Written by: Hoda Elsobky, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We are already midway into 2020 and the Pandemic has been the toughest of the challenges we had to face in our age. Lockdown has been the norm, social distancing and remote working have been the new slang of everyday activities. Yet we had a counter dialect emerging fast in our lives too: We had Empathy rising up to the surface, Compassion and Kindness reemerging in our relationships with others. We had simplicity revisited. We had been offered the opportunity to go back to basics, to purity and to rawness, and to get rid of the clutters the sophistication and disruptions of the modern world. Today as the world is reopening again after six months since the first hit of the Coronavirus in Wuhan. Here comes my invitation and my insistence to go back to our true authentic selves, back to nature, back to intuition and back to happiness, true happiness. Yes, we learned to be happy with what we have, we learned to be happy wherever we are and under whichever circumstances. Allow me to ask you to just PAUSE and RESET. Pause exactly here, and start all over again, but start with grace. Have a clear mind and a clean heart. That is all you will need in your new journey; and here is the answer to your golden question: Where is Happiness? Let me tell you, I hope you found it! Happiness is there, you can achieve it, you can own it and you can sustain it; and here is the answer to your long-awaited question: Happiness is all of the above, happiness is the outcome of the Coronavirus-and please don’t get me wrong, nobody can underestimate the losses we had and empathize with-. But, if you haven’t found it yet, then you haven’t benefited from the experience! To make it simple, here is the equation: Compassion + Kindness = Happiness To elaborate more, compassion is a direct route to happiness, and it is the foundation of Kindness. So, both together form the shortest cut to happiness. Study after study recently showed that helping others brings about the same sensational or neurological response in the brain that is normally attained by realizing one’s own wants and lusts. The good question now is: Is compassion a built-in attribute, or it can be acquired? Luckily, studies pointed out that children who are securely attached to their parents tend to be more empathetic with peers. Meanwhile, Parents who use reasoning and rationalization to communicate with their children tend also to have the most sympathetic children. In the end, have I not known the value of empathy, I wouldn’t have nurtured it, until it grew and flourished and gave meaning and purpose to life. 3 Tips to help raising Compassionate Children: When someone is sick in your circle of family or friends, talk to your children about it and encourage them to go and visit him/her with you. Buy them flowers on the way. This will help Children build their own empathetic system. You are the Role Model, be Compassionate and Empathetic and be of help to others. Your Children will follow if not copy exactly. Educate your Children to evaluate things through their real worth and merit, not their price. By that way, you are raising strong, Emotionally Intelligent humans, and not just materialistic beings. Now, that you have all the three pillars to go ahead with your life, are you ready to press the button? Are you ready to reset? Let me tell you one thing before I conclude, I forgot to mention that Happiness like anything else in life; it has its own terms, and amazingly its terms are: Kindness, Compassion, and Empathy. To dig deeper into the true meaning of happiness, download the first chapter of my book for free here! To learn more about Hoda and Happiness - follow her on Facebook, YouTube, Join her free Live every Thursday  and Monday on Instagram, and visit her website. Read more from Hoda Hoda Elsobky, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hoda was born in Cairo, Egypt. Graduated from the American University in Cairo in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majored in Economics and minor in Business Administration. Later, She received her MBA in Marketing. Her greatest interest lies in the fields of philosophy and positive psychology, with a focus on self help and wellness. Above all, she is passionated about happiness as a way of living! She have worked in multinational IT companies in Egypt, like IBM and Oracle, in sales, marketing and business development capacity, from 1994 till 2005. At that point she flew with her husband to live in Vienna for three years and then to Dubai. There she discovered her passion for writing.

Written by: Edna Keep, 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 Raising money from investors is a major milestone for any business. But even getting the chance to talk to an investor is still a huge opportunity, and needs to be taken seriously by any business owner. There are many factors that come into play in order to guide your business venture to success over the years. For example, your own efforts at planning, your well-developed and thoughtful research on a given property, and even your drive and motivation will all play a role in your venture's overall profitability. In Real Estate, if you want to start talking to Investors about capital, first of all it is best if you already have some experience, or are partnering or teaming up with people who have some experience. But a lot of times, even if you have that opportunity, there are still people who will say "Edna, I don't know what to say. I don't know, I just find myself stuck. I don't approach people even when I get a chance to”. so this is what I am going to help you with today. First of all , take the focus off of yourself. A lot of people are worried that they are going to screw up, thinking they´re going to say something wrong. Instead, get to know the other person first and use the power of networking. Find out what it is they are looking for. How can you help them in their lives? It may not be investor-related today, but if you can show other ways that you are a good source of knowledge, you can help them in other ways. They will start looking at you as a different person, and that's when you start building your confidence. For example, let's say that you are really good at vehicles, and if that person says that I have a challenge with my car, and next thing you know, you're working in their garage. They might ask what you do? How is it that you can be home during the day? What's up with that? From there, you could start interacting with them. - you know what, I am a full-time Real Estate Investors and I help people create passive income through Real Estate. And that is how easy the conversation can come up. But if you look at people as if they are your lunch, they might not be open to do business with you. So, where in your life can you start adding value to people? One of the things that I teach to my students is that people need to understand Real Estate before they invest in it. Maybe you start doing Facebook videos, or perhaps you start writing articles or doing some newsletters. And you begin sharing with those people. It could be as easy as you are going through your phone list and trying to figure out who might be interested. And you know you will never know 100% until you ask people. So, don't be scared to ask. One of my students told me he liked both traveling and Real Estates. So, I think it's great that you can have two topics to be interested in. My significant interest is Real Estate and Mindset. I love studying Mindset, so it's a good fit. Or sometimes you want to work on a lifestyle change, and you are talking to somebody you know who is in the same position as you, and you let them know what you're doing to make changes in your life. Or ask them what they are doing to build up their passive income. One of my favorite quotes of all time is: "if you don't build up your passive income, you will work until you die" . Other people don't always know that there are opportunities available for passive income. So, share what you have learned. To learn more on how to develop your confidence to talk to potential investors ; Watch my Facebook Live . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and visit my website for more information! Right now: Free Book: Multiple Ways to Wealth (Only Pay Shipping Charge-$7.00) Edna Keep, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Former Certified Financial Planner Edna discovered the power of real estate in 2007. Since then, Edna and her husband Warren have amassed a $60M Real Estate Portfolio primarily multi-family and primary with OPM. Since 2014 she has been training and coaching real estate entrepreneurs who wants to scale their real estate business into multi-family with Investor Capital. Along the way, Edna has learned that Mindset is 90%, or more, of a person’s success and specifically attributes her success to studying and always working at improving her Mindset. Thus, she focuses a lot on her students on Mindset training.

Nicola Blackstock, CEO of Nik Makeup Artist, is an Author, lecturer, multi-award-winning makeup-artist, beauty expert, stylist and creative director. Her work has been featured in numerous magazine publications worldwide, and she has a passion for teaching and passing on her skills to others. In 2020 she is launching her new Pro brush line, a book, and accredited makeup courses to help women and men worldwide understand how to use the correct tools for makeup applications. Whether you're a complete novice or a makeup maestro, Nik Makeup Artist has a course and mentorship membership program suited to anyone looking to succeed and excel in the beauty industry. Who is Nicola? Please introduce yourself - That is a good question, and I can only reason why I can answer it is because I have been on a path to self-discovery these past few years after losing my mother very traumatically. It changed me and my perspective forever. - I am a mum myself to my adorable son James aged 5, and wife to my new husband Peter (married October 2019 - engaged since 2009!!!). These two keep me going and focused on my goals; they are my driving force. - I am a caring and loving soul who wants to help others overcome traumatic experiences by explaining how I overcame mines, and offering guidance along the way. My passion is makeup and beauty, and I really like helping others succeed in the Industry and create dynamic solutions to makeup and beauty related problems. We live in a flat in Paisley town center, the place the Paisley pattern was born. The flat is currently on the market and we plan to move to our dream home by the sea imminently. You graduated from James Watt college in 2012 with an HND in Makeup Artistry. What was it that made you so interested in Makeup? ​ - I've always had a passion for makeup, and even though I was known as the local Tomboy; Growing up, at friends sleepovers, I was always the one doing the makeovers. Strange to think how now, as an adult, I have made such a successful career out of it! I also decided to quit my career as an air hostess when I met my new husband back in 2010 as I knew if I wanted a happy family life, creating a flexible business was the ideal setting for us. When did you start with this artistry, and do you know why this subject is so exciting to you? - Makeup is so transformative and being creative, I knew I found my calling the first day of the HND makeup course. I love how woman's self-confidence can be skyrocketed by applying the correct types of makeup for their skin type and age. It really fills me with joy to see their reaction and hear how they felt with the makeup on at their events!!! I love dreaming up a look in my head and implementing a team to see the creative project through. The absolute buzz when the designs end up in magazines all over the world, I sometimes got to stop and remind myself that this came out of my head and now it is all over the news! Reading on your website, it is clear that you made a career within the industry pretty fast. Why do you think you were so successful? - I noticed in college very early on that I had a talent for makeup, and also it was clear how competitive the industry was. I am so driven and as I decided to quit a career in the skies to pursue my dreams, I knew I had to succeed and prove all the naysayers wrong! I also found once I focused on my work and not of other people around me, my career hit new heights. At one point, you decided to become a freelance. How was it compared to being employed? - I am not going to lie here. It was frightening, hard, terrifying, challenging and exhilarating. All at the same time. You go from having paid holidays and security to be a one-man-band, which can sometimes get lonely, but the trick was to keep pushing and follow my dreams. Slowly but surely, the more successful I became and the less lonely it was. It really all started to fall into place. It is easy to say that you´ve built a powerful brand of yourself. Could you share your three best tips to our readers? - Set goals, meditate, take action! We are thrilled to have you on board here on Brainz Magazine. What can our readers expect from you? - Honest accounts of what being in the beauty biz is like, all the best makeup and beauty tips from a working professional and how success is not easy, but if you work hard, you will get there, my friend. What is your big goal? Do you have a dream? Where are you in 10 years from now? - The BIG goal is to help women and men worldwide by growing my courses and having makeup learning centers globally, supported by an innovative makeup product and brush line. Follow Nicola on Facebook, Instagram and visit mer website for more information! Read more from Nicola!

Yunlong Wang, is apart from being the CEO & Founder of Vikcess Business Group, also a VC, Writer, and Startup Coach. His main focus is on how the innovation tech changes the business and our world. He devotes most of his time to innovation management, achievement transformation to adapt new markets, technology transfer to apply in a wide range of industries, and startups acceleration with the support of capital. He is playing the role of a bridge, as Vikcess does, which connects Europe and China, to pursuit communication, collaboration, opportunities, and the future. Tell us more about yourself. What kind of person are you? – I came from China 6 years ago. Before that, I studied and worked in Beijing (PPSUC, the Top 1 university for police education in China) for 10 years. Later I studied political science at Gothenburg University (European Studies program) and I started to run my own business when I move to Sweden. – I am a person who is fundamentally optimistic in life and keep my passion for work. I am intensely curious about all creative things, innovative tech, crazy ideas, and persist it with no fear of failure. I enjoy social time and love to work with peoples who has different backgrounds and ideas. I am reading voraciously, constantly updating myself with the latest information, and I like sharing my experiences. I am keen on exercise and have participated in 7 Marathons already. Try to describe yourself in 3 words only. – It is hard to say, well… I think the words would be: perseverance, creative, ambitious. What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur? – I want to create change. – You know, “Entrepreneurship”, for me, is a symbol that gives you the possibility to work with your passion, but it also comes with responsibilities. You should work on it to create change, for your family, our society, environment, even the world, to make things better. That is the key meaning for me as an entrepreneur. How did you come up with the idea and concept of your business? – Well, I have been doing business in Europe for years, we understand the needs of different markets. Originally, we planned to do local incubators for startups with some VCs partners in both China and Europe. But in the process, we saw the infinite possibilities created by the largest market in the world, I mean China. Now both China and Europe are accelerating industrial upgrading, developing towards digitalization and intelligence. Simultaneously, the Internet Industry is wavering too, towards emerging technology that combines big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence... This trend will bring a new round of technological revolution and industrial cycle, also a trillion-scale market in the future. So, I decided to build a “bridge” between Europe and China to meet the demands from all directions. – I got inspired and started Vikcess, aiming to serve the innovation, and assist the companies in Europe and China to explore more opportunities, to boost more potential connections and cooperation, and achieve win-win. Considering the fierce competition in Today’s business world, how would you highlight your company’s competitive advantages? What makes it stand out from the crowd? – We know China, very much. "We devoted most of our time to try to establish the best sort of resources and networks in China – and we did it." – In fact, we're a young business, but we're growing very fast. We have a solid foundation and a huge business network in China. At present, we are working with some of the top enterprises, business groups, capital groups in China, such as ZGC Information Valley (one of the largest Tech Community in the world, according to Forbes), Bluefocus (Top 1 marketing enterprise in Asia), K&WM (TOP 1 Legal Firm in China). Moreover, we and Nudge Technology and other 10 tech+capital companies set up CEICLC (“China-EU Innovation Capital Linkage Center”) in Shanghai this year. We collaborate with 13 VC and Fund firms in the EU, China, and Silicon Valley as partners, and have raised more than 3 Billion Euros to support startups in need of early phase or growth investment. We also work with 200 Billion Euro Industrial Funds with our partners, mostly are Enterprises Groups, Listed Companies, and Industrial Parks in China, to accelerate the business with the power of capital. – We devoted most of our time to try to establish the best sort of resources and networks in China, and we did it. How is your life in Sweden? Do you like it? – I love Sweden where I can easily find my inner peace. Now Gothenburg is my second hometown. It has been rated as the Top 1 Sustainable City in the world for three years in a row since I moved there. I like the city, it is creative, international, and friendly. I love the food here, and the lovely people. – Now I have my own family here, my wife Yang, she is a talented, brilliant data scientist. My son Dino and my little girl Qiqi. Also, my big guy, Kaisa, a strong Alaska malamute. – I feel free to focus on my own things here. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur? – Not like a formula, I think there are key mindsets which the successful entrepreneur has. – They have the courage to face the obstacles, loneliness and darkest moment. They have ruthless persistence, they have strong ambitions and never give up. They like challenges, they create the changes and capture the opportunities from risks. They focus on the things that really matters, and learn from the failures. "You Can Never Cross The Ocean Unless You Have The Courage To Lose Sight Of The Shore” – Christopher Columbus. I have many friends who are excellent entrepreneurs in their field, both in Europe and China. I admire them and learn from them. They are smart and they're working hard. What keeps you motivated? "Being a father is more difficult and meaningful than being a boss." – My family. My wife supports me a lot from end to end, and motivate me all the time. Also, I want to be a good role model for my children. – You know, being a father is more difficult and meaningful than being a boss. Who would you say is your role model in entrepreneurship? – For me, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. I remember he was once in an interview, and he was asked “What made you so audacious to invent the future”, and he replied: “I don’t really think of these things as audacious, they seem like natural things to do. Sort of long-term optimization, rather than a short-term one”. – From Tesla to launch rockets by Space X, it seems that Elon Musk is successfully realizing his crazy ideas. I admired his extraordinary personality characteristics as an entrepreneur. Dream Big, never forget that! What is your 5-10 year plan for the future of Vikcess? – We hope to transform into an innovative technology service type company in the next 3 years. And we plan to found our own Innovation Base in Nordic, Spain and China in 5 years. If everything goes as expected, we are planning to go public in 8 years. What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out? Take action, and move fast. Don't be afraid of failure, making mistakes, and losing face. Stay focused. Be passionate. Dream big. If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it? – That is a good question. I'm literally preparing to write a book, about my life and work from Beijing to Sweden. It includes stories about the culture of Scandinavia, the travel in the North, and also the startup experience. About the name, “All the way north”, maybe. To learn more about Yunlong, you can visit his LinkedIn or contact him at: yunlong.wang@vikcess.com

Written by: Joana Orvalho Are you nervous about that interview you feel so lucky to have secured when changing careers, as although you have so many years of experience, you have none in that specific area? It's absolutely normal to feel that way as one thing is to apply for a role for which you have tons of work experience, but it's a totally different story if you are applying for a role for which you have no direct working experience. As with everything, preparation is key! So, how should you prepare for an interview that is more similar to the ones you had at the start of your working life, when you already have 10 plus years of experience? Below are three key things you must consider. 1. Share your personality Be prepared to share more about your personality and personal interests than you would normally do: as you are changing careers, it is key that your employer understands why you are dramatically changing your path and be assured that this exactly what you want! There is nothing employers love most than a member of their team that is 100% motivated by the work they do! In addition, you want your potential employer to know that you are not just "trying out" this area to see if you'll like it – you want him/ her to leave the interview room knowing that working in that area is definitely your passion and that you will secure a role in that area sooner or later! 2. Show your transferrable skills What has your past experience taught you that you can add to this new role? Think in particular about something that a person that has always worked in this area might not have experience in; simultaneously, what our your innate/ personality traits that will ensure you are a success in what you've applied for? – these will be your USP (Unique Selling Point)! In addition, if you have volunteered to do some projects either inside or outside work that is somehow linked to this new area, make sure you mention them and emphasize how much they taught you and re-iterated your interest in the area. 3. Demonstrate how to overcome your weakness Understand your weaknesses before the interview and be prepared to demonstrate how quickly and easily you can overcome these by sharing examples from other areas of your life. This is similar to what we do in the first interviews we secure, straight after Uni, when all we had to share our own capabilities were Uni projects, part-time jobs, or personal interests. It is extremely important that you analyze the role you are applying to and understand the potential weaknesses from the outset, as this way you can start to pre-empty any points that might be raised during the interview. Even if these points are not raised, being prepared will automatically increase your confidence! These are practical tips that will help you succeed in an interview in a number of ways – not only these will help you to be prepared for all the questions you might get (particularly the ones linked to the fact that you are changing careers), but will also increase your confidence and your positive attitude throughout the whole interview! In addition to the above, a great technique to increase your confidence in an interview is to visualize it before it happens! This technique can also be applied to any stressful and predictable/ planned situation in your life and what it involves is that you imagine the interview in your head before it starts – envision yourself in the way that you want the interview to flow: - You would be confident (but not arrogant), able to create rapport with the person(s) interviewing you and you would leave the room knowing that you've created an amazing impression - that you have shown your full potential and that the employer would absolutely be lucky to have you! If you are able to visualize the interview before it takes place and truly believe that it will go exactly as you desire, then it's 100% certain that the interview will be a success! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Joana Orvalho, Guest Writer I'm Joana Fonseca Orvalho and I am a career & mindset coach, focusing on helping women to identify and GET a career they are passionate about. I am originally from Portugal, but live in London since 2008. I am married and have a son (currently 18 months old). I am an intuitive and direct person who takes deep reward in seeing the transformation in my clients' lives. I have worked for over 12 years in Banking and completed my coaching qualification in the World Coach Institute (WCI) in 2018, in the same year that I've launched my business.

Collaborative post If you run a business, then you have to make sure that it is running like a well-oiled machine. It needs to be fine-tuned and it also needs to be running all the time. The problem is that inefficiency is certainly a reality, and if you want to avoid it then you need to do everything you can to make the right changes at the right time. If you don’t then this could cause you major problems in the future. Start with What Isn’t Working Before you even think about changing anything, you need to identify any inefficient processes that might be present within your current company model. You may find that inefficiency pops up in all kinds of places, whether you have a redundant process or whether you are not serving your customers well enough. Either way, you need to get to the root of the problem before you start implementing changes. Explore the Digital World Inefficiency in digital integration costs 25% of businesses dearly. You need to make sure you’re your business is not one of them. You need to try and utilise mobile apps and you also need to try and work with people who are just as like-minded as you are. If you are able to integrate the right digital solutions, then this will help you to improve your efficiency in various ways. You will be able to take advantage of faster and easier communication , and you will also be able to solve any issues that might arise along the way. Build an End Solution Consider your entire machine and how your business fits into the bigger picture. You need to understand where your services come from, how they are used and if there is anything you can do to cut out the middleman. If you are able to do this then you will be able to meet your customer needs much more efficiently and you will also be able to save money. This may involve hiring new DSC personnel , but the amount you pay will eventually be returned to your business through ROI. Build a Community One of the best things that you can do for your company is try and create a community. At the end of the day, you cannot put a price on this. The people who you meet are a reflection of how successful you will be overall. Opportunities tend to arise naturally, but you may feel as though it’s necessary to foster community development. This can be as simple as creating a public forum where people can discuss or it may be that you need to create a system where your employees can give feedback. Either way, a community can be difficult to manage at times. This can be the case if it encompasses members who are outside your structure, because if you do not provide a quality service then your reputation can easily be tarnished. Ask your Team It’s vital that you do everything you can to talk to your team so that you can ask them about the problems they are having and how they feel as though they can help. If you do this then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to get a great result out of your company model.

Written by: Suzanne Ratti, 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. With Covid-19 now a part of our daily lives, many executives and salespeople are struggling with the question of “Should you be selling during a crisis?” Not only are these challenging times for businesses, but also for salespeople who are tasked with increasing sales and hitting quotas. It can be challenging to find the right approach, so here is one easy way to adapt making it easier for your sales team and potentially increasing loyalty from your customer base. Should You Be Selling During a Crisis? It’s a good question that really has to be answered with another question, “Are you selling something or solving something?” The approach to selling during a crisis is key to how comfortable and natural the process feels, to both your sales team and your prospect. Are You Selling or Solving? The biggest obstacle for selling anytime, but especially during a crisis, comes when we are actively selling vs. solving. If we approach sales with a mindset of solving vs. selling, we are already changing the approach. In the selling role, salespeople are focused on their own mission – selling! In the solving role, salespeople are focused on the client’s challenges – solving! Here is an example of how the two different approaches work. Selling Imagine a small business that has furloughed half their staff. But, you have a quota to meet, right? So, you are tasked with calling clients or prospects to sell your widget. For this example, let’s say you are selling promotional products. So, you tweak your regular “sales” approach and maybe have a conversation like: YOU: “I wanted to let you know that we have some really great specials on promotional products.” CUSTOMER: “Thanks, but we are really not in a position to buy your widgets right now.” Insensitive? Awkward? End of sale, right? There are a couple of things to notice. First, the salesperson is using the phrase ‘we’ vs. ‘you’ – focused on sales vs. the client. It’s a conflict of whose needs are being met – the salesperson or the client? So, when we start with this approach, the simple answer is “NO – you shouldn’t be selling during a crisis.” After all, when a company or community is in crisis, your widgets are likely the last thing on their mind. Solving During a crisis, solving is helpful and authentic. It means that we are seeking to identify a problem or pain point and provide a solution. Identifying the problem means we get back to basic relational sales skills by asking questions. Let’s explore how SOLVING changes that conversation. Here is the same conversation, from a solving approach – notice how the salesperson uses “you and your” vs. “us and we”: YOU: “What are your biggest challenges right now?” CUSTOMER: “Getting our employees back to work and trying to offer an easy way for customers to buy our products.” YOU: “How are you doing that?” CUSTOMER: “Offering curbside pickup, sidewalk sales, etc.” YOU: “Have you thought about including a small gift with each purchase? Something folks could really use right now?” CUSTOMER: “Hmmm, like what?” YOU: “Branded hand sanitizer, a branded mask, or even a roll of toilet paper?” CUSTOMER: “That’s creative! I like that idea!” And, low and behold, you’ve just solved a problem and sold something in the process! More importantly, you’ve probably created a relationship where the customer sees you as a resource vs. a salesperson. That is the big difference between selling and solving! Solving may require more thought, training or even ‘coaching up’ your sales team with new ideas, products, and services to serve client needs right now. However, the investment in this thought process could not only sustain your business now, but position you to overtake the competition in the long run! So, are you selling during a crisis, or solving? Do you need more creative ideas for Sales & Marketing? Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin and visit our website! Suzanne Ratti, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Suzanne Ratti is a Sales & Marketing Strategist, a proven performer and an entrepreneur with a passion for helping businesses revolutionize the way they deliver their products and services to their target audience.  Her background in Sales and Marketing for powerhouses like Xerox and SmartCEO allows her to translate real-world experience, critical skill sets and proven results for businesses in virtually every industry and setting.  Suzanne provides engaging coaching and presentations that can inspire, motivate and empower business owners, solopreneurs, and their sales teams to think differently.

Collaborative post The coronavirus put many construction businesses on hold temporarily. The government shutdown of worksites meant that firms had to take a break. Now, though, many are getting back to action. With social distancing in place for employees on-site (as much as is possible), the industry is back in business. 2020 was set up to be a growth year. With the following techniques, it still can be. Here’s how to build your construction company. Make Your Construction Company More Resilient All successful businesses are built on strong foundations. That’s why so many construction companies were able to pull through the last recession. They conserved their resources and made the right decisions at the management level. There were lay-offs, but eventually, many firms returned to their former strength, once the contracts started rolling in. Make Quality Your Core Mission Clients know that regular construction companies cut corners during the building process. It is often easier than to do the job correctly. Firms that put quality at the centre of everything they do, however, can differentiate themselves from the competition and get ahead of the game. Remember, when you prioritise quality, you reduce the need to go back and rework old projects, allowing you to take on new work faster. Secure Your Suppliers If the coronavirus pandemic taught the construction industry anything, it was that it should secure its suppliers. Red diesel suppliers are already warning that changes in government policy could make it hard for firms to get vehicle fuel they need. Thus, we could see supply problems up and down the chain, especially for firms who rely on imported materials. Focus On Customer Service Customer service isn’t a traditional focal point of the construction industry. But providing it makes a massive difference in how your customers perceive you, primarily because they don’t expect it. If you can afford it, hire somebody to be available over the phone during regular office hours. Furthermore, make sure that you build a safety margin into your quotes. You don’t want to wind up in a situation where you have to go back to the client to ask them for more money, even though you shook on a deal. Embrace Change The construction industry needs to move forward if it is going to remain competitive in the future. With the rise of new building technologies, it is ripe for disruption. Change, though, can be a good thing. It is challenging to do during the process itself. But once you adjust your business model, everyone benefits. Shareholders and owners receive higher profits. Workers have more secure jobs. And customers are happier because they get high quality finished products and better overall service. Be Selective You don’t have to take on every project that comes your way. In fact, doing this is probably a bad idea, especially if you don’t have any particular expertise in the area. Instead, be selective and double-down on your strengths. Be the best at a specific type of construction activity. Don’t try to do it all.

This article is dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement in memoriam of George Floyd. George Floyd was a 46-year-old Black man living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, (ironically listed as the 46th largest city in America). George tragically lost his life on May 25th, 2020 after he was handcuffed and pinned to the floor by a U.S Police Officer, who knelt over his neck for a total of 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he lost consciousness and stopped breathing. "I Can't Breathe" Many have been sharing Floyd’s last words in protest against police brutality in the United States, however having watched the footage for myself, the moment which really gets me is when the officer yells at George to get up and get in the car while still kneeling on his neck. George gasped, “I will” yet the officer never let him move. A moment of hope, taken away by white supremacy. A moment which I will never fully understand. In times like this, I turn to my inner guidance and ask, how did we get here? How have we let white privilege dominate our society before our very eyes? Have we all been so blind to see what has been going on? Have we contributed to part of this problem? More importantly, what can we do to change it. ““Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” - Martin Luther King Jr I am not white, but perhaps I am still privileged. I can get pulled over by the police and not fear for my safety or my life I can go to the shop and not feel like I am being followed or watched I can turn on the TV and see people of my race widely represented I can count on my skin colour not to work against the appearance of my financial responsibility I can easily buy books, movies, magazines and toys featuring people of my race I can buy makeup in shades that mostly match my skin colour I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race I can voice concern about racism without being seen as self-seeking I have struggled my whole life with not being white enough to be white or black enough to be black. Someone once called me ‘half black’ in response to me sharing that my ethnicity is half Persian. I have been so used to sitting on the fence that I didn’t realize by not taking a side I was part of the problem. I have learned a very valuable lesson this week…It is no longer acceptable to stay silent. It is no longer ok to remove ourselves from what is happening in the world and turn a blind eye because it doesn’t affect us. We must all find our voice within and contribute to making this society an equal playing field for Black Lives. We must all become part of the solution. I have been following the Instagram account @soyouwanttotalkabout for some informative insights on what White Privilege actually means. This terminology alone can be very triggering for white people who are not comfortable being described by their race and also for white people who have grown up with their own, non-race related struggles. Here are some key messages that I have learned throughout the last week about White Privilege: What is White Privilege? Societal privileges that benefit white people over people of color, under the same social, political and economic circumstances White Privilege exists as a direct result of both historic and enduring racism, biases and practices designed to oppress people of color White Privilege does not mean you have not suffered in your life, but it does mean that you have not suffered because of the color of your skin. Systematic Racism exists on every level of society: - Black Graduates are 2x more likely to be unemployed - The typical Net Worth of a White family is nearly 10x greater than that of a Black family - Black Americans are 30% more likely to be pulled over - More than 60% of people in prison are people of color - 5 in 10 black children live in poverty - Black women are 4x more likely to die during childbirth (Source: Brookings Institute, United States of America) What is the difference between White Privilege and White Supremacy? White Privilege is the belief that something is not a problem because it does not affect you. White Supremacy is the system that protects White Privilege. It is not enough for us to keep quiet because this strengthens the notion that we do not need change, and that is the opposite of what we need right now. How can we recognize our Privilege and do better? Learning about our privilege should not be a burden or a source of guilt. Instead, we can use it as an opportunity to learn and educate ourselves about how we can do better and create the change that the world so desperately needs to see. Less judgment  Judgment is the fuel that will keep this fire burning. More fire is not what we need right now. Release your judgment and focus on what you can do to help. Honor how you feel Judgment, guilt, and shame could be coming up for you right now, but these will not help you heal or grow. Honor your feelings, lean into them, journal and meditate. Growth is a messy and uncomfortable but necessary process to move forward. Educating ourselves with love Be kind to yourself and recognize that you are experiencing an awakening. Become inquisitive and educate yourself on the questions that you have. Be open to listen and learn Willingness to learn today moves us a step ahead of where we were yesterday. Seek out activists in your local area and learn more about what is going on. Oneness is our true nature Acknowledging that we are all Brothers & Sisters and our energy all exists in the same Universe. We are one. If you have a voice and a platform of any kind, I urge you to use it to raise awareness for the Black Lives Matter campaign. Black lives have suffered enough at the hands of White Privilege and it is now upon us all to enact change.

Collaborative post As time goes by, the benefits of remote work shine through and gain appreciation from both employers and employees. It provides a win-win solution to modern-day work with minimum challenges that can easily be resolved if you know and have access to the right technology. As glamorous as the benefits of remote work may seem, when the appropriate procedures and support are not made available, it proves to be a challenge with terrible consequences that include a decline in workers’ productivity. To avoid a situation like this, here are ways you can improve the productivity of remote workers. 1. Set goals Unlike a traditional office setting where you can keep an eye on your team members, remote work does not provide that. However, you can use goals to track employees' work and measure success. Encourage team members to meet their goals by providing the necessary support needed and resolving issues timely. 2. Communicate Communication is vital if you want to improve the productivity of remote workers. It has to be consistent, transparent, and well-tailored for each individual. The consequence of inadequate communication is wrong decisions and conclusions. So, you must make sure that your workers are clear on all that is expected of them and how to go about it, so they do not have to repeat tasks or get confused. You can set up regular morning meetings to check in on team members and take advantage of chat rooms for video calls. 3. Provide efficient productivity There is no way your team is going to succeed if you do not provide them with the necessary work tools. Evaluate the tasks your team will need to carry out alongside what they need to fulfil them; then, you can go ahead and make provisions for this. For instance, to ensure uniformity in documents and maintain company standards, sites like https://www.templafy.com/ can help tremendously. More so, ensure all team members have fast and reliable internet; all software is up to date and they have a functional environment to work from home. 4. Encourage team building exercises The importance of team-building exercises may not be evident to many employers; however, creating a safe space for team members to talk about non-work related matters like news and hobbies, helps them build better connections. There are several ways you can go about doing this, and an example is hosting regular virtual happy hours or exercises. 5. Be respectful and provide support Always try to be mindful of the background, time zone, and situation of your team members. This will allow you to personalize the type of support you provide for them. Working from home can contribute to feelings of loneliness and a decline in mental health if it is not well managed. So, as a confident leader, you should ensure that the workplace is a level-headed space and encourage self-care among team members. Especially do this for people who you notice are struggling to adjust to remote work. Remote work comes with its challenges, but the proper application of these tips will help keep your team members engaged, connected, and productive.

Most people remember classrooms that prioritized grades over practical skills. I also experienced those classes, surrounded by classmates with varying ambitions. Some wanted to create apps or launch businesses, while others had no specific direction. Despite our different aspirations, everyone received the same assignments, took the same tests, and moved at the same pace. As technology and labor markets change faster than curricula can adapt, professionals and organizations face an urgent need for more flexible approaches to skill development. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a way forward by linking education directly to the workplace.  Instead of limiting learning to the classroom, AI and reskilling can go hand in hand, enabling people to build new skills while they work. The myth of the classroom: Why traditional learning falls short Traditional classrooms move everyone through the same material at the same speed. Growth rates and starting points, however, are never identical. Four-year degrees, yearly certifications, and the occasional company workshop were designed for slower times. These cycles simply can’t keep up with waves of new tools, AI upgrades, and process changes. The most important change AI brings to education is its ability to support “just-in-time” learning. This means that growth happens during work, rather than being confined to a physical or virtual classroom. Research on AI in education describes a system that layers content, data, and intelligent algorithms. Think of it as a stack where adaptive tools respond to the context and needs of each learner. Modern AI-driven platforms connect people, give timely feedback during real tasks, and adjust to the learner’s current situation. This is quickly becoming the new standard for continuous learning. “Education will be profoundly transformed by AI. Teaching tools, ways of learning, access to knowledge, and teacher training will be revolutionized.” – Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General Reskilling at scale: Matching skills, people, and opportunity AI is changing job requirements so quickly that retraining has become an ongoing need rather than an occasional project. McKinsey projects that physical and manual skills will remain widespread in 2030 for many regions, but demand for technology, critical thinking, and creativity is expected to surge. The change in hours spent advancing technological skills, in particular, could grow as much as 55%. Standard retraining programs typically send everyone through the duplicate content, overlooking what makes each person unique. They miss the mix of abilities and ambitions within teams, and can’t adjust as roles shift. My experience with peer-driven learning showed the value of personalization. For my final year project at university, I worked on rating and categorizing online tech tutorials. I used feedback from computer science students to recommend the most valuable resources to each learner. The project demonstrated how targeted guidance can help students direct their own growth. AI-enabled tools, when utilized well, allow organizations to support data-driven career growth. They can map the abilities of workers, then connect them to learning paths that fit their own strengths and ambitions. This process uncovers overlooked talent, recognizes potential beyond credentials, and creates new possibilities for people regardless of their starting point. Lightweight, network-based models: Practical, scalable solutions Corporate training is often expensive and slow to adapt. When learning is designed around people’s actual needs and daily work, it becomes much more relevant and practical. AI is making it possible to scale these ideas. A study on artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) details practical tools now in use. These tools lower costs, speed up learning, and make it possible to personalize education:  Chatbots that provide quick answers or guidance. They work best when combined with other methods, since engagement can drop over time. Expert systems that analyze learner data to plan and guide learning. They make management systems more responsive and effective. Intelligent tutors and agents that provide feedback and support on real work, helping people tackle more complex problems. Personalized learning environments that adjust pace and direction, increasing engagement and results. Virtual learning environments that build realistic, hands-on scenarios for group practice. AI competence itself can be built step by step. The TPACK framework highlights how elements like AI agents, unplugged activities, and hands-on learning can support growth across levels, from basic awareness to advanced understanding. Companies can use this integrated approach to build skills in context, without interrupting daily workflows.  I saw these ideas in action when I founded Learning Loop, an online community for startup founders. Our team combined software, people, content, and experiences in one package for a focused group. This helped us understand where the process slows down and why expanding this model needs new forms of support. Innovations like these signal a future where education is adaptable, practical, and closely tied to the daily workflow. Lightweight learning models make it easier for people to build new skills and adapt to change. Global lens: Opening access to talent everywhere AI-driven learning is no longer limited to the world’s biggest tech hubs. Most of the growth in AI-powered upskilling now happens outside Silicon Valley. Students and professionals in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are using flexible education tools to learn and build careers that once seemed out of reach. AI-powered tools and flexible education models connect learners and mentors across locations, enabling people outside traditional centers to access practical skills and job opportunities. This benefits both individuals and companies, who can now find and support talent regardless of geography. Human potential: AI as a partner, not a replacement The “humans versus machines” frame is misleading. People and AI bring different strengths, and progress depends on organizations combining these effectively. Leaders should focus on developing collaboration skills and helping managers understand when to trust data and when to rely on human judgment. Traditional systems often reduce potential to grades or job titles, overlooking much of what people could achieve. This can be reversed with thoughtful use of AI for highly personalized growth. History also shows why balance matters. Looking back, each wave of new technology has disrupted work, but has also created new opportunities. Preparing people to adapt is far more helpful than predicting collapse. Conclusion: Building a future of continuous learning The future of work depends on combining human potential with AI’s ability to personalize and adapt learning for everyone. While traditional education provides a starting point, skills now need frequent updates as technology and job requirements change. My vision is for a global reskilling ecosystem with AI at its core. This interconnected system enables professionals to receive continuous, personalized upskilling directly within the flow of their work. Companies can track real capability gains right where the work takes place. Policymakers, in turn, can support flexible credentials and open data standards that facilitate easier movement between roles and industries. By applying these principles and moving beyond classroom limitations, we can expand the global talent pool and better prepare the workforce for the future. About the Author: Sina Meraji  specializes in designing systems that connect continuous learning and AI-driven collaboration to real-world outcomes. He has managed teams building AI platforms for workforce training and quality improvement, particularly on practical methods for closing skills gaps across diverse groups. Sina has spoken about the future of education and workforce development at TED Talks and at the International Association of Universities Plenary Session. References : Chen, L., Chen, P., & Lin, Z. (2020, April 17). Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Review. IEEE Access, 8, 75264–75278. How can artificial intelligence enhance education? (2019, February 18). UNESCO. Manyika, J., & Sneader, K. (2018, June 1). AI, automation, and the future of work: Ten things to solve for. McKinsey Global Institute. Ng, D. T. K., Leung, J. K. L., Chu, S. K. W., & Qiao, M. S. (2021). Conceptualizing AI literacy: An exploratory review. Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100041. Romeo, J. (2020, January 20). In search of (artificial) intelligence. HR Executive. De Cremer, D., & Kasparov, G. (2021, March 18). AI should augment human intelligence, not replace it. Harvard Business Review. Tyson, L., & Lund, S. (2017, December 7). Rage against the machine? Project Syndicate. Bughin, J., Hazan, E., Lund, S., Dahlström, P., Wiesinger, A., & Subramaniam, A. (2018, May 23). Skill shift: Automation and the future of the workforce. McKinsey Global Institute.

Sponsored content Ensuring that your business captures the appropriate target markets is not just about one approach. Whether it's focusing on your branding or the correct processes, when you are marketing any sort of niche business it can feel like you are ploughing a path that nobody has ever done. But this means that when you are in it on your own you need to figure out the best ways to market a niche. But with this in mind, when it comes to being on your own what does it really entail? Using Partnerships To Fuel Customer Satisfaction Whether you have a great product or not, the best thing that you need to push it further is experience. If you are starting out and you don't have anybody on side, the best thing you can do is get a good quality partnership. Teaming up with experts to spread awareness of your product is crucial. Naturally, it depends on the industry that you are in. Generating a story through the right PR practices can help in so many ways. There are companies like Elitelawyermanagement.com that can help with this practice. Needless to say, partnering with a company isn't just a good way to make yourself look more important than you are, but utilizing the experience of people that have been there before you will give you some business lessons. Choosing Your Platforms To guarantee long-term success you need to be accurate when it comes to attracting your target audiences. It's not just about promoting your business on social media; it's about finding the right platforms that are inherently linked with your brand. This may mean forgoing the more popular methods of promotion. We have to remember that when it comes to advertising we cannot spread ourselves too thinly. And when it comes to any niche practice it may not even be through the traditional or popular methods online. Offline practices are just as important. There's a very useful article on Biznessapps.com to give you some inspiration. Needless to say, when it comes to increasing leads you cannot underestimate each aspect of the promotional beast, online and offline. The Importance Of User-generated Content If you feel like you are in it on your own, you need to take advantage of user-generated content to showcase your merchandise. These days, Instagram is crucial, but user-generated content is one of the best marketing methods because it doesn't just provide free advertising for a company but it also guarantees repeat custom. When you start to look at the importance of a niche with regards to the platforms that you use, user-generated content is one of the most crucial components because it shows potential customers that you are already engaging with a core market. When you feel like you're in it on your own, it can be a tough mountain to climb. Marketing is vital but it's also making sure that you don't betray your niche. Ultimately, this is what makes you stand out from the crowd. Taking advantage of your niche is about making what is unique about your business and putting it on a massive platform.