Written by: Gabrielle Cole, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When you hear “b word,” I imagine the first one that comes to mind isn’t a nice one. But the one I’m referring to is even more upsetting to moms sometimes—I’m talking about balance. When I suggest “balance” as a concept to mothers, the defeat is immediate. Even before I can make a case, I see the deflation and doubt that comes with the idea of balance. Every mom has a different reaction to the idea of balance, but no mom is left without an opinion. Some moms instinctually start to fight, ready to explain why balance is so unachievable that it is unfair to even mention it. Some moms feel like it sets an unfair expectation because there are simply too many pieces for “balance” to be accurate and suggest a softer word like “juggle” or “blend.” And still, some moms are in staunch defense of balance as the only way to describe what we as moms do. Myth: Balance is an unachievable goal in motherhood. Truth: Balance is not a goal at all—it’s a method. Balance isn’t something we can aim for long-term, as a solution to every problem we have. There will never be a moment when everything is balanced and our work is finished, because what we do every day as moms changes. Instead, balance is a method to calm the madness. When we employ it as a tool, it becomes a way to gauge all of the various tasks and challenges vying for our attention. No longer are we up against a looming destination of “Balance” with a capital B. Now, we recognize that balance is the journey itself, and we can watch how our priorities shift to complement each other and work together towards small daily successes. Myth: Pursuing a state of balance sets moms up for failure. Truth: Balance is not a state of being—it’s an action. Yes, if we are aiming for a final and sustainable idea of a balanced life—one that we can check off of our to-do list as “done”—then failure will be inevitable. Because balance isn’t a one-and-done solution. By definition, it’s the “act of weight distribution.” That means that it is an ongoing discipline we use to assess and prioritize our lives. Here’s an example: instead of “a balanced diet for my family means only eating out once a week” a sustainable way to use balance as an action instead of a state of being is to reframe that to, “balance in the way my family eats means that for every meal we eat on the go, we’ll add an extra veggie to another meal we have at home that week.” We all know that some weeks, that type of balance will shake out to more eating on the fly than others—and that’s what makes it a balanced and not a strict code! Myth: Balance is limiting. Truth: Balance is flexible. Balance is not black and white. What works for your family won’t necessarily work for someone else’s, and vice versa. As you learn to utilize balance as a tool, the only measure for success is what you can see working for your world, and it’s okay to pivot, reassess, and try something new as often as you need to. Families may choose to prioritize many different things—family time, extracurriculars, travel, academics—and there’s no right or wrong approach to how to balance them all. Even more, the way balance looks may change as your season of life and family structure changes, and that’s why balance as a tool is so much more effective than balance as an end destination. The Balance to Find First Before you can focus on balancing all of your mom's responsibilities, the first step is establishing how you will balance giving to yourself and giving to your family. Balance leads to strong mental health, and strong mental health leads to thriving motherhood. Reclaim the word balance! Redirect your time and energy from trying to point out why balance doesn’t work into energy spent creating solutions and establishing balance as a tool we can use in whatever way works best for us. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Youtube, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Gabrielle! Gabrielle Cole, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Gabby Cole is a Founder/CEO; mother of twin girls and advocate for moms everywhere. She was married in 2011 and by 2012, she was a mother to twin girls. Gabby has an established career in pharmaceutical sales, as well as pursuing her dreams of becoming a “Mompreneur.” It is her hope that she can dedicate her life to helping women like her find their purpose and become the woman and mother they want to be.

Written by: Claire Mason, 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’re connected to me on LinkedIn, you’ll see that I post regularly about personal branding, thought leadership, and content strategy. My goal is to give people something to think about as they embark on a strategy to make themselves and their business more visible. One of my most recent posts was all about the need to blow your own trumpet to increase that visibility. Well, to say that the LinkedIn community was shooketh is putting it mildly. The fear of sticking our hands up While my LinkedIn post garnered a fair degree of engagement publicly, I was surprised at how many people got in touch with me privately to share their feelings about “bragging”. It was interesting, and a little disheartening, to see how the individuals in question had conflated sharing their real talents and skillsets with the world with something unpleasant. Without exception, each person who got in touch is a top performer. They bring about enormous transformation for their clients. Furthermore, they get tangible results that they can prove. Yet the thought of proclaiming their impact more loudly had them terrified. This is a sad state of affairs. Plus it does a disservice to their potential clients. Personal brands solve problems Now, I didn’t use the words “blowing your own trumpet” to be deliberately provocative. I used the term as a shorthand to say that we need to be talking about the impact we have and the results we can get for our clients. And I qualified the statement by speaking specifically about case studies. No one likes a show-off. That’s universal. What we do like, however, is someone to solve our problems. But without knowing who that is, we’re left in the dark to solve our problems on our own. I’ve recently experienced this dilemma. I’m working on a project of my own. It requires a specific kind of lead funnel that needs three pieces of software integration. Off I went searching the highways and byways of the internet looking for an expert to help me. I also asked my networks for recommendations. I was convinced that I’d find someone quickly as I see high-performing lead funnels around me all the time. But searching for this expert turned out to be an experience akin to root canal. No one seemed to offer what I was looking for. Eventually, I found a small agency who said they could help. After two calls, I wasn’t 100% convinced they were the right fit for what I was looking for but I didn’t know who else could help me. Hiring people on this basis is never a recipe for success. I paid their invoice. Sadly, it turned out that I bought myself two months of frustration, deadlines being missed, work not being done and me ending up no closer to a finished product than when I began. Needless to say, my search continued. Now with an added dose of me feeling defensive as I’d been somewhat taken for a fool. Then, a comment on a LinkedIn post I was reading caught my attention. It was from an individual who shared his approach to a lead funnel issue. The issue wasn’t strictly the same as the one I was facing but it was similar, and I was interested in connecting with the person who had written it. One conversation later and I had found the mythical creature who could help me. Having worked together for a while now, I’m delighted to say he is delivering exactly what I need and is a joy to work with no matter what I ask. But he was incredibly difficult to find. And that cost me time and money. So, I’ve read him the riot act on why he needs to be building a personal brand and regularly blowing his own trumpet. People like me need him and his unique skill set to progress on our own paths. A reframe on what being visible really means Instead of thinking, we’re bragging each time we highlight ourselves, what if we think about the user experience we’re creating for people who need us? Think about any challenges you’re experiencing right now, and what it would mean to come across someone who could help you via their: Case studies Social updates of a scenario they’ve dealt with for a client Results they’ve delivered for a client Details of their process (I regularly share how I implement PR strategies) An award they’ve won A piece of content where they share their point of view on an industry issue Media coverage they’ve earned These are just some examples of what blowing your own trumpet can be. LinkedIn recently shared a statistic that left many of us with our mouths agape. The social media giant has 740 million people on its platform from 200 countries and regions across the globe. Yet, of these 740 million people less than 3% of the individuals on the platform are posting weekly. Now, LinkedIn is not the only game in town. We are spoiled for choice when it comes to social channels to reach our particular client segment. However, it does provide an interesting insight into the true numbers of people willing to stick their hands up and say “I’m here and I can help you’’. Are you getting yourself more visible in order to help people? Or are you and your trumpet acting like you work for the secret service and letting people struggle on? Just remember, your client’s user experience doesn’t begin once they land on your website. It starts way before that... when they find you with ease in the first place. Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can also visit my website. Claire Mason, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Claire Mason is a Content Strategist who works with solo entrepreneurs and founders. She helps them earn the publicity they deserve to grow their sphere of influence and sales pipelines. Claire has earned bylines from numerous publishers, including The Guardian, marieclaire, and The Sunday Times. And she has placed her clients’ stories in publications like Forbes, CNBC, and WSJ among others. Her clients regularly see increases of 40% or more to their pipelines after implementing her content strategies. Her work has been showcased as an example of best practices by HubSpot. Claire is also a regular contributor to Business2Community, Brainz Magazine, Tealfeed, and Digital Doughnut, and she writes regularly on how content marketing can move the needle for B2B brands.

Written by: Carmel Murphy, 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. No one wants to spend hours creating marketing content. Or spend hundreds (or thousands) rolling out strategies, only to have them flop. The dream of leads pouring into your sales funnel… clients calling YOU… and selling-out workshops and events… Instead, met with disappointment and ongoing financial strain when the numbers don't make the time, energy, and money invested worthwhile! Marketing is the life-blood of your business. If you know your marketing efforts aren't working as well as they should… and you lack that soul-fulfilling satisfaction from what you create… Perhaps you've skipped this crucial step? You wouldn't be the only one… As I've observed, it's often the most resisted aspect of marketing. And yet can be the most profitable once done properly. Researching your Target Market might sound like a chore – and you might resist it - putting EVERYTHING else ahead of this task… But if your current marketing isn't returning those grin-inducing, bank account filling results you'd hoped for… It's time to step back, take a deep breath, and then deep dive into your ideal client or customer's mind. Nope, it's not creepy or manipulative. It's simply a core principle of successful influence and persuasion. When you know their inner thoughts, dreams, struggles, and motivations BEFORE putting any content or offer in front of them, then you can save time and money because your content now MATCHES their world. Their desires. Their problems. Their thinking. And it becomes much easier for them to say "Yes"! It's challenging to do – to step away from your agenda (to sell more and make money) and meet them where they're at (solve a problem or satisfy a desire). However, the biggest gains I've witnessed have occurred when entrepreneurs and business owners stop ANNOUNCING what they do… and start connecting with their target market's inner truths and inner dialogue. Where to start? Here's 3 'Hidden In Plain Sight' Ways To Read THEIR Minds Online 1. Social Media Comments The comments section is a gold mine for the language they use to describe their thoughts and feelings. You can do this on any of the social platforms – inside groups and pages – however, YouTube is where people SEARCH for answers and information, so is a really rich resource to start with! Find videos related to your topic/business, read through the comments section, and discover how your target audience expresses themselves. Keep an eye out for how they describe their experiences, emotions, struggles, and desires. Copy & paste the goodies into a Word or Excel document, ready to refer back to next time you're creating content! 2. Reddit & Subreddit Search for discussions related to your topic and scour the conversations for the language patterns of your target market. The questions asked. The responses were posted. Copy and paste the insights into your growing Target Market Research Document. 3. Testimonials If you already have a stockpile of testimonials from your clients and customers – fantastic – use those. If not, your competitors probably do – and they're likely plastered all over their websites and marketing materials ready for you to analyze! Collate testimonials related to your topic/business and again highlight the WORDS people use to describe their experiences. What before and after experiences did they have? What past experiences have they had? What worked well… what didn't? The word 'research' can send some people into a panic; the task itself can feel like a time-suck. If it's overwhelming to do it all in a big chunk. Relax. You're likely on social media every day anyways. Right? Simply keep an eye out for those LANGUAGE PATTERNS and WORDS people are using related to your niche – and keep a stockpile somewhere safe. Over time you will start to notice repeating themes, words, phrases, and some BRILLIANT insights into how you can now TALK to them via THEIR language. Creating marketing content, writing copy, and selling your products and services becomes much easier (and super satisfying!) when the time and effort you put in is rewarded with increasing leads, conversions, and sales. Ready to get beyond disappointing marketing results!? For a deeper dive into ideal client research, I invite you to click through and watch this free webinar: https://bit.ly/UncoverLucrativeTargetMarket Follow Carmel on Facebook , LinkedIn and visit her website for more info! Read more from Carmel! Carmel Murphy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Carmel Murphy is known for being an out-of-the-box thinker and an expert in human behavior, marketing, and business strategies. Carmel’s passion for people, curiosity, know-how, business acumen, and background have come together to develop unique programs around marketing, copywriting, and videos designed to create higher conversion and increase sales and profit in business. Carmel coordinates, hosts, and delivers membership programs, workshops, and events to teach business owners how to build and market a sustainable online business.

Written by: Linda Dent, 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. Once upon a time, there were 3 peas in a pod. They had been on a long journey, and it was time to pop out of their pod and discover the world. What is this? A business coach talking about peas? Bear with me, please. Do You Know How Peas Grow? I also didn’t till I did some research, but I have discovered that their journey can be similar to the journey of a small business owner. Step 1: Plant pea seeds in cool weather before Spring - For a business owner, this is the right time to step back from the grind, reflect, get clarity of thought. It’s a good time to plan(t) Step 2: Select a sunny location/full sun – find your tribe of like-minded people and bask in their warmth – try networking Groups like BNI or Facebook groups that resonate with you. Step 3: Prepare the soil with ingredients that give the plant the best head start – what’s best for me will be good for you too – egoism is a philosophy that says you should do the things that are in your own self-interest because by doing so you will be in the best position to support others (not to be confused with egotism which is being selfish in a negative way) Step 4: Give them time to grow – 60-70 days in cool climates but less if they are in a warmer nurturing environment – as a business owner, surround yourself with positive people who provide mentorship, encouragement, and support. Step 5: Some peas can grow really tall up to 6 feet – independence and belief in oneself are key characteristics of successful business owners enabling you to grow above the rest Step 6: Popping those peas out of their pod – it’s time for an adventure! Every business venture is an adventure, a journey into the unknown. Why Am I Talking About Peas? The PEA I referred to in the title of this article is an acronym I use to mean various things, but today it will stand for POSITIVITY EGOISM ADVENTURE, and I am going to share it with you today how you can PEA with GLEE too. Valued Insights, Focussed Action Reach out for a Virtual Cuppa with Just Ask Linda to have a conversation about this article and my simple 3-step coaching process for business owners who want to learn how to PEA with GLEE. Connect with me on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, LinkTree, and visit my website. Read more from Linda! Linda Dent, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Linda is a Business coach with a solid background in the Banking Industry. She believes in building businesses through long-term relationships and a partnership approach to grow and empower the small business owner through planning, actions, and regular reviews of actual results vs. planned results. She is the Founder and CEO of Just Ask Linda Business Coaching, which was born out of a desire to Grow, Learn, Empower others and Enjoy her work, her very own GLEE philosophy. From understanding your unique strengths and how they apply to work, establishing where you are now and where you want to be in your business, getting to know your numbers and setting goals, managing your time, or rather how to do more of what you love each day, building a loyal team of employees or just listening to the business owners’ major business challenges and offering up new thinking, you can Just Ask Linda. If she can make a difference in a business owners’ life, helping them overcome Money, Time, and Team challenges to grow a successful business and share some part of their business journey, then she will be full of GLEE. Owning a business is an adventure, and she loves the one she is on.

Written by: Cassandra Wiley, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Two weeks ago, I spent a relaxing vacation with my family. People believe that while you are on vacation, you can eat unhealthily and not suffer the consequences. People take a trip yearly or twice a year; others do not take one at all. We are eating healthy before we take a trip. Then, we gain the weight back, and we want to diet when we return home. How can you avoid this cycle? 1. Cook your food. If you have a timeshare, your room includes a full kitchen. Some hotels have a kitchen; there is not an oven included. When you cook, you choose the quantity. It is okay to eat out sometimes; you can treat yourself. Sometimes it is the only option while you are out doing activities. You can save money also. For example, a dinner out at a restaurant for a family of four costs $70.00. If you are eating dinner out each night for a week, that is $490, not including breakfast and lunch. You may spend $300 on groceries, especially if you have children with you, but it will last you the entire week. 2. Mindset is important. If you have dietary restrictions due to personal, health, or religious reasons, continue that practice during vacation. Your body will reject foods that are foreign to it. 3. Bring healthy snacks while traveling. This applies if you are driving. Children (and adults) need something to snack on while driving and riding in a vehicle. Nuts and trail mix are good options since they are not perishable. 4. Choose restaurants that offer healthier alternatives. Most restaurants do offer healthy options. While we are driving, we see food options and sometimes gas and food options in the same place. Choose wisely. 5. Detox. It is always beneficial to detox occasionally. We try to eat healthily; however, we may not do that for every meal. Drinking smoothies and reducing if not eliminating meat portions are great ways to detox. Do you want to make lifestyle changes? Find out if health coaching is right for you. Visit my website here. Read more from Cassandra! Cassandra Wiley, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Cassandra Wiley is a health coach and founder of Have Faith and Live Well with Chasadah LLC. She focuses primarily on chronic illnesses such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Her mission is to empower individuals to lose weight and teach a new healthier approach to food so that they can live better lives. She was successful in reversing her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol diagnoses naturally. The weight loss was an added benefit. She has helped clients change their diets and “have faith” in themselves in order to meet their health and wellness goals.

Written by: Jenn Taylor, 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. Do you drive home from work, using that much-needed time to decompress, to shift gears from “corporate mindset” to “Mommy mode”? To a house that needs to be cleaned up, to kids who need help with homework, disputes, laundry, showers, processing of emotions, discipline, and love. Do you gear up to make dinner, get things in order, connect with the kids and do all the things necessary just to maintain? Perhaps in the shift of world events, you’re working from home with kids, trying to figure out distance learning or new school rules, and which pants match your slippers? There were so many days I didn’t even consider more than just maintaining. There seemed to be no energy to connect more deeply, to dig in, sit and really listen to my kids or my friends, and I would hear the words “self-care” and cringe. In my work life, there was never a job I worked that didn’t want more. More hours, more productivity, more corporate income. They also wanted less. Fewer breaks, fewer sick days, fewer kids calling, fewer distractions from my home life. My kids wanted more also—more of me. I wanted time to breathe. Time to pray, time to process, time to get more done, time for more sleep, time to do something for me. Mostly I wanted to stop feeling like I was failing on every front. I hit rock bottom in a glorious explosion of tears, running mascara, uncertainty, insecurities, snot, fear, and resistance. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. It was the moment I dug deep and made changes. I learned to build... Better relationships Career fulfillment Better health Clarity about your purpose More intimacy Better time management At my turning point, I decided if what I was doing wasn’t working, I would need to change things, and I used a few things to help: Calendar. I started scheduling everything so that I could really see my day, where I had time, where I needed it, what could go and what should stay the same. Workout program. I paid for a program on a running team. I had the support and accountability I wanted and many workout options available to be able to exercise before kids were up and later at night. I could also bring them with me to some activities. I found a church to attend and signed up for a class. I needed support spiritually, so I found what worked for me. Facebook groups that resonated with me helped me connect with other women who were on the same journey as I was or were ahead of me. They became support and resources. I wanted to turn my life around. ​ To change the way I thought and acted and achieve my goals. ​ To stop being a victim of circumstance, but excuses aside and take full responsibility for my life!​ ​ Once I did that, I decided what I wanted in life, accepted I could achieve anything I’d ever wanted, and make every day count.​ ​ If I could do it, you can too! I know there are people out there like I was…stuck. Maybe you’ve sat on your bathroom floor where I was, ugly, crying and wanting more. One thing I learned is to stop doing what others expect you to do and do what you feel you need to do. For you, for your kids, for your career, for your sanity. Act according to your feelings and set your mind on what you desire, and act on it. For more info, follow Jenn on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website! Join Jenn's private Facebook group here! Read more from Jenn! Jenn Taylor, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenn Taylor is Mom of 18 and The Naked Podcaster, a Mindset Coach, and Motivational Speaker. She is also an NLP Practitioner and has 15+ years in the foster care sector as both a parent and a trainer, has written the blog - Mom’s Running It - for 9 years, and is a published author of a self-help memoir "Hello, My Name Is... Warrior Princess". She teaches Compounding Joy, bringing fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. She is also married to an amazing man in Reno, NV, is a runner, minimalist, and healthy lifestyle enthusiast. Compounding Joy - Using the theory of compound interest to create a happier life! If you’ve attended events or heard speakers in the past and gotten excited about making changes only to return home and not know what to do with the information, or feel frustrated at not knowing how to implement the information, you’ll love this talk! Compounding Joy brings fast, easy, actionable exercises to people to increase their joy and gratitude. Not only will you walk away with what to do, but you’ll also know how in quick, easy steps.

Written by: Sara Loureiro, 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 stuck in our businesses at one point or another. And rather than give you strategic tips on how to overcome this, I want to reframe what stuck actually means so that it propels you forward. Here’s a results-focused 3 step process to do just that. Being Stuck Means, You’ve Done Something People usually don’t say they’re “stuck” when they haven’t even begun. Think about everything you have implemented to get yourself to this point and pat yourself on the back. You’ve worked your way to actually being stuck, which is something most people who dream of starting a coaching business don’t even get to. What can you be proud of yourself for? How can you acknowledge how far you’ve come? Doing this can help to reframe the stuck feeling from a negative to a positive Get Real with Yourself When we say we’re stuck, we often think we’ve done everything possible to change our current reality when we’ve often nearly scratched the surface. Have you really done everything it takes? Be honest with yourself. One of my favorite sayings to help me push past a stuck point is that I don’t know what I don’t know. I could learn one new marketing strategy tomorrow that can be life-changing. The world’s top performers don’t complain when they’re stuck and say they’ve tried everything and called it a day. They look for solutions. Understand that being stuck is an opportunity to find new solutions to what you’re dealing with. Whether it’s hiring a new mentor, enrolling in a new program, or even surrendering and taking a break from your business, developing a new plan to move forward is the best thing you can do. Move Forward Regardless if it Could Be the Wrong Decision Analysis paralysis will keep you in a place of procrastination, and procrastination is going to hinder your results. Don’t worry about making the wrong decision. The only way you’ll know if it was the best move for you is if you try. Some of my best business moves have been from doing things scared and jumping in. This is the fastest way for you to get unstuck-- just keep moving forward and trust that you’re on the right path. Remember that as long as you don’t quit, your success is inevitable. Being stuck is often a great place to be because it means you’re about to look for innovative and creative ways to move forward and carve your own path in your industry. The more you implement, the more you grow. So go ahead and get stuck more often! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Read more from Sara! Sara Loureiro, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sara is a Soulful Business Coach who specializes in helping online service-based entrepreneurs sign on higher-paying clients and hit 6-7 figures through a combination of strategic marketing, neurolinguistic programming, and energetic work. After bringing her own business to 6 figures and quitting her 9-5 to move from Toronto to sunny and tropical Nicaragua, she isn't shy about walking the talk and living a freedom-based life. She is the CEO of sarajloureiro.com and has inspired thousands of women all over the world to quit their 9-5s, step into their leadership, and do purpose-driven work while getting paid abundantly for it through her numerous free training, extensive social media presence, and her work as the host of "The Uplevel Your Online Business Show" podcast. Her mission: to inspire women to take up space, make more money and step into their fullest potential.

Written by: Jenn Drakes , 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. In business, there is no such thing as a team of one. To grow and achieve a vision, business owners and entrepreneurs must seek to interconnect and work with others; either as hired staff, customers, or third-party collaborators. Even as a “solopreneur,” you must decide on a banker and an accountant, perhaps you must work with suppliers. Eventually, your creation is sold to others to generate the required revenue to cover costs. While “solopreneurs” opt-out of expansion and tend to be satisfied serving their niche, they are by no means running their business as a team of one. The point is that businesses are made up of more than one person collaborating to get things done. So, stop for a moment and consider this: who is on your business dream team? If that question has you perplexed or scratching your head, then the foundations of your business may not be as strong as you think. The result is reduced potential, which in turn would cause lower than possible revenues. Not every business owner will recognize this fact, especially if the business is generating good revenues. Can you imagine that even in such “good news” situations, you may still be leaving loads of money on the table simply because of failing to have all the right team members in play? That’s right, and please do not shoot the messenger. If you have not taken the time to build your business dream team, then you are not competing at the Olympic level in your industry. What business owner that is serious about growing their enterprise does not want to operate at that auspicious level in their chosen field? Building a dream team is all about creating extended capability, focused expertise, coordinated effort, company oversight, and accountability, as well as strategic momentum that fuels your reach and growth. If you want to learn more about the purpose this team serves, refer to my prior " three-team tiers foundational business model ," specifically the Oversight team section. Speaking of which, the focus of this article is on the types of people who are primed to be members of this team. However, before we dive into the ‘who ,’ there are some realities we must keep in mind about building such a team. The first is that it takes time to build and get the team to dream-level status. In fact, the development phase of your business is the ideal time to figure out what skills are needed and the roles the business will need to flourish. Get back to basics, and write or voice record your list. As you go about your day-to-day preparations to launch your venture, put on a scouting hat by probing those you believe would be a good fit. If your business is already up and running, pause a moment and assess those around you who are considered the core members of your collective team (i.e., all staff). All-around performance and interpersonal aptitude speak volumes. There are many who run a great campaign but deliver little in value and/or productivity, and some who might deliver but will negatively impact people (e.g., staff, customers, etc.) due to suboptimal leadership skills. The second is that you must be prepared to invest in the creation of your dream team. The method in which you choose to invest in your team's creation is up to you, but it will cover searching for and choosing team members. Having the right team propels your business forward, and aspects of that growth should be reinvested into the business. It is important to have a sense of the business’ performance based on each member of your dream team. Landing on the right people also requires applying a holistic lens to the business and ensuring the dream team carries that same holistic perspective. It is imperative that costs are well balanced with quality-related to the person, industry, business governance, and forthcoming win-win outcomes. The third is that some dream members must serve industry-specific roles. That could be the business owner in addition to others, or it could simply be others complementing the remaining team members. The thing to keep in mind with this reality is that you must choose industry people who are open-minded in considering innovative approaches, all the while being guided by the known aspects that will keep your business grounded in its chosen vocation. There are many ways, over and above money, to structure compensation. Finally, we cannot wrap up the realities associated with building a dream team without reminding you that the primary requirement for creating such a team is support for you, the business owner, and your vision. Your dream team must share your vision, have the capacity and aptitude to execute on that vision, be demonstrative in their performance of pursuing that vision, and have a mutual intent with all other members (i.e., “common ground”). When conflicts arise, that “common ground” becomes the fallback place from which to reframe the tone of the discussion. So, what specific roles should be a part of your dream team? The short answer is that you need a lawyer, an accountant, and a banker. The long answer, however, is that if you are serious about growing big, you need these three to keep important aspects of your business stellar and capable of withstanding scrutiny from auditors, potential investors or buyers, and their due diligence teams. You need a lawyer to help with the structure of the company, to support the development of contracts that may be needed, etc. You need an accountant and/or bookkeeper to develop your financial Chart of Accounts, book the financial journal entries, prepare financial statements, file required tax documents, etc. And, of course, you need to be associated with a bank and someone within the bank. This one is a crucial relationship to develop and is not always an easy one to form. Getting a bank to understand your business, its vision, its earning potential, and influence their willingness to support with required services is not an easy task. The need for things such as lines of credit, overdraft protection, warranted capital funding, loans, and other vital financial instruments are why I say this relationship is crucial. Balancing self-funding woes with bankers who look at such things like debt load and credit reports to form opinions on business worthiness can be daunting. In fact, you should bring together other dream team members before seeking out the right person in the bank to connect with. Additionally, you will need someone who understands and can guide your use of technology for optimal efficiency. Finding the right balance between technological and human innovation is important to optimize processes and operations. Next, your business needs to prepare for marketing. As such, you will need a marketer. Marketing is one of those things that many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) shy away from because the investment is not a direct 1-to-1 dollar return. These businesses want to see every dollar spent returned in the form of revenue, but that is not how marketing necessarily works. With the right copywriting, placement, campaign, and other ingredients coming together, you will definitely see returns. However, the wrong ingredients will, of course, have the opposite effect. That is why having an excellent marketer on your team is essential, but be prepared to have a marketing budget discussion and a clear vision to strive for. Hand-in-hand with marketing is sales. Selling is necessary, whether it be the sale of a product(s) or service(s). We are always being coerced into buying something (i.e., via TV, radio, billboards, signage, labels, headlines, etc.). The business owner may see themselves in this role, or they may acquire a dedicated salesperson as another team member. Unlike marketing, sales is a direct bottom-line impactor. A great salesperson converts prospects and structures great deals, resulting in increased revenues. Last but not least, and certainly one of the most underrated roles (although a crucial one) of your dream team is that of a mentor/advisor/strategist (a.k.a. a coach). Previously, I mentioned competing at the Olympic level in your industry. What athlete prepares for and competes in the Olympic Games without a coach at their side? Some may even have more than one. Big businesses have and continue to take this role seriously. It is now time for SMBs to do the same. Expert coaches work on mindset, endurance, accountability, strategy, and tactics with leadership. They should not be ‘Yes” people. Expert coaches do not necessarily say what you want to hear. They challenge your thinking, they make sure you face realities, and they push you to have a solid game plan to follow. They take a forensic lens to the economics of your operations and ensure that the least amount of dollars are left on the table for others to grab – namely, your competitors. Ideally, they work at the strategic and tactical levels of the business. If you are currently operating without a coach, you are doing yourself and your business a disservice. It is time for SMBs to stop thinking that the business owner can and must do it all. This is flawed thinking. More so, it is thinking that impedes your growth. Dream teams can be built over time against a strategy spearheaded by the business owner driving the company’s holistic vision, the culture, and the principles it stands for. The business owner must then leverage the skills of their dream team and other staff to formulate a corporate strategy and a flexible roadmap by which to execute tactics. Again, I remind everyone that in pursuing one’s career and/or business, the aim is to build a life. That life includes all of you – personal and professional. Taking on every hat, working long hours, and spreading yourselves thin is not the life you should envision. So, think differently, act differently, structure differently, and achieve different but greater outcomes. I think you will be amazed at what that will look like down the road. Jenn Drakes is one of THE ACCELERATORS, a team of business-savvy coaches who work with SMBs to propel them forward. In addition to reading this article, take in one of the Employ to Innovate shows for insights on a number of relevant topics or schedule a call to discuss your growth needs. Follow me on Face book , connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jenn! Jenn Drakes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenn is a mom, serial entrepreneur, and life advocate who hosts the podcast Arrays of Living. She is also the creator and co-host of the Get Awesome Show, author of the book Aladdin Carpets - Change your Perspective, Change your Life. In addition to Brainz Magazine, she is also a Featured Author on Plumose.co for her poetry and stories and Contributing Author on Boss Ladies Mindset. Jenn is a hidden gem in a desert of gems, and everyone who discovers her is forever changed by her personality and presence. Over the years of working with youths and young adults, she was crowned The Original Goddess to acknowledge the shared feeling that "Jenn is wise beyond her years. I find her to be almost an "old soul" type of spirit." Her voice and writings are powerful, impactful, and life-changing because they trigger thought and promote tantalizing, intelligent conversations. Today, she uses that wisdom to shatter glass ceilings and power up the purpose she believes everyone holds within. A belief that is foundationally based on all of us being born with a gift and a responsibility to use and share that gift to achieve sustainable happiness. Her mission is to improve how people feel about themselves and empower their sense of self-worth to achieve more personally and professionally than they imagined.

Written by: Claire Johnson, 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 can all look back at one point in our life when we were winning! Yes, that’s right, when you felt in your prime and on top of the world, everything was falling into place, and you looked and felt incredible. You were on the right path, and life was playing out exactly how it should be. Then something changed — there was a small loss of focus, a change of priorities or simply the foot was let off the gas just a little too much, and where you were slowly started to slip away. The feeling of being in your prime, having relationships, career, success, and fitness you finally wanted, the dream that you worked so hard for feels like it is slipping through your fingers, and you are going backward. Let’s face it, you didn't really notice things creeping up and changing, or actually, maybe you did, but you chose not to acknowledge it, and before you know it, you are in a place that you really don't want to be in. Now that you are here, you question how you could have let this happen plus how you can get back to where you were! The hardest part is getting past the anger, hurt, and feelings of self-loathing from deep inside that slowly can push you into a low, unmotivated point. When you arrive at a place you don't like, it’s hard to see the way out, and this can often lead to self-destructive behaviors as you sabotage any attempt to move forward. To start the climb back out of the darkness and reclaim your mojo, ask yourself what caused it to fade, as this provides the key to preventing being thrown off track again. Something was either missing or trying to be avoided that caused comfort to be sought through mindless eating. Has the void been filled? It cannot be left unaddressed as ugly old habits will rise again. The key to breaking these habits is to create new ones. Losing your mojo will leave you feeling faded, dull, and unmotivated. This will only stop when the pain of where you are now is greater than the discomfort of taking the necessary steps to change. Remember, only you can do it. You need to decide when enough is enough and draw a line in the sand. Revisit the time when you felt amazing. How is your life different now from then? If anything has changed that pulls you in the wrong direction, you may need to make some tough decisions as living incongruently with your inner values is hard - it truly saddens the soul as you drift further away from where you want to be. Learn to love yourself and set small goals each day, and rather than looking at the whole journey, look at each day individually. Once this decision is made, stick to it like glue and build momentum to carry you forward. Energy creates energy so keep moving in the right direction, and you will soon notice that those small steps feel like a piece of cake, and rather than wanting to eat a whole cake, you can't wait to get to the gym, go for a run, or down a green smoothie. Congratulate yourself on the small steps forward that you make. The best thing about straying from your chosen path is that once you are back on it, you will stick to it like glue. You know what it takes to get your body back; you have done it before, so there is no reason why it cannot be achieved and maintained again. You have no doubt grown from the lessons within the experience, so use them. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit my website. Read more from Claire! Claire Johnson, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Claire is an expert mindset, nutrition, and training coach for women, authors, TV presenters, expert speakers, and female empowerment mentors. Claire is the CEO of The Naked Warrior, which delivers 3 winning online coaching programs and Founder of The Naked Warrior Tribe online female empowerment community plus the author of two books — The Winning Formula: Discover the Secrets to Unleash Your Alpha Female and The Winning Physique: How to Get the Competitive Edge on Stage.

Written by: Samantha Redd , 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. Did you ever have a string of bad luck, a moment in time where absolutely nothing goes your way? You might have picked up a chaos spirit. As a high conflict divorce coach, a lot of negativity is thrown my way, unintentional by my clients, but they are dealing with their own crisis, and those negative energies like to wreak havoc in our stable lives. Unfortunately, we become a magnet for these chaos spirits as they enter our lives and have fun by making Murphy’s Law a permanent resident. So if things don’t seem to be working out for you, even after doing everything by the book, here are some simple things you can do. Depending on your belief system, I recommend getting holy water, moon water, or Florida water (the all-around good stuff) and spritzing yourself from head to toe just before you come into your house. If you are in a job where you help people, which is pretty much all of us, you stand out like a beacon to those energies that would like to cause us misfortune, and they are sticky little buggers, then you need some way to get them away from you. As a final step, don’t forget to smudge your home or space periodically. I use a white sage and lavender mix for my home, and I spritz my office down with Florida water. We are always helping our clients with our time and energy, don’t forget to do a little soul care yourself with these tips! Follow me on Facebook , Youtube , or visit my website for more info! Samantha Redd, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Samantha Redd is an expert in trauma recovery through using shadow work and her death doula training. She works with moms who are domestic violence survivors in high conflict divorce by using a mix of real-world experience and a unique view of spirituality to educate, heal, inspire, protect, and rebuild her clients and help them find their purpose. Samantha has a Ph.D. in Chemistry and uses her expertise in that field to help her clients understand the link between stress and sickness. In addition, she has dedicated her life to helping people recover from loss and find their way back to their true selves as a way of honoring the growth that comes with that loss. She is also the CEO of Decoding the System and has been helping people with grief for 20 years. Samantha is also a high conflict divorce survivor and wears a mask and pen name because she can only be present and a light for others by hiding in the darkness.

Written by: Andrea Lewis, 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. Man throughout time has blamed women, especially Women of Color, for the ills of the earth, ever since Eve was beguiled by the serpent and caused Adam to eat too of the apple, thereby causing the man to fall from grace and the Garden of Eden. I’d like you to consider this for a moment. Something someone hypothesized to me recently. Who had a relationship with God? Adam or Eve? It was Adam. So, since Adam had a relationship with God, it was up to him to set Eve straight and refuse to eat the apple. However, he chose to follow Eve and eat the apple thereby negating his relationship with God. In essence, Adam chose Eve over God! It wasn’t Eve’s fault; it was Adam's fault that they were tossed out of the Garden of Eden! Think about that for a moment or two or three. What does this have to do with self-image? A lot. Hang in there with me. A few months ago, I heard a preacher during his sermon yell, three times, you’re a whore, you’re a whore, you’re a whore. Why is it a woman who is comfortable with her sexuality is called a whore? Wouldn’t a man who’s comfortable with his sexuality also be called the same? I asked a preacher once why preachers are always preaching at women, telling them what’s wrong with themselves, what not to do, and what to do, but don’t preach at men the same way. After much back and forth and denial, he finally admitted that it “was a control thing”. I am not disputing the Bible clearly saying, to not fornicate and to not commit adultery. I am disputing that women seem to be the target of a lot of self-image-lowering messages and sermons. Jesus didn’t call the prostitutes whores or prostitutes, he called them daughters and told them about themselves in a way that didn’t demean them or make them feel worse than they already felt about themselves. He showed them love thereby raising their self-image. Think about the subtle and not so subtle names and titles you’ve been given over your lifetime. Especially women of color. We’ve been made to feel unworthy, undeserving, unappreciated, uncared for, not enough, despised, hated, ignored, abused, used, and I’m sure you can add others to the list. What does this have to do with self-image? A lot. Your self-image determines how far you will go in life and how much of your dreams you will achieve. Even your financial future is at stake! If you don’t have a good self-image, you won’t fight for that raise or promotion. If you don’t have a good self-image, you won’t ask for funding to help you start your business. If you don’t have a good self-image, you won’t be kind to your body or mind. If you don’t have a good self-image, you won’t eat properly to take care of your body or mind. If you don’t have a good self-image, you won’t leave that abusive relationship or job. You get the idea. The definition of self-image is, the idea one has of one's abilities, appearance, and personality. That’s man’s definition of self-image. The Biblical meaning of self-image comes from Genesis, chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, which states, in essence, we are all created in the image and likeness of God. Since we are created in the image and likeness of God, we are of great worth and value! Think about that. Want to know what God looks like, go look in the mirror! You are created in his image and likeness. Do you want more self-image notes from God’s perspective? And this is as much for me as for you. You are of God; you are fearfully and wonderfully made and are marvelous; you are beautiful; you are victorious; you are triumphant; you are courageous; you are strong; you are love; you are sound-minded ; you have the mind of Christ; you are powerful; you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you; you are well able; you are more than a conqueror; you are joyful; you are patient; you are kind; you are peaceful; you are gentle; you are God’s masterpiece; you are powerful; you are beautiful; you are humble; you are virtuous; you are disciplined; you are healed; you are forgiven; you are unashamed; you are a joint heir to God’s throne; you are loved and beloved of God; you are Blessed; you are chosen by God; you are prosperous; you are precious; you are cared for; you are special; you are unique; you are free! That’s who God says you are!! So, who are you going to believe? Man, or God’s view of you? Whose version of you are you going to feed your mind from this day forth? Man, or God’s view? My assignment for you, should you choose to accept it, tap every day for the next 30 days, and see if you notice any difference in your attitude toward yourself and others and in how you advocate for yourself. Please see my first article, titled, What is EFT Tapping and why does it work, May 2021, for an explanation of EFT Tapping. Let’s begin to tap! Side of the hand. Even though I feel annoyed at the mendacity of others when it comes to women of color, I choose to see myself as my Higher Power sees me Side of the hand . Even though I feel annoyed that this society still sees women of color as second-class citizens, I choose to see myself as fearfully and wonderfully made Side of the hand. Even though I feel annoyed that in this day and age women still have to fight to be seen and heard, I choose to see myself as marvelous Top of head. I’m choosing to see myself as powerful Eyebrow. I’m choosing to see myself as strong Side of eye. I’m choosing to see myself as courageous Under the eye. I’m choosing to see myself as sound-minded Under the lip. I’m choosing to see myself as loveable Collar bone. I’m choosing to see myself as triumphant Under the arm. I’m choosing to see myself as being healed Tap inner wrists together. I’m choosing to see myself as being a masterpiece Tap back of wrists together. I’m choosing to see myself as being created by my Higher Power in his image and likeness Let’s keep going! Side of the hand. I’m choosing to see myself as victorious Top of head. I’m choosing to see myself as well able Eyebrow. I’m choosing to see myself as joyful Side of eye. I’m choosing to see myself as more than a conqueror Under the eye. I’m choosing to see myself as healed Under the nose. I’m choosing to see myself as forgiven Under the lip. I’m choosing to see myself as whole and complete Collar bone. I’m choosing to see myself as unashamed Under the arm. I’m choosing to see myself as beautiful Tap inner wrists together. I’m choosing to see myself as safe Tap back of wrists together. I’m choosing to see myself as God sees me, marvelous Take a deep cleansing breath How do you feel after those 2 rounds? Better? Let’s do that again! Side of the hand. I’m choosing to see myself virtuous Top of head. I’m choosing to see myself as wonderful Eyebrow. I’m choosing to see myself as powerful Side of eye. I’m choosing to see myself as chosen Under the eye. I’m choosing to see myself as a joint heir to god’s throne Under the nose. I’m choosing to see myself as bold Under the lip. I’m choosing to see myself as strong Under the arm. I’m choosing to see myself as loved Tap inner wrists together. I’m choosing to see myself as beloved Tap back of wrists together. I’m choosing to see myself as victorious Take a deep cleansing breath Feeling great now? I hope you do!! Are you beginning to see how EFT Tapping can help you and be a valuable addition to your self-care toolbox? Each month from now on, this magazine will feature a new EFT Tapping round or two from Andrea for you to follow along. Find out more about how Andrea can guide you to embrace change and boldly and joyfully live beyond the expectations of family, society, and culture to live life on your terms at her website, EFT Tapping | Online EFT Classes | Solace4me . Follow her on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and on her 30-minute online radio program, The Power of EFT Tapping, on Sundays, 12PM EDT, on Live365 Radio Stream - WNJR-Radio.Com | WNJR-Radio.Com (wnjradio.com). Read more from Andrea! Andrea Lewis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Andrea D. Lewis is an Accredited Certified Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner (EFT Tapping) and often states that, "EFT Tapping is an answer to a prayer." She started using EFT Tapping in 2014 when she searched for a way to relieve her fears and worries that often left her feeling reluctant to leave her home to go to work or do other outside activities. She was so encouraged by the results she received from 50 days of 10-15 minutes of daily tapping that she wanted to share this newfound knowledge with others and became certified. EFT Tapping does not do the healing. It just releases the stuck emotional charge of past events to help the body do what it was created to do, which is to heal itself and to enable the person to move forward confidently in life. You can listen to her weekly internet radio program, The Power of EFT Tapping, on Sundays at 12PM EST on wnjr-radio.com . Her mission: To help clients thrive by being emotionally healthy and happily engaged in their life.

Written by: Garett Martyn, 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. Meet Penelope. A sweet and sensitive, smart working, small business owner and single mother of one, pleasant, juvenile boy named Enrique. At the time of this story, Penelope is struggling to make ends meet as she is in the never-ending process of over-passionately growing her start-up company called Pick-A-Tooth, which sells uniquely handmade toothpicks from Brazil to customers with teeth, all around the world. Lately, Penelope has had an awful sleep. After she puts Enrique to bed at around 9:00 pm, she puts on her favorite Booty Blast workout DVD and works her and her booty out for approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much energy she was able to retain from her lunchtime meal. She then has a generously long 15–25-minute shower, where she likes to stand in the scorching hot 5,600 degrees Celsius water, then proceeds to have her last meal of the day, by herself, in bed, around 10:00 or 10:30 pm, then, almost immediately snores herself to sleep while passively listening to the judgemental sounds of Judge Judy or Judge Mathis with her eyes fluttering to the white noise that surrounds her. After approximately ninety minutes of overly rambunctious twists and turns, Penelope eventually allows herself to fall into a super deep sleep. Unfortunately, Penelope has been having frequent and vivid dreams of herself being violently chased through the jungle and into a courtroom by a crazy clown with a bright purple nose, who then proceeds to sue her for Intellectual Property Theft regarding the start-up idea for Pick-A-Tooth, by requesting for 50% of all Brazilian Reais that she has made from Pick-A-Tooth profits, as well as take full custody of her child, Enrique. As most of us may attempt to empathetically imagine, this horrific nighttime experience almost always makes Penelope wake up in a wet and salty puddle as she is completely soaked in her own tears and sweat that accumulate and perspire while she vividly sleeps in fear and frustration. So, on one fateful day, after talking with her crazy metaphysical friend, Casablanca, about what Penelope can do to help herself get through these terrifically traumatic times, she decided to schedule an appointment to go see her nearest naturopathic doctor, who Casablanca claimed would meticulously study her unique story and lifestyle situations and then proceeded to use the acquired knowledge to holistically educate her on how she can help her body achieve a state of self-healing which will allow her to learn more about herself so that she can get her sleep back, which will help her get her life back. Almost 2 weeks later, Penelope walked into the naturopathic clinic and was politely escorted to the examination room by a petite administrator who uncannily looked just like Wonder Woman. Petite Wonder Woman closed the door, leaving Penelope all by her lonesome. She then sat herself down in the comfy-looking dark brown leather armchair that was positioned across the room from her and began to get her unique story and lifestyle situations in mental order so that she could eloquently explain herself to the naturopathic doctor that was about to enter the treatment room. Penelope heard a light knock on the door. When an old, fragile-looking, East-Asian man wearing extremely thick-lensed 80’s style reading glasses poked his head in through the doorway with the small crack he had made. She comedically acknowledged him with eye contact, along with a polite little laugh and a welcoming nod. Then he proceeded to enter and said, “Hello, my name is Dr. Wao”, so Penelope quickly knew that it was probably best if she responded to him in English rather than Portuguese. Penelope did her best to share her unique story and lifestyle situations with Dr. Wao. When she was done speaking, all Dr. Wao could say was, “Wow.” After further examining his notes, Dr. Wao began to share some possible options that may benefit Penelope. He suggests that she puts an abrupt stop to working out so late because it is creating disharmony with her circadian rhythm. She must also put a stop to eating so late might because that’s not good for her digestion, as it is a major contributor to developing poor sleep and bad dreams because she is not giving her body enough time to properly break down the food that is traveling through her digestive system. He told her to completely quit eating after 8 pm. Instead, she may find it best to eat with her son when he eats dinner, earlier in the evening, or eat in silence or with some light and joyful music in the background, as if she was eating at her favorite restaurant. This will give her digestive system a break from constantly breaking down food even while her body is technically shut down and in “recovery mode” while she sleeps. He also suggests that she puts a stop to having such long, excruciatingly hot showers because having excruciatingly hot showers before bed is not only damaging to her skin, but those temperatures aren’t so great for her brain either, as these temperatures internally overheat the body and could be a major contributor to her poor sleep experiences. Dr. Wao mentions that falling asleep to T.V. shows like Judge Judy or Judge Mathis give off blue light along with subconscious noises and narratives, which do a plethora of problems like disturbing the quality of her sleep, reducing the sleep she should be getting, interrupting her body's melatonin production, keeping her brain overstimulated, and eventually lead to long-term health effects. Not to forget to mention that watching all those Judge shows before sleeping could easily manifest into her dreams, or worse, make her an overly judgmental person in her waking life. But if she feels that she cannot go a night without watching Judge Judy or Judge Mathis, she can purchase a stylish pair of blue light goggles for approximately R$112-R$200 Brazilian Reais at her local blue light goggles retailer. This will help her get to sleep faster and stay asleep so that she can start to develop a healthier relationship with her sleep. He hypothesized and informed her that this alone may accurately explain why she was in a courtroom during her dream due to her subconscious deciphering and filtering out what her eyes were witnessing before bed versus what she was actually experiencing in her waking life. But Dr. Wao couldn’t factually explain why she was being taken to court by a crazy clown and not her former husband. He left that one for her to unpack and unravel on her own. Lastly, he asked Penelope about her birthday, the year, month, and day, as well as the exact time of day and the place she was born. She said she was born on January 28th, 1986, in São Paulo, Brazil, at 6:18 am. A few awkwardly silent moments later, Dr. Wao showed Penelope her natal chart and began sharing his initial observations, conclusions, and recommendations. Dr. Wao explained how, from what he can holistically observe, that Penelope seems to be predominantly made up of a shared dominance of what Ayurveda practitioners call Vatta and Kapha Doshas, while her Vatta is in the greatest state of imbalance. This may be why she is having bad dreams and clouded thoughts. He then told her that her Sun sign is a Capricorn with her sidereal birth chart and an Aquarius with her tropical birth chart. This means that she is very communicative as an individual and is also very career-focused, and spends a great amount of energy thinking thoughts, dreaming dreams, and diligently working towards those thoughts and those dreams. And because her thoughts are so strongly connected to her holistic health, she may find it helpful to go through a detoxification period involving a 7-day vegetable and fruit juice fast to grant her digestive system enough time to rest and heal itself by giving it a well-deserved rest, along with the introduction of a daily mediation practice to help Penelope clear her mind and reset her body and cleanse the energies from the past. He proceeded to recommended Magnesium supplements to help her reduce the holistic effects of daily stress and aid in her quality of sleep. Probiotics in the form of whole foods or liquid supplements to help bring healthy bacteria into her gut microbiome because the state of the brain is in direct relation to the state of the gut. And Vitamin D to help boost her mood and keep her moods regulated, as well as going out into the direct sunlight for short periods of time, about 15-30 minutes, to help improve her overall mood. Dr. Wao added that Penelope starts paying close attention to all of her dreams by documenting through adopting the practice of daily journaling upon waking every morning so that she can privately decipher what they personally mean to her. He didn’t forget to mention how important it was for Penelope to keep track of the phases of the Moon because the different Moon phases throughout the month can greatly affect a person’s dreams, especially a woman’s dreams. This will allow her to best unravel and unpack her past experiences and develop a more in-depth knowledge of herself so that she can ultimately face her fears in her reality as well as in her dreams. As for learning how to deal with a crazy clown in real life or in her dreams, Dr. Wao suggested that Penelope learn a self-defense-based martial art, like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hapkido, Krav Maga, or Parkour. As she becomes more confident with her body and in her ability to protect her body, she will be able to take this interconnected confidence into her dreams. In fact, the crazy clown may begin to start having nightmares of Penelope. He finished sharing his recommendations by telling Penelope that if she ever needs any extra support that she seems unable to find, she can always ask God for some holistic assistance. God is always available to help those that truly need it and know to ask with pure intentions for the highest good of all. Penelope vigorously attempted to write out all of Dr. Wao’s recommendations when he told her that he would email her a full list of the recommendations for her to use at her leisure. She gleefully thanked him for all the help and went on her merry way. Almost a full year later, Penelope had fully incorporated these radical yet consequentially profound lifestyle practices and recommendations into her life. Penelope was able to unpack her childhood and develop a thorough understanding of herself. She uncovered and discovered that she had an uncomfortable experience with crazy clowns when she was made to feel extremely uncomfortable by one at the circus when she was just a little girl, and the clown tried to make her smile and laugh but ironically made her cry. So, interestingly enough, her brain had subconsciously turned her former husband into a crazy clown who is trying to take all her money and her son, Enrique, in a spineless and heartless court battle which would only cause their relationship to become inflamed with legal, financial and emotional conflict. Fortunately, Penelope had successfully detoxified her body, mind, and spirit. She was eating the right foods at the right times with her son Enrique. Once she finished detoxifying her digestive system, Penelope began to start taking Magnesium supplements and added more probiotic foods into her meals, such as adding sources of it to her salads and sandwiches in addition to taking liquid probiotic supplements. She started to work out in the morning upon waking rather than in the evening before she goes to bed. She would have relaxing showers that were mildly warm, rather than excruciatingly hot, and be sure to have her showers before she eats, rather than after she eats. She would practice different styles of meditation and write in her dream journal before bed and upon waking. She quit watching Judge Judy and Judge Mathis and threw out her television altogether. She started practicing Capoeira at the local community center, which granted her the ability to physically defend herself from the crazy clown with beautifully dangerous spinning kicks and cartwheel kicks in her dream states. She even started to join a Women’s Prayer Group at the Catholic church near her house. She was cured. She was holistically healthy. She was Penelope at her best. All thanks to the holistic medicinal techniques of Dr. Wao and his in-depth knowledge of the Holistic Disciplines. Disclaimer: This story-based article is fiction and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Please consult a qualified natural physician prior to use, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs. It is intended to entertain and educate the reader as they continue to develop a broader knowledge regarding holistic health. Want to learn more from Mr. Garett? Garett Martyn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mr. Garett is the creator and founder of Holistiworld, Inc. A holistic company that aims at researching and developing the mind, body, and spirit through the Holistic Disciplines: to enhance holistic education and holistic healthcare while reducing extreme greed and mass global exploitation. He can be found teaching the ways of the Holistic Disciplines at Holistiskool, selling holistic products at Holistimart, or writing monthly holistic newsletters for Holistinewz, as well as planning and executing all kinds of private operations and shenanigans, affectionately known as Holistic-Ops. This arrangement also provides a large network of holistic connections related to the newest trends, sciences, and the arts. By uniting and refining our Holistic Disciplines, the Holistiworld brand helps to create a more prosperous world than what has been previously prophesied. Holistically we are strong. Holistically disciplined, we are stronger.