Written by: Stacey Ruth, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It might sound mutinous to suggest that you lead instead of your boss, but hear me out. An astonishing number of bosses don’t understand the distinction between managing and leading. As a result, they fail to lead effeactively. Instead, they micromanage, second-guess decisions, fail to share (or even set) clear strategies, provide mixed signals, play favorites, and create more emergencies than they solve. This creates confusion and frustration inside their teams, which is especially problematic in times of change or disruption. It also blocks leadership development from within the organization. The great news is that you can lead from anywhere in the hierarchy; demonstrating balanced behaviors that improve productivity and satisfaction for everyone. A Call to Leadership It is absolutely possible – and I propose, sometimes necessary – to lead, even if you aren’t the boss. This mandate to lead is independent of whether the “boss” is leading effectively or not. Leadership is the responsibility to see those around us rise. It’s not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in our charge. — Simon Sinek Leadership has several defining characteristics that anyone can practice from any role and any level of responsibility. When we stop waiting for permission and take up the mantel of leadership responsibility, the entire organization benefits, including us. While this may not create enough of an impact to keep you in your present work environment, it is still both empowering and motivating. When we are empowered and motivated it is easier to recognize possibilities and determine the merits of staying or making a change. We improve our own sense of worth and confidence so making a change is less threatening as well. 20 Leadership Traits You Can Practice Right Now The 20 key attributes of leadership are a matter of practice. It is undoubtedly easier to practice them under the mentorship of an effective leader. However, when you understand what these attributes are, then study and practice them, it is possible to make tangible progress without assistance. Each trait is a practice all by itself, so take your time as you visit each one. See how you rank in your current behaviors. You may notice some traits are missing in your current boss. That’s okay. We are all human. You can lead by example. Here is how you can begin to implement each one: Integrity – Integrity is about understanding your own values, and a strong sense of who you are authentically. You act in integrity with your own principles, independent of what others may say or do in response, simply because you know it is the right thing to do. Communication – great leaders are also great communicators. This doesn’t mean they necessarily are powerful orators or masters of language. It simply means they – and now you – say what you mean, when it is timely and helpful to do so. It is clear, neither passive nor aggressive, but simply assertive, and above all, open. Self-awareness – self-awareness is the foundation of authenticity and recognizes underlying desires, motives, and emotions, which allows you to make conscious decisions about how you will act, rather than reflexive reactions. Self-awareness keeps you out of drama, complaining, and gossip. Influence – when you lead, you understand that your voice, personal viewpoint, and unique skills and strengths have real merit. You stop being in the victim role and assert yourself in the conversation with confidence and respect for others as well. Empathy – we all want to be seen, understood, and cared about. Leaders understand this and are able to provide empathy to those around them without losing themselves, or becoming overly co-dependent in the process. Empathy is the highest form of recognition and creates appropriate action and engagement as a result. Courage – it has been said that courage is feeling fear and doing it anyway. This is exactly what is required for any leader, regardless of their job title. It takes courage to do what needs to be done, regardless of how it is perceived. It takes courage to speak up when others are going along with the status quo. The result can be initially disruptive or challenging, but in the end, courage is what gives us our own sense of empowerment. Respect – when you have the deep self-respect that comes from self-awareness and integrity, then it is easier to respect others – even those who don’t agree with you. In fact, you will find that your need to be disrespectful of others disappears. This great respect for everyone is born out of great self-respect, including respect for your own boundaries, self-care, and abilities. Motivation – when you are motivated and filled with passion for what you are doing it inspires motivation in everyone around you. Finding motivation within yourself is easier when you can discover your sense of meaning and purpose . Once you have identified it, you can apply your purpose to everything you do, no matter how mundane. Building a budget and sending an email are full of meaning when seen from the perspective of how they are moving you towards your greater goals. Creativity – Leaders are creative thinkers. Essential creativity is about innovation. It looks for new ideas, approaches, improvements, and tools. It is the growth mindset we hear so much about, that keeps each of us evolving to our next level of success and fulfillment. It isn’t as important that every idea is accepted and acted on, but that creativity is simply a part of your own discovery process. Vision – Today we are so overly busy and distracted that we forget to stop and look around us. Where are you headed? What do you want to create more of in your life? How would you like to be remembered? These are heady questions we forget to ask ourselves, and as a result, they can feel too enormous. Leaders are required to set the vision and strategy for themselves and others, so begin by just considering these ideas in small, daily doses. Gradually your answers will emerge. Humility – leaders share the struggles and the wins, therefore, recognition is just a side-effect of their service, not the end objective. It is important to note that humility is not the same as being overly humble, but about seeing oneself as a leader among equals, giving credit where credit is due. Focus – a distracted, multi-tasking leader is highly ineffective. They miss non-verbal cues, overlook key danger signs, as well as windows of opportunity. Leadership focus is about seeing the patterns and bigger picture much more than the details. While you can understand the importance of details, ensuring they are handled, you are always looking down the road for the next turn. Coach – Coaching is about asking powerful questions that help others uncover their own hidden beliefs and answers. It accelerates the growth and discovery process, just as it accelerates and focuses the performance of great athletes. Leaders are able to do this for themselves and for others around them. Done well, you can even coach your boss. Change Agent – Leaders shake things up in order to grow and move forward. Sometimes they change the focus of a conversation, and sometimes they change roles and responsibilities. Think about where you could make a small, meaningful change in how you tackle projects and processes that could help you and your team be more productive or effective. Accountability – do you own your role and actions? Then you are accountable. Whether you are meeting deadlines, delivering quality work, or making your quota, you take full responsibility. Not only that, you take responsibility for when you screw up, step on toes, or undermine someone else. When you own your wins and your errors you build enormous trust. Problem-solver – identifying a problem is a far cry from solving it, but it is a good first step. When you see a problem, before you announce it to your team or your boss, stop and think about how you could be a part of creating a solution to the problem. Leaders are always looking for solutions. Decision-maker – making a decision is making a commitment to a particular course of action, and as a result, setting aside other actions. It isn’t always 100% clear which choice is the right choice, or if there are in fact many effective choices or no obviously good ones. So, making a decision always contains an element of risk. Leaders embrace risk and make decisions knowing they can learn and grow from those decisions that are less than perfect. Curious – It can seem so much easier to let someone else decide for us, point the way and do all the thinking. It also is disempowering. Curiosity on the other hand is always scanning for what isn’t fully understood, known, or discovered. Without it, there would be no innovation or growth. Rediscover your inner wonder, and explore seeing the world (yes, even your stuffy old job) with fresh eyes. It’s contagious. Self-Disciplined – Discipline that is imposed on us in the form of rules and regulations can work to build habits, but it also stifles free will. When we are internally motivated to meet our goals and stay focused, then our self-esteem and self-confidence soar. Self-disciplined leaders are willing to do the things that need to be done and serve as a living example for their teams. Resilient – how readily do you bounce back after a disappointment or failure? When conditions and circumstances throw you a curveball, are you able to regain your balance and reset with minimal downtime? That’s the hallmark of a resilient individual, and leaders need to cultivate this trait in order to demonstrate to their teams, not only that it is possible, but what it looks like. Resilient leaders build resilient teams. Self-Leadership is the Key to All Leadership If you begin applying the 20 leadership traits above in all aspects of your life, and, of course, especially your work, then you will be practicing self-leadership. Self-leadership is the overarching attribute of true leadership for others. It is about knowing who you are, recognizing what you want, and taking the action that moves you toward them. It encompasses what we do, why we do it, and how we do it. Therefore, it is obviously much bigger than your job, your team, your boss, or your organization. Leadership becomes about you. It transcends whatever frustrations you have and guides you into something more expansive and fulfilling. So if your boss seems to lack leadership, you will be able to identify how you can reclaim your respect, power, passion, and clarity on the spot using the traits of self-leadership. You might create a ripple effect that positively impacts your entire organization – or you might just make enough change in yourself to find a position better suited for a leader like you. Follow me on Facebo ok , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Stacey! Stacey Ruth, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Leadership Coach, Stacey Ruth, is an acclaimed marketer, entrepreneur, minister, and founder of two multimillion-dollar agencies. She has been named one of the Top 50 Entrepreneurs in Atlanta and twice as one of the Top 100 “It” Agencies by Experiential Marketer Magazine. She did all this while struggling with two failed marriages, imposter syndrome, overwhelm, and stress-related health issues. This inner crash from outer success triggered the spiritual journey that took her to Manchu Picchu and had her walking across the fire. This was when she learned how we all could rise above circumstances to become irresistible and unstoppable. Today, Stacey advocates for leaders ready to reach their next level with clarity and confidence - most especially women leaders like herself. Stacey is the author of Own Your Own Shift: The Power, Passion, and Freedom to Be Unstoppable.

Written by: Mikal Nielsen, 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. 5 easy steps to all the happiness you have ever dreamt of - sign up here in 3 easy steps. 3 easy steps to a six-pack ... enter your credit card details here ... easy as. 7 easy steps to financial abundance anyone can follow (even you). 4 easy steps to a great marriage - and lots of sex - if you sign up within the next 180 seconds (sexy people act quickly). And of course, all this comes with a money back guarantee! I don't know about you, but I'm fed up with this kind of crap and false advertising. Let's face it, success in anything isn't easy. Pretending it is and advertising it as such is actually counterproductive. If we are told and believe something to be easy and it turns out not to be, we are far more likely to give up and put it into the ‘too hard basket'. On the other hand, if we expect something to be hard, we are far less likely to give up when it gets hard, and thus more likely to stay with it and create more success. And on top of that, you get the extra bonus of feeling great because you know you deserve the success. One of the reasons it feels good is because we have grown up with this experience from the get go. Basic things like learning to walk and talk were staggeringly hard, took like... forever, and resulted in countless failures along the way. But the baby doesn't go "Screw that... this walking business is way too hard... I'm just gonna let my parents carry me for the rest of my life!" We naturally want to grow, learn and improve and experience success and happiness. The reason we have a high level of unhappiness, stress, depression, etc. is because of a lack of success and achievement. Part of that is due to this notion that it should be easy. Therefore, if I'm not succeeding, then clearly there has to be something wrong with me, and then I'm on that downward spiral that leads to sleepless nights, alcohol, medication, and so on. On the opposite end of the scale, we have hard work for the sake of hard work. Just because you work hard, doesn't mean you will experience success. This is where guides, mentors, coaches - along with accountability - comes handy, making sure the hard work you are putting in is the right hard work that takes you to where you really want to go. So it is not in question if hard work is required to create great success. It is absolutely required. The trick is to know where and when to put in the hard work, and when to chill out, relax and let things unfold by themselves. I will often tell new potential clients, that if they want quick, easy, and comfortable growth, they need to see someone else, but if they are after slow, hard and uncomfortable, I'm the right guy! I know this is probably not the best marketing slogan, but at least it is honest. So... here are 3 easy steps to sign up... just kidding! Get in touch if you want to learn how I may be able to help you create more success and happiness - the hard, but effective way, or even better, use this link to book a complimentary discovery call for BRAINZ readers to get the next few steps on your journey sorted out: https://calendly.com/mikalnz/ brainz-discovery-call PS: The number 52,984,713 in the title is a complete random number I picked. However, in researching it, it turns out to be the number of steps it would take me to walk the circumference of the earth, which by the way, an average person walks 3-4 times in a lifetime. In other words, keep taking those steps, but ideally in the right direction! Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Mikal! Mikal Nielsen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mikal's mission is to help high achievers awaken their natural wisdom to create profound fulfillment, deep peace of mind, and a perfect balance between everything truly important to them. With a corporate background and starting and running 3 businesses, Mikal has spent the last 14 years coaching business founders, owners, and leaders to get more life out of life and more business out of business. He is a mind mechanic with 35 years of experience in mindfulness, personal and spiritual growth, and 30 years of experience coaching others in these fields. Mikal is an international speaker, certified firewalking coach, author of 5 books, and creator of Modern Meditation for busy people. In addition to coaching entrepreneurs and business leaders, Mikal and his wife Kathy offer relationship coaching. With 30 years of living together and growing up with 3 children, they have learned and experienced a lot and have co-authored a book about their journey together. Seeing how many relationships are struggling or have gone stagnant, they have decided to offer couples coaching.

Written by: Tripp Butler, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As Ben Franklin once said: “In this world, nothing is certain but death and cleaning your gutters before winter to prevent ice dams”. With that, here are five fall home maintenance activities to start thinking about in the coming weeks. Check your chimney Make sure everything is in order before the first fire of the season. "Creosote buildup causes chimney fires," says Family Handyman. "You should have your chimney professionally inspected or cleaned after every 70 fires. Don't remember the last time you had it cleaned by a pro? A quick way to tell if your chimney needs cleaning is to run the point of your fireplace poker along the inside of your chimney liner. If you find a 1/8” layer (or more) of buildup, call a chimney sweep." Check your roof Storms, wind, and other weather conditions over the past year could have done damage that you're not aware of. Don’t wait until the first heavy snow to find out you have a leak. If you're not comfortable on a ladder or just want a professional eye, a pro roofer will typically charge you less than $100 to check it out. Seal it up There are three important reasons to make sure your home is air tight: 1) Keeping moisture out; 2) Keeping critters out; 3) Keeping warm air in. Fall is when pests begin to look for places to ride out the winter, so make sure your exterior is free of gaps and holes that will allow for unwanted houseguests. Sealing up holes and cracks can also make your home more efficient—saving you money and keeping you warm and cozy. In most cases, all you need is weather stripping and caulk. Disconnect garden hoses from faucets As soon as the weather dips, it's time to disconnect and drain hoses. This simple task can potentially save you a lot of heartaches later. “Leaving hoses attached can cause water to back up in the faucets and in the pipes just inside your exterior walls,” says HouseLogic. “If freezing temps hit, that water can freeze, expand, and crack the faucet or pipes.” Also, make sure to drain your hoses before storing them to prevent cracking during the cold winter months. And, of course, clean your gutters Depending on your climate and the surrounding foliage, you may need to clean your gutters more than once throughout the fall. Your gutters are your best ally when it comes to moving moisture away from your home, so it’s critical to keep them free of obstruction. 30 or 15-Year Mortgage? Those aren’t your only choices. If you're brand new to the wonderful world of home loans, you might be a bit overwhelmed by how many different types of financing options are really out there. Both primary loan types (fixed-rate and adjustable-rate) have many variations, so how do you know which one is best for you? Let’s start with Fixed-Rate Mortgages. The most popular loan in today's marketplace is the 30-year fixed. This is a loan paid over the course of 30 years, with a fixed interest rate, meaning you’ll pay the same interest rate in year one as you will in year 30 of your mortgage. Your payment may change due to insurance or taxes, but generally, a 30-year loan is seen as a practical option due to its stability, simplicity, and month-to-month affordability. So, what's the attraction of the 15-year-fixed? A 15-year loan will have slightly lower interest rates compared to a similarly priced 30-year loan, but since the term is so much shorter, you’ll pay much less in interest over the life of the loan. The tradeoff is that the monthly payments will be much higher because the term isn’t stretched out over 30 years. If a buyer’s goal is to save as much as possible over the long term, and they can afford the steeper monthly payment, a 15-year is a good choice. If you’re interested in a 15-year term but the high monthly payments make you wary, consider a 20-year or a 25-year term. These two choices provide a "middle of the road" option when it comes to balancing monthly payments and long-term savings. The other primary loan type is the Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). With an ARM, your interest rate will change annually (or sometimes semi-annually) based on the market rates and your loan agreement. Today, most ARM loans for property buyers are really Hybrid ARMs. These types of ARM loans feature a fixed initial period where the interest rate is locked, with rates adjusting on a regular basis after that. For example, a 5/1 ARM has an initial fixed-rate period of 5 years, with the rate adjusting annually (the “1” in 5/1) after that. 3/1, 7/1, and 10/1 are other common hybrid ARMs. With an ARM, the interest rate during the initial period will be much lower than that of fixed-rate loans. The downside is that after the initial period, the rate will adjust based on the index the loan is tied to and most often this means an increased pay over time. ARMs can be a really good choice for a handful of prospective borrowers: Borrowers who are confident in future earnings: If you’ve recently graduated from medical school (congrats!) or you’re the beneficiary of a trust that’s not paying out yet (also, congrats), a hybrid loan will allow you to qualify for a larger loan despite your current financial status, as you’ll be able to afford the rising rates later on. “Here for a good-time not for a long-time” homeowners: If you’re confident you’ll be in the home for a very short period of time (say, less than 5 or 10 years), you can enjoy a super-affordable interest rate and sell the home before the end of the initial fixed rate period. You plan to pay off the loan fast: Let’s say you’re downsizing to a smaller home but haven’t received funds from the sale of your previous home. An ARM will allow you to enjoy a low payment until your cash is disbursed, at which time you can pay off your ARM before the end of the initial fixed-rate period. For more info, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website! Read more from Tripp! Tripp Butler, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tripp Butler has almost 30 years of experience in the residential real estate market. His expertise is taking over real estate companies that are underperforming and increasing not only the growth but the profits by threefold. Tripp started his career at Wild Dunes Real Estate in 1993 as a sales executive, by 1998, Tripp was a Broker and partner of the firm. At the end of 2005, Tripp sold the Company to Lowes Management which was the 5th largest resort management Company in the Country. In 2008 Tripp purchased Southbridge Greater Savannah Realty and had made this Real Estate Company one of the premier real estate companies in the surrounding area. Southbridge Greater Savannah Realty handles the relocation work for some of the biggest companies in the Southeast.

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 areas of business, 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®“, a 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. The latest created modell cracking the subconsciousness is „iScripModelling®“ supporting others unleashing their hidden potentials³. Successfully Master’s degree in health management with a focus on public health. International PhD & research in the fields of health communication with a focus on psycholinguistics combined with neuroplasticity and health economics. International 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 - HolisticScriptFactory® and THE health|nutrition literacy LAB®. With her podcasts, radio show and soon own TV show as well her health magazine she invites experts and people with real stories showing up, being seen, heard and recognized for changing together awareness around the globe! When it comes to an introvert introducing themselves it’s like, “AAAHHHHH—can I run away?” And yet, it’s time to use my voice for good, for my visions and the projects I have been working on for more than 20 years. Who is Bernadette? I grew up in a bakery in the countryside of beautiful Upper Austria. To address stereotyping, I cannot yodel, I don’t wear a “dirndl” all the time, I don’t eat only apple strudel, and, no, we don’t have kangaroos in Austria. I learned very early on what hard work is as I helped my parents in the bakery right through my childhood, then in my teens, then when I was also working in other jobs. My peak working hours were 100 plus hours, seven days a week until I had my first burnout at the age of 22. I lived like Speedy Gonzales and was twice headhunted by big companies in our bakery while I sold homemade bread. I was so quick in business and living that sometimes my family didn’t know where I was at any given moment! I never regretted the choices I made, which led me to experience three burnouts, become highly suicidal, develop health challenges, and have a car crash due to being overtired. Only twice have I regretted not going for what I felt was true. Being a high-intuitive HSP and a multipotentialite, my childhood was challenging as I felt that I knew more than most grown-ups did. My cat, Dorli (and later my other cats), was good company when I was a child, and still today, I love sitting and talking with animals like they are human (animals complain less, except cats!). Growing up with two brothers and with many other men around, I developed a “man-lady” attitude. This might scare some people, but it is probably one of many reasons why I love working with CEOs and top managers and why they take me seriously and love working with me (at least for the last 30 years). Due to my Speedy Gonzales lifestyle, I had three burnouts, was highly suicidal, nearly died four times due to health challenges, and in 2015, my car accident was what’s known as a wake-up call. From these events, I created my own nutrition style (ORINITION© – n(fl)ourish soul.mind.body.) and my own coaching/therapy style (iMM – intuitive mentoring method©) as well as the iScriptingModel© supporting others internationally to remember their body intelligence and intuition. Creating my own research centre, the “HolisticScriptFactory©” and “THE health|nutrition literacy LAB©” has allowed me to scientifically prove my practical methods and conduct on-going research combining current science with complementary medicine, as well out-of-the-box-views and working directly with clients. I call myself a research nerd as I love finding out the ‘why’ of challenges both in research and in life! Due to my first burnout, when I was in the last stages of depersonalization, I had a unique chance to recreate myself in a completely new way from the inside|out! I cracked my subconscious and became abundant with knowledge, wisdom, and remembering my gifts of intuition. We know much more than we gain from being trained by others. What do you do for your clients? For more than 20 years, I have supported others to the best of my ability with my strong knowledge of business and health. Just as I was lucky enough to be supported by many people in the business and health fields. One of my credos is, “by nurturing a woman and a mother, you nurture the whole family and the world”. Therefore, I work with girls, women, and mums while also building up a corporate team with male coaches so that we support as much diversity as possible. I am a senior resilience method/program designer supporting others in finding their inner voice and rediscovering their innate intuition, to trust themselves 1,000% and crack their subconscious to find their unique gifts of: Be simply you. No matter what. Nothing else matters. Who should hire and work with you? Most people who come to me have already tried many other methods and therapists but are still searching for the nurturing support of a person to listen to them. My out-of-the-box methods and open spaces attract not only help-seekers but also other trainers, coaches, and therapists to obtain another insight into their work. Our biggest challenges are the conditioned frameworks we learn from others from right back in childhood. Once, renowned therapist and psychologist Paul Watzlawick posed the question, “How real is reality?” Yet, we believe that what we learn is the reality! With my clients, I break out of the frameworks that make us unhappy and ill (mentally as well as physically). I call myself a business and health doula since I support clients in these topics. If you are interested in changing your lifestyle or business or going beyond your current challenges, I am here for you to support you on your journey. “Successful business IS connected with good health!” What is your biggest goal? The establishment of holistic health care centers around the world that are built sustainability and aligned with mother earth’s nature; where classical medicine works for hand in hand with alternative and quantum medicines and where food IS medicine again, as it once was. I would love to build up health literacy right from childhood to ensure we change the health care system from a “pill and repair” approach to a truly holistic health care solution that is affordable for everybody. Seeing mother earth blossom where all creatures have enough food. I know by heart it’s possible. Where do you see yourself ten years from now? I bless every single day that I am healthy, happy, and vital, that I have food and safe housing. I love supporting others in gaining back their power around their health and living their dream life by being simply themselves. No matter what, and nothing else matters. What is your biggest strength? My business know-how combined with my female intuition—those and being stubbornly honest with me and others. Bring everything to the table, and we will work it out! What is something weird about you? I have talked with animals and plants the same as I do with humans since childhood. I hug trees and make tree fies or plant fies (selfies with trees and plants). I love listening to people, especially when they have different views or tough stories, as I learn the most about living from those people! What are your top three tips for life? Listen to yourself and decide for yourself – it’s your life. Be simply you. Don’t cheat on yourself to please others. Be radically honest with yourself. Who else should be honest with you if you don’t start with yourself? More on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMINi1sLWXjXF0c5nyRoyNw Be simply you. No matter what. Nothing else matters. For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Bernadette!

Written by: Whitnie 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. As I was out running today, I reflected on a conversation I'd had recently about staying 10k ready. If you think that has something to do with always having an extra 10,000 dollars lying around at all times, that's not the reference. That's a great goal to add to my list, but I digress. I was referring to being able to whip out a 10k or 6.2 mile run at any given moment. Before you start wondering who, why and what the what? I am using it literally for running, but it translates to a brilliant strategy for life. The desire began when I regularly ran with a group and was actively involved in races ranging from 5ks to half marathons and 200-mile relays. For several reasons, I'm not running that much anymore, but I still see the value of something we frequently quoted. "stay ready, so you don't have to get ready." Right now, I'm in the process of getting ready. Again. Ready for a 5k, a 10k, and now that it's on my mind keeping a spare $10,000 around for easy access. Why? Because you never know. You never know when an opportunity will present itself, and wouldn't you rather be ready for it than to have to let the moment pass you by because you couldn't take advantage? In reality, it's not as much about physical readiness as it is the mental one. Are you always in a place with your mindset where you can leverage the resources at your disposal or say yes to opportunities when they come, both those you want and others you didn't know you wanted until they appeared? Or are you used to saying no to things you want because your head isn't in the right place? It's time to stop that and be ready to get what you want. By having your mind right, you will be able to move forward in ways others can't. Have you ever offered something to someone, then listen to them spend the next 20 minutes explaining why they couldn't accept the offer? They wanted to buy but couldn't pull the trigger. They wore you out with the excuses, so you walked away. The weird thing is they liked what you offered but couldn't get out of their way. Here are five keys to help you stay ready. Know what you want to be ready for. Of course, you cannot be prepared for everything nor address every permutation of options that will present themselves, but you can have a general idea of what you want and, therefore, what you want to be able to make a move on when you see it in front of you. Decide what price you are willing to pay to be ready. When it comes to physical activities, this is easy. I'm eager to put in a few days a week of running time and a couple of days in the gym to have the stamina and ability to run the distances I'm referencing. As it relates to other opportunities, they come at a price, and only you can decide whether the cost of being ready for the potential is worth the risk that it might not happen. Take steps every day to help you develop the mindset you want, as you need not let the obstacles of doubt and fear stand in your way. Those are the biggest roadblocks to capitalizing on opportunities. There are daily activities you can do that keep you in fighting shape. In this way, you will minimize your doubt and fear. But should they appear, you empower yourself to take action anyway. Pay attention to what you let in your mind through TV, social media, reading material, conversations with family and friends. Garbage in, garbage out. Recognize and accept that getting ready takes time, energy, and resources, and if you can get prepared once and stay ready, you'll be better for it than having to start from scratch each and every time. Here's something I'm sure you know to be true in your life, when you are on a roll, whether it's taking care of your health, being in a relationship, etc., it's much easier to stay rolling than to start moving from a standstill. Be creative and open to the how. You don't have to know how you are going to make something happen. You have to be willing to say yes and trust that you will find the way. Being ready doesn't mean having all the answers. It's about tapping into your resourcefulness—your mindset—and doing what it takes to get where you are going. In addition to the keys above, you can take the time to fortify your mind daily with affirmations or mantras so that when the roadblocks that would thwart your progress attempt to get in your way, you are armed and ready with the antidote to keep them at bay. Having the right mindset will make the difference in you reaching your goals and dreams or not. Obstacles will pop up. Doubts and fears will appear out of nowhere. You can stay ready by being consistent, persistent, creative, and innovative, or you can give up. The choice is yours. Want to learn more from Whitnie? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Whitnie! Whitnie Wiley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Whitnie Wiley is a leader in organizational, leadership, and employee development. After spending years in companies with crummy cultures and lousy leadership, Whitnie has dedicated herself to helping organizations and individuals adopt and implement strategies that create workplaces people love to work in. As an in-demand coach, speaker, and trainer, Whitnie shares wisdom from her own life experiences, as well as those of her clients, with grace, humility, and humor to drive change in today's business world. Her clients include aspiring, emerging and new executives aiming to be the kinds of leaders even they'd want to work for and organizations seeking to hire, develop and promote the best talent. Whitnie is a seven-time bestselling author and is anticipating the publication of four books in 2021, including her first solo effort, "The SIMPLE Leader(TM)." As the host of "Love Your Work," she interviews guests about the work they love to do, their journey, and lessons learned along the way. She also co-hosts the "Life, Lemons & LemonDrops" and the "Beyond Your Best Plan" podcasts.

Written by: Haseena Shaheed-Jackson, 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 right action at the right time will result in success and achievement. You will need to commit to overcoming that which is holding you back from moving forward. You will have the when, what and where. The question is will you take action? Failing to Move Forward will result in: Being a crowd follower. This will result in your settling for mediocrity. It is so easy fall into the myth that you do not need to act or take risks. If you do not act or take the risks, you will fail to rise to the occasion. You will miss out on using your potential and opportunities. Being replaced. You can and will be replaced with someone who is willing to take action. Someone else is ready thus move or be removed. Living with regrets, the regret syndrome. You will look back on life having regrets. A life worth living is living a life that has no regrets. You do not want to have the thoughts of should have and could have. Missing out on living in your purpose. You will not accomplish the purpose of your creation being idle. You will need to be the leader of your life which will require you to be courageous. Having the courage to take the risk and putting yourself on the line, seizing the opportunities. You will have fear; however, you must overcome the fear by keeping your focus on the rewards and return that will be result of your taking action. Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. –T.S. Elliott There has not been a leader that has not been afraid. They understood that to obtain extraordinary results, the only option was to move forward. You will need to move forward, not allowing fear or the past to hold you back. In my book, Created to Soar, I tell the story of the bald eagle. In storms, eagles do not stop flying instead they soar higher seeking higher ground because they know that better is obtainable. The eagle takes the risk of going higher because they understand that settling, remaining in the storm is not an option. You must develop this mindset of an eagle. Move forward, soaring higher, taking the risks because it will result in your achieving your vision and becoming your best self. We must choose to soar, finding higher ground leading to evolving and growing. – H.S. Jackson Plan to participate and join me in my upcoming Fall 2021 Summit. This is a virtual event that occurs on September 25, 2021, from 10 am to 2 pm CST. It is time to: Renew your respective – You are amazing! Believe it and pursue your vision Release your past – Learn from the past. There are lessons to be learned, use them to go forward. Remember your vision – Protect your vision and allow it to take you to the next level. Two ways to register: Register Here! Visit my website at hsjackson.com, tab over to events and workshops Grab your seat today. See you at the Summit! Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Haseena! Haseena Shaheed-Jackson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mrs. Haseena Shaheed-Jackson is a Certified Coach, Speaker, and Trainer under the John Maxwell Team. She is the author of Reflections Within and Messages from the Spirit. Her mission is to add value to people to add value to others by intentionally growing, resulting in transformation and changing their world. Growth is a continual process that never ceases. It is a lifetime commitment that must become a habit. Ms. Jackson is the Owner of Faith, Hope, and Spirit, LLC, which offers training, coaching, and speaking in growth, development, leadership, and influence. For over 30 years, she has held positions in leadership and management for various companies and organizations, where her responsibilities included mentoring, coaching, development, and training. She hosts a monthly networking group, Connecting and Collaborating to Thrive (CC2T). CC2T focuses on developing relationships and establishing a community. She actively seeks to form partnerships with others to make a difference and be impactful.

Written by: Cheryl Thacker, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It’s easy for leaders to overlook the importance of emotional intelligence in their work and personal lives. It can often take a back-seat to more tangible skills. But emotional intelligence is the bulk of what makes or breaks our relationships, career success, and overall happiness. It’s also multifaceted. Here are a few key components of working with emotional intelligence. Self-Regard Knowing your strengths is crucial to being able to face the world with confidence and view your own success favorably. This includes welcoming feedback on your strengths and areas of improvement and weighing them equally – most people struggle to find this balance. How to cultivate self-regard: Engage with regular performance check-ins, with yourself and others. Follow thought leaders and experts you admire. Celebrate positive feedback when you receive it. Self-Actualization Having a clear vision of yourself and your purpose can help lead you through inevitable times of intense change. When you face the world from a position of self-actualization, it becomes easier to work toward long-term goals with patience, accepting setbacks as they come – as long as you’re approaching your vision. How to cultivate self-actualization: Rethink each day’s priorities; set smaller, digestible goals when needed. Identify key motivators for yourself and those in your inner circle. Make plans from a short-term and long-term perspective. Emotional Self-Awareness Your emotions tell you what you need to pay attention to and what needs to take top priority in any given moment. Be aware of your emotions, how you process them, how you regulate them, and how to let yourself feel emotions and let them pass through you instead of dwelling on them or lashing out. How to cultivate self-awareness : Identify feelings as they arise and change; a feelings wheel can help with this. When anxieties and fears arise, delve deeper. Feel those feelings. Talk about them instead of running from them. Schedule breaks between meetings and agenda items for you to decompress and check-in with yourself. Emotional Expression Knowing how and when to express yourself is a constant balancing act. Sometimes emotions warrant action, while others are simply opportunities for self-reflection. Having a firm grip on your own emotional expression makes it easier to cultivate authentic relationships and to stay engaged in your daily life. How to cultivate emotional expression: When distressing emotions come up, find ways to feel those feelings instead of suppressing them. Disengage from yourself to engage with others. Before having a hard conversation, center yourself by writing down a few words describing what you’re feeling. Assertiveness Assertiveness requires knowing the weight of your words and actions and learning how to use them effectively. Sometimes, that means standing up for yourself in confrontations. But more often, assertiveness is about learning how to present yourself in a room so you hold your ground without coming off as aggressive. Not everything is a fight. How to cultivate assertiveness: Encourage open conversation. Use “I” statements instead of “you” statements, especially in confrontations. Test-drive difficult conversations with a friend. Reality Testing You must be keyed into reality if you’re going to make good decisions based on the “now” instead of the “what if.” Reality testing involves maintaining a realistic, grounded perspective and worldview. How to cultivate reality testing: When making decisions, do a “gut check” and a “fact-check.” This will help you get a read of the reality of a situation while acknowledging your feelings about it, recognizing those aren’t always the same thing. When weighing options, check in with someone outside the situation. An outsider’s perspective can help bring you back into reality. When a problem feels too overwhelming to deal with, identify what emotions you’re bringing to the table that might be clouding your judgment. Flexibility Life is full of unknowns. No matter how carefully we plan our future, every day brings new challenges and situations. Cultivating emotional flexibility is key for rolling with life’s punches. But a big part of this is building flexibility into our concrete plans. How to cultivate flexibility: When decision-making, explore alternate solutions. Change is inevitable, but it’s also personal. Everyone responds to it differently due to a never-ending list of factors. Allow space for those different reactions. If your colleagues have dissenting opinions, discuss them openly rather than shutting them down. Build time into your schedule for transitions, setbacks, and reflection. This applies to short-term and long-term plans. Think of cultivating emotional intelligence as a lifelong project to create success in your personal and professional life. Follow Cheryl on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more information. Read more from Cheryl! Cheryl Thacker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cheryl Thacker, PCC, BCC is a master board certified coach and the founder of Successful Coaches Enterprise LLC where she works with emerging coaches and solopreneurs to build their dream life and business. Cheryl believes that every coach has a unique gift to present to the world and it is her mission to help them gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to master their business. In every aspect of her business and life, Cheryl’s passion for helping others has always shined through. Utilizing her business background of 25+ years and her extensive coach training, she is able to help coaches make a massive impact in the world while growing successful, sustainable, and profitable businesses.

Written by: Belynder Walia , 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. Cherophobia is the fear of happiness and what might result from being happy. Some of you might be shaking your heads in confusion at this point. Doesn’t everyone want to be happy? Well, no, actually they don’t, and it’s far more common around the world than you may think. Recently, I have come across several people who have forgotten how to smile or have an optimistic outlook on life. Instead, the uncertainty of what is to come seems to be having a negative twist on their future perspective. As a result, mixed emotions can surface more often than not. Let’s look at an example. One of my clients who developed lockdown social anxiety told me, 'I am happy to go out again and meet people, but I am worried about another lockdown, so I think it's best to avoid going out.' The uncertainty of society continuing to return to normal and whether they really want that has left many feeling confused, anxious and numb. For some people, it has left them fearing the feeling of happiness again. It's hard for many, especially nowadays, to accept that just possibly the universe is on their side. What is the fear of happiness? This behaviour may seem like an irrational phobia; however, Cherophobia is something that many more people suffer from than you might think. And, surprisingly, they often simply endure it. Think of it like this when someone thinks of the worst aspect of something, even when something good happens. Even if there is hope on the horizon, they feel they have to question it. Another way of putting it would be when people think something seems too good to be true, and most of the time, they start asking why. Paul Gilbert, a psychiatrist at Kingsway Hospital, Derby in the UK, administered a study in 2012. It demonstrated a distinct category of the population who may believe that being happy for too long is not good for their emotional health. Even if they do feel happy, they are more comfortable once that feeling vanishes. Because they believe that too much happiness can have terrible consequences. Also, communicating joy makes one an unfortunate person. Accordingly, there is a correlation between depression and Cherophobia. As surprising as the above statement may sound, I can relate. Through my own experiences throughout my life, when I displayed happiness, people occasionally viewed it as inappropriate. Family or friends might ask why I was so happy or why was I laughing so much. They would often express their disapproval, and their misery impacted me. Ultimately, they made me unhappy. Occasionally, inconceivable beliefs intrigue the minds of people. For instance, people may believe that only a silly or frivolous person with a naive mind would be pleased all the time. I am sure that on one occasion, even my ex-husband implied this to me. But he was a perfectionist. And we all know that perfection is a killer of dreams. I soon realised that many people, particularly in Eastern culture, believe this about simple minds. I can only speak of my personal and professional experiences. However, people of my own Indian heritage that I have worked with professionally have displayed that a happy person is only happy if they have already fulfilled what they have accomplished. There can be a common belief that they won’t aspire to work harder and strive for further success once happiness is achieved. Consequently, they conveniently label cheerful people as lazy, careless, or foolish. I know from my personal experience that some people choose to turn their back on happiness. However, the most shocking thing that I have come across is learning that people are not convinced that anyone can ever be pleased. The more I investigated the idea of Cherophobia, I realised that this idea is not a new age thought. The fear of happiness is a familiar concept for many different people from all walks of life. What is the link between Cherophobia and culture? Studies have found that Cherophobia is a commonly understood concept in Eastern countries. A 2013 published study proved a strong correlation between fear and happiness is a transgenerational pattern. It depends on how those cultures conceive happiness and their beliefs around the idea. Mohsen Joshanloo administered this lesser-known fear of happiness across fourteen cultures in the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology to help people comprehend if they suffered any symptoms of Cherophobia. Findings showed that in Western society, according to Braun (2000), there is a widespread awareness that happiness is the absolute life goal and 'one to which all humans strive'. But in non-Western cultures, happiness is promoted in an individualistic way compared to somewhat collective cultures. For example, in the USA and European cultures, it is found that these are individualistic societies. And within that person's network, needs and intentions such as family, peer groups, or community take an inferior position compared to each individual's rights, freedom, and personal preferences (Suh & Oishi, 2002). Collective, cooperative societies such as East Asia and Central/South America stress the desires and aspirations of a value within their group over the individual's beliefs. As such, I again find this to be true because, within my own Indian culture, I know both as a professional therapist and as an Indian woman that we live the majority of our lives pleasing others. Ultimately, it’s firmly embedded into our thoughts to emphasise belonging and have peace and respect, especially with the elders. Compared to western society, I can say from experience that it is known that they think individually about their happiness. People of non-western cultures are more likely to feel that everyone else's happiness comes before their own, which is occasionally harmful to social harmony. (Uchida, Norasakkunkit, & Kitayama, 2004). This notion that happiness may not be a priority in Eastern cultures is hardly surprising given the fertile social bases for the concept of Cherophobia to exist. Apart from that, there is a belief that sadness usually follows happy events, as expressed in a qualitative study by Uchida and Kitayama (2009). Furthermore, it is found that the Japanese feel that happiness can contribute to adverse outcomes because it causes distraction from their surroundings. I have found personally that success and happiness shown externally is to be avoided because it may lead to envy. The positive effect linked with joy counterbalances the negative feelings of remorse and contention from my experience of being Indian and working with East Asian cultures. In both Western and Non-Western cultures, some people suspect that being happy can make someone worse (both morally and otherwise). For example, according to Ben-Shahar (2002), people may fear happiness because they would feel guilty if they were to achieve it; individuals may feel morally wrong being happy because they know others are suffering. There is also a fear of displaying success and the dread of any happiness as this may cause Nazar. Nazar is used to indicate one affected by the evil eye (jealousy) when the envious glances of others can cause your downfall. So the elders of many non-western cultures feel the only protection one has from the evil eye of others is not to display any joy or happiness. Therefore, they may also avoid discussing the successes or achievements of those who display happiness. Perfectionists may also have Cherophobia because they may believe happiness is associated with careless and unproductive people. Therefore, they may avoid activities that could bring joy to them because they are seen as useless as far as they are concerned. (Nall & Legg, 2017). I have a client like this. A famous sportsperson, she has a physically healthy lifestyle where she participates in world sporting events. Her home life is good. She claims to be highly fortunate. However, she is unhappy because she's not been able to find a suitable partner. During therapy, her response to me was that she sees people as boring, and no one seems to be good enough. She is aware that it sounds terrible when she speaks of other potential partners this way. When asked what she wants, she responds, 'someone who is like me'—a male version of herself. My response was, so you want someone who’s unhappy? That helped her to realise that there have been many dates who have enjoyed being in her company. But she can’t comprehend their joy as normal behaviour because it’s an unfamiliar concept to her. She fears her representation of it. The thought of someone wanting to suppress happiness and take it away from others is enough to scare anyone off. No one feels they can be authentic around her as she rejects the joy that others express. Although most of us experience this feeling from time to time, some people cannot get over it. So they actively avoid any joyous feelings just to avoid the bad feelings they get afterwards. What can you do to get over the fear of happiness? Here are five significant statements you should ask yourself to overcome Cherophobia? Evaluate the symptoms of Cherophobia by asking yourself if these statements are true or false for you: I desire not to be highly positive or happy because usually, joy is followed by sadness. Crises frequently follow good prosperity. Unreasonable happiness has some terrible consequences. The more optimistic and joyful I am, the more I should anticipate bad things arising in my life. Having tons of joy and pleasure can cause awful stuff to happen. How many do you believe to be true? Or false? If you have 3 or more that are true to you, it could be that you have a misperception of happiness, and you may need to switch your thoughts to understand why you feel fearful. Perhaps examine who you are, become self-aware, accepting and learn to self-love. It is essential to point out that there is no need for therapy if you believe you have Cherophobia! Because for some people, averting happiness can make them feel actively content and more secure. However, if you experience symptoms of Chemophobia that interfere with your quality of life, such as pleasing others, perfectionism or fear of other people's reactions towards you or and social anxiety, please seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Follow Belynder on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin , and visit her website for more info. Read more from Belynder! Belynder Walia, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Belynder Walia is a leading Psychotherapist, helping people who need a swift, effective solution to a current problem that negatively impacts their lives. She's worked with a wide variety of people, from stay-at-home carers to experts and celebrities in the public eye. Having suffered Perinatal Anxiety, she focused on enabling others to learn, heal and grow from pain. Belynder is the founder of Serene Lifestyles, an online psychotherapy practice at www.serenelifestyles.com. Her ground-breaking methods include a combination of Psychotherapy and Neuroplasticity to help rewire the THREE Brains (the head, the heart, and the gut). She has been featured in many publications, including Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Harpers Bazaar, The Moment, Planet Mindful, Thrive Global, and The London Economic. Belynder is also writing her first non-fiction book, lessons on Anxiety, providing quick fixes to help people radically change their minds so that they can change their life.

Written by: Jean Fleming, 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. What is personal branding? We are all familiar with certain famous brands – Netflix, Apple, Google. You know what you are getting in terms of quality, customer service, and reliability. You know what they stand for. This is their brand. If you had to think about what you are known for, what would it be? What is your personal brand? Is it something you are proud of and want to be known for? You will have a brand, regardless of whether you have consciously developed it. Why is it important? A brand can help you with career progression, build your network, build credibility, presence, authority. It can open opportunities and gain you recognition. Your personal brand can tell people your purpose, your mission, why you are here, what you stand for, your skills and experiences, your story, your legacy, what you are known for, your personality, and your values. Your brand can outline what makes you unique . Think more broadly than just a work context, as you need to need to really capture the essence of yourself to ensure that your brand is authentic! Having a personal brand creates an emotional connection with others. You are a walking advert of your brand; some people will resonate with your brand and some not, depending on whether they value what you stand for. Imagine if you spent time consciously developing your brand, where you clearly outlined what you stood for. What different opportunities might attract you? If you haven’t yet taken the opportunity to create a personal brand statement, then now is the time! Step 1 - Gather data Start by asking the people around you - your colleagues, your family, and friends - What they value in you? What do they see as your strengths? Your moral compass? All this information will be invaluable in creating your brand statement. Step 2 – Reflect on your brand basics . Think about: Your mission and purpose – why are you here, and what do you do? Your personal and professional goals Your tribe – who do you want to attract – type of people and/or organizations? Your X-Factor? What makes you unique? Your attributes and characteristics Your achievements 3 words you would use to describe yourself What motivates you Step 3 - Write your brand statement Using the information gathered in Steps 1 and 2, focus on the core points that really capture your essence. Your brand. Then use this simple formula to help create your personal brand statement. I [what you do] + [who you do it for] + [what is the outcome] + [how you do it] + [why you do it] Example: I coach professional women who feel stuck to get the success they desire through my Professional Women’s Success Programme so they can enjoy a fulfilled life. Finally, don’t forget why you are developing a brand statement; to help to market yourself, connect with people and show them what you are about. Follow me on Faceb ook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Raed more from Jean! Jean Fleming, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jean Fleming is an Empowerment and Leadership Coach helping women to create the life they want. With over 30 years of business experience, Jean was the first woman to join the Board of a global company – a role she still fulfills 12 years later. Jean is an experienced ICF accredited Coach, a DiSC Profiler, an Emotional Intelligence EQi-2.0 Assessor, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Jean uses her extensive range of skills and experience to bring a dynamic and supportive service to her clients to help them identify and create the life they want.

Written by: Santarvis Brown, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We’ve all been there before. "I love my leader, but… he’s a terrible people person… she has no grey area… he overexplains everything… she micro-manages way too much." Have you ever experienced this yourself? Have you had a leader you love, yet that same leader seems to have inadequacies in their leadership style? Guess what? Your leader is human. As leaders, one of the most important things we can do is become self-aware. Great leaders are not flawless. Great leaders understand inadequacies, personal hang-ups, and career and personal issues that impact their leadership style. Great leaders are great because they understand how to lead with a limp. What is leading with a limp? To understand leading with a limp, it is important to know the difference between artificial and authentic leadership. Artificial leadership is not bad. However, if you force yourself to lead in a style that is unnatural to you because a book or colleague said that is how you must lead, you will have challenges. Most likely, those challenges will cause you to struggle while you hide your personal leadership challenges. An authentic form of leadership allows you to use your leadership struggles to empower others who may have similar challenges. Take public speaking. As a leader, you will likely need to stand up in front of your team, or larger groups to train, present data, or provide information. You can imagine that this leadership requirement is a challenge for someone afraid of speaking in public. An artificial leader will “suck it up,” stand up and likely stumble through the presentation. The authentic leader lays it all out there. Such as this: “Today, we will be talking about workplace safety. But the first thing I want to tell you is that I am terrified of speaking in front of an audience. I am going to stumble on my words. I am going to stutter. I am going to forget what I wanted to say. So, you should expect that I’ll pick on some of you to answer questions or provide insight – you know, so we can all be terrified together.” Standing up in front of your audience and saying this may get you a few laughs. But what you are also doing is loosening things up for your audience. You are a leader, and you are showing your team that you have struggled the same as everyone else. You are also showing your team that it is okay to have flaws. It is also okay to embrace them. This style of self-awareness in leadership is called leading with a limp. Identifying your struggles and using them to your benefit as a leader. The benefit of leading with a limp There are many reasons why leading with a limp is helpful on personal level. As a leader, the strength you are building from your own inadequacies is a healthy team environment. You are using your flaws to help others with those same challenges. You are also leading by example in sharing that we all have authentic challenges, and a team improves when we work to support each other rather than force a person to become an artificial employee or leader. Visit Santarvis on his webs ite , Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook for more information. Read more from Santarvis! Santarvis Brown, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director. A noted speaker, researcher, and full professor, he has lent his speaking talent to many community and educational forums, serving as a keynote speaker. He has also penned several publications tackling issues in civic service, faith, leadership, and education.

Written by: Suzy Bessett, 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. Eat this, not that. How many calories are in that? Should I be counting micronutrients? How much do I weigh? What should I eat? Am I fat? Does she think I’m fat? Did my clothes shrink? Is the scale broken? How did I get here? I wish I could just eat and get on with my day… My name is Suzy Bessett and while I have been a Certified Personal Trainer for almost 10 years, my sole work now is as an Eating Psychology Coach. I have a proven track record helping my clients learn who they are as eaters (fast, emotional, bored) and unwind generational, and compulsive eating habits. I’m successful because I understand the fight, on a deeply personal level. I was born to a lower/middle-income family in Norwalk, Connecticut. While I have older siblings, they were more than 12 years my senior, so I was raised as an only child. My parents had their troubles but were married for 56 years until my father passed in his 80’s. My mother is 92, still goes to the gym, and runs her house on her own. She is my hero. As a child, I was very social. School and learning didn’t come easily (later in life diagnosed ADD), but I made up for it in the social department. To this day I believe, “friends are the family you choose”. Music was my savior, and I love live music and even have a band as a hobby. I put myself through college at 21 years old after 3 years in the cosmetic industry. I had big plans in college hoping to be the next Barbara Walters but the Universe had other plans for me. I had a very successful 10-year career in the investment business and left it in 2000 to start a family. I have two children that are healthy, and confident. I’m a proud momma. How did I get here? Twofold. The first was learning at 33 years old that I had PCOS, PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome. I spent all of my teens and 20’s struggling with a variety of health issues that I didn’t understand. These struggles lead me to have battles with my self-esteem, body image, and the scale that only years later, would make sense. The second was about 6 years ago when I was conducting a series of seminars (one was at the famed Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA), named “It’s Your Hormones Silly”. A woman approached me after and changed my life forever. She told me that ironically her daughter was doing something similar in NYC, but that she was an Eating Psychology Coach. We had coffee a couple of days later, and that night I applied to the program and began this incredible journey. About a year later, while I was still training clients in my studio, the journey began. Just like that, clients started calling and my business was born. Here’s the kicker. When I started my journey, I had a dirty little secret (or so I thought) that I had been stuffing down for many years. I remember telling family and friends at the time that I thought it would be interesting to see how my studies would help my PT clients. I grew up with parents from the depression era. Food was scarce, and so influenced their relationship with food. They both stayed very thin and there was a lot of “weight around weight” in my home over the years. So what was my dirty little secret? I was obsessed with the scale. I was never one to restrict, binge, or try fad diets. That said, I had a vice-like grip with my scale; my baby… my truth-teller… my mental torture device. You get the picture. You know the drill. You wake and make sure you’ve gone to the bathroom and are naked. You do a mental scan of the previous day. “Okay, I was good (or not). I ate… I worked out…I binged…" You step on the scale and voila! That little number defines you. If it’s up, do you pick the scale, move it and try again? Are you yelling at it, “Are you KIDDING me?” Does it tell you if you will have a good or bad day? Do you say terrible things to yourself like, “You’re a bad person (or worse), you’re never going to be thin, your day is ruined” on and on... start again tomorrow? I have happily changed my relationship with the scale. As I help my clients change their relationship with food, the scale, and compulsive behaviors; it’s about CONTROL. When my life was out of control, I would weigh myself sometimes 8-10 times a day. I remember even eating and weighing myself right after. Yeah… it was that bad. We have little control in life. In this case, I believe we control what goes into our mouths (food) and what comes out of our mouths (what we say). In the work that I do, food is not an addiction, because we MUST eat. We don't need alcohol (100% downside, ZERO% upside), gambling, and the like. But we MUST eat. Unwinding a lifetime of generational, compulsive habits with food and the scale takes time, but you can do it. As I get older (almost 55), I have been thinking a lot about legacy. Defined as “An amount of money or property left in a will”. I think legacy is way more than that. When we leave in our earthly bodies, I believe legacy is what we have learned, and given back. I believe that breaking the cycle of compulsive, disordered eating gives us the platform to be the best versions of ourselves. It’s not about being perfect. It's about being healthy, productive, and living to our greatest capacity. It’s about teaching our children a healthy relationship with food, their bodies, and living their best life. Obesity costs Americans over $200 Billion a year in health issues, lost wages, and absenteeism. It’s a daily, exhausting grind for over 70% of Americans. Can you just imagine what you could do in a day with less weight on your joints, freedom from joint pain, freedom from the weight of your weight? At The Metabolic Connection, we work with you to help sort your relationship with food, coupled with an (or your) Endocrinologist that will help you with metabolic issues (high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid, and more). My legacy? I am going to be the voice; helping Americans end the Obesity Epidemic. What’s yours? Suzy Bessett lives in Norwalk, CT. The beach is her happy place, loves live music, sings in her band Gypsy Brown as a hobby, and is obsessed with travel. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Suzy! Suzy Bessett, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Suzy Bessett, Certified Eating Psychology Coach and founder of The Metabolic Connection. We offer a unique and complete approach to disordered eating and metabolic issues. Suzy has a proven track record helping emotional, disordered eaters get off the diet roller coaster and get on with living. Combining her work with the client's endocrinologist is the winning combination.

Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview Dr. Misner’s Ph.D. is from the University of Southern California. He is a New York Times Bestselling author who has written 26 books including one of his latest books – Who’s in Your Room? He is also a columnist for Entrepreneur.com and has been a university professor as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of La Verne. Called the “Father of Modern Networking” by both Forbes and CNN, Dr. Misner is considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world. He has been featured in the L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times, as well as numerous TV and radio shows including CNN, the BBC, and The Today Show on NBC. Among his many awards, he has been named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Red Cross and has been the recipient of the John C. Maxwell Leadership Award. He is proud that he and his late wife, Elisabeth, are the Co-Founders of the BNI Charitable Foundation. They also reached “empty nester” status after happily raising their three children. Oh, and in his spare time, he is also an amateur magician and has a black belt in karate. I recently sat down with Doctor Ivan Misner and wanted to pick his brain and find out what clues he may be able to leave behind so we can all be better at building relationships and networking more effectively. What makes a great networker? The foundation of everything I teach is a process called the VCP Process, which stands for Visibility, Credibility, and Profitability. Many people make the mistake of using networking as a cold calling experience. I once held a keynote in Europe and asked the question “how many of you have come to sell something?”, all 900 hands went up. When I asked the question “How many of you have come to buy?“, not a single hand was raised. This is what I call the networking disconnect. It’s the wrong way to go about networking. First, you have to keep showing up, that's what I call Visibility, then over time you prove your credibility by doing a great job, the final step is profitability but too many people are bypassing the first two processes. Networking has to be about relationships. At what point did you decide to play a less active role in BNI? People say to me “it must be incredible to be semi-retired“. I am down to 40 hours a week. I sit down before every new year and consider my life vision. I am not involved in the day-to-day aspects of BNI. I am still highly involved in the company, I am completely in my element. It’s ok to reinvent yourself, after 30 years of leading I was becoming tired of it, I needed to focus on something different within BNI, I am focused on the relationship development. Did you ever think BNI would reach the levels it has? Ever? yes. But in the first 11 months no I didn’t. I set up the first chapter for the sake of my own business and those that I cared about. A lady came along and realized that someone in her field was already a part of the group and was unable to join, she asked me if she could create a second chapter. Initially, I said no, but changed my mind and within a year we had 20 chapters. I wasn’t even trying. I had my “Brody Moment“ (From the movie jaws “We are going to need a bigger boat“). This was my lightbulb moment and I believed I could create 10,000 chapters, and In December 2020 that came to fruition. What’s the thought behind having one expert in one specific field in the structure of BNI? Honestly, I did it because I didn’t want my competition to be in the room. I didn’t like a lot of other networking events I was attending and I wanted to be able to speak freely without competitors taking my ideas. So that’s where that thought process generated from. We are all about building relationships and the mantra “Give is Gain“ is about an attitude and not an expectation. What makes it easier for someone to refer another professional? The key is educating people on how to refer to you, your weekly presentations become critical. I try to teach people the language of referrals. I can’t, I need, I want and I don’t know. Fill in the blanks. "You have to teach people the language of referral." Take one of those each week and be laser specific on how you can educate people to refer you. If you’re a coach you may present and say something like I am looking for people who are saying “I want to have more confidence“. You have to teach people the language of referral. You’ve achieved much in your life. What keeps you hungry for more? It’s about making a difference in other people's lives. Making an impact on one person at a time, then one chapter at a time, and then one country at a time. Success is about a layer cake, it’s layer after layer. I love making a difference in people's lives. I love speaking and seeing the light go on in people’s eyes. There is nothing more gratifying to me than people being inspired by something I say. I know you love Leadership, what is your greatest quality where you believe this has given you the greatest results?. I think my ability to focus on solutions and not the problems has helped me create the right results. Too often people are obsessed with problems, but a great leader is all about solutions, the other would be to set the right culture within an organization and to really care for people. If you could meet someone living or dead for a hot beverage who would it be and why? Nelson Mandela or Gandhi. Two men I truly admired, who changed the world through non-violence, they were truly focused on the solutions of the world. They were able to recognize the problems of the world and focused solely on the solutions they could bring. For more info, follow Ivan on YouTube, Instagram and visit his website! Listen to the full interview on Spotify!