Written by: Jessica Carper, 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. Year End. December 2022 is a busy time for accountants, tax preparers, bookkeepers, and auditors! It’s the year end, and we need to have all the financials ready and prepared for the full year of 2022 just in time to start tax returns for 2023 to meet those deadlines! Here at Bookkeeping & Payroll Services Inc., our bookkeepers are working extra hours to get all the accounting completed accurately for our clients. Our tax preparers are excited going into the new year to complete several tax returns! Bookkeeping & Payroll Services, Inc. www.Financial-Firm.Biz Here are some of the most CRUCIAL deadlines coming up for 2023: ‒ 1099s due by January 31st, 2023 Business License for city of LA due by February 28th, 2023 Quarter four payroll reports due by January 31st, 2023 Quarterly bookkeeping due by January 312st, 2023 Incorporation taxes due by March 15th, 2023 Personal taxes due April 17th, 2023 *** Personal taxes are usually due April 15th, but this year 2023 they are due by Monday April 17th, 2023. I am truly thrilled to be helping thousands of business owners keep their businesses aligned with the government and laws to run smoothly. Our team ensures that your bookkeeping and taxes are done accurately in a timely manner before the deadlines. Time to give: In addition to practicing accounting, I like to contribute my time to a variety of causes. I hold the title for Miss Holiday 2022. Instagram: JImperial7. I have donated time for a 5k run for the queen of New England, Queen Elizabeth. At the end of December, I will be donating my time to helping decorate the South Pasadena Float for the Pasadena Rose Parade of 2023. You will be able to watch the Rose Parade 2023 on TV on January 1st early in the morning. Thousands of people attend the parade. It gives me the joy to give time to these events in hopes of honoring multiple causes. I am the owner of Universe Beauties which is online pageantry at the moment. I have goals and plans to become LIVE asap. I have title holders all over the world! Here at Universe Beauties, we are about World Peace and Acts of Kindness! I am also featured in The Lens Magazine: and this is my final issue! It is a Playboy tribute, and it’s a digital magazine of over 25 pages Enjoyment of the Season My beautiful 15-year-old daughter is so grateful for all Santa has brought! Such a great feeling of all the excitement of gifts. Not only does it feel good to give, it is also a good feeling to receive. So much Joy the season brings! I was so excited to see the beautiful smile on her face on Christmas morning! Of course, Church on Christmas day! Thankful for all my blessings. Everybody is full of the good feelings of the season, and they enjoy the holidays. Many more companies to help with their bookkeeping and taxes. More causes to run and commercials/movies to get into. Much more fashion shows and pageant shows to attend whether it’s being a judge, model, or host. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jessica! Jessica Carper, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I am a born leader & public figure. Several titles; Mother, CFO, Owner at Universe Beauties, Owner at Bookkeeping & Payroll Services Inc., Ms. Top Model Nation Universe 2022, Professional Model, Actress. You have a full life why not enjoy it! I have several years of experience in all aspects of the financial industry. I own Bookkeeping & Payroll Services Inc. I have helped companies going bankrupt to success and millions within 3 months. I have helped several clients with tax problems and audits with the outcome of lower tax liability. I enjoy being the CFO. I am the Top Professional Model, Actress & Pageant Queen. I own Universe Beauties, we are all about world peace & acts of kindness!

Written by: Heidi Richards Mooney, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As advanced as we are, humans still need to build good habits and let go of the bad ones. Persistence is a habit which, like a muscle, can be exercised and strengthened. In the animal kingdom, persistence comes naturally. One only has to think of the honey badger, to see persistence in constant action. This small animal is fearless. It will fight a lion and not back down. When it comes to food, the honey badger has no equal. It will eat anything, including venomous snakes. Honey badgers are basically immune to snake venom but they sometimes do get such a dose, that it knocks them out for a few minutes. Once they awaken, it is off to find another snake. They will dig right into a honeybee nest and take on the angry bees to get their honey fix. When it comes to food and fighting, the honey badger gets an A+ in persistence. The persistence drive in humans has declined over the years. People will find a multitude of reasons to quit any endeavor the moment it gets difficult. They want success but are unwilling to put in the work and stick to a game plan. There are a number of factors that can be considered, when trying to understand the “it will just be easier to quit,” attitude. As children are raised in a hectic world today, some parents find that they would rather allow their children to give up on certain things, rather than be patient and persistent in teaching them how to win at life. Once a child sees that being aggressively resistant towards a task, allow them the chance to do something more pleasurable, they will build upon that. As adults of any age will find, the ability to focus on a goal or plan can be difficult. This is due to the fast-paced world we now live in. Giving up is starting to become the normal thing to do, once a roadblock appears. For most people it is far easier to say, “This is too hard, this is too stressful, I cannot do it.” Once they convince themselves that giving up is the way to go, it now becomes the easy way out for anything they do in life. When a relationship becomes difficult, they have already built a neural pathway in their brain…that is the highway to giving up without much of a fight. Everything we do, creates neural pathways and we strengthen those pathways with repetition. Look around you. When you see successful people, are they the smartest people in the room? Frequently the answer is no. Smart people can get frustrated and give up, just like anyone else. If you really dig deep and even ask some questions, you find the successful people are the ones with the biggest persistence muscle. They were either born with or learned the ability of going forward no matter what life throws at them. In this eBook, the aim is to teach you how to be extremely persistent, while being patient at the same time. Your ultimate growth will come from this. Silencing the Negative Voice in Your Head Everyone has the same supercomputer available. Your brain is a marvelous bit of engineering and capable of tremendous amounts of data processing. Your stored memories are all there. Sometimes they are easy to access and at other times, it takes some work to open certain file drawers in your brain. Not all the memories are good of course. The science of NLP which stands for neuro-linguistic programming can help with changing what a memory means to you. It is certainly an area of study that you should consider. To start your pathway to a better use of your personal supercomputer, let’s talk about “how you talk to yourself.” This is extremely important when it comes to having a positive mental image of yourself. When a person says that they cannot do something, often an image of failure accompanies that statement. They have stacked experiences of giving up, when the going got hard. In addition, they have added tags, just like the ones people use in social media. For example, you may have mental tags like these: The list for some people could be very long. It wasn’t always that way. As children, we thought we could do anything, including fly. Years of negative conditioning, from family, friends, school and eventually ourselves…led us to the conclusion that sometimes it was just easier to give up. When we hit our teenage years, this really kicked into overdrive and eventually the negative self-talk outweighs the positive things we say internally and occasionally out loud with conviction. The negative self-talk has multiple consequences and must be dealt with. If you know people who suffer from lack of self-esteem, poor self-confidence and depression, then you are likely looking at someone who replays negatives conversations in their head daily. They use poor word choices like, “I can’t, I should have, and I could have been or done this.” Repetitive negative self-talk, layers itself in the brain and one could compare it to a physical thing like artery plaque in the heart region. Both are dangerous and should be taken care of immediately. In order to build your never give up attitude, you will need to change how you talk to yourself. When you do this, you will not only be unstoppable, but all the negative issues discussed will start to dissolve. You will feel amazing and have superior confidence in all that you do. Finally, those black clouds of depression will lift. A word of caution here, if your depression is a chemical imbalance, then you need to see professional advice. You can start your can do attitude, by eliminating negative words from your vocabulary and replace them with positive sayings. Start by making a list of negative words you are aware float around in your head like garbage in the ocean. Both need to be cleaned up, or there will be severe consequences. Now draw a line through each negative word and write down a positive word beside it. This will be your new “go to” word. Understand and accept that getting help is a good thing. Many people feel weak when seeking assistance. However, going to groups that discuss positivity and success, can be very helpful for you. You will meet new people who are on the same journey. They too have decided that persistence and never ever giving up…is the way they want to lead their lives. Listening to, or reading self-help books is something everyone should be doing and quite frankly, this should be taught in elementary schools and upwards. Using your car as a university is something motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar preached about all his life. He believed listening to the car radio was a time waster and that we should feed our minds with positive words daily. Drive to work and listen to Zig or another master of motivation, Les Brown. In 30 days, you will see a massive difference in the way you think. For our purposes today, there is a recommended reading. Dr. Shad Helmstetter wrote an outstanding book entitled, “What to say when you talk to yourself.” In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Helmstetter gives you a new way to think about and talk to yourself. Here is an example of a phrase that if you repeated every night before bed, would have a significant effect on your overall self-esteem. “I know that what I believe about myself, is what I will become. So I believe in the best for myself.” Here is how you stop tossing and turning while replaying negative conversations in your mind. Memorize the phrase Dr. Helmstetter has put together and repeat it over and over until you drift off to sleep. When your mind tries to go back to negativity, tell it to stop and then continue to repeat the phrase. When you believe in the best for yourself, then you will go for it and quitting will not be an option. To get the most out of the book, pick 5 to10 phrases that resonate with you. When you read those phrases, you get goosebumps or feel a little rush of adrenaline. Write those phrases out on index cards and then put them all around your house. If you have a family, get them involved. Have 2-3 of these index cards taped to your fridge and tell your kids, before they can open the fridge, they must say each phrase once as if it is a magic key. Put one in your bedroom that you can read while getting dressed in the morning. Don’t forget where you spent a lot of alone time. Yes, the bathroom is a perfect place to put an index card. Read the index card over and over, instead of looking at the drama on your Facebook feed. Excerpted from The Power of A “Never Give Up” Attitude (ebook) The book was designed with the goal in mind to give you a new way of thinking. In the book, we show you how to break the negative pathways in your brain and build new strong positive pathways. In addition, we cover why it is so important for your success in life, to fully understand and implement the idea of having a powerful, never give up no matter what attitude. Get your copy today (it's FREE) Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Heidi! Heidi Richards Mooney, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Heidi is a professional speaker (past president for Floridas Speakers Association) an author, coach, small business owner, and internet marketing and social media expert who specializes in helping clients get their Websites, blogs, and social media channels noticed. She teaches audiences how to GROW their business using targeted social media channels including Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. Heidi is also the publisher of several online magazines including WE Magazine for Women, Women of Wisdom Magazine, Marketing Small Business Magazine, Inventing Women Magazine, and Flowers Galore Magazine. She brings a unique combination of experience, technical expertise, and traditional marketing skills as well as creative new marketing approaches to maximize her client's online and social media presence. "

Written by: Shreesha Khare, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We all have wounds and pain in our lives. I am aware that while you read this article, a wound inside of you must be twitching your stomach along with your heart. What if I told you that pain is a natural part of this universe? Consider when the big bang occurred. Things were painful. When a mother gives birth to a new creation, she goes through the pain of 52 broken bones. Everyone, living or not, suffers from pain. The only difference is what you build out of that wound—either you build wisdom out of it or let it destroy you. Your choice is always yours. If you believe that in any life situation of yours there is no choice, then the choice was always there as a light to take you forward. It was you who waited too long in the darkness. Art is that light; it is like breathing in and breathing out every single moment. No matter what, it will be expressed—not from you but through you. There are two things that happen here: first, whatever you go through in life is for your growth in terms of character building, and second, things then release through you because you are a medium. You go through many suppressed moments, not expressing yourself as fear, doubts, shame, and guilt hoover around you, but then the time comes when you let it go. Then, nothing stops you. Wounds as Dust Have you ever noticed how the leaves of a tree become rough under the dust? Some stay for ages, while others remain for years or even months. Trees rely on cloud-borne precipitation to wash away cobwebs and dust from their leaves. They depend on nature to shake things up for them. However, humans are the most capable species to have ever evolved on the planet. This means that we are more fragile, as well as having the power to bring change into our lives if we so choose. When you don't clean your house on a regular basis, dust accumulates and cobwebs, rats, and other insects attack. In a similar way, when you don’t clean your inner wounds or pains, dust takes over and converts into illness in your physical vessel as a manifestation. You are not reliant on others to heal your wounds; it will take time, no doubt, but it will require persistence, cleaning up the dust, and understanding what caused it to be this way. The wounds you face were stored in your body through images, thoughts, and heartbreaks that entered your subconscious brain when you were growing up, and then consciously, you were facing depression, anxiety, and chronic illness when you were out of alignment with the person you are. The dust becomes rust as you ignore it; you never stopped and had a look at WHY, HOW, and WHAT made this into rust, and you feel a feeling that is sometimes unexplainable despite everything being alright around you and within you. Is it? Trees have no option; they are stuck in one state. But you are a movable person; you are becoming a person who holds the highest potential and free will to remove the cobwebs of wounds from inside your body and convert it into an art of whatever you like to express. I may not understand you properly, but I can feel you. I am not aware of what kind of wound you are carrying within you. However, any kind of wound can show up as a feeling of lack or insufficiency. My intention is only to understand "what stops you from expressing it?" From Anguish to Art: Healing Our Core Wound Do you think we were born with wounds? When I stepped out of my womb, I found myself under the ocean of these questions. Was I wounded before I came into this world, or was I wounded from the start? I have read something interesting: a baby can hear in the womb what is happening outside, be it good vibes or not so good vibes. They listen to wounds like rejection, denial, shame, and separation. And when they listen, the reaction Mother faces is a bit high. Along with listening to these words, they carry these wounds as well, unknowingly. Now, you will ask me, "How?" When two people become intimate with each other, their genes also connect, and it is a cyclical process. The emotions experienced by parents will also be experienced by babies, even without indulging in the practical exposure of the rollercoaster ride of wounds. Wounds entered the world via humans, and they entered us via our ancestors' DNA. These wounds are the seeds of our suffering in this earthly world, and the reason we go through the sacred wounds is to realise our potential. When the big bang happened, it showed that with all the repression, pressure, and collision, the creation of a beautiful Milky Way galaxy can happen, a heaven-like planet like Earth can be formed, and even darkness can be an out-of-this-world experience. Despite the hole that we call "dark matters," there is a reflection of art in the universe. Even before our birth, we were carrying wounds that we have to figure out once we are born on this earth by going through its ups and downs. I remember, in school, kids used to make fun of me for being sensitive. They used to be like, "You are too sensitive to live in this world; this is not a good habit." Teachers rejected and shamed me for who I am. There was not a single moment in my childhood when I did not experience shame, guilt, and repression. All these wounds were reflected in my life circumstances until I hit rock bottom and blood flowed. On this roller-coaster ride called life, the only seat belt I could use was art, music, and, most importantly, writing. The interesting thing about all of these wounds is that they helped and shaped me into the person I am today. The month of December 2021 was a peak for my wounds, which were screaming to be expressed, and some scars wanted to be strong. On January 10th, 2022, I casually started self-musing with words in my diary and slowly and steadily on social media, eventually sharing my wisdom with the world in the form of a book. Below is an extract from the poem I channelled; it is called Willingness. Born with wings unseen by others but seen by me, I've always known that these wings would take me higher in the sky with so many gifts inside me, until society told me that I'm a cocoon and that I should stay grounded. Grounded sounded like a prison, as I only knew the language of desire to fly out whenever I wanted with no resistance to time, space, or place. Here’s the poetry book ‒ Our Last Autumn, which is a great example of turning your wounds into an Art. It is available on Amazon as Kindle and Paperback. Namaste! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Shreesha! Shreesha Khare, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Shreesha Khare is an author and an inspirational thought leader, aka a leading luminary. She is walking on the path of "Self-Illumination" to be more of her true self, share more of her personal experiences, and change the lives of others through her own journey of personal transformation. There is a deep internal desire in her to take all of what she has learned and help others along their path. She believes that suffering is the key to unlocking our greatest gifts. She is the Founder and Chief humanitarian Being at S&S Co-Space for Humanity, a boutique where you will be served with coaching and guidance of self-love and self-actualization, is like taking a journey into the inner cosmic world.

Written by: Joaquín Pinto, 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. If you're thinking about studying abroad, keep reading to find the five reasons why Montreal is the most popular place for students in Canada and should be your top 1! Being an international student in Montreal is integrating yourself to an open-minded, warm, and diverse society. Living in a safe city that is buzzing at all hours of the day and night. 1. Top destination for international students Montreal is one of the top cities chosen by international students to pursue their dreams and advance in their careers. This city receives approximately 50,000 international students each year and is ranked as one of the top student destinations in 2022. Montreal has the best of both worlds, from the modern building structures to the beauty and culture of Europe. It is well-known for its relaxed and vibrant lifestyle, distinctive and creative industries, nightlife, and cafe culture. You can choose to explore modern, high-tech buildings in the downtown core, have an immersive experience in the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) or enjoy great views in Old Montréal. 2. Affordable City Tuition fees for international students in Quebec are among the lowest in North America. At the university level, studying in Montreal is generally less expensive than studying elsewhere in Canada. While finding a place to live as an international student is always a challenge, you should be aware that student housing in Montréal is among the most affordable in Canada. Indeed, in this city, you can have great possibilities compared to other cities in Canada, which is just one of the reasons students adore it. 3. Bilingual environment As you may know, Canada is a bilingual country with English and French as official languages, having provinces where the primary language is French. Montreal is in Quebec, Canada's French province but do not think that without French you won’t survive. Actually, Montreal vibes provide students with a multicultural environment, allowing you to learn a new language while studying and even get paid for it. Yes, the Quebec government provides free courses to international students, and each student can apply for financial aid as well as other benefits. Languages enable you to learn about other cultures and establish yourself as a global citizen. 4. Easy transportation Unlike large metropolises, Montreal is very easy to navigate in. Thanks to The Société de transport de Montréal (STM), Montreal has a local network of trains and buses that will take you anywhere in the city. And don’t think about this as a greater expense while studying. In Montreal, you can get great discounts on a monthly pass and have unlimited access to public transportation. That will undoubtedly be a quick and inexpensive way to get around the city. In addition, Montreal is one of the first cities in Canada to permit biking safely throughout the entire city, so if you'd rather take in the scenery and support the environment, go ahead. You can use Bixi to travel from one location to another for a very reasonable price, especially in Montreal. 5. The city of the festivals in Montreal, there is no time to waste or be bored. Actually, you'll wish you had more time to explore all of the amazing experiences that this city has to offer. Festivals and major events are an important part of life in Montréal, from illuminated winter festivals like IglooFest, art expositions, gastronomy fests, and outdoor sports to international rhythms and circus performances in the summer heat. Spring, summer, fall, and winter all have a plethora of seasonal events to keep you energized and inspired. Then there's the food: Montréal's gourmet multicultural food scene caters to all tastes, including those from home. And following graduation? Being one of Canada's most significant centers of commerce, tourism, and other economic sectors, Montreal naturally creates a more rapid and stable path to a successful career after graduation. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joaquín! Joaquín Pinto, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine A serial entrepreneur, Joaquín led several enterprises ‒ including an editorial and a consultancy - before co-founding Boom Studies in 2019, after identifying critical weaknesses in international students´experiences in Malta. Boom Studies is a travel to study agency which offers unique tailored support all along the customers´ journeys so that they have the best possible experience abroad. As the CEO of Boom Studies, Joaquín has managed to grow this start-up despite having launched a few months before the pandemic. Rough seas make good sailors, and Joaquín and his team were able to establish Boom Studies as a leading agency in Malta, thanks to dedication and innovative thinking. We also expanded to new destinations (Canada, Ireland and Dubai) and have big plans for the future. A political science graduate from Sciences-Po Paris, Joaquín has lived abroad for most of his life, and is an expert in engaging different people, from government to private sector, or civil society representatives. Joaquín is a cosmopolitan citizen of the world with a passion to help others and connect people. So launching Boom Studies came naturally, and leading this company whose mission is to help people accomplish their dreams is the most fulfilling role Joaquín could have.

Written by: Natalia Jansen, 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 one hears the word improvisation, one thinks of fun and laughter through acting without any script. It’s the ability to come up with ideas on the spot without much preparation, in other words, it’s the capacity to be spontaneous and creative. Improvisation is a powerful tool that allows you to master numerous valuable life skills such as listening and responding, communication and storytelling, creative and fast thinking, and most of all it allows you to nurture your imagination in a fun way. That’s why I believe that improvisation should be a required course for everyone. In my twenty years as an educator, I have seen children who struggle to read, and are too shy to answer questions in class come alive, transform into leaders, come up with the most imaginative scenarios, and gain such powerful self-confidence when given the freedom to improvise. If you are shy or introverted, you too can learn to be more assertive and confident through improvisation. According to Maxwell Maltz, an American Surgeon and author of Psycho-Cybernetics “Our self-image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become.” He came to this conclusion after seeing countless patients undergo cosmetic surgery, and still not feeling good about themselves. In his book, Dr. Maltz states, “The 'self-image' is the key to human personality and human behavior. Change the self-image and you change the personality and the behavior.” How we see ourselves determines who we can become. In order to become more, we have to see and believe ourselves capable of more. Improvisation is a fun and safe way to explore different personas and help transform one’s self-image. Let’s talk about some basic guidelines for successful improvisation. One of the best things in improvisation is that it requires nothing but the three basic acting tools: body, voice, and imagination. All you need to improvise a scene is an idea for characters and a situation. The number one rule for successful improvisation is to never deny a fact. Another way to say it is you must always say “yes” to your partner’s idea. No matter how outlandish the idea might be, you play along. The second rule is to add your ideas into the mix. That’s called “Yes, and…” You accept your partner’s idea, and you add something to it to build the story. These are the most essential rules of improv, and of course, it’s the key to creating a better life. Saying “yes, and” instead of “either, or” creates room and opportunities for greater abundance and prosperity in your life. Improvisation class is a safe space where you can practice imagining being anyone you desire. Building on the solid foundation of what you know, you add new and creative ideas to imagine how would the person you are putting on as a character behave and respond in a given circumstance. You learn to be present in the moment to really listen to what your scene partner says, you accept their idea and using quick thinking respond with your own idea to keep the story going. It may feel challenging and awkward at first, yet as anything, with practice it gets easier and more fun. Take it a step further, and you can create fun in your daily life by spicing it up with some improvisation. Imagine who you want to be today, and when you talk to yourself or interact with people throughout the day, stay in character. Think, speak, and behave in the way the person you are being today would. I invite you to try this experiment with your life for seven days. Choose who you want to be each day and stick to it all day long, and reflect on what you experienced and learned by journaling about your day before going to bed each night. I believe that the spirit in you will have fun and with it, new ideas and opportunities will start showing up as well. https://www.actlifeconsulting.com/end-procastination-checklist Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Natalia! Natalia Jansen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natalia combines her rigorous certification training with Brave Thinking Institute by Mary Morrissey, her 20 years of experience as an educator and theatre artist with her passion for personal development and spiritual transformation to her mission to teach women ‒ especially single moms ‒ to embrace their spiritual nature, re-ignite their dreams, take charge of their life, and design the life they truly love living.

Written by: Bruno Vanherberghen, 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. Do you feel shame and guilt about a certain addiction or habit in your life? Or maybe it is more of a repetitive nagging thought like ‘it would be good to quit this’ or ‘I should stop this’? Maybe you drink more alcohol than you would like? Or maybe it is caffeine, nicotine, marijuana, drugs, watching porn or something else that seems to have crept in, taking over much more space than we really want it to? Do you think about stopping but keep pushing it into the future because there is a lot going on in your life, or don’t have the motivation, or this or that? Well, in our minds there is never a good time to stop. Ever. It is not uncommon that we try to find the ‘right’ time to stop, when life maybe calms down a little bit, or when this thing changes or that happens. That perfect, magical unicorn situation where all our stressors disappear doesn’t appear, and if it does, we don’t seize it or only seize it temporarily. We have become masters at creating excuses to rationalize our habits. We have a huge arsenal of excuses, and we easily buy into them. The best time to quit is right now. Now is the best time to quit. Right in this moment. Nothing exists outside of the present moment. It comes down to a question of priority. We can always keep kicking the can down the road. Tomorrow will be different. Right? How many times do we need to tell ourselves that before we realize it doesn’t happen? It might not seem like now is the right time to quit your addiction and I suggest you pay close attention to the reasons and excuses that you use in your head. To overcome and find freedom from compulsion, we must stop listening to and accepting our own excuses. Rationalizations. What do we tell ourselves? The number of rationalizations is endless. We compare ourselves to others, tell ourselves it is not so bad. We tell ourselves we deserve it, after a long day, a stressful week, or maybe for a specific celebration. We minimize it even though we are cognizant of the full power that it holds over us. We have so many thoughts around it – the constant game we play of when we can have it, how we can have it and how much of it we can have. Time to stop buying into our own excuses. The day you do that is the day change comes. You tried on your own, now get help with an addiction accountability coach. Most people have tried to quit on their own. Most likely many times, possibly hundreds of times. If that has been successful, great, well done! However, if you have failed as many times as you have tried, then the habit remains in your life. Through this repetitive try and fail process we lose all accountability towards ourselves in this specific part of our lives. We are probably rock-solid, trustable with a highly level of integrity in all other parts of our lives. Since we have lost accountability to ourselves, it helps to make a commitment to another person who will guide us, support us to drive change while keeping us accountable. Maybe that is an anonymous group such as a twelve step program, maybe that is therapy, or maybe it is an addiction accountability coach such as myself. Maybe it is all three. Surround yourself with the people you need to help you overcome this habit and find newfound freedom. You can do it. Follow me on Facebook, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Bruno! Bruno Vanherberghen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Bruno is a life coach, specialized in helping people overcome their addictions and compulsive patterns. He knows how to step out of old patterns and emerge on the other side with a newfound freedom and drive for life. The ability to delay instant gratification to pursue longer term goals, follow and realize dreams and aspiration. We need to do things differently and Bruno is an expert at helping to manage personal change. He suffered from heavy depression during his 20's at which point many of his compulsive behaviors spiraled out of control. Alcohol, drugs, porn, caffeine, sugar, gaming, food issues were some of his personal struggles. He can proudly say that the compulsion is a thing of the past. He has coached over 700 individuals, has over 120 customer verified testimonials, an approval rating of 95% and more than 98% improve. He has a deep personal understanding of addiction and is empathic, encouraging, caring with an occasional gentle firmness to help people realize the goals they set for themselves. His mission: to support people to realize their full potential.

Written by: Debbie Gill, Senior Level 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. Do you find yourself off track and don’t know why? It may be because you haven’t focused on what caused you to lose sight. When you get underneath the layers to the root, you can change your strategies and have better results. “Get back on track after being derailed; your journey has just begun.” ‒ Scottie Somers If you notice you’re not achieving the goals you set, consider searching for the underlying pattern that is the cause, when you find that, you can determine what solution or strategy to apply for not hitting your mark. 1. Write your intention in a log and track whatever got in the way. You can adjust your strategies when identifying the conditions stopping you from achieving your goals. It may be excuses, lack of motivation, or something else. For example, you want to create an article for your blog to post later that day (intention), only to discover it didn’t happen (derailment). What caused it? When you go back and track what happened, you may find several things to be true: a) you didn’t allow enough time, b) your previous task ran longer than expected, c) you got distracted by a series of text messages, etc. Writing down your intentions is to identify what is derailing you, not to keep you on track. 2. Create a full intention—one with a strategy. You must have a clear-cut intention for your desired outcome to uncover what derails you. You got knocked off track for a reason, and you want to know why. Creating a full intention will include what you plan to do and the steps necessary for you to achieve success in doing it. Take the example above for creating an article for your blog. Here are the ingredients to make your full intention a helpful tool: a. Set a realistic goal. Conceiving, writing, and posting an article may be too much to do in a couple of hours, depending on the content. b. What to do. Focus instead on the content and outline of your article and any research that may be needed. c. Where to do it. Determine if it’s your office, library, or a place conducive to brainstorming. d. What time. Provide a deadline to begin the process. e. What is needed. What materials do you need—a laptop, pad and pen, books? 3. Uncover the root cause of your roadblocks. Having found the patterns that arise for you most frequently, it’s time to clarify what the root cause may be. A simple yet effective technique is asking “Why” five times. Continuing to use the same example of creating an article for your blog (substitute your intention, ask five “Why’s,” and discover what you find), the following answers may become apparent: WHY 1: Why didn’t you finish your article and post it to your blog? You didn’t allocate enough time. WHY 2: Why didn’t you give yourself enough time? One reason could be that your previous task unexpectedly ran over into this one, or you did not anticipate writer’s block. WHY 3: Why do your tasks run over into the next? If this is the case, you may have a time management issue or didn’t prepare for writing. WHY 4: Why do you have a time management problem? Perhaps you have taken on too much work and are overwhelmed by the amount. WHAT 5: What can you do about it? You can learn to say no, to stop volunteering, or to schedule your work with time blocks, and when they are filled, you don’t accept another thing. As you see, you have identified the underlying pattern of being a people pleaser or a hyper-achiever. You can begin working on the solution once you've identified the roadblocks that impede your progress. The next time someone asks you to do something, or you want to take on more than you can handle, you can start by simply saying no. Of course, this is a simplified way to avoid being derailed. It is, however, the start of mastering your tasks and work schedule effectively. Schedule a complimentary Reclaim Your Confident Self session today to learn more about going deeper! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Debbie! Debbie Gill, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Debbie Gill is the founder of Go Within Spiritual Coaching and Go Within Yoga. She integrates her knowledge and experience as a spiritual coach and yoga teacher with the wisdom of Caroline Myss, a Medical Intuitive and five-time New York Times bestselling author, Anodea Judith, an expert on the Chakra System, somatic therapy, and yoga, and Lion Goodman, creator of the Clear Beliefs® Process. As a Certified Clear Beliefs® Coach, Debbie can assist you with clearing core beliefs that hold you back from becoming your true self and living your true purpose through the Clear Beliefs Process® (CBP). The CBP is a set of tools and techniques that frees you from past limitations so you can freely choose your beliefs and live an empowered and more fulfilling life. Debbie is the author of, Struck by Lightning: My Journey from the Shadow to the Light, where she chronicles her life’s struggles with her shadow aspects and addictions. The spiritual memoir reflects her emergence from the shadow caused by traumatic wounds to the light where truth brings awareness and healing. A grateful recovering alcoholic since June 6, 2000, she lives the 12-Steps of AA and practices its principles in her daily life and continues her study at CMED with Myss and Judith and Goodman.

Bicycle accidents can result in severe injuries. Due to the simplicity of a bicycle, you may underestimate the injuries it may cause. However, road users can prevent most of these accidents. If you encounter a bicycle accident, there are some steps you should take. To ensure you are familiar with the steps, you can visit this website to learn more about your legal options. Amid all the stress and anxiety of an accident, it will be difficult to think straight. So we've compiled a list of things you should do when you get involved in a bicycle accident. Keep reading to learn more. 1. Get off the road Getting off the road does not mean fleeing the scene. Fleeing the scene may render you guilty even if you were on a bicycle. Since the accident will likely happen on the road, you should ensure you get off the road as soon as possible. This will prevent any chances of sustaining further injuries in case traffic comes along. However, you may sustain serious injuries, including a dislocated or broken bone. If you are uncertain of the extent of the injuries, do not move as it may worsen the injuries. Instead, seek help in securing the scene from any oncoming traffic. 2. Call the Police No matter how minor the accident is, you should ensure you contact the police immediately. If you are in pain, ensure someone contacts the police on your behalf. Ensure that the officers file an official report of the bicycle accident. While giving your account of the accident, you must not admit fault to the accident at any point. Convey all the injuries to the officers and ensure they are well documented. Eventually, ask for a copy of the accident information with the report number to ease tracking the report's progress. 3. Document the Accident Pictures are the best way to ensure you remember the accident. When taking pictures, you should major on the damage to your bicycle, equipment, and the damage sustained by the vehicle. This will form part of the evidence in the accident report filed. Moreover, you should also write down the exact location, time, and impact the accident had on both parties. While at this, you can also write down the injuries you sustained from the crash. It would be best if you made this account as accurate as possible. 4. Collect and Exchange Information In the event of any accident, ensure that you get the license plate number, contact details, and insurance information of the vehicle that hit you. Also, you can get a witness' information to help in case you file an insurance claim. In some accidents, you may not notice injuries till later. The details will enable you to reach the other party and file a personal injury claim if necessary. You should always ensure that you collect factual information. 5. Seek Medical Attention This is an important step that should be carried out, even if you feel that the accident was minor. Since some injuries may not reflect on the outside, you need to get a check-up to ascertain that you are in good shape. When you are at the medical center, ensure that your report is well-preserved since you might need it in negotiating a claim. The amount used in the check-up or treatment may form a base for reimbursement. 6. Call Your Lawyer If you get involved in a bicycle accident, you should get an experienced lawyer. If you were not at fault, you might realize that many legal avenues exist to explore. Going through the options with your lawyer will help you decide on your next course of action. Getting a lawyer in case of a bicycle accident guarantees maximum compensation. Wrap-Up No one plans to get into an accident. However, if involved in one, you should prioritize your safety. You can get off the road and stay by the side to reduce further injuries. Also, call the police and ensure you have documented everything in the collision. You should also seek medical attention and a qualified lawyer to handle the legal procedures.

If you were in a truck accident, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn for help. You may face costly medical bills, lost wages, and a long road to recovery. It is important to remember that you do not have to face this alone. A truck accident lawyer can help you, as they can protect your rights throughout the legal process. A truck accident lawyer understands the nuances of truck accident law. Thus, they can help you file a claim to recover compensation. We reviewed the website of the professionals at BagenLaw.com to learn more about why you should hire a truck accident lawyer for your case. Here’s what we found. 1. Handling Communications With the Other Party Soon after a truck accident, you may get multiple calls from an insurance adjuster looking to get more details about the accident. As you talk to the adjuster, you may feel worried about saying something wrong because the adjuster can use what you say against your case. A truck accident lawyer can take care of communications with the other party. You can direct those who call you about the case to talk to your attorney instead. That way, you will have peace of mind and a chance to focus on recovery. 2. Identifying Recoverable Damages The losses you suffer from a truck accident may entail more than medical costs. A lawyer can examine your case to determine the losses for which you can claim compensation. You may be unable to work after a truck accident as you recover from your injuries. If so, you may claim lost wages. The accident may also leave you unable to go back to work completely. Thus you can recover lost future earning capacity. Other losses are more subjective, including: Pain and suffering Mental anguish Loss of enjoyment of life Loss of consortium 3. Identifying Liable Parties Many truck accidents happen because of the negligence of truck drivers. Types of negligence include drunk driving, speeding, and driving while tired. One study, in particular, found that 13% of drivers were fatigued at the time of their accidents. There are other possible defendants in a truck accident case other than drivers. The trucking company may be liable if they: Have poor hiring practices Pressurizing drivers to operate trucks while tired Fail to maintain the truck properly The truck manufacturer might be liable if a manufacturing defect caused the crash. And a truck accident lawyer is the best person to help you identify all the responsible parties. Even more, a truck accident case with multiple defendants can become complicated. But a lawyer can handle even complex cases to help you get compensation. 4. Collecting Relevant Evidence To recover compensation, you must prove the other party’s liability. As such, a truck accident lawyer can collect evidence to help prove liability. If necessary, the lawyer can enlist the help of an expert like an accident reconstructionist, who will analyze the crash and determine how it occurred. Other evidence that may be helpful includes eyewitness testimony and medical records. A police report, photos, and videos of the accident can also help your claim. 5. Dealing With the Insurance Company Insurance companies are profit-making entities. Thus, they don’t like paying expensive truck accident claims because it may hurt their bottom line. So, the insurance company may try to devalue or deny your claim. A truck accident lawyer can handle the insurance company and negotiate for compensation that covers all your losses. Sometimes, however, both parties may be unable to reach a settlement agreement. Your lawyer can take the case to court and represent you in such a case. The court will then decide on liability and the compensation amount. Final Words Hiring a truck accident lawyer for your case can make a huge difference. Such lawyers have experience handling cases like yours. With their help, you can be sure that someone is looking out for your interests.

Written by: Michelle Schafer, Senior Level 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. At this time of year, I often hear from my career coaching clients “I’m going to park my search until January. It’s getting close to the holidays, and companies aren’t interested in hiring people now”. The reality: companies are still hiring, job postings are still appearing, interviews are still happening, and LinkedIn is on fire with opportunities. The job market is not taking a break this month! With all this movement in the job market, there are lots of things you can do in these few weeks before holidays and vacations to create some energy in your job search. Here are some ideas to help you take steps forward before the calendar is filled with holiday gatherings, gift giving and family time: Update and refresh your resume – hold it up against the job postings you are applying for. Does it pass the “checkmark test” ( i.e., you show evidence and proof for each requirement outlined in the posting)? Conduct a self-assessment from your past #interviews – what worked well, and what opportunities are there to strengthen your responses? There are lots of learnings baked into each experience. Spend a minimum of 15 min each day on LinkedIn – there are lots of job postings in your daily newsfeed – you just need to look for them. It’s also a good opportunity to “like” what your network is talking about, share an article, and congratulate contacts on work anniversaries and career moves. Reach out and arrange a coffee chat – at this time of year, people tend to not be as busy at work and may have some time for a #networking conversation. And if their schedule is packed, then take the opportunity to arrange a chat for early January. You can start the new year with a roster full of informational interview bookings. Review your job search strategy – take stock of how much time you are allotting to your search. Do you have a balance of activities? Approximately 80% of your time needs to be invested in relationship-building activities. If you are spending most of your time on the computer looking for jobs online, this is a good time to rebalance. Take some time for you to relax, and celebrate – Balance and harmony are important when you are looking for work. You want to have a routine where time is carved out each day for job search activities, and you also want to ensure there is time in there for you, to participate in activities that feed your soul. What else would you add to this list? Wishing you the happiest of holidays, and a fruitful job search! Cheers to 2023! Follow me on Facebook, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michelle! Michelle Schafer, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle Schafer is an International Coaching Federation Certified Coach and Facilitator specializing in career transition and leadership. She is the owner and founder of Michelle Schafer Coaching, empowering people to achieve career fulfillment. Michelle has personally experienced two significant career transitions through restructuring and has reinvented herself for new careers both times. She deeply understands the physical, emotional and mental impact associated with a job search. Michelle is passionate about people and inspired by their progress, working with clients at all levels of an organization and across sectors including federal and municipal government, high tech, not-for-profit and financial services. Michelle offers coaching 1:1 in groups and recently was certified in the foundations of team coaching with the Global Team Coaching Institute.

Written by: Nicole 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. So you want to grow your leadership skills but you’re not sure where to start. Thankfully, you can start here! In this article, we’ll explore four essential leadership qualities that will help you develop your leadership skills for 2023 and beyond. The Considerate Leader Consideration can be defined as careful thought. It happens when we take a fact or a motive into account when we decide or judge something, or when we exercise thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards someone or something. One of the most important qualities of a leader is their ability to think. It’s crucial to take the time to consider your own life and leadership, as well as the organization and the lives of those you’ve been entrusted to lead. Now, the concept of sitting down to think might sound crazy to you. You’re busy! You’ve got people to meet with, calls to make, emails to send, feedback to give, and things to approve, there’s too much work to be done; you can’t spend time thinking! In my experience with the individuals I’ve coached and consulted, this leadership quality is the most difficult to cultivate. The reason has to do with the fact that some people see thinking as a very passive thing. They see thinking as a waste of time because they aren’t doing the things that need to be done. But when we spend all of our time buried in our day-to-day tasks, we lose sight of the big picture, which is crucial to discerning where things are now and where they should be in the future. On the other hand, some people don’t know where to start or what they should be thinking about. To be a considerate leader you must consider the following: What’s going well? What’s difficult right now and why? Where is each person on my team thriving and struggling? What have I learned in the last month to make me a better employee and leader? What next steps should I take based on what I’ve just discovered? Additionally, a considerate leader masters the art of observation, asking thoughtful questions, and listening attentively, all for the sake of cultivating their ability to empathize. Empathy is at the heart of every great leader. The Communicative Leader Communication can be defined as the successful conveying or sharing of information, ideas, and feelings. Sounds pretty simple, right? We do this daily for the most part. But successful communication is more than just the ability to open our mouths and speak. Communication is a huge topic. Scores of books have been written about how to do it well. But if I can put it simply, communication is an art form that has to do with appropriately identifying and matching the setting and the people with which you’re communicating. It entails verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to form an emotional connection, conveying a confident speaking pattern, as well as knowing when to listen and when to speak, just to name a few. To be a communicative leader, you must first understand your communication style, as it will help you identify both your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator. For example, some people are quick to communicate, whereas others are slow to communicate. By nature, those who are quick to communicate aren’t afraid to give you all the details. You won’t need to read between the lines when they speak because they plan to provide as much information as possible, depending on the situation. They can be called direct communicators. On the other hand, those who are slower to communicate are more comfortable keeping their thoughts and the information they have to themselves; it’s a need-to-know approach. In this case, you may spend more time wondering what they’re thinking or how they’re feeling about something. You may also spend more time asking them questions to get the necessary information. These individuals can be called indirect communicators. As a leader, which example do you think has more benefits and which has more negatives for a team or organization? Once you identify your communication style and patterns, you must then discover the style of each individual on your team and adapt your communication with them accordingly. How do you do this? Simple, you can ask them what they prefer or need regarding communication to do their job well. In your next one-on-one, you might ask: Do you have all of the information you need from me? Has my communication with you been timely or delayed? Are my communication and expectations clear and helpful? How can I communicate with you more effectively in the future? Additionally, a communicative leader knows how to cast a clear vision. They understand the importance of slowing down and telling people the why behind the what. It’s helpful to remember that people will have a difficult time following someone who never explains or casts vision. The days of following a leader who says, “Don’t worry about it, just follow my lead” are long gone, and on the rare occasion where this sort of idea is acceptable, it’s only after a leader has intentionally cultivated a trusting rapport or relationship with people through intentional communication. The Collaborative Leader Collaboration can be defined as the action of working with someone to produce or create something. The act of collaboration is key to a healthy and thriving team and organization. Chances are, if you’re not collaborating with your people, you may either be ignoring them or dictating to them. First, people don’t thrive in silos. People don’t work well when they’re ignored or left on their own. Second, people don’t thrive under dictators. Simply put, people aren’t fans of someone only showing up to tell them what to do and how to do it. The rare occasion where this sort of approach does work is in a crisis when a quick decision is crucial. Instead, people thrive under collaborative leaders who cast vision and give them the support and freedom to do the work they’ve been gifted and hired to do. If you want to develop this powerful leadership skill, start by observing the gifts and skills, perspectives and personalities, hearts and minds, and everything your team brings to the table as a necessity to doing great work. This is collective wisdom at its finest. The reality is that we can do something better together than we can do separately. If this is true, why do some leaders choose to do otherwise? In my experience, the biggest reason has to do with the fact that people are messy. It’s easier to do it alone, to be the one to make the decisions and tell people what you want rather than discuss what they think. There’s also the side of those who see differences as wrong. For example, some leaders have given authority away only to find that someone did something differently than they would have, and that leader is then left wondering if their way would have been more effective. When this happens, leaders often pull back and keep the authority to make decisions to themselves. Have you ever felt this way? If I’m being honest, I know that I have. But I’m so glad I didn’t stay there! Instead, I learned to consider WHO I have on my team and WHAT they do best. So it starts with asking, “Who would be good at X on my team?” Then after thinking through the various circumstances that come along with the project and the people you might invite to collaborate, you communicate with them. You invite them in and tell them why you thought of them. You cast the vision, set expectations, release them to do the work, check in with them from time to time to see how they’re doing, and redirect them as necessary with helpful feedback. All of this collaboration takes consideration and communication. Additionally, a collaborative leader develops the skills of inviting people into situations that extend beyond their current responsibilities. Leaders do this for the sake of stretching people’s abilities and offering them the opportunity to grow by trying new things. Always keep your eye out for ways to develop the people on your team. The Celebratory Leader Celebration can be defined as the action of marking an important event or occasion by engaging in an enjoyable, and typically social, activity. Everyone likes to hear that they’re doing a good job. But as leaders, we must remember that saying, “Good job” only goes so far until it begins to feel stale and unintentional, no matter how genuine we may be. What catches people’s attention and carries weight with them is when we celebrate them specifically. For example, “Hey, good job today!” Versus, “Hey, I appreciate the detail you put into that proposal today. Your communication was clear, and I’m excited about the project.” Which one stands out to you? The answer is obvious, right? The latter not only celebrates that the individual did a good job but also communicates what their leader liked about it; they appreciated the detail and clear communication. This example shows positive reinforcement and expectation setting. Influential leaders not only celebrate their team’s wins, they also celebrate their team’s losses by reframing them as opportunities rather than problems. When a leader does this, they establish a permission to try and learn culture. Things don’t always go our way from time to time, but the important part is what you learn and how you adapt your approach for the future. These four leadership qualities will help you develop your influential leadership skills for 2023 and far into the future. Start now and keep growing! If you want help developing your leadership skills, visit my website to learn more about the ways I can help you take your life and leadership to the next level. Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Listen every Monday to The Coffee and Creative Leadership Podcast for more insights on leadership and team culture development. Read more from Nicole! Nicole Lucas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nicole Lucas, is the Founder and CEO of The Creative Level, a leadership coaching and consulting agency with the mission of helping individuals and teams reach the next level in their life and leadership. She is also the creator and host of the Coffee and Creative Leadership Podcast. With a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and over a decade of experience in leading individuals and teams, Nicole finds great joy in providing people with the essential and practical tools to become healthy and skilled influential leaders.

Lewis Raymond Taylor is the Founder of The Coaching Masters, a tech-driven online coaching business for aspiring life coaches. A rapidly growing platform, The Coaching Masters has seen 100% year-on-year growth with over $4m in revenue to date, a thriving online and offline community and 5,000 customers from 71 countries. Lewis Raymond Taylor, CEO and Founder at The Coaching Masters Tell us about how The Coaching Masters came about. My journey to the place I’m at now has been a very rocky one. I experienced abuse throughout my childhood and through my teens was on a downward spiral of crime and anti-social behaviour. I was expelled from school at 15, and by 18 I was serving my first sentence in a young offender’s institution. The following years were filled with drug, alcohol abuse and violence, and by the age of 24 I was serving my third prison sentence. The person I was, and the situation I was in, has hugely shaped where I am today. During my third prison sentence, I was sitting on the edge of my bed and realised that I just couldn’t go on like I was. I decided to start making changes. I invested a lot of time in rediscovering myself. I worked with counsellors and read every self-help book I could find. I went into rehab for six months and attended 12-step drug and alcohol meetings daily. I also began volunteering with charities and realised how much I enjoy helping others, which led me to become interested in becoming a Life Coach and helping give back. I am now the Founder and CEO of The Coaching Masters. This online coaching platform qualifies, accredits and helps people become coaches while providing coaching and guidance on how to market and build their businesses. The business has seen incredible growth and was recently valued at $ 25 million USD, which is mind-blowing. I split my time between the UK and Bali, which I’ve found has a great community of digital entrepreneurs, and I’m also a motivational speaker, speaking on stages across the world. What inspired you to found the company? The adversity I went through in my earlier years and the healing journey I went on inspired me to help others find their happiness. This, along with my charity work, led me to become a Life Coach, and it naturally grew from there. I started connecting with people on social media, and I built a solid client base within six months. Within eight months I was earning a six-figure income, and by the time I hit my first year in business, I was fully booked, with a dedicated online community of thousands of people and a monthly membership service designed to fulfil the demands of multiple clients. I started to become inundated with requests from other coaches asking my secrets and how I was able to rise so quickly, so I shared my learning with them and they also saw some amazing results with their businesses. Fast forward three years, and I’m now a senior accredited coaching trainer, and the founder and CEO of The Coaching Masters. I have big ambitions for the business and there isn’t an end goal as such ‒ we’re focused purely on growing, helping more people fulfil their dreams of becoming coaches and expanding across the globe. What services does The Coaching Masters offer? The Coaching Masters is an online training platform and community for life coaches, which we make accessible and affordable for everyone. It’s based around a low-cost subscription model, leading to it becoming known as ‘The Netflix of coaching’. For $9.99 per month, there are 100s of hours of valuable coach training video content with the option to upgrade for further qualifications to elevate your coaching business. Our online community is incredibly strong, and many of the people who participate in our courses form close connections. The vast majority of the business is still purely online. However, we recently launched ‘Café Coach’ – an offline hub for the coaching community ‒ which allows people to connect face-to-face. Café Coach is an inspiring place for other coaches to work, learn and meet. Our first branch is based in Bali. Also, our new interactive app ‒ Coachapp ‒ is launching soon, and is unlike anything the coaching world has seen before. It connects coaches and coachees, enables users to grow with e-learning products, including accredited qualifications, cutting-edge virtual reality and artificial intelligence and enables coaches to exchange services and earn directly into their secure online wallet. What has the biggest ‘pinch me’ moment since starting The Coaching Masters? There have been a lot of moments where I can’t believe how far the business has come since I started but a stand out moment for me is definitely when the business was valued at $ 25 million USD. I’m still wrapping my head around it and find it incredible that the business I started has grown into this! What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting their own business? There are three traits that you need to have if you are thinking about launching a business. Resilience: Without resilience it’s highly likely you won’t be able to keep going. As a leader, you get knockbacks all the time; things not working, people who don’t agree with you or your vision, obstacles, etc. It would be easy not to push yourself forward and to stay with what’s comfortable and easy. Resilience gives you the strength to keep going, despite how hard it may be at times. Vision: You have to be visionary in your approach. If you don’t think big then your business simply won’t grow; in fact, it may not even get off the ground. Your vision will also inspire others – in my case, it’s inspired our community of customers, my team and my investors. Fast decision-making skills: As a leader, you need to make decisions virtually every day. You have to be nimble, think on your feet and make decisions quickly. These decisions also need to be strategically right for the business, as opposed to emotionally driven. Who have been your biggest influences in starting a company? I massively admire Steve Jobs, because he was very meticulous in his approach to things. Something that stuck out for me was when he was designing the Mac 2 he went to Pantone to select the correct colour and went through 2,000 different colours of beige to find the right one. Also, when he designed the iPhone 4 he wanted to make it smaller and his team told him it was impossible. Upon hearing this he threw the phone in a fish tank of water and air bubbles came out of the phone. As the air bubbles demonstrated there was space within the phone, he turned to his team and said: “See, I told you we could make it smaller.” He just had an unshakeable belief that he could do what he set his mind to and I find it really inspiring. You’ve come a long way since your teens. What has been your proudest moment in your personal life since then? Without a doubt it was when I married my wonderful wife, Dayana. We were lucky enough to get married in Barcelona and it was a truly special day in a dream location. Seeing such a beautiful, inspirational woman walk down the aisle, and knowing she wanted to spend her life with me, really made me see how far I’ve come. What plans have you got for the business over the next couple of years? We recently did a fundraising campaign which gave savvy investors the opportunity to become shareholders in The Coaching Masters platform. This means we can hire more talented team members, help scale and innovate new technologies to help serve our customers more efficiently, and accelerate our marketing efforts to expand our user base internationally. The funds will also help launch CoachApp ‒ our new interactive app. Our online community is incredibly strong, and many of the people who participate in our courses form close connections. The vast majority of the business is still purely online. However, we recently launched ‘Café Coach’ – an offline hub for the coaching community ‒ which allows people to connect face-to-face. Café Coach is an inspiring place for other coaches to work, learn and meet. Our first branch is based in Bali. We have plans to scale this and launch more Café Coach hubs in 2023. How do you set yourself apart from others in the industry? We put a lot of time and energy into really going the extra mile for our customers. I know it sounds a bit cliche but showing you care is something that so many businesses just don’t do and it counts for a lot. For example, sending a message in between coaching sessions to check in or sharing extra information or knowledge adds a lot to their experience. Coaching is often quite a personal relationship and so showing it’s not simply transactional, but runs deeper than that, is important. We’re also constantly look at how we can innovate with regards to the courses and services we offer. We want to give our members really amazing value for their money and we also want to encourage them to add to their skill sets and continue developing. Things like the CoachApp – which is unlike anything that is currently out there – is a great example of how we’re reinvigorating the way coaches operate and work their business. Do you prioritise self-care as an entrepreneur? Absolutely. Looking after myself has meant I can stay in a good place and work hard on my business. I have suffered with mental health issues, and I know how important keeping myself in a good mindset is. So many people are obsessed with getting the perfect morning routine or working out for hours every day, but I think it’s more important to find what habits work best for you. Maybe it’s taking a yoga class once a week, surfing when the waves are good or going for a run when you need some time to clear your head. I also surround myself with positive people; people who have the same goals as me and share my vision. This makes sticking to my plans, and growing, so much easier. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lewis!