Written by: Elena Paweta, 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. When you are leading the team, effective communication is incredibly important. As a leader, you have to inspire people for action through your clear messaging, communicate vision and goals with confidence and to provide motivational feedback. In this article you will find three simple methods that will help you to increase the effectiveness of your communication with the team. Being in the leadership position, we often don’t realize that we are in the spotlight all the time. Every word, every gesture can have a huge impact on our team. When communication problems with the team appear, it can have an impact on our results. Let’s see in what way we can avoid the basic mistakes and increase communication effectiveness. Set the rules Communication starts when you get the new leadership role and you have to present your vision, priorities and goals. That’s why it is important to start from defining the rules. Set the principles of cooperation at the point of building relationships with your team – what are the rules, what is expected and what will not be tolerated. Make sure to remind your team about it regularly and follow those principles yourself – if you expect punctuality – always arrive on time. Regular reminders about the expectations are important to reinforce the understanding. Research results published in Harvard Business Review confirm that when the message is repeated by the manager regularly, it increases the probability that the project will be completed faster and with less amount of mistakes. Make sure to regularly repeat your principles of cooperation set in the beginning. That will help you and your team to achieve the results faster. Use different ways of communication each time – for example, after presenting your message at the meeting, send them an email summarizing what was discussed. Communicate your expectations clearly To avoid misunderstanding, communicate your expectations in a clear and concise manner. Divide complicated communication into parts and present it in an easily understandable way for your team members. Try not to use technical or business jargon. If you have a problem with making your message more simple, it means that you don’t understand it completely yourself. Don’t communicate your expectations too broadly – make sure that your team knows exactly what is expected from them. If they don’t understand your expectations – they will not know what to do. Ask your team if they understand expectations the same way as you do and listen carefully to understand. Listen to understand Experienced leader knows how to ask good questions and carefully listens. Active listening is focusing 100% on the speaker and ignoring other triggers, even our own thoughts and possible answers or comments that pop up in our head. Refrain from interrupting, give the person time to finish the sentence, show that you listen through nodding, smiling and paraphrasing what you heard. Experienced managers often have proven ways to do things. However, as a leader, if we want our team members to develop, we should ask questions and allow them to come up with the solution themselves. Remember that as a leader you have to make sure that your communication is effective and clear. I invite you to read more about leadership communication in my blog articles and on LinkedIn profile. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Elena! Elena Paweta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Elena Paweta is an executive communication coach, speaker, TEDx organizer, and university professor. She conducts courses, trainings, and workshops on effective communication and business presentations internationally. As a TEDx organizer, she coached top speakers who achieved over 1 million views of their talks. Now she is lecturing at leading business schools and working with managers and CEOs on their business presentations. Elena is also a marathon runner and mother of 2 daughters.

Written by: Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar, 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. People who are considered ambitious attend the best colleges and universities, have prestigious careers and earn high salaries, but they don’t necessarily lead more successful lives, according to research by Timothy Judge, professor of management at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. The bottom line is, go-getters, fall short in happiness and health. Have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly success means to you? Many of us have never stopped to ask ourselves this very important question. Instead, we may follow the path of everyone else, pleasing those around us. Perhaps we may chase the traditional view of success: money, fame, and power. Real success is better measured by what engages and energizes us every day. It is unique for all of us because we all have a different mix of talents. On the other hand, real happiness, both as an emotion and a feeling, is an amalgamation of life satisfaction, coping resources, and positive emotions. It predicts desirable life outcomes in many areas of life. Empirical literature the world over shows that people who are happier achieve better life outcomes, including financial success, supportive relationships, mental health, effective coping, and even physical health and longevity. There is a general process that can be followed to accomplish nearly anything – successfully and happily. Understanding this process and following it can make all of your dreams come true. However, that doesn’t mean that success is easy. It only means that there is a process that provides predictable results. You still have to do the work! Based on the work that we have done, there are 9 principles for massive success and limitless happiness. There is a method to the madness if you will. Use these principles to accomplish anything your heart desires: 1. Know what you want to accomplish. If you want to accomplish something, you have to know what that something is. Be clear on the specific outcome you wish to create. Most people fail to even accomplish this step. Choose something and have a clear idea of what you’re trying to do. 2. Create a plan. Now that you have an objective, you need the plan to follow. Your plan is likely to change over time, but you need a roadmap in order to get started. Make a plan and take the first step. Your plan will become more obvious after you get started. You only need to see the next step in order to make progress. The path will reveal itself as you make progress. Getting started is the challenging part. 3. Determine your internal and external obstacles. Internal obstacles are doubts and other negative emotions and thoughts about your objective or the path to your objective. It’s important to resolve these if you want to be successful. External obstacles are things like time, money, finding clients, finding a mentor, and so on. Many of these obstacles are predictable. Have a plan for dealing with them. 4. Set short-term goals. If your objective is going to take more than a few months, set short-term goals. This will keep you on track and maintain your focus. It’s too easy to procrastinate on something that will take you a year to complete. 5. Plan your day. Make the most of each day by having a plan for your day. Look at your objective and your plan and schedule your time accordingly. It’s best to do this in the evening, so you’re ready to get to work in the morning. Avoid starting your day without a plan for your day. 6. Lose the timewasters. We all waste time. Think about how you most commonly waste time and find a way to remove those things from your life. If they can’t be removed, minimize their impact. 7. Enhance your mindset. Your mindset affects your motivation, energy levels, perspective, and how you make decisions. Adopt a positive mindset that supports your goals. 8. Decide to never quit. This is a hard one for most people. Most people either fail by never getting started or by quitting before their objective is reached. Perseverance might be the most important quality you can have if you want to be successful. 9. Find a coach. Unless you’re very clear on how to achieve your objective, a coach can save you a lot of wasted time and heartache. Even a book can be considered a coach of sorts. Many experts write books. They put wisdom and ideas into those books. If you can read, you have a coach already. The process for being successful isn’t a secret. The challenge is getting yourself to take action and to persevere long enough to become successful. If you can do those two things, you can accomplish just about anything. Pick a goal and go for it. It will be hard work, but it’s not as hard as dealing with the regret of never trying. Give yourself a chance and see what happens. Using the principles of success and happiness outlined here, Live Your Bliss is a Transformational Lifestyle Design System that we created which empowers you to DISCOVER, CREATE, and LIVE your very best life. On your own terms, and nobody else’s. Join our global movement at Blissvana, take charge of your life and start living your bliss today. We’d love to help you become the Michelangelo of your own life and create a masterpiece of your life. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and visit our website for more info! Read more from Dr. Kapil and Rupali! Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kapil and Rupali are Amazon's 1 bestselling authors and globally respected business and life strategists. They are founders of Blissvana, a boutique personal development, self-growth, and success studio. Their coaching methods have been proven at the highest levels of success in every dimension of human life. Kapil and Rupali's lives revolve around love, happiness, abundance, and bliss ‒ at home and work. Kapil and Rupali's purpose is to create the highest possible quality of life they can for themselves, and the people they love while helping others around them do the same.

Written by: Paul A. Raggio, 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. James Carville, the animated pol, coined the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid” when managing President Clinton’s presidential campaign against incumbent President George H.W. Bush. Other pols and news commentators have repeated the term thousands of times, especially during election seasons. Carville meant using the pejorative word stupid to his staff to accentuate the importance of the economy above all other factors in determining the election outcome. Predictably, the economy is the forerunner for an incumbent’s successful reelection. I wrote a column two years ago on how your choices define your character. It’s time to revisit character and its association with leadership. Character is the forerunner for a successful leader. Mimicking Carville’s phrase, “It’s your character, stupid,” that describes your leadership. I define character by the words you speak and the virtuous actions you take over time. Persons of good character seek and communicate truth and act in the best interest of others. Persons of questionable character obscure the truth and act in their best interest. Leaders are people of good character. Pseudo-leaders are people of dubious character. Leaders appeal to the virtuous. Pseudo-leaders appeal to the aggrieved. Leaders build trust and unite diverse people. Pseudo-leaders sow distrust and promote tribalism. Leaders inspire people to achieve righteous results collectively. Pseudo-leaders frighten people and drive survivalist tendencies. Leaders think in terms of abundance; the glass is half full. Pseudo-leaders think in terms of scarcity; the glass is half empty. Leaders relinquish power when their time is up. Pseudo-leaders retain control at all costs. Leaders endure. Pseudo-leaders desist. We have a lot of pseudo-leaders. Characterless leadership is a malignancy metastasizing in our society, most observable in our political leadership from national to local representatives. This malignancy has a prolific impact on our most impressionable. They choose to mirror how pseudo-leaders behave and normalize the voicing of mistruths, spreading conspiracy theories on the ever-prolific social media platforms. I don’t mean to imply all leaders are pseudo, but there are enough of them with followers that we should be concerned. They seek sanctuary in their tribe and have little to no tolerance for diversity of ideas or those who are different in class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or countless other attributes that don’t match theirs. Companies aren’t immune from this disease either. Profits, compensation, and retention of power are prime motivators. Power-hungry executives climb the corporate ladder stepping on the backs of those less fortunate to the detriment of the organization’s culture. A new cohort of emerging leaders desiring success indoctrinate into pseudo-leadership roles by mirroring characterless behaviors, and the twisted cycle continues. We triage this malignancy by rebuffing the characterless and lauding the virtuous. Leaders seek truth and diversity of people and ideas and inspire and demonstrate ethical behaviors. We should elect these people to represent us in our government and develop and promote them in our companies. We trust they will lead us in the right direction, and trust is foundational to an effective and productive team, writes Patrick Lencioni in his book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.” Without trust in our society, tribalism flourishes, and community fissures grow. Without trust in the company, optimization ceases, and productivity wanes. Both represent failure. Leaders have an incredible responsibility to influence the behaviors of others, inspiring them to act purposely, ethically, and productively. A leader’s character is enduring when built on virtuous actions. A pseudo-leader’s character desists when sewn on falsehoods and distrust. It’s your character that makes you a great leader with a legacy. As citizens of our great nation, we must perpetuate good character by electing leaders who speak the truth and inspire our virtuous behavior. As company leaders and business owners, we must advance those who demonstrate good character and laud them as an example to mirror. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Paul welcomes your comments and feedback and please contact him at praggio64@gmail.com. Read more from Paul! Paul A. Raggio, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Paul Raggio is co-owner, with his sister Lisa, of One True North Executive Development, a service-disabled, veteran-owned, family-operated leadership and management development firm in Los Angeles, California. He is an AddingZEROS executive facilitator and certified executive business coach and develops c-suite leaders, business owners, and their employees on leadership and management principles in achieving and sustaining their business growth and profitability goals. Paul and his sister were the 2020 Rookie of the Year for the ActionCOACH Southwest Region, the 2021 Rising Star Awardee for the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the best Business Consultant of 2021 by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. He brings over forty years of leadership, business, and personal development experience to executives and business owners.

Written by: Beth Johnson, 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. A few years into my hospitality career, members of my company’s HR and executive teams asked if I would relocate to London. They were drunk at the time. Yep, during a conference after-party, these men entered into a critical conversation drunk and somewhat flippantly, asking a question that could affect the trajectory of my entire career. I was stunned into silence. Were they serious? Why were they laughing? Was this a trick? So many questions crossed my mind but, being young and inept at standing up for myself, I failed to ask them. I simply said ‘hell yeah’ and waited to see what transpired once we returned to the office. As it turns out, they were serious! I happily accepted their offer but also experienced extreme doubt. Not because of my ability to do the job but because of the way they initially presented the offer. These leaders, whom had served for years as my guide and mentor, destroyed my trust and followership with this one action. Not only were they unprofessional but they also made several errors entering into and holding this hard talk / critical conversation. For instance, they: Used cryptic language and provided limited detail. Failed to communicate their (full) intention(s). Seemed oblivious of their inappropriate actions. Disrespected their audience or assumed I wouldn’t question them. Gave no thought to the long-term impact of their words, behavior, and timing. Upon returning stateside, I learned that they had not been 100% forthcoming. While I had been qualified to take the role and was successful in it, they had also intended to manipulate my personal life. These trusted leaders sought to physically separate me from my beau (who remains my husband to this day) as they believed he shifted too much of my focus away from work. To say I was angry and disappointed is an understatement. How could these men, with executive privilege and training, fail to be forthright or worse, choose to be subversive? Their actions and choices had long-lasting repercussions. Our working relationship suffered greatly. A job that I had once loved and wanted to advance within had lost all appeal. Eventually I sought other opportunities. All these years later, I can admit that this had been a ‘hard talk’ for them. Mostly because they were unwilling or unable to share honestly but hard nonetheless. While my understanding does not excuse their behavior, this incident serves as a lasting lesson for me on how not to handle critical conversations. I mentioned in my last article that few of us learned how to communicate in the workplace, speak to opposition, or stand up for ourselves with grace and confidence. Yet critical conversations – where the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong – present themselves almost daily in the workplace. In my example above, the conversation not only blindsided me but was also quite haphazard. The leaders’ intentions were unclear. Emotions certainly played a central role, though I did not understand why at the time. Nothing about this hard talk was clear and concise, let alone ethical. Instead, it was an example of leaders who did not know how, or chose not, to face the hard talk head-on, in a straightforward professional manner. Moreover, in no way did it set up either party for the greatest success. Listen, hard talks are hard for a reason. But they do not have to be unprofessional, unkind or incendiary. Of course, there is inherent risk that we may offend, misspeak, or misrepresent. Yet the long-term impact of handing them incorrectly is often worse than being straightforward and honest. Hard talks require preparation, attention to intention, and managing our emotions. So the next time you are facing a hard conversation, first ask and answer the following five questions. Doing so will increase understanding between parties, grow your followership, and ensure longer-lasting success for you and your recipient. 1. What is My Intention? The more difficult the subject matter, the more you may be tempted to mask or hide your true intention. Why? Because you are human. Most of us worry about upsetting people or saying the wrong things during hard talks. That worry drives us to limit what we say or avoid direct, straightforward language. We often share only the details that we hope will sway the other party to our side. We tell ourselves that we’re protecting the other person when, in fact, we’re protecting ourselves from their reactions. Another byproduct of limiting detail and hiding intention is that, whether we believe they will or not, the recipient most always senses that something is ‘off’. In my example, the leaders’ words were right but everything else was wrong. What I felt, but could not identify at the time, was their intention to deceive. To catch me off-guard during a fun event in order to create the result they were seeking. Instead, all they did was sow seeds of doubt and mistrust, which in turn created a snowball of problems that lasted for years afterward. In the end, if your intention is to leave others feeling less-than, without choice, or controlled, you set up everyone to fail including yourself. Even if the other party doesn’t clearly understand what you are saying, they will feel your message. They will sense that you are hiding something. This is counterintuitive to exemplary leadership, counterintuitive to building robust, innovative teams, and creates very unhealthy cultures. If, however, your intention is to be fair, honest and find mutually beneficial solutions, your audience will feel it, even if you fail to word your proposal perfectly. Either way, the path your hard talk takes is reliant upon your intention. Remember, wielding power ensures eventual failure. Leadership does not imply control. 2. What is My Mindset? Before entering a critical conversation, check your mindset. What issues are you bringing to the table? Are you angry or frustrated? Are you fed up or have just ‘had enough’? A negative mindset will negatively affect your conversation. It is OK to feel your feels but set them aside for the duration of the meeting. The greatest leaders possess an understanding of self and are capable of leaving negative emotions at the door in order to bring a success-mindset to the discussion. A positive, solution-seeking mindset will show in your attitude, words and actions. Don’t hide the truth or bottle your feelings, but do be prepared to speak in a positive tone using non-inflammatory, blaming or confrontational language. By doing so you infinitely increase your chance of being heard and engaging in open dialogue. I recently listened to an interview during which Sandra Bullock reflected on healthy adult mindsets. To quote, she said, “I had to do a lot of work. You can’t point fingers at anybody else. When you become an adult, you point the finger at yourself. I’m lucky enough to live in a time that reaching out and asking for help is readily available.” She goes on to say “I’m constantly working on myself and admitting when I’m wrong, which I do a lot.” If you are unsure exactly what to say or need to work on your language, attitude or presentation techniques, the very best tip I can give is to seek out three trusted humans in your life, both professional and personal, and ask for their feedback. People who love and respect you, who want you to succeed, who understand your intention to grow, are always the best resource for sharing what they see (good and bad) to help you make enormous strides in your personal awareness and leadership acumen. 3. What Do I Hope to Accomplish? What is it you want out of this hard talk? How will you define success once it’s over? Will deadlines be set, steps agreed upon to resolve a problem, or perhaps you plan to provide training and ask follow up questions? Overused, generic statements like ‘we’ll be on the same page’ or ‘I showed up for them’ are not enough. Instead, ask and answer these questions: Do I want to establish understanding? Be specific. What. When. How. Why. Do I want commitment and an agreement? Name the terms. Review the timeline. Do I want input or feedback or maybe not? Be honest. Say that up front. Is there a deadline? Call out the exact date and time. Will another people be involved? Identify them and bring them into the conversation when appropriate. There are 20,000 flavors of success and everyone around you will define their version of success based on THEIR perspective and understanding. In short, the odds are stacked against you at the start. So, before you enter the conversation, know what you hope to accomplish and how you will define success. Share this often throughout the conversation and do not leave anyone guessing or assuming. Ever. 4. What is My Message? It is imperative that you refine your message before entering a hard talk. Is your message centered around processes or people? Is your message meant to inspire, educate or simply share? The more task-oriented a message, the more facts, figures, and fine details you should plan to share. The more people-oriented a message, the more of your feelings, thoughts, and experiences you should share. The more high stakes the message, the more attention and time you should give to the message itself and to the responses, reactions and requests from your audience. And, in every single scenario, explain your ‘why’ and leave ample time for open discussion. My assistant recently reminded me of a basic tool to use when in communication. The K.I.S.S. method. Keep It Simple Silly. This anagram provides a helpful reminder to share your message in simple language using common terminology. It also reminds you not to complicate conversations with needless information that does not pertain to the task-at-hand. Keeping it simple encourages participants to readily speak up with ideas, questions or concerns rather than spend their time deciphering what you just shared. 5. What is My Responsibility? The best leaders understand that they are responsible to adapt their communication to their audience, not vice versa. Title, status and position do not imply that others must learn to interpret and follow you. It is your responsibility to fix the Communication Highway potholes, not set up the hazards. People are most inclined to follow leaders who accept that responsibility, communicate transparently, and treat them as capable adults until or if they prove otherwise. For example, I worked for a CEO who repeatedly but quietly called his employees stupid. Of course they weren’t, but he believed that he knew best for everyone and was, in his opinion and in his own words, always the smartest person in the room. When he spoke, no matter the audience or subject matter, he expected everyone to blindly accept and follow. Unfortunately, communicating, team building, and healthy culture were not high on his priority list. He did not accept responsibility for his employees, only his own ambitions. With all of this combined extreme levels of apathy developed in the workplace, which trickled down to the very customers he professed mattered most. Nothing will sink a ship faster than hypocrisy or condescension. Like it or not, leaders will and always should be held to a higher standard. Employees expect you to understand and honor that commitment. They expect you to be responsible enough to engage in hard talks in a way that make them feel safe, even when the topic is difficult. To be professional, calm, kind and honest. Once you accept that responsibility, you may find that navigating hard talks is not as difficult as you think. Despite how everything transpired in my own story, I had one of the greatest professional and personal experiences of my life. I returned to the US irrevocably changed. It was also the first of many valuable lessons during my career on navigating hard conversations for which I will always be grateful. None of us is perfect. No one. We all make mistakes even during the easiest of conversations. We walk away wishing we had said, done, or reacted better. The best we can do is to learn from every interaction and apply those lessons to the next hard talk and the next and the next. Hard talks are hard for a reason but we can make them easier on everyone by identifying our intention, mindset, message, and responsibility all of which is critical to achieving our preferred result. Keep talking. Keep trying. It is worth it. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Beth! Beth Johnson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine ‘Culture Concierge’ Beth Johnson partners with gutsy leaders as they flip the script to cultivate and uphold people-first cultures. Beth focuses on 6 core leadership principles, all of which are inextricably tied to emotional agility, conscientious communication, and conflict management. As a leader in both the U.S. and Europe, Johnson reenergized and reorganized multiple teams formerly labeled as disengaged, fatigued, or failing. Beth has always promoted human-centric leadership and her 25+ years of leadership experience has proven that ROI follows.

Written by: Tanya Carr, 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 a grave robber? This article will reveal whether you Rob Graves or Rob future generations! Here you will learn the horror and shocking truths! Only read on if brave! What place is richer than Iraq and Iran's oil supplies? Or the Uranium of the former Soviet countries? Each Human born and living is a highly filled treasure chest of exceedingly bright talents, gifts and Authentic divine Purpose. You are reading this because you are a talented and especially purpose-driven business owner, entrepreneur, executive or CEO. You have worked extremely hard to get to your volatile purpose. You have acutely tapped into your treasure box of talents. And you paid in full the ransom package. Do you agree, No one can extract the essence of their talent without paying the price. Facing fears of uncertainty, defeat and dejection. Facing naysayer’s insults, jealousy and projected insecurities. Facing risk, suffering, anguish and contempt. Facing opposition, ferocity, fury and hate. Facing YOURSELF, deeply stripping to the bones. Answering the question above. Are you a grave robber or future generational robber? When do you think about it tenderly? Hidden deep in the recesses of the earth lies Untapped Potential. Talents, gifts and animated ideas to change the world lay dead. How many Billions and billions of people have left the earth without finding their purpose, driving themselves to unleash their talents and gifts to make the world a better place? How many entrepreneurs lost to the vengefulness of self-despair? How many potential CEOs, and ideas are dead from the torment of thinking small and not believing BIG? I think you are getting the point! They were Robbed. They were either the robbers of their own talents or gifts or circumstances that Raped them of what belonged to them. We can especially C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E today, the reason being; we live in a time when we have no excuse for uncovering all our deeply protected potential. Highly developed Potential is Powerful. And only reveals itself to a stable, very emotionally balanced person. All our talents and gifts make us uniquely Powerful, and potentially dangerous. We do not want to leave this earth with not touching people's lives in a special way. Enriching their lives and helping them develop their potential. That’s why YOU are so Valuable. YOUR Business is solving its problems. Making their lives better. Helping humanity. Leaving a legacy. This makes you extremely significant. This makes you the one who won’t give up easily. The one, Who won’t allow adversity to stop you, despite exasperation. Rather you know that on the other side of adversity is highly expensive unlocked Potential. Unlocked talents, gifts of extremely high value. You get paid for value. Is it worth your while becoming a more Valuable being? How have you cashed in your Purpose for the betterment of others. How has the investment of your talents accrued more talent? No greater Love than to give of yourself and yourself to be given love through making people’s lives better and the world. You also are humbly aware that once you achieve your passion-filled goals and success. There is an abundance more, still untapped. You still have untouched potential. The next level awaits you. Are you ready to go through more adversity to give birth to more treasured talents. The mortified dead ideas come to life. You breathe life into it. You are a life giver! Giving to future generations. What a gift. So feeling comfortable is not a good place to be. Are you itching to create and innovate? Your very highly sunk talent lies deep in your sixth sense. You can tap into it at any time. You need a formula that will push through sadness, depression, hopelessness, sorrow and Rejection. It lies here in C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E. uniquely developed with Life in mind. Now and in future life! To Celebrate everyday the good the bad and the ugly is an oasis of revival. Whereby lies the glowing rewards in pushing through adversity to the point of growing bigger than all horrors and tormenting challenges. Think of all the famous people. They have come from a place of adversity and used it to push forward and celebrate their Wins. But more importantly it is you and the adversity that has given you the strength to be the person you are meant to be. And use your self-love to overcome any adversity. When last did you write down all your talents? When last did you use your talent to enrich someone else’s life? When last did you package your talent into a business and teach someone else? What talents do you have Untapped? What talents will go down with you into the grave? Please remember this: We have all the resources at our fingertips today, to dig up our talents, gifts and purpose. One of them is Coaches! What Coach can you hire to help you dig up your true purpose, talents and gifts? Are you going to Rob future generations of a better life? Or War with your imposter syndrome, who wants you to go to the grave playing it safe? Leaving dead ideas to rot forever! My name is Tan. I am your treasure hunter coach. Together we uncover gems hidden beneath scarcity, fears and hidden blockages. I only work with women who are brave enough to use feminine strength of wisdom and insight. May you be a grave digger! Dig in the depths of your darkness and resurrect the life you need for you, for generations to come. They are relying on you. Think ahead! R.O.A.R. my secret formula to C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E you, because you are a grave digger! Ps. Grave is your darkest fears. Fears are your guide to where you need to be. Let’s make fears F.E.A.R You! See if I am a grave digger. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tanya! Tanya Carr, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tanya Carr a survivor of the tragedy of apartheid segregation in South Africa. Not to mention the injustices of a murdered close relative. And traumatically widowed at 44. And investigated the death of her husband. She was thrown out of her home, which was connected with loving memories of her husband of 24 years and blissful marriage. She courageously used fundamental laws and principles along with her faith to survive. She uses this survival guide to inspire her coaching Called C.E.L.E.B.R.A.T.E. Celebrate wins and grow in innovating and creating a compassionate business. She has unwaveringly devoted 28 years to Health and wellness coaching. Her extensive knowledge of Aesthetics and Physiatrics gave her the strength to self-care. She owned a beauty school and salon in South Africa. Lecturing in prestigious beauty schools and working with celebrities in beauty salons. She is fully aware of what it is like to reach the mid-40s, and keep a career going in a man's world. AND no children to take her legacy to future generations to come. She knows what it is like to Feel fear, have trust eroded, negotiate, liaise, advocate and have her confidence shaken. However, with her power,ful business life strategies using fundamentals to empower, maintain, balance, harmonise and synergise your professional life and your personal life. Your confidence becomes your liquid gold. Your trust is trusted by trustees, your emotional intelligence becomes sophisticated. And She teaches you how to make fear F.E.A.R you. Let's begin your life celebrations.

Written by: Sibora Halili, 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. Want to turn your template into a sleek and professional therapy website in no time? Do it with this step-by-step walkthrough. When starting, it's usually easiest to design your site using a pre-made template. However, templates can also come with some challenges. Here's what usually happens: The Template Trap Anybody who's ever bought clothes online knows how annoying it is when they don't fit right. It can be tough to shop without being able to try them on first. Picking a template for your website is similar – at first, it looks great but falls apart once you add changes to personalize it. The more changes you make, the less your template resembles its original form ‒ it's gradually becoming messy. The pictures you selected clash in style and send out mixed signals. The visual clutter can cause stress, and it's challenging to finish your copy or start writing. The template's structure can make it challenging to present your offer appealingly. The cycle begins anew when you start searching for a new template. Consequently, you need help to complete your web project. The main problem? Clash instead of consistency How can you tailor a website template to fit you, just like an outfit that makes you look amazing? You're worth it. Your website should be too. If you're a therapist who knows their worth, "will do" is probably not good enough for your website. You want more than that, right? To better understand what drives you, let's look at the Maslow hierarchy of needs. The bottom of the pyramid meets the first requirements (food, safety, and love). However, the top-level addresses self-actualization and tapping into your potential. Many people see website design as a requirement, but it's actually much more than that. Once you start building your page, you'll quickly notice how engrossing it becomes. Your website is an extension of yourself. You want it to be designed in a way that feels good and inspiring. How can you achieve that quickly, easily, and without hiring a costly web designer? And without succumbing to the template trap? Here is your first step: Develop a Website Color Scheme that embodies your vision Just like clothes communicate different messages about your personality, the colors on your website do too. In fact, color is the first thing you want to consider when creating a new website because it sets the mood and atmosphere for everything else. Having a good color scheme is like having your own miniature branding: It helps you to easily select images and fonts that fit your vision, Making it simpler to attract people who are aligned with your values. You can usually change the preset color scheme of the template in just a few clicks to match your desired look. It will help you maintain consistency throughout your page. And establish trust and credibility by looking professional. The most efficient way to pick your website colors The color palette you choose should be based on something other than your favorite colors. Instead, look at it as a scheme to achieve a specific look and feel. Here is an exercise to help you visualize your colors: Imagine the perfect hosting space for your clients. How would that place look like if everything was possible? What vibes do you envision - adventurous or safe? Cozy or elegant? Warm neutral colors or bright and cheery tones? Once you have a clear idea, begin searching for pictures representing what you are going for. Use a Color Palette Generator The next step is uploading an image closest to your vision into a color scheme generator, such as this one from adobe. You will get a pre-made palette of 5 colors that you can further adjust. Use the most eye-catching color as your theme's primary color; for buttons, links, and other important highlights. The four remaining colors can be used for backgrounds or other design elements. They can also be a reference for choosing images with similar tones for your website. How to best pick images and fonts for your website Suppose you need something specific to guide your search. In that case, finding images that complement each other well and capture your vision can be tricky. However, with your color palette on hand, you have the perfect starting point for your search. With such a great guide, specific images will stand out to you instantly. Get images online Now it's time to explore free image websites like Unsplash or Pixabay. Just remember to give credit where it's due on your website. Or, if you want to buy photos, videos or illustrations, visit sites such as Shutterstock or Istock. Many website builders also offer an in-built library of images from these sources. Images are a vital part of any website or blog, so it's essential to choose them carefully. If you're planning on using free images, my first tip would be to try and get them from the same photographer. Having visuals that all share the same style will help your site look more cohesive and professional. Use your photos If you're planning a photo shoot, give the photographer your color palette. This way, he or she can edit the pictures to match your desired tone. If you don't take professional photos but have a friend help you, try using an app like Lens Distortion or Snapseed. These apps allow you to apply filters close to replicating your chosen color scheme. Pick fonts The most crucial element of your font selection is not to choose intricate ones but rather those that are easy on the eyes. To streamline the process, only decide between two fonts: one for headlines and another for body text. To begin, select a headline font; you can opt for something more simplistic like sans serif or include a character with a serif or handwritten style. Afterward, settle on a body font that is large enough to read (i.e., 14-16 pt) and comfortable on the eyes. So far, we've determined the following for your therapy website design: A color palette that reflects your vision. Images that match and complement each other Two fonts that are easy to read. Now, let's discuss the template you want to use them on. Overcome the temptation of fancy templates When it comes to designing your website, simplicity is critical. Resist the urge to use complex designs or too many bells and whistles. Stick to a simple template that's easy to use and easy on the eyes. You want potential clients to be able to easily navigate your site and find the information they're looking for. A blank slate will provide the best opportunity for consistency and clarity. Apply your color scheme palette without any visual aids getting in the way. Then, insert images, copy, and use 2 fonts of your choice. Too many elements are distracting and challenging to manage - keep it simple for the best results. Need help determining which template or website builder to use? Here are three options I recommend: Appear locally If you want to attract therapy clients within your area, why not use a google site? It's free and easy to navigate. Plus, it automatically applies your color palette throughout the entire page. Remember to create a Google business page that shows up in map searches; this way, potential customers can find you more easily. This is the simplest solution if you're looking to attract local clients quickly and cheaply. Use Email Marketing Use an all-in-one provider like Mailchimp to build a sales funnel. You can automate your email marketing with user journey presets, buy domains, and use their basic clean templates in their website builder. Plus, Mailchimp has a color skin-building feature where you enter your color palette, and it will automatically adjust the template colors to match. It's great because it's all consolidated into one platform. Tailor every feature to your liking WordPress is an excellent choice for people who want more control over their website's design, SEO, and functionality. However, it can be challenging to use WordPress if you still need to become familiar with it because there are so many features. With WordPress, you have "building blocks" for your website that you can use to create the site of your dreams. You can also install plugins (like RankMath or YoastSEO ) to optimize your site for SEO. Or, if you want an even better-looking website, you could buy professional builders like Elementor or Divi. The sky's the limit! Here are three of my client's WordPress websites that were designed following the same principles you've just learned. 3 Therapy Website Design Examples based on Color Schemes Executive Coaching Sydney, Australia Executive Coach Natalia Yusenis strives to help leaders and managers reach their full potential to feel more fulfilled at work and in life. The coaching services include Career Coaching, Life Coaching, Clinical Hypnotherapy for Executives, De-Stress, and Burnout Therapy. Executive Coaching Sydney helps high-performers become better leaders, more assertive, and confident when making career changes or asking for a pay rise. School Refusal Treatment UK If your teenager is constantly skipping school, the School Refusal Treatment can help get them back on track. Especially if previous methods, such as psychotherapy, failed or you're still waiting for an appointment with CAMHS. Sarah Hayes specializes in helping these types of cases and offers a free newsletter to guide parents through these situations. The central aspect of her work is the "School Refusal Programme," which uses playful and interactive 1:1 Hypnotherapy sessions to ease teenagers back into confidence at school. Hypnosis for Self-Confidence in Vienna, Austria If you're a woman who often feels underconfident, whether it be in your career or personal relationships, Christina Sutterlitte's Inner Journey Hypnosis can help. In particular after significant events such as starting a new job or going through a separation. Hypnosis will assist you in finding YOUR happy and confident self again that might have become hidden by fear of failure. Remember, the best web design is Simple Easy to navigate Applies your color palette throughout Includes 2 easy to read fonts Uses images that match and complement each other Now it's time to apply what you've learned and design a website that attracts your ideal clients. Are you stuck? I am excited to offer my professional guidance in the form of a 90 Minute Design Workshop to help you create an authentic website you can be proud of. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sibora! Sibora Halili, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sibora Halili (short: Sibi) is a Hypnotherapy Marketing Expert. She first discovered Hypnotherapy from a client's perspective when she transitioned into motherhood. Experiencing the power of Hypnosis firsthand was a game-changer for Sibi. Now she helps Hypnotherapists find a profitable Hypnotherapy Niche. There is a lot of Myth and Misconception around Hypnosis. Sibi designs unique positioning strategies to overcome them. While everyone else jumps on Social Media, she focuses on Google Power Search. She helps Hypnotherapists reach untapped client pools and secure long-term business success. Sibi has a Master's in Digital Media Technologies and founded the Seabee Design Studio in 2015. Also, she's been teaching at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences. Her story began in Vlorë, Albania. When Sibi was a toddler, her artistic family moved to Austria. Later, she lived in Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Norway. Today she's settled in the Austrian Alps with her family. Being multicultural, she loves working with clients worldwide.

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. With inflation and the state of the economy, you might be looking for ways to rein in holiday spending. How can you be smart with your spending while still enjoying yourself this holiday season? It’s helpful to first examine why you might be tempted to blow your budget this time of year. All spending is emotional at some level, but the holidays seem to add an extra level of intensity! Healthy holiday spending is mindful, intentional, and fun. Unhealthy spending is driven by fear, guilt, and pressure. Family dynamics and expectations can cause you to spend more than you intended because you don’t want to disappoint your loved ones. I’ve coached couples who felt like they’d let their extended family down if they didn’t participate in lavish gift-giving or big holiday vacations. There can be pressure to maintain family traditions because “We’ve always done it this way.” Guilt can also be a negative driver of emotional spending. I typically see this with parents who are trying to make it up to their kids for “having a rough year.” Maybe one of the parents was traveling and away from the family much of the time because of work. Overspending on kids the first Christmas after a divorce is common, too. So, how can you rein in holiday spending, especially when emotions are high? 3 Steps to Rein in Holiday Spending Create a Holiday Budget Decide on a total amount you can reasonably afford to spend on the holidays without going into debt. Make a list of all the people you want to purchase gifts for and assign a limit for each person. (Maybe even consider giving the gift of financial literacy to your loved ones this year!) Your holiday budget should include more than just gifts. Don’t forget expenses related to decorating, entertaining, travel, and family outings. Whether you make your holiday budget on your phone or on paper, be sure to have it with you when go shopping. Set Clear Expectations Early If you’re going to deviate from previous years’ traditions or norms, have discussions with your family early. You might suggest pulling names for gifts instead of each person having to buy for everyone. Other family members might be financially stressed, so this could be a relief for them, too. Frame the discussions positively and honestly. Say something like, “This year, we’ve decided not to travel for the holidays so we can stay debt free and within our budget.” You might get some pushback from well-meaning relatives, so be prepared to respond kindly, yet stick to your plan. Practice Mindful Spending Practicing mindful spending is something you can do year-round, not just during holiday time. As you’re shopping, when emotions like guilt, pressure, or even excitement rise up in your body, stop and take a deep breath. Ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this? Is there another way for me to meet this emotional need without money being involved?” By putting these three steps into practice, you’ll be able to rein in holiday spending, and not let your emotions get the best of you. This means no post-holiday credit card hangover! It’s also wise to remind yourself that what your friends and family want most from you is your presence this holiday season, not just your presents. If you want more tips on how to master your emotions with your personal finances, tune into the Money is Emotional Podcast, available on your favorite podcast platform. 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: Craig Stanland, 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. What is The Golden Treadmill, and how does it impact your life? More importantly, how can you free yourself from its grip? You've climbed to the top of your corporate ladder. Years and years of work and sacrifice, and for what? When you reached the top of the ladder, all the things you thought would be waiting for you aren't there. There's no purpose, meaning, or fulfillment. When you find yourself without purpose, meaning, or fulfillment in your career, you feel empty. The default mode you know to fill that hole is acquiring more power. Money is the low-hanging fruit of more power, and the path to more money is the next rung on the corporate ladder. You're back to climbing. The next rung on the corporate ladder is a symbol of success. Therefore it's a symbol of status ‒ which also satisfies the desire for more power. It's a win/win. However, an issue arises when money and status don't satiate the emptiness. Now you're working more hours, your stress load has doubled, and the emptiness is expanding. The next avenue you'll pursue to give meaning to your unfulfilling life is acquiring status-seeking materialism. You deserve the new BMW, the new Panerai, and the bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape to compensate for the increased hours and stress. You deserve to spend your hard-won earnings. Status-seeking acquisition provides a blast of happiness and satisfaction. But much like a new car smell, the feeling fades, and the emptiness returns. You want and eventually crave that blast of happiness and satisfaction. Welcome to The Golden Treadmill. You'll chase short-term highs after short-term highs to fill the hole in your life. But, you become conditioned to the short-term high; you grow numb to life and need more, more, more to feel what you once felt. The speed of the treadmill increases as you chase the elusive more. Your acquisitions will increase in cost and status, and you'll seek other outlets to fill the hole. Anything to feel something because the faster you run, the larger the hole becomes. Porn, affairs, alcohol, drugs, even binging Netflix and scrolling endlessly on social media. Short-term hits that are designed to keep you sprinting on The Golden Treadmill. You Have 3 Options: You'll stay on the treadmill until the day you die, never finding what you were ultimately seeking. This is your path to dying with regrets. Life will knock you off the treadmill. Divorce, heart attack or illness, DWI, prison. 2 creates two paths: Ignoring the sign and continuing as is or accepting the sign and changing. You make one of the most courageous decisions a man can make. You slow the treadmill down to a stop, step off it, and onto the path of meaning. You evolve from chaser to creator. Because meaning is what man desires and what you've been chasing. You just chose the incorrect method. You want your life to have a purpose, you want to know your life meant something, and you want to know you're leaving a meaningful legacy behind. And what you ultimately desire is the peace and freedom to pursue the purpose and meaning he craves. Stepping off The Golden Treadmill is your path to peace and freedom. What's one thing you can do today to slow your treadmill down? Let's talk if you're ready to invest in 1:1 support so you can write your extraordinary life story. Join me for your Free Reinvention Clarity Call. My best-selling book, "Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison," is available on Amazon. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Craig! Craig Stanland, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Craig Stanland is a Reinvention Architect & Mindset Coach, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, and Best-Selling Author. In 2012, Craig Stanland made a choice that would cost him everything. After exploiting the warranty policy of one of the largest tech companies in the world for almost a year, the FBI finally knocked on his door. He was arrested and sentenced to 2 years of Federal Prison, followed by 3 years of Supervised Release, and ordered to pay $834,307 in restitution. He lost his wife, his home, his cars, his career, and even his identity. He wanted nothing more than to die. A well-timed prison visit from his best friend of over thirty years turned his life around. Craig rebuilt and reinvented his life from rock bottom to a life of meaning and fulfillment. As a Reinvention Architect, Craig leverages his experiences and personal reinvention to work 1:1 with clients so they can re-architect their lives with freedom, passion, purpose, fulfillment, and meaning.Craig's mission is to help people cultivate the courage to pursue their calling so they can live meaningful lives. His book, "Blank Canvas, How I Reinvented My Life After Prison" is available on Amazon.

Written by: Patricia Faust, MGS, 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. Over the past fifteen years, I have been researching and learning about brain aging and brain health. One of the terms that is thrown around consistently is ‘risk factor’. It has been a go-to term in my blogs and speaking engagements when I am talking about dementia. In writing about chronic disease’s impact on the brain, I finally learned what risk factors actually mean. Risk Factors are aspects of your lifestyle, environment, and genetic background that increase a person’s chances of developing a condition. There are some risk factors that cannot be avoided: Non-modifiable Risk Factors Age – Dementia is not a normal part of aging, but age is the strongest known risk factor of developing dementia. This means that a person who is aged over 75 is more likely to develop dementia than someone under 75. Sex – Women are at a higher risk of developing dementia Alzheimer’s disease than men. Potential contributors to this include: Women live longer (on average) than men Changes in estrogen levels over a woman’s lifetime Presence of frailty and other health conditions Genetics – Although the role of genetics in the development of dementia is not fully understood, scientists have found over 20 genes that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease Modifiable Risk Factors These are the risk factors we have control over and can change. Cardiovascular disease has a very strong link to dementia. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease can all increase your risk. Your lifestyle determines how fast your brain ages. Poor lifestyle choices can accelerate brain aging, meaning that you will lose cell volume faster. This is the current list of modifiable risk factors. I will review the effect of each of these lifestyle choices so that you can see how they damage your brain and increase your risk for dementia. Smoking: The evidence is strong and consistent that smokers are at a higher risk of developing dementia vs non-smokers or ex-smokers. Chronic Alcohol Use: Drinking excessively (more than 14 drinks per week for women and more than 21 drinks for men) can increase your risk of developing dementia Low Levels of Cognitive Engagement: Cognitive engagement is thought to support the development of ‘cognitive reserve’. This is the idea that people who actively use their brains throughout their lives may be more protected against brain cell damage caused by dementia. Obesity and Lack of Physical Exercise: Obesity in midlife (ages 45-65) increases your risk of developing dementia. Obesity and lack of physical exercise can also increase the risk of developing risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Social Isolation: Social isolation can increase the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, depression, and dementia. Staying socially active may also help slow down the progression of the disease. Poor Diet: An unhealthy diet, high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt, can increase the risk of developing many illnesses, including dementia and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes: People with Type 2 diabetes in midlife (45-65) are at an increased risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Hypertension: People who have consistent high blood pressure in midlife (45-65) are more likely to develop dementia. Traumatic Brain Injury: People who experience severe or repeated head injuries are at increased risk of developing dementia. Brain injuries can trigger a process that might eventually lead to dementia. This particularly affects athletes in boxing, soccer, hockey, and football, where players often have repeated head injuries. Hearing Loss: Mid-levels of hearing loss increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Though it is still unclear how exactly it affects cognitive decline, hearing loss can lead to social isolation, loss of independence, and problems with everyday activities. Depression: People who experience depression in mid or later life have a higher risk of developing dementia. However, the relationship between depression and dementia is still unclear. Many researchers believe that depression is a risk factor for dementia, whereas others believe it may be an early symptom of the disease or both. Air Pollution: The relationship between air pollution and dementia is still unclear. However, it is estimated that those living close to busy roads have a higher risk of dementia because they can be exposed to higher levels of air pollution from vehicle emissions. Cardiovascular Factors: A cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a disease that damages the heart and makes to harder for blood to circulate around the body. The main CVD risk factors that are known to increase a person’s risk of getting dementia are: High blood pressure Increasingly stiff and blocked arteries (known as atherosclerosis) High blood cholesterol levels Being overweight and physically unfit Type 2 diabetes Now before you breathe a sigh of relief and believe this article was written for your parents or grandparents, or anyone older than you, let’s look at how you accumulate risk factors throughout your life. Here is an explanation of how we accumulate risk factors as we go through life: The day we are born: We have a clean slate – except if you were born with the ApoE 4 gene. Then you have started out with a 7% risk of dementia. Early Life: Throughout your early life you don’t normally pick up any risk factors. If you have less education at this life stage, you pick up an 8% risk. Midlife: Midlife is the time that the body starts to pay for the wild and crazy life we might have been living. You increase your risk: 9% risk with hearing loss 2% risk with hypertension 1% risk with obesity Late Life: You pay the piper in late life. You increase your risk with these poor lifestyle choices: 5% risk with smoking 4% risk with depression 3% risk with physical inactivity 2% risk with social isolation 2% risk with diabetes All these risk factors add up to a 35% potentially modifiable risk. These are all lifestyle issues that you can change if you make the choice to change. Our Modifiable Risk Factors Keith Fargo, PhD, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association states, “Research from the past two – three years suggests that risk factors need to be focused on in midlife.” Dr. Douglas Scharre, a neurologist, advises that we should be addressing our modifiable risk factors no matter what our age is. I have written about many of these risk factors over the years. I wanted to relate how they all play a factor in your chances of developing dementia. The individual risk factor doesn’t increase when you have more than one to think about. But the increase in the number of risk factors you have does increase your potential of developing dementia. We have the choice and then the means of changing our life when we address the risk factors that we live with. Experts have focused on three different targets to reduce your risk of dementia: exercise, mental stimulation, and heart health. Get sweaty a few times a week but walking will provide some benefits too. Engage in as many activities that stimulate as many parts of the brain as possible. When you are having a conversation with other people you are stimulating large areas of your brain. Finally, a healthy heart will keep blood flowing to your brain, delivering needed oxygen and nutrients. We can’t change the genetics we were born with. But we do have the control to change the modifiable risk factors we take on throughout our life. It is estimated that 82 million people worldwide will have dementia by 2030. It is never too early or too late to change our brains. But we need to start now to ensure that we are not one of those 82 million people. For more info, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and visit my website! Read more from Patricia! Patricia Faust, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Patricia Faust is a gerontologist specializing in the issues of brain aging, brain health, brain function, and dementia. She has a Master in Gerontological Studies degree from Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Patricia is certified as a brain health coach and received a certification in Neuroscience and Wellness through Dr. Sarah McKay and the Neuroscience Academy. My Boomer Brain, founded in 2015, is the vehicle that Patricia utilizes to teach, coach, and consult about brain aging, brain health, and brain function. Her newsletter, My Boomer Brain, has international readers from South Africa, Australia, throughout Europe, and Canada. Patricia’s speaking experience spans the spectrum of audiences as she addresses corporate executives on brain function, regional financial professionals on client diminished capacity, and various senior venues concerning issues around brain aging and brain health. References: Queensland Brain Institute. Dementia risk factors. Retrieved from https://qbi.uq.edu.au/dementia/dementia-risk-factors WebMD. (May 30, 2018). Risk factors that put you on the road to dementia. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20180530/risk-factors-that-put-you-on-the-road-to-dementia?print=true

Written by: Omu Obilor, 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. Managing mental health complications isn't easy, but it can be even more difficult when running a business. Being an entrepreneur means taking your mental health seriously because as an entrepreneur one will have to face many complications at work and if you don't watch your mental health then it will deteriorate, the foundations become unstable, and your business will suffer. Recent studies state that long-term stress overpowers the body's fight-or-flight instinct, and increases the likelihood of feeling anxious and depressed, as well as impacting physical health. Entrepreneurs typically operate under high-stress conditions, making them more sensitive to mental health issues. Below, we have listed some crucial reasons why good mental health is important for entrepreneurs and why they should take care of it. Read on to know more. 1. Business Success Requires Good Mental Energy It should come as no surprise to hear that as an entrepreneur you'll need a lot of stamina to run a business. Depending on what you’re doing as an entrepreneur, you might be directly involved in business operations. Even if you’re not, you likely have many commitments that require your attention each day. And if your mental health isn’t where it needs to be, then you won't have the energy to get things done. 2. A Strong Mental Health Foundation Boosts Entrepreneurs’ Confidence Positive mental health acts as a catalyst that allows an individual to make bold and confident decisions in life. As an entrepreneur, you might have to take some tough and experimental decisions at any stage of your business. This is only achievable If you are mentally fit and by doing so you will also be able to see far-reaching results. 3. Entrepreneurs' Work Productivity Can Be Enhanced By Stable Mental Health As an entrepreneur, you might need to set a standard for others through your performance. You need to always represent a better version of yourself among others. To accomplish the same, you need to be productive and progressive in your actions. An individual must maintain stable mental health to keep his thoughts balanced and his actions progressive. This stability contributes to improving the quality of your performance. 4. Good Mental Health Is Important For Coping With Adversity Again, your journey of entrepreneurship has its ups and downs. You need to be a strong-headed personality who can handle this roller coaster ride with perfection. If you have mental clarity, it would be easier for you to cope with adversity. This is why good mental health should be your priority as an entrepreneur. 5. Maintaining Sound Mental Health Helps Entrepreneurs Make Meaningful Decisions Making decisions is an invaluable aspect of being an entrepreneur. If you’re running a business or bankrolling a business, you need to be able to keep a clear head. Sadly, suffering through anxiety and depression issues will leave you feeling out of sorts. Your head might become muddled and this can negatively impact your decision-making process. If you wish to make the right decisions as an entrepreneur, then you’ll need to take care of your mental health. Final Thoughts Entrepreneurs face a lot of stress and pressure. Additionally, there are also times when our mental health is at risk because of the problems that come with business such as intense work hours or conflicts among co-workers. It can be challenging to deal with your daily life and still give 100% attention to what you do for your business. One of the most pertinent things you should keep in mind is your mental health because it will affect how you do business tomorrow and for years to come. It’s also imperative for you to take time off work so you don’t burn out too soon or become unproductive because of a lack of sleep. In addition, impaired mental health hinders your ability to function as an entrepreneur, which is why it needs serious attention from everyone. Visit Omu's website to learn more! Read more from Omu! Omu Obilor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Omu is an International Coach, Speaker, Trainer, and Thought Leader. Her mantra is “Living my best life," this she achieves by living Intentionally. Her mission in life is to empower others to live their best life, curating the life they want for themselves. As a founding member of the John Maxwell Team, she has mastered intentional living in personal and professional life. She performs the role of Executive Director and National Trainer in Business Network International (BNI), which empowered her to master training networking. Omu has, over the years, poured out her all into the lives of her clients. Walking them through the various transitions in life and mentoring them through the transformation. She is driven by her passion for helping individuals realize that it is possible to live the life they dream of. Extremely passionate about Transformation in people, she works tirelessly to see this through. Her approach is designed to increase awareness and accountability to increase morale and determine values. She runs a mentor mind group for women looking to grow in their personal and professional lives. She also runs masterminds monthly, amongst others.

Written by: Joanne Angel Barry Colon, 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. Did you know the average women can gain up to 15 to 20 pounds during Halloween through New Years? This does not have to be you. During Halloween thru New Years you may spend a lot of time at parties and gatherings and even have more candy, cakes and other foods around more than usual making you tempted to indulge and I am all for “Fuel and Feed”, Fueling the body with high quality food, supplements, minerals and vitamins 70 percent of the time and Feeding the emotions (salt, sugar and process food) 30 percent of the time. I recommend this ratio throughout the year not only for holidays or other occasions. Being a Certified Wholistic Personal Trainer and Medical Astrologer, I recommend the following: Add an extra day of weight lifting and cut back on cardio fitness (walking, running, Zumba, etc), this will help activate your metabolism, increase lean muscle tissue and decrease fat. Are you aware that your metabolism speeds up for up to 8 hours after you have completed a high intensity (weight lifting) workout. Incorporate essential oils to help digestion, release weight, decrease cravings and bloat and increase metabolism. My favorite three are; Slim & Sassy, Digestzen and Peppermint (high quality oils – Doterra). Put 1 to 2 drops of one of the recommended essential oils in your water (8 to 16 ounces) throughout the day and drink up. These essential oils can be applied topically (for sensitive skin use a carrier oil). Apply Digestzen and or Peppermint on your belly and any of the three on the bottom of each foot. How does your Astrology Measure Up? Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces (Water signs) are naturally prone to weight gain due to the Water in the Human Design Aries: Fire Sign (1st house) – Burns calories at a faster rate Taurus: Earth Sign (2nd house) – Has a sweet tooth, may bring on extra pounds Gemini: Air Sign (3rd house) – Doesn’t gain weight easily, metabolism runs fast, however as they get older their metabolism slows down Cancer: Water Sign (4th house) – Eating healthy and exercise is necessary, as childhood issues may be a factor to weight gain Leo: Fire Sign (5th house) – Unlikely to gain weight, especially should they have lean muscles, however, as they age, it’s important to stay fit, otherwise your lean muscle will decrease and fat will increase causing weight gain. Virgo: Earth Sign (6th house) – Usually very slender, due to the relationship with Mercury. Mercury is the Master of speed. Libra: Air Sign (7th house) – Has a tendency to put on weight as you age, most;y because Libra is ruled by Venus and is placed in the Water sign of Pisces. Scorpio: Water Sign (8th house) – Ruled by Pluto and Mars. It’s important to keep your weight at a healthy range because Scorpio is cousins with Cancer, therefore you tend to hold on to childhood issues and this may result to weight gain. Sagittarius: Fire Sign (9th house) – Jupiter is your Ruler, the largest planet of the Solar System puts you at risk for weight gain. Capricorn: Earth Sign (10th house) – Ruled by slender Saturn, however when Saturn is retrograde you may find yourself feeling lazy and tire, which may lead to limited movement and weight gain. Aquarius: Air Sign (11th house) – Ruled by Uranus and Saturn. Always on the go, therefore you’re likely not to put on weight and should you, you’re mindful to add more exercise and/or movement to your routine. Pisces: Water Sign (12th house) – Sagittarius, Jupiter and Neptune regulate your sign, you have a tendency for weight gain. Daily exercise is important along with breath work to help increase your metabolic rate and help keep your stress level down. If you have one of the three water elements in one of your three major planets or Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and/or the Moon and one of the four houses (1st, 5th, 6th, 8th) associated with any of these planets Halloween thru New Years may be more about maintaining weight rather than releasing weight. To learn more about your Personal Astrology Chart, Create a Weight Training Prescription and/or enroll in my Virtual Group Fitness Membership book a 15-minute Complimentary Self-Growth Discovery Session and for additional questions email healingwithin76@gmail.com. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joanne! Joanne Angel Barry Colon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joanne Angel Barry Colon has 30+ years in the health, fitness, and wellness industry. She is the Wholistic Fitness owner located in NY Queens, certified holistic personal trainer, intuitive healer, cosmic energy reader, student of Astrology, Master of Numerology, and Creator of Chakra Balance Numerology Cosmic Energy Forecast Deck. She is the Host of Joanne's Healing Within T.V Show and Joanne's Cosmic Energy Radio Show and Author/Self-Publisher. Joanne's mission: To help women (men by referral) release issues from their tissues as they release emotional weight and fall in love with themselves while witnessing their transformation of being the best version of themselves. Photo credits: Donna C Barry

Written by: Oksana Saprykina, 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. A fear is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by the anticipation or awareness of danger. A fear is a bit different than a phobia because it is usually the result of a traumatic incident. Phobias are far rather common than people may think. According to research more than 11% of the population have some kind of irrational fear. A phobia is an irrational fear, a fear without any particular reason. People with phobias experience unwanted responses to actions, animals, insects, objects, or places. A phobia definitely brings up fear and anxiety in a person, however the reason for the intense feelings of fear often have an unknown cause. People can develop phobias in their childhood, often as the result of an unpleasant experience. Sometimes children learn to develop a phobic response by witnessing the fearful behaviour of a parent or sibling. The physical response is known as a stress response. People often describe their reaction as being ‘paralysed with fear’ or ‘just wanting to run away’ from whatever is triggering their response. People with phobias know that their response is irrational, making it harder to understand or accept. They often manage their phobia on a day-to-day basis by avoiding the trigger. Most common phobias: Fear of dogs Fear of driving Fear of dentists The fear of germs or dirt. May be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fear of flying Fear of heights The fear of situations in which escape is difficult. This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack. People will begin avoiding these trigger events, sometimes to the point that they cease leaving their home. Fear of needles Fear of pregnancy Social Phobias: The fear of social situations. In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack. Fear of sickness Fear of spiders and other insects Fear of water Can Phobias Be Treated ? Yes, phobias can be treated with hypnotherapy! Rapid Transformational Therapy has been proven to be very successful for these conditions. When someone has a real phobia, they spend an inordinate amount of time or make an unnecessarily large effort to avoid the thing they fear. These phobias go further than general fear, causing phobic people to constantly worry that they will encounter the object/situation that they fear. Time and energy is often used to avoid the object of fear – and if they do come across it, they endure high levels of distress, experiencing nausea, shortness of breath and potentially even panic attacks. RTT is able to remove the triggers from the subconscious mind and install a new programme, so the client is able to live the life free of fears and phobias. Why Hypnotherapy Can Be Effective? The state of hypnosis is characterised by brain changes which tend to allow for greater emotional control and less self-consciousness. This means that people are more likely to put themselves into imaginal situations and that, in those situations, they can retain more control over their emotional responses. The fact that some people are more responsive to positive suggestions when in a state of hypnosis, hypnotherapy may provide an effective therapeutic intervention for phobias. An integrated hypnotherapeutic approach could start showing results after one or two sessions, though a longer course of treatment may be needed. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Oksana! Oksana Saprykina, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Oksana Saprykina is an established Certified Hypnotherapist practicing an award-winning method ‒ Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) taught by Marisa Peer. Oksana lived and worked in four countries on different continents. She speaks three languages fluently and works with clients around the world. Oksana is an expert at identifying her client's talents and passions and converting them into the career of their dreams. She has the skill and ability to make a difference in someone's life in an extremely rapid straightforward way. She helps clients unblock and release old behaviors or beliefs and allow that person to take back the life they dreamed of but never believed that was available to them.