Written by: Nicky Burke, 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. When I was younger, I was drawn to the bright lights and oversized shoulder pads of dramatic costumes. I wanted to be like those on stage, I wanted to know what it was like to be fierce, free, and living a stargazed life. People around me said that “fame COSTS!” So… I got my pretty butt into gear, worked day in and day out to get into all the “right” schools & did my best to fill every criteria to perfection! When I was younger, I was drawn to the bright lights and oversized shoulder pads of dramatic costumes. I wanted to be like those on stage, I wanted to know what it was like to be fierce, free, and living a stargazed life. People around me said that “fame COSTS!” so … I got my pretty butt into gear, worked day in and day out to get into all the “right” schools & did my best to fill every criteria to perfection! In the process of trying to attain the unattainable, I became lost, and through my obsession with “making it” I attracted rubbish contracts, dodgy directors, and egoic agendas that were on a mission to “make this the best show no matter what it COSTS!” Yes, Law Of Attraction was giving me exactly what I had been telling myself all of those years; I truly believed all of this was just normal, that was until the day I ASKED. One night I stood in the heart of the West End, I placed my hands on my heart and said out loud “ Universe, I don’t want to continue my life in this way, I can feel my soul calling to teach, I ask you please bring me students who want to learn the heart of dance.” At this moment I chose to let go of my driving force focus to perform on the West End, the good news… universe and I were cooking up something even greater together! That same night, I was covering a dance class at a central London studio, with usually 5 or 6 attendees it was a great way for me to interact with new students and invite them to my own classes. As I arrived outside the studio, I peered through the glass door to see a hive of people, “what's going on I asked?” the receptionist replied, “everyone's taking class.” I smiled. The corridor hummed with people asking why it was so busy tonight and I could feel the love of the universe following me into the studio doors. We were a full house that night; I knew my calling had been heard and a new chapter, a fuller perception of life was awakening from within me. I moved forwards to build a community. Why? Because the creation bought me back to my own heart and the reason I began to dance in the first place …for the feeling. Except, this feeling was better than I had ever imagined, the love in the room was fuller than I had anticipated, my appreciation for life grew and class was packed with unique souls of all ages and abilities who truly wanted to express themselves, let go and do what they love. Our community blossomed so much that we created live performance, giving the opportunity for most students to be on stage for the very first time. Now, I carry the love of the community to every project, set, and talk. It was through surrendering the way I thought I needed to go that I found the freedom of my soul and love of dance again. It was through listening to this intuitive whisper that I became the artist, choreographer, creative director, coach, and now writer that I am today. In asking I let go of control, I opened my heart up to new paths, and acknowledged that my gifts are forever unravelling out of me. I became less afraid of what others think and had so much FUN along the way! I appreciate and look forward to dancing with every soul who meets me on this journey for we are ALL teachers, each with the ability to live our dreams; all we need to do is ask… With peace & love, Nicky Burke Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Nicky Burke, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine "Nicky Burke is a Professional Artist, Choreographer, Creative Director & Intuitive Coach for Film, TV & Theatre. Her clients include the BBC, SKY TV, ITV, Sony Music Entertainment, Channel 5 & ExCeL London, including Uber Eats, Harry Hills Tea Time Series 1 & 2, Lip Sync Battle UK, Britains' Got Talent, Scouting for Girls, NYC Time Square Hard Rock Cafe & the UK's leading pawnbroker H&T. She also enjoys her time working on feature films & guiding singer/songwriters worldwide. Nicky's passion for dancing has led her to share the joy of movement with people all over the world, of all ages and abilities! Her teachings support shifting old belief systems and subconscious blockages so you can open up to accelerate and live a life of your own unique gifts. Nicky brings her wisdom and compassion to every board meeting, set, and coaching session knowing that each person is on their own individual journey. You can hire Nicky for private and group sessions, both online & in person, enquire today to reveal your SUPERPOWERS!"

Written by: Christine Hansen, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I have had a lot of different coaches, taken a lot of different courses and the way I’ve approached branding has changed a lot over the years. In the beginning, my first coach (and many after that) gave me the exercise to create a client avatar. That is basically creating a profile of your ideal client. You create a sketch of who you think your perfect client is: male, female? What is their age? How much do they earn? What kind of things do they buy? Based on these kinds of questions, you then create a language that you think will appeal to this ideal client. Now, what I’ve learned is that it's none of our business to assume anything. People are just so different even if they have things in common. My favourite example for this is the niche “mothers”. Literally, the only thing we have in common is that we became pregnant, and we gave birth (most of the time, I am adopted myself yet my mother is clearly still a mother). But in general, that’s it. Everything else is individual: the way we love our children, raise them, our own relationship with motherhood. It doesn’t mean every mother is overwhelmed or super busy or carries tonnes of mom guilt or whatever you think you know. Don’t assume anything about your clients. So again: it’s none of our business to assume anything. Instead, I’ve developed a technique to turn the whole thing around. Be a lighthouse. My belief is that everyone of us who wants to serve people is like a lighthouse. The ocean is full of little boats with people that are ready to be rescued in the area you can serve them or who feel an inkling that there is something for them out there. They see these different lighthouses (sometimes very similar and yet always unique, because, you know, there is only one of you) and they will connect with one of them. The one they relate to the most. Hence there is no need for a sense of competition because we are all different even if we serve with the same thing. And then it’s up to them whether they take action and row to the lighthouse or not. But the lighthouse never moves. It doesn’t suddenly hop towards the beach to rescue those boats. Aka you, you shouldn’t bend and twist to make people want to work with you either. That is how I see our businesses: it’s never up to us to bend and compromise, to run towards the beach. We’re here with our knowledge, with everything we’ve learned through experience, through the courses we’ve taken. We are who we are, and by shining that light and by marketing ourselves that way with our own individuality, we will automatically attract the right clients. I have made the best experiences with the best clients by only focusing on my own values and the thinks I like. Because here’s the thing: people who like what I like will automatically get along with me! Even if they’re very different from me – our core values are the same. The stuff I like? I love being lazy, I love being efficient rather than working nonstop, travelling, beautiful things in life, luxury, philanthropy for animals, laughing! And those people who get that, those are my soul clients. We inspire each other. It’s an amazing thing. And this is what I want for your business. Attract your soul clients rather than build something on an assumption and then find out that those people are not the ones you want to work with! So many people are afraid to narrow down their niche because they think no one can relate to them. But let me tell you, that’s just not true. When I set up my business, Sleep Like A Boss, I had super feminine branding going on, but fifty percent of the clients I attracted were men. Branding helps you to know your niche, which means you don’t need to create content for everyone, you can just focus on your essentials and get the job done with ease and joy. So even if you say you just work with women, there might be some men who really crave a more feminine touch and that will attract them to you. All of us need the feminine and the masculine, so don’t worry about that. You will always attract those who need exactly what you can offer the way you offer it. I like to give the example of MLM companies like Tupperware or essential oils or whatever. Everyone has the same products, training and tools, and yet you will always be drawn to one particular person. So ponder that idea and hopefully it will help you to realise that there is never competition - because you are amazing. It’s important to remember: You will change. That is just how it is. One of your main jobs in running a business is figuring out who you are and that is going to change ALL THE TIME. Top tip: Don’t invest too much in your first website. You will want to change it in six months anyway! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Christine! Christine Hansen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Christine Hansen is an award-winning business coach & consultant for online entrepreneurs who want to embrace their inner lazy, profit like a pro, and add philanthropist to their list of credentials—without ever undercharging or feeling like they have to be anyone but themselves again. She combines hardcore strategy with lush personal development so that entrepreneurs can build and scale businesses that are still soul-aligned all the way. With 10+ years as a sought-after TedX France and keynote speaker, Christine’s work is featured in Forbes, Business Insider, National Geographic, and more. Having built two successful online businesses herself, Christine found out the hard way—like losing money on sketchy business investments and ruined “put your damn laptop away!” vacation moments—that most entrepreneurs are closer to burnout than they are to reaching 6-figures. (And they’re still worrying, “Am I overcharging?!”) Christine is famous for sharing cautionary tales from the trenches, tell-it-like-it-is tips, her all-time go-to (no-brainer) tech tools she uses to get twice as much done in half the time, and gushing her best secrets to help you bust past your blind spots, be true to yourself, and breakthrough to 6-figures in under a year...all while donating to charity, taking vacations every 6 weeks, and spoiling yourself with something nice on a very regular basis.

Written by: Marina Jankovic, 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. When I was a kid, I discovered that putting my story to paper helped me explore and understand my experiences and get stuff off my chest. This process helped me understand my feelings and find my way to move forward. I continued my journaling practice, and whenever I visualised my future self, my books would be on the living room shelf. I started drafting some of my book chapters years ago, but I still procrastinated, hiding behind my fears of failure and fear of criticism. Although I knew I wanted to write a book for a long time, I didn't dare to make it happen. Then, 2020 happened. The world started looking different overnight; country borders, offices and schools closed, and collective fear begun growing with the covid-19 pandemic. My nine and 10-year-old daughters switched to online schooling; my husband turned our bedroom into his office. I turned our laundry room into my space for virtual coaching sessions. And I decided to finish writing my book finally. Why then? The time when everything outside started collapsing was the time to go within. The process of writing a book gave me a sense of certainty, despite so many uncertainties, because I saw it as a time with my soul. Yes, there were days when I wanted to put everything on hold and simply wait to become more of an expert, do my academic research or collect more wisdom (typical procrastination strategies!). But I arrived at the place that ignited my inner fire so brightly, so I became compelled to forget about perfectionism, the fact that English is my second language and find the courage to share my message with the world. When my husband and I decided to move from Dubai to Sydney, I had a few moments of panic with a thought, "There's no way I will be able to get the book done with two kids at home, my new role as their teacher, everyday coaching calls, packing for our big move." I had moments of feeling guilty, "Surely, I would be a better mother (and definitely a better home-school teacher!) if my attention wasn't divided between the book, my coaching practice and my daughters?!" Yet, I noticed something interesting. There was enough time to write a book. There was enough time to support my children's homeschooling. There was enough quality time for my husband and me. There was enough time to be fully present with my coaching clients. There was enough time to mentor aspiring coaches. There was enough time for my personal development and coursework. There was enough time to pack all our stuff and say goodbye to our friends in Dubai and family in Belgrade. All can work well together when you know your WHY. What was my WHY for publishing Your Time To Shine? Your Time To Shine is dedicated to every courageous woman – and man - who chooses to act through fear and self-doubt and share with the world her divine light. However, I could also say that my additional agenda of writing this book is my wish for my daughters to live a life full of wonder and do the work that feeds their souls. But the truth is, Your Time To Shine is written to contribute to our world. I want YOU to shine brighter as your light will make our world better, and by doing that, you will light the way for others to follow. So, I have big expectations of all of us - to never stop dreaming, exploring and finding new ways to transform ourselves and others; creating a world where we all do the work we long to do, bringing our vision to life without overwhelming, and enjoying all the unfolding of these beautiful things. Of course, you don't have to write a book to accelerate your self-discovery journey. Just pick up a pen and a notepad, or open a Word doc on your laptop and answer the following questions: What feeds your soul? What do you LOVE doing so much that the words SUCCESS and FAILURE become irrelevant? What kind of activities help you evolve as a human being? What is your big WHY to stay courageous on your self-discovery journey? Be brave. Stay awesome. Share your unique gifts with the world. Find out more about Your Time To Shine here. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marina! Marina Jankovic, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Marina Jankovic is a Master Coach and DE&I Leader with 17 years of international experience in Business Management, Learning & Development and Executive Education. She has managed a Global Talent and Diversity & Inclusion for a company operating in 180 markets and directly contributed to building a more diverse talent pipeline and inclusive culture. Marina brings psychological depth and a multi-system perspective to her clients and has partnered with numerous private and public sector organisations, both in-house and as a consultant, helping them design and implement experiential learning programs and coaching culture. Drawing from her own business and talent development experience, along with 3000+ executive coaching hours and hundreds of clients' stories, Marina identifies stepping stones towards creating a more significant impact in business and life. She is the author of a best-selling book Your Time To Shine, a pearl of practical wisdom for women - and men - to create the lives they want, by choosing courage, leading authentically, and contributing to a better world for the generations to come.

Written by: Diane Forster, 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. October 20th is LOVE YOUR BODY DAY in the United States, and with good reason! I recently read an article that said, “Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape.” Here’s the interesting thing about body weight and body image… it comes from the inside out. Quit looking outside of yourself for the answers…because you’re not going to find them! Stop the yo-yo dieting and the “quick fixes.” It’s time to try something new. It comes from the mind first. You need to “become” the image of yourself the way you’d like to be first, then FEEL like you already look like that. Once you do that, things will begin to change. You’ll also make different, better decisions if you’re already “being” and living the way you want to look on the inside. Here are 3 tips to help you start manifesting your ideal body: 1. You must BELIEVE it’s possible. Just because it’s not the way you want it to look, or even that it’s never looked, does not mean it can’t be. Anything is possible. If you could let go of your limiting beliefs that might be telling you that you are the way you are and you can’t change that, then you’ll open up the possibility to change. A belief is just a thought you think over and over again. It doesn’t make it true. It only makes it true for you. If you want to manifest your ideal body, first you have to believe that you can. 2. You need to VISUALIZE what it would be like to have your ideal body. Close your eyes and see it in your mind, feel how good it feels to look in the mirror, or how good you look in your clothes (and even better without them!). Visualize what your life would look, feel, and be like when you’re living inside your ideal body. This is the most important step in this process. Spend time visualizing yourself looking the way you want to look as much as possible. Do it every day. Do it in your meditation. Do it in the shower. Do it when you’re driving your car. Do it when you go to the fridge to get something to eat! Keep the image in your mind. 3. You speak about it as if it’s already happened when you AFFIRM it. Do you know the expression walk your talk? When you speak about your amazing, healthy, vibrant, sexy body like you’ve already got it, you will carry yourself differently. I’ve done this with so many things in my life, and it works. Speak it into existence. Notice that I used the word, “ideal” instead of other words? That’s because only you know what’s right for you. It’s Your Ideal Body, and your vision and opinion of it is the only one that matters. I have 2 free gifts to help you LOVE YOUR BODY. Here’s a link to this week’s episode of “I HAVE TODAY with Diane Forster” called “Manifest Your Ideal Body” where you’ll learn how to change your body with your mind and mindset. And… here’s a powerful Mantra Meditation called “Manifest Your Ideal Body” to help you speak about it as if you already have it. Just listen to this short meditation daily and watch your body begin to change! Make TODAY be the day you start loving that amazing body of yours… head to toe! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Diane! Diane Forster, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Diane Forster is an award-winning life coach and intentional living expert. After several life events that led to an attempted suicide, Diane reinvented her life and found her true calling. Now, she helps others transform their lives to live with passion and purpose. As a mindset and manifestation master, she has helped thousands clear away limiting beliefs and feelings of low self-worth to instead bring their ideas to actualization and create the life of their dreams. Diane's TV Show and podcast, "I HAVE TODAY with Diane Forster" offers practical, actionable steps that you can do today. She is also an award-winning inventor, author of 6 books, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, QVC, ESPN Radio, KHTS Radio, and several other TV, radio, podcasts, and magazines. Her mission: Transform 1 billion lives.

Written by: Patricia Renovato, 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. A trigger is something that alters your mood, either in a positive or a negative way. It’s a type of experience that you can identify in repetition throughout your life. Triggers can be many things to different people and impact individuals in a wide range of depth. Most triggers are obvious, like not properly arranging the dishwasher or the sound of the crinkling of a potato chip bag. But some triggers are hidden, it’s a scar that was created a while ago that never healed properly and resurfaces every time it’s touched. The most interesting triggers are the ones that serve as reflectors, showcasing something about ourselves that we don’t like. Basic triggers are benign events that put you in a bad mood, similar to a pet peeve. A contributing factor can be the lack of sleep; many parents of small children fall prey to this. The deprivation of sleep impacts our sensibilities and patience. A ten-second delay in line for coffee or a car cutting you off on your way to work can put you on a negative trajectory that will impact the rest of your day. You give life to these triggers. People are cutting people off all day (sometimes purposely or simply because they are bad drivers), someone is always being overly particular in line at Starbucks, your kid didn’t clean up their room, your husband left the toilet seat up, etc… Life is constantly happening around you, with very little influence from you, but how you choose to respond to it is the determining factor that sets forth what kind of day you are going to experience. If you succumb to it, you can find hundreds of small triggers throughout your day, little annoyances that can help you validate how horrible your day is. We all have emotional scars that come to the surface completely unannounced and leave our heads spinning. These triggers last longer and can take some effort to process. It’s often associated with a part of your childhood that hasn’t been resolved or a fear that has not yet been addressed. Oftentimes, these triggers show up as people that remind you of your past and it can take you back to moments you’d rather forget. In some cases, these triggers were caused by past trauma like death or abuse and should be cared for with professional guidance. For me, an interesting deep-rooted trigger was about food. I always have food everywhere (in the car, in my purse, anywhere). Sometimes friends made comments about it and I always thought it was funny. And now that I have kids, I always make sure to have an abundance of snacks for them everywhere. I started to take notice of the jokes about me always needing food around and began to wonder about my relationship with food. It took me 2yrs to remember that as a child, I grew up in a household that believed in eating 3 big meals a day and with no snacks in between. Well, for me, that didn’t work very well because I’m much more of a snacker, and as a picky eater as a child, eating big meals never happened. So this meant that I was often hungry. As an adult, I subconsciously decided that I never wanted to feel hungry so I always surrounded myself with food. This self-awareness has allowed me to learn a lot more about my behaviors and make more conscious decisions. And ultimately work through my fears of going hungry. The reflector trigger can be difficult to deal with because it reflects something back to us that we don’t like about ourselves but don’t yet recognize. It’s the trigger that people tend to avoid. Have you ever noticed that sometimes some people just rub you the wrong way? But have you ever thought long enough about it to find out why? I once had an acquaintance that provoked a feeling of uneasiness in me. I couldn’t understand why. I ran through the list of personality traits and behaviors of this person for years and it probably took me 5 years to finally realize what it was. This person lived her life without limitations, she did what she wanted, when she wanted; she explored. This is something I always wanted to be able to do myself but never gave myself the freedom to do. Once I realized this, I felt so much freedom. I felt free to be around this person without being bothered. And then I started to remove my own self-limiting blockers that had been preventing me from living the way I desired. I developed a 3 step process that will help you identify, process, and reframe triggers in your life. 1. Feel and start labeling. Take the time to observe the shift in your mood, notice what made you react and how you reacted. When you pause to reflect after a trigger, you are then able to identify these triggers. Typically people just keep pushing forward when they get into a bad mood and never actually try to process it, they just move on to the next task in a bad mood. When you notice a trigger happening in repetition, it’s important to take the time to understand it so you can process it and set yourself free from it. 2. Process and make a conscious change. Once you have given yourself space to feel and identify a trigger. You are now able to separate yourself from the trigger, you are no longer a victim to it. When the trigger shows up again, you are in full control of how to react to it. It may still upset you or make you angry, but you are at least making a conscious decision on how to relate to it. Over time, you will make choices that benefit you (allowing yourself to be anxious all morning because you were running 10 minutes late does not benefit you). 3. Use positive triggers to offset the negative ones. Have you ever noticed how your mood lifts when your favorite song comes on the radio? Create a list of all the simple things in your life that quickly enhance your mood and use them when you encounter a negative trigger. If you want to learn how to implement these ideas and be coached by me, you can email me at truepassioncompany@gmail.com. Follow Patricia on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit her website for more info! Read more from Patricia! Patricia Renovato, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine For over a decade, Patricia kept ignoring the growing sensation that she could do more to serve the world. It was daunting to think about dramatically changing her life without direction. After spending some time searching for the answer, Patricia found her calling as a Life Coach. This became the vehicle for her to facilitate the transformation of people who felt stuck in their life, not knowing how to begin a new journey. Patricia dedicates her time to connecting people with their genuine passion for living a passionate and purposeful life. Patricia’s innate ability to see people’s potential beyond their purview inspires clients to work through the inner blocks preventing them from living their dream.

Written by: Olga Kiendler , 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 “007” learnings to change in personal and professional life. It was another beautiful Friday I woke up in my beloved desert city. While the mystical oil-lamp scents were spreading around my apartment mixing with the smell of the freshly roasted coffee, there I was, planning a beach day with someone I had just recently met. The thought of spending the day with this mysterious "still-stranger" made me happy. The intellectual proximity and interest in life we shared made me intrigued and excited to explore more. "I'll just finish off this article and then I'll hit the road", I thought. The much-debated topic of when is the right time to leave the corporate world seemed to have gained momentum over the last few months especially due to the pandemic. Moreover, it seemed to have turned into a pandemic itself. An update on this topic felt just right. Being someone who left the corporate world at a for me back then, too early stage, I had to fight twice as hard. Reminiscing those days, I was struggling to put my emotions into words. My thoughts were mixed in the exact same way as when I decided to step out. While I mastered the more pragmatic part of the transition really well I found myself in an emotional roller-coaster that interfered with all the rationally supported pros and cons. I felt fear, disappointment, excitement, the desire for freedom and autonomy mixed with the burning desire to succeed, prove something to myself, to live, be around the people I truly cared about. If you are feeling the same way, to gain clarity on your transition it is imperative to consider the following: Know Yourself Self-awareness comes as your superpower when deciding on your next step. How self-aware are you? Have you considered professional help in form of hybrid coaching? Some of the questions you can ask yourself: Are you a more risk-averse type or do you like to play it safe? Do you long for the sense of belonging and safety or are you driven by uncertainty, adrenaline kicks, and passion no matter what? When do you perform at best? Do you have a support system around you? Are you aware of the changes in front of you and how they will affect you? What are your coping mechanisms? What is your drive – will it make you or will it break you? A boot-strapping entrepreneur might be supported by the same emotion that could break a newcomer from the corporate world. Know Your Why What is the underlying reason and emotion for aspiring the change? Make sure you understand what drives you, why you want to do certain things. Money alone is never reason enough, remember that! Are you driven by emotion? (we always are). Identify it, understand it and manage it if needed. Get professional help. You need to see things clearly. Between ration and emotion, emotion always wins. To discover the underlying emotion, check out these few questions: Do you feel appreciated in your current setting? Do you lack personal freedom and autonomy? Do you feel like you are missing out on life? Do you feel good enough? What is your why? Passion spurs things up. At the same time, passion can become an addiction and you may end up in a golden cage of your drives and emotions, forgetting why you stepped out at first. Are you really ready to leave? Be brutally honest with yourself. Depending on where you stand in life, do the circumstances allow you to venture into the unfamiliar, and what coping mechanisms do you have? Was your decision to leave triggered by an emotion? Which one? Don't let your ego or a personal disappointment drive you, ever. Be humble, be realistic. Weigh off your emotions. Can you afford to leave? Make sure you have sufficient funds to get you going for longer than you think. Depending on the stage of your life consider how possibly burning your savings will impact your emotional and mental stability. Consider having a passive income. Pave the road for the transition. No matter how much you own, the feeling of not performing on the same financial level will get you down. Make sure you don't associate your self-worth with material assets. It will tear you up. Work on yourself before you transition. You will be stronger, more resilient, and more successful. Are you aware of what the change brings? Consider how the change will affect your lifestyle, your thought process, and your mental wellbeing. Get ready to accept the unknown and unlearn the known. You won't be able to read about the unknowns in a book. Only experience will uncover them for you. Understand what meaning you are attaching to a certain situation and what emotion arises from it, as it will impact your decision-making processes. Build a coping mechanism to deal with the change and the unknowns through hybrid coaching. Get used to unlearning what you already know and adopting a fresh approach. Sunken in my thoughts, the city skyline started to disappear behind the increasingly hazed windows due to high humidity that made it impossible to spend the day at the beach. Instead, we decided to watch the new James Bond movie, "No time to die". Little did I know that I will end up crying next to this "still stranger" who was humming Louis Armstrong's words "We have all the time in the world" next to me. I wished I had more time to get to know him better before we traveled. Just for this one song, just for this one moment that let me realize that we don't have all the time. "Or maybe we could postpone our trips… and make some time? But, what if he doesn't feel the same way. The little voice inside my head went on… "Oh well, I guess, time will tell" ...but will it really? I better figure out now? Right? Or maybe not…. the moment will pass. What if the time is now…I have more time, do I? Should I?" Aren't these the questions you ask yourself most of the time? The "What ifs". While some may consider them as signs of indecisiveness I see them as a humble way of being human... Self-doubt, fears, insecurities we dwell upon while the time passes, the moment goes. So, what then are we supposed to do? Act now, do all the things you always wanted to do. Don't scare off from change. Step out of your comfort zone. Make the unfamiliar familiar and the other way around. The only thing that stops us from moving forward is fear. Leave that company, change your life, love that person. Or stay and find the way to freedom and fulfillment from within in everything you do. We meet people and find ourselves in certain situations for a reason. The timing may be right or not, but there will never be all the time in the world. Open up, embrace… universe has your back…and all of the sudden, the time is on your side and you don't need to time. Synchronicities start appearing. You are in a flow. And should you still be thinking of leaving that job, ask yourself… Do I really have enough time for life to unfold all the precious things it has in store? Define your precious things and go for them. Now! They might be just one step away and you may not even need to change that much… or do you? Follow me on Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Olga! Olga Kiendler, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Olga Kiendler is a Rapid Transformational Therapist and Executive Coach. She combines latest cutting-edge therapy and coaching techniques to fast track increase in Emotional Intelligence in individuals and teams by freeing them from unwanted emotional and behavioral patterns within a record time. She also holds an Executive MBA from the London Business School and has previously worked for years in the corporate world in managerial positions across the globe. In one of her recent interviews, Olga said: "The time has finally come for more holistic, empathic and empowering leadership. This starts from within. You can't just "Do" it, you have to "Be" it, and to "Be" you need to free yourself from unwanted, disturbing patterns in private and professional life."

Written by: Cassandra Wiley, 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. High blood pressure is also known as the "silent killer" because you may not show symptoms. Some say that they may get headaches or swollen limbs if they have elevated blood pressure. Others may experience dizziness. So how can you know if you have high blood pressure? Yearly physicals. When you have check-ups with your health practitioner, they will take your blood pressure. They will inform you if your blood pressure is normal or otherwise. Some people may have "white coat syndrome"; this is the condition in which you have normal pressure at home, but it is high when you're at the doctor's office. Your doctor may tell you that your home readings are the most accurate. Monitoring at home. If your blood pressure is borderline, your practitioner may advise you to purchase a blood pressure monitor. (Some may even give you one depending on your health benefits). Ideally, your blood pressure should be below 120/80. The top number is the systolic pressure, which is when your heart is beating. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which is when the heart is at rest. You can monitor your blood pressure three times daily. When you take your blood pressure, both feet are on the floor with your arm on a flat surface level with your heart. If you find that your readings indicate high blood pressure, your doctor may attempt to prescribe medication that you will have to take for the rest of your life. Others may work with you to lower your blood pressure naturally with diet and exercise. When potential clients come to me for help with their blood pressure, they do not want to take medication. The medication only treats the symptoms and not the root cause. You can take it and not change your lifestyle, which defeats the purpose. In addition, all prescription medication has side effects, which leads to more or be worse than the illness. If you are currently on prescription medication for high blood pressure and want to stop, work with a health care provider to reach that goal. Continue taking your medication. There are cases in which people stopped their medication resulting in a heart attack or stroke. Your practitioner may prescribe a lower dosage before stopping the medication. Do you want to make lifestyle changes? Find out if health coaching is right for you. Visit my website here. Read more from Cassandra! Cassandra Wiley, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Cassandra Wiley is a health coach and founder of Have Faith and Live Well with Chasadah LLC. She focuses primarily on chronic illnesses such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Her mission is to empower individuals to lose weight and teach a new healthier approach to food so that they can live better lives. She was successful in reversing her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol diagnoses naturally. The weight loss was an added benefit. She has helped clients change their diets and “have faith” in themselves in order to meet their health and wellness goals.

Written by: Natalie Rotin, 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. Often linked with perfectionism, Imposters Syndrome (which btw is not a diagnosable condition) is a major reason why women avoid failure. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as –“the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” But I’m starting to realise that it’s not imposter syndrome itself that’s holding me back. It’s the reason WHY I feel like I’m an imposter, why I’ve always struggled with perfectionism. The belief behind the belief which is: “I’m not enough” Since taking on a new role at work where I’m managing more complex ‘stuff’, well lets just say my anxiety is through the roof. No matter how much I try to prepare before meetings, I still feel like I’m walking into the lion’s den. I second guess everything I say, what people are thinking, whether I sound intelligent enough. I’m literally hyperventilating by the time the meeting is over. And when it happens in one area of my life, it starts to spill into other areas… I’m not a good enough parent, I’m not worthy of really belonging, I’m not a good enough friend, sister, daughter. If I believe I’m not enough, then I have to prove to others I’m enough by being nothing less than perfect. Even after all the self-development work I’ve done and continue to do, the belief that I’m not enough still lurks behind all my other thoughts and feelings. To be honest, I don’t really believe there’s a way to completely overcome it. It’s more like learning to manage it before it becomes as big as my granny knickers. So, I thought I’d share with you the 1 thing that I’ve come back to over and over again. No matter how far we think we’ve come, sometimes the best thing we can do is go back to basics! And this simple but effective exercise prompts me to think differently no matter what my inner jerk face is throwing at me. My Mindful Triangle (known as the cognitive triangle in the clinical world) The concept that our thoughts lead to feelings, our feelings lead to behaviours, and our behaviours continue to fuel our thoughts. This triangle is a constant reminder that no matter what life throws at me, I have control over how I choose to respond. And this includes my thoughts. It’s really hard trying to change the way we think so here’s a bonus tip for you: Start with your behaviour instead of the thought or belief. Sometimes it’s just easier to fake it until you make it. Do something that will make you feel good about yourself. Put on some makeup and your best outfit, go for a fast-paced walk, treat a friend to coffee. It doesn't have to be big action. Just start to change the way you're behaving and watch how this changes your outlook and perspective. We can’t get rid of our inner jerk face permanently. Being human means we can’t just hit delete on our thoughts. But we can manage them and stop them from determining who we become. Download your Mindful Triangle Template! Follow Made for Greatness on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube, or visit the website for more good reads. Read more from Natalie! Natalie Rotin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natalie is a leading speaker, writer, and goal-setting extraordinaire. Her degree in Health Science and experience as a Behaviour Change Coach led to her current role as mental health and continuous improvement expert in the Emergency Service sector. While by day she supports the wellbeing of frontline workers, by night she is a budding entrepreneur inspiring change and wholehearted living. After many years of people-pleasing and struggling with her identity as a single parent, Nat established Made for Greatness; a business that fosters community and connection while helping ambitious women to build resilience, set healthy boundaries, and live an adventurous yet simple life. Nat continues to inspire and empower others through her unique storytelling abilities and the creation of personal development tools and resources. She believes our circumstances don’t define us and that what we tend to see as failures has the potential to drive our success. Her mission: If we dare to be vulnerable, accepting that we are a work in progress, happiness and freedom can be found in the process of living, not just enjoyed as an end goal.

Written by: Claire Elmes, 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. Being confident at work doesn’t come naturally to everybody. Thanks, negativity bias! We obsess over our perceived failures, beat ourselves up, and act as though our challenges are permanent and fixed. But if you relate to that, then luckily there are actionable steps you can take to help you improve your confidence at work, as well as your happiness, positivity, and overall emotional wellbeing. 1. Eliminate negative self-talk. Negative self-talk can become so habitual and ingrained in us that we don’t see the full impact that it has on our confidence, performance, and overall emotional wellbeing. Learning to recognise negative self-talk so that you can acknowledge it, counter or re-frame it, and ultimately reduce it is a vital skill for confidence-building. It’s okay to have areas for development, gaps in your knowledge, and skills you want to improve on, and actively making the effort towards doing that should be regarded positively. Your abilities are not fixed, therefore your difficulty in one area does not need to be incorporated into your identity or sense of self. Practice makes progress! 2. Be proactive in learning. Linking with the point above, commitment to learning is something to be regarded positively. Actively looking to learn new skills, take opportunities when they arise, expand on your knowledge and gain more experience is a desirable trait to the majority of employers, and hugely rewarding for employees. It shows initiative, drive, and dedication, which is a strength in and of itself. If you struggle when you first start learning something new, that’s okay. Nobody can reasonably expect you to be perfect, or even good, from the get-go. Trying and learning is more than enough. Try setting yourself SMART goals for your professional development in order to foster, measure and track your progress. 3. Ask for clarification. Asking questions and getting clarification on a task or brief is something that many employees struggle with due to having that ingrained perfectionist mindset or a fear of looking incompetent. However, asking for clarification on what you’re expected to do is totally reasonable, and preferable to struggling and doing the wrong thing out of uncertainty. When you have a good idea of exactly what is expected of you, you will naturally feel more confident and assured when you come to doing it. Plus, it is then easier to identify any gaps in your knowledge or experience that are hindering you, which you can then pro-actively build on. 4. Reflect on your successes. Reflecting on your successes is just as important as reflecting on and identifying your areas for improvement. Employee recognition is an important part of any healthy workplace, as feeling valued and appreciated for the work we do is incredibly motivating and conducive to confidence and happiness at work. So it’s important to recognise ourselves personally for the work we do and the things we achieve. Minimisation is a cognitive bias that means we as humans have a tendency to gloss over our successes, achievements, positive traits or praise in order to contort to the narrative that we are incapable or unworthy. It can have a big impact on our confidence and how we feel about our work performance. At the end of each workday, write down at least one ‘win’ from that day – no matter how big or small – as an antidote to habitual dissatisfaction. 5. Stop defining your self-worth through your work performance. There is more to you as a human being than your performance at work. While there is nothing wrong with striving to do well, building on your skills, and wanting to progress in your career, positioning your work performance as the be-all-and-end-all of your value brings unnecessary extra stress and bulldozes over the nuance of you as a person. It can contribute to very black-and-white, perfectionist ways of thinking that damage your emotional wellbeing and hinder both your productivity and self-development. Work on adopting a more holistic view; a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset. Think about other areas of your life – your values, your passions, your relationships, your personal goals, your self-care. How do these inform your sense of self? Bonus number 6: Hire a coach. In order to give your confidence at work a boost, consider investing in yourself, your personal development, and your future by hiring a coach. A coach is somebody whose main purpose and focus is to inspire confidence in you, to help you to clarify your goals, tap into your potential and become the best version of yourself. You also get the benefit of additional support and a dedicated space to explore your feelings, goals, and limiting beliefs so you can begin to unpack them and form a healthier worldview and self-image. Struggling with your confidence, purpose, or happiness at work can be challenging and isolating, so having somebody there to talk to can alleviate some of that stress and empower you to make any necessary changes. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or visit my website or my Linktr to read about working with me! Read more from Claire! Claire Elmes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Claire Elmes is the founder of Inspire You and is passionate about work-life balance. Having experienced burnout, Claire is dedicated to empowering people to work through stress and anxiety, traumatic life events, shift mindset, regulate emotions, gain clarity, and develop a stable routine. Through coaching and therapeutic techniques, Claire helps people tap into their potential and transform their lives for the better. Since Covid 19, Claire has recognized many companies are changing how they work and is supporting them to develop innovative well-being strategies to prevent staff burnout and help teams thrive, not survive. Claire provides companies with regular well-being support on a wide variety of topics such as: "How to avoid burnout", "How to make time in your week for what matters", "How to stop overthinking", "How to improve sleep", " How to manage imposter syndrome," "How to be the best version of you", to name just a few. Claire's mission is to empower the emotional well-being of staff and bring the fun back into work life.

Written by: Katie Scott Eighteen US grassroots organisations will be getting a share of $1 million in community grants from Jordan Brand. The selected non-for-profits were recognized for their work in fighting systemic racism and delivering locally-relevant solutions to reduce inequality. “Each of these groups has demonstrated the courage to make a difference at the local level and I could not be more proud to support the work they are doing.” - Michael Jordan “Action over words is the foundation of our Black Community Commitment,” said Michael Jordan. “These 18 organisations put action over words every day to make their communities a better place. Each of these groups has demonstrated the courage to make a difference at the local level and I could not be more proud to support the work they are doing.” The recipients include The Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, which describes itself as a “beacon for world class art rooted in racial justice” and Mortar Cincinnati, which “allows historically marginalized entrepreneurs to access the resources needed to start and run successful businesses”. Narrowing down the recipients was a tough task, admits Craig Williams, President of Jordan Brand. He said: “We received hundreds of applications for Community Grants, and every single one of them was a reminder of the unique impact and powerful personal connections local community efforts can make happen.” This award – the second made - is part of a ten year commitment announced in 2020 by Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand to donate $100 million over the next 10 years. In June 2020, the brand detailed its focus will be on social justice; economic justice and education and awareness, and made three initial awards. Donations of $1 million each were made to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People and Families Movement, and $500,000 to Black Voters Matter to support reformative practices that drive real change in the Black community. To qualify to apply, organisations must have a total operating budget of less than $3 million and a track record of success in demonstrating a path to sustainable change.

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. Faith may appear to be intangible or unrelated to business. It is believing in that which is not yet seen but moving, taking the leap. It is not winging it but rather moving with conviction. Those that are risk-averse or pantomathic, may be more challenged by faith because it exists contrary to logic and readily available details. Faith is a noun, verb, and lifestyle in business and in one's personal life. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to present a session, Faith In Action, as a part of Christian Business Owner Virtual Summit . In full transparency this seemed fairly simple, it’s what I do, it’s me, yet when it came to putting the presentation I had a moment of stuck. To add additional context, I expressed interest to present at the summit in the spring and was extended an offer to present in August, one month from its launch. I had less than a month to further ideate my session yet, stuck. The content came to me close to 3 hours before I was set to go on the virtual stage. I know you must be thinking, that was pushing it. You are most certainly right! I was being pushed beyond the fog, procrastination and leaning in to trusting that the message would be perfectly packaged for the summit’s attendees. To further illustrate what it means to put faith in action, I zeroed in on one of my favorite scriptures and anchors for my business, Faith Forward LLC. Hebrews 11:1 AMPC says, “ NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” I was struck by the “NOW FAITH”. Keen on the positioning of “now” as the starter of the verse, I interrogated faith, that which is being modified, from the basis of the adverb, now. I journeyed through an elementary refresher of the meaning of an adverb which is defined as “a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there ).” Here is a snapshot of 6 considerations shared during my presentation that can serve as a self-coaching exercise the next time you feel stuck as a leader or entrepreneur. It is my hope that they will serve as degrees of progress from stuck to unstuck, doubt to confidence, cocooning to transformation. It requires a deeper level of discernment and steadily moving through a process of introspection: NOW to act faithfully means to exercise an expression of faith in relation to Place: Where are you being called to be? Time: When are you being led to move on “it”? Manner: How will you get “it” done? Cause: What or why is this action uniquely designed for you to fulfill it? Degree: What is your capacity to get “it” done? Continue to reflect, reassess and realign in your leadership. An additional thank you to Bernice Loman for putting the event together and for all of the business owners who shared in the impartation. If you’re curious about how you can put faith inaction with Faith Forward, learn more here . For more info, follow me on T witter , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my webs ite ! 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: Sandra D´Angelo, 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. Where does this idea about “having it easy” come from? An entitled feeling of deserving great success while putting in as little effort as possible. How does that work, I wonder? In my experience, it shows that you get what you put in. You create your opportunities. You create your successes. You create your life. Nothing is just handed out for free. Even if by chance something is “just given”, the chances you will appreciate it as much as you would if you had worked & put real effort in getting it, are very low. Having it easy means: Not being challenged. Not being faced with something new. Not getting out of the comfort zone. Not learning enough. Not growing enough. Not being appreciative enough. Not expanding your views. How can you become a better & a stronger version of yourself if the above doesn’t happen on a regular basis? You can't! So, let's stop thinking that “it has to be easy”. Instead, let's focus on having it valuable & beneficial. If your goals aren’t at least bit difficult and scary, you should go back and review them. The unknown, difficult, challenging – that's what makes the strongest impact on you and your life. That's what makes you grow & develop into a better version of yourself. If you look at those who have achieved great successes, both professionally and privately, you'll see that they didn’t have it “easy”. There's a lot of hard work, persistence, consistency, determination, sacrifices, ups & downs… that they confronted on their journeys. They had a clear picture as well as a strong desire & the passion to go through it all. They believed in themselves and their ideas, no matter what. There are no skipping steps, looking for shortcuts, or any other similar activities. What you try to skip today will eventually catch up with you later. Also, there're no excuses. You can have excuses or results, but you cannot have both. So, instead of having it easy, go “all in” on yourself & your goals: 1. Reflect & evaluate your current situation. a. Where are you at now? How are you spending your time, energy? b. How does that align with your values, beliefs, priorities? c. What's working? What's not working? What can you do more/less of? d. What are your current beliefs, habits, people who surround you, your environment? 2. Define what success means to YOU. a. Who do you aspire to become? What are your long-term goals? b. What impact do you wish to make? 3. What is your intention behind those aspirations? a. How passionate are you about your goals? How strong is your desire to make it happen? b. Why is that important? What difference will achieving those aspirations make in your life and the lives of others? 4. Break it down into smaller chunks. a. What do you need to be thinking, believing, doing daily to become who you aspire to become one day? b. What support might you need (systems, processes, people)? 5. Track your progress & adjust. a. What's working? What's not working? b. What can you do more or less of? What can you stop doing & start doing instead? c. What are you learning & how can you use those learnings when moving forward? It takes a lot to achieve a lot. However, if you find enough reasons to do something, if you truly believe in it and are “all-in” – you can achieve anything you set your mind to. If your life feels “okay” but you know that there's “more” for you out there – we should have a chat. Let's connect. For more information, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Sandra! Sandra D´Angelo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sandra D´Angelo is a full-time Certified Life Coach & Trainer dedicated to coaching Business Professionals in being more successful and making a bigger impact in their careers & privately. Sandra believes that every individual can achieve whatever they set their minds to and that all they need is already within them. She helps them analyze where they currently are, where they want to be and then bridge that gap through her specific coaching program. Sandra holds an MBA in Communications & PR and has years of experience working in sales & consulting in Switzerland and Germany. Including building two successful business units from scratch. Before becoming self-employed, consulting & coaching have always been a part of Sandra's professional life. Behind her is a strong track record of professionals from different backgrounds who she helped to explore their true potential and create the lives they want.