Written by: Maki Moussavi, 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. A hallmark of high-achieving people is that they are driven. They know what they want and they go after it. A goal is set. Tasks are lined up to reach that goal. Single-minded pursuit begins. The goal is realized. But at what cost? I had to ask myself that question when I realized I was miserable at the height of my corporate career. MISERABLE. Honestly, it kind of scared me. Was there something wrong with me? How could anyone in my position be unhappy? I was steadily ascending the ladder, financially comfortable, and able to do pretty much what I wanted. How, exactly, was this a problem? I didn’t know at first. I did a lot of self-reflection trying to get to the answer. I had to be brutally honest in my assessment of myself and what was driving me in order to figure it out. There’s obviously no one reason, but a major driver that stood out in particular for me was this uncomfortable truth: I was driven by a need for validation from others. I needed proof that I was good enough, and for me, that came in the form of promotions, salary increases and other forms of recognition. If I didn’t get that validation, what did that say about me? My validation-seeking behavior started when I was quite young. I didn’t get what I needed from at home, so I sought it elsewhere: at school. I was an excellent student, academically and behaviorally. I got the proof I needed that I was, indeed, good enough in the form of grades and praise. The reward system worked for me. I knew that I could prove my value to myself and others by continually reaching for bigger and bigger goals in order to “grow.” "The reality is that it’s easier to prioritize work above other areas because it is how we prove our value." As a transformational and executive coach, I see that the need for external validation drives many high achievers. Career growth tends to be prioritized above all areas of life. Other parts of life get sacrificed at the professional altar. We rationalize that it “will all be worth it” when we’ve reached some milestone. We promise ourselves that we’ll pay better attention to the areas of our lives that are suffering after a particular goal has been reached. But how often does that really happen? The reality is that it’s easier to prioritize work above other areas because it is how we prove our value. It’s even easier to make it the top priority because it’s directly tied to our survival, e.g. it’s how we put money in the bank to live our lives. In professional environments , we are encouraged to put work above all else. Sure, there may be some lip service paid to why it’s important to take a break, go on vacation, and maybe your company even has some ping pong tables thrown in to show you just how much they want you to have a little break in your workday. But none of this cancels out the fact that you can see, with your own eyes, how people who put work above all get ahead. The people who say yes to everything, travel relentlessly (or at least did before the pandemic!), and send emails at 1 a.m. are rewarded. The people who have made it clear work trumps everything else is held up as the shining examples of what an employee or leader should be. "The damage is permanent, and she’ll have to deal with it for the rest of her life" Back in my corporate days, I had a friend who was in sales. Her team had gone through some changes that increased her workload significantly. She was hoping for a promotion, so she put her head down and did the work. Most of her team were road warriors, and she was often at work alone in her area. The stress was continuous, and she worked many more hours than usual during that time, telling herself it wouldn’t be that way forever, and she could duke it out. One day, around lunchtime, she started to feel strange. Her chest hurt, and she was having a hard time taking a deep breath. There was no one around, so instead of asking for help, she drove herself to the hospital nearby. There, they confirmed she’d had a heart attack. At the age of 37, with no underlying risk factors. The doctors said it was “stress cardiomyopathy.” The damage is permanent, and she’ll have to deal with it for the rest of her life. We’ve all heard (or experienced) stories like this. But it’s madness, isn’t it? There’s no professional achievement that’s worth your health, relationships, or peace of mind. Work isn’t the end-all and be-all, though too much of the messaging we receive enforces the idea that it is. We can’t compartmentalize our lives. We can’t set professional and personal goals that are mutually exclusive. What we experience in one area, we experience globally. If your goals are work-focused to the exclusion or de-prioritization of the other aspects of your life, you risk so much - perhaps your health, and certainly the intangible, emotionally fulfilling parts of life that we can be quick to push aside in order to feel valuable. Do your goals need to be re-evaluated? Be sure to consider your life as a whole. You don’t lead two separate lives - you lead one. Make sure it works for you holistically. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more information! Maki Moussavi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maki Moussavi is a transformational and executive coach, speaker and author who helps executives and organizations who seek to empower, strengthen and transform their leadership and teams. Maki provides the mental tools and accountability to enable highly transformative, professional and personal development that focuses on “reprogramming” to a new mindset that is authentic and aligns personal, career and organizational aspirations while gaining clarity on direction and vision. She also supports executive teams and organizations to empower meaningful change during times of transition or cultural challenges. Maki is a corporate career veteran and Master’s-trained genetic counselor.

Written by: Rita Hurry, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. What is so strange about the ‘WooWoo’? I often hear many professionals say how they don’t want none of that ‘woowoo’ stuff to help them in business, their career, or their personal life and brush it off so easily. But what if the ‘woowoo’ thing was actually way more powerful than the practical things you do to be a success? What if it was the foundation of it all succeeding? Would that be so strange? What is the ‘woowoo’ stuff? Breaking down – the ‘woowoo’ stuff is the things that you do outside the box. It is the spiritual things, the faith, the belief in oneself, the meditation, the visualization, the soul work you do internally that transforms the external things in your life. If I had to sum it up – it’s the unseen things that fill in the gaps of effective daily living. Often this is why it is most pushed away to one side, because it is something unseen that requires a deeper connection. So how can it help me? There is so much going on that is unseen and yet is so powerful. Electricity is never seen but is the backbone behind everything we use in our home and office. Gravity is unseen and again so powerful. The wind is unseen yet can make the difference between a lovely day, to a bad day. All these things and so much more are unseen and play a huge part in our daily lives, so how much more can the unseen ‘woowoo’ stuff help us? Meditation enables you to gain the clarity you need to achieve great results in your professional life and personal life. It opens up the soul to be a part of your everyday life and gives you the guidance and the self-belief that leads to success. Without self-belief and faith in who you are, you leave yourself susceptible to doubts, which can sway you and stop you from making decisions that are right for you. Without that true connection to who you are and taking that time out to connect within, you leave yourself vulnerable to being pulled and pushed by external situations, instead of having built a firm foundation in who you are and creating life from the inside out. According to societal expectations, there comes a time in the cycle of life when reacting to circumstances and trying to keep playing the game of life can lead to burnout. Unfortunately, this can be too late for many. But when you balance the practical things in day-to-day living and include the ‘woowoo’ as part of your daily living, you will avoid this and create the balance needed to gain success to a happy and fulfilled life. Remember, happiness starts from inside and no matter how much you try to avoid the inner work, it will safeguard you for the future and be the foundation you need regardless of external situations. So next time you come across the ‘woowoo’ stuff, give it a go…it might open the door to new positive opportunities in life. Visit me on my Facebook, Instagram, Podcast and Website! Read more from Rita! Rita Hurry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rita´s mission is to help individuals in the Creative Arts, Media, Music and Film Industry, believe in their dreams and never give up on making them come true. Making the impossible - I'm Possible. She began Life Coaching in 2003 and has never looked back since. She is a great believer in Personal Development and Mindfulness work, whether it is practically or spiritually. Rita is a Subject Matter Expert in Law of Attraction & Flow Coaching, Mindfulness & Meditation, Business as well as Nirvana Fitness and Energy Healing. She was was awarded Best Law Of Attraction Coach in 2015. She has coached many clients across different professions. For example, CEOs and Entrepreneurs; Casting Agents; Actors; Singers; Musicians; Authors; Artists; DJs; and so many more across the globe and nationwide, including those working in the education industry. She currently is the co-founder of RIME Entertainment and co-hosts and co-produces an online Interview Show called RIME Entertainment Showcase where she and her co-host interview people from all over the globe who have overcome hurdles in life and are now fulfilling and living their dream.

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. People with a fixed mindset don’t learn languages. They say they are not good at languages. They’ve never been good at it. They think it’s just too difficult and it’s probably too late for them to speak a foreign language fluently. However, there are people who adopt a growth-mindset - and we see a lot of them at Live-English.net - who, no matter their age, their work situation, how busy they are with their family, they always find time to learn. People with a fixed mindset don’t think they can change. They don’t like change, whereas people with a growth-mindset embrace change and use it as an opportunity to learn and improve. So how do you get a growth-mindset? Be Aware Of What You Don’t Know The first step to have a growth-mindset is self-awareness. There is so much that we don’t know, not only the knowledge we know we’re lacking, but also all the different fields of knowledge that we don’t even know exist! When learning a foreign language, a fixed-mindset person would be happy with whatever level they reach as long as they can communicate in that language. But a person focused on growth would like to broaden their vocabulary, know more expressions and idioms to speak like a native, grasp the subtleties of grammar, get to know the local culture, and have a better accent write like a native, etc. And even someone with a decent level knows there’s so much more to learn about. Get Clarity Once we are aware and accept that what we don’t know is endless, it’s time to make a list of the centers of interest that we’d like to go deeper with, then we should prioritize them and make a plan on how to reach our objectives. We need to be strategic with our choices. Are our skills aligned with our goals in life? If we decide that it’s time to improve our skills in a certain language, we need to determine how we want to improve our language skills. Are we going to read an article a week, watch a video, practice speaking skills with a private teacher, take part in a conversation Club to practice with other learners? The possibilities are diverse and correspond to different needs and objectives. When we have clarity on what we want to achieve, the answers become obvious. Keep The Momentum The enthusiasm we get when we start learning is amazing. The secret to being successful is to keep the motivation over time despite the difficulties and challenges. In order to keep the momentum, we need 2 elements. The first one is to be able to measure our progress. We want to achieve concrete, achievable objectives. If our big goal is to speak a language fluently, an achievable objective would be for example to review one grammar rule and to make sure we apply it properly when we speak until we get to the point we don’t even need to make a conscious effort anymore. The second element is to make ourselves accountable. A teacher is the best person to keep us accountable and make sure that we book our 2 lessons a week, that we read or practice our writing between lessons. Accountability is often under-estimated. But the main reason why e-learning (learning independently with an app) fails is the lack of accountability. Be Patient An important part of the learning process is failure. There will be periods of times when learning will be more difficult; we will feel a plateau in your progress. It doesn’t mean we’ve reached our maximum potential. It’s just a natural learning process, a time to digest all the new content we’ve learned. Typically, learning a language starts slowly, then there’s a steep acceleration that turns into a plateau. The plateau may be quite long, but by persisting, we’re just getting ready for a new steep acceleration. Dedicate Yourself To Lifelong Learning The question is not how long it will take to reach our goals. The question is: how far can we go? Once we reach a milestone, we’re in for the next goal; we keep growing. When personal growth is at the center of our life, there’s nothing to stop us. Every situation is an opportunity to grow and improve. We like following the news, let’s follow news websites in the language we want to learn, we want to watch movies, let’s make sure we watch them in the original language. So even when we are not formally learning, we should take every opportunity we can to get more exposure to the language we want to learn. Learning a foreign language requires a growth-mindset. Don’t say “I can’t” or “I am not …” anymore. When we are on the path of personal development and growth, we get stronger in our mind, our level of self-esteem improves, our sense of fulfillment and happiness increases. Besides the proven effects on us, let’s not forget to enjoy the journey, because, after all, learning a language is fun! 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: Mark Sephton, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In many ways, life can be made simpler by hanging our coat on this one principle I want to share. It’s a principle I have adopted in my life and business and has been the single most valuable principle I have embraced, and I have had the privilege and opportunity to see the true fruit of it in my life. It has become one of my keys to the kingdom of unlocking myself, and the great thing with this key is it will unlock you too. Like with all things, it's not often that one principle will solve all our pains and discomfort, especially in the case of wanting to know what direction one is to take. What choices should one make, how do I live my life and show up in such a way that my very being? My energy and core serve this world and the people in it, that in such a way we feel in-tune with our core inner self and the bi-product of staying true and living out of our core. It results in a world and community around us being effected for their greater good by the very essence and trajectory of our life. So what is this principle? Stephen Covey said it best "Start with the end in mind". I have a considerable strength and gift where I specialize in helping individuals find their purpose and create platforms which showcase their skills, strengthen their performance, and yet promote their own inner peace, which becomes so attractive to others around them, that they can't help but attract opportunities and people and situations which then create such a euphoria of excitement for both those who want to connect with you but most importantly how you end up connecting deeper with yourself, that what is offered cannot be ignored because we all only get one shot at this life. I recently came across a man called David Abend. David is the founder of thebucket.com, the essence of David is found through his work. When he founded "the bucket "it was really to encourage people to look at their mortality, and by embracing their mortality, it can actually shape the direction you take in life, which is exactly my point. We only get one shot at this life, and when we consider our final end, it helps sharpen our ending, which helps us choose our beginnings more effectively. So with the principle being “ Start with the end in mind“, why has this served me so well and why is the principle about to solve a heck of a lot of your frustration and confusion with how your life should look and what choices you should be making in order to have a life that makes sense to you? Which is true to your core beliefs and actually impacts and serves a world that desperately needs you to be showing up and creating such a wave through the energy you manifest by being so clear on your purpose that those around you can’t help but take notice. You see, when you start with the end in mind, decision making becomes so much easier and so much more exciting. When I work with my clients, we spend a significant amount of time on this very principle, which is underpinned by my GPS system, which gages an individual's health based on 10 key fundamentals that make up a person's basic DNA. I established this GPS out of 3 years of case studies and notes that I discovered 10 common points of pain, challenge, opportunity, and success when I looked through. So I created a system that gages an individual's performance and health based on these 10 fundamentals. The findings are what formalize my client sessions. The GPS is like an internal MRI. It looks at your beliefs, behaviors, actions, blind spots, efficiencies and deficiencies, it's through these findings that we can fine-tune, tweak, evolve and shape the next 12 months to really hit the nail on the head with regards to our life mission and ensure our business and our life represent something this world needs and solves one of a million problems that mankind is faced with. Let's be clear the essence of business is really solving a problem, the more people that are affected by a problem; the more impact your business will have on solving it. It's so vitally important when considering "Start with the end in mind "for this principle to really serve you. You must get crystal clear on what it is you want your life to represent. What is it you want people to associate with you? What do you want to be remembered by when you leave this earth. I spent a year defining and sharpening what it is I want my life to represent. So I ask you, what do you want your life to represent? What do you want to be known for? What ignites and fires you up where you feel immersed in your sweet spot. If these questions are hard to answer, my GPS will shed some light on these questions you may have. The seriousness of understanding and answering these questions will save you a lot of time and pain in trying to figure out. Too many people go to the grave without knowing who they really were and or being intentional about the life they really wanted to live. This is your life; this is my life. I want to impact as many people as I can, I want to start fires in the hearts of men and women, and for their purpose to be much bigger than themselves, the world needs kindness, it needs people to show up, it needs help, it needs you. When you fully embrace starting with the end in mind, your decisions become easier to make. For example. Let's take relationships. We all have them. In most cases, we have all been involved In a romantic relationship. Suppose your heart is to get married one day. In that case, it is stupid to start dating a person when you know you could never marry them, of course, dating helps us build an understanding and reassures us of whether someone would have the ability to be a long term partner, but what I am cautioning you with through this example, is making sure what you commit to whether it's in a relationship or business opportunity that it will take you to where you want to go and most importantly will fan the flame of what you really want your life to represent and how you want to be associated. My driver is influence, so when I consider any opportunity or when I am proposition with a business opportunity if there is no clear opportunity to influence human beings, I don't entertain the idea any further. The amount of people on LinkedIn who message me and say "Mark how would you like to have a 6 figure income doing this or that" really is hooking me with the wrong bait. I am not interested in how much money I can make. I am interested in how many lives I can effect for the greater good of them and those around me, period. So if my backstop is influence, it certainly makes decision making a lot easier and actually a lot more exciting. I love helping people find their backstop and then using that backstop to make awesome decisions that shape your life's direction, which is where I feel my superpowers as a coach and mentor rest. Outside of this guiding principle, I have 2 other keys that serve me in my choices. They are simple yet effective. Only commit to the things you love ( Key 2 ) and commit only to the things you are good at ( Key 3 ). Add this to Key 1, which is "start with the end in mind "and only commit to the opportunities and people which will take you to where you want to go, and when I say where you want to go, this is actually a place inside yourself, a place which is your internal sweet spot, then life will make more sense, and then your life and business will start to make the waves you so desperately want it to. Feel free to follow Mark on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, or email Mark at info@marksephton.com You can buy his books Inside Job & Plot Twist on Amazon! Read more from Mark! Mark Sephton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mark Sephton is a personal mentor to entrepreneurs. His mission to help others has seen him break into global markets while working with startups and millionaire entrepreneurs worldwide. Mark's love for entrepreneurship has been expressed through serving as TV host of the show "One More Round." When not on the big screen, Mark is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and a speaker for corporate events, entrepreneurship summits, and major conferences worldwide. His expertise in personal and professional development has positioned him as an expert in the industry, resulting in transformational experiences for audiences, clients, and businesses alike.

Written by: Lisa Kindle, 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. Slowing down invites us to focus on the moment. Creativity flows when we take the time to reconnect with ourselves. Here’s a little meditation to make space for creativity in your day. Begin by allowing yourself to do this short exercise below. Let’s begin: Observe your surroundings. Consider the space you are in. Feel the weight of your body in your chair. Feel the texture of the floor beneath your feet. Is there a distinct aroma in your space? If you were to appreciate the moment you are in right now without judgement, what would you appreciate the most about it? Ask Yourself: What did you appreciate most at this moment? What is it you want to remember about this particular moment? Creating affirmation cards is a perfect way to remember things we are grateful for. Write it on a piece of paper you have handy. Even a sticky-note will do. If you want to make it even more personalized, use an index card and grab your art supplies. Affirmation cards help maintain a positive mindset and can stimulate your creative juices. “Enjoying “non-doing” when you can simply “be” feeds the creative soul.” - Liz Dean Do you still need more tips to boost your creativity? Try one of these: Download a binaural app, choose an audio file that matches how you would like to feel. It’s a fascinating way to get in the flow-zone! Take a “nature-thought-walk” with your idea or problem like a movie playing in the background of your mind. Begin to observe what’s going on around you as you walk. Doodle for five minutes. Have your own dance party! Go offline for a set period of time. Being creative means challenging yourself every day, doing something out of the norm, creating without judgment. One of the main ways to let your creativity flow is to slow down, turn things off – and the real “biggie” – to say no. What thing can you say “no” to that will make the most impact? Make a commitment to yourself over the next few weeks to try one of the activities above, getting in the flow, working on the practice “to simply be.” Be still and listen to your inner voice. Be empowered by what it has to say to you. Be you. Be free. Be creatively alive! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram Read more from Lisa! Lisa M. Kindle, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lisa Kindle, a therapeutic art life coach and leader in building a creative community that inspires people worldwide, is dedicated to a creative lifestyle with a personable approach and an artsy twist! She now coaches one-on-one and in group settings, including retreats and workshops. With over 25 years of professional experience as a corporate designer, photographer, graphic designer, small business owner, and all-around visionary, Lisa's creative spirit shines through connecting people and ideas.

Written by: Linda Evans , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Have you been trying to get more done by multi-tasking? A better question might be, when was the last time you did NOT multi-task? Those times are rare due to the large variety of tasks we need to do for our jobs and families, not to mention basic self-care like getting enough exercise and eating healthily. However, multi-tasking is a myth. It is literally impossible for our human minds to do more than one thing at once. When we attempt to multi-task, it’s really just our brains switching between tasks, and each time we do; our brains consume extra time and energy. This increases the likelihood of making mistakes because our attention is not fully devoted to the task or is not concentrated on the task for very long. Therefore, it actually takes longer to do any task while multi-tasking because we are not fully focusing on it and need extra time to fix mistakes. The more tasks we try to juggle, the less effective we are at any of them. So instead of feeling productive and saving time, we feel more exhausted, distracted, and less productive. “But there are not enough hours in a day!” Realistically, it is likely not possible to be single-tasking all the time. Some things don’t require singular focus and may actually be more enjoyable while multi-tasking, like listening to music while washing dishes. Other things are dangerous to do while multi-tasking, like texting while driving. The key is to decide which tasks require and deserve single-tasking and which tasks can be stacked with others. Here are some common tasks we try to do while multi-tasking but probably should not - tasks that take careful word choice, critical thinking, and/or deep listening. Participating in Zoom meetings, 1:1 conversations, or 1:1 quality time with a loved one Writing reports, emails, or texts Conducting research or analysis Attending conference sessions Single-tasking during these types of tasks will not only increase comprehension, quality, and connection, it will also conserve energy. When we eliminate the tug of war for our attention, we instantly feel more relaxed and less anxious. Additionally, people can usually discern whether you are multi-tasking while talking to them, even if the distraction is invisible in your mind. Your time and attention are arguably the most valuable and generous things you can give anyone. Single-tasking while being with others - whether it be a 1:1 with a colleague, a date with your romantic partner, or a playdate with your child - will strengthen your relationships. Multi-tasking while being with others will erode your relationships over time. Some tasks can actually be enhanced while multi-tasking. When we need to do something physically tedious or repetitive, it is often much more pleasant to combine it with something that entertains the mind auditorily (rather than visually). Pairing a task from each list would be a harmless and even productive way to multi-task. Body: Exercise Chores Yardwork Eating Grooming Mind Music Podcasts Audiobooks To single-task while doing important things, we cannot rely on willpower alone. Our multi-tasking habits and distractions (both internal and external) will win. Single-tasking is a skill like a muscle; it gets stronger with practice. Here are some tips for setting ourselves up for success to practice single-tasking: Do daily meditation to practice bringing your mind back to one thing: breathing Get sufficient sleep so you will have enough mental energy to redirect your attention Write a “vomit list” in which you unload everything on your mind before starting a task Schedule single-tasking blocks on your calendar and stick to it - ideally 30-90 minutes Communicate to people who may interrupt that you will be unavailable during single-task blocks Hide or delete all browser tabs except the one(s) you need for your task Take brief breaks to move your body and rest your eyes Turn your phone to silent and put it in another room Turn off notifications on your computer Clear your desk Obviously, not all distractions and interruptions are within our control. Things will come up to hi-jack your attention. Quickly assess if it is urgent to respond to, and if not, return your attention to your task. Ultimately, our lives are a combination of multi-tasking and single-tasking. Rather than haphazardly trying to do multiple things at once and doing all of them poorly, we can take more control over what we focus on singularly, and when we multi-task. The key to living a productive and meaningful life is to be intentional about how we manage our time and attention. Make sure to follow Linda on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit her website for more info! Read more from Linda ! Linda Evans, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine LindaEvans is a strengths-based career coach and personal branding expert. In 2011, she founded her virtual career coaching business, Launched by Linda, LLC. Her full-time career has been in higher education since 2012 and she currently works in Career Services at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Linda has a B.A. in American Studies and minor in Ballroom Dance from Brigham Young University, and an M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, and has certificates in positive psychology and public speaking.

Written by: Olesya Oligradska, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Most of the world sees sales as a sleazy, pushy, & manipulative. I see sales as an opportunity to serve the world. I’m not sure where or when the disconnect started to happen, but I am on a mission to fill the gap. One of the biggest reasons I started my podcast, The Soulful Selling Podcast, was because I was tired of seeing ambition people turning down incredible opportunities due to the fact that they didn’t want to sell. But the truth is that it’s not sales that turned people away. It’s the fear of rejection. In this article, I will be sharing my 7 secrets to making sales with unwavering confidence because when we are confident in what we do, we are able to put the fear of rejection aside and flourish. So let’s begin! Secrets No.1 Leaders are Readers It’s our responsibility to fill our minds with information that is going to help expect our perspective. When we expand our perspective, we are more open to new opportunities and possibilities. This is such an overlooked point. Picture this, what if you read 1 book per month. That’s 12 books per year and 120 books per decade. Imagine the kind of resource you would become not only for yourself, but for the people around you. What are you reading these days? I would love for you to share it! Post on your Instagram story & tag me @olesyaoligradska. Secret No.2 Get Clear on Who Your Ideal Client is I see people feel a lot of resistance around this one. I think a bit part of it is that we feel if we are too neighed down that we will miss out on other business. But here is the truth…the more people you are speaking to through your marketing, the more people are confused about what you do, and the less they will buy. People want to buy from people who are an authority in their work. You wouldn’t have a heart surgeon operate on your brain, would you? So stop catering to all and start focusing on your ideal client. Here is a quick method to narrow down your ideal client: who are you serving, what are you helping them with, what transformation should they expect from your work together. I will use mine as an example: I help spiritual leaders rewire their beliefs so they can go from salesy to sales queens and build their soul-aligned empires. Now you try! Secret No.3 Always show up as your most authentic self I think this is where sales got its sleazy vibes. When we sell from a selfish place, we make it all about ourselves, and we forget about the person inform of us. We know that it is not coming from an authentic place, because if we were selling to the person we love, we would never sell from a selfish place. We would always be thinking about them and their needs. So how would you show up and sell if you were selling to your family or friends? Secret No.4 Create really good content This is where being clear about who you are here to serve is so important. When we know who we are speaking too, our content becomes magnetic. Your ideal client will start saying things like “You are speaking to my soul”. So, teach us your biggest lessons and be as vulnerable as you possibly can. It’s the most valuable tool in our toolbox. Create magnetic FREE content that will speak to your ideal client’s soul. This will help them get to know you and eventually want to buy from you. I also want you to use your social media to educate, inspire, and connect to your ideal client! Let them get to know you! We all know people buy from people they KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST! Secret No.5 You need to be on your own healing journey, so you can help others do the same The biggest thing most new entrepreneurs miss is that they must rewire their old programming around all aspects of their lives in order to create the business of their dreams. For us to be able to do this, we must heal the part of us that holds us back from taking the actions in our business that we know we need to. For example, fear of rejection is one of those wounds we must heal. We must dig deep and uncover where these limiting beliefs come from; otherwise, we will be holding ourselves back until we do. So, take a deep look at your beliefs about money, business, success, relationships and self. What do you believe to be true for you? Take some time to do this and reflect back on which beliefs will help you to expect and which ones are holding you back from growing in your business. For the ones that you feel are holding you back, can you rewire them? What new beliefs would you want to embody that will help you to feel expensive. For me, when I think of sales, I don’t think sleazy. I think service. That feels super expansive and empowering! So which ones are you ready to rewire? Secret No.6 Always put the customer first One of the biggest beliefs I have embodied is that relationships with my ideal clients come before the sale. Remember, people buy from people they KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST. So does your ideal client know you? Do you know them? Have you made a connection that will get them excited about getting to know you and what you have to offer? Again, we are going back to knowing your ideal client and their needs. When you get to a place where this feels as comfortable as riding a bike, you have yourself a thriving business! Secret No.7 Drop the expectation and go out and SERVE! When we stop seeing people as dollar signs and start focusing on the transformation, we can guide them to; the sky is the limit in our business. I think a lot of the time, we get so excited about our business's sales and forget to celebrate the journey we are about the take our new clients on. On the other hand, we also need to understand that not everyone will want to buy from us, and that is totally okay! We must also embody the belief that just because people aren't buying from us doesn't mean we are not enough or worth it. We are enough! We are worthy! We just have to get clear on who we want to work with and hold a crystal clear vision that if we speak from the heart and make the sale about the other person, we will always be supported! In summary, confidence comes from believing in yourself and your abilities. It also comes with the belief that what you are selling with help to solve the world so fill your head with expansive content, get clear on who your ideal client is. Always show up as your most authentic self, create really good content, emerge yourself in your healing journey, always put the customer first, and drop the expectations so you can go out and serve! Follow me on Instagram and visit my podcast on Apple or Spotify. For more information please visit my website. Read more from Olesya! Olesya Oligradska, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Olesya Oligradska is an exercise rehab specialist turned business and mindset mentor. Her passion lies in helping women rewire their beliefs and reclaim their worth so they can sell and growth their business with confidence. She is on a mission to help women build a life of freedom and choice through holistic growth inside and out. She is also the host of The Soulful Selling Podcast, a platform where sales is no longer a dirty word and abundance gets to be the new norm.

Written by: Melissa Gamarra, 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. Did you know that [1] 20% of small businesses fail in their first year, 30% of small businesses fail in their second year, 50% of small businesses fail after five years in business, and 70% of small business owners fail in their 10th year in business? This is a statistic that will send chills down the spine of any business owner because for most of us, our businesses are like our children! The thought of losing your business for any reason is a terrible one, but what if the reason you lose your business is because you fail to meet demand? Businesses don't fail in year five or ten because they don't have clients. They fail because their operations aren't functioning the way they should. Having a solid foundation in your business is absolutely crucial if you want to stand the test of time. So how do you prepare your business for long term growth and ensure that you don't become part of the statistic above? The answer is simple, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This may seem like an overly simplistic answer, but SOPs are one of the most commonly forgotten steps when building an online company. So What are SOPs? SOPs or Standard Operating Procedures are the step by step instructions for each individual task inside your business. These documents tell your staff exactly how to complete specific tasks, maintain quality and what is expected of them. These SOPs also help you onboard and train new hires with ease because everything is clearly laid out for them. Imagine you purchase a piece of furniture from Amazon. It gets to your door, you open it up, take all the pieces out only to discover that there are no instructions for how to put this together. All you have to go off of is the picture and your intuition. Most likely what will happen is you will have a poorly constructed piece of furniture that leans to one side and is missing some screws. This is exactly what happens in your business when staff members don’t have clearly outlined instructions to follow. Why are SOPs Vital to Your Success? You might think that you already have a well-trained team working for you, and it’s completely possible. The issue is, [2] the average person forgets nearly 50% of what they have been told. More than likely, you have experienced this in your life and what happens when you forget? Oftentimes you will “figure it out” or ask the person in charge. This leads to steps being missed, incorrect instructions being given and a lack of continuity when it comes to the work your company puts out. Quality is absolutely key when it comes to owning a business. If you can’t guarantee the quality of your work because your team doesn’t have the proper instructions, your business is likely to implode. Clients and customers want to know that they can rely on you, so whether your social media is suffering from inconsistency or your client’s work is having issues, if the problem isn’t fixed, your customer base will leave. Another reason why SOPs are so important is for training purposes. Hiring, onboarding and training is a huge drain on your time. With SOPs you simply need to show the new hire your systems, give them your passwords and the SOPs. These instructions should be so detailed that it leaves no room for guesswork. This is why they are so effective at helping you train people the right way and make sure quality is never compromised. So Where Do I Start? Creating instructions for your entire company probably seems like a giant task you could never finish. But this process is actually easier than you think! Start by downloading this free SOP template. This template has instructions for how to fill it out, and your first SOP should be the SOP for how you will create future SOPs. Make a copy of the template and start writing out the instructions for how to create an SOP. This is what your team will follow when they document their own tasks and you want everything to look the same. After you have done this, start by creating SOPs for the people you are looking to hire. This will get you one step closer to expanding your team and will help the onboarding process go smoothly. After you have completed those, have your existing team create SOPs for their tasks, and you create SOPs for everything you do. These don’t need to be done in a day, but they need to get done! Other Problems in Your Foundation There are a lot of moving pieces inside of a business that keeps it functioning day in and day out. While having SOPs is absolutely essential, it’s not the only thing you might be experiencing issues with. Things like a lack of organization, improper systems, and not delegating tasks accordingly can all be really serious issues. If you are looking to really prepare yourself for the next step in your business, check out my book, Transform Your Online Business into a Flourishing Enterprise. This book goes over exactly how to prepare your business for growth and stability over time so that YOU don’t become another statistic. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and connect with me on LinkedIn! Read more from Melissa! Melissa Gamarra, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Gamarra is a Certified Online Business Manager and Author living in Salt Lake City. She helps online business owners create organization and business strategies so they can scale their companies effortlessly Citations: [1] BLS.gov. “Table 7. Survival of private sector establishments by opening year“ [2] “10 Stats About Learning Retention You'll Want to Forget.” Instructure. Accessed October 9, 2020.

Written by: Brooklynn Bradley-LaFleur, 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 I first started out as a small business owner, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I was thrown into it as the result of a small family matter and had no plan, no goals, and no ambition because my goal was to work for my aunt and be good at my job. Now, I want to share my story with other small business entrepreneurs to help them pass through as many struggle stages as I can in order to get them on the right track. 1. Posting First, I start with Facebook. When I go to post a product, I may mention the name of the product, a general representation of what said product is used for, then I decorate the post with emojis to get attention, add some hashtags and tag the company along with anyone else involved in what I am talking about. The key is organically maximizing your exposure. After It is officially posted, I go back into the comments and post different pictures of the same product, benefits of the product, price and maybe personal testimony. I tend to change it up. Whatever inspiration comes to me. I keep it genuine and honest. Always respond to everyone who comments. It boosts the algorithm/impressions of your post. If its being “loved” Facebook will love it too! After I am done with those steps, I copy the caption of my photo and share it to all of the groups/pages I personally own. Including Pinterest. Second, I head on over to Instagram. I put each product I posted at that time into my stories (make sure your Instagram stories are connected to your Facebook stories to maximize efficiency and save time). I’m a little pickier when it comes to posting on my IG wall, but I apply the same posting techniques that I use for my Facebook posts. 2. Consistency I cannot say this enough…. Whatever you choose to do for your business (posting, videos, business hours, etc) BE CONSISTENT!! When I first started, I would make like one post per week and it would get no attention. I didn’t post more than that because I thought it wasn’t working and it was very discouraging. Little did I know if I had just kept it up, even though no one was engaging with me, I would be leaps further than I am now. You have to post every day. You have to be consistent. Different people see your posts each day. 3. Engage It is also important to spend a little bit of time each day scrolling through your feed (any feed) and engaging in other people’s posts. What I mean by that is, comment on their pictures/posts, like, love and share. Subscribe to and follow them. You may think, “How is taking time out of working on my business to comment on people’s pictures going to help my business?” Well, that’s easy. People love to support and lift each other up. Especially if they see you are like-minded or willing to support them. That helps get you in front of their audience and helps the impressions of your posts. 4. Events Participating in local events, or hosting your own, are a great way to help spread the word of your new business. Once you decide what event, promote it every day through your social media, local newspapers, local chamber of commerce/tourism. Make sure you have cute marketing created for your event. You can partner with other small businesses to get even more exposure to your event. 5. Giveaways Giveaways are a great tool when trying to grow your audience on a platform. I am currently doing a Facebook giveaway. I partnered with the women in my company to put a really nice goodie basket together with products and gift certificates. To enter the drawing, they have to follow our Facebook page, share our giveaway post, and comment WIN on the original post. I know most of you are familiar with that type of giveaway, but sometimes it gets overlooked when it comes to our own brand. I have grown several thousand followers just by doing that. The cost is minimal but the exposure is excellent. 6. Networking In the last year, I have started engaging with like-minded entrepreneur groups and I wish I would have done this from the beginning. The people you connect with in groups similar to your niche are irreplaceable. Everything from professional advice all the way to finding people to collaborate with. Follow the Facebook pages/groups, YouTubes, Pinterest, Blogs, Instagrams, etc of people similar to your brand. Study them. Apply it to your brand. It helps tremendously as you navigate your niche. There are people out there who would love to connect... NOW GO FIND THEM! 7. Branding One thing I never even considered when I started my business was branding. I never thought of myself as having a “brand”. That wasn’t even in my thought process. One day about two years ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Holy S*** I HAVE A WHOLE BRAND... and it’s REALLY good! Create a clean, easy to read logo people can recognize right away and associate it with your brand. You want to use that logo across all social media and marketing. Make sure when someone sees your logo, they can tell right away what the name of your business is and what you do. Not only will it help you with any networking/marketing it will also make you more professional. 8. Believing in what you are selling Honestly, I struggle with this constantly. Not because I don’t believe in what I am doing/selling, but because it’s me and I let my anxiety trump my confidence sometimes. Don’t fall into this trap. “Listen woman! You know what you are doing. You are making a difference. Keep going. You’ve got this!” Don’t let small-minded people or skeptics hold you back; don’t be one of those people.g yourself) tell you what you are doing Isn’t good. I am a small business owner from a small town and sometimes I feel like it holds me back. I have to really give myself a pep talk about it. Like, “Listen woman! You know what you are doing. You are making a difference. Keep going. You’ve got this!” Just because you aren’t from a big city or just because you are starting out, doesn’t mean you don’t have a good thing going. Don’t let small-minded people or skeptics hold you back; don’t be one of those people. 9. Personal Testimony In this day and time, we are sick of the facades. We are trying to sift through what is real and what is fake. It is so important to let your followers know who you really are. They need to be able to trust you; connect with you. In order to establish trust, it is important to get down to the real, raw version of ourselves. No, we do not have to put every inch of our lives on social media, I surely don’t, but in order for them to relate to you, give them personal testimony. Let them know you have been there, done that, and are a regular person with struggles, fears, and accomplishments. 10. Consistency I know I have already talked about consistency, but I am bringing it back because it is probably the MOST important point I will make in this whole article. I have been in business for about 10 years and would be a lot further along if I had just known to be consistent. It really is discouraging when you make a post and no one cares, but you have to build your audience and that takes time. Patience… something my dad has been barking at me my whole life. Something I have yet to be good at… Find a posting schedule that works for you. I get up early and do all of my posting then spend the rest of my day responding/engaging/networking and marketing. Keep moving forward. Even if you feel like you are the only one noticing. I truly hope this helps other small business owners who are starting out in their business. If I had only known a few of these things 10 years ago, I would be much further along. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube-Channel and visit my website! Brooklynn Bradley-LaFleur, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Bradley-LaFleur is the CEO & Founder of Brooklynn Three. Brooklynn Three is the parent company of Salon Rouge Spa, LaFleur Couture Wellness Boutique and This Beautiful Tripp Blog. Our mission is to help people transform their lives from the inside out by offering a variety of holistic based and safe products from makeup, vitamins and cleaning supplies all the way to a wide variety of spa services. We host a web series every Monday morning to help answer questions and connect people everywhere with the products and services that best serve them and their families. On Friday mornings, we provide store shopping lives to conveniently shop everything in our store from the comfort of your own home. We ship and are happy to provide in house or over the phone consultations to find the best plan for you!

Written by Barbara Cox, Guest Writer We all feel blue from time to time, and these 10 health habits can play an important role in helping us lift our mood and improve our outlook on life. So, who am I to make such a statement? I’m Barbara Cox, nutritionist for over 25 years and I have worked with almost 24 000 clients. I have seen many styles of mental health issues from anxiety, eating disorders, deep manic depression to panic attacks. I also have my 23-year-old daughter with autism and anxiety is part of her daily symptoms. So I have some great experience that might help. 1. Eat a Variety of food Not only does a healthy diet help control your waistline, but smarter food choices may also help ward off symptoms of depression. The best nutritional plan to prevent depression is likely to be a varied diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. While you increase these healthy foods, cut down on the processed and pre-packaged foods you eat, according to dietary recommendations for depression published in August 2015 in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience. 2. Stay Hydrated Every system in the human body counts on water to function, and the brain is no exception. In fact, about 75 percent of brain tissue is water. Research has linked dehydration to depression and anxiety because mental health is driven primarily by your brain’s activity. Long story short, dehydration causes brain functioning to slow down and not function properly. It is important to think of water as a nutrient your brain needs. Dehydration Saps Your Brain’s Energy. Dehydration impedes energy production in your brain. Many of your brain’s functions require this type of energy, otherwise it can become inefficient and can even shut down. The resulting mood disorders that result from this type of dysfunction can be categorized with depression. Dehydration impedes your brain’s serotonin production.  Depression is frequently related to subpar levels of serotonin, which is a critical neurotransmitter that heavily affects your mood. Serotonin is created from the amino acid tryptophan, but sufficient water is needed. Dehydration can also negatively impact other amino acids, resulting in feelings of dejection, inadequacy, anxiety, and irritability. Dehydration increases stress in your body.  Stress is one of the most prominent contributing factors to depression, along with a sense of powerlessness and inability to cope with stressors. Dehydration is the number one cause of stress in your body. In fact, it’s a self-perpetuating cycle: dehydration can cause stress, and stress can cause dehydration. When you’re stressed, your adrenal glands produce extra cortisol, the stress hormone, and under chronic stress, your adrenal glands can become exhausted, and resulting in lower electrolyte levels. Drinking sufficient water can help reduce the negative psychological and physiological impacts of stress, so aim for 1.5L to 2L a day. 3. Essential Fatty Acids Growing evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids (abundant in oily fish such as sardines, salmon, and mackerel) may have a role in brain functioning, with deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids linked to mental health problems. Healthy brains and nerve cells depend on omega-3s because the nervous system is made mostly of fat. The signals that travel through our flesh so feelings, thoughts, commands to our bodies usually skip along cells and their arms sheathed in fat. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are one of the basic building blocks of the brain. ​ Brain cell membranes are about 20 percent fatty acids and they seem to be crucial for keeping brain signals moving smoothly. Doctors call this class of fat "essential" because, unlike many nutrients, our bodies cannot produce it. We can get it only from very specific parts of our diet. 4. Maintain a healthy flow of calories Spinach and other green vegetables contain the B vitamin folate. Although the connection isn't fully understood, low folate levels have been consistently associated with depression in research. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research in 2017, for instance, analyzed previous studies and found that people with depression had lower blood levels of folate and lower dietary intake of folate compared to those without depression. Folate deficiency may impair the metabolism of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline (neurotransmitters important for mood), but further research is needed to understand the role of folate in depression and mental health. Several studies have found that greater vegetable and fruit consumption is associated with a decreased risk of depression. One study published in 2017 found that a beverage made from wild blueberries increased positive mood in children and young adults. Consumption of a probiotic supplement was found to improve both gut symptoms and depression in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a study published in Gastroenterology in 2017. 5. Think Positive How to think positive thoughts: Positive thinking can be achieved through a few different techniques that have been proven effective, such as positive self-talk and positive imagery. Here are some tips to get you started that can help you train your brain how to think positively. "Challenging situations and obstacles are a part of life. When you’re faced with one, focus on the good things no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they seem." Practicing gratitude has been shown to reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and foster resilience even in very difficult times. Think of people, moments, or things that bring you some kind of comfort or happiness and try to express your gratitude at least once a day. This can be thanking a co-worker for helping with a project, a loved one for washing the dishes, or your dog for the unconditional love they give you. Start every day on a positive note. Create a ritual in which you start off each day with something uplifting and positive. Here are a few ideas: - Tell yourself that it’s going to be a great day or any other positive affirmation. - Listen to a happy and positive song or playlist. - Share some positivity by giving a compliment or doing something nice for someone. Focus on the good things Challenging situations and obstacles are a part of life. When you’re faced with one, focus on the good things no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they seem. If you look for it, you can always find the proverbial silver lining in every cloud — even if it’s not immediately obvious. SAYING: You Are The Average Of The Five People You Spend The Most Time With The people we surround ourselves with are the biggest influence on our behavior, attitudes, and results. Who you are around — what they’ve got you thinking, saying, doing, and becoming — sets the course of your life. In the words of motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” The people you spend the most time with shape who you are. They determine what conversations dominate your attention. They affect to which attitudes and behaviors you are regularly exposed. Eventually you start to think like they think and behave like they behave. 6. Smile The saying goes: "Life is like a mirror, smile at it and it smiles back at you" They say it takes more muscles to frown than to smile, and although there’s no hard evidence to support that, we do know that smiling comes with some real-life benefits. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, especially after a long and stressful day. But if you can take it upon yourself to crack a smile, you’ll actually feel better. Smiling can trick your brain into happiness — and boost your health. A smile spurs a powerful chemical reaction in the brain that can make you feel happier. 7. Exercise People who exercise regularly have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than those who don't. Grab your yoga mat, and make yoga your new BFF and favorite mood-boosting exercise to get your mind and body centered. ​ Yoga is such an amazing form of exercise that really helps you relax and also helps stretch out those tired and sore muscles at the same time. Studies have even found that yoga may help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. So, if you’re feeling tense, get your yoga flow on. To increase the benefits, try exercising outside. Both aerobic exercise (such as walking, cycling or running) and strength training (such as weight lifting) can help treat depression. Get More Vitamin and Exercise OUTSIDE Known as the sunshine vitamin, this nutrient is made naturally in the body when skin is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. In the past few years, research has suggested that vitamin D may increase the levels of serotonin, one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood, and that deficiency may be linked with mood disorders, particularly seasonal affective disorder. In addition, preliminary research suggests that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for depression in older adults. Some people are at greater risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Darker skin, for instance, has more melanin, a substance that blocks ultraviolet rays. Working indoors during the day, living further from the equator, or being in an area with greater air pollution also increase your risk of vitamin D deficiency. 8. Try Aromatherapy Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. They serve many medical purposes, from acting as a natural mosquito repellent to reducing back and neck pain. However, some people use them to support lifting moods in a positive way. Try some on the market ready-made blends that are safe to use for your desired results. Please only use 100% essential oils and blends as some cheaply manufactured oils may contain alcohol which can irritate your senses more. 9. Balance Your Hormones Your hormones are little chemical messengers that tell your body to do certain processes. When they are out of balance it can have a knock-on effect on all areas of your health; physical, emotional and mental, and your mood is a very common one to be affected. Anxiety, depression, low mood, and mood swings are all symptoms of imbalances in your thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones. Your hormones are little chemical messengers that tell your body to do certain processes. When they are out of balance it can have a knock-on effect on all areas of your health; physical, emotional, and mental, and your mood is a very common one to be affected. Anxiety, depression, low mood, and mood swings are all symptoms of imbalances in your thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones. Eat a diet rich with real, natural whole foods. Focusing on proteins, healthy fats, fruit, and vegetables to give our bodies all the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally. 10. Sleep Well Getting enough sleep, and the right type of sleep is vital for our overall health and wellbeing. While you sleep, your body works to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health. And for children and young people, sleep is how their bodies and minds grow and develop. When you do not get enough sleep, you feel tired, you find it hard to concentrate and remember things and you may be grumpy. Lack of sleep can also impair your judgment and impact your physical coordination. So not getting enough sleep affects the way you feel, think, work, learn and get along with other people. This great “toolbox” will give you ideas to pull out when you’re not feeling 100%, but my ethos is “Protect & Correct” so if you start to use these methods now, chances are the mental health symptoms will improve, the length between “episodes” will be longer and the “episode” won’t be a long or severe. If you’re looking to put a wellness program together for yourself, your business/company, or a loved one, then please let me help. My details are: www.barbaracox.me barbara@bcnutrition.co.uk or connect on LinkedIn & Instagram Barbara Cox, Guest Writer Inspired by food and health whilst living in Japan I trained as a nutritionist and set up Nutrichef in the UK in 2004. Since then we've been creating healthy meal plans for busy people who want to lose weight, maintain a healthy lifestyle or achieve fitness goals. Nutrichef was sold in March 2015 and I set up BC Nutrition to continue consulting businesses on implementing strategies to improve productivity and consult individuals on health-related issues. My work has enabled me to contribute to books including The Motorsport Fitness Manual and Teach Yourself Aromatherapy; trek 100 miles in the Sahara Desert for Help For Heroes, speak to a wide range of audiences about their health and well-being and be involved with some fantastic organizations such as the Porsche Human Performance Centre and the Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy in Barcelona, Ariix in Europe and EgoStream Performance Centre in the EU. In 2015 I launched my first cookbook Rainbow Recipes and present globally on healthy eating and then In 2018 I launched my second cookbook and first e-book called Eat To Be Fit. I currently run global Corporate wellness programs that inspire, educate and motivate people to work in peak performance mode.

Written by: Morgaan Eastes, 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 more to feeding yourself than meets the stomach... Listen, I am not here to tell you how to eat. Today, I am not here to talk about food, at all. So, what am I talking about? We are in a constant state of consumption. We are essentially “eating” all day with our senses. Constantly consuming our environment through sight, sound, touch, and thought, which has an impact on our overall health and well-being. We concentrate a large amount of our daily energy on our food-related needs, negating the other two bodies that also need nourishing. Three bodies??? Oh, yes... we have three bodies that need nourishing: Physical body Mind body Spirit body In our over-focus on food, we forget all the simple and wonderful ways to nourish ourselves wholly. We forget that a hammock, a fire, and a clear, night sky full of stars can be as spiritually healing and rejuvenating as church. Or that lying on our bed with a book and our favorite lofi tunes can be as mentally stimulating as a day at school or work. These are personal preferences, sub your own. If any or all of these bodies are undernourished, the effects will show up in all aspects of your life, from your relationships to your physical body's movement. Here are 5 ways to nourish your senses, starting today… Relationships: Seek out relationships with people that make you feel good about yourself. Environment: Your environment affects your mood and energy. If you are in an office all day staring at a wall, then today, go to the park on your lunch, take off your shoes and just let your feet be in the grass and the breeze on your face. Thank me later. Connections: So much time is spent behind screens, yet it is so important for our spirits to make and nurture connections. Find a safe, socially distanced way to get out and meet new people, like joining a club or finding an online meetup for something you are passionate about. Sleep: This is crucial. If you are not getting the right amount of sleep for your body, your life will be hell, there is no way around it. Sleep allows all three bodies to heal and restore. Movement: Sparking your endorphins, making you feel energized, keeping the oxygen freely circulating through your system; movement makes you feel refreshed and alive. In my coaching practice, I help my clients realize there is more to life than food! I call the most important parts of our lives “THE BIG 5”-- they need as much love and attention as eating! If you are tired of feeling like your life is lacking excitement and meaning, and you want to find a way to feel nourished in all areas of your life, click HERE to schedule your 21-Day Recharge so I can help you feel more energized and alive than ever before! Morgaan Eastes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Morgaan Eastes is a gifted writer with more than ten years of experience in the fields of health, nutrition, wellness, and plant medicine. Her trusted expertise is backed by her Health Coach certification from the renowned Health Coach Institute. Her Earthly duty and service to others is to help them gain clarity surrounding their health and wellness in a sea of contradictory science. Sometimes she's funny.

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. Young professionals face a unique challenge. We’re often caught among our elders' guidance, expectations of society, our inner critic, and our heart’s desires. Additionally, the values, vision and leadership at companies in the Corporate world play a significant role in the successful debut of a University graduate’s career. My story is not very different than any other young professional who did not know someone at the top to boycott the other levels. Fresh out of University and full of enthusiasm to apply my expertise, I was expected to start at the bottom of the hierarchy and climb my way up as everyone else did. It didn’t matter how long it took others. I was expected to endure the same. So, I started at the bottom but luckily for me, my boss found my qualifications impressive and appointed me the leader of a new project. With this, I was given space to do something different than the others and, I bloomed. However, it didn’t come without a naysayer or two. I’d never forget overhearing a colleague tell another, “This little girl has made us all look stupid. She came a few days ago and has already made big changes. We’ve been here for years.” For a highly sensitive introvert, it was a depressing experience for me. It dampened my spirit, and I couldn’t understand how someone could be so inauthentic- friendly and encouraging in my presence but threatened by my success. “This is life. That’s how people are. Don’t bother with them. They are jealous.” were the words an older colleague said to comfort me. However, the experience was more than “life” for me. It was my driver for change. Becoming a target for in-house competition and intuitively squashing the attempts to sabotage my work, I decided to defy expectations and change my experience to align with what I really wanted. In my heart, I knew that starting at the bottom, fighting unnecessary battles, and not knowing how long I’d be at the bottom or if there was any scope for growth, was not my ideal experience. So, I sought other opportunities and, I was given the highest leadership position at an institution. I kept growing thereon and as life happened, I adjusted to what was needed of me in the moment. Healed and revived from those challenges, here I am today- independent, super successful and, making a positive impact in people’s lives locally and internationally, with the support of an incredible family. Consequently, for professionals aiming to stand out in the Corporate environment, I encourage the following: 1. Continue vision building In our childhood, we dream of what we’d like to be when we grow up. Unconsciously, our likes and dislikes guide us in choosing the path that will lead us to realizing that dream. However, in our youthful years, we stop dreaming, and, we stop planning for the rest of our life. We get caught up with hormones and our changing roles. At this critical stage of our development, we must continue to build that vision of the rest of our life. Otherwise, the emotions, overwhelm and expectations lead our decision making and suppress our potential. We become the puppet who starts at the bottom and stays at the bottom for decades. 2. Get clear on your values and worthiness What is important to you in a company’s way of doing things, or what are your beliefs of what is right and wrong? Knowing your values from the onset of job hunting will help you align with a company representing these values. This way, you’ll be empowered to grow into a better version of yourself rather than deal with everyday conflict or upset when things are done differently than you expect. Further, knowing your worthiness, not from a domineering power stance but from a place of self-fulfillment and responsible decision making, can help you to communicate effectively with your boss and not low ball yourself in adding a satisfactory price tag to your time. 3. Build your confidence and resilience Do not be deluded. You will not be everyone’s cup of tea. Focusing on “what others will think and say” can be a huge suppressant to your confidence and belief in yourself. Build your confidence by speaking positively to yourself every day, in front of a mirror if possible and, embrace challenges. Developing your resilience towards challenges by accepting that the road to success is a bumpy ride that you are in full control over can help you to recover from rejection and disappointment faster. You have the power to recreate any of your experiences, so believe in yourself and unleash that power within. 4. Own your voice but remain open to learning I am an introvert that has low tolerance for people disempowering others with their words and actions. When you step up and step into your power to express yourself freely and authentically, growth takes place. Knowing how to communicate your thoughts and feelings by leaving others feeling inspired and empowered, is also a major factor in being seen and heard by those who can help you in your journey. Further, remaining open to learning makes you coachable and approachable, helping you build meaningful long-term beneficial relationships. 5. Hone your intuition and pursue windows of opportunities My intuition has never failed me, but I do not allow the guidance expressed to make me obsessive and isolated from reality. I work with it to help me think critically and problem solve in my most uncertain moments. I encourage young professionals to work on their intuitive abilities as well. This really helps you to be proactive more than reactive in life-changing situations. It also connects you to your magic within, which creates a magnetic pull for others to be interested in your gifts. Additionally, instead of thinking "That's not my job" or "I'm not being paid to do that", pursue any opportunity that allows you to do something different than the rest and, weave your magic. This could be your stepping stone for standing out, like it was for mine. As it is, the journey to standing out and showing up authentically is as difficult or as easy as you think and feel about it. You have a purpose to fulfill on this planet and only you can take inspired action to fulfill it with ease. For more information, join my Facebook-Community, follow me on Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Kamladevi! Kamladevi Sharma, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kamladevi Sharma is an international speaker and teacher of work-life balance, a certified professional life coach and 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 life, career 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 there.