Written by: Snježana “Ana” Billian, 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 Ranked on Inc.’s listing of the Top 50 Leadership and Management Experts in the world, and 1 on Huffington Post’s 12 Business Speakers to See, Steve Farber is a bestselling author, popular keynote speaker, and a seasoned leadership coach and consultant who has worked with a vast array of public and private organizations in virtually every arena. Farber is the former Vice President of legendary management guru Tom Peters’ company and is the founder and CEO of The Extreme Leadership Institute—an organization devoted to helping its clients develop award-winning cultures and achieve radical results. The Institute’s team has helped over 25 companies earn a ranking on the Best Places to Work list. Farber’s third book, Greater Than Yourself, debuted as a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller. His second book, The Radical Edge, was hailed as “a playbook for harnessing the power of the human spirit.” And his first book, The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership, was named one of the 100 Best Business Books of All Time. His much-anticipated new book, Love Is Just Damn Good Business, published by McGraw-Hill, has been featured on Wharton radio and The World Economic Forum website and has been listed by Book Authority as one of the top business strategy books of 2020. Farber is a member of the exclusive Transformational Leadership Council, and his column, The Extreme Leadership Chronicles, frequently runs on Inc.com. You've been named one of the best leadership experts in the world. A well-deserved title, considering your unconventional approach to leadership: for example, in your book Love Is Just Damn Good Business, you write about the importance of love in the workplace. That's not something we talk about in business a lot, especially not at the C-level. How do CEOs and other high-level leaders react when you talk to them about love? Well, first, we must be clear on what I don't mean by it. When you say "love in the workplace," that could imply that you're talking about romance in the workplace. That's not what I mean. I'm not saying everybody at work should date each other and fall in love. "Love" is a very big word. It means different things to different people. But, in the context of business, we're not accustomed to saying the word in the same sentence as "business." I've been teaching love as a business practice for quite some time, and I teach it to the most hardcore businesspeople from environments that would typically go, "No, we don't want to talk about that." Here's what I do mean by "love in the workplace" and why it makes sense for every business. It all starts with the customer. Without customers, you have no business, right? When we talk about love at work, it all starts with the notion that you need your customers or clients to love what you do for them, plain and simple. If your customer doesn't love your product or service, they have no reason to continue doing business with you. They can find a similar offer somewhere else, maybe even for less money. But, if they love your brand and the impact your product or service has on their lives, that's where your competitive advantage comes from as a business. How do you make that happen for a customer? How do you make a customer love you? I've been doing this work for 30 years now, and what I've seen is that the only way to make that consistently happen for customers is to create an environment that people love working in. If I don't love working here, how am I supposed to create that experience for my customer? And, as a leader, I can't inspire that kind of culture unless I have it myself first. If I don't love my employees, customers, and career, then it's difficult for me to create an environment that other people will love to inhabit. So, it all becomes personal very quickly. It's a powerful business principle, as long as we put it into practice. One thing that stood out for me while reading your book is that you make love so tangible. You even came up with a formula for how to define love in the workplace. Can you tell us more about that? Actually, there are many different ways to look at it and multiple formulas in the book. I'll talk about the one that I think you're referring to, which is: Kindness + high standards = love at work. In other words, sometimes people get a little bit nervous about the idea of love in business because they think it means trying to make everyone happy all the time, without any format standards. If that were the case, the leader would make decisions that people like instead of decisions that are important for the business. That's not what love at work is about. On the contrary, this is about raising standards. What I'm suggesting is that we need to hold people accountable to ensure they do great work. Sometimes you have people who are in the wrong job, and sometimes you need to let them go. Does that mean you don't love them? No. You could love them and know they'd be happier somewhere else, but you can do that with kindness. Anything that we need to do that may be unpopular in business can be done with kindness. When we combine kindness with high expectations and high standards, we create the kind of environment people love. People love being part of a team that wants to do great work. They want to grow, be challenged, and take risks. They want to change the world, even if it's just a small piece of the world. That means we have to hold ourselves to a very high standard of performance. The more we can do that with kindness, the more productive people will be. That's one formula. What's the other formula? The other formula is also the subtitle of my book, Love Is Just Damn Good Business, which is: Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do. In fact, the book is structured around those three sections: Do what you love In the service of people Who love what you do Doing what you love is the foundation for this formula. It's your personal connection to your work. But it's not enough just to do what you love, because, frankly, if that's all you're concerned about, then it doesn't matter how it impacts anybody else. That's called narcissism, and that's not what we're talking about. It's about doing what you love to serve others and positively impacting your customers, employees, colleagues, and community. When you provide such a degree of value to others, it results in them reciprocating—they love you in return. That's when your customers will say they love doing business with you and when your employees will say they love working with you. It's not about love as a sentiment; it's about love as a practice and discipline. And, of course, the book addresses questions like What should love look like in the way we work? How do we operationalize it as a business? What I've learned from you is that one way to operationalize love as a business is through a concept you call an OS!M. In your book, you write that leaders actually can't be leaders without pursuing their OS!Ms. Can you explain what you mean by that? What's an OS!M, and why is it so important? The OS!M stands for the Oh Shit! Moment. We've all had experiences where we step up to do something and we have to take risks. And, even though we might be wholly committed to it, it's scary. The Oh Shit! Moment is a combination of the fear and exhilaration that comes along with doing something significant while trying something new. You have that moment when you find yourself saying, "Oh shit, I can't believe I'm doing this!" You probably experienced an OS!M when you took on a new opportunity, or maybe before you got up in front of a group to make a presentation, or when you had a difficult but necessary conversation with somebody. The challenge with the OS!M is that we tend to interpret it as a sign that something is wrong. And sometimes it is, but in the right context, the OS!M is a sign that something is right. It means we're putting ourselves out there. When we combine the OS!M with the practice of love, we get an interesting dynamic because love is the motivator that brings us to step up to the OS!M. It could be love for a cause we believe in, love for the clients we're serving, or love for the great future we can create together. In some ways, the OS!M is what love can feel like in action. Operationalizing love as a business practice is not all hearts and flowers. It can be very challenging and scary. And I would even go as far as to say if you're not feeling scared at all while putting these things into practice, you're probably not doing it. This is counterintuitive for many people, but when you push it to the point that it scares you a little bit, now you're in the game. You'll love it so much that you're ready to do it, even if it's scary. This is so powerful. It's the love that makes the fear of doing something new worthwhile. What's an Oh Shit! Moment you've had lately? I've had significant OS!Ms throughout my career. Lately, my OS!Ms tend to involve publishing. Anytime I publish a new book, I have an Oh Shit! Moment, because writing a book is very much an internal process. I'll write a paragraph and say to myself, "That's a damn good paragraph." But the general public doesn't respond to it until it gets published. This is my fourth book, and whenever a book goes to market, it's an Oh Shit! Moment. Although it lasts more than a moment—it's more like an Oh Shit! Month. Now, that's a surprise. All your books have terrific reviews. Your first book, The Radical Leap, was named one of the 100 best business books of all time, and Love Is Just Damn Good Business was listed as one of the best business strategy books of 2020. And you still feel scared when you publish a new book? Even if I've had a success, there have been OS!Ms along the way. I'm sure there are people reading this who have had a book inside them for a long time, but they haven't done anything with it. If you're one of those people, ask yourself why you haven't committed it to paper or submitted it to a publisher. The only answer you get back from yourself is: Because I'm scared of the rejection. I'm scared of failure. If that's the only reason you're not taking the next step, then that's the reason you should do it. And this is coming from a guy who's written several books that have done pretty well. I have that OS!M, too. It's perfectly natural, and we all experience it. It's just that some of us hide it better, and, depending on our proficiencies in certain areas, it can look easy to other people. How can we make the Oh Shit! Moment feel less scary? I'll give you an example. Many years ago, I was invited to speak to a group of 300 surgeons in the United States. Right before I went on stage, the host running the conference that year said to me, "You know, we're delighted to have you here. I just want you to understand that you're about to speak to 300 of the biggest egos you've ever met. And if they don't like you, they'll make that determination pretty quickly and likely you'll have people that will get up and leave." That looks like an Oh Shit! Moment to me. Fortunately, I got along with them pretty well. They had the same, I guess, twisted sense of humor that I do. It suddenly occurred to me then that the OS!M is completely relative. To me, cutting people open is the most terrifying prospect I can imagine, but that's not the case for these 300 surgeons. To these guys, the most terrifying thing that most of them could imagine was standing up in front of 300 of the biggest egos they've ever met, talking to them with the fear of rejection. For me, it was great fun. One person's Oh Shit! Moment is another person's happy moment. Thank you for sharing these personal challenges with us. As we approach the end of this conversation, I'd like to ask one final question: Who is Steve Farber when he is not consulting C-level leaders and talking about leadership on stage? Thank you, that's a wonderful question. For me, there's not much of a difference between what you're experiencing right now and who I am, because this is who I am. But in terms of what I do and how I occupy my time, I'm a family guy. My wife and I have six kids between us, ranging in age from 25 to 42. I've been a family guy since I was a young man, and I raised teenagers for 25 straight years. I love my family. I love my friends. I love people. There's nothing more joyful to me than hanging out with dearly beloved friends and family. Nowadays, I don't get to do any of that other than through Zoom, and I'm getting a little antsy about that. I'm also a musician. I've been playing guitar, singing, and writing songs since I was 13 years old, which was a long time ago. When I put all these together, there is nothing better for me than playing music with friends. I'm a believer in people, and I've been fortunate to be able to create a career that allows me to bring my true nature into what I do. And I believe that all of us have that opportunity, whatever career we're in. To learn more about Steve Farber, his work and his mission, visit: www.stevefarber.com. Make sure to check out the Love Is Just Damn Good Business Podcast in which Steve and his guests share proven strategies and practical lessons on how to build team cultures based on love—the ultimate competitive advantage. For more information about Snjezana Ana Billian, visit her website and connect with her on LinkedIn & Instagram! Read more from Ana!

Arna van Goch is a business automations coach. She helps 5 figure entrepreneurs hit 6 figures by streamlining their businesses and strategies to work less & earn more. Over her own entrepreneurial journey, she has worked with online businesses to land 6 figure contracts and supported businesses reaching 7 figures. Besides working online, she has an avid passion for travel, energy work and awesome Netflix series like Next in Fashion. You are an inspiring entrepreneur and known as a business automations coach, which is an interesting title. Can you tell the readers more about that and the work that you do?  Indeed! I sometimes think that these terms can be misleading. When people think automation, they immediately tend to think of emails or sales, and that's not always the case. When I say I'm a business automations coach, I mean to say that I am the person you go to when you want to make sure that your business is running as best as it can be. We do look at automations in sales and emails, but also we look at numbers, at efficiency and even at what you can outsource to make your life easier for you. My signature program says it best: Step Into Your CEO. By following this program, my clients are able to start to detach from the admin side of things and actually start to look at a brighter, more exciting future.  What led you into business automation, and how come you have a passion for this?  I'm very lucky that I was exposed to entrepreneurship from a young age. My parents owned their own business, and as I grew up and technology changed, I was able to apply it into their business to make it run smoother, so you could say that automations have always been in my blood. It took me a while to get to the point where I was able to embrace my gift- before I turned business automations coach I was in administration and social media management. I think it's important to add here- I'm glad it took a rollercoaster ride to get me to where I am today. I have learned so many skills, seen so much of the world, and experienced so much over my short lifetime that I am able to bring into my coaching, it's truly been an honor and pleasure to be alive today!  Automations play a role if you want to scale your business, but one thing people might wonder is how to make automations more human-based and personal.  Do you have any specific tips on this?  That's a great question. This of course is when we're talking about front-end automations. Personally, I believe that using custom fields etc is the best way to bring in a sense of personalized automation. Did you know that today, 50% of website users are upset when websites aren't personalized? Isn't that interesting? Consider this: when I go buy my specialized eco-shampoo, I want them to remember me, offer me a discount code, and remember which shampoo I like. I want them to email me to remind me to stock up because it's roughly about time that my shampoo has run out.  The same goes for the latest chatbot building program I'm learning. I want them to remember where I last left off, to remind me when I haven't logged in to the course for a while, and to send me updates to the course.  This kind of personalization is key to building an automated relationship with your customer, and this takes some strategic thinking on your part! This is why I love using tools like Active Campaign and others to ensure that we are able to build an ever-more personalized experience for our clients. What kind of automation would you say are the most important ones to have?  Knowing your numbers. In my Step Into Your CEO course, we talk about how we can automatically track our digits. And I don't just mean sales or spending. I mean, what is it that you are really spending time on? I live by the CANI concept, constant and never-ending improvement. So I love looking at numbers each month going, "what did I spend my time on? What did I spend my money on? Where could that time be better spent?" It's this attitude that has helped me determine my success, stay humble, and keep growing and learning more as time goes on.  What are the biggest benefits your clients say they are getting from working with you?  Clarity. It's the number one thing that most people struggle with, and by using me as their bouncing-off point, they are able to stay on a clearer path in order to achieve more of what they were really after. A lot of people feel like they're 'lost in the weeds of administration', but by working through my process, my clients are able to be much more focused on their goals and how to get there.  Finally, what do you have in front of you and what’s your next big goal or project? I really want to take my Step Into Your CEO project further, so I'll be developing an entire ecosystem out of that program which should be very exciting. It'll be fun to build out, program, and of course, deliver to more people. Other than that, I'm also working on a book that talks more to the human side of my world experience: BeingDutchanese! So watch this space!  Follow Arna on Facebook , Instagram and connect with her on LinkedIn Read more from Arna !

Written by: Natasha Bazilevych, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Are you creating videos for your audience or going live on Social Media? Did you know we've got only 3 seconds to grab the attention of our listeners? Especially if they're scrolling their social media feed and deciding whether to stop and listen to you or not. When I remember my first live broadcasts on Facebook, I want to hide under the rock. Everything was embarrassing about those videos. And people responded to them accordingly. It took me years of practice, lots of professional training, and a ton of courage to finally be able to deliver useful content to my listeners. However, you don’t have to spend years. Just apply all the tips in your future speeches, and you’ll captivate your audience. So, here’re my 5 secrets on how to grab their attention and hold it till the very end of your speech. 1. Be unexpected. Think of creative, unique ways to start your message, your speech. Be different, be unusual, be unexpected. Surprise them, and you'll definitely attract their attention. Don’t be afraid to be silly, look funny, or to embarrass yourself. Get out of that cushy, comfy place of yours. Sing, dance, act, use costumes, props. Have fun with it. 2. Use simple language. Don't overcomplicate your message. Use simple words, short sentences and simple sentence structures. People won't keep listening if they can't follow your train of thought. If you’re trying to show everybody how smart you are and lose them in the middle of a sentence, what do you achieve? I’m sure with your intelligence you can simplify and explain even the most sophisticated ideas. 3. Choose relevant topics. When deciding on what to speak about, select the topics relevant to your audience. What problem are you solving for them? How will they benefit from your talk? Don't just assume you know what they need. Ask them. Send a survey to your audience. Ask a question on your SM page. Write an email to your subscribers. Make sure you communicate with them regularly and know their thoughts, problems, and interests. 4. Increase the level of energy. You don't have to be super energetic if you're usually a quiet person. Don't become someone else. Be yourself, but turn the energy one degree up. Show enthusiasm, show your passion, and the audience will stay with you till the end. How can you do that? I sometimes just jump or dance a little bit right before the speech. Other people listen to energetic music. Find your own approach. 5. Share an emotional story. We all know the power of a story. And if you share a personal emotional story, it'll make an even stronger impact. You don't have to make your audience cry or laugh necessarily. (However, that would be the best.) You can just share an emotional moment to which they can relate. Trigger their emotion: happiness or sadness, embarrassment or surprise, disgust or excitement. Build a connection with them. It’ll help you win them over and hold their attention. These are my five secrets. Would you like to learn more? Contact me at nbazilevych@changeview.org I’ll help you build confidence, craft a clear message and deliver it with power. Request a 30-minute free call to see if we’re a good fit to work together. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Natasha! Natasha Bazilevych, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natasha Bazilevych is an international speaker and business trainer. She teaches business owners, top manager and entrepreneurs to give powerful presentations and reach audacious goals. Natasha has been teaching business skills for 13 years, has two bachelor degrees and an MBA. Her signature program “Speak With Power” is a unique experience after which each participant knows how to overcome fear, craft powerful messages and deliver them with confidence.

Written by: Jacqlin Richards, 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. These times of lockdown have created uncertainty and challenge for many. Especially for those of us who are also parents! We have a choice in how we respond to this new normal that has come about with connection in the online space taking precedence over the old-fashioned in-person, face-to-face kind. We have another choice now as we emerge from our bubbles and return to work and gathering as to how we move forward. School leaves the screen, and kids and adults are in close proximity again. Hooray! Recently I had a bit of sadness going on. I didn't spot it at first. It came up as irritation one morning when my boys arrived home from their Dads and immediately began asking to 'show' me things on screens. I've felt this irritation before many times. More recently, the time on devices increased inevitably during the lockdown circumstances as ‘school-time’ became more ‘screen-time!’ What I hadn’t got to was the sadness. When I felt it there under the irritation, I shared it with my boys. What this sharing led to was a beautiful, open conversation about when I was a kid. That back then, things were different. Very different. That we played outside with our friends EVERY day, we used to ride off on adventures all day into the bush, climb trees, build forts and only come back when it was getting dark, the food we had taken with us had run out, and we were starving! We only watched TV on a Saturday morning. It was a treat back then, and it didn’t matter because we had so much fun playing. Hanging out with all our friends who lived in the neighborhood. We would be outside all day, coming in only to eat and then straight back out to playing. A lot of time was spent playing games in the cul de sac street where we lived till well after the sun when down. Now, it seems we've entered into a world where screen time connection is the preferred way to relate to one another in place of ‘old-fashioned’ in-person connection, and it’s playdates that are the once-a-week deal! Talking with some of the parents I’m working with, it's becoming clearer that things have gotten a bit backward since our childhoods. That it was staying INSIDE that used to be the punishment. “You can't go outside and play with Jimmy because you did [insert undesirable behavior/action here]…. Now, it's the other way around. Now, it’s a punishment to go OUTSIDE! “You’ve been on that screen for too long….go outside!” “Go out and play! Be in nature! Get outdoors!” I can see it. How things have slowly shifted this way over the last few decades and especially the most recent circumstances creating the place we now sit as parents. I spoke with my boys about my sadness. Without charge or judgment around screens because that ain't helpful. We spoke from a balanced and integrated place around the impacts and benefits that screens are having in our lives. Especially in the most recent times. The really amazing things that the internet has brought to our lives and the not so amazing things to be aware of. We spoke about in-person physical connection. I asked my boys what they thought was the one thing they couldn’t get from a screen connection with a family member or a friend. We came up with a touch. You can’t get a hug through a screen! You can’t get a high 5 or fist pump! You can’t touch someone's shoulder, receive a comforting hand on the back, a kiss on the cheek, or a nose rub without being in close physical proximity! We like nose rubs in our house. You can’t get in-person, physical touch through a screen. And as humans, we need it to thrive. When we are babies, we need it to survive, and as adults, we need it to thrive. And many of us ain't getting enough of it for obvious reasons in recent times, and no matter how entertaining screens are, it doesn’t touch the human need for touch! It was a great conversation with my family, which ended in hugs, closeness, and card-playing for some afternoon! Before we headed out into the beautiful day. This is a massive topic right now and hot off the back of viewing 'The Social Dilemma' documentary. I am very keen to open the discussion. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Jacqlin Richards, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aka The FREEDOM Finder for Parents, Jacqlin is a Mother of 2, a Parent Empowerment Mentor, Speaker and Facilitator who is deeply passionate about bringing greater awareness to the way we raise our children. Raising empowered children takes empowered Parents and Jacqlin loves to walk alongside Men and Women as they empower themselves through her Mentorship and Programs into a very different way of being a Parent.

Written by: Maxim Minin, 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 is no shortcut to success! Grit, persistence, and passion drives you towards turning aspirations into reality. While many people wish to start a business and be their own boss, manage their own hours, and work for their dreams instead of someone else’s. It is important that you are open about the realities of what it takes to start and succeed in a business and consider the less-discussed truths before deciding to plunge into your entrepreneurial journey.  In my career as a business coach, I find that a lot of first-time business owners are simply unprepared for what to expect, and that leads to their own demise. Here’s what you need to be aware of if you’re planning to launch a business anytime soon. Business is not for the faint-hearted:  If you’re looking to coast through life, avoid stress and minimize your risk, I don’t suggest you start a business. Being an entrepreneur requires patience, hard work, and perseverance. It’s a very different pressure you feel when it’s payday and you have to pay everyone who works for you irrespective of your company’s performance. The security of taking home a fixed sum every month is not a luxury you enjoy as a businessman.  Don’t plan to start a business purely because you hate your job and company culture:  Many prospective entrepreneurs fail to realize that office politics are everywhere and that you can’t escape them when you strike out on your own. You may still have to contend with rude clients and partners, with many situations feeling eerily similar to what you experienced in a job.  Your first few years are tough:  Would-be entrepreneurs who want to have a better work-life balance are in for a rude awakening. For at least the first few years, you may be on the job at all hours. If a customer has a problem in the middle of the night, you are the one who’s getting up to address it. As the founder, you will find that anything and everything is your responsibility. Nobody gives you direction on what to do ; you have to make the choices and also solely bear the consequences of your choices.  Profits are not guaranteed:  I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s the harsh reality. Not planning for this will mean certain financial demise. In your first year, you will be pouring money — more than your budget, likely — into launching and gaining a foothold in your market. If you’re lucky, you can throw a little your way for salary. Smart hustlers find other sources of income to cover the first few years of personal expenses. If you’ve got savings, great. If you’re taking out a loan, build in your own income to that budget. As per stats, only 70 percent of businesses make it past year 2: Here’s another hard-to-swallow reality. Think of the businesses that had shuttered in your community, maybe before they even really took off. Imagine how many more online businesses disappear without warning. As I said at the beginning of this article: running a business is hard. Running one successfully — especially up to and past Year Two is challenging. You need people: Now, I know you probably think you can do it all on your own. After all, you’re smart enough to start a business! Surely you can manage it all by yourself as well. Let me save you some heartache: relying on people — the right people — will make your work so much easier. You’re good at some facets of running a business, to be sure. But there’s a lot I’m willing to bet that you’re less good at, like maybe accounting or designing your website. This is where bringing in a professional skilled in a particular area is a huge asset. It's okay if you don’t have skills, you need ideas, vision, and courage:  Related to the point above, you can’t be a master of all trades. It is okay if you don’t have the skills it will take to set up the business you envision. That is exactly why you need people. You need to focus on bringing together the ideas to push everyone towards your vision. Lack of skillset is an excuse for not starting a business.  You got to know your customers:  Another common mistake I see is entrepreneurs thinking that because they have a genius idea (in their minds, at least), they automatically have a business that will thrive. But the problem is: they don’t do any research to understand who would actually buy their products or services. They don’t bother to understand who their customer base is. And so, the business limps along until it collapses. You will doubt your abilities . Your business will challenge you. You’ll face forks in the road you could have never predicted. When you lose your first (or 10th) big client, your employees quit, you divorce your partner, your balance sheet looks dismal, or you can’t get financing, you will likely start to doubt yourself. Dig deep to get through these times. Ultimately, you need to be your biggest cheerleader. There is no such thing as overnight success.  No matter how you frame it, it takes years of hard work to become an “overnight success.” Just because someone’s business is a couple of years old and gets sold for a billion dollars doesn’t mean it was an easy path. I’m not saying the negatives of starting a business to deter you from trying, but rather to prepare you for the odds against you. If you know what you’re up against, you can arm yourself and fight, becoming just another failed business statistic. You can develop a plan that will safeguard you against some of the risks you’ll face. In my career, I have worked with online startups to ensure they launch, grow, and succeed. My final point of advice will be that there will be points in your business journey when you need help. Seek out for help and find the right people to be able to help you through your problems. A trusted and result-oriented business coach could be one of the best business investments. Someone who will not sugar coat the problems but fight reality to get solutions to help you succeed.  Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Maxim! Maxim Minin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maxim, Wellness & Business coach and Founder of www.livewithsmile.com , started his entrepreneurial journey as a personal trainer and wellness coach. Through the years of self education and working with clients in achieving their health goals, he realized that real wellness is achieved through a balance and fulfillment in finances, relationship, parenting, and of course, self-care. His mission is to help stay at home mothers, parents or those who are not fulfilled in their life to breakthrough their beliefs, transform their relationship and communication as well as start building an online coaching, consulting or experts business that will allow them to generate more income, free more time, promote self-growth and in the end lead to that desired fulfillment with finances, relationship, kids and well being.’

Written by Olivia Greathurst of Aviation Insider When I came to the conclusion that I wanted to become a commercial pilot at the age of 15 I had no idea just how much work awaited me. The flight schools that train future pilots ran a robust selection process as a way to determine which students they believe are most likely to succeed in training and possess the traits desired in a commercial pilot. An important thing to note about these pilot aptitude tests is that the applicant's ability to pilot an aircraft is not directly assessed so it isn’t always necessary for you to gain flying experience prior to attending an assessment day, however, there are other ways you can prepare. Tip # 1 – Practice Aptitude Tests Different schools use different aptitude testing programs in order to assess their applicants so before attending an assessment day I’d recommend researching what type of test is used by the flight training organization that you’ve applied to. The aptitude tests will judge your literacy, numeracy, spatial reasoning, reaction time, and multitasking skills so it’s useful to get in some practice so there aren’t too many surprises on the day. There are plenty of online platforms that allow you to purchase a subscription to their preparation material and they’re well worth the money; if you know of someone else attending an assessment day around the same time as you, you could always split the cost of the subscription to keep expenses down. At Aviation Insider we’ve partnered with pilotaptitudetest.com to help provide aspiring pilots with the best possible aptitude training so you can be as prepared as possible before the big day! Tip # 2 – Get in contact with current students A great way to get an insight into what’s currently happening at the training organization you’ve applied to and find out some more about the company is by talking to current students and getting advice from the people who have just been through the same process that you’re about to go through. Making contacts early on will help you throughout the rest of your career as you’ll always have someone around to give you advice/guidance and it will show the companies you’re applying to that you’re personable and forward-thinking. Tip # 3 – Brush up on your mental maths It isn’t necessary to be a maths wiz to become a pilot, however, having the ability to do mental maths (particularly the 3 times table) to a good standard will help you massively. Most flight school maths assessments will be a simple GCSE level multiple-choice test designed to assess your ability to quickly but accurately work out maths questions under pressure. Whilst flying, a pilot will be required to work out their top of descent (TOD), rate of descent (ROD), and time en route amongst other things so having a fair level of mental maths ability is desired. I’d recommend practicing your mental maths to the point where you feel confident that you will be able to complete the questions within the allotted time (the YouTube channel techmath has some very helpful videos on quick multiplication and division tricks that I found very useful when practicing for the assessment day). As well as mental maths testing you might be required to undertake numerical and verbal reasoning tests too so it’s important that you get some practice in these areas as well. Aviation Insider has developed online practice material in order to assist you in preparing for any flight school or airline that may require you to undertake these assessments. Tip # 4 – Do some research into the industry It is absolutely vital to keep your finger on the pulse with the latest news on the aviation industry. Interviewers want to see someone who has a genuine interest in the role of a pilot and aviation itself, as it shows dedication and commitment. It isn’t unheard of for interviewers to ask candidates to tell them about some recent aviation-related events that have happened recently as a way to see how well prepared you are for the interview. Arm yourself with 5 or so interesting things to discuss relating to industry news just in case you’re required to call upon this information. Keeping your knowledge of the industry currently is also a useful way to show a passion for aviation and gives you something to relate your answers to in order to provide another layer to your interview. Tip # 5 – Think of some good interview examples that satisfy the key competencies Interviews are the one constant in every job application. No one particularly enjoys doing interviews but it is the best way for a potential employer to see what you’re like in person and decide whether you’re the right fit for the company. Pilot interviews are heavily competency-based so I’d recommend thinking of real-life examples where you have demonstrated the skills that are looked for in a pilot. Potential questions include: Give an example of a time when you have worked as part of a team. How do you cope with failure? Tell me about a time when you've led a team. Give an example of a time when you’ve had to make a decision under pressure. Tell me about a time when you’ve had to work to a timescale when completing an important task. Give an example of a time when you’ve had to break the rules. When answering these questions I would recommend using the STAR method to structure your responses. The STAR model allows you to answer the questions efficiently without waffling and forgetting your point. S – Situation: Set the scene. T – Task: Establish the end goal. A – Action: What did you do? R – Result: What was the outcome of your actions? I would also suggest relating your answers back to becoming a pilot and how these skills will help you in a flying career, as this is ultimately what the interviewers are looking for. And don’t forget to prepare some questions to ask the interviewer at the end! Overall, although the thought of the application and assessment process can be daunting, as long as you prepare yourself and show that you have a genuine interest in aviation, it’s more than doable. There are plenty of platforms out there aimed specifically at helping aspiring and qualified pilots alike to achieve their goals and prepare for the challenges that face them. With a newly launched website and app, Aviation Insider is becoming the go-to source for pilot information, services, and products. Our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive package of products and services that enable a pilot to manage their career from start to finish, from “thinking about becoming a pilot” through to getting your command and more. It’s an unprecedented time for the aviation industry right now and everyone involved has to pull together. Aviation Insider will do whatever it takes to help pilots remain current and keep inspiring future generations to pursue this wonderful career.

Written by: Ikedah Alston, 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. Self-esteem can be very tenuous. As parents, when our children fail, it is easy to take it personally. The same principles apply to parents building confidence as to children who are developing confidence in themselves. Building greater confidence and self-esteem takes practice. But, the results are well worth the time and effort. Stronger confidence benefits you in every area of your life. Strategies to develop greater confidence and self-esteem 1. Learn from mistakes and failures It’s okay to fail. Failing is part of the learning process. This improves decision-making skills, enables one to think through long-term results of their choices, and accept feedback about their mistakes without feeling like a personal failure. Parents are also learning something new with each child. The process is the same - you learn from mistakes and failures. 2. See mistakes and failures as tools for success Confidence comes from learning to trust our instincts, skills, and abilities. It is gained over time through both success and failure. It requires taking risks and dealing with consequences. The more skilled our children become in making the right choices, the more confident they become. If you regularly use mistakes as a tool for success, when your kids fail or miscalculate, they learn that it was the thinking or process that was faulty, not the person. The same applies to you as a parent. 3. Never stop learning Parents are teachers. Your job is to prepare your child to be a successful young adult. It starts day one and never ends. You are not always going to get it right - nobody does. Like your child, you learn as you do things and improve as you learn. The chances are that you’ll feel inadequate at times and make mistakes. Own it. Be open about your mistakes and talk to your child about the lessons learned. They will benefit as much from your candid discussions as anything else you do. 4. Think positive thoughts about yourself If you struggle with low self-esteem, it’s important that you get help with that. Seek out a therapist if you need to. Your behavior and how you treat yourself is what your child absorbs. If you stand in front of the mirror making negative comments about your body, berate yourself when you make a mistake, or judge others when they don’t meet your standards, your child will do the same. 5. Learn to let it go Move forward after you discuss lessons learned - yours and your child’s. It is information that you will use to calculate choices in the future. If you dwell on it or label yourself, your child will do the same. “I made a mistake” can become “I am a mistake” if internalized. Get help if you need it. Perfectionism leads to additional challenges that neither of you need. Practice these techniques daily with your children. The more you practice, the easier these behaviors become. Once they become a habit, you and your children are well on the path to having an automatic process that supports greater confidence and self-esteem each day. For more details, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or visit my website. Be sure to join my private Facebook Community for valuable information on parenting tips and emotional intelligence. Ikedah Alston, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine The core philosophy of what I do is to “be who you needed when you were younger.” As a kid, I struggled with negative self-image, emotional outbursts, and lack of self-awareness, which followed me through adulthood. Over the past 11 years, I have worked with children directly through volunteering in my community as a mentor, scout troop leader, and as a mom, so I have seen firsthand the struggles that kids go through, including not knowing how to handle their emotions. And having gone through it myself, I felt that there is a gap that needs to be filled. That is why I started KIMA Kids Life Coach. I want to give our youth, the future of our world, the essential life skills through emotional intelligence to begin their journey of self-awareness, effective communication, and better decision making.

Written by: Dee Burrowes, 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. To You Dear Virtuous Dee, If I could only bring back the hands of time – but no, I cannot as time does not stay still just for me or for anyone else for that matter. Life is a constant journey, and no finish line has its own twists and turns, peaks and valleys, and some very high mountain to climb. It felt like just yesterday . I was celebrating the big twenty, the becoming of an adult. At the age of twenty with hopes, dreams, and goals to be achieved – high on energy yet adding a dash of self-discovery and trying to figure out life in all its essence. I was crafting the older and wiser mentality ; only time will tell. As you turn 20, fresh-faced and full of hope - it’s not a bother if you don’t have a plan, really. It’s not a bother if you are the only one who doesn’t seem to know where your life is headed or what you really want to do. Many would have told you that you must enjoy your 20s – why not? You will, for the most part, but there will also be challenging and awkward times. I wanted to have you sat down for a heart to heart, but I opted to write a letter instead, hoping it will be a treasured piece in many years to come. You cannot predict how your life will be in a few years or a decade, but I am here to tell you that no matter what destination the train of life takes you, it will be better than you could have imagined despite the stops and stalls. You never know where life will take you, and having a set of do’s and don’ts guidelines would have made life a bit easier. If it did, I possibly would have saved myself from unnecessary dramas, stress, and frustration as I was absorbed in my own agendas. Truth be told, turning 20 was a big deal – however it had its share of responsibility as I was learning worthwhile life skills, which eventually aided my flying the coop stance. I was ready (so I thought) to explore the world. Wisdom and maturity were far-fetched even though I knew I was much further in life than years previously. Life begins at twenty – the big two zero, I would often heard! At some point , you are probably in a place of solace or one that has not just given you resources to survive but an avenue to help you become who you want to be and truly thrive. Your own oyster filled with opportunities with the freedom to experiment in the hope of building a foundation for your future. No matter where life will take you, many valuable lessons will be learned. Things were challenging, and looking back on a certain period in time, you pondered, ‘I wish I knew then what I know now’ as the trajectory might have been so very different. Life might have been fair and unfair, reasonable and unreasonable. You’ve failed, felt rejected but yet smile through the tears as defiantly as sought redemption, knowing there were as many triumphs and cheers as well. Life, as you know it, isn’t the extraordinary one. Then again, it is unique to only you. It’s yours and yours alone - belongs to no one else. This existential awakening is too raw. Nonetheless, it still feels as if I am punching barriers after barriers pursuing my heart’s desires, albeit the fact that everyone around you is living their best life. Frustrated of wrestling and crave something that will cushion your breakthrough to last a lifetime. You’re often told to live without regrets, seize the day and, most importantly, start living intentionally as finding happiness in every single you do will serve you best. Twenty Thoughts of Substance 20. Be spontaneous Invest in experiences, not things. Spend more time outside and add a little spontaneity to your life. The more willing you are to go with the flow, the easier it’s going to be as anything could happen. 19. You mirror the five people you are always around Those you spend most time with does shape who you are. Make sure you associate yourself with movers and shakers whose attitude and behavior will reflect and dominate your attention. 18. Never become who hurt you Revenge might deeply worsened the wound. Don’t become cruel or hurt someone because you have been hurt. Rise above your self-imposed misery with a positive attitude and learn from the experience. 17. Choose yourself first You are the most important person in your life regardless of where you go or what you do. Taking care of yourself first enables you to be better equipped to help others. Put on your oxygen mask on you first. 16. Travel the World Enjoy a pina colada in front of a massive pool, basking in the sunshine, immersing in other cultures, and explore the world. Indulge in a taste for travel as it will make you incredibly well-rounded as a person. 15. Stop complaining Don’t let complaints become your way of life or gossip, which can be a slippery slope. Avoid complaining about trivial everyday things that you can’t fix. 14. Be intentional with financial education Learn all you can about managing your finances, value the relationships and behavior with money. Trusting others with your money or having a lack of it can evoke anxiety and emotional insecurity. 13. Watch the Sunset Often Every once in a while, take time for the sunset, it’s such a beautiful moment, and it calms the mind as you enjoy the beauty of the earth. It’s just the little things that count. 12. Seek support Cultivate wise and supportive people within your circle as having support will be a great stress reliever when the challenges surface itself. They will ease the burden a bit as you will have them as a sounding board. 11. Do what you love Don’t fall into the trap of the status quo and not living the life of your dreams. Get out of your comfort zone, take the leap of faith, and not settle for the bare minimum. 10. Be a lifelong learner With access to the internet and gadgets, there is no excuse to pivot yourself and career. Read books, go to events, listen to podcasts and take courses to improve your being. 9. Tune into to your gut feeling When you have that twinge in your stomach, always listen to it. Trust your intuition, and it usually right and will guide you to what is best for you. 8. Live without fear Don’t let your worries command you. Fear can hook itself taking up mental and emotional headspace, which holds you back from taking chances. 7. Money will never buy happiness Money can buy a lot of things; however, it cannot buy true friendship and contentment. Wealth can give favorable changes, but over time the temporary happiness boost will disappear. Your self-worth is not your net worth. 6. Life doesn’t come with a manual Many times, what we yearn for isn’t as clear cut as one thinks. There will never be all the answers – it’s an illusion. Your mood can be in constant fluctuation, from great to not so great in a second. 5. Prioritise your health Make small changes that will support a healthier lifestyle – nutrition, fitness, and self-care. 4. Better sleep Managing stress and anxiety will greatly improve your sleep – a good balance is getting enough hours in. Be nice to your mind and body. 3. Improve self-worth Treating yourself well gives off a positive vibration and a good feeling. Focus on how to. Identify and challenge both limiting and negative beliefs. 2. Curb expectations Putting high expectations on others can cause disappointments. You only have control over yourself, and many times they are not aware of what you expect from them. 1. Self-love The greatest love of all. You deserved to be loved by you. It’s not self-absorbed but rather being in tune with who you are along coupled with your happiness. Do yourself a favor, pause, breath, and start practicing self-love. With Profound Love!! Dee. xoxo For more information, visit my website ! Dee Burrowes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dee Burrowes, Certified Professional Coach, NLP Practitioner, Speaker, Trained Teacher, International Awards Judge and Mental Health Coach with Behavioural Disorder helps you to gain more confidence in being more effective at bringing happiness into your life. By identifying your core values and what drives you, you will gain clarity on what your life and career vision should be. By learning how to eradicate self-doubt, boost self-confidence and form good habits, all of us are able to overcome our challenges and live more mindfully, consciously and authentically. Life passes us by and the fear of not being authentic kicks in and it is the right time now to identify your inspiration by designing a lifestyle that would capture the very essence of you. Dee is a visiting professor in Events and Hospitality management in both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. She continues to participate in the hospitality industry. Dee is very much passionate about Mental Health and as a Mental Health Advocate, she supports corporate companies on Mental Well-being .

Written by: Cheryl Meyer, 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. Feed your children "real" organic food and make what you are feeding them your 1 priority. Why is this important? How will it change their life? We have become a society where convenience "trumps" health, and our children’s health is reflecting this change. We are feeding our children food-like substances from processed and fast food on a regular basis. As a result, our children are ill. 53% of the children in the United States have chronic illness. This is important on the world stage because other countries are buying and consuming so much of our American products. Food is medicine and good food can keep our children well, whereas chemical 'fake food" is making them sick as hell. The key is to shop all the colors of the rainbow and buy it organic, and as in season as possible, whether it is at the grocery store or at farmers markets or local street markets. This allows you to buy food with maximum nutrients, right from the farm to the table. Take your children with you. They need to know where real food comes from and they should have some choice in what they get to eat. But as their parent, you get to narrow their choices to only be healthy choices. Teach them to stop eating when they are 80% full. Cook using quality ingredients. By cooking you control what goes into their bodies. The more colors of the rainbow you can feed your child, and the more vegetables you encourage them to eat is a win for your child’s health. Food is fuel for the body. Food is information. I think we forget this when we eat. If it is good fuel, it gives us energy, make us clear-headed, and it makes us happy. If it is high-quality food, it makes our bodies feel good. Good quality organic food will increase your child's brainpower and help them learn. “A healthy diet can have a profound effect on children’s health, helping to maintain a healthy weight, avoid certain health problems, stabilize their moods, and sharpen their minds. A healthy diet can also have a profound effect on a child’s sense of mental and emotional well-being, helping to prevent conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD.” Eliminate all the toxins you can from your life and your child’s life. By choosing organic, you give them real food that grew in the earth without the toxins from pesticides and herbicides. Avoid GMOs. Sit around the dinner table for the years that your child is living at home. Be the example that they can follow with what you eat. Share your meals which encourages love and community. No matter where you are in the world, stop allowing your children to eat processed, fast food and junk. (The Standard American Diet) These food-like substances lead to obesity, diabetes, and ill health and eventually to dis-ease. Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates in your child’s diet. Sugar is addictive, so limit what they get to eat. Sugar impacts every organ in the body negatively, so stay away as much as possible. Refined carbohydrates turn to sugar, and therefore are not healthy as well. Teach your children why you are feeding them the food they are eating. Encourage them to ask questions about their food. Teach them where food comes from and then how it gets on the table for them to eat. Encourage them to ask questions. Do not dictate as they get out into the world, teach them the advantages of eating real food from an early age, and allow them to follow that example of how you eat and teach them the why. Garden with them. Take them to the farm to buy your produce. Cook with them. These are foundations that will stay with the child as they grow older and go out on their own. As your child grows older, you want them to be able to make their own decisions and you do not want them to feel deprived. The more they understand how you are feeding them, the more likely they will choose to eat that way in the future. Bring up your child to be the leader of the pack that eats healthy food. Bring them up to be Junior Veggie Rangers ™, eating veggies to grow up strong and healthy and to be future superheroes. My book Feeling Good Living Low Toxin has received 4 wards since it was published in May 2020. Two of the awards have been on parenting. Once was gold from the prestigious Mom’s Choice Awards. Grab a free chapter on Children and Food here! You can buy my book Feeling Good Living Low Toxin in Community and Everyday Life on Amazon. For more information, follow Cheryl on Facebook, Instagram and connect with her on LinkedIn! Read more from Cheryl! Cheryl Meyer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cheryl Meyer suffered from autoimmune disease. By eliminating hundreds of toxins, she reversed her pain. Cheryl has a BA from UC-Berkeley and is a health coach from IIN. Cheryl is an award-winning author, international bestseller, health coach, speaker, local tv host and guest podcaster. Cheryl has written four books on health and toxins available here. Her podcast is on Voice America. Cheryl specifically works with clients with chronic illness giving them hope and helping them find solutions. It is never too late to start healthy habits. Cheryl is available to speak about the toxins in our world that are making us ill. She is a sought-after expert on toxins, in our food, cleaning, water, minds, including toxic stress and toxic lack of sleep. She also talks about the impact of toxins for our children and our pet’s health. Contact Cheryl for one on one coaching or speaking at cherylmhealthmuse@gmail.com. Eliminating toxins is a crucial step to regain wellness.

Adam Zargar is a Life Coach and the founder of UAE Coaching . Adam has been a coach since 2008 and had clients all over the world- in Dubai, Saudi, German, UK, Australia to mention a few. Read the full interview with Adam below! We know you have a lot of qualifications/certifications, how important is for you to always learn new things? Personal and professional growth is essential. If you are not growing in any aspect of your life, then that aspect and a little part of you is dying. In coaching, I talk about meeting my clients' spiritual needs with my clients, the need for growth and contribution. Since 2008, I have been striving to consistently step out of my comfort zone and develop new skills and knowledge and, most importantly, share that knowledge with friends, family, and clients. I have been on TV, in magazines and papers across the UAE and England, got multiple degrees in Psychology, Teaching and Masters in NLP Life Coaching and TimeLine Therapy, and have read countless development books as well as attended and run a number of wellness and personal development seminars and webinars. It never used to be that way. I look back in the decades before 2008 to the shy, frustrated teenager to the procrastinating indecisive young adult. It is as if I am looking back at another person. I now know that it was not being lazy, that prevented me from stepping up. It was a fear and a lack of a why. The fear that I would not be good enough and simply not knowing my reason for doing and being was. It’s the same things I help my clients through now. You would be surprised how many influential and successful leaders I have worked with who on the surface have everything yet feel ‘not enough’ or unfulfilled underneath. Now my clients and I realize that you have to be consistent in raising your standards by learning. The energy and confidence you get from that consistent journey of growth and development beats any other feeling. Changes I have made to lives Since starting out as a Coach in 2008, I have been blessed to have helped so many people, and love that I am still in contact with them celebrating their next milestone achievements long after the formal coaching has finished. From clients who have got double promotions to helping leaders get organized and more productive, all the way to teens that have been bullied and gone on a journey of forgiveness and self-love, I have worked with a vast array of clients. The big change that clients get from me is the gift to understand themselves better and have the tools to take ownership of their own state, which then leads to better behavior choices and long-term results. When I can get a person to see that it is an inside out job, that the way they think and feel about themselves What do you enjoy helping people with the most? I love helping people who really want to make changes. They have had enough of their current life and know they want more yet are not sure of how. As I used to be very shy and unconfident, I love helping people break through that belief barrier and then watch as every area of their life improves. Other areas I am passionate about are helping people take the next step in their careers or help them find their strengths and confidence in a new role. If you could give 3 tips to someone who wants to improve the quality of their life, what would they be? Laser focus on what you can have influence on, your mindset or actions, and take full 100% responsibility for these areas. Accountability is king! Create a balanced structure to your day, centered around an early morning wake-up and success rituals across important areas, e.g., Health, work/learning, me time, family/relationship, and contribution. Take constant and never-ending improvement planned steps towards this. Work on your thinking and the questions you ask yourself because literally, the quality of your life is based on these. It is an inside out job, so get great at understanding your conditioning and the wording of what you tell yourself. The driving question I used is aligned with my needs. It is ‘How can I grow and contribute even more today?’ The even more states I am already enough yet can do more and opens up to the possibility of options for meeting the spiritual needs. What do you have in front of you, and what is your next big goal or project? My immediate goal is to learn even more to help my current clients and to build a community of support for them. I know I will enroll in the Gallup Strength Finder course in 2021, and that year will also concentrate on building up my personal brand (@coachadamzargar) to go alongside my successful UAE based coaching brand ‘Uae Coaching’ so I can create more opportunities in Europe on zoom or face to face. My long term vision centers on giving back and centers on opening up an orphanage in India to help street children and equip them with everything they need to excel in life. As a former teacher, kids youth worker, and parent, I know there is a great need. Follow Adam on Facebook , Instagram , and visit his website for more info! Read more from Adam !

Written by: Viviana Di Leo, 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. How I went from always sick to understand the emotions that were making me sick and stopped that vicious cycle. In this blog, I want to share with you the technique of Biodecoding and how it can change your life forever. What would you say if I told you that my emotions were the cause of my infertility diagnosis back in 2014? Or if I tell you that my stress and anger while eating were the cause of my “chronic” gastritis. Interesting right? Growing up, I was very fragile, my mom’s words, and my dad was too, so sickness was a huge subject for me. I was angry to discover yet another problem, but this time I can tell you the anger helped me explore deeper and change perspective. I was ready to take a different path and understand what was going on with me. I remember like it was yesterday when I got this email " free and heal your family tree, free from emotional pain and conflicts". I am in! I did not want more conflicts or emotional pain in my life. This is how my path with Biodecoding started. Today, I have as a part of my life manifesto this phrase “Express your feelings out not to get sick inside". I will give you an example lets imagine you have the most important event coming up. You have to speak in front of an audience for the first time. The night before, you feel like you are relaxed, but in automatic, your mind starts, “Who am I to do this”, ”I can't express everything in 15 minutes”, “what if I mess up”…. You go to sleep and wake up with no voice. Our brain is like an iceberg. The little tip above water (that 10 percent of mass) signifies our conscious mind. In contrast, the big submerged part, 90 percent of the mass, represents our subconscious — the receptacle of memories, emotions, and automatic behaviour. Most of our daily activities are controlled by the subconscious, which frees up our conscious mind for other things. Our subconscious mind is responsible for your breathing, your heart pumping blood. However, it's also responsible for those habits, beliefs, and emotional thinking that have formed a behavior pattern that holds us back and keeps us from reaching our true potential? This is one of the greatest challenges in healing the incoherence between our conscious and subconscious minds. You might consciously want to stop repeating these patterns in your life and heal to live happily and peacefully. However, subconsciously, we are still holding onto subconscious patterns and limiting beliefs that keep us from healing and living freely. Biodecoding helps you uncover and understand the why of the hidden conflicts and enables you to release them to find solutions and take charge of your health and well-being. From generation to generation, conditions or diseases are transmitted unconsciously. And during the first years of our life, unconscious programs are created by the small child and are also connected to the mom. This is the reason why we see so many people constantly repeating patterns from the families. If you know the biology language, you can access forgotten memories and stories and release them. Making conscious the unconscious is the first step. Biodecoding® is a method that allowed me and many others to heal. Remember, I told you I was diagnosed with infertility; my son is now 3 years old and was naturally conceived. Biodecoding helped me understand and start my journey on what I needed to explore to release my emotions. It helped me change my way of living and went from getting sick and paralyzed by fear to a healthy and very freeing life because now I know what emotions can do to our bodies and how strong it is to hear yourself. When I found what works and access to it, I decided to start sharing it with the world. The more we work to connect with our emotions and subconscious mind, the better our chances for profound healing. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website ! Viviana Di Leo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Viviana Di Leo is a Certified Peacefulness & Fulfilment Coach. She helps women on their self-healing journey to live a more peaceful and fulfilled life. Expert in Biodecoding & Emotions.

Written by: Alina Machita, 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 may seem impossible, but if you apply afformations for the next 28 days, you can change your life! Don’t believe me? You will! Let’s start by explaining why affirmations don’t work. After all, they’re so popular. Everyone can’t be wrong, can they? Actually, they are! Positive affirmations are statements of something that you want to be true – statements like I am happy, I am rich, I am wealthy, I am successful. Fans of affirmations believe by repeating them to yourself over and over. You are programming your brain to make it a reality. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, it doesn’t work. To prove this is true, try saying that statement to yourself: “I am rich.” What does your brain say? Your brain probably says, “Yeah, right!” Or maybe you hear a sarcastic laugh inside your head. Not very encouraging. Why don’t you believe your affirmations? Because your mind is trained to respond automatically to something that’s both simpler and more powerful than statements, it responds to QUESTIONS! Your mind has its own equivalent of Google running all the time. When you ask a question, your mind automatically begins to search for an answer. If you make a statement that isn’t true, it compares the ‘search results’ it finds to your statement. If you have data in your mind that tells you that you are not rich or happy or successful, it immediately creates a conflict. It argues against your affirmation, and you feel doubt. The point of affirmation is you need to believe them. It’s possible if you repeat them for long enough, you could override this conflict. You may convince yourself they’re true. Happily, there’s an even simpler way to get to where you want to be. How are afformations different? Instead of statements, afformations use empowering questions. Affirmation statements focus your mind on everything you don’t have. This immediately removes your power and your ability to act. Empowering questions have the exact opposite effect. Empowering questions focus your mind on what you have, what you can do, and who you really are. In short, empowering questions unleash your ability to take ACTION. Here’s an example of two questions: Why am I so beautiful? Why am I so ugly? If you ask yourself, “Why am I so beautiful” your brain searches for the answers. You are starting from a place of empowerment. It is a place that already accepts the truth that you’re beautiful, so your brain provides data to back this up. It might be that you have great eyes, a sexy smile, or even a cute ass! By focusing on what you have, you lift yourself. You empower yourself to go out into the world, believing you are beautiful. You make it happen. On the flip side of this, if you ask, “why am I so ugly,” your brain will go away and dredge up all your deepest insecurities. You might feel like your belly is too big, your arms jiggle, you have a crooked nose, or too many spots. I’m sure you realize that after a little bit of this, you’ll be curled up in your bed! You’ll feel like a piece of crap and be unable to do anything but think about how ugly you are. See the difference? If you start from a place of positivity and power, these things will increase. If you start from a place of negativity, you strip away your own power. You take away your ability to act to make things better. What can I do today to empower myself? If there’s one area in life where people are holding onto disempowering questions, it’s in the area of money. We dwell on all the things we wish we had. All the places we wish we could go to. We ask, “Why don’t I make enough money to buy those shoes?” Or “I can never afford the things I want. Why am I so useless?” As you know now, thinking these things is a one-way ticket to negative emotions and helplessness. In short, it leaves you disempowered and trapped right where you are. Instead, use the following Afformations to manifest your desires fast. Focus on whatever you want most: wealth, love, happiness, or success for at least 28 days. You need to understand it’s not the things that happen to us in our lives that make a difference. It’s our opinion of what happens to us that is crucial! Positive questions determine our thoughts, feelings, actions, and responses. Money Money Money! As money is one of the areas most people struggle with, I want to help you start to take your first steps towards a richer, more plentiful life today. You can download a list of money afformations for free by clicking here. Give it a try for the next 28 days, and I promise that the results will leave you amazed and delighted! Expect miracles! Book your free session today! For more info, visit my website & follow me on Instagram! Read more from Alina! Alina MaChita, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hi, I’m Alina. I’m an empath, a transformational healer and a Subconscious mind Specialist. I have an unshakable passion and gift to help women stop self-sabotage, unlock their subconscious mind, release trapped emotions and subconscious blocks, keeping them from living in love, accomplishments, and balance. Most of my work is done directly within your Subconscious Mind where your Power is; utilizing muscle testing is a way to communicate with the subconscious mind and sophisticated systems like Emotion and Body Code and Raising levels of consciousness, removing physical and emotional blocks and stored trapped imbalances that can keep you from abundance, creativity, emotional balance and lightness of being.