Written by: Marguerite Thibodeaux, 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. Everyone's on their own personal rollercoaster when it comes to big changes. Some people feel relief and excitement at the thought of the new opportunities and experiences that the change presents. Others feel a sense of hesitation because they're worried about what it means for them. It can take time to get accustomed to changes, especially major ones, and that transition won't be easy for everybody. As a leader, there are some things you can do to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of your teammates. And a smooth transition is a productive, engaged transition. 1. Set workplace requirements What are the major changes that your team has to go through? A lot of companies are worried about the economic condition in the world. Some are trying to stay afloat financially and inevitably would have to lay a portion of their workforce. This entails changes in the responsibilities of the remaining employees. This is a good example where the job expectations of your remaining teammates are going to need to be rescoped. Those job expectations should be based on the company's core priorities and should also be reasonable based on an individual’s capacity. 2. Communicate early As a leader, you would also want to communicate to your team the workplace and job expectation changes as early as possible. You want to give your teammates at least 30 to 60 days to allow for the transition. It’s going to take a little while for your team to hop on to their new roles, and you need to carve out time to help them make those shifts. 3. Communicate often Give your teammates as much information as you have and as often as possible. When people are going through change, they often need to talk about the same points several times to process it and truly understand it. You would want to do this individually and as a team to help people really understand what's expected. Hold space to answer questions along the way, such as: “Ask me anything” sessions to take questions. Team meetings to provide new information regularly as you get it. A Slack channel for questions as they come up and where people can have an ongoing dialogue. A regularly updated FAQ document as a single source of truth teammates can access whenever they need the most up-to-date information. 4. Help your team envision their new work life Help your teammates envision the future, so they can plan and take the steps necessary to take on their new responsibilities. Give them a clear understanding of what their new role means and set realistic expectations. Questions that you can use to help each of your teammates craft their own vision. What does their day look like with their new role? What are the new goals that they have to meet? How does this change affect how they go about their work? Do you need help crafting strategies to support your team get through a big change? Click HERE to snag a free, 30-minute session so we can discuss your challenges and create a plan for your team. Every leader deserves support Follow her on LinkedIn for leadership tips and discussions. Check out her website for free leadership resources like a Professional Development Roadmapping Worksheet and Attrition Risk Matrix. Want one-on-one adapting these strategies to your team? Book a complimentary call with Marguerite. Every leader deserves support. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marguerite! Marguerite Thibodeaux, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marguerite Thibodeaux, an leadership coach and talent management consultant, helps leaders and organizations bring the best out of people with courage, compassion, and clarity. After building development programs and leading a talent transformation at a Fortune 100, she became increasingly aware that not all leaders had access to a Fortune 100 Learning & Development team. To do something about that, she started Magnanimous Leadership, a leadership coaching and consulting firm that's on a mission to make resources and support available to every leader.

If you've decided to purchase a pre-engineered steel building to meet your space needs, you've made a great choice. Armstrong Steel says there are many reasons why these types of buildings are perfect for a wide variety of uses, from commercial, agricultural, industrial, and even residential. Embarking on a new steel building project can seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure the entire process runs smoothly and headache-free from start to finish. Below is a guide for easily planning and navigating your steel building project. Determine Your Needs The first step in any purchase of this kind is to determine what your needs are. This may seem obvious, but it's important to look at not just your current operation but where you might want to expand in the future. For instance, if you're purchasing a steel building as a garage at your home, you might only need one now to house two cars and have a small workshop area. But ask yourself, do you plan to purchase another car in the future? Are you considering starting an in-home business that might operate out of this garage? Are there other reasons why you need more space in the future? It's a good idea to have your potential future needs in mind when you approach a representative of Armstrong Steel Buildings, as they can help walk you through some ideas on how to meet those needs. This will include an analysis of the square footage you could select. Determine Your Budget Budget is an essential factor when determining what type of pre-engineered steel building you purchase, including how big it will be and the features it will have. So, you should have at least a general budget in mind before exploring your options. The good news is that these types of buildings provide substantial cost savings over traditional construction projects. In fact, Armstrong Steel systems can provide a cost savings of as much as 40% compared to conventional construction. This is important to keep in mind, as it may impact the design process and get you one step closer to your ideal structure, whatever your needs may be. Place Your Order The final step is to place an order for your new pre-engineered steel building. To do so, you'll spend time one-on-one with an experienced representative at Armstrong Steel, who will help you finalize all the details of your purchase. This consultation will ensure that you get a building that truly meets your needs, now and in the future. After placing a payment to initiate your order, you'll receive drawings of your building and can sign off on the final design. Then, your building materials will be delivered and erected right on site, saving loads of time and money that are normally dedicated to the arduous process of constructing a traditional building. From start to finish, the entire process of purchasing an Armstrong Steel building and being able to use it is simple and easy. About Armstrong Steel As a leading manufacturer of pre-engineered metal buildings, Armstrong Steel Buildings takes pride in delivering high-quality steel buildings across North America. Armstrong Steel Buildings has been delivering high-quality steel buildings for nearly twenty years and provides structures to residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, cannabis, government, and military agencies.

Written by: Sally Higoe, 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. That can be tricky this time of year. As Christmas approaches, along with ‘the busyness’ we’re experiencing, (trying to keep up after a couple of years of slightly more unusual Christmas practices!) it can be hard to be intentional as to how you will spend your time – meetings, luncheons, EOY gatherings, school activities, planning, finalising... all of it can seem an important way to meet our needs. But you’ve worked hard to get where you’re at and now is not the time to be distracted. “The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities” – Stephen Covey That can be tricky this time of year. As Christmas approaches, along with ‘the busyness’ we’re experiencing, (trying to keep up after a couple of years of slightly more unusual Christmas practices!) it can be hard to be intentional as to how you will spend your time – meetings, luncheons, EOY gatherings, school activities, planning, finalising... all of it can seem an important way to meet our needs. But you’ve worked hard to get where you’re at and now is not the time to be distracted. One of the keys to running your team and business effectively is to know exactly how to prioritise what needs to be done, and when. The alternative is piles of to-do lists, disorganisation, random jobs and tasks, things forgotten and slower growth of your business. So why is it that some people ‘have’ time and others never ‘have enough’? Realistically, every one of us has access to the same amount of time. Perception. Time and the amount of time we have is based on our perception. Sharon Pearson of the Coaching Institute states “If you play at the level where you know you do what is important to you, and makes you feel good, and don’t do anything else, you will be able to assess what you value currently in your life and your business.” As humans, we have a preference for pleasure... we want this more than the feeling of pain. When a task is perceived as challenging, we relate this to pain... it’s going to be hard, I’ll have to concentrate, how long WILL it take me to do? So we justify with reasons to avoid doing it at all... and we take the more pleasurable option – the task that can be achieved quickly or easily and most definitely, more enjoyably. The results you are getting in your business right now will be a direct reflection of this simple principle. If you love starting projects, you will likely have lots in the pipeline, some great brainstorming sessions and probably not a lot of profitable results on an ongoing basis. If you love going straight for the profit, at any cost, you will probably not have many fulfilling relationships around you – culture and motivation will be low level. You get the idea. Where we place our efforts, we will see the results. Results are a direct reflection of our efforts. Is it possible to change what we associate as pleasurable and what we associate as pain? What if you made a conscious decision to link your efforts to the results that you want? This can be done in two ways: Link huge pleasure to what needs to be done Make a decision to do what needs to be done, even if it causes you pain 1. Linking pleasure to what needs to be done Make a list of all the positives that come from the ‘painful’ activity. For example, if you don’t like goal setting, link more pleasure to it by writing the following; It will move me closer to my dreams I will know exactly what action to take I will have satisfaction knowing where I’m headed I will avoid procrastination I will feel more worthy and purposeful as I consistently achieve I will know exactly how to guide my team I will know where to focus training I will know where ‘stretches’ are needed Linking a list of pleasures to the undesired activity certainly makes it more appealing and doable... in fact, there is even some excitement built around it and an urgency to accomplish it. 2. Make a decision to do what needs to be done, even if it causes you pain The only difference between ‘successful’ people and those that aren’t is how they push through, the discipline they can maintain to overcome fear and pain and do what needs to be done (instead of only what they like to do!) It is this kind of decision-making that will set you apart from the rest. It is discipline. It’s important to find balance in your role, to maintain the ability to ‘choose’ how you will spend your time, to meet your needs and continue growing. This technique gives you the freedom to do just that ‒ to own your time and feel good about how you’re doing it. If you need more information on scheduling your tasks, appointments, weeks... and life!... email me at sally@team-resilience.com.au and mention this article. We’ll book you in for a free call and chat about how you can reach your goals with much more ease, right now. This is your opportunity to make 2023 your best year yet – FOCUS on what matters and achieve the results you’re after! Follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sally! Sally Higoe, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sally is uniquely world-experienced in building resilience, emotional fitness, and quality sustainable practices in leadership. Her experience across multiple countries leading high-performing teams in high-pressure outlying remote environments has amplified her ability to know what it takes to connect a conscious leader to their team, with outstanding results. Having spent decades on diverse projects in every climate imaginable, Sally discovered the critical aspects of authentic leadership and team alignment. She has now blended research-based, proven methodology with her pragmatic approach and ability to 'be herself' to create the transformative Align & Shine program. There, she guides formerly flustered, confused, and internally insecure leaders, to tap into their true classic selves, without the need to conform to outside pressures, helping them become bold, present, courageous, and energized leaders who genuinely connect with their team AND their business. Sally is co-author of Resilience in Leadership, Pt 1 of the book series, leader of both community and international hardship projects, and accredited in scientifically proven Human Behavioural Profiling and Meta Dynamics ' thinking-based methodology, adding to her Practitioner of Coaching credentials. Most importantly though, Sally, Founder of Team Resilience Method, is now on a mission to show striving leaders how to shine, gain clarity and create a ripple of positive change, from the inside out.

Written by: Martin Cunningham, 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 we enter the new year, many of us are looking for ways to set goals, measure progress, and create lasting change. But with so much advice available on goal setting it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to goal-setting that will help you review and reflect, develop a strategy over three horizons, assess the internal and external impact of your goals, use SMART objectives for success, and share your goals with your accountability partner. Strategy Development Develop a Strategy Over Three Horizons; The most effective way to set goals is by developing a strategy over three horizons: The long horizon, (10% of your thinking should be on the longer-term or end goal), should include your long-term goals; these are the objectives that you want to achieve in five or more years. The mid horizon, (20% of your thinking and effort should be on the longer-term or end goal), should include your mid-term goals; these are typically achievable within two or three years for a five-year plan but would stretch to five+ years proportionate to the length of the far horizon, (if the far goal is a long term one, like ten or twenty years). Finally, the near horizon (70%) should include your short-term goals; these are usually achievable within one year or less. By breaking down your objectives into these three horizons you can ensure that all your goals are realistic and achievable. We often overestimate what we can accomplish over a short period of time and underestimate what we can achieve over the longer term. "Most people massively overestimate what they can achieve in a year. But they massively underestimate what they can achieve in five or 10!" ‒ Tony Robbins Impact Factors Assess Internal & External Impact; Once you have established your strategy over the three horizons it is important to assess both the internal and external impact of each goal. This can be done using PESTEL analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal) and SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). Using these frameworks will help you understand how each goal may affect other areas of the business and any external factors that could hinder or support its achievement. Pestel Political Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal PESTEL is a powerful tool for analysing the external factors that can impact your personal and professional development plans. It allows you to identify the potential risks and opportunities associated with the environment around you. By considering these external influences, you can develop strategies for mitigating uncertainty and maximizing growth. (More on that another day) SWOT Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats When it comes to personal and professional development, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is a valuable tool for identifying potential opportunities and threats to plan the best course of action. By looking at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats you can gain insight into what areas will benefit from further attention, and plan actions to help you achieve your goals When beginning your SWOT analysis, it’s important, to be honest with yourself and consider the internal and external factors that could affect progress. Your strengths will help you achieve your goals, while weaknesses are areas of improvement or potential obstacles to success. Opportunities refer to external factors that may help you in pursuing your goals, while threats are any external or internal factors which could hinder progress. [More on that another time] SMART Objectives SMART objectives provide a structure for setting measurable targets that can be easily monitored throughout the course of achieving them. Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant/ Realistic Timely/ Time dependant When creating any objective, it is important to think about how it fits into each of these criteria to ensure that they are realistic and achievable within a reasonable timeframe Accountability Partner While having written objectives is important for them to be achieved, it is also important to share them with someone who can keep you accountable throughout their journey towards completion – this could be a colleague or mentor whom you trust implicitly who will provide support and guidance during times when motivation might be low or challenges seem insurmountable. Sharing your plans with an accountability partner helps ensure that any obstacles encountered along the way become opportunities rather than excuses not to succeed! Conclusion: With this goal-setting guide, there should be no excuse not to make 2023 count! Whether it’s mapping out how you’re going reach those lofty 10% long-term goals or just ensuring that shorter 70% near-term ones get ticked off before 2024 rolls around – taking the time now to review & reflect before making a fresh start in 2023 will put yourself firmly on track towards whatever success means for you this year! Good luck! Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Martin! Martin Cunningham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine From policing roots to a 20-year Senior Management career, with over 30 years of coaching and mentoring, Martin has seen at first hand the triumph of high achievement and felt the pain and disappointment of getting it wrong and being unsuccessful. As a senior manager in security and justice sector reform in Afghanistan and the Western Balkans, he coached at General Director and Ministerial level in politically charged situations. Martin understands what it's like to want more from your challenging career in an uncertain world. He's learnt the lessons and has the skills to help you make a lasting impact in a fulfilling career while making the world a safer place. Martin knows that until we fully embrace the voices of women we will not achieve the sustainable peace and freedoms we all deserve, it is why he is on a mission to increase the meaningful participation of women and men who share this mission who are working in Security and Justice Sector Reform countries in or emerging from conflict.

Written by: Daphney Poyser, 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 the New Year right around the corner, there’s no better time to get a jumpstart on planning who you want to be, and what you want to accomplish for yourself in the next 365 days. Although, while there is always room for improvement in our world, sometimes the best way to start yourself on the right foot, is leading with the one which you already have a solid foundation. 1. We all want to start something new, be someone new in the New Year, but rushing into a different territory head first has rarely served us. Prior to revamping your entire existence, we suggest starting with your emotional and mental state. Before you begin embracing something new, prepare yourself mentally for the undertaking you’re about to embark on. That way your mind and your body can start the new year with confidence. 2. As we learned with the turtle and the hare: slow and steady wins the race. In order to set yourself up for success, it’s important to introduce change into your life gradually. The new year only comes around once so let this moment be less about overwhelming expectations, and more so about creating a sustainable routine for you to abide by throughout the year. 3. It’s completely normal to feel anxious or nervous about starting anew, but don’t sike yourself out! The mistakes you made last year don’t have to be what defines you in the new year. However, in order to better prepare yourself, create a Plan A, B, and maybe even C to accommodate where you’ll be and who you’ll be at each moment in the future. Luck favors the prepared; creating different routes to success for yourself can give you the confidence to handle anything that comes your way during this journey. 4. New Year, New Boo? Just because you didn’t start the New Year off with a kiss at midnight doesn’t mean that’s how you have to end it. However, when it comes to creating (or even maintaining) a healthy relationship you have to let things run their course at the speed they’re ready to do so. Rushing yourself, or micromanaging your new relationship won’t make it work any better or run any faster–in fact, it might just do the opposite. Our tip for success? Focus on how you can be a better partner this coming year. The rest will fall into place around you. 5. Change takes a lot of work. Whether you are working on your relationship with yourself, your family, friends, or your partner this year, having the intention to change is one thing, but putting in the work is something completely different. If you want to be something different, you have to repeatedly behave in ways that are different. What did Einstein say? Doing the same thing over and over again and experiencing the same result is insanity. Save yourself and your peace this year, and try something new. Your future self will thank you for it. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Daphney! Daphney Poyser, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Daphney Poyser is the founder and CEO of Fern Connections, a LGBTQIA+ Matchmaking and Coaching company. After noticing a lack of diversity within the world of same-sex specific dating services, Poyser sought out to create her own company founded on the principles of greater gender, sexual, and romantic inclusivity. Fern Connections was started in 2020 and now has headquarters in Texas and Georgia; the company services individuals nationwide within the United States.

Written by: Howard Dean Lettinga Jr. Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. At Noblahblah, our core business is public speaker training, and we always encourage speakers to compliment their audience. It shows respect. It connects. It compels you as a speaker to look closely into the audience’s world. It increases your persuasive power. It even makes you happier. And what works onstage works just as well in your daily life. Several years ago, I attended a writing class where the instructor did an exercise to demonstrate the power of compliments when writing dialogue. He chose a random student from the room. He didn’t know the person or their writing, but he started a rant along the following lines. I’ve read your writing. It’s shabby stuff. Weak characters. Flat dialogue. I’m afraid you are not a strong writer. Not a lot of hope there. The effect on the class was fascinating. Even though we all knew it was just an exercise, the vibe took a deep, deep dive. Totally depressing. Then the instructor did the opposite. He chose another random student. I’ve read your writing. It’s brilliant stuff. Strong characters. Electric dialogue. You are an excellent writer. You have a promising career ahead of you. Again, a surprisingly strong effect. The vibe rose like a SpaceX rocket. Sunshine. Relief. The power of positivity. Even though it was just an exercise. Coaching TEDx talks: compliments make you more persuasive That exercise showed me how you can influence a moment, a conversation, even a whole room full of people with a compliment. I took that lesson along when I became a TEDx speaker coach in 2014. The goal of every TED talk is to share an “idea worth spreading”. In other words, to persuade the audience of the idea’s value. Large bodies of research prove the persuasive power of compliments, including Robert Cialdini’s research into reciprocity, shared in his book Influence. The psychology of persuasion. When you compliment someone, you are being kind to them. This makes them want to be kind to you in return. Countless studies prove this. In one, complimenting someone made them twice as likely to respond positively to a small request. Compliments persuade. Compliments make you happier too But it gets even better. A new field of research shows compliments not only make the recipient feel good. Researchers, including Cornell social psychologist Vanessa Bohns, conducted a series of studies to better understand how individuals felt before and after giving or receiving compliments. The study revealed just how much good work a nice word can do. Compliments not only make the recipients feel good. They make the giver feel good as well. But there’s nothing worse than fake compliments So, if you want to feel good, make friends and influence people, give compliments. Be an obsessive encourager. Or in the words of the great Dale Carnegie, give honest, sincere appreciation. But Mr. Carnegie warned against flattery, which is appreciation that is unwarranted, undeserved or simply given with the intent to butter up someone and get something in return. So how do you make sure your compliments are sincere? Well, there are always multiple ways to look at something. A glass can be half empty or half full. So it’s all in the framing and how you manage your innate negativity bias. Your innate negativity bias. Stop it! It’s wired into our DNA. Our natural tendency is to register negative stimuli and to even dwell on them. In our Noblahblah coaching of public speakers, we have a simple response to this bias. Stop it! If you want to spread gratitude and appreciation, you must make a conscious choice to do so. You must give yourself the assignment to look closely into the world of your audience (whomever they may be), and look for behavior, attitudes and skills you genuinely appreciate. It’s your choice. You decide what to look for. You decide what you see. You decide how you express appreciation. Three practical tips to send positive vibes Once you have given yourself the mission to be a source of positive vibes, it’s good to build your appreciation, gratitude and compliment skills. Here are three proven tips. (I use them all the time.) 1. Something they work hard for and don’t often hear Recognize skills or behavior in which the person has invested time and energy to achieve something of value that they bring to the table. Tread carefully with compliments about physical attributes. For instance, someone who has beautiful eyes will probably hear compliments about that more often. They may even find compliments about their eyes annoying. Look deeper to find your sources of appreciation. 2. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery It’s an old expression, and it’s true. When you imitate something another person does, you show that you admire that person and value their skill or behavior. Never miss an opportunity to show someone you are imitating an attitude or action you appreciate. (Avoid plagiarism and forgery of course.) 3. Use the most powerful word in our language: Help! Asking for help, assistance or advice is a powerful compliment. Almost everyone is happy and feels valued when they see that their opinion counts or their skills can contribute something of worth. If you would like more tips to spread the joy, here are 9 phrases to instantly brighten someone’s day by happiness expert Stephanie Harrison. Ripples of hope… and positive vibes In 1966, US Senator Robert Kennedy, the brother of President John F. Kennedy, visited South Africa. Senator Kennedy visited by invitation of the anti-Apartheid National Union of South African Students. His speech included the famous “ripples of hope” passage, expressing the belief that human history is shaped each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve a lot of others. When you commit to compliments, you create positive ripples. And don’t save them for your TED talk. You are “onstage” and persuading all the time. In that project meeting at work At that networking event At the coffee machine when you bump into your manager or team lead At dinner with your friends Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera Compliments. They’re everywhere Compliments are out there. Everywhere. All over the place. Just waiting for you to find them, express them and share them. Compliments are easy. They are fun. They are effective. You just have to get yourself into the compliment state of mind. To show respect and connect. So be generous with compliments. Always compliment your audience. Onstage and off. To persuade. To feel good. To be happy. Howard Lettinga has more than 30 years of experience as a speechwriter and communication specialist at one of the largest high-tech companies in the Netherlands. He has written hundreds of presentations and worked with hundreds of speakers. He is also the former head speaker coach and current curator of TEDx Venlo, and an experienced speaker on Presenting with Impact, based on his “TED Tools for Life” TED talk. He is a specialist in marketing communications, story development, connecting with the audience, presenting business information with impact… and compliments! Follow Noblahblah on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit their website for more info! Read more from Noblahblah! Noblahblah, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine We are on a mission to save the world from blah blah blah. Noblahblah was founded in 2018 as a training company to support better public speaking. Today we offer a broad range of trainings and coaching that help our customers develop their full potential by communicating with more confidence and more fun, on stage, online and in person. Noblahblah trainings provide professionals with new skills to present more persuasively, to define and communicate their unique personal brand with more impact, and to literally shine online by building and engaging their LinkedIn network. A special focal point is harnessing the power of diversity and inclusion by cross-cultural trainings and through our Women Shine with Personal Branding workshops and our Women Raising Women interviews. Our customers include Fortune 500 companies, universities, start-ups and scale-ups. Based in the Netherlands, our five executive trainers, from the United States, the Netherlands and Germany, bring a diversity of skills and experience. While our core activity is communication trainings, we offer a range of related services, from speechwriting and copywriting to executive speaker coaching to corporate events design and moderation.

Written by: Melanie Verstraete, 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. I realize this statement is pretty triggering for many of you reading this and I say GOOD. It needs to be said. This toxic cultural narrative needs to transform and alchemize. Before I get deeper into it, let me give you MY definition of a boss babe because some could say “Well aren’t you a boss babe, Melanie?” Nope. I am so many things I cannot put myself in any one box. I do not fit in the box or any mold. I am ever-expanding and multi-faceted. As are you. Boss babe definition (my perspective): a woman who is successful in her career, she does all the things, maybe she stays late, and goes in early, very much into “taking massive action” in her life. She pushes. She is a doer. She is a multitasking master. She can come off as cold or unfeeling, distant, and guarded. She will never let you know how she is feeling. If she isn't feeling well she will pop a pill or suck it up and push past it. She looks at vulnerability as weak. She has a wall of protection up, her armor and she wears it proudly. She can be many things such as an entrepreneur, CEO, or a high-level executive, runs her own business, is super independent, has a hard time asking for help or receiving help, her job title or all these descriptives doesn’t matter as much as her attitude does, which is... “I GOT THIS and I DON’T NEED YOU” aka… a man. She may even emasculate men saying that they are all assholes, liars, or cheaters, or they just want to “get in your pants”… sound familiar? I used to be her. "I don’t need you, I don’t need a man, I can do all the things myself, haven’t been able to lean on or trust you (any man in her life) anyway so I can do this all by myself.” Here’s the challenge. This is false masculine energy, this is a fake mask to hide, shield, and protect your heart from the essence of the beautiful feminine being that you are. You weren’t meant to DO IT ALL alone. Wanting an amazing man, a true partner, your soul's counterpart, does not make you weak. Wanting to be able to trust and feel safe and protected and loved for all parts of you does not diminish your power as a woman. It does not dim your light. It allows your femininity, the essence of being a woman…to bloom, to blossom like a beautiful rose even more. If you can’t find, attract, or keep (fill in the blank) a “good” man maybe it’s because YOU ARE THE MAN. This is repelling the very thing you yearn for, the very thing your heart longs to trust and open to and feel the love of this man. We are not meant to do it all by ourselves, ladies. Can we? Absolutely, if we had to, but do you really want to? Fuck no. It’s exhausting. Your power is not in all the action and doing, although we need that too at times, but to embody what it means to be a feminine being means to BE in your body. Feel the power of your sensuality (this does not make you a slut or any of that other toxic narrative bullshit), your creativity, your connection to the women around you in sisterhood, and your natural creativity, for God’s sake we create life in our wombs, your flowy nature, your grief, your rage, your abundance, your compassion, your ability to trust and surrender, your fire, your wildness, your primal nature, your feelings (holy shit have we turned this off!), the naturalness of your menstrual cycle, your open and beautiful heart, your vulnerability, your authenticity, your nurturing, your connection to Mother Earth, your connection to Source, God, Goddess, your creative expression through whatever lights you up, dance, play, etc. Being in your being… the true essence of your femininity… that’s your power, babe! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Melanie! Melanie Verstraete, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melanie is a Self-Love & Relationship Coach, devoted to the empowerment & rising of women world-wide. She is a fiery, heart-centered, Divine Feminine Leader, Mentor & mom to 3. Melanie hit a breaking point after numerous toxic relationships and two divorces. This low point was the catalyst that propelled her on an inwards journey to heal herself, reclaim her power & change the trajectory of her life. As she alchemized her pain & trauma into her greatest strengths, like the phoenix she rose from the ashes to build her empire that stands today – The Wild Heart Life. It is Melanie’s mission & greatest devotion to lead, guide & inspire other women to take back power over their lives & return to a state of wholeness.

Written by: Gina Lokken, ICF PCC, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Have you ever watched an infomercial before? One of those long 30-minute pitches that try to sell you a kitchen appliance that will make you cook like Julia Child or a workout DVD that will give you six-pack abs in just 10 minutes a day? In these commercials, you are sold a dream rather than a product. In the business world, our infomercials look different. They are marketing courses that will increase your income 10-fold or planners that will help you live a perfectly balanced and productive life. But ultimately, they are still selling you an idea rather than an actual product. They are selling you a "perfect life." When I look back over my life and career, chasing after the idea of a "perfect life" was a waste of time, energy, and money. But during those early momtrepreneur years, I couldn't shake the romantic idea that a perfectly balanced and successful life was available to me. So, I continued to chase it, copying what I perceived to have worked for other people who seemed to have it all together. Years flew by, and to my disappointment, the harder I tried, the further away this perfect life seemed. If you still need to read the first two parts of this blog series, I highly suggest it (Part 1 and Part 2). In them, I talked about the first two limiting beliefs we struggle with as moms and entrepreneurs: comparing ourselves to others and trying too hard. Today, I want to talk about what happens when you buy into the first two limiting beliefs—namely, living outside your means. Limiting Belief No.3: Living Outside Your Means "If I have that, do this, or buy that, then my life and business will finally be balanced." How often are you entranced by the possibility of a better, more fulfilling, balanced life if you just did this one thing? Everything would fall into place if you had bought that new program or had what "they" had. But when you buy that, do this, or finally get what "they" have, after a while, things go back to the way they were; your life and business are no more balanced or fulfilling than they were before. I get it. We all want a quick fix. But eventually, you'll end up right where you were before, wanting the next flashy, fast fix, and the cycle will continue because actual change is rarely quick. Our culture's desire for instant gratification has hindered our capacity to appreciate the journey. We have become so obsessed with the outcome that we've forgotten that the journey is what makes the outcome possible. When we try to find a simple answer, we miss out on a lot of good chances to learn and grow in wisdom. Life isn't about chasing after the next and best thing; it's about enjoying the journey and the ebb and flow of each beautiful, fleeting season. A perfect balance doesn't exist because our lives and experiences constantly change and evolve. Because of this unpredictability, you will naturally be forced to focus more on one area than another in different seasons of your life. This is why crafting and adjusting your personal rhythm is crucial to having the life and business you've always dreamed of. Coaching can help you identify and experiment freely with what works for you in this season, i.e., your rhythm. Stop thinking there's something wrong with you and that someone else knows how to fix it, and start discovering and maximizing who you already are to be the best woman, mother, wife, and business owner God knows you to be. Let go of the limiting belief that buying someone else's quick fix will get you to your outcome faster and lean into this newly expanded belief: "I am staying in my lane, enjoying my journey, and finding my identity in who God already knows me to be." Personal Rhythm Launching Point Creating your own personal rhythm will help you live happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. Choose one action step below today and find your rhythm. Invite Others Along: Make it a point to bring your family or business partners along for the ride. Let them know what you're doing and how they can help you. Our journeys are more rewarding when we can share our experiences with others. Who will these changes affect? What do they need to know in order to be supportive of me in making these changes? How will it positively affect our relationship or situation? Adjust When Needed: Every week or month, reflect on the personal rhythm you created and adjust or change what hasn't been working. What have you noticed since implementing this new rhythm? How has it improved the quality of your life or business? Personal relationships? What didn't work? What was missing or felt "off"? What can I do to improve? What needed more attention than I gave it? Keep Taking Action: Hire a coach and/or find an accountability partner to keep you moving forward and taking action towards your goals, adjusting your rhythm as needed. Taking consistent action leads to clarity. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Gina! Gina Lokken, ICF PCC, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Gina is passionate about helping female entrepreneurs, business professionals, and leaders infuse God into their everyday personal and professional lives so that they can become the person He designed them to be. She firmly believes business and faith do not have to be separate, and business does not have to be boring. Gina specializes in strengths-based leadership and team building, creating cultures of joy through neuroscience practices, leadership and communication training, and creative coaching methodologies that propel her client's past what they originally thought was possible!

Written by: Veronica Sanchez De Darivas, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The end of the year is fast approaching and many of us revisit it in order to reflect, to see what went well and what did not. Many other people start planning for the year ahead and get busy with the festive season. One of the things that I have been doing for a long time now is to envision the coming year in a creative way with the so called New Year Rituals. The last day of any given year, my family and I sit down to create what we want to manifest for the New Year and I have to say that this practice has been very successful. Of course, certain conditions must be met first to unleash the necessary impulse for manifesting our dreams. Before going into specific details, I will give you an overview of what science says about rituals. The University of Chicago reported on different studies where family rituals enhanced closeness and better relationships among family members. Other studies have shown that positive rituals give people more confidence, a bigger sense of being in charge or in control of their outcomes, it also improves attention and concentration and gives us emotional steadiness. This is what my family and I do every 31st of December. If you are alone, don’t worry, you can still do the rituals, the key here is to finish what you started. 1. Let go of what no longer serves you and your inner purpose. Find a quiet moment the last week of the year and think of the feelings, emotions, habits and attitudes that do not allow you to advance and visualise them dissolving in light, they taught you something about yourself, but now it is time to move on. 2. Take pen and paper and write down what you would like to accomplish the coming year. Be specific and focus on no more than five to seven things, this way energy is not scattered and wasted. One key tip here is to write down without using the future tense, rather using present or even past tense as if things are already done. Remember that we live in an eternal present, the future never arrives, it is always lived in a continuous now. 3. Draw your wishes. Take paper and crayons or coloured pencils and create a, we could say, kind of vision board, although this is not exactly that because with drawing you are tapping into your inner skills and way of being when chosing colours and sketching, without external influences like pictures or objects. Use a variety of colours and as a general rule pastel colours create a sense of peace, which is what you want at the moment of creation. 4. Create a song with your wishes and sing it the last day of the year. Why a song? Because words are vibration and music too and as the great scientist Nikola Tesla said: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” When we sing, we are connecting to the One, to the Universe in deeper levels, we could say that we are connecting in a cellular level because words become rhythm and rhythm becomes feelings. Feelings tap into our hearts giving us “certainty of the invisible”, the certainty of what we cannot see but we know is true because we experience it. 5. Move the energy. This means that we impulse our wishes a bit by acting on them, for example, if you would like to get a new job, writing and singing about it is going to be of great help, but it is not going to be enough, you should actively search for jobs, prepare your CV, send emails, etc. After all, you cannot win the lottery if you do not buy a lottery ticket, unless someone gives you one, everything is possible…Energy is not static, energy is constant change. 6. Be grateful. Gratitude is one of the feelings that make us expand inwards and outwards. Feeling thankful warms up our heart and makes us to pay attention to the blessings of our lives. Science says that being grateful brings us better mental health, in fact, gratitude increases our state of happiness significantly. One tip here, when writing, drawing and singing, is to say “Thank you! It is done!” 7. Bonus tip. Remember that you live in a house located in a neighbourhood, in a community, in a city, in a country, in a continent, in this beautiful planet, then your creation should involve your location, desiring love, peace, wisdom, abundance for your surroundings too. We are One! Please, note that these actions are not what people call “new year resolutions”, they are rituals that would make your wishes more approachable, resolutions are easily forgotten, rituals are practiced. Thank you for your invaluable support this year! I wish you a happy, loving, prosperous, wise and spiritual New Year! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Veronica! Veronica Sanchez De Darivas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Veronica Sanchez De Darivas shares tools on how to manage stress, negative emotions and build resilience and on how to use high vibration words. Veronica is a Spanish grammar and literature teacher. During the last twelve years, she has dedicated herself to spirituality and is a Certified Instructor for the Cyclopea Method of Internal Activation of the Pineal Gland, a method created in South America 33 years ago by the spiritual leader Fresia Castro. Veronica is the first instructor in the world teaching this life changing method in English. Veronica is a Spiritual Life Coach and a HeartMath Certified Coach as well. Veronica is also an author. She has been writing for many years for online magazines and blogs in Spanish and English. Veronica is both a Chilean and an Australian citizen now living in the UK. Her mission is the expansion of consciousness.

Written by: Kristi Peck, 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 happens when you burn your hand while cooking? You immediately retract or pull back in. This is a natural instinct in response to an external stimulus. And conditioning has always been taught in this way. We are evermore conditioned to respond than we are to actuate. Furthermore, conditioning is perpetuated as a constant form of behaving and believing due to the convergence of energy and mindset. What you put energy into and focus on becomes reality. The mind is always the outlier. There is a soul to the energetics of decision-making. Think of this as a heartbeat. Something within you has spoken as a sensation to ignite a passionate plea for something outside of you to adjust, adapt, or change. There is unbounded energy surrounding why and how we make decisions. We can trace back to the pivotal moment a decision was determined in response to an experience. All decisions are made from 3 points of reference: Avoidance – running away from or rejecting a stimulus Attaching – getting and holding onto something based on need and want Lack of Knowledge –some consider this to be a state of ignorance or little to no training Everyone makes decisions by way of conscious thought or an unconscious pattern. Using the points of reference can help you uncover the true intention of the decision. Activate authentic decision-making by recognizing the pattern. We must be conscious of the pattern in order to witness that it exists. How to make a pattern conscious? Simply by giving it energy through the action of focus from the mind. Get curious about why you choose the actions you choose. Notice the similarity in your decisions so that you can begin to determine an avoidance or an attachment style. Questions you might ask Does this choice bring me a sensation of goodness or does it feel constricting? Is this decision bringing me closer to my desire for joy and bliss? Where else do I choose in this way? What is the impact of this choice on myself and others? As you begin to inquire of yourself for yourself, you build a self-agency system constructed less on conditioned patterns and more on the opportunity to exercise free will. The freedom to choose is a mechanism for authenticity. Imagine a light bulb goes dim. It does not mean there is no light. It means the energy with which the light becomes charged to its full capacity is not getting enough electric current to become bright. Your decisions cannot and will not lead you to your desired outcome if you are not receiving the flow of your own brilliant self. Only all that you are can bring your inner light to its full capacity. Nothing outside of you will ever be able to define you or help you shine. Only you can change your inner brilliance to its potential. Recognizing our patterns is the simplest, messiest, and most challenging aspect of change. The energy that is infused into your aligned decisions comes from how willing you are to notice the pattern. You cannot change what you are unwilling to notice. The pattern is the threshold. You can keep avoiding the pattern and stay within limitations or you can dig your way through and uncover the gifts that have been hiding waiting for you to shine your light on who you are. The pattern leads you home. Energize your decision-making power for a conscious lifestyle by awakening the pattern that keeps you from your true self. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kristi! Kristi Peck, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kristi Peck creates a legacy of love. As an Intuitive Life Coach, a Spiritual Mentor, and an author, she works with adult children to heal the ancestral shadow and liberate the lineage of dysfunction. From conflict to connection, Kristi helps estranged daughters find a higher purpose and establish a new partnership paradigm in the family system. Kristi has been trained as a Master Life Coach in Jungian Psychology, Eastern Philosophy, and Social Neuroscience, as well as mediumship, energy, and channeling of the angelic realm. She has additional certification as a Jungian Relationship and Dreamwork Specialist through the ICF Accredited Creative Mind University. For over 30 years as an educator and coach, Kristi has helped people reclaim their sense of self and the power to make purpose-impacted choices. Kristi believes we are whole and our greatest superpower is believing in our own agency of strength and courage. She loves sharing stories that captivate and inspire people to take adventurous leaps of faith beyond old conditions and outdated influences. Kristi is the author of Coming Home – A Love Story, and the podcast host of Living the Liminal: Braving the Edge. She has a wealth of transformational life experiences and her warmth and vulnerability have been described as a “soft-toughness”. Kristi is fierce in her compassion to learn, opens her heart to courageous choice-making, and deeply understands the human dynamic. Her passion for living life consciously is a game-changer.

Written by: Natalie Farrell, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Your brand is YOU. It's everything you stand for and everything you want to be known for. It's your look, your feel, and the message you want to get out there to the world. But how do you make sure that potential clients see all of those things? How do you get them to take notice of your wellness and spiritual business and trust that they're getting a good deal? The answer is simple: social media. Social media is the best way to stay visible in your brand and show off your personality without having to be physically present. It's also an easy way to make sure that people know what your brand does, how it does it, and why they should consider your services instead of someone else. It is also a medium to allow your unique voice to be heard one of the subtle changes every Soulpreneur knows to help their business to flow. If you’d like to learn more about how the tone of your voice is stopping your business from flowing, please head over to read this article within this series. How Is The Tone Of Your Voice Stopping You From Achieving Real Clients In 2022? So to help you to get your clients to take notice of you, we are inviting you to reach out to someone in your community. Simple. Effective. Communication. Someone who is already following you on your socials Reach out to them As they are following you because something about your business and your voice is attracting them to learn more from you It can be all too hard to forget that they need you and this simple gesture will create a connection between you both and of course bring your services to their attention. Striking a chance for them to pay more attention to what you have to offer. Start the co-creative spark that will help to elevate your brand with a simple step. Reaching out to your customer and knowing that all conversations have the potential to spark: a conversation for change. a plentiful source of support fuelled by community and truth. In 2023 we will be sharing more ways to broadcast your brand and business with SOUL plus tips on how to create and implement a holistic strategy for your well-being business to thrive. But for now Go away Take one minute to breathe Take one minute to write a new message to someone already in your social community Then after you have hit send take one minute to make a delicious drink to hydrate your body Are you ready to build solid foundations and pave new ways to help your business to grow? If you are ready to take your business to the next level, then this offering may be really helpful for you to release the pressure and overwhelm in 2023 and get the ball rolling you’re your business to thrive. Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Natalie! Natalie Farrell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natalie Farrell is a leader in voice activation, intuitive sound healing, and linguistic psychology. With an accomplished 20+ year background in singing, voice coaching, presenting, and writing her work with Solopreneurs acts as a catalyst for profound transformation guiding them to be fully visible within their field of expertise. In 2021, she published her first book, ‘Light The Way’ a powerful companion for modern-day change makers who are ready to go all-in and approach business and life in an unconventional way. Her mission: to release reverberant voices.

Read more from Pia! Written by: Pia King, 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 the last two and a half years threw you for a loop, know you aren’t alone. It has been a huge struggle for so many of us. We went through significant losses of loved ones; many are still grieving. The loss of employment, homes, constant media attention on negative local and global happenings. It was a lot! My clients certainly felt the pressure, dread, stress and depression. I think I did as well, while listening and trying my best to help them maneuver through all that they were going through. Yes, it was and is mental fatigue that is weighing so heaving on the mind, body and soul. It’s time to take a step back and just breath and recover. What is mental fatigue and how can we combat it. Combating Mental Fatigue Mental fatigue can take its toll on our well-being. It can be worse than physical fatigue because of a person’s inability to think clearly or express their feelings and frustrations. Worse still, mental stress is known to cause physical fatigue and illness, too! Mental fatigue or exhaustion may be a result of your work, family life, conflict, or even a lack of quality sleep. If you have to make an important decision, mental stress can take its toll on you and can even lead to severe depression. This is more reason to avoid the consequences and implement strategies to overcome mental fatigue! How to Relax your Mind and Boost your Energy Relaxation is absolutely necessary to relieve mental stress and rejuvenate your body and mind. You’re probably thinking, “How am I going to do that?” Well, it’s easy. Here are some tips to help you reduce mental exhaustion and start implementing a relaxation routine: Take time out for yourself. Spend time in a quiet room where you can reflect and get in touch with your spiritual side. Everyone has a different way of self-reflection. Some pray or meditate, others write in a journal or diary, while others simply allow their thoughts to gently release into the darkness and quietness of the room. Get plenty of sleep. Mental fatigue can exist no matter how much sleep you get, but sleep does help refresh your body and mind. Getting adequate sleep will eliminate a lot of your day-to-day stress. After all, the body will have a chance to repair itself and recharge. Free your mind from the problems that swirl around you. Take your mind off of those things that are causing you stress by practicing self-care or spending time with friends and family. Or perhaps you need to go out for a nice dinner or weekend getaway to free your mind. Exercise regularly. Exercise causes your brain to release endorphins, which are known to make you feel happy. It’s like the body’s natural “high.” Even if all you can do is take a 15-minute walk, take it. That can be great alone time for you. Try breathing exercises. When things get rough, take deep breaths in through your nose, hold it for 10 seconds, then release. You’ll notice that this will relieve tension. Take a day in which you can do things by yourself. Take yourself out to a movie, go to a museum or art gallery, or do something you’ve always wanted to do but never made time for. In doing so, you’ll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of being alone. Implementing Your Own Strategies These are just some of the strategies to combat mental fatigue. You may have some other methods that help you relax and find peace in your life. Once you begin integrating these simple exercises into your day, you will begin to feel the weight lifted of your shoulders and before you know it, you’ll feel like a brand-new person! Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit Your Whole Life Financial Services or MSW Life for more info! Read more from Pia! Pia King, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine When human beings experience trauma or significant life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to begin to unravel. Her greatest passion is bringing healing to people who have been through traumatic/stressful experiences. She believes that the “Almighty can not reach us in a spirit of fear”. She works with her clients, who include youth, adults, and families, to find healthy coping skills and strengthen their self-esteem. As a Lupus Warrior, she knows that no single approach is the right one for every individual, and so she has been trained in a range of modalities including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Stress Management Therapy (SMT), Complementary Alternative Healing, such as, Energy Healing, Aromatherapy and Reiki. Her educational background includes a BA in Mass Communication and a Master of Social Work from Howard University. She is currently working on her Doctoral degree in Theocentric Psychology/Metaphysical Science at the University of Sedona. She is a licensed social worker with a concentration in health care services. As a case manager serving the Special Needs community, she realized that many of her clients were not only dealing with complex disabilities and behavioral health concerns, but many were struggling with social determinants, including inadequate housing/homeless, unemployment, food insecurities, anxiety and trauma. With this in the forefront of her mind, she is obsessed with helping people have more access to better mental, behavioral and spiritual health supports. As a result of her commitment to working with communities of color, Pia launched her private practice six years ago and currently sees clients diagnosed with Lupus and chronic pain. She is the Executive Producer and Host of Getting Better and Stronger Everyday Podcast and Living Life In Mid Life Radio, speaker, trainer, a published author of several books, including, Healing Grace: Through Light and Love- A Journey with Lupus and The Self-Esteem Journal, In Everything Pray- 30 Day Prayer Journal and Getting Started with Estate Planning. Her books can be found on Amazon, The Book Patch, and Payhip. You can find Pia here or helping individuals step into their passion.