Written by: Mike Mantic, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I was 18, heartbroken, and in Paris, a city I'd never been to before. I'd gone there with the idea of clearing my head and getting some space from a recent breakup. I'd spent the previous few weeks interrailing around Europe, sleeping on night trains and waking up in new towns every week. When you see the sights of Europe, it wouldn't be complete without visiting Paris. That's what I told myself consciously. Subconsciously, and not admitting it to myself at the time, I had a fantasy of an impromptu meeting, a grand romantic gesture, and her coming to her senses and coming back to the relationship. It sounds like a joke-writing it out. After all, Paris is a big city. I knew that she was working in a department store for the summer. Of course, Paris being one of the world's fashion capitals, there are many department stores. It's impossible to expect I would find her in a city of millions, especially having never been there before. Surely this was the textbook definition of a fool's errand, and to be honest, I didn't expect to. The fact I had a notion of which department store she worked in was little consolation. First of all, it was a chain store with many locations. Second, this was long before the days of mobile phones and GPS-powered maps. Thirdly, I couldn't speak the language, and I was too shy to ask for directions or make my objective clear. "Excuse me, Mr. French man have you seen a smiley girl about this high with strawberry blonde hair and a round face?". It was laughable. It was a gut instinct that led me out of the cheap hotel door in the Montmartre district. Walking into the heart of Paris, I listened to that gut feeling, not really knowing where I was headed. I didn't actually go out that day to find her. Far from it, my daily routine was to go out, get food, see sights and return to the hotel with a few photos taken. Yet here I was with this intense feeling to follow my inner voice. Turn left. Keep walking. Turn right. Walk further, Cross the road, turn right. Turn into this door. That inner guidance took me on a more or less direct route to the very store, the very entrance, and the very counter where she was working. Boy, were we shocked to see each other! It turned out to be one of the most revelatory moments of my life, even to this day. That instinct! That intuition could be so accurate, so precise as to locate a single person in a city of millions, in the space of fewer than 90 minutes. It was many years before I learned how to use that skill more consciously. Before, I learned to use intuition in ways that could be directed and focused on revealing information about specific topics. Online there is a video of the spiritual teacher David Hawkins (author of Power Vs. Force) using intuition through the mechanism of kinesiology, finding the exact location of a gun hidden in a room that he'd never been to before and had no previous knowledge of. Through a series of yes or no questions, he was able to determine the truth of whether there was a gun in the room and where exactly it was hidden—kind of like finding a single girl in a city of millions. Intuition is so much more than a simple gut instinct. Despite having used it to locate a person in a city of millions, those impressions were still somewhat vague and hard to read. Getting an intuitive feeling about something is an excellent source of information. Still, if we don't know how to direct it or differentiate it from "other" sources of information, it remains unreliable. That's where intuition training becomes critical if you want to get the benefit of its ability to guide you. That guidance can change your life. In training people not only to use this skill but also to use it in a business context to design, build and grow transformational businesses, it never ceases to amaze me the clarity of guidance people can get. From the specific details of the business they should build to the exact personal drivers, hangups, and secret desires of their avatar or ideal customer, the level of detail, specificity, and accuracy are unmatched. When it comes to building a business that you truly love, that comes directly from what your heart wants to create, following your intuition is the single most powerful tool in any creator's arsenal. There is a level to which intuition cannot be controlled but should just be listened to. The one thing you can rely on with intuition is this: What you get intuitively will not necessarily be what you want, but it will always be what you need. In the case of my extraordinary , odds-defying meeting in Paris, we met, said a few awkward words, shared an uncomfortable silence, and then I left. That might seem like somewhat of an anticlimax, but there was something positive that came from it. About a week after the encounter, after months of feeling down and heartbroken, I awoke one sunny summer morning, and she was entirely gone from my heart. I never thought of her again. I was, in a sense, reborn into a new world of adventure and possibility. Intuition gave me what I needed to move on. Sometimes letting go of what you know and listening to your own inner guidance is the thing you needed all along. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info! Mike Mantic, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After a near-death experience at 13, Mike began a 36-year journey of exploration in meditation, shamanism & altered states of consciousness, culminating in a curriculum of training to bridge each of us to our own highest self and deepest wisdom. Mike supports healers, consciousness coaches, and personal and spiritual development trainers to intuitively build successful and rewarding businesses sharing their gifts. He also guides people to explore and overcome the archaic, hardwired fear of death; To divine the truth of what their heart wants to create in the world, and finally to live the life they incarnated here to experience.

Written by: Asim Aliloski, 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 less, achieve more. Are you working way too much but not seeing the results you desire? Although you are super busy most of the time, are your checklists getting longer and longer? I know, there is so much to do. All these to-dos and tasks. They are very seductive; you get absorbed by them easily. Today, you have more to do than yesterday. And tomorrow will not be better than today. Finally, you think you need to do even more to keep up. But you are probably pissed off? Despite all your doing, your results are still mediocre or even poor. In any case, not as amazing as you desire. You feel exhausted and empty at the end of the day. Or you feel like missing out on life itself (with a never-ending task list). If this sounds familiar to you, my article might give you an upgrade. Busyness Has Become A Global Disease You can see them everywhere: Busy people. Stressed out. Exhausted. Tired. Running. Struggling. Suffering. They have something in common: They are busy but not efficient (as they could be). They do a lot but have no results (they could have). They are tied up but don’t enjoy life (fully). You can stop this insanity now. Blind busyness has become a global disease in our society. It has disconnected us from our values, our heart, our soul, and our higher intelligence. We are functioning but not creating. We are doing but not living. We are suffering but not transforming. The More You Focus On Doing, The More You Will Have To Do Your experiences are being created from the inside out. What you focus on expands. If you keep yourself busy, more tasks will show up. If you are busy in your mind, more noise will you be creating around you. You Don’t Get What You Wish. You Get Who You Are Busy people get busy lives. In a busy life, there isn’t necessarily space for peace of mind, big results, quality time, and abundance. Here are my 7 spiritual tips to massively increase your efficiency, results, and flow without being busy. They have worked for me and for my clients joining my coaching programs. 1. If You Are in a Hurry, Slow Down If you think you need to be in a hurry, stop for a moment. If you feel stressed, slow down. If you feel driven by somebody, change your speed. Stop for a moment. Go in. Breathe. Shake your body off. Feel anything. Remember: You create from the inside out. You don’t get what you wish but who you are and who you become. 2. Align with your Soul’s Deepest Desires Your primary daily job is to recalibrate and align with your higher intelligence, your wisdom, your inner guidance, your intuition, your soul, yourself. Pay attention to your state of consciousness. , Go in. Slow down. Connect. Ask questions: What am I here for? What are my soul’s deepest desires? How can I make the best of my day? How can I allow more joy? What is my truth? My purpose? For today, my life? See your deepest desires. Feel them. Experience them. Upgrade them. Daily. The more you focus on the things that matter in life, the more odds and ends will (magically) disappear. 3. Get in Touch with Emptiness Are you up to your ears with work? Too much noise in and around you? Become empty. Make space between tasks. Press the “reset” button. Withdraw from any tasks, expectations and goals for a moment. And feel the space in and around you. The space in the sky, the space in the universe, the space in nature, the space in you. Your true nature is unlimited. Dive in deeper. Your job is to tune into your unlimited nature. 4. Bend Time What is your relationship with time? Time is… not enough, running out, limited? Check your limiting beliefs around time. Time is a construct projected through your consciousness. It’s more subjective than objective. Find new supporting beliefs around time. Such as: “From now on, time supports me always. Time is here for me. Time is my friend.” You have the power to change your relationship with time. It’s in your hand. Do you want to master time? You can bend time. How? Feel the timeless nature of your soul throughout the day. There you can rise above time and be better at mastering it. 5. Follow your Joy Don’t wait for joy to come to you but decide to follow your joy. Make a list of 50+ joyful things and pick up at least one or two per day. Because joy reminds you that you are not here for being busy but expressing your divine vibration. Children naturally do things that they enjoy. They don’t postpone it for later or next weekend. They do it now. Right, d o them NOW ! 6. Ask for Support & Delegate Life is here to support you. If you don’t feel fully supported by life itself which includes people, nature, and spirit, then you need to get better at allowing help. Asking for support is strong. Go in and ASK. You don’t give up your responsibility if you ask for help; you just get better at managing what you are responsible for. Say yes to support in your life and find ways to delegate in order to focus more on the tips above. 7. Lower your Tolerance Say NO to things that don’t feel aligned to you. If you don’t like something, don’t lump it. Say NO, NO, NO far more. Remind yourself that you are a sovereign divine being. Upgrade your self-image ten times more. Avoid doing things below your dignity. And always keep in mind: You are not meant for a busy life; you are meant for a great life. You Are Meant For Greatness. Namasté, Asim PS: Download here your free activation to awaken your divine greatness: https://asimaliloski.coachannel.com/freebonuses For more about my immersion coaching, check this out: https://www.asimaliloski.com/immersion-coaching/ Follow Asim on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit his website for more info! Read more from Asim! Asim Aliloski, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Asim Aliloski is an Austrian bestselling author, transformational speaker, spiritual leader and award-winning business and life coach. Asim has been listed amongst the 101 Most Fabulous Coaches in the World 2020, Top 20 Business Coaches 2021, Top 50 Influential Leaders by Kosmo Magazine, and he is proud winner of the European Enterprise Awards 2020. His mission is to share spiritual wisdom that uplifts the energy and consciousness of people and businesses. Asim has been working with heart driven leaders, entrepreneurs, celebrities and creatives helping them to awaken their divine greatness and make their life purpose a success. Through this work, people unleash their intuitive and spiritual intelligence in order to create personal fulfilment, optimum health and ultimate abundance alongside a high-end wealthy lifestyle. Asim, CEO of Asim Aliloski International, founded his coaching and consulting business at the age of 25 and has been exploring the power of consciousness for several decades. The native Viennese with Greek-Macedonian origins combines in his work elements from ancient Greek philosophy with universal spirituality rooted in Sufism and Buddhism along with transformative coaching. Coming from a under privileged family living on welfare, he mastered to become one of the most recognised spiritual coaches and leaders in the world.

Written by: Dilys Brighty-Schmidt, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I am sure everyone has heard the saying “Your Health is Your Wealth,” meaning, in essence, that without good and robust health, the quality of our life can be impacted on a work level and also on a mental level. If we are not feeling well or experiencing illness, our work lives can be very much impacted, with days away from the job and loss of revenue if we cannot continue to work. Lack of motivation and confidence, and in many cases, depression can also ensue, increasing our stress and ill health. You don’t necessarily have to be older to have ill health, but as we get older and perhaps less able to bounce back from illness, it is important to see how, as individuals, we can implement some important lifestyle behaviors to boost our immune systems and sustain good health and well being. Today, I am concentrating on what it means to have a healthy and nutrient-based diet that not only helps your body’s own defense mechanism against illness but also creates more energy and a feeling of wellness. There are many diets to choose from, but I feel it is better to understand your food groups better, which will enable you to hone in on a diet that is not so heavy in carbohydrates such as rice, bread, potatoes, and sugar. It’s not that these foods need to be eliminated completely unless a diet change is necessary if, for example, there are heart health issues or diabetes. It’s just that by increasing your vegetables, such as the complex carbohydrate, colored, and sulfur vegetables, your body will decrease its sugar content and thus fat content. Also, if you are overindulging in foods heavy with refined sugars, such as sugary beverages, pastries, or refined bread, perhaps cutting down on these foods and drinks and substituting them for fruits and healthier beverages will help increase your energy and vitality. Try and drink more water on a daily basis to offset a craving for sweetened drinks. Proteins are essential in your diet, but it should be understood that eating healthier, smaller, and leaner portions of meat are much better for you. Also, there are other sources of protein in nuts, beans, dairy products, cereals, and grains. Don’t forget your fish, which helps you with your omega intake. Another way to create good eating habits is finding out which foods give you energy. I am sure everyone has experienced that afternoon slump after lunch. Heavy carbs break down into sugars, which in turn can leave the body feeling tired and heavy. Also, acidic vs. alkaline foods can create a feeling of heaviness during the day. We have internal homeostasis of 6-7 ph, so keeping a well-balanced diet really helps to maintain good energy levels and health. Overall, acidic foods such as meats, dairy foods, etc., should be in proportion to more alkaline foods, such as fruits, nuts, legumes, and vegetables which will increase your energy levels and stop that afternoon slump. So what can you do to start eating healthier and having more energy in your life? Hydration: It’s really important to keep hydrated. Drink at least 64 oz of water per day. Drinking plenty of water not only keeps your body healthy, but it will also boost your energy levels. Eating vegetables of the more sulfurous kind, such as cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, bok choy, etc., will boost your immune system, help with fat digestion, control the metabolism of carbs and help to rid the waste from the body. Immune Boosters: Fresh or organic (if possible) fruits that are rich in antioxidants and vitamins to protect your body from free radicals. This is especially true in berries such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Introducing Heart Healthy Fatty-Acids into your diet: As we age, the harder it is for our bodies to pump blood to the heart and brain. As age slows down the body’s functioning, it can put a strain on our heart and immune system. The good news is that Omega-3 found in fatty fish such as salmon, river trout, mackerel, and tuna are nature’s gift to better health. More Foods for your Best Health: Oatmeal - a wonderful fiber for your body. Nuts - rich in vitamin E, antioxidants to help protect your cells Beans - keeps red blood cells healthy and ensures oxygen can be delivered to brain cells Avocado - a mono-unsaturated fat. Helps promote healthy circulation and blood flow to the brain Peanut Butter - provides a great dose of vitamin E Eggs - have memory-boosting choline for muscles and lutein for your eyesight So a good insight as to how you can keep your health and your wealth, to maintain the energy and vitality that we all need for a healthy body and mind. Thank you for reading. Please feel free to contact me if you have any ongoing dietary issues you would like to discuss. I also have programs for Diabetes and Heart Health and would be more than happy to discuss your own wants for a healthier lifestyle. Remember: Transformation Begins With You! Dilys Brighty-Schmidt – Health and Life Coach Follow me on Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Dilys! Dilys Brighty-Schmidt, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Dilys Brighty-Schmidt is a Transformational Health and Life Coach who is dedicated to helping women 50+ and beyond achieve success in their health, fitness, and life situations that need change, more commitment, and nourishment. Her coaching also includes Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Health programs, two major health problems that increase with age. Through her previous work as a diet consultant for over six years with a brand diet company in the USA, she realized how difficult it was for many clients to sustain their weight loss or reach their goals. Health and Life Coaching have given her that much-needed knowledge to help her clients understand that lifestyle changes and habits and behavior changes are instrumental in their success. Her mantra is “Transformation Begins With You.”

Written by: Magnus Ernegard, 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. Congratulations! You and your team made an excellent impression on the Business Angels with your compelling story at your recent pitch. As the investors now would like to continue the discussions, which hopefully will end up in a term sheet, it is a good sign. It means a lot is right. But what happens now? Referring to my last article in BRAINZ Magazine, "What A New Entrepreneur Should Think About When It Comes to Raising Capital", we continue with the Startup's valuation. This article aims to provide a brief insight into what to think about before making a valuation of your promising, fast-growing Startup as a relatively new entrepreneur. The most critical or at least one of the most crucial decisions to decide upon is what your Startup is worth? What value of the venture you founded before any capital injections from the investors are made, i.e., what amount do you have as pre-money valuation? So, let us first clear out what to think about before calculating and establishing a valuation of your Startup? In general, Startup founders benefit by delaying placing a value on the Startup. Without having achieved meaningful accomplishments, pricing the venture often disadvantages you as a founder. But as your venture progresses, launches the products/services, adds new customers, and has some traction, it reduces the risk of the venture. The risk reduction adds value to the Startup, and at each funding round, the value should be growing. The Startup value ultimately revolves around cakes – do you want to have a larger slice of a smaller cake or a smaller slice of a larger cake? You know that equity capital requires you to give up part of your Startup venture with a dilution as a consequence. On the other hand, you can grow the company faster with cash, increasing the enterprise value. So, besides getting funding support from professional Business Angels, which probably has an extensive and knowledgeable network, industry knowledge, and experience, the Startup will also likely increase the valuation. This simple example shows the progression of the founder's declining ownership percentages (dilution) and increasing valuation as the Startup is growing and raises more equity. And thereby, the founder's portion moneywise of the ownership is worth more. But before you struggle with how much equity you are willing to give up by adding another owner, we at BridgeToAngels suggest most Startups considering other funding structures. This could be a convertible debt, where the investor makes a loan to the venture. That loan converts into equity in the future, often in conjunction with a funding round, perhaps at a later seed-round stage or Series A round. When you have paying customers and generate revenue, debt financing becomes easier to account for as you will know your repayment terms and commitment ahead of time to plan accordingly. There are also some other reasons we suggest a convertible debt arrangement. This includes speed and a less complex funding structure with fewer deal points to be negotiated. You delay the valuation, which in most cases are beneficial to the entrepreneur, lower legal fees for the paperwork, and make a rolling raise structure, where you can close smaller portions of the notes over several months in an easier way than equity funding. Further, if you are profitable, debt could give your Startup tax-deductible, but also that a lender usually will not get involved in the operation that much as long as you pay back on time. But I would also like to address different opinions if this debt model has disadvantages for the entrepreneur (and the investor), like if conversion triggers don't happen. If the convertible note is approaching the maturity date and the Startup cannot close the equity deal, a renegotiating might be necessary, which might not be in your favor. In general terms, the notes are likely to be undesirable for the investor as there is no valuation, and they don't know exactly how much equity they get for the cash. In your early growth years, it's essential to be aware of all your funding options, so bear in mind what you pick today, determining how you can run your Startup business in the future. Whatever reasons there are for delaying a valuation from the equity investor discussions in the funding rounds, deciding on a valuation should be made beforehand at other events or milestones. Co-Founders You have to set a value on your Startup when discussing the equity split among co-founders (if there are any). Before entering discussions with outside investors, you should explicitly agree on who owns how much of the new venture? This will then be the base for a start building the cap table. Apart from the total value of the Startup, the equity split between the founders needs attention. You must decide if one founder is more experienced, does that then warrant more equity? What if one of the founders can bring more money to the Startup? Should they get more equity? Will you work full time, or will anyone have other commitments? At what times will you work. Evenings and weekends might work better for one while the other wants more normal office hours? Is the intention that you, as founders, will invest the same number of hours per month in the company? Does the founder with the core idea for the Startup get more equity? Here we strongly recommend establishing a partnership agreement between you to describe how you perceive the collaboration is intended to work. Involve an experienced business lawyer early in the process. BridgeToAngels are cooperating with some in the Nordic region, which specifically are dealing with different kinds of Startup agreements. It is also essential to write down who is responsible for which tasks and areas in your partnership agreement. It could, for example, be that one of you wants the Startup venture to be your life project while the other wants to scale it up and then make an exit after five years. Who decides what and who signs for the company? Who is the CEO? He/she is the one who has the last word and is the one who foremost represents the company externally in contact with customers, suppliers, banks, governments, and the media. All these should boil down to an equity split agreement. Should it be 50%/50% or 65%/35% or 87%/13% or 66%/19%/15% or whatever the split in percentages is agreed upon? Is it okay for one of the co-founders to quit and start a fully or partly competitive business? If not, regulate this in a non-compete clause. Stock Option Pool Another occasion you have to set a value of your Startup is when you set up a stock option pool. This is to reward early employees for taking on the risk of joining your Startup and offset lower than market rates for salaries and other benefits, which often is or will be the case. A stock option pool plan is also, for many investors, a prerequisite for the funding, at least in the later stages when dealing with VC firms. Even if this does not directly influence the Startup's valuation, they are calculated into the number of fully diluted shares outstanding and affect ownership percentages of all shareholders. This we will come back to later. Angel investors' food for thoughts before valuation exercises So, what kinds of factors floating around the head of an Angel investor to come to a fair value? Different methods and models can help estimate the value at an early stage depending on the type of investor. For example, some are more interested in strategic values, and some look into how comparable companies are valued. Others prioritize early cash flows, and others use all available methods to average the valuation results. Anyway, there is no fundamental value but, instead, something negotiated and agreed upon between the involved parties. Let's start structuring the factors into four areas an Angel investor could consider: Deal factors Startup venture's factors Macro environment factors Local environment factors 1. Deal factors Will the investor get preferred share rights that do not make the investment deal risky for her/him? ( In short, these rights protect getting paid back first before the common shares. Typically, the founders and employees get paid last. The preferred might include liquidation, participation with or without a cap, anti-dilution prefs or voting rights, and drag-along rights)—more about that and what should be included in a term sheet will come in an upcoming article. The investor is also likely considering the stage of development the Startup is at: the ideathe idea, product development, customer's testing, or beyond? How much money has up to now been invested in your Startup? How much time in terms of research and development and innovation has been accumulated? Does the Startup need more capital in any upcoming funding rounds, and how much and when? Any plans for an exit? 2. The Startup venture's factors What about the founder/-s' and team's credibility? It is almost always about trust at the early-stage phase. There is a high degree of uncertainty related to product, market, and business model. Therefore, the founder/-s' and team's credibility is a crucial and essential factor, and perhaps the most important factor of them all. The Angel investor is considering any previous experience, perseverance, and being able to present a credible, reliable implementation plan and, of course, the energy of the strong-willed founders and team. The personal chemistry and trust between you as the entrepreneur and the investor are, of course, essential as you will be close together for the next 3, 5, or perhaps ten years. Building trust is, as I mentioned, the most important factor, and it takes time to build, so start now by reaching out to potential investors who know the industry and have a solid network. And not then and only when you need the financing. Is the problem or need you will solve significant and fundamental? How big is the market your Startup is going after today, and will it grow and scale in the future? Do some players already dominate the market? Does your Startup have a significant way to differentiate itself from the competition? What does it cost to conquer a substantial part of the market? Does the Startup have IP (patent, trade secrets, trademarks) or other competitive advantages like a team member's unique skills? Many investors see the most robust measure of traction as the Startup having paying customers. It shows how the product works both for the customer group and willingness to pay in the most precise possible way. Sometimes capital is needed before it is possible with paying customers. Think then through and create a list of all accomplishments you have made since the start of your venture, e.g., a statement from customers you have met, a letter of intent with a potential partner, a development agreement with a significant market player. It could also be information about hiring experienced team members, signing up paying customers, launching an early version of your product/service, filing for IP, etc. Different investors interpret figures differently, but as s a rule of thumb, many investors are only interested if there is a potential to earn ten times the money in 5 years. They then want the projections in the financial plan, the team-building plan, and the growth strategy to support this. So, being an exciting Startup having a high degree of credible scalability is a must. Your business model is vital in terms of both the degree of innovation and the so-called product-market fit. Perhaps a subscription model is the best for your Startup, or you prefer the customer to pay through direct sales or a freemium model or credit sales, or could a franchising model be an alternative or perhaps a hybrid of different models? Other areas deciding if an Angel investor is willing to open the wallet could be they might not only see the investment from a possible high profitability perspective as VC companies more likely do. The Business Angel might be equally or more interested in a venture with a solid and pronounced commitment to sustainable investing, e.g., ESG ( Environment, Social, Governance) ventures, which will likely be highly profitable as well, at least in the long run. 3. Macro environment factors What is the current economy like? How is the stock market developing for listed companies? Is there much money out there together with low-interest rates? Are there any other attractive Startup options for the investor's money? Is there a risk/opportunity for any political decisions or new regulations that either could benefit or making it more difficult for entrepreneurs and smaller ventures to develop? Is the market and sector of the Startup growing or shrinking or at a stable level? Are there industry trends like AI or cloud-based services that could either hurt or help the prospects for your Startup's success? 4. Local environment factors Early-stage funding is very often local, so closer to home is more likely to succeed at the first rounds. Is there a large and well-functioning Startup ecosystem and community in the area where the founder/-s and team could develop and prosper? Have any similar Startups in your area successfully raised funding, and are there other ventures similar to yours that have recently made an exit, which is a huge validation for many investors? How many are investable and high-quality Startups competing for funding in your area? The above are only some examples the investors consider when deciding on an investment. Having good order and structure with the documents and knowing the figures and assumptions like the back of your hand are more or less mandatory for getting financing. Keep in mind experienced Angel investors have most likely seen many deals. They have a general expectation of how similar ventures are valued, so you should have a gut feeling if your Startup might be over-or undervalued. Final Words Of course, you should be optimistic as an entrepreneur, but being over-positive with your financial forecasts and valuation could be a considerable disadvantage. What will the consequences be for you if you fought for high a valuation as possible, and now you as a founder have to accept an equity valuation lower than the previously established valuation? That is a down-round. In other words, your Startup venture is worth less than it was at the previous investment round. This could be because you have a too high monthly burn rate coupled to delayed and not reached the planned milestones, another Startup has developed a more competitive product, or you are too early for the market. If this entirely realistic (nightmare) scenario happens and you are getting more diluted through this down-round, then be aware of how to deal with your team's and, of course, your motivation and morale to follow through and get back on track. Until next time. Keep on Starting up! Follow me on LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Magnus! Magnus Ernegard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Magnus Ernegård has over 30 years of senior management experience from different industries in multinational industrial companies in various countries. Background in CEO positions, CFO, management consultant, production, business development, innovation, corporate governance, and entrepreneurship. Further, he has, over the years, gained Board and Chairman experiences from Boards within the Automotive, Logistics, IT Consulting, and Textile industries. Today, he is the owner and founder of the Startup support provider company BridgeToAngels based in Sweden and Denmark. Magnus has a proven track record in starting/ developing businesses, company split, corporate exits, and organizational effectiveness. Magnus also serves as Advisory Council Member of Gerson Lehrman Group. He holds an MSc from the University of Lund, Sweden.

Written by: Karin Brauner, 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. Social media has opened up a new realm of conversations. Some pleasant, some horrifying. As an admin of a Facebook group and a member of others, I can tell you it’s not easy monitoring conversations to keep them respectful and civilized. I often wonder about my counselor colleagues that comment in such a way that it makes me think a few things: 1. Do you judge your clients in the same way as you judge your colleagues? 2. Have you done your own therapy work (which I think should be mandatory for counselors – you can’t handle other people’s stuff or help them handle it themselves, unless and until you’ve worked on yourself) 3. If you were standing in front of the person you’re blatantly attacking, would you say it to them in the same way you’re saying it on social media? The answer to point 3 is probably a big, resounding NO! Of course, you wouldn’t, it would mean direct confrontation. It would mean your real name is known and it would end up in a bigger argument that probably didn’t need to happen in the first place. I’m talking about counselor groups because that’s where I hang out the most, but I’m sure this also happens in other groups – I’ve seen it in music artists’ groups where the conversation can gear towards “you’re not a real fan because….” Kind of conversations. It gets really weird in social media. Sometimes it’s good to take a time-out. The online disinhibition effect is something that happens for various reasons: 1. We can anonymize our posts or use a pseudonym, which makes it easier to speak our mind freely and become a bully or just simply call someone a name because their opinion is different from yours. 2. We’re hidden behind a screen. The distance between us and the person we’re talking to is enough to allow us to say what we think without censoring or considering how what we’re saying will affect others. 3. Projective identification and disinhibition go hand in hand: if we don’t like something about ourselves or someone else in our lives, we will project that “negative” trait into the person we’re about to challenge. It might have nothing at all to do with the person on the other side of our screen, but we’re putting it on them because it feels safe. 4. It feels safe: we can simply block the person, turn off our device, or leave a group if we feel threatened or challenged by our comments, whether polite or abusive. Usually, the people that perpetuate the negative or abusive comments are the ones that end up leaving, not understanding that it’s their behavior that caused the problem in the first place. I know this all sounds very doomy gloomy, but social media can be a great place to have wonderful conversations and create powerful connections. Here are a few tips on how to achieve this: Ask questions. Be curious about why people think differently to you, and have a healthy debate where you both express your opinions and come away feeling heard. Don’t make assumptions. When we make assumptions, we are usually making the mistake of projecting what we think the other person is thinking, and getting angry with our own assumption and not what they said. Clarifying this is the best way to listen and be listened to. Avoid heated conversations. If you see that a conversation is getting heated, you might want to try to quench the fire by helping out. Sometimes this helps dissipate the issue, but most of the time, the person causing the problem will turn on you as well, and things will just escalate. Speak to the admin of the group. They usually are aware of things going on and are doing their best to keep the group civil and conversations meaningful. Trust me, I know. I have a great team of admins in one of the groups I run, and we verify everything with each other before acting on it. It sometimes backfires because of the point above this one but… we can’t be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s ok. There is more to be said about the disinhibition effect. This article is just pointing out one aspect, which is that people feel more free to speak their mind, no matter the consequences. Sometimes this can be useful, for example, someone that finds it hard to socialize or talk about their feelings might feel safer having instant messaging therapy than sitting opposite a counselor in a room, or even using video or audio might be too much. There’s a lot to say about social media, luckily most is positive, but we do have moments where we just want to scream and shut it all down. Pick your battles, and choose your words wisely. Words matter and they affect people both positively and negatively. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Karin! Karin Brauner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Karin Brauner is passionate about helping people get on track – or back on track – in their personal and professional lives through practical tools and inspirational conversations in a variety of settings. Karin teaches tools that she’s learned and developed throughout her own life and career. She knows how hard things can get, but also how great things can be once you move through to the other side. She now shares the knowledge she’s gained, through various mediums, to show people a path to better self-care, support when processing their past, and working out their present so they can lead an improved life and thrive in their personal and professional relationships.

Written by: Ben Eden, 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 you just started your business or you have been thinking about it for some time. You have looked into a few things and talked to a few people. Most importantly, you have this burning idea and feeling inside that won’t go away. You know that you have something that the world needs. You know you can make a positive difference for others. Now what? How do you get started? How do you make sure you turn that burning feeling into a reality that actually works? There are a ton of options out there, as there is no one “right way” to do business. I am not going to talk to you about branding, social media, sales, or anything like that because being a business owner has 80% to do with what is going on in your mind and in your heart. In other words, your thoughts and your emotions are extremely important to learn to manage as you build your business. Don’t believe me? Imagine you have the perfect marketing plan but you don’t get as many likes as you wanted. Now, what do you think of the plan? Do you start to think it was a waste of money, that you should have done something differently, and that you were swindled by the person who sold it to you? If the plan really was “perfect”, now how do you feel about yourself and your capabilities? Do you feel confident in trying again? Do you believe that you can still be successful? See what can happen to your thoughts and emotions if one thing doesn’t go as planned? Owning a business comes with a lot of plans that don’t go perfectly. In order to reach your ultimate potential (become who you really can be) you must learn to master your thoughts and heal your emotions. Let me tell you three keys to reaching your ultimate potential. 1. Define Your Ideal Not only is it necessary to know where you want to go, what you want to do, and who you want to serve as a business owner, but the act of defining all of this tells the universe that you are ready to receive. I have experienced this personally and I have helped numerous clients of mine see amazing things by doing this experiment. As we defined our ideals (i.e. clarified our vision), those ideals become reality in incredible ways. Opportunities open up, you meet just the right person who can help you move forward, and you connect with your clients in the way they were looking for and are willing to pay for your services. I set a goal to make $1 Million dollars this year. I was extremely excited about it and completely believed it was possible, although I had no clue how it was going to happen. I shared my vision with others, repeated my excitement to myself every day, and connected with others who could help me get there. Opportunities opened up and I made sure I was open to receive them. I am happy to say, my ideal became a reality! 2. Master Your Thoughts As I have grown my business and set my goals, I would be lying to you if I told you I always had positive thoughts in regards to them. I certainly had days where I would begin to wonder if this was going to work, if I was capable of doing this, or if anyone even cared. My thoughts could be extremely positive and motivated one moment and then quite negative and discouraged the next. But I have learned what I should focus on and how that affects my results. Yes, you will have well-intentioned friends and families tell you to wait, that the timing isn’t right, or that you just don’t know enough. You may even have people post negative things on your social media. You have to learn to master your thoughts so you don’t begin to doubt yourself and your dreams based on what they say. Surround yourself with the people, books, and messages that will carry you forward and help you maintain your positive thoughts so you can do what you know you should do. 3. Heal Your Emotions This is the big one. Most people have been told to be aware of their thoughts. It isn’t as common to be told how to heal our emotions. Why is that so important? Thoughts can turn into emotions. If you get a negative comment or review on social media, how do you feel? Do you feel motivated and happy? Or do you feel scared and angry? How well can you serve your clients if you are scared and angry? If you don’t heal those emotions of fear and anger, they will stack each time something happens, and eventually, you will burst. You may turn to addictions to “feel” better. You may let out your frustrations on the people you love. You may become too “stressed” to keep working. Do you really want those unresolved emotions to stop you from reaching your ultimate potential? Take the time to acknowledge, understand, and let go of those unresolved emotions so you can live your dreams and become who you need to become. Because as you align with who you can be and live your passion, you will fill the needs of others, and that is where true business success comes from. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Ben Eden, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ben Eden has presented around the world with a message that raises listeners’ sights and encourages them to “Reach Their Ultimate Potential”. He has a unique way of communicating with words that will capture your attention and inspire your mindset. With real-life examples and entertaining stories, Ben helps audiences master their thoughts, heal their emotions, and live their dreams so they can achieve their best in both businesses and in life. From being an HR executive with nearly 2,000 employees… to starting multiple businesses, Ben will help you live your dreams now as you reach for your ultimate potential.

Written by: Derick Grant, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I have been extremely fortunate to coach, and help some of the world’s most influential people. There is something over time I noticed about some of the elite-level performers I have worked with. They all have a mindset that failure is a catalyst of their success, instead of a blockage of their dreams. In school, we are taught that a lesson by the teacher, and within that lesson are the answers that can be applied to a test. So when the student takes the test, the answers have already been supplied, and it’s the student’s responsibility to study to retain the answers for that test. Lesson first, then the test. Under this model, then absolutely failure is a real thing. You should technically pass the test because you have already been given the answers. In life however, it’s the other way around. You first get the test, hardship, setback, adversity, resistance, etc. Then it is your responsibility to extract the lesson to be learned from the test. But we so often take the model of school and apply it to life. So because I lost my job, or I lost my house, I am viewed as a failure. But the answers as to why you encountered that hardship won’t come until after the hardship. Your responsibility is to now have the right perspective, so you can view the situation as a learning experience. In the athletic world, I need to miss 10 straight shots to bring me to the awareness that there is a flaw in my mechanics. So missing 10 shots isn’t a failure per se, it’s a test for me to extract the lesson to be learned. After the lessons learned are applied, I will be better because of the test I encountered. I have had my share of experiences that I was always taught were failures. I noticed something after all of these situations though, they always ended up making me better in some way. Over time, I realized that these situations weren’t negative at all, they were the tests that proceeded the necessary information needed for me to continue to elevate and evolve in consciousness. So were they really that bad? Absolutely not! Understanding this, you will see that every situation you ever encounter is really meant for you. Your growth and your development of an elite-level mindset as a human being will always come after hardship or adversity. Once you realize that you can never fail in life, now you can go after your greatest fears head-on. Now go, go be all that you are destined to be! -DG Want to learn more from Derick? Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin Twitter and visit his website. Read more from Derick! Derick Grant, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After traveling to 70 different countries, and playing 8 years for the Harlem Globetrotters, Derick Grant set out on a mission to help hundreds of athletes, coaches, and people tap into their infinite seed of greatness. His client base consists of but is not limited to the NBA, WNBA, NFL, executives at Fortune 500 companies. He is an author, TEDx speaker, and revered as one of the most powerful performance mindset coaches in the athletic world. His revolutionary approach to mindset by teaching what the mind is, and how to use it as a tool has helped influenced high achievers across the globe. His podcast, “The Pathway to Your Results”, helps teach people how to find this seed of greatness we all had inside of us.

Written by: Bernadette Bruckner, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Ever missed an opportunity you felt you should take and then didn’t? YES? Me too! I haven’t missed too many times, but when I did, I was upset that I didn’t take the chance. Fear might be one reason or believing you don’t deserve it or don’t have enough skills to have a chance at getting a particular opportunity. And, and, and … We have tons of excuses, don’t we? 😊 In Austria, we have a saying for this, “Hätt I, wär I…!” In English, this roughly translates as, “If I would’ve done, I would’ve been…!” ‘Fuck up big time’ was my motto for many years! What if… we just, out of fun and courage, grab the opportunities that are around us and go for it? “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity, but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.” ― Richard Branson CO&P – Creating Opportunities and Possibilities As a fan of the theory of timelines and that every possibility is possible, I truly create opportunities to get my chances for growing my business where all my dreams become a reality! Therefore, over the last year, I have created many things I dreamt about when I was a kid, including my own radio show, podcasts, my own TV show (coming 2021), and my own magazine (2022), as I want to share as much as possible with this world! I “feel” that there are “maybe” opportunities when connecting with others. And yet, I was too scared for many years to go and chase my dreams. It would be a small jump in your daily life…and yet it is so difficult. DARE to go beyond your own fears (fEARs are between your EARs!). Reframe your fears into: F – fast E – excellent A – aligned R – repeat S – simple What is intuition? As an HSP, highly sensitive person, I perceive a great deal and just “know” when something doesn’t feel good or “seem right”. As a child, I was overwhelmed with everything. Today, since I learned to handle my gifts, I teach others how to listen to their intuition and body intelligence. “Gifts can be curses, too, if we cannot handle them!” Bernadette. So, my question to you is, “How do you know that what is in front of you IS a real opportunity?” Are opportunities really opportunities? Many years ago, I could have secured the “best, most incredible job in the world” by… sleeping with my boss! Later, by sleeping with others. Later, by … Are those real opportunities to “be someone” or get a start in a career? Not in my world or in the way I planned to fulfill my dreams. I could be filthy rich by now, yet, would I be happy? After all, I met multimillionaires, celebrities, successful entrepreneurs and encountered many other opportunities – maybe not as obvious as those mentioned above, BUT true opportunities all the same. Those encounters where you know that the next steps and milestones are being generated when you talk with them or contact them for something greater. If we consider our strategies of seeing chances, opportunities, and possibilities, we might get a sense of how we react and act on something we perceive. Exercise for you: How do you define opportunities for yourself? Could you perhaps see this word and the meaning attached to it differently? Does it feel good when you perceive information and recognize that this could be an opportunity for your business? Yes, I have made mistakes. Yes, I have failed. Yes, I have fucked up. And yet, most of the time, when I listen to my intuition and gut feelings, my choices are perfect for me! This doesn’t mean they are perfect for others, but they are one step further towards fulfilling my dreams. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” -Marianne Williamson I work with so many people who are afraid of many things. Most of the time being seen, heard, and recognized for fulfilling their own deepest dreams! I go beyond my own fears knowing that I create for the higher good of all. When I have this way of acting and reacting, I know that at the end of the day, I can look in the mirror and say, “Lady, you did well today! Rock on!” What about you? How do you see yourself daily in the mirror? “Losing everything to gain everything.” This wasn’t exactly what I wanted to experience in my teens, and yet it happened later in my life. I nearly lost my life four times; I lost my home, my money… and yet, deep in me, I knew that there was something profound in this experience. I saw a great opportunity beyond imagination. Trusting my intuition 1,000% and not listening to others was the key. The key is to survive AND thrive beyond what we learn and are conditioned with when growing up. I even nearly completely changed my friends who, later on in my life, were more hinderers than supporters. Which tribe do you want to have around you? Me: Nurturing ones! Cheering ones and those supporting me for making my dreams become real. And you? Who would nurture you? And who wouldn’t? If everything IS possible, what would you love to have around NOW? As Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” And you too? Trust yourself and your intuition! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Bernadette! Bernadette Bruckner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine The creative allrounder worked successfully in different working fields in Austria and abroad. By her interest in corporate communications, marketing, human resources, and many other business areas, she has appropriated an enormous amount of knowledge over more than 30 years. Numerous educations at international top-trainers like Richard Bandler, Robert Dilts, Roy Martina, and Clinton Swaine. Internationally active as a holistic trainer in health, nutrition, and mental health with exceptional holistic resilience methods. Founder of „iMM – intuitive mentoring method and 1-min-coaching-to-go“, further development of NLP, as well as „ORINITION® – n(fl)ourish soul.mind.body.“ – an innovative nutrition work of (re-) membering our own body intelligence. Successfully Master’s degree in health management with a focus on public health. International Ph.D. & research in health communication with a focus on psycholinguistics combined with neuroplasticity and health economics. International bestselling publisher and author of numerous books in different languages. Global Author Award 2018 / Nominatee NLP Award in Research 2019 in London. 2021 opening my own research center for intuitive science in Austria.

Written by: Prue Sulicich, 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 strong are your decision-making skills? Most people fall into two categories when making decisions. Either you instinctively know the right decision and can make it with ease and efficiency, or you procrastinate, go back and forth, overthink, and chances are, never make it at all. Do either of these sound familiar? If you resonate with the latter, never fear. I’ve got you covered! Perhaps what gets in the way of making a clear decision is the fear of making the wrong one and looking like a ‘failure’. Maybe you’re a self-professed perfectionist and don’t want to get it wrong, or you’re worried about being judged by others. Whatever it is for you, it’s time to leave indecision at the door and step into your decision-making power. Here are three tips for making decisions with confidence and clarity. No. 1 — Trust your Instincts and Intuition We all have access to our inbuilt compass, otherwise known as our intuition. Using this compass to its fullest capacity will become a vital part of your decision-making process. Usually, when you are presented with a situation, you will instantly receive feedback from your body and mind about which direction to take. You will have a ‘feeling’ that just feels right or wrong. If you can learn to fully trust in this innate knowing that resides in you, it is unlikely to lead you astray. Tap into the instinctive emotion provoked when first presented with a decision. Take notice and be aware of using it to your benefit. Don’t ever brush the emotion under the rug! No. 2 — Weigh Up the Pros and Cons Although tuning into our intuition is vital, it is equally important to use the practicality of logic to assist you. Rationally lay out all the pros and cons for varying outcomes or scenarios that you can think of. Writing them on a piece of paper helps you to see them clearly. Look at how many pros and cons there are. You may find that there are many more of one than the other, and this will likely give you clear guidance as to which direction you should head. If, however, you find that the pros and cons are quite even, you have two options. Option one is to go back to using your intuition and use that as the guide. Option two is to visualize both scenarios playing out. Often we will dramatize the potential negative implications of a situation, and conversely, romanticize the potentiality of a situation. Use what you discover through your logical mind to guide you. No. 3 — Set a Deadline to Decide This is where you need to find the balance between logic and intuition. Because giving yourself too much time to make the decision, can become a little murky and confusing. Remember that instant answer your intuition provided? If you deliberate too long about your decision, this is when your logical mind will take over. And as I mentioned, it is vital to consider the logical outcomes of your decision. But if you leave it for too long, you will replay scenarios over and over in your mind. Your logical mind is much louder than your intuition. Your intuition speaks softly to you. Allocate yourself just enough time to receive your instant response from your intuition, and enough time to weigh up the pros and cons, and then take the initiative to make your decision then and there. I know what you’re thinking, ‘but how can I be sure that I won’t make the wrong decision?’. Well, I am going to offer you a new way to think about this. What if there is no such thing as a bad decision? Just a decision. This thought takes the pressure off and allows you to make a decision without fear of doing something wrong. Nothing is ever a sure thing in life. As much as we can make aligned decisions and hope for the best outcome, the universe may intervene with a different outcome. And that is ok. It is all a part of the great mystery of life. And wouldn’t life be a little bit boring if you knew the outcome for everything? If you can use these three tips - trusting your intuition, using your logical mind to weigh up the pros and cons and make your decisions quickly, you will be a whole lot happier and calmer. Because if you get too caught up in what could happen, what you think could or should happen, what someone might think about you, or go back and forth in your own mind, you will ultimately bring yourself unnecessary suffering. And it will likely hold you back, keeping you safe in your comfort zone. And this is usually not a place that will nurture your growth but rather foster stagnancy. It will take a little practice, but if you can implement these steps, you will make your decisions with more ease and clarity and stand tall and proud when you do, no matter what the outcome. Now go out and decide what you want your life to look like! If you need help, I am always here. Want to know more from Prue? Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Read more from Prue! Prue Sulicich, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Prue Sulicich is passionate about offering women the opportunity to know themselves so well; nothing can stand in their way to reach their dreams. Prue identified as a dreamer but was held back by the belief that women are mothers and wives first. Prue was nervous, shy, they and someone who never liked to be in the spotlight. Over the last decade, Prue started successful businesses but never took them beyond being a "hobby" because of this belief, even though deep down, aspired for more. After coming out the other side of a major family crisis, Prue was able to hold strong and took her own self-development to the next level. Completing a Life Coaching certification honed her newly found passion for a skill. Prue then founded her business, Head Coach, and is now offering help to women similar to herself, achieve their dreams, be it weight loss, self-love, or anything in between. Prue has big goals in this space and is determined to use her own transformation as an example to other women struggling with self-belief or lost identity by taking small steps to make big changes.

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. With childhood obesity on the rise, we must teach our children healthy eating habits. It starts with the parents’ actions and eating habits. Do we have family dinners, or does everyone eat separately in their rooms in front of the television? If we are eating all together at the dinner table, is there dialogue, or is everyone on their phones? Do we cook or eat carryout? Growing up as a child, we had family dinners. With my own family, we still do the same. We talk to each other about our day, and however we may be feeling at that moment. What was cooked was what you ate. Now, I can be more creative with dinners. There are days that my husband cooks, which is a treat. As a child, eating out was a treat. Now, we rarely eat out. Cooking is more fulfilling and the better option. So as a parent, what can you do to make sure your child or children make healthy choices? 1. Keep them active As a child, I played outside. I didn’t have a cell phone, PlayStation, or Xbox. Fortunately, my son gets some outdoor time with nature and his scooter. He loves his technology, but he needs a break from it. Many teens want to sleep most of the day, particularly during the summer months. Make sure that they get out of the house and do something, even if it’s taking a walk. 2. Be an example We can be an example based on the groceries that we purchase. If we buy sodas and eat carryout often, our children will see that as normal and acceptable. If we're overweight, our children will be as well. If not at a young age, at an older age when the metabolism slows down. 3. Cook more often I always tell clients that's it's better to cook your food because you know what ingredients are in it. Also, if you cook a lot, you have leftovers to freeze or eat the next day. 4. Limit processed foods Heat and eat dinners are simple, especially for teens. However, it may be high in calories, fat, salt, artificial flavors, and dyes. 5. Have water available Whether it's from a water cooler, bottled, or filtered water, your child can stay hydrated if he has been active. If they struggle with drinking plain water, try sparkling water. The carbonation will mimic a soda without caffeine and sugar. 6. Explore different foods Many children are picky eaters, like my son; they only like certain foods. As they get older, that may change. Explore and cook different foods to see if they eat them and add them to the menu. Most children like broccoli, spinach, chicken, green beans, pizza, and macaroni and cheese. Try salads, smoothies, or a one-pot wonder-like chili. 7. Regular checkups With childhood obesity on a higher level today, your child needs to have yearly checkups to check their weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. High levels can lead to a chronic illness such as diabetes if left untreated. 8. Pay attention to your child’s behavior Check to see if your child is eating too much or too little. This can be a sign of an eating disorder. If this is the case, talk to their medical provider or mental health professional. 9. Buy organic and non-GMO if possible All non-GMO foods will say it on the label. Most grocery stores have an organic section. 10. Read food labels It’s important to read food labels. If it has more than six ingredients or it's hard to pronounce, it’s probably not the healthiest option. Processed foods contain preservatives to keep the shelf life. Do you have a child that’s struggling with weight management issues? See if health coaching would be an option for them. Visit my website for more information! 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 to 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 to meet their health and wellness goals.

Written by: Kylie Mort, 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. Today I had a win. I may have been in small business for twenty years , but in a regional community where most people are kind, empathetic, and community-minded, I am a very small fish in a very big ocean. And that vast global ocean is mean and full of sharks who thrive on destroying the little fish. Yet, I, the little fish, had a win today - with a little help from my whale friends. Survival Step 1: Industry Knowledge Mine was not the only small business shattered by the tidal wave of a global pandemic. It was an unprecedented and unforeseen wave that was easily ridden, manipulated, and conquered by many of the bigger species, but for us, tumbling helplessly in the whitewash, we focused solely on survival. The COVID-19 era has bought out the best and worst in people, and in the commercial space also. Many stakeholders forewent their piece of the financial pie to feed those that struggled. Yet there were also the companies that went in for the kill, either washing their hands of responsibility for their misdemeanors or knowingly putting pressure on those they felt were not worth saving. Small businesses survive through support networks that can provide the knowledge they themselves lack. Had I not had the support of professionals who knew their industry, other generous entrepreneurs who selflessly shared their experiences, and official government bodies who have been set up to protect the vulnerable, I would not be in the position I am today. Bully businesses will play on your ignorance. They will pay lip service to your concerns as they disregard you, pretending to be collaborative as they pursue their bottom line and internal objectives. If you are floundering, seek the first-hand opinions of people who know the situation well, anecdotally, or professionally. Bullies may look powerful but, in many cases, they are masking ignorance with bravado. Survival Step 2: Stakeholder Motivations Also known as Emotional Quotient or EQ, Emotional Intelligence is the ability to better understand and utilize your emotions when dealing with external environments and people. It understands why you feel the need to react the way you do and to better understand and guide your response to the world around you. To continue with our original analogy, if one is to survive the dangers of the ocean, if one is to avoid becoming the next meal, one needs to understand their internal fishy instincts on which fish to avoid. Emotional intelligence is about both awareness and management. If we are self-aware and socially aware, we are in a position to manage both ourselves and the relationships we make, including stakeholder relationships. A small business owner needs to understand who they are dealing with, not the brand, but the human element behind the brand. We all look at the world through a myriad of unique filters, and this colors our perspective. We need to consider that thoughtfully if we are to understand another’s motivations. The more you know about people, the more you can empathize, understand, and communicate with people. The more you know about bullies, the more you understand how to manage them. A bully will not seek guidance, conciliation, or information from someone they consider less than themselves. A bully will always refer to authority, and relatedly a bully will always wash their hands of responsibility. Bully businesses will market cooperation whilst driving individual agendas. They will proclaim their hands are tied as they profit from the spoils of your inferior negotiating position. If you are being strongarmed by a bully, seek the backing of a bigger fish with knowledge of their agenda. Bullies can always be trusted to appeal to authority to negate their actions. Therefore, use this to understand what is truly driving them. Survival Step 3: Self-Awareness You cannot change the bully, but you can change how you respond to them. We should always focus on what we can change. Be that the depth of our industry knowledge, the understanding of our stakeholder motivations, or our own mission and vision. This is particularly important when one is feeling downtrodden, pushed around, and browbeaten. Why did you start this journey in the first place? What was your goal? If one is to be successful in one’s mission, one must have a map by which to navigate. This will fortify you and remind you of why you started when the bullies come out to knock you down. Focus on your own goals and have faith in your strengths and tenacity. You need to choose your battles and know when to walk away. There is always more than one way to reach your destination, so ensure you have considered your options well. Sometimes there will be a loss, but the losses could be far greater if you do not have a compass to guide you. Do not let others detract from your peace; there is far too much good in the world to dwell on the negative. We live in an age of social media hubs that can connect you with like-minded individuals across the globe. Get help from the kind, the compassionate, and those who altruistically share their wisdom. Replicate the businesses you admire and surround yourself with people who lift you up. Above all else, learn from your interactions with healthy introspection to avoid future damage. What is healthy introspection? It is the use of self-reflection over self-criticism. It is a healthy EQ. If you are socially intelligent, you can see the impact you have on others, but you can reflect on this with a goal of self-improvement. We all make mistakes, we all have regrets, but it is important to ask four questions of your regret: Is it important in the short term? Does it have repercussions in the long term? Can you negate these repercussions with future efforts? Do you have a clear goal now you have used the knowledge? I regret many things about my journey as an entrepreneur, but if I reflect on these with the purpose of self-improvement, they are all stepping stones to my future success. I am but a tiny fish in a vast ocean, but I know that when the sharks threaten, my ever-growing knowledge and my whale friends will provide my safe harbor. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more information! Read more from Kylie! Kylie Mort, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kylie Mort works with individuals of all ages to embrace and support the Academic Mind, Self-Awareness & the Mind-Body Connection. Assisting individuals by tailoring bespoke mentoring packages supporting academic, physical, and personal advancement and success. Kylie is an International Author and Writer for Global Magazines, writing both academically and creatively to connect with those who seek guidance and inspiration to be their best selves. A former Secondary School Teacher & VCE Leader with 20 years of teaching experience, Kylie is a qualified & registered: School Teacher, Yoga Teacher & Performance Coach. She is also an entrepreneur, leading multiple-award-winning companies. She is currently studying Psychological Science at Deakin University to provide holistic mentoring to her clients better, having spent decades honing her skills in face-to-face teaching, mentoring, and business & company development. Now, she is focused on the human mind and its power to empower through reimaging, redesigning, and recreating.

Written by: Antoinette Njombua-Fombad, 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. Never stop growing, even if it makes others uncomfortable! Remember that growth and transformation require intentionality, discipline, practice, repetition, defiance, and cultivation. It’s not an easy process, but it’s worth a lifetime. There’s nothing more meaningful than fully embracing and utilizing self-connection and self-awareness in the journey to self-actualization. When we grow, everyone and everything around us grows as the path to creating ourselves will spontaneously reflect our light from within onto others. We underestimate the value of individual growth on collective growth. We limit our realization of how much our growth can influence a change in the perspective of others, not just about us, but especially about the possibilities for themselves, influencing their awareness directly and indirectly whether we stay connected or not. Growth demands struggle and will transition through different variations of highs and lows before any transformation. Although we are born with the ultimate power of choice, we often find it challenging choosing our paths independently, compared to the ease with which we choose those recommended by others. Fortunately, as our consciousness grows, we are exposed to information overload. And as we yearn for purpose and fulfillment, the desire to create ourselves and the opportunity to live more freely from within becomes most vital. Thankfully, living through transformation comes with the blessing of spiritual freedom, influencing the intentional work of reprogramming our subconscious mind to counter, accept, adopt, and default to our evolving self. Imagine the challenges encountered as you work to alter and shift your reflex subconscious mind from overruling your creative conscious mind. If you are fully aware of how much work it took/takes/will take to learn and memorize this new construct of yourself, imagine how much more challenging it is for those around you. Their minds undoubtedly, over many years, have stored versions of you that will require updates of what, who, where, and how you now vibrate. Whatever stage you find yourself, living in a state of balance, working toward self-awareness, or the in-between phases, I believe it is a process overwhelmingly melancholic. We enjoy living connected to our becoming while unknowingly fighting to compromise it so we can fit in. We work through the push and pull of blending in versus standing out. Unfortunately, this can be a lonely process requiring complete self-reliance, and escalating this is the feeling of betrayal and disappointment we encounter along the way, further diminishing our level of trust and commitment. It takes understanding that we are because we are all things great and all things in progress. It takes trusting that it is okay to use everything about our being to make better choices that elevate our mindsets. Have you wondered why we find it acceptable to live life avoiding the things about us not praised by our environment, even when they add value to our identity, while often intentionally focusing on those that receive applause? Is it the fear of how others perceive us, or is it because we are afraid of our potential? Do we fear we might not be able to navigate the power and audacity that comes with such elevated levels of self? Is the discomfort truly sourced from within us or from our subjugation to Ego? The fear or shame of failing, of disappointing others if we cannot live up to our becoming, not even the way we imagine it, but the way others perceive it? We fail to understand that that same discomfort incites the nurturing of our potential and that even the imperfect parts of our stories are paramount to growth. It takes full utilization of our identity to develop into everything we want to be. It allows for a more efficient process of intentionally improving and living more connected to the value of our beliefs throughout our self-awareness journey. “Focus on your growth, give that more time and energy. During those moments where you fall or encounter setbacks, the very last thing you need to do is listen to that gnawing inner voice telling you that you aren’t good enough or, worse, accepting external judgment on who you are, based on a setback. That setback does not invalidate all the work and growth you have attained. The more you believe it does, the more your focus and energy will shift toward undoing your development. What you should remember is that you have come a long way at bettering yourself. That is where the focus should always remain. Accept your humanity, grace yourself with the knowledge that it took however long to get to where you are, so the now infrequent setbacks still support your growth trend. You become what you believe yourself to be. So have faith, chin up, heart filled with gratitude, and keep healing, loving, and growing” -healloveandgrow.com. So rather than avoiding those not so perceived perfect things about you, succumb to the bravery of understanding their purpose, and living outside a collective matrix-like acceptable existence, as growth and self-actualization necessitate fully embracing and connecting with everything about your individuality. We only have this one body, this one opportunity, this one earthly journey. So please don't waste time trying to make it something else as defined and influenced by the perception of others; that is their reality, not yours. Awaken yourself so that you can awaken others. Live on purpose, live intentionally, and let your life illuminate others. Maintain a solution-driven mindset, practice your habits, cultivate routines that sustain your growth, stay disciplined, remain confident in your abilities as you continue up-regulating your genes, understanding that the power needed to grow is the power within you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Read more from Antoinette! Antoinette Njombua-Fombad, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Antoinette Njombua-Fombad is a Connection and Awareness solution-driven coach, helping individuals and groups understand the value of emotions as purposeful and vital to enhancing our perception for individual and collective growth. She is the founder of WITHIN life coaching services, a writer, storyteller, and motivational speaker working to inspire and empower individuals and groups towards a better understanding of self for improvement in areas of awareness, mindset shifting, negotiation, Identity, presentation, and confidence, using a healing-loving-and-growing approach. She is a healer who believes personal growth is crucial to all other relationships and transactional growth. Her healing and coaching journey includes a combined background in caring for individuals as a Registered Nurse and Case Manager for the past eleven years. Her practice and writings are centered around the conviction that we are gifted beyond recognition with individual capabilities often suppressed by our fear of emotions, which continue to deprive us of the lessons needed to elevate ourselves and our relationships. As our humanity necessitates endless opportunities for healing and loving environments to facilitate self-improvement in the process of our evolution, we need to keep looking within ourselves for a pathway to growing and becoming.