Ali Turner is a business mentor & leadership activator for women who know they’re meant for more: more wealth, more success, more impact, and more freedom. As a certified meditation instructor, business owner, and sought-after coach, Ali unifies her understanding of consciousness with her experience in the business. Her purpose is to guide women to activate their inner power and leverage self-knowledge to build the business they’ve always desired. Ali Turner, Holistic Business Coach for Women You are a business coach that empowers female entrepreneurs to build a business that fulfills their actual purpose in life. What does that mean to you? As a coach, I see so much untapped potential in female entrepreneurs… mainly because so many of us try to build something we don’t actually enjoy. We’ve all been told what types of businesses are profitable, effective, and easy to start in 2023 — through YouTube Ads, influencers, and pushy sales calls. But how often have we looked inward to discover a deeper meaning behind our work? This is what I focus on with my clients: self-awareness and really the self-knowing that’s required to build a business that’s aligned with who you are, who you’re becoming, and what you desire to create. What inspired this for you, and where do you begin with your clients? Given my own experience starting and scaling a business that wasn’t aligned with what I actually desired, I learned how important it is to truly love what we do. To wake up every morning excited to start “working.” So much so that it doesn’t feel like work. I encourage everyone in my world, client or not, to do that inner work necessary to reveal your purpose, your calling, your “dharma,” if you will. Only from there can we build a business you won't want to run away from or burn to ashes within a few years. This is an ongoing process. It’s not a one-and-done, it’s not overnight, it’s not a few hours of meditation and you’re set. This is work that is done continuously throughout one’s evolution as an entrepreneur, coach, mentor, and leader. I love that. And I know you have a firm belief in the power of inner work when it comes to entrepreneurship. Does that require a certain attitude on the part of your clients? What kind of audience do you target your work towards? I primarily work with women. Partially by choice, and partially because women are the ones most often drawn to me and my work. I do think that openness toward spirituality and personal growth is vital, not only to expanding through my work as a coach, but also to expanding as an entrepreneur in general. I like to say “your business only grows as much as you do,” and my seasoned clients get this. Your business will push you, force you to grow as a human being. If you try to fight that, you’ll stay stuck. But here is the best part. Not only does your business’s growth push you to grow, personally, but also your personal growth can push your business to grow, exponentially. So when we consciously choose to grow, to do the inner work, to push ourselves, to expand as humans and as leaders inside, we see massive results in our businesses outside. So, aside from the more inner-focused aspect of your work as a business mentor, what else makes you different from other business coaches in 2023? Great question. I think one of the biggest things that sets me apart is the fact that I’ve actually created, and actually still own, another business, aside from my coaching business. I’ve seen a lot of business coaches pop up in the last 2-3 years who have only ever created a coaching business. Whether they started out as a business coach, pulling on years in corporate for their expertise, or they began with fitness coaching, relationship coaching, spiritual coaching, you name it… the only business model they actually know is coaching, itself, so they can only coach other coaches, effectively and in integrity. Now, there is value in that — don’t get me wrong. They have a narrow and precise focus on the coaching industry. Which is something I focus on as well, along with consulting, course creation, content creation, online services, and the like, given the fact that I want to help women build a business that aligns with their life purpose, and those industries are particularly open to this more self-led work. So that difference plays out… how? The difference is I’ve had experience with many, many different types of businesses, and I’ve learned how business people think. I’ve seen how a solar company in the San Francisco Bay Area thinks about marketing and how a home builder in the Midwest wants to approach new clients. I’ve had my eyes on, and my hands in, companies in such a wide range of industries, and it’s given me a clear understanding of the fundamentals… the pieces that all businesses need to succeed. And additionally, yes, as you’d mentioned: the fact that I blend the inner work, one’s expansion into higher states of consciousness, with business creation& growth is something that you don’t see too often amongst business coaches. At least not at this level of specificity and practice. What would you say to someone who’s not sure what type of business to start? Yeah, this is one of the biggest things for me. It’s like… I see business opportunities everywhere. Everywhere! What do you love? What do you enjoy? What do you get lost in, when you do it? What makes you think, explore, and investigate? What sparks your curiosity? What are you just naturally good at? Like, that’s your business. Go do that. It really is that simple. I think everyone overcomplicates building a business but this is actually the future of our economy, in my mind. An economy where people do what they love, and get paid to do it. That’s why the coaching space has taken off. That’s why consulting has taken off. That’s why course creators and content creators and everything creation-related has taken off. Go out and create what you love; that’s your business. And if you’re new to an actual business and need to build a business model around it… give me a call. [Laughs.] What’s one of your “pet peeves” in the coaching industry? Something you see a lot of but feel has a detrimental effect on the industry as a whole? This is a really good question. I think that there can be a lot of toxic energy in the coaching space… and the biggest thing that personally blows my mind is when coaches preach that there’s only one right way to achieve a particular outcome. Especially business coaches. They teach that there’s only one perfect framework, process, or system, and if you don’t have this, you’re going to fail. Like, this is scammy marketing, this is sleazy sales tactics, this is making people feel guilty, and feel scared, and feel like they’re not going to succeed… if they don’t buy the “XYZ program.” And I don’t think that’s a healthy energy for people — especially new business owners, like most coaches are — to be investing from. To be spending money from. To be growing their business from. That’s probably the biggest “pet peeve” I have in this industry. What’s the most common thing you see holding entrepreneurs back from reaching their full potential? I think honestly, the biggest thing that holds people back from success, is ultimately just… I mean, it’s not exactly laziness, I was tempted to call it laziness, but it’s really more a sense of entitlement. Because we’ve all heard these stories over the last 3-5 years in the coaching industry, and in the online space in general, about these “overnight successes” — where they start their business and 90 days later they’re making a million a month, and traveling the world and flying first class and buying cars for their parents and the whole dream. But what we don’t see in those stories is the amount of time and energy and experience that went into creating that success, before those 90 days, or 30 days, or six months, or whatever. And that is a way of marketing oneself, one’s business, saying “this is my result, come with me…” but I think that it creates this sense of entitlement. Where people come into the online space and think that they’re just going to be wildly successful, quickly, without putting in any real work. Without putting in any time and energy and effort to grow their business sustainably. Right. And how do you counteract that attitude? If you're not showing up consistently, not creating powerful content, not building a brand, not serving your people, not building the systems you need on the backend, not actually giving yourself to your business, it’s just not going to grow. And that level of entitlement and of laziness is… it just drives me absolutely nuts! [Laughs.] Because it’s actually so simple, when you boil it down. Like, the things you need to do are SO simple. People just don’t want to do them. I mean I have people come to me and say “I want a million-dollar business, but I don’t want to create content. I hate content.”It’s like, I’m sorry. But in 2023 and beyond, content is your business. Social media is your business. You better get really dang good at content. Tough love. So real. I love that. And sort of following from that, what would you say to someone who is just starting their business, as a coach or course creator or leader in some capacity? I love this question. I would say the biggest thing, when you’re just starting your business… there are so many things but the fundamental piece for me is… build your brand. Just build your brand. And I’m not talking about the fonts you use, the colors you put in your graphics, what your logo looks like… no. I’m talking about the energy; I’m talking about the intention; I’m talking about the values, the vision, the purpose… of your business. And that comes from inside. That doesn’t come from hex codes. It should help determine them, sure. But it comes from inside. So I would encourage you, as you start and scale your business, to go inward. We all go outward, when building a business. We’re building up this entity outside of ourselves, and we look outward for answers, solutions, strategies, and guidance. But go inside, too, regularly. Find your own power inside, and use that to generate your brand’s energy. Decide what energy you want to give to the world; decide what energy you want people to feel from you. It’s not about hiring someone to create a logo for you — I don’t even have a logo. Just real talk. I don’t have a logo. But I have a presence that is felt... when you come across me. A presence and an energy that radiates outward from my business, that anyone who finds me can feel. Focus on that. Become that. That’s what builds a brand. And that’s what builds a business. In LOVE. Okay, and how can people find you, connect with you, work with you? I’m on Instagram at @iamaliturner and on Facebook as Ali Turner. The best way to be a part of my world would be to join my next free training inside my group. We do Q&As, hot seat coaching, and live masterclasses almost every week! If anyone wants to connect more directly just follow me on Instagram and send a DM, my team and I are pretty responsive and handle most inquiries there. Last question. What’s your vision for Infinite Woman? Millions of women create infinite freedom, wealth, and impact by doing what they love. That’s my vision, and that’s the vision for our company. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Ali!

Written by: Chrissy Metge, 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. Women entrepreneurship is said to be soaring. In the US, in 2021, 49% of new businesses were started up by women compared to 28% in 2019. Female entrepreneurship is also on the rise worldwide. But what makes a successful mindset as a female entrepreneur and that of a creative? Passion and determination Be passionate about your business and determined to make it a success. You need to be willing to put in the time and effort required to achieve your goals. Creativity and innovation Look for new and innovative solutions to problems that others may not see. You will need to take risks and try new things to achieve success. Focus and perseverance Stubbornly stay focused on your goals and persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. You will need to bounce back from failures and keep moving forward and try new paths. Strong leadership skills You will need to lead your teams effectively. When you start out, it may just be yourself or one other, but as time goes on, you will need to communicate your vision clearly to others. They will look to you to be able to motivate and inspire them to achieve their overall goals. Flexibility and adaptability Adapt to changing circumstances and adjust your strategies accordingly. You will need to be willing to pivot your business model or strategy if it’s necessary to stay competitive and achieve success. Continuous learning and growth Creative female entrepreneurs are often lifelong learners, constantly seeking out new knowledge and skills to help them grow and improve their businesses. But what I have found over my last 20 years as a creative person is that the number one thing you need first and foremost is self-belief. No one is going to believe as much as you do in yourself and what you can do. This is all you! So get out there; the world needs more female entrepreneurs. Read more from Chrissy! Chrissy Metge, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Chrissy Metge has been a producer and leader in the animation film and TV industry for over 20 years. As well as making movies, Chrissy is an author, publisher, mentor, career coach, and lecturer to many creatives. Her love for storytelling and recognising and mentoring creative talent is her driving force for being a creative entrepreneur.

Written by: Sarah Dyer, 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. Heartbreak for some can feel like a never-ending cycle of attracting the wrong relationships, with people who reject, abandon, betray, ghost or discard without closure. These toxic relationships or situation-ships can leave us feeling emotionally drained, invalidated, and unworthy. But you can break free from this cycle and heal from the wounds holding you back. The wounds that cause us to attract unhealthy relationships are often rooted in our childhood, where caretakers or parents, for one reason or another, may not have been able to meet our needs. This is not to say you didn’t come from a loving family. But somewhere down the line, as children, we can buy into a story (a limiting belief) that we are not worthy of love. Perhaps the caretakers were emotionally unavailable, extremely busy juggling work and other responsibilities; maybe they divorced, or sadly one parent died; many reasons could leave a child feeling abandoned. But there is hope. My journey through heartbreak taught me this, and I have shared my process with many clients. Our relationships are our spiritual teachers, showing us where to get to work and shining a light on what needs healing. Modalities such as somatic healing, mindfulness, meditation, kundalini yoga, inner child healing, mother and father line healing, and ancestral healing, healing our generational trauma are all powerful tools that can help us. Healing is a process that differs for everyone; what modality helps one person process emotions and heal will be different for another. But even if it feels like a mountain to climb, you can break this, and the co-dependency spell that have you stuck in this cycle. By getting to the root of why you have been attracting the same person only in a different costume over and over. By learning to listen and trust your intuition, you know that small inner voice that begins nudging you until these turn into shouts, alerting you to the RED flags, the ones you try not to see as you don’t want to believe that this person is not right for you. You will start to feel more confident to make empowered decisions and changes for yourself. By learning how to create strong boundaries, you can show others how you want to be treated and loved. Most importantly, by turning inwards and starting to give to yourself everything you feel you have (are) lacking in a relationship. Walking away is never easy but often necessary; being true to yourself is the door to deep transformation. I have developed an on-demand course that supports you on the path to healing with a roadmap to breaking free from heartbreak and toxic relationships. Drawing from my own experiences and those of my clients, I guide you through healing the mother and father wounds, the abandonment wound, and breaking the co-dependency spell. To discover the gems that are part of the fabric leading you to your Dharma. It can be difficult to see the purpose behind our pain. Lessons like these often show us where to learn to love ourselves more. Have more compassion and understanding, and forgiveness for ourselves. Nurturing ourselves and giving ourselves what we have been lacking in relationships. It all starts with us. Journaling our experiences and reflecting on our many lessons helps us understand how these experiences shape our path towards our Dharma. Our purpose for being here. Someone who has experienced heartbreak and toxic relationships may discover their purpose in life is to help others heal from similar experiences, as they can empathise, relate and have compassion for someone going through this. Your dream life lives on the other side of your fears. So, give yourself permission, listen to your intuition, begin this journey towards healing, and embrace the sovereign woman you were always meant to be; join us in the program, Coming Home ‒ From Wounds to Wisdom. A deep dive into healing, transforming and creating a new life for yourself, which includes workshops, meditations, soul journeys, and journals, to support you on your healing journey. The link for this is here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more information on services! Read more from Sarah! Sarah Dyer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sarah is a Spiritual Mentor, Women’s Empowerment Coach, Intuitive, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher & Energy Medicine Practitioner. A childhood accident leaving her with the effects of a stroke, changed her life. Experiencing an awakening at 17 she dove into all things healing. As a child very connected to Spirit, alongside her more formal education a BA (Hons) in Communications and then Journalism, she dove into Energy Medicine, Tantra, Spiritual Psychology and trained in Holistic Therapy, various healing modalities, Coaching, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation. Alongside some of the best teachers in the world. Today she’s helping women all over the world go through deep transformation, to heal from trauma, connect with a strong sense of self, their sacred feminine energy & intuition.

Written by: Priyanka Tiku Gupta , 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. Have you noticed how we are now more willing than ever to invest time, effort, and money in our physical well-being? Whether at the doctor's, getting allergy tests, in gyms with personal trainers, or at nutritional clinics. With due respect to each of these professions and professionals, it makes me wonder how little most of us know about the unknown link between our energy body vs. our physical body. I like to think of my physical body as an outermost layer or a shell that protects my energy body. My energy body contains all the information about me, including my thoughts, feelings, and fears or anxieties we may have buried deep inside us for so long. As we go through moments in life, we see, sense, hear, feel, and create associations and emotions with every event. We then store these in our subconscious mind (95% of our brain), and this directs our conscious brain ( 5% of our brain) with instructions. Another interesting fact is that our subconscious brain has most of its files and folders from when we are between 0-7 years of age. So for all practical purposes, we live our entire adult life taking instructions from our subconscious brain created when we were less than seven years of age. Of course, as we continued to breathe and live through moments, more and more emotions and beliefs were created and stored in their respective folders. What is the significance of the above to the physical vs. energy-body conversation we started with? Over time, our energy body starts getting full, and our energy valves start getting blocked; this is where the interaction happens with the physical body. We start seeing our immunity go down and certain physical pains in parts of our bodies, and if we don't recognize these blocks, this can transpire into physical illnesses. As I did my personal development inner work, I discovered I have a big subconscious fear folder every time I face an audience, and it is where I have stored all my fears and limiting beliefs, and emotions of feeling like an imposter, feeling like I disappointed the audience or a figure of authority and sometimes even myself. This manifested as a pain in my left ear, almost like a buzzing sound. Having worked on myself, I have been able to correlate particular physical pains and stress with the associated emotion. And I proudly and humbly have been able to reduce this fear dramatically. For that matter, many others associate fears with this fear. So you might ask, how does one reach that point of self-awareness, and you may even wonder why one would not just take a pill to reduce the pain? To answer the first question, there are various techniques to unblock these energy valves blocked by all these emotions. My favorite is EFT ‒ Emotional Freedom Technique, more popularly known as Touch and Talk Therapy, and it has the freedom to unlock your energy body at your fingertips. It combines the wisdom of ancient ayurvedic and chi with modern psychology. As you tap, you open these energy valves, discover the root cause, detach the emotional charge from the event, and feel less attached to the event or the emotion. How is this or other inner work methods better than taking a pill? To answer this, I want to start with this little but growing known phenomenon. It has also been scientifically proven that our thoughts become our beliefs, and our beliefs become our reality. So imagine I have to present in front of an audience. If I can now access my subconscious folder and connect with the moment or moments in time and reduce or disassociate the limiting emotion of being disappointed in each of those moments and, in fact, now feel a bit silly realizing that I didn't disappoint anyone, the event and the outcome is either not significant now or wasn't as significant. I am now empowered to rewire the impact of the event or events. I can't ever change the past, but I can influence its impact on my present and future life. So the difference is between using a bandaid or choosing to go for a deep cleanse to heal from a challenge completely. To summarize, if you are currently challenged with ongoing physical pain, illness, low immunity, or a sudden physical bodily injury, I would encourage you to Be open to understanding the impact and interplay between the physical and energy body. Start to notice any patterns or triggers in your physical body pains and illnesses and notice if there is a particular pain, an emotion of belief that is coming up repeatedly. Invest equal time, effort, and money with certified emotional well-being practitioners to complement your investment to support your physical body. The unknown and uncommon link between our physical body and energy body is a vital key to truly living a healthy and happy life full of vitality. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and Li nkedIn for more info! Read more from Priyanka! Priyanka Tiku Gupta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Priyanka Tiku Gupta is a multifaceted, internationally certified performance coach, an emotional wellness practitioner, and a founder of her wellness organization PTG Wellness. After 20 years of media and marketing experience, she took her 1st ever career break. Being ambitious, she pursued her passion for empowering people in her break, leading her to her personal development journey. She is now on a mission to drive the belief that life doesn't happen to us and that we can create the life we desire. She believes we all have this inner critical voice, yet there is a way to change that voice to your best friend. She has 500+ hours of coaching and healing over 75 clients across Asia, the UK, Europe, Australia & the Middle East. She strives to take her clients on a transformational journey where they learn how to unleash their true potential by tapping into their inside voice as their unique superpower.

Written by: Anna Nordengren, 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. To begin with, let’s declare that the future is already here. We've all seen the dramatic pictures of flooded cities, plastic-filled oceans, political unrest, and increasingly intelligent AI taking over the jobs. At the same time, it seems people are little engaged in their jobs. Statistics from Gallup show that only 14% of European employees are engaged in their jobs! So, this article isn’t about WHY you have to future-proof your leadership style, but rather HOW you can develop a sustainable leadership style in order to navigate successfully in a complex world that is already here. The sustainable leader is dynamic and humble The world has become more complex and no leader alone has all the answers. A sustainable leadership style is dynamic and humble, it builds trust and empowers people. Now a new leadership style is needed that engages and involves everyone in your business. “A company is nothing more than a collection of people” ‒ Simon Sinek When you choose to see a business as a collection of people gathered to co-create value, you realize that an important role for you as a leader is to inspire and facilitate co-creation with others. But in many companies, there is still this old idea where people are seen as replaceable machines, and employees get paid for “hours of physical labor”. However, today, employee engagement, creativity, and collaboration are needed to keep up with change and competition. Companies no longer pay for hours of pre-defined work, but for unique skills, problem-solving, and engagement. So how do you unleash the potential in your employees? What makes people follow a leader? Gallup found that there are 4 factors, needs that must be met, which make employees follow a leader: Trust Compassion Stability Hope When you think of your business as a collection of people working together, your leadership style will have to meet those human needs. And it starts with you showing up as an authentic human being. How can you leverage your own strengths in order to future-proof your leadership style? 1. Lead with purpose Successful organizations have a strong and clear why, a higher purpose. In his book “Start with Why”, Simon Sinek describes how great leaders inspire everyone to take action: Neither employees, customers nor other stakeholders make rational decisions. Humans are to a large extent controlled by our unconscious minds, where our decisions are made. However, the subconscious mind speaks the language of feelings, which means you make your decisions based on the way something or somebody makes you feel. Through a clear why, you connect with other people’s feelings and activate their subconscious decision-making process. How to define the higher purpose of your company? Do you already know what the purpose of your business is? Probably you already know deep down, but it’s worthwhile to spend some time to get really clear and put words to it in order to be able to communicate it efficiently. Set time aside and reflect on the questions: What do we do? What are we really good at? Why do we do it ‒ in what way does our product/service make people's lives and even the world a little better? How does it make people feel? Having a clearly defined purpose allows you to connect to people’s intrinsic motivation: 2. Promote intrinsic motivation In the past, management relied on extrinsic motivation, “the carrot and the stick”. In his book “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”, Daniel H. Pink explains how this approach actually can kill motivation. Instead, he promotes what he calls Motivation 3.0 ‒ intrinsic motivation. In the book, he tells the story of Harry Harlow, the researcher who discovered intrinsic motivation by accident already in 1949. In a study with monkeys, he discovered that the monkeys willingly and enthusiastically solved logical problems without either threats or rewards. But at that time, the discovery was so controversial that it was hidden and forgotten! But today most researchers agree that the strongest motivation comes from within and your task as a leader is to create the right conditions for it to thrive: Firstly, people want to have a sense of Meaning, that what they do actually makes a difference. So again, defining and communicating the purpose of your business is vital. The second critical factor for intrinsic motivation is Mastery, i.e., being challenged to excel at what you are really good at. Do you let your employees shine in the area they are truly masterful at? And thirdly ‒ humans have a need for Autonomy, i.e., to govern themselves. This is why micro-management kills motivation. Give people autonomy over how they do their job. But when you allow people to decide how to do their job, how do you make sure the business is moving in the right direction, toward the goal? 3. Apply clever management by objectives This one should be straightforward, but many organizations work with too many goals, with goals that are not clearly defined or sufficiently communicated and employees are not involved in the goal-setting process. “If you have more than 3 priorities you have none.” ‒ Jim Collins There is a lot to say about goal-setting, but in order to create engagement and make sure you steer in the desired direction, these are a few points to consider: Set few, but wildly important goals Set goals based on where you want to be in the future, not based on past experiences Focus on what you can control ‒ lead measures Involve each level of the organization in the goal-setting process Follow up When the goal is clearly communicated it can be shared and people will know what to do without demotivating micro-management. 4. Be authentic A future-proof leadership style is authentic leadership based on self-knowledge and self-leadership. When you become more self-aware you will be able to take action mindfully and proactively. As you lead yourself, you lead others. Self-leadership is an ongoing journey of self-inquiry and personal growth. In order to get to know your true potential, your strengths, needs, and desires, start asking yourself those questions: What do I really want? What am I really good at? What do I enjoy doing? How can I make an impact? Future-proof your leadership style by becoming the leader you were meant to be. Compassion According to Bill George who wrote the book “Discover Your True North” and coined the term Authentic Leadership, compassion is an important aspect of authentic leadership. Compassion builds resilience and trust, and it can be cultivated. 5. Be courageous! As a leader people will turn to you for guidance and hope, especially in challenging times of uncertainty. So have the courage to go ahead and lead the way, even when it storms. Stand up for what you really believe in. This gives predictability and builds trust. “Courage is the pathway to change” ‒ Dr. David Hawkins Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to control fear and to be willing to deal with something that is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant. Be willing to face your own fears and expand your comfort zone. How you see the future determines who you choose to be today: Lead with purpose Promote intrinsic motivation Apply clever management by objectives Be authentic Be courageous Follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and visit my website for more on leadership and personal development. Read more from Anna! Anna Nordengren, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Anna Nordengren is a dedicated business professional with 25 years of experience in leadership, marketing and business consulting. She is also an ICF Coach, an NLP Practitioner, and a Certified Yoga Teacher. After a personal crisis, where she dived deep into her own personal development, she made it her mission is to bring all her experience and insights to inspire and help people make changes they are longing for to reach their goals, both in life and in business. “Life is short, don't waste a day being in a situation where you are not happy without trying to change it”. Her academic background is an MSc in Business and Economics with an international degree from Lund University in Sweden, and an Executive MBA from the same University.

Written by: Jen Lewis, 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. Procrastination is the enemy of productivity. It can be a challenge for anyone, but for people with ADHD, it can be an epic mountain to climb. In this article, we bust some common myths around procrastinating with ADHD, share why it's not an out-of-the-box solution, as so much advice seems to espouse, and explore smarter individualised concepts for getting ahead of it. Is procrastination a symptom of ADHD? Procrastination is defined as putting off a task until later or tomorrow. Everyone can be prone to procrastination, but for people living with ADHD, it can be more prevalent due to their unique brain wiring. Here is where it gets super interesting – most people tend to correlate procrastination challenges with time management and organisational skills, but it is, in fact, at its very core, an emotional regulation issue. Yes, you heard that right. Procrastinating with ADHD is down to our emotions, not our planning abilities. Being an emotional regulation problem, procrastination is a struggle between the pre-frontal cortex and the limbic system. People with ADHD often have deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR), presumably due to the weaker connections between the pre-frontal cortex and the limbic system, which can make procrastination and task initiation challenges all the more heightened. This explains why procrastinating with ADHD is so amplified. Why do ADHD brains procrastinate? Procrastination is a loss of self-control when performing actions with negative emotional significance (usually with no immediate significant consequence). When it comes to procrastinating with ADHD, interest is the key motivator, and without it, it can be challenging to get started on a task. It's like putting the car keys in the ignition, but there's just no gas to start the car. Procrastination is irrational, but most of what we do when not rational is an inability to regulate our emotions. Are you ready for the real solution?? Newsflash – instead of applying out-of-the-box external band-aid solutions so commonly thrown around, we need to find what's underneath the procrastination, i.e., the related emotion. Procrastination is not "a thing"; it's a placeholder – the symptom of the source, if you will. When we scratch under the surface of procrastination, that's what we work with. Everyone has different motivators for their very own procrastination, which is why out-of-the-box solutions are not typically beneficial for ADHD brains that already face magnified resistance and struggle during procrastination. The science behind procrastination Shedding some light on the science of procrastinating with ADHD, a study at Ruhr University Bochum found poorer connections between the amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (DACC) in more frequent procrastinators (hello – ADHD brain wiring, anyone?). The DACC uses information from the amygdala and decides what action the body will take. It helps keep the person on track by blocking out competing emotions and distractions. The parts of the brain involved in intention, emotion, and action are: The amygdala (emotions and motivation). DACC (deciding what steps the body needs to take). The pre-frontal cortex (executive actions and control). Because of these weaker connections between the brain parts needed to initiate "the thing" it makes for a double procrastination whammy. What is our thought process behind procrastinating with ADHD? Research suggests that when we procrastinate, we perceive our "future selves" as strangers, as though we're passing the buck to an unsuspecting person. Unfortunately, as those of us procrastinating with ADHD are probably familiar with, there is never a stranger there ready to tidy up after us. When it comes to procrastinating with ADHD, three ADHD traits play even further into falling down the rabbit hole. Firstly, people with ADHD find it painful to do the "shoulds" without emotion attached, either interest or a real threat or reward (perceived threats or rewards do not work!) Secondly, with our time blindness trait that makes that future self seem even further away, this neural state may be magnified, making procrastinating with ADHD even more likely. People with ADHD often have an underdeveloped sense of time that most people have developed by adulthood. And finally, the core finding of the weaker connections between the parts of the brain regulating emotions, the larger the pull of procrastination for ADHD systems because the more potent the emotion "underneath" procrastination. Procrastinating takes precious mental cognitive reserves because it's on the back of our minds, typically exacerbating anxiety and distress, contributing to further procrastination. Procrastinating with ADHD is particularly detrimental to our physical and mental burden as our nervous systems are rarely at rest. How do you fix procrastination with ADHD? So now we are clear – procrastinating with ADHD is a symptom, not the source. When we external band-aid symptoms without regard for the root cause, we rarely get a lasting or working fix. Instead of letting procrastination consume our energy throughout the day while hoping for motivation to appear, we could strive to get ahead of the procrastination wave, individualise a plan to ride it more smoothly. OR, now, here is a concept straight out of left field… let the damn thing go where possible! While there is no such thing as a quick fix for procrastinating with ADHD, understanding your own emotions in procrastinating that unique task or situation is critical. Here are several possible procrastination levers to be pulled. While perhaps not apparent on the surface, they all have underlying emotions attached. Which one could be for you could be different in each scenario you face. How many of these are familiar? You don't have enough information to get started You're focusing on the end goal rather than the steps it takes to get there It's too much of a challenge You're stepping outside of your comfort zone by >5% which can open the door to feeling overwhelmed There is a lack of interest or alignment to purpose or values – it is unimportant to you You have a lack of self-belief You can feel the perfectionism creeping in It's too long range You're juggling competing priorities You need the steps clearly laid out (strategy versus execution, these should be separate) You need to feel an immediate (and real not perceived) reward or consequence in order to act When you have figured out the underlying source for procrastinating with ADHD (and this often takes a great ADHD coaching conversation to draw out what is under the surface before moving to your unique, sustainable solution), you'll notice that each procrastination reason and underlying emotion requires different approaches to navigate effectively. I offer here my top 3 strategies to be individualised to your personal situation: 1. Let it go Huh? I say this because, as people with ADHD, we live more heavily in the "shoulds" than our neurotypical peers. "Why can't I just…" and "should" are words commonly themed in my clients. This creates a perpetual cycle of focusing on what we aren't doing instead of the many things we're getting right. It also creates neural pathways that aren't conducive to self-belief and therefore living as fully as possible, but that's for another day. Learning self-acceptance is one of the most powerful things we can do. It might sound hokey, but when we stop living someone else's version of our life, we lose a ton of emotional baggage. When it comes to procrastinating with ADHD, I have two questions for you to ask yourself about that which you are procrastinating about. Do I actually have to do it? Or am I doing it because I "should" according to someone else's standard of living? and Does it align with my values? For example, I knew a lawyer who read the paper every morning because they thought it was something they "should" do. Despite the news making them sad and mad as they started the day, they kept doing it until they realised it wasn't a compulsory part of being an adult. Instead, they learned just to seek out information relevant to them and bypass all the rest. If letting it go is not an option and there's no way around it, here are two other suggestions for procrastinating with ADHD. But if you conclude that you're better off just practicing self-acceptance and not doing "the thing," sing it from the treetops in a Frozen style chorus (LET IT GOOOOOO…) as you smugly move onto something more aligned with your values. It's important to note I only mean let it go if it can be done so permanently, not as a temporary procrastination route…… Delete, delegate, or dismiss. 2. Beat the emotion ADHD brains are interest-based brains. If no positive (or immediate negative) emotion is attached, we will likely not do "the thing". This means needing to create some positive emotion or interest around it and/or beat the emotion before it kicks in. To beat the emotion, do things like picking up the phone and scheduling the appointment before even a 5-second delay of thinking about it gives rise to an emotion kicking. Think of it like jumping in the sea before you can "consider" what it might feel like. An example of mine is that if I am going to do exercise, it literally has to be the second I wake up and roll out of bed before I have the chance for any emotion to kick in – this one requires speed! However, because your brain has its unique wiring, this may not work for you, in which case… 3. Create your unique scaffolding! I'm sorry, team, this one may take some time to get the exact science right for your particular brain, and it may require experimentation, but when it comes to procrastinating with ADHD this is one powerful and realistically necessary tool to support our individual brains. This often requires external help to figure out what your scaffolding may be, but it is the most likely to help you overcome your procrastination and push you to do "the thing". What does this look like? Well, I had a shoulder bursitis and the pain wasn't enough to make me do my physio exercises. What was the emotion underneath the procrastination? Boredom, in its simplest form pure, painful, agonizingly tedious boredom (remember here that ADHD brains find boredom almost physically painful, and yes, boredom is an emotion, so the struggle is genuine). We'll skip the "ADHD, you sod woe is me" moment because the solution here was to get ready for some self-coaching. Clearly, more than an immediate reward or consequence was needed. It also needed to be more to be prepared logistically with everything at the ready. It wasn't enough to book a Focusmate session (my typical go-to for tackling procrastination with accountability). How does scaffolding work? Scaffolding can be a superhero for procrastinating with ADHD, but it may require several parts working in unison. My individualised plan had three elements. I needed to book a Focusmate session (body doubling for accountability) It had to be at 7 am ‒ so it was a reasonable time to wake up and be online, but still early enough for me to "beat the emotion" I also added to my scaffolding by watching something trashy on Netflix that I would never usually spend time with because of the unproductivity. It added in a concurrent immediate reward to take my mind off the yawnsome task. An example of scaffolding for work projects might look like this: Separate strategy from execution i.e., set the outcome but then focus only on the smaller process steps needed to or the execution. Forget the goal after setting ‒ it takes you out of the present and feels too ambiguous and all-encompassing to get to. Set those process steps that you will slide into the night before so you're not wasting precious pre-frontal cortex reserves trying to plan in the morning – we have only a finite amount of brain energy when it's at its best, don't waste it! Be realistic – consider setting aside one hour a day for the "moving the dial" projects or activities and book them in as a meeting. We often think we're spinning wheels, but we don't necessarily account for the many other tasks and activities that may not be moving us forward but are still a part of this busy juggling life! 1 small step a day = 365 small steps a year. Remember though this needs to be tailored to what works for your brain, not someone else's. So you see, a fix for procrastinating with ADHD is not an out-of-the-box solution. Yes, it throws up more challenges for the reasons discussed, but it's not impossible to traverse, and hey – we may have challenges in some areas. Still, being the paradox ADHD is, we also have creative, innovative, problem-solving, curious, empathetic, courageous strengths to celebrate. Can ADHD be an advantage? While this article focuses on one of the challenges for ADHD brains, in particular, there are plenty of positives about our brains to be honoured. For instance, when interest is high for an ADHD brain, nothing can stop us, and we are literally in our superpowers – I, for one, would not change my brain wiring for the world. It's not so much the ADHD in itself that throws up the challenges; it's a lack of understanding and leveraging ourselves to take off from the runway, trying to fit into a neurotypical world when this can be significantly detrimental. The amount of my ADHD clients that feel they are procrastinating, when they add up what they actually do in a week, it's shocking how much they don't account for or consider being achievements. We live in a world where "busyness" is a badge of honour when it actually detracts from the most important thing we have, our physical and mental health. For those with ADHD, taking care of our minds and bodies is even more critical. How can JLew HQ help you? Around 80% of people with ADHD believe that their brain wiring has held them back from pursuing their dreams or achieving their goals, according to ADDA. Understanding this hugely pivotal piece around emotions being a core part of getting to do the things we desire is crucial. At JLew HQ, the focus is on increasing productivity & resilience while decreasing stress and mental clutter. ADHD coaching can be highly beneficial to improving the day-to-day life of those with ADHD, as can reducing stress through emotional regulation and living with more self-acceptance with ADHD. If you're unsure where to begin and would like to discuss how ADHD coaching can help you understand and leverage your unique brain wiring, I would love to hear about your experiences. Please feel free to contact me today. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jen! Jen Lewis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jen Lewis is an ADHD Specialist & Coach, and a leader in the ADHD Community wellness space. ADHD Coaching is a highly specialised skillset with expert in-depth understanding of ADHD brain wiring and coaching skills. The two areas combine to facilitate growth and change in a way that enables people with ADHD to flourish. Jen is also an Executive coach and Wellness facilitator and educator; she regularly runs organisational, community and individual workshops that equip her ADHD community with sustainable stress reduction and mindset skills.

Written by: Amanda & John, 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 want to live a life that is fulfilling and successful, but what does it take to achieve that? The answer lies in becoming a professional human being, which is someone who has a strong relationship with themselves, good health, functional relationships, financial stability, presence, healthy distractions, and emotional intimacy. Relationship with Self The first step to becoming a professional human being is to establish a good relationship with yourself. When we are born, we have all the solutions within us, including compassion, leadership, and self-mastery. We have the power to heal ourselves, both physically and emotionally. By cultivating a strong relationship with yourself, you can tap into these innate qualities and live a more fulfilling life. Health Next, good health is essential for achieving success in all areas of life. Without energy and vitality, it can be challenging to do everything you want to do. By taking care of your body through exercise, nutrition, and sleep, you can ensure that you have the energy and vitality to achieve your goals. Functional Relationships Functional relationships are also crucial to becoming a professional human being. Having shared values with those around you can help you build relationships that are mutually beneficial. Developing our Relational Intelligence strengthens and supports all our relationships, and we gain emotional stability and trust in ourselves. Having a great understanding and applying where relevant the 5 Intimacies: Emotional, Physical, Experiential, Intellectual and Spiritual Intimacy, enriches our lives and the lives we influence. Additionally, being respectful towards money is crucial for financial stability. Taking responsibility for your finances by using money wisely and investing in yourself and your business can help you develop wealth and live a life that is aligned with your purpose. Presence Presence is another key aspect of being a professional human being. By being present in the moment and not distracting yourself with unhealthy dopamine hits, you can cultivate a sense of peace and focus that will help you achieve your goals. Healthy distractions, such as meditation, reading, cleaning your space, achieving goals, hugging a pet, listening to music, dancing, singing, and eating good food, can help you stay grounded and present in your life. Emotional Intimacy Finally, emotional intimacy is vital for a fulfilling life. Great communication, expressing emotions in a healthy way, and feeling connected, loved, seen, heard, and belonging is essential for emotional intimacy. By cultivating healthy relationships with those around you and expressing your emotions in a healthy way, you can create a sense of connection and belonging that will help you achieve your goals and live a fulfilling life. In conclusion, becoming a professional human being is about cultivating a strong relationship with yourself, maintaining good health, building functional relationships, being responsible with money, being present in the moment, having healthy distractions, and creating emotional intimacy. By focusing on these areas, you can create a life that is fulfilling and successful, both personally and professionally. Visit our website for more info! Read more from Amanda & John! Amanda & John, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amanda & John are known as 'The Couple Whisperers' and, as a couple themselves, know what it takes to maintain emotional connection, no matter what's happening in life. As coaches in their own right, Amanda & John decided to combine their skills to help couples reconnect, tune up their relationship and deepen their connection. Having delivered face-to-face workshops, webinars, 1:1 couple coaching, and as podcast guests, their approach of warmth, understanding, and empathy set them apart. Their mantra is 'Love Your Relationship', and if you don't know how they can show you the way!

Written by: Cindy Saunders, 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. Acceptance and resignation are two concepts that are often misunderstood and confused with each other. Although both terms are associated with dealing with difficult situations, they have significant differences that set them apart. As a leader, it's important to distinguish between acceptance and resignation, as this can provide valuable insight into how to navigate workplace situations. Recognizing the boundary between acceptance and resignation can significantly impact your leadership approach because work involves constant evolution, challenges, and stress. Acceptance A proactive approach that allows you to find meaning, purpose, and growth in the face of adversity. Acceptance is a mental and emotional process that involves acknowledging and embracing a situation or circumstance as it is, without resistance or judgment. It does not mean you necessarily like or agree with the problem, but you are willing to face it and work through it positively and productively. Resignation A passive and negative attitude that involves giving up on or surrendering to a situation without taking any action or making any effort to change it. Resignation is characterized by hopelessness, powerlessness, and defeat, often leading to a sense of apathy and disengagement from life. To better understand the difference between acceptance and resignation, let's consider the example of a person diagnosed with a chronic illness. The Difference In the case of acceptance, a person receiving a serious health diagnosis acknowledges the diagnosis and the challenges it presents but also recognizes that there are things they can do to manage their condition and live a fulfilling life. They may seek medical treatment, make lifestyle changes, and find support from family, friends, or support groups. By accepting their illness, they can focus on the things they can control and see ways to cope with the things they cannot. In contrast, a person resigned to their illness may feel defeated and hopeless and not take any steps to manage their condition or improve their quality of life. They may withdraw from social and professional circles, lose interest in their hobbies and passions, and feel trapped in a cycle of negativity and despair. Acceptance: Involves acknowledging and embracing a situation for what it is Doesn't mean you like or agree with a problem, but you're willing to face it Is a proactive approach that allows you to find growth in the face of adversity Results in higher levels of life satisfaction, better mental health, and stronger relationships Resignation: Involves giving up or surrendering to a situation without taking any action Is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, and defeat Is a passive and negative attitude that can lead to disengagement from life Results in lower levels of well-being and higher rates of depression and anxiety Well-being The differences between acceptance and resignation on our well-being and happiness are apparent. Studies have shown that people who practice acceptance tend to have higher levels of life satisfaction, better mental health, and stronger relationships. In comparison, those who resign themselves to their fate tend to have lower well-being and higher rates of depression and anxiety. Leaders Differentiating between acceptance and resignation can be crucial in effectively managing your work environment and leading others. In addition, your actions and responses as a leader serve as a model for those under your guidance, so it's essential to be mindful of your example. Understanding the nuances between acceptance and resignation can influence how you approach challenges and communicate with your team, ultimately impacting the overall success and well-being of the group. Acceptance and resignation are two distinct approaches to coping with challenging circumstances. Comprehending the subtle differences between them can significantly influence your approach to challenges and communication with your colleagues, ultimately impacting the overall success of your life and leadership. Ever wonder if Leadership Coaching could make a difference in your growth and development? Check out these testimonials! Unleash your potential and maximize your performance! Schedule a free coaching preview at hello@leadersrise.net Download your copy of Coaching for a New Generation of Leaders Connect with Cindy on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website. Read more from Cindy! Cindy Saunders, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cindy Saunders is a Leadership Coach and HR Professional with over twenty years of experience working in the manufacturing, mining, finance, and staffing industries. She is the founder of Leaders Rise, a Leadership Coaching company. Her leadership and coaching style is characterized by her drive to develop informed and engaged work environments through leadership coaching. She combines Emotional Intelligence, Workplace Styles, and Leadership Principles in her Coaching and Leadership Development Programs. Cindy considers strong and authentic leadership throughout an organization as an essential key to success. Cindy is a published author, holds designations as Global Professional Human Resources (GPHR), Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) Strategic Human Resources Business Partner (SHRBP), and is certified as an Executive Coach with the World Coach Institute (WCI).

Ed Latimore is a physicist, former professional heavyweight boxer, competitive chess player, and veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. Millions of people have learned from Ed’s experiences through his writing and speaking, about developing stoic street-smarts, sobriety, and realizing your potential. Learn more about Ed and his background at edlatimore.com. Ed Latimore, Author Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. When people ask me what I do for a living, my somewhat joking answer is “I get to be myself.” I say this because I’ve managed to take the lessons from my life experiences and present them in such a way that people get tremendous value and learn from them. The official motto of my website, www.edlatimore.com, is “I take what I’ve learned the hard way and I break it down so that you can learn it the easy way.” On my website, I write about the lessons I’ve learned from growing up in public housing projects, being a professional boxer (13-1-1), overcoming alcoholism (I’ve been sober since Dec. 23, 2013), graduating from college at age 33 (B.A. Physics), and ultimately going into business for myself, both in-person and online. While I’ve always enjoyed writing and teaching, my 20s were a mess. At age 25, I was more likely to end up in prison because of my relationship with alcohol and my behavior under its influence than be someone who’s written a book about getting sober that helps people quit drinking. But one morning, after I woke up at a friend’s house with no memory of how I got there, I decided that I had to get sober. This improved every area of my life. Naturally, I had to write about it. I was performing better in school, in the boxing ring, making more money, and growing my blog and social media presence. I use my website and social media to connect with people around the world who want to learn how to change their lives and improve themselves, no matter where they are in life. People are able to read my content and see that it’s almost never too late and you’re almost never too far gone. I’d like to think my life is a great example of what happens when you decide that enough is enough and you do the hard work of self-improvement. It doesn’t matter where or when you start. All that matters is that when you do start, you don’t stop. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? I have two business models: I teach writing skills, and I help people improve their lives. I’ve built my website and presence on Twitter and SEO by understanding how to write well and capture attention. I teach those writing skills, along with personal branding and social media marketing, through various programs, classes, and group consultations. I’ve also written a lot about dealing with sobriety, addiction, forgiveness, and general life improvement. If someone comes to me with any of those troubles, I’m more concerned with making a difference than making a dollar. I have a rate, but if you need help and you’re willing to listen, I always work with anyone I can who needs help. For the first business model, people pay big. They pay because I’m good at what I do, and I put the energy into helping someone grow in the areas where I have expertise. For the second model, money is not really the object. I can’t give my time away for free, but I’m generous. The prices of my books on Amazon versus my courses, programs, and mentorship reflect this difference. I not only show people what’s possible by being a living example of what I write about, but I also teach them. I not only write about what dealing with alcoholism, poverty, and self-discipline is like, but I also teach people how to take back control over their lives, both mentally and emotionally. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? There is no particular person who helped me get to this level. Several people are responsible for the success I have. First, I’m grateful to all the people who recognized that I had a problem, and they called me out on it. While I’d like to think I would have made the changes in my life on my own, I’m grateful that I had people around me to help out. I’m grateful to the people who have taught me everything about SEO and online marketing. Without those skills, I’d never be able to grow a following, make a name for myself, and make a living by helping people. It’s not just enough to have something to say. You also need to be able to make people listen to you. I’m grateful to all the platforms and people who have given me opportunities to discuss my work and my story and believed in me enough to recommend my work to their audience. I would not be anywhere without all of these influences. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. The proudest moment of my career was completing and self-publishing my book, "Sober Letters To My Drunken Self". I feel like this project, more than any other I’ve done to this point, helps people feel confident in their decision to stop drinking and get more control over their lives. Unfortunately, we live in a society where a person is not often greeted with support if they don’t want to drink alcohol. The old joke is that alcohol is the only drug where people think you have a problem if you don’t do it. I feel like my book helps people navigate the social and emotional changes they may experience when they get sober. I share every recommendation or review I get because I’m proud of that book and what it contributes to the world. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. First, most importantly, I’m willing to take risks. Risks are generally viewed as something that you want to avoid, but that’s only in the case of “pure risk”. Pure risk is risk that can only result in loss. I’ve succeeded because I eagerly embrace what is known as “speculative risk”. Speculative risk is risk where you can win or lose something. The best version of this is taking a calculated risk by betting on yourself. The worst is gambling by betting on things you can’t control. I take speculative risks ‒ smart bets ‒ on myself. I remember when I was an amateur boxer, I needed to train with the best coach around, but he was 20 miles away, and I needed to drive. I drove a broken-down beater to the gym every day, even though my driver’s license was suspended, I couldn’t afford insurance, and the car couldn’t pass inspection. Getting pulled over once would have realistically meant jail time. However, I took the risk because I needed to train, and it paid off. Second, you need grit. Grit is the ability to persist towards a long-term goal despite any setbacks you face along the way. Many people give up at first sight of difficulty. A few don’t give up until they face the second or third setback. But most people eventually give up. Not those with grit. Despite the fact that I have a physics degree, I nearly failed all of my math classes in high school. I failed calculus three times before I finally passed it a fourth time. I had to retake two classes throughout my degree, but I stuck with pursuing my degree despite these setbacks and failures. Lastly, you need to be grateful. Just because things aren’t going well doesn’t mean they’ll always be that way. Being able to look at a situation and realize that things could be worse is one of the most powerful things you can do for your life. It keeps your perspective positive, and a positive mind is a powerful asset for solving your problems. When I lost my first fight by first-round knockout, I remember being worried about how I’d pay my bills and dealing with public embarrassment. However, rather than focus on that, I looked at all of the good things in my life. I even told myself that one day it would be the best thing that ever happened to me. I truly believe it was because of this mentality that I was able to leverage that experience into a way to grow my popularity as a writer. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ed!

Limor is an Executive Coach for ambitious women in tech that want to get to the next level in their careers and achieve more through a result-oriented coaching process. Women she works with, say Limor enabled them to continuously tear down "ceilings" by challenging them to think bigger. They also say she opened their eyes to a new way of contributing to their careers. Limor loves talking about career progression in the tech industry and how to build your brand in the company and externally. Limor is married with four children; she loves running and working out at the gym while listening to electronic music. Limor Bergman Gross, Executive Coach Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. Hi, My name is Limor. I am married and a mother of 4. Currently, live in Israel. I was very shy and introverted as a child and grew up thinking there was only one path possible for me. In high school, I was good at STEM, which led to my decision to study computer science and accounting after my military service. I was limited in what I was allowing myself to dream about and started a career as a software engineer, thinking that was the only possible path for me. It was not bad, but I felt that was not my destiny over the years. I am very good with people and always cared for the people reporting to me. I grew a deep passion for growing women in tech, as growing myself into leadership positions was not easy. After moving back from a nine-year stay in the US, I decided to make a bold leap of faith and leave the only thing I knew how to do – lead engineering organizations. I started a coaching certification program and worked as a consultant. I created a mentorship program for women with a great organization calledPowerToFly and consulted them for 2.5 years. And on the same time started coaching women in tech leadership positions. I bring my best self to women in tech leadership because of my vast experience in that field together with my coaching experience. On a personal side, as a mother of four children, I used to always put myself last, and towards my 40s decided that has to change. I broke a limiting belief I had about running, I thought I couldn't run, and when I challenged myself, I realized running is one of my most joyful physical exercises. I also work out at the gym and love caring for my body. It also helps me emotionally, and I enjoy listening to electronic music while working out. Six years ago, I also decided to turn vegan; that happened right before moving to Texas; not the most logical decision, but it was the right decision for me. Personally, I think that veganism is the healthiest nutrition and the right choice for supporting our planet and avoiding exploiting animals. Although I am vegan, I am not an activist; I respect the choices of others (including my family) and never try to force my opinion. That is my leadership style, and I help women by inspiring them without telling them what to do. I recently started a new podcast, From a Woman to a Leader, where I bring different women, from managers to CEOs, to share their paths, challenges, and what helped them succeed. I want to inspire other women in tech that they can get to the C-Suite if they want to. What is your business name, and how do you help your clients? My company name is LBG Consulting Services. I help women in tech leadership find their path and get there. Typically starting by identifying their passions and aspirations, identifying what is holding them back (Limiting beliefs), and building a solid plan they can continue executing without me. I aim to inspire and build resiliency and not dependency in me. The biggest reward is seeing what women can achieve and the feedback they give me on how our coaching helped them. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? My focus is women in tech leadership. My ideal client is a woman in a director role, aiming to advance to VP and C-Suite. I also work with companies that want to start an internal mentoring program and run training for mentors and mentees. Other workshops I have ran are related to communications and presentation skills based on my vast experience in the tech industry. What are your current goals for your business? I want to reach more women and more organizations. I also do group coaching for women and greatly enjoy group interactions. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? I would love to develop live and pre-recorded workshops to reach more women and make a more significant impact. I also enjoy public speaking and seek speaking opportunities at conferences or events. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? I am inspired by great women role models that achieved greatness despite challenging circumstances. For example, Oprah Winfrey overcame poverty, abuse, and racism to become one of the world's most successful and influential women. Ada Lovelace – A mathematician and writer considered the world's first computer programmer, despite facing significant barriers as a woman in the male-dominated field of science. When I see those women in what they achieved despite the odds against them, It inspires me that everything I want to achieve is possible for me. But I must confess that the road is always full of challenges, and when I am facing challenges, I make sure to meet with friends and other women who inspire me to push myself forward and believe in myself. My family is also a great source of strength. I am very proud of my family, my husband, and my children, who, despite so many changes, moving countries, schools, and states in the US, always face changes bravely and push themselves forward. My oldest daughter is a great inspiration to me. She changed seven schools and was able to graduate high school Cum Laude and now study art, which is her passion. I encourage my childer to follow their passions and strengths and fulfill their destiny. What is your work inspired by? My work is inspired by the people I meet and the challenges that they face. I am fortunate to be able to grow and adapt based on my passions, interests, and market needs. I am inspired by women who do not let any setbacks define who they are and what they can achieve. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. My greatest achievement is raising a beautiful family and children I am proud of while growing a career, moving countries, and switching from being an employee to working independently. Despite uncertainties, difficulties, and fear, I am proud of my ability to make bold and professional changes. Everyone is afraid. The question is, what do you do with the fear? Do you let it stop you, or do you decide to make a bold move with it? If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? The one thing I want to change is female representation in the tech industry, especially in C-Suite and executive roles. My aspiration is that it will not be a topic for discussion or research because it will be the norm that there is equal representation for men and women in tech from the bottom up. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. In 2016, I was approached on LinkedIn by a company called PlatoHQ (they had a different name back then). They asked me if I was willing to mentor engineering managers. It was an excellent opportunity to give back to others and start mentoring them (I still do it to this day). I found out two things when I started mentoring. One is that I greatly enjoy it, and the second is that I am very good at it. I constantly got very positive feedback from my mentees, and they kept thanking me. That led to me eventually making a dramatic change, leaving the career path I was at and becoming a coach. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Youtube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Limor!

Written by: AnneMie Decatte, 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. After the bounce-back from the pandemic, it is fair to say that 2023 is the year of accountability, taking a different approach, and thinking outside the box, not only for ourselves but also for our furry friends and our pets. Over the past two years, the concept of ‘health’ has drastically changed for us humans. I would even dare to say that we treasure our health more than ever before. So, why not looking at pet health through a different lens? When I met with Ellie from DOGood, it was obvious that she is very passionate about what she does. Ellie became a Canine Dog Nutritionist after losing her own dog Tara to cancer in 2010. She believed there was more to the story and started studying pet nutrition. She found out that dog owners are not aware of the causes of these horrible diseases and that dogs are in need of a holistic approach when their pet experiences health issues. Having a pet most definitely makes life more exciting and fun! Not only do you have a loyal best friend by your side, but this companionship also comes with the responsibility for the pet when something goes wrong. Nowadays, dog owners experience a lot of problems, such as aggressive behaviour, attacks, misbehaviour, smells, cancer, epilepsy and other setbacks. Most dog owners simply don’t know what to do in such cases… And this is where Ellie from DOGood comes to the rescue. She believes in a holistic approach (avoids antibiotics where possible)and stands by the following statement: ‘Why not prevent instead of cure?" According to Ellie, just like with humans, everything starts with nutrition. After years of study and research Ellie has found that there is a beautiful way to help the dogs and help the owners: Getting the dogs into better shape and to have better behaviour. The good news is that it is easy to improve a dog’s health. When I asked Ellie what this holistic method would look like step by step ‒ how one could improve the quality of life, health and vitality of one’s pet ‒ she explained that she first asks the pet owner a series of questions and then assesses the pet with a diagnostic tool. Next, she has a discussion with the owner on how they can get started. She added that in most cases the diet is the main issue. Ellie claims that artificial food causes a lot of harm, including brain damage, liver damage, etc. Artificial food and foods containing a lot of sugar can make pets hypersensitive. Ellie then creates a tailor-made menu for the pet, adding inexpensive natural herbs, vitamins and minerals to the food. She can show you how you can prepare the food for your pet. Nevertheless, she also offers a pet food delivery service, costing no more than your usual spent on pet food. We all know the importance of putting the best quality fuel in our bodies to perform at our best and experience the best level of health and wellness; This is exactly the same for our pets! Ellie usually re-assesses the pet after 30 days but states with conviction that the pets feel and function best on healthy Mother Nature Food. Furthermore, by adjusting a dog’s nutrition, the dog owner will save money on vet bills and other unnecessary expenses. “The results speak for themselves,” she says, “The dog will lose weight. Most dogs are overweight because of bad nutrition. They will no longer smell as the body won’t hold any more toxins. Moreover, the dog will no longer suffer from ear infections or won’t get rashes. And perhaps the most important change: due to the elimination of sugar from their food, the dog’s behaviour will improve drastically. The dog will be a lot calmer, they won’t eat your shoes or damage your furniture and they won’t attack other dogs or humans.” The DOGood approach truly is one of a kind. It is a win-win-win: Better health for the dog. A happy and carefree pet owner. And A safer and healthier society! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from AnneMie! AnneMie Decatte, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine AnneMie Decatte, is an advocate for Accountable ETHOS™ as this approach assisted her to live the epic life she lives today! Her mission is to help people make confident and accountable choices through Communication, Value Alignment and Emotional Mastery. She is the COE of Accountable Ethos and has been coaching and mentoring people internationally since 2006, and this in a personal and professional capacity. She claims: ‘When adopting Accountable Ethos, be ready to elevate as life will never be the same!!!

David Bingley is an expert in Leadership and Empowerment Coaching, working on mental/emotional fitness and self-awareness. By exploring perspectives to define purpose and direction (our vision, mission and ambition for ourself and the world) to how we frame ourself and embrace our values so our intentions and actions are aligned. David founded In-Vision Coaching as a platform to assist people to empower themselves, take control of their life using the strategies, frameworks and structures he developed to fine tune for peak performance. You may work with David in 1:1 coaching, team coaching or specialist workshops, taking small steps to… LIVE LARGE! David Bingley, Leadership & Empowerment Coach Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. I am David Bingley, a widower and single father, raising two children, Jonny who is 12 and Keinwyn who is 8. I was brought up as an expatriate, living abroad in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean whilst attending boarding school from the age of 7. In my adult years chose to make my home in Asia, specifically Hong Kong, although at the time I was thinking I was transient and would stay for 2 years only and am still here 30 years later. I started my career in Corporate hospitality properly in Thailand after my degree but had started working in the restaurant of a local boutique hotel at the age of 14. Growing up I was very active in sports both team and individual, initially in rugby and swimming, then in judo where I was a regular fixture in the school national championships and later on from 13 I was a keen rower. At 16 I was lucky enough to go trekking in Nepal to the Rolwaling Region, home of the Yeti. It was there that I learnt to take small steps to LIVE LARGE, in the sense that all of my fellow trekkers started the trek at a breakneck pace and by lunch time I had overtaken them, but my most memorable recollection aside from the leaches was that we had an “Egg Boy” on the team whose job was to carry all the eggs for the trekkers, porters, sharpers and serdar. What brought you to coaching? Throughout my life, I have always had a passion for self-improvement and personal growth and for the most part, I think I have been diligent about facing my fears, by taking some workshops and learning new things has served to open my mind. Developing others has always been a passion and I have excelled in training up my teams. As a trainee manager in Thailand I realised a few things very quickly, 1, I had no power so I had to learn how to influence others by example. And 2, that my British accent was very flat and hard for Asians to understand, (especially when we consider that there are 5 tones in Thai and 9 in Cantonese), so I deliberately added inflections and tones to the way I speak and paced myself slower and now it is natural. Moving to Hong Kong I very quickly learnt the power of the word No. I observed that when an employee (anyone) decides to say no to an instruction then they have essentially taken back their power, and I saw that introducing a warning or termination is of no use, especially in a moment of emotion and passion. The major lesson about empowerment I also learnt in Hong Kong as I saw it unfold with a frightening degree of nonchalance from the senior management with their assumption on how empowerment works and everyone was magically on the same page. Their neglection on training and discussion with the wider teams who were expected to level up and then the immediate failure to support them. I learnt a lot, how to do things and how not to do things. A key shift in my mindset started with the many corporate trainings I had to attend and it was in these trainings that I started to develop more of a passion for what I can now see as coaching, it kind of cleared the ground for preparation to sow the seeds, nurture and harvest. I explored reiki, and other techniques but found that whilst I liked them for myself I was not confident to talk about it with the wider audience. Perhaps because I felt that as a client in the process I was simply a recipient with no say in the process in the sense that I was giving up my power to the practitioner. With coaching I found a strong affinity and resonance with the process and I felt like an active participant in the process. Yes I was being guided to an extent but I was finding my own way and getting revelations and perspectives through the questions, the mirroring and the perspectives being offered. Then the commitments I made with the coach to work on in between sessions. What was you most profound moment in coaching? The most powerful takeaway I have in coaching came from one of the coaching training processes in the Intermediate CTI program. I was the student candidate in the front of the room for the coach instructor to demonstrate the technique. I was asked for my topic or what I wanted to talk about and I blurted out that my issue that my wife had recently passed away and I has 2 small children, (3 and 7 at the time) and I was a stay at home father and now my whole world had gone to pieces. The conversation and process were amazing, I was able to express feeling heard, the coach did not want or try to fix me or push me back into an 18-hour-a-day corporate life, and I got to explore myself and my feelings. The biggest revelation was the invitation to the rest of my class to open up deeply and become vulnerable and explore their deeper issues. Recognising the power in vulnerability was huge and my journey since then has taken on a more windswept and interesting nature. How did you define your purpose discovered you wanted to coach? When I started to question myself and my purpose. I asked myself “Who am I? What do I want? And Where am I going?” These questions terrified me and for a month or so I was almost frozen. I was stuck on “who Am I?” So I decided to answer “what do I want?” and this became easier as I had already levelled up my game in the reframing of what I don’t want into what I do want. This had become a norm, so it was easier as I was comfortable with the process. In fact, I had been talking about it with my late wife as a way to reconnect with myself and my feelings and it is a tool and structure that I share with my clients today. For example, my wife would ask me what I wanted for lunch and I would say it's ok up to you. My thinking was that food is fuel, it does not really matter as long as I filled up. She would push back saying it did, but I dismissed it. Subsequently, we would go where she wanted and on entering the door I would already be upset, it was the wrong place the wrong smell the wrong ambiance the wrong noise etc.. then slowly, I started to notice the pattern and trend. What could I do differently? I could feel into what I wanted. So I did, I started the process of speaking up and saying what I wanted and she would say what she wanted. For example, if she said Asian or Noodles and I said Western or Salad could her Asian Noodles translate into Italian Pasta? Or could my Western Salad translate into an Asian dish? If not was there another option we could go to and if not shall we meet back in an hour. The objective was not to compromise, and for context, I subscribe to Rumi and his idea that compromise is lose-lose as it breeds immediate resentment so it is better to say no and walk away than compromise. The intention was to reconnect with what I wanted, to reconnect with my feelings, which led to the ability to take actively empower myself. Meaning that I built up some boundaries and could say no. This kickstarted the process in mastering my habit of being a people pleaser and appeasing others. The process I am delighted to confirm has led to my becoming a “recovering people pleaser”. I am able to say no more easily or yes more slowly. It was the kernel of my coaching approach to reframing and being. My connection to “what do I want?”, is built on the pillars and foundation of my personal values and has become super solid over time. I have continually deepened my reconnection to my feelings and honouring what it is that I am feeling in the moment and have acted on it. It has opened me up to my understanding of purpose and direction and what it means to me which led me to answer “Who am I?”. It started to make sense suddenly as I started to move forward with that. “Where Am I going?” has taken care of itself as I feel that I am in the flow and being pulled along by my vision, mission and ambition for myself as opposed to pushing, suffering or working hard for it. More about this later perhaps. What is Fine Tuning for Peak Performance? Since my certification as a coach I have developed a process I like to call “fine tuning for peak performance through mental and emotional fitness and self-awareness”. Essentially it means that we have all attained various levels of success in our life and career through whatever means or vehicle has gotten us here. But if we are feeling unfulfilled or lacking in any way or that we need to level up or we have been overlooked for a promotion then we need to reflect and fine tune our performance to get us to where we want to be. In this process of development I looked at myself first and foremost at the patterns and trends that I had experienced in my life. I added a couple of new questions and perspectives: “Who am I being and What am I doing? then Who do I want to be and What do I want to do?” which served to add different qualities and behaviours that I would need to express and embody to move me forward with becoming who I want to be. In looking at my goals and realised that a few years previously when I was stuck in my work and married life, I had reviewed my goals and had found that I had been hanging on to a specific goal that had already been achieved. Now it was serving as a handicap as opposed to a north star. During the process of unpacking the goal I chose to celebrate what working on that goal had achieved, then I symbolically polished the parts of the goal that were complete and put them on my preverbal trophy cabinet, then took what was outstanding and repurposed it for relevance in a new goal or goals to act as a north star. As I remembered this process, I realised that all of my questions Who am I? What do I want? Where am I going? Who am I being? What am I doing? Who do I want to be? What do I want to do? Would need to be a part of a working document. Meaning that it was all subject to change and review on a regular cadence which became part of my new mindset. It led me to look at, review, refresh and recalibrate all of my goals which started with my vision, mission and ambition for myself and now how I wanted to impact my world. How did Responsibility, Accountability and Commitment become a cornerstone of your Coaching process? The process of recalibrating my goals and aligning myself with them offered me the opportunity to reflect on and unpack my personal understanding of responsibility, accountability and commitment. I was actively working on putting my hopes dreams and desires into place with intention and action, but where was I really with that? Was my relationship with what I wanted aligned? This was a fascinating question as it involved looking at how I was engaged with relationships of all kinds. I was able to accept that until then I was being transactional and co-dependent in my actions. At the time and like every other revelation it felt like I had uncovered the missing piece. Which went hand in hand with responsibility, accountability and commitment. Diving deep into this allowed me to break down years of unconscious habits and beliefs that had been driving me. I chose to take back my control and power and reset to what I wanted. For context, my transitioning from a transactional relationship was I want to say resolved by my taking responsibility for myself and my actions. Meaning that I looked at what was in my control and power, how it was aligned with my purpose and direction (vision, mission, ambition) and what did I need to do to get there. It involved a huge amount of willpower and self-belief, because I had decided not to ask for help and do it myself. This meant that I did not rely on another person to say yes or fit in and help or for a situation or decision to be in my favour or anything else like that. At the core, it meant that I was facing my deepest fears head looking them in the eye and overcoming them. The biggest fear was about money, income and finance. I had decided not to ask for help. Plus as I have also decided to walk away from the paying work that I was then doing, because I realised that it did not make me happy or align with my values or what I wanted to be doing. I had been doing it because it had been my late wife's work and business and I a part of me felt I had to continue it. It had a lot of value and contribution to the world but it was not mine, I did not want to do it and it made me angry to do it. The truth was, I was angry because I was appeasing her, but deeper than that I was appeasing the memory of her in my mind. The fact is in life she would have told me to focus on my coaching and leave her work and business alone to flourish or fail. With that revelation and the fact that I had a limited income from my coaching business I had to double down on what was in my control. I faced all of my financial responsibilities head on, working out payment plans with fixed dates that I was committed to. I sold everything I could of value to pay for food for myself and my children and along the way I would pick up a “carrot” something to motivate me to move me forward and also get some paying work. By sticking to my guns on doing all that I could within my power and sphere of control. I learnt to be still in the moment when I only had usd$40 in the bank and had bills to pay. I was trusted the process and remained calm believing all a long that all would be well, it always was because something would happen that would bring me some income. What Changed? Historically my strategy would have been to borrow money but that had changed, what I needed to do was put on my big boy pants and be aligned with my intentions and actions and go for what I wanted to do with all my heart. Following my feeling and my gut, letting go of any and all advice from everyone I loved and respected. I realised that this is MY life and that I have to make that choice for myself to live or die by it. And that every time I took others opinions into consideration it pulled me off balance. So I stuck to my guns, did all that was in my control, I looked for new clients and opportunities to coach, I read books on coaching, took free and paid workshops that moved me forward on my path and I listened to podcasts and tied to collaborate with other coaches on projects and workshops paid and for free. All the while looking down the path and direction that I wanted to go and within the space of 6 months form my decision to back myself and my ambition to the breakthrough took approximately 6 months. It is worth noting that I was not starting from scratch but working from a lifetime of experience and knowledge as a foundation I simply deconstructed it, cleaned, polished and allowed more understanding and light to come in as I put it back together. Fine tuning it for peak performance. Deciding on and committing to my purpose and direction then aligning it with my intentions and actions and taking the necessary next steps. Simply put I was “taking small steps to … LIVE LARGE!” Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from David!