Written by: Sonjali Di Guida, 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. Often in the height of our careers, a hidden monster lurks in the background of our subconscious. This proverbial “boogeyman” depletes our confidence, energy, and internal resources, so that growth is impossible. This villain superimposes itself into our being, our bodies, actions, our thoughts and controls our behaviors. He wears a dark cloak that masks us from reality and possibility. Who specifically is this elusive super villain? Well, dear ambitious one, it is YOU. If you have ever halted your own progress for fear of failure, procrastinated embarking on projects because you lacked confidence, or declined opportunities - feeling that it was out of scope with your capabilities, you have been assaulted by this villain. If you have held the stubborn belief that ‘I am just not made that way” or “I am not good at that sort of thing”. Then you, my friend, have been taken hostage by your self-doubt. Many times, innovation, creativity, learning and growth both personally and professionally comes in moments of clarity and neutrality. The concept of perceived fear, can in itself, be the bottleneck to our growth. I have seen many clients over time neglect the hero in this narrative. Their person, who can come into the situation, assess it, and take control back, wearing their hero cape. Equipped with your very own hero cape, I invite you to explore the world of someone you believe would master your uncomfortable situation... Throughout time in my practice as a hypnotist, I have witnessed the most driven, intellectual and seemingly fearless leaders experience moments of self-doubt in their capabilities. We are often exposed to different facets of our careers, which require us to hone into skill sets and behaviors we actually do not perceive we possess. Modeling for transformational change What if you were told that you do have the necessary attributes of the go-getter, the charming salesperson, the confident one, the leader? How would your approach to your career or job change? I invite you to conquer and master your fears, using your single and best tools: yourself and your model. Being confined to yourself, your behaviors, attributes, and skills would perhaps be insufficient in your new and seemingly ‘scary’ endeavor. But what if you were someone else? What if you could step into the colorful world of someone you know who would navigate your dilemma with ease, confidence and resilience? How would your approach and the outcome be different? I had a client a while back who can best illustrate this power of stepping out of ourselves. Sonia was an ambitious young promising Junior Analyst in the infant phase of her a role in a competitive corporate environment. Prior to this job, she had run her own business, which ultimately collapsed due to the loss of sales from the poor economic conditions. The loss of her business resulted in her being incredibly security-minded, lacking confidence, and chronically stressed. She would later take on this new promising job, feeling under qualified, insecure and lacking direction. When she came into my office, she looked defeated and spoke very softly as she slouched in her chair. Her body language alone depicted her reservations and shyness. Up comes the make or break day of her career; she would have to pitch her company’s services to a massive potential client. The day was soon approaching, where she would have to pitch her company and deliver a 40-minute presentation to a panel of seasoned and well-educated professionals. She felt intimated, under qualified, and overwhelmed. She felt there was no way that she could, as her introverted and petite self, impress this panel. This would be her make or break point in her career, the pitch that would put her back on the map, and advance her further up the corporate ladder. Sonia called me a few weeks later to recount how her presentation went. Not only did she successfully secure her account, the panel loved her energy and drive, and signed on for three other projects a few days later! She got promoted, and later I would find out, got promoted again to manage a team of 20 people in her department. So how did David conquer Goliath? Sonia was able to step out of herself during her presentation, and wear her hero cloak. By choosing a model, she was able to comfortably transform into a self-assured, competent and passionate presenter. In my sessions with Sonia to overcome her fears of public speaking and to build her self-confidence, we ran an exercise in which she chose someone she thought was an excellent speaker model. From there, Sonia was tasked with stepping into her model’s shoes. How does her model stand, use her hands, look people in the eyes? What is her breath rate, the volume of her voice? Once mentally calculating this, Sonia then stepped into this role, and started seeing the world through her model’s eyes. While Sonia has traditionally been hyper detail-oriented, introverted, organized, and meticulous, this task required someone to see the big picture. Someone who could link, in broad terms, her company's services, with the strategy of her client. Someone who can make her company look dynamic, fun and promising. Sonia believed in the value of her company. She just needed other people to see it. While she had the technical savvy and on-paper qualifications to represent her company, it was those soft skills and behaviors that needed refining. In comes Sonia Version 2.0 to save the day. Her selected model (in her case, an old colleague from University), is friendly, could strike up a conservation anywhere with anyone, has incredible charisma and charm. She was that person who danced as if nobody was watching, wore bright colors, and could laugh at herself. She could project her voice, make herself heard in a crowded room, and had this vivacious energy. Sonia went right ahead and wore her new shoes by modeling her old colleague. Immediately, her posture changed, her confidence shimmered, her movements became more fluid. Her voice unapologetically projected to twice its normal volume, and she was able to captivate and connect with her audience. She mirrored the spirit of her model in those moments. She was dynamic, extroverted, and confident! And Sonia version 2.0 won the affection and confidence of that very tough panel. Modeling to a better you Just as Sonia was able to conquer her fears, so can you. I invite you to try on this new confidence by stepping outside of yourself and notice how your perception changes. To get out of the business of your mind, start with some deep breaths, followed by a minute of large body movements. You have now created a blank canvas to work on, which is not painted with your experiences, biases, and belief systems. You are now ready to welcome a curious and observant state of mind, and paint your canvas with that. Next, select an ideal model for your situation. This can be someone you know, a character on a show you like, or someone you admire at a distance. Choose someone you believe to possess all those rich attributes, qualities, and behaviors to master the task or situation at hand. Once you have this selected model, mentally populate a list of attributes this person has, particularly those that would help you reach your desired outcome. Next, ramp up your visualization skills. Imagine all these attributes being absorbed in your body - from the crown of your head to your toes. Sounds silly, right? If Michal Jordan did not utilize his visualization techniques, he would not be able to master basketball to the magnitude that he did. Embrace the visual game. It is fundamental to the mental game. Now try your character on by imagining you are a method actor tasked with becoming another person. How does your model sit? What speed and volume do they use when speaking? How do they look at people in the eye? What is their body language? Are they excited by the challenge? What does excitement feel like in your body? What feelings do you have in your body as this new person? Conjure this feeling your model would have...See, speak, hear, listen and feel as they do. You are now superimposed with this model. Get comfortable with yourself in this new way of being until it feels natural and believable to yourself. Finally, with these new lenses on, approach your task. How have your feelings changed since embracing this new way of being? Notice changes to the way you now perceive events, people and situations. With your feet comfortably settled into your new shoes, you are now ready to approach your situation or task at hand. The good news is, you can wear these shoes for as long as you need them, wherever you need them. When you feel they have served their purpose and match your wardrobe for the day, you can safely put them back on your house slippers. Modeling is not just for the runway Learning through modeling is a powerful tool used in many aspects of self-growth and transformation. . When we limit ourselves to our own constricting beliefs, we halt progress and the world of possibilities. Modeling allows us to step into a new world, as a new being, with the proper prescription lenses. You will see that you have many of those attributes you sought in your model; you just had to use them. Once this portal is open, you will see a new realm of colorful and exciting opportunities. Allow yourself to pick and choose those qualities you need, and jump into the experience when you need them. Know that many great leaders were not just born the public images you have come to know and appreciate. They nurtured their confidence through trial and error, and at some point, felt they did not have the resources they needed. Be consciously or unconsciously, they tapped into a vast population with limitless attributes, and incorporated them into their personas. Some qualities were permanently imprinted on them, and others were replaced by more useful ones. Some of these are placed on the coat rack and are worn only during special events. These resources are used when and where they are needed, but are permanently in your wardrobe if you should need them again. I encourage you, with these newfound superpowers, to challenge your supervillain to a dual. You will find that your cape can be selected in a variety of colors. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and visit my website for more info! Sonjali Di Guida, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sonjali Di Guida, is a passionate and outcome driven hypnotist, dedicated to helping individuals master their growth mindset, from the very core of their beings – the subconscious. With her training from the Master Hypnotist Society as well as utilization in Neuro linguistic programming systems, her clinic, The West Island Hypnosis Center has helped her many clients make transformational changes – both personally and  professionally. Her executive background as well as her experience running her consulting firm and hypnosis clinic have allowed her to continuously master her craft in changemaking.

Eva Medilek is a Certified High-Performance Coach and a Relationship Success Coach. She has coached both men and women in the areas of personal development, leadership and mastering habits for success. She specializes in helping powerful, successful women have happier, healthier, more intimate connections in their relationships without giving up their power. Read the full interview below! – I'm Eva Medilek and I live in Berkeley, CA with my husband Peter and my rescue dog, Lexi. I have two grown daughters and I enjoy the experiences of traveling and learning about other cultures. My husband and I enjoy culinary and wine experiences, along with golfing and hiking together. – I have spent most of my life as a successful, practicing dental hygienist in New York and San Francisco. As I was approaching my 50th birthday, I was downsized and found myself looking for work. That experience sparked my entrepreneurial journey as a real estate investor. As fruitful as that decision turned out to be, my drive and ambition to be successful, contributing to the near destruction of my marriage. – Although I had begun my life coaching and real estate coaching business as a result of my investing success, my marriage breakdown was the catalyst for my coaching business today. You're a High-Performance Coach and a Relationship Success Coach. I'm a little curious. What exactly is a High-Performance Coach? – High-Performance Coaching is a process created to reach that next level of performance, practice, and potential in your life while maintaining your health, well-being and relationships. As your coach, I work with you in mastery of the five areas of High Performance, which are Clarity, Energy, Courage, Productivity and Influence. The Relationship Success Coach is easier to understand. You've made an interesting journey together with your husband. But first things first. When building your business, how come you were so focused on your business, because I understand it affected your marriage? – There were many reasons that I was so focused on my business. The main one being the dream and vision that we had for our life together. You see, my husband is from Germany and his entire family still lives there. We were also married in Berlin and love that city. Since we both love to travel, we wanted to establish a home base in Berlin to make it easier to see family and to travel throughout Europe. – My husband was always a freelancer. I was always an employee in the United States. How could I do this and have the income needed, when most employers only allow two weeks vacation? I couldn't live my dream and continue to be an employee and keep my job. I had to figure this out. And, since I had just turned 50, and we were only married for one year at that point, I had an urgency that I didn't want to be too old to live my dream and enjoy summers in Europe. – Between the impatience and the urgency to start living the dream, coupled with the fact that I did not enjoy being under the thumb of an employer, created the motivation and focus to succeed. My parents were also aging, and as an only child, I needed the freedom and the resources to be able to help them when they needed me. – I should also note that my husband was less than thrilled at the monetary investment I made in my education, coaches and mentors for real estate. I also had to prove that I could create a significant return on that investment. "I also realized that I shared responsibility for this self-sabotaging behavior." At one point, he cheated on you. Was it hard to forgive him, or could you see things from a new perspective? – Here's the thing about his infidelity, it was a symptom of something deeper. – The amount of stress, overwhelm, burnout and general exhaustion that I was feeling while working my day job, studying investing, cooking, shopping, laundry, business accounting and feeling like I was doing it all, was taking a toll on my health, well-being and most of all, our relationship. – When I finally discovered his cheating, it was after we tried months of therapy that didn't really help. I knew, at this core, that my husband was a good and decent human. I also realized that I shared responsibility for this self-sabotaging behavior. – There are many symptoms of pain and anxiety that can manifest. Drugs and alcohol abuse are the most commonly talked about and treated. I knew that I was not showing up as my best self in the marriage and neither was he. We had a choice to break-up or breakthrough this breakdown. We chose to do the work to create a breakthrough to a new relationship with each other. We were both hurting and had compassion and understanding for each other's pain. That was instrumental in helping us move past the past. What was it that you started doing differently, that makes your marriage work till this day? –The number one thing I do differently is that I have a both/and mindset, not an either/or approach to life. I practice the habits of high performance that keep me feeling and performing my best in every area of my life. – I make sure that I'm taking care of my mental energy and physical stamina so that I can show up in my relationship as my best self and he doesn't get the remnants of me that are leftover by the end of the day. We schedule a time to have fun more because, in my focus on success, I never created time for fun. – I've learned to acknowledge and appreciate before bringing up what's wrong or what didn't work. In short, we focus on showing up and better for ourselves by practicing better self-care. We are being better and doing better so that we can have a better relationship. Do you have a similar story from one of your clients who has gone through the same thing as you? Could you help him/her? – When I think of a client that I helped, I can't help but think of a gentleman I worked with who described himself as a serial cheater. In fact, his wife reached out to me to work with him because he was always having affairs. The reason why I want to use him as an example is because one thing I caution my clients about is to not be attached to results or how things should look. – When my husband and I did the work together and separately, we remained open to the fact that we may decide that we would be happier apart. That was the scariest part of it all, but we had to do the work before we could come to the best result for us. – When I started working with this client, it was clear that he was always doing what he thought was best for others, even though he was sacrificing his needs, wants and desires in the process. He was truly unhappy, and that was why, even though he loved his wife, he was not happy in the marriage. He felt the obligation and not the desire, because they were married for 40 years. She had continually tolerated his cheating as well, but never let him forget it either. – They were in crisis. After working with them separately and identifying their signature "Relationship Style", they were able to come to an honest resolution in their relationship that involved the dissolution of their marriage. – He felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, and he could now live an honest and free life with everyone in his family for the first time in a long time. Although it wasn't a popular decision, he is very happy and living his best life. Even though they are not living happily ever after together, they gained the courage to live happily ever after apart. Who should hire/work with you? – I help driven, ambitious entrepreneurs, executives and leaders have happy, healthy, more intimate relationships while reaching that next level of success without sacrifice. If you find yourself feeling stressed out, burnt out, overwhelmed and stuck. It's affecting your relationships at home, at work and in your communities. Mastering the practices of high performance and relationship success will foster extraordinary results in every area of your life. As an expert within the subject. What are the top 3 biggest warning-signals that my job affects my relationship with my close ones? – Three warning signals of your job affecting your relationships are Overwhelm and Exhaustion Miscommunication/impatience Lack of joy and vibrancy For more details on how to be influential at home, at work and in your communities, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and visit my Website. Read more from Eva!

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. Have you ever heard the term ‘mindfulness’? Don’t worry; I’m not going to go all “hippie” on you. Stay with me, and allow me to explain the practice of mindfulness briefly. Mindfulness maintains a constant, observational, non-judgmental perspective, both internally and externally, of the events that are taking place. This means to be aware of your environment at all times; your environment is not only the stuff going on around you but also the stuff going on inside you- thoughts, feelings, bodily processes, etc. Sooooo…. What does this have to do with my health? Great question! In today’s world, it seems like we have traded the process of cooking for processed cooking. Eating has become a matter of convenience rather than one of nutrition and longevity. True, this way of eating can be quite tasty, to what purpose does it ultimately serve? Diet and lifestyle are the single most prominent components in the truest pandemic; chronic disease. Food is meant to be a wholly sensual experience. The sights and smells; the way food feels as you slice and dice it, its texture in your mouth, the sounds of sizzling, even the ding of your oven timer all contribute to the process of digestion. Which begins as soon as you see food that you intend to put in your body, your brain starts sending signals to release enzymes in your salivary glands. I want to offer you a tip, the 1 thing you can do that will have a lasting impact on your health, without changing what you eat, intrigued? Out with it already! Introducing a technique, I like to call ‘Mindful Eating.’ What is it, you ask? Mindful eating is merely choosing to be present with your food while you eat it, like a meditation for eating. Begin this eating meditation by entering into a state of gratitude for the meal you are about to eat, even if it comes from the microwave. In my household, we like to begin by thanking Spirit for creating the Earth, we thank the Earth for protecting and helping our food grow, we thank the food for the nourishment it will provide to our body, we thank the farmer for growing, and lastly the cook for cooking. We allow space for any additional gratitudes or thoughts. The process of offering gratitude takes less than 2 minutes to complete. When we finish, we feel relaxed and ready to receive. The key here is relaxation. When we eat in a stressed state, our body takes virtually 100% of the nutrients absorbed and stores them as fat because digestion shuts off when we are stressed. As we eat, we often pause, allowing our senses to be fully engaged in this meal, at this moment. Here’s what my clients are saying: Eating mindfully has helped me - Sense intuitively when I am full Gain way more satisfaction from eating Develop a healthier relationship with food See food as medicine Discover new tastes and textures Improve digestion (less gas/bloating) Regulate my bowel movements Discover my food sensitivities Create healthier habits all around that leave me feeling enlivened If you answer ‘YES’ to any of the following, then mindful eating is right for you to try: ● Do you get bloated after eating? ● Do you scoff down your food like there is no tomorrow? ● Do you eat just to feel full while ignoring the taste? ● Do you eat to numb emotional pain? ● Do you have a desire to learn more about healthier lifestyle habits? ● Do you gain weight easily? ● Do you crave sugar or starchy foods? ● Do you have difficulty focusing or foggy brain? ● Do you feel lethargic after eating? ● Do you suffer from common allergens or hay fever? ● Do you feel addicted to eating foods that aren’t healthy, but you can’t stop? ● Have you been struggling to lose that last 10 lbs, and no amount of diet or exercise seems to be working? Need help learning how to eat mindfully? Click HERE to schedule your 1-Hour Power Up, and I’ll help you gain clarity on what’s blocking you from eating mindfully and show you how to get started! Cheers to your health! 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: Jessi Beyer, Guest Writer Brainz Magazine In today’s day and age, social media is somewhat of the holy grail for entrepreneurs. Facebook ads are one of the most accessible advertising mediums on the internet, and your social media following can be leveraged for partnerships, publicity opportunities, and sales. Perhaps most importantly, the brand you create on social media forms the basis of your community, and through that, the message that you want to share with the world. Because of its importance, hundreds of books are dedicated to growing your following, building your brand, and advertising successfully through social media. How, though, does one begin to determine which book will actually help them achieve their social media goals Trial and error will certainly take too long, so let me start you out with five social media books that you should absolutely add to your 2020 “to-read” list. 1. One Million Followers by Brendan Kane While the title is certainly catchy, the content lives up to the hype. Brendan Kane worked behind the scenes in social media and marketing for years before he decided to truly grow his platform. His goal was to reach one million Facebook followers as quickly as possible, and he did so in 30 days, with approximately $10,000 in ad spend. While Brendan’s book does contain more case studies of his clients than are potentially necessary, he does a great job of explaining the reasoning behind having a large social media following, the strategy behind creating viral content, and the basics of low-cost advertising. Most importantly, if you follow the ad targeting strategies Brendan shares, you could cut your current “cost per page like” by 90%. 2. Sell Like Crazy by Sabri Suby Sabri Suby’s book is a general guide to funnel building and marketing. Still, the section on advertising is worth reading the whole book for. His overarching message is that you should use a free opt-in to add people to your email list, up-sell them on the “thank you” page, and nurture those who don’t buy through an email drip campaign. It’s not revolutionary content, but he goes into detail about coming up with your opt-in, learning about your audience, and designing your landing pages and email campaign. For social media specifically, he shares a few tips and tricks that can completely revolutionize how you’re currently running ads to a free opt-in. For example, he discusses the importance of making your ad look like a news article instead of an offer and the steps to creating the perfect headline for your ad and offer. 3. Influencer by Brittany Hennessy At the time of writing, Brittany Hennessy’s book is a best-seller on Amazon with nearly 150 five-star reviews. Brittany also has over 16,300 Instagram followers and was named to Talking Influence's 2018 Top Industry Player list, so she certainly knows her stuff. Brittany’s overall message is that you have to put in the work, and she does a great job of both breaking down stereotypes about being an influencer and of providing actionable strategies for growing your audience. Her book also dives into managing life with a large social media following, including strategy for pitching brands and setting your sponsored post pricing. Overall, Influencer is a great beginning-to-end guide for building an influencer-level audience on social media. 4. YouTube Secrets by Sean Cannell and Benji Travis I’ll be honest, most of the social media work I’ve done has been on Facebook and Instagram, but it’s important to not overlook the powerhouse that YouTube can be for your brand and business, as well. Sean Cannell and Benji Travis are both YouTube experts with a decade of experience, but one of my favorite parts of their book is the inclusion of tips from over a hundred different YouTube creators, as well. In this book, the two main things you’re going to learn are about growing your audience and monetizing your audience. YouTube is great for creators, musicians, speakers, and those with a message to share, so if your business falls into one of those categories and you’d like to make an income and an impact sharing that message, then definitely pick up Sean and Benji’s book. 5. What To Post by Chelsea Peitz The first thing that drew me to Chelsea Peitz’s book was her cover. It stood out in its simplicity. It wasn’t overwhelmingly shiny or colorful, like so many other social media marketing books. While her book is dedicated to helping realtors figure out what to post on their social media, the strategies and concepts can absolutely be extrapolated to other industries. Chelsea walks you through how to build your brand, your content, and your reach, and she also includes some tools, a content planner, and an FAQ section to further your learning. If you’re looking for solid social media content creation and growth strategies and don’t mind being a little bit creative in your translation from real estate-focused tips to tips you can use in your industry, then Chelsea’s book is a must-read. Plus, her book is free on Kindle Unlimited! While these are certainly not all the good social media books on the market, these five will give you a solid foundation for creating content, using advertising successfully, and expanding into other social media platforms. Now, the only challenge is deciding which to read first. Sign up for Jessi’s free “5 Days To Best-Seller” challenge and follow her on Instagram! Jessi Beyer, Guest Writer Brainz Magazine Jessi Beyer is a speaker, #1 best-selling author, and mental health advocate. She is on a mission to help aspiring authors write, publish, and market their first best-selling book. Jessi has been featured in dozens of media outlets, including Best Company, Thrive Global, and Elite Daily, and has spoken to thousands of people through groups like Leadercast NOW, Fairygodboss, and the WomenTech Global Conference. Outside of her professional life, she is a K9 search and rescue handler and a proud pet mom.

Written by: Justin Stephens, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I was working 12 hours a day. I was exhausted, but over the moon because I was helping get results, and I was almost done with the client project. That night, I had a few minutes to just sit in bed with my wife and catch up on my own business and goals. Looking through the sales pipeline, I realized something horrible. Our project was almost finished, and we had NOTHING in the pipeline. I had a team of 4 people who all relied on me to provide for their families, and they had trusted me to make sure that we had projects and clients to continue growing and thriving. And I had let them down. Has that ever happened to you? You get so focused on taking care of your clients, that your own business begins to get neglected? I couldn't sleep at all that night. I stayed up, planning and strategizing how to get something in the door quickly. That was the first time that I truly learned about the peaks and valleys in business. Many of us focus so intently on the task at hand that we fail to keep other tasks moving forward. In this case, I was so focused on delivering the clients services and products, that I let prospecting and sales take a back seat. When you don't focus on prospecting and sales, you don't get any prospects or sales! You need to constantly focus on bringing in more prospects to build and grow any business. But who has that kind of time? When it comes to prospecting, you need to create a process that will work whether you have 10 hours a day or 10 minutes a day to accomplish it. It should have the ability to expand and contract based on the business and what you are going through. Here are 5 tips that have helped us create this system that have generated amazing results for my company: 1. Communicate in their language: People all have preferred methods of communication. Think about it, do you prefer to text, email, phone calls, social media messages? The chances are that if they prefer that method, they will receive communication from you. Each of us gravitates towards one method, so you need to figure out what that is for your prospect, and communicate using that same method. 2. Personalize it: Have you ever been on the receiving end of a copy and paste LinkedIn campaign? What about from a cold email? It is easy to spot and easy to ignore. If you want to get results, you need to let them know that this is a person, and that you are reaching out TO THEM! 3. Stick out: Can you remember the last cold email you got? Who did it come from? What did it look like? One of the most important parts of getting results when prospecting is to stick out from the crowd. Do something different. A couple of ways that we have stuck out before: Custom images with our prospects logo on the image. Personalized videos GIF’s in our emails Sending snail mail Sending packages in the mail Voice messages through LinkedIn 4. Follow up: With prospecting, it can be common not to get a response to your emails, or to the voicemails, or to the packages. The simple truth is that sales typically happen after 15 to 20 touches or interactions with a prospect. Don’t expect for some significant breakthrough or huge deal after one voicemail or email. Create a system and follow up consistently with your prospects. 5. Provide Value: People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. The best way to show that you care is through helping people solve their problems. Make the entire relationship based on the problems that your prospects are trying to solve. Give them tips and ideas. Help them find their answer. People buy from people they trust, and by showing how much you care about them and solving their problems, they will build more trust in you. If you take these 5 tips and incorporate them into your business, you will be shocked at the results! Want more help with prospecting for your business? We are hosting a Free 5-Day Prospecting Challenge designed to help you replicate the systems that we are currently using with our clients to generate leads and sales calls. For more information about the event, visit our website! Make sure to follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn! Justin Stephens, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After 10 years of running a sales training franchise, Justin left to follow his dream of building a business from nothing. As the entrepreneurial journey tends to be, his first attempt was a failure that laid the foundation for the success he has found at Prospecting Done For You. Justin helps organizations find and close more sales through prospecting, and also trains organizations on how to implement the system that he does for others. If you want to learn more about the journey or get help with your sales and prospecting efforts

Written by: Jamie Dooley, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We live in a time of input. It’s constant, rapid, and addictive. It causes us to react to what we see and hear, mindlessly, like robots. Marketing companies know brain science so well that they can predict conversion rates and retarget you in a second automation that is more likely to close based on your actions. We want to feel like we are in control and unique, but only those of us who are conscious creators are able to plan a future we desire and take action on it. We are all master manifestors, but are you aware of what you are manifesting? When The Secret came out, people were intrigued that they might be able to create wealth, love, and joy by thinking about it as if it’s already happened, but it was still considered woo-woo. Twenty years later, it’s now called neuroscience and quantum physics, which has the attention of even the most pragmatic business people. Could I be affecting my success rate, annual revenue, and reputation with my thoughts and beliefs? Might I be the person or thing holding me back from the next level, simply because I believe I lack it? I used to believe action was the key to success. After watching my clients struggle to take new actions even though they desired the outcome, I began to understand that their brains were the problem. They were unconsciously addicted to their flavor of struggle--debt, doubt, chaos, uncertainty, overwhelm, or weight--and they had no idea. We all have set points that our brain believes is “me,” and we are programmed, much like a computer, to validate that data each day. Dr. Joe Dispenza, a leading neuroscience researcher, says the subconscious mind is just a record of the past. It cannot create anything new, and in fact, it’s job is to keep you the exact same as yesterday. Letting go of the current (lower self or ego-based) “me” for a new (higher self or heart-based) “me” takes incredible awareness and focus. It takes a shift of consciousness that is typically done through meditation or guided visualization with a coach. The good news is that as more and more research is done, and coaches and guides specialize in this work. It is becoming easier and easier to regain control of your mind and body to upgrade the software. Call it “unbecoming who you are not.” The most powerful facilitator I’ve found for this work is a written manifesto. Regardless of where you are in life, there is always another level to explore. I’ve defined 12 areas of life that I help women expand on. Handwriting programs your subconscious mind to validate how what you write is true for you. I suggest my clients write their manifesto daily, for 21 days, using the Heart Dump and STAMP methods I created. When your lower and higher selves are wrestling for control inside your brain, it can be helpful to hold yourself accountable for new thoughts, emotions, and actions on what your heart wrote. The Heart Dump Begin by gathering a timer (your phone works great), a new notebook, and a pen. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes and breathe, focusing on the rise and fall of your chest. Drop your energy down into your chest and allow your heart to turn to pure energy and expand outside of your body. Allow any thoughts that remain to come and go. Don’t control anything, just be. Once you feel calm and at peace, open your eyes and set the timer for 5 minutes. Allow what your heart desires (your higher self) over the next 5 years to pour out of you. When you are done, set the timer for another 5 minutes and ask yourself, ‘What would be “Ideal” to me in the next 12 months?” (*Note that I did NOT say realistic) How is NOT your job, It’s God’s job. The moment you begin to use your brain to figure out how you will achieve your goals, it’s like unplugging the cord to the divine. The Universe says, “She’s got this, she doesn’t want our help.” Getting heart-centered before you write is key. Your ego’s job is to keep you safe, small, and protected with a bunch of preferences. Letting go of the old, you will feel uncomfortable. Be prepared for it. Tell your ego (visualize yourself as a small, scared child) that it is safe to change, and natural to want more. Tell her to go play. Expansion is supposed to be fun! Now Let’s Fuse SMART Goals with The Law of Attraction As I said earlier, the reason written goal setting may not have worked for you in the past is that your brain cannot believe you lack what you desire. If it does, it will look for ways to validate that you lack it, and program you to behave in ways that keep it true for you. Once you have a list of things you’d like to manifest over the coming year (ideals), narrow it down to three or four, and ask yourself these questions: "How would I feel if I already had this?" "What date would I like it by?" "How will I celebrate it?" Write your answers next to each ideal you came up with, then put them in order by date. You must write them as if you already have them. That will begin the process of installing a new program in your subconscious. Your brain will now look for ways to validate the new ideal belief, instead of the lack of it. Once the new program is installed, action on your manifesto becomes easy and fun! You are the creator of your reality, and now you have a way to track your results. We don’t want things. We want the emotion we believe is attached to the thing. And believing we lack the emotion keeps it out of reach. We cannot attract something on a different frequency than we are. Emotions are like radio stations. You can only dial into one at a time. As I talk about in my book, Self-Coaching Mastery, our circumstances don’t cause our emotions, our thoughts do. If you want a different outcome, you simply need a new thought that causes you to feel what you want to feel. A new job, husband, or money will not cause a new feeling unless new thoughts first take root. And old thoughts are unconscious programs that trigger old emotions you are addicted to. It’s a mean, vicious cycle. It’s an emotional loop preventing you from reaching the next level of earning potential, relationship satisfaction, self-love and freedom. Professional women often come to me with a feeling of not enough time, money, or energy. These women typically have their worth wrapped up in doing, and do not take time to rest and celebrate all they’ve accomplished! (I’m not judging...I’ve been there.) I learned the hard way that celebration is a key component to a fulfilled life! By planning it out ahead of time, you will savor accomplishing it so much more. I suggest a full 24 hours of relaxation (NO working) each time one of your written ideals comes true. Here is an example of an “Ideal” with my STAMP Method applied: I am so relaxed now that I started my own coaching business from home. I love impacting thousands of women and helping them get clear on their heart’s desires by March 1, 2017. (burn scrubs and buy new leisure wear to work in) I used to be a clinical dental hygienist. I started coaching as a side-hustle and found out I wasn’t just good at it, and I also loved it. I had found the thing that lit my soul! I got clear on what I wanted, and took a few small action steps toward it, like defining my ideal client avatar and designing a logo. When I had done all I could on my own, I surrendered it to The Universe. This came true for me almost exactly one year later due to a random series of events that could only be God-designed. I’ve been doing this process for the past 8 years and have re-invented myself and my life many times over. I’ve been teaching others how to use manifesto writing to accelerate their dreams for the past 3 years, with the same success. Key Takeaways 1. Getting heart-centered FIRST allows your higher self to speak. She is directly connected to God, knows what you were created for, and what will bring you joy. Trust what flows out, even if it feels scary. If what you write doesn’t scare you a little, you didn’t dream big enough. 2. Things and circumstances don’t cause feelings, thoughts do. So stop using retail therapy or professional accomplishments to fill your cup. Invest in personal development! Once you know how to tap into the internal well of peace, joy and love that is always available to you from within, you are never alone and never without. 3. Spend time each day re-writing your manifesto, and connecting to the emotions you believed you lacked. As your vibration rises, it is common for new dreams to emerge. Allow them. Now {Boss Up} and get to work manifesting all that is calling to you! Learn more practical concepts for heart-based living from Jamie and her sister Lisa (also a Master Coach & Healer) on their YouTube channel The Sister Coaches, or their Expansion Coach Academy website where you can learn more about becoming a Certified Expansion Coach ™, or working with a coach they have trained. Jamie Dooley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jamie Dooley is an international award-winning coach and healer, spiritual teacher, expansion expert, and founder of Expansion Group for Women. In 2021 she was named one of the Brainz 500 Global influencers to watch for. She is the author of Self-Coaching Mastery and co-creator of Expansion Coaching ™. She, and her sister Lisa Freitag, have dedicated their lives to building a community of heart-based coaches who will assist them in impacting the growth and expansion of women worldwide on their YouTube channel The Sister Coaches, and their robust hybrid training and community, Expansion Coach Academy ™.

Written by: Kristel Robinson, 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 2020 started, many of us had so many plans ahead. January first seemed like a new beginning, where we put our hopes and dreams for a fresh start. We make New Year resolutions, for some, it is time to lose weight, to start a new career, to save money, to get married, etc. The truth is that we didn’t see it coming... Slowly but shortly , we saw everything as we knew changing. Never in a million years would I see myself using a mask as a requirement to be able to do daily activities and simple things like going to buy groceries. This is the new normal. In some countries extreme precautions to reduce the risk of getting more people infected, airlines on standby, beaches and parks not open to the public, amusement parks closedown, sports games postpone and to mention more problematic consequences, as the socio-economic impact, the absurd rates of unemployment, vandalism and of course the cost of so many lives. For some, the world as we know it will never be the same after this pandemic. But the truth is that this current situation is no different from all the challenges we go through in life. We just notice it more because it is affecting us worldwide, and it is also everywhere. In social media, TV, newspapers, everything we see and hear is about COVID-19. Unfortunately, we can’t ignore the facts. Still, we must choose not to be shaken by the statistics. I say this for all the people that on top of the reality of the world, are also facing hard times on a personal level. Because COVID-19 does not exclude ordinary life problems. If you feel like nothing else matters and that your struggle is invisible to the world. This virus seems to have taken away our freedom, freedom to life, freedom to be, and freedom to grieve. In the midst of this pandemic, our worries and burdens have taken second place, and we now have to focus on surviving… We don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we are fighting to remain functional in a broken world with broken hearts. My good news is that God is still on the throne, and no matter how big the crisis in the world is, he still cares for the crisis of your soul. He knows your struggles, your pain, your hurt. He knows that you are trying to keep it together, but sometimes it feels like the weight is too heavy to carry. I’m here to remind you, PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD, he has a plan for you, he will deliver you from the storms and make you come out victorious on the other side. You don’t have to walk through the valley alone, he promises us never to forsake us and will never abandon us. Your days ahead have so many blessings in store for you, believe it, and receive this promise for your life. Your destiny is not tied up to the latest headlines when you know who your source is. God is our strength and our shield, don’t be afraid; he has your back in every challenge you face. Even when everything seems to be falling apart, you can be sure that he will put everything back together. The virus, the heartbreak, the pain, the layoff, and the injustice. Everything is working in your favor, because God is in control. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Kristel Robinson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Spiritual Teacher, Motivational Speaker and Certified Life & Relationships Coach. She is an advocate of sisterhood and empowerment but most importantly of God’s unconditional love. Founder of the Healing and Self Love Retreat for women called Can’t Break Me Retreat. A leader and woman on a mission, and that mission is to empower women worldwide to recognize their worth by acknowledging who they are trough God’s eyes. As a highly respected dating expert & coach, she provides advice for women on Self-love, abusive relationships, heartbreak and grief. Dedicated to helping women received Love & Healing and to discover the peace, spiritual connection and purpose they've been seeking.

Written by: Gabriella DeLorenze, 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. Now, before you start yelling, “No, Gab! You need to learn how to make your schedule fit your energy, your cycles.” Yes, you’re absolutely right; as womxn (hormones), we need to learn how to schedule our work, especially around our feminine energy, our moon cycle. BUT It’s the day of *that* event/sales call/client and you have to be ON. Your moon just started, your baby didn’t sleep all night, your partner is driving you crazy and you just can’t do it. Trust me. We’ve all been there. No, it doesn’t make you a bad person that you’re not over the moon for this awesome opportunity... you’re just a real human being. First, it’s imperative to feel the feelings. Be frustrated, sad, angry, whatever low vibrational emotion that’s coming to the surface. Don’t run from it, sit with it. For as long as you [un]comfortably can. This normally looks like giving yourself the space and the grace to cry, don’t put a bra on, throw yourself a pity party, scream or even break things if that’s what the day is calling for. Then, as you need to gather yourself - I recommend at least 2 hours before the start of said event - choose again. Ditch the low vibrational emotion – leave it right in the seat you’re in if you must. Trust me, it will be there waiting for you if you want it when you’re done! I can’t begin to stress the importance of feeling the emotions you’re going through. Without feeling them, we become numb, closed off and even sadder. Don’t try to be the happiest right away; aim small, miss small. Ask yourself, what’s one thing I can do right now to feel just a little bit better?! Maybe you take a shower to wash some of the feelings off, do a few handstands around your room, put your favorite music on and dance your butt off! Start to shift your energy slowly. I find it the best and easiest to do this while moving my physical body. As you get ready, remember to smile at yourself, laugh out loud even. Have you ever tried to fake laugh out loud? I promise you it will always revert to true, authentic laughter! The Law of Attraction states that we attract what we are. So, if you’re looking to hook your audience, you have to be extra high vibe! Grounded, but high vibe! If you’re one of the many of us who hate public speaking or get nervous beforehand, go find a mirror. Before you go out on stage, allow yourself to look into your eyes. Truly see yourself. Then, out loud, let yourself know how great you are! How worthy, loved, blessed, enough you are. Jump up and down if you’re nervous - let your physical body meet your accelerating heart rate where it’s at. By doing this, you will meet your nervous system where it’s at aka in the sympathetic fight or flight mode. Then, remember that your breath and diaphragm are connected to your heart, start to tap into your breath. Notice how, by connecting to your breath, you can physically slow your heart rate down. This works by making sure you take a big, deep belly breath in and exhaling for longer than you inhale. You have what’s called the polyvagal theory going on within you. Simply put, the vagus nerve, which is in charge of both sensory and motor functions, has parasympathetic fibers in it that aid your body in relaxing. When you connect to your diaphragmatic breathing, your diaphragm will move up and down along the nerve, stimulating those fibers and causing you to relax, aka finding the parasympathetic nervous system, rest and digest. Close your eyes and feel your body get heavy: shoulders relax away from your ears, glutes relax, the space between your eyebrows, your tongue comes away from the back of your teeth...take a deep breath in and make a loud exhale out of your mouth. It feels so good, do it again, stick your tongue out! Then seal your lips: Inhale for a slow 5 seconds and exhale slower for 6 seconds. Feel your belly rise with each inhale and fall with every exhale. Your shoulders shouldn’t be moving at all, let your neck muscles relax as well...feel the floor beneath you and visualize yourself rooting down. This grounding visualization will help you calm your nervous system down even further. After 5-10 minutes of breathing, always remember to say your prayer of gratitude. I always love to pray (to the Universe, Spirit, God…anything bigger than yourself) for the exact words the crowd in front of me needs to hear to portray the message they need to receive. Remember, you’ve prepped and planned for this. Even if you’ve underprepared, it’s time. You’re ready. There’s nothing you can do now except show up fully. Most importantly, before you walk on stage or click the zoom meeting on, remember to surrender. Trust yourself, your prep time or lack thereof is enough. The time is now, and they are ready for you! Shake your shoulders, spin around, big exhale. Before you talk, take in the moment. Remember, we only retain information in the space between your words. Tread slowly and enjoy it! Exhale again - YOU GOT THIS! Follow me on Facebook ,  Instagram ,  m y Facebook-group  and visit my website . Read more from Gabriella ! Gabriella DeLorenze, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Gabby is an intuitive embodiment coach for coaches. She is an athletic trainer with a MED in Biomechanics, a life coach and an E-RYT/YACEP. Gabby has over a decade of experience healing 500+ souls and 1000’s of hours teaching the mind-body connection through coaching, anatomy and movement/yoga rehabilitation. Through mindset coaching and facilitating healing your emotional and physical bodies, Gabby will teach you to melt your stress and anxieties so you can start living your healthiest and happiest life. Together, we will find tangible tools to heal old relationships, cultivate self-love and create the space for an abundant life.

Collaborated post Working at height can be very dangerous, and is one of the most common causes of accidents in the construction industry. Without the proper precautions, working at height can lead to falls, or injuries to others thanks to dropped equipment and materials. Here are the top tips to keep you safe when you’re working at height. Risk assess. If you can’t avoid working at a height, then you need to complete a thorough risk assessment of the possible dangers that could occur as you work, including falling objects, obstructions, and the ability of the staff member undertaking the work. Policy and training. Make sure that you regularly review your policies about working at heights, and update them as things change, such as adjusting load limits for heavy lifting with cranes. As policies change, make sure all your staff have the appropriate training for the work. Avoid working at height where possible. When you have to, make sure you choose the most appropriate method of working high up for the task, such as using a ladder or changing to scaffolding. Edge protection. Make sure to place a suitable and strong guard at a sensible height around the area where anyone will be working at height. Safe area. Before you start working at height, check for any overhead obstructions. If you need to, use barriers to keep the area safe. Below ground. Don’t forget, working at heights can also mean below ground projects, such as working at height around excavations or ponds. These excavations should be well protected, have a safe means of getting in and out and be kept well lit. Access equipment. If the high up job will take longer or require more intensive work, then you might want to think about using some access equipment to make things easier, such as mobile towers, or elevated work platforms. Ladders. Use them appropriately. Ladders should only be used for light work, or for a short amount of time. Never overload or overreach a ladder. Three points of contact. You should always have three points of contact when working on a ladder. Keep one hand, two feet, or one foot and two hands on the ladder at all times. The same rule can also keep you safe when getting in and out of large vehicles. Training. Anyone working at height must be properly trained to do so. Make sure everyone has the training that they need, and check that they have the appropriate equipment, and use the right tools to reach where they need to work. Working at height can be dangerous, but with these tips, you can keep your staff and yourself safe. With proper policies and safety plans in place, there will be less risk of falls, dropped objects, or other dangers. Get these policies in place, train your staff on them, and make sure all the rules are being followed by anyone who has to work at height to make sure they stay safe.

Written by: Melissa Desveaux, 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 high school, my least favorite subject was English. Actually, any subject where I'd had to write an essay or story, I would dread attending. I honestly thought I was dumb. All my classmates excelled at writing, except me. It wasn't something I enjoyed. Truthfully, I didn't value myself or my abilities. It wasn’t until I discovered that I needed purpose, aspiration, or desire. See, I don't have a fairytale imagination. I wouldn't even try to write a novel because it would be the most boring book you'll read. My characters need to be real, and so do my stories. I now know what my writing strengths are and where my purpose is. For me to write, I need a true reason. To heal from a traumatic experience To share my story to help someone who could relate and provide comfort and support To teach something I have experienced during my life, whether it was a life experience, family, work or health-related, To actually provide training on how to do something I’ve learned And when I think about these reasons, they all relate to experience. I didn’t like writing because I hadn’t experienced life yet. I didn’t know what to write about, and I had zero imagination to write anything worth writing about. After I experienced my first real traumatic life experience, that was when I started to write. I had something to write about because it helped me to heal during the grief of my pregnancy losses. I shared my journey of pregnancy loss 100’s of times and I wrote a book about it. I wrote it because I wanted to help other mothers like me to heal, find support and comfort, and know that they are not alone. When I started learning about publishing my books, I also shared my experience of publishing a book and how I could help do the same for others. My backstory of writing and publishing a book, created a way for me to start a business, teaching people how to start writing a personal story and then publishing it. I’ve now written training courses, articles, blog posts, Facebook posts and chapters in book collaborations. The one thing that stands out in everything I write is that I tell a story. My purpose for healing, sharing my experiences, being able to teach something relatable and to train others, that is why I write. Who would have thought that from one single life experience could change the way I do things? I’m no guru in writing, but I know that writing a personal story when you are trying to convey a message is powerful. Just try it on a social media post. Be vulnerable and share part of your life that relates to your message, and you’ll see the engagement skyrocket! Even if you think you can’t write, or that your life is boring and have nothing to write about, I’m pretty sure you can turn even a little part of your life into an amazing story. I’ve been alive for 40 years, and even though I’ve written mostly about my pregnancies, my life was fairly normal before then. However, I’ll still find something to write about, just like this article. Any turning point in your life, any epiphany, heartbreak, love, loss, journey, adventure and so much more can be turned into a story. Writing taught me I could write about anything I wanted too just by using my story! You can find Melissa through Facebook or her websites melissadesveauxconsulting.com and melissadesveaux.com Read more from Melissa! Melissa Desveaux, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Desveaux lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two boys. She struggled through three miscarriages and had a stillborn baby from 2007 and after her sons were born, she published her memoir My Life Of Loss. Melissa has compiled and published two books written by women who have experienced pregnancy struggles and has also contributed to three anthologies. Melissa was nominated and awarded an Australia Day Award in 2017 for her dedication and contribution in helping families through pregnancy loss. In 2019 Melissa became an ambassador for the Pink Elephants Support Network, supporting mothers who have experienced miscarriage. She has also started a business helping influencers write and publish their own personal stories so they can change the world.

Written by: Vira Buchkovska, 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 a lot of talk about the mindset these days. It's like fresh air to breathe for some entrepreneurs. Some of them even cannot imagine a successful tomorrow without the new mindset. As a mindset coach, an eternal student, I have to admit that this is absolutely true. Do you remember school? What do they teach there? Lot's and lot's of information. That's great. But the problem is that they did not teach us how to use the information to get what everybody wants. What does everybody want? A joyful life, passionate business, great connections, balance, love and fun. Let’s look around us … Notice, only a small percent live this kind of life. How does it come that some seem to have it all, and most just keep working hard and struggle all the time? Well, it has to do with a few things. One of them is the mindset. Let's clarify what mindset is. Mindset is the way of seeing the outer world in a certain way. Where does it come from? Schools, family, cultural background and from the people around you. Once you get bad points at school, the teacher makes a conclusion. “Well, Peter, it’s not going to happen for you. Just go find a job for yourself and don’t bother others with your presence.” . t hen you go home, and they tell you: “really, is it all you can do?” This is how you go through life. Right? You start to see your school results in the balance sheets of the company, bank account, and even your love life. It becomes your reality. You accept that this is your life, and you stop to bother others with your presence. Don’t you agree? So what’s so different about the successful individuals? The mindset, of course. Every successful business leader will confirm this particular point. He did the job and crafted a smart mindset. I like what Napoleon Hill once wrote: “Remember, no more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty.” Pay attention that this was written almost 100 years ago. These days misery and poverty refer to a constant hard work on each level of business, career, and dissatisfaction reflected in each area of life. Your business is in your hands, you give it directions, learn to craft in a certain way with a smart mindset. Follow me on Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Vira Buchkovska, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Vira Buchkovska is a mindset coach boosting action takers to achieve the next level of their dreams. Her focus goes to business owners and leaders of companies to understand themselves on a deeper level, expand higher faculties, align a successful business with a balanced life. "I love my life and the days that are filled with the activities that give me a sense of the complete fulfillment and boost to create new steps to the new achievements. "

Written by: Amber Trail, 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. Gratitude is the attitude, right? That’s the spirit! Here is the question many employers are now facing; how can I reward and praise my employees who are currently working remotely? Most employers have a fantastic in-house reward and praise system already set up, but now many of those employees are working remotely. So, now what? Here are some great ways to still show your appreciation to your employees. Because, let’s face it, your employees are the reason you have a company. And who doesn’t love some gratitude and appreciation? I do have one more remark before I dive right into rewards and praise - if you want to gain the respect of your employees, you first must show them that you trust them. You will never find another harder working employee when they know you trust them. Trust is vital for many people, whether that's personally or professionally. Take it from me. Trust in equals trust out. By putting in the effort to show or tell your employee that you trust his or her capabilities and work, you'll quickly find that the workplace's entire atmosphere shifts positively. Now, back to gratitude. Why do we want to praise and reward our employees? Well, it reduces turnover and retains your top talent. Turnover is one of those hidden costs that employers never really think about. It can be brutal for any employer who is constantly training and retraining employees and then losing them. When employees feel valued and trusted, they will value their position and value you as a leader. Truth be told, one of the main reasons an employee quits is because of management. So, if you are in management and want to keep your amazing employees, reward them. If an employee beat a deadline or landed a new client, why not surprise them with food delivered to their home or, better yet, a sweet dessert delivered to them for working so hard? An unexpected delivery is always a great surprise. Handwritten thank-you notes are always a great gesture. Nothing says appreciation more than a personalized, handwritten thank-you note. Whether you mail it to the employee or leave it at their desk, it is sure to bring smiles to their face and brighten their day! Employees love personalized gestures of appreciation, especially when it comes from management. Does your company have swag? If your company has some water bottles, t-shirts, or even a shopping bag with the company logo, send it to your hard-working employees. They will love that they can utilize the swag but also show off who they work for. Employees enjoy bragging about their employer when they love what they do! If you have an employee who has worked hard and deserves something extra special, why not pay for them to have a weekend getaway with their significant other? It may cost a little extra, but think about how much appreciation and value a gift like that can show your employees. And quite frankly, who doesn’t love a little getaway after working so hard? Lastly, paid time off. How about throwing in an extra day that your employees can take to do something they love to do in their spare time? Give them an extra paid day off to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Or, if it’s around the holidays, why not give them an extra paid day off so they can spend time with their loved ones or just use that extra day to rest and relax? Paid time off and a positive work-life balance have become some of the latest methods used in the workplace to bring in and keep exceptional talent. As an employer and a former corporate world employee, I can guarantee your employees will appreciate you more and value their employment if you help design a praise and reward system for them, that will add some extra touches to their employment. And even with these uncertain times, I strongly agree that gratitude can even be free. If you don’t have the extra cash or investment now due to the current state of the world, then there are two words you can say, especially when you say them genuinely - thank you. A ‘thank you’ costs nothing, but it can mean everything to an employee. With all of this being said, I want you to take the time and evaluate your gratitude. Are you showing it enough? Or have you let it fall to the wayside? Taking advice from the late and great Mr. Rogers, be kind. Be kind to others and be kind to yourself. Kindness and gratitude will go a long way. And to show my gratitude, THANK YOU for reading this! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Amber! Amber Trail. Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amber Trail, MBA, SHRM-CP is the founder and consultant for her human resources consulting company, The HR Trail, LLC. With over a decade of HR experience and a master’s degree in Business Administration, Amber brings her passion and knowledge of human resources to small businesses nationwide. She realized that not all businesses need nor can they afford a full-time HR professional, and that's why she decided to create The HR Trail. To provide a variety of human resource consulting services such as recruitment, coaching, company handbook development, event planning, and more. Her motto is creativity + passion = purpose and she thrives on successfully helping small businesses accomplish their human resources needs!