Written by: Jennifer Byrne, 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. How do you define success? Success has its benefits. It requires tradeoffs. Those tradeoffs are risks that may be sabotaging your success. You may be avoiding some of the best opportunities in your life because of the change it brings (yes, even if it’s a positive one). Anxiety, fear, stress, anticipation, and self-doubting behavior cause even the most successful people to avoid, you guessed it…more success. As human beings, we like what makes us comfortable. It provides us a safe space with a good sense of who we are. It is hard to imagine who we can be because it separates us from our current identity. Side effects of success include: Upward career mobility Gaining greater visibility from peers, family, friends, and colleagues Being viewed as “better than average.” Less time for other things. More money and higher status Or even worse, you may like it! And more… The path to greater levels of success causes us to move away from our current identity to an updated version. It takes us out of our comfort zone, challenges us, and creates new and exciting opportunities. Change is dynamic. With increasing levels of success, there is loss. Even if it is simply the loss of the familiar, we may place a greater emphasis on emotion and logic than our intuition. There are things you can do to elicit a response to change that will help you achieve greater success: Acknowledge what you are feeling is normal. Evaluate the positive aspects and address the losses. Step back to consider what needs to be accomplished to accommodate the change and set reasonable goals towards it. Have a support network. Think broadly. After all, you cannot anticipate everything that will happen. Provide yourself space for surprises that may come up. Remind yourself change is not easy. Yes, change catapults you into a place filled with unanswered questions, unknown possibilities, and uncertain results. On the other hand, it can be very exciting, eye-opening, and bring you to places you never felt possible. “Don’t wait. The Time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Jennifer! Jennifer Byrne, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jennifer Byrne is a certified life and career coach. She helps her clients overcome the fears that are holding them back, increase confidence levels, discover their life’s purpose, and achieve greater levels of energy to reach their full potential. Jennifer’s message to her clients is “Follow Your Inner Compass.” With more than a decade of experience in organizational development, coaching, and mentoring in both corporate and non-profit environments, Jennifer brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her coaching work. Jennifer earned her B.S. from Monmouth University and pursued advanced degrees, including her MBA and M.Ed. She is certified as an Energy Leadership Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation. Despite the demands of her career, Jennifer makes time to be involved with community and professional organizations. She is a member of ICF Global and local ICF NYC chapter in which she actively participates on the Member Engagement and Social Outreach committees. Jennifer lives in Ocean County, NJ, with her husband of 14 years and two dogs. When not working, she loves to explore the outdoors.

Written by: Lily Woi, 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. MoSCoWs? What’s that?! It’s a commonly used prioritisation technique in business analysis and software development to understand the importance of each requirement and manage what gets the most attention first. The term is an acronym that stands for M - Must-Have; S - Should-Have; C - Could-Have; and W - Won’t-Have. You can also spice it up and change the W to Wish-For . The Os do not stand for anything. They’re just there to make the word pronounceable! When I first came across this technique, I was impressed by its ability to keep everyone focused on the desired outcome and surfaced any misunderstanding early on as it front-loaded a lot of the discussions that we don’t tend to have until later on in the process. It got me thinking about how I could start using this in other parts of my life and career that needed a bit more clarity. With a bit of trial and error and a few small tweaks, I started using it in my career planning. I’ve now expanded it and used it with my clients with much success! It’s often a challenge to visualise your career vision because the sky is the limit. A lot of people struggle with getting started and draw a blank. So before you start visualising and solidifying your career vision. I invite you to start building your career blueprint first by looking at yourself and your situation as it is now using MoSCoW. This process helps you to create your ideal future and forms your target. It is a less daunting way to help you understand what you want out of your career! Let’s break it down into its individual components. Must-Haves . These are the non-negotiables needs that are mandatory for you. These cannot be comprised. For example, you require flexible working so you’re able to do your school runs. Should-Haves . These are important needs that are not vital but add significant value. The difference here is that these can be absent from your career FOR NOW but you’ll want to work towards achieving it. For example, this could be your desired salary. Could-Haves . These are your ‘nice to have’ but will have a small impact if you don’t get it. For example, this could be certain benefits such as travel subsidies. Won’t-Have. These are the things you won’t accept and do not want. For example, this could be being in the office 5 days a week. The examples I provided are simple and straightforward to give you an idea of what it could look like. Of course, your situations would be more nuanced than the examples I shared. Most people struggle with categorising their Must-Haves and Should-Haves. If you’re unsure which category your items should be in, ask yourself these questions: What happens if I don’t have this in my work? Will I be happy or excited about going to work? And these are the questions that you need to answer for yourself. Don’t compare it to others as what’s important to them won’t be the same for you. Lastly, make it fun. It doesn’t need to be a boring tick box exercise. You can also do this over a couple of sittings in different environments to spark your creativity juice! The outcome of this exercise is about giving you direction. The process of building your career blueprint forces you to make decisions and really weigh up what’s important and absolutely fundamental for you rather than diverting energy into things that are just nice to have. It is challenging but incredibly rewarding. Give it a try. It might change your career trajectory. It certainly did for me! Follow me on LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more fro m Lily ! Lily Woi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lily Woi is a professionally trained coach and an expert in helping individuals to accelerate their career progression and develop authentic leadership capabilities. She has spent years working in corporate consultancy training and advising clients to deliver multimillion transformation programs before starting her career coaching business (Lily Woi Coaching). She develops current and future leaders to be self-directed, resilient to change, grow their presence and build authentic leadership styles that motivate and inspire others. She is known for her personalized approach, tailoring content to individuals' learning preferences and work experiences to instill real practical change in an enjoyable way.

Written by: Ruby Russell, 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. So, what is the purpose of the duvet, and where did they come from? Duvets reduce the complexity of making a bed. Duvets make it far easier to make than hospital corners using the top sheet. The duvet is a commonsense replacement for blankets, bedspreads, and the top sheet. Duvet is the French word for “down”. It is like a big bag made of various fabrics to form a large pouch. It goes on the very top of the bed and gives the sleeper warm comfort without a blanket, bedspread, or top bed sheet. It has become an essential bedding item within the United Kingdom and is the most popular bed covering in all of Europe. So, where did they come from? An honest answer is no one knows where the duvet came from. An archaeological dig suggests the Chinese were the first to invent duvets around 5,000 years ago. However, this has been difficult to confirm. Sources also say duvets originated in rural Europe using the feathers of ducks or geese as a filler. To be honest, the origination of the duvet is as complicated as it is to stuff one. There is no clear answer on who invented the duvet. In 1749 Thomas Nugent, an English gentleman, saw the use of the duvets while touring Europe. The British were using eiderdown to create duvets which are the soft underlay feathers from the Eider duck. The Eider duck is a precious natural resource of Iceland and is known for its effectiveness as a thermal insulator. Sir Terence Conrad began to import duvets from Sweden to the UK., and immediately, the concept caught on and was then marketed as the ‘10 second bed’. The ‘Continental Quilt’ as it was named in Britain really started to catch on in the 1970s because of the comfort and convenience. The modern-day duvet comes in all and shapes and sizes. Like a sleeping bag, it can be filled with down or feathers of various quality and cost as well as silk, wool, cotton, or artificial fibers such as polyester batting. There are many fillings and thicknesses to choose from, depending on your preference. Benefits Of The Duvet Duvets can be made warmer than blankets without becoming heavy. The care of a duvet is a tedious process and should only be washed when necessary, once or twice a year. The process can take several hours with several rinses aftercare instructions. Warm wash gentle 40º cool tumble dry, no bleach and do, not iron. Comforter vs. duvet vs. duvet cover The difference between a duvet and a comforter is one piece of bedding, while a duvet requires two separate pieces, an insert and a cover. A comforter is usually quilted with the filling evenly distributed. It is technically designed to be used without a cover but with a top sheet instead., while a duvet has an insert that works as a filler. Duvet covers are often less expensive than comforters. The duvet cover is essential for the duvet if you want it to last. Once you strip a duvet cover from the duvet (down or synthetic blanket insert), you can easily launder it. You can also put a comforter inside a duvet cover to keep it clean, and it is more cost-effective to replace and care for than a duvet or comforter. It is also less expensive to change the look of your bedroom by swapping out duvet covers. When it comes to the exterior of the duvet cover, the views are mixed. Cotton, bamboo, or linen are the best fabrics for duvets, but some prefer and recommend microfiber or silk. Bamboo is ranked number one in breathability for duvet covers and comforters. IT’S COMPLICATED STUFFING A DUVET If you thought the ‘hospital corner’ was complicated, you are not saved when it comes to the duvet cover. Over the years, there have been several patents on duvet covers with several things in common, how you insert the duvet and closures, ties, buttons, or snaps. There are side, middle, top, and bottom openings. The stuffing of a duvet cover is a tedious, daunting process; It has been given names like the burrito or sausage roll, where the instructions show you how to roll a duvet and insert it inside out to make it. There are many videos with 23 million-plus viewers on how to make/stuff a duvet cover. If you thought it was complicated making a “hospital corner” on the bedsheet, get ready for the duvet cover. Rachel Ray did several shows on the hard to due process, which has been given several names, the burrito roll, sausage roll, California roll, and the roll. All are the reasons I stopped using a duvet cover until I invented my own. Like the top bed sheet, there has been no significant change to the duvet cover since its beginning until now. Necessity is the mother of invention. When my 85-year-old partner injured his back, he would toss and turn to mess the bed up. I hated making the bed and felt shame leaving it to him, and I didn’t mess it up. I knew there had to be an easier way. That’s what drove me to invent a top sheet that would stay-put Stayput Bedding™. That turned out so cool and stayed put that I tackled another bedding item I hated, the duvet cover. Befitted Bedding™ is a patent-pending duvet cover that is simple to make. Our duvet cover and top sheet are also guaranteed to stay put. My desire was to make bedding simple and effortless, so you spend more time in bed and less time making it. NO MORE SAUSAGE ROLL, BURRITO ROLL, OR STUFFING A DUVET! Unzip cover Lay comforter Zip-up cover Tuck cover Done The history of Duvets is rich and fascinating. For such an important part of the bed set, it’s surprising to discover that so little is known about its origins. It’s also surprising that there has been no significant improvement in bed linens since the invention of the fitted sheet 62 years ago. I was blown away when I discovered the inventor of the fitted bed sheet was an African American woman, Bertha Berman. Filled with pride, I began to think of other ways I could make bed-making simple and effortless. It’s time we bring bedding into the 21st century. With new innovative 21st century designs, you don’t make the bed; the bed makes you. Find me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or visit our website. Read more from Ruby! Ruby Russell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ruby is a 70-year-old senior entrepreneur and a chip off the old block. Her parents were entrepreneurs, and she wanted to follow in their footsteps. When her domestic partner suffered an injury, he would toss and turn in the bed, tearing the bed up. Ruby used fabric from another bed sheet to extend the top sheet. To make the extension fit correctly, she left out the corners, leaving a long tail. What she created was a top sheet is now a one-step process that centers itself. After using Ruby’s invention, her partner could no longer tear the bed up. One patent and a little ingenuity later, and RR Distinctive Beddings was born. Like all entrepreneurs, there is always a hit and miss. One thing all entrepreneurs have in common is perseverance, a head full of ideas, and a dream. However, Ruby was holding on until there was a life-changing moment.

Written by: Danijella Dragas, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. If you want to improve your game, you must examine your habits, team, and mindset. When you invest in yourself, you can achieve your goals and improve your performance. This will need. You need to take a few steps back to grow your impact and move your business to the next level. It is all about getting back to fundamentals or, more precisely, these five savage techniques. Go through the rules Nothing is more frustrating than seeing an inexperienced player attempt to play their hand. For a moment, it might be entertaining to watch, but then it is simply quite sad. This also applies to the corporate world. You must grasp the rules if you want to improve your game. Yes, starting a business is a risk. If you are serious about growing your business, you must be willing to learn what you do not know. Do not let your business suffer as a result of your inexperience. Expand your knowledge if you wish to step up your game. Plan out your plays Arrange your ambitions into objectives after you have written everything down on paper or on your iPad—schedule time in your calendar to relax, jot down all the thoughts that come to mind. Determine which plan comes first and then identify tactics to bring you closer to your ultimate goals. When you can see all of your ideas in one place, you can see what makes sense, what is not possible, and how your thoughts merge into an actual professional move. If you want to step up your game, you must devote time to preparing. Get to know your teammates The quarterback is just one member of the team. The same must be said of the CEO. Your capacity to progress and improve is not only dependent on your devotion. You may eat, drink, and breathe your company and still not get an inch closer to your objectives. Your company is too big for you to scale it alone – you need some help. Raising your game in business entails becoming more conscious of your team, your coworkers believe in your goal and want your company to thrive just as much as you do. So, the next time you are tempted to go it alone, take a glance around and motivate your colleagues to go with you. Stop making excuse Anyone can make an excuse, but if you wish to improve, you must stop the whining and really focus on improving. There is a significant difference between asking for assistance and requiring assistance and being imprisoned in a world of excuses; the “if only” talks may elicit compassion, but they will not asst you in achieving your objectives. Remember that game plans are meaningless unless they are carried out on the field or the daily life in business. If you want to gain more insight, you must leave the sidelines and enter the game; you must throw dome passes and risk getting tackled. Form strong habits When we look at athletes, we applaud the ones who are visible and giving their all. We appreciate the incredible skills of the entire team; however, we only see what we see. You do not need to be Bill Belichick or Bill Gates to take your company to the next level. However, you will need to create certain long-term behaviors. If you commit to using these five essential techniques, you will be able to step up your game and take your business to the next level. So, are you ready to start playing? Want to learn more from Danijella? Follow her on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Danijella! Danijella Dragas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Born and raised in Oxford, England. She earned a BS in Economics/International Trade and Banking from the prestigious University of London. Miss. Dragas was employed by Bear Stearns Investment Banking firm for over 18 years. She worked in their offices of London, San Paulo, Beijing, New York, and Irvine. Her specialty was asset management, capital markets/investment banking during her final four years at Bear Stearns, Miss. Dragas was one of the original team members that introduced Bear Stearns mortgages to the banking industry in the residential wholesale market. She has continued her career in residential, commercial lending for 36 years. Her focus has been on construction finance, asset repositioning, fintech, and the blockchain market. In addition, numerous prestigious commercial projects on an international level. Miss. Dragas has also worked on multi-sector business finance, corporate sponsorships, hospitality, clean energy, trade programs, and pre IPO. Her primary concentration of late has been on fintech, technology start-ups, sports arenas, and sports franchise business plans, commercial lending, focusing on construction, and working with numerous boards and CEOs in an advisory capacity. She is extremely competent in international banking, structured finance and corporate strategy, strategic partnerships. Miss Dragas enjoys biking, tennis, horse-riding, skiing, self-development, and golf in her spare time. An avid sports spectator and athlete, she is Managing Director of Global Soccer Pro, the United States division of Global Football Pro United Kingdom, and USA Founding Board Member, Executive Steering Committee for Football For PEACE. Additionally, her philanthropic endeavors in the cure and treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Football for Peace keep her very active in the global community.

Written by: Preeti Mistry, 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 a relationship mindset transformation coach, I focus on a specific area of dating and relationships- that of the mindset of those that are single, in their 30’s and above, feel like they are in a rut, yet deeply wish to be in a happy, healthy, romantic relationship. Many a time I feel that when we hear about mindset, the focus is on usually on goals related to career, finance or some purpose related goal. But rarely do we pay attention to our thoughts, feelings and beliefs with it comes to finding love. As we all know, the mind is a powerful tool that if used correctly can work for us instead of against us. Tuning in to our thoughts and feelings with regards to finding love are important indicators of the energy we will be bringing into the situation from the start. According to psychological studies and theory, what we believe deep down in our subconscious mind, even if we are unaware of what those thoughts are, will operate like a broken tape recorder on repeat impacting our emotions and consequently the way we act and behave. Those behaviors/attitudes will be drawing in experiences that reinforce that subconscious belief or our internal map of how we see things. And if these thoughts or beliefs are negative, that can be a problem. So, in order to break this cycle, it is vital to first become aware of these thoughts and start to change them to those that serve us and are more empowering. Having a therapist or a coach can greatly assist in this area. Therefore, discovering these hidden inner beliefs that may be sabotaging us from finding the right relationship is definitely worth exploring. What is your relationship mindset? So, what is it that we are really feeling with regards to love and being in a relationship before we even begin the search? And where do those thoughts and images of what a relationship should be like or will be like even come from? Are they authentically yours or are they conditioned beliefs? If you are single and are searching for the one, whether it be through dating apps, meetups, singles events, etc., what is the predominant feelings and thoughts that come up? Are they positive or negative? Does it feel possible or impossible? Are you already viewing the dating process as an array of disappointment or opportunity? Do you feel worthy of a loving relationship or is there a part of you that feels you don’t deserve it? If you discover that any of these thoughts are on a negative frequency, that is what needs to change. For example, it could be that your perception of a relationship is negative because growing up you witnessed the dysfunctional relationship of your parents, or maybe you know a lot of friends who speak negatively about being in a marriage and are in the midst of a messy divorce. Or perhaps you yourself have experienced a traumatic relationship in the past. Wherever that belief stems from, whether it’s from the experience of others or your own, it’s important to realize that it’s not your story or it need not be your story anymore. You have the pen in your hand to create and write your own life experiences. And for every story that is showing you what you don’t want in a relationship, think of three that do. Focusing your attention on what you do want will start to draw more of these experiences to you. So what are four tips we can use to help ourselves gain more clarity in the initial stages of dating and set a more empowering mindset? 1. First, ask yourself what does a relationship mean to you? Answer this question for yourself authentically in terms of what would be it’s purpose in your life. How would you like it to unfold? What would this relationship look like years down the line? What are your desires, needs and core values, and what would your contribution to the relationship be? Try and detach yourself from what you may have seen in media, family, friends etc. and honestly answer this in a way that is true to you. 2. Second, why do you want to be in a relationship and how passionate do you feel about being in one? As with many things, our “why” is super important because it serves as an intrinsic motivator to accomplishing dreams and goals in our life. How is being with the one you love going to positively impact your life? What will be the ripple effects of it? I like using the word “passionate” because when we feel passionate about something in our lives, it drives us in that direction. Similarly, if a relationship is in alignment with who you really are, you will intrinsically feel an enthusiasm towards it and want to do whatever it takes to build a beautiful, loving, healthy one. 3. Third, know your love language and dating language. Most of you may have heard of the love languages already, but in case you haven’t, according to Gary Chapman, there are 5 main love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, receiving gifts, and quality time. In addition to knowing your love languages, it is also important to understand what I like to call your “dating language” by which I mean the things you would need in the initial stages of dating to make you feel like seeing the other person again. Initially when we meet someone, we are not in love with them yet, so what are those qualities that make someone a “yes”, “no”, or “maybe”. For example, is it physical attraction that initially draws you to them, or is it their amazing communication skills? Maybe it’s their sense of humor, or willingness to be vulnerable that attracts you. Or maybe it’s a compatibility of values and beliefs? Get clear on what those qualities were that made you decide one way or another. 4. And fourthly, remember to communicate this and be observant. Understanding yourself, your values, and needs is one aspect, but unless you communicate it to the other and become curious about them, they will not begin to understand you, nor will you begin to understand them. Something I have been asked often on dates is “What are you looking for?” What a great opportunity to relay your intentions and communicate what a relationship means to you. And don’t forget to be curious and ask back! When it comes to being observant, always watch who the other person is showing you they are and pay attention to what you are feeling inside. Do their actions and words line up? How are they treating you? How do they treat others? What does your intuition say? Observe all of this. Final Words So, before you rush into another date in the future, make sure you pause to reflect and ask yourself these important questions. We sometimes complain that others don’t understand us, but how well do you understand yourself? When you start to unpack and go deeper within yourself, sometimes it’s not always easy. However, if we don’t take time to know ourselves better, how can we expect others to automatically understand us? As you go through this incredible journey of discovery, remember to have patience and compassion for yourself as well as others. If you are someone who is currently dating and would like to date more intentionally and consciously, I encourage you to download my complimentary workbook called Discover Your Dating Language Workbook here . If you have been single for some time and desire to be in a relationship, or feel like you are in an endless dating cycle and are ready to dive deeper into this matter, I am offering a 1:1, one hour complimentary discovery session. Click here to book a call and embark on a journey to make a change once and for all. Want to learn more from Preeti? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or visit her website . Preeti Mistry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Preeti Mistry is a Jay Shetty Certified Coach who focuses on single, young professionals and entrepreneurs who want to be in a healthy, meaningful, and lasting relationship. Through her 1:1 coaching service, she helps them uncover and overcome their hidden inner resistance to finding love so that they feel empowered to put their best self forward and can dare to create the love life they desire. Her chosen niche as a relationship mindset transformation coach was inspired by her own struggles in this area and by noticing that this was a common problem that plagued many she knew as well. After her own transformational journey of overcoming limiting beliefs and aligning better with her true authentic self, Preeti is on a mission to help and empower those that truly want to be in a relationship break out of a rut and unleash their best self in love. Preeti has had the opportunity and privilege of participating on a panel hosted by the American India Foundation SF as a relationship mindset transformation coach with the crew of the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking. She has also appeared as a guest on various podcasts talking about topics related to mindset, dating, relationships, spirituality and manifestation. In addition, she is the founder of the Relationship Mindset club on Clubhouse which offers tremendous value and is continuing to grow. Preeti is also a general dentist, and loves to paint, travel, dance, and spend time in nature. Preeti’s purpose and vision is to help create a world where we focus more on our possibilities instead of our impossibilities so that we are more in tune with creating a life that is aligned with our deepest desires and can experience the joy and fulfillment we are meant to in this life.

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 . This week my therapist and I talked about Netflix and how hard it is to stop once you start (like when you can’t put down a bag of peanut M&M’s or a box of popcorn). I mentioned how frustrated I am watching my new favourite show on free-to-air TV because it’s impossible to binge the entire season. I have to wait a whole week for the next episode. Like back in the good old days when I was young and free, and streaming was just the sound of water. Free to air means I have to practice patience (which is not my forte). But it also means I’m watching these episodes mindfully. I’m savouring the moments. I’m thinking about what I’m watching. I’m not picking up my phone half way through and mindlessly scrolling. And the best part; I don’t feel guilty afterwards. Because I’m setting the time aside to unwind and enjoy the limited time I have. I'm not getting lost in the minefield of never-ending episodes only to end up berating myself for not having spent more time getting through my to-do list. My therapist referred to this as 'conscious mindful watching’ Who knew? We can be mindful in front of the TV! While the world is slowing down and we’re learning how to live a more simple life, I’m also very aware of not crossing the line into ‘sloth’ or spiralling back into the black pit of depression. I’m the kind of person that needs to stay productive, work towards goals, maintain habits in order to stay mentally healthy. Past experience has shown me that without these things, depression and anxiety can creep up out of nowhere. ‘So, where’s the fine line between taking time to rest and recoup versus spiralling down mentally?’ , I asked my therapist. ‘Well, that line is different for everyone’ , she replied. ‘You need to identify that line for yourself’. I hung my head in despair. The part of me that wants to be given instant answers wasn't at all thrilled with her response. She went onto to talk to me about ‘hypo’ versus ‘hyper’ state. In other words, fight or flight versus shutting down all together. And this is when I realised - I need to be more mindful (pardon the pun) about how I plan my ‘rest and recoup’ time. Putting some thought into how I will unwind ahead of time. Not just dumping myself on the couch to watch TV as a way to numb the daily chaos. But instead, allowing myself that time as a way to consciously unwind. To stop and take an interest in what I’m doing. Perhaps even enjoy it. ‘What other activities make you feel rested and clear-headed afterwards?’ she asked. And then the light bulb moment... Sometimes it’s the stuff I don’t feel like doing to begin with, which makes me feel rested the most. So, I began building my list: Going for a walk Creating and designing Decluttering and cleaning (yep, I’m that kind of crazy) Going to church Watching a documentary Sometimes the majority of these things don’t necessarily feel appealing to begin with. Sometimes I just want to zone out with a glass of red and some mind-numbing TV. But if I can first stop and think about what will leave me feeling most rested AND satisfied, I have the power to choose wisely. Taking the time to write down my rest and relax (R&R) options is definitely helping me to be mindful about how I choose to relax. And I'm relaxing without the guilt. If you're like me, and find yourself bouncing between staying motivated but needing some down time, I highly recommend you try the same. Create a list of the stuff that might not seem relaxing but does actually make you feel cool, calm and collected afterwards. What are the things that clear your head space? The activities that help you unwind? Perhaps even still somewhat energised? And finally, note to self/others: never discount discussing random topics in therapy. Even Netflix can lead to lifelong lessons! Download your Mindful R&R Template Follow Made for Greatness on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest and YouTube or visit the website for more good reads. 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 a 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 have 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: Janet Macaluso, 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. Have you ever complained about busy work distracting you from strategic, high-impact projects and planning? You’re not alone! Responding to emails, daily fire-fighting problems, or jumping from one thing to another are often attempts to clear disorder in our frenetic 21st-century lives. However, an emotional unease lies underneath the surface of constant busyness - a distraction-prone monkey-mind interfering with important leadership work. Consequently, we jump to the flurry of "Whack-A-Mole" alternatives. Here's the problem. A Clearing Disorder slowly steals away energy, time, and focus unless we practice deliberate Self-Observation and Self-Management. Unintentionally, we drain our power to make constructive change and impact in the world. The beneficiaries of our strategic work - the very people and causes that could benefit - miss out on our potentially game-changing plans, ideas, and options. "Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years." - Bill Gates The root cause of a Clearing Disorder? We're often carrying around undetected low-level anxiety. Consequently, fear-based emotions and fretfulness drive behaviors, decisions, and attention. Undiagnosed, a Clearing Disorder is like a secret co-signer on your bank account. It withdraws our influence capital, robbing the world of the value our disciplined work can offer. Take Chad, for example. Several years back, I saw this play out during a series of leadership workshops we co-facilitated. Before participants arrived, Chad would enter the conference room and consistently fret about the setup. Rushing around the room, he'd fine-tune the tables and chairs – a smidge to the left or right. Eventually, I asked him about his auto-pilot behavior. Upon his reflection, it became evident: Chad had pre-public speaking nervousness! Reshuffling the room setup was an unconscious attempt to "clear the disorder" of his inner anxiety. The Best Prevention? Early detection. Might an undetected Clearing Disorder hamper your success? To assess your risk, conduct a self-screening test. Ask yourself, "Do I..." Rely on the WYSIWYD prioritization system — What You See Is What You Do? Interrupt important work projects by checking my inbox or texts? Lack energy or time to focus on the critical projects? If you see yourself in this behavior, don't worry—below are three ways to support you. 1. Psychological Preparation. Manage emotional energy. Identify the best pre-work activity — meditation, yoga, walking, running, etc., to raise or lower your Chi (energy) Make a list of all the things taking up headspace Clear your physical space — close the door, turn off phone and notifications Boost your ambiance — a pot of green tea, soft music, noise-canceling headphones 2. Creation, not ReaCtion – Where do you place the "C"? Remember that every time you delay the gratification of distracting yourself, you're strengthening your neuro-network connections for more vital self-discipline, which build other healthy habits Check out "Got Impulse Control?" article for more information If you're a leader, consider whether you ask your team to make changes or acquire extra information to manage your anxiety 3. Evaluate Your Focus. For a week, assess how you spent blocks of time - mornings, afternoon, evenings Dedicate a specific percentage on deep work – days, weeks, months, quarters, years Take frequent breaks to conserve physical and mental energy With these strategies in your toolkit, you will be building the neuro network muscles to go for more extended periods of focused work instead of running from one activity to another. The results will be transformative. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Janet! Janet Macaluso, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After a 25-year corporate career developing executives, teams, and organizations, Janet founded Learning2LEAD, a Regenerative Leadership Development practice based in Cambridge, USA, and Malaga, Spain. No stranger to personal regeneration, Janet reinvented herself from a college dropout to a flight attendant and aerobic instructor to an award-winning coach and global executive with three academic degrees. Janet created Learning2LEAD to reflect the life, legacy, and impact she wants to leave. Applying modern science and ancient wisdom, Janet stewards successful mid-life change-makers, leaders, and rabble-rousers ready to transform their "1st-half" successes into "2nd-half" significance. Whether in virtual workshops or leadership hiking retreats in Spain, Janet nudges clients to move toward their Best Future Self Now - so they can do the same for their people and places. Her mission: To Ban Average!

Written by: Ailsa Keppie, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Many people these days are not doing well. I say that after hearing from a couple of close friends who shared about their personal experiences of deep depression this summer. And it has been a strange and challenging year, no doubt about that! But why are so many people really struggling just to put one foot in front of the other or questioning the point of getting out of bed at all? Is it the fault of the virus we have all been hearing about so much or the conflicts that seem to be ramping up about how to deal with it? Is it the fault of the governments who haven’t provided enough support through this whole year and a half ordeal? Is it the fault of having to isolate and not see our friends and loved ones in person? Are we touch-deprived? Sanity deprived? Nature deprived? Purpose deprived? Maybe all of those things are there but there is actually something we still have personal control over and can take action on; creating and experiencing pleasure. Pleasure? You ask. I know it seems unimportant or trivial or even downright irresponsible to be thinking about pleasure in the middle of a worldwide crisis but I challenge you to stay with me here for a minute. We are wired, like most animals, to move away from pain and towards pleasure. We can show this in many biological settings and experiments. But what does this mean for our everyday life? What it means is we can choose what we focus on. We can choose to focus on the pain and how to avoid it at all costs or we can focus on pleasure and how we can experience more of that. So which way do you want to orient your experience? It seems simple to me. If I focus on the pain and the difficulties, I withdraw. I numb out and hide more and more from a world that only seems to be getting worse. Before long I’m afraid to go outside, to talk to real people, to go to the supermarket. I begin to lose my will to do ordinary daily tasks. It all seems overwhelming and pointless. I become depressed. If, on the other hand, I focus on pleasure, on what feels good to my body or what uplifts my soul, I find I am drawn to notice more and more ways to be useful, both to myself and others. A bouquet of flowers given to a neighbour today, a few fresh shiitake mushrooms for dinner with my beloved, a smile as I walk past some particularly rowdy pigeons on a city street. What do you find pleasure in? Maybe today, when you sit down at the end of the evening, and think things over, remember one thing that brought you pleasure. No matter how small or insignificant it seems, as yourself if it uplifts you, makes your heart feel lighter, brings a smile to your face. If it does, then you have just experienced the power of pleasure healing! Don’t wait until you feel depressed to try this, make it a habit in your life and see if it changes your outlook. I’ll bet all the pain in the world, it does! With pleasure, Ailsa Want to learn more from Ailsa? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and visit her website. Read more from Ailsa! Ailsa Keppie, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ailsa is a trained intimacy Educator and Somatic Therapist and has been working in hands-on bodywork, somatic coaching, and healing for over a decade. Ailsa Keppie brings aspects from her background in circus arts, physical theatre, music, dance, myofascial release, bioenergetic processes, archetypes, and spirituality to her work with clients. She is a published author of her compelling memoir entitled "By the Light of the Crescent Moon," which describes her incredible journey into Islam and polygamy and how it lead to her awakening and reclamation of her own Eros and power. Ailsa works with individuals, couples, and groups both online and in-person at her retreat center, Our Celtic Hearth, in Nova Scotia, Canada, where she resides with her current life partner.

Written by: Richa Chandra, 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. This is one of my favorite laws of Branding. For me, everything that can make my decision-making process shorter or easier is a good brand. Everything is moving fast in our society even in the new normal that we are experiencing these days. Many of us have had the time to think about the decisions we make and our priorities. We are appreciating the time with the families more and want to complete our work, shopping, change, and transformations quickly. This is where this law comes in: The 4th law of the 7th laws of Branding: The law of Contraction The Law of publicity The law of Advertising The law of Decision making The Law of Credentials Law of Consistency and Singularity Law of Meaning and Mortality In the last article, I covered the 3 rd law. Let’s look closer at my favorite of the 7 laws. The Law of Decision making Most of the products or services that are invented and created to make our lives easier. These days there are thousands of choices, and we find ourselves spending more time to make a decision on which one of the identical products is better for us, or the price or the company to buy it from. The whole point of this law is the make the decision-making process easier for the customer so they can spend more time doing what they like than to wonder if they could have gotten a better deal somewhere else. The reason people look for options is because they either had a bad experience with the brand, product, or service. Or worst of all, they are confused about your brand, product/ service and cannot understand what kind of amazing experience they can have if they choose your brand. A few years ago, I had to buy a fridge due to some accident in the house. After a long day with meetings and clients, I had to go shopping. I was dreading it because I don’t fancy shopping. I did not have time to think about what kind of fridge I wanted or what my options were. I came to the store and saw Electrolux fridge and Samsung. I felt so relived because the decision was made before the seller had shown me other brands. Why? Because I have experience with Electrolux and Samsung and have never been disappointed. I knew right away that I don’t have to look for a new fridge for the next 15 years. It is the trust, experience, and the quality I am paying for. The age of the brand is no guarantee a good experience or loyal customers. Just recently I was contacted by an Indian Company based in UK. They were looking for someone who could update their managers on Branding mindset. When asked how they got to know about me, they said they had joined one of my free webinars and learnt a lot in just 50 mins, more than they had from the previous company they had engaged. I meet their needs and even though my price was much higher they were willing to pay since they really liked the way I taught and was clear on what needed to be done. I had made it easier for them to choose me because they knew exactly what they were getting, and they had already had a good experience. In conclusion: You can have a known brand, cheap or luxurious but people will always choose the brand that makes it easy to make decisions; being choosing a service provided online or buying a fridge in a store. By following and applying this law you can make people’s life easier and make sure they can spend time doing what they love and not waste energy on being confused or regret spending their precious time on something less valuable to them. Want to learn more from Richa? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Richa ! Richa Chandra, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine 'Fears don’t define us, but how we face them, does that!' This is the mantra of Award winner (Most aspirational businesswomen, Norway 2019) Richa Chandra lives by. She is actually the driving force and face behind the success and visibility of many coaches, entrepreneurs, and workshops. In 2015, Richa faced a hostile takeover of her company and lost everything, but in just a few months, without any hesitation, she started 3 new businesses. She has written 3 books that have become the main Norwegian textbooks in teaching Indian Dance and Proven benefits of Meditation (2019).

Written by: Nida Leardprasopsuk, 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. Every entrepreneur has a story to tell. It does not matter whether they are successful or not, they all have stories. There are lessons to learn from the journey to entrepreneurship. The truth is that nothing prepares you for what you will experience as an entrepreneur. No matter how many books you read, no matter how many courses you take, or seminars you attend. They may cushion the effect of the experiences, but never give you complete edge over everything that could happen. Many people become entrepreneurs with the hopes of having smooth sails. But things aren’t always as they seem, and they don’t always go according to plan. It has been an interesting journey for me, one that has exposed me to experiences, some pleasant, and others that are not so pleasant. I can write a big book about my experiences. But I have selected 8 of the major lessons I learned from being an entrepreneur. I am sharing them with you, because they can help you on your journey through the world of being an entrepreneur. 1. Hire Slow & Fire Fast This is a popular rule that so many successful entrepreneurs and professionals follow. It may seem harsh. As humans we are social beings- we tend to create social bonds with people for different reasons. We are emotional empaths who are considerate about the other person’s plight. But, if the emotions are not checked, it could have a negative effect on your business. I love to give people opportunities to show what they can do. I also expect them to grow while at it. I believe in the fact that skillsets and mindsets can be improved over time. Yet, in times past, I gave people too much time to grow and prove themselves. But they refused to be accountable for even their own growth and benefit, and that took a toll on my business. The solution is to take your time in hiring. Ensure that you hire the best hands that buy in to your vision and are ready to give 110% (Yes, 110% is what I said) of themselves. If the people you hire are underperforming, it is very okay to let them go. You should do it without emotions or sentiments. Rather, see it as you helping them learn the lessons they need to grow and evolve. They say that you are wasting four times the cost of hiring someone when you hire the wrong person. The takeaway from the lesson is that you should ensure you hire the best. But, let them go if they still do not perform, even after giving them time to learn and improve on themselves. Bad hires will send productivity and efficiency on a downward spiral. When that happens, it has a negative effect on the company's progress at achieving its vision. It is important that you focus on the big picture. You need to realize that keeping the wrong people in your business will affect the whole business and not only one person. 2. Think Big There are so many businesses out there with the potential to grow into very big ventures. But, it looks like they have refused to grow. It is important to note that growth strategies may fail if the mindset to grow is not there. The truth is that there is no way you can elevate your business if you do not elevate your mindset. Your mind is a powerful tool to help you and your business grow. You only need to know how to harness it. One of the ways to harness the power of your mind for the growth of your business is to think big. Everything that we see around us, every big company, and every successful business did not just spring up from nowhere. Rather, they began as a thought, an idea, and a vision that was thought through and planned for. The people behind these companies had a growth and an abundant mindset. An entrepreneur who is building a 6-figure business will not have the same mindset as the entrepreneur who is building a 7-figure business. An entrepreneur that wants to be a global brand, does not have the same mindset as the entrepreneur who wants to meet the needs of a few customers. Most times when entrepreneurs are not able to grow their businesses, it is not only the strategies that may be faulty. But the mindset they about themselves and what they can achieve. 3. Build your Power Circle You cannot do it on your own. One mistake every entrepreneur should avoid is wanting to go through entrepreneurship alone. You will get burned out before you achieve much. You need to build a power circle that will function as a support system. A power circle is important for the growth of your business. It will also help you magnify the impact of your business and extend its reach to a wider audience. As an introvert, it took me many years to realize this, and if I had known earlier, I would have avoided some mistakes. One common thing with introverts is that they feel drained when they have to socialize and interact with people for a long time. I love reading books and finding solace in my solitude. I love spending time alone with my thoughts, as I recharge my mind to achieve my goals, and most introverts are like that. Introverts love being alone in their world. There are no doubts about the fact that socializing is a big challenge for a lot of introverts, including me. Jim Rohn’s famous quote says that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. It is very important to ensure that you have a power circle that is filled with people that love you, uplift you, and want to see you grow. As an entrepreneur, it is important that you get a support system. You need people who believe in you and are ready to support as you surmount the challenges of entrepreneurship. One of the good things about power circles is the fact that everyone supports each other. That paves the way for the growth of the people within the circle. It is like working together according to the principle of the law of reciprocity where favors are returned. 4. Be a Specialist and not a Generalist You have probably heard the term “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I don’t think any entrepreneur deliberately sets out to be a Jack of all trades. But, it is not surprising to see so many entrepreneurs try to do so many things at the same time- yes! I was one of those entrepreneurs that wanted to explore different ventures. But I learned my lessons, and that is why I am sharing them with you. We live in a world where the digitization of so many processes has paved the way for people to do so many things that would be difficult or impossible. That has made it easier for multi-skilled, multi-passionate, and multi-talented people to explore. Digitization has also paved the way for them to discover hidden abilities in themselves. Many entrepreneurs have brought these traits into entrepreneurship. They are always reinventing themselves and wanting to get involved with different things at the same time. It has become so easy for a person to be a bestselling author today, a YouTuber tomorrow, and a coach next month. It feels like the possibilities and opportunities are endless. In some cases, being able to do different things at the same time may be good. But in entrepreneurship, it can cause a lot of problems. When you are juggling several ideas and projects at the same time, it becomes difficult to focus on all of them at the same time. It becomes difficult to see a project through until it gets to its peak potentials, because you are putting effort into different things. It is important to note that resources are limited, and you are no robot. It is best to focus on one niche at a time, and grow till you become one of the bests in that field. Be the best in that niche. Let your clients know your business is the only one that offers the best services within that industry. It is not about being a Jack of all trades; rather it is about how well you are performing with the ones you have mastered. 5. Be Different Remember that you are not the only one in the industry, and so there are competitors who are trying to do all they can to perform better than you. While you may get pointers from their strategies, it is important to focus on originality. One of the keys to thriving in the business world is to make competition irrelevant. And you can achieve that by being a business that is irreplaceable. Coco Chanel says that in order to become irreplaceable, you need to be different. And being different means constantly innovating your business by thinking outside the box. Major companies in different parts of the world and across different industries stood out because they dared to be different. There are so many examples of them. Tesla came and caused disruptions in the manufacture of electric cars. And now different car manufacturers are trying to keep up with the company. Apple has maintained its standards since inception and has continued to provide their customers with high-end devices and services, their major competitors being Android phone manufacturers. Apple created the iOS and therefore no one can offer what they do. Their innovation and uniqueness has helped them stay ahead of the competition. There are so many companies and businesses out there that are thriving because they dared to be different. Examples of such companies include Netflix, Amazon, Airbnb, etc. These companies were able to do things differently because they projected into the future. They provided solutions to problems that even customers did not know existed. Exceptional businesses do not follow the lead. Rather they create the lead by building on forward-thinking and progressive ideas. The key to being different is through creativity and innovation, as well as having a strong desire to be ruthless problem solvers. If you are going to build a successful business as an entrepreneur, you need to be a solution provider that dares to be different. 6. Leave Your Comfort Zone; Don’t Avoid Challenges From my experience, the thing you avoid the most is what you need to do the most. We, humans, avoid challenges and avoid getting out of our comfort zones because we fear failure and naturally want to avoid feeling uncomfortable. For some people, they are skeptical about hiring people. Even though they may have their reasons, the truth still remains that you need people to move your dream forward. And so there is the need to face that challenge and surmount it. Some others are so comfortable in their cocoons that they do not see the need to step out, explore and conquer more grounds. When you do not leave your comfort zone, you limit the potential of your business and the impact you can make in the world. The only way to grow is outside of your comfort zone. Remember when I told you I’m an introvert? I had to learn to leave my comfort zone if I was going to achieve what I wanted. There is a quote from Marshall Goldsmith that I love, and it says “What got you here won’t get you there.” That is a profound statement that carries some weight. It means that whatever helped you surmount previous challenges was based on what you knew and what you had. But in order to push past the next hurdle to the next level, you will need a different mindset, different skills, and different strategies. You should get your note out, and make a list of the things that you are trying to avoid. Most times you may not be conscious of the fact that you are avoiding some things until you write them out. After listing them out, take some time to identify why you are avoiding them, and ask yourself if there are actual solutions. Often times when you think about your fears and take actions to conquer them, you will realize that they are not as scary as they seem. And even if the worse happens, you will be able to deal with it. There’s no challenge without a solution. I put it to you that you can overcome that challenge. 7. Invest in Excellence This right here is a very important lesson; you need to make it a habit to invest in excellence as you make your way through the world of entrepreneurship. One thing I have come to realize is that excellence will take you places, and so you need to invest all you can in excellence. From your hiring processes up to service delivery to your customers and clients, excellence should be your standard. Whether you are investing in state-of-the-art technology, investing in yourself, designing and developing the best products for your clients, or innovating amazing solutions that other people have not thought about, you should always strive for excellence. You need to know that excellence is what will keep you up there ahead of the curve. In psychology, the pursuit of excellence in all things is called positive perfectionism. And it is one of life’s philosophies that have been responsible for the many successes I have experienced in different areas of my life from education to working in the corporate world, to starting and running my own businesses. Investing in excellence will allow you to maintain your competitive edge, especially when others deliver subpar services. Whether it is your time, financial resources, intellect, skills, or talents, you should always ensure that you are investing to be the best and deliver nothing but the best. In whatever you do, it is imperative that you do not compromise for less. 8. Don’t Try To Be an Expert at Everything While other lessons are very important, this is one of the most important lessons. It is one lesson I wish I learned earlier on my entrepreneurial journey. As I mentioned earlier, being an introvert put me in a position where I wanted to do everything alone. That limited the growth of my business and I came to the realization that I could not go on the journey alone. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of thinking they are experts at everything. They think they can handle everything by themselves; they feel like they know the ropes and do not need mentors, consultants, or coaches. If you pay attention to the stories of successful entrepreneurs, you will notice that they all had mentors to guide them through the journey. These mentors showed them the ropes and offered them support. Having a coach or mentor can save you from wasting so many years in trying to find your footing as an entrepreneur. And it can also save you the hassles of making so many avoidable mistakes. You need to save your time, resources and energy as an entrepreneur. One of the best ways to do this is to learn from people that have garnered lots of experiences from entrepreneurship. When you have a good mentor, they will provide you with the easiest ways to achieve your goals. And you will see the results faster. There is this popular saying “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Going fast does not guarantee success; you could go fast, but not get anything tangible. When you go together, you are able to draw strength from others, and thus able to go farther than you would have if you went alone. These are some important lessons that I have learned on my journey as an entrepreneur, and I hope they help you on your journey too. Many entrepreneurs have made mistakes that were avoidable. If they had foreknowledge about what they were getting into they would have used a different approach. While experience may be one of the best teachers, you can learn from people’s experiences too. You can grow to become one of the greatest entrepreneurs the world ever knows. You have what it takes, you need to know how to use your abilities. I wish you the best on your entrepreneurial journey and hope that someday you are able to also share your experiences with others too. If you’d like to find out about your entrepreneurial edge and what sets you up for success, I’ve created a quiz for purpose-driven coaches, consultants, and experts that are ready to build a legacy business and take their income to new heights. You can complete the quiz here and get your own blueprint for success! Follow Nida on Instagram, Facebook, Clubhouse, Linkedin, and visit her website for more info! Get business and mindset tips from her podcast show — The One to Millions Entrepreneur here ( iTunes , Spotify ) Read more from Nida ! Nida Leardprasopsuk, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nida is a top-tier business consultant, mindset coach, and former Fortune 500 executive with more than two decades of experience in marketing, business, research, consumer behavior, and human psychology. Her consulting and coaching business centers around innovation and customer centricity, a key factor in her own success. She helps forward thinking and purpose driven coaches, consultants, experts, thought leaders, and service-providers reinvent, innovate, differentiate themselves from the rest of the competition and become a category of one by: 1.) Discovering and utilizing their ultra-geniuses 2.) Creating groundbreaking solutions that solve clients’ problems in an innovative way 3.) Using a short and long-term innovative marketing strategy that magnifies their thought leadership overtime and 4.) Help entrepreneurs innovate their business and build a culture of excellence. She is the author of the One to Millions Entrepreneur and host of the One to Millions Entrepreneur Podcast show . She also has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing and is currently completing her research for a Ph.D. in Social Psychology. Nida offers 1:1 consulting and coaching services that help forward thinking and purpose driven entrepreneurs build a world-class legacy brand and hyper-grow their businesses through innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.

Written by: Heidi Jennings, 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. Double-shot espresso at 7.00 am. Can of Diet Coke at 1.00 pm. Chocolate bar at 3.00 pm. Glass of wine or two at 5.00 pm. Biscuits with a cup of tea after dinner. But you don’t have an addiction to food, right? Calorie counting. Managing portion sizes. Macro-nutrient obsession. Yo-yo diets. You? Never. Think again. Almost everyone has an addiction to something, and for many of us, food is the culprit. Even if you think you don’t, allow me to gently point you in the direction of those treats stealing prime real estate in your kitchen cupboard. That special thing you reach for out of habit, boredom, or gasp! Addiction. The mental tally of how many calories you’ve consumed. Assessing the quantity of food on your plate. Are there too many carbs? Not enough protein? The magnetic pull towards a new trendy diet. Maybe this is the one that will magically work! Whether you’re prepared to admit it or not, I guarantee you can relate to one or more of the scenarios above. It’s not entirely your fault. The food and beverage industries make megabucks from cramming a minefield of processed and refined ingredients into small cardboard boxes adorned with bright colours and catchy slogans and placing them on our supermarket shelves. Cheekily, they then blatantly lie about how ‘healthy’, ‘natural’, and ‘nutritious’ their products are. In reality, processed foods are packed with salt, fat, sugar, gluten, additives, preservatives, artificial flavourings, and colourings and are addictive because they trigger neurons in the brain. They lack any real nutrients and are designed to make you hungry. You end up eating more than you should and the body starts to crave these foods, fuelling the addiction. On top of that, we have the diet industry selling us further lies about high fat, low fat, high carb, low carb, and everything else in between. It’s no wonder we are dining on platefuls of junk with a side serving of confusion. These industries have a lot to answer for, but ultimately, it’s up to you to heal your own dysfunctional relationship with food. When you can do that, food becomes your most trusted friend and powerful ally, your number one weapon to protect you from disease, and best of all, the ultimate tool to set you free. If you want to experience the glorious freedom a healthy relationship with food will bring, you must sweep aside the mistruths you are telling yourself about your food choices and habits. Alcohol, caffeine, excess sugar, gluten, dairy products, and refined foods are traps that will ensnare you in an existence of pain, discomfort, illness, and despair. They will damage your gut and leave your body so malnourished from essential nutrients that cravings and further addiction will be the only result. Being honest about your food choices and how they are injuring your physical and mental health is a very uncomfortable subject for many, and very few will initiate change. That’s perfectly fine if you’re willing to accept mediocre or poor health for the rest of your one and precious life. But if you’re ready to experience true vibrancy and vitality and you’re ready to take action, listen up. Your body craves the dense nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These foods are supplied by nature and are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will make your cells sparkle and insides sing. But here’s the real secret behind healing your relationship with food. When you allow your food to provide everything your body and mind need to thrive, your cravings and addictions naturally disappear. Not only that, but your hormones recalibrate, your sleep becomes restful, your skin glows, your mind is stable, and your stubborn body fat melts away beautifully. So, the next time 3.00 pm rolls around and you reach for that Snickers bar, stop, pause and ask yourself this question. Addiction? Or freedom? Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Heidi! Heidi Jennings, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Heidi Jennings is a Holistic Health Coach specializing in Plant-Based Nutrition. After a health crisis left her bedridden and disillusioned with conventional medicine, she embraced a holistic approach to help her heal. She now runs her business alongside her husband Steve, and together they deliver holistic coaching programs to their clients. They specialize in chronic pain, anxiety and depression, stubborn body fat, menopause symptoms, autoimmune dysfunction, and sleep issues by focusing on the five pillars of health; nutrition, exercise, gut health, sleep, and managing stress. Heidi is also a guest speaker and is currently authoring her first book. Her mission is to change the lives of 500,000 people around the world by empowering them to take control of their health and happiness.

Written by: Zachary Hoffman , 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. Culture In the melting-pot society, we live in we often become guilty of seeing things through strictly our viewpoint. It is important as an effective modern-day leader to be able to understand, respect, and accept people from different backgrounds as you. Then take this information and adjust your style to best suit the individual you are trying to reach. The book “The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer talks about the different business cultures around the world and how different they truly are. I like her quote, “When interacting with someone from another culture, try to watch more, listen more, and speak less.” This is so on point and something we have to do a better job of as a society. Capabilities It is great to have a system while in a leadership position however, what are you going to do when the system you have in place doesn’t match the capabilities of your followers? This is a likely scenario to occur at some point in time throughout one’s leadership journey. The ability and humbleness to adjust and/or change your system to best suit your follower’s capabilities will do wonders for your team’s effectiveness. As the old saying goes, “there are many ways to skin a cat” (of course not literally). Find the way that best fits the capabilities of your followers and implement it. The same goes for each individual as well. It is important to understand what each of your follower’s capabilities/strengths is. This is why effective leaders must be great observers and listeners. Take the time to get to know each of your team members and then delegate tasks from there based on your findings. Do not delegate tasks to someone before knowing their capabilities. Cause We all do things for a reason. Whether that is to make money, make friends, receive attention or accolades, etc. One in a leadership role must understand the causes of each of their followers. As complex and difficult as life can be, we all in the end search for one thing above all else. Purpose. We all want to feel like we matter. Therefore it is important to understand the details of how our followers see their purpose playing out. What is their motivation to come to work every day? Maybe their cause is as blunt as providing for themselves and/or their family or maybe it is more complex in terms of achieving certain goals. As aspiring, effective leaders, I believe it is important to remember that we are often a “single step within a staircase” in terms of one’s ultimate cause. We can’t simply look at people in terms of their role in working with us. Effective leaders should want more for their followers than simply working under them. Understand that everyone has a cause and it is likely that it isn’t working with/under you. If you can help them reach this cause, you have truly made a lasting impact. Want to learn more from Zac? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit his website. Read more from Zachary ! Zachary Hoffman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Zac is an Italian/American dual citizen, effective leadership developer, award winning author, and former professional American football player. Originally from a small, rural town in Western Pennsylvania (USA), he has spent his twenties living in 6 different countries while playing and coaching American football. During his time abroad, he developed the SWALeadership concept based on his many thrilling and eye-opening experiences within various leadership roles across cultures.