Written by: Lori Bergman, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. From the very start of life, our bodies are in a constant state of growth and change. And as the physiological changes occur as we age, so do the caloric and nutritional needs. It is not difficult to imagine that the dietary requirements of an infant are different from the needs of an adolescent, and adolescent needs are different from older adults. But as we move up in years, the foods we choose along the way are either going to allow us to age in a healthful manner and increase longevity, or they will create an environment that will invite illness and possibly malnutrition. There are many socio-economic and physiological challenges the older population face that makes fueling their bodies with fresh and nutritious foods more difficult as they age: Being on a fixed income, where fresh foods may be out of their price range Illness or mobility issues Inability to cook for themselves, or suddenly finding themselves on their own and unable to go to the grocery store Medications, where the side effects are problems with taste and smell, or even appetite suppression, so their desire to eat is lessened As we age, the body becomes less efficient at absorbing and using certain vitamins and nutrients, and some medications that are typically taken by older adults further block the absorption of those nutrients as well, such as: 1. Calcium and Vitamin D: Both are important for maintaining healthy bones, proper heart function, and nerve health. The best sources are dairy (milk, cheese, and yogurt) but there are also non-dairy options, like green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, fortified orange juice, beans, canned fish (including the soft bones), as well as fortified non-dairy drinks like soy and almond milk. 2. Dietary Fibre: Women should aim for a minimum of 21 to 25 grams of dietary fibre per day while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams per day. Fibre will help reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems, obesity, diabetes, and keep your digestive tract running smoothly. It’s important to have a good amount of water along with any of the following high-fibre foods, to allow them to move through the body easily: fruits (with their skin, when possible) like pears, apples, bananas, and raspberries, and vegetables like a baked potato, broccoli, green peas, brussel sprouts, whole grain bread, cereal, lentils, beans, and turnip greens. 3. Vitamin B12: This vitamin is essential to maintain healthy red blood cells as well as protecting the central nervous system. It can be found in most animal proteins, like fish, seafood, eggs, dairy products, lean meat, as well as fortified cereals. If you are vegetarian or vegan, supplementation is a good option, as supplements tend to be more bioavailable than obtaining B12 through food sources. 4. Potassium: Potassium is an essential mineral required for all the tissues in the body and helps maintain a normal fluid level in all our cells, normal blood pressure, and it helps with muscle contraction. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, as is cooked spinach, cooked broccoli, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and cucumbers. It becomes difficult for both the older individual and their caregivers to ensure that they maintain their caloric needs to stay healthy, and yet it has been clinically proven that diet quality has a huge impact on a person’s physical condition, regardless of age. Unhealthy food choices could reduce cognitive function and/or cause vision impairment, the immune system can become compromised, and a low-quality diet paves the way to potentially developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, among other diseases. It’s important to note that a balanced diet is important at all stages of life, with as many different foods introduced as possible to invite a variety of essential vitamins into the body. However, if you are on a budget and are unable to choose fresh fruits and vegetables because of their cost, frozen and canned vegetables and fruits are just as good of an option. Frozen foods are flash-frozen and will be packaged within 24 hours of being picked, so they are an even better choice than the fresh, which are sprayed with preservatives to keep them from going bad during transportation and delivery to the supermarkets. Whenever possible, choose the healthiest options you can afford to eat. Limiting your intake of saturated fats (such as palm oil, butter, ghee, lard, cured meats), salt, added sugar, processed foods and alcohol will further help you along in improving your diet. Adding various herbs and spices to make meals more palatable and choosing nutrient-dense foods will give you more bang for your health buck and stimulate your appetite for the better options available. Planning your weekly meal and snack menu ahead of time will further help keep you on a good track and if you don’t love spending time in the kitchen, there are many meal delivery companies that offer healthy and delicious options, if that is financially available to you. And while diet quality is crucial, we also need to consider activity level when discussing living a healthy lifestyle. The aging population will likely move less, which leads to a slower metabolism, which means energy requirements will decrease and caloric needs will be less as well. Moving your body is necessary at every age and combining that with a good diet will prevent osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity and allow you to live your best life. Something as simple as a walk outside or exercises while sitting in a chair can go a long way to improve muscle strength and flexibility. One of the most incredible facets of diet and nutrition is the fact that at any given point in time, most individuals have the power to change their health status. Whether you are 20 or 60 years old, if at one point you were making less than stellar choices when it came to food, changing to whole foods will have only a positive impact on your life. But it is noteworthy to mention that aging is a lifetime process and not something that just happens at 65 years old. How we take care of ourselves and fuel our bodies when we are young will make all the difference in our later years. We only have one body… how you choose to treat it is up to you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lori! Lori Bergman, Executive Contributor Brainz MagazIne Lori Bergman is the founder and President of Alithini Nutrition, a health and wellness company that works with clients to help them achieve their nutrition goals and become the healthiest version of themselves. After having gone through years of yo-yo dieting herself, Lori became passionate about furthering her education in nutrition and learning how to balance a healthy lifestyle without extremes. She became Natural Health Practitioner, received a certification in Exercise Nutrition as a level 1 coach as well as receiving a certificate in Nutrition and Healthy Living with Cornell University. She is an internationally published author of a cookbook, Kitchen Confident, and a mom of a teenager.

Written by: Bernadette Bruckner, 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. Ever wondered how everything would be in the world if no one followed another person but, instead, listened to their own "inner wisdom" (intuition) and decided from the inside|out what felt good and "right?" I have said this sentence to people many, many times when they complain about their lives or – as in Covid19 times - they have to follow rules: "Learn history!" Growing up in Austria with parents who were born in war times means you are inevitably confronted with (parts) of Nazi history. As I grew into an adult, I became very interested in how this could happen. We all grow up with beliefs, values, and imprints from others. As our parents and our grandparents did the same. With filters from religion, culture, and experiences from others. With morals and values created from our environments. This moulds us and our behaviour in our daily lives. Many believe that our government knows what's right and which steps are good for the whole population, as business experts and "gurus" for their target groups. Just as you are for your clients! And yet… we are still all human with blind spots and imprints from others! We do our best to know and support our clientele and maybe sometimes do things for our own higher living. What would it take for a population to grow together - especially in times of crisis as we have had globally for the last two years - to go beyond our own higher living for the higher good of all good lives? Would we "need" another person (government) telling us what to do? When I see masses being moved with communications in a loss framing setting, then I get suspicious for a few reasons: a. Loss framing is never a good communication style for nurturing each other, but fear still "sells" today. b. Core values get reframed that might lead to riots for no reason at all. c. Previous good outcomes are getting lost as the focus is on losing basic needs like security, housing, food (refer to Maslow's pyramid) Many psychological scientific projects like the Milgram experiment or Stanford Prison experiment show us that people en masse act differently than when alone – and can even go against their morals. My question now for you is, "Do you act similarly in a business setting? Against your morals or core values? Maybe for a higher status, more money, or to become famous?" Is it OK to do that? How do you communicate with your clients? With loss framing (negative with fear) or gain framing (positive and with a good future)? Who am I in a crowd vs grouped in business? Who am I NOT in a crowd vs grouping in business? When do YOU say "NO?" … or still go on? When I wonder about history repeating itself, I see parallels with today's economy, politics, and health. Having a career, I have to go "with the system and crowd", and if not, then not! I wonder why we didn't learn from history or what do we have to learn from history so that following others isn't the option anymore. Instead, listening to our own intuition and questioning ourselves for becoming aware of our own blind spots become the norm. "The greatest journey I am travelling is towards me by being simply me. No matter what. Nothing else matters!" – Bernadette Or, simply put: Creating my own business, my own way of service and products, my own way of creating a brand and finding my customers for whom I am allowed to unleash their inner wisdom and support them for living the life they love to have. Maybe it's time to go beyond the known systems and "rules" and find your way of living and working. Covid19 shows us that unhealthy topics are chasing AND guiding us, and most of the time, they lead us to conflicts outside. My advice will always be: Listen to yourself and create your own "inside|out leadership" by doing what you love and love what you do. Trust yourself, 1,000%. Trust in something greater, that the best IS there for you! Disrupt everything you know and question yourself to become truly YOU. I love nurturing others and connecting with others for something greater, fulfilling their deepest wishes, visions, and hopes. I know by heart that all of you are gifted and that inside each of us are hidden treasures that love to be seen, heard, and nourished. NOW! I am passionate about business and health and see myself as a business doula where ideas become a reality and people trust themselves 1,000%! Love reading from you! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Bernadette! Bernadette Bruckner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine The creative allrounder worked successfully in different working fields in Austria and abroad. By her interest in corporate communications, marketing, human resources, and many other business areas, she has appropriated an enormous amount of knowledge over more than 30 years. Numerous educations at international top-trainers like Richard Bandler, Robert Dilts, Roy Martina, and Clinton Swaine. Internationally active as a holistic trainer in health, nutrition, and mental health with exceptional holistic resilience methods. Founder of „iMM – intuitive mentoring method and 1-min-coaching-to-go“, further development of NLP, as well as „ORINITION® - n(fl)ourish soul.mind.body.“ – an innovative nutrition work of (re-) membering our own body intelligence. Successfully Master’s degree in health management with a focus on public health. International Ph.D. & research in health communication with a focus on psycholinguistics combined with neuroplasticity and health economics. International bestselling publisher and author of numerous books in different languages. Global Author Award 2018 / Nominatee NLP Award in Research 2019 in London. 2021 opening my own research center for intuitive science in Austria.

Written by: Amber Barry, Senior Level 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. Starting a new business is a pretty huge adjustment. It can get a little overwhelming, and consume all of your time and energy if you let it! Developing helpful habits can help you adjust, thrive and succeed. You may find that some habits come to you more naturally than others — this is normal! Here are some tips to make it easier for you to fine tune the habits that aren’t going so well, so you can create an unstoppable routine of productivity and progress. Focus on what's important Without a doubt, your to-do list is going to be long. It can feel never-ending at times because there is quite literally always something to do. This is why it's really important to learn how to triage and prioritize. I'm a nurse, so I equate this to saving lives... identify the most important thing, and do that first. Then, move on to the next, in order of urgency. Set up a daily schedule Smart time management is absolutely crucial. Avoid the chaos by having a schedule and setting a timer for your tasks. Then, try to stick to the plan. This will help you avoid distractions and overwhelm, and it also helps you create and maintain boundaries, and be more intentional with your time. Quality over quantity You may think that the more clients you have, the better off you are, but in reality, spreading yourself too thin leads to a whole lot of burnout. I always remind my clients (and myself too!) that it's better to have fewer, higher-paying clients, scalable offers AND streams of passive income than it is to have a ton of clients at lower price points who require your time. Having a handful of high-level clients allows you to give them the focus they deserve so you can deliver excellent results, which ultimately alleviates a lot of stress! Prioritize self care Running a successful business is physically and mentally demanding. This is why it is SO important to take time to recharge, reenergize, and refuel with things like exercise, healthy eating, and rest. As obvious as it sounds, it's not always easy to make self care a habit when you feel like you have so many things to do! Just remember, your business will not grow if you're not at your best. Prioritize your health and well-being. Delegate If you're a bit of a control freak like I am, this one is often the most difficult. Your business becomes your baby, and it's hard to relinquish control and let others help, because who will know your business better than you, right?! Although you may be toeing the line of superhero status, you are still a mere mortal. You can't be an expert at all things, and even if you are, you still only have 24 hours in a day. Hiring help will save your sanity if you do it the right way. Clarify your plan and identify the pieces of the puzzle you need help with, then hire an expert! This might be a bookkeeper, a graphic designer, a virtual assistant, a web developer or a business coach. Starting a new habit isn’t easy. In fact, it takes a lot of focus and persistency in the beginning, but it's worth the effort. In time, your new habits will become more automatic, which means it requires less effort to achieve the same result. This frees up more of your time and energy in the long run, which can do wonders for your life and business! This week, choose one of the habits outlined above and: Commit to doing it every day for the next 2 weeks. After that, it should get a little easier. Once it becomes more routine, repeat the same process with the next habit. Sit back and evaluate. You should observe an improved work-life balance. If you don’t, consider how you can simplify and routinize things even further, then try again! What's one habit you've created that you're the proudest of? Contact me to share your story! Connect with me on F acebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Amber! Amber Barry, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amber Barry is a U.S.based business strategist and consultant specializing in digital marketing, automations, and social media advertising for small businesses and startups. She is passionate about deconstructing the process of establishing and growing a business and aims to make it less overwhelming and easier to navigate for new business owners. She is the founder of Amber Barry | Digital, a digital marketing and advertising agency, and creator of The Go-Getters Club, where she offers online courses and coaching to women in business to help them maximize their marketing efforts and turn their small steps into big wins and massive momentum. She is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Health Coach by training and draws from her 12+ years of experience in health and wellness and 20+ years as an endurance athlete to help people transform their journey as business owners into an enjoyable, successful, fulfilling experience. If you're struggling to reach your business growth goals, check out the Go-Getters Couch to $5K 12-week Training Plan . It's a one-step-at-a-time business coaching program that delivers the results you're looking for without the distractions and overwhelm, so you can finally gain the clarity, organization and marketing strategies you need to build the successful business you keep dreaming about.

Written by: Clare Ford, 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. Are you worried that your child or teen is not fulfilling their potential? That they are “switching off” and becoming disillusioned and dis-engaged? That they give up easily and that their writing is getting worse instead of better? With large class sizes, parents often consider 1:1 tuition to ensure that their child is making good progress and getting the support that they need. This is effective for many reasons, such as going at the student’s pace, but it is also worthwhile considering the benefits of small group tuition too, which is something we advocate in the Switched ON! Academy, especially in our popular creative writing quests. Parents and students have been amazed at the writing levels that have been achieved in just a short space of time, working in cohorts of 6-10 students, who are from different backgrounds and ages and who have never met each other before. In fact, most teachers can’t see how this is even possible – mixing 6-year-olds, 9-year-olds and 13-year-olds for just six hours a week for them to plan, write, edit, illustrate and publish their very own, very unique stories in colour, hardback book. So why is this effective? The National Education Association has found that a collaborative approach to learning encourages families from different backgrounds and experiences to work together and help each other out, since everyone can contribute their knowledge, talents and skills to the group and also suggest new ideas that help resolve their difficult problems, enabling their projects to progress. And this is exactly what happens. Younger peers help older peers; adults get involved; the students get excited and on board with each other’s ideas to such an extent that they want to read each other’s books when they are published. Collaborative learning can happen amongst students or amongst the larger global community of learners. Peer learning, or student collaboration, is a type of learning that involves students working in small groups to examine concepts or find solutions to problems. Like the saying goes two or three heads are better than one; research has determined that through peer-to-peer learning, students teach each other by clarifying concepts in an easily understandable language, discussing mistakes, addressing misconceptions, and innovating fresh ideas. When children explain concepts to each other, they are more likely to have a go and take them on board, especially the older they get. Here are ten advantages for students of a collaborative approach: Higher-level thinking Verbal communication Self-management Leadership skills Social interaction Increase in self-esteem and confidence Responsibility Encourages problem-solving Students learn from each other Productivity rates increase At Switched ON! we have witnessed these advantages playing out. Parents and students have fed back that, “We've loved sharing ideas and spending the time together.” and, “I have really enjoyed the classes every day and the community aspect, knowing I am not alone.” Parents have reported that their minds have been “blown” with “where all the ideas have come from”… Well, it’s from the magical learning environment that is established with each cohort of students who bring their uniqueness, passions, gifts and talents to the group. Not only that, collaborative learning benefits students well into the future in the following ways: Better student preparation for social and employment situations; Improved development of higher-order thinking, communication, and leadership skills; Increased student self-esteem and perseverance; Wider understanding from a variety of diverse viewpoints. Enhancing these “soft skills” or “people skills” and combining them with creativity and growth mindset tools makes this far more than “just another creative writing course”. Research from the Centre for Teacher Innovation shows that educational experiences that are dynamic, social, relevant, engaging, and student-led result in deeper, more effective learning. And being motivated, “switched on” learner is what we are all about. If you are seriously excited about taking your child’s writing to the next level in a fun, unique and interactive way to exponentially increase not just their grades but their personal development as well, then connect with me here to find out more about the Complete Writing Course in the Switched ON! Academy. Follow Clare on her Faceboo k , Instagram , Linkedin and visit her website for more information. Read more from Clare! Clare Ford, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Clare is an award-winning education expert with over 20 years’ teaching experience, international best-selling author and Founder of Switched ON!, the cutting-edge global education platform offering inspirational education and parenting solutions. Clare has spoken on several radio shows, global summits, podcasts and TV about redefining education with her unique Switched ON! Learning Method and delights audiences with her combination of wisdom, expertise and humour. Clare is passionate about untapping the potential of each and every one of the children and teens she teaches for them to shine.

Written by: Kim Parker, 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. Over the years I have come to learn that while feeding and nourishing our bodies and our minds is extremely important, cleansing them is crucial. I have found that people are generally more aware and educated about nutrition than they are about toxicity exposure, toxic load in their bodies and detoxing. You only have to experience what it’s like to be and feel toxic and suffer the physical, mental and spiritual consequences of toxicity, to really appreciate and understand that your quality of life and longevity is largely dependant on how you help your body cleanse. Eight years ago I contracted the “slap cheek” virus, otherwise known as the Human Parvovirus B19. It was truly one of the most traumatic experiences of my life and a pivotal one. Besides the stress of being misdiagnosed numerous times, I suffered from excruciating joint pain that literally took my breath away, visible edema (fluid retention) in my legs and ankles and lymphatic congestion right throughout my lymph system. The lymph nodes in my right breast were particularly congested because of the toxins released from my overburdened, extended liver, which had also pushed my rib cage out of alignment. This experience shone a bright light on my liver and I became acutely aware that this incredible organ is a silent soldier. It supports our decisions we make and cleans up the mess these decisions sometimes lead to. It’s a garbage service, filter, processing centre and storehouse and performs over two thousand critical functions. It protects, shields and defends us from every single angle and is one of the reasons, after everything we’ve been through in our lives, that we are still alive. Unfortunately, our livers are abused from the time we are in the womb, by the inherited chemicals, pathogens and heavy metals passed down by our mothers and ancestors. As we grow and age and live our lives, our livers constantly have to deal with the bombardment of toxins in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the pharmaceutical drugs we take, the chemicals we expose ourselves to on our food, our clothes, our skin and in our homes. Not to mention the radiation and electromagnetic fields that drench our environments. Essentially, my already overloaded liver reached a tipping point when I contracted the virus. Before getting sick, I, like nine out of ten people had a sluggish and stagnant liver. It was no longer able to perform its critical functions and the problems this caused spilled over into my lymphatic system, compounding the problem. This then led to my lymphatic system becoming sluggish and stagnant too, unable to do what it is designed to do, just like my liver. This cascade effect led me to a memorable turning point in my health journey. I fell in love with my liver. With my newfound respect for this amazing organ, I began to prioritise its well-being. The impact this has had on my overall health and well-being has been life-changing, in the most wonderful ways. Not only do I feel better physically, but emotionally and spiritually too. Usually, people focus on the health of the brain and third eye when seeking enlightenment and overlook the liver. The truth is the liver plays an important role too in helping us connect with our soul and reach higher states of consciousness. So now, more than ever before it’s worthwhile becoming an expert on looking after your liver. In doing so you will take back control of your health and rediscover your ability to heal. Rescue your liver so it can rescue you. Please reach out to me if any of the above resonates with you. I would love to help you. Kim Parker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kim Parker is a thought leader and coach in health transformation and healing, both physically and spiritually. She has over 30 years of experience and her journey embarked when her husband began suffering from a debilitating health condition. Their struggle to find the root cause of his illness and appropriate healing solutions spanned decades. After finally helping her husband heal, she was determined to share her findings, extensive research and experience with others to help prevent long-term suffering. Her mission is to educate and empower people so they feel confident to take ownership of their health and well-being. She is a distributor for USANA Health Sciences cellular supplementation and has been working in the supplementation industry since 2010. She was ranked their number one customer enroller in Australia in 2014 and also served as an ambassador for this global company. She is a passionate health advocate and conscious truth seeker and knows we all have the power to heal.

Written by: Jolisa Webb, 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 divorce process rarely just happens. It often begins with one or both partners contemplating whether to stay in the marriage or walk away from it. Even though divorce is not something many of us are comfortable talking about, unhappy marriages are not uncommon. Perhaps it is because divorce is not always the result of some significant infraction or deal-breaker. Instead, it can result from a series of incremental, cumulative things resulting in our general unhappiness feelings. These feelings of despair can begin suddenly, if not during then soon after our honeymoon, or they can develop over time like wrinkles and gray hair. Do you remember your wedding day? Everything was beautiful because you were in love and were loved. Life was perfect as you anticipated a lifetime of wedded bliss and a future filled with love and happiness. Your wedding vows were so meaningful as you gazed into each other's eyes, knowing you would be together forever and ever; amen. Fast forward to the future, and where is the love? On any given day, one or both of you is contemplating or threatening divorce because your marriage is nowhere near what you expected. Day after day, you both feel like you are running out of love and drifting farther and farther apart. You feel hopeless ... uninspired ... stuck ... defeated. Does this sound familiar? If so, think about this. Can you recall a time when you stared in the mirror and wondered who that person looking back at you was? The exact thing can happen in marriage while staring at your spouse, thinking this is the same person I fell in love with and married? The answer is to that question is likely an example of what happens when two things are true. Yes, they are the same person, and they have evolved. And if you can be honest with yourself, you have probably grown as well. Because we marry one another in stages of who we are, and each of us is always becoming. Generally speaking, our growth and maturity should elevate us to a higher version of ourselves. So all that may be necessary to heal and strengthen our union is a bit of extra commitment, combined effort, and effective communication. You can be in love and happily married all over again. Begin with an open, honest discussion about what you are feeling and what you believe are among the root causes of your emotions. Allow sufficient time for one another to talk, listen and process and respond to information in a way that makes each person feel safe and heard. As part of this discussion, which may take a while, you should share things you would like to see the other person do to save the marriage and keep it moving forward. In addition to those things which are not working, be sure to highlight those things which are. Communicate, negotiate and compromise to create an actionable plan that you mutually agree on and then get busy making it happen. After all, marriage is work. You get out what you put in. Marriage is also about play, and it should also be a source of fun and adventure. You're more likely to want to live and stay together if you laugh and play together. Take the time to get out, explore and do things together, which stimulate multiple senses. Activities that provide an opportunity to do more talking, listening, and bonding can also help you remember why you fell in love with each other in the first place. Exploring creative ways to make your partner feel special can even be a healthy form of competition as you try to outdo one another in the spirit of strengthening your bond. Get closer. Touch each other. When you pass one another, especially in the midst of one of those ordinary, everyday moments, take a breath to pause and give your wife or husband a gentle kiss on the neck or ear. Remember to be friends as well as lovers. When respect and mutual adoration return, so does love. And when you love someone and are committed to doing the work necessary to keep your bond strong, there is no need for divorce. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jolisa! Jolisa Webb, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jolisa Webb is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach ® and the owner of Beauty in the Midst, LLC, a woman and Veteran-owned small business company. Beauty in the Midst DBA Divorce Coach Confidante is rooted in healing presence and holistic, action- and outcome-focused philosophies. As a divorced mother, a retired and highly decorated Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, and an executive leader, she knows first-hand what the divorce experience can feel like both personally and professionally. With a career spanning the globe, Jolisa has over 30 years of executive, analytical, and leadership expertise in strategic human resources management, with demonstrated success in command and control, communications, information management, personnel, training, protocol, and military equal opportunity. As a result of her own lessons learned, she became a divorce coach to help female Veterans and other professional women who might be thinking about divorce, in the midst of a divorce, or struggling to move on in the aftermath of a divorce. Jolisa understands how lonely and overwhelming the divorce process can be no matter how intelligent, accomplished, strong and beautiful a woman is. No matter where they are in the divorce process, her Signature Packages are designed to help her clients think and make decisions in a way that honors their truth.

Written by: Maxwell Nee, 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. Eddy Smits is not your average funny guy. As a professional clown, he spent 25 years brightening the lives of children at schools, parties and events. Eddy could create just about any balloon animal you can think of. On top of that, he had a unique skill in creating balloon caricatures of people! Eddy had a blast using his art to bring smiles to so many faces, but the most fulfilling part of his life on centre stage was giving light and joy to the children he visited in hospitals. He knew this was where his clowning around transcended laughs and silliness. It was where he made a real impact on those who needed it most. As any coach knows, the desire to have an impact… To help people transform their lives… Is an itch that only gets more urgent, no matter how many people you help. And so it was for Eddy…. After so many years playing jokes it was time to get serious and help people on a larger scale. He realised he had bigger shoes to fill. While he had always loved bringing happiness to people, he wondered if there was a way he could create a deeper, longer-lasting impact that could transform the lives of others for years to come. There was something more out there for him and he wanted to discover what that was. So he began applying for different jobs, hoping to find a new passion that met his ambitions. After almost three years of soul-searching, Eddy landed a job as an HR Consultant. This may sound incredibly corporate to some people but for Eddy, it was the unexpected tip of the coaching iceberg. This is where he realised his passion for entertaining and connecting with audiences carried over into being an executive and leadership coach. “Being on stage is the same high as if you are coaching somebody. It’s the same vibe you have with people. Being on the same level. It’s about understanding each other." “When I visited children that were about to die I learnt so much about life, about people. The system I used as a clown where you connect with children - it’s called ping pong where the child says something and you react - it’s the same system I use to connect with clients today.” Despite having never built or ran an executive coaching business before, Eddy knew that this was the next step for him. He jumped right into the deep end and went full time in his business. Or, as Eddy puts it... “You have to jump in the water if you want to learn how to swim” He swapped out a life of juggling balls for a new life helping clients juggle career goals and expectations so they can become the best, high achieving, happiest versions of themselves. It wasn’t an easy transition though. He spent three years trying to build his executive coaching business on his own. Implementing different strategies, taking advice from the wrong people and working countless hours to never really achieve what he’d hoped for. Year after year, he chipped away at his savings until eventually, he ran out of cash. He had no other choice but to sell his apartment. After all, someone had to pay the bills. He became more and more frustrated and emotional as time went by and eventually he realised he needed help to make this business a success. That’s when Eddy found HPC. After speaking with Ryan (Mathie - HPC’s co-founder) he realised that the “LAUNCH” program was exactly what he needed to fill the gaps in his business. It had taken him 10 years to become a successful clown and he didn’t want to wait that long again to find success as a coach. “I was so glad that I came in touch with you guys." The question was asked… “Have you built a coaching business before? No. “Has anyone effectively shown you how to build one?” No. “Do you know how it all works? No. I needed someone to guide me through these things and that’s what HPC is doing. I’m so grateful for that.” Our “LAUNCH” program would help him fast track his results and provide a roadmap to success, taking the guesswork out of building a profitable coaching business that impacts lives. He couldn’t afford the program, he knew that, but he felt so passionately about becoming a high performing coach that he invested his very last dollar to get started. “When your passion is big enough, you’ll do the things you need to make it happen.” Inside the program, one of the biggest lessons Eddy learned was the importance of showing up in your business as the truest, most authentic version of yourself. Living your truth, being unique, and being clear on what you offer and the help and impact you can provide is what attracts clients to you like a magnet. “Clients choose YOU. They’re watching you and checking you out without you knowing. “My first client was checking me out for 3 months on Instagram. I didn’t know her. She contacted me and said she liked my posts and that led to an enrolment call.” Even though he knew how important authenticity was, even before joining the program, Eddy admits he hadn’t been embodying his truth and being open and transparent about his own experiences in life. Again, he found another parallel between his old life on the stage and his new life as an executive coach. “I trained a lot of clowns and I told them ‘You don’t play a clown, you ARE a clown. Otherwise, the child won’t accept you." “If you play the clown, after 10 seconds you’ll be out the door. The moment they feel you aren’t authentic they won’t let you in. It’s exactly the same with coaching.” So he went on a mission to start sharing his truth in the hopes of connecting with his audience on a deeper level and building higher levels of trust. As soon as he implemented this change, everything started falling into place. In just three weeks he signed a new client for $3,000. He then went on to sign on two more clients for $2,500 and $5,000. Eddy is now on track to hit six figures in his coaching business, simply by embodying his truth and delivering a service that impacts the lives of his clients in a big way. This was all possible because he decided to invest in himself and the future of his business. He stopped listening to advice from the wrong people - or YouTube - and connected with people he knew were already getting results. “Don’t listen to your friends, your parents, listen to people who did it, listen to people who are doing it.” “When I first started clowning, I didn’t ask my best friends how to paint my face. I went to a professional artist who showed me how to put on the nose. I went to a guy who made shoes and asked for a BIG pair of shoes. “I went to the right people to motivate me… To tell me what I could and could not do… But most people go to their friends and get bad advice and they accept it because they are afraid and get reasons to NOT do what they want to do.” Here at HPC we’ve helped hundreds of coaches, all around the world, go from inconsistent client lists to generating a 5-figure monthly income, like clockwork… because we give them the RIGHT advice from Day 1. “I know I can coach. I know I can get clients. I know I can do posts on social media… I have the skills. Now it’s up to me to consistently do that, having revenue each month and financial peace and quiet.” Your journey to achieving the same thing starts with booking your own Breakthrough Call . Don’t worry - this isn’t like other calls you’ve been on before. There’s no pressure. No hype. No obligations. It’s simply an opportunity to share with us a little bit about your business so we can give you some free advice to help you move past whatever’s holding you back. Whether we work together after that is entirely up to you - but I’d love the chance to meet you before you decide. Simply click here to lock in your time and we’ll speak soon ! Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram and visit my website ! Read more from Maxwell! Maxwell Nee, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maxwell Nee is a Co-founder & Head of Growth at High Performing Coach – a 7-figure business in a saturated industry, which grew 300% during the COVID-19 Lockdown selling out online events. Maxwell started selling tickets for events when I was 16, generating $3,000, with zero marketing budget. To date, with his team, he sold out 8 live events in the 12 months during the crisis, helping thousands of coaches to build their businesses during huge uncertainty. They partnered with influencers such as Marisa Peer, Daniel Priestley, Harville Hendrix & Helen Hunt (17 times Oprah guest speaker). From quitting his corporate job, being hit with bankruptcy after his first investment fell flat, to sleeping on a friend's couch and selling his Bose Bluetooth Speakers to get by – Maxwell a unique and powerful understanding of what it really takes to succeed.

Stefania Piccardo obtained her Ph.D. in English language and literature from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. During her academic years, she worked for Scottish distilleries and castles as a tour guide in multiple languages. Her love for Scotland brought her back to Aberdeen in 2003, where she obtained an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University. She then worked for multiple organizations but soon realized that she wanted to teach languages privately to the corporate level. Stefania has helped many students achieve the best grades in school and university but most of all she has the ambition to train corporate employees who deal with import/export, foreign trade or want to develop their career and expand their horizons for more opportunities in Europe and beyond. She speaks four languages including Italian, her mother tongue, English, French and Spanish and she has founded Language tutor4U back in 2012. In addition to her teaching schedule, she works as a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, the innovative and traditional Indian restaurant she owns along with her husband in Aberdeen City center since 2018. As a keen writer, she also enjoys feeding social media posts and writing for her blogs about Italian and Indian cultures, languages, and much more! Who is Stefania? I obtained my PhD in English language and literature from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. During my academic years, I worked for Scottish distilleries and castles as a tour guide in multiple languages. My love for Scotland brought me back to Aberdeen in 2003, where I obtained an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University. I started learning languages since I was 14 in school and I cultivated these disciplines. Now I speak four languages including Italian, my mother tongue, English, French and Spanish and I have founded Language tutor4U back in 2012. In addition to my teaching schedule, I work as a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, the innovative and traditional Indian restaurant in Aberdeen City centre since 2018. As a keen writer, I also enjoy feeding social media posts and writing for my blogs about Italian and Indian cultures, languages and much more! I am currently a proud Executive Contributor at Brainz magazine where I have posted a few articles about Indian food, Italian culture and languages. I live in Aberdeen, Scotland and I am a mother to a girl of 9 and a boy of 3 years old. In my spare time, I have many hobbies and interests such as swimming, pilates, Qi gong, alternative therapies and meditation. I also love reading novels but I don’t get much time to do that with two kids who keep me on my toes! What is that you do for clients? With regards to Language tutor4u, I love to teach languages to a wide range of people within a friendly and approachable environment. I am happy to see my clients enjoying the learning process and develop new skills that they may need for their job or just for their own leisure when visiting their favourite country. I believe language learning is part of a healthy lifestyle as there are many long-term benefits that come with studying a new idiom, from enhanced memory skills to preventing dementia to overcoming the boundaries of communication and expanding your horizons. PR/Marketing for Namaste Delhi Indian restaurant, Aberdeen As a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, I am keen in providing and organising entertaining musical live events, writing articles for the blog to promote Indian food Namaste Delhi style and our zesty cocktails. I enjoy taking videos and pictures of our chefs when they perform their dexterous culinary abilities in the kitchen for the posts on our social media network. I love going to networking events, spreading the word about Namaste Delhi, spotting potential opportunities for the business and keeping in touch. Who should work with you? Anyone who are interested in other cultures, languages, Indian food, companies who are looking for long lasting and solid business partnerships. We are partnering with local charities around Aberdeen and we are a BOA partner with the Aberdeen football club. We are also looking to team up with local golf courses to enhance business potential beneficial to both sides. What is your big goal where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? I believe success is an ongoing process and an everyday commitment. There is no limit to what you can achieve if you set your mind to it. 10 years is a long time away but I see myself growing professionally within my businesses, thriving as an entrepreneur and see these two businesses flourish. Why is Namaste Delhi different? Our tasty food is prepared individually with the customer in mind and at customer’s request. We use fresh local produce, and every sauce is cooked separately with different spices according to the item being prepared. We offer homemade style tapas and á la carte dishes, to give people the opportunity to share and enjoy together. Traditionally cooked, the food stands out as authentic as average people would cook at home or on the busy streets of the organized chaotic Indian cities. The aim is to bring the real India to the table, not only to promote food but also to replicate the Indian social perspective of collectively sharing food with family and friends. Whether you decide to walk in or enjoy the food in the comfort of your home, or delivering at your chosen location, Namaste Delhi is the ticket that will take you straight to India saving you the hassle of the journey. As soon as you come in, Namaste Delhi takes you on a journey of flavours of the East. You are greeted by the smell of the traditional spices which take you back to the past centuries when Delhi was governed by the Mughals, Afghanis, Rajputs to name a few. Due to these influences, Delhi is today a melting pot of cultures, and these differences are skilfully blended in the incredible food India boasts today. The menu starts off with mouth-watering dishes where contemporary meets authentic in a delightful marriage of flavours, a skillful combination of spices and aromas will make your palate sing and make your experience of India unforgettable. We also have a range of innovative services like cooking and cocktail classes, live piano events, afternoon tea with an Indian twist, team buildings, parties, corporate functions. We are continuously brainstorming to bring more pioneering services to the Aberdeen hospitality stage. What is the idea behind the business? The idea was generated by eating out at various Indian restaurants in Aberdeen and UK throughout the years. There was the realization of not getting the same food Indian people eat at home. We noticed a gap in the hospitality sector as regards to Indian restaurants as most of them are not offering typical, traditional dishes but the food is often times adapted to the local taste. The ambition of Namaste Delhi is to bring the real taste of India, to bring authentic Indian food from the streets of Delhi to Aberdeen. How has it all started? The process was a steep learning curve from looking for the right location, decorating the ambience, to recruiting the right people which was something we had never done before. To bring the real taste of India to you every day we have run a tough selection of chefs who are Indians and have the highest level of quality in their cooking. It has been a long journey so far but there have been lots of valuable lessons learnt in the process. The purpose is to change the general perspective on Indian food. What has been your main challenge? The biggest challenge has been to break into a well-established market as regards to Indian restaurants as there are so many in Aberdeen, Scotland and UK. We had to change people’s mindset as locals were and still are used to Indian food that is cooked to local taste. This is an ongoing process. What is your vision for the future? It is a young business but very ambitious, there are lots of ideas on the plate (pun not intended!) to innovate, bring new flavours to the table and new pioneering services to our customers. Our long-term goals: open more branches within UK and internationally to spread the real taste of India! 3 tips.… Come out of your comfort zone and you will experience great things! Passion and hard work make things happen Every small step builds the road to success Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stefania!

Written by: Imani Missouri, 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. More than 4 million people quit their jobs in August 2021. While the reasons for resignation vary, there’s no doubt that people have and are taking the time to reset. In this reset, a number of workers are rethinking their purpose. Rick Warren notes in his international bestseller The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For? that “The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years...we typically begin at the wrong starting point-ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.” We have all traveled to MY island. It isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be. Wouldn’t you agree? These past 16+ months have included peaks of fear, anger, resentment, guilt, desires for approval and moments of temporary happiness. With limitations to in-person social interactions, some have questioned their own abilities and purpose because they were sold on the Goals images flooding their timeline. Let me speak plainly - those images are not necessarily what is uniquely for you. The Purpose-Driven Life reminds us, “Your value is not determined by your valuables, and God says the most valuable things in life are not things!” Furthermore, as I was taught, “Never have the green or red eye of envy. You don’t know what it took for a person to get that/there”. When I resigned from my last role in February 2020, I did so with no offer lined up. Why? Because I no longer felt the joy in the work. I rode in to work the morning of January 21, 2020, and heard God’s invitation, “Why not today?” That very question and invitation is the backdrop of this article. For those on the fringe of a career transition or in the throes of it as a result of a resignation, furlough or layoff, I invite you to see the blessing in this opportunity. I invite you to reframe your views of success in preparation for what’s next. As I journey through the next 26 days of the 40-day journey in The Purpose-Driven Life, I have been reflecting on success. A redefinition of success is needed. You can’t come through this period in our history unchanged. Here are 7 faith-centered reflections to help you reframe success: 1. Circumstances do not dictate your identity: “Real success is getting to a place where circumstances do not dictate your identity or your sense of peace. Real success requires faith that you are where you are supposed to be.” ~ Victoria Lowe, 10 Spiritual Principles of Successful Women: Discovering Your Purpose, Vision and Blessing 2. Money doesn’t equate to success: “Having money and being obsessed with money are not the same thing...our choices should have everything to do with the purpose God has given us..Don’t let money be the deciding factor when you’re trying to discover your calling.” ~ Kimberla Lawson Roby, The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success, Through Faith - Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally 3. You are divinely equipped for success: “Everything God put in you has equipped you for the battle and everything God is to you has prepared you to succeed.” ~ Yvonne Orji Bamboozled By Jesus: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams 4. Never chase the money, instead chase God: “Don’t chase the money; chase the opportunity for God to use you to bless another. Matthew 6:33.” ~ Andria Hall, The Walk To Wealth™ 7 Guiding Principles to Prosperity 5. Your success has a lane just for you: “Find your lane, baby. I’ve seen highways with six, sometimes eight lanes. If everyone is going the same way, then everyone is going to pick a lane and ride in it….you don’t have to do everything just like somebody else to be successful. Figure out your own way and be alright with getting off on a different exit, your exit.” ~ Tabitha Brown, Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom 6. Success is connected to your purpose and a mirror of the interview of you: “Success is a harmony of purpose, resilience and joy. Successful women are compassionate. They are wise. They are kind. They speak up with courage but don’t destroy others in the process.” ~ Valorie Burton, Successful Women Speak Differently: 9 Habits That Build Confidence, Courage, and Influence 7. The fruit will make your success truth evident: “I believe that no matter how you achieve numerically, none of it matters if you fail people emotionally. Success should be measured by the degree to which we achieved our goals while ensuring that the people who helped us along the way feel loved, respected, supported, and valued.” ~ Nona Jones, Success from the Inside Out: Power to Rise from the Past to a Fulfilling Future Be transformed by the renewal of your mind during this time. As Rick Warren writes, “Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason”. There is greater meaning to the past 16+ months. How will you reframe success on the other side of it? Don’t wait until 2022 to shift the paradigm. Why not today? For more info, follow me on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website! Read more from Imani! Imani Missouri, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Imani Missouri is the Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC, where she leverages the essence of faith to coach leaders toward their purpose. She has a number of faith-centered sub-brands that motivate women of color to reach their full potential in the professional sphere and beyond. Some of which include the Forward 40 (4tea) podcast, which highlights the experiences of 40 women of color on the rise in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. She is also the founder of The Forward Academy, a faith-centered professional development platform for women of color seeking to define themselves beyond their titles. Her career spans experience in the nonprofit, community development, and education sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment, a nonprofit that creates historically and globally conscious Black visionary leaders who believe in Black business, take responsibility for developing solutions to the issues Black people face, and have unshakeable pride and confidence in themselves. She is also a member of the Medal and Nominating Committees for Smith College.

Written by: Nancy Hovde , 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. Business Professionals often experience, what I refer to as, a first meeting. First meetings such as when we network, interview or simply have a first phone or video call with someone new we’ve never met. These first meetings can make or break a relationship. Here's how to make a good impression. Think of all the professional first meetings you've ever had such as, a future employer, new business colleague or within your local community. Maybe you are in sales, in business for yourself or are just someone who finds it pleasant to connect with those in your community. Let's face it, life is more fulfilling when we can make a good impression and make encounters more meaningful, significant and memorable. First meetings offer so much to learn about someone new and what opportunity this connection could lead to. Approaching with curiosity and most of all, trusting our vibes about someone new, is key in creating and building a positive long-term, professional relationship. Sometimes we may be wrong, misjudged or have incorrect information or worse yet, we were misinformed. Certainly, specific events may have happened that can change our initial prediction of how we thought a connection or relationship may develop. We learn and grow from this and we become more aware for future first meetings. I like to meet with referrals or anyone who seems to be doing something relevant in my industry. I will also meet with people I think are interesting. Many of the projects I have been involved in have come out of random meetings. Depending on the situation, presenting ourselves for the first time can be nerve-wracking or exciting. I am guessing we can all recall those nervous first meetings with future employers. How do you feel in a first meeting? Shy? Self-conscious? Excited? Do you find yourself comparing, searching for a connection or trying to show interest? Maybe you are purely open and approach the first meeting with simple curiosity. Have you ever had a first meeting and found someone who was very unprepared? Or worse yet, perhaps you felt unprepared? This can cause us to become impatient. Avoid this; it is easy to do a little work in advance to figure out the other person’s interests. Here are some tips that will help to create a memorable meeting and a strong, business or personal connection: First, determine the number one thing you want to communicate with this person. Many times a first meeting may be to talk about yourself and your current activities, industry related interests or business projects. Most people can probably handle one, maybe two, areas of focus during a first meeting, so it’s important to lead off with the one thing you want to accomplish within the meeting. If you find you are two minutes into a meeting and still have no clue why you’re speaking with the person, politely ask, “What do you want to get out of this meeting?” This offers a simple hint: cut the chit-chat and focus. It isn't being rude; it is being efficient, so you can make the time together useful for both of you. Try not to make a first meeting an endless stream of attempts to connect with someone. For example, if you discuss the other person’s activities such as running, reading or their vacation home in Europe, make sure it’s relevant to the meeting’s topic. Most people can focus one hundred percent of their energy on you for about fifteen minutes, so make those first fifteen minutes count. It can be helpful and effective to have one thing in your head that you think this new person can learn from you. Keep in mind that regardless of the outcome of a meeting, you can view it as a success if you learn one thing. If your meeting isn’t going anywhere after ten minutes, you may have to be subtle and announce, “Wow, I’ve got five more minutes left, I'd like to really see how we can network.” It helps, of course, if you know what you want this new person to learn from you, and it relates to what they care about. Remove your ego. Share what you do, not your title, employer or financial status. It may be a shock to realize this, but for most people, your title, company name or financial status will mean very little, it is what you do in your company and in life that makes you interesting. Start by describing the primary benefit that your work, intention or value offers to your listener, along with a few punchy action words that support your true reason for meeting. Never underestimate the power of first meetings. Within minutes, we quickly determine whether we want to spend more time building a business or connection with a new person. No one wants to waste his or her time, so your pre-meeting prep work will help make your next first meeting count - And it may lead to a wonderful, unexpected opportunity! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Nancy! Nancy Hovde, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nancy is a leading Life Empowerment Coach who has combined her professional background, credentials, personal experience, knowledge, and insight to inspire and motivate those who wish to create positive change. For over 15 years, she has empowered clients who desire positive change with career/life purpose, personal growth, or wellness goals. Nancy will help you discover how true change can happen when we use our time and resources to develop our minds and spirits, examine our values, and let go of issues that hold us back. She inspires and guides clients to live their optimal life through her books, blog posts, articles, and coaching services. Nancy is the author of Uber Empowerment and Uber Empowerment Quotes: 500 Inspirational Quotes for Knowledge, Insight & Wisdom. Her credentials include Certified Life Coach, B.A. Interpersonal Communication, Stress Management Specialist, Behavior Change Specialist, and Certified Personal Trainer.

Written by: Thomas J. Kent Jr., 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. Nowadays, the term Mergers & Acquisitions can denote a wide variety of transactions. However, the core business model remains the same. Find a diamond in the rough, acquire it (get a percentage ownership for it) polish it up, make it presentable and sell outright to the highest bidder with the least restrictions. Joint ventures and alliances aside, audits play a keen part in getting dealflow to completion. The quickest vehicle for handling Mergers & Acquisitions deals successfully at the present moment happens to be via LinkedIn. It is a great meeting place for professionals, but more importantly, it is a great conduit for deal presentation and acquisition. Once a person sets up an account, constantly reaching out to professionals within the field or adjacent to the sector they are interested in, it is just a matter of consistent follow up to complete a deal. There are professionals that handle 2 deals on average every single month on LinkedIn. The average time spent on these deals are 3 hours at the maximum. An entity that likes a presented deal usually moves quick and finishes the deal within 3 weeks. The caveat holds true that if s deal exceeds a month on the LinkedIn platform, it probably is a dying deal and may be left undone. The alarming trend is to never force a buyer or sellers' hand in making an immediate decision which leads to wasted time for most professionals while pursuing a definitive end goal for their Mergers & Acquisitions deal. The pacifying attitude bodes trouble for most professionals trying their hardest to complete a deal. We are, after all, dealing with a 2 trillion-dollar market for combined closed deals and that is just for the second quarter of 2021. All this activity is post-pandemic, unprecedented when compared to historical norms. Almost 18,000 deals have been closed by the second half of 2021 and North America still being the number one place for most activity. Since this is a continuously growing market, tread deep and tread wide. It has been a fruitful market for all and in a truly sector agnostic way. Scale and growth are inevitable for a thriving company, Mergers & Acquisitions provide an ideal way to handle this on an extremely flexible level. As the familiar quote goes, “Go and do likewise, gents. Go and do likewise.” Be a part of this historical growth and catch the tailwind sooner. For more information, visit my website! Read more from Thomas! Thomas J. Kent Jr., Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mr. Kent is the founder, C.E.O., And Chairman of Kent Global LLC. Kent Global LLC is a boutique investment firm based in New York City. Mr. Kent has helped over 300 companies raise over 1 billion USD.

As a coach for 4 decades, Pat is a founding member of the ICF and is an inaugural member of its Circle of Distinction, a Master Certified Coach, a Board-Certified Coach, and member of Forbes Coaching Council. As an educator, he was a founding member of Harvard University’s Institute of Coaching, has taught graduate students at several notable institutions and served as a curriculum consultant for the Coaching Certificate program at Fielding International University, and was named Educator of the Year by the New England Educational Institute (2008). Dr. Williams is also Past President of ACTO (Association of Coach Training Organizations), ICF board member, and Honorary VP of the International Society for Coaching Psychology. Who is Patrick Wiliams? I am a long-time seeker of living beyond mediocrity and assisting others to do the same….to live one’s life as full and free and unique as possible. I functioned as a psychologist for 15 years and then shifted full time to being a Life and Leadership Coach since 1990. I also train and mentor coaches who are aspiring to professional competency and certification. I am a father of two grown daughters and a grandfather of four (ages 13,10,3 and 2). I live with a ’new’ life partner who is also a Master Certified Coach whom I've known of for 25 years in a collegial capacity. My life has been living in many locations but most of my life has been in Colorado, where I've spent most of my life. Through coaching and mentoring, I focus on new or recently trained coaches looking to improve their mastery of coaching skillsets and mastery. I also have a very deep and enriching online course for coaches/therapists/helping professionals who see the connection between personal development and professional development. My love of teaching and training coaching skills shows up in other settings for leadership development and more of being a Human Being….not just a Human Doing Who should hire/work with you? Aspiring coaches and therapists who want to improve how they show up…. how they model and live a life well lived. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? My big goal is to continue to leave a legacy while I am still on this earth and then to have an ongoing impact after my energy has shifted to the next manifestation, what we call “death”. my purpose and vision statement is I AM a passionate and compassionate curious EXPLORER and a joyful CONTRIBUTOR to conscious living. MY PURPOSE is to LIVE passionately, LOVE fully, LEARN continuously, LAUGH often, and leave a living and lasting LEGACY. Do you have any Tips for those wanting to be effective coaches, moving toward mastery? At this stage of my career, I am mostly a Coach for coaches…. I don’t focus only on leadership coaching anymore but mentoring of aspiring coaches. Their biggest challenge is stepping up professionally…how to get known and visible and grow their business. What are your 3 best tips for enhancing and growing your coaching business? 1. Keep improving and practising both competence and confidence… 2 get comfortable with your unique gifts and 3. know you are in a position to be a coach to others in many different specialities to live their best life in Health, Wealth, Love or Happiness. What is your tip to live your best life, purposefully, exploring and learning? The title of my new book Getting Naked comes from my experience of times in my life when emotional nakedness had good results … eventually. This is what I want for everyone who reads this book, to either remember or to create positive outcomes from careful self-disclosure now in your life. These experiences might be memories of bumps and bruises along your journey, but they no longer need to be painful. Much of the human experience entails being scarred or scared. Painful life events at various stages can indeed wound us. Just as scars are visible reminders of an injury or wound we once had, hopefully, the pain that accompanied them is gone. But scars are also metaphorical and psychological reminders for those memories, experiences, and challenges that have stretched us to fully experience life as it happens, good or bad, positive or negative, or challenging or inspiring. And remember, scars are a sign of healing…the wound is no longer open, but a memory attached to it may still need healing. Our life gives experiences to us. What we make of them is the key, and we don’t have to do it alone. Take what life gives you, learn from it, and move forward with the help of a committed confidante or two. Someone once said, “Life is like a camera. Focus on what’s important. Capture the good times. And if things don’t work out, just take another shot.” One of my major beliefs for much of my life has been that personal and spiritual development is a process. You can either just let happen and be an observer, or you can be more purposeful in your personal exploration and be a participant in the unfolding or emergence of your being. Emotional Nakedness as an Energy Charging System Emotions are just feelings, and a form of energy in our experience. One could see e-motion as energy in motion. Some feelings like anger, or sadness do not feel good for long, but they are just an alert to the energy that needs to shift. Have you ever experienced a moment of naked truth where you shared an intense emotion with a trusted listener? How did you feel after the disclosure? Did your energy shift? If we stuff our emotions, they can short circuit our energy and drain us of the power to move toward a different experience and the learning opportunities that eventually come from all life challenges. Even bad experiences have positive lessons ……eventually. Much is written and taught today about how vulnerability is the center of all emotions and feelings. To feel your emotions, you must be vulnerable. The key is to know where, when, and with whom is it safe to do so. I suggest to my clients that e-motion means energy in motion. Don’t ignore what you’re feeling. Acknowledge it, embrace it, express it, and move the energy. The love you live is equal to the love you give, both for yourself and others. Connect with Patrick through Facebook or LinkedIn. Read more from Patrick!