Who wants to stumble through a jungle of wires as they go up to present to their colleagues? Who wants to stress over finding the right remote in a stack of almost identical controls? The modern world moves at an astounding pace and it can seem like everything has to happen as efficiently as possible or everything will collapse entirely. While the latter is not necessarily true, technology is continuously adapting to speed and productivity-oriented lifestyles and business functions. AV, or audio visual, equipment includes audio and visual signal generating devices such as microphones and projectors. The set-up of these devices depends on the setting, but they often come as a collection of many parts that sometimes need to work as a whole- this is where an AV control system comes in. Neets.uk is a Danish company which creates intuitive AV control systems, hoping to impact the lives of professionals around the world. AV control systems such as theirs are designed to be user-friendly, manual, or automatic and serve a variety of functions. Software-based solutions are sometimes viewed as better, as they can be installed on multiple devices and have the same capabilities on each, but Neets A/S supports itself through quality and reliability. Conferences and presentations are essentially inherent to business and education structures, which means that AV equipment is commonplace and necessary. This further suggests that AV control systems are necessary. Having a system that can allow a user to control either a single piece of AV equipment or all equipment in a space in tandem transforms how practically a conference can be run or how well a presentation can be set-up. AV control system applications include dictating useful functions such as locking and unlocking doors, monitoring camera feeds, playing music, and uploading content. We need AV control systems for practical and aesthetic reasons.

What does success means to you? What makes you happy? What is your inner driving force? Everyone has different goals in life, but if you are one of those who see business and money as success, then the first step is getting the right money mindset. Here are some inspiring quotes to get you into the right money-mindset. "Money will come when you are doing the right thing." – Mike Phillips "People say ‘I want to be rich.’ The question is, ‘Are you willing to do what it takes?" - Robert Kiyosaki "To attract money, you must focus on wealth. It is impossible to bring more money into your life when you are noticing you don’t have enough, because that means you are thinking thoughts that you do not have enough." – Rhonda Byrne "When your self-worth goes up, your net worth goes up with it." – Mark Victor Hansen "Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art." – Andy Warhol "The money you make is a symbol of the value you create." – Idowu Koyenikan "Everyday is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we’ve got 24 hours each." – Christopher Rice "What’s keeping you from being rich? In most cases it’s simply a lack of belief. In order to become rich, you must believe you can do it, and you must take the actions necessary to achieve your goal." – Suze Orman "My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time." – Steve Jobs " If you do not know how to care for money, money will stay away from you." – Robert Kiyosaki

Written by: Bandana Jain, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Let's admit it! We are going through some of the trickiest and shakiest times! Practicing healthy habits and protecting your vocal health in these times of "social distancing" is more important than ever to lift your spirits and scale down stress levels. The fact is individuals need to protect their vocal health to nurture the well- being of the entire household. Here are some practical at-home tips on how to properly use your voice for physical, emotional and social advantages! Dubai-based Opera Singer Bettina Schweiger offers practical ways of taking care of precious vocal chords, whether for moms shouting - if they get mad teaching their kids at home, reading books for their children, or for single people who have limitations on talking due to social distancing, as well as some of its health benefits during these quarantine weeks. It could be a great bonding activity for kids and the whole family! So here are Bettina's tips on protecting and taking care of your voices at home interspersed with some of the physical, health and social benefits of singing: 1. Voice training is self-care Singing fortifies health, widens culture, refines the intelligence, enriches the imagination, makes for happiness and endows life with an added zest. Singing has the potential to make a major contribution to our health, well-being and life skills. TIP: Singing at least thirty minutes per day can improve your mood and reconnect with your body by working out your vocal cords. 2. Singing is a workout Singing gives the lungs a workout. It also tones abdominal and intercostal muscles and the diaphragm, and stimulates circulation. It makes a person breathe more deeply than many forms of strenuous exercise, so a person takes in more oxygen, improves aerobic capacity and experiences a release of muscle tension as well. Singing the short-e sound, as in echo stimulates the thyroid gland, which secretes hormones that control the speed in which digestion and other bodily processes occur. TIP: Making the long-o sound as in 'ocean' stimulates the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar. 3. Singing is therapeutic Singing takes away your woes. For example, choose one of your favorite songs and sing it over a minus one or online karaoke. This way, it will bring back a lot of memories from the past that helps you calm down and relive happy memories either with your friends or family. Sing your heart out, it will instantly bring you to a more stable emotional state. TIP: A free singing tutorial is highly advisable as it will help you gain additional technical knowledge about singing and honing your vocal cords at the same time. 4. Singing strengthens your immune system Singing strengthens the immune system, according to research by scientists at the University of Frankfurt in Germany, published in the latest edition of the US Journal of Behavioral Medicine. The scientists tested the blood of people who sang in a professional choir in the city, before and after a 60- minute rehearsal of Mozart's Requiem, they found that concentrations of immunoglobulin A – proteins in the immune system which function as antibodies – and hydrocortisone, an anti-stress hormone, increased significantly during the rehearsal. Singing releases endorphins into your system and makes you feel energized and uplifted. People who sing are healthier than people who don't. TIP: To strengthen immunity, sing the double-o sound, as in a tool. This activates the spleen, which regulates the production of infection-fighting white blood cells. 5. Singing works as an anti-depressant Sound vibrations massage your aura, going straight to what's out of balance and fixing it. It forces oxygen into the blood, which signals the brain to release mood- lifting endorphins. TIP: Singing the short-a sound, as in ahh, for 2-3 minutes will help banish the blues. 6. Singing makes you alert Improved blood circulation and an oxygenated blood stream allow more oxygen to reach the brain. This improves mental alertness, concentration, and memory. The Alzheimer's Society has even established a"Singing for the Brain" service to help people with dementia and Alzheimer's maintain their memories. TIP: To boost alertness, make the long-e sound, as in emit. It stimulates the pineal gland, which controls the body's biological clock. 7. Singing helps in online socializing Whether you're in a choir or simply enjoy singing karaoke with your friends, one of the unexpected health benefits of singing is that it can improve your social life. The bonds you form with others can be profound, since there's a level of intimacy naturally involved. TIP: Since we are on a lock-down, why not try an online karaoke battle with your friends? It could be fun! 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. Website- www.dubaitrivia.com Facebook- Bandana Jain Instagram- @dubaitrivia Linkedin- Bandana Jain

Written by: Alec Lom During the past 17 years, leading British therapist and one of the world’s top ‘rapid-change experts’ Howard Cooper has devoted his professional life to helping many thousands of people overcome a range of anxieties and phobias, such as fear of flying, and other terrors such as dogs, cats, and spiders. Now that Coronavirus is casting its shadow over more than 180 countries, he is, not surprisingly, busier than ever helping clients with health anxiety. However, despite the current pandemic and the restrictions it is forcing on the business community, many companies continue to thrive. Physiotherapists now offer video consultations, personal trainers are hosting exercise classes on YouTube, and manufacturers of home-gym equipment are selling out. Garden centers report booming online sales of seeds to grow your own fruit and vegetables. According to a new Corona-inspired survey on LinkedIn, the time we all spend consuming online content has risen sharply, by 39 percent in the past four weeks. So, how can companies, and especially their leaders, maintain a positive attitude? How can individuals, employees in their millions now working from home, look after their mental health and develop the right mindset in the current conditions? How can business entrepreneurs, normally driven by the adrenaline surge and daily challenge of innovation, adapt to the new Coronavirus environment, where management teams converse only by Zoom and Skype, and meetings are now only held ‘virtually’? Howard Cooper is a qualified hypnotherapist and Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), who specializes in helping people create rapid shifts in their thinking. He believes that, whether you are trying to overcome a lifelong fear of dogs, whether you’re battling Coronavirus anxiety, or whether you’re over-stressed about saving your business in the face of fierce adversity, change, to your way of thinking – and to your lifestyle – can be rapid. He has a wide range of experience when it comes to engaging with the corporate sector. His experience includes supporting people across Europe and the US, and mainly in the UK, also working with many top corporates, including Deloitte, Virgin Atlantic, Slater Gordon, and the British Paralympic Association. He has coached many senior executives in high-level business positions to cope with anxiety-related work issues. Cooper, 38, who runs a busy practice on the outskirts of London, first developed an interest in helping others after experiencing his own traumas as a teenager. He was diagnosed with a severe panic attack and anxiety disorder when he was 16 and began a lengthy course of treatment. “I went through three and half years of ‘week-in,-week-out’ counseling which resulted in understanding my therapist’s theory as to why I was screwed up. The only problem was that I wasn’t really much better. Her take on it though was that at least “I understood why”. I decided that instead of focusing on methods to explore why I was like I was, it would be more prudent to focus on how to change it moving forwards.” Now a parent himself, he’s able to help people of all ages, many of them business executives and office employees who are suffering from work-related stress, an all-too-common complaint in today’s corporate sector. Video consultations: 'effective and popular' “At my practice, I’m just launching a new 12-week Corona anxiety support program,” adds Cooper. It’s aimed at helping people who are struggling with Corona worries or ‘lock-down’ overwhelm as we have all been told by our government that we must remain ‘locked down’ indoors and there are severe restrictions on our movement outdoors. “I’m also often contacted by people who are struggling to cope with claustrophobia as they have spent months training for sporting events, like running a marathon. Thousands of sporting events, such as horse racing meetings, football matches, the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, and many more have all been canceled, so if you're a runner, cyclist or cross-country trailer, people are feeling very downcast right now." “A lot of my work as a rapid-change expert is conducted by online and video consultations via my website, on Skype. They are very effective and increasingly popular. I support clients from many walks of life and here, I’ve listed a handful of mental strategies that apply to everyone from sports enthusiasts to business leaders. These are my Top 5 Mental Tips on ‘How To cope more effectively with Corona-virus Worries’. Tip No.1 STAY PRESENT What are you actually experiencing right now? Sitting at a computer, tablet or phone reading an article in your home? This is something that you have done many times before, right? Realize that If you stop adding ‘narrative’ and ‘thinking’ to this current situation there is actually nothing different for you going on than before the virus or lock-down. Take time regularly to bring your attention back to ‘being present’ and your direct experience in the moment. Tip No.2 REALIZE THE TRUTH ABOUT FEELINGS Most people get swept up in all the fear and anxiety coming from the internet and then incorrectly come to the conclusion that everything is beyond despair. However, there are also lots of positive things to focus on. Around 96 percent of people are surviving; the world carries on turning; pollution levels are down; we are all getting a gift of some time to reflect on where we are at and the choices we are making. Taking time regularly to focus on ‘what’s good’ and ‘what we are grateful for’ literally begins to wire the brain for more positivity in the future. And guess what? People who are more positive, calm and clear-headed deal best in times of uncertainty.things will be at all! Realizing this can be a great comfort. Tip No.3 FOCUS ON YOUR BODY’S NATURAL CENTRE When people get overwhelmed or anxious, they often start running all sorts of rapid internal catastrophic thinking. In other words, they are very focused on ‘stuff in their head’. They think: ‘What if it lasts forever?’, ‘When will I be able to work with office colleagues again?’, ‘How will I earn money?, and this list goes on. If you were to catch yourself running these patterns, do the following: Stop and bring your awareness to your body’s natural center (this is the area around 3 centimeters below your navel). Strangely placing your focus here tends to calm the mind, and create a feeling of being stronger, stable and more centered. Tip No.4 REMOVE PRESSURE Many people are putting pressure on themselves to be productive during lock-down, maintain perfect eating habits or exercise plans. While it’s all well and good to have a desire to do these things, remember to go easy on yourself, too. These are unprecedented times and uncharted territory, so be kind to yourself if you aren’t as productive as you’d normally be. If you tell yourself, you have to or must be perfect at all times, then you are more likely to be very hard on yourself up if you don’t manage this. But if you tell yourself that you’d like to get things done, but understand you don’t have to, that can often help alleviate the psychological pressure. Ironically, when you do this, you are likely to get more done because there is less stress in the system around doing it. Tip No.5 FOCUS ON POSITIVES & GRATITUDE It’s easy to get swept up in all the fear and anxiety coming from the internet and then incorrectly come to the conclusion that everything is beyond despair. However, there are also lots of positive things to focus on. Around 96 per cent of people are surviving; the world carries on turning; pollution levels are down; we are all getting a gift of some time to reflect on where we are at and the choices we are making. Taking time regularly to focus on ‘what’s good’ and ‘what we are grateful for’ literally begins to wire the brain for more positivity in the future. And guess what? People who are more positive, calm and clear-headed deal best in times of uncertainty. My hope for people during this time of challenge is to learn about mental resilience so that they do not just help themselves now, but that this will help them become better-armed and more resilient in the future when this pandemic is over (and by the way, it will be over at some point). Just imagine how successfully you will be able to thrive, both as a business professional and as a person in the future when you develop these mental skills and apply them to your lives even after the world has closed the chapter on Coronavirus and moved on. If you’re struggling with Coronavirus anxiety, help is available through Howard Cooper’s new 12-week Corona anxiety support program Howard Cooper is one of Britain’s leading ‘Rapid Change’ experts. A qualified hypnotherapist and Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), he specializes in helping people create rapid shifts in their thinking. For details of his work, see www.rapidchange.works Alec Lom is a journalist and media expert in the UK whose articles have appeared in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, including The Daily Telegraph. A specialist in the health and well-being sector, he also worked for many years at BBC Television www.aleclom.com

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. The times of crisis and uncertainty are always challenging. You can decide to freeze in fear, or you can start showing up as a true leader and a beacon of light the world desperately needs. Are you feeling the paralyzing effects of thinking about uncertainty and perhaps you have already started getting affected in terms of clients canceling their commitments? Or maybe you are just worried that they will. The truth is… some definitely will, and some will continue, there is nothing we can do about that. We must be ready for what is coming. I understand - it is terrifying. In my personal life and my business, I have been through several situations where I have lost everything and could not even imagine physically surviving, let alone having a successful, abundant business and a global audience of students and followers. What I learned through those experiences was that life always gets back on track - and the only way to get through it is to focus on the point when normality is fully restored, and the current crisis seems like a bad dream. In fact, I started focusing on my own personal brand just days before my husband got diagnosed with very advanced and aggressive cancer, and it turned out world upside down. "Right now, it is the time to BE SEEN more than ever." Yet, despite all logic, my decision to focus on building my brand and growing my business during the time while my husband was fighting the biggest battle of his life paid off! Not just in terms of business success, but with my husband fully recovering. And our dreams of moving to a new location, the one that fits every box on our dream homeplace list, have also all become possible! Here is the deal. Right now, when everyone feels uncertain and scared- right now, it is the time to BE SEEN more than ever. Right now, it is the time to focus on the point where the order has been restored, and things are thriving. This focus will pull you through, no matter what. This focus will position you above the crowd as it will give you a channel to tap into for drive, consistency and motivation. "There is no greater vehicle for personal development than intentionally developing your personal brand and creating more visibility in the world. But without a method of converting that visibility into paying clients, you will never turn that visibility into income". – Nick Connor Here is where focusing strategically on your personal brand, or in other words- HOW your audience perceives YOU is key to future-proofing your business. And future-proofing your resilience too! I second what my fellow branding advisor, Nick Connor says in his brand new book "Brandability". "There is no greater vehicle for personal development than intentionally developing your personal brand and creating more visibility in the world. But without a method of converting that visibility into paying clients, you will never turn that visibility into income". Building your personal brand does not immediately translate into sales. It will take some time. But it will create a massive foundation for you to harvest the fruit of your time and effort investment when things start getting back to normal. Because they WILL get back to normal, and long term vision is critical right now. Building a presence online always takes time. It can take up to 3 years to REALLY establish yourself. But we can give it a push and put you up there in just six months! Right now, YOU can become a beacon of light, positivity and calm in the world of chaos. These are the luxuries that people are craving for. These are the feelings everyone needs to tap into, and WE can make it happen if we ourselves refuse to fall into the trap of overwhelm and thinking. In my opinion, there has not been a better opportunity to get noticed than it is during a crisis. Show up! Stand Out! Focus on leading with value. This strategy will build an audience of followers who know they can trust you and win in the long run, doubling, tripling and quadrupling your business as a result. This strategy will build an audience of followers who know they can trust you and win in the long run, doubling, tripling and quadrupling your business as a result. Just like Dorothy in the all-time favorite movie, "Jerry McGuire", says, "I care about the job, but most of all, I just want to be inspired". Yes, people care about their limited resources right now, but most of all, they want to be inspired. Focus on the way you can encourage and empower them through your unique presence and your unique light - and it will not be unnoticed. Find out more about Juliette's VISIBILITY THAT SELLS coaching at her website! Follow her 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: Carmen Benton, 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. Easter is about a living hope, a hope that is contemporary and real for the present moment, whatever the circumstances you are encountering today. Perhaps you are feeling uncertain and anxious about what is happening in the world and what that means in your life. Uncertainty isn’t just present in events, in things that happen around you. Uncertainty also can exist personally in your relationships, in your career, and in any number of circumstances. But when you experience uncertainty and out of balance experience you always have two choices: you can choose to feel fear, or you can choose to feel hope. You can find hope at the core of your being, and this hope will give you the strength, clarity and purpose to navigate these turbulent times. What you must remember always is that uncertainty is not your enemy, because when you live within hope and embrace uncertain times thanks to the inner security that hopes give you and when you are able to harness its creative potential, your journey will be nothing for and adventure, filled with valuable lessons and growing opportunities. Hope, just at the brink of positive expectation is a wonderful place to be right now. How to exercise hope when there is so much going on? Living with hope is being able to see that there is a rainbow waiting to come out after the storm, and yearning for the rainbow, that you know it’s coming for sure. After all, as Bernard Williams said: “There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope”. Low self-esteem, doubt and fear will paralyze you under uncertain circumstances, but hope will give you the drive to move forward. There is a story I’ve installed in my core, at the deepest level, and one of the self-belief stories that has served me the best in my life, and it’s to really believe that at the end, whatever happens, was the best thing for me. Even if now doesn’t seem like it, there hasn’t been a single incident in my life that when I look back I couldn’t connect the dots to the improved version of myself that turned out because of that dark moment: Divorces, accidents, deaths, financial hardships, heartbreaking experiences, you name them. The question I have for you is: Are you willing to embrace the magic of Easter by living with Hope despite what appears to be happening around you? For more details and other business strategies for success, follow me on Facebook or Instagram. Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carmen Benton is an International Life Strategist, dedicated to help women over 40 to find happiness and live with purpose. Why? Because everything you desire in life you want because you believe that by having it, you will be happier… and so how wonderful life would be if you can be happy right now, right here, with the life you already got. Carmen is a Mechanical Industrial Engineer with an MBA from a branch for Harvard Business School, and although she’s been very successful in her professional life after going through a divorced twice, she’s learned a thing or two about not looking for others to fulfill your desire of happiness, but instead to look within and to Live with Purpose and Passion.

Written by: Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alignment, funny word isn’t it? It's a word that I never got exposed to until I started to learn about metaphysical things like the law of attraction and energy. However, alignment is not more than the straight line that connects where you are today, with where you want to be. Imagine a hummingbird trying to feed from a flower. The hummingbird can flop their winds up to 12 times per second, which in case you haven’t notice is super-fast. This speed at which they flop their winds requires them to align precisely with the flowers they are going to feast from, otherwise they’d miss them. But you don’t see bunch of hummingbirds laying around starving because they couldn’t align with the flowers, do you? That’s because they can naturally align with that, they want the most. The same way you can too learn to align with that income that you so much want. In these times could be even having a job, or selling your house, getting more clients or even getting a promotion; and don’t tell me is not possible, because just this last week I’ve seen each and every of these cases above to materialize to people I coach. But, how do they do it? How these people can get more income when the world is going crazy? Simple, they were able to get in alignment with that, they want the most. In this case more income. How do you know if you are in alignment with the income you want, or any other thing you desire? There are two easy ways to know if you are in alignment: Are you getting what you want? This is the obvious not so smart way to measure your alignment, because it’s an after the fact methodology.As you can imagine there is a lag between when you start your alignment process and when you actually can taste and touch what you desired, so even when this is a good reinforcement, if this is the only way you use to measure you alignment level then you are always going to be behind the 8ball. Or, you can pay attention to how you feel. You see, everything you want is contain in the vibration of happiness, because the only reason you want those things is because you think that by having them you will be happier, therefore that promotion, the extra money, the extra clients, etc.; are all located in the same energy level as happiness. So, if you want to get those things in your life, all you must do is to consistently feel happy, and inevitably more things that make you happy will come your way, including those that you desire. It’s like the old saying: when it rains it pours, and this saying is true for better and for worse. As a good practice, you can check couple of times a day how are you feeling, and if the average feelings you have are closer to happiness than not, then you are probably in the right track. If not, you need to work on your happiness meter to make sure you get there! For more details and other business strategies for success, follow me on Facebook or Instagram. Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carmen Benton is an International Life Strategist, dedicated to help women over 40 to find happiness and live with purpose. Why? Because everything you desire in life you want because you believe that by having it, you will be happier… and so how wonderful life would be if you can be happy right now, right here, with the life you already got. Carmen is a Mechanical Industrial Engineer with an MBA from a branch for Harvard Business School, and although she’s been very successful in her professional life after going through a divorced twice, she’s learned a thing or two about not looking for others to fulfill your desire of happiness, but instead to look within and to Live with Purpose and Passion.

Written by: Michael Dermer Revenue is at risk. Cash is hard to keep and find. Expenses are too high. And there is no end in sight. In normal times, the entrepreneur sits in front of the dam. A hole pops open and she fills it with her finger. Then another. And another. Soon she is using all ten fingers. And then another. And another. No problem. We are creative. She uses all of her toes. Problem solved. And then one more. What to do? She uses her tongue. Welcome to the life of the entrepreneur. Leading an entrepreneurial venture is a 28 hour job when the world is not in crisis. When it is, it takes a certain mindset to lead your organization through. Once you put the big “E” on your chest, you signed up for being a superhero. Being that superhero in these challenging times will require you first to have a few key mindsets: There’s Always a Way Entrepreneurs may lack capital and resources, but they don’t lack the ability to think differently. There are so many times when things seem impossible—times when you don’t have the resources, money or wherewithal to accomplish the things you need to make the business successful. There will be times when your chance of success with a customer, vendor, investor or employee seem slim. You don’t have the money, resources, experience, capital, partners, team-members, investors, facilities, capacity, technology—the list goes on. Forget all that. As we used to say at IncentOne, “We can find lots of people who can’t get it done.” One of the core beliefs you need to practice daily should be the faith or confidence that “there is always a way.” Entrepreneurs have access to creativity that can energize a business. Don’t be deterred by the fact that there isn’t an established path. Most individuals don’t have the inclination or wherewithal to color outside the lines. You do. Many great ideas and visions buck the trend. Amazon told us we would never buy a book in a store again. It’s your innate ability to see things differently and try different approaches that is one of your greatest skills. These are the same skills that allow you to mastermind creative solutions when it does not seem like there are any. There is always a way. I don’t care how many times you fall down, or how little your bank account has in it. Challenges are only speed bumps along the way. If you are as good as you think you are, you will find a way to achieve results even when it seems impossible. Only Spend Time on What You Can Control Being resilient in the face of challenges requires an incredible amount of energy. Entrepreneurs have to dedicate day and night to solving the challenges of the day. That energy and the time of the entrepreneur is scarce. In order to be resilient, and take on the task at hand, an entrepreneur needs every ounce of energy dedicated to what he or she can control. You must resist the temptation to expend energy on things that don’t make a difference. Focus on Building and Executing Your Plan – Not Emotion Throughout an entrepreneurial venture, there will be highs and lows. And certain during COVID-19. First and foremost, an entrepreneur must learn not to react to the ups and downs of the day. This is easier said than done when you are talking about something that is your passion. Nonetheless, it is a must. When we are emotional, we can’t put in place the actions and activities that move you forward. The focus must be on the activities that make a difference. In the movie "Apollo 13," the spacecraft suffers damage and the astronauts move through a series of procedures to prepare the spacecraft for reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Given the damage, success is hardly assured. While they are working, Bill Paxton (who plays astronaut Fred Haise Sr.) questions whether Mission Control in Houston is giving the astronauts accurate information. Tom Hanks (who plays captain Jim Lovell) says: “All right, there’s a 1,000 things that have to happen in order. We are on No. 8. You’re talking about No. 692… We’re not going to go bouncing off the walls for 10 minutes, because we’re just going to end up back here with the same problems!” Work the problem. Focus on the items you determine require your attention that day. The entrepreneur’s path to success is rarely built with “giant leaps for mankind” but steadily-won, determined, daily progress. When we chip away at today’s to-do list, we build powerful momentum for our business. No Time for Doubt In normal times, doubt is a very productive emotion. It often makes us question ourselves in a way that leads to introspection and greater focus and achievement. Unfortunately, when you're in a crisis, there is no time for doubt. Take all of the time and energy you spend doubting yourself and use it to focus on building and executing your plan. Remember, it's not just about you. You have an obligation to yourself and your passion for your business of course. But you also have an obligation to those around you – your employees, your customers, your investors and your family. You need to lead your company through this mess. So take all of the energy and emotion you spend doubting yourself and act quickly, decisively and with an understanding that the better you execute your plan, the more success you have. And when you get through this all, you will have a very little reason to doubt yourself. Demand Accountability, Teamwork, Discipline and Candor You will need the best of your team. Demand these four attributes: Accountability: everyone should “own” their stuff. Take action. Be proactive. Own. Not “own but..” Own. Teamwork: accountability only works well when we are a team. We are all here to help. Candor: it’s all about performing and any feedback or constructive dialogue is not only welcomed but expected. Discipline: have it all together. On time. Prepared. Proactive. Everyone will need to be on the same page, focused and at their best during these times. These behaviors will help you give yourself a greater chance of success. Pick the Tasks of the Day and Execute Every entrepreneur faces an overwhelming set of tasks to be accomplished. The list is endless. Strategy. Technology. Team. Business models. Plans. Tactics. Functional areas. Branding. Staff. Money management. Offices. Fundraising. For every 10 hours of time, there are 100 hours of work. So how do you be resilient in the face of 100 hours of work and 10 hours of time? It is not surprising then that entrepreneurs come to work, and instead of focusing on the tasks of the day, they worry about what is not getting done. If you focus on the 99 things that you can’t do that day or mentally jump ahead to tasks that require multiple days, you will waste time and effort. Once you have decided on your tasks for the day, stop worrying about other tasks and finish the ones in front of you. Overwhelming is par for the course for all entrepreneurs – especially in the midst of a crisis. If you can find an entrepreneur that says, “We’ve got everything under control,” then I have some unicorn hooves I’d like to sell you. When “overwhelmed” is the norm for entrepreneurs, why is one business able to make progress and another can’t? What we need to learn is how to develop the mindsets to be and do better. Learn more on LonelyEntrepreneur MICHAEL DERMER Michael Dermer is an international entrepreneur authority, lawyer, speaker, coach, author and founder of The Lonely Entrepreneur. The Lonely Entrepreneur was born from Michael's harrowing experience of living through the "perfect storm" - watching the company he built from scratch to over 500 people nearly get destroyed overnight by the 2008 financial crisis. What resulted was not only a business success story, but the discovery of a unique method on how to thrive under the pressure, chaos and burden of being an entrepreneur. Michael is an informed advocate for entrepreneurs everywhere. He has championed their struggle in national and international media outlets including MSNBC, CBS, ABC, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Telemundo.  A sought-after consultant and speaker, Michael has keynoted and acted as judge in over 100 events serving entrepreneurs in the United States, Mexico, China, India, the UAE, Croatia, Singapore, Spain and Israel.

Helena Busch, 23, is a model, influencer and designer who moved from Sweden to Thailand to invest in her career. Brainz Magazine reached out to do an interview with Helena who currently has over 160,000 followers on her Instagram. What made you move from Sweden to Thailand? - The modeling. I got a good offer and signed with a manager in Thailand, and since my heritage is Thai I felt pretty confident with the choice and was very excited to test something new while staying in the country my mother is from. I also speak the language and have relatives here which of course made it easier. What have you learned during these years? I’ve learned that nothing comes easy in life but it is important to take risks, have the courage to get out of the "comfort zone", only then can you learn, grow as a person and automatically more opportunities will appear. Moving to a new country with a new culture is very challenging but at the same time very fun, you learn to see things in a different perspective and you meet so many new people from all over the world! What do you think are the reasons behind your success? I think it's about having a clear character, it simply depends on how you want people to see you! I’ve also noticed that when you make a debut in various competitions such as pagents, reality shows, comics etc, these are good ways to be "exposed", what you do after to continue to be "interesting" to people is another thing and I think that's where you have to show what your platform is all about. This makes it clear to your followers as they know what content they can expect from you. Would you recommend others to make the same journey if they got the opportunity? - I think everyone should take every opportunity that comes up! It’s a "once in a lifetime"- experience. Even though you may not be the greatest, the best or the most beautiful, you will learn so much from it, and as for me, learning and experience is something you can carry with you for the rest of your life. Because of this journey a lot of other doors will also be opened! What are the pros and cons of your profession? - For me, the benefits are definitely all the contacts you will get. You meet different people, respected women and men, from different types of professions. This gives you so much knowledge and chances to test something new. I have, for example, managed to start my own clothing brand which with my "fan base" makes it easier for marketing. Another advantage is free food, clothing, hotels and offers. How does a normal week looks like for you? - It depends on how many model-jobs I have that week, usually between 2-4. The rest of the week I usually workout and do influencer-jobs on Instagram, right now I'm pretty busy with my clothing brand, so right now I'm spending a lot of my time on that. What are your best tips for someone who wants to succeed and do the same journey you've done? - Be yourself, find something that you like and are good at, be specific in what you choose and something you know you are really interested in. For example lifestyle, fashion, comedy etc... Interact with your followers because they are the one who looks up to you and will be your biggest supporters! Make yourself recognized in a way, for example through a competition, then it will be easier to work your way up. What’s your next goal? My goal is to get my brand all across the world, to get more jobs in the fashion industry, to become a well known influencer and hopefully a role figure for charity and to stop global warming. 10 quick questions: Summer in Sweden or Thailand? - Sweden Swedish or Thai food? - Thai City or beach? - Beach Singing or dancing? - Singing Rice or noodles? - Rice Netflix or YouTube? - Netflix Adventure or chill? - Adventure Morning or night? - Night Comedy or horror? - Comedy Cardio or weightlifting? - Cardio

Katrina Valente is a Holistic Transformational & Wellness Expert. A seeker of truth and Spiritual enlightenment. She has been in the beauty industry for the past 25 years as a leading International Holistic Wellness/Anti-aging Expert. She is unique in the way that she looks at the whole Mind, Body, Spirit of a person and uses her skills of skin analysis, anti-aging facials, NLP, Coaching, Shamanic Healing, Crystal Healing, Colour Therapy and Reflexology to help her clients find their balance. Your motto is: " Inner peace outer beauty". What exactly do you mean by that? - Being an anti-aging aesthetician and Holistic healer for over 25 years I came to know that without inner peace you cannot truly have outer beauty. We must work on our emotional self, healing our childhood issues etc. Once we balance our inner self we shine and glow for all to see. How many times do see you beautiful people but they have no light? This is because the sadness within shines through allowing the phrase, Beauty is only skin deep! You have traveled all over the world. Tell us a little bit about your journey. Have you "picked up" knowledge from specific countries? - I have been on a Spiritual quest for over 20 years now, diving into what drives me, my insecurities etc. I have went on journeys to Peru, Egypt, India, Bali and Mexico learning different modalities and healing myself of trauma, childhood blocks and mother/father issues. Each country has something beautiful to teach me, as I healed the past and let go of that which no longer served me. This in turn, helped me help others to do the same and become the powerful healer and coach I am today. The answers we seek are within us, we just have to go within more often than our daily lives allow. Meditate, be still. Be in the now moment. Only in this space will you find what you seek. Who should hire / work together with you, and why? - Women who want to become their best self, who want more than they have at present or who are transforming their lives and are confused on how to move forward. Women who keep repeating the same scenario over and over and cant see a way out. Women who are successful in one area of their life but not another.  I first look at what's blocking them and we work on the inside with a course of sessions. Then if they are with me physically we can work on the outside (appearance) and skin as well as doing a really powerful re-alignment massage using 9 essential oils neat on the spine and feet. I have a full spectrum of knowledge so we look at the whole being, mind, body and spirit. If I would ask you for your 3 best tips on how to gain both inner peace and outer beauty. What would it be? - I would say stay in the NOW moment as much as possible. In the NOW we always have everything we need. Eat well and drink lots of water. Nutrition is so very important. Use good skincare products as well as having professional treatments to keep your skin in peak condition. What is your ambition? Where are you and your business in 10 years. What is "the big goal" ? - Good question....I am now in the chapter of my career to educate others and help them truly define who they are inside and out. I have a wealth of knowledge that must be shared. I would like to be global, offering courses, packages, maybe even a training school for Aestheticians to teach them the holistic way to treat a skin using alternative methods like crystals, reflexology and color therapy.. (I work in a very unique way). My big goal is to be financially free with my Soulmate partner by my side, and most of my business online. I want to serve humanity and the less fortunate. How do you stand out from the rest? - I studied many different beauty and holistic modalities. Anti-aging and facials were always my thing but I had so much knowledge I wanted to use as many within one treatment as possible. Then I came up with my bespoke treatments using Color therapy, Crystal healing and Reflexology within a facial, working with CLINICAL and ORGANIC professional product lines.  Since I was young Emotional therapies always interested me greatly so I qualified in Reiki, Shamanic Healing, N.L.P., Kineseology, Coaching to Excellence and Timeline Regression therapy. I traveled to different retreats over a span of 15 years really working on myself. I have so much experience through my own life lessons that I am now sharing that knowledge and expertise with others to help transform them into their best self, free of limiting beliefs and self worth issues to love the skin they are in.  End goal...Inner Peace; Outer Beauty Visit Katrina on FaceBook, Instagram and her website to learn more, and stay tuned for her upcoming articles! Katrina Valente, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Katrina Valente has been in the beauty Industry for the past 25 years as a Holistic Anti-aging Expert as well as a Celebrity Facialist.  She has traveled the world treating the rich and famous as a Visiting Practitioner with resorts like Six Senses, Anantara and Aman worldwide She is now more interested in educating people with her wealth of knowledge in Beauty and Wellness on how to look good from the inside out...Inner Peace Outer Beauty is her motto. She has now evolved to be a Trusted Holistic Transformational & Wellness Expert.

Written by: Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I don’t know you, but I find it very depressing to tune into the news lately. There is one sad, frustrating, uncontrollable topic that everyone is talking about, even to the point of exploiting our human condition and humanity to profit by only giving us one side of the story. This situation that we are all living together is so sad and the news act like a vacuum, sucking all your hope, happiness and light just to leave sorrow, frustration and fear in their place. So where to find happiness despite of the news in today’s world and with the viral we are experiencing? The answer is actually very simple, yet difficult to listen to: The only place where you can find happiness now, tomorrow or in any other time in your life is within. I’m sorry I don’t have a magic pill that you can take and wake up a happier person tomorrow, but it’s true. However, the good news is that all you need to be happy is contained inside you. Awaking your senses to find what makes you sparkle, however, is one of the hardest parts of the process, and that’s why I want to give you here some steps to do exactly that, especially during these times: "Remember that the happiness you are so desperately seeking is within you right now." Take advantage of the quarantine. Learn to love the fact that you have the opportunity for the first time in forever to be with yourself. Alone. Without distractions and pressures. No place to be. No reason to rush. Relearn how to love yourself, rediscover what makes your tickle, re appreciate your own company. I know it can be scary, but it’s worth millions and more. Meditate like it’s going out of style. I know you have heard of meditation before, and I can’t simply convey to you the benefits of it in a fair matter, until you give it a try. Contemplate your breathing, contemplate the emptiness of a quiet space. Appreciate it and enjoy it. This is one of those times when the more the better. I’d recommend you meditate at least 20 minutes a day, but if you can go for hours, definitely go for it. Be grateful for everything you already got. I know you want more, trust me, I want more too! But, have you stop to appreciate and to be grateful for what you already got, especially in these times. Do you have a job? Do you have a roof? Are your love ones safe? So much to be grateful for. This is not by any means a comprehensive guide on how to find happiness, but it’s for sure a start, and if you are not doing these three things already, it’s pointless to go to the next step. Remember that the happiness you are so desperately seeking is within you right now. Xoxo, Carmen For more details and other business strategies for success, follow me on Facebook or Instagram. Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carmen Benton is an International Life Strategist, dedicated to help women over 40 to find happiness and live with purpose. Why? Because everything you desire in life you want because you believe that by having it, you will be happier… and so how wonderful life would be if you can be happy right now, right here, with the life you already got. Carmen is a Mechanical Industrial Engineer with an MBA from a branch for Harvard Business School, and although she’s been very successful in her professional life after going through a divorced twice, she’s learned a thing or two about not looking for others to fulfill your desire of happiness, but instead to look within and to Live with Purpose and Passion.

Written by: Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Success is usually defined as the accomplishment of your goals and/or your purpose, and it has very little to do really with riches and status, unless of course your goals include them. This statement begs a question that very few people are asking you: how are you going to accomplish success in your business and life, if you don’t know what your goals and purpose are? As you can deduct from the sentence above, for you or anyone to be able to achieve success in business and life, you need to know first and foremost what success means for you and why you want to achieve it. With this in mind, I also want to introduce to you a crucial concept in this process, which is that achieving success is basically achieving your goals, and that the reason you pursue success is because at a deep level, you believe that such accomplishment will fulfill your purpose. So do you know what your goals and purpose are? Statistically speaking 92% of people don’t really know the answer to that question, so figuring this out might be the most appropriate way to show you how to achieve success, especially if you want your life to become a series of successes after another. First of all, you need to know and understand that your definition of success does not need to equal anyone’s else's mold nor need to fit into any predefined pattern, because your definition of success is yours and yours only. So what about starting with that? What does success mean to you? In this time of social distancing, take the time to go inside rather than outside, and spend time trying to answer this question. As I mentioned earlier, success can mean a predetermined amount of money or income, it could be a number of clients, or a pristine title if you work for a company; it can mean traveling to places, meeting people, or even having a family. For others, It could be leaving a legacy, or making contributions to society, but most importantly, you need to understand that success for you probably means more than just one of these things, but the combination of few of them. "All of the sudden, one of the things that makes successful people successful: the continuous pursuit of one’s purpose, becomes the very thing that prevents you from getting the victory, because your idea of success becomes a never ending moving target." Sounds simple, right? But somehow I often see most people overcomplicating this and I’m willing to bet you're not the exception, and it’s not that you can’t recognize what success mean for them today, but the issue is that if you don’t define what is is that you are after, by the time you get it your definition of success or in a businesslike word, your goals, will change making it impossible to achieve them, because they are never still and therefore they are always and constantly out of your reach. All of the sudden, one of the things that makes successful people successful: the continuous pursuit of one’s purpose, becomes the very thing that prevents you from getting the victory, because your idea of success becomes a never ending moving target. See the trap that most people so innocently fall into? You believe you don’t have time to spare in order to define your goals, but instead you spend your entire life chasing an impossible, because without definition, success is more like a platonic state of mind. To summarize, the first thing you must do in order to be successful is: define your goals, so that you can formulate an exact plan to achieve your success and use your time wisely to get to your destination. Then obviously the second thing you need to do in order to be successful is to recognize your purpose. Notice I didn’t say define your purpose, because I believe your purpose could be ever changing and adapting to your circumstances and it doesn’t need to be defined because always is. However, recognizing what makes you happy is a different thing, but one that very few people know or recognize. This is what achieving success is all about, no matter what the economy is doing, or what crazy headwind we are experiencing as humanity, and I promise you can clearly define your goals and your purpose, with the right strategy and action plan to get there, you can have it all. For more details and other business strategies for success, follow me on Facebook or Instagram , join my Facebook Community or visit my website Carmen Benton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carmen Benton is an International sought after Business Strategist, dedicated to help entrepreneurs around the world stop feeling overwhelmed and overworked, by showing them how to create a real growth strategy and powerful action that is proven to eliminate burnout from any business, including yours so that you can feel passionate about what you do again, and scale you business with ease. Carmen is a Mechanical Industrial Engineer and she holds an MBA from a branch for Harvard Business School. She has served in high management positions in large corporations in the US, and she also has helped companies of all shapes and sizes, create and established a concrete strategy that's actionable and profitable.