By: Josefine Sandahl Many organizations offer miscellaneous health benefits without having any specific plan for what they wish to achieve. Hence, they may get limited returns for their expenses. Addressing well-being in a proactive and strategic manner will result in improved working environment, enhanced efficiency and consequently significant positive financial impact and competitiveness. 3 steps to develop a strategic plan for well-being 1. Work fact based First and foremost, one should start by assessing the actual well-being status of all employees. A fact-based approach will improve understanding of the current situation, and identify challenging areas that needs to be addressed, both on individual and organizational level. Better knowledge of the status will encourage the will for transformation. It will also contribute to identify which activities should be focused on and enable measurement of results through the process. 2. Create flexibility A strategic plan for well-being shall always include common agreed and measurable short- and long-term goals. A frequent mistake we often see is that organizations prepare plans with too detailed solutions, this may cause demotivation and reduced willingness to change. It is therefore recommended that the employees are offered flexibility with regards to means and methods, as we humans often are more prone to changes if we are allowed some influence. However, continuity and endurance are essential to succeed. A few anti-stress lectures will hardly result in any long-term results. Hence, building and maintaining well-being requires continuous attention, just as maintaining one’s physical health requires regular activity. 3. Use a proactive approach To create a sustainable working environment requires long term efforts to promote well-being. Our last advice to reach a stage where the organization can work strategic to create well-being is to focus on proactive measures. To create a sustainable working environment requires long term efforts to promote wellbeing. Reactive actions can be both costly and negative for efficiency and engagement. Preventive and constructive work with well-being requires knowledge and insight of both the individual and the organization, this to make the healthy and correct choices, both instantly and for the long term. Research shows that strategic well-being is a profitable investment! Dear Change was founded by Josefine Sandahl as an initiative to work with employee physical and mental well-being in a strategic manner.

By: Carina Grönholm Why is it that we tend to be so hard on ourselves? And the main question: Does it have to be that way? I say NO, it does not! It’s all up to you to make your own changes. You have that power. How did it all start? After many exciting, fast-paced and fun years in the hospitality business I started noticing that many of my peers were not using the same words as I did to describe our work. I was hearing descriptions like “stressful”, “heavy”, “ungrateful”, “tough”, “bad”, “lack of leadership”, etc. This experience made me realize that although we were all correct in our opinions, each of us had different perspectives. When I brought up the topic in discussions, my co-workers said they loved the job but seemed to have forgotten their “why”—why they did the work in the first place and what their underlying motivation was. This made me a bit sad. I had never held a job where I did not want to be. With this new insight, I realized that many people around me—not just those in the hospitality industry were feeling stuck, trapped and unhappy where they were. This realization was also what sparked my interest in coaching, personal development, leadership, teamwork and the dynamics of interpersonal interaction. It’s all about your mindset Have you noticed that we, as human beings, tend to blame others for things that happen to us? “It was not me, it was her…” or “The lack of leadership makes this job so hard…” or “What is the point of saying anything? Nobody ever listens anyway…” Do any of those sentences sound familiar? I bet they do! You might even have used them yourself. It‘s ok—it’s simply a sign that you are human. My mindset has always led me to look for “the golden nugget” in every person and situation. I think that, without even knowing it, this is what has kept me from going insane many times. Today I see it both as a gift and sometimes as a curse. I had no idea about things like mindset before I got into coaching. While educating myself I discovered so many exciting, new and even scary things about myself. They all made everything clearer in my understanding of myself, personally and professionally. Things started to make sense to me. During my years as a coach I have realized that, regardless of position, we are often drawn toward the same type of uncertainty and feelings. We often place such high demands on our own performance and put ourselves under so much pressure that it ends badly. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can choose to handle situations and experiences differently, depending on our background and mindset. Be your own leader On my path to a deeper understanding, I have found myself drawn towards softer values. The core of my work and life, is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training (ACT) and Emotional Intelligence. I have always been able to find joy, but today I know how to truly appreciate it. Inner leadership and kindness is what it’s all about for me. Be kind to yourself and it gets so much easier to be kind to the rest of the world. Take control of that voice in your head, give yourself time to reflect over how and why you react in the ways you do. Once you are in charge of your thoughts and emotions, you automatically will find it easier to be your own “best friend”. “We have to learn to be our own best friends, because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.” – Roderick Thorpe This is why I want to help people find their way of becoming their own best friend: to be the leader of their own life and to see their true value while remaining kind to themselves and others. These are probably two of the most important tasks in everyone’s life, and I am dedicated to coaching people and teams so that they discover for themselves that it does not have to be difficult to make a difference in everyday life. We often think that huge lifestyle changes are required. On the contrary. What it takes is action—that we start doing something. Baby steps can—and will—make a huge difference. 6 KEYS TO BECOME YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND Be kind! – Who is the one person you communicate with most in a day? Is it your significant other, your child, your colleagues or maybe your mother? … Think again. … The answer is: You! You constantly have conversations going on in your head with yourself. Try to remember what you say and how you say it. Is it all positive and cheerful? I hope so (you can stop reading this). Think about what tone you use when talking to yourself. Always aim for treating yourself as you would treat your best friend. If you did, I think your voice would sound different, don’t you? Remember your “why” – Everything starts with your WHY. Have you figured out why you do what you do? Once in a while, take some time and ask yourself: Is this what I want? Am I on the right path? Am I living according to my values or do I need to make a change? Own it! – Never ever forget that you are the one responsible for your well being and your actions. You are the only one who can decide what to say and how to act in your life. Or what not to say or act upon in your life. You always have a choice, and it is you who is always responsible for that choice! Stop and smell the flowers! – Make it a habit to stop and reflect over the day, the week and the month that has passed. Do not forget to feel grateful for the little things around you. Write your thoughts down, in a beautiful journal or notebook, to help you remember the great days when you face the rainy ones. Ask for help! – If you feel that you are failing in your progress, don’t hesitate to ask for help and advice. Depending on the nature of the topic, ask a friend or colleague. If necessary, find an appropriate professional to talk to. It’s ok to make mistakes! – If a situation doesn’t work out the exact way you planned, start by remembering #1 on this list, and try something else. Setbacks are good—we learn from them and they offer new opportunities. Give yourself the respect you deserve! ”The most important relationship in your life is the relationship you have with yourself. Because no matter what happens, you will always be with yourself.” – Diane Von Furstenberg Carina Grönholm, is a ICF Associate Certified Coach with a focus on leadership and teamwork.

Do you have big business goals for 2020? As we enter a new decade with new possibilities, these 10 motivational New Years quotes will inspire you to ring in the new business year. 1. “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey 2. “Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” – Brad Paisley 3. “Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” – Tim Ferriss 4. “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.” – Chinese Proverb 5. “Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.” – W. P. Kinsella 6. “Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.” – Brian Tracy 7. “There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.” – Buddha 8. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon 9. “Develop an attitude of gratitude this year, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” – Brian Tracy 10. “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” – Tony Robbins We wish you a Happy New Successful Year!

Written by: Camilla Gyllensvan, 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. The Benefits of Writing a Book for Entrepreneurs in the Personal Development Business Entrepreneurs in the personal development business are increasingly turning to writing books as a way to boost their brand, gain more clients, and turn their books into multi-million dollar revenues. Writing books is a powerful medium for entrepreneurs to share their expertise, engage with their audience, and open new doors of opportunity. From increasing their visibility to giving them a platform to share their knowledge and expertise, writing a book can be a powerful tool for entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach and develop their business. Writing a book is a great way for entrepreneurs to establish their credibility and expertise in the personal development field. It is an opportunity to showcase their knowledge, demonstrate their expertise, and share their insights with the world. Writing a book allows entrepreneurs to present their ideas in a more organized and comprehensive way, allowing them to reach a broader audience and be seen as an authority on their subject. A well-written book can also be used to attract new clients, as well as to create partnerships and collaborations with other entrepreneurs in the personal development space. Writing a book also gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to monetize their expertise. By leveraging the book as a platform to advertise their services, entrepreneurs can use it to draw in more clients. They can also use the book to create and promote online courses that they can offer to their readers. Another way to generate revenue from a book is to create a brand around it and license it to other entrepreneurs. This can create a passive income stream that will help sustain the entrepreneur’s business. Finally, writing a book can be a powerful way to build a personal brand. A book provides entrepreneurs with a platform to share their story and to connect with their audience on a deeper level. It can be a powerful tool for building relationships and trust with audiences, which can lead to more referrals and more business opportunities. Writing a book is an invaluable tool for entrepreneurs looking to boost their brand, gain more clients, and turn their books into multi-million dollar revenues. By leveraging the power of the written word, entrepreneurs can build their credibility, expand their reach, and monetize their expertise. Ready to Turn Your Expertise into a Multi-Million Dollar Revenue Stream? Get Started Today! Writing a book is a powerful way for entrepreneurs in the personal development space to boost their brand, gain more clients, and turn their books into multi-million dollar revenues. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level and turn your expertise into a successful book that can generate substantial returns, contact us today. We’ll work with you to help you write, publish, and promote your book so that you can make the most of this powerful tool. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Camilla! Camilla Gyllensvan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Camilla Gyllensvan Is an International coach, author and educator. As a Trainer of NLP and hypnosis, she has transformed the lives of her clients all over the globe. She has dedicated her life to teach the most advanced techniques for Therapy, NLP, hypnosis, Time Line Therapy. CBT and neuroscience. With almost 20 years of studying her unit approach to work with clients has lead to her concept the 4 LIFE experience to help clients conquer their own personal limitations and live a happier and more Joyous life. She is also the founder of Mindboozt Agency a platform for Entrepreneurial authors that want to write, publish and market their books about their expertise

Katrin Zytomierska, an inspiring Swedish entrepreneur with a number of projects under her belt. Along with being the CEO of Clean Eating AB – a company which specializes in clean and healthy food – she also runs one of Sweden’s most visited instagram accounts with a very engaged audience. We caught up with her for a chat about the upcoming expansion of her business, and what’s behind her succesful mindset. Clean Eating stands for clean and healthy foods, free of unnecessary additives. The company was founded in early 2012 as “LCHFklubben.se” - from the beginning a digital portal for people who followed the diet. Almost four years later, Clean Eating consists of a product line of forty unique products, available in well-stocked grocery stores around the country. Tell us a little about the up-and-coming expansion? - Due to our limited production capacity, we have been forced to employ a sales stop for quite some time now, with the unfortunate effect that we have not been able to supply new vendors or markets. We have even been forced to outsource some of our production to external factories to keep up with the demand from our contracted vendors – but I’m hoping to bring back that production once the new factory we’re building is ready. The new factory will also enable us to further expand our product range. You’re looking to expand globally. Have you run into any obstacles during this process? - I’ve never had to worry since my co-workers - who run the day-to-day business – are extremely competent and meticulous. I’m sure they’ve had some snags and bumps along the road, though! What do you think is the reason behind your sucess? - I don’t do anything for the sole purpose of making a profit: I manufacture amazing products that people appreciate, and I put my heart and soul into my work. What do you do to get ”into the zone” if you feel unfocused? - I intensify my work-out routine, try to catch more sleep and say NO to things. A proper, drunk night out to clear my head works wonders, too! A lot of people look up to you because of your honesty and open-mindedness. How have you developed that kind of mindset? - I don’t employ a particular strategy, so it’s nothing but the result of genetics and my upbringing. Simply put, I am entirely myself. Do you feel that people around you are a little intimidated by you? Should they be? - Yes, I do feel that haha, but I’d say that intimidation comes from peoples’ own insecurities. People should really not feel intimitaded by me, but I do however expect to be treated with respect, which I’d say is a pretty normal mindset. If you could give one advice to those who wish they were more open but are afraid of people’s reactions, what would that advice be? - I’d tell them to write or say something that they know will bring out reactions, and avoid deleting negative comments: Just respond ”yes, this is my opinion and I stand for it”. Is there something you’d like to get better at? - Paddle tennis! What would you say is your number one skill? - Keeping calm, and negotiating. Do you have any fears that keeps you from doing things? - No, none, for better or for worse. What are you like as a boss? - I consider myself to be hard, but fair. I give my employees freedom under responsibility and I care a lot about their wellbeing. I might also come across as a bit of a scatterbrain, but my colleagues know that I always work it out in the end. 10 Quick Questions with Katrin Working alone or with a partner? - Alone Fish or chicken? - Fish Night out or night in? - Night out Sour or salty? - Salty Pizza or hamburgers? - Stop it Dressed up or Comfortable? - Dressed up Macbook or PC? - Macbook Cats or dogs? - Dogs Beach or city? - Beach Apartment or house? - Apartment

Written by: Elana Cohen, 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. Keiko Beatie is a remarkable individual with a diverse range of achievements and a passion for the cannabis industry. With an impressive career beginning in the music industry, she had the privilege of working with renowned artists such as Eddie Van Halen, Cheap Trick, and Eddie Money. Despite the prevalent experimentation in that industry, Keiko maintained a unique approach, abstaining from alcohol and cigarettes while embracing cannabis. Growing up with a background in herbology and naturopathic practices, Keiko found that her knowledge of Bach's flower remedies and homeopathic products intertwined seamlessly with her growing understanding of cannabis. In 2013, seizing an opportunity to collaborate with a former colleague, she co-founded the groundbreaking U.S. Weed Channel, the world's first cannabis television network. The network encompassed a wide array of programming, ranging from educational content and 420 news to cooking shows, film festivals, and music events. Keiko aimed to present a comprehensive view of cannabis, recognizing that it represents not just a smoking habit but an entire lifestyle and culture. Since then, Keiko has dedicated herself to empowering women in the cannabis industry, serving as the membership director for Women Grow, a prominent nationwide organization. She also holds a position on the board of the Orange County chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (OC NORML). In addition, she hosted a talk show on Hemp Radio alongside Kandice Hawes-Lopez, the esteemed founder and director of the chapter. Keiko's commitment to her values and her desire to foster the success of women in the cannabis industry make her an influential collaborator. She firmly believes that, as women, the inherent qualities of nurturing and caregiving extend to our connection with the female cannabis plant. In the cannabis industry, she sees a realm where there are no barriers or limitations for women, allowing them to thrive and break free from the confines of a traditional glass ceiling. Furthermore, Keiko is currently involved in organizing the Taste of 4/20 Casino Celebration, hosted by Edibles Magazine. This licensed event, taking place on April 20 at Casa Vertigo in Downtown Los Angeles, offers participants the unique opportunity to consume cannabis on-site. Alongside this, attendees can enjoy an adult bounce house and savor low-dose edibles crafted by esteemed canna-chefs. Keiko Beatie is a true force to be reckoned with, driven by her unwavering ethics and her unwavering commitment to seeing women flourish in the cannabis industry. Through her various roles, collaborations, and endeavors, she continues to pave the way for a more inclusive and empowering future where women can fully embrace their connection with the world of cannabis. Keiko Beatie has made remarkable strides in the fields of Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and holistic healing throughout her extensive career that dates back to the 1970s. Building upon her expertise in Bach Flower and Homeopathic remedies, she has seamlessly integrated the world of whole-plant cannabis medicine into her practice. Keiko is deeply committed to community education and improving patient care within this realm. Her journey into the realm of psychedelics began during her student years when she had the transformative opportunity to learn from the renowned teacher Ram Dass at UCI after his departure from Harvard. This experience left an indelible mark on her consciousness and remained a cherished memory. Currently serving as the Director of Education at Coral Cove Wellness Resort, an idyllic retreat nestled along the picturesque Jamaican coastline, Keiko has also become an owner of this all-inclusive destination dedicated to cannabis and psychedelic education. Surrounded by the serene beauty of the ocean, the resort provides a unique environment for individuals to deepen their understanding of these transformative medicines. Keiko's expertise and passion have led her to be a highly sought-after speaker at numerous mainstream and cannabis conferences across the country. She shares her knowledge on a wide range of topics, including Senior Education, Edibles, Pain Management, Canna Travel Tourism, and Patient Care. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Keiko was honored with the prestigious Female Leadership of the Year Award at the 2022 Women's Canna Cup. Beyond her speaking engagements, Keiko actively participates as a board member in several esteemed organizations. These include OC NORML, The Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, the Asian Cannabis Roundtable, the Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo (as an Advisory Board Member), The EmeraldCup (as an Edibles Judge), and Cashom. Keiko's educational journey led her to pursue studies at UCLA, where she earned her BA in Business. She further developed her skills at renowned institutions such as the Esolen Institute, Twin Lakes Holistic College, Alive Polarity Institute, CIIS (California Institute of Intralegal Studies), and LA College of Massage and Physical Therapy. Prior to dedicating herself to education and patient care through natural medicines, she made significant contributions to the music, film, and surf industries. Keiko played an instrumental role in founding Women Grow OC and has shared her writing talents with notable platforms such as Weedmaps, Marijunia.com, Sensi Magazine, and Canna TravelLife Magazine. With an unwavering mission rooted in education and outreach for patient care, Keiko Beatie continues to be a driving force in advocating for the acceptance and legalization of cannabis and psychedelic medicines. Her invaluable contributions have shaped the landscape of holistic healing, inspiring individuals to explore the profound potential of these natural remedies. For more information, please visit Keiko Beatie's website at www.coralcovewellness.com. Follow Elana on LinkedIn, and visit her website for more info! Read more from Elana! Elana Cohen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Elana Cohen is a freelance writer based in Chicago. She covers cannabis topics from product reviews, thought leaders in the industry, brands, features on cannabis players in the market and her own experience with cannabis and mental health. Elana is on a mission to end the negative stigmas on cannabis, mental health & tattoos. All topics considered to be fighting the taboos and negative stigmas they have. Elana also covers entertainment, specifically electronic dance music concerts and festivals. I also cover FOOD and the hospitality industry. Send restaurant news and upcoming launches this way!

By: Linnea Molander Dating Coach and founder of Happy Dating Can you imagine if we gave people career advice in the same way that we give single people love advice? Single people get well intended, yet often completely delusional, words of encouragement all the time: “Just wait it out and you’ll find someone too someday.” “Don’t think so much about it, just let love come to you.” “You don’t need therapy/coaching/matchmaking, just be yourself and someone will love you for you.” It all sounds great, doesn’t it? But let’s take a closer look at these comments. What they all have in common is that they tell you to do nothing to improve your love life. Absolutely nothing at all! Just be yourself (whatever that means…) and wait it out. I don’t know about you, but I would call that a pretty crappy success strategy for any area of your life. Comments like these keep people stuck and struggling because they actually encourage you to be completely passive, but I don’t think that’s how you handle challenges in other areas of your life. Let’s put the same words of ‘encouragement’ into a career context and see how absolutely insane they sound: “Just wait it out and you’ll have your own business too someday.” “Don’t think so much about your finances, just let the money come to you.” “You don’t need to practice any skills, just be yourself and someone will hire you for you.” It makes absolutely no sense, right? So why do we think it will lead to a fulfilling love life when we literally don’t think like this in regards to anything else? When it comes to health, education, money, travel, life goals and all other parts of life we are well aware that success requires knowledge, skill and practice. Somehow love, dating and intimate relationships has become the only exclusion from this obvious fact. Why? It’s certainly not because intimate relationships are easier than everything else. Relationships are hard, require a lot of skill, compassion, self awareness and practice. Nor are they less important. Who you spend your life with is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and the quality of your relationships has a huge impact on your happiness levels and life satisfaction. If relationships skills were at least taught in school and we didn’t get emotionally messed up by our hopefully loving, but most likely also emotionally clueless, parents, we might have had a chance to make it work with ease. But for most of us that’s not the case. Instead, we have to do some inner work just to make up for all the misunderstandings, heartbreaks and disappointments we’ve already acquired from birth until now. That inner work can’t be delegated to someone else, still many try by thinking that the right person is suddenly going to appear and solve everything just by existing. They won’t. And it’s not their job. It also puts all the power over your love life in the hands of a stranger you haven’t even met! Again, I don’t think this is how you run the rest of you life; hoping that some stranger will show up and solve your problems. Instead, you do what you got to do to get the results you want, right? Results require skills If you think about it: how much time, energy, effort and money have you put into exploring your inner emotional landscape, learning authentic communication skills and understanding intimate relationship dynamics? If there is a difference in success level there is most likely also a difference in knowledge and skill level. How much time, energy, effort and money have you put into succeeding in other areas of your life, like your career, fitness and lifestyle? If there is a difference in success level there is most likely also a difference in knowledge and skill level. Simple as that. I believe that everything in life is a learnable skill, which means that you can improve your love and relationships skills, just like every other skill you have (or don’t have). But there’s a catch here as well! If you want to learn you need to listen to someone who knows what they’re talking about — and when it comes to love everyone has an opinion and offers advice, but very few have actual knowledge. If you wouldn’t take financial, career or health advice from just anyone with an opinion, then don’t use that strategy for your love life either! If you’re struggling with your dating of love life, get help from someone who is an expert in their field and can teach you the skills you need! Read a book, follow a blog on dating psychology, educate yourself on the latest research on what makes relationships work and most importantly make an effort to understand yourself and your relationships patterns. Then you will, in fact, have a great chance to just find someone, let love come to you and have a partner who will love you for you. But not because you waited long enough or were lucky, but because you applied the exact same success strategies to your love life that you already use in every other successful area of your life. Linnea Molander is a dating coach, author and the founder of Happy Dating — Positive Psychology For Your Love Life. Find out more at www.linneamolander.com

You might have heard that all you need is a great idea? But how do you become a problem solver - and how do you come up with a business idea? We listed 4 important things to think about when creating your business idea and also what might be a good idea to try before you register your company. There are tons of great ideas that are being pushed out to the market every year. Unfortunately, not even a third of them reach success. Why? Most people and companies have these things in common; They all have challenges/problems and desires. How great you succeed is all dependent on how well you can fill those needs or what helpful solutions you can provide - and maybe most importantly, how passionated you are to be the provider. There is a lot of different aspects that can affect if a business succeed or not. The first thing you should focus on is to have a clear and defined target market, a clear and defined problem or desire - and a clear and defined solution. Then, you should ask yourself - will I enjoy working with this? When you're truly passionated about what your building, the odds will be in your favor. Being solution-oriented is a Habit - Look for possibilities everywhere and become a problem solver! Most people think that you have to be born a problem solver. You don't. "Problem solving" is something you can practice and you can practice it daily, you just need to change your habits and the way you typically see things. Most people bump into problems or challenges every day - big and small. What most people don't do is stop and think; "How can I solve this problem?" or "What possibilities do we have in front of us?". To become a problem solver, try think like that for at least 30 days to make it a habit. Acknowledge every time something bugs you. Every time you find yourself complaining about something or seeing the down-side of something - ask yourself those two questions and see how your brain respond to it. You will be surprised how many new ideas you will get and how many new possibilities you will see. That is how inventions and businesses are born. 4 things to help you form a Business Idea: What are you passionated about? Many people don't know what they are passionated about and a lot of us don't even know what we are good at. "What are you good at?" - is a hard question. Most of us are pretty shy when we get asked this question. Instead, try to ask yourself; What things do I love to learn? What do I typically google? What do I typically spend money on? What do people ask my advice on? All these questions can help you figure out what you actually like to do, learn and talk about. Most of the time, the answer to what you are good at is right underneath your nose - you just don't know how good you are at it. Most of the time we don't know how good we are at certain things because we don't acknowledge everything we learn. Think about it this way; If you spend most of your time learning about mindset (you go to seminars, you read blogs, you follow research, you google, you listen to podcasts) - and your friend spend most time learning the same way about cars. Who would be the go-to-person when your other friend have a question about mindset? Who would you go to if you had a question about cars? Many of us know things that we assume everyone else already know - and most of us have no clue how good we are at something. Who would be your target market? To figure this one out you should think about what kind of people you would want to work with. Is it; women, men, adults, children, parents, a business group, dentists, entrepreneurs, car owners, etc..? What group of people do you feel most connected to? What problems or desires do they have? Do they have problem finding clients? Do they have problem losing weight? Do they desire better technology knowledge? Is their car always dirty and they don’t have time to take it to the car wash? Solution to their problem. Is your target market dentists who are struggling to find new clients? The customer will most likely be more receptive to their service when marketing through social media such as; creating facebook-ads to attract potential clients. Another target market can be car owners who don't have time to take their cars to a car wash. The solution might be to find a mobile car wash service that would accommodate to their needs. Look for solutions. Exercise - Fill in Blanks I help _______ To________ By________ I help (people or groups you like to work with): Example: Dentists, Parents, Teenagers, Men, Elderly, People with Weight Problems, People with Smoking Addiction, Entrepreneurs, etc. To (what is their problem/desire?): Example: get clients, get their kids to sleep all night, better dating life, quit smoking, loose weight, become confident on stage, learn more about technology, get better time management etc. By (solution to their problem): Example: Building a marketing funnel, offering them coaching, working with acting techniques, implementing better routines, setting up their IT software correctly etc. Last but not least.. Sell before you build Most people think that you can't start working until you have legally registered your company. That's a common misconception. It's not necessary to focus on the paperwork and registration process before you even know how your market will respond to your idea. Try selling it - iterate and improve. Establish and recruit clients to your company. When you get your first client and have proof of concept - send in the paperwork and send your first invoice! This way you can test your business idea and the markets need for it before even starting it. It may seem too simple but its a very smart way to start - plus it saves you tons of time!

By: Caroline Winkvist First of all, what is an Affirmation? Affirmations are short, powerful statements used to state that something is true - to help make it true. But how is thinking my way to success going to work? To begin with, it's not magic. Just because you think about a new car, it won’t just magically appear in front of you, unfortunately. You might also feel uncomfortable lying to yourself, since you're stating things that aren't true (yet) - but hopefully this article will help you clarify how it works. Affirmations actually work due to the power of positive thinking. First of all, affirmations make people receptive to change - and then they help making the change reality. According to different studies it is easier to make a positive change when you use daily affirmations because it remind us of what we want and why. Affirmations to help you stay on track Everyone can have a ”day off" with a habit change. Unfortunately many people use this as an excuse to say, "I can't do it" and they quit - or they say they're going to do it later. Daily affirmations give you the motivation to keep going through these tough times by reminding you of what you want, to help you stay motivated and determined to work towards the change you want to make. However, positive affirmations is not only about helping you to succeed with your missions. Affirmations can also be used as reminders of things that are already good in your life, including your strengths or things you're grateful for. Positive affirmations can also help release you from anxiety, negativity, guilt, fear and pain. Messages to your Brain These three sentences on the left side of this picture are all positive affirmations. For example: When these simple messages are repeated over-and-over, they begin to re-program your mind and slowly change your thought patterns. Eventually they will change the way you think and feel about things - which will increase the chances of you taking the actions required to succeed with it. These positive statements can help you focus on goals, get rid of self-defeating negative beliefs and program your subconscious mind - and eventually create a new reality. Areas you can include in your affirmations: When you write your affirmations we recommend using a mix of these areas because they will help keep you on track, make you stay positive and motivated, empower your strengths, fight your limiting beliefs and remind you of what’s important and WHY, and maybe most importantly - what you're grateful for. GRATEFULNESS - WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR AND WHY? This is an amazing way to remind yourself of things in your life that are important and meaningful to you. We tend to forget all the great things we have in our lives and these affirmations will act as beautiful reminders. Example Affirmation: "I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for every part of my body that is healthy." Another example (if you have children): "I am grateful for being a parent. I am grateful for being given the opportunity to raise children and for the love I get to give them and receive from them every single day for the rest of my life." MISSION & PURPOSE - WHAT DO YOU WANT AND WHY? These positive affirmations might begin as wishful thinking - but when you fuel your mind with these affirmations as a part of your daily habits, they end up becoming the reality of your life. When writing affirmations about what you want and why, write them as it already happened and try to include the feeling you have when you’re succeeding. Example Affirmation: "I want to stop having a stressful morning - is not an affirmation. Your affirmation would instead be: "I choose to have a great morning routine because it makes me feel stress free and energized and I start every day with a win!" That’s a strong affirmation. MY STRENGTHS Making an affirmation about your strengths is a great way to remind yourself of your greatness and to empower yourself. Example Affirmation: "I am kind and I always care deeply for others. I work hard to be able to take care of the people I love and care for. I have positive energy and people enjoy my company. I feel humble." NEGATIVE THOUGHTS & LIMITING BELIEFS Negative thoughts can also include limiting beliefs and weaknesses. It can also be things that scares you. For example, a limiting belief can be ”I'm always going to be overweight and depressed" Example Affirmation: "I choose to be healthy, eat healthy and exercise because that makes me feel better, look better and be happier." Or you might have a weakness you want to work on.. Making an affirmation about your weaknesses is good to remind yourself of why you want to change. Weakness: "I’m always late because I’m a time optimist" Example Affirmation: "I’m committed to always be on time. I prioritize planning my time because it makes me feel in control and free from any stress." Fears If you have any fears, a fear can be: "I fear rejection" Example Affirmation: "I am free of the fear of rejection. Rejection is a necessary thing to achieve success. I act without fear of rejection and I feel proud and confident." Cheating your subconscious mind If you feel like it’s too hard to convince your mind of some of the affirmations you’re writing, then try to avoid making the ”lie” too obvious. Affirmations is about cheating your subconscious mind and in some cases when you make the lie too obvious, you might make it too easy for your mind to catch the lie. You might get stuck focusing on not believing your affirmation - especially if you’re a person who’s often skeptical. Therefore, we want you to focus on your WHY for the things you feel is the hardest to commit to. For example: Don’t write ”I love eating vegetables” if you truly hate vegetables. That way you make the step to reality too big. Try to make it more like: ”I choose/commit myself to find new healthy alternatives everyday because it makes me feel healthy, strong and proud of myself.” When you focus on your why, your reasons and motivation to commit to it will increase. Guidelines for writing your affirmations Use the present tense - I am, I have, I always, I love, I commit, I can, I choose.. etc. State it in the positive - Try to not state what you’re doing wrong, focus on what you can do right instead. Don’t write: ”I’m going to stop being negative!” Instead write: ”I choose to be positive because it makes me feel energized and happy and I attract opportunity.” Keep it brief - You don’t need to write a full story. Try to keep it short with only a couple of sentences. Include feelings - Try to include how succeeding with the statement would make you feel. E.g. "I feel honored and gifted” Do not use words like: I wish, I want, I should, I don’t.. When writing about negative thoughts: When you make affirmations based on bad habits, negative thoughts or limiting beliefs try to use sentences like: I choose to____because____ Or: I commit to____because____ Think about how you want to feel instead of how you feel right now, and choose or commit to make actions based on how you want to feel. When using these kind of affirmations repeatedly, "I choose to", will eventually become ”I am”. Read or listen to your affirmations daily or whenever you feel like you need to empower yourself. We recommend recording your affirmations and keep them on your phone. That way you can listen to them on your way to work or school - or whenever you want to. Listening to your affirmations is like meditation or mindfulness, it's beautiful. Most phones have recording applications pre-installed which is the easiest way to record your affirmations. Read your affirmations slow and with confidence and really focus on imagining the situation when it's happening. If you want to, you can use mindfulness music in the background to make it extra powerful. Really try to feel the positive emotions from it as you read. For many people this sounds silly but you'll be surprised how much your own voice and your own statements can motivate you and help you take necessary steps forward to success.

Jeff Bezos is an investor, technology and online retail pioneer from the U.S, and the founder and CEO of global technology and retail giant Amazon.com. Bezos is considered by many to be one of the most influential and successful leaders today. Jeff Bezos is again the number 1 richest person in the world, followed by Bill Gates at number 2, according to The Forbes World’s Billionaires list. Bezos is also regarded as one of the leading thinkers in the world due to his vision and his ideas are not only different but also often at odds with many other entrepreneurs and leaders. “If you decide that you’re going to do only the things you know are going to work, you’re going to leave a lot of opportunity on the table.” – Jeff Bezos “One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passion; your passion chooses you.” – Jeff Bezos “Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice.” – Jeff Bezos “The common question that gets asked in business is, ‘why?’ That’s a good question, but an equally valid question is, ‘why not?’” – Jeff Bezos “If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful.” – Jeff Bezos “What’s dangerous is not to evolve.” – Jeff Bezos “If we can keep our competitors focused on us while we stay focused on the customer, ultimately we'll turn out all right.” – Jeff Bezos “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.” – Jeff Bezos “For people who are readers, reading is important to them.” – Jeff Bezos “When you receive criticism from well-meaning people, it pays to ask, 'Are they right?' And if they are, you need to adapt what they're doing. If they're not right - you need to have that long-term willingness to be misunderstood.” – Jeff Bezos “Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't resourceful.” – Jeff Bezos “Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room.” – Jeff Bezos “To get something new done you have to be stubborn and focused, to the point that others might find unreasonable.” – Jeff Bezos “The smartest people are constantly revising their understanding, reconsidering a problem they thought they'd already solved. They're open to new points of view, new information, new ideas, contradictions, and challenges to their own way of thinking.” – Jeff Bezos “It's perfectly healthy--encouraged, even--to have an idea tomorrow that contradicted your idea today.” – Jeff Bezos “If you can't tolerate critics, don't do anything new or interesting.” – Jeff Bezos “Where you are going to spend your time and your energy is one of the most important decisions you get to make in life.” – Jeff Bezos We hope you got some new wisdom out of this. Which one is your favorite?

The Possible Mindset - Your way to Success! - ”It’s impossible!” The doctors and physiotherapists said to me. - ”Everything is possible!” I replied. - ”We put a man on the moon 50 years ago, so please don’t tell me that I can’t keep working, or run or ski again!?” The fifth jump was perfect, until 15 meters above ground, where I came into thermals and my parachute collapsed. When I was 16 years I went skydiving, it was amazing! I could fly and I could see the earth underneath me. The fifth jump was perfect, until 15 meters above ground, where I came into thermals and my parachute collapsed. The last 15 meters went really fast and I hit the ground hard. That’s how I’ve got my first back injury. The doctors couldn’t help me, nor the physiotherapist in Järvsö, where I grew up. I had to stop my career as a cross country skier and it was really hard for a 16-year old elite athlete to realize that the dream of the Olympics all of a sudden went out of sight. If I would have listened to the doctors, I probably would have got disability support pension, but I refused that. I just wanted more out of life than to sit down and let my life just pass by. Thanks to my knowledge about mental training I managed to fight against the pain. Since then I’ve got three more back injuries and I have lived with chronic pain for 28 years to date. Thanks to my back injuries, I got interested in the human body and our brain so I studied to massage therapist and mental coach. I wanted to help other people to handle their pain and teach them how to use the brain to set and reach their goals. My injuries gave me my dream job! Anything is possible or nothing is impossible? Have you heard the expression ”Nothing is impossible”. It’s not a very good sentence. Why? Because ”nothing” and ”impossible” are both negative words. Your brain will recognize these words as negative and simply don’t get the wanted positive effect. If you say: ”Everything is possible” (positive words) your brain will act to it as a positive mindset. The brain acts differently to negative and positive words along with your actions. If you keep feeding your brain with negative statements about yourself, you will soon believe that those sentences are true, for example: - ”I’m not good enough!” - ”I can’t do this!” - ”I will never be able to reach my goals!” Have you ever tried to make those sentences positive? - ”I’m good enough!” - ”I can do this!” - ”I will reach my goals because I believe in myself!” Does it feel strange to think like this about yourself? In Sweden we have something called ”Jantelagen”. Jantelagen is a code of conduct known in Nordic countries that says you shouldn’t think that you’re better than anyone else. I see this all the time with coaching clients that I work with. They feel embarrassed and think they are egoistic if they say: -”I am good enough” or -”I am the best person at this!”. Don’t be ashamed for your skills! You have worked hard and a long time to get your skills, be proud of what you can! So when you set your goals, make sure you use positive words and pictures to visualize your goals. I guess you’ve heard about the half full/half empty glass. How do you see it? Studies show that people with a positive mindset live longer and are more likely to reach their goals. Companies who sets goals are 60% more likely to reach success then the companies who don't. It’s my possible mindset and the knowledge that it’s my choice. Your choice I often get the question: - ”How can you be so happy and positive? You live with chronic pain and have been through more tough stuff than most other people.” Well, it’s my possible mindset and the knowledge that it’s my choice. I have three choices: I could lay down, 6 feet underground. Then it’s over, the pain would stop, but also my life. So it’s not a very tempting choice... I’m far too curious about life to do that! I could lay down on the sofa and be bitter and think about how unfair life is. Would it help the pain go away? Nope! I need movement to prevent my pain from getting worse and it still wouldn’t change the fact that I’ve got four back injuries. I can do the best of the situation, focus on what I can do instead of focusing on what I can’t do. I have always chosen nr. 3! Of course, like everyone else, I have bad days and just lay down on the sofa and feel sorry for myself. But hey, it doesn’t help me feeling better. So I quit with that quite fast, because I realize it doesn’t improve my life at all. We can’t control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we handle it. You can feel sorry for yourself about a lot of things, but when you start to realize that it’s not going to help you achieve your goals and that it’s just making you sad, angry or bitter, then it’s about time to change to a possible mindset. It’s always your choice. Because in the end, it’s not me as a coach, it’s not your family, friends or colleagues who’s responsible of your choices. It’s only you who have that power! It’s always your choice. Take it seriously, don’t blame it on others when you don’t achieve what you want. You are the leader of yourself and when you can lead yourself, it will be easier for you to lead other people. Which choices do you do for yourself? How does your choices improve or impair your daily life? Possible leadership Are you a possible leader or are you an impossible leader? This sentence could mean a lot of things. Are you a possible leader could mean that you might be a leader, but maybe you’ve never tried it so far. If you already are a leader it could mean that you see the possibilities in your employees and in your business growth. What about if you are an impossible leader? An impossible leader doesn’t hesitate to reject employees who comes up with new ideas and they don’t see the opportunities even when they come up on a silver tray. They see problems and difficulties in everything, except maybe their own ideas. When you start to work with your own possible mindset, you’ll find out that you can be a possible leader. When you start to lead your employees with a possible mindset you’ll get happy and proud coworkers which leads to better productivity which leads to better economy and you can see how your business get more successful than ever! Are you ready to start your journey with a possible mindset and become a possible leader? Remember, anything is possible, you just might have to do it in another way to suit you! By: Cattis Olsson Cattis Olsson is a mental coach, massage therapist and health manager. She has worked within health for about 20 years and her focus has been helping elite athletes reach their goals by mental training. Today Cattis is helping entrepreneurs and companies work with human sustainability to prevent stress and setting sustainable goals for reaching success in a long term. She is also having lectures towards medical professions about chronic pain and how they can help their patients with a possible mindset despite chronic pain.

Q&A with Aicha Gaye, Self-Love & Mindset Coach Aicha is a Self-Love & Mindset Coach, Kundaliniyoga & Meditation Teacher but most importantly a Mama. She is a former theatre actress and is still passionate about theatre and has hosted workshops where she combined improvisation theatre with meditative excersises. She is dedicated to empower women to embrace themselves with self-love and acceptance - Guiding them to find and grow the confidence and the right mindset they need to create their dream life. Aicha runs her business and coaching program online from Stockholm, Sweden with clients around the world. We caught up with her for a Q&A about fixed and growth mindset and to learn the 7 different ways to change your thought patterns. What is a fixed mindset? A fixed mindset is when one assumes that abilities and understanding are relatively fixed. Those with a fixed mindset may not believe that intelligence can be improved, or the belief that you either “have it or you don’t” when it comes to abilities and talents. Here are 3 examples of a fixed mindset thinking: "I just can't do this" "I'm not good at this" "This is too hard" What is the definition of a growth mindset? A growth mindset is “the understanding that abilities and understanding can be developed” (Mindset Works, n.d.). Those with a growth mindset believe that they can get smarter, more intelligent, and more talented through putting in time and effort. Here are 3 examples of a growth mindset thinking: "I can always improve so i'll keep trying" "I choose to learn from my mistakes" "I'll use a different strategy" What is the main difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset? The main difference between the two mindsets is the belief in the permanence of intelligence and ability; one views it as very permanent, with little to no room for change in either direction, while the other views it as more changeable, with opportunities for improvement. This difference in mindset may lead to differences in behavior as well. If someone believes intelligence and abilities are immutable traits, they are not likely to put in much effort to change their inherent intelligence and abilities. On the other hand, those who believe they can change these traits may be much more willing to put in extra time and effort to achieve more ambitious goals. With a growth mindset, individuals may achieve more than others because they are worrying less about seeming smart or talented and putting more of their energy into learning (Dweck, 2016). Can you tell us about a time when you faced an important opportunity or challenge with a fixed mindset - What were your thoughts and worries? I have plenty of challenges but I will tell you about a time when I was lacking in self-love and worth. I was working in the fashion industry for many years and absolutely hated it. "My mind was negative and I didn't believe that I could do anything about my situation" I was longing for meaningful and creative work but I was stuck. So why did I feel stuck? Because my mind was negative and I didn't believe that I could do anything about my situation. This led to anxiety and burnout and it took me some real time and effort to regain my health. 7 ways to change your thought patterns Create a new belief - with this I mean: a belief in yourself, in your own skills and abilities, and in your capacity for positive change. View failure in a different light: see failure as an opportunity to learn from your experiences. In fact, you can remove the word failure and replace it with learning. Cultivate your self-awareness: work on becoming more aware of your talents, strengths, and weaknesses; gather feedback from those who know you best and put it together for a comprehensive view of yourself. Be curious and commit to lifelong learning: try to adopt the attitude of a child. When I look at my daughter and other children I can see how they look at the world with such awe and curiosity. Embrace challenges: know that if you wish to accomplish anything, you will face many challenges on your journey; prepare yourself for facing these challenges, and for failing sometimes. Do what you love and love what you do: it’s much easier to succeed when you are passionate about what you’re doing; whether you cultivate love for what you already do or focus on doing what you already love, developing passion is so important. Be persistent: it takes a lot of hard work to succeed, but it takes even more than working hard—you must be persistent, face obstacles and getting back up after each time you fall. How can you learn to hear your fixed mindset voice? Pay attention to the voice that pops up when you face new challenges. This is the voice of your fixed mindset, and it likely only has negative things to say about you and your abilities. Fixed mindset voice might say something like “You really think you can do it?” or “This is too difficult for you, just give up and do something else!”