Written by: Olga Zapisek, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We all have our secrets. I know I do. Come on, admit it. You do, too. It’s human nature – to hide things from people. In fact, according to a study done by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, every one of us is keeping at least 13 secrets at one time. Some big, some small. Some innocent, some saucy and illicit. Some may not even be ours, but we’ve made a vow to keep them under lock and key. Childhood secrets. Family secrets. Finance secrets. We may even have secrets we hope never see the daylight. Those that we bury in the darkest corner of our closet, our skeletons. But our business shouldn’t be one of them. Not if we want to make an impact and make good money while doing so. And yet, many coaches, consultants and business owners unconsciously keep their business close to their vest and become a secret no one hires. Not because they want to stay under the radar like a stealth CIA agent on a top-secret mission (though admittedly being James Bond has its perks, like trying new gadgets and traveling to exotic locations, but you can have all that and more as a prosperous business owner, too, without letting your life hang in the balance) – but because they’re actually not doing what matters most to stand out in the busy marketplace. Think you’re not guilty of this? Yes, you may be doing everything that everyone else is doing. You finished your classes or certification. You got your website up and running and set up your social media profiles. You got your clients results they can’t stop raving about, and you have a unique way of doing so that’s your own special sauce (the finger-licking good kind!). So, if you’re doing it all and making people smile, why don’t you have a mile-long waitlist of clients who are eager for a chance to work with you? Why instead of phone calls and message pings are you hearing a symphony of crickets (though retrospectively beautiful in the wilderness, not the tune you wish to hear in the confines of your office), making you wonder if there’s something wrong with you or if you’re even cut out for this business? And why does it feel like everyone else from your entrepreneurial circle is succeeding and living a first-class life but you? I’ll tell you why. Ready? Moment of truth: It doesn’t matter how amazing and gifted you are at what you do, or how precisely you’re copying someone else’s action steps – if you’re not consistently staying visible and engaging in conversations that connect at the heart, you’re leaving things up to chance and money on the table. Now, trust me, I get it. You might not love bragging and tooting your own horn. No one is saying you should be arrogant (let’s leave that toxicity to the narcissists). But you do want to leave footprints your audience can easily remember and find when the time is right for them. Think of it this way: How else can you expect to sell, if you don’t tell? What you do can make a difference in someone’s life – if you let them see or hear from you. So, what can you do to kick the best-kept-secret syndrome to the curb and start to become the brand on your ideal prospect’s lips? Here are three simple and effective ways you can start to reach more people who want and need what you offer. Give it all away OK, maybe not all away. Let’s not get crazy here – save some of that gold for your clients. But you don’t want to keep all your best information under lock and key. There’s this irrational fear out there that we shouldn’t give any of our best ideas away for free, because if we do, then no one will want to pay or work with us. They won’t need us. I call baloney (not to be confused with the kind some of us eat). Do you honestly think that every individual who comes across your content will binge on every single thing you put out? I think the chances of that are pretty slim. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re great and all, but you’re not the Rolling Stones (and trust me, even they’ve got die-hard fans who aren’t familiar with every single song they’ve put out, myself included). Here’s another way of looking at this: we live in an age where you can literally find information on anything and everything with a quick search and press of a button. YouTube. Facebook. Webinars. Blogs. Podcasts. The information is already out there. So, why are people still looking for help? Well, let me ask you this: do you have the time to sift through all that – especially when you’re growing your business and trying to lead a healthy, balanced life? Yeah, didn’t think so. Plus, it’s easy to consume information, but much harder to put it into practice – particularly all by yourself. Ideas are just ideas without proper strategy, guidance and execution. Now, sure, you might get some followers who get tons of help from your free content and won’t hire you, but you’ll also attract a pool of fans who will – your ideal clients. And that’s incredibly valuable and powerful. By sharing your best ideas, perspectives, stories, experiences and tactics, you’re building your reputation and legacy. You’re leaving your mark in the mind of your audience. You’re becoming a category of one. And that’s what will propel you closer toward living your dreams and goals. That’s what will cement the relationships you’re nurturing and building. That’s what will move the needle for you AND for them. That won’t happen, though, if you don’t share your expertise and voice. So, stop worrying about saying too much. Be yourself. Educate. Inspire. Show them what’s possible. And when in doubt, give away the who, what and why, and charge for the how. It’s through the waves you make that they’ll come to swim toward the change and results only you can provide them with. Focus on quality. Focus on value. Focus on supporting. Like the saying states, the more you give, the more you get back. Put yourself on the hook. Be open to opportunities Picture this scenario: You receive a message from a new connection. You have some interesting conversations back and forth. You feel a sense of understanding and comradery. Perhaps even joy at finding somebody who thinks like you. But when they ask you a question of how they can best support you, you disappear like a ghost, never to be heard from again. Sound familiar? Congratulations (note the slight sarcasm). You just missed an opportunity. I get it. You might not need their services. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still help each other. I like to compare this type of situation to dating. You go on a date. The conversation clicks. You have a good time. There’s laughter. Maybe even a hug or a kiss. You felt chemistry. Then you ask them on a second date via text. Days and weeks pass by and all you hear is radio silence. You’ve been ghosted. Now, be honest: Do you like it when someone disappears on you for no rhyme or reason, leaving you confused and rejected? Well, this is exactly like that. Business ghosting is real. And it hurts. Of course, I’m not saying every person who connects with you on social media (or elsewhere) should be let into your immediate energy field. Some people do use slimy tactics and don’t understand the meaning of “no,” no matter how many times you say it. It’s important to protect yourself. So, don’t get me wrong here: you shouldn’t feel obligated to befriend pushy salespeople, who show no respect for you as an individual, only for the sale. But here’s something you might’ve not considered: There’s more than one way to give and receive support. Collaborations and referrals are part of the recipe to business success. The more extensive your network, the more reach you’ll have. You’ll get more eyeballs on your content, services and on your brand. To get such rewards, though, you need to be open to new connections and conversations through a collaborative mindset, instead of treating those who try to support you like the enemy on the frontlines because they posed a question related to their product or service. Besides, chances are you’re doing the same thing with your target market. That’s part of having a business: being of service to others. There’s no disgrace in it. And you never know when that person you were communicating with might need your help or you theirs – the timing might be off right now, but things change as our journey evolves. Do you really want their last memory of you to be as the person who disappeared when all they did came from a place of heart and soul? Or would you rather they thought of you fondly, wanting to explore opportunities with you, and saw you as a friend? Take a minute now and consider the conversations you’ve been having lately. Is there someone you’ve ignored after they asked you a question related to what they do professionally? Or after they introduced their service? Someone who is waiting on your response? Could they be your golden ticket (or you theirs) to be front and center within a community of your target audience? Are you being selfish with your network, thinking this person’s service could only be for you? If the answer is yes, then the strategy is simple: hit reply and flip the conversation to benefit you both. Just because you don’t need their service (or they don’t need yours), it doesn’t mean someone within your communities doesn’t. But you’ll never know if you don’t connect with the person who can put you in front of them first. Focusing on connection building pathways and building quality relationships can have a dramatic impact on your bottom line and your business. Don’t let your beliefs and fears stop you from creating magic with others. Opportunities are everywhere. It’s up to you to see them and seize them. Remember, we are like dominoes. Touch one heart and more will fall. Start speaking I have a sneaky suspicion you haven’t been doing this – at least not consistently. It’s time to stop hiding inside your bubble, though. You don’t want to miss out on this goldmine. I’m not exaggerating when I say it could be a real game-changer for your business. This doesn’t mean you have to speak on the big stages. You can start small. But start somewhere. Whether it’s speaking at an event for your local community, partnering with another expert and doing a Facebook Live or joint webinar together, or being a guest speaker at a virtual training summit or podcast for your industry, you want to be getting your message out there. Speaking will not only expose your business to new and wider audiences, granting you access to people and places you’ve never had touchpoints with before, but it will elevate your brand profile and your wealth. You’ll gain additional credibility and trust within your market. You’ll be seen as the go-to expert in your subject matter. You’ll change perceptions. You’ll attract relationships with leads and partners that lead to new business opportunities. And you’ll grow your confidence, allowing you to speak on bigger and better stages. Now if you’re thinking, ‘Olga, you’re nuts. There is no way in hell I’m getting up on a stage and speaking to a crowd full of strangers,’ I’ll be the first to tell you: I know exactly how you feel. I used to be absolutely petrified of public speaking. My heart would race. My palms would get sweaty. My voice would all but disappear. And I’d go straight into flight mode (forget the fight), conjuring up a way to run straight out of there, as fast as possible, no matter the consequences. In fact, I was so scared of speaking, I couldn’t even raise my hand in class during my school years, including the first two years of college. The keywords here are used to, though. I took charge and did something about it (in fact, it’s now one of my favorite activities) – and so can you. Was it challenging? Yes. Did I forget what to say or stumble over my words? Yes. Did people reject me? No. Actually, they empowered and motivated me. I realized that my fear and anxiety was coming from stories I was telling myself, which had formed from a deep subconscious belief – a belief that only I had the power to rewrite. Of course, I still get nervous at times (I’m not dead after all!). But I use that brief butterfly in the stomach moment to keep me on my toes. It flutters around for a moment and then vanishes as soon as I remember what I’m there for: to influence others. When you start to worry about what might go wrong or how you’ll be perceived, here’s one quick thing I want you to try: shift your focus away from yourself and onto your audience. What do they need? What are they experiencing? What are their fears? And how can you help them? By shifting the focus from your needs to theirs, you’ll see that you have much to give. Once you get into the habit of speaking, and let go of the anxiety and resistance that may come with it, you’ll recognize that there’s an entirely new world waiting for you – one where you can make an impact and lead people toward action and change through the journey they take with you. Bottom line In a global environment where competition is fierce, you can’t afford to be the world’s best-kept secret. If you don’t highlight your stories, experiences and achievements, someone else will highlight theirs, reeling your audience away from you. You can’t expect prospects to sit around thinking about you. You have to prompt them to do so. Continuously. Otherwise, you’ll be forgotten like last week’s dinner. Give them the best experience. Show up in places you haven’t before. Flip conversations. And embrace the narrative. Self-promotion isn’t shameful. It’s like oxygen for your business. So, will you let yours breathe or suffocate? Its future belongs to you. Is your brand a best-kept secret but you don’t want it to be? Book a call with me here or hit me up on social, and we’ll explore how to give your brand an unforgettable voice so it can be remembered above all the rest of the noise. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Olga! Olga Zapisek, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Going on 17 years of combined experience in media and marketing, Olga Zapisek helps purpose-driven, visionary and ambitious female coaches, CEOs, corporate renegades, and small-to-medium sized businesses in health, wellness & spirituality; real estate & interior design; beauty; and business & personal development to: unlock their growth potential and elevate their brand voice; increase their community & impact; and improve their digital footprint & success mindset through bespoke done-with-you coachsulting programs and done-for-you thought leadership, copywriting and content marketing services that engage and connect at the heart. In fact, she’s on a mission to inspire global healing and shape the digital future by helping women step fiercely into their business ascension and discover new ways to magnify their success, passion, voice and stories. Why? So they can live their version of a first-class life, become catalysts of influence and change, and deliver exceptional experiences to their target market by embracing and spotlighting the expert within.

Written by: Carla Atherton, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Health is a word that holds so many meanings that it has, in essence, lost all meaning. So, the words I use when I talk about this subject are Deep Wellness. Deep Wellness is not only harmony and feeling pretty good most of the time in the physical body, but also in the mind, the emotional body, and the soul/spirit, as well. As most of us know by now, it’s a package deal. And these are not just pretty words but universal truths. Deep Wellness equates to feeling flow, meaning, and purpose in life (including, and sometimes as a result of, the challenges you encounter or the pain you may experience) and: To be healthy and happy (vital). To feel harmony and wholeness. To access these states through experiencing life fully. To share that with others. And this requires harmony in all aspects of the self, including, as I said, not only in the physical body, but also in mind, the emotional body, and the soul/spirit. Let’s further define and explore this notion of Deep Wellness: I will tell you first that it is not perfection in our socially constructed sense of the word; it is not purity in that only light exists and no darkness; it is not feeling any discomfort, it is not a final destination of ascension, it is not an end result or a promised state of nirvana or heaven that is not accessible to most people. These notions of health reek, no drip, with condescension, judgment, and piety, and they are not attainable or even what we might want. For me, I choose to live in this body, in this life, warts and all, while at the same time experiencing the unshakable essence of Deep Wellness. So, what is it, then? Deep Wellness is a connection to self, others, the world around us, the universe, where we have the capacity and wherewithal and trust in ourselves to move through uncomfortable states, always experiencing and learning, whole, holding the paradox of bliss and despair at the same time. Deep Wellness is joy, eros, awe that exist even as you cry, get angry, experience physical injury or discomfort. It is a dance with effort and non-effort, embracing what is and its totality; it is presence, being here now, courageous, fully alive. Deep Wellness is being able to move from survive to thrive, even when survival is all we seem to have at times. Health is a dance not a destination. “Healing is the return to what is original to you.” ‒ RJ Spina It is not fixing what is “broken.” Because we are not broken. The purpose of desiring Deep Wellness is not to seek perfection, but to realize the perfection that already exists. Happiness isn't even the word. It's ecstatic, it's joyful, it's vital, fulfilled, full of purpose. And that purpose doesn't have to be defined with words or a mission statement or a grand declaration, or that we fail as a human being if we don't “discover” what it is. It is not one thing. Deep Wellness involves reconnecting to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us/the universe. Deep Wellness is stepping into the flow of life, your life. And as we do that, as we experience our own existence and experience in its totality with discernment and curiosity (this sadness is normal, this big muscle is useful) rather than judgment (this sadness is bad, this big muscle is good), the purpose of life, itself, reveals itself to us. How’s that for a leap beyond just slogging along trying to be “healthy?” Big shifts for today Judgment into Discernment Tolerance into Love Check back for the next installment of this series: Shifting from Chronic Health Conditions, Emotional Strife, and Stress into Kick-ass Health Empowerment Session 5: You Have So Much More Than You Think Visit Carla’s website for more support, information , and opportunities for your health empowerment. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Carla! Carla Atherton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carla Atherton, MA (Masters in English Literature with heavy study in Psychology and Gender Studies), FDN-P (Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner), Transformational Nutrition Coach, Epidemic Answers Health Coach, Creator of the “Inspired Shift Method”, is a Health Empowerment Coach, Youth Wellness Coach, the Creator and Director of the Healthy Family Formula and the HFF Practitioner Training Academy, Host and Producer of the Children’s Health Summit, Author of Family Health Revolution, Mountains Rise from Earthquakes Writing Experience Facilitator, Holistic Family Health Consultant, Yoga Instructor and Mind/Body Facilitator, and Children’s Health Advocate. Carla works with people from all over the world to make any diagnosis irrelevant, to get out of their own way and into the ecstatic state of Deep Wellness they can and MUST enjoy through information, support, guidance, inspiration, and empowerment.

Hillary Feder is a trusted partner and visionary leader in shaping culture and employee engagement, and the client experience. She excels at unlocking the power of human emotion to bring people closer together and fulfill her company’s mission – making people who matter, feel like they matter. Her comprehensive process combines creativity with strategy, asking pertinent questions, intentional listening, and insightful analysis to present authentic recommendations for each client’s unique set of needs. She brings down-to-earth strategies that align with the client’s objectives, message, voice and brand. Her work nurtures relationships and provides tangible business results through greater stakeholder (employee and client) retention. She is an avid reader and chronic idea generator. Outside of work, you can find her with family and friends, in the kitchen baking, gardening, hiking or at the lake. Hillary Feder People may forget what you said, people may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou Introduce yourself! We would love to learn about who you are! My early years were stepping-stones on the journey to where I am today. I always created things when I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted on a shelf. From embroidering a shirt to baking sweets, I made things my own to make them special. I picked up my mom’s practice of remembering people on their special day -‒ sending a card, planning an activity, or baking something. Being with people I care about is deeply important to me – so much so that it is reflected in my company’s mission – to make the people who matter, feel like they matter. My professional journey started at Boston University where I studied business with a major in marketing and organizational behavior. After graduation, I went to work in a department store’s buying program learning the ropes of merchandising plans, analyzing sell-throughs, and looking for trends. Four years later I was promoted to a senior buyer in women’s apparel, specifically petite sportswear. Petite sportswear at this time was an emerging size range. Manufacturers made “wear to work.” My employer, Dayton’s, was a forerunner, and our customers quickly asked for weekend wear, which manufacturers were not making. Dayton’s leadership decided they wanted weekend wear “now” and created a path for me. I met with one of our store’s trend directors and our overseas offices to become educated on how to make something from nothing. I learned how to create specifications and a limited product line assortment that would fulfill our customers’ requests. Fast forward to being a young mom standing in a toy aisle with my then three-year-old son, Joel, looking for a birthday gift for his preschool friend ‒ the youngest of three boys in his family. I couldn’t imagine what toy we would purchase that they did not already have. This was an aha moment. I took my son to the coloring book aisle and told him he could pick any coloring book. We went to a craft store and I purchased a light box, a white t-shirt, fabric paint, and a magic pen. When we got home, I told Joel he could pick any picture and we would paint it on the shirt. I needed the light box because I was not an artist; I could not even draw a straight line with a ruler. I put the coloring book page between the light box and t-shirt and drew the dinosaur he picked onto the shirt. Joel told me what color and where and I painted. When we were finished, I added his friend’s name to the shirt. At the party I watched my son proudly walk up to his friend with the package, telling his friend, “I made this just for you.” Then I watched his friend open the package with unbridled joy as he squealed, “Dinosaur,” and his mom pointed out it had his name on it. Deciding this was a success, I asked Joel if he would like to do something like this with a different picture for all his friends’ birthday party gifts. I did this as a solution to a problem: finding just the right gift for little people that already had lots of toys. Soon other moms to asked me to make these kinds of t-shirts for their nieces and nephews as gifts and other little people in their lives. It was a satisfying creative evening outlet –perfectly timed to a departure from Dayton’s. I loved what I did at Dayton’s, but it wasn’t a good fit for raising my young family as I had visioned. It did not take long for my sister-in-law, 14 years my senior, to suggest that I could paint on other objects to solve her gift giving needs: sweet 16 and graduation gifts. I investigated the local wholesale market, registered a business name with the state, and began creating my own assortment that would be meaningful for key personal gifting moments. I researched local companies that I could contract with for embroidery, engraving, etc. It was my personal quest to find and create distinctive gifts for friends and family that would become valued keepsakes for recipients – to create something you couldn’t find on a shelf! A few short years into this endeavor one of my clients ordered a customized piggy bank and asked me to ship it. Since we shipped to a home address and the enclosure message was signed with a first name, I assumed the gifter was a friend or family member. The person who received the gift called me the day she received it and informed me, “This was the best baby gift I have ever gotten. How do I open a corporate account?” I had received many gifts from work colleagues when I had my children, but they fell flat. I wanted to dig deeper and learn how to make the people who matter feel like they matter. I asked the piggy bank recipient a few questions. She told me the whole story of how she and her husband thought they were having a girl, but instead had a third boy. She had received lots of cards, flowers, and clothes, but nothing as personal as this, and it struck a chord. The woman worked for a large brokerage house and thought it would be fitting to gift her clients with a personalized piggy bank when they had a baby. Another aha moment. It set my wheels in motion. I thought: I bet there are other companies that might have an interest. The next stage of my business was born. I began serving companies with ways to recognize and honor the birth of children, sympathy for personal loss, send get-well wishes, etc. Shortly thereafter my clients asked me to create mementos for all sorts of business recognition moments: safety awards, metric-based awards, company milestones, etc. I was told over and over that there were others doing this sort of thing, but my approach is different, and my ideas were different. I could see the opportunity to tie recognition to much larger parts of how organizations were run and how these organizations could reach people in a more personal way. I became a researcher, marketer, creator, and chief strategist to assemble what was not readily available. One watershed event led to another, I began to study and understand what triggers emotion, the link between neuroscience and emotion. At the same time, I also worked to determine the details and elements I could add to “mementos” that would enhance their brand and set themselves apart from competitors. The deeper I got into this the more I realized that often the person I was working with, who I assumed was an expert in recognition since that is what they were asking for help with, was not. In fact, it was most often not an integral part of their responsibility, and they just wanted to check the box. I started asking more questions to understand the bigger picture inside their company. I wanted to make sure that what they were asking for fit into the bigger picture. There were many disconnects, and I realized I could do more for the people I was serving. Clients began to understand how a series of moments create feelings and build culture. I initiated a process that pushed my clients to stand back and look at the bigger picture – how to generate more productivity from people, retain people, have people feel appreciated, nurture relationships, etc. This became the cornerstone of consulting, strategy development, coaching and program design portion of the company I lead today. I partner with clients to build their cultures – cultures you can’t buy off the shelf and that are as unique as the organizations they exist in. In many ways, I am extending my life’s experiences ‒ and my earliest memories to continue creating ways that add to the richness and meaning of our lives at home and at work. At the end of the day, I am curious and entrepreneurial at heart. I am an avid reader and chronic idea generator. Outside of work, you can find me spending time with family and friends hanging out, baking, gardening, hiking, and being by a lake. You write blog posts, have contributed to a book and do some speaking. What inspires you? People and caring for people. Today’s business environment is more complex, with a more diverse, multi-generational, technologically enriched workforce, and client pool. People view their work as an extension of who they are and when the workplace contributes to personal fulfillment and enhanced opportunities people give more, are more connected and bring their whole selves. What kind of company do you focus your business towards? I believe deeply that people – not machines, raw materials, or facilities ‒ are a company’s most valuable resource. Our work is focused on middle market companies and business operating units in larger companies in a variety of industries with a people-centric approach. While leaders believe this is important and sounds simple, they’ve discovered it is not always easy. These organizations have turned to me (or someone like me) as an outside resource for guidance. The business environment is complex and often people, from individual contributors to senior leaders, are working with tight deadlines to create meaningful outcomes. At the same time, people by nature can be messy. Unlike machines people have feelings, and anyone with any life experience knows life is not always smooth sailing. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. In 1997 Nancy, the Director of Physician Relations at Medtronic, asked to see me. She was planning a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the first external pacemaker, a product that the company founder invented. She told me they were planning a celebration for 150 people and would like to know if we could make a pillbox in the shape of the first external pacemaker. In my head, I knew I could do this. In my heart, I wondered if this would be the right “memento” for the audience. I questioned myself: do I execute what she has asked, or do I question a senior professional and possibly lose what would be a lucrative opportunity? I voted for getting the work done correctly. I asked who would be attending the event. She looked me in the eye and said KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) of course and some company leaders. I shared with her my concern that this would not be the right memento based on what I have learned about KOLs in the time I had worked with her. They are seasoned in their profession (code for 50+ in age), traditionalists at the core (Brooks Brothers navy blue suit and rep stripe tie) and anything that makes the heart work to provide quality of life is a piece of art to KOLs. Therefore, I thought a pillbox in the shape of the first external pacemaker, if she expected them to use it, would likely not get used. She sat back in her chair, thanked me, and asked what I thought we should do. I told her I needed a couple of days to think about it. A couple of days later I came back with this idea: A replica size of the first external pacemaker Dropped into a prism of acrylic (a prism shape allows you to see the front and back of an object at the same time based on the shape) Have the inventor and company founder’s signature engraved into the acrylic (like an artist’s signature) and have them numbered 1 to 150 ‒ as a limited edition Presented with a companion print piece telling the moving story of Dr. Lillehei from the University of MN approaching Earl Baaken, a scientific engineer and founder of the medical device company, to help him. When the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St Paul had brownouts (not enough electricity), Dr. Lillehei got blue babies, and he needed a solution. Nancy accepted this as a brilliant idea, and we made 150 limited edition pieces. This memento captured attendees’ hearts. Medtronic went on to use this as an instrumental piece in their recognition program (not as a limited edition) for five additional years because it was something everyone wanted. This gave me the courage to push for the best always and guide all our clients to touch their key stakeholders’ hearts as a way to deeply nurture relationships with those who are trusted and true. What are your current goals for your business? Creating work environments where people want to be. Where humanity exists. Where clear communication, meaningful recognition, and authenticity rule of the day. Today it is easy to automate so much through technology to make things more efficient, and the human gesture is too often lost in the shuffle. People need to be cared for in their work environment as people first and employees second. You say that a current goal is to create a working environment where people want to be. Could you give a few examples of what would need to be implemented? Creating a working environment where people want to begin with making those who matter to your organization feel like they matter. Creating this environment requires six key tenants that are embedded into how an organization works. When done well, people-centric practices more deeply connect people to each other and their company, which results in a working environment where people want to be. Company leaders will see more creative solutions, innovation, and greater retention. These six core tenants create greater connectivity, engagement, and bottom-line success. The tenants are specific in how they contribute, similar to building a house. Your foundation must be rock solid, or you are building a precarious house of cards that will all topple down. Communication. Clear, direct, and follow-through leads to success. Effective communication is the foundation that fosters a good working relationship while acting as a conduit to success. Recognition. What gets recognized gets repeated. Create an environment where people feel valued and appreciated for their contributions. Recognition is not always about big milestone moments. Sometimes it includes the small, every day, accomplishments that can often get over-looked. Authenticity. Walk the Talk. When leaders walk the talk, the workplace more naturally aligns with and reinforces a company’s values and business goals. Collaboration. Work together and work smarter. A collaborative environment encourages employees and teams to cooperate, share information, and recognize that the sum is greater than the whole of the parts. Autonomy. Empower your people to work independently. People will also thrive with a healthy dose of opportunities to own their work. Development. Encourage learning moments, not perfection. Empower people to take ownership, grow their knowledge and skills. Encourage calculated risks. People-centric practices become like a living organisms within your organization. They become dynamic and need ongoing management. You will find their power reverberates to the bottom line through employee productivity and client commitment. How companies institutionalize people-centric practices to engage their entire constituency—employees, clients, suppliers, partners, the marketplace, and the community—determines in large part their ability to grow. What are the most common issues companies face in the process of creating a corporate culture that drives success? Creating a culture that drives success is somewhat like gardening. You plant seeds, and your water. The key to success is in watering regularly with just the right amount. The right amount often needs to be adjusted based on other influences (sun and heat, or rain and cold). Too much water and the plant will drown, not enough water and the plant will wither. In the rapid-fire speed of today’s business environments, there are several issues that when not tended to on a regular basis affect culture. We think of these issues as the weight-bearing pillars used to build a house. These key pillars can only stand when there are core foundational tenants working in harmony underneath. Lack of clarity. When communication is vague or has ambiguity. Roles and responsibilities are not well-defined. Feedback is infrequent or missing. What success looks like is not precise. All of these and more lead to an environment that creates barriers to a solid culture. Lack of humanity. When you are unable to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand their needs, it’s difficult to respond with compassion. People are often juggling professional and personal lives, and sometimes they just do not go together well. This can cause stress and affect their work. Supporting your team in their difficult moments with empathy will help them feel valued and cared for. Empathy fosters better communication skills and is a serious trust builder. Lack of trust. When leaders tell their team what needs to be done and they as the leaders are not modeling it themselves, the leader losses their influence and experiences credibility issues related to values, respect, and trust ‒ all affecting culture. Actions need to speak as loud as words. By creating well thought out systems to track progress, transparency in communication, and appropriate professional development, organizations create trust. Trust is not something you get; trust is earned. At the same time, trust is fragile. A breach of trust takes longer to regain than it does to break. Tell us how you advise clients to strengthen relationships. Nurturing relationships is what we’re all about. The most basic tenant in this process is communication. The three most important aspects of that communication are frequency, purpose, and clarity. Make time for your clients and show you care. While our roots are in creating meaningful, customized business gifts, we started asking deeper questions to ensure our client’s recognition was intentional. Their blank looks spoke volumes. They were rife with sales and marketing plans, but didn’t have a people engagement plan for motivating, encouraging, and honoring. We responded by formalizing a process for assessing current practices, developing comprehensive strategies, implementation plans beyond recognition, and a method to measure and modify that takes into account the big picture. This process makes the people who matter most to their business—employees, clients, and partners—feel like they matter. We also believe deeply in adding value beyond the work our clients transact with us. We create this value by working to deeply understand their organization and their industry, proactively thinking about where they are and where they are trying to go, and consistently presenting ideas. We are comprehensively thinking of our clients – even when they may not be thinking of themselves. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. Over the last 34 years, I have taken an idea, nurtured it, reshaped it, cared for it, watered it, and continued to reshape it with each new aha. The nucleus of what I do: making people who matter, feel like they matter, has not changed in 34 years. How that has manifested itself has changed dramatically to align with changes in the business climate and social norms. Perhaps that makes adaptation my greatest career achievement so far. As an employer, what are your top 3 tips to get your employees more engaged? When your people believe you care about them beyond the work they do, you are creating the conditions for greater engagement. Ideas to practice include: Empathy. When you lead with your heart, hands, and head, you are positioned to treat employees like a person that you care about. People will always be people first and your employee, client, or supplier second. Build in one-to-one time. A cadence which creates one-to-one time with each of your direct reports on a regular basis provides dividends. The actual time to set aside will vary. The point is to keep up with who they are as people, what is happening in their personal and professional lives, and their goals. This insight guides a leader to support their people in the most authentic and purposeful way. Ask curious questions. Ask curious, open-ended questions and listen to hear. This approach opens communication that is not only motivating, but also generates creative and innovative ideas while strengthening the mind muscle. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? First and foremost, my parents. My mom was amazing at always remembering people’s birthdays and wedding anniversaries. She would spend hours in card stores looking for just the right card. When she found it, she would write their name on the gummy section of the envelope and drop it into a 12-month accordion folder. That person or couple would always receive a special card from her to honor their special day. You didn’t need to be someone super close to her; she did this for everyone she knew. She often told me others collect “things” (china, figurines, coins), but she collected “people” and the connections only people can make. Who I am and the development of the “premise” of my business is a reflection of my mom. My dad was also amazing in different ways. He was a retail executive, amazingly creative, and a critical thinker. If you went to him looking for help, he would ask you questions to push you to think more deeply about the issue and solve it on your own. Unless we were going to jump off a bridge onto concrete, he pushed my siblings and me to learn to think. This is a quality that has served me well. Entrepreneurs carve their own path, so independent critical thinking skills and the ability to reason about how much risk to take has been instrumental in moving me to where I am today. Lastly, there are so many others who have played important niche roles from my husband to my children, friends, and business colleagues, and mentors. If you are open to opportunities and listen, there is always something to hear that will inspire you to be the best you can be. How can people contact you? They can learn more through our blog, connect with me on LinkedIn or drop me an email here. You can also visit my website here!

Written by: Marja West, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Happy Spring Fall—depending on where you are on our great earth! It’s been a long minute since my last article. To be fully transparent, I’ve been in a dark and challenging place, slowly recovering from a ski accident in January, resulting in a torn right meniscus and concussion, which put me on a painful-despair-filled mental-emotional roller-coaster ride. The surprising failure of my visualisations and reality creation intentions toward my goal to learn to ski, being physically immobile, unable to drive, and feeling very unwell because of the concussion, tested the resolve of my usually Sunny self, causing me to doubt myself. Learning to ski has always been on my bucket list. I was super stoked to receive a private two-hour lesson at a nearby ski resort as a gift. As a huge fan of the Abraham-Hick Law of Attraction Teachings, I did my usual reality creation ritual, prepaved and prepared for my lesson and epic experience, utilising visualisation and watching several YouTube videos on Skiing For Beginners. Never in a million years did I envision anything less than a stellar experience of finally learning to ski and adding another activity to share with my partner. My enthusiasm and excitement were off the charts. I even manifested several beautifully functional skiwear ensembles that fit me perfectly. In my mind, I envisioned a hot and romantic ski getaway with my man and being introduced to learning ski basics at a pace that allowed flow and fun. Even With The Best Intentions — Shit Still Happens Despite my epic visioning and positively affirmed intentions, snags began as soon as when we hit the road to the ski resort 3 hours north. The weather was precarious and included bizarre roadway detours. The mountain scenery was gorgeous, snowy, bright, and dangerous, slowing us down to a four-wheel drive 5-20 mph crawl! We made the best of the in-the-Matrix glitches, listening to beautiful new music by Brian Culbertson from his Trilogy Albums. When we arrived at the ski lodge, though my partner was confirmed a couple of months prior as the performing magician for their annual winter gala that evening, we were not in the resort’s guest system. The front desk person curtly explained that she would need authorisation from their corporate offices to book us for our extended VIP Guest stay, and none of those qualified to make such decisions was at the lodge presently as it was the weekend. Thank God-Goddess-All-That-Is for technology! We texted our contact for the event, who happened to be at the lodge. She reassured us that we would be checked into our room within a few hours, so we explored the small town, found a place to have lunch, and then picked up my ski equipment rental, where my partner performed some magic card tricks. Then we scoped out the gala location, where I got to play a beautiful, neglected grand piano. We checked into our room with enough time for my man to dress up for the gala. I kissed him, wished him a fabuloso show, and took out my journal, making myself cosy with my delicious brie cheese and white wine. I began affirming and visioning my intentions for tomorrow’s ski lesson, practising putting my ski boots on and walking around the room. I went to sleep feeling confident and excited! Yikes! I Manifested a Bully Ski Instructor Perhaps I was just naïve. Walking around the room with the ski boots on was one thing—but walking to the shuttle stop to get to the ski area was an awkward shocker, as was the walk from the shuttle to the meeting post for my lesson. Initially, my instructor seemed personable and nice enough, but I quickly realised he was NOT tuned into me. He seemed over-caffeinated, talking way too fast, hell-bent on following some invisible script and timeline like he had to be elsewhere. He didn’t seem to understand that I was an uber-beginner and I’d never put on actual skis. He did NOT adjust his pacing, which stressed me out. Several times, I asked him to slow down, but he ignored my requests. I was constantly trying to keep up. After briefly instructing me how to put the skis on, he had me “sashaying” after him up to the ski lift! What? The lesson was nothing as I envisioned, nor seen on the YouTube videos where I watched inspiring ski instructors teach ski basics to their eager beginners: like walking in skis to start. I asked him to slow down, but he kept motioning for me to follow him. I was terrified. It was super busy with many snowboarders and skiers. And there I was skis on for not more than five minutes in line for the lift, with no instructions from him other than to follow him. Luckily I was experienced in getting on and off aerial trams with small children in tow, so I managed the lift, but rather than advocate for myself, I went into denial that I was dealing with a bully, trusting and hoping that I was in good hands, when clearly, I was Not. I went with his flow. OMG! Huge mistake! Long story short, I crashed and fell hard over a dozen times in my endeavours to imitate his movements. He was annoyed that I had watched YouTube, accusing me of having too much useless information in my head. He knocked my helmet hard with his fist several times and told me I was overthinking. I was offended. At one point, I shut him out, found my flow through recalling video instructions, and successfully made a dozen nice turns down the mountain, which I later learned my partner witnessed. Unfortunately, I crashed trying to avoid a collision, getting my legs and skis tangled up—I heard and felt my right knee crunch and tear! The pain was excruciating. It knocked the wind out of me. Tearfully, I called out for help to straighten my leg, which was bent at a very sharp angle behind me, my right ski pinned by my left leg. He didn’t care and coldly stated, “if you can get yourself up, you’re NOT that hurt.” Wow! I should’ve stayed down, but I didn’t. Barely able to see through my tears, I painfully rallied for a third trip up the lift and down the mountain and crashed harder, hitting my head on the hard-packed snow. This time, I was done. I could NOT get myself up—I was stuck and in so much pain that I couldn’t move. Impatiently, he yanked me up; my head was reeling, and my right leg throbbed sharply. Lacking empathy and compassion, he never once asked me if I was okay. He urged me to continue skiing down the rest of the way; I refused, and my skis were removed. He left me injured and alone to navigate the rest of the way down the mountain. He said, “You are so close to having things click. Get out of your head!” He finished by indicating that while it wasn’t by any means the ski resort’s policy—that I should smoke a joint or drink two margaritas and get back on my skis later that afternoon. He handed me his card and skied away. What a psychopath! I later learned that as a PSIA Ski instructor, he was required to report my injury to Ski Patrol, and Ski Patrol would’ve come to get me to transport me down the mountain. My boyfriend eventually found me and helped me the rest of the way. It took over 40 minutes to return to our room. The trek back did NOT help my injury. Every step was beyond painful, negotiating the slippery steps from the ski area back to our room. My knee had blown up, and luckily, I had packed ice. I had zero confidence in any outside help; what else could I do but begin the healing process? Healing Through the Gift of Revision That was over nine weeks ago. I finally feel like I’ve turned a corner. I’ve felt anger, betrayal, frustration, disappointment, shame, guilt, vengeance, and despair. I’ve spent hours ruminating over details, crying, learning to negotiate how to go up and down the stairs, and dealing with pain and dizziness. Every day, I do my physical therapy strengthening and flexibility exercises. I can finally do an abbreviated version of Sun Salutations, minus knee bends. I wrote to the ski resort twice to report my experience with the instructor’s negligence and received no reply, leaving me feeling upset and powerless. I fantasised about suing the resort and the instructor. Still, I did sign a waiver of liability, so I decided to deal with my hard feelings metaphysically and practice the Ho’opono’pono Forgiveness Prayer. More forgiveness, please. The Reverse-Engineering Reality through Revision journalling exercise eventually yielded relief for me through the numerous versions I’ve since written out. The version that truly landed for me was the version where I stopped the lesson from the very start of feeling bullied. Revision is a deceptively simple journaling exercise: Choose a painful event, a break-up, an accident, a conversation that blew up, or a mistake. View it from your mind’s eye and in a journal, especially if you have trouble focusing, revise and rewrite it, moment by moment until you have morphed it into a pleasing version. Rewrite it and revise it to your liking so that your Revision makes you smile and uplifts you. With practice, you will notice that your coming days will conform to your revisions After you write this out, you can either reread it or, in your imagination, in your mind’s eye, relive it repeatedly. At first, it will seem odd and surreal, but remember that your mind doesn’t care if what you’re thinking or focusing on is actual or imaginary. Eventually, you’ll find yourself experiencing your revisions, as this practice, if really lived in your mind through your focused Attention and practise of this powerful exercise—I promise you, your tomorrows WILL shift. Let us affirm together our power as Grand Creators of Reality: I am complete within. I have everything inside. I am my authority and advocate. When I meet people who disappointed me today, they will not tomorrow, for I’ve changed the nature of that being and have changed them. They bear witness tomorrow to the Revision that took place within me. Through this practice of Reverse Engineering Reality through Revision, it is my responsibility to tend to the garden of my life and make it a beautiful lush garden by utilising the pruning shears of Revision and watching the Matrix world dissolve and evolve into the beautiful garden of my awesome life in the Beautiful True Quantum Field Creation Field Universe—because I’ve consciously made it so. And so, it is. Thank you for reading along. I trust you found this helpful. Please trust yourselves. When something feels off—it’s because it is. Check out my YouTube video on The 7 Benefits of Reverse-Engineering Reality Through Revision here. Until next time, here’s to Love, Truth, and Beauty! Marja (mahrrr-ya) Love Truth & Beauty Self-Love Self-Care Video Playlist Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marja! Marja West, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marja (pronounced Mahrrr-ya) West is an author, mentor of The Hermetic~Natural Law Principles, and a leading expert in Energy Mastery, Reality Creation, and Trauma-Based Mind Control DeActivator focusing on handholding survivors of Human Trafficking, Rape Camps, Satanic Ritual Abuse, Cult/Tribal, and NSP Abuse (Narcissistic-Sociopathic-Psychopathic), to evolve from Victim to Victorious. Well-known for her zero-filtered-laugh-out-loud humour and disarming, electrifying presentations, Marja is the author of the book F'd Wide Open: The Rude Awakening of the Heart-Based New Humanity. She is also a medical intuitive, martial artist, singer, multi-instrumentalist-musician, dancer, and plant lover.

Written by: Daisy Raudales Public relations (PR) is an essential component to include in your marketing strategy in order to share your brand story, to increase your brand awareness, and to gain positive credibility in the media and the public. One of the most successful ways you can achieve this is through active media pitching which involves pitching your business story to key media outlets. Whether you want to share a newsworthy announcement, information about an upcoming event, or a new product launch, pitching your story to the media can play a huge role in your business growth and overall success as it not only brings awareness but it allows others to trust in your brand too. But the way you plan your story, the manner you write your pitch, and the journalist you decide to connect with, matters in the process. It can either make or break your chances of getting noticed. PR can be a complex process and requires thorough research, strategic thinking, and careful planning. To help you through the pitching process here are eight tips that have proven effective to pitch your brand successfully and to secure coverage in the media. 1. Create an Editorial Calendar: To help you determine the perfect story, we recommend creating a quarterly editorial calendar that includes external and internal topic ideas. Potential topics to pitch include sharing about an upcoming product/service, details about an upcoming event, your business story, your entrepreneurial journey and much more. 2. Identify Your Story: Once you've identified your story, you'll want to determine what makes your story so unique, different, and appealing to the media. Jot down what makes your story different than others and any important notes you’d like to mention. 3. Establish Your Reach: Determine, where your story, will best be shared? Is it at the local, national, or global level? It is important to keep this in mind when you create your media list. 4. Build and Curate a Media List: Next, you'll want to create your media list and research contacts in your niche that would be most interested in your story idea. Make sure you take note of important details such as their contact information, any recent articles they have written relating to your story topic as well as additional notes about the journalist. 5. Connect Before Pitching: Interact, connect and engage with the contacts on your list whether through social media or an in-person event to help you build a relationship. Your goal is to get your name in front of the eyes of your targeted media contacts so they can become familiar with you. 6. Craft your Pitch: Your pitch is all about, relevance, timing and sometimes luck. Keep your pitch concise, short, and include the 5 W’s in less than two paragraphs. Your pitch should be no longer than one page and include key points about your story. When pitching about your product/service a useful strategy is to offer the journalist a gift of your product/service so they can have the opportunity to try it first-hand. 7. Be Media Ready: Be prepared to follow-up, answer any questions the media may have, and have all your notes ready. It is essential to answer journalists in a quick and effective manner to keep your story in the minds of the journalists. 8. Track and Amplify your Coverage: Track your media placements and share them across important content marketing platforms including your email newsletter, social media, website, and more! Get ready to emerge and become globally recognized in the media with these proven techniques! Share your business story with confidence and gain the credibility you deserve. Looking for personalized support with your media pitch? Contact DRPR today to book a free consultation and get in touch.

Written by: Jeff Altman, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Until this point, you have had a track record of success throughout your career and, perhaps personally. It is why this job cut feels particularly severe. You have been the person who made decisions about others. Many have been difficult ones that have affected others and now you are on the receiving end of one. Maybe you’ve known it might be coming. After all, the economy has become complicated and your portfolio has shrunk. Maybe, as in the past, you thought you might be able to ride out the economic hurricane as you have before. Not this time. As much as you think you know what to expect, you can’t be sure. This is new terrain (or maybe it has been a long time since it happened to you). A lot has changed since you last dipped your toe in the water. These are a few of the things recruiters know that you may not know or have forgotten. 1. It’s common to face challenges to your self-image that make you question yourself. They may arise because you no longer have the same authority and/or power you once had. People catered to you. Now, you are a professional “interpreter” who has to explain to others why you made certain decisions. It feels like interviewers are doubting you and what you accomplished, just like you did with the people you interviewed. This time it’s different because you are the one being doubted and that hasn’t happened to you in this venue in a long time, if ever. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. People hire me for no BS coaching and career advice globally. This is something you are going to have to deal with on your own. No one will be able to persuade you to not feel this way. You will until you get across the finish line and are hired for your new role. The best way to prepare for getting there is to prepare for your interviews like you prepared for meetings with the Board, the press, or anyone else or any situation you believed was important in the past. Act world-class. Never go into an interview or a discussion unprepared. 2. Positions like the last one you held don’t come along frequently. When you are contacted about one, listen carefully, ask great questions to find out more, and explore it unless it is at too low a level for you. You may be encouraged to take a step down to take the step up again. You may be tempted to do it because you may be feeling desperate. Maintaining your self-esteem has been critical to your professional and personal success to this point. They will see your acquiescence to a lower position as a weakness. Don’t allow yourself to look weak. It will cost you a lot at the time you receive a job offer because no one will want to negotiate with you. It's important to recognize that these feelings are normal and to address them in a proactive manner. One way to do this is by reframing your perspective and focusing on the opportunities that lie ahead. Think about how you can use your skills and experience in new and exciting ways, and how you can continue to make a positive impact in your field. 3. Ageism may be an issue for you with some firms, jobs and interviewers. The major way to defeat it is to become an industry-known expert so that people want to approach you about opportunities instead of you chasing after them. As I work with senior professionals globally, the ones who are most successful with a job search and in their careers are the ones who are on stage at conferences, interviewed for articles, podcasts, and articles in the press because they are “pre-qualified” for their expertise by the media outlets. Another way is writing a book about your expertise or articles for magazines and LinkedIn that allow your knowledge and abilities to be seen and evaluated by others. If you decided to write a book, it doesn’t need to be a best seller. Most business books aren’t. It doesn’t need to be long. Think of it as a business card for you and your knowledge that is available on Amazon for Kindle and as a paperback and reflects your expertise. Another way to defeat ageism is with passion and drive during interviews. Often, older professionals seem to have “lost a step.” Their drive, perseverance, and determination has mellowed. As was the case when you hired people, this isn’t seen as desirable. Don’t waste time “feeling people out” during interviews. Deal with them as you presuppose them to be. As is the case in your current career and personal like, 95 times out of a hundred, your instincts will be right. Don’t inhibit yourself with worry that you will make a mistake. The mistake is that: 4. When firms hire, they hire the person they trust most. Competence is only one thing firms evaluate for. They want to see self-confidence, a person with character with whom they have chemistry; they have a preference for charismatic people, a person they connect with, who cares about what they do. As an aggregate, these characteristics allow organizations to trust you or not. Recruiters know that if you hold back to “feel out the interviewer,” you risk missing an opportunity to connect with them because they may have already made a decision by the time you have started to open up to them. Don’t worry about making mistakes. Focus on delivering your message in a world-class manner. In most cases, you will be rejected if you play small. Be magnificent as a person. If you behave like everyone else, you are giving them little to connect to. 5. Your network will be the likely way you find your next role. The data is very clear that you are more likely to land your next role based upon who your network knows who you don’t know. I am not saying that your immediate connection chooses to bring you on. They know many people who you don’t know including other senior leaders and search firms who you can be introduced to by them. It is why as tempted as most recruiters are to hold onto you, they know that it is through your relationships with others that you are more likely to find your next role. 6. Expand your network. Expand your network of relationships to others like you. Join existing groups or create a new network of your own to bring people together for mutual support. Many I know will make excuses for why they can’t (won’t) do that. In fact, you’ve been doing this since you were small. You met new people at school and developed relationships and friendships. You did it at each employer you’ve ever worked for. Maybe as a very young boy or girl you were playing and a parent introduced you to their son or daughter and the two of you played with one another. Networking with new people is exactly the same. You are introduced or introduce yourself and find something in common. From there, you evolve to become mutually supportive friends. You are not competing with one another. You are supporting one another. Give more. Get more. 7. The more senior you are the more visible you need to be. What recruiters know that many of you don’t is that many searches start with Google, not just LinkedIn. LinkedIn is now everyone’s database. Your LinkedIn profile and resume need to be congruent. What a search pro will do is see the degree to which your leadership has been validated by public exposure. After all, your resume and/or LinkedIn profile is not the only quality one they will review. There are many experienced leaders who have accomplished terrific things as well. How can you stand out in their mind vs your competition? In one campaign I helped build to attract executive recruiter, we helped him get exposure on the stage at two conferences. With another, we worked together to have him co-author a book with another expert, as well as publish articles in well-regarded print media in his field. Another was interviewed on several podcasts and by several YouTubers who covered her field. Having that stamp as an expert proved valuable to each and helped each attract executive recruiters to them and elevate to more senior roles. 8. Wherever you can, get off the line and find another way in. American poet and publisher, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr (the father of the Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes) wrote, “The young man knows the rules but the old man knows the exceptions.” Too many people are excellent rule followers in their job search but do little to find the exceptions. As Alex Banayan, the author of The Third Door describes getting into a night club, “There are always three ways in. The First Door is the main entrance, where the line curves around the block. The Second Door is the VIP entrance, where the billionaires, celebrities, and the elite cut the line and waltz right in. But what no one tells you is that there is always, always the Third Door. It’s the entrance where you have to jump out of line, run down the alley, bang on the door a hundred times, crack open the window, sneak through the kitchen—there’s always a way." Many of you have developed compliant systems thinking that demand you wait on line to be chosen. Many recruiters have the creative thinking that helped them get the client to do the search for. However, they want you to wait on line. See if you can find another way in. 9. You are probably not their client’s “A” priority. I helped someone who was being considered for a Chief of Staff role to the President of a media company. He was told at a meeting that he would be brought back to meet the President again before a decision was made. Three weeks passed. Four weeks went by. “Why haven’t they scheduled yet,” he complained. “You know they are on a tour in Asia and opening new businesses. They probably haven’t given it a thought since leaving on the trip. Message the person who told you that you would be meeting with them and see when the trip was ending.” As frustrated as my client was, six weeks after the President left for Asia, he met the President and was hired. Remember, running the business, the division, the business unit, he department, the team and delivering results is their priority. Hiring is a tool to doing that. Delivering results is their focus just like getting a job is yours. As a former recruiter, I lived in the world of finding talent for my clients for many years. Now, people hire me for no BS career advice and coaching globally because I make things easier for people related to all elements of their career. Being in charge of your career requires you to put in effort to managing your career while examining and acting upon a few of the lessons you pick up from recruiters. There is a lot you can learn from noticing what recruiters do and how they do it that will help you professionally. Follow Jeff on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit his website for more info! Read more from Jeff! Jeff Altman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, is a career and leadership coach who helps people with their careers, including job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading, and resolving workplace-related issues while being the person they want to be in life. He has written 9 books and guides to job search and hiring, including "The Ultimate Job Interview Framework" and "The Right Answers to Tough Interview Questions." He is the host of No BS Job Search Advice Radio, the No.1 podcast in Apple Podcasts for job search with more than 2100 episodes, as well as JobSearchTV.com on YouTube, Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and 90+ smart sets. Jeff works with clients worldwide and is a popular speaker.

Written by: Rita Farruggia, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Your home environment is a factor when it comes to stimulating your thoughts and feelings. The way you decorate, organize, and maintain your living space can affect your mood, energy levels, and overall well-being. Studies have already showed how colors affect our mood. Symbols communicate to our unconscious mind. So, what does this mean for your home décor and the state of your well-being? Home décor touches every room in the house, from the garage to bedrooms, with various products geared towards creating a peaceful sanctuary. No matter your personality, you should strive to achieve a relaxing and serene atmosphere throughout your home. To achieve this, use salt lamps, aromatherapy diffusers for diffusing natural essential oils, crystal home décor such as crystal book-ends, crystal stands, crystal kitchen serving plates, a bowl of crystals, preserved roses (great alternative for busy professionals always on the go who do not have time for fresh flowers), plants, natural candles, and soothing sounds through meditation music. This article will give you some tips on how your home environment can help influence the state of your mind and help you create a Zen environment to stimulate a relaxed state of mind for mental clarity and inner peace. How your home environment affects mental health You may not realize it, but your environment greatly impacts your mental health. Our surroundings largely influence the moods and emotions we experience. Your environment could make a big difference in how well you feel. Here are some ways that the environment can affect your mental health: Physical Environment: This includes the condition of your home or apartment and its aesthetics. Is there clutter? Are there comfortable places to sit? Is it quiet or loud? Can you find items you are looking for easily? All these factors can affect how you feel. Social Environment: How much time do you spend with friends and family in your home? Do you have items in the home that can uplift spirits and are great conversation starters such as crystals and aromatherapy? Evening Environment: Does your bedroom instill a relaxing and calming environment that encourages you to fall asleep easily at night. A lot of people have sleep problems due to anxiety from an overthinking mind from the many demands of society. Having aromatherapy that stimulates relaxation helps to calm your nervous system so you can get good quality sleep that we all need to rejuvenate for the next day. Clutter can create stress: A cluttered home can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed. When you have too much stuff lying around, it can be difficult to focus on anything and can make it challenging to relax. On the other hand, a tidy home can create a sense of calm and help you feel more in control of your surroundings. Natural light can boost your mood: Exposure to natural light can help boost your mood and energy levels. It can also help regulate your sleep-wake cycle and improve your overall health. Try to maximize the amount of natural light in your home by opening blinds or curtains, or by adding more windows or skylights. Colors can affect your mood: The colors you choose for your home can have a significant impact on your mood. For example, blue is calming and can help promote relaxation, while red is energizing and can create a sense of excitement. Bright colors can make you feel more alert and focused, while muted colors can help create a peaceful atmosphere. Personalization can promote a sense of belonging: Adding personal touches to your home environment can help promote a sense of belonging and create a comforting atmosphere. Displaying personal photos, artwork, or other sentimental items can make you feel more connected to your living space and create a sense of security. Plants can improve air quality and reduce stress: Indoor plants can help improve air quality by removing toxins from the air. They can also help reduce stress levels by creating a sense of tranquility and improving overall well-being. Incorporating plants into your home environment can be a simple way to boost your mood and create a more peaceful atmosphere. Home updates that can improve your state of mind It is important to ensure your home environment has objects that symbolize love and peace. There are many ways to make your home environment more peaceful and relaxing. This can help you to feel calm, relaxed, and stimulate mental clarity. The following are just a few ways to improve your state of mind through home items: Use of crystals Crystals have been used for centuries in healing, meditation, and spiritual practices. Crystals positively affect the body's energy. Having crystals throughout your home radiates positive vibrations since crystals release healing energy. Everyone has books in their home. Therefore, you can have crystal bookends, and you can also have crystal kitchen supplies such as, a crystal agate serving platter, crystals on stands, and a bowl of crystals on your coffee table. You can buy unique crystals at the Happy Being Well. Here are some benefits of having crystals in your home: Promotes relaxation: Many crystals, such as amethyst and rose quartz, are believed to promote relaxation, and reduce stress. Placing these crystals in your home can create a calming atmosphere and help you feel more at ease. Improves sleep: Crystals such as amethyst and selenite are believed to have a calming effect on the mind and body, which can improve sleep quality. Placing these crystals in your bedroom or near your bed can help promote a restful night's sleep. Boosts creativity and productivity: Certain crystals, such as carnelian, clear quartz, and citrine, are believed to promote creativity, mental clarity and productivity. By placing these crystals in your workspace or creative area, you can help enhance your focus and productivity. Cleanses negative energy: Crystals such as black tourmaline and selenite are believed to have the ability to cleanse negative energy from your space. Placing these crystals in areas where negative energy may be present, such as near electronic devices or in high-traffic areas, can help purify the space and promote positive energy flow. Have aromatherapy diffusers Our sense of smell is powerful because our mind associates’ what we smell with certain states of mind. So having aromatherapy diffusers in your home is important to stimulate a particular mental state such as mental clarity. Diffusing essential oils such as peppermint, orange, and bergamot are some essential oils that promote mental alertness and mental clarity. Happy Being Well carries a blend of all essential oils that stimulate mental clarity called clarity to make your aromatherapy more effective. Aromatherapy when used with certain types of essential oils can also improve your sleep quality (lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil) reduce stress (bergamot and ylang-ylang), uplift your mood (lemon and peppermint), stimulate relaxation (lavender and chamomile), and purify the air in your home (tea tree essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil). To learn more about essential oils, you can download a free essential oil e-guide here. Natural candles & crystal candle holders Natural Candles are beautiful, fragrant, and relaxing. They can help create a soothing atmosphere in your home, perfect for unwinding after a long day at work or school. You can use them while reading a book, meditating, or watching TV with family or friends, or just by yourself on a rainy day. Candles also come in different scents and colors, so you can choose what works best for you. At Happy Being Well, you can get a variety of naturally scented candles. They also have a collection of Crystal Candle Holders, designed with crystals making it an ideal item to have in your home. A crystal candle holder can make your candle experience more magical and they are beautiful to look at. It's also a nice touch for guests who visit you during the holidays or other celebrations. Crystal candle holders come in many different shapes and sizes, also different types of crystal candle holders such as rose quartz, clear quartz, and amethyst. Salt lamps Salt lamps are increasingly popular because they have all kinds of health benefits, including purifying the air and reducing stress. But that’s not all — they can also improve your mood by making a room feel warmer and cozier. Salt lamps are made from natural Himalayan pink salt crystals. They are known for their therapeutic properties and benefits: Purifies the air: Salt lamps are believed to have the ability to purify the air by removing harmful particles such as dust, allergens, and pollutants. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with respiratory issues such as asthma or allergies. Reduces electromagnetic radiation: Electronic devices emit electromagnetic radiation, which can be harmful to our health. Salt lamps are believed to have the ability to neutralize this radiation and reduce its negative effects. Promotes relaxation: The warm, orange glow emitted by salt lamps can create a relaxing and calming atmosphere, helping to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Enhances mood: Salt lamps are believed to have a positive effect on mood and energy levels. They can help boost mood and create a more uplifting environment in your home. Improves sleep quality: The soft, warm glow emitted by salt lamps can create a relaxing and soothing environment, helping to promote better sleep quality. Boosts overall well-being: Salt lamps are believed to have a range of health and wellness benefits, including reducing stress, boosting mood, and promoting relaxation. They can also help to create a more peaceful and calming environment in your home, promoting overall well-being. Preserved roses Preserved roses are a great way to add color and beauty to any room, but they also have many other benefits. Preserved roses can improve your mood by releasing essential oils into the air. Most of us live busy lives and don't have the time to buy fresh flowers, and water them so purchasing preserved roses is your best option to have real roses that last a long time in your home to create a beautiful and Zen home environment. Preserved roses are real roses that have been treated with a special preservation process to extend their lifespan. Here are some of the benefits of having preserved roses in your home: Long-lasting beauty: Unlike fresh roses that can wither and die in a matter of days, preserved roses can last for months or even years with proper care. This means you can enjoy their beauty and elegance for an extended period of time. Low maintenance: Preserved roses require very little maintenance. Unlike fresh flowers that need regular watering and care, preserved roses can simply be displayed in your home without any special attention. Eco-friendly: Preserved roses are a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to fresh flowers. They do not require the use of pesticides or fertilizers, and their preservation process does not involve any harmful chemicals. Aromatherapy benefits: Many preserved roses are infused with natural essential oils, which can provide aromatherapy benefits such as promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and enhancing mood. Versatility: Preserved roses come in a variety of colors and styles, making them a versatile home decor option. They can be displayed in vases, as part of a floral arrangement, or even used to decorate your home for special occasions such as weddings or holidays. Overall, preserved roses can be a beautiful and sustainable addition to your home decor. With their long-lasting beauty, low maintenance, and aromatherapy benefits, they can provide a range of benefits for your mind and body while enhancing the ambiance of your living space. Bottom line Now that you have a better idea of how your home environment can affect your mental well-being and what to update to change your state of mind, why not start making some changes today? After all, small steps are much easier to take than big ones. Your home, after all, is where you go to relax. It should help you unwind and destress. Overall, your home environment can have a significant impact on your state of mind. By paying attention to your surroundings and making intentional choices about your decor, you can create a living space that promotes relaxation, creativity, and overall well-being. Stay updated with me and my content on Instagram, Happy Being Well Blog, and Facebook. Read more from Rita! Rita Farruggia, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rita Farruggia is the CEO and Founder of HappyBeingWell.com, with the mission of being the 1 Self-Care Community in the world. Her mission is to awaken a billion people globally to their love while teaching them how to love themselves, reprogram their subconscious, align with truth, universal laws, and create a daily spiritual practice that involves self-care practices. HappyBeingWell.com offers the tools/products, education, and inspiration to use in our daily spiritual & self-care practice. Rita believes a daily spiritual practice is not limited to yoga and/or meditation. The truth is when we are manually cleaning our dishes, we often go into a trance. This is also a form of meditation. Rita believes our personal hygiene (self-care) and home cleaning sessions can also be our spiritual practices. Self-care and spiritual practices changed Rita's life, increased her ability to love herself.

Written by: Railey Molinario, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As a leader, you hold a powerful vision for the future of your team, department, or company. You are poised for success with your wealth of abilities, knowledge, and expertise. But there's one crucial factor that could make or break your journey – relationship intelligence. Abandoned as a baby and left to sleep in the snow, I learned the value of resilience and determination early on. I understand the importance of this skill all too well, having overcome my difficult circumstances to become a thriving entrepreneur and industry leader. And while my mother's traumas prevented her from providing the care I needed, I refused to let that define me. Instead, I channelled my experiences into a passion for helping others overcome challenges. Through my work, I empower people to develop the relationship intelligence often overlooked in leadership development. Because I know firsthand that success isn't just about what you know - it's about how you connect with and inspire the people around you. What is Relationship Intelligence? Understanding and successfully navigating human relationships is relationship intelligence. Empathy, communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution are critical to fostering healthy relationships and a positive work atmosphere. This crucial skill is often overlooked in leadership development and business education, where technical expertise and results usually take the lead. But here's the thing - no matter how brilliant your plans and strategies are, they will only succeed with solid relationships to support them. So how do you master relationship intelligence to succeed as a leader? Investing in relationship coaching is one useful option. Relationship Coaching Relationship coaching aims to strengthen connections and communication in personal and professional relationships. It can be done in pairs, teams, or groups. Understandings, conflicts, and a lack of confidence are just a few challenges that relationship coaches are trained to help people recognize and overcome. Benefits of Relationship Coaching Working with a relationship coach as a leader can assist you in gaining the abilities you need to foster a positive work atmosphere and create close bonds with your team. The following are a few advantages of relationship coaching: A greater sense of self-awareness: Relationship coaching can assist you in recognizing your communication preferences, emotional triggers, and blind spots. This self-awareness will aid your ability to interact with others more effectively and prevent conflicts. Enhanced communication abilities: Strong relationships are built on effective communication. Relationship coaching can teach you to communicate clearly, listen carefully, and give and receive constructive feedback. Increased empathy: The ability to comprehend and experience the emotions of others. It's an essential ability for establishing rapport and confidence with others. You can strengthen your empathy skills by receiving relationship coaching, which will help you better comprehend and relate to your team. Improved conflict-resolution techniques: Disagreement is inevitable in any relationship, but it doesn't have to be harmful. Partnership coaching can assist you in developing practical conflict management skills so you can settle disagreements in a way that strengthens rather than weakens the partnership. More Fulfilling Relationships: Ultimately, relationship coaching can assist you in developing more satisfying connections at work and in your personal life. Strong ties make you feel more connected, supported, and content. Relationship coaching is one of many methods for cultivating relationship intelligence. You can also use other tools and techniques to strengthen your connections, including books, workshops, and online courses. However, the secret is prioritizing relationship intelligence and committing to continuous learning and improvement. Tips For Cultivating Relationship Intelligence As A Leader Here are some suggestions for cultivating relationship intelligence as a leader: Practice Active Listening Give someone your undivided focus when you're talking to them. Please keep an open mind while listening and trying to comprehend their viewpoint. Show Empathy Imagine what it might be like for others and try to place yourself in their situation. Validate their experiences and acknowledge their feelings. Build Trust Be trustworthy, reliable, and open. Respect others' dignity and follow through on your promises. Manage Conflicts Constructively When disputes arise, concentrate on finding a solution that benefits everyone rather than attempting to come out on top. Show empathy for their viewpoints, and then search for areas of agreement or compromise. Foster a Positive Work Environment Establish an atmosphere of appreciation, positivity, and diversity. Celebrate accomplishments and acknowledge team members' efforts. Developing relationship intelligence will help you manage more successfully and effectively. Your team will be inspired, motivated, and engaged, and you'll be able to accomplish your objectives in a lasting and satisfying manner. But more significantly, you'll be able to cultivate a productive, encouraging, and healthy work atmosphere. You'll be able to create connections established on empathy, trust, and respect that bring out the best in everyone. The Importance of Healthy Relationships for Leaders Relationship intelligence is dependent mainly on healthy interactions. Open communication, respect for one another, and a feeling of purpose are traits of healthy relationships. Healthy relationships take effort and intentionality, but they can significantly affect people's lives and the success of organizations. Leaders must set an example of healthy relationship behaviours to foster a culture where healthy relationships are valued and prioritized. This entails creating an atmosphere where team members feel free to voice their ideas and opinions, where criticism is provided constructively and respectfully, and where disagreements are settled to foster understanding and growth. Setting boundaries is a crucial component of a healthy partnership. Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining a sense of professional and personal autonomy and preventing burnout and exhaustion. It's vital for team leaders to establish healthy boundaries as examples and to assist their subordinates in doing the same. Trust is a crucial element in good relationships. Leaders must act in a trustworthy manner and make reliable choices to promote a culture of trust. Over time, consistency, honesty, and ethics help to build trust. As a leader, you can build a culture of respect, trust, and cooperation that will benefit individual and company success by prioritizing healthy relationships. You can foster a work atmosphere where team members feel valued, supported, and motivated to perform their best by exemplifying positive relationship behaviors and prioritizing relationship intelligence. Final Thoughts Using relationship intelligence as your secret weapon, you will be unstoppable in achieving your goals and significantly impacting the world. So if you want to succeed as a leader, pay attention to the importance of relationship intelligence. Find resources that can assist you in developing this ability, such as relationship coaching, and commit to continuous improvement. Railey Molinario, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Railey Molinario, a renowned Love Educator & Relationship Coach, has dedicated her life to guiding individuals to break free from cycles of generational trauma and ignorance. With a remarkable journey from abandonment at birth to a six-figure boss, she inspires others to develop the skills and knowledge needed to create empowered lives through her teachings of relationship intelligence. Railey's inspirational journey has been featured on prominent platforms such as the BBC, Medium, and Sovereign magazine. As a respected thought leader, Railey provides the world with tools and techniques to cultivate thriving relationships and lives.

Written by: Enda Ndungu, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. “Nice guys finish last.” You’ve probably heard someone say that phrase – especially when doing the right thing isn’t popular. So do ‘nice guys’ really finish last? Keep reading… Marketing your products and services in a crowded market can take quite some work. Not to mention the impact of rapid news cycles and diminishing customer attention spans. With so many entrepreneurs competing for the same customers, standing out from the crowd can be challenging. The good news? All hope isn’t lost. When businesses use ethical marketing practices, they differentiate themselves and establish a strong reputation in their industry. Here’s the kicker: Ethical Marketing isn’t always easy to do. But first, what exactly is ethical marketing? Let’s find out. What is Ethical Marketing? Ethical marketing is when you promote your product or service, or brand with honesty and transparency as your foundation. Ethical marketing practices focus on being transparent, honest, and socially responsible. This involves being open about the real benefits of your product or service without making inflated claims. It also involves avoiding deceptive tactics and considering the impact of your marketing practices on those you seek to serve. You probably think that’s complicated. The simple truth is that your business will thank you—in the long term. Don’t believe it? Ethical marketing is vital to your business—whether you provide a service or sell products. So stick with me. Importance of Ethical Marketing for your Business In today’s crowded marketplace, consumers are becoming more discerning, even regarding “intangible” services like coaching and consulting. Not only are consumers more informed, but they also have more choices. This makes ethical marketing practices more critical than ever. So why is ethical marketing important? 1. Helps Build Trust and Credibility Your audience needs to know, trust and like you before they choose to buy from you. Being open and honest about your products or services helps establish a strong reputation for quality and reliability. The result? Increased customer loyalty and repeat business. 2. Standout from your Competitors Admit it. Many businesses cut corners in a crowded market and engage in unethical marketing practices to gain a competitive edge. Unfortunately, the long-term costs of lost trust, damaged reputation and decreased customer loyalty overshadow these short-term gains. Entrepreneurs seen as ethical are more likely to win the trust of their customers. Ethical marketing helps you establish a strong reputation for quality and build a loyal customer base supporting your business for years. By differentiating yourself this way, you can create a competitive advantage. 3. Strengthening Brand Loyalty Customers will stay when you operate in a way that aligns with their ethical values. They’re more likely to become loyal customers who continue supporting your business long after their first purchase. Strong ethical marketing practices are also a powerful tool to attract new customers. These are all great benefits. So are there ethical marketing strategies you can use in your business? Let’s find out. Ethical Marketing Strategies That Skyrocket Your Business While ethical marketing may not be simple, some strategies make it easier. Here are some ethical marketing strategies you can consider for your business. Be Transparent: Be upfront about your products and services, including their benefits and limitations. Avoid using deceptive advertising or making false promises to customers. It’s also important to stay open about the ingredients in your products, the manufacturing process, and any potential side effects. Why is transparency so important? Authenticity involves staying true to your brand's values. Customers can tell when a company is insincere or not living up to its values, damaging your brand's reputation. Appeal to Customers' Values: Customers remain loyal when they see your business has their best interests at heart. Show how your products or services can help customers achieve their goals or improve their lives. For example, if you’re a coach or consultant, show how your service can genuinely transform your client’s lives. That goes a long way. Use Social Media Responsibly: Social media can be a powerful tool for marketing, but it can also be a source of misinformation and unethical practices. To use social media responsibly, avoid fake reviews and false claims. Instead, engage with customers genuinely and respond to their concerns promptly. Support Social Causes: Supporting social causes that reflect your core business values is an excellent way to demonstrate your company's commitment to ethical values. For example, if you’re a coach and consultant, you can give partial scholarships to small upcoming businesses that are also doing good in the world. In addition, you can donate some of your profits to a charitable cause if you sell products. These strategies are a great place to start. You can also use fundamental principles of ethical marketing to create more strategies. Here are some of them. Fundamental Principles of Ethical Marketing that Strengthen your Brand Compliance with laws and regulations: Ethical marketing practices require compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, including those related to advertising, consumer protection, and privacy. Not complying with laws and regulations puts your business at risk. For example, the FTC is a governing body that seeks to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices. They also provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid scams. Respect for consumer privacy: Consumers have a right to privacy. Ethical entrepreneurs must respect this by protecting personal data, avoiding intrusive or unsolicited marketing tactics, and providing clear options for opting out of communications. This fosters trust with their customers. Fairness and inclusivity: Ethical marketing practices must be fair and inclusive, treating all stakeholders respectfully and avoiding discrimination or bias. This includes ensuring that marketing materials are accessible and inclusive and avoiding offensive or exclusionary language or imagery. By adhering to these principles, businesses can build consumer trust, promote a positive brand image, and contribute to a more ethical and sustainable society. In conclusion? Clearly, ‘Nice guys don't finish last! So it’s time to embrace ethical marketing principles—wholeheartedly. Ethical marketing isn't just the right thing to do – it's also good for business. If you’d like to know how to market your business the right way. Enda Ndungu, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Enda Ndungu is a Marketing Strategist and Persuasion Architect. She helps ambitious entrepreneurs create the right marketing strategies, spread their message, reach their audience and create generational wealth. She blends her experience in Direct Response marketing and a background in Business Administration to create Bespoke Transformation Strategies for her clients. Her Mission: Create ethical marketing strategies that build Generational Wealth.

Written by: Anna Barnhill, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As a leader, I have come to realize that self-awareness is one of the essential qualities to possess. It is the foundation for effective leadership and enables us to make the right decisions, build strong relationships, and achieve our goals. In today's fast-paced business world, it is essential to understand your strengths and weaknesses, your values and beliefs, and how these impact your leadership style. This article will explore the importance of self-awareness in leadership, its benefits, and how to increase self-awareness to boost leadership effectiveness. What is Self-awareness, and Why is it important? Self-awareness is understanding our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they affect ourselves and others. It is the foundation of emotional intelligence and is crucial for effective leadership. With self-awareness, we can understand our strengths and weaknesses, values, and impact on others. This lack of understanding can lead to poor decision-making, conflicts, and disengagement among team members. The Benefits of Self-awareness on Leadership Effectiveness There are many benefits to being self-aware as a leader. Firstly, self-aware leaders are better able to manage their emotions. They are less likely to react impulsively and more likely to respond thoughtfully. This helps them to avoid conflicts and build stronger relationships with their team members. Secondly, self-aware leaders are better communicators. They are able to express themselves clearly and listen actively to others. This helps them to build trust and respect with their team members, which is essential for effective leadership. Thirdly, self-aware leaders are more empathetic. They can better understand their team members' perspectives and needs. This helps them to build a more cohesive and collaborative team. Finally, self-aware leaders are more adaptable and resilient to stress. They are able to learn from their mistakes and make course corrections. This helps them to stay ahead of the competition and respond to changing market conditions. The Impact of Self-awareness on Team Dynamics Self-awareness has a significant impact on team dynamics. Firstly, it enables us to understand our team member’s strengths and weaknesses and to leverage them effectively. This understanding allows us to delegate tasks effectively and create a supportive work environment. Secondly, self-awareness enables us to communicate more effectively with our team members. It helps us to understand their perspectives, needs, and concerns and to provide constructive feedback. This effective communication builds trust and respect among team members and creates a positive work environment. Finally, self-awareness enables us to manage conflicts effectively. It helps us to understand the root causes of disputes and to develop effective strategies to resolve them. This conflict management creates a positive work environment and enables the team to achieve its goals effectively. How to Increase Self-awareness 1. Take time for self-reflection. This can be done through journaling, meditation, or simply walking in nature. During this time, we must reflect on our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how they impact ourselves and others. Take time each day to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Ask yourself questions such as "What did I do well today?" and "What could I do better tomorrow?" This will help you to identify your strengths and growth areas and make course corrections. 2. Seek feedback from others. Feedback helps us understand how others perceive us and provides valuable insights into our strengths, weaknesses, and blind spots. This feedback can be obtained from our team members, peers, mentors, or coaches. Seek feedback on your performance regularly. This will help you to understand how others perceive you and identify areas for improvement. 3. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a powerful mental exercise that enables us to be present in the moment and to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment. This practice helps us to manage our emotions effectively and to develop more empathy and compassion towards ourselves and others. How to Measure Self-awareness My two favorite science-backed assessments that measure self-awareness are Energy Leadership Index Assessment and the EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence Assessment. Both are Forbes’ top-rated assessments that every executive should take. The EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence assessment measures our emotional intelligence and provides valuable insights into our emotional management, empathy, and social skills. This assessment enables us to understand our emotional strengths and weaknesses and to develop a plan to improve our emotional intelligence. The Energy Leadership Index is a powerful self-discovery tool that forms the initial launching point for personal growth and leadership development by providing a baseline for your current level of awareness and effectiveness. Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey of Self-awareness in Leadership Self-awareness is an ongoing journey, not a destination. It requires persistence, patience, and perseverance. The good news, with the right mindset and approach, we can develop self-awareness and become more effective leaders. For more information on increasing your self-awareness to become a more effective and impactful leader for your organization, please get in touch with me today. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Anna! Anna Barnhill, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Anna Barnhill is an ICF Certified Executive Coach, Business Psychologist, Contributing Member of Forbes Council, and a leading expert in the field of emotional intelligence and authentic leadership. She brings over 12 years of experience helping leaders realize their full potential, increase their influence and effectiveness, and lead their teams with authenticity and greater impact. Her passion lies in helping executives and professionals integrate emotional Intelligence and authenticity into their leadership style to drive a culture trust, creativity, and innovation. Clients who work with Anna develop distinct leadership skills that bring immediate and long-term benefits to organizational success.

We connected with Dr. Lance Gibbon to learn about his highly successful community partnership and engagement strategies in this three-part interview series. Dr. Gibbon is a thought leader in this field with a strong 30-year track record of success in multiple school districts. Dr. Gibbon’s efforts have resulted in increased community engagement, support and pride in local schools, and successful passage of school district ballot measures. In this segment, we wanted to hear Dr. Gibbon’s views on the roles of inclusivity, communication, and recognition in community engagement. We understand that authentic community engagement can be difficult for some school systems. What challenges have you faced when trying to engage the community? How did you overcome them? Probably the biggest challenge is communication. It can be particularly difficult to reach certain target audiences. With all of the tools at our disposal, you’d think that would be relatively easy. But the fact is that when you look at the diversity of groups that you’re trying to connect with in a community, it takes a pretty broad approach. That means using multiple means of communication. The web, social media, email, and videos are all great. Boosting social media posts in your local community can greatly expand your reach and is very cost-effective. But keep in mind that some community members still prefer plain old paper. It can help to make sure you’ve got a newspaper article or press release out before the event. Attractive color flyers posted at a community center or mailing them to certain businesses or organizations can also expand your audience. Plus, fliers are good collateral to hand out at in-person events. Verbal communication is always good. There are also often opportunities to make announcements at other events. There might be a chance for a quick announcement or plug at a Chamber luncheon or Rotary meeting. Even taking advantage of public comment at a city council meeting can help spread the word. Whatever you do, be sure to encourage people to talk to their neighbors and let them know what’s going on. It really helps to use the grapevine when you can. If you’re putting together a community engagement event, sometimes it’s hard to get people to show up. How do you overcome this challenge? It’s true that generating community interest in what’s happening can also be difficult. Apathy is hard to overcome. Let’s say you’re hosting a community information night or town hall and people don’t know what it is; they’ll probably be a little reluctant to come. This is where having some kind of draw is important in getting people through the door. Student performances or food made by students from our culinary arts program can generate interest and, at the very least, get the families of the students to show up. Advertising that you’ll be addressing a hot topic that’s out in the community can also get people in, even if you’re going to share additional information once they’re there. I’ve also found that posting pictures and stories from prior events to promote your new event can really help. Just the visual of people attending the same or similar event makes people feel a little bit more excited and willing to come out for the next event or activity that you’ve put together. “The people in that picture look like they’re having fun. Maybe we should go!” For people who can’t make it in person, offering a virtual option or streaming the event can be a big help. Just being able to go back and see the main presentation at a later date can greatly expand your potential audience. Have you ever used recognition and PR to increase community engagement? If so, how did it work? Absolutely. One of the biggest things we did as a school district was to highlight what our community partners were supporting or doing in our schools on our website, on social media, and in newsletters. To me, community partners include anyone outside our schools that serves and supports our work with kids. So that means our PTSA’s, service clubs, city and county governments, emergency services like police and fire, churches, other non-profits, and even local businesses. It was surprising how often people weren’t aware that these groups were helping us out. Honestly, if we don’t tell the story, people don’t know about it. For example, our Kiwanis Club purchased and delivered student dictionaries to every third-grade student in the district. We’d take and post pictures of smiling students with their dictionaries and Kiwanians passing them out. The community loved it and the club felt valued and recognized for their work. I think seeing coverage for our volunteers and partners made other organizations a little more excited about their partnerships. Recognition is like putting a little fuel in the tank. The same goes for individual volunteer recognition. We created a way for us to allow staff members or community members to nominate volunteers doing great work for students and families to be recognized as volunteer of the month. All the nominations were published so everyone was recognized and they each received a thank-you note from the superintendent. The “winner” was surprised by the superintendent at school with a certificate and a special district-branded tumbler. We’d also share the stories of our volunteers on our media channels. Another PR engagement idea is sponsorship. Depending on your district’s fiscal rules, you might have to run this through partner organizations such as foundations, but we hosted an annual staff family picnic and actually had businesses competing to be the grand sponsor because they saw it was so beneficial from a PR standpoint. The staff and their families just loved coming. Sponsors were able to set up a tent at the event and we made sure to recognize them in multiple ways like giving shoutouts on the PA or playing a video before the movie. They liked being seen as making something special happen for our educators and their families. It was truly a win-win. Talk to us about other barriers to community engagement, specifically inclusivity and accessibility. What steps do you take to ensure that your community engagement efforts are inclusive and accessible to all members of the community? If you’re serious about community engagement, inclusivity, and accessibility are vital. Always asking for feedback about your events and communications is a great place to start. Are there parts of your community that are not there or you’re not reaching? Find out why. For example, as I mentioned earlier, multiple modes of communication are important, and not making assumptions about how people want or need to get their information. Traditional print media with various electronic and in-person communication helps reach more segments of the community. As part of that, it’s important to make sure you address language barriers. Thankfully, there are lots of new electronic tools that can help. Software like ParentSquare actually allows community members or parents to pick the language that they want to receive their information in. Websites generally feature translators, which is great, and virtual translation services can help record or translate verbal messages. For the hard of hearing, don’t forget to consider subtitles, transcriptions, and interpreters. Live-streaming or hosting a virtual version of your event is another way to expand access, especially for those with schedule conflicts or transportation issues. Another advantage to online events is the audio transcription and translation tools available. These can be huge in overcoming language barriers. Making sure you’re inclusive sometimes requires personal or individual outreach. If you have groups or individuals that could benefit from a service or program you’re offering, but they’re not participating or you’re concerned if you’re reaching them, a call, text, or direct email from someone they know and trust can be just what they need to feel welcomed and safe to participate. That could be a staff member, volunteer or someone from the community. Another way to remove access barriers is to take your program or event to the community rather than asking them to come to you. Take your presentation to them. Meet them where they’re at. That might be showing up and participating in events where they’re already attending. Going to the community rather than just asking them to come to you can be a really powerful way to make sure that our events are more inclusive and remove some of the barriers like transportation. The bottom line is that identifying and thinking through barriers to getting everyone access and making them feel welcome is more than worth the extra effort. Again, asking for suggestions from the groups you’re trying to reach can be very illuminating. And don’t forget to take advantage of your other community partners, such as service groups and nonprofits, who can also help make sure that you’re able to address accessibility and inclusivity issues so that everyone can participate. About Dr. Lance Gibbon Dr. Lance Gibbon has been serving a diverse range of students, staff, and families for three decades in the Puget Sound area. Cultivating connections and enhancing team building through creative strategies and community partnerships, Dr. Gibbon exemplifies servant leadership. He fosters positive, inclusive learning environments for students, educators, and staff members alike. Lance Gibbon supports many organizations, including Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has been honored with awards from Empower Youth Network, the Washington School Public Relations Association, Best of Whidbey, and EarthGen (formerly Washington Green Schools).

Written by: Jennifer Degen, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Having recently returned from running more than one yoga retreat in Costa Rica, I am noticing more and more how renewing my intention after transitioning back home is such an anchor in my daily practice. It feels more needed during transition because my routines were surrounded in a warm climate, supported by others, and built intentionally for the purposes of collaborating and bringing about a collective intention. The more transitions and changes, the more my brain’s tendency to unknowingly be distracted or hijacked if I am not intentional, consistent and aware of where I place my attention. Compassionate relaxed states of being are a result of clear intention, integrity in following the practices that work, and clearly making choices moment to moment to release unhelpful thoughts that hijack our negativity bias, ultimately releasing hormones that affect our mood. Why is Intention from a heartfelt, soulful, connected place so important? A great percent of our days are living unconsciously, without asking ourselves what we care deeply about, we just follow our routines, partners, parents, or any authority’s commands as a way of living. We lose meaning and bypass our own voice when we live without intention or ask ourselves what we are doing. . Agency is recognizing that we each have something to offer the world and that our contribution matters. When we wake up in the morning, if we listen to our body, heart, intuitive felt sense, we are then tapping into a deeper level of somatic intelligence. When we ask our whole body to help – we are stepping closer to the highest good for our day. If we feel connected, aligned and intuitive with our intention, that is a good sign that we have tapped into a place that is right for us at a given moment; this will help us focus our aim and day on what truly matters to our greater purpose. Setting up our day with intention will help us grow our attention and attunement to the creative engine in the brain. This increases our chances to focus on important details that are fruitful to our thriving. An example of an intention could be: ‘Today I will focus on being present, creative and clear.’ A micro practice that will help you stand in your body is to feel from the ground up your feet and legs, sense into the fullness of your core, and follow your awareness to your heart, neck and head. Being in Integrity with our actions and how consistent and aligned we are can make a huge difference. Integrity of our actions takes time and skillful discernment. We need to execute on our commitments to help us stay the course of our own deeper desires. We also need friends to keep us accountable, to hold ourselves to our personal agreements with ourselves. When we are consistent and regular we are most effective and our brain creates new positive pathways forward. The key here is that we feel the integrity in our actions energetically and we have a feeling of ease, traction and flow. Checking in with the effects of our actions can make a difference in our desire to keep doing things as well. Our body knows the flow intuitively and functions well in these states. We can usually feel energy, vitality, and delight, and punctuate our awareness with – yes “that felt great” appreciating our actions' effects, and highlighting what is working well from our own inner feedback: this accentuates positive habits that lead up to lifetime happinessand change. Making Choices That Align Another big difference between those who are feeling the effects of conscious intention and integrity; is making choices moment to moment to stay out of our negativity bias or default mode network (DMN) and conditioned tendency to be attracted to negative material. This on its own is a long-term endeavor and there are many ways to practice – refocusing our attention to what is more healthy for our brains. Shifting can take more effort and a set of tools and a community to get there, but essentially knowing that we have a choice on focusing on healthy brain activity or not is essential to our happiness. We are not our negative thoughts, judgments or our beliefs that we inherited. We are conscious beings, learning a higher form of development. Presence and observation of our thoughts is a first step to seeing our agency to change. Happiness is a conscious endeavor, some of us have more natural learning environments to grow our happiness capacity, but the majority of us need mentors, coaches and communities to gain the skills and tools to make small and big shifts that make the difference in the end. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jennifer! Jennifer Degen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Her work as a Somatic Coach and Resiliency Expert draws on 30 years of eastern and western traditions. Jennifer’s post-traumatic growth from having brain surgery was a catapulting force that led her to shaping sustainable wellness solutions. Her work with health professionals, caretakers and leaders focus’ on Expanding connection, Opening to creativity, Life work balance, Embodied mindfulness, Self-leadership, Insight and Sustainable change. Mind Body Awareness is the intersection of somatic psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness and personal growth.