Written by: Vivien Roggero, 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. Mental freedom is the process of gaining self-confidence and recognizing our strengths. It's about setting your mind free from external control and expectation or ideals and standards set by our surroundings. External control can make it difficult to carve your own paths or make your own choices. So, we need to work on getting our control back and set our minds calm and composed. In this blog, I'll unpack eight helpful ways to gain mental freedom and self-confidence. Let's dive into the details. What Is Mental Freedom? Mental Freedom is to free ourselves from external expectations and detach ourselves from the emotions, ideals, and standards we experienced growing up. It is to identify ourselves and gain self-confidence. In simple words, it is the process of discovering our identities by quieting the voices surrounding us and just listening to ourselves and making our own choices. The external voices and expectations can make it challenging to carve our paths; hence, we may lose control of our choices or identity. We must work to achieve mental freedom to live a joyful and satisfied life. 8 Ways to Achieve Mental Freedom We live in societies with specific standards, ideals, expectations, and labels that all exert pressure on us and bind us to live in their defined way. Most of us have always been affected by what others expect and say. The problem with being affected by external factors is when we react accordingly. Our primary concern is not taking charge of our lives and not taking responsibility for our decisions. It may turn our low self-esteem low and may end up in stress or depression. Therefore, it is significant to achieve mental freedom to live a happier and more fulfilled life. Let's look at ways to achieve mental freedom and maintain mental well-being in our daily lives. 1. Take Mental Rest First and foremost, we have to make our minds stress-free and make ourselves calm and composed. Here are some great ways to give your mind rest or make it stress-free. Breathing Exercises One way to reduce stress or depression is to do breathing exercises. Lie down on the mat with closed eyes, inhale a deep breath, and then exhale it. Follow the sound of breathing and do it repeatedly. You will realize positive energy within. It will make you calm and composed, leading to a balanced life with reduced stress and aggression. Meditation In addition to breathing exercises, meditation techniques may help reduce stress and positively affect lifestyle. There are many meditation techniques that you can learn from online sources. Nature Therapy Get close to nature. As close we are to nature, it'll connect us to our inner selves. So, observe nature by sitting calmly in the park or seeing rain. As we get closer to nature, we will discover ourselves soon. Sound-based therapy Sound is intrinsic to mental health. There are many exercises or mantras, and by adopting these, you may feel relaxed and calm. Story Narration If you can narrate your story, then nothing else could be a better aid to your mental health. Even if we are the listener of the story, then as well, we forget our worries, and we get to know other such things that are out of our world of imagination. Adopt healthy habits Adopt habits that relax your mind, and you love to do them. These habits will provide you with inner peace and joy. So, make these habits a part of your daily routine life. These habits will give you a perspective on life. Reading Another excellent way to make your mind stress-free is reading. Reading books or novels that enhance our analytical thinking or are composed of stories out of our imagination will move us away from mental health issues. Leading a routine life Unorganized things might lead to hazards to mental health. Therefore, writing a routine and following it without fail is important. By doing this, you will be busy, and your mind will be free from stressed and depressing thoughts. Juggle your daily routine Following the same routine leads to boredom and fatigue. Therefore, make some changes to your daily routine. However, there is no need to cut down on daily routine tasks; just rearrange the routine to feel fresh. Eat nutritious food A healthy body has a healthy mind, and a healthy and balanced diet leads to a healthy body. So, to achieve the best mental health, you should focus on a healthy diet. 2. Thrive for a vision To achieve mental freedom, we have to strive for a broad vision. The vision that will introduce us to our existence. You have to search for who you are and what is the purpose of your life. When you have a broader vision and you start working for it, then you will feel confident and free from unwanted external control. 3. Build awareness or look inside We cannot get freedom until we get aware of what is the main problem. Why do we feel trapped? It is not sufficient to only ignore what people around us say or worst to isolate ourselves from the society we live in. We have to analyze and dig deep into the root causes of the main problem. So, you can achieve mental freedom by analyzing how external factors affect you and how to deal with them. 4. Face the reality Now, after analysis, you get to know the reality, and at this point, you have to accept what is going on with you and which things prisoned your mind, and made you feel trapped. If you hide from reality, you can never eliminate the problem. After acceptance, it is easy to step forward now. 5. Go achieve your vision Now is the time when you start working to achieve your goals which will boost your self-esteem and make you confident and your mind feel free. 6. Language You can achieve mental freedom by working on the language you use to speak to others and yourself. Instead of saying, "I have to, " I must do it," I should do it," you must say, "I want to," I prefer to," or "I get to do it," and it will put control back into your hands. With just these daily improvements, you can get your power back in your own hands and set your mind free from external control. 7. Become a doer Become a doer if you want mental freedom and put all your mental health woes aside. You have to start working, despite thinking and planning the whole time, which will lessen your burden. Getting things done on time will make you feel responsible and confident. This will reduce stress and set your mind free and calm. 8. Set boundaries Lastly, despite just thinking of the bad, you always have to set boundaries to the people around you. Build the habit of letting go of things and setting your mind free from worries. Setting boundaries allows you to prioritize your own well-being, respect your own limits, and communicate effectively with others about what is and what is not acceptable for you. By setting and maintaining boundaries, you can better take care of yourself, both emotionally and mentally. Conclusion There you have it - great ways to achieve mental freedom to live a happier life- the life you deserve and you want. Mental freedom can be achieved by focusing on your own targets and vision. By working on your vision, you will recognize your strengths and identity. This will give your control back into your hands, and you will feel free from external control, expectations, and Ideals. Most importantly, you will be confident about yourself. So, start today, try these tips and work on your mental freedom. If you or your loved one are struggling to achieve mental freedom and need help, feel free to reach out. I'd love to help you set your own path, create a quality life, move forward, and set up for success without any stress and worry. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Vivien! Vivien Roggero, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Vivien Roggero is a certified Executive & Empowerment Coach and Entrepreneur. After 15 years of professional journey, expanding from Sales to IT Executive in some world-class startups’, losing his father to COVID, and going through a high-conflict divorce, he decided to dedicate his life to empowering people so they can live a fulfilling life. Those experiences also inspired him to create the One Freedom™ Framework, freedom and purpose-centric approach to life that helps his clients to accelerate their life design process and sculpt growth. His focus is to help clients who feel stuck in their professional or personal journeys or find struggles to re-navigate life after major life-changing events.

Written by: Sofia Rodrigues, 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. Low self-confidence can be a real barrier to success and happiness in life, causing feelings of insecurity and doubt. It can also lead to negative self-comparisons, which can be even more damaging. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take to boost your self-confidence, stop comparing yourself to others and increase your self-love. From changing your inner dialogue to focusing on your personal strengths, these 7 steps will help you to create a positive inner environment and an improved sense of self-confidence and self-love. With these tools, you'll be well on your way to achieving your goals and living a more fulfilled life. 1. Understand the importance of self-confidence Having a healthy level of self-confidence is essential for leading a successful and happy life. It allows you to take risks, try new things and pursue your dreams without fear of failure or judgment. It is also important for building healthy relationships and for feeling secure in yourself and your identity. Without self-confidence, it can be difficult to navigate the world, making it difficult to achieve your goals and be truly satisfied with life. It’s important to recognize that self-confidence is not just a feeling, but a skill that can be learned and developed. It’s not something that you’re born with or that you either have or don’t have. Everyone has the ability to increase their self-confidence with the right tools and strategies. 2. Change your inner dialogue One of the most important steps in building self-confidence is to start to change your inner dialogue. This means recognizing the negative thoughts and beliefs that you have about yourself and replacing them with more positive and empowering ones. This can be a difficult process, as often these negative thought patterns have been ingrained in us for years. However, it is possible to shift these beliefs and start to create a more positive internal environment. Start by recognizing when you have negative thoughts about yourself and then challenge them. Ask yourself if this thought is really true or if it’s just a knee-jerk reaction to a situation. You can also practice positive affirmations, repeating positive statements to yourself out loud or in your head. This type of self-talk can help to counter negative thoughts and create a more positive inner dialogue. 3. Identify and focus on your strengths In order to boost your self-confidence, it’s important to identify and focus on your strengths. It can be easy to get stuck in a negative mindset where we only focus on our weaknesses, but this won’t help to build self-confidence. Instead, make a list of your strengths and accomplishments, no matter how small. This can help to remind you of the things that you do well and the positive qualities that you possess. You can also practice focusing on your strengths in daily life. If you’re feeling down, take a moment to recall a time when you felt really proud of yourself and focus on that feeling. This can help to counter any negative thoughts and feelings and remind you of the amazing things that you’re capable of. 4. Set achievable goals and track your progress Setting achievable goals and tracking your progress is a great way to boost your self-confidence. By setting goals and then actually achieving them, you’ll start to feel more capable and confident in your abilities. It can also be helpful to keep a log of your progress, so you can track your successes and measure your progress over time. When setting goals, it’s important to make sure that they are achievable and that you have a clear plan for how you are going to achieve them. This will help to ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed and give up before you have a chance to succeed. It’s also important to remember to celebrate even small successes, as this will help to keep your motivation and self-confidence levels high. 5. Stop comparing yourself to others Comparing ourselves to others is often a major source of low self-confidence and self-doubt. We can get caught up in comparing our looks, our accomplishments, our relationships, and more, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. It’s important to recognize that this type of comparison is not only fruitless but also damaging to our self-confidence. In order to stop comparing yourself to others, it’s important to remember that everyone is unique and has their own journey and timeline. Remind yourself that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses and that there is no one “right” way to do things. Focus on yourself and your own progress, rather than getting caught up in comparing your journey to someone else’s. 6. Develop a practice of self-care Self-care is an important part of boosting self-confidence and self-love. Taking the time to care for yourself and nurture your emotional, physical, and mental well-being can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can have a huge impact on self-confidence. Start by creating a self-care routine that works for you. This could include things like taking a hot bath, journaling, going for a walk, meditating, or anything else that makes you feel good. Make sure to set aside some time every day to focus on yourself and your well-being. This will help to create a positive inner environment and a healthier and more confident outlook on life. 7. Celebrate your successes It’s easy to get caught up in our failures and setbacks, but it’s important to remember to celebrate our successes as well. No matter how small they may be, it’s important to recognize and acknowledge your successes in order to boost your self-confidence. So whenever you accomplish something, take a moment to recognize and celebrate it. Tell yourself that you did a great job, pat yourself on the back, and take a moment to feel proud of yourself. This will help to reinforce the positive feelings and remind you of the amazing things that you’re capable of. Conclusion Having a healthy level of self-confidence is essential for leading a successful and happy life, but it can be difficult to achieve. However, with the right tools and strategies, it is possible to boost your self-confidence, stop comparing yourself to others and increase your self-love. By changing your inner dialogue, focusing on your strengths, setting goals and tracking your progress, developing a practice of self-care, and celebrating your successes, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals and living a more fulfilled life. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sofia! Sofia Rodrigues, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sofia Rodrigues is a certified health and nutrition coach and the founder of Sofia Rodrigues Coaching. She left a 15-year career in multinational food and pharma to help clients with weight loss, emotional eating, and stress management. With a background in biotechnology, food engineering, life coaching, and studies in strategic change at Oxford University, she supports her clients using an integrative approach to wellness. Her coaching style is based on respect for bio-individuality, root cause analysis to identify underlying issues, and the need for accountability to achieve long-lasting change.

Written by: Trina Joy Lucas, 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. 7 essential points on soul vs spirit to help you define your authentic self, discover your spiritual gifts and unlock the power to embrace and express with love what is truly remarkable and unique about you! Do you ever find yourself contemplating the meaning of life universe and everything?! Do you really understand why soul and spirit connection is the pathway to your spiritual self-care ‒ body mind spirit? Discover how soul vs spirit are the keys to shedding obstacles in your path, defining what authenticity means for you, and facilitating real growth into the person you deeply know you have the capacity to be. Be inspired to connect to your spirit and empower your relationship to higher vibrational energy to discover your spiritual gifts. Have you ever heard the old adage ‘you are a soul having a human experience’? In my 26 years of experience as a Psychic Spiritual Healer, addressing the spiritual root causes of health, I have found this to be very true. It is relatively easy nowadays to access high-quality information on the importance of living authentically. In contrast, it is far less understood what is the best way to go about truly achieving this from a spiritual self care perspective! My personal and professional growth experiences over time have shown me the most powerful way to discover what authenticity means for you and thus align to a profound depth of personal truth, is through building a relationship with your soul and spirit. Spirit soul and body explained. As a human being, the more you embody your soul, the more you actualise the potential of your spirit! As a professional Psychic Spiritual Healer, this is obvious to me. I would like to make it obvious and clear for you to understand too. I will take you on a journey, step by step, to help you properly understand soul vs spirit and how they each uniquely are the keys to accessing higher vibrational energy. Access to this energy helps you shed your personal blocks and obstacles, discover your spiritual gifts, and live these gifts with the profound power of authenticity. Answers to the deepest life questions. Who am I? What is the meaning of life universe and everything? When I was 23 years of age, every cell of my body began resounding with the same question. Who am I? Suddenly, my identity of self, which I had never given much conscious thought to, felt like it didn't fit. As if I was somehow wearing the wrong clothes. Out of the blue, a switch flipped. I went from introducing myself, with conviction, as Trina who enjoyed waterskiing, reading novels and learning Japanese, to hearing myself speak these words, but having a resounding sense of ‘yeah but is this really you?’ There were signs that a deeper need for self-knowing and actualisation was calling to me. Before this seemingly random flip from wearing an identity that I thought fit just fine thank you, to suddenly questioning every aspect of it. I often felt like an outsider to my peer group. But they liked me. And I liked being liked. Making connections with others was important to me. I was a keen observer of life from a young age. Subconsciously I realised there were aspects of my nature and character people responded to more favourably. I emphasised these traits. It just felt like the easiest way to move through the world. Was I being untruthful? I had never stopped to question this. It felt natural to emphasise the parts of my true nature that gelled with the outside world. Yet here I was. Suddenly awake to a deep realisation. The majority of my identity was the product of a collection of ideas about whom I felt I should be. About who and what people thought I should be. Or, at least, what I assumed they expected me to be. Honestly, it felt like out of the blue I was shining an enquiring light inwards. Into the interior of my body. I was asking myself am I really this person, with this personality, hobbies and interests because I choose to be? Do I want to be this person? Do I like this person? Is there more to me? How to be me was something that had always just flowed before. Suddenly I wasn’t sure how to be me anymore. It became obvious the house of cards that formed my identity was breaking down. A deeper truth was asserting itself and emerging from within me. The darkest night of the soul before the light dawns. At the time I was not sure why this was happening. I did not even consider making the enquiry. I was too busy responding to the fallout. To the need to discover what authenticity means for me. To dig beyond the surface into the meaning of life universe and everything. Despite feeling like a rug was being pulled out from under me, I can now see I experienced a call of awakening from my soul and spirit. A call to free me from a myriad of limiting beliefs in my self-identity. A jolt opened me to dig deep and develop certain gifts of character, spiritual gifts, I had no idea even existed. In hindsight, I am immensely grateful. 7 essential points on soul vs spirit to help you define authentic self, discover your spiritual gifts and unlock access to a potent stream of life force to fuel your capacity to reach your greatest potential. 1. Spirit: Your spirit is a blueprint of everything you have the potential to be in this life. The words soul and spirit are thrown around a lot! Especially in my field of expertise as a Psychic Spiritual Healer. However, actually understanding the difference between soul vs spirit is extremely useful for your journey of personal growth and development. Soul vs Spirit: The truth is your soul and spirit are the same but different! Your spirit is the blueprint of what you have the potential to be and your soul holds within it the wisdom you have accumulated over time through the human experience of how to actualise that potential. Therefore, in essence, soul and spirit are really two sides of the same coin. The same but different! You have a personal spirit. This is your unique expression of ‘the Spirit’. Your spirit is pure potential. It is a blueprint. Your spirit holds within it a roadmap of everything you have the capacity to be, achieve and grow into in this human life. It is the animating force for you to blossom all of your potentials. Your spirit is a unique concentration and quality of flavour of ‘the Spirit’. ‘The spirit’ is the place from where you emerge through birth to become this human person. And the place to which you return when your life is completed. Your spirit is already one hundred per cent everything it needs to be. It is whole. It is complete. It is magnificent. It is, in truth, divine! It is filled with spiritual gifts. 2. Soul. Your soul holds the wisdom you have gathered over lifetimes on how to embody the magnificence of your spirit! From a soul vs spirit perspective, your soul holds all the wisdom-filled memories of all the potential you have already embodied, thus far, in this life, and former lives too. It is a vessel containing everything you have learned and gathered into wisdom about how to be a full-flowing expression of your divinity and wholeness of spirit. From an embodiment perspective, your soul is on a journey of growth and development through the human experience. The purpose of this journey is to become a mirror image of the blueprint of potential which is your spirit. In living your human life, your soul has the opportunity to grow into living a full-bodied true and real experience of knowing, believing and trusting it is one hundred per cent everything it needs to be ‒ it is the wholeness of spirit! The sublime beauty of your soul is it holds eons and eons of wisdom from many lifetimes on how to be a vessel, a container, for expressing, body and mind, your personal expression of divinity ‒ your higher vibrational energy ‒ your spirit. Your soul has an identity of self that is wholly spirit informed. Your soul is your most authentic and enduring nature. Your soul is essential to uncovering what authenticity means for you. The more spirit potential your soul embodies through your human life the more confident and trusting you are to do the following. Embrace your own unique path in life. Follow your deepest most authentic truth. More effortlessly attribute value and worth to your uniqueness. Uplift your inner authority, and actualise self-empowerment. Comfortably sit in the driver's seat of your life! 3. There are times in your life when your soul and spirit will call out to you to help you discover your spiritual gifts and bring your potential to life. Your soul is driven to assert its essential authentic truth into whom you know yourself to be and, therefore, the way you think, feel and behave. Your spirit and soul have a purposeful will to guide you to discover what authenticity means for you. The question of soul vs spirit is highlighted in the different ways they each call out to you to embody higher vibrational energy to facilitate you to live your potential in a deeply authentic and empowered way. Signs your soul is calling out to awaken in you. How do you know your soul is reaching out to you? My 26 years of experience as a Psychic Spiritual Healer have shown me you may experience the following. ‘Who am I?’. ’Why am I doing what I am doing?’. ’What is the meaning of being this persona and living this life?’, ‘What is my purpose?’ I notice these existential questions become stronger, louder and more compelling. You experience a shift in focus from the exterior of self and life to the deeper interior. Ultimately for most people, this opens up a journey of positive self-discovery. The 23-year-old me realised I was actually deeply dissatisfied by my identity being majority informed by the outside world and the surface level of existence. I was no longer satisfied being the person the world expected and wanted me to be. Seeking connection to and knowing of my deeper self became a necessity for me to find joy, satisfaction and contentment again. Signs your spirit is calling out to awaken in you. You may notice the following brewing. ‘I feel disconnected.’ ‘There is something missing’. ’There has to be more to life.’ ‘What is the meaning of life, the universe and everything’. ‘There are hidden depths to life’. My 23-year-old self certainly found herself plunged into grappling with the deepest life questions. I was walking through the darkest night of the soul searching for my inner light. At times it was tough, and at other times it was exciting and exhilarating. My spirit and soul directed me to my light within. A higher vibrational energy to empower the embodiment of my true self and potential. 4. Soul and spirit work together in your body to help you discover your spiritual gifts and embrace your life purpose. You are so much more than what the world, society and culture at large tell you you are. You have greater depth. A more enduring and long-lasting character and nature. A calling from your soul and spirit ultimately brings inner connection facilitating you to define authentic self. I want you to know it is easy to become distracted in your soul and spirit calling by believing finding the right job or the perfect partner will answer your existential questions and help you to feel whole. I know I did. Please allow me to save you some time. The soul and spirit are not interested in roles and responsibilities and all those outward and external identifications and validations of self. Your spirit and soul are interested in adding worth, value, purpose and meaning to your human experience of life through connection to the inner depths of self. When it comes to soul vs spirit, they each focus with a subtle difference in how they guide you to meet with and fulfil the inner wellspring of your potential. Your soul and spirit are interested in supporting a shift in your perception, focus and reality, so you can form a relationship with an authentic self who can navigate you to a deep nourishing and sustaining experience of fulfilment and satisfaction in life. One that is not reliant on external measures of success and validation. 5. The fact is, who you actually are right, now does not include all that you have the potential to be. Soul vs spirit helps us understand why. There is a difference between who you actually are now in this moment and whom you as a person have the potential to be in the next. I would like to illustrate this with a very simple example. You might know you have the capacity to be light-hearted, motivating and inspiring. However, the way your life and body are currently functioning makes it hard for you to actually be this part of your nature. Perhaps your days and life are filled with endless chores, your mental health is struggling under the load and you are zapped of physical vitality! Altogether this means you currently rarely have the opportunity to actually be this light-hearted and inspiring part of yourself. Therefore this part of self is currently found more in the realms of potential. Please know this. The parts of self that are sitting in potential do not just disappear forever. They are still there! They are merely at this time located in the space of your potential! This means, as your life stands, there are currently limited opportunities to actually be and embody these aspects of self. Actual Self - who and what you actually have the opportunity to currently be. Potential Self- other characteristics of the self that you have the potential to be but are currently remaining latent inside of you. The actual and potential selves co-exist in you at all times. There is an edge between them. This edge is where pure potential can flow over into embodiment ‒ into your actual lived experience of self and life! Why am I telling you this? Well, it brings me to my next essential point. 6. The reality is you are both a human being, with an actualised self full of divine potential, AND you are a soul and spirit! Of course, you know you are human. You do not need me to tell you this! As a human being, you have an identity, personality and persona with free will. The physical, mental and emotional environment you find yourself in has a shaping effect on you. The family, culture, society and greater material universe you find yourself in shapes you. It contributes to creating your knowledge and understanding of your identity. A lot of the external shaping you have from the outside world severely limits your potential. Some of the shaping and conditioning you have is desirable. Other aspects, less so. Conditioning can block you from bringing your potential self into actualisation and embodiment. It can create an obstacle in the free-flowing expression of your more refined nature of soul and spirit. It is important to remember that although you are human, you are more than human too. Understand the difference of soul and spirit in the way they express themselves in your body and life. Your soul expresses itself through the very physical and energetic fabric of your body and reminds you of your accumulated wisdom, lining you to your authentic self. Your spirit animates you with its high vibrational energy of pure potential, linking you to your divinity. 7. Your soul holds within the wisdom you need to unlock and strip away the layers of shaping you have accumulated from your current life and past life experiences. This is the most essential point I hope you take away from this article. This point is what I have been leading you towards in offering the benefit of my accumulated 26 years of clinical experience as a Psychic Spiritual Healer. Many of these layers of shaping, imprinted onto you from the external world, hinder your capacity to be all you have the potential to be. Your spirit is the wholly magnificent and all-powerful life force that is key to unlocking and surfacing from within greater depths of soul wisdom. The more you embody the nature and character of your soul, the more you discover what authenticity means for you. You become empowered to express your authentic self in a way where further shaping from external forces and challenging experiences in your life is significantly reduced. It is my genuine and sincere hands-on-heart hope that this article inspires you to connect and build a relationship with the soul and spirit levels of self. Doing so will transform your understanding of self for the better, and set you on a path to express, embrace and love what is truly remarkable and unique about you! Would you like support to connect to the wisdom of your soul and the potential of your spirit within? You are most welcome to engage with the following support. Free Resources: Take my ‘what is your spiritual gift quiz’ by clicking here. This intuitive quiz offers valuable insight to discover your spiritual gifts with great tips on nourishing them. Join my Facebook community and enjoy 2 free guided meditations a week to facilitate spirit and soul connection by clicking here. Call in the wisdom of your soul and the potential of your spirit to guide your pathway to health by Signing up to access my range of free guided meditations on my website by clicking here. A special offer to own my online course ‘The 13 chakras system: Accelerate your Connection to Your Soul and Spirit”. Use the code ‘BrainzSpecial’ to receive 50% off the purchase price. Click here to discover more and make your purchase. Apply HERE for an opportunity to join my online 6 monthly membership community called The Spiritual Healing Sanctuary. Ready to commit to significantly deepening your connection to spirit and soul? Then this is the membership for you. Hear what Lisa had to say about her experience in the group by clicking here. 6 powerful modules over 6 months filled with all the essential information, tools and spiritual healing you need to reach your personal growth, well-being and health goals. Reach out to me and let me know you’ve read my article. I’d love to hear from you. With love and respect for your unique path through life. Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook and visit my website for inspiring content on the spiritual roots of health and personal growth to transform your life. Read more from Trina! Trina Joy Lucas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Trina Joy Lucas is a Psychic Spiritual Healer and international expert on the spiritual roots of health with over 26 years and 27000 hours of clinical experience. Trina grew up isolated with a myriad of health issues that defied conventional treatments. A Bachelor of Health Science with Honours in Traditional Chinese Medicine coupled with Trina awakening psychic talents to communicate with a team of Healing Spirits resulted in a deep understanding of the broader spiritual underpinnings of the human body and psyche. Trina is a grounded and practical teacher, writer and speaker who empowers people to (1) understand and heal their symptoms while gaining insight into their purpose and meaning and (2) develop their personal soul-based gifts and abilities. It is Trina’s mission to use her expertise to educate the world on the science of spiritual healing, bringing a holistic approach to medicine to focus on exceptional outcomes for clients. Trina runs courses, a membership-based group, The Spiritual Healing Sanctuary, and offers one-to-one spiritual healing and mentor sessions. Trina’s message is simple: “Your spirit is a powerful agent of change. Be the gift to self and others the world needs – body, mind and soul.”

Written by: Emily Bissen, 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. Networking is an important aspect of building and maintaining business relationships. However, simply making connections isn't enough. You need to convert those connections into sales opportunities and new clients. In this article, we'll explore strategies for turning your networking calls into successful sales opportunities. Know your audience Before you reach out, take some time to research the person you're connecting with. How did you meet them? What do you have in common? What are their interests and needs? How can your product or service meet those needs? Having a solid understanding of your target audience will help you tailor your approach and increase your chances of success. Make a strong first impression Your first impression sets the tone for the rest of the call. This first call is about getting to know the person across from you. Be curious, but not pushy. Ask questions Show a genuine interest in the person you're speaking with by asking questions about their business and needs. How did they get into the work they are doing? Who are their ideal clients? What challenges have been coming up? Use this information to determine how or if you can help them and how your product or service can benefit them. If you noticed that your services may be a fit for them, let them know and ask if they want to learn more. Build rapport Building rapport is key to converting a networking call into a sales opportunity. Share personal anecdotes, show empathy, and be a good listener. By establishing a connection, your goal is to build know, like and trust, so you can move closer to making a sale. Make an offer After establishing a connection, it's time to make an offer. Explain the value of your product or service and how it can meet the person's needs, referencing back to the pain points they told you earlier. Be clear and concise, and don't be afraid to ask for the sale, but also be prepared to schedule a follow-up call so you can determine what service is the best fit for them. Converting networking calls into sales takes time, effort, and a well-thought-out strategy. By researching your audience, making a solid first impression, asking questions, building rapport, and making an offer, you'll be well on your way to turning your networking efforts into successful sales opportunities. If you are looking to hone your business development and sales strategy and would like to learn more about how we could help you overcome your challenges and find your flow, follow me on LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Emily! Emily Bissen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine When it comes to connections, conversations, and having fun making things happen, Emily Bissen your gal. She created this business to help founders, business development, and sales professionals find the right strategies that help them connect with their ideal prospects with success and ease.

Written by: Patricia Baronowski-Schneider, 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. Are you looking to build your company with social media marketing effectively? Then it would help if you started engaging, networking, creating content, and building brand awareness with the help of hashtags, influencers, analytics, and targeted campaigns. With the right visuals, storytelling, and promotion, you can generate leads, manage your reputation, and stay on top of trends with automation and mobile optimization. Are you aware of the importance of social media marketing for businesses? What if I find social media boring? It comes down to two considerations: your personality, how you feel about the social media site, and whether you want to focus on the business side. For instance, I share a lot about my business world and business life, which translates into my personal life. I share some of my details with you in my story, but from a business perspective, it is separate. It is now easier than ever to add value through content. It is straightforward and people pay attention. That’s cutting through the noise. If you're focusing on a business or corporate brand, let's say. You want to have your team or someone create that content that's entertaining and engaging and make sure that the video content you produce matches the values of your target audience. What I just mentioned is extremely, extremely important. The second thing is the importance of why social media is so important is because that's where your target audience is. Make sure your content, tone of voice, personality, everything you put out, and the entire branding of your content or your business when you're putting out social media all flow together; it all combines. All the while, it resonates with the audience you are looking to be in front of. You need to be on social media and on the platforms that are relevant to them and where they are paying attention if you want to influence your target audience to potentially purchase your product or business. Especially since everyone is using their telephones. Social media, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and any other social platform you can think of, is well-liked. They're the mega kings of everything because they have your target audience's attention. They spend time there, learn from their friends, connect with their friends and family, and connect because that's how people connect on social media platforms. The connection is the kryptonite. The objective is to figure out how to produce quality social media without investing much time or money. I've had a lot of businesses tell me that social media is the most significant issue; the most crucial question is, how does it fit into the process of growing a business? Is it a priority today, or will it become one in the future? What role does it play in terms of business expansion? When you want to take it to the next level, I think it's essential, but if you don't already have a personal brand, I don't think you should create a business on social media; instead, I think you should first concentrate on creating a legitimate company first. You can use social media as a specific channel and run advertisements, but if you want to build organic social media traffic, that takes time. It works similarly to SEO and Google in that it can take months or years to see a social media following. However, the process is also different if you're in the e-commerce business. It truly depends on the industry you're in, the audience you're targeting, the resources you have, the priority, and what stage of your business you're at. In e-commerce, you can concentrate on that, perform influencer marketing, and produce sales. Are you just getting started? Do you already have a million dollars, ten million, or perhaps one hundred million? Yes, it would be best if you concentrated more on that. The larger your company is, the more relevant your target demographic is to the social media platform. The most effective strategy on social media is to create pertinent material that connects with and benefits your target audience at each interaction. The most crucial thing is that whenever someone interacts with your social media, you want them to gain something of value—some value, the kind of value that matters to your target audience. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Patricia! Patricia Baronowski-Schneider, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Patricia Baronowski-Schneider. I’m the founder of Pristine Advisers, since 2010. I have been in the IR/PR industry for over 35 years. I am a 3 x’s international best-selling published author and have also been featured in various books about IR/PR and Business. I’m a member of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, have been featured in and on the cover of multiple magazines and newspapers and won many awards for my work. I help companies around the world to be in front of the audiences that matter most to their business. Check out my YouTube Channel – Been There/Done That where I offer free advice on trending topics. You can also check out my Podcast “Successful Minds with Patty B”.

Written by: Tarah Dove, 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 grown a successful, profitable business, but that success is just not giving you the fulfillment you desire? You know you are doing good work, and making a positive impact, but you go home at the end of the day exhausted trying to keep up with it all? If you answered yes, keep reading because I am about to give you one shift that will leave you feeling excited about the future of your business. Ready for it? STOP trying to do all the things all the time and expecting your body and business to be in peak performance 24/7, 365 days per year. That’s it! That’s the secret. As a high achiever, I know you are saying yes to too many things and no to your own needs. Weekends and vacations aren’t enough to keep you replenished. You are constantly “on” whether you are at home or work, leaving you feeling drained and unfulfilled. You tell yourself they are all “good” things, so you continue doing them despite the sirens going off in your mind, body, and heart. You and your team are striving to hit quarterly goals on top of wanting to make a community impact, leaving everyone exhausted. If you want to continue your success and have fulfillment, you NEED to create more rest for yourself, your business, and your team. You might be wondering how your business can “rest” when there are bills to pay and employees to take care of all while financially supporting your own family. You do it by creating a “training plan” or what we call “The RAMP Method” that gets your life and business in alignment with your values and priorities as a person and as a business owner. One that helps you design your quarterly goals to account for rest and peak performance. Just like pro athletes have training plans designed to avoid burnout, and injury and achieve peak performance, The RAMP Method does the same for business owners. With The RAMP Method, your year is broken into seasons (Rest, Align, Master, Peak) and mimics the training seasons of an athlete (off-season, pre-season, in-season, post-season). In sports, each of these seasons has an intention, whether it be active rest, building foundational skills, getting stronger and faster, or competing. Each season is planned out with minute detail from nutrition, to the frequency of training, to rest time, to mindset work all to reach peak performance at a specific time (e.g., competing for a gold medal). In business, your gold medal is your yearly revenue goal and each season is set up to hit that revenue goal without sacrificing what truly matters to you. You will know how much revenue to expect each season and be able to release financial stress. You will know exactly what to do in each season and what not to do. You will know exactly what to outsource and what to eliminate in each season. Every aspect of your business and life will be put into a season from outsourcing to onboarding to community outreach to realistic revenue goals. The Rest Season includes active rest, meaning work is still being done but not at the same intensity as in the peak phase. It’s fun work. You have intentional boundaries. Family and friends are your biggest priorities. In the Align Season, you will evaluate, assess and get your habits and boundaries aligned with your values & priorities. This is your planning and prep phase to create a solid foundation before moving into the next 2 phases. The Master Season is where you will master your mindset and calendar so you can start to ramp up your activity. This is the start of your busy season. Think of this as the pre-launch phase. In this phase, your priority is starting to become more business focused and other priorities will intentionally be removed from your calendar. The Peak Phase is what it’s all for. This is your busiest season of the year. For example, if you are a speaker, this would be your travel season. For insurance agencies, you may have more than one busy season. Or if you launch, this would be your launch phase. This is the growth phase for your business, so your business will be your 1 priority. Your friends, family, and other priorities might take more of a back seat but you will still maintain a good balance. Creating a RAMP Method for your business will allow you to have it all, without doing it all. Team performance will improve. You will find more peace, joy, fulfillment, and freedom. Your business will no longer run your life. Instead, your business will support the life you always dreamed of. The RAMP Method is a proprietary system created by the co-owner of Success Without Sacrifice, LLC, Cheree Sauer. Cheree saw a gap in the marketplace for female business owners. After working with high-performing athletes for 14 years, Cheree became an entrepreneur and experienced burnout. She recognized a need to help female business owners merge the gap between business and life. She brought her knowledge of business, sports psychology, sports training, and team performance into the entrepreneurial world to help female insurance agency owners continue their success without sacrificing themselves. There is no one size fits all, which is why the team at Success Without Sacrifice, LLC will work with you in a 1:1 capacity to help you create your RAMP Method Roadmap that is specific to your business and life goals. For more information, please email me here. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tarah! Tarah Dove, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tarah Dove is Co-Owner of Success Without Sacrifice, LLC with Business Partner Cheree Sauer. As CMO/Marketing Success Coach, Tarah brings over 15 years of Marketing experience to the Partnership. Using the proprietary system, The RAMP Method, created by Co-Owner Cheree, the duo works with Entrepreneurs to merge the gap between business and life. Their mission and The RAMP Method of coaching help reduce burnout and improve team performance and fulfillment for female Insurance Agency Owners.

Kassem, as an entrepreneur, has contributed not only to the entertainment industry but also to the financial and banking industry, among others. He stands out with his radical client-centric mindset and broad experience with UHNW individuals and their needs in wealth management, gained as a Senior Private Banker since 1987 with the largest banks in Germany, Switzerland, and the UAE. His unwavering focus on his clients' needs and objectives has been the foundation of his success in helping wealthy individuals achieve their financial goals. He has also played a key role in influencing youth with a business mindset, financial knowledge, and much more. One of the ways he has done this is by serving as a guest lecturer at many universities, such as the Gulf University of Science and Technology (GUST) or the American University of Kuwait (AUK), giving lectures about Wealth Management, Compliance, Blockchain, Banking, and Finance. Kassem Lahham, Entrepreneur Guru Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. Born and growing up in Germany while being of Levantine roots, I have lived in several countries, including Switzerland and the UAE, and have had the privilege of gaining experience in international Private Banking, wealth management, and wealth and legacy planning. With over 30 years' experience in the banking industry and Proficiency in multiple languages; German, Arabic, French, English, and others with acceptable fluency, I have established a loyal client base in the MENA and GCC regions, Europe, and Asia. My career has allowed me to specialize in wealth and asset management, mergers and acquisitions, and business development. I have also had the opportunity to develop and lead diverse teams to contribute to the financial community as a teacher of finance and banking. I have also served as a guest lecturer at several universities in the GCC region. I feel grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have had throughout my career. I am humbled to have played a role in inspiring young people to adopt a business mindset and acquire financial knowledge. Additionally, I am proud to have helped start-ups in the tech industry. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? I am humbled to have been a part of many start-ups and business ventures. Among the most prominent are Bright Wealth Banking, SpringBox Ai, BrightFlixx, and Swiss Academy for Training and Evolution. Under the Bright Wealth Banking umbrella, I provide wealth management, asset management, mergers and acquisitions, and financial consulting services to clients. Our business goal is to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client and help them achieve their financial and personal goals. BrightWealthBanking has a highly experienced team of professionals who are dedicated to providing personalized, expert advice and support. Under SpringBox AI, I contributed to developing the algorithm for the financial insights tool given trading signals. I am statically proud that the customers who used SpringBox’s trading signals achieved tremendously high returns. But it is really with BrightFlixx where a childhood dream of mine came true. I stepped into the entertainment industry, into the world of movies. With BrightFlixx, I hope to serve people with classic entertainment that can be enjoyed with the entire family and friends. Things and moments of joy that people can relate to. The Swiss Academy for Training and Evolution (SATE), on the other hand, is an NGO registered under the Swiss Civil Code that I co-founded during the pandemic being an alternative medium for education by teaching online. My goal with SATE was and still is to be able to give back to youth and aspiring leaders by sharing experiences in the finance and banking world. What kind of audience do you target your business towards? For Bright Wealth Banking our target audiences are individuals and organizations with a significant amount of wealth, who are looking for professional guidance and management of their bankable and non-bankable assets. This includes high-net-worth individuals, wealthy families, and institutions such as various investment funds. My clients may be seeking a range of services including investment management, estate planning, tax planning, retirement planning, and other financial services that cater to their unique needs and target objectives. For BrightFlixx our target audience is just about anyone who wishes to be entertained with world-class vintage cinema. Individuals who are interested in watching movies and TV shows on-demand streaming on any internet-enabled devices. This includes people of all ages who are looking for a convenient and affordable way to access a large selection of classic content. For SpringBox Ai, the target audience is investors, traders, and financial professionals who are looking for timely and accurate information about the stock market, individual companies, and other financial instruments. For SATE, our target audiences are students and working professionals who wish to acquire a certification and diploma remotely from Switzerland. What are your current goals for your business? My common goals for all the businesses I am involved in, especially for the movie streaming company; Brightflixx.com, include growing the subscriber base, keeping current clients, expanding the content offerings, enhancing user experience, enhancing pricing strategy, and boosting revenue and profitability. In addition, my businesses should generally concentrate on creating original content, entering new markets, and utilizing technology to improve our platform and better serve our clients. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? My long-term goals for myself would be to pursue personal growth and development, maintain good health and wellbeing, develop close bonds with family and friends, travel and discover new places, give back to the community, and have a positive impact on the world. For my business, I want to set principles that will allow it to operate independently, at the highest quality. I want to be part of every industry as I have already stepped into the entertainment industry alongside the financial industry, the academic industry and much more. Long-term business goals of mine include increasing the subscriber base, retaining existing customers, expanding content offerings, developing original content, improving the user experience, optimizing pricing strategies, and increasing revenue and profitability. Additionally, I always focus on leveraging ai-based technology to enhance our businesses in order to expand into new markets, and create a strong brand reputation globally. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? There is more than one person who has inspired me throughout my life. My family inspired me to become who I am today as they not only encouraged me to be brave, but also to be happy and healthy above all other materialistic aims in my life. My peers have inspired me to grow in life and to not stay in one comfort zone. I have also taken a lot of inspiration from various cultures around the world, specifically Asian cultures. I have learnt to embrace the world in all its beauty and to love every human being just the way they are. What is your work inspired by? All of my work is inspired by a variety of factors, including my interests, career goals, financial incentives, and my desire for personal fulfillment, growth, and achievement. In addition to this, I was always inspired to create something that was in line with market demands, technological advancements, industry trends, and competition. Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far. Starting up my own firm(s) is indeed a significant milestone that is worthy of recognition and celebration. It takes persistence, courage, dedication, and plenty of work to turn an idea into a successful business. However, becoming a father and raising my children to become independent and responsible adults is a milestone that is equally, if not more, fulfilling. I think I speak for every parent out there when I say that; as a parent, you have the opportunity to instill in your children the values and abilities they need to successfully navigate the world. This gives you the chance to shape their future. You are not only ensuring your children's success but also making a positive impact on society at large. This is because you are encouraging and educating them about the path to financial independence and general life skills. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? One thing that I would change about the banking industry would be to increase transparency and accountability in the sector. This entails giving customers information about the terms and conditions of financial products and services that is both clear and easily accessible. This change would aid in rebuilding the trust and confidence that have been lost recently in the banking industry. One thing that I would change about the movie streaming industry would be to establish fair compensation for artists, music composers and creators. Currently, despite making sizable profits from the content they produce, many streaming platforms only pay content producers a small amount. A more equitable revenue-sharing model would need to be created in order to ensure that artists are fairly compensated for their contributions. This would guarantee that artists can support themselves through their work while also encouraging innovation and creativity in the industry. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. The choice to quit my secure banking employment and start my own business(es) was one of the turning points in my life that led me to where I am now. It was a pivotal moment that called for a lot of bravery, persistence, dedication, and commitment. But in the end, it turned out to be a life-changing event that helped me realize my true passion and purpose in life. I worked in the banking sector for a number of years prior to founding my own business. Even though I appreciated a lot of the work, I felt that something was missing. I desired more career freedom as well as the ability to have a more significant impact on the world. This inspired me to start my own business despite the risks and uncertainties associated. I also had the opportunity to learn new skills, take on new responsibilities, and make a real difference in the lives of my clients. Over time, my business grew and evolved, and I became more confident in my abilities as an entrepreneur and a leader. Looking back, it was a decision that allowed me to pursue my true calling. It taught me the value of taking risks, following my dreams, and never giving up in the face of adversity. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Kassem!

Steve Eklin is a leadership expert, speaker, and high-level consultant. Today, he draws upon over 30 years’ worth of leadership experience to help organizations and individuals attain goals and new levels of success. He has spent over 35 years studying Personal Growth and being mentored by leaders such as Bob Proctor, Tony Robbins, and Tim Goad. He knows that lasting growth and transformation demands changing our existing paradigms and developing a new framework of thinking. As an award-winning Executive leader that has had proven successes in both entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 environments, his sole focus today is assisting people on making the changes that help them fulfill their life’s dreams. Steven Michael Eklin, Success Coach/CEO Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better. I am a high-level consultant and mentor. I take personal pride in leading and developing people to help them live the life they dream about by helping them learn of their power within. I help them reach their potential in creating happiness, prosperity, and wealth in abundance. I have spent over 35 years studying Personal Growth, and I have had the great pleasure of being mentored by leaders such as Bob Proctor, Dale Carnegie, and Tony Robbins. Lasting growth and transformation demand changing our existing paradigms and developing a new framework for Thinking into Results. I assist people in realizing that true change can and does, come from within, through a proven method for success. I’m also an award-winning Management leader that has had proven successes in both entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 environments. I have led as President/COO of an office solutions organization on a national level, as well as serving as the VP, Sales; running a multi-state organization. I am very active with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida, currently serving on their Executive Board of Directors. I stepped away from the corporate world to focus solely on making a difference in people’s lives. What is your business name and how do you help your clients? Our business (along with my wife Susan) is Beemore, LLC. Our website. We introduce people to a winning environment and teach individuals/companies how to create abundance and success in their personal and professional lives using repeatable and proven prosperity principles passed down for generations and taught directly to us by Bob Proctor. What would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future? Our mission is to make a difference in the world by reaching people who are looking for a better future, attainment of their goals, and paying what we have learned and developed forward. My wife is an Emergency Room Director, RN and ER consultant. I came from 35+ years in the corporate world and have applied these principles in my career of leading people., It is the reason I have developed and managed top performing teams in my career. Our vision is to be a world class premiere place for people to learn success principle’s that they too, can use and pass on. The goal is to develop the next generation of thought leaders and mastermind experts. Who inspires you to be the best that you can be? We inspire each other daily, however; the great motivator is in seeing people grow and blossom into the realization of their personal dreams. If you can dream it, you can do it. Most people just don’t know the “how”, or struggle with procrastination. We’re here to help them. What is your work inspired by? Inspired by many. Bob Proctor was the biggest motivating factor in our own growth, and in our desire to bring this vision forward. We also continue to learn and grow ourselves through this work, and in continuing to study Bob Proctor, Tony Robbins, Dale Carnegie, Earl Nightingale, and others. Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today. There are a couple, however one of major and profound impact. Susan and I were getting married in 1984 and we were in the preparation stages of our wedding planning. We lived in Minneapolis, MN. My very dear friend (Scott) and best man to be, was a pilot. He and I flew regularly. One day we were going to go flying in a plane called an Aerobat. This was on a Saturday. The Friday before, my manager at work asked the technical staff in our weekly meeting (16 of us, I being the newest and youngest technician) if one of us would be willing to go to Washington, D.C. and support the office there who were struggling with service calls. I wanted to go but waited for a tenured technician to request to go first, when no one did, I jumped at the opportunity to go to the nation’s capital, as I had never been there before. I let my friend Scott know that evening I would be getting things ready to go that Sunday and had some shopping to do beforehand. Scott said, “no problem, I’ll get Jim to go with.” Jim also flew with Scott regularly. I went to the airport that morning and helped them pull the Aerobat out of the hangar and fuel it up. I wished them a fun day and left to go shopping. The plane had a technical failure and spiraled into a field killing both instantly. It was and still is a sobering moment to reflect on, and it propelled me to know that I have a greater purpose to fulfill. My calling was in leading people in the corporate world for years. Now, it has manifested in to a calling to work with individuals to make a difference in their lives from all over the world. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Steven!

Written by: Christine Luken, 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. Smart financial risk-taking is woven into the fabric of entrepreneurial life. If you’re a risk-averse small business owner, it’s likely you’ll have ulcers and empty pockets before too long. When it comes to managing your money within your business, where is the fine line between smart financial risk-taking and recklessness? Being too scared to invest money in your business is just as detrimental as taking out a bank loan with no solid plan for how you’ll earn the money to pay it back. You have a genius idea for adding a new product line to your business offerings… but would need to borrow money to get it started. Is that a calculated risk or a careless one? You strongly feel that you need to hire a business coach to take you to the next level… but would be dipping into your savings to pay her. Is that smart financial risk-taking or recklessness? Your business is bleeding cash so fast that you decide to take on a partner or investor. Is that a calculated risk or are you playing with fire? Is It Smart Financial Risk-Taking or Recklessness? Here are the questions to answer: Am I acting out of desperation? If you are going to borrow money or bring on a partner or investor because your business is swirling around the toilet bowl, this is probably a reckless move. Borrowing large sums of money or altering your business ownership is not something that is easily reversed once the decision is made. If there’s a serious problem in your business, throwing more money at it without fixing the underlying causes will only prolong the inevitable and make you worse off financially in the long run. What impact will this have on my personal finances? I’ve seen entrepreneurs make reckless business decisions because their personal finances are a disaster. When you have your eye on short-term cash flow into your own pockets rather than the long-term growth and stability of your business, opportunities for reckless decision-making abound. Also, be very cautious about risking too much of your personal net worth for the sake of the business. Am I letting go of an activity, customer, or product line that no longer serves me? At times, our financial risk-taking involves doing less rather than doing – or spending – more. It can be difficult to stop doing something we’ve always done. Maybe you need to fire a high-maintenance customer who is a drain on your time and your joy. You might need to stop selling a product or service that occupies an inordinate amount of time and effort but has low profit margins. It’s scary to let go of a current cash flow stream, even if it’s just a trickle. But sometimes cutting away the mediocre to make space for better customers and opportunities is a smart financial risk. What would you have the time and energy to pursue if you cut customers, products, or services in your bottom 20%? Do I have a plan to pay back any debt I’m incurring for this opportunity? People tend to engage in riskier behaviors in business when it’s other people’s money on the line rather than their own. Borrowed money magnifies risk. If you are going to borrow money from the bank, friends, or family members for this venture, have a solid plan from the get-go for paying it back. Preferably, ahead of schedule! Am I investing in a potential recurring income stream? You’ve heard it a thousand times: “It takes money to make money.” You should strongly consider investing capital into products or services that are potential ongoing cashflow generators. There’s nothing better than doing the work once and getting paid for it over and over again! Maybe you’ve been toying with the idea of creating an online video course that clients can purchase on your website. You’ll need to invest your time to create the videos, plus pay a professional videographer to film and produce them. Yes, it costs money to create an online course. However, once it’s completed it doesn’t consume any additional resources and continues to make you money as long as there is a demand for your expertise. Is this money move one that other successful businesses in my industry are making? Study the big players in your industry and watch how they operate. What needs to change in your business to play at that level? You may need to take interim steps to gradually climb to those heights, but you should be moving in that direction. Is my spouse or partner on board with this financial decision? “Why would my spouse’s opinion matter, if they are not directly involved in my business?” you might ask. Your partner knows your strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else on the planet. He or she is the best person to reveal any weak points in your plan and blind spots to which you might be oblivious. And if this financial decision goes south, it will very likely affect your personal finances and thus your family as well. Will this expense or investment leverage my time? If you’re hiring someone in order to delegate things that aren’t the best use of your time, that’s a great investment. By removing lower-level tasks from your plate, you have more time to spend on the activities that make your business money. I read this in a book some time ago, “If you want to be a millionaire, you won’t waste your time cutting your own grass or cleaning your own toilet.” It’s not that you’re too good to do those tasks; it’s just not a productive use of your time. It frequently pays big dividends to hire an assistant or subcontractor to answer emails and phones, manage social media, or do your bookkeeping. Will taking this financial risk light a fire under me to rise to the occasion? Sometimes we need to go “all in” to motivate ourselves to take actions that are outside our comfort zone. For example, four years ago, I “fired” a business client for whom I did bookkeeping work. I’m a Financial Dignity® Coach; my core business is coaching, teaching, and writing. Bookkeeping is not any of those things and I didn’t really enjoy it anymore. Why did I bother with it? The job paid me about $2,000 per month and it was a security blanket for me. However, it was occupying 25% of my available work time that could be spent on more meaningful work. Giving up that client was a calculated risk that lit a fire under me to pursue my ideal coaching clients. There you have it: my top considerations when weighing financial risk-taking in your business. If you follow these, you’ll most likely be taking a financial leap of faith in your business, rather than diving off a fiscal cliff! Want more solid financial advice for your business? Check out my book, Manage Money Like a Boss, available on Amazon and Kindle! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Christine! Christine Luken, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ready for money to support your happiness, rather than stress you out? Then you need Christine Luken, Financial Dignity® Coach in your corner! As the Founder of the Financial Dignity® Movement, Christine has coached hundreds of high-earning professionals, business owners, and divorcing women to pay off staggering amounts of debt and massively increase their net worth. The author of several books, including Money is Emotional and Financial Dignity® After Divorce, Christine blends wise money management with emotional intelligence.

Written by: Ahmad Al Cheikh Hassan, 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. "Leaders who practice empathy create a positive work environment that attracts top talent." Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling." ‒ Brené Brown Leadership is more than just managing people and resources. A great leader is someone who can inspire and motivate their team towards success, and one key aspect of that is practicing empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, and it is a crucial skill for leaders to have in order to build a positive work environment and improve employee experience, This isn't the same thing as sympathy which is about feeling sorry for someone else, We've done a pretty good job of building sympathetic organizations but a very poor job of building empathetic ones. In an increasingly technology-driven world one of the most important things we can do is to be more human, and that starts with empathy. When leaders practice empathy, they create a culture of trust, respect, and open communication. By listening to their team members and understanding their perspectives, leaders can gain valuable insights into what motivates and challenges their employees. This allows them to tailor their leadership style to better meet the needs of their team, leading to higher engagement, better performance, and increased job satisfaction. Empathy not only improves the employee experience, but it also has a positive impact on organizational performance. Studies have shown that companies with empathetic leaders have higher levels of employee engagement, lower turnover rates, and better financial performance. in order to practice empathy, you need to be in either a neutral or similar state to the other person in order to practice empathy. A neutral state is exactly what it sounds like, you're not particularly upset about anything, nor are you excited about anything. As you can imagine, if someone comes to you with a problem and you are in the middle of a big argument with your spouse or you just received a big promotion, it might be a bit hard for you to empathize with that person. Remember that empathy doesn't work when you need to make a quick decision so if you want to practice some bonus techniques focus on asking for the time you need to make a decision. Practice saying "let me get back to you on this in a few hours" so that you can take the time you need to process the information and respond accordingly. Here are some examples of how empathy can be practiced by leaders: 1. Active Listening: One way to practice empathy is to actively listen to your employees. This means putting away your phone, computer, or any other distractions and giving your undivided attention to the person speaking to you. Encourage your employees to speak freely and without interruption, and then summarize what they said to ensure you have fully understood their perspective. For example, you might say something like, "I understand that you are feeling frustrated because you are not getting the support you need from your team. Is that correct?" 2. Leading by Example: Leaders who demonstrate empathy in their interactions with employees can create a ripple effect throughout the organization. By modeling empathy, leaders can inspire their teams to treat each other with kindness, respect, and understanding. For example, if you see an employee who is struggling with a difficult task, you might take the time to offer guidance and support, even if it is not directly related to your own work. 3. Customizing Communication: Not everyone communicates in the same way, and it is important for leaders to recognize this and tailor their communication style to meet the needs of their team members. Some employees might prefer direct, no-nonsense communication, while others might respond better to a more collaborative, empathetic approach. By recognizing and accommodating these differences, leaders can build stronger relationships with their teams. For example, you might send a quick message to check in on an employee who you know is going through a tough time, or you might invite a team member to share their thoughts and opinions in a meeting to show that their input is valued. 4. Showing Gratitude: Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to be engaged and motivated at work. One way to show gratitude is to recognize and reward employees for their contributions. This can be as simple as saying "thank you" for a job well done or offering praise in a team meeting. For example, you might highlight an employee's accomplishments in a company-wide newsletter or offer a bonus for a particularly successful project. These are just a few examples of how leaders can practice empathy to improve the employee experience. By making a conscious effort to understand and support their team members, leaders can create a positive work environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and growth. "Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another." ‒ Alfred Adler. In conclusion, empathy is a key component of effective leadership. Leaders who practice empathy can build a positive work environment, improve employee experience, and drive organizational success. By actively listening, communicating clearly, showing appreciation, and being open to feedback, leaders can create a culture of empathy and trust that benefits everyone in the organization. Always practice empathy because it's the foundation of great leadership. Thank you for Reading. Ahmad Al Cheikh Hassan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine My name is Ahmad Al Cheikh Hassan, working in the HR department field for more than 12 years, my main passion to create culture and encourage the real mental shift of leaders toward focusing on people first, people are the heart and engine of any organization, foster this positive culture needs mental shift, and I am eager to follow my strives that care, appreciate, motivate and recognize the people in order to achieve better outcomes and to have a positive impact for the overall business.

Written by: Pamella Pritchard, 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. The promised land of a fully-fledged coaching business, working with dream clients, doing work you love, and being paid grandly, is of course, very-attractive for the professional who is sick of the corporate grind. So when you start your coaching business, it can be a rude awakening when the clients aren't freely rolling in and it isn't as simple as Gary Vee makes out on Tik Tok. A huge part of the transition from employee to CEO is not just in the act of starting your own business, but also in mindset. This requires both deconditioning and unlearning. To begin, here are 5 signs you are in your disempowerment as a new coach building your business around the 9to5. 5 signs you are in your disempowerment as a coach You feel like you have no idea where your next client is coming from. You are not taking action steps even though have great ideas, such as creating that reel or writing a direct CTA, or if you do, but immediately doubt it or worry it wasn't good enough based on engagement in these first 24 hours. You find yourself looking for inspo on successful coach's pages, but secretly you're looking for the missing link and find yourself in comparisonitis ultimately wasting time. You think about just quitting the 9to5, but you don't have a plan or external business support. No one is buying your coaching and you're not really sure why. I speak about this candidly, because I have been guilty of every single one of these in the past. None of what I'm about to share created ease, or flow in my business. But they were all examples of being in the employee mindset, which is disempowering at best. If you feel slightly called out this is a great thing ‒ no one taught us this. In fact, a huge part of entrepreneurship is deconditioning from the corporate grind culture we have known for the last 10, 20, 30 years, even if you are at Senior Management to C-suite & have responsibility for large budgets and/or teams. The employee mindset is impacting your coaching business To step out of your employee mindset you need to first know how it shows up for you. Here I explain exactly how: 1. You having no idea where your next client is coming from is like Gucci saying they don’t know where their clients are coming from except the front door. It simply doesn’t fly. Employees are regularly disempowered to take ownership beyond their own responsibilities or to bring true innovation or creativity into their role without challenging the status quo or stepping on anyone’s toes. This is preventing you from not only knowing exactly how to create clients but also bringing more fun into the process. 2. You're struggling to take massive action because you've been used to reporting into a hierarchy all your life and sticking to the constraints of what is accepted or allowed. Think about it, as children we obviously take guidance from our parents, at school we must seek permission from teachers. Then straight through to university and into employment, we are educated to wait for instruction, permission, jurisdiction, procedure, risk assessment, or consensus agreement (e.g., from your board or management) before taking action. The system creates excellent employees, not CEO’s. 3. You're used to receiving a salary regardless of output, so even though you work damn hard in the 9to5, the pressure of getting clients from a single post in your biz is overwhelming. This ironically leads to more avoidant procrastination for fear of getting it wrong or overthinking and excessive engagement in watching to see if it's yielding results. You cannot hustle your coaching business and have it be sustainable, but you can hustle the 9to5 and be rewarded, no wonder it’s your go-to even though it isn’t serving you. 4. Comparisonitis against other coaches is the entrepreneur's form of imposter syndrome. Especially if you're current role is well established and you've worked hard to climb the corporate ladder, starting from the ground up and it is all on you and all about you have you questioning if you're really cut out to do this. 5. Quitting the 9 to 5 without a plan about how to make money in your business, as well as not having support to teach you strategy or energetics in your business when you've never done this before is not taking 100% radical responsibility for your results. When employees go through restructuring, redundancy, or organizational change this is often underpinned by blame culture and entitlement. Bringing this mentality into your business owing you an income or thinking it should be easier is dangerous and leaves you at risk of showing up from a graspy and repelling energy. Needless to say, does the opposite of creating clients with ease. 6. Many organizations rely on micromanagement, red tape, excessive reporting, and KPI management to enforce or maintain productivity levels. Whilst not having this is freeing as a business owner, you're not yet aware of your own non-financial and intangible measures of success, (hint ‒ the likes on that post are not it), which are leaving you confused and unable to troubleshoot for your own business challenges. Shifting into the CEO Mindset The first step, as always, to shift into the CEO Mindset is awareness. Without awareness, we cannot see where we are getting in our way. Recognize the employee mindset as an opportunity to step into growth both personally and for your coaching business. The added bonus is you can make these shifts whilst you are in the 9to5 and to the benefit of your existing job too. Win-win. Next, join my free Masterclass, the Employee to CEO Shift as I share eight distinct ways to shift into your CEO mindset in order to grow your coaching business around the 9 to 5. This Masterclass is not to be missed. Access the masterclass HERE. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Pamella! Pamella Pritchard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Pamella Pritchard is a certified business mindset and life coach to coaches who are building their soul-led coaching business around their 9to5. Bridging the gap between corporate and purpose-driven entrepreneurship, Pamella helps professionals navigate the transition from employee to CEO in mindset, energetics and strategy. Her signature program THRIVE helps coaches make this transition with simplicity, confidence and clarity, you can schedule a free consult here. Pamella has now left her own corporate London career to travel, and is currently based in tropical North Queensland in Australia.

Written by: Jason Miller , 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. In a world where data is king, leveraging data has become a critical aspect of driving business growth. With the right tools and insights, businesses can improve their operations, increase profitability, and achieve their growth goals. In this article, we explore the ways businesses can use data to drive growth and stay ahead of the competition. In today's data-driven world, leveraging data has become a critical aspect of business growth. With the increasing availability of data and advances in technology, businesses gain valuable insights and make informed decisions to improve operations, increase profitability and drive growth. Data can come from a variety of sources, including customer interactions, financial transactions, and marketing campaigns. When properly analyzed, this data can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends and the effectiveness of business strategies. In this article, we explore some ways companies can use data to drive growth. Joel Phillips, my chief technology officer at the Strategic Advisor Board , is an expert at providing data analysis for us. 1. Customer segmentation and targeting One of the most important ways companies can use data is for customer segmentation and targeting. By analyzing customer data, companies can gain insights into their customers' behaviors, preferences, and buying patterns. This information can then create targeted marketing campaigns that appeal to specific customer segments, increasing the likelihood of success. For example, a clothing retailer can analyze customer data to identify specific segments such as young professionals, families, and seniors. The retailer can then tailor its marketing campaigns to each segment, offering promotions and discounts based on customers' specific needs and preferences. This approach not only increases the chances of customer engagement and conversion but also helps to build customer loyalty. By providing a personalized experience to their customers, companies can increase customer satisfaction and engagement, leading to higher customer retention and repeat business. In addition to customer segmentation and targeting, companies can also use data to personalize the customer experience. Personalization is a powerful tool that companies can use to drive growth by providing a tailored experience to their customers. By leveraging data, companies can personalize the customer experience to create more engaging and satisfying interactions. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction, loyalty and repeat business. For example, an online retailer can use data to personalize the shopping experience for each customer. By analyzing customer data such as purchase history, browsing behavior and preferences, the retailer can recommend products that are likely to appeal to the customer, increasing the chances of a purchase. Personalization can also be used in customer service, allowing companies to provide personalized help to customers based on their individual needs and preferences. 2. Predictive analytics Predictive analytics is another way businesses can use data to drive growth. Predictive analytics uses historical data and machine learning algorithms to make predictions about future events. This technology can help companies identify patterns and trends that aren't immediately apparent so they can make informed decisions and proactively respond to potential problems. For example, a financial institution can use predictive analytics to identify potential loan defaults. By analyzing data such as credit history, income and employment status, the institution can identify potential risks and take steps to mitigate them, reducing the likelihood of loan defaults and improving profitability. Predictive analytics can also be used in supply chain management, allowing companies to predict demand and make informed decisions about inventory management. Predictive analytics can also help companies improve their marketing strategies. By analyzing customer data and identifying patterns and trends, companies can make informed decisions about which marketing channels to invest in and which to avoid. This can lead to a more efficient and effective marketing strategy that increases the chances of success and reduces the risk of failure. 3. Improved decision-making Finally, companies can use data to improve decision-making and drive growth. Data-driven insights can help companies make informed decisions that increase the chances of success and reduce the risk of failure. By analyzing data, companies can identify areas for improvement, make informed decisions about resource allocation, and track the success of their strategies. For example, a manufacturing company can use data to improve decision-making on production processes. By analyzing data such as production costs, efficiency, and quality, the company can identify areas that need improvement, make informed decisions about resource allocation, and track the success of its strategies. This can lead to higher productivity, lower costs and better product quality, which can drive growth and competitiveness. Data can also make informed decisions about product development and innovation. By analyzing customer data and market trends, companies can identify opportunities and make informed decisions about which products to develop and bring to market. This can lead to the development of new and innovative products that meet customer needs and drive growth. 4. Data management and security While leveraging data is critical to business growth, it's also important that companies properly manage and secure their data. Data governance refers to the policies, processes, and standards that companies put in place to manage their data assets. This includes ensuring data is accurate, consistent, and complete, and protecting it from theft, loss, or corruption. Data security refers to the measures organizations take to protect their data from unauthorized access or use. This includes implementing secure authentication and access controls and encrypting data in transit and at rest. In summary, data is a valuable asset for businesses looking to drive growth. By leveraging data, companies can gain valuable insights, make informed decisions and improve their operations. From customer segmentation and targeting to predictive analytics and improved decision-making, the possibilities are endless. However, it's important that companies properly manage and secure their data to ensure the success and growth of their business. By implementing data-driven strategies and properly managing and securing their data, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and achieve their growth goals. Whether you're a small business looking to grow or a large enterprise looking to improve operations, leveraging data can provide you with the insights and information you need to grow and succeed. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jason Miller!   Jason Miller, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jason is a seasoned CEO with overwhelming passion to help other business owners and CEO’s succeed. He was nicknamed Jason “The Bull” Miller because he takes no BS and no excuses from the people he serves. He has mentored thousands of people over 2+ decades. Jason major strengths are in Project Management, Hyper Company Growth, Scaling and Strategic & Operational implementation. Jason has built several companies of his own from the ground up since 2001.