Written by: Rita Hurry, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. So what is this, and how can it help you be more productive and successful in life? Well, let’s dive deeper! The Awe Mindset is one of the seven mindsets of Flow. Flow is a scientific evidence-based concept that enables an individual to tap into that unlimited human potential of oneness in who they are and what they are doing, whilst gaining the ability to release negative thought patterns and therefore, gain the experience of being more productive and fulfilled in life both personally and professionally. Awe Mindset triggers the initial zest for life. All too often, many struggle to keep going, and especially during these times of uncertainty and anxiety, it can be so easy to lose the motivation and momentum in what you are doing and feel disheartened by the routine of life. This is where adopting the Awe Mindset comes in. When you adopt the Awe Mindset, you are looking at life as: “Looking through the eyes of a child.”, which means each experience you are going into, you adopt that fresh and new approach as if you have never seen this before, and it’s an entirely new experience. Now, this might sound crazy, especially when you find yourself doing the same routine over and over again. Still, when you change your perspective on life and experiences, you see the outcome changes. That once mundane outlook suddenly brightens up, and the excitement comes back into play. Children have a great ability to bring new energy to things they do each and every day. Even if they are playing with the same toys every day, don’t you notice how they look at the toy with a new excitement and continue finding new ways to play with the toy that keeps them focused for a while? This is the same as adopting the Awe Mindset. By seeing everyday experiences as new, you are allowing your mind to expand and reach out for new possibilities, which you probably may not have noticed before. You are allowing yourself to see the wonder of possibilities and hopes and dreams that can be fulfilled when you take a fresh approach to life. Each new day is a blessing and just being aware of the existence of your life on earth should fill you up with the energy to start each day with new energy. This energy becomes more vibrant as you begin to adopt the Awe Mindset into your daily life. Imagine seeing each new day as a fresh start. The old has gone, and the new day is filled with the energy of new exciting experiences that you can focus on and enjoy…how does that feel?Awe Mindset provides the basic energy needed to sustain this level of flow and leaves you feeling back in control and ready for action. Give it a go and notice how things change around you. I am sure you will find a new appreciation for life and loved ones. Visit me on my Facebook , Instagram , Podcast and Website ! Rita Hurry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rita´s mission is to help individuals in the Creative Arts, Media, Music and Film Industry, believe in their dreams and never give up on making them come true. Making the impossible - I'm Possible. She began Life Coaching in 2003 and has never looked back since. She is a great believer in Personal Development and Mindfulness work, whether it is practically or spiritually. Rita is a Subject Matter Expert in Law of Attraction & Flow Coaching, Mindfulness & Meditation, Business as well as Nirvana Fitness and Energy Healing. She was was awarded Best Law Of Attraction Coach in 2015. She has coached many clients across different professions. For example, CEOs and Entrepreneurs; Casting Agents; Actors; Singers; Musicians; Authors; Artists; DJs; and so many more across the globe and nationwide, including those working in the education industry. She currently is the co-founder of RIME Entertainment and co-hosts and co-produces an online Interview Show called RIME Entertainment Showcase where she and her co-host interview people from all over the globe who have overcome hurdles in life and are now fulfilling and living their dream.

Written by: Amanda Cottrell, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. To send kids to school or not! That is the question that so many parents, policymakers and teachers are grappling with right now. While some places in the world are sending their children back to school, others start off the year with an online platform. Regardless of how school starts up this year; parents, teachers, policymakers and students are in a unique position that we have never been through before. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much panic and anxiety across the globe on a scale that we have never experienced in our lifetime. I am a teacher, I have been teaching for 14 plus years, and this is by far the most confusing return to school that I have ever experienced in my career. I am more anxious and confused about this year than any of my previous years combined, including my very first year, and trust me, I don’t know how I survived the first few years of teaching. The first few years were like wandering around in a dark cave with no light just trying to survive. Each day I just hoped I got through to at least one kid while at the same time trying not to lose my mind with how completely overwhelmed and underprepared I was for the reality of teaching. Those feelings are definitely surfacing amongst the confusion and stress of this years return to school. As a teacher, the start-up of school is always an exciting time. Time to prep your room, get ready for the kids smiling faces, buy a new first day of school outfit, a new planner and take fun first day of school pictures with my daughter. I always look forward to it and am always ready to embrace my career after some much-needed rest over the summer. Yet this year, I am not excited to go back. I am nervous and confused. I want to see my students and give them a big high five as they come into the school. I want to see the kids smiling faces and watch them bear hug their buddies and chase each other on the playground. I want to send my daughter back to her school and see her face light up when she sees she has a bestie in her class. This year, however, I am scared to return. Not because I am afraid of the virus and getting sick. (I am lucky my daughter and I are both very healthy individuals. I feel for those who have loved ones with compromised immune systems and understand their fears about a return to school), but because I am uneasy about what school is going to look like. I am afraid of walking into the school and the kids afraid to get near me. I am worried about kids wearing masks and not wearing masks for very different reasons. I am concerned about my daughter going to school and getting miscommunicated information about COVID and coming home even more confused and scared. Because let us be honest, adults and experts in the field cannot even agree on the best ways to combat COVID 19. I wonder how long I will have with my students and my daughter with her classmates if there is another shutdown. I am spending my summer brainstorming what I essentially need to teach to make them the most successful if we have to return to emergency online school. Because I know that in my district, we are returning to class. Other teachers and students will not have the luxury of a possible few months together to build their classroom community. I worry about the lack of funding and how we will ensure the students are sanitizing their space and hands. I wonder how they will survive the day if they do not get gym class or an actual recess to play and be kids. I worry for my students whose parents have lost their jobs due to the economy, and those whose parents or loved ones have gotten sick. I have compassion for the kids of frontline workers who have had to learn from home with parents working long hours and just happy to have a job. There is just so much unknown and uncertainty ahead that makes me anxious, nervous, worried and scared all at the same time. However, even though the fear and confusion, I choose to look at the return to school with a positive mindset. All I have control over is my own mind, and so that is where I am going to start. I have the control to look at the situation and make the best of it, whatever it may end up being. I have the power to look at this situation as an opportunity for some of the most meaningful learning our students have ever had in their lives. I choose to look at this as an opportunity for me to learn and teach differently but possibly in a more meaningful way. I choose to believe that this pandemic will force policymakers and community to recognize the importance of education and fund it properly. I choose to look at this as an opportunity for me to support my students and have an impact in a way that has never before presented itself. A space where we may focus more on supporting each other, taking time to check in on each other’s mental health, being present, and listening rather than rush to the next topic. A time where connection, compassion and empathy are more important than test scores and checking boxes on an outdated curriculum. This is why this year, more than ever before, we need to return to school in a MINDFUL, EMPATHETIC AND COMPASSIONATE WAY. Mindfulness means to live in the moment and truly be present. To live for today and not dwell in the past or worry about the future. For a teacher, that is hard because we are constantly planning ahead, thinking about how we can alter the lesson or engage a certain child, create an amazing lesson or project, or dwell in that lesson that blew up in our faces. At the start of every year, I focus on building a compassionate classroom community. These skills are more important now than ever. Being empathetic means to understand how another may be feeling even if you have never been in that situation. Last fall, I actually published a children’s book on being empathetic because I noticed how increasingly important understanding this concept is for children. While some kids may have been affected by the pandemic, others may not have been as affected. “We are all in the same storm, but not on the same ship. (Author unknown)” - this is something we really need to teach this generation. While everyone has been affected by the pandemic we have not all had the same experience. Children are much better at living in the present. They embrace the day and live for the moment. They are not as scared to try new things or worry about the future the way adults do. There is a spark in children that is so empowering that I really hope that we don’t squash in our own adult anxieties over returning to school amongst the unknowns of COVID-19. One thing for sure is that this is an exciting time for education. Instead of asking the question, “should I send my kid to school or not this year.” Maybe ask at this moment what is best for my family and child. What is the most healthy option that I can choose at this given moment in time and space? I know the reason I teach is about connection, empowering the next generation and sparking passion in children. I know that for the vast majority of my colleagues, that is why they teach too. We do not get to make the rules or decide how the school is going to look this year, so I ask from the bottom of my heart to be mindful when sending your kids back to school. Your child’s teacher is there because they have a passion for teaching and learning and they are doing the very best they can with what they have. To have a mindful return to school, we need to catch ourselves when we get overwhelmed by our fears and anxieties and reframe our mindset. How will this experience make us all more resilient, empowered, and compassionate individuals? May the next generation embrace how we worked together for the best of everyone during this very uncertain time and be proud of how we lifted each other up and powered through the uncertainty. I wish you all a mindful return to school, take one day at a time, YOU GOT THIS! Follow Amanda on Facebook, Instagram and visit her website for more info! Read more from Amanda! Amanda Cottrell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Believe! Create! Inspire! Amanda Marie Cottrell is a woman who wears many hats with a B.A in Political Science, B.Ed in elementary education, M.Ed specializing in creativity and technology, Reiki master, yoga for young children instructor, artist, mom, author, illustrator and teacher. She also runs an arts-based business teaching art and mindfulness workshops. As an educator of young children for over 14 years, Amanda’s passion is education and creativity. She believes that everyone has creative capacities. Her mission is to empower people through tapping into their own unique creative gifts through connection and mindfulness. Namaste!

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. Sometimes we find ourselves faced with difficult choices. I see people stuck with their decisions that they've made, and they feel like they have to live with it their entire life. So I'd like to challenge you, choose not to become your wrong decisions. But what does it mean by "Becoming Your Wrong Decisions?¨ I see people living their whole life; the decisions that they made for themselves were wrong. For example, they think that in order to get a quality lifestyle, they need to: go to College, spend four years to get a bachelor's degree just to find out later they have no interest in the subject. So. you can choose to stay there and make everybody's life miserable around you by not enjoying your work. or you can say: - "I made the wrong decision and will change my subject by going to College again and choosing to have a career in a different profession or maybe practice that profession as a volunteer first to see if that's what you want." Many people think that they need to have a University education to get a good job. Still, you know what this is - back to networking, just like we talk about in our program. If you like or are interested in any profession that you want to practice, reach out to those professionals, and find out what they love about their profession and what they hate. Try to get to know all the pros and cons. One of the best things you can do in this case is to take advice from people you admire. But you don't have to completely follow their path but take the part of the advice that resonates with you. So, I give you a challenge this week. When in your life, did you made the wrong decisions, and how can you fix it now? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and visit my website for more information! Read more from Edna! 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.

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. I read a book called:” How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere”. The book is written by Larry King-The Master of Communication- with Bill Gilbert. Since then, my life has changed. I don’t know what has exactly happened, all I know is that I started to talk to anyone, anytime, anywhere. I started to initiate effective communication with people, full of confidence. I started to relate to people and to enjoy quality time with them - even if it is virtual. I even felt at ease and comfortable at leading profound talks with them. From that point, I decided to take my communication skills to the next level. I know I had the foundation, which is the love and passion for connecting with others. Not only that, but I also find it as an opportunity and a pleasure. My decision was to jump bare feet, and with the Quarantine , the current COVID-19 Circumstances and the new way of doing business, I launched my own YouTube Channel and released the first 15 Episodes of “ The Happiness-Club” over a period of 4 months, and it was a great success. Every week I hosted an International Author whereby we brainstorm about his/her book. The idea was to get more information, knowledge and insights first hand from the Authors. To best describe it, it was a Thinkers Debate. I ended up hosting 15 different Authors, with 15 different books and 15 different topics. Now I can claim confidently that the Show contributed with beneficial, valuable and profound content to the world of Growth, Self-Development and Happiness. We talked about Well-Being, Health, Fitness, Self-Discovery, Decluttering of the Mind, Unlearning and relearning, modern Etiquette, and the importance of Culture on both personal and organizational level. All these in an attempt to unleash and discover Happiness as a way of living. To find Happiness at the Workplace, in Leadership and most importantly, to ease the situation during the pandemic in most aspects of life, especially when it comes to modern job-finding. A FINAL WORD Exchanging communication will always remain part of our humanity, we grow by interactions, we develop by conversations, and we flourish by discussions. We make remarks, we have our own observations thus we exchange ideas and insights. If there is one thing I can complete with, there is always space to improve your conversation skills, just keep on practicing! 5 Tips to Lead a Successful Communication: Know your Guest: The more you get to know your guest, the more comfortable and familiar you will feel towards hosting him/her, and the more at ease the flow of the conversation will be. Preparation: Preparation is key, the more you prepare for the topic and the show, the more successful the discussion will be. Read a lot, gather as much information on the subject matter, rehearse at home in front of the camera or to someone in your family and get ready mentally and physically because it takes a lot of energy and getting ready puts you already in a good mood. Keep it Simple: The simpler you are, the more comfortable will your guest and your audience, be and the most likely they will both enjoy the talk and your presence. Show concern , sympathy and enthusiasm to the other person, in order to help him give his best. Finally, be sincere and straightforward with your participant as much as you would like him to be with you. This adds a general atmosphere of trust and tranquility to the Talk. To Conclude, I am not only talking here about “The Power of a Successful Conversation”, but I am also talking about “The Power of Books”. Seeing how a book has changed the way I do things gave me the confidence to take action and become what I would like to become. My advice to you is to keep on reading books, especially Self-Help books, they have a way to grow into you and to make you realize what you would want to. All you have to do is wait and watch yourself grow and become a better, if not the best version of yourself! To download the first chapter of my book for free click here ! Subscribe to my YouTube Channel to watch the 15 Episodes of “The Happiness Club” To place order for the “Lasting Happiness Webinar” click here ! To learn more about Hoda and Happiness, follow her on Facebook , Instagram and visit her website . Read more from Hoda Elsobky! 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: Juliette Stapleton, 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. Nope. This is not an article where I will talk about how important it is to be visible. If you decided to read this, it tells me you already know that without being seen, getting more clients becomes simply impossible. In the next couple of minutes that you will spend reading this, I actually want to talk about how hard it is to create a solid visibility routine and have enough discipline to stick to it. The recipe for success is quite simple. I talk and write about it a lot: 1. Get SOCIAL: engage and create content that engages, entertains and educates. All in good measure, or you can come across either boring or annoying. Treat people just like you do in the offline world when you are talking and networking with potential clients and partners. Give and you shall be re-given! 2. Focus on publicity to elevate the authority and create a first impression that positions (and pre-sells) your expertise for you. This makes getting clients who pay what you are worth [and do what it takes] much easier! The hard part is not knowing what to do. The HARDEST part, if you are a solopreneur and especially if you work from home, is to DO IT. Most people start their own businesses because they dream of spending more time with their family, and they think working from home will help them achieve it. Unfortunately, working from home is the hardest situation to find yourself in. It will require you to be at your best behavior at all times if you want to succeed. You see, for you (and me) there is no scary boss to please or delivery to. There will be no consequences, no angry conversations, no thread to be fired if we do not deliver something we set out to do on time. In fact, it is easy to just put the task off to the time when we will “feel like it“. WE ARE our own bosses, so we tend to let us get away with murder. Well, we do not actually murder anyone... except for our own dreams! Because every time we let ourselves off the hook and allow us to postpone what had to be done today - we are postponing the rewards too. We essentially make a decision to attract no money, no recognition, no that wonderful feeling of fulfillment. It doesn’t feel like it, our mind serves us a platter of excuses: wrong energy, something else needs doing right now (often much less important in the wrong run). We keep ourselves busy with nonsensical busy work, instead of getting stuck into what can benefit our visibility, our authority, our businesses and as a result everything in our lives. I am saying we, because I have to deal with the same dilemma every day of my life. I have to force myself into time-blocking, creating lists and prioritising tasks. I have to make critical decisions on which tasks are not essential, say no to commitments that no longer fit my schedule, reach out and follow up on people who I believe need my help or can contribute to my growth. And this is outside serving my existing clients - the core of my business. I understand and feel the frustration and the pressure being an entrepreneur and wanting to have life on your terms puts on us day after day. But nothing happens without an intentional effort put into it consistently. And therefore, when it comes to online visibility - marketing your business, growing and building relationships with your audience, working on creating collaboration opportunities that can elevate your status and leverage your efforts - having the discipline to hold yourself accountable is the most valuable skill that will guarantee your success. So let’s just pause for a second and ask yourself: “Am I taking my marketing seriously? Am I doing everything it takes to be seen, and to be perceived as someone worth following? Someone with an unignorable brand? Someone who shows the way that inspires confidence, someone who can transform the way others see themselves, dream bigger, claim their worth?” This is the question I ask myself every day. It is the question that helps me tap into my WHY, my bigger vision, and fuels my ability to stick to my plan of action no matter what. This is why I want to share it with you today - because your WHY is why you started your business in the first place. It’s time to honor it with consistent action, patience and trust. Focusing on your visibility as an expert creates magic both in your business and your life through feeling accomplished and finally free! Believe me when I say, you will have so much more free time if you just do it! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter Juliette Stapleton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Juliette Stapleton is a Visibility That Sells strategist, host of the Show Up! Stand Out! podcast, and a thought-leader on a mission to help experts, coaches, and service providers build an online presence that positions them as the authority in their niche. Juliette has helped thousands of students and clients from more than 30 countries reach millions and make millions with EASE. She is known for her V.A.L.U.E. visibility system, a simple, but powerful strategy based on showing up with integrity and creating a ripple effect of influence through personal connection and thought-leadership. Juliette has been featured in Forbes and several major business and marketing podcasts, like 365Driven, Rising Tide, iHeart Radio, and Confident Live. She is an active contributor to world-leading online publications, such as Influencive and Addicted2Success, Thrive Global, and many more. Find out more about the VISIBILITY THAT SELLS at: https://juliettestapleton.com/

Written by: Maria-Paz Hornisch, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I worked in customer analytics in both finance and e-commerce companies for twelve years, so I can tell you a thing or two about the benefits and importance of analyzing customer data. If you have an online shop with different product categories and are trying to increase your sales, avoid trying to do what most online shops do (and even some big ones!): selling everything to everyone. There is so much pressure, especially in these times, to offer all the products to all the customers for equal, sending millions of discount codes to all newsletter subscribers or website visitors, trying to increase sales, while NOT listening to your customers' needs or behavior in your shop. I've seen so many online shops not having a consistent and smart strategy, and that has led them to very bad results. Customer analytics are crucial to a company. A business needs to know their customers in order to understand what to offer them. If you sell everything to everyone and/or offer too much discount or too many voucher codes constantly, then in the long term you’ll end up exhausted feeling that no strategy works and with a brand that might lose its value. Instead of selling everything to everyone, I recommend you try this instead: 1. Study your customers' behavior: you can learn a lot from customers' past purchases or visits to other products in your shop. For example, take a look on what they have in their shopping cart and haven't purchased yet, how many days they have had those products on the shopping cart, what kind of products they have in their wishlist, which categories they browse or buy the most, how did they arrive to your online shop or product page, etc. As you can see, many analyses can be done, and each of them will lead you to an insight that will provide a lot of information to be used in your strategy. 2. See which of your customers are seasonal buyers (only buying on Christmas or special dates) and separate them from your regular offers. When you start analyzing your customers’ data, you might find people who buy in your shop a couple of times a year and always around the same dates. These are called Seasonal Buyers, and when you start finding them, you’ll find the most interesting trends. Some of them buy on certain holidays (Christmas, Easter, Black Friday, etc) while others buy due to a special discount or offer launched by the shop at a certain time of the year. If you find your seasonal buyers, get them aside from your regular customers and target them in the way it works for them the most. There might be customers who react better to Black Friday offers rather than discounts on a random day of the year. 3. Check when was the last time your clients purchased, and focus on those who haven't purchased in a more extended period of time (e.g., 3 to 6 months): if they are not seasonal buyers, there might be a chance you can still get them to buy again from you, by sending them product recommendations, new products in store, price drops on products or categories they have visited in the past, or discounts. If more than nine months have passed from their last purchase, then other strategies should be implemented. 4. Segment your clients: to improve the effectiveness of your campaigns. It’s mandatory to segment your clients. Campaigns should be directed to customers who are most likely to respond to it. For example, suppose you have a pet shop, and you have identified a segment of customers as “dog food buyers”. In that case, you should try a variety of up-sell campaigns (e.g., to encourage customers to buy a more premium or more expensive brand of dog food or dog treats) and cross-sell campaigns (e.g., to encourage customers to buy from other categories, such as dog accessories or dog care products). This approach increases short term sales and long term customer loyalty. For more info, follow Maria-Paz on Facebook ,  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  or visit her website . Read more from Maria-Paz ! Maria-Paz Hornisch, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maria-Paz Hornisch is the Business Coach & Digital Marketing Strategist behind The Digital Madl, dedicated to helping ambitious mompreneurs with branding and digital marketing strategies to create a rock-solid presence online and skyrocket sales. Maria-Paz is a bachelor in Business Administration and holds an MBA in Luxury Business from ISC Paris École de Commerce. For twelve years, she developed her career in Chile, France, and Germany, working for a Spanish multinational commercial bank and two German luxury and fashion e-commerce companies. Originally from Santiago de Chile, she now lives in Munich, Germany.

Written by: Isabel Carranza-Gervais, Guest Writer Brainz Magazine Understanding your own personality is important, but more importantly, is to be able to understand your co-workers and people you do business with. Learning how to communicate and work with different personality types can make any job easier and be more successful at it. Putting the time upfront can lead to great business relationships. Reality is that not everyone has the same personality. Introverts don’t see things the same way as extroverts. High detail-oriented people don’t communicate the same way as a salesperson. Many things come into play with someone’s personality type, from cultural upbringing, age, religion, gender, etc.   I have worked in big medical corporations for almost 18 years and in the last five years as an entrepreneur, both in the digital marketing areas and with their own set of difficulties. One thing I have learned throughout my career from dealing with colleagues, vendors, and customers, is that no matter where you work or who you work with, there are always different personality types you will encounter. Some will be difficult to navigate or some that will seem easy. Early on, I realized that in order to be successful at doing my job was to understand how to communicate with others. The sooner you understand this, the easier your job and relationships at work (and at home) will be. At the end of the day, we have to deal with people in our jobs, so we might as well develop the skills that will set us up for success.   The purpose of this article is not to outline every personality type, rather give you some quick tips on how to adapt to any situation easily. I have found that if you apply these quick three easy steps, you will be able to navigate any scenario.   If you are interested in learning about each type of personality, find a free online test - there are many to choose from. Many employers also have personality types of resources to help employees better communicate with their co-workers. Even if you think you know yourself pretty well, you would be surprised what some of these tests uncover about your traits, strengths and weaknesses, and how to relate to others on the opposite side of the spectrum as you. This being said, it is impossible to ask people you deal with on a daily basis what their “personality type” is, so you know how to deal with them. So, I take a more realistic approach based on what’s been successful for me so far.   Let me preface it by, I am not a psychologist, but I am a digital marketer, and have always been fascinated to learn and understand what makes people do or behave a certain way. After all, marketing tactics apply psychology principles to appeal to people and entice them to take action, on a banner, blog, email, etc., you get my point. Here are some tips that have worked for me during my career navigating different personality types. I try to apply them every time I collaborate with someone new (and sometimes with old relationships too – as people change) to help me assess how to better manage the business relationship and work together successfully. 1) Listen What I mean by listening is to truly pay attention to what the other person is saying, how they are expressing themselves, how they are coming across, how are they making you feel? Is the situation easy to navigate, is there resistance, conflict, or just impossible? By listening, you will discover if they are the type of people that want to get to know you, make small talk, or get right to the point. For example, people that are straight to the point (like me) can come across rude and uncaring when dealing with more sensitive types. This can be a recipe for disaster. Adjusting the tone of voice, delivery and words used can have a completely different outcome. Being mindful and navigating the conversation where both parties’ needs are met, yet still be business-focus, without being rude or omissive, will result in a more pleasant interaction. 2) Assess (before reacting): Don’t react negatively if the conversation started on the wrong foot, or on the other side overly optimistic. Stop and think about what you are going to say. It goes both ways; all the points I mentioned above. If the conversation or situation is turning to be difficult, this step is crucial to try to turn it around.   Emotional intelligence plays a big role at this point, in my opinion. Encountering aggressive/harsh personalities or someone that is hard to find common ground with, is always good to take a step back and think before responding and making the situation worse. Instead, being kind, present, and measuring the words that are coming out of your mouth to be respectful and changing the dynamic will be a more productive approach. Oftentimes by doing so, the person in the offensive will realize you are not there to fight and make the issue bigger. This being said, you do need to assess if the situation has escalated to the point where HR or a manager needs to get involved. One thing is navigating a difficult situation, and another one is being abusive and bullying. 3) Understand & Response: Instead of jumping into a quick conclusion, ask some quick non-intrusive questions to better understand where they are coming from. Perhaps they had a terrible morning, a situation at home is affecting their mood, they are overworked, or maybe they are just blunt. Whatever it is, don’t judge and try to understand the other person before responding.   Even if you have tried to redirect the conversation into a more productive and positive outcome, it is sometimes just not happening. At this point, it is good to understand why the other person is not easy to work with and step away. Perhaps you caught them in a very stressful time, and would be good to reconvene at a later time, if possible. Understanding the right time and place is important. I remember one of my first bosses saying, other people’s priority is not my priority. I always think about this when I find resistance from a colleague or a client. My advice here is to respectfully state the facts of what is needed, the urgency of the project and reiterate the importance of working together to meet the deadline. Lastly, asking them when a better time is to meet. Giving people the importance of their contributions is important, as it makes them feel part of the “team” and their work will contribute to the greater good for the company or the project at stake.   Remember, we need to learn how to relate to others mindfully, respectfully, and purposefully. We cannot alienate people out of your work life just because our personalities clash. Instead, learn how to navigate them and turn them into a positive relationship. Spending the time upfront to develop quality relationships will always be better than spending double the time trying to fix bad ones. You might be surprised that people have more things in common than what they think they do, by just understanding different personalities.   Hopefully, you find my tips on how to better understand other personality types useful. No matter what the personality is, I believe that if you apply these three steps, it will give you valuable insights on the other person and, in return, a better business relationship. Follow me on: Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn Isabel Carranza-Gervais, Guest Writer Brainz Magazine Isabel has over 20 years of experience in the digital marketing industry, with the last 17+ years working primarily in the medical field. In the last 5 years she has led a boutique digital marketing agency in San Diego, CA – Digital Marketing Integrated . Focusing on providing businesses with customized and targeted digital marketing solutions tailored to their business goals and objectives. Digital marketing solutions may include web design & development, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Vine, Periscope, etc.), inbound marketing, online marketing, ecommerce and more.

Written by: Janet Brent, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It’s no secret that old systems are crumbling. We are in an extremely unique time to dig deeper and ask ourselves how we truly want to live. What passions do we want to pursue? How can we write our story with complete intention? If we could reset our life and do exactly what we want to do, how would that change? And for those who have ever felt called to write a book, how can we LIVE it to tell the tale? As we are in a transition phase where old and new clash or coexist, the same is true for the publishing world. I may be biased, but I believe self-publishing will only gain in speed, and choosing to go past the gatekeepers of traditional publishing is an advantage for conscious entrepreneurs in the new economy who want to lead the shift to the new paradigm. 1. Self-publishing is faster than traditional publishing Whereas traditional publishing may take 2-3 years, self-publishing can take six months or less from write to publish. This means you can publish your ideas before they feel irrelevant or outdated. In Birth the Book, I help you publish as a bestselling author in 3 months. 2. Have more control with self-publishing More control of your marketing. More control of how you up-sell your book into your other offerings. More control for your freedom of expression as a sovereign being. With self-publishing, you have more control of the creative process, on the design of your book, and the people you hire for editing. 3. Get more royalties with self-publishing One of the most striking differences of having more control of your book and the publishing process with self-publishing is that you get to keep 75% of royalties. Compare that with 8-10% to start in traditional publishing. This is also because traditional publishing gives you an advance based on how many copies the publisher thinks your book will sell. Think of this as an advance against royalties. You don’t earn anything else from your book until the book sells its target amount, and THEN you activate 8-10% because all the other people who worked on your book also get a cut. If you’re thinking about publishing a book, self-publishing is a great way to get your message heard and step up as the leader you are. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read More Janet Brent, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Janet Brent is a 1 international bestselling author and book sales doula for conscious and holistic entrepreneurs who want to grow their platform and get more brand visibility. She helps clients launch solo books and multi-author book collaborations with the Birth the Book program and is passionate about helping women own their stories in their business, brand, and marketing to impact more people. She has been featured in The Guardian and loves to travel, hike, and spend time with her family.

Written by: Stephanie Martin, 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 have all at some point in our lives questioned what our purpose in life truly is. It is typical human nature to feel like you were meant for so much more. To seek out what our purpose in life is. Life is so much more meaningful when you have found and started to follow your purpose in life. There are a million different ways to find your purpose. Still, there is an ever-growing list of things that can block your path in life. When you seek your purpose in life, you must start at the beginning, where all foundations are started. 1. Your mindset is everything when you are finding your purpose. There is nothing that can stop you more than your old mindset. We pretend that it isn’t a real thing so often that we never move past our own mindset. We shut down before we every start figuring out what is actually stopping us from moving forward. When you start by changing your mindset that anything you want is possible. Your whole world will change in a matter of moments. New doors open, New people come into your life, and the shift causes your purpose to become more apparent than ever. When you change your mindset, you can truly change your world. 2. Life is ever-changing, and that can be a scary thing . Many people see change as an unnecessary and scary thing. They avoid it at all cost, pretending that to change is not a necessary action to have a life worth living. The truth is that you can not find your purpose unless you are willing to change every area of your life. Growth happens when you decide that change is not only an empowering thing, but also a very necessary fact of life. When you change even one thing in your life, it causes a change reaction for change in all areas of your life. Embracing change in life is the only way you will ever find your purpose in life. 3. You have an endless supply of knowledge right at your fingertips. There is nothing that you can’t do with a little determination and the internet. Finding your purpose has never been as easy as it is right now. Even though this year seems to have gone a little nuts with all the never-ending things going on, we can still find and follow our purpose in life even from the comfort of our homes. The best thing about living in a time where the internet can answer so many problems is that if you want to learn a new skill or change your path in life. You are just one google search away from figuring out your next step in life. To find a new book, a journal to change your life, or if you’re lucky, it can even get delivered to your inbox. Finding your purpose is so much more than just sitting around and wishing for someone to give you all the answers. You must embrace a new mindset, change the things that aren’t making you happy, and learn new skills. Even if they scare you, sometimes you just have to embrace the suck. Connect with me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Stephanie Martin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie is a driven, empowering, powerhouse. She's a Purpose and Business Coach, owning The Path Is Yours Coaching. She's a Certified Life Coach and Neuro-Linguistics Programming Master Practitioner. Her passion for helping women find and follow their dreams in life is unmatched. Stephanie is a mother of four beautiful children and wife to an active-duty soldier. Running and growing her business where ever the Military lifestyle might take her family.

Written by: Lisa Kindle, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Each of us has a creator within us. Still, many of us shut this part of ourselves away as we “grow up” and become more practical about how we spend our time, even down to our career choices. It’s a common misconception that some people are simply born creative, and others are not. I am here to challenge this sort of thinking. Think about what you most enjoyed doing as a child. What was the “one thing” you could do for hours and lose complete track of time? That’s a clue to what fills your creative fuel tank! Ways to Fuel Your Creative Soul: Keep a journal of ideas that inspire creativity and write them down when you have them. Morning Pages, a daily writing practice from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Make a special place in your home where you can work on projects. Schedule your creative time into your calendar and treat it as a priority. Embrace creativity as part of your identity and truest self. Get out in nature, explore, meditate, take photos Actively pursuing creative outlets in your daily life will reap great benefits to your personal, mental, and physical health – not to mention, work-life success and satisfaction. It’s as important as regular body movement and eating right to your overall well-being. A way I work this into my life is by taking daily walks. I love walking around the lake and discovering new areas around the town where I live. Part of the walking experience that brings me the most joy is taking photos I share with others. Here are a few recent ones from around Minnesota where I live: Benefits of Creative Practises Feel more engaged in your work or career. Find more inspiration in daily life experiences. Bring more enthusiasm to your relationships. Reduce anxiety levels. Develop the mindset of a deep thinker. Overall physical health and well-being. As a Therapeutic Art Life Coach and Creative Lifestyle Guru, I highly recommend taking time out of your day to reconnect with that place within yourself where creativity lives. By recognizing and implementing daily creative practices into your life, a great journey will unfold that is limited only by your imagination and the courage to embrace it. I invite people of all ages and walks of life to join me in experiencing the transformative power of the creative process through art-making, mindful walking and other adventures around the globe to meet up with friends and see many wondrous sites. Want to super -charge your life? Take the first step today to reconnect with your inner-creator. Remember that thing you haven’t done since you were a kid? I double-dog dare you to go out and do it again this week. Or better yet – how about today. I’d love to hear what your “one thing” is and what you did in response to this article. Share it using one of my links below: Facebook - Instagram Lisa M. Kindle, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lisa Kindle, a therapeutic art life coach and leader in building a creative community that inspires people worldwide, is dedicated to a creative lifestyle with a personable approach and an artsy twist! She now coaches one-on-one and in group settings, including retreats and workshops. With over 25 years of professional experience as a corporate designer, photographer, graphic designer, small business owner, and all-around visionary, Lisa's creative spirit shines through connecting people and ideas.

Written by: Bandana Jain, 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. From book clubs and competitions to creative writing, here are tips for leading family members on a voyage of discovery through books. These ideas are in tandem with promoting reading in line with supporting society members as they choose to stay home and abide by the physical distancing policies in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. A well-organized and indexed library A home library plays a vital role in bringing family and books together. Hence, it should be well-organized and indexed to provide all family members with easy access to knowledge. All members should be encouraged to enrich the library with new titles. An index, within a home library setting that classifies books by genre, will encourage family members to look for and pick up their favorite books easily. Book clubs and competitions The joy of reading does not end with turning the last page of a book. The love for the stories should be further enhanced through discussion. Creation of a ‘Family Book Club’ that encourages every member to read a chosen book and then discussing it together is a great idea. It is an inspiring way to encourage young kids to read independently, and to connect and bond over great books. Competitions amongst family members are also important tools to motivate the practice of reading, and to create a positive environment that enriches the reading experience. Encourage role-playing To further promote the reading habit, the inclusion of fun activities to go along with reading books. For instance, role-play of fictional characters is bound to increase the reader’s interaction with the content. An imaginative and creative interpretation of stories and novels through role-play has a key role in helping children understand the message of the story and nurtures their creativity at an early age. Use a notebook Get into the habit of taking notes and exchanging comments on the books you read. This is an effective way to expand knowledge, and share information and thoughts about that book with other readers, which may encourage them to want to read it. Read different topics Open your mind and expand your knowledge by reading up on different topics spanning culture, science, philosophy, history, and other disciplines. Reading is a journey of discovery that uncovers hidden treasures within the pages of books. Encourage children to write Children have tremendous inborn capabilities and potential, but how do you unleash this and nurture their talents? You can do so by encouraging them to write stories on their own. This will improve their creative writing skills and enable them to turn more ideas into stories. Rewarding them for their efforts is an effective way to inspire children and motivate them to work to the best of their abilities. Multi-volume book series Boost a love of reading from an early age with engaging, educational stories that can be accessed through a range of multi-volume book series. These books often carry adventurous, entertaining stories with colorful illustrations that holds the interest of the young ones. Some books also contain hidden mysteries and treasures on every page, waiting to be discovered. Setting up a reading reward chart for every member of the family is an added motivational tool to cultivate a life-long love of reading. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website Bandana Jain, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Bandana Jain is a Dubai based lifestyle and travel journalist for the past two decades. She’s also a passionate lifestyle blogger, photographer and loves pursuing modelling as a hobby. One of the aspects of her journalistic life that she thoroughly enjoys is rubbing shoulders with Bollywood celebrities. Having said this, her community journalist status ensures that she loves interacting with people from different strata of the society. She loves the limelight on stage sometimes as an anchor, whilst on other occasions as a public speaker. When she is not pursuing any of the above, you can find her shopping in Dubai’s famous malls or chilling by the beach with her favorite cup of tea. Travel is her passion, creativity her morale booster and enriching conversations are enough to give her the necessary thrust in life.

Written by: Michelle Greene Rhodes, 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. As we navigate through these incredibly stressful and uncertain times, the idea of self-care may seem insignificant. However, entrepreneurs facing high degrees of psychological distress should prioritize self-care by investing in themselves. This will allow them to recharge and ensure that they are best equipped to handle the challenges of each day as their business adapts to the evolving economic conditions. Entrepreneurism can often be lonely. Hence, it is important to seek support from a community network that gives a sense of connectedness for mental well-being. Given the state of ambiguity, it is crucial to provide emotional support by responding to the crisis with empathy and compassion. Entrepreneurs must strive to use positive coping mechanisms to combat negative emotions. They need to remind themselves to take time out of their busy schedules and put their mental health first. Self-care takes many forms, and it’s different for everyone. It can entail practicing hobbies such as gardening, drawing, cooking, bicycling, or even just taking a walk around the neighborhood. "Incorporating physical activity in our schedule has multiple health benefits." Simultaneously, it is important to have a positive mindset as individuals adapt to a new normal. Making a conscious effort to practice self-care and mindfulness is key. Meditation can help reduce anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Additionally, exercise reduces stress by balancing cortisol levels in the body and is a great way to uplift one’s mood by healthily channeling one’s energy. Incorporating physical activity in our schedule has multiple health benefits. These include improvement in blood circulation, weight management and reduced risk of chronic illnesses. Additionally, exercising the brain by reading, playing puzzles and learning vocabulary increases blood flow to the areas of the brain associated with focusing on tasks. Read more about the benefits of meditation here Maintaining a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourish the brain and protect it from oxidative stress. This can help prevent depression and cognitive impairment. Eating dark leafy vegetables, fish, nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables, while avoiding sugars and flour can be beneficial. Meanwhile, healthy sleep of an adequate duration, sleeping pattern without fragmentation and deep sleep is essential to rejuvenate the body. Practicing a bedtime routine that removes anxiety-inducing objects from the bedroom and turning off digital devices a couple of hours before sleeping may significantly improve sleep quality. Furthermore, it can be challenging to separate professional life from personal life working remotely. Hence, dedicating an office space will help to leave work behind when it is time to sign off. Meanwhile, turning off notifications on mobile devices may help prevent burnout and resist the urge to work beyond official work hours. In the long-run, these techniques can benefit individual mental health and assist entrepreneurs in overcoming challenges at work. Visit our website for more info and connect with us on LinkedIn! Read more from Michelle! Michelle Greene Rhodes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle G. Rhodes is a Corporate Wellness Consultant and is Certified in Managed Care and Licensed as a Registered Nurse. By combining her love for Managed Care/Population Health background with her innate ability to create educational programs and cost savings solutions that are uniquely designed for each employer, Michelle is sought after for her multiple successes in cost saving and exceeding targets. She has helped corporations craft wellness programs that offer definite returns on investments and assists them in meeting and exceeding their annual performance measures and goals. Michelle creates various wellness initiatives for awareness campaigns all the way to the creation of wellness culture transformations. Michelle Rhodes Media LLC is also a continuing education provider for Nurses, by the California Board of Nurses, and provide workshops for Nurses to learn continuously.