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

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

Written by: Olesya Oligradska, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I’ll be honest, I never saw myself as a business person. Growing up I was taught that I had to go to school, get good grades so that I could apply to a good school and get a stable dream job. This included being a doctor, or a lawyer, or a teacher. I had only taken one business course in my entire life and it was accounting and I quickly wrote off business because I found accounting very boring. You see, I am a people person. I love building relationships and show others how they can be part of a community. This was never highlighted when I was a child because that’s not the “typical”. However, somehow my intuitive nature led me to working with people in the exercise rehabilitation world. This brought me lots for a joy, but I knew I had a bigger purpose, and that wasn’t going to pan out if I worked one-on-one with others at a pay grade that always had a cap. I just don’t have enough hours in a day to make the type of impact I am looking to make. So, how does this story relate to the title of this post, you ask? Well, here is the thing, you have to have a certain mindset, discipline, and self-confidence to step outside what societal expectations are and into your purpose. You know the thing that keeps you up at night! The thing that keeps you going when nothing seems to be going right! The things that everyone else is telling you won’t work, but you know deep down inside that it will and are willing to get it done no matter what! That’s the power I am talking about! So now I want to share with you some of my secrets around mindset, discipline and self-confidence so that you can go out there and chase that purpose! The first lesson and the most important is that leaders are readers. If you want to be a leader in your field, you have to fill your mind with positive, inspiring, educational content that will push your mind to step outside of the normal thinking and into a creative thinking. We are all here to teach one another, and there is nothing more powerful than seeing that light bulb go off in your head. I was always a reader, but now when I read I am always asking myself, “what is this here to teach me?”. When we ask questions like that, we build confidence in our own opinion. We build confidence in our ideas, goals, and dreams. We build confidence to go out there and ask the hard questions and push through the negatives. The reality is that there will always be someone out there trying to bring you down because they are too afraid to step outside the norm and chase their dreams. You have to set an example. You never know who is watching or who will follow your lead. I truly believe that our confidence comes from asking ourselves the hard questions about what we really want to create and the impact we want to make. Following up with inspired action by going out there and learning from the ones who have already done it. As we fill our minds with new content, we start to see a pattern in how others built their success. This is where a bulletproof morning routine portion comes in. To have a successful day, we must have a winning morning. It will be different for everyone, but try to find what works for you and make changes as you go along. If you haven’t done so, I highly recommend reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. This book will get you started on creating your own Miracle Morning. I have taken some of his suggestions and came up with my own. My morning consists of meditation, gratitude journal, free writing, reading and some sort of movement before I get into my day. What will start to happen is that you will start to become empowered to start your day. You will have new ideas flowing through you like wildfire. You will find that you are communicating better with your peers. You will start to see the world in a brighter light. If you don’t have a morning routine, that is the first thing I am going to ask you to tackle once you have finished reading this post! Try not to think of it as another thing to do in your day. Think of it as the glue to your day! The last and final point I am going to leave you with is the money mindset that is required to have a thriving business. I’m sure many of us have heard this saying, hard work and hustle are always required to make lots of money. I had this mindset for a long time and guess what…I was finding myself in a burn out every 4-6 months. I think this is where my journey of personal development began. I started thinking there had to be a better way. What I know for sure now is that we get to have it all, make an impact, and stay in flow the whole time. I now know that hustle isn’t required because when we are forcing things to happen, this is when resistance shows up. We either have a meltdown, or we don’t get the sale we want. This is the reason why I became a business mentor. I want to show you that flow and ease is totally possible for you. It gets to feel easy, and you get to make the money you want. The secret is getting aligned with what you want through being confident in what you do, creating a bulletproof morning routine that will help you flow through your day, and creating an unshakable money mindset that will help you not only bring in the money you desire, but also thrive in everything you do. I have an exercise for you! Sit down and write a letter to your present self from your future person who is a higher, wiser, action-driven self. It has given me so much power to go out and chase those dreams. What would your higher self tell you? What advice does she have for you? I also like to have a conversation with my higher self during my morning meditation. I invite her to my home. I observe how she is dressed, what car she is driving, how she physically looks, how she presents herself, and what advice does she have for me. This is a powerful way to tap into your subconscious and begin the journey of embodying that future self NOW. When I come out of my mediation, my self-confidence grows. I can feel the creative juices going. At that very moment, I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Are you excited to speak to your higher self? I am going to leave you with this last thought, your reality is what you think, feel, and let yourself have. So what do you want? Until next time! Follow me on Instagram and visit my podcast on Apple or Spotify . For more information please visit my website . Olesya Oligradska, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Olesya Oligradska is an exercise rehab specialist turned business and mindset mentor. Her passion lies in helping women rewire their beliefs and reclaim their worth so they can sell and growth their business with confidence. She is on a mission to help women build a life of freedom and choice through holistic growth inside and out. She is also the host of The Soulful Selling Podcast, a platform where sales is no longer a dirty word and abundance gets to be the new norm.

Written by: 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. Is engagement your biggest social media struggle? If you feel this way, reading this may help you gain a fresh perspective and help you move towards your bigger goals. First, let’s consider your expectations when it comes to engagement on your posts. Let’s say you created a post on Facebook, what would your expectations of engagement with this post be? The truth is that every post is different and to assess how much engagement you may expect, we need to ask ourselves a series of questions: Is this a post about you? Or about them? What specifically in this post would make someone like or comment on it? Is this post something lighthearted, or does it require a deeper consideration? Is the topic polarising or “vanilla”? Let’s have a look at these questions a little closer: Is this a post about you? Or about them? Social Media is such a noisy space, and it is hard to concentrate when navigating through hundreds of posts in our feed. It will take something really interesting to break that “zombie” scrolling… but here is the thing. The most interesting topics to anyone and everyone in the world are… those that are about them. It is the most favorite topic of any human being, so if your post cannot answer the questions, “What is in it for me?” - I am likely to scroll by without actually engaging (even if I took a few seconds to read or watch some of it). The solution - make it about THEM. Open with a question. Grab their attention. Help them learn something. Make them smile. Do something that is not centered on you without turning it over to THEM. What specifically in this post would make someone like or comment on it? This is another exercise to put the “reader’s hat” on. If you were a stranger, is there anything in this post that would compel you to comment? Or at least react to your post? You really have to leave your own ego behind for this kind of analysis. But if you want engagement, you need to be strategic about triggering the response from your readers. Learning some copywriting techniques is a glorious way to write engaging posts. Or even save the posts you like and try modeling yours in a similar style to develop your own voice. Is this post something lighthearted, or does it require a deeper consideration? Remember what I said about users on social media scrolling in a “zombie” mode? This is how our brain protects us from the overload of information we are exposed to online. What it means is that we simply have less mental energy to process heavy information, so if your goal is to get engagement - post something that does not require much thinking. Therefore, engagement-focused content differs greatly from “value” posts or your marketing research posts. You see, when you ask your audience a light-hearted question, they tend to engage more. This is why photos of your pets do so well. Use it to your advantage! When your connections and followers engage with a post about your pet, they also signal the platform algorithm, indicating that your content is of interest to them. Therefore, the platform will show them more of your posts in the days to follow. When planning your content strategy I recommend always use a specific engagement booster post before any of the more important or “serious” posts, to boost the reach and visibility. Is the topic polarising or “vanilla”? There is a difference between polarising topics and controversial ones. Polarising means a firm stance, an opinion, something you believe in where you are not prepared to compromise. These are great not just for engagement (as strong opinions tend to trigger people more) but also to filter out those who will never be your ideal clients. This gives you the freedom to “release” people who disagree with who you are - and create a stronger connection with those who are aligned with you on a deeper level. Tiptoeing around the topic may also be the reason you are not attracting any clients! Define your values, what you stand for (and against) and create content around this to trigger, pre-qualify and engage your audience strategically. To summarise, your understanding of how users behave online, what do they tend to engage with and how to use it in your content strategy is key to managing your expectations and leveraging this knowledge engage with your audience. The most important piece though is that engagement is not what converts viewers into buyers – the money making is in the follow up! Build your content strategy to engage your followers with your content, but always focus on following up to nurture them deeper into your sales funnels. You can grab a copy of my Ultimate Visibility Kit here to help you get started! Find out more about Juliette's VISIBILITY THAT SELLS coaching at her website! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter Read more from Juliette: Why Now is The Best Time to Focus on Your Personal Brand How To Feel Good Livestreaming For Client Attraction 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: Dr. Adam Arnold, 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 If you’re a business owner and you’ve been in business for a while, you might be thinking there is absolutely nothing better than getting a referral. And I would agree with you. Yes, referrals are nice. But let’s face it. Even referrals can be a bit “hit and miss”. Because even though you come highly regarded, the truth is, you don’t know them, and they don’t know you (yet). And chances are, they don’t know how good your product or service is (yet). And the person that referred them into your business might be the easiest customer to work with, and the person referred might be the toughest customer you’ve ever had. So even though referrals are generally great, they can be variable. Referrals are probably the 2nd best client you want to work with. There’s one more customer type that’s even better than receiving referrals from your existing clients. The very best client you can work with is an inactive client. That is, someone who has used your product or service before, but for some reason stopped using it. You see, the reason inactive clients are better than referrals is because they already know you and your company. And you already know them. Sure, there could be exceptions. Maybe it’s an inactive client you do not want back again as a customer. Maybe your company has had a major change in the way you deliver your service or product and maybe a complete change of staff. But even with all of the exceptions, inactive clients are still better and today I want to share with you some steps you can take to get them using your product or service again! One of the great things about inactive clients is that you already know them. So you know which inactive clients you loved working with and those that well you didn’t quite enjoy working with. Your first step is to go through your inactive client database and segment them into clients you would prefer to work with. A simple way to do this is to determine what you feel makes a good client and what makes for not such a good client and rank them accordingly. Here’s an example: A Clients - you loved working with, paid on time, and referred others. B Clients - you loved working with, were easy and paid on time, but didn’t refer as often. C Clients - that were OK to work with, paid on time, but didn’t refer and required a bit more attention. D Clients - that you really didn’t enjoy working with and wouldn’t really want to work with ever again. So, you have your clients segmented. Now on to step 2—creating a system to get the clients back into your business again. The key to reactivating past clients is to keep in touch with them. If you have a business that’s already busy, then you’ll definitely want to use some automation. I suggest using a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system that incorporates the ability to have “smart” contacts. That is, it will change the automation based on how the customer interacts with emails, SMS, and other ways you are contacting them. There is nothing worse than someone receiving an email asking them to take some kind of action when they have already done so. Here are 4 keys to making sure your automation doesn’t become annoying. 1. Build value in your communication. When you’re sending out a communication to your inactive clients, don’t make every SMS, email, and call self-promotion. Make it about them and give them something they will truly value and help them. 2. Run an email and Facebook Ad focus group. Most people are probably familiar with in-person focus groups where you gather a bunch of clients or potential clients into a room and ask them questions. In our company, we run client focus groups online. We do this with Facebook ads targeting people who would be their ideal customers. We also do this with emails to their current and past clients. We generally ask them 5 simple questions related to the product or service we are marketing. 3. Update them on any changes in your business and even include some personal information from time to time to keep “connected”. Your company updates could be your upcoming events, training you and your company are undergoing, new equipment, or a fundraiser. There are hundreds of ideas you can come up with to share information with current and past clients. 4. Of course, you should also let past customers know about special offers and even a “welcome back” offer that’s just for them. The key with the offer is it needs to be relevant to them. You also want to mix up offers with the other examples above. As you can see, keeping in contact with your past clients is important and remember, keeping your clients is always the best option, it costs a lot less to keep clients than it does to get new clients. Create your reactivation system if you do not have one. If you do, try running a customer focus email and see if there is anything you can do to preserve customer loyalty or restore past clients. I would like to leave you with this quote: "Good customer service costs less than bad customer service." - Sally Gronow Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit our website for more info! Dr. Adam Arnold, Executive Contributor Brainz Magzine Adam Arnold is the head digital marketing strategist at Web Profit Maxmiser and he helps companies and businesses solve the customer acquisition, conversion and retention problems. After spending 20 years running businesses, studying human buying psychology and finding out what it takes to really make a business exponentially grow. Dr. Arnold knows how to deeply connect with your customers so you create raving fans for life. Along the way, Dr. Arnold has the good fortune of being a best selling author, speaker, mentor and had opportunities to work with some of the worlds top elite business owners, marketers and coaches. When he’s not focused on marketing strategy, you’ll probably find him in the garden cursing at the weeds.

Written by: Stephanie Pye, 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 want our business to grow, our brand to grow, and ultimately to monetize social media. That’s why we use it, isn’t it? To grow our brand, our business and make sales? If this is you, read on to have thriving socials that work with your brand, not against it. Number 1 - Using Social Media as a User /Consumer, Not a Creator This means the time you spend on social media, you’re spending with no purpose, no structure, and you’re taking in more than you are creating. You find yourself 20 minutes in, with no new leads and no one to talk to, if you do have people to talk to, they’re probably friends and have no hope of becoming clients. It’s time to flip the switch, when you’re on Social Media for your business, treat it like that, and focus on the activities that move the needle. Number 2 - Engaging with The Wrong Accounts The accounts you have been engaging with are your friends, you watch your friend’s stories, high-end celebrity stories and other accounts that will never be your clients. You like their pictures, answer the polls on their stories and send them some emojis. This is great for maintaining relationships, but is it really moving the needle in your business? If you want to grow, set aside 20-30 minutes per day to find and engage with new accounts and prospects. Comment on their content, real, genuine comments, as if you were having a conversation in real life. Number 3 - Not Sending Connection Messages When you connect with someone online, whether it is Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, it is important to acknowledge the connection and start building the relationship. This is a missed opportunity to show the algorithm and the social platform that you and this person have a connection, (then when you add content, they’ll see it on their homepage)and it is a missed opportunity to get to know the person and start building your network. Number 4 - Using Connection Messages to Sell This immediately gets the other person feeling slightly uncomfortable and used. This is not the way to build a relationship and can turn a deal sour before it even begins. Connection messages are for exactly that, connecting with the other person. Not to sell or talk about yourself. Number 5 – Content Based Around What You Can Do, Not What You Can Do for Your Customer Flip the switch, the sooner I realized that no one actually cared about me; they only cared about what I can do for them, my business grew. When my audience view any of my content on Instagram, it is all based around adding value and what I can do for them. People do not by products or services anymore, they buy on emotions, and they buy the transformation. They buy the dream of what your service can do for them and their life. Number 6 – Not Having Optimized And Well Aligned Profiles If you want others to connect with you, follow your pages and engage with your content, your profiles need to be clear, concise, and aligned throughout all the social platforms. A clear message, vision, with the same branding and colours. This helps your ideal clients see and recognize your content everywhere they go. At an absolute minimum, a clear, front on picture of you, your message, your company, and your website. Take the time to make sure all your profiles are set up to put yourself and your company in the best light. As a business, these are your resume. Number 7 – Trying to Sell in Every Post You Do on Social Media Our audience does not want to be sold to in every post, and if the only content you put out is about sales, you’re probably going to lose connections, get unfollowed, and seen as spam. This is not what we want. There is a time and a place to sell, however, not all the time. As a general rule, add value first, then have a Call to Action (CTA) at the end, but not every post! Give more than you take. As Zig Ziglar says, “ If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll eventually get what you want. ” Number 8 – Not Having Your Ideal Client in Mind When Creating Content There are 3 content pillars I like to follow and suggest to all my clients to follow when it comes to creating content and these are to Educate, Entertain and Inspire. Firstly, think about why you follow and connect with certain people, then think about how you feel after you read their content. We want to ensure our audience feels the same. 70% of all content I put out on social media consists of me educating my audience on my expertise and adding massive value. Then there is 10% Entertaining content (in line with what my avatar finds entertaining) and the same with Inspiring. That leaves 10% of content about who I am, my values and a little about my life. I have my Avatar (Sally) in mind every time I create a piece on content. When I am creating I think to myself, will this educate Sally, with this entertain her, or will this Inspire her. You want to take your audience through the know, like and trust process and build your network. Remember, not everyone is ready to buy right now, but you want to be the person they think of when they are. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website ! Stephanie Pye, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Pye is an Internationally sought after Time Management and Instagram Coach, with a passion for helping women in business, particularly mums become more productive, more profitable and monetise Social Media. She teaches them, they too, can have it all. As a mum of young children herself, she knows the importance of adaptive planning, a strong why, a strong vision and to focus her daily activities on getting her closer to the vision. She has helped women all over the world gain clarity, balance and become more productive in their business.

Written by: Kelly Berger, 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 While these have been, and continue to be, trying times for our businesses and our personal lives, we are seeing a change now, and there is still more to come. We have and continue to face adversity and strive to push ourselves and our businesses to continue to operate. Unfortunately, many businesses will not survive this period, others will thrive, and new industries will be born. I have often spoken to my clients about cashflows, budgets, crisis plans, financial buffers and so much more. My clients and many other business owners are starting to realize how important these things are to do regularly, and that is because of this major disruptive event. They now need these reports for a variety of reasons from bank loan requirements but also to see where they are in their business financially and can they survive this or do they need assistance to do so. Crisis plans will now be put in place to deal with these events, so we have some continuity in our business. Financial buffers to be created – we now understand the reason why we need to have savings built up in the bank instead of living sale to sale within our business. Or living paycheck to paycheck from our employment. Flexible working from home options will now be made readily available when they were not available before. Because now we have the infrastructure in place to operate like this. This could mean less of a need for physical premises for our staff. People will begin to shop for local manufacturers as we have been somewhat cut off from the rest of the world. Some businesses will now have to rely on local suppliers to keep their products in supply. New manufacturing begins as people are now in demand for local products they cannot get from overseas. They are finding they either have to create it themselves or find someone who can – this creates new business opportunities. Budgeting will be taken seriously by both business and personal as we have now managed to live without going out for food (mostly takeaway) or entertainment so we can see how much money we have saved. The other side is jobs have been lost, and we are now counting every penny making us aware we now need to budget and only buy what we need and not necessarily what we want. IT-systems will be improved – as we have seen many IT-systems have not been able to cope with the change in circumstances such as working from home and having appropriate secure access to all information required to work effectively. Internet connectivity will become a top priority – governments are now spending money to increase NBN capability so that we have a stable internet platform to work securely and continuously from. Our need for human interaction, especially with friends and family, will increase due to the isolation that we have had to endure to stop the spread of the virus. We will hopefully find more compassion, forgiveness and love out of all of this. We will find a great appreciation of our emergency services and essential workers who have put themselves at risk for the greater community. We now have a sense of community helping our neighbors, going for a walk acknowledging your neighbors. We will celebrate our freedom. With so many rules and regulations thrust upon us in such a short time we can only hope when they are lifted that we celebrate our freedoms. Of course be it a slow progression back to a regular society but enjoy the fact we can leave our homes when we like to go see those that matter to us, to go and enjoy the outdoors and what nature has given us, to support our local businesses to get back on their feet, to work within our community more to help those most affected. Our environment also says thank you! Using our cars less has had a significant impact on our pollution levels. The lack of factories working has also given our environment a break from toxins usually put out in the air. Our roads will last a little longer due to the lack of heavy traffic on them and so many other wonderful things. We are stronger than we believe and can survive more then we thought. Now is the time to get our marketing done, to get business flowing again and to get back on top in our business. Visit my website for more info! Kelly Berger, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kelly is the Principal Director of Business Simplicity which began in 2011.  Kelly is a Management Accountant and Registered BAS Agent, with over 10 years bookkeeping and business management experience.  She also trains others in the use of MYOB Accountright, Essentials, Xero and Quickbooks Online. She loves working with new clients to repair accounting software files and also working with our clients on all things business management from cashflow, budgeting to software implementation to  improving efficiencies. Kelly just does not stop! She loves a coffee and is passionate about helping people, in any way she can.  She runs 4 businesses of her own, 2 of which with her husband Glen, a trucking business with two tandem tippers and also a car restoration business from her factory office in Epping.  Her other business is called Bookkeepers Support Group, she helps other Bookkeepers across Australia, NZ and USA, running training sessions and group retreats.  Her vision knows no bounds.  She has 2 children that she is very proud of.  She enjoys a good car trip out of town and anything health, wellness related. MYOB Bookkeeping Partner.  Cert 3 and 4 and Diploma in Bookkeeping.  Graduate Certificate 3 and Diploma in Business Administration.

Written by: Nicola Blackstock, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In a world that staple in my daily routine, but especially before meetings, interviews and speaking engagements, it will help calm the mind and slow the breathing. You will come across much more relaxed and approachable. Now for those of you who are meditation nay-sayers listening to some spa music, taking some deep breaths, and clearing your mind also counts! Try it and thank me later! As superficial as it may sound, you’re image is everything in the world of entrepreneurship. No matter what you are trying to sell, your consumer will look up to you as an expert, and your appearance will help you to stand out against competitors and represent your brand in the best light. Taking the time to look after your skin and present yourself as a business expert in your niche will be rewarded in so many ways and help you stand out against the masses. It has so many benefits to your business and wellbeing as if you look good, you will feel greater and be in the finest state of mind to excel in your interviews or meetings. Not to mention looking younger for longer and preventing any blemishes or redness, plus, plus, treble plus! Preparation is key ; think about what market you are in and what you would like to attract from your meetings, podcasts, interviews. Write down your goals, this could be anything from bagging that big business investment to the promotion you have always dreamed of. Writing it down will keep you focused and help you to believe that taking action towards your goal will help you to manifest it. Using notes throughout the virtual event will also help you to get in your key points and figures, but remember to glance at these and don’t let them derail you from keeping eye contact. Research any companies or individuals you are speaking to. This is especially so if this is a new venture: folks really love hearing about how great their businesses are doing and that you are up to date on the latest news and events . Set a reminder on your phone the day before and a few hours before your meeting to remind you to prepare for it. Start to think about outfit choices and hair and makeup; if you look thrown together, the business prospects/colleagues will pick up on that and lose confidence in you and your business. If you’re a male, don’t worry so much about the makeup part but also be aware that a little concealer goes a long way especially on virtual events, oh and might I add everyone is using it! Lighting is a biggie here, especially for our virtual events. I would strongly recommend finding the best lighting in your home by taking your phone on selfie mode and walk around until you find the best light. This will almost certainly be in front of a window and never face your back to a window as you will come across dark, have shadows in the filming and could even show up fine lines, pores and can appear to make under eyes look darker (and who needs this, right?). Also, check that the laptop/phone is positioned slightly above your eye-level and remember to look straight into the camera and not at your own picture. Duh ! Meditation is a staple in my daily routine, but especially before meetings, interviews and speaking-engagements, it will help calm the mind and slow the breathing. You will come across much more relaxed and approachable. Now for those of you who are meditation nay-sayers listening to some spa music, taking some deep breaths, and clearing your mind also counts! Try it and thank me later! Quick Hair and Makeup tips to Show up and Stand Out! Ready Steady Go in 15 minutes or less! I am fully aware the longer our stylists are on lockdown, the more disheveled we become, so here is a quick guide to looking and feeling polished. No time to wash your hair? No problem: simply spray some dry shampoo onto your roots or alternatively dust it. If you are really running low, a little bit of talc can help soak up root-oils, but be careful not to use too much as you don’t want to look like lockdown has given you grey hairs. Backcomb the roots and use a clean/new rolled up sock to create a hair doughnut if you don’t have one. Roll the hair around it and pin with Kirby’s. Finish with hair spray and shine spray. This will give you a professional-looking volumized bun in less than 5 minutes. For the males out there, that haven’t shaved all their hair off - spritz some water in your hair and use your favorite styling product to add some texture. Keep your skin moisturized, brush through your groomed brows and add a few dots of concealer if you need some undereye coverage. So, we can skip the hair-wash part and have gained so much extra time to prepare for our meeting, but taking time to cleanse, tone, and moisturize your face will be beneficial today but in the years to come. I strongly recommend a good facial routine for your skin type. Now your face is prepped for makeup. The first step is to prime. We at Nik Makeup Artist always say ‘it’s a crime not to prime’, and the reason for this is that it puts a barrier between your face and makeup, giving the foundation a base to adhere evenly too. It will help the longevity of your makeup and give you less chance of your foundation oxidizing, so no embarrassing colour changes in front of your peers. Now, if your not a huge makeup wearer, you can skip the next few steps as If in the office you don’t wear makeup at all showing up on a video conference with full-on makeup might be out of everyone’s comfort zone. The primer alone with help to shrink pores, reduce fine lines and even complexion . Groom, pencil or fill in your eyebrows with your go-to product start at the arch on the outside and gradually fill in the rest working back to front. Brush out when finished for a really natural defined look . Either use eyeshadow, concealer or eye primer (eye primer will work the same way as the face primer does) whatever you are most comfortable with. Finish with a light line as close to your eye socket and blend out with a thin brush for a lightly defined, not overdramatic eye look. Always finish with mascara even if you’re the non-makeup type. You could try clear or brown mascara to help enhance your eyes. Time to go to grab your favorite foundation for your skin type and use a brush to apply in a downwards motion starting at the center of the face and buffing out. Powder all over to help reduce shine and use a three motion with bronzer or contour shade to define your cheekbones, then add your favorite blush or dot some lippy on your cheeks and blend in for a dewy look. Highlight above your cheekbones with powder or liquid highlighter and dot some into the tear duct of your eye to open the eyes even more. No one will ever know you had a late night now! Line the lips with a lip pencil the same shade or shade darker than your chosen lipstick colour (try to make sure its similar to your blush choice), then pop on your lippy and finish with a spritz of setting spray. Now you’re ready to Show up and Stand Out without taking a full day to pull yourself together! For product recommendations and an in-depth step by step guide to a natural makeup look check out my blog Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more information! Nicola Blackstock, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nicola Blackstock, CEO of Nik Makeup Artist, is an Author, lecturer, multi-award-winning makeup-artist, beauty expert, stylist and creative director. Her work has been featured in numerous magazine publications worldwide and she has a passion for teaching and passing on her skills to others. In 2020 she is launching her new Pro brush line, book, and accredited makeup courses to help women and men worldwide understand how to use the correct tools for makeup applications. Whether you're a complete novice or a makeup maestro, Nik Makeup Artist has a course and mentorship membership program suited to anyone looking to succeed and excel in the beauty industry. Nik Makeup Artist has created an offer for our readers and can offer an online coaching consultation worth £55. Simply email to redeem.

Maria-Paz is a digital marketing strategist. She has a heart that beats a little extra for moms trying to become entrepreneurs, or as Maria-Paz calls them - mompreneurs. Read the full interview with the passionated founder of The Digital Madl! Hi Maria-Paz! Could you introduce yourself a little bit to our readers? - I am originally from Santiago de Chile but living since 2014 in Munich, Germany, after living in Paris and Berlin. Following 12 years of corporate experience, in early 2020, I founded an online marketing agency called "The Digital Madl", where I help mompreneurs with branding and digital marketing strategies to have a rock-solid online presence and skyrocket their sales. You can find me having some walks or bike rides along the Isar, enjoying long walks with my Bavarian husband and my 1 1/2-year-old son in the Bavarian alps, or enjoying some lunch or happy hours in Munich's city center with friends. You've said that the idea of starting your own business came during your maternity leave. Did you finally have the time to reflect on what you wanted to do in life? - Yes, the idea of starting my own business came during my maternity leave, but it was kind of an unplanned decision. I had a stable job, but during maternity leave, the company went bankrupt, so I had to work on a plan B. I started looking for jobs, but nothing was filling my expectations. Then, it finally came to me that I needed to stop looking for a job and start creating my own business. A business where I could do the things I loved, have 100% time flexibility, and be able to pick up my son from daycare without feeling guilty that I wasn't present at the office. This was actually a dream of mine since I was very young, as I wanted to spend more time with my children when becoming a mom. You have worked in many different countries. For example, Chile, France, and Germany. Have you picked up different knowledge from each country? - Oh, definitely! From Chile, I highlight fellowship and solidarity. Whenever someone is in a hard situation, everyone automatically is there to help. As a country, we've been through many painful experiences —earthquakes, tsunamis, economic and political issues, poverty, among others— and it never ceases to amaze me how people are always there to give a hand. - From France, I admired the art of looking your best at every time and every occasion. Even in the simple act of going out to buy a baguette, Parisians look amazing, wear cool attires, women are always wearing high heels and lipstick, and everyone seems so refined. I loved it! - From Germany, I've learned how good bureaucracy can be. After a rather bad experience with the topic in France, I feel that Germany has mastered the art of paperwork and efficiency. Every application for any document, working visa, wedding application, etc. has been done with the most refined procedure and accuracy, with excellent service and results. You say "I help ambitious Mompreneurs" - What is a Mompreneur, and is the reason you focus on moms that you can relate to your own life? - A mompreneur is a mother who's also an entrepreneur. A mompreneur is a woman who has children and, at the same time, is working on creating and developing her independent business. She's juggling being a mom, maybe also trying to be a good partner, trying to financially support her family, picking up her kids from daycare or school, homeschooling them, and trying to succeed with her business by working much more than a 9-5… It's such a challenging task, and since I've been there myself, I know the struggles they face. - I want to support these ladies by giving them all the tools they need to avoid the stress, the loss of precious energy and time figuring it out all by themselves, as I did at the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey. I don't want them to go through that. In my early days as a mompreneur, I wished so bad to have someone by my side with the expertise on founding an online business. Someone who could advise me on which tools to use, which strategy to take, and how to organize everything so I could be more productive, and that's exactly what I want to be for them. Why should anyone hire/work with you? - Entrepreneurship is hard, and adding the fact of being a mom, it can be overwhelming. People should work with me because I fully understand the needs of entrepreneurs and have all the tools to help to build up their businesses online. I've got a lot of expertise after working for many years in e-commerce and online marketing. I've also studied a lot to be in the position I am today and invested thousands of Euros in Coaches, so I have all the knowledge to help mompreneurs build their dreamed digital business. If they need branding or a website for their business, to develop a social media strategy or grow using email marketing, or even analyze their customer base and target them in the best way possible, I'll be there for them. What's your big goal with your business? Where is The Digital Madl in 10 years from now?   - My big goal with my business is to work smarter, not harder. In 10 years, I see myself with a consolidated company, and why not, with other ones as well. I see myself working less as I automate more, providing online courses, having employees, impacting more and more in the entrepreneurial world, and having many success stories.  What kind of content can our readers expect from you? - Brainz readers can expect reading about mompreneurship, learn about branding, web design, e-commerce, social media, email marketing, and customer analysis. These are things that I do for my clients daily, and often there have been questions about topics they want to understand more about or beliefs they had about something, and I've been able to clarify. Now, I want to bring these topics and share them in my articles so more people can understand a bit more about digital marketing and the impact it can make in their businesses and daily life. Are you interested in working with Maria-Paz and see what she can do for your business? Take a look at her services on her  website . Follow me on Facebook ,  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  or visit my website . Read more from Maria-Paz: Why Having a Social Media Marketing Strategy is so Important? Maria-Paz Hornisch, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maria-Paz Hornisch is the 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: 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. While it might be tempting to try to shelter your child from any discussion about coronavirus or COVID-19, you could be doing them a disservice. On the contrary, parents should sit down with their children and explain the global pandemic in a way they will understand. Parents cannot simply ignore the situation as children and adolescents are aware that the world around them is changing. In addition to the fact that their daycare, nursery or schools have closed, they have heard their peers or adults discussing it, or have been exposed to it on social media and television. It is vital to talk to your child to ensure they have understood the message about protective hygiene protocols and to ease their anxiety and correct misinformation. Children are extremely perceptive, and if adults are not talking about something, it can make them worry more. They could also be distressed by hearing messages they do not fully understand or that are taken out of context, particularly if it comes from sources such as social media rather than experts. The conversation does not have to be an in-depth discussion, it should rather be focused on finding out what they already know, and providing reassurance. Ensure that even while practicing social distancing, you still do fun things and don’t focus on the virus. Even though your child is at home, keep days structured, with regular mealtimes and bedtimes. It is also an ideal time to focus on indoor activities such as crafts, board games, or video-chatting to their grandparents. Here’s some friendly advice on How to Give Comforting, Yet Clear Messages to our Younger Generation: 1. Take cues from your child; find out how they are feeling and encourage them to talk to you if they have any questions or hear something that worries them. You can do this by asking open-ended questions to find out what they already know and dispel any fears they might have. Above all, watch their reactions and body language and be sensitive to their level of anxiety. 2. Answer your child’s questions honestly and in a simple way. Remember, it’s all right if you can’t answer everything; the main idea is to let your child know they can ask you anything. If you don’t know the answer, don’t guess, just explain that this is a new virus and that not everything about it is known, but as soon as it is, you will let them know. 3. While you don’t want to create alarm, also don’t minimize or dismiss their concerns. Acknowledge their feelings, and let them know that it is natural to feel nervous, but that there is no need for panic. 4. Your child will pick up on how you are feeling, so remain calm. Reassure them that doctors, scientists and governments all over the world are working together to make everything better, and to keep everyone safe. 5. It can help children to make them realize they are not powerless, and that they can play their part by practicing good hygiene habits such as handwashing, not touching their faces, and sneezing or coughing into their armpits. Explain that by following these rules, they are helping to keep other people safe as well by not spreading disease. 6. Help to put things into context by reassuring your children that they themselves are not likely to get sick from the disease, but that they should still be careful to make sure they don’t spread it as it can make adults sick. Make sure that they know schools and leisure activities are being curtailed not out of immediate danger, but rather as a special precaution to protect people and make sure people stay healthy. 7. The virus is such a media focus at the moment, and more worryingly, alarming and incorrect messages can be spread easily through social media. Explain to your child that some information isn’t true and that it is best to rely only on experts. 8. Adapt your message for their age group, and emphasize how germs can make us sick, but not in an overly alarming way that could encourage an obsessive fear of germs. If your child is very young, you can simply explain that germs can make people sick, and that washing your hands can help you stay healthy. Supplement this with fun activities such as singing a song together for 20 seconds (for example, two rounds of ‘Happy Birthday’) while handwashing to demonstrate how long this activity should take. 9. It is important that while you should speak to your children about the virus, you should also limit the time spent talking and thinking about it, and try to keep life as normal as possible. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website ! Read more from Bandana Jain Singing for well-being! 3 Things Fast-Growing Businesses do Right 6 Must-Try Sports for Adventure Seekers at Canton DeVaud Lake Geneva Region, Switzerland 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: Stephanie Parris, 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. Many of you are entrepreneurs. You have your own business and you work, day in and day out, to make your business a success. We start with an idea because we either saw a need or had a passion for something. How many of you thought through all the moving parts it takes to run a successful business before you got started? What about the staff and specialty consultants? What about the budgets and forecasts? Most of us have been right where you are or were. This is the part of every story that is not new. It is the common theme. We underestimate how much time we would spend on administrative tasks and bookkeeping. We may have underestimated the time it would take to do the marketing and promotional side of business. What about the networking? Did any of you think about how many hours would be involved in building connections with your ideal client? Many of us , just balance it all and try to “keep the plates spinning” all at once. When we are not focusing on our business, we can lose sight of our intent and our goals. We may feel overwhelmed or worse yet, we may put some of the key components of a successful business to the side and deal with it when we must, rather than creating a routine with it. Without a strong foundation, just like a building, businesses will collapse. How many of you dread the pieces of business, like marketing or bookkeeping? When I started Guardian Accounting Services, LLC, I dreaded sales and marketing. I would make myself sick over the thought of networking to generate leads. I would spend substantial amounts of money to attend networking events only to tuck myself into the corner. I knew I needed these opportunities to grow my business, but I hated them because I did not have any training in that area, and I did not know how to do it successfully. I relied on my reputation, small events, and referrals to gain business. My business growth was flat. I knew I provided a great service package but just didn’t grow and I didn’t know how to promote it. From this challenge, I created one of my favorite offerings at my firm. I knew enough to know that I needed help in sales and marketing but didn’t know what that looked like. I found someone who inspired me daily with her online presence and she taught me what I needed to know to go into events and own them. I now network, market, and promote my business and offerings with ease. In three months, I increased my monthly revenue by more than forty-five percent. I had the proper training to do these things without the anxiety and dread I had before. They are now part of my routine. I share this because, this lesson and growth were what prompted me to create my training course. Accounting for Real Life is a course I created to teach people how to do their bookkeeping with ease. I kept seeing a common theme that people had a great dislike for doing their bookkeeping. The more I researched and interviewed people, the more I found that their accounting was working against them. I have created content in manageable chunks without “accountant speak”. I teach how to utilize the software that you already pay for. I teach how to manage the processes and set up the system to work for your business. When you use your software in the manner that accountants and bookkeepers use it, you will find it less intimidating and be more likely to use it. Why would you invest money into something you won’t use or that you hate using? Would you keep a car that you hated to drive or didn’t know how to drive? Probably not. Your accounting should not be any different. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many business owners have scaled back outsourcing their bookkeeping. They have taken it in the house, whether they are doing it themselves as the business owner or adding it to another staff member’s workload. With the proper training, businesses can have transparent and accurate financials to allow them to leverage opportunities. In times like these, it is now more important than ever to position yourself to take advantage of opportunities for your business. For organizations that want more than the initial course, I also created a completely customized and recorded training for their accounting system. This has proven to be beneficial, and the most popular, for the business owner who wants a deeper dive in training for their specific company. These systems have been created to help business owners, just like you, overcome the challenges of not knowing. It enables and empowers entrepreneurs to work on their business rather than in it. When we work on our businesses, we can plan and grow. We achieve and exceed the goals we set just by using the resources we already have available. To learn more about Accounting for Real Life, and to take the dread out of your bookkeeping visit Guardian Accounting Services. We are all in this together. The world was built on small business because someone had an idea and a dream. Feel free to follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn or Instagram , and visit my website ! Read more from Stephanie Parris: Keep Your Business Alive Amid COVID-2019 Is it Time to Rethink Your Business Due to COVID-19? Stephanie Parris,Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Parris has a Masters’ Degree, in Accounting and Financial Management. She writes about accounting and business for today’s world. She has extensive knowledge of the non-profit, construction, real estate and service industries which she serves. Stephanie has become a leading expert in QuickBooks as well as outsourced accounting services. Stephanie lives in Missouri and volunteers and cooks for her local rescue mission, serves with Made to Serve as well as Race for Rett, mentors local female high school students, has a passion for wine and cooking, and loves spending time with her family and close friends.

Written by: Jessie Wallaker, 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. For anyone feeling alone, pressured and like they're spiraling. I noticed a lot of people online are struggling with the right thing to do. In your mind is where things spiral, where the what-ifs, the fears and the inadequacies flourish. So in order to stop this cycle, you need to get away from them. No Pressure Or Expectations You are going to see many ways to go about this the right way. But if none of them feel good and doable for you, then don’t feel the pressure to go about things that way. There’s always more than one way to do things. To do life, to do health, to do relationships, to do love and to share what you feel. Of course some hard conversations are going to happen, of course things might get a little uncomfortable, but you still need to be in a good place to have those conversations. And in this article, that’s my hope to convey to you. Get Offline First thing’s first, get offline. You are in information overload. And if every time you log on, you are flooded with guilt, weight, frustration and feeling worse than when you went on - GET OFF. And this goes for any time that things are happening in the world. You aren’t ill-informed. You aren’t turning a blind eye. You are just taking care of your own soul, your own energy, so that when the time comes to show your support and voice your mind, you are doing so from a solid and secure place. Not one that is wavering and trying to prove you aren’t like “them”. Change happens from a solid and healthy heart. And you can’t do that if all that’s happening is you being bogged down with negativity and seeing how you are in the wrong. My guess is you already have some struggles with your own self-worth. I was the same way. And any time someone played down my own struggles and hardships, I would make my life worse to “prove” that I knew what pain was. We want to avoid that. Move My coach Genevieve Rackham and Dani Driusso both put into words what I always did but never realized. “You need to get out of your head and into your body”. In your mind is where things spiral, where the what ifs, the fears and the inadequacies flourish. So in order to stop this cycle, you need to get away from them. This can be with exercise that isn’t pressured, forced or used to punish yourself. Yes, this can be a negative thing used to “prove” you feel pain too. So I always encourage movement in different ways than you may exercise regularity, if forced punishment can be attached to your fitness. This can look like getting out in nature, walks have really helped me to work through my fears and inadequacies. Music is always important to me as well when doing this, but make sure you stay offline and put your phone on “do not disturb”. You need to be alone for this. Another way to get out of your head is by journaling and writing down what’s spiraling in your head. Because once it can’t move, once it’s set on paper, it no longer has as much power and say over you. You’re able to just look at it, really digest and work through what the problem is, and then come to terms with it is that is sending you into a spiral. But moving your body and/or writing down what’s going on will help immensely. Eat The next step is to eat. And this may seem odd, but I’m looking at you overly healthy and precise people. I know you use food as punishment, too, and have a negative attachment to it. You can use it to punish yourself, to make you feel pain, whether that’s over eating or skipping meals completely. Hunger pains and feelings of a gorged stomach will not help you. So just eat. Eat normally, eat what sounds good, and stop once you’ve had your fill. This also reconnects you to your body and how it’s feeling. It forces you to listen to what it really needs, craves and wants as far as nutrition goes. A lot of times, our bodies use hunger and cravings to cry out for something else it needs. But it knows that we are so hyper-focused on food, that it will get your attention that way. So by eating a good meal and fueling yourself up in a positive way, this will help bring to light what’s really going on under the surface. Center Yourself Now that you’ve logged off, moved your body, written down what you’re thinking and feeling, and has had something to eat to feel satiated, it’s time to dive a little deeper. If you’re feeling some sort of negative way, then there’s some self-worth issues that need to be addressed. Because you ARE a good person. You are just letting other people’s views and opinions get in the way of who you truly are. Because if you truly are here to live the life you want, create the difference you feel called to in your own way, everyone else’s opinions are just white noise; something you can take or leave. But you ultimately have the final say for what you want your life to look like. Here is where you set solid standards for what you do and don’t stand for in life. What narrative and voice are you going to spread, and are you truly ready to share that. Because sharing how you really feel should not be that hard. It really isn’t. But you’re too afraid of the unknown, the what-ifs, the scenarios that may or may not play out. You are smart. You are flexible. You are adaptive. And you do care about others feelings. You won’t always be perfect, but you are only human. You address it, understand yourself more, and move forward with more understanding. But knowing who you are at a core, allows you to feel a strength and peace you only dream of. But you have to let go of the weight you’ve been carrying around first. Listen Let’s be honest; that’s why everything is coming to a head right now. It is because people aren’t willing to listen and actually hear what people are saying and feeling. I noticed this today when I was writing this article and decided to share a quick perspective on this online. But if you’re feeling pressured and pushed into listening to what people of color have to say about things, I want to remind you of something. You do like listening and hearing what people have to say. You love learning and hearing from the source, from a real teacher that has lived and experienced what it is you’re looking into. Not just someone that has read a lot about it. That’s literally all that you’re doing. Right now, it’s just focused on people of color and their perspective and point of view. It’s nothing more complicated than that. And even with that, you choose and decide who you want to hear from, who you resonate with, what it is you really need to hear, and you find someone who is speaking that topic, that subject in a way you understand and feel good about. That’s all this is. Focusing on those who need and want to speak, and listening. Because you DO love listening to people. Grow From here, you open your heart and mind to the change that needs to happen in order for you to move forward in the way you feel best about. Life is ALL about growing and learning. I heard this from my dad, and who knows where he heard it from, but the moment you stop learning, you die. You are learning and growing as a soul every single day in big and small ways. And there’s nothing wrong with that, where you started, or how far you still have yet to go. Because we’re all in the same boat, we all have changes to make, even those we look up to for guidance and motivation. No one is perfect. So it’s time to take yourself off of that pedestal that you already tear yourself down from every single day, and accept your perfectly imperfect soul. Whatever higher power you believe in, remember that they brought you to this earth for a reason. Knowing the good and bad, struggles and triumphs that you would have, and still seeing good and worth in you. So if something bigger than all of us saw you as valuable in all your humanness, it’s time for you to see it too. Take Action And HERE is where you can take action. In the way you feel best about. Whether that’s out in the streets, around the kitchen table, with your dollars and/or your vote. Here, from this solid, healthy and knowing stance is where you take action. I don’t want you to stress and force this step just because people say that if you are silent you are adding to the hurt. YOU ARE NOT! "That’s all this is. Helping our fellow man." You are helping it more. Because this isn’t something that stops once it’s no longer the number one problem in the world. This is a change that will take time. That needs support over time. And if taking a few days, weeks, months or even years to unpack this is what it takes, then do it. Because yes. You have been hurt. You have been looked down. You do know what struggle and pain is like. But it’s also time to help those that are in the same boat, are feeling the same way, and are just crying out for help now. That’s all this is. Helping our fellow man. Proving that love and acceptance conquers all. And that we as a collective can do more than any one person can. Remember, you are a good person. Your silence, voice, struggles and fears don’t change that. But it’s time to address it so you stop making this pain about you, and start using it to fuel your support and help for others. You have bigger things to do in this world than your constant spiraling and lack of worth will allow. Do it messy. Do it in the growing pains. And do it for yourself and others. Because we all want a world that is better than it is now. And that starts with you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my podcast and website! Jessie Wallaker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jessie Wallaker is an Athletic Mindset Coach helping groundbreaking leaders make big leaps toward their goals, by healing their emotional attachments to food and fitness, to start and continue to make massive change truly. Because feeling safe and confident in your knowledge and choices is what will propel you forward. Creating solid standards and a healthy foundation is what will keep you going. This is what I help my clients achieve. Because they have more important things to create than their limitations, and extreme views of health are allowing them to.