold the vibration before it does. The magic has already begun Perhaps this is why the first sign a manifestation is working is rarely the thing itself. It is the new thought. The expanded possibility. The released fear. The unexpected synchronicity. The courageous conversation. The growing certainty. The quiet decision to stop living as the person you have been and to start becoming the person your future is calling you to be. The first manifestation is not the thing itself. The first manifestation is the version of you who can hold it. If you are interested in learning more about the Hermetic principles mentioned in this article, you can find a lovely, accessible, and practical audio lesson in the Spirited Living store. And if joining a magically minded community calls to you, Spirited Living is here for you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Danielle Van de Velde Danielle Van de Velde, Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master, Psychic Medium, and Author Dani Van de Velde is a meditation teacher, Reiki Master, psychic medium, and author of Spirited. She is the founder of the Spirited Living and Spirited Business communities, supporting spiritually aligned growth and conscious leadership. Dani is a broadcaster on News for the Soul Radio and host of The Modern Crone podcast, exploring modern spirituality and embodied wisdom. Her work bridges intuition and everyday life, offering grounded, accessible pathways to self-trust and inner clarity. She is known for a warm, practical approach that honours both the mystical and the real.

Written by Sandro Endler, Business Finance Specialist Sandro Endler is an experienced finance professional with over 30 years of expertise in business finance and strategy. He is the author of FACE IT! Mastering Business Finance and holds advanced degrees in finance and economics from renowned universities. Many business owners spend years building their companies, but very little time preparing for the day they will eventually leave them. That day may come through a sale, succession, family transition, management buyout, partnership change, or an unexpected event. The question is not whether the owner will exit. The question is whether the business will be ready when that moment arrives. Exit readiness is not only about selling a business. It is about building a company that is valuable, transferable, and less dependent on the owner. According to the 2023 National State of Owner Readiness Report, 75% of business owners would like to exit their business within the next 10 years. That means exit readiness is not a distant topic. It is a strategic priority for today. 1. Exit planning begins before the exit Many owners believe exit planning starts when they are ready to sell. In reality, that is often too late. A strong exit requires preparation years before a transaction. Financial statements must be reliable. Operations must be documented. The management team must be capable. Customers, employees, contracts, and systems must be transferable. A business that is not prepared may still attract interest, but buyers will quickly identify weaknesses during due diligence. Those weaknesses can reduce value, create delays, increase seller financing, or cause the deal to fail. Exit readiness gives the owner time to correct problems before the market exposes them. 2. Profitability is important, but it is not enough A profitable company is not automatically a transferable company. Many businesses generate income because the owner is heavily involved in daily operations, customer relationships, pricing, sales, problem solving, and decision making. That may work while the owner is active, but it creates risk for a buyer. Buyers do not only evaluate past income. They evaluate the probability that the business will continue to generate cash flow after the owner leaves. This is why owner dependence can reduce value. If the business cannot operate without the owner, the buyer is not only buying a company. The buyer is buying risk. 3. Valuation is the starting point Business owners often have an idea of what their company is worth. Sometimes, that number is based on industry rules of thumb, conversations with peers, emotional attachment, or the amount the owner needs for retirement. But value is not based on what the owner wants. Value is based on risk, cash flow, market conditions, and transferability. A valuation helps the owner understand where the business stands today. More importantly, it identifies what is driving or reducing value. A valuation can reveal issues such as customer concentration, weak margins, inconsistent financial records, lack of management depth, low recurring revenue, or excessive dependence on the owner. For this reason, valuation should not be seen only as a transaction tool. It should be used as a strategic planning tool. The path to a better exit starts with understanding the current value of the business. 4. Exit readiness requires a value gap analysis Once the owner understands the value of the business, the next question is simple, "Is it enough?" Many business owners need the proceeds from the business to support their lifestyle after exit. If the current value of the company is lower than what the owner needs, there is a value gap. That gap cannot be solved at the closing table. It must be addressed through planning, value enhancement, financial strategy, and time. A value gap analysis connects three important questions, What is the business worth today? What does the owner need financially after exit? What must improve to close the gap? Without this clarity, an owner may build the business for years and still discover too late that the company cannot support the desired transition. 5. The business must be ready for the buyer’s perspective Owners often view their business from the inside. Buyers view it from the outside. The owner may see history, effort, relationships, and potential. The buyer sees risk, cash flow, documentation, leadership, systems, and return on investment. This difference matters. A business is more attractive when it can prove that value is transferable. That proof may include clean financial statements, recurring revenue, strong margins, documented processes, diversified customers, capable management, and reduced legal or operational risk. Exit readiness is about preparing the business to stand up to outside scrutiny. 6. Exit readiness is good business strategy The benefit of exit readiness is not limited to selling the company. A business that is exit ready is usually better managed. It has stronger controls, better information, less owner dependence, clearer strategy, and more disciplined financial performance. Even if the owner decides not to sell, the business becomes healthier and more valuable. Exit readiness creates options. The owner may sell, transition internally, bring in partners, reduce involvement, or keep the business while building wealth outside the company. The purpose is not to force an exit. The purpose is to create freedom of choice. Final thought A successful exit is rarely created when the buyer appears. It is built through years of preparation, discipline, valuation, and strategic decisions. Business owners should not wait until they are ready to leave to begin preparing the company. The best time to build an exit ready business is while there is still time to increase value, reduce risk, and create options. Exit readiness is not the end of the business journey. It is the strategy that protects everything the owner has built. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sandro Endler Sandro Endler, Business Finance Specialist Sandro Endler is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA®) and Senior Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine. He specializes in business valuation, capital readiness, and financial strategy, helping owners translate entrepreneurial ambition into institutional confidence.

Lorie Parmalee, MS, MT-BC, LCAT, is a Music Therapist working in the Capital District of New York State, United States. Lorie ran into the transformative power of music as a child in both playing to cope in isolation and playing flute for her grandfather in the nursing home (hearing a shout down the hall from her grandfather's room, "Whoever is playing, keep playing! It's the calmest she's been all day!"). Lorie grew to want to bring that healing power to others with as many of the arts as possible, supporting both the Music Therapy community in helping found the State Association, as well as her own nonprofit "Life Music Lessons and Therapy Inc." Lorie Parmalee, Music Therapist, Business Owner & Founding Member What first showed you that music could be a tool for healing, not just performance? I had several opportunities when I was a child to see this, but one of the ones that stands out the most was when I was around 10 years old, visiting my Grandfather while he was in a nursing home near Lansing, Michigan. I played flute for school, and had brought it to the nursing home to play for my Grandfather, who had been in the nursing home after suffering a stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body and nonverbal. You could still hear his laugh, though, and though it was not much, I still wanted to share something with my Grandfather. I was playing my flute for him in his room for several minutes when I stopped briefly for a moment. From down the hall, a nurse or staff member shouted, “Whoever is playing that flute, don’t stop playing! This is the calmest she [another resident] has been all day!” I was apparently unknowingly providing a calming effect to a resident I did not even know, up to several rooms down. As far as I could tell, my Grandfather enjoyed the music too. What misconceptions about music therapy do you find yourself correcting most often? The question my colleagues and I get asked all the time is “What is music therapy?” For that, we usually quote the American Music Therapy Association’s standard definition, which is also posted on their website. In short, it includes a certified professional who uses music to work on individualized client goals and objectives. In layman’s terms, we use music adapted to each person’s needs to promote health. The next biggest misconception I run into is that music therapists are just musicians. “It’s the music lady,” or “it’s music time,” is not inaccurate, but I have also been around coworkers and even supervisors who did not differentiate what we do from entertainment. “Can you just come in and play some guitar?” “No, I do not need your session notes. Why are you bothering to teach them addition anyway?” It has certainly been a learning curve for me to realize just how much we as music therapists really need to advocate and educate our profession to other professionals. How do you balance the clinical side of music therapy with the emotional and creative side of the work? Both are essential for the work that we do. Without one or the other, we are either therapists only or musicians only. The core identity of a “music therapist” uses both, but which focus is more important is currently still a large debate in our field. The phrases used are “music as therapy” and “music in therapy”, the first of these focuses on music itself as the healing factor, whereas the second perspective focuses on therapy (the client-therapist relationship) as the healing factor while using music. The debate is ongoing. In our training specifically, we are trained as clinicians, trained observers, followers of the scientific method, and to have a strong focus on evidence-based therapy. That is seen as the best way forward to give both legitimacy to our field and to show its effectiveness in comparison to more established professions like psychiatry or psychology. At the same time, evidence shows we are most effective when we use “client-preferred” music, which, alongside client-centered treatment, requires frequent creative thinking to utilize client-preferred songs in standard interventions or techniques. Honestly, the creativity to make interventions fun, personalized, and effective is my favorite part of the job. Why do you think alternative therapies like music therapy are becoming more important in today’s culture? I think people are growing more aware since communication technologies like social media and the internet have made stories of alternative healing modalities more accessible. At the same time, alternative therapies have been growing as professions themselves and are showing increased evidence of their effectiveness. For music therapy in the United States, this occurred largely after World War II, as it was shown to be effective in treating veterans coming home with PTSD. Music therapy is showing significant evidence-based research now, but Art therapy and the other creative arts are following right behind it. As the fields grow together, public awareness increases as well. However, I have not yet answered your question. Why are these therapies increasing in importance? The arts have held a strong importance to human cultures across the world for thousands of years. In my opinion, not only does it provide a return to our roots in an increasingly chaotic world, but at least in the context of the United States, it also provides a form of societal remembrance that, despite the pharmaceutical industry’s push for standardized drugs for all, other forms of health care exist and potentially can be just as effective. What does music offer people emotionally that traditional wellness approaches sometimes miss? Motivation. Exercise can be difficult, but add a song with a strong beat, and now you have a structure to support your movements as well as your emotional resilience by adding some joy to your ongoing effort. Also, emotional regulation through communication. In my training and experience, most aggressive behaviors occurred when communication (verbal, signing, etc.) failed. Maybe you are nonverbal, dealing with a developmental disability, but the heavy metal music the therapist just put on says the words for you and helps you get out the energy in a productive way, so play those drums! These are just a couple of the ways that “music speaks when words fail,” to quote Hans Christian Andersen, as many of my colleagues do. Pain regulation (if I can count it here through its emotional, subjective aspect) is another. Sometimes pain medications are unavailable to certain patients due to drug allergies or other drug interactions, and yet music has been shown to be just as effective in regulating pain (see burn victim research and music therapy). In short, music specifically can fill the gap of motivation, communication, emotional validation, and emotional coping and regulation that traditional approaches can fail to reach. What are some of the most powerful changes you’ve witnessed through music therapy sessions? I have been blessed to experience some amazing moments myself working in the field, far more than I can share briefly here, but I’ll try. First, as a therapist, I had a client with Lewy Body Dementia. She had been a music teacher herself and loved to sing. She became nonverbal, but during our sessions, she would sing along again as if nothing had changed. For a few brief moments, she would engage in casual conversation again. Those moments were miracles of returned cognitive capacity that could be shared with her caregiver and family, they had their mother and friend again, even if just for a brief amount of time. She showed me that what seems impossible through traditional treatment is possible with music. Secondly, I have a client who is legally blind and suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, especially in her hands. We use playing piano to help work on her mobility, range of motion, and to reduce stiffness and/or pain. She plays by ear, hearing what I play or what we listen to together from recordings. She has since played and written her own pieces, including an arrangement performed at her Temple service in her community. How do you create a sense of meaningful human connection through music, especially in group settings? To start, shared musical preferences and experiences help to build a sense of camaraderie and validation. Our first and last session song typically puts the client’s name as lyrics in a song, usually to build self-esteem and confidence, build rapport, increase social skills, etc. However, it also has the effect of saying “I see you, you are important!” It is a source of unconditional acceptance that a client may not find anywhere else. Then there is improvisation (creating something on the spot) in either singing, instrument playing, or dance, where each client can add their own self-expression to the group and build off of each other in a place of acceptance and support. In some of those songs, you can palpably feel the emotions of the group blending with the music that can almost be described as spiritual, and we are directing that work to the best of our ability to promote healing. We can create tribute songs and remembrance for those who have been lost, provide acceptance where there was rejection, train focus in relaxation techniques instead of self-judgment and daily stress. We use music and connection to relate, discuss, and support these issues in therapy. You often describe music as communication. What does that idea personally mean to you? As referenced above, starting from promoting emotional regulation to social connection without even needing direct words to do so, music therapy can also directly treat issues with communication. This includes working with clients who are nonverbal, have a limited vocabulary, have issues with pronunciation, or those dealing with a loss of skills due to dementia, or those who may be on the autistic spectrum and need help understanding social cues (like body language). Specifically in African music, there exists a concept of “call and response,” which we utilize to help teach language skills, such as “talking” back and forth with music. Singing lyrics can help smooth out articulation or pronunciation and teach accurate mouth formations of speech. Song-writing interventions leave blanks with well-known lyrics that can help prompt single-word responses in order to complete a loved song. Lastly, as I showed with my own direct experience, singing lyrics with patients who have dementia can help form new neurological pathways for memory, both for everyday speech, and that can connect to long-term memory at the same time. These are just some of the ways music therapy can help! If someone has never experienced music therapy before, what would you want them to understand after reading this interview? To quote one of my close colleagues and President of the New York State Association of Music Therapy, Kim Best (and this also happens to be the name of her business), “Music Can Help!” Creative and alternative health therapies are worth looking into, both for their potential to work alongside traditional medicine and for their ability to help in ways where traditional medicine fails. They help us connect back to our roots, our passions, our culture, and our traditional healing beliefs in a world that is increasingly materialistic and profit-motivated. This is the way back, and forward, to give the best out of life to the people that we serve. Check out a music therapist, an art therapist, a drama therapist, or an equestrian therapy program near you, and see if it can help alongside traditional medicine! I am not saying to discard modern medicine in any way, but work alongside your current care providers while exploring and being open-minded to the opportunities that the alternative health therapies can provide. Follow the research, give them a try, and see for yourself how they can improve our lives. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lorie Parmalee

Written by Genna Barbara Zimmel, Founder of Torus Solutions Genna Barbara Zimmel is an AI implementation strategist, Technical PM, and founder of Torus Solutions. It is a company building intelligent AI systems, CRM automation, and conversational AI products. She is also the creator of Sibyl, an AI companion designed to enhance human self-understanding and relationships. As organizations race to embrace artificial intelligence, the biggest risk is no longer falling behind on technology but failing to implement it with clarity, purpose, and strategy. The businesses that thrive in the years ahead will not be the ones with access to the most powerful AI models, they will be the ones that build the most effective systems around them. The implementation gap Over the course of my career, I have worked across CRM implementation, technical project management, business operations, sales infrastructure, and growth systems. I've seen organizations successfully adopt new technology, but far more often, I've watched implementation become expensive, slow, and ultimately ineffective. What I am seeing happen with AI is different from every previous technology shift I've worked through. Not because the technology itself is more impressive, although it is, but because the gap between organizations that will implement AI well and those that will waste significant time and money on it is widening faster than ever before. I call this The Implementation Gap. It isn't a technical gap. It's a design gap, a clarity gap, and a strategic gap. Too many organizations are rushing to deploy AI before they have defined what they are actually trying to build. Over the past year, I have deliberately immersed myself in this space, combining formal study in Cloud Computing and Python for AI with hands-on work building production systems using OpenAI, Claude, Grok, and Perplexity. That experience has reinforced one conclusion. The organizations that succeed won't necessarily have access to better AI models. They'll build better systems around them. Foundation models are already becoming a commodity One of the biggest misconceptions in AI today is that competitive advantage comes from choosing the "best" model. Today, that conversation revolves around GPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, Grok, and whatever comes next. Within a relatively short period, that decision will matter far less than many organizations think. Foundation models are rapidly becoming commodities. The competitive advantage is shifting toward everything built around them. Instead of asking, "Which model should we use?", organizations should be asking questions like these: How should our AI behave? What should it know? How should it remember information? How should it integrate with our existing business systems? How do we ensure it represents our organization consistently? These aren't technical questions. They're strategic ones. The organizations that answer them well will create lasting competitive advantages. Those who mistake purchasing AI software for implementing an AI strategy will continue widening The Implementation Gap. Why domain expertise is becoming more valuable, not less One of the most common conversations surrounding AI is whether it will replace people. I believe that question misses the point. After spending the past year building AI systems, the biggest limitation I continue to encounter isn't the model. It's the quality of the knowledge being given to it. Anyone can access a large language model. Anyone can write prompts. What cannot be manufactured overnight is years of domain expertise. The sales professional who understands which customer behaviours actually predict a successful deal possesses knowledge that an AI cannot invent. The operations manager who understands how work truly flows through an organization knows which processes should and should not be automated. Those people aren't becoming obsolete. They're becoming the people who teach AI what matters. The future belongs to professionals who combine deep industry knowledge with an understanding of how AI systems consume, organize, and apply information. The opportunity isn't to compete against AI. It's to become the expert that AI depends on. The design principle that most AI implementations get wrong Most AI implementations today are optimized for one of two outcomes, efficiency or engagement. Efficiency-focused systems answer questions faster and reduce manual work. Engagement-focused systems maximize interaction and time spent using the product. Both have value. Neither is enough. The principle, I believe, that will define the next generation of AI implementation is coherence. Coherence means an AI behaves consistently across every interaction. It remembers the appropriate context. It communicates in the organization's voice, understands the limits of its own knowledge, and integrates naturally with existing workflows rather than operating as an isolated tool. Most importantly, it behaves in ways users can trust. Building coherent AI systems isn't primarily an engineering challenge. It's a design challenge. It requires thoughtful decisions about personality, memory, context, governance, and business processes long before a prompt is ever written. The organizations that solve this won't simply automate tasks. They'll scale their knowledge, their culture, and their expertise without losing the identity that made them successful in the first place. AI will amplify human expertise if we build it correctly There is understandable uncertainty surrounding AI. Many people worry about losing their jobs. I see a different opportunity. Organizations already possess decades of institutional knowledge sitting inside experienced employees, CRM systems, documentation, customer relationships, and operational processes. AI gives us an unprecedented opportunity to organize, preserve, and amplify that knowledge. When implemented thoughtfully, AI doesn't diminish human expertise. It makes it more accessible. It allows organizations to make better decisions, onboard employees faster, retain knowledge that would otherwise leave with staff turnover, and free people to focus on work that requires creativity, judgment, and human connection. The implementation gap isn't closing. It's widening. The organizations that recognize AI as an implementation challenge, not simply a technology purchase, will be the ones that define the next generation of intelligent businesses. Learn more at Torus Solutions and Sibyl. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Genna Barbara Zimmel Genna Barbara Zimmel, Founder of Torus Solutions Genna Zimmel is the founder of Torus Solutions and creator of Sibyl, an AI companion built on the principle of Support Over Dependency. She designs and implements conversational AI systems, CRM automation, and multi-agent workflows for organizations navigating the next generation of AI adoption. Genna builds in public, documents the real work behind intelligent systems, and is currently completing formal training in Cloud Computing and Python for AI.

Written by Sarah Maynard, Wellness & Health Coach for Moms Sarah Maynard is a BGN-certified lifestyle coach for tired and overwhelmed mothers. She is the founder of Body & Mind in Harmony and creator of a group program, built on her belief that nervous system regulation comes before any other wellness goal. Most advice aimed at tired mothers starts in the wrong place. It tells you to eat cleaner, sleep earlier, exercise more, and build better routines, as if willpower were the missing ingredient. But if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, none of that advice will hold. As a BGN-certified lifestyle coach who has spent years working with overwhelmed mothers and who has personally lost and rebuilt her own sense of self across two pregnancies, I have come to see nervous system regulation not as one wellness goal among many, but as the foundation on which every other goal depends. Below are eight habits I use with clients and in my own life to regulate first, so that everything else, energy, patience, clarity, even motivation, has somewhere solid to stand. Why does regulation have to come first? The scale of the problem is bigger than most mothers realize, and bigger than most of them are told. A recent workplace mental health analysis found that an overwhelming 93% of mothers report feeling burned out, with mothers experiencing burnout at a substantially higher rate than fathers. Separately, research on postpartum depression and social support shows the condition affects roughly one in eight new mothers, a reminder that what often gets dismissed as "just being tired" can be a genuine, treatable condition. These aren't outliers. They're the baseline. If you recognize yourself in these numbers, the habits below are not indulgences, they're maintenance for a system that is quite literally under chronic load. 1. Reclaim the first five minutes of your day Before you check your phone, scroll a group chat, or answer your child's first question of the day, give your nervous system five unclaimed minutes. This isn't about a perfect morning routine, it's about not starting the day already reactive. Stretch, sit with a coffee in silence, or simply breathe before input floods in. The goal is to let your body register safety before it registers demand. 2. Use your breath as an on-and-off switch Of all the tools available to a dysregulated nervous system, breath is the fastest and most accessible. A systematic review of 58 clinical trials on breathwork found that slow, regulated breathing practices consistently reduced stress and anxiety, largely by enhancing parasympathetic tone and calming the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the very system responsible for the fight-or-flight cortisol response. In practice, this can be as simple as four seconds in, hold for four, six seconds out, repeated for one minute during a meltdown, a school run, or a moment before you walk back into the house. 3. Move your body for the signal, not the burn Exercise is often framed as a way to lose weight or build strength. For a dysregulated nervous system, its real value is different. Movement is one of the clearest signals you can send your body that danger has passed, and it's safe to come down out of high alert. This doesn't require a gym session. A brisk walk, especially outdoors, is often enough to shift your physiological state. I've built an entire community walking series around exactly this principle, because mothers consistently tell me that ten minutes of walking changes their whole day, not because it burns calories, but because it discharges stress. 4. Name what you feel before you react "Name it to tame it" isn't just a catchy phrase, it reflects something real about how the brain processes emotion. Putting a word to what you're feeling, even quietly to yourself, "I'm not angry at him, I'm depleted," engages the parts of the brain responsible for regulation and interrupts the automatic reactivity of the amygdala. For many of the mothers I coach, this single habit, pausing to name the feeling before responding to a whining toddler or a partner's offhand comment, becomes the difference between a snapped response and a steady one. 5. Build, or borrow, your village Isolation is one of the most under-discussed drivers of maternal burnout, particularly for mothers raising children without extended family nearby, a reality I know intimately from raising my own two sons in Amsterdam without a local support network. The research bears this out. Social support has repeatedly been shown to act as a buffer between parenting stress and depression, with mothers who perceive high levels of social support being significantly less likely to experience depression, even when their parenting stress is high. If you don't have a built-in village, this is a habit worth actively constructing, a walking group, a WhatsApp community, a recurring coffee with another mother who understands. Connection isn't a luxury here, it's regulation. 6. Protect micro-moments of rest Rest doesn't have to mean an hour to yourself, that's often an unrealistic bar that keeps mothers from resting at all. Instead, protect small, non-negotiable pockets, two minutes with your eyes closed after the school drop-off, five minutes on the balcony before dinner prep starts. These micro-moments accumulate. The habit isn't the rest itself, it's treating these small windows as protected time rather than something to fill with one more task. 7. Learn to say "not right now" Boundaries are a regulatory tool, not just a communication skill. Every time you say yes to something your depleted system doesn't have capacity for, you add to the load your nervous system is already carrying. Practicing a simple, low-drama phrase, "not right now," "let me get back to you," "that doesn't work for us this week," protects the bandwidth you need to stay regulated for the people who need you most. 8. Close the day with a regulation ritual Just as the first five minutes of your day set your baseline, the last few minutes shape how your nervous system carries the day into sleep. A short wind-down ritual, dim lighting, a few slow breaths, even simply naming one thing that went well, signal to your body that the day's demands are over. Without this closing signal, many mothers carry an activated nervous system straight into bed, which is part of why so many describe lying down "wired but exhausted." The takeaway None of these habits requires more time than you already have. What they require is a shift in order, regulating first, instead of trying to muscle through exhaustion with more discipline, more planning, or more pressure. This is the principle my entire coaching practice, Body & Mind in Harmony, is built on. You matter too, not as an afterthought once everyone else is taken care of, but as the starting point. If you'd like a structured way to start, I've put together a free 5-Minute Reset Plan, designed specifically for busy, overwhelmed mothers who need a starting point that takes less time than making a coffee. Download the 5-Minute Reset Plan and take the first step toward regulating your nervous system and reclaiming yourself, one small habit at a time. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sarah Maynard Sarah Maynard, Wellness & Health Coach for Moms Sarah Maynard is a BGN-certified lifestyle coach who helps overwhelmed mothers reconnect with themselves before trying to fix anything else. After navigating motherhood without a nearby support network and drawing on 8 years as a youth care facilitator, she built her practice around one contrarian idea: nervous system regulation has to come first — before diet, fitness, or any habit change can stick. She founded Body & Mind in Harmony to guide mothers aged 25–45 through this shift, offering 1-on-1 coaching, a group program and in-person community events. Her message to every mother she works with is simple: you matter too.

Written by Anne-Sophie Gossan, Transformational Career Coach Anne-Sophie Gossan, founder of Inner Spark Coaching, supports individuals going through career transitions so they find meaningful direction, reignite their spark, and thrive. She brings calm, clarity, and deep empathy and asks the questions that unlock their truths while holding space for both vulnerability and growth. The middle of the year offers something January rarely does, enough distance to see what is truly working, what is draining your energy, and what needs to change. For women navigating career shifts and periods of uncertainty, this quieter season can become the moment that shapes everything that comes next. The middle of the year is where real change begins Right now, we find ourselves in a peculiar moment, somewhere between the rush of early-year plans and the pressure of year-end expectations, where everything feels a little uncertain. Nothing has really stopped or broken, but it’s a phase where things need a closer look. This middle stretch is where your intentions meet your reality. Where your habits reveal more than your goals. Where motivation dips, clarity rises, and the questions you’ve been postponing start asking for answers. For women navigating career disruptions, chosen or unexpected, this period is rarely just a calendar checkpoint. It’s a turning point. If you don’t pause to look at it, the next six months will repeat the last six. This article brings together the themes I see every day in my coaching work, reflection, momentum, motivation, self-discovery, client wins, and the behind-the-brand moments that shape how I support women through change. Why the middle of the year matters more than January January is loud. Mid-year is revealing. By this point, you’ve lived enough of the year to see what was real and what was wishful thinking. Research backs this up. The American Psychological Association reports that most people abandon their early-year goals within six months, largely due to unrealistic expectations and a lack of ongoing reflection. Your calendar from the last eight weeks shows your actual priorities, not the ones you wrote down. If you don’t fix the gap between what you say matters and what you actually do, here’s what it keeps costing you, clarity, confidence, and the momentum you need for the rest of the year. During my own mid-year reflection, I realised I’d been carrying commitments that weren’t mine anymore. They looked fine from the outside, but they weren’t aligned with who I am now. That realisation didn’t knock me sideways but rather came to the surface when I finally had space to notice it. That’s how clarity often shows up. The motivation dip: Why your energy feels different now This part of the year sits in a strange in-between. You’re past the early-year enthusiasm. You’re not yet in year-end urgency. You’re just in it. That in itself can feel heavy. Gallup’s 2025 Workplace Report shows that employee engagement drops by 8 to 12% during mid-year periods, especially for professionals navigating uncertainty or transition. Low motivation isn’t a character flaw. It’s a capacity issue. When women tell me they feel flat around this time, what’s usually happening is depletion: fewer energising conversations more draining responsibilities less meaningful progress more emotional labour If this keeps happening, you’ll keep mistaking depletion for a lack of discipline, and that misinterpretation will slow down every decision you need to make. I’ve had mid-year stretches where I sat at my desk and thought, when did this stop feeling exciting? Every time, the answer was the same, I’d been giving out more than I was taking in. Motivation returns when you move, even a small move. The most important question of the mid-year, what do you want to carry forward? Once you’ve looked honestly at where you are, there’s one question that changes the next six months. What do you want to take with you into the rest of the year? This isn’t about goals. It’s about identity, energy, and alignment. The Content Marketing Institute found that people make more sustainable decisions when they evaluate their habits mid-year rather than at year-end, because they still have time to act on what they discover. This question forces you to sort through three things: What’s working What you don’t need anymore What you’ve been holding out of habit rather than intention If you don’t fix the weight of what you’re holding onto, here’s what it keeps costing you, clarity, confidence, and the ability to make decisions without second-guessing yourself. Every career disruption I’ve navigated involved a moment where I had to put something down, a belief, a standard, a way of working that belonged to a previous stage of my career. Letting go wasn’t complicated. It was necessary. The milestones that don’t make headlines still matter One of my clients had a milestone recently. Not the kind you announce publicly, but the kind that arrives in an email you read twice before you believe it. She told me, “I didn’t feel ready. I just ran out of reasons not to.” That’s the real win. Not the outcome but the decision that made the outcome possible. Career disruptions aren’t resolved by more information. They’re resolved by permission, the permission you give yourself to act before you feel fully prepared. This period has been real for me too. There were days when my momentum dipped. Days when I sat with questions I didn’t have answers to. Days when confidence didn’t arrive on cue. That’s not a contradiction. That’s the work. You don’t arrive at certainty. You get better at moving without it. How to build momentum for the months ahead Before you move forward, look back at what you’ve actually done. Not at what you didn’t do but at what you did. You made decisions. You asked hard questions. You showed up on days that weren’t easy. That’s not small. That’s evidence that you’ve done more than you think. You’re going into the next six months with more clarity, more self-knowledge, and more capability than you had back in January. Take that with you. Leave the rest. If this resonates, get in touch and tell me what’s one thing you’re deliberately carrying into the rest of the year and one thing you’re finally putting down? If you're a professional woman navigating a career change, rebuilding your confidence after a disruption, or simply sensing that something needs to change, I'd love to have a conversation. I offer a free 30-minute First Spark Session, no pitch, no pressure, just a real conversation about where you are and what might be possible. You'll leave feeling heard, clearer, and with at least one concrete thought about your next step. Book your free session here. Or connect with me directly here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Anne-Sophie Gossan Anne-Sophie Gossan, Transformational Career Coach Anne-Sophie Gossan spent 25+ years in the corporate world navigating high-stakes environments and career transitions. She spent years building a career and a home, juggling the demands of raising two boys while holding down a very demanding job. When redundancy struck, it shook her confidence and identity in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She decided to qualify as a coach and to create Inner Spark Coaching: Reimagine Your Story, a safe space where her clients can reclaim the unstoppable version of themselves that’s always been there. Through coaching, conversation, and deep transformation, she guides individuals into their next chapter with clarity, confidence, alignment, and renewed purpose.

Frisco, TX — July 2, 2026 — Founder & CEO of The Harkins Method™ and The Harkins Project VRx™, Shawnee Harkins, officially announces the release of How To Survive and Thrive: Special Edition, now available on Amazon globally. In this powerful collaborative work, Harkins stands alongside legendary entrepreneur Joe Foster, Founder of Reebok, and a distinguished group of global leaders who have each transformed adversity into purpose-driven impact. This release marks a defining milestone in Harkins’s career and mission—one rooted not in theory, but in lived experience. By the age of twenty-four, Harkins had survived multiple life-threatening traumatic brain injuries that challenged her cognitive function, physical mobility, identity, and future. Once an academically advanced student, athlete, firefighter EMT, and celebrity trainer, she faced a reality where she struggled to process language, lost elements of her identity, and had to relearn how to walk, speak, read, and write again. Rather than accepting limitations, she made a decision that would define her life’s work: Recovery would not be something she waited for. Recovery would be something she trained for. That decision became the foundation for what is now known as: The Harkins Method™ — Neural network of change A neuroplasticity-driven system designed to train the mind, rewire the brain, and restore the body through integrated cognitive, physical, and behavioral conditioning. Developed through lived experience, refined through years of application, and grounded in principles of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, The Harkins Method™ has supported individuals recovering from traumatic brain injuries, stroke, concussions, and neurological challenges in rebuilding function, identity, and independence. How To Survive and Thrive: Special Edition captures a deeply personal and transformative chapter of this journey—offering readers a powerful message: A diagnosis is not your identity. Adversity is not your endpoint. Healing is trained. From personal recovery to global vision Today, Harkins stands fully recovered and committed to scaling her work through The Harkins Project VRx™, a technology-driven neurorehabilitation ecosystem designed to expand access to brain health, recovery, and human performance worldwide. This next phase integrates neuroscience, immersive technology, and data-driven training systems to bring neuroplasticity-based recovery to a global audience—bridging the gap between clinical care and real-world functional outcomes. Global recognition and leadership In addition to this release, Harkins has been recognized on the Brainz CREA Global Awards List 2026, honoring top entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders who are making significant contributions to mental health, human performance, and global impact. Presented by Brainz Magazine, the CREA Global Awards celebrate individuals who demonstrate exceptional vision, resilience, and leadership in advancing meaningful change. The recognition comes at a defining time in Harkins’s career. In 2026, her work will be acknowledged across multiple global platforms, reflecting more than a decade of dedication to neurorecovery for traumatic brain injury, concussion, and stroke, rooted in applied neuroscience and lived experience. Harkins has also been recognized as one of the Most Influential Leaders in Neuro Rehabilitation by The Executive Excellence Magazine and named Neurotech Pioneer of the Year 2026 by The Mirror Review Magazine—further solidifying her position as a leading voice in the future of brain health, neurorehabilitation, and human performance. Order the book How To Survive and Thrive: Special Edition is now available for purchase: Amazon US Amazon UK A message to readers “This book is not just about surviving adversity. It is about rebuilding identity, reclaiming purpose, and stepping into what is possible for your life. I wrote this from a place of lived experience, faith, and unwavering belief in the human brain’s capacity to heal and transform. Now that I stand on the other side of healing, my mission is clear: To help others heal, recover, and rise.” — Shawnee Harkins About Shawnee Harkins Shawnee Harkins is a Neurofitness Trainer, Neurotrauma Performance Coach, and Founder & CEO of The Harkins Method™ and The Harkins Project VRx™. She is the creator of The Harkins Method™ Neural Network of Change, a neuroplasticity-based system designed to accelerate recovery from traumatic brain injury, stroke, and neurological conditions. A survivor of multiple traumatic brain injuries, Harkins has dedicated her life to transforming the field of neurorehabilitation through innovative training systems, global partnerships, and technology-driven solutions. At its core, How To Survive and Thrive: Special Edition reflects a truth that defines Harkins’s life and work: Adversity may change your path, but it does not define your potential. This work is built on the belief that recovery is an active, structured process—one that requires discipline, belief, and the willingness to rebuild from the inside out. As Harkins continues to expand The Harkins Method™ and scale The Harkins Project VRx™, her mission is to equip individuals with the tools, systems, and mindset required to reclaim ownership of their healing and their future. Her vision is clear: to elevate the standard of care in brain health and neurorehabilitation, and to create pathways where individuals are no longer limited by prognosis, but empowered by possibility. Partner in the future of neurorehabilitation The release of How To Survive and Thrive: Special Edition marks another milestone in Shawnee Harkins' mission to transform the future of brain health, neurorehabilitation, and human performance. Those inspired by her story are invited to continue the journey by visiting here. There, visitors can explore the full ecosystem behind The Harkins Method™ — Neural Network of Change, learn more about The Harkins Project VRx™, discover Shawnee's latest media features, publications, and educational resources, and explore opportunities to work with her through personalized neurorehabilitation, consulting, keynote speaking engagements, executive education, and strategic partnerships. Whether you are a survivor seeking hope, a caregiver searching for guidance, a clinician exploring innovative approaches to recovery, a healthcare organization, researcher, technology company, or conference organizer, Shawnee's mission remains the same: To help people heal, recover, and rise by advancing a future where neuroscience, technology, and human resilience converge to redefine what is possible in recovery, rehabilitation, and lifelong brain health. As Founder & CEO of The Harkins Method™ and The Harkins Project VRx™, Shawnee is actively building strategic relationships with mission-driven leaders who share a vision for transforming the future of neurorehabilitation through science, innovation, and scalable human-centered solutions. Members of the media, podcast hosts, conference organizers, healthcare organizations, and strategic partners interested in interviewing Shawnee Harkins or discussing the future of neuroplasticity, brain health, neurorehabilitation, and The Harkins Method™ are warmly invited to connect. Media, speaking, and partnership inquiries Email Website The future of neurorehabilitation is not about accepting limitations. It is about unlocking human potential. The journey has only just begun.

In real estate, success is often measured by transactions. For Robert Flores, it is measured by relationships. Based in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, Florida, Flores has built a career helping buyers, sellers, investors, and business owners navigate real estate opportunities with confidence. Today, he works across residential and commercial real estate while serving as Managing Partner at Vellum Capital Partners, a commercial real estate brokerage focused on investment and commercial transactions throughout Florida. His approach is straightforward. Listen first. Educate clients. Build trust. “I’ve always believed people deserve clear information and honest communication,” Flores says. “Real estate can be complicated. My goal is to help people understand their options so they can make informed decisions.” How did Robert Flores get started in real estate? Flores’ professional journey was shaped by hands-on experience in Florida's real estate market. Over the years, he developed a strong understanding of both residential and commercial transactions, with a particular focus on the growing communities of Flagler Beach and Palm Coast. Working directly with buyers and sellers taught him an important lesson early in his career. “Every transaction has a story behind it,” Flores explains. “People are often making decisions that affect their families, businesses, or long-term goals. I learned that understanding those goals is just as important as understanding the property itself.” That mindset helped him build a reputation for responsiveness and transparency. Instead of focusing only on closing deals, Flores focused on helping clients feel informed throughout the process. Why Robert Flores expanded into commercial real estate As his experience grew, Flores became increasingly interested in the investment and commercial side of the industry. That interest eventually led to his role as Managing Partner at Vellum Capital Partners. The firm was created to provide a more strategic approach to commercial real estate brokerage. Rather than simply facilitating transactions, the goal was to help investors and business owners better understand opportunities, market conditions, and long-term value creation. “We wanted to take a hands-on approach,” Flores says. “There’s a lot more to commercial real estate than finding a property. It requires understanding markets, relationships, and long-term objectives.” Through Vellum Capital Partners, Flores works with clients across Florida on commercial transactions, investment opportunities, and business-related real estate decisions. What makes the Flagler Beach and Palm Coast market unique? Few people understand the Flagler Beach and Palm Coast markets as closely as Flores. Over the years, he has watched the area attract new residents, businesses, and investment activity while maintaining its strong community identity. “People are drawn to this area because it offers both opportunity and quality of life,” Flores says. “There’s still a strong sense of community here, and that matters.” He believes the region's growth is being driven by a combination of economic development, population growth, and increased interest in Florida's coastal communities. At the same time, Flores emphasizes the importance of thoughtful growth. “Communities are strongest when growth and long-term planning work together,” he says. What leadership means in real estate Flores does not view leadership as a title. For him, leadership means being available, accountable, and willing to educate others. Many of his clients come to him with questions about the market, investment opportunities, or the buying and selling process. He sees those conversations as an important part of his role. “I never want someone to feel pressured,” Flores says. “I want them to feel informed.” That philosophy has become a defining part of his career. Clients often cite his communication style and willingness to explain complex concepts in simple terms. He believes trust is earned through consistency. “You build trust one conversation at a time,” Flores says. “The relationships you build today often become opportunities to help people again in the future.” Robert Flores’ vision for the future of Florida real estate Looking ahead, Flores expects Florida's real estate market to continue evolving. Growing communities like Flagler Beach and Palm Coast will likely remain attractive to residents, entrepreneurs, and investors seeking opportunities in expanding markets. Yet despite changing conditions, Flores believes one principle will always remain important. “Markets change, trends change, and opportunities change,” he says. “What doesn’t change is the importance of integrity and communication.” That perspective has guided his career from the beginning. While many professionals focus on transactions, Robert Flores has focused on relationships. It is a philosophy that has shaped his success in both residential and commercial real estate and continues to position him as a respected voice in Florida's real estate industry. For Flores, real estate is not simply about properties. It is about helping people make informed decisions, building lasting connections, and contributing to the long-term growth of the communities he serves.

For nearly 30 years, Toronto criminal lawyer Mitchell Worsoff has built his career not on dramatic courtroom wins, but on relentless preparation – a philosophy forged during a decade as a Crown prosecutor and carried into his own defence practice. His story is a reminder that in law, as in most professions, consistency beats charisma every time. How experience, preparation, and perspective shaped a career Most careers are built around a single big break. Mitchell Worsoff built his around thousands of ordinary days. Days spent reading disclosure. Days spent preparing for court. Days spent standing before judges, arguing motions, and helping clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives. It may not sound glamorous. That is exactly the point. For nearly three decades, Worsoff has built a legal career on an idea that often gets overlooked in a world obsessed with shortcuts: preparation wins. Today, as founder of Toronto-based Worsoff Law Firm, he is known for his work in criminal law across Ontario. Before that, he spent ten years as a provincial prosecutor in Toronto. The experience gave him a rare view of the criminal justice system from both sides of the courtroom. Looking back, it is easy to see a clear career path. Living it was different. “I don't think anyone starts out with a perfect roadmap,” he says. “You take opportunities seriously, you learn from them, and eventually those experiences start connecting.” From Montreal to Ontario's courtrooms Worsoff grew up in Montreal and later attended McGill University before completing his legal education at Osgoode Hall Law School. Like many law students, he entered the profession with academic knowledge but limited courtroom experience. That changed quickly. Early in his career, he joined the City of Toronto as a provincial prosecutor. The role placed him inside busy courtrooms where cases moved quickly and expectations were high. Many young lawyers spend years waiting for meaningful courtroom opportunities. Worsoff was getting them every day. “I remember realizing very quickly that preparation mattered more than confidence,” he says. “You can walk into court feeling confident, but if you haven't done the work, that confidence disappears pretty fast." The lesson stuck. The big idea that shaped his career Many people think successful lawyers are defined by dramatic courtroom moments. Worsoff sees things differently. The biggest idea behind his career has been much less exciting on the surface: consistency. Courtroom success often comes from preparation done weeks earlier. Strong arguments are usually built long before anyone enters a courtroom. That philosophy became even clearer after he transitioned from prosecution to criminal defence work. As he built Worsoff Law Firm, he carried that same mindset forward. “I've always believed the interesting part happens before court,” he says. “Most people only see the hearing. They don't see the hours spent reviewing evidence, researching issues, and finding details that could change the direction of a case.” It is a simple idea. Yet it has shaped nearly every stage of his career. How criminal law changed since the 1990s When Worsoff began practicing law in 1997, the legal landscape looked very different. Disclosure packages were smaller. Technology played a smaller role in investigations. Evidence was often easier to organize. Today, criminal cases can involve enormous volumes of material. Phone records. Surveillance footage. Recorded conversations. Thousands of pages of documents. The work has changed. The need for preparation has not. “I worked on files years ago where disclosure fit inside one folder,” he says. “Now you can receive boxes of material and hours of recordings before trial preparation even begins.” That shift has changed how lawyers work. It has also increased the importance of organization and attention to detail. The lawyers who adapt are often the ones who succeed. Why communication matters more than ever One of the biggest changes Worsoff has observed is not legal. It is personal. Clients today have access to more information than ever before. Unfortunately, they also have access to more misinformation. Many people arrive with assumptions shaped by television, social media, or online commentary. Part of his role has become helping clients separate fact from fiction. “I've had clients spend hours worrying about things that weren't actually important to their case,” he says. “Then there are important issues they didn't realize they should be paying attention to.” Clear communication has become a critical part of legal practice. Not because the law changed. Because information changed. Investing in the next generation As his career progressed, Worsoff developed an interest in mentoring younger lawyers and students interested in litigation. The reason is simple. Courtroom experience cannot be downloaded from a textbook. It must be earned. “Every lawyer remembers being new,” he says. “Someone gave you an opportunity at some point. That's how the profession grows.” His advice to young lawyers is often practical rather than philosophical. Show up prepared. Listen carefully. Learn from every appearance. Then do it again. The value of playing the long game Many industries celebrate speed. Criminal law rewards patience. That may be one of the biggest lessons from Worsoff's career. Nearly thirty years after being called to the bar, he continues practicing with the same core principles that guided him as a young prosecutor: preparation, consistency, and continuous learning. The legal system has changed. Technology has changed. Client expectations have changed. The fundamentals have not. “The longer you practice, the more you realize there are no shortcuts,” he says. “Most success comes from doing the basics well for a very long time.” It is not the most dramatic career philosophy. But after almost three decades in Ontario courtrooms, it is one that has stood the test of time.

Some careers are built around reacting to problems. Others are built around preventing them before they happen. David Brownell has spent much of his professional life following the second path. Based outside Ashland, Oregon, Brownell has built a career in forestry and natural resource management by focusing on wildfire prevention, conservation, watershed protection, and forest restoration. His work has never been about seeking recognition. Instead, it has been about finding practical ways to protect forests, support communities, and prepare for the future. "The goal isn't recognition," Brownell says. "The goal is leaving things better than you found them." That simple philosophy has shaped both his career and the people who have worked alongside him. How David Brownell started his career in forestry Brownell grew up outside Medford, Oregon, where the outdoors was part of everyday life. He spent his childhood fishing local rivers, hiking mountain trails, and learning from parents who valued both hard work and compassion. His father worked seasonal logging jobs, while his mother was a school librarian. When his father suffered a serious logging accident, Brownell was only 15 years old. The experience changed his outlook. "I learned early that people depend on each other," he says. "Showing up when you're needed isn't optional. It's part of being responsible." Helping support his family while still in school taught him discipline and resilience. Those lessons became the foundation of his professional life. Why wildfire prevention became David Brownell's mission In his twenties, Brownell joined a wildfire crew. The work demanded long hours, physical endurance, and clear thinking under pressure. During one severe wildfire season, he helped evacuate families trapped near a rural Oregon community as fires rapidly spread. Many people viewed those firefighters as heroes. Brownell viewed it differently. "We were doing our jobs," he says. "When people need help, you help them. That's really all there is to it." Those years taught him that responding to disasters was important, but preventing them could have an even greater impact. Instead of spending his entire career reacting to emergencies, Brownell shifted into forestry and natural resource management. His focus became reducing wildfire risk through conservation, restoration, and long-term planning. "I realized I'd rather prevent damage than react to it," he says. "If we can reduce risk before a fire starts, that's a win for everybody." David Brownell's approach to leadership Brownell believes leadership begins with listening. Over the years, younger employees have come to respect his calm approach and willingness to teach without making people feel inexperienced. "You don't earn respect by having all the answers," he says. "You earn it by treating people well and helping them succeed." His leadership style reflects the same patience he sees in nature. Forest restoration is not immediate work. It requires planning, consistency, and trust that today's efforts will benefit future generations. That long-term thinking has become one of the biggest ideas behind Brownell's career. Instead of chasing quick results, he focuses on building stronger forests that will remain healthier for decades. How mentoring others strengthens the industry Brownell believes protecting forests also means investing in people. Outside his daily responsibilities, he volunteers in outdoor safety programs and helps teenagers and young adults find seasonal conservation work. He understands how one opportunity can shape an entire career because someone once believed in him. "A lot of young people just need someone to believe in them," he says. "Sometimes one opportunity can change the direction of a person's life." Rather than simply passing along technical knowledge, Brownell encourages curiosity, responsibility, and respect for the natural world. He believes those qualities help create stronger professionals and stronger communities. Lessons David Brownell has learned from nature Brownell often says the forest has been one of his greatest teachers. Growing up outdoors gave him an appreciation for patience and perspective that still guides his decisions today. "Nature teaches patience," he says. "It teaches respect. It teaches you that you're part of something bigger than yourself." Those lessons also influence how he approaches relationships. Friends and neighbors know him as someone who quietly checks on elderly residents after wildfire evacuations, helps repair fences without being asked, remembers small details about people, and never expects recognition for helping others. He believes small actions often have the greatest impact. "Small acts of kindness aren't small to the people receiving them," he says. David Brownell's lasting impact on forestry and conservation Today, Brownell continues working from his home outside Ashland, surrounded by the forests that first inspired him as a child. His mornings often begin before sunrise with coffee, weather reports, and a drive into the field. His evenings are quieter, filled with books, simple meals, and time outdoors listening to the wind through the trees. He measures success differently than many people. For Brownell, success is not defined by awards or titles. It comes from protecting natural resources, helping communities become more resilient, and mentoring the next generation of forestry professionals. "Healthy forests benefit everyone," he says. "The work we're doing today affects future generations. That's what keeps it meaningful." Throughout his career, David Brownell has shown that some of the biggest ideas are also the simplest. Prepare before problems grow. Invest in people as much as places. Leave every forest, every community, and every opportunity a little better than you found it.

Big ideas often start with small moments. For Piya Saliba, many of those moments began in childhood. Raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Saliba grew up surrounded by creativity, culture, and entrepreneurship. Music, performance, and storytelling were a regular part of her life. At the same time, she watched business operate up close through her family’s Bali-rooted furniture importing company. Those early experiences helped shape the way she approaches leadership today. “Creativity taught me how to connect with people,” Saliba says. “Business taught me how to stay focused and build something that lasts.” Now based in Beverly Hills, Saliba serves as CEO of Fountain Capital. Alongside her professional work, she has also become known for her involvement in philanthropy and nonprofit causes, especially through the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation and her support of the Cedars-Sinai NICU Family Council. Her career has never followed just one lane. Instead, it has been built around bringing different ideas together. Piya Saliba’s early life and creative influences Saliba’s early years gave her exposure to different cultures and perspectives. Growing up between Indonesia and Singapore taught her how to adapt quickly and connect with many kinds of people. She also developed a strong love for the arts. As a child, she spent time singing, acting, and performing. Those interests stayed with her as she got older. “I always loved creative expression,” she says. “It helped me understand emotion, communication, and confidence.” At the same time, she saw how entrepreneurship worked inside her family environment. The family’s furniture importing business connected craftsmanship, design, logistics, and customer relationships. That combination of creativity and structure left a lasting impact. ] “It showed me that ideas only matter if you can bring them to life,” Saliba says. Her education later brought her to the University of Southern California. There, she expanded her perspective and learned how leadership, communication, and long-term thinking all work together. Building a career around leadership and vision Over time, Saliba built a career centered on leadership, organization, and people. Today, she leads Fountain Capital as CEO. Her approach focuses less on attention and more on creating meaningful impact. People who work closely with her often describe her as calm, thoughtful, and collaborative. “I don’t believe leadership is about being the loudest person in the room,” Saliba says. “It’s about listening, understanding people, and helping ideas move forward.” That mindset helped shape the way she approaches business decisions. Rather than chasing trends, Saliba has focused on consistency and relationships. She believes long-term success comes from trust and communication. She also understands the importance of balancing logic with creativity. “A lot of people think creativity and business are separate,” she says. “I think the best leaders use both.” Her career path has also included involvement with organizations such as NMS Capital and the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation. Across different roles, one theme has stayed consistent: building ideas with purpose behind them. Why philanthropy matters to Piya Saliba While Saliba’s professional work continues to grow, philanthropy remains one of the biggest parts of her life. She is deeply involved with the Nalin and Naseeb Foundation, which focuses on helping communities and supporting people in need. For Saliba, giving back is not separate from leadership. She sees them as connected. “Success means very little if you’re not helping other people along the way,” she says. Her volunteer work also includes involvement with the Cedars-Sinai NICU Family Council and Parent Council. Supporting families during emotionally difficult moments has become especially meaningful to her. “When families are going through vulnerable experiences, even small acts of support can matter,” Saliba says. “Sometimes people just need to feel seen and understood.” She also stays active in school PTA involvement and nonprofit initiatives tied to children and families. Friends and colleagues say Saliba brings the same energy to philanthropy that she brings to business. She values organization, follow-through, and human connection. How creativity still shapes Piya Saliba today Even with a busy schedule, Saliba still makes time for creative interests. Singing, acting, and dance continue to be important parts of her life. She believes creativity plays a major role in personal growth and emotional connection. “Creative outlets help people stay grounded,” she says. “They remind you to stay human.” That belief also shapes the way she communicates professionally. Saliba often focuses on empathy, listening, and authenticity in both business and nonprofit settings. She believes people respond best to honesty and consistency. Her background in performance also helped her become more confident in leadership settings. “Being creative taught me how to handle pressure and uncertainty,” she says. “You learn how to adjust in real time.” That flexibility has helped her navigate different industries and responsibilities throughout her career. Lessons from Piya Saliba’s career journey Looking back, Saliba believes some of the most important lessons in her life came from staying open to growth. She does not describe success as a straight line. Instead, she sees it as a process built through experience, relationships, and persistence. “You don’t have to have every answer right away,” she says. “You just have to keep learning and stay committed to your values.” Today, Saliba continues to balance leadership, philanthropy, creativity, and community involvement. Her story reflects someone who has consistently worked to turn ideas into action while staying connected to people along the way. Whether through business leadership, nonprofit work, or creative expression, she remains focused on creating positive impact that lasts. “At the end of the day, I want my work to help people feel supported, inspired, and connected,” Saliba says. “That’s what matters most to me.”

Some careers begin with a clear plan. Others take shape through a series of decisions rooted in purpose. For Dr. Theodore “Theo” Gerstle, the path to becoming a plastic surgeon was built on leadership, discipline, and a desire to serve others. Today, Dr. Gerstle has been in private practice at Lexington Plastic Surgery since 2014. He performs facial rejuvenation, breast surgery, body contouring, reconstructive procedures, and migraine treatments. While his technical skills are important, he believes his biggest contribution has been creating an approach that puts patients at the center of every decision. “I realized medicine was the best way for me to continue helping people,” he says. “That idea has guided every step of my career.” How Dr. Theo Gerstle's early experiences shaped his career Dr. Gerstle grew up in Westchester, New York, where he stayed busy with sports and community service. He played lacrosse and ran cross country at Iona Prep High School. Outside the classroom, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Looking back, he sees those years as more than activities. “The Boy Scouts taught me responsibility early,” he says. “Leadership is really about service.” That lesson carried into his next challenge when he enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point. West Point demanded discipline, teamwork, and accountability. Dr. Gerstle earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management while completing rigorous military training. “West Point teaches accountability,” he says. “You learn quickly that details matter because people are counting on you.” Those habits would later become part of his surgical practice. Why Theodore Gerstle chose medicine after West Point After completing his military commitment, Dr. Gerstle faced an important decision about the future. Engineering had taught him how to solve problems. The military had taught him how to lead. Medicine offered a chance to combine both while making a direct difference in people's lives. “I wanted a career where technical skill and personal connection mattered equally,” he says. He enrolled at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and quickly became a leader among his classmates. He served as class president throughout medical school and earned induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. When graduation arrived, he was selected to deliver the commencement address as the distinguished graduate. “That recognition meant a lot because it came from years of hard work alongside people I respected,” he says. Harvard training helped turn big ideas into daily practice Dr. Gerstle continued his education through the Harvard Combined Plastic Surgery Residency Program in Boston. The program exposed him to a wide variety of complex reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. More importantly, it reinforced the value of careful preparation. “In plastic surgery, there isn't room for shortcuts,” he says. “Small details can completely change an outcome.” That attention to detail became one of the defining ideas behind his career. Rather than chasing dramatic transformations, Dr. Gerstle focused on thoughtful planning, realistic expectations, and steady improvement. He also expanded his expertise to include migraine treatment using nerve blocks, Botox, and surgical techniques, giving patients additional options beyond traditional cosmetic procedures. What makes Dr. Theo Gerstle's patient approach different? Since joining Lexington Plastic Surgery in 2014, Dr. Gerstle has built his practice around communication before treatment. He believes consultations should begin with listening rather than selling. “Every patient is unique,” he says. “You have to listen first. If you don't understand what matters to that person, you can't really help them.” That philosophy influences every stage of care. Patients discuss their goals, concerns, recovery expectations, and available options before making decisions. “The consultation is one of the most important parts of the process,” he says. “Patients need honest conversations. They need realistic expectations.” As cosmetic medicine continues to evolve, Dr. Gerstle believes this patient-first approach has become even more important. Many people today are looking for subtle improvements instead of dramatic changes. “A lot of people want to look refreshed, not different,” he says. “The goal is to help patients feel confident while still looking like themselves.” Leadership beyond the operating room Away from work, Dr. Gerstle spends much of his time with his three children. He also enjoys woodworking, a hobby that reflects many of the same qualities required in surgery. “Woodworking requires patience,” he says. “You have to slow down, measure carefully, and respect the process.” He sees those lessons carrying into both medicine and everyday life. Looking back, Dr. Gerstle believes the biggest ideas that shaped his career were never complicated. Service. Accountability. Preparation. Listening. None of them produce instant success, but together they create lasting results. “At the end of the day, this work is about people,” he says. “You never want to lose sight of that.” His journey from Eagle Scout to West Point graduate, Harvard-trained plastic surgeon, and trusted physician shows how consistent habits often matter more than dramatic moments. Rather than building his career around recognition, Dr. Theo Gerstle has focused on earning trust one patient at a time – a philosophy that continues to shape both his practice and his profession.