Written by: Alastair Duhs, 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 have a problem with anger? You might be surprised to know that many people do. In fact, anger is one of the most common psychological problems. It can interfere with your work, damage relationships, and even lead to physical health problems. If you're unsure whether you have an anger problem, here are five signs to look for. 1. You get angry easily over small things. Do small things, like a traffic jam or a spilt drink, send you into an angry rage? If so, you likely have an anger problem. While getting angry over small things may not seem like a big deal, people who get mad at small things are much more likely to react with anger in more serious situations, such as during an argument with their partner. It is a great chance to practice your anger management tools when inconvenient things happen. The more you practice these tools in response to small things, the more prepared you'll be when more significant issues arise. 2. You bottle up your anger, and it comes out in other ways. Is your anger simmering under the surface, just waiting for a chance to be expressed? If so, it is vital you address any underlying issues that are contributing to your anger. These issues may include unresolved trauma, stress, relationship conflict or depression. Bottling up your anger can cause it to be expressed in other ways, such as passive aggression or self-defeating behaviour. Some simple ways to address underlying issues include talking with a therapist, practising mindfulness, journaling your thoughts and feelings, or engaging in physical activities that help you to release built-up stress. 3. You lash out at those closest to you. Do you yell or be overly critical of your loved ones? If so, this signifies you may have an anger problem. It is important to remember that your loved ones are the people you should treat the best. If you find yourself lashing out at them, getting help for your anger is vital before it damages your relationship with them, perhaps forever. For many people, the best way to prevent their anger from spilling over with their loved ones is to enrol in an anger management course, such as my comprehensive online course, The Complete Anger Management System. In The Complete Anger Management System, you will learn effective tools and techniques to control your anger before it hurts the ones you love. 4. You can't stay in control of your emotions. Are you often unable to control your anger? If so, you are likely to have an anger problem. When your emotions are out of control, it is essential to remember that there are ways to take back control. Learning breathing and relaxation exercises, taking Time-Out, setting limits on yourself, using positive self-talk, and seeking professional help can help you stay in control. A simple statement that I frequently make to my clients is that "anger just does not work". Anger rarely gets you what you want and usually makes things worse. Remembering this simple fact is a great way to avoid letting anger get the better of you. 5. Someone has told you you have an anger issue. Has someone close to you told you they are concerned about your anger? If so, this indicates that you may have an anger problem. Listening to those close to you is essential, as they have insight that you do not have. Remember that it takes a lot of courage for someone to tell you they are worried about your anger. Respect and appreciate their willingness to talk to you openly and honestly about the issue. If someone has told you they are concerned about your anger, taking action and getting help is essential. Talking to a therapist or taking an anger management course, such as The Complete Anger Management System, will help you address your anger. These are just a few signs that you may have an anger problem. Remember, addressing any underlying issues contributing to your anger and practising your anger management tools is essential. The more you practice these tools in response to small things, the more prepared you'll be when more significant issues arise. By taking the steps necessary to address your anger, you can be sure it won't control or damage your life. Good luck! If you have any questions or need more help, please feel free to reach out. I'm here to help. For more information, please visit my website. Read more from Alastair! Alastair Duhs, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alastair Duhs is an anger management expert. Over the last 30 years, Alastair has taught more than 10,000 men and women how to control their anger and create calmer, happier, and more loving relationships. Alastair is the founder of The Complete Anger Management System, a life-changing anger management course that has helped thousands of people control their anger and create calmer and happier lives, often in just 21 days or less. You deserve to live a calmer, happier and more peaceful life ‒ and with Alastair's help, you can make it happen.

Written by: Candace Fox, 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. It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? We have to look forward, in order to move in the direction, we want our lives to go. But how many of us have our foot on the gas pedal, the tires straight forward but our eyes glued to the rear-view mirror? It’s no wonder so many people feel lost, moving in life without direction – feeling stuck in their past while trying to forge ahead. This was me for many years. I was constantly trying to analyze my past as a way to control the direction of my future, hoping to avoid the same ditches I always seemed to find myself in, literally and figuratively. It was like I was looking at an old, outdated map, trying to find the location of a new development, in a different city. I was making life harder on myself without knowing it. The truth was, I was rooted in my past. Although my intentions were to change, I had tunnel vision leading me right back into the same old habits, relationships, patterns, and behaviors I was trying to escape. I felt stuck, confused, and frustrated. The Law of Attraction tells us, what we focus our attention on grows. Even if we are focusing on what we want to avoid, guess what ‒ we end up manifesting and actualizing that which we don’t want into our reality. Neuroplasticity tells us, our experiences shape our thoughts, and our thoughts shape our experiences. It also tells us that our brain has the ability to grow and evolve – it is as malleable as we need and want it to be. Neuroscience tells us we have influence over our brain just as much as our brain has influence over us. The catch? We need to be consciously aware of what we are thinking and consuming, and most important ‒ we need to be intentional with reprogramming our thoughts and beliefs. Our current reality is a reflection of where we are anchored and what we are focusing on. So, the big question is, how can we shift this for ourselves? First, we need to remind ourselves, change doesn’t happen overnight – but small steps, done consistently over time will eventually yield big results. Progress over perfection, am I right? So here we go: Take note and hold yourself accountable. If you find yourself ruminating over something in your past, scrolling through an ex’s social media, or complaining about the same ol’ ‒ same ol’, stop yourself by literally saying aloud, STOP ‒ every single time! I’ve recommended clients say something along the lines of this, “STOP! I love you. We aren’t doing this anymore.” This removes the shame around calling yourself out and is a gentle reminder that yes, you are in fact not interested in going back there anymore. Anchor yourself in the present moment and bring your awareness back to the here and now. There are several ways you can do this. You can use self-regulation tools like Acupressure Tapping, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and/or Havening Touch Techniques™. You can also focus on your breath. Music and/or movement might be your preference. Recounting five things you are grateful for in your current life is also a great way to elevate your mood and bring your awareness back from the past to the present. Identify and get honest with yourself about why you keep looking in the rear-view mirror of your life? It can be addictive, I know. But you really need to ask yourself, is searching every side road, deep ditch, and deserted path of your past helping you get where you want to go? The answer is likely, NO! So, what is really going on? Answer the following: If I wasn’t stuck in the past – what would be possible for me today and in the future? If I stopped reliving my past in the present, what would my reality look like, today? How would I need to change, in order to shift this for myself? What do I need to let go of, in order to move forward in my life? Allow yourself to explore what’s possible for you. Identify what you DO want! It’s funny how most of us find it easier to focus on what we don’t want – what we are trying to avoid rather than focus on the things we believe we deserve or can achieve. Katherine Woodward Thomas says, “What can’t come through you, can’t come to you.” Meaning, if you don’t believe you are worthy of good things, you will continue to push those things away. If you have deep-rooted self-worth issues, this is where I would recommend accessing support, whether it be a practitioner like myself or another professional support person like a counselor, therapist, or coach. Remain committed to co-creating your future (with the Universe). It’s YOUR vision. Stay in the driver’s seat. Don’t get distracted by what’s happening around you, or behind you. If you get off track and need support, ask people who are invested in seeing you achieve your vision for a successful future. Those are the individuals who will help you chart a path forward. I love this quote by Normal Vincent Peale, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” We all deserve to be wildly in love with our lives and it is our responsibility to make that happen for ourselves. Last but certainly not least, give yourself the credit you deserve for showing up for yourself in ways that feel scary, uncomfortable, invigorating, and unfamiliar. You are doing something most people do not have the guts to do – TAKING ACTION toward your vision for a better and brighter future. It is not easy, but let me tell you, it is worth it and your future self will thank you for the effort you are making today to shift your tomorrow. Friends, keep your eyes peeled forward, your foot on the gas and most importantly – enjoy the journey. None of us know what lay on the road ahead, and it certainly isn’t a race to get there so take your time and let curiosity and excitement lead the way! Was this helpful? I’d love to hear how! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Candace! Candace Fox, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Candace M. Fox is a Psychosensory/somatic Practitioner who works with Neurodivergent youth & adults, sharing self-regulation tools and resources to support them on their journey towards self-discovery and transformational growth. Born and raised on the prairies in Canada, Candace has always had a passion for helping others. Her journey of healing has been a wild ride and led to an AD[H]D diagnosis at the age of 35. Today, she's doing what she loves most ‒ using her past struggles as a catalyst to help others. A self-professed 'student of life', Candace admits her clients teach her just as much if not more than she does them.

Written by: Lucie Petrelis, 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. Multiple Sclerosis and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are hosted in the brain of millions of individuals all over the world. Both conditions have a long list of challenging traits and symptoms which have the power to significantly affect in many ways the daily lives of the individuals concerned. I was diagnosed with MS at the age of 22 and with ADHD at 42. My personal experience granted me the opportunity to learn a lot about both conditions. I have distinguished many common significant challenges. Today I present three of them to you, intending to bring awareness on the topics of MS and ADHD and increase compassion towards ourselves and each other, no matter our truth. Here are 3 main common realities for both MS and ADHD: 1. Misconception and stereotypical image MS: A person sitting in a wheelchair with reduced mobility. ADHD: A young boy running around the room uncontrollably. Regarding MS, unfortunately, there are still individuals that during the progress of the disease lose their ability to walk or naturally use their arms and body the way they used to. But this is less often today compared to the previous decades. New treatments and research, more knowledge and awareness ‒ also through the internet and social media, lifestyle and priority changes, a variety of available support, and all kinds of non-medical options have significantly improved the physical, mental, and emotional state of the person, preventing in many cases a radical disability. This means that many people living with MS will never use a wheelchair permanently despite still having a disability and many challenges in other aspects. Regarding ADHD, there is still a lot of research to be done and statistics to be updated, as most of the studies so far have been focusing on young boys. This target group is not representative of reality, and thousands of people remain unaware, undiagnosed, unmedicated, unsupported, and unhappy. In my environment, there are currently many women and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals that are in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD or – thanks to the general awareness that has finally evolve ‒ suspecting they have ADHD (often after the ADHD diagnosis of their child). Most of them are over 35 years old, realizing only now the main reasons they have struggled all their lives. 2. Invisible conditions MS: But you don't look sick. ADHD: But you seem so calm. Thanks to the evolution of treatments and knowledge, MS can be invisible. This invisibility doesn't diminish the daily challenges, physical pain, cognitive and mental symptoms, and emotional rollercoasters that a patient with MS faces every day without anyone necessarily seeing it or knowing about it. Many MS patients experience symptoms and discomfort that the eye cannot see, such as fatigue, burning sensations, numbness, confusion, poor memory, brain fog, and many more. But the fact that we don't see it doesn't mean it is not there. Due to the misleading image of ADHD, we often get confused, especially with traits such as hyperactivity (this is just an example). The first assumption about hyperactive people is that they constantly move while restless. Especially for adults who are physically calmer by nature or have learned to mask their needs for (not socially accepted) movement, the main hyperactivity happens in their brains. They can either have constant thoughts about one topic or a non-ending wheel of fortune of thoughts passing through their brain. And all this thinking can make a person feel completely exhausted just by sitting there and doing visibly nothing. This overthinking is often not controllable or manageable without proper medication, and you cannot see it unless you are in the person's head. 3. Unpredictability MS: But you were fine yesterday. ADHD: But you advanced so well on your tasks yesterday. Let's emphasize "yesterday," which means "not today"! Living with MS is the biggest teacher of living in the moment. A person can have incredible energy, a positive mood, and no physical pain one day and be the complete opposite one day later or 12, 6, or even 1 hour later. This tricky reality is a very challenging feature of MS. It's a crucial aspect that must be considered and worked on to bring many alternative solutions and flexible daily planning, especially when more people are involved. Dedicated time and energy for conversations with others are highly recommended to explain in advance the possibility that plans could be canceled and postponed at any moment. So, for this aspect, communication is the key. ADHD strongly impacts focus, concentration, memory, and performance on the things that must be done in the daily life of a human. An individual living with ADHD might have prepared a clear to-do list, be super proud of their well-organized bullet points, finally slept well last night after so long, and now they are ready to tackle the day. So, nothing could go wrong, right? Well… that is wrong. No matter the effort put in the preparation, no matter the perfect planning, the brain can unpredictably decide not to work on that day or at the level the individual was hoping for. Unfortunately, it's not a matter of willpower or of trying harder. If the brain decides to go offline, then it can stay like that for a very long time. Since no instruction manual comes along with an ADHD diagnosis, the individuals don't know how to "hack" the brain and make it perform. Not always being able to stick to their to-dos can cause many individuals to have low self-esteem feeling inadequate. In cases like that, asking for support can make a real difference. MS and ADHD are different, but these three common truths can teach us all a lot about such conditions but also in a more general sense. The main thoughts that I wish to communicate with you are that due to old misleading and old-fashioned conceptions, and the invisible and unpredictable aspects of both conditions, people are seriously suffering and struggling every single day. And these people could be us or anyone else around us. The thought of others suffering in silence or ourselves suffering in silence should be a wake-up call to increase our compassion towards ourselves and others. Imagine how many people with challenging realities are suffering around us, and we have no idea about it. And this could impact their behavior, performance, words, actions, mood, and every aspect of who they are. Let's open our hearts and be compassionate towards ourselves and others because often, what we think, see, and believe is not all there is. There is so much more to each one's truth. It's up to us to create safe spaces for all of us to open up about our struggles and strengths so we can transform our society into a place where we can all be ourselves and live our life the best possible way together. Trustworthy resources: MS: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/ ADHD: https://www.additudemag.com/ Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lucie! Lucie Petrelis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lucie Petrelis is a certified life coach supporting individuals with ADHD and MS to redesign their life in a way that makes sense to them, and that is based on their needs. At 22, she temporarily lost her ability to walk and was suddenly diagnosed with MS, forcing her to rethink her life’s perspective and priorities. Twenty years later, her diagnosis of ADHD gave her the gift of finally understanding the root of so many of her challenges. Using the power of her stamina, positivity, and proven methodologies, she inspires and drives others to take their life into their own hands, re-structure it, re-prioritize it, add a lot of joy in it, and above all be proud of who they are. Her motto: Your challenges are valid.

Written by: Ashley Hussain Okorafor, 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. Most of us tend to sabotage our success. Whether it's procrastinating, setting unrealistic goals, or engaging in self-defeating behaviors, we can often be our own worst enemies. But what if there was an easy and effective way to stop this self-sabotage? Ho'oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice that can help individuals break free from the cycle of negative thought patterns and behavior. Let's explore how Ho'oponopono can help students take control of their lives and find success. What is Ho'oponopono? Ho'oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice based on beliefs of personal responsibility. It focuses on the idea that each person has the power to create reality through thoughts, words, and actions. This means that we are responsible for our successes and mistakes. We should strive for self-improvement by taking ownership of our mistakes and using them as learning opportunities. To practice Ho'oponopono, one must focus on four key phrases: "I am sorry,"; "Please forgive me,"; "Thank you,"; and "I love you." Focusing on these phrases helps individuals take responsibility for their behavior while providing emotional closure to move forward with forgiveness instead of guilt or shame. Through consistent practice and repetition, students can learn how to incorporate positive affirmations into their daily lives to overcome negative thought patterns and behaviors. How Does It Work? The practice of Ho'oponopono consists of four simple steps: Recognizing that we are all connected. Taking responsibility for our part in any given situation. Forgiving ourselves for any mistakes we have made. Letting go of the past and moving forward into new possibilities. By doing this, we can learn from our mistakes, recognize patterns of sabotage in our lives, and ultimately create new pathways toward success. Why Does It Matter? The beauty of Ho'oponopono is that it offers us an opportunity to take ownership of our actions and reactions in life. This allows us to break free from old patterns that no longer serve us—like self-sabotage—and cultivate healthier habits instead. By taking responsibility for our part in any given situation, we give ourselves permission to forgive ourselves for mistakes made in the past, learn from them, and move forward into something new. The Benefits of Practicing Ho'oponopono Practicing Ho'oponpono can be highly beneficial for students who are struggling with self-sabotage. By taking responsibility for their actions, they can develop a greater sense of personal accountability, leading to more meaningful relationships with peers and mentors. Additionally, positive affirmations encourage students to focus more on their strengths rather than their weaknesses, which will improve confidence levels in all areas of life — academic performance included! Finally, using Ho'ponpono as a tool for self-reflection leads to greater insight into one's motivations and behaviors, leading to better overall decision-making skills. Self-sabotage is a common problem among students, but it doesn't have to be part of your story! With the right tools like Ho'ponpono, you can break free from your self-defeating thoughts and behaviors once and for all! This ancient Hawaiian practice teaches us how crucial personal responsibility is when creating our reality while providing emotional closure so we can move forward with forgiveness instead of guilt or shame. So why give it a try today? You may find yourself surprised at the results! It is easy to self-sabotage, especially as a student transitioning into professional life. Looking for a job can be daunting, but don't worry ‒ Dr. Ashley Hussain-Okorafor has you covered! With her done for you resume and cover letter package, she provides all the tools necessary to make the transition from student life into professional success as effortless as possible. With an ATS-optimized document tailored specifically to your field of work plus advice on navigating the job market, everything needed is provided in one easy bundle. Don't waste any more time looking around; come find out how we can help launch your career today! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Ashley! Ashley Hussain Okorafor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Professor Ashley Hussain Okorafor is an accomplished academic and has over 6 years of teaching healthcare administration. She has taught at various universities including California State University, San Bernardino, and Charisma University. Prior to her journey as an academic, she had risen up the corporate ladder working in Health Information Management. Currently, she is using her skills and expertise to educate new and prospective healthcare professionals. Professor Ashley believes that if healthcare is going to evolve we need new innovative minds and great leaders in healthcare to build for a better, healthier future. Check out Professor Ashley's YouTube Channel for information on Healthcare Administration and how to strategically build a career in healthcare. For coaching sessions on building your career in Healthcare Administration and for CE courses in Healthcare Administration, go to www.professorashley.com

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. Is your life where you want it to be as 2022 comes to an end and a new year approaches? Many people discover they haven’t closed the gap between where they are now and where they want to be, which may be due to a lack of confidence. And confidence is both a contributing factor and the outcome of success. “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” ‒John C. Maxwell You may be unable to expand your world intellectually, physically, emotionally, or spiritually to the degree you desire. If you find this true, here are five intentions to mull over that can be implemented if you consciously choose to. Confident people are constantly growing and learning. They are always curious and love to explore new ways to do things, which expands their mindset. People with confidence are avid readers who focus on self-care, making time for meditation and exercise. What is one new way you can commit to learning something new? Will you learn a new skill, a new form of exercise (somatic movement exercises, yoga, strength training), take a class, or read a book on a new topic? They set and reach goals, large and small. Establishing, working toward, and achieving your goals for work, relationships, leisure time, and every other domain of life will give you a sense of excitement and optimism about your future. Knowing you can accomplish things that are important to you is a powerful confidence tool. You learn to expand those areas of your life that create and strengthen confidence. What is one small goal you can set and achieve before the new year? What larger goal can you set and reach within the next three months? Confident people pay attention and focus on what’s in front of them. Where your attention goes, energy flows. There are many distractions today, from text messages to emails and phone calls. It’s no wonder you can’t focus on the task at hand. Research shows that your mind is on autopilot 50 percent of the time. Confidence is “trusting yourself,” You can't trust yourself if you’re off in space. What are the goals that you can give attention to and focus on? What values can you use as guides to decide where you will be mindful of? They listen more than they speak. Confident people listen more than they say because they don’t have anything to prove. They also know that by listening and paying attention to others, they can learn from others and be flexible enough to adapt to their needs and ideas. Instead of seeing interactions as opportunities to prove themselves to others, they focus on the exchange itself because they know it’s a more productive approach to people. Can you take these actions to become an active listener? Can you allow the other person to share their thoughts without interrupting? Can you ask leading questions to provoke a deeper conversation? Can you remain fully present while listening and without thinking about you’re your response will be? Confident people aren’t afraid to ask for help. They acknowledge that they are not an expert on every subject and have gaps in their knowledge. This understanding allows them to ask for help and see it as a sign of strength. Getting help from others can give you insight into a challenge or provide a new perspective. Can you invite someone who is an expert on a subject you are interested in to have coffee and ask them to explore it with you? Can you reach out to someone who is an acquaintance in the same line of work you know from social media and ask them how they do something you want to do? If you aren’t happy with your reality in life, you’ll need to change something. It would be best if you become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s the only way to get what you want in life. You can choose something big or small; it doesn’t matter. The pivotal point is that you take that action and make it a habit. If you only choose one category, track your results. You may find the reality you are looking for. I hope you do. Schedule a complimentary Reclaim Your Confident Self session today. 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.

Written by: Corina Neagu , 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. There are so many people in this world suffering from a lack of self-esteem. Self-esteem is your subjective sense of overall personal worth or value. Self-esteem is your own personal view of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Similar to self-respect, it describes your level of confidence in your abilities and attributes. Having healthy self-esteem can influence your motivation, your mental well-being, and your overall quality of life. However, having self-esteem that is either too high or too low can be problematic. Better understanding what your unique level of self-esteem is can help you strike a balance that is just right for you. Everyone has a different view of themselves, but keeping a positive outlook will benefit you more than a negative one. Many individuals suffer from low self-esteem for a variety of reasons and need to build their self-esteem in order to be happy and succeed in life. On the other hand, people with overly high self-esteem may overestimate their skills and may feel entitled to succeed, even without the abilities to back up their belief in themselves. They may struggle with relationship issues and block themselves from self-improvement because they are so fixated on seeing themselves as perfect. Key elements of low self-esteem include: Believing that others are better than you. Finding expressing your needs difficult. Focusing on your weaknesses instead of strengths. Frequently experiencing fear, self-doubt, and worry. Having a negative outlook on life and feel a lack of control. Having an intense fear of failure. Having trouble accepting positive feedback. Having trouble saying no and setting boundaries. Putting other people's needs before your own. Struggling with confidence. Many theorists have written about the dynamics involved in the development of self-esteem. The concept of self-esteem plays an important role in psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which depicts esteem as one of the basic human motivations. Maslow suggested that individuals need both appreciations from other people and inner self-respect to build esteem. Both of these needs must be fulfilled in order for an individual to grow as a person and reach self-actualization. Fact: the only one who can make you excel is you and no one else . The same goes for self-esteem. The only person who can build up—or consequentially tear down—your self-esteem is you. Although other individuals may aide the process, the awareness, the end decision and the effort are yours. People have low esteem for a variety of reasons. Some individuals suffer from poor body image and focus on all the negative traits of their physical appearance. Others have emotional issues that have caused their self-esteem to drop or feel themselves unworthy of any praise. For whatever reasons your self-esteem may falter, the key to building it up again is to find the root of the problem. Think of self-esteem like a house, if you build a stunning house on a poor foundation, the entire structure will crumble. However, if you take steps to ensure the foundation is strong and capable of holding anything, the process may be slow, but your self-esteem will be built soundly. Many individuals look for help for their low self-esteem in books or seminars. The number of available options on the market is phenomenal, and you are sure to find one on a topic that deals with your specific issues. Check with your friends who had similar experiences, check your local library or bookstore and explore their “self-help” section for a book that you may find helpful, check online for people who may inspire you, mentors, coach, and communities. It is quite unlikely you will find the answers to all your problems in a book or online, but you may find it helpful to know others are in the same boat and you are certainly not alone. Additionally, you may wish to seek professional help in your quest to boost your self-esteem. Often, speaking with a qualified individual can help you determine the root of your problem and the necessary path you should take for the rebuilding process. Perhaps your problems date back to childhood, or maybe they have recently developed. Whatever the case, a professional will be able to best determine your next step. The main factor in self-esteem is negativity and avoidance. Negative thoughts can pervade your confidence and crumble your self-esteem. If you find yourself surrounded by negative people or in a negative situation, try to best remedy the problem. There is always something good in each negative situation. Often, individuals in an abusive relationship have their self-esteem shattered when a supposed loved one constantly berates them and questions their worth. Similarly, a negative workplace environment can lower your self-esteem with colleagues or managers finding fault with your work. Maybe you have a friend who is consistently negative with all surrounding him or her. Whatever the source, distancing yourself from negativity will help you regain your self-esteem. Strive to surround yourself with positive people. If you are going through a rough time in your personal life, you may wish to join a support group. Similarly, there are support groups available for individuals with self-image issues. These groups will allow you to meet other individuals like yourself and provide a forum for you to sound your hopes and achievements. The impact of a healthy self-esteem may be: A firm understanding of one's skills; The ability to maintain healthy relationships with others as a result of having a healthy relationship with oneself; Realistic and appropriate personal expectations; An understanding of one's needs and the ability to express those needs. Some recommendations to improve your self-esteem: Recognize situations that affect self-esteem; Become aware of thoughts and beliefs; Challenge negative thinking; Adjust your thoughts and beliefs (from negative to positive). Create good habits and replace the bad ones; Focus on what you can and have instead of what you cannot do or do not have; Surround yourself with positive people; Reward yourself from time to time, and celebrate success! Ideally, you choose to begin building your self-esteem as soon as possible, so why not today! Be thorough and consistent with the process and be aware it may take a while, as change cannot be done overnight. You should not become impatient or despondent if you find your self-esteem slipping. Remember, you are the most important person in your life and should treat yourself as such! Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Corina! Corina Neagu, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Corina is the H (human) in HR, and she has more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources. She has become an entrepreneur in HR and Leadership Consulting in 2014. She founded Dare ( www.dare.com.ro ) in 2016 as she always dared to dream, to create, to share more and more, to do good. She has trained, mentored and career coached thousands of people starting 2010 including teenagers, students, employees in many organizations. She has started to deliver HR and management trainings in Asia in 2015, when she has also become an HR and Management professor at the Business Academy in Bucharest. Now she works as Human Capital Business Partner at Xclusiverse, in Dubai.

Written by: Carolina Gonzalez, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In my work as a spiritual counsellor, one of the questions I get more often is I feel like I am stuck in my spiritual growth. How do I reach a higher level, how do I step up my power, my clarity, my relationship with Spirit Guides/Deities? Our view of ourselves, and of our relationship with the world, is made of a corpus of beliefs that we have put together from all our past experiences. Just as in any other area of our life, these beliefs can be twisted and obscured by trauma, keeping us from believing in the true miracle that having a thriving spiritual life can bring to us. This view of ourselves, and of the world, needs to be deeply revised and transformed. Every new life starts with identifying each old pattern that is hindering us, changing it for a new one, and persisting until it has substituted the old one, becoming a new part of our identity. Without fail, as this new identity emerges, a new life emerges with it; as you change yourself, the whole Universe changes. The simplest way to move forward is to ask yourself – what do you think has kept you away from your spiritual growth? Do you find it difficult to follow routines when it comes to prayer, meditation or study? Then work on implementing more creativity and joyful flow into your spiritual work. Stop thinking that you are failing, and start teaching yourself to be flexible, to follow your intuition, to listen to what you are being guided to. Do you find it difficult to develop a strong relationship with Spirits, Deities, and Spirit Guides? Then work on self-love and positive thoughts about yourself. Stop thinking that you are being unloved or unheard, and stop seeing yourself through their eyes; bursting with the divine Light that lives inside you. Do you find it difficult to see manifestations of your magical work? Then focus on your personal power, understand what it truly is, and start removing from your life anything that takes your power away. Stop thinking that you'll never get what you want, and start working on achieving an unbreakable, unstoppable faith. And remember ‒ every moment is filled with all spiritual power, for its ability to be transformed is endless. There is no wrong day to start changing, to start moving forward, to completely renew your spiritual practise. Every single second is in your hands, completely full of possibility, ready to become the first second of your new life. Believe me, dear reader ‒ your spiritual power is one good choice away. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Carolina! Carolina Gonzalez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carolina Gonzalez is a Spiritual Counsellor, Spiritual Worker, Master Herbalist, and Holistic Health Counsellor, with over three decades of experience. For the past fifteen, she has offered her services online, mostly doing custom spiritual work, and guiding people to a deeper and more authentic relationship with their spiritual heritage and personal power. Through her social media and blogs, Carolina actively educates on all these topics, to a loyal and self-aware worldwide community of customers.

Written by: Tajana Velikinac, 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. Can we go back to our childhood for a moment?! Can we remember our curiosity, happiness, eagerness, and playfulness? I know...even though childhood is supposed to be full of happiness and a carefree part of our life, we all carry on some bad experiences, traumas, and other negative baggage. We couldn't understand that as a child and lots of these things it's hard to understand as an adult or we don't want to dig deeper to discover all that dark shadow. Even children who get so much love from their parents still have some shadows to work on. Is not possible to keep a child so safe from all negative experiences. However, if we don't have a bad experience we couldn't know when and for what to be grateful, and we couldn't know how much we appreciate our life, people, and other things that we have. Let’s back to our childhood! What do you think about your parents? Do you think they gave you enough love? Do you think that you are similar to them? Do you think they give the best of themselves to you? All these questions and more are different for all of us, but what I would like you to pay attention to is how much you know about your parents?! If you feel anger or resentment, or you never feel enough love from them, have you ever tried to understand why they behave that way? Maybe they tried their best and didn’t know how to show love, but they love/loved you unconditionally. Maybe some of their decisions weren’t the best, but they made those decisions according to their knowledge, capability, and freedom of choice. We are changing from generation to generation and seeing things differently but understanding your parents and trying to get a bigger picture of their behaviour is going to be easier for you to let go of some anger that you could have. And now, let back to you, you as a child. Remember at least one situation when you were so happy, curious, and excited. It could be your best family holiday, when you receive the present you wanted at that time more than anything, when you first time fell in love, or just one ordinary day with your friends, siblings, or pet. While you are thinking about this be aware of your emotions. When you feel those emotions keep them for a little bit. How do you feel now?! Do you want more of this feeling, do you want more of this freedom, do you want more of this happiness?! If your answer is Yes, then forgive, replace anger with love, nourish your inner child, open your heart, go and meet new people, explore, play, make more happy memories and enjoy this beautiful life that was given to you! Bad things happen to everyone but also all these beautiful and still unknown opportunities waiting for us to explore. And it’s about us, what we decided to draw attention to. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tajana! Tajana Velikinac, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tajana is an international Empowerment Coach and motivational teacher. Teaches people about awareness and supports them in their life challenges. To be aware of yourself means to know yourself, not what others have taught you. It is a process of rewriting your unconscious mind. Love yourself means to accept yourself as you are.

Written by: Mari Grande, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In life, we may find ourselves interacting with others in particular patterns. The awareness of these patterns is more common now than ever, as we have better language and understanding that explains why and how these attachments occur. We call these patterns “Styles”. This concept became popularized more recently from the book Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller, which focuses on how we attach to romantic partners, but it also points to how our “picker” may be skewed. Honestly, there are a gazillion books out now about attachment. However, I’d like to talk about the connection between your FIRST relationship and how that has or is impacting your style of attachment to others. Think Daniel Stern’s The First Relationship and the result of such complexities on developmental psychology. But one quick thing before we dive in– if you are a reader who did not grow up with a mother, you may consider this information as it relates to a significant caretaker that took on the role of “mother” in your life. Let’s start with answering this question: How would you describe your relationship with your mother? Is it warm and open? Are conversations tense or tender? Does this relationship bring emotions of comfort and trust or are your interactions met with friction and a sense of repulsion? These are not always easy questions to answer. It can be because they are just plain difficult to reflect on or because your relationship looks and feels very different than it did when you were younger. Which brings us to the next question: Is your relationship with your mother the same as it was when you were a child? How is it different? Both can be a source of strain. If you feel your mother still sees you as the person you were as a child, you may be frustrated. Or if your mother relied on you for emotional support and now you’ve set boundaries with her, this can result in friction or even resentment if those boundaries aren’t respected. If possible, be as objective as you can. Working through the ambivalence we feel towards those we care about shows our determination to keep some sort of relationship. Or if you need more insight, discuss this with a trusted friend, family member, or professional health worker. Afterall, what we don’t know can’t cure us. Are you ready to make that great leap? How The Maternal Experience Guides Each Attachment Style I mentioned Daniel Stern, he researches and writes about attachment and I highly recommend him as a resource. However, for everyday knowledge you may be most familiar with Mary Main (previously Ainsworth) and John Bowlby’s work on naming attachment styles. Their work highlighted how our first interactions defined our connections with others throughout the rest of our life. As you read through these categories and think about where you fit in, you may find yourself identifying clearly with one experience over another. Although, it is quite normal to find yourself connecting with a combination of a few. So let’s talk about how the experiences with your mother have influenced your style of attachment. Think of a Fashion Show Runway, and you are wearing your “Style”: Secure ‒ You got enough consistency, validation, and care from the beginning and throughout the lifespan– first in the family and later with peers and the public. You have a sense of self-worth, a strong connection to an inner voice, able to express needs and feelings without obliterating others. If you are Secure Style, chances are you will wear your favorite outfit that suits the weather, your mood, and it makes you look and feel fabulous. If it doesn’t, you’ll reflect on what happened and see if you want to do anything differently going forward. Anxious/Ambivalent ‒ You were not usually considered as a separate person. You may have been tasked with things beyond your ability in years, or had everything done for you, chosen for you, and not given a chance to explore your own existence or needs. If you're Anxious Style you’ll be constantly adjusting your falling straps, tightening and loosening your belt, stumbling in your heels (even though you practiced many times over in rehearsal). Your eye contact is quick, fleeting, and searching. Avoidant ‒ This experience is one of neglect or abuse. Instead of providing support for your thoughts and feelings, you may have been punished, dismissed, or shamed for having them. The Avoidant Style does not want to leave the dressing room. Reluctantly she pulls a modern hoodie covering much of her face and slouches along the runway. She looks cool and mysterious to others but inside she is sweating and wants to jump out of her skin with so many critical eyes on her. Disorganized ‒ This is when there is lack of clarity and consistency on who is who and which roles belong to whom. For instance, the caretaker may be a source of calm one day and a source of terror the next. Finally the Disorganized Style begins the catwalk. The crowds fade in her mind. She is wearing a multi-color neon sweater top, with a pinstripe flared skirt, toe socks, and flip flops. She is pushing a stroller filled with snacks she wants to give to the judges as a thank you for sitting so quietly during the show. This helps us to see how the attachment style is expressed, yet those aren’t the only words we have to discuss the impact of your Mother Experience. And like attachment styles, our mother wounds aren’t necessarily limited to only one. Before we move on, it’s time for a quick check in: Take a deep breath. Acknowledge how well you are doing while taking in this heavy information. Allow yourself to continue to review it objectively. Types of Mother Wounds and Their Overlap with Attachment Styles In my work on Overcoming the Mother Wound, and in prior blogs, I discuss the correlation between Attachment Styles and the types of Mother Wounds. If your experience of your mother has been authentic, open, expressive, and responsive, chances are you have a secure attachment. You feel seen, heard, and accepted with your entire roster of emotions from elated and energized, to sad and angry. On the other hand if your mother was missing, ill, drugged-up, not available, or not communicative, your attachment may be anxious and your wound is one of the Absent Mother Wound. This is a wound that did not have a chance to heal, repair, reflect. You may struggle to feel connected or lack the skills to connect to others and if you do, it feels foreign at first. The anxious style may also have an Attacking Mother Wound where you were not allowed to be who you are, or the Overbearing Mother Wound that leaves no space for anyone else but the mother’s needs. Let’s take a look at the avoidant attachment style, this style develops most often with an Attacking Mother Wound. Here, the child is left to feel that whatever they do or say will not be accepted or okay, resulting in her being vulnerable to pain and shame. She quickly learns to turn inward and avoid others, for self-perseverance. The avoidant may also be coping with an Overbearing Mother Wound that gave her no space to breath. That little one was no match for this mother so she quickly learned to take shelter. Then we have our disorganized attachment style. She most likely had a little of each, never knowing whether the Attacking Mother or the Absent Mother or the Overbearing Mother would show up. Carrying all three wounds meant a heavy load for this little one. She had to work very hard to navigate and survive her early landscape. More nuanced mother wounds also exist. For instance, if there is an Enmeshed Wound where the “closeness” is such that your own identity is usurped and you don’t even realize it, except for a gnawing sense that your mother must have the last say (whether you listen or not). This is similar to the Overbearing Mother but more subtle, clearly marked by lack of boundaries between mother and daughter– a stage meant to be grown out of early in the child’s life– where the mother’s own wound and unmet needs are forced unwittingly on her daughter. This is a very covert and difficult wound to identify as well as difficult to let go of. As tough as it may be hearing about the Mother Wounds, please know this is not the end. Not only do we need forgiveness in order to heal, but understanding, love, and connection. These wounds can be healed. We have the capacity and neuroplasticity in our brains and nervous systems to change, update, and recover from early attachment wounds. We heal through what is called “Corrective Experiences”. This means we have new experiences of relating, responding, and being responded to that are genuine, caring, and honest. However, it does take work, time, and an investment in your well-being as these experiences need to be repeated over time. Conclusion Our Mothers are the reason we are here. I love mothers, they are beautiful life giving, life affirming humans. Many symbols and myths represent the Great Mother: Earth, Moon, Ocean, Gaia, Kali… the ethereal examples are endless. By learning how we were impacted, we can change our relationships with our own daughters. When we do that, we see our mothers as more than just a figure who raised us, but as a woman with her own wounds, trying to navigate her relationships with herself and others. We need Mothers, just as we need daughters, sons, and babies. My focus has been on the Mother/Daughter relationship, but that does not mean boys do not struggle with a mother wound. Theirs is similar but more complicated and less easy to access, mostly because boys learn early to protect and take charge, causing the wound to become very ego-syntonic. Meaning to them, it just feels like a part of them, their duty, and their role. Our relationship with our mother is bound to transform as we move through life, as we are not stagnant beings. This means we have the ability to take a strained relationship and reconstruct one that is built on compassion and understanding. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mari! Mari Grande, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mari Grande is a New York City-based licensed Creative Arts Therapist, Clinical Social Worker, Thought Leader, Educator, and Coach with more than 20 years of experience in trauma healing and recovery. By working closely with the mind/body connection, attachment theory, and the power of creativity, she draws upon her integrative background to alleviate the impacts of relational and generational trauma. Mari is passionate about working with women who have experienced a Mother Wound and offers various online courses that provide guidance, support, and insight through the Overcoming the Mother Wound program. Sources: Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind– and Keep– Love, Amir Levine, M.D. and Rachel S.F. Heller, M.A. (2012) The First Relationship: Infant and Mother, Daniel N. Stern (2004) Bowlby, J., Ainsworth, M., Boston, M., & Rosenbluth, D., The Effects of Mother-Child Separation: A Follow-up Study. 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Written by: Dr. Phillip Hearn, 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 journey to success often entails many different strategies. One such strategy is business expansion. Not just growth and development, there are so many more goals that can be fulfilled when we embark on this adventure into the unknown world of entrepreneurship ‒ including your own personal brand advancement or mental well-being because let's face it: being an entrepreneur isn't always easy. A lot goes through our minds before even starting up a company but at least one thing should never change regardless if things get tough. Growing and expanding your business is a crucial part of running an effective, long-lasting company. It can mean opening up new locations or adding more products for sale in order to reach out further with what you do offer; it could also involve switching focus onto different markets so that customers who would otherwise go elsewhere will come to visit instead! However, this works best for each individual person ‒ there's no one size fits all solution when developing better strategies within their own organization. But one thing is sure, the benefits are huge because not only does expansion improve profitability by raising revenue margins, but also generates a better return on investment. Here is why business expansion is so important to focus on: Increase customer base Any new business is responsible for customer retention, but expanding on the existing business will also require you to bring in new customers. Well, it so happens that customers are automatically attracted to a store that has multiple physical stores. The reasons being there is a brand value to it, experience, and many more factors. You will be able to attract new customers here, and because a fresh customer base is formed and your only job is to retain them. But also keep on adding to the list. These customers future-proof your business. Financial Center can provide you with the necessary tools to accomplish this! Chance to reposition and rebrand You can do so much more when you open a store in a new location. You can have the privileges of starting new, rebuilding your image, and rebranding your product. Opening up for a newer and bigger customer base can help you in repositioning and rebranding as it is. You can renew your marketing strategies to do a better job at it. You can also update your website and social pages to let people know about these new stores or product lines. Digital marketing campaigns can be very helpful in such cases, they make the neighborhood aware of the store and attract new customers. Supports growing demand Expanding allows you to meet the growing demand for your services or products. As an entrepreneur who experiences an overwhelming demand for your product, if you aren’t able to manage it well, the expansion will help you divide the load of customers and will also increase your percentage of profit as well as customers in a new location. Sales volume and profit increase When you have a business, profit is extremely important but almost always the last known goal. You need profitability in the company to reinvest in your business and incur more on the given profit. Increasing profitability is the cause of a steady and sustained increase in profit. Increasing the physical selling points of a business will allow you to do so. Say you have a normal 10% profit margin on any given product line or a selling place, if you increase them, you will have 10% on each line or place. This is the ultimate goal a business owner should have and expansion helps achieve it. Risk distribution Business and its risks go hand-in-hand. There is no saying ‘no’ to risks in any kind of business. But what you can do is be ready for it and have repair measures at your hand at any given time. Having one place of operation can only increase the risk of business because we never know what external or internal factors might affect the business. Having a single physical presence can harm in many ways than one if this is the case, but having two or multiple physical points will save you from this destruction. Business expansion saves you by distributing the risk. Bottom line: You can find many more reasons for business expansions like improved services, motivation, increasing investment appeal, improved ability, and also increasing employment. An excellent resource to fund your expansion is Financial Center. Growth is a very important goal to achieve and is also that much more difficult. Expansion being a strategy for growth will only help you! Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dr. Philip! Dr. Phillip Hearn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Phillip Hearn is a master in entrepreneurship, real estate investing, and motivational inspiration. Despite setbacks from a problematic childhood, Hearn learned the value of investing in himself and capitalizing on his strengths. He has since specialized in helping others discover their full potential, personally and professionally. He founded Mid American Capital Holdings, LLC, an acquisition focused company. Current subsidiaries include Phillip Speaks, specializing in public speaking and coaching; Financial Center, operating as a capital broker to help businesses grow their operations, and other subsidiaries which continues to expand. His mission: to collaborate as a problem solver to today’s challenges.

Written by: Charlotte Pineda, 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 surrender! A lot of negativity surrounds this declaration. "Failure!" and "Defeat!" come to mind. Descriptors no one I’ve met aspires to. I’m no exception and spent much of my youth and early adulthood avoiding the shame of surrender. The youngest of seven children, I grew up in a competitive environment, and I hate to lose. I spent much of my life with a smile and clenched fists. Prepared for the fight but hoping for the best. I saw myself as an island of impenetrable solid rock amid choppy waters. Mistakes meant failure. The only measure of strength was never giving in and fighting to overcome adversity. These traits have served me well. I’m tenacious and resourceful and am quick to take on new challenges. All attributes I’m proud of and would not change. However, being constantly on guard is physically and mentally exhausting. It drains your power. Luckily, through life experience and reflection, there’s another definition of surrender that I’ve learned to embrace: Let go. It’s been a process. In my youth, I wore my inability to relax like a badge of honor. Until years later, when a tennis coach remarked, “Who are you attacking with your racket?” Looking at my hands, blood-drained knuckles in a vice-grip around the handle glared back at me. No wonder every ball I hit slammed out of bounds, like a rocket. If I were being measured by the force and distance of my hit, I’d be at the top of my game. Sadly, that was not the case. My saving grace was despite my clenched fists, somewhere along the way, I learned to use humor to make the most of a bad situation, and I could laugh at myself. I’d like to say my coach’s comment led to a Zen epiphany. It did not. At least not at first. I refused to let the game get the best of me. I vowed to master my game and trained myself to ease up—to flow like water, as my coach said. At first, the change was mechanical. But as I got into the flow, something unexpected happened. When I eased up; an overwhelming sense of peace and power came over me. My pounding heartbeat was no longer echoing in my ears—until its absence, I didn’t realize its pervasive reverberation. I experienced clarity, and a voice inside said, “Enough. I surrender.” This experience was the catalyst for me becoming a coach. I’m a professional development/executive coach, but the fundamentals of athletic coaching are similar. Reflect the truth to help others uncover what’s already within themselves so they can get better. My tennis coach used lighthearted humor to reflect the truth back at me—with compassion, sparking a change in me. A lesson I’ve carried over to my coaching. If a habit or goal is not serving you well, it’s best to let it go—surrender. Be flexible; flow like water and ride the choppy waves—they will subside. You never know, you might ride them to the top, where a new and brighter horizon awaits you. As Lau Tzu so wisely said, “Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water. Yet when it attacks the firm and the strong, none can withstand it, because they have no way to change it. So the flexible overcome the adamant, the yielding overcome the forceful.” To learn more about how coaching can help you or your team find the power in surrender, or if you would like more content like this, please connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and my website. Read more from Charlotte! Charlotte Pineda, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Charlotte Pineda, CPC, CEC helps busy professionals and executives create life-career synergy. Her mission is to help others craft meaningful lives and careers that allow them to live their values. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, Charlotte can help you gain perspective and set realistic boundaries so you can get ahead and stay ahead in your life and career.

Written by: Dr. Shahram Maralani, 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. Whenever the business environment across the world is not in its best shape, the questions on how to improve business performance, are asked more often by entrepreneurs as well as business leaders. As the Political scene, Economic outlook, Business trends, and Consumer trends show signs of strain in the society and the market, ways to improve business growth, sales, and profitability become more sought after. In this article, I will share some strategies on how to improve business during such gloomy times. The Bad Times Will Come If one thing is for sure, is that bad economic times will come. If there are no signs already around, be even more concerned, as troubled times can come out of the blue. The COVID outbreak and the consequences it had on businesses during the years 2020-2021 were for decades unheard of. Before businesses that were strong enough not to disappear, and survived those two years, could take a deep breath, the long-term market shifts of the post covid pandemic era hit them hard. The war in Ukraine and its impact on the global economy contributed and added to this hardship. Then the escalated tensions between Taiwan and China showed their impact across the globe, and when everyone was speculating what to expect next, the unrest in China resulted in more strain on the global supply chains and hence on a lot of businesses, small or large. Today, you can be Apple with more than USD 2.27 trillion market capitalization, or a tiny shop selling a couple of hundreds of dollars clothing, or other goods, you will feel the impact of the above situation on your skin. These developments are the major sociopolitical situations impacting millions of businesses across the globe, irrespective of their size and sector. Moreover, the pressure on these businesses as employers of billions of people, impacts consumer spending, putting these businesses in a double squeeze. The data of the modern era shows that the economy goes in cycles. But irrespective of these cycles the long-term trend is always positive. The below graph shows the world GDP since 1960. Despite all the adversaries, the world has not only seen GDP growth, but also an increase in its share per person. That is why, there is a general belief among economic analysts that the long-term trend of the economy – as far as relevant for business planning ‒ will always be positive. The question yet remains, how to navigate economic hardship as a business, and how to protect and improve business performance during such challenging times such as during the years 2009 and 2020 (see third graph below). How Not to Improve Business Performance It is crucial to address how not to improve business performance during tough times, before investigating ways to improve business, or looking into innovative ideas to improve sales, growth, or profitability. The key point in this regard is to not use your intuition or business experience as the only tool in deciding your business actions. Challenging times can result in permanent shifts in the market and unforeseen market dynamics replacing the old ones. As a result, being simplistic about your strategic and tactical measures is the worst thing you can do to your business and to yourself. Multi-dimensional analysis on the world around you, the market and its permanent changes, persistent trends, but also transient situations, are some of the key analyses you need, to create enough breadth and depth in your insights about your current situation. In addition, improvement of your business through adjusting and improving your business processes despite seeming natural thing to do, is another mistake you can do. Improving processes before necessary adjustments or even transformations that might be necessary, can result in suboptimal outcomes. In addition, bringing technology into the picture before a necessary transformation, may bring automation to an ineffective process. Only after the above considerations, should a business think of digitalization and re-organization of its business and its components. How to Improve Business Performance There are five ways you can improve business performance strategically, especially during challenging times. These strategies are not only useful during such times, but they become more relevant when the economy and market conditions are not favorable. Business Process Transformation The subjects of Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR) or Business Process Optimization (BPO), are not new. Both these concepts have decades old histories as business management strategies. Business Process Transformation (BPT) on the other hand can be claimed as a newer concept using state-of-the-art digital tools, what they enable, and the concepts they introduce, in rethinking business processes and decide on their elimination, automation, improvement, or adjustment. Business Process Transformation is usually a response to external pressure impacting the core conditions of the business, often demanding radical changes. Business Process Transformation can even result in changes in the business itself, resulting in Business Transformation (BT). Some of the examples of BPT are online banking, online shopping, and ride-hailing, which in these three cases have resulted in business transformation as well. BT can be utilized to transform an existing business (e.g., digitizing a traditional bank), establishing a new business using the transformed business as a template (e.g., born-online banks), or creation of new businesses who make the former businesses’ value proposition and offerings irrelevant (e.g., peer-to-peer online banking using blockchain technology). It is crucial to start your business improvement mission, by assessing the necessity for Business Process Transformation, before going into the next steps, to prevent investment in an obsolete business model. Enterprise Application Landscape Analysis To the corporate world is known. But to smaller companies and some non-IT professionals and entrepreneurs, Enterprise Application Landscape can sound scary. But do not worry. In its simplest definition, Enterprise Application Landscape is a list of all software you use across your organization. Being a multi-billion-dollar business, or a little shop, all businesses use one or more applications to be able to operate, and to deliver their products and services to their customers. Accounting and finance software as well as Microsoft 365 (former Microsoft Office) or a similar software suite from other providers, are usually among the first ones. But this list in today’s digital world is usually much longer, including sales and customer relationship management (CRM) software, marketing, and communication tools, and more. For larger enterprises, the overall list can be in hundreds and be shaped into visually comprehensible structures. Understanding your application landscape by visualizing it against your core business processes is the next step in improving business and its processes. It is crucial to take Enterprise Application Landscape review exercise, as your second step after evaluating and deciding on potential necessity for Business Process Transformation. This review should give you an understanding of what digital tools you use across your business, and why you use them, with the aim to eliminate, adjust, or upgrade them, as necessary. Delaying this process or doing it in the wrong order can cost your business a lot of money and time. Technical Debt Analysis and Technology Review It is not about technology, bullocks! Do not buy into this claim. This is the expression used by executives, managers, and entrepreneurs who do not have the knowledge or affinity with technologies of today. Every organization can benefit from looking into these two things: first, what are the digital technologies it uses to operate its business, and how these technologies have been utilized, with the aim of finding the areas needing upgrades or adjustments, due to bad decisions, or shortcuts taken earlier (technical debt), or due to not upgrading the software solutions in use as their newer editions have been released by their producer. This can be done, by reviewing your enterprise application landscape using an enterprise architect and the domain experts. In addition to the review on your existing technologies you have employed across your business, it is also important to go into this second review. Look into the modern technologies available in the market, and how other businesses are using them to create value (technology review). This value creation can be through enhancing their customer experience (CX), generating new revenue streams, or improving the efficiency of their existing business processes (through BPT). Machine learning (ML) and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for example, are bringing a lot of new capabilities to the market including Contextual Analysis of text, audio and video, Recognition of people and objects in images and videos, Identification of patterns in data, and more. Only one of these new capabilities may be enough to revolutionize one of your core business processes (BPT), or your overall business (BT). Lack of awareness about AI and other new technologies, is like living in a remote forest or mountain area for generations not knowing there are phones, navigation systems, solar panels, and batteries which can make your life easier while not necessarily leaving your homeland. To me, it is unacceptable to talk about any business improvement, without learning and evaluating what the new technologies can do for your business. Technology may remove a problem altogether or give exponentially more effective ways in solving it. Business Model and Value Chain Analysis A Business Model Analysis can be mistaken assuming it is some form of business process review. But business model analysis is a much more strategic and high-level look at the business as a whole, before digging into various business processes who may have significant potential for improvement. While business process review studies will usually keep its hands off the business’s objective, value proposition, and market, business model analysis on the other hand can touch every component of the business to even the very existence of it, asking why this business should be the way it is, serve the customer it serves, use the enablers it uses, and generate the revenues it does. Business model analysis can provide an insight which can make business process review and transformation necessary, or go beyond and suggest the need to reposition the company to another part of the value chains in which it operates, or to leave some of them completely. Business model analysis together with value chain analysis are two powerful tools, when addressing a business’s potential future, especially when the economic and market conditions demand adjustments. Use Innovative Ideas to Improve Business Not claiming that innovation is always the last step in improving a business and its performance. What I am advocating is that in the digital world we live in today, Business Process Transformation, Enterprise Application Landscape Analysis, Technology Review, and Business Model and Value Chain Analysis should be part of your main strategic management toolbox, before embarking on innovation as the way forward. Use of innovative ideas to improve business is important and even the bloodline for the businesses, especially those whose success is dependent on their product and service differentiation. But it is important to understand the role of innovation properly preventing two mistakes. First, allocating budget to pointless innovation projects while not fixing the core of the business model, its processes, and systems. Second, using innovation as a buzzword or even worse as a scapegoat, to blame the lack of business performance to its nature, sector, or unfavorable market conditions, before doing the core analysis necessary using the first four steps above. Innovation can play a significant role in shaping a business improvement strategy, if applied properly, and after ensuring the first four steps above are completed. Conclusion Business improvement is a continuous business management practice which becomes even more important during challenging business and economic times. As the Political, Economic, Market, and Consumer trends show signs of strain, ways to improve business growth, sales, and profitability become more sought after. Given the current world around us it is necessary to have a structured approach to business improvement to ensure proper return on investments done on such improvement initiatives. The five steps and their sequence described above, are crucial in this regard, considering a digital business world we live in today. Business Process Transformation, investigates answers to the questions about the robustness of the business processes and how they are shaped, looking for opportunity to fundamentally adjust them by elimination, automation, improvement, or adjustment. Enterprise Application Landscape Analysis investigates the overall digital components used to enable the business, looking for opportunities for elimination, adjustment, or upgrading them, as necessary. Technical debt analysis and technology review, investigates the currently used as well as other potential digital technologies which may be used to support the business process transformation or even business transformation, with the aim to enhance customer experience (CX), generate new revenue streams, or improve the efficiency of existing business processes. While the three above steps focus on opportunities for improving the business in the domain it operates, business model and value chain analysis takes a much more strategic look at the business, its objective, value proposition, and the market. Business model and value chain analysis can potentially touch the very existence of the business, looking into why the business should be the way it is, serve the customer it serves, use the same enablers it uses, and generate the revenues it does, with the aim to evaluate the need for repositioning the company to another part of the value chains in which it operates, or to leave some of them completely. Innovation is a powerful business improvement tool and can play a significant role in shaping a business improvement strategy, if applied properly. In the digital world we live in today, Business Process Transformation, Enterprise Application Landscape Analysis, Technology Review, and Business Model and Value Chain Analysis should be among main strategic management tools, capable of creating necessary and intended business improvements, with higher chances of success, and often less investments. Use of innovative ideas to improve business is important. But it is crucial to ensure innovation strategies are applied correctly, and not as a way to ignore core business improvement opportunities. Each of these steps prepares the organization for the next one. Going into them in the above sequence is key, to increase chances of success, and to prevent investments with low returns. Online Business Builders Club Online Business Builders Club (OBB Club) is a membership program for people with passion to ideate, build, and transform businesses using digital technologies. Our mission is to enable consultants and advisors, as well as founders and owners of small businesses to build successful and thriving businesses. We help them understand the possibilities they have in creating digital businesses or digitalizing their existing businesses using available solutions and tools in the market. We educate certified business builders who can make an impact on their lives and the lives of their customers. The Founder of Online Business Builders Club is Dr. Shahram Maralani who has more than two decades of experience as a Corporate Leader. He is also an Author, Public Speaker, and Business Mentor, helping entrepreneurs establish & digitalize their businesses. His mission is “To help thousands of entrepreneurs shape, and operate online businesses", as part of their portfolio career, or as their main occupation. To learn more about OBB Club, visit our website here. To contact the author, you can send him a message on his LinkedIn profile. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more From Dr. Shahram! Dr. Shahram Maralani, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Shahram Maralani is a Corporate Leader with more than twenty-five years of experience in a wide range of disciplines and across multiple industries and geographies. He is also an Author, a Business Mentor, and a Professional Speaker. Shahram is currently senior vice president and chief digital officer in Nemko Group A/S. In addition, he helps entrepreneurs to establish and develop Online Businesses. He is the author of the book “Build an online business in 24 hours”.