Written by: Kamladevi Sharma, 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. Deliberate attempt to manage one’s mindset is one of the most popular actions successful leaders take. Venturing into the subconscious, releasing what no longer serves one’s vision, and recreating what one desires, are major actions taken to guide one’s focus and intention into creating the life they want to live. This is especially important in feminine leadership- considering the complexities of a female’s body and the impact of its hormonal changes. Further, as conscious as I am as a coach, undergoing this process for recurring success was no different for me but, I found a strange experience manifesting a few weeks ago- one that I’d never imagine was possible for such an active person as I am. Weight gain! You may be thinking, what? How does that align with being a successful feminine leader? Well, it was as a result of something deeper than my conscious thought. I’ve delivered three children within the space of 2016 to 2019, and throughout, I’ve been doing mindset work. However, in these years, my body was programmed to prepare for pregnancy in an average of eleven months, and it was preparing for the same a few weeks ago. I was not pregnant, but I experienced all signs of pregnancy. Then I begun to gain weight, which caught me by surprise. Additionally, my productivity slowed, and a frequent tiredness took over. Following this up with a doctor’s opinion and no irregularities shown from lab tests, I concluded that it was my subconscious programming. So I decided to sit with it, and I realized that my habits were automatically those of my pregnant self. The type of food I ate and the hours in which I’d eat were the same as if I was nurturing a child within. My yoga and exercise were still light, and the voice within spoke, “take care of yourself for the baby, rest and eat enough.” These were all subconsciously absorbed while I was pregnant, with the subsequent fear and elevated risk of back-to-back pregnancies as mine. Inevitably, what I didn’t realize in doing the mindset work over these years was that the physical changes I was undergoing needed to be included in that work. Further, I needed to speak to my body directly post-surgery and post-pregnancy to release the habits created for those special physical changes. Why? Rightfully, my focus was always to forward plan and to take steps to move me closer towards my business goals. As a budding successful leader, my pregnancies were just a minor part of that overall focus. It was as if I accepted that my body was creating a child. I had specific actions to take to aid that process. But I needed to remain focused on my overall vision, so I remained emotionally detached to keep working on my business. Consequently, failing to directly address the changes from pregnancy and surgery to my body and its subsequent subconscious habits later created a situation in my body that did not exist because I initially allowed the programming to remain, and I allowed my body to take care of the process of having a child. Whilst sharing this with a client who underwent surgery to her body with special post-care instructions recently, I realized that this failure to address our bodies as it is going through such processes also reflects self-love and self-care. For example, when addressing the changes, my client reported that she felt as if she was wasting her time and energy when she could have been talking to herself about something more productive like the launch of her new make-up line. Undoubtedly this resonated with me. It certainly is important that we know our bodies and speak to it as it is undergoing changes. After all, we rely on the body to put our ideas and heart’s desire into motion, so why not include its changes in our mindset work? Why not be that proactive healer for our bodies? Therefore, as much as we may be planning and making things happen in the external environment as a female leader, recognizing specific processes our bodies undergo, such as a pregnancy or surgery, helps us remain in alignment and be more effective and successful when those processes have concluded. Simple steps we can take are: 1. Engaging in positive self-talk during and after surgery, specifically detailing what is happening and our expectation of how our body will respond to the process. For example, recovering quickly, returning to our normal routine, being able to continue doing all that we do, and so on. 2. Affirming appreciation for our body, good health, and well-being by looking at ourselves in the eyes in a mirror every day. I recommend doing this standing naked to get accustomed to our body’s changes and accept ourselves at every stage of those changes. 3. Challenge ourself when exercising to increase our momentum or engage in more rigorous techniques. This helps to work with the various muscles and energy centers in our body to keep on expanding energetically- creating complete cellular and muscular regeneration with every new technique adopted. 4. Releasing emotions aroused during the process in a special post-surgery session. This can be done successfully in a meditative state or automatic writing session by recalling specific incidents and advice received during the process, feeling into the emotions that surfaced, and choosing to release them in that process of addressing them. The body deserves to be recognized and appreciated for the work that it continues to allow us to do as a female leader. Specific changes such as pregnancy or surgery undoubtedly impact its ability to be as effective as it once was. Being its friend during and after those changes can help it realign with our broader vision. Including mindset work in relation to our physical body and not just our heart’s desire is important to maintain alignment. Follow Kamladevi on Facebook and her website . Read more from Kamladevi ! Kamladevi Sharma, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kamladevi Sharma is an international speaker on work-life balance, a certified professional life coach, and a qualified business consultant. She helps entrepreneurs and people in management globally, including you, to eliminate burnout and achieve balance in their personal and professional lives. Her dedication to achieving clarity, alignment, and results for her clients ensures that they can thrive and feel more fulfilled and successful in their lives, careers, and/or business. Additionally, her expertise in mindset and personal development strategy has benefitted over 4000 professionals globally in personal growth and over 250 businesses in jumping start a momentum for success in her signature momentum trainings at Revive. She has been featured on several podcast shows on various platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts and, the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine. Kamladevi holds a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Bradford, Bachelors in Social Psychology, Social Research and Business and, certificates in Professional Life Coaching and Counselling. Prior to co-founding Revive, she was magnificent in upper management positions in Guyana and lectured at several tertiary institutions.

Written by: Andrea Ryan, 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 can’t find that file. I can’t remember what I did with that document. When was the deadline? I need to pick the kids up already. I’ve been so busy today but accomplished nothing! Sound familiar? Many of us recognize the overwhelm through feeling of pressure, the inability to focus, it feels uncertain and flooded with obligation, obligation to others but also ourselves. Whilst we may give in to those feelings by working more hours, drinking more, or, to the detriment of ourselves, ‘push through’ better known as the fastest road to burnout. We have to recognize that those feelings are telling us that it’s time to reevaluate and reprioritize. Here are 3 ways to help you turn overwhelm into optimism at work. 1. Unburden yourself Decide out of all the things you are dealing with at work right now, what the absolute, most important thing is for you to focus on. Then write down all that needs to be accomplished within that project or campaign or proposal (whatever the most important thing is that you are focusing on) and put them in order of priority. Just the action of writing everything down will give you a sense of gaining some control back. 2. Invest in yourself This is not what you might think. This is about maintaining your energy . To continue to take action on your accomplishments, you need to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind. Think about how you respond to an email or work colleague when you’re tired, lethargic and frustrated. When we don’t manage our energy, we lack self-control. Stay hydrated, sleep well, eat healthily and MOVE. When you get out and get some fresh air, it changes your perspective, so when we come back to your desk, you are in a much more positive mindset to jump on your next zoom call. 3. Educate Yourself To enable you to tackle the things on your newly prioritized list, you need to avoid negative thinking. Did you know it’s 10x more damaging to your thriving when you verbalize negative comments as opposed to just thinking them? Think about the words you use and how you react to situations (Remember, we always have a choice about how we react to situations). How can you reframe them? For example, instead of saying ‘This is just no use!” say, “I can find a solution to this. I just haven’t found it yet.’ Instead of saying ‘This project is a nightmare,’ say ‘This project is challenging but imagine what we’ll learn from it.’. The way you talk is the way you can expect reactions from your colleagues. So if you talk more positively, the more positive the answer and the smoother the completion of your task becomes. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Read more from Andrea ! Andrea Ryan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I'm a transformational life and business coach for women. I support women to enable their journey of self-discovery and drive change through their personal journeys. Professionally I help female entrepreneurs align their mental and emotional journey with business guidance and mentorship. I have had a 15 year executive career, heading up business and marketing strategy, brand management and leadership in the disability employment sector, sport and as an award-winning business development director in a mental health Not for Profit. Spending 3 years on the Australian National Committee for UN Women as a Committee Member and as a consultant to Human Right start-ups, I am constantly seeking board and volunteer roles that offer me the opportunity to utilize my skills to give back and contribute to the wider community. Quoted in Marketing Magazine Australia as the 'Accidental Marketer', I have a flair for the creative, which fuels my passion for supporting women to step into their power, thrive in their careers and become leaders who will instigate change to make this world a better place.

Written by: Stephanie Kable, 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. “Man is by nature a social animal,” wrote Aristotle, 4 centuries BC. When COVID-19 spread out in early 2020, and most of the world started going into lockdown, I realized, like many, that this period was going to be disruptive and that the way we do businesses needed to evolve. A human way to be virtual Looking at my community of Members, I felt they needed more than ever, time and space to interact with each other as part of their learning experience. I wanted to give our Members the opportunity to talk about topics that might not have been covered in their one-on-one lessons, meet other community members, and talk with them. Live-English Club was born. Live-English Club has proved to be a very popular and engaging learning experience. It sums up what I believe learning online should be: a virtual experience with a human touch. As social animals, learning and meeting people is so powerful. Changing the way we relate to our clients The nature of business has changed. As entrepreneurs, we have to rethink the way we evaluate business strategy and the purpose of our businesses. It’s not just about increasing the market share or the profit margin. It’s a matter of finding the right way to support and help our customers. It has to be meaningful, human, and relevant for them now. Only this way will we build trust and long-term relationships with our customers. Through their leaders, businesses have to develop their emotional intelligence, honesty, empathy, and care to build long-term relationships with their customers to thrive way after the coronavirus crisis. Engaging with our team Through this challenging time, the other priority is to give extra care to our staff, especially if they work from home. We need to make sure we communicate and interact enough with the team. We need to share the vision of our business positively and engagingly. Showing our teams appreciation and gratitude authentically will make a difference to how they work and care about it. The Coronavirus crisis has been a trigger to help us realize that we went too far the way we manage our businesses, rationalizing to the extreme, losing our humanity to technology. Let’s grab this opportunity to relate to business differently. Let’s make sure to put people in the center of what we do. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Stephanie Kable, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Kable is the CEO of Live-English.net, an English online school that helps professionals worldwide feel more confident with their English as a second language. Through online one-to-one and group lessons via Zoom, the team of native-English teachers provides an efficient, convenient, and fun way to improve English speaking skills. Stephanie holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Paris-Dauphine (France) and an M.A. in Information Systems from Institut Mines-Telecom - Business School (Paris, France). Fond of languages, technology, business, and personal development, Stephanie combines all these fields of knowledge to offer unique English courses focused on each learner's needs.

Written by: Yunlong Wang, 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. Nasrin Solati is Project Manager in Vikcess Business Group. She provides direction to ensure that each contributor knows what's expected at every phase of the project. She has the overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closure of a team project. In this article, she gathered research-based information regarding Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC), analyzing CBEC in China, e-commerce channels, how it operates, its benefits, and why it is time for international companies to consider it. What is E-commerce and Cross-border e-commerce? Electronic commerce is becoming an increasingly popular form of trade globally. Most shoppers start to search for products and quality features online before buying. To make the shopping experience delightful for the customers, more and more companies and retailers are setting up an online platform where a person can buy at any time, even at night when regular stores are no longer open. Online stores allow you to save time when searching for a particular product. Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) means importing goods from sellers from foreign countries. Why is CBEC popular in China? CBEC is a thriving channel for Chinese consumers to buy their quality products importing to the country from all over the world. The products that the Chinese do not have access otherwise. CBEC in China is a unique opportunity where international companies can sell certain products to Chinese consumers through online platforms. They are allowed to operate at special duty rates and without applying for a license, which lowers the cost of operating a business in China significantly. E-commerce platforms annual rate and reasons for growth. China is not only the global factory, but it is also a huge consumer market. At $5.8 trillion last year, China has the second-largest retail market in the world, indicated by Alizila. As indicated by Alizila, the e-commerce channel in China reached an annual growth rate of 76% between 2015 and 2018 while generating RMB 78.5 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV) last year. This amount is still around 2.2% of China’s online retail sales, which means that there is still considerable opportunity for long-term growth for international brands and retailers. This growth is expected to increase in China and worldwide. Currently, more businesses are also tapping e-commerce platforms to sell directly to consumers rather than going through traditional store distribution systems. Gao Hongbing, vice president at Alibaba and head of AliResearch, believes that two important factors are urging the annual growth rate of Chinese e-commerce platforms, the trade-friendly regulations, and rising demand among Chinese consumers for international goods. Chinese government is continuously supporting import and exporting channels by enhancing international shipping capacity. There are currently new CBEC pilot zones and pilot cities for CBEC retail importation, which are being developed, the CBEC retail import list is being extended, and tax and tariffs are being lowered. Most popular online platforms in China Many online platforms are operating in cross-border e-commerce in China; however, the main Chinese key players are as followed: Alibaba, owning different platforms such as TaoBao and Tmall Net Ease Kaola, (purchased by Alibaba) JD VipShop Global Pinduoduo, new player Thriving sectors in CBEC There is also a vast category of products that you can sell through cross-border e-commerce. However, some sectors are thriving. To name the most important categories for CBEC, we can name: Cosmetic & care products Baby products Food & beverage Fashion (including luxury goods) Jewelry Shopping festivals Looking at the CBEC growth in China, we should also consider the impact of shopping festivals and how they shape the retail market. To name an example and looking at one of the most profitable events in the Chinese retail market, we can point out the November sales. This year with two shopping events, one Nov. 1-11 and Nov. 11-11, and a total turnover of 498.2 billion yuan and more than 450 brands with a turnover of over 100 million yuan. In comparison, the total turnover of Tmall 11.11 in 2019 was 268.4 billion yuan, which means a sharp increase of 85.6% this year, while last year's increase was only 25.7%. This year, the real-time turnover exceeded 372.3 billion yuan in only 30 minutes and thus exceeded last year's total. This shows us how Chinese consumers rely much more on e-commerce than before. Covid-19 and its impact on e-commerce It is a fact that COVID-19 created a difficult situation for the retail sector. The one sector which was thriving is currently facing a huge challenge, and it is predicted that it might take months or even years before the retail sector can return to pre-pandemic situation. A survey by McKinsey indicated that “the pandemic is causing some retailers to reassess their footprint and future format.” Recognizing this situation, many executives are targeting e-commerce platforms. However, amongst the pandemic situation, Chinese giant e-commerce platform, Alibaba, reported revenues for its fiscal fourth quarter increased by 22%, amounting to $16.1 billion, outperforming analysts’ predictions, reported by Alizila. Conclusion China, showing strong post-Covid recovery, presents outstanding opportunities for brands and retailers increasingly looking to expand their markets for growth. It is also reported that the pandemic has given rise to new consumer preferences and shopping habits. For example, Chinese consumers are eating healthier and putting more emphasis on health and wellness. They are also willing to invest in luxury products while taking advantage of group-buying deals. All these patterns mean increased opportunities for brands to explore. As a conclusion, we should mention that from January to February this year, China’s import and export volume of CBEC retail was RMB 17.4 billion (US$2.45 billion), up 36.7 percent year-on-year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the number reached RMB 186.2 billion (US$26.25 billion), five times that of 2015, showing an average annual growth rate of 49.5 percent, according to the official data. To learn more about Yunlong, you can visit his LinkedIn or contact him at: yunlong.wang@vikcess.com Read more from Yunlong! Yunlong Wang is apart from being the CEO & Founder of Vikcess Business Group, a VC, Writer, and Startup Coach. His main focus is on how the innovation tech changes the business and our world. He devotes most of his time to innovation management, achievement transformation to adapt to new markets, technology transfer to apply in a wide range of industries, and startup acceleration with capital support. He is playing the role of a bridge, as Vikcess does, which connects Europe and China, to pursuit communication, collaboration, opportunities, and the future.

Written by Amanda Cottrell, Author Believe! Create! Inspire! Amanda Marie Cottrell is a woman who wears many hats with a B.A in Political Science, B.Ed in elementary education, M.Ed specializing in creativity and technology, Reiki master, yoga for young children instructor, artist, mom, author, illustrator and teacher. Each day, I am grateful for my divorce! I know some of you are probably reading this thinking that lady is crazy... divorce is the worst! Well, going through a divorce is definitely not ideal, and I truly believe in doing everything you can to save your marriage. However, some marriages are not saveable, and that is okay. One of the best decisions I ever made was to get divorced. I did not know it at the time, but I was in a very unhealthy and toxic, for me, marriage, and I didn’t understand how badly that relationship was affecting my entire being. For years I thought I needed to save my marriage because of my daughter, that I needed to do everything I could to make it work for her sake. When in reality, that was the most toxic thing I could have been doing for both myself and her and her father. I went to a retreat shortly after deciding to get divorced. At the retreat, one of the councilors said to me, “ask yourself... is this healthy for me and my daughter, and if the answer is no, why are you doing it?“ That question blew my mind. I had never looked at the situation from that perspective, and from that day on, in any situation I am in, I ask myself, “Is this healthy for me and my daughter?” If the answer is yes, then I continue on that path. If the answer is “no,” then I make conscious choices to change the path and direction we are on. I wanted to model a healthy, empowered life and the “me” in my marriage was not that person. So day by day, little by little, I started doing things to empower my life. If you are at the beginning of your divorce, you are probably wondering how you are ever going to make it through. You probably have spent a few days and nights crying your eyes out and hiding in your bed. That is okay! I have been there and get that you need time to feel that pain and allow it to pass through. I have been divorced for 7 years now, and I can testify that every day gets better and easier as long as you continue to make healthy “for you” choices. Then something will come up, and you will be back in that anxious toxic “for you” space, and it will take a while to build the healthy “you” back up again. Trust me, no matter what happens, you have the power to get yourself on a healthy “for you” path. When I first separated, I lived in my aunt and uncle's basement with my 3-year-old while working full time and finishing the last few courses of my master's degree. I could not have been more scattered and scared. At the time, though, I asked myself where is the healthiest space for me and my child during this time of transition. The answer was to live at the farm for a bit. Sometimes in our lives, we are meant just to sit and be patient. I spent 8 months living in my aunt and uncle's basement, and I cherish the time we spent there. They live out on a beautiful acreage, and whenever I got stressed or too much in my head, I would head out to the garden and start weeding or out to the barns to sit with the horses. This time allowed me to reconnect to myself, finish some of my goals and have the support I needed at that time. I am grateful each day for their kindness and the experience that gave my daughter a chance to live a country life for a bit before our house was ready. Any transition in life can be difficult. I needed a lot of support during this time, and I reached out for whatever I had access to. Luckily my work had opportunities for counseling services. I went every week for a while. Then as I got healthier, I could scale back the sessions to twice a month, then once a month, then I will call when I need help again. Have I called for support again in the last 7 years? Absolutely! Having access to good therapy was one of the key tools I used to empower my life after divorce. I also began reinventing myself. Shortly after my house was ready, I started hosting art workshops to get my creative side out. This action triggered a friend to tag me in a post of someone looking for an illustrator, and I started illustrating a book, then started illustrating my own children’s books for my classroom. Four years later, I have self-published 8 children’s books. If you had told me at the start of my divorce that I would achieve what I have achieved after divorce, I would have laughed at you. I had so many feelings of regret. I was a teacher. I did not want the parents to know that I had failed at my marriage. But guess what, it made me a better teacher! Almost every year, 1/2 of the students in my class come from homes where the parents have chosen to separate. When the parents know that I have also experienced what they are going through, I cannot even tell you how many times I have been able to support parents positively that I would not have been able to do had I not gone through what I have. It also allowed me to write a children’s book called “Divorce is a D-word, Sometimes Two Separate Homes Can Be Better than One,” to help both kids and parents have a positive outlook at an uncertain time. A few years ago, a childhood friend asked me if I wished I would have married my long term boyfriend that I had before my husband. My answer was, “no, without my marriage, I would not have had my daughter. Without my divorce, I would not be able to help people the way I can now after going through what I went through.” Like I said before, “I am grateful for my divorce every day!” If you are in the beginning stages of a divorce, know with all of your heart that things will get better. Ask yourself, “what can I learn from this situation?” And start a path of learning to rebuild and reinvent yourself. Even if you take a few steps backward, you have the opportunity the next day to take steps toward your healthier and more awesome you! Follow Amanda on Facebook , Instagram , and visit her website for more info! Read more from Amanda Cottrell Amanda Cottrell, Author Believe! Create! Inspire! Amanda Marie Cottrell is a woman who wears many hats with a BA in Political Science, B.Ed in elementary education, M.Ed specializing in creativity and technology, Reiki master, yoga for young children instructor, artist, mom, author, illustrator, and teacher. She also runs an arts-based business teaching art and mindfulness workshops. As an educator of young children for over 14 years, Amanda’s passion is education and creativity. She believes that everyone has creative capacities. Her mission is to empower people by tapping into their own unique creative gifts through connection and mindfulness. Namaste!

Written by: Elle Ballard, 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. Where do we get our strength and perseverance from? Was it my music school experience that molded me into the person that I am? Did it come from a continuous strive to finish music school as soon as possible? Or did it come from my near-death experience when I was robbed and nearly killed? We are faced with so many different tests in our lives. I know God saved my life so I can create something big, something empowering, something that was never done before. Sometimes we have to start again and again anew to realize and find ourselves and who we truly are and our true purpose. There were three different intersections in my life when I had to start anew, adopting a new focus, new WHY, new meaning. Some of the situations I chose myself, others I did not, but there is always a lesson to learn. Starting from zero: Divorce I met my first love at the party, and we had a great connection right away. We were dating for a couple of years before we decided that we want to marry. It was great at the beginning, but then things started falling out of place, and then I got pregnant with my first child. I could not be happier. We had a beautiful baby girl and were part-time happy and part-time not, if I can put it this way. We had a lot of conversations about our marriage that had difficulties. The culture and the beliefs of my husband’s family turned out to be different. When my daughter was 2.5 years old, I decided to leave this marriage. By that time, I was a stay-at-home mom for a couple of years. My degree was in the English language, which I realized I pretty much lost staying at home. I had to master my English skills to be able to support myself as an interpreter/translator. That was a tough but amazing experience for me. It definitely matured me, educated me, taught me people and communication skills, and this also was the time when I adopted an attitude to get things done no matter what. Fast forward a few years, I am doing really well. I have purchased my own apartment, and I know a few government officials in the city because of my work. I am one of the key local representatives in the city that are part of the $3.2 billion crude oil system CPC (Caspian Pipeline Consortium) project that includes a 1,700km deep water marine pipeline project from Kazakhstan to Russia. Recharge, Refocus, and Thrive! Starting from zero: Relocation While working at the CPC project, I met my current husband, who, by the time we met, lived in Russia and Kazakhstan for 10 years and spoke fluent Russian. We fell in love. We dated for a couple of years. Then as our project was finishing, we decided to get married and make a move to the US. This was the second time in my life when I had to start from point zero. My first job was at Origins counter at Dillards in Memorial Mall in Houston, TX. I knew America offers many amazing opportunities, and I always wanted to be in business for myself, but I did not know what kind of business it will be or where to start from. I decided to enter an MBA program at the University of St Thomas in Houston, TX. I launched a branch of the National Association of Women MBA at the University of St. Thomas while being part of the program. I organized the chapter to further support women in business and receive more opportunities for growth and career advancement. I made great connections and acquired an amazing experience. This was also the time when I fell in love with empowering ladies and creating a community of like-minded individuals. I remember coming for an interview at COADE company; my future boss was British. Very educated, strict, but fair boss who believed in me, hired me with no experience, taught me a lot more about corporate marketing, and gave me great opportunities for my professional development. Even though he is no longer with us, he became one of the big mentors and influencers in my life. I later left that company for a better international opportunity, but this experience is one of the key corporate experiences that shaped me. This was the second time I proved myself that I achieved what I wanted and built a beautiful life for my kids and an amazing career for myself in a new country. Recharge, Refocus, and Thrive! After working at the same company for a few years, our company was acquired by another company, and the majority of us were let go. About six months before that, I started a business on the side and was honestly happy to start on a new journey. This is the third time in my life when I had to start from point zero. Starting from zero: My true calling After I said goodbye to the corporate world, I immersed myself in a personal development journey, joined the Toastmasters program, entered the John Maxwell Coaching program, and got really inspired through seeing my personal growth daily and the person I was becoming. I became passionate about discovering people's potential, developing leaders, and helping people succeed. I realized I want to build a community where we help ladies like myself who came to this country or who have been living in this country get back to their true dreams and goals, help them develop and succeed. I want every lady to know that she is unique enough, authentic enough, and has so much potential that she does not realize she does. I wanted to create a community of authenticity, empowerment, support, and diversity. This is how the Women of the World Network idea was born. This will be my third time in my life when I will have started from point zero and succeeded. My vision is definitely crystal clear, and I know I am on the right path. Recharge, Refocus and Thrive! I want you to know that no matter where you are in your life, you are unique, powerful, and needed just as you are and that you feel the support of other women on the journey. Know that we are cheering you on at Women of the World Network, we celebrate you, and honor your journey. Follow Elle on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website for more information! Elle Ballard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Elle Ballard was born in Kazakhstan and has been living in US since 2002. When Elle came to the U.S. she had to start everything from scratch while supporting her family at the same time. Elle completed her MBA in Marketing and built a successful marketing career. She left the corporate world to pursue her true passion of impacting and helping people realize their true potential. Elle is a founder of Women of the World Network, John Maxwell Team Leadership Trainer and Speaker, Entrepreneur, and a mother. Despite of all the challenges she faced, she always wanted to maintain her authenticity and who she is. This is a core reason for creating the Women of the World Network.

Written by: Kiesha King-Brown, 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. Emotional Intelligence is the primary factor in the success of your business. IQ, the intelligence quotient, prepares you to be a business owner. EQ, or emotional intelligence, makes you a successful business owner long-term. More than 90% of top performers have above-average emotional intelligence . Emotional Intelligence is the ability to influence emotional behavior in yourself and others, and…it can make or break your business. EQ encompasses the mastery to recognize, perceive, interpret, understand and manage emotions. Emotional Intelligence allows you to be more self-aware, make better decisions, successfully lead through conflict, collaborate, and communicate effectively. And it’s a skill that can be developed. Psychologist, Daniel Goleman, focuses on emotional intelligence with five pillars: 1. Self-Awareness Good understanding of your own emotions and how they impact others. Not easily offended, takes feedback as learnings. 2. Self-Regulation Doesn’t suppress emotions, uses best judgment and control when expressing them. Thinks before acting. 3. Internal Motivation Generally optimistic, not driven by money, titles, or social acceptance. Seeks personal development. 4. Empathy High degree of compassion and understanding for others. Responds to the needs of others. 5. People Skills Easily builds rapport and trust that is genuine. Good at building networks and managing relationships. Emotional intelligence is responsible for 58% of people’s job performance . Businesses with a high emotional intelligence culture outsell those with low EQ. This is because emotional intelligence is key in building relationships with customers and in increasing customer retention. Emotional intelligence increases the ability to read and better understand customer emotions. Emotional intelligence enables sales teams to deal with uncomfortable situations, negotiate with confidence, and handle sudden changes in processes or environment. The ability to understand and manage emotions better also makes both sales teams and business owners more likely to be perceived as sincere and trustworthy. Having brand perception tied to trust and continuing to improve emotional intelligence as a business is important now more than ever. The way a business interacts with customers, builds relationships, adjusts strategy to meet needs, and leans into development for the owner and the team, will strongly influence its success during this uncertain time. It will also influence how the business is positioned versus its competitors once the economy rebounds. Leveraging emotional intelligence as part of the strategy, can give the business a competitive advantage. Add emotional intelligence to your personal strategy to impact your business with: Active Listening Listen more than you talk with employees, vendors, partners, and customers. Rephrase what you hear to ensure alignment. Communication Communicate to grow genuine relationships that accelerate growth in the business. Use a questions-based approach. Communicate with presence but in a non-threatening way. Seek to understand through communication. Self-Development Make learning a priority and lead by example in continued personal growth. Get coaching on key skills to improve self-awareness and accelerate the business. Differentiated Consulting partners with businesses to reinvent strategy that includes EQ as applicable, reposition the business for the new normal, and relaunch to accelerate growth. For more info, follow Kiesha on Facebook , LinkedIn and visit her website ! Read more from Kiesha ! Kiesha King-Brown, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kiesha King-Brown is an experienced Business Executive that partners to help small business owners accelerate growth with strategic, AI-enhanced consulting so they can spend more time working on the business than in the business and spend more time doing the things they enjoy. She has an MBA in Management, BSBA in Marketing and holds certifications in Consulting and Executive Coaching. She draws her inspiration from 20 years of experience at Fortune 200 companies in Executive Leadership and HR positions helping leaders build strategies, enhance development, and grow their business. Kiesha is the author of "Differentiated Leadership ," an Advisory Board Member for a Talent Management SaaS company, and Chief Relationship Development Officer for a Business Development SaaS company.

Written by: Melia Diana, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise . We live in a fallen world. More than ever, we need something greater than our worries, doubts, and fears. Friends , do you feel stuck in your pain? Are you a believer but not living out your faith? Do you think your life has no purpose, meaning, or value? Are you out of options? By far, this year has been a year of disorder, chaos, and confusion. What if I can tell you there is another way. Would you listen? Would you believe with your heart, mind, and soul that there is something greater than your thoughts? Your feelings? Your fears and insecurities? What if you knew to defeat complacency of the worldly customs? The enemy’s schemes? What if you can gain better clarity of emotions and behavior patterns affecting your relationships? Or have the faith to push through mountains? Sounds pretty good, right ? The truth is most people lack accountability and avoid detoxification to get truly healthy in all areas of their lives. Why ? Ultimately it takes faith, hard work, and trust without seeing what lies ahead. We are told to believe God without seeing Him. To trust the process because He knows what’s best for us. “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29 NLT). This is why God sacrificed His son, Jesus, so we can have an intimate relationship with Him. A faith in God through a Vertical Relationship and be changed by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. To lean on Him during trials and tribulations. To be at peace with Him when those storms come twirling in. God says, “I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give” (John 14:27). Yet, so many of us are still running around frantic, not knowing Jesus as our Savior and Healer. Many often think temporary illusions of happiness will grant them peace and stability. We would rather live a life that is pleasing to ourselves and not God. We would rather be a people pleaser than a God pleaser. I agree with God as He clarifies this message for us, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of others, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Galatians 2:6 NLT). We pick and choose what commandments we wish to follow. We think material objects and money provide long-lasting happiness. We like to believe that a job status is what makes us superior. We want to control. We justify and put up defensive walls avoiding the harsh reality. We want everything handed to us on a silver platter. We want a quick-fix. The truth is, most people are full of selfishness, fear, ego, and manipulated by the devil antics. I say this not to belittle or attack, but to share with you that God’s Word is alive and real. That he is our source. Know this: the devil will do whatever it can to stop you from having a deep kinship with Jesus. To keep you extremely busy, you don’t have the energy or time to spend time with Him. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our messes and ourselves that we miss the point. We miss out on what God is doing behind the scenes. To the naked eye, we can only assume our own interpretations at a surface level. Getting right with God takes legitimate effort. No, this walk is not easy. Most people abandon ship before they truly give it a real try. The moment things get hard… replays of old, worn-out patterns and toxic mindsets set it, and conformity happens. In order to be changed by Him, we have to follow Him. Allow God to do His thing! Do you have genuine faith? People say they believe yet don’t prove it with their actions. God says, “You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete” (James 2:22 NLT). I was not always a Christian. For most of my life, I ran around completely oblivious to God’s Word yet still called myself a Christian. Find out in Vertical Relationship: 4 Steps to Salvation & Getting Right with God the steps I took to follow Him completely. The painful lessons I learned to embrace and what the Lord desires me to teach others. The Lord has been prepping me my entire life to fulfill my God’s given destiny. My pain was used for a purpose. A mess into a message for someone else. How amazing is that? Is God trying to get your attention? What’s it going to take for you to listen? He will do as He sees fit. As scary as that sounds, friends, He did this to me! Find out the goliath steps of faith I took to follow him wholeheartedly. This step shook me to my core in a place I was emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually stuck (Discover more in my book). Bless someone with a Christmas present that will change a life. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! Start the New Year off with a fresh perspective! Let the Lord transform your heart, mind, and soul. Get stronger in your faith. Enhance wisdom through my brokenness. Know God loves you - that no pain is wasted and can be used to glorify His Kingdom. The Lord wants more for you. To live a more abundant life and know His truth. God desires us to live a life of peace, purpose, and love. You are the only one getting in the way of that… believe without seeing! Starting pre-order now for December 15th, 2020. Blessings xo Follow me on Instagram , Facebook and check out my website and YouTube-channel ! Read more from Melia! Melia Diana, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melia is an International Best-Selling Author, Certified Christian Counselor, and Relationship & Dating Coach specializing in inner healing transformation. She has spent over 13 years in the medical & fitness field, as a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and Certified ACSM Personal Trainer helping people through her passion for delivering attainable and solid goals. But it doesn’t stop there! Melia’s extensive certifications and background led her to utilize her faith, knowledge, experience and personal development to brand and design her own Signature Coaching Programs. She developed a unique methodology to help clarify the missing links and identify core root problems hindering God’s best. With a godly approach, she helps Christian women to break all barriers and have loving relationships they’ve always desired. She is a faith-based Author of Vertical Relationship: 4 Steps To Salvation & Getting Right With God and International Best-Seller Overcomer: Redeemed Masterpiece, where she wrote “7 Keys To Finally Have a Godly Man.” God’s mission for Melia, is to help lost souls find their true identity in Christ & restore broken relationships through an inner healing transformation journey, guided by the Holy Spirit. Her empathetic approach encourages others for growth, wisdom, and a stronger mindset for a more abundant & fruitful life.

Written by: Viloshni Moodley, 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 is upon us, the Festive Season. We must be glad and rejoice that we have made it to this point in the year. 2020 has been a year like no other. Lives have been impacted in many ways, from the dreaded coronavirus, to the loss of family members, jobs, and need I add more. Relationships have taken strain. Through all the negative that has taken place, there is a glimmer of hope coming up in the festive season. The Festive Season begins at the end of November, even though malls and stores have all the Christmas cheer going on from a month or two earlier to capture the retail sales. This period lasts up until early January. It is the time of year to spread love and cheer. The holiday season is awfully expensive and can bring about pressure on relationships as it is a time that families usually come together. This time of year, your finances can leave you smiling or miserable. This leads to a lot of fights and a breakdown of communication. It is time we see family interacting with one another and coming together to celebrate. This is also the perfect time to gift your loved ones, do not be shy about it. It can be something handmade or even baked cookies. The point is Christmas is about giving more than getting. It is still that time to express love and care for people that are special in your life. Many will have a different appreciation for the festive season after all that was endured during the year and the uncertainty that emerged. During the festive season, relationships can benefit from romance and bring couples closer to one another. Spending time together can do wonders for your overall wellbeing. Being creative when spending time with your partner can bring a huge smile to your face. Some ideas for making the Festive Season interesting and fun are listed below. 1. Decorate the Christmas Tree together – Plan this evening and make it special. 2. Prepare a dinner that you both can enjoy by candlelight. You can surprise your partner with a special personalized ornament that you can either buy or make. 3. Most males are not into shopping, however visiting Christmas Markets could be a relaxing activity that you both can enjoy the ambiance, food, drink and of course, each other’s company. 4. Breakfast in bed – spoil each other with breakfast in bed. This can be a great way to reduce tension by showing appreciation and affection. 5. Getting creative in the kitchen – get some holiday baking done together. Include a bottle of champagne, an apron only if you dare, and add some playfulness with some good old family or holiday recipes. Have some romantic music or Christmas carols playing if you wish. 6. Create an Advent Calendar for your special person - you can keep it simple with heartfelt messages put together for every day. If you feel you are not creative to do that, send a special message electronically every day. If you want to spoil your partner a bit more, you can get a gift for each day – this can range from chocolate to vouchers for a hug, kiss, homemade dinner, or an at-home spa treatment for every day. You can add suspense to the spoils by hiding the gift in different areas and provide fun clues or activities that need to be completed for them to crack the location. 7. Movie Night – pop on a romantic Christmas movie with some tantalizing snacks. 8. Spend extra time in bed and introduce some foreplay as you wake up. Let it be an introduction to what is to come later in the day. 9. Allow the mood to develop with some naughty messages during the day to help unfold the main event to come later (and that can be anything that you wish it to be). 10. Initiate a date night later in the evening, which could be a picnic under the stars with a home-cooked meal and a bottle of bubbly. 11. If you're fortunate enough to live on the coast, take a walk on the beach with your partner and add some fun like splashing in the surf. It will be a fun way to escape the house and get some fresh air. 12. Plan a mini-vacay or a long road trip, a change of scenery can do wonders to bringing back the romance. 13. Play some music at home and dance together – it will surely change the mood. It is all about intent and creativity; you do not need to break the bank to make these activities add the meaning you want them to have. A bit of creativity and love can bring back cheer and romance into your life. Try some foreplay ideas, new positions, or even fantasies. Let your imagination run wild. Sex is one sure way to reignite the spark in a flatlined, boring relationship that is struggling to get going. It is time to make the most of the holiday season with no alarm clocks and to-do lists. You are in control to remove the pressure and monotony from your life. It is time to change the script with some spin on fun activities. Keep safe and happy during the festive season, and be sure to use the season to rekindle the romance in your relationship. For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Viloshni! Viloshni Moodley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Viloshni Moodley is an accredited Sexpert practicing as an Online Intimacy Coach. She is the founder and owner of Ultimacy Online, since leaving her over 25 years of management experience within Corporate. Her passion for empowering individuals with positive sex education and breaking the negative conditioning cycle has influenced her change in career path. She believes relationships are the most important factor to overall well being and thus passionate about making a change to ensure people have more fulfilling relationships. Having a happy, healthy relationship provides balance in individuals and couples. Her work specializes in coaching individuals or couples who wish to achieve certain goals in the bedroom and short courses in different areas of sexuality.

Written by: Serena Fordham , 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. Imagine this, you are driving along, and something in your engine goes bang!! Instead of taking it straight to a mechanic, you spend hours, days, weeks, and months trying to fix it yourself and, after being without a car and having to pay to use public transport, in the end, you have to decide to either take it to a professional, or the scrap yard. So, in this situation, what would you do differently? TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC TO BEGIN WITH SO YOU CAN GET IT BACK ON THE ROAD ASAP, OF COURSE!! Well, this story isn't uncommon. Many female small business owners I speak to do exactly this with their business. They slow up (or even stop) because they cannot work out how to fix or progress a part of their business, and instead of seeking a business professional for training, coaching, or support, they struggle for months, years, and sometimes decades, trying to solve the problem themselves. And then one day, after wasting lots of time and money (and in the meantime not progressing their business at all), they have to decide to either go to the professional or close their business for good. SO, THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS: INVEST IN TRAINING, INVEST IN COACHING, INVEST IN SUPPORT - INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS. Ultimately, if you don't, you and your business will struggle and might have to close its doors one day! Because many women start a business from a passion or hobby, most don't have the business skills, knowledge, and experience needed to make it survive, develop and grow, so even though they are SUPER TALENTED at what they do. They often have NO IDEA how to run a business. Why: If you feel poorly, you visit a Doctor. If you need a (proper) haircut, you go to a hair salon. If you want an extension built on your house, you ask a builder. BUT, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU INSIST ON TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS YOURSELF??? There are so many things you can struggle within business (including accounts, sales, marketing, finance, social media, wellbeing, mindset, networking, promotion, PR, etc., etc.), and seeking help with these will 100% ensure your business survives and thrives (especially during current times!). So, instead of suffering in silence, start achieving and succeeding by asking for support, doing training, and outsourcing before your business (car) is forced to STOP RUNNING FOR GOOD. It's time to switch that thought process that spending money to progress your business is an expense. Investing in your business is essential to drive it forwards (excuse the pun!) and prevent you from wasting more time and money in the long-term. The decision on what road your business takes is yours, so make it wisely. Take the wheel and find out how HER Business Revolution can support you at www.herbusinessrevolution.biz . Follow Serena on Facebook ! Read more from Serena! Serena Fordham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Serena is an expert Business Strategist, Growth/Development and Empowerment Mentor to Female Entrepreneurs, as well as a best-selling Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, and successful multiple Business Owner. Her main passion is offering business strategies, support, and empowerment to ambitious and high vibe business women both locally and internationally – through HER Business Revolution at www.herbusinessrevolution.biz . She is also known for her organization skills through owning Glow Virtual Assistants and for her support of women and child-related charities (also founding two charitable initiatives – Mums Empowerment Movement and SociaBubble)

Written by: Jacqueline Walters, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We are entering one of the most beautiful times of the year. However, for most of us, the holiday season can also be one of the most stressful times of the year as well. And for those who are already struggling to manage their weight, these events can heighten the frustration. That’s why I put together my 7 Simple Tips to navigate holiday eating and avoid the average 7-10 pound weight gain over the next 6 weeks. Holiday meals are meant to be enjoyed, just like they are designed for us to enjoy our loved ones during these special occasions. Similar to the way most of us have to navigate certain family members with a game plan during these events, I find it easier to have a game plan to navigate holiday meals as well. I find it centers and grounds me so I can remember who's in control while heading into an experience where typically, in the past, I wouldn't have been mindful or considered myself “in control” of my actions at all! It just takes small changes, slowly over time. So here are my 7 Simple Tips to consider before we enter this 2020 holiday season; 1. It’s all about WATER! Water is always my number one weight loss or weight-management tip. It's so easy to focus on adding something into your diet rather than trying to eliminate something. The typical water goal is half your weight in ounces. With any event, especially holidays, I always focus on drinking water consistently throughout the day. Bring a water bottle with you to the event and drink throughout, as this will make you feel naturally more full and prevent overeating. If you are drinking alcohol, alternate between one alcoholic drink and then one glass of water to ensure you don't get dehydrated and can still keep your water goal top of mind. 2. DON'T starve yourself in anticipation! This is such an important tip to remember. Don't starve yourself all day in anticipation of overeating. This sets you up to fail. If your health & weight loss is important to you, then look at this meal as a regular dinner with just more indulgent options. All of which you can definitely eat and still lose weight. You just have to be conscious and figure out how to make that work for you. It's all about grounding yourself and becoming aware of your surroundings in anything you do in life, not just weight loss. So make sure to eat a regular healthy breakfast and lunch if you know you're going to indulge at dinner. By eating throughout the day before attending a holiday dinner, you set yourself for success and stay on your weight loss goals. It's so much easier to stay focused on your goals and to listen to your body's cues when you aren't starving! 3. Don’t Hang out by the Food Tables Be conscious of your environment. A really easy tip to follow is to not hang out around the snack and food tables. There is so much food we mindlessly eat prior to sitting down to the main holiday meal (it's how these events are designed). To combat this by just bringing this to your awareness. Make a plate of the snacks that look good to you, then sit down and eat it while connecting with family. Don’t choose a spot that's in arms reach of more snacks to mindlessly start munching on because this is how we easily finish a full bag of chips without even realizing we did! I’ve been there before...it’s normal because we are human! So don’t be ashamed; just start being more aware of this habit and the triggers. 4. Make a PLAN to Indulge Going into the event with a plan to indulge is the best way of avoiding mindless and overeating. There are so many tasty and delicious traditional foods at a holiday meal. But just because it's there...doesn't mean you will enjoy it. Have a plan, and think ahead of time about what you really want to indulge in. For me, that's stuffing! I'm not a huge mashed potato fan, so why would I "overdo it" on something I won't even enjoy. It's that simple. A great strategy is to decide what foods you want to have (the ones you will REALLY enjoy) and skip the ones that don't appeal to you. Get focused, and make a plan for what you really want, and then100% indulge and enjoy without the guilt or shame! Remember, it’s important to just move on the next day and stop the cycle of overindulging before it becomes a pattern. 5. CONTRIBUTE to the Meal Take back your control! Whether you are asked to or not, contribute to the meal by bringing something you made yourself and have control over what's in it. Follow me on social media (links below) for some of my simple weight loss swaps & hacks and get creative with a delicious but healthy (or healthier) version of a typical holiday dish. Therefore you know you have at least one thing on the spread that you can enjoy AND is good for you too. I love to bring my ‘Sexy Pecan Salad’ to contribute to holiday meals, but what about a variety of roasted fall veggies? Or a simple veggie tray to bring along with you? There are always so many decadent dishes and desserts at these meals or brought by other guests. People will thank you for bringing something healthy to the meal, opposed to another platter of cookies! *email me for the ‘Sexy Pecan Salad’ recipe! 6. Be Prepared for "Food Pushers" and Comments on your Weightloss Journey, & Stay Confident in Your Choices! The holidays are all about family and food. But most of us see love in food. Quite often, our loved ones will use food as their way of showing love and support, especially during the holiday season. When we are going through a weight loss journey, this can be especially difficult and confusing to navigate. Focus on not letting the food pushers bother you. Be prepared for it, and just decide they won't bother you! When you decide what you want for yourself and start taking action towards it, it's that much easier to stand confident in your choices and find your true inner strength. And by the way, it feels AMAZING when you find it! THIS is alignment. But it takes practice, so be patient. Say no thanks to grandma, who keeps trying to get you to fill your plate or go for seconds. Ignore whatever family member is teasing you about not skipping dessert after noticing your weight loss journey and the changes you are making. Ignore all the phrases like "Are you really going to eat that? I thought you were trying to lose weight?" and "Can you eat that on your diet??". Stay true to what you want, and use the art of distraction and change the topic and move on from the food talk. This gets easier the more you do it, so I encourage you to just try it. 7. Listen to Your Body Our bodies ALWAYS know what we need. And it's actually trying to tell you all the time. The problem is, our society doesn't highlight or value taking that time we need to pause and really listen to our bodies. And no one ever teaches you how to even do this. We need to stop, pause and really tap into what your body is trying to tell you. And then, give it what it needs! If you can actively tap into yourself and really figure out what it's telling you, then you will really see weight loss success, but more importantly, FREEDOM! Through the hustle and chaos of holiday events and dinners, take time to bring yourself back to your body and if it's hungry, EAT! If it's not, then stop eating. It can be that simple. Just because it's on your plate and only served at this holiday meal-you can still leave it off your plate. There will be so many holidays in the future, and you are someone who values and honors your body. My advice is to just try it one time. Because once you do it one time, you prove to yourself you're capable of it, and therefore the only truth left is YOU are in control. Final Thoughts; Stay focused, calm, and present this holiday season as MUCH as possible. If you don’t even try, you won’t have a chance. So get uncomfortable and do something new this year. Change doesn’t come from your comfort zone, and if what you have been doing in the past hasn’t been working for you, then it’s time to try something NEW. Just give yourself love and compassion as you navigate this special time of year in a new way. YOU GOT THIS! For more information, follow Jackie on Facebook, Instagram and visit her website, or join her Facebook-Community! Read more from Jackie! Jacqueline Walters, Pn1 Certified, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jacqueline is an Intuitive Health & Weight Loss Coach with entrepreneurship in her blood. From the start, Jacqueline focused on building a professional career in the commercial recreation and fitness industry. Ironically, while struggling to balance being a new mom and her career, Jacqueline realized her own physical and mental health had taken a back seat. The effects were damaging, and she could see the negative impacts on her two young daughters. It was then she decided to wake up, and take control of her health. After finding weight loss & weight maintenance success through creating unique systems, concepts, and tools along her own health journey, she is now on the mission to share and serve humanity through her intuitive approach and personalized methods. Her passion is helping overwhelmed and stressed out busy entrepreneurial moms, just like herself.

Written by: Diana Noble, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When growing up, I distinctly remember if I learned a word for the first time, suddenly I would hear it everywhere. As an adult, I’ve discovered this isn’t something isolated to my experience alone. It’s actually known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon (AKA frequency illusion). Little did I know at the tender age of 8 that this was actually a thing. The older I got, the more I noticed this coincidental occurrence popping up in other areas of my life. When my parents bought a Pontiac Sunfire when I was 11, all of a sudden, I noticed Pontiac Sunfires everywhere as if it was the only type of vehicle anyone drove on the road. I’m sure you’ve noticed this kind of experience– also referred to as selective attention – in your life too, where suddenly your awareness plays a huge part in what you consciously see around you. That’s exactly how I feel about one specific word that has been beating me over the head at every turn in 2020. That word? Consistency! In every workshop I’ve attended, presentation I’ve watched, or training seminar I’ve been to, the word “consistency” has reared its ugly head as a bit of a wake-up call to this self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur. Even my own Coach uttered these 4 syllables to me when we first began working together earlier this year. As someone with a touch of ADHD who has bounced from one idea to the next for the last decade of being in business, consistency is one of those elusive ideals I’ve previously shied away from until now. Not because I don’t believe in it, but instead as a defense mechanism used to prevent myself from getting too bored. The fact is, though, that consistency is the one ingredient that will take your business from wherever it is now to wherever you want it to be in the future, and that logic can’t be denied. This one ideal will bring results to your business (and life) like none else. If you already knew that, just consider this a bit of a refresher. Ever wonder why subscription boxes are so popular? (You mean I don't have to think about what I need to make for dinner 4 nights a week because it just comes to my door every Monday? I'm in!) It’s all about consistency! Here's 4 reasons why you need to add the word “consistency” to your vocabulary and daily practice if you’re a business owner: 1. When you consistently show up, your customers/clients know what to expect. When you consistently deliver efficient products and services, people praise you. This is so important in business. Nothing can ruin a reputation more than unmet customer expectations. In this day and age where anyone can add a review to your Facebook page or give you a 1-star rating on Google at the click of a button, you want to make sure your customers are happy and being consistent in your business when it comes to serving the people who keep it going is huge! 2. Being consistent saves time, and in business, we all know time is money. When you get really good at doing what you do because you do it consistently each time, those tasks and workflows become part of your autopilot, meaning less time and energy are needed. This frees up your resources so you can focus on growing your business. 3. Consistency allows you to have a basis of measurement. For example, if you’re testing out a new system but the actions aren’t performed consistently, how will you ever know if your new methods work? Short answer – you won’t! 4. There’s a psychological component of consistency when it comes to accountability. If people rely on your consistent performance, you sure don’t want to let them down. Just like that subscription box – if your customers expect it to be delivered on Monday, then you better make sure they get their box on Monday. Accountability is doing what you say you’re going to do, and it’s really hard to do that without being consistent. And, when you consistently take out the trash every Wednesday night, your wife doesn't secretly curse you Thursday morning when she hears the garbage truck roll by your house NOT taking your garbage. Okay, I admit, that was a personal example (love you hunni!), but it is another anecdotal demonstration of how important consistency is as a whole, in life and business! The question you have to ask yourself is, are you consistent or consistently inconsistent? If it’s the latter, then find one area of your business where you can make improvements and take it one small step at a time. Remember, a million small steps turn into one giant leap over time. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Diana Noble, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Diana Noble is a serial entrepreneur quadrupling as an ICF Certified Business and Leadership Coach & Consultant. Having owned and operated 5 businesses in the past decade, one of which sold in 2019 and the other 4 she still runs today, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience in business and now helps other business owners take a 360° view of their business to address gaps between where they are and where they want to be. As a community business leader, she has been recognized for many awards including Top 40 under 40, Top 50 under 50, Woman of Inspiration, Outstanding Media Services Award and many others. She has a multi-faceted approach to business and leadership, and clients who work with her feel like they, too, can take on the world! Through her own actions, she has proven that if you want something badly enough, you CAN have it, and she is incredibly passionate about helping entrepreneurs and leaders realize the same.