Written by: Alex Verdiaz, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Have you been in a career, relationship, life transition before? If you have, I am sure you know that when you are transitioning. Life tends to feel stuck and overwhelmed . The ease of regular life is not there. During a transition, time is always needed to reflect, turn inwards, learn, and recognize that where you are in the right place for now, even if it does not feel that way. You may also seek support, guidance, mentorship, and strategy to help you walk the bridge from present to future. Yet, there are different things you can do for yourself to aid this process and make it a little easier for you. Help you feel great, help you understand where you are at and how you can transition better. These days many of us have the knowledge of helpful resources in our toolbox to assist us with our personal & professional development, yet what I see has helped in moments of transitioning is getting back into the flow . When you are in flow , you have focus. You feel control of activities/goals you wish to do and reach. You have better emotions. You enjoy more of what you are doing, so you feel fulfillment. You are more energized, greater happiness and motivation. Everyone has their own unique flow; it is about living in harmony with you. Take a river, for instance. It flows downstream and with ease, yet going upstream is a different approach, feeling, effort, mind, and body. Having helped many women with their career change, it is obvious that if you are thinking of a career change or know without a doubt, it is needed more than likely, you will have some negativity around you – either in your internal or external environment or possibly both. Being in an environment where you feel burnt out, no longer valued, around toxic colleagues/managers, or unfulfilled with your position, tasks and role surely make discovering and changing to a new career that much more difficult. But what if getting your flow back will help support this career transition, help you with the decisions and change that lay ahead? What if you were able to feel great again and excited about the future? No matter the excuses or reasons you tell yourself that make you feel stuck, make career transition harder and make you feel like life is not great, not fair. I believe getting back into flow will help, and one way to do this is changing your story. We may not have control over some things in life, and we can say that in certain areas of life, not having control can make us feel powerless and renders us to being and doing what we do not wish for at times. Yet, we can control the story we tell ourselves. I am not suggesting lying or making up incredible fantasies but shifting your perspective, changing the angle you view things, and writing a new story. We all have control over the stories we want to tell, and these stories have a massive impact on how you and others will respond and react. A simple example of this is you may ask me, “How was your day, Alex?”, and I can choose to reply with whichever - I can choose to say, “Thanks for asking, my day was ok, my hips and my lower back hurt today and I am in pain” or I can choose to say “Thanks for asking, my day was great, the sun came out, I took myself out for my favorite coffee, walked along the waterfront, and enjoyed soaking in the spa after.” Both answers are true and explain my day, and either story will make you respond with sympathy to my body pain or joy to my day out. You can see how easy it is to share a story that will indicate how someone will react or respond, and at the same time, it will also create a negative or positive flow for yourself. So why change the story you tell yourself? You can begin by looking at your environment and becoming aware of the main negative triggers within. Look at how you can change the story by: Releasing the negative, you feel about it Not focusing on how this plays out and how it ends, Looking for the difference, what is the story you are currently live out of? How does the story affect how I see myself? Is there another way you can interpret the situation? Is there a different “character” you can play here? What needs to happen for you to be in flow? These will help you begin to think differently about your environment and write a new story. Remember it is your view so that you can change it. It is “a” thought of about 30,000 - 50,000 thoughts you have in one day. You have the capacity to control where you put your thoughts. Bring a state of flow to your life today and see the difference it will make to your internal and external environments. You have been where you are now before, meaning you can change, you can transition. However, make it a little easier on yourself while you do. Take the life lessons learned, seek out the support needed for career transition, and do not wait for the hard to go away to be happy. Create it now by changing your story and be inflow. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , or visit my website for more info! Alex Verdiaz, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alex Verdiaz is committed to helping mid-aged women create their version of work-life balance. Being optimistic and visionary has been the catalyst for Alex to show women that it is possible to live an extraordinary life and has helped her develop and grow her Career Change business. “How can you figure out what you want to do next if you do not know who you are today” statement has helped many women realize that reconnecting to your true self is imperative in a career change and finding that new career which will give you longevity, fulfillment, and happiness. Alex’s Change Factor and Discover Your Next Career programs have helped women fully understand who they are, who they want to be and make the change to achieve their work-life balance. Her “nothing is impossible” attitude is infectious, her style is supportive and firm, her strategy focuses on your success solely, and her dedication to helping women is with open arms as she wants the world to have a better balance of women in fulfilled careers and living a lifestyle they want.

Written by: Lucie Matsouaka, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. When I’m at a turning point of my life and a story pops up into my head about my childhood, there’s a big chance that it’s related to my late father who died almost 9 years ago. He was the support our family relied on. We were never worried about the future. We always had confidence, knowing that our father provided stability and security. Our hearts were at complete rest. Our father was our ANCHOR. As I type these words , I still feel a twinge of regret. Even though I had the blessing to introduce him to my own children before he left earth, a part of me wishes I could ask him for advice one more time, or simply say “Hey Papa! I listened to your advice and it’s working! You were right!” While I know, some of you will relate to this part of my story, many won’t. Unfortunately, a good number of people never had the privilege to grow up with such a steady anchor called a father . For this reason, it makes it even more difficult for them to ask young men today to become great fathers. They didn’t have a good example to emulate. Even though there are plenty of legitimate reasons why a father can’t be there for his family (e.g., an untimely death), many other reasons are not, and we shouldn’t even try to justify them. You and I know too well that if you grew up without a father figure (or with a bad father), it would demand from you to become very intentional and make the conscious choice to learn how to become a good one to your children, from other father figures around you. When the father is absent, in some cultures, other family members—especially men—immediately step in to play the role. As I’m fulfilling my work as a career and youth leadership coach, I want to continue to stress the importance of instilling the notion of self-leadership in our youth long before they take over the professional world or simply before they start replacing us in leadership positions. When we don’t do it, the consequences are extreme and dire. However, most of these unwanted consequences are preventable. We have the choice to equip them now while they’re still young or make a mistake to wait later to fix them: the choice is ours. Therefore, I suggest that each time you meet a young person, picture him (or her) as a future leader. Once you have that in mind, you can now ask yourself the question, “What am I doing right now (or not doing) to help this future leader reach their full potential? While many still believe that leadership is only taught in schools or fancy leadership programs, I beg to disagree. In a recent article on Mother’s Day , I wrote and shared a few ideas about the role of the mother in young adults’ leadership. Now, I would like to share what I believe is the responsibility of a father in that regard, which in my opinion, is even more important. When it comes to the family, fathers are the foundation of leadership, and a culture that dishonors or disregards fathers creates more issues instead of solving them. Psychologists teach that the things that happened in our early lives transfer into our adult lives, and dictate how we interact with our own children in the future. Many people who experienced a negative fatherhood experience have the tendency to replicate or re-live those bad experiences, one way or the other. There are tons and tons of publically available research publications that demonstrate that when the place of the father in the home is not honored, it leads to terrible consequences in the lives of children. Case in point, the highest source of poverty in the US is fatherlessness. It is not the lack of money, but the lack of fathers. Can you believe this? In fact, a father doesn’t only provide shelter and food. Anyone can do that. While mothers are nurturers, good fathers are love, guidance, discipline, and set the standard for the entire family. A Time Magazine article said that “More than any other factor, a biological father’s presence in the family will determine a child's success or happiness.” The article even argues “82% of men in prison come from fatherless homes.” As I look around me, it is clearly apparent that families who lack a father figure are having a hard time producing the best leaders for the future. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It just means it’s more difficult for the next generation when there’s no great examples they can learn from. By the way, women suffer twice from bad fatherhood: first, they suffer if their own father wasn’t good, then they suffer a second time if they marry a man who didn’t have a good father himself. Imagine a house built on the wrong foundation or no foundation at all. How can that house be sustained? That’s who fathers are. Good fathers are the foundation of the entire family structure. If you take the father away, the entire structure becomes unstable. Then, it becomes very difficult for an unstable home to produce great leaders. It’s that simple! I suggest that we give men the place they truly deserve so that they could feel empowered to fulfill their roles. Let’s encourage, equip, and uplift fathers. Let’s also create programs where we teach our men how to be men, the responsibilities of a man, and what we expect from them. There are so many women empowerment programs as we speak, but where are the men empowerment programs? I don’t see any good reason to encourage women not to give men the place they deserve in the home, if it’s not motivated by economic profits, as it disrupts families. We know too well that these amazing and hardworking women who we encourage to think they can raise kids “all by themselves” because they are “strong and independent” will get overwhelmed at some point. Yes, women are strong. Yes, women are capable of doing many great things. However, being capable does not mean we should or would succeed. Dear ladies, we should not listen to the negative (and toxic!) advice from those who do not have our best interest at heart. Think about it! Those who encourage us not to allow the father of our kids to be present in their lives just because we’re upset with him, do they have kids? If yes, how are they? What future do we really want for our kids? Let’s not be too quick to forget what matters the most and put the future of our kids in jeopardy, believing we have what it takes to do everything in our power to help them. No, we don’t! We’re not supposed to do it all by ourselves. “I don’t need a man,” we sometimes say. But, our children need their dads to grow and live a balanced life to become great leaders in the future. While it can be daunting to raise a baby or toddler, that’s nothing compared to raising them when they become teenagers. As teenagers, they are in dire need of guidance, support, mentorship, points of reference, and everything in between to live a healthy and productive life as young adults. Unfortunately, we, women, do not always have what it takes for our kids to become what they’re supposed to become. Toys, electronics, gadgets, TV, entertainment won’t be enough and won’t do the job. I’m not dismissing women who have legitimate concerns and reasons to go separate ways with their spouses or partners. Still, our 50% divorce rate (or higher for subsequent marriages) in the United States , for instance, is not all the result of abuse, mistreatment, or “the man’s fault .” Even worse, it is not always a wise idea to keep a father away from his children out of anger, frustration, selfish ambition, or agenda. Remember, we are raising those who will lead families, companies, communities, businesses, cities, countries, political parties. What kind of leaders will we be sending into this world? As much as possible, fathers must be in the lives of their children. You heard me call my own father the “anchor” of our family. Why is that? Because that is what a good father is. I am a woman, but it’s actually my father’s voice that prevented me from making the worst mistakes, when I recall the many decisive moments of my life. Isn’t that interesting? The strong desire not to disappoint my father was enough to keep me on track, even after I left his house. His voice protected me; his advice weighed tons. I know I’m not the only one feeling this way. Therefore, let’s protect fathers to protect our youth and keep families united. By doing so, we’re building a secure environment where our future leaders will thrive, grow, learn and get their marks. And to you, the amazing anchor reading this, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing your part and being present in the life of your children. Thank you for doing your best to raise, protect and sustain the future leaders of this world. I wish you an incredible Father’s Day! To connect with me, visit my website or follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram . If you speak French, feel free to join our French-speaking community, L'Emergence De L'Entrepreneur , for more tips for emerging entrepreneurs. Read more from Lucie! Lucie S. Matsouaka, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lucie S. Matsouaka is a Certified Professional Career Coach who believes that it’s not enough to help people look good on paper before a job interview. As an International Youth Leadership Coach, she gives them the tools they need to separate themselves from the masses and have a successful career, no matter what that means to them. She founded L’Emergence De L’Entrepreneur, a French-speaking empowerment platform where she teaches emerging entrepreneurs how to navigate entrepreneurship storms to stand out and be successful.

Written by: Jennifer Wert, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As our world keeps getting faster and faster, I’m focused on slowing down. With everything at our fingertips, and instant gratification the norm, I watch how my daughter grows up at warp speed. The stakes are high for me, as I’ve only one child. It’s now or never. I need to be the example I want her to emulate every day before she’s ready to set off into the bigger world independently. So many girls today are caught up in the speed of technology and aren’t kind enough to themselves. Too many are riddled with anxiety. Most are drowning in the subtle, societal messages of not being enough. I, too, can get caught underwater in consumption, comparison, and self-doubt. At almost fifty, I still beat myself up in ways nobody else could. Learning to forgive and accept myself is my work. I diligently practice bringing more peace to my life and teaching my daughter what matters most. If you can relate in any way, I invite you to read on for ideas on being the example you want to set for your daughter: 1. Let Her See Your Mistakes And Flaws Your little girls see you as perfect. When they’re small, they put you up on a pedestal and think you do no wrong. As adults, you know how off-the-mark this is, so please, let your daughters in on this ‘secret.’ As soon as you start owning out loud what’s hard for you, your girls can better relate. When you say you’re sorry, they feel sincerely respected and, in turn, inspired to be courageous in this same way. It’s up to you to dispel the myth of perfection. Your mistakes and imperfections make you interesting; they help you become integrated. Teach by example — it’s what you do with failure that defines your character. 2. Stand Up For What You Believe In You likely have strong beliefs. Yet, you want your daughter to develop her own opinions, not blindly adopt yours or anybody else’s. Is the idea then to play neutral? I don’t believe so. Through decades of working with children, I’ve experienced how sincerely young ones appreciate honesty. At the same time, I invite you to be mindful to explain that there are many different ways to think, that your viewpoint is only one of many. Remind them that it’s important to surround themselves with others whose perspectives differ from theirs. Lastly, be sure to let your girls know that it’s natural for their beliefs to evolve; they’re allowed to change their minds. Standing up for what you believe in can be uncomfortable, even scary. It may even seem inconsequential - for example, at the dinner table with extended family. Either way, it’s up to you to show your girls how to take their seats, hold their ground and listen to others — with both decency and conviction. 3. Be Authentic When you cover up your feelings to put on a happy face for your girl, she sees one dimension of you. No doubt, she knows you have other feelings and, for some reason, are not sharing them. In this way, you become more disconnected, less human. And your daughter learns to keep her uncomfortable (yet normal) feelings inside, too. Try noticing when you tuck away your true feelings to appear a certain way. The more we hide, the more unhealthy we become, and our relationships suffer. To truly connect with your girl, let yourself be real. Feel what you really feel — in front of her, with her — so she can see that you have a full range of emotions every day. That this is normal. It will be of great relief to her. As she appreciates your humanness, she will learn it’s okay to be authentic herself. 4. Choose Your Community Carefully In parenting, the old saying that ‘we are who we surround ourselves with’ not only holds true but also trickles down to your children. I say choose who you spend your time with thoughtfully. Make it those who rejuvenate and challenge you, those who accept and love you for exactly who you are. Your daughters are watching closely; they’re aware of how your friends treat you. Who do you want your daughters to be influenced by? Aim to expose them to a diverse set of men and women to talk to, connect with and learn from. Consider your circle (really, their first community) to ensure your girls have adults in their lives who have the character traits you want them to develop — even their babysitters. They need lots of examples. 5. Listen To Your Body You’re born with a natural intuition, and yet if you’re like most women, you spend most of your life ignoring it and not listening to what your body is telling you. I encourage you not to pass down this habit but instead share the empowering truth that the answers lie within. Reassure your girls, from when they are very little, that their bodies always ‘know.’ This, of course, means that you, too, must listen to your body. I realize it’s challenging for many of us. Again, with the world moving so fast, you may tell yourself that you don’t have time to do what your body wants you to do (e.g., rest). If you haven’t been practicing this your whole life, it will take really close listening and, of course, patience. But, in the end, it’s up to you to model what this practice looks like for your girl and to convey how important it is. Take even the smallest opportunities. It will instill in her genuine confidence in and connection to her being. It may even change your life. Being an example is the bulk of parenting. Be an honest and conscious one so that you mindfully pave the way for your girls to have what they need. Namely their bodies, their mentors, their beliefs, and their imperfections. Want to learn more about Jenn´s parent coaching philosophy? Visit her website today or better yet, click here to book a free thirty-minute Zoom for a brief discussion on parenting your daughter(s). You can also get connected to her social media accounts; Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! Jennifer Wert, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Professional Parent Coach, Jenn Wert, serves parents of young children around the globe who are looking for support in their conscious parenting. With a Master’s in Education, educator and doula experience along with post-graduate social-emotional training, Jenn knows how to counsel parents who want to authentically communicate with their children. After decades of her own therapy, while concurrently working with many different family types, she brings an honesty to her conversations and a discernment to her listening that allows clients to grow. Jenn inspires parenting that is nurturing, true and transformative.

Nicole Roberts Jones is uniquely gifted at one thing – drawing out what’s best in YOU and helping you take your Brilliance to The Bank. A veteran of the entertainment industry, Nicole worked in Talent Management and Casting before shifting her talents to help others Bankroll Their Brilliance through her Brilliance Mastery Academy. She now works with entrepreneurs to create multiple streams of income from what they already know in order to build an empire from their expertise. Her clients have included the Steve Harvey World Group, Dell EMC, McDonald's, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lisa Nichols and Motivating the Masses, Coach Diversity Institute and the BOSS Network to name a few. Nicole is also a nationally recognized transformational speaker, bankroll your brilliance expert and best-selling author of four books, the most recent being Find Your Fierce. She lives with her husband in a suburb of Boston, MA, consulting, writing and creating breakthroughs for her clients. As a Bankrolling Your Brilliance Expert, you have reached a successful level where you are helping people create multiple streams of income in their business. How do you do this, and how did you reach a level where you can teach people how to create multiple streams of income? My success in my business was birthed in the midst of me being a complete failure. Now from the outside, I looked very successful. This was back in 2010, 17 years after I started my business. Back then, I had a nonprofit working with African American teenage girls, and I had a for-profit working with women to start and grow their purpose-focused businesses. At that time in my nonprofit, I had 10 chapters in 10 cities throughout the country, and we were growing by leaps and bounds. In my for-profit, coaching women, I had a 100% full coaching client roster, meaning I couldn't take another client. I thought, since I can’t take on any more clients, I’ll write a book that way I can still give my principles to women, and that can also be a fundraiser for my nonprofit. Well, when my book came out, I started getting invitations to speak all over the country. So there I was! Doing the very thing that I had dreamed of when I started my business in 1993. I was doing it. I loved every single minute of it. But I was only making $13,000 a year in my business. $13,000! So, I had a really great job that felt more like community service. And, yes, I had a daytime job to pay for my nighttime calling. And I remember my breakthrough like it was yesterday. It was November 7, 2010, a Sunday evening after I had just gotten home from another speaking weekend and my daytime job; by the way, I was an adjunct professor at Boston University at the time. And I remember sitting on my couch, exhausted, and realizing that the classes I taught were on Monday at 8 am, and I haven't looked at my syllabus. I didn't know what I'm supposed to teach in the morning. I have no lecture notes. I was exhausted, tired, and ready to quit!!!. I was done! I was thinking to myself, "I can't do this anymore." But as I said those words to myself, I started to feel in conflict because I knew this was my purpose. It was a thing I was born to do, but doing it like this just was not working! So I hired a coach. By the way, that coach cost me $30,000. I told you I was only making 13,000 in my business, but I was willing to risk it all to gain it all, and that's exactly what I did. On that first coaching call with my coach, she asked me, "Nicole, didn't you tell me you're an adjunct professor that you taught at USC for four or five years? And now you teach at Boston University and what you teach is program development?" And then she asked me, "And didn't you used to have a consulting practice when you lived in LA? You work with heads of state. You work with celebrities. You work with nonprofit CEOs. You work with small business owners. And what you did was you went into their businesses, and you develop programs." I'm thinking, "Yeah, look at my coach. She did her research." Now, the next thing she said didn't just change my business. It changed my life. She said, "Nicole, you don't have any programs in your own business." Duh. That one conversation gave me such clarity! I begin to see two things that I had been overlooking my brilliance, and I also began to see how my brilliance could bring in revenue. So, I created a blueprint from my brilliance that night. The same blueprint I had used as a professor for years, the same blueprint I used in my consulting practice. I began to use that in my own business, and within six months, my revenue grew from $13,000 to over $200,000. You’re also a world-class transformational speaker and a best-selling author of four books. Why have people been so eager to hire you as a speaker and reading your books? I believe my greatest gift is that I am transparent. I am more than words on paper, but I show people a living, breathing example of what is possible for them. To be able to create multiple streams of income, what are your 3-5 best tips for someone who desires this? 1. Stop Giving Away Your Intellectual Property for Free. Intellectual property is the unique factor that sets you apart. It is your expertise, your brilliance where your talents, passions, personality, and experiences collide. It’s that genius that flows from you effortlessly and the thing that everyone seeks you out for. Not only that, sharing this knowledge you’ve acquired is like second nature to you. So, when people ask you if they can pick your brain or tease something out with you, they are tapping into your intellectual property. 2. Build Your Business with a Blueprint Let’s look at building a house, for example. When you build a house, you have a vision of your dream home. But what you don’t know at that moment is all the steps you need to take, all the materials you need, the permits you have to apply for, and most importantly, whether you’ve surveyed the land. You have a rough idea of what’s required, so you jot all of these things down on paper and decided to just build by instinct. Fast forward to the completion of your house, and everything is in working order until the first big rain of the year comes and completely floods your entire home. How and why did this happen? Your ideas were great, and your vision was clear, but your execution is where you failed. Without a proper blueprint, you failed to remember that you were building your dream home in a flood zone. Your house is ruined! The same concept applies to your business. Just like every sturdily built home, you must begin with a well-thought-out blueprint. This begins with developing the step-by-step method that clearly defines what you do and how you will do it. 3. Move beyond Marketing & Build Your Know, Like & Trust Factor So many entrepreneurs focus on being what I call Facebook Famous, and just because people see you on Facebook or you know the latest marketing tools and tips, it does not mean doing all of that will lead to a sale. So instead, I suggest you build your know, like, and trust factor. I call this dating before you put a ring on it. For example, if my husband came to our first date and brought a ring with him, I would have thought that he was crazy! Instead, we dated for a while. He got to know me, I got to know him, and only after us seeing the value, we both came to bring into the relationship did he then propose marriage. This is the same thing you have to do to your business. So if you are going to generate real revenue, you need to date your clients for a while before you lead them to sales and build your know like and trust factor by giving them value as you allow your brilliance to be seen and experienced. 4. You Should Have Multiple Streams of Income & One Should Include Making Money While You Sleep. What most billions won’t tell you is that they have multiple streams of income. And is business, most people focus on a 1 to 1 model vs. a 1 to many models. So if you are going to really grow your business, you have to make sure that those multiple streams include both a 1 to many models and ways that you make money while you sleep. Meaning packaging ways to serve people DO NOT include you being present. 5. Be Willing to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone This a quote by A.R. Bernard that says, “The Tools You Used On This Level Are Not Sufficient For The Next Level!” For many women that I meet who set out to start your business or grow it, your current success is in your way; That Director in the front of your title That MS or MA or Ph.D. behind your name is in the way Those big plagues on your wall or certificates of recognition you have obtained in your career over the years. And what you have to understand is embarking on being a successful entrepreneur is like nothing you have done before, and so it means you MUST be willing to go beyond what you currently know to do it. The way you have been operating in your career or how you have been doing business will not work for your next level! If you want something different, you MUST do something different. And it is the different way of doing business that is uncomfortable. What would you say are the most common things people reach out to you and ask for help with? Many women that reach out to me suffer from OPP = other people’s perceptions. They have this huge rumble in their belly to start a business or grow a business, but their current success can hinder them. I believe they reach out to me because I teach them strategies to start a business alongside their 9 to 5 so that they do not have to let go of their lifestyle in the newness of starting a business. We know your clients have said some great things about you. What are the results they have been getting from working with you? The biggest aha moment my clients get from working with me is realizing that they can make money while they sleep. In other words, teaching them ways to generate revenue where they DO NOT have to be present. So, what’s the next big goal or project for Nicole Roberts Jones? What do you have in front of you? I am working on my 5th book. I am beyond excited about this one as it really is a culmination of the work I have done to date and will give readers the tools to not only bankroll their brilliance but really to get in alignment with their God-given assignment. For more information, follow Nicole on her Instagram and visit her website!

Written by: Thomas Karlsson What is a digital transformation? The definition of a digital transformation can easily be described as the replacement of non-digital or manual processes to a completely digital process. Or the replacement of older digital technologies with newer digital tools and software systems. Digital Transformation is more than a trendy tech word. A digital transformation is a complex process, which will impact multiple aspects of your company. Whether you're a small new startup or a big national company trying to boost your business, it is therefore important that you set clear goals with the transformation and work within a reasonable time frame to carry out the process properly. Why is digital transformation so important? Why is this digital transformation essential for today’s businesses? The answer to this one is simple - you will be able to save both time and money. With well-functioning digital systems, you will also prevent future frictions in the organization. If you implement systems that are kept up to date, you won’t have to worry about your business not being able to scale at your desired rate. What are the biggest challenges? Finding a digital solution that works for the entire organization is a well-known problem for many companies today. As a digital consultancy agency, we at Omnitas Consulting have encountered all sorts of problems our clients have had when trying to implement or design a new system themselves. There are, in fact, some problems that many of our clients have in common. Below we list the most common problems companies have today and suggestions for solutions based on our experience. Friction in the Process No matter the size of a change in an organization's workflows, the change will always be associated with various friction levels. It is not always the size of the change that will determine the friction. Sometimes a small change can have far-reaching consequences for the employees. If the process is not well planned out, it will become a huge bottleneck and the main focus of the employees' frustration. Based on our experience, we can underline that a carelessly conducted pre-study is the problem for many companies we meet. Our recommendations in these cases are to make sure to map the work process from all perspectives before change begins. We will go through the importance of a pre-study a little further down in the text. Inefficient Digital Tools or Systems Many companies use digital systems and tools that are not up-to-date or adapted to the business's challenges and needs. This will definitely result in lower efficiency. If these tools do not integrate with each other, employees also have to spend far too much time on manual reporting and unnecessary administration, creating frustration and confusion. When reports and submissions are made manually, there is also a risk of missing or losing important details. This can affect the workflow in general and can lead to a loss of overview of the organization's ongoing projects. Therefore, it is important to look for digital tools and systems that you can integrate with your existing ones. Alternatively, implement a new master system such as monday.com, where you can gather everything in one place. Technical and Functional Requirements Technical and functional requirements are incredibly important elements of a successful procurement. Most organizations today do not have the required skills in-house to map relevant requirements. Poorly designed requirements can have big financial consequences and leave you with a software solution that meets all your requirements but still solves none of the problems. There is a risk that your requirements direct you towards a system that is far too expensive in relation to what you need, as you pay for a lot of extra functions that do not add value or desired effect. In the same way, an underestimation of future functions needed will limit your possibility to grow within the solution, in the long run, forcing a new procurement much sooner than expected. The digital solution should be adapted to your organization and not the other way around. When a team is too focused on technology rather than solving a problem, the project is likely to fail, and you will meet resistance when starting over. What are the stages of digital transformation? And where should you start? Everyone encounters different challenges in a digital transformation. Each process will be unique and adapted for your specific unique needs. That being said, there are standardized methods, tools, processes, and exercises that you need to adjust to facilitate your operational challenge(s). We recommend following all the steps listed below based on years of experience as a digital consulting firm. We ourselves follow these steps with all our clients. 4 Important Stages of Successful Digital Transformation We have designed and implemented digital solutions together with many types of companies. Based on our experience, we can see clear factors that contribute to success. Below we have listed 4 stages that we believe different types of digital changes should undergo for a successful transformation. 1. Analyzing and mapping Never underestimate the importance of a good and well-planned pre-study. Let the analysis take time and ensure that no important aspects are forgotten. Below we have gathered some methods we at Omnitas Consulting use in the pre-studies to gain insight into the companies we meet. And to make sure to identify the challenges and needs of every specific company. Surveys and interviews Starting a change with a survey and deep-selected interviews can be very beneficial in understanding the current situation and the mood of the organization. You can design the survey either around clear, predetermined KPIs or use the survey to understand which KPIs to focus on to increase the average overall value for the organization. Workplace observation Depending on the problem definition, workplace observations might be a very good tool to understand how the work is being done in reality and not only depending on verbal accounts. That being said, the downside is that it is rather time-consuming, and one workday is usually not enough. Business blueprint/flowchart A blueprint/flowchart can be used to understand what needs to be done to achieve the desired effect. With a few additions, the flowchart can be enhanced to become a Critical Path Analysis (CPA) which will help you identify standard runtime, time dependencies, and the most vital and critical steps in your process/workflow to focus on supporting them. Designing of KPIs Understanding and designing relevant KPIs that can be tracked and measured can be a minefield and something a lot of organizations struggle with. A good KPI needs to be both relevant and measurable. It is quite common to see subjective or value-based KPIs, which in the end makes it impossible to follow up the true performance. 2. Choosing new digital tools and systems Organizations of all sizes meet different challenges in different processes. This means that one solution does not fit all, and you need to have a tool that can be tailored to your bespoke and ever-changing needs. There are, in fact, some hands-on Dos and Don’ts that every project-/change manager should have in mind when planning to implement a new effective digital tool in the organization. If you want more hands-on tips for choosing the right digital tools and systems, read the Omnitas dos and don'ts list. Our personal recommendation It is important to find digital tools and systems based on your presented problem and desired effect. To make your new solution run smoothly with the entire organization, it's crucial to work with digital platforms that everyone will find effective and easy to use. In the majority of cases, our implementations are based on monday.com. There are many reasons we recommend the platform to our clients, no matter the industry or company size. monday.com as a Work OS offers a level of customization and flexibility no other service allows while still being easy to set up without being a developer. monday.com is a great master system filled with functionality tailored to most verticals, industries, and use cases. If you work with a master system, or a Work OS as it’s called, such as monday.com, you will be able to gather all the workflows and processes in one place - giving you full access to all relevant data and insights around your business and its operations in one place. Do you want to know more about monday.com? Read more about monday.com on Omnitas site. 3. Implementation Describing and designing a competent workflow based around both hard KPIs and cultural values is just a starting point. Successful implementation needs to be planned, communicated, and managed to facilitate acceptance and, in the end, drive adoption. Change management Change management is about guiding individuals, groups, and organizations from where they are today to a desired final position in a structured way. Change management is about creating relevant behavioral changes that match the desired effect. A well-designed system will contribute to the desired understanding and behavioral change, but no matter how good a system is, it will always require operational rules and people who make the right decisions based on the information presented within. The level of involvement and driving force in the change management process will heavily influence the time commitment needed. The power of communication A successful change is based on long-term goals and employee involvement. If your employees do not feel that they are involved and can influence the transformation, there is a risk that they will lose their commitment, which will negatively impact the adoption of your very awesome new system or workflow. It is important to be transparent from the start and answer questions that arise throughout the journey. Why are we making this change? How will it affect your work? What support will you get? Will you be educated? What is the next step? 4. Adapting to the changes As described in the paragraph with challenges, changes in an organization can cause a lot of frustration from employees. When it comes to digital change, the risks of friction are even greater. In a company, there are all kinds of people with different technical experiences and habits. Some will have no problems at all with the new digital tool or system, while others will need more support and training. Support and training Strengthening your team through positive reinforcement is an important part. As mentioned above, new digital solutions will not be equally difficult for everyone. It is therefore important that you know your employees and can be supportive throughout the process. All organizations should set aside time for support and training. Preferably more than what is needed. If you give your team a time frame that is too tight, it will negatively affect their attitude and performance. Who should lead digital transformation projects? Opinions vary about who should lead a digital transformation within a company. Regardless of industry or the digital transformation, talent is key. It is crucial to have the right people in the right place. Many times, both management and employees feel safer when an external change manager supports the process in an objective way. Getting an outside resource for some or all stages of a digital transformation could be very beneficial from a few different perspectives: No preconceptions based on “knowing the organization.” No personal stake since the consultant is, in the end, not affected by the implementation. Truly objective perspective making sure the recommendations are based on neutral optimization with the big picture perspective. Through the consultant, you get access to wide experiences, lessons learned, and best practices from a wide range of industries. You know your business best. The important thing is that you spend time analyzing the need and draw conclusions accordingly. If you are going to carry out the digital transformation yourself, it is important that you are aware of the time required to ensure a workable process. In many cases, we see that companies have far too little focus on pre-analysis. Many want to jump on the implementation right away. This often leads to the process taking much more time, as you have to start over. Successful Digital Transformation Example As a digital consultancy agency, we at Omnitas help companies digitize and streamline workflows regardless of industry or size. Digital transformation in various sizes and shapes is what we breathe. In the following example, we want to demonstrate the opportunities created when you get help from an external party. How we built streamlined workflows in only 25 hours Together with our client MyEllevate, our implementation consultants at Omnitas consulting completely automated their core workflows in only 25 hours. This was made possible by the platform monday.com and the integrations by Integromat. But also thanks to a structured pre-analysis carried out by the client themselves. We built streamlined workflows, which helped them to automate processes and get rid of unnecessary administration. Now they have a CRM system that manages all their workflows in one place. We also integrated and automated their billing system, and all their shipping orders are now placed automatically. We built this custom two-way synchronization thanks to monday.com being highly compatible with the power of Integromat. This is a great example that showcases the value of using an external expert for your digital transformation. We are aware of what is offered on the market and are knowledgeable enough to think outside the box. The digital solutions we offer always meet strict requirements, regardless of whether the solution comes from one of our partners or us. Book a Free Consultation If you have stayed with us through this entire guide, you must really need a digital transformation. Luckily, this is where our worlds collide. Book a meeting with us by this link, and you will get a 30 minutes consultation for free. 30 minutes free consultation As mentioned earlier, getting an outside perspective on your processes and way of working is always beneficial. No matter your presented pain points or your desired effect, Omnitas will assist you throughout the entire process. We will set up a workshop to discuss the relevant workflows and processes to understand the current way of working and future desired effects. After the workshop, the team at Omnitas will put together a suggestion on how to move forward (solution design and implementation plan). Written by: Thomas Karlsson Thomas Karlsson is the CEO and foundingpartner of Omnitas Consulting. Throughout his career, Thomas has been working with organization, processes, and workflows. Through his systematic and scrutinizing "no-nonsense" approach, he tends to effectivize most organizations. With a background in the Swedish armed forces (Director of personnel) and later as the COO of a Growth Consultancy Bureau in Stockholm, Thomas has acquired more than his fair share of experiences in management consulting. He has today positioned himself as one of the, if not the, leading consultant on monday.com and workflow enhancement.

Written by: Stephanie Collinson, 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. Nothing can quite prepare us for the rollercoaster of becoming self-employed and running our own business. It is a lot to take on, and it is not for everyone, but if you can remind yourself of your why and it is enough to keep you going, you have got this. The journey of being an entrepreneur is full of highs and lows, a rollercoaster that you can never seem to get off. I am writing this article because I feel these are the top 3 things that are not talked about enough in the space to become a successful entrepreneur. 1. Mindset No, this is not all just about thinking positive things and manifesting money out of thin air. This is getting to the real nitty-gritty. You are going to want to give up several times and maybe more than 5 times in a day. You will not want to turn the laptop on or reply to nightmare clients who don’t appreciate your time or services. Mindset takes time to cultivate, change and grow. It is not easy at all. What I have learned sitting here and typing this is that your brain well your ego, will always want you to take the easy route. The easy route for me today would have been sitting on the couch eating chocolate and feeling sorry for myself because I am not getting clients coming to me, and I am not making the money I want in my business right now that I thought I would. However, that does not get you a successful business, putting in the hard work, taking the rejections, the sound of crickets when no one buys, and sitting with those hard emotions (they will pass!) That is what will make you successful and resilient, which leads me to the next point. 2. Choice We often blame or do not take responsibility for our actions. We are quick to blame people, circumstances, and our environments. But when you have your own business, all that responsibility lies on you. So, you must choose how you are going to approach both the difficult times in your business and the successful times. I believe celebrating both is so important. Every step you take in your business is a choice that should be celebrated and noted because, without that, you will not get to the next stage. If it is dropping a client that does not align with you anymore or raising prices and current clients are saying no, or changing your niche so you turn clients away from that once you would have loved to have on board. Embrace the difficult choices because they make you a better business owner. You also learn to trust yourself, which is a whole another blog. 3. Take a Day Off The whole business thing and wearing all the hats can feel extremely, extremely exhausting. So do not feel bad about taking a day off occasionally, it is normal, and your business won’t stop. Overworking yourself and not taking a break has got me many times, and I sometimes still forget. We started our businesses because we are passionate about it, but we still must make time for other things that light us up. We must have other passions to balance out our business minds. Productivity guilt is real, and we all feel it, so do not beat yourself up. If your body and especially your mind need a rest, then listen to it—another topic of intuition to talk about another time. Summary Take a break, do not feel bad about it. Remember that choice to take a break will not ‘break’ your business. You must work on that mindset to realize you are more than capable of success, your self-worth is not tied to your business, and the challenges will ultimately propel you forward. If you liked this blog, follow me on IG at va_stephsolutions. Let us keep the conversation going and see how I can help get you started on your business journey! Also, be sure to check out my podcast, The Meaningful Mentor, a safe space where we discuss the impact of chronic conditions and share tips on how to manage your condition daily. Follow Stephanie on her Instagram and visit her website for more info! Read more from Step hanie ! Stephanie Collinson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Steph Collinson is an occupational therapist, virtual assistant, and holistic mentor. After working in the NHS as an occupational therapist and struggling to manage her long-term condition of IBS. Steph decided to start a side hustle in August 2020 after discovering a course online which promised time and financial freedom. Steph has successfully begun to work for herself less than a year since starting up her business to pursue a life she is passionate about and is meaningful to her. Steph now helps mentors and allied health professionals in the online space get visible, create inspiring content and connect with their ideal clients. She also has her own podcast called The Meaningful Mentor, which discusses the daily impact and challenges of living with long-term health conditions and provides helpful tips and insights to her listeners. Steph's mission is to support those with long-term conditions to live a more meaningful life daily while running their online businesses.

Written by: Chuck Bean, 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. By now, most of us have heard about the great resignation that is coming our way. People are leaving their isolation and looking for a job change. It is estimated that a minimum of 25% of workers will be looking to transition their careers. As a result, there is going to be a lot to look out for. First, expect that some people will not physically quit their jobs, just quit being engaged and stop contributing. We call this “I quit. I just haven’t told anyone”. They will be present but emotionally disconnected, especially as they see their workmates move on. Next, there is going to be a workplace shift. People are not going to quit and go away. They are going to quit and go work for another firm, replacing others who have left. It will be musical chairs for some time. And third, many of the people that quit and move on are going to be carrying some “baggage.” That baggage may become the new companies responsibility which can be severely damaging. What to do, what to do? Employers would be well served to add new incentives that focus on health and wellness in the workplace. Benefits include mental health spending accounts with which employees can use for anything from therapists to hikes in the mountains. This will show staffers that the company is being proactive and has their best interest at heart. Training is going to be omnipotent. Offering training to upgrade, update or improve skills will not only keep existing employees involved but ensure that your new players are up to speed. Employers should also consider cutting workspaces in half, partitioned with 50% fixed office and meeting rooms, and 50% open concept workstations set up much like the trendy coffee shops and hotel lobbies that are now common. This will ensure that work from home staffers have a place to kibitz with others. Employers that are hiring should also be taking the opportunity to run comprehensive tests on prospective employees to ensure that they are not stung in the onboarding process and ensure that their future staffers are the right person for the job and have the capacity for growth. I have run over 21,000 assessments on people, and without a doubt, it is the absolute best way to ensure that you hire smart. The great resignation can be either a challenge or an opportunity, your choice! Connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Chuck! Chuck Bean, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Chuck (Charlie) Bean started his business career at age 6, collecting golf balls at the local driving range for pennies. “I would spend every Saturday and Sunday making enough money to buy a bottle of pop or a candy bar in the concession,” tells Chuck soon after he was selling golf balls to players on the local course and even beer! Fast forward, and Chuck was an award-winning sales professional. Management followed. Moving into the paper industry, Chuck carried on with regional and then national turnarounds, eventually named VP Sales and Service, overseeing a team of 180 inside and outside salespeople, managers, and directors. Following his dream, he opened a consulting and training advisory. Chuck will tell you he has had a great ride. Besides having worked with over 400 companies and over 18,000 individuals, Chuck has consulted and guided some of Canada's biggest stars, including working as COO for one of the world's largest specialty energy service companies. Today Chuck specializes in developing strategies and delivering training and coaching in leadership, sales, communication, business value building, and teamwork. He is no-nonsense and pragmatic and has helped people and corporations succeed for over 40 years. He will call a spade a spade and work quickly to understand, address, and help fix problems, identify opportunities and identify challenges. He has developed business strategies for almost every geo-market. He has worked extensively in oil and gas, general industry, IT, electronics, dental, paper, chemical, wood products, and consumer packaged goods. He specializes in B2B and channel-type organizations. He has authored/contributed to books with Dr. Stephen Covey, Dr. Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Ken Blanchard. Chuck also owns 6 tech start-ups currently in different levels of commercialization.

Written by: Cristina Ruscica, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As you move along through this thing called life, you may feel the need to prepare your own roadmap to use as your navigation tool to provide direction. You design this map because in doing this, you can place in it anything you want. You hold the belief that by doing so, things will automatically go as planned, in the exact direction that you programmed yourself to be going. You spend your time composing your journey, as you are sometimes conditioned to believe that it is always within your own control to decide your next steps. You find comfort within this control because it provides you with a sense of familiar predictability about life’s trajectory. Keeping in mind, however, that your journey is very different than your destination. You may have your goals, wants, and desires. You may seek happiness, peace and love, success, and a vision of all the things you intend to fulfill in your lives. Perhaps it is finding your soulmate, perfect career, or dream home birthed from your deepest desires. All of these things are the destination. However, one thing to realize is that your journey in reaching these things is not always according to your plan or the roadmap you had envisioned. In fact, not only is the journey not always according to plan, but that within your grip of trying to control it, or resist the turns that are presented, is the very same thing that leads to you feeling the most out of control, off track and lost. There seem to be those times that the roadmap you had so carefully created has now become filled with unexpected turns and detours. However, the lesson to be learned that it is within those times of detour that you are actually lead. Although not wanted, not expected, and even painful to endeavor at times, you eventually surrender to the resistance. It is within this allowing yourself to take turns presented before you that you know they are actually guiding you to something perhaps more valuable than the direction you anticipated taking on your own. This awareness presented itself to me through the clarity of messy roads, used in the literal sense. I cite a journal entry from January 6, 2020, in which this became clear to me through the eyes of detours presenting themselves on my drive home through a snowstorm. “I feel the presence all around me as it leads me through all of my messy situations. As I was leading myself, I felt the fear and witnessed this. I know that it is within the grip of my control that this fear had always been fueled. I placed my faith in things I thought I knew rather than allowing my grip to loosen in a way that gave me faith in believing outside of the logic I had held onto. I am presented with no choice but to loosen my grip, as I now know that life will leave me no choice if not willingly done so. I sit in discomfort as I witness the unfolding of this before me. Driving through the dark, messy, slippery road, I am given a choice. I can resist and hold on tighter. Although, doing so causes my grip on the wheel to become shaky, unstable, and losing control even further. For a moment in time, I do just that. I clench my fists. I shake and feel my heartbeat rise. The road is dark, with untouched snow, unable to see the path ahead. I desperately search for another way out. I instantly feel reaction brew within me as my instincts tell me to retreat and resist. This is not what I wanted or expected, and I wanted to feel the comfort of having an easier way out. I catch myself in this moment. I realize this and choose differently. I take hold of the wheel with ease (my thoughts) and sink my body into relaxing back in my seat (quieting my mind). I keep my mind open to receive guidance (the headlights shining ahead), and I follow that light for the next ten feet and then the next ten after that. I allow the discomfort, but I also know that I am well and safe at this very moment. Along my way, I see someone injured. I stop and offer my assistance. They are being taken care of, but I knew as soon as I placed my eyes upon their shaken forms in the snow that they allowed the fear to set in. I see what could have happened. I understand the grip they had insisted on holding onto. They did not allow the ease and surrender to the situation set in, so instead, they have driven off their tracks. I continue on, and up ahead, there are roadblocks set up. I see flashing lights all around. I am stopped by the lights and told that I could no longer travel this way. I am sent on a detour because the road ahead was filled with other fearful events that took place in the midst of the unexpected messy roads. The road I thought would take me home was now no longer available for me. I was diverted, detoured, rerouted another unplanned way. However, the way I was told I needed to take, was unfamiliar to me. I had not gone this way before, and now I am told that it is the only way home. The roads were still dark, lonely, and untouched. My roadmap did not show me this way. Yet, I had no choice as this choice was made for me by something bigger outside of myself. I detoured. I did so cautiously at first. Instead, I chose to trust this way, as I believed in what I was told and that it would lead me home. Although not familiar, not what I wanted or expected, and although I felt lost, misplaced, and wanted to feel the comfort in doing it my familiar and planned way, I continued as I made my way back to familiar ground. Once I could see my own landmarks, I felt the most utmost appreciation. For all that seemed to be a long and treacherous journey, it didn’t seem so long after all. I made my way home, and as soon as I did so, the snow outside had cleared.” There may be conditions placed before you that make it seem like things are too difficult or moments when unexpected turns make you feel fear and discomfort. You may be faced with diversity, hardships, or unwanted circumstances, causing you to be unexpectedly rerouted as you are forced to deviate from the set plan you had once thought was the only way to get there. These are the moments given to you as an opportunity to surrender and allow yourself to feel the peace and ease in knowing that you do not always have to know how you will get there. Just trust that you will. Set your vision, goal, or aspiration, and hold this truth to your heart. Then, let go of needing to know every single step you think you need to take to get you there. Trust in the journey, your guidance, and the detours that will inevitably show themselves along the way. Feel your way to ease and loosen your grip to allow your own guidance and intuition to lead you. Lift the veil of the need for control and relax back, knowing that all you need to know, you will know. All you have to do is follow the light for the next ten feet and then the next ten after that. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info! Read more from Cristina! Cristina Ruscica, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cristina Ruscica is a leader in overcoming residual effects from past childhood trauma by strengthening self-awareness, understanding the power of perception, and rewriting the script. Cristina's experience working with families for 25 years who have endured crisis and trauma, as well as the profound realizations she came to understand within her own personal journey of transformation, were the basis of the writing of her first book, Breathe Wide Open: Exhale the Past and Fearlessly Recalibrate Your Life. Cristina's writings have provided a pathway of healing that she has now transferred into an original coaching program, Inspired to Freedom. She helps others achieve their own breakthroughs from past trauma, elevating them towards inner peace, self-love, and opening up potential and abundance in all life areas. She is committed to spreading the message of trust within the journey and enriching lives by helping others feel the inner power gained by strengthening the connection within.

Written by: Elena Herrera, 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 silently fidget inside when someone offers a compliment or gives you a present Maybe that little voice in the back of your mind wondering how you'll ever be able to reciprocate or did the giver really mean it — or what's the catch? Or do you allow yourself to deeply receive the gift of kindness, caring, and connection? I personally struggle with receiving on occasion. This has been a pattern of mine since childhood. And even though I’ve done a lot of healing work around it, this pattern still announces itself from time to time, letting me know there are deeper layers to it. My recent baby shower was a great example of it. I was so blessed to have not one, but three close friends organize a beautiful celebration for my soon-to-arrive baby boy and me. Everything was perfect— color-coordinated decorations, amazing food, custom cake, photographer, fun games, lots of guests, and insane amounts of gifts. There was so much love and beauty! While I felt truly blessed to be with all that, I also felt a lot of guilt. Guilt of receiving. My guilt became very apparent to me when it was time to open the gifts. I caught myself thinking, “Omg, are all these for me? These gifts are so expensive. I cannot believe my friends spent so much.” And before I could even enjoy the fun of gift opening, I was already contemplating how to give back to clear my guilt. Here is my childhood pattern clouding the joy of my beautiful baby shower. I grew up in a family and culture where giving was prioritized over receiving. Giving was always a noble thing to do, while receiving was considered more self-centered and narcissistic. I learned early on from my Mom that you always have to compensate by giving something in return when you receive something. I remember her saying that she didn't want to feel obligated. This is how the limiting belief “receiving = obligated” found a safe place in my psyche. Because this became a core belief, it guided my reality for many years, causing me to compensate for things in my life and not fully take in what was given to me. It was a constant battle between receiving and guilt. What is your experience with receiving? If you’re truly honest with yourself, why do you feel challenged to accept with grace? Do you perhaps feel that you are unworthy or selfish, or is it something else entirely? It’s important to identify the root causes resulting in these uncomfortable feelings within you when a compliment or gift is given. Once there is a deeper understanding of the “why,” then you can see how an internal struggle with receiving can potentially inhibit you in important areas of your life. Being Resistant to Receiving Comes With a Cost Intimacy: Receiving naturally opens us up to connection - to self and others. And very often, we resist this connection because of a deep fear of intimacy. Intimacy is vulnerable, and vulnerability is directly connected to being seen, which is not often viewed and experienced as safe. When we open ourselves up, we fear being judged and rejected. Therefore, we will resist vulnerability as much as we can. To the extent that we fear intimacy, we may deny ourselves from receiving a gift or compliment, and in doing so, we deprive ourselves of a precious moment of connection. Worthiness: This is big for a lot of people. Do you find yourself saying or thinking things like: “You didn’t have to do all of this for me.” “Oh, you shouldn’t have” “Thank you, but….” The feelings of unworthiness often originate in our childhood. We were raised to believe it’s selfish to ask for too much or receive more than we “should” have. Somewhere, somehow we determined a value of how much was “okay” to receive, and anything above that causes us to feel pangs of guilt. Our internal set of rules dictate who is worthy of receiving our love, compassion, support, and kindness - as well as who we are willing to accept them from. When somebody outside of that constraint offers us a gift, that’s when we begin to feel uncomfortable. Do you feel worthy of receiving - why or why not? Sit with your answers and assess them - knowing it is within yourself to determine what you are truly worthy of receiving. If you continue to feel unworthy, you won’t fully enjoy life and all its possibilities. Growth and Prosperity: How can you open yourself up to receive abundance from the universe if you can’t even accept a simple compliment? Not being able to receive stops the flow of abundance. I often hear clients who want a bigger house, better car, more money, etc. But how can they receive what they desire if they cannot even receive smaller things in life like compliments and gifts from friends? When we can receive with an open heart, without feeling guilty or wrong about it, we can then welcome more opportunities and prosperity into our lives. 3 Tips on how to be more accepting: Don’t Overthink. Let go of your own judgment and projection of why the other person might have given you a gift. Whether they have an agenda or not, it doesn't matter. You can still receive. Just receive without making it about something. It’s okay to just accept. Thank you is enough. A simple “thank you” is often enough for the person who just wants to do something for you. When you genuinely thank the person with an open heart and true appreciation, they will feel it. You received their gift, and in return, they feel appreciated by you for acknowledging their love and effort. This is your gift to them. Practice, Practice, Practice! The next time someone offers a compliment, or gift, or looks lovingly into your eyes, notice how you feel inside. What is happening with you emotionally? What's happening in your body? Are you relaxed or tense? Can you allow the gift in, or do you push it away? The more self-awareness you can integrate, the more shifts occur. Once you learn to receive comfortably, your life will become much more abundant in so many ways. Receiving is primarily about allowing a connection. It’s essential for us to receive to be open to accepting the generosity the universe has to offer. If we resist it, we close ourselves off from many excellent opportunities. Practicing receiving from the heart is what creates positive connections and balance in life. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram or visit my website. I’d love to hear from you. Read more from Elena! Elena Herrera, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine My personal story of transformation took my life from “unconscious” to “connected and meaningful.” Applying the same tools and modalities I teach today, plus my gift of intuition, I grew from a personal trainer to a full-blown Intuitive Transformational Coach who helps dozens of people to live a life of self-awareness, radiance, and fulfillment.

Written by: Stacey Henry-Carr, 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. “Listen to silence it has so much to say” – Rumi. What do you think about when you hear the word meditation? Often when I talk about meditation, people’s ideas of what it is or does are extreme. They picture themselves on a vision quest sitting with legs crossed in a remote location. They may imagine the challenging task of clearing all thoughts and shutting down their mind. They usually follow up with, “I can’t meditate because I am unable to stop thinking.” Mediation is not about erasing all thoughts from your mind. Anyone can practice it. It allows your mind to address your wandering thoughts. It is a secret weapon for many successful people. What if I told you that meditating can help you lead a successful life? Would you be willing to sit still for at least seven minutes per day? There are many types of meditation, but the purpose of this article is to acknowledge the usefulness of mindful meditation. To understand the need and the power of meditating, you first must be clear on the intention. In your busy life of balancing many projects, family life, work-life, and the vast world of technology, it can be challenging to find a moment to breathe. You become accustomed to juggling many things that you rarely get to focus on anything 100%. You split your time and energy into so many pieces that you are unable to live mindfully. Just because you are running around busy doesn’t mean you are productive. You may notice that you spend most of your time thinking about the past and worrying about the future. Stop and be still! And when you are present, you judge and criticize yourself. Being mindful is about focusing on the moment by moment. When was the last time you allowed yourself to be completely present? There are many ways to practice mindfulness, and meditation is a foundational way. Along with many other benefits, it helps to bring awareness to your lives. On a basic level, meditating allows you to slow down and take notice of the world around you. However, consistent practice can shift your existence. It can lead you to become a more compassionate, empathetic, and introspective soul. It is through this practice that you can tap deeper to find the answers you seek. The stillness allows you to become more reflective, which puts things into perspective. So, how does meditating help us become more successful? First, examine the effectiveness of your daily routine and interview yourself. Are you able to give 100% energy to your daily tasks? Are you feeling overwhelmed and scattered? Do you have time to reflect on your day? How do you celebrate your wins? How do you bounce back from a challenging day? Because one of the core benefits of meditating is awareness, it allows you to understand yourself and how you respond to the external world. It is with this understanding that you can find answers to the questions that lead to success. I am referring to internal success when you are aligned and present with each moment of your day—understanding yourself enough to know when to slow down. You give yourself the time you need to reflect and interview yourself. Often people start the practice of meditation to reduce stress and relax. Although meditating can result in a calmer and more focused life, it does not happen overnight. Instead, it is a practice that you will hone over time. There is no right or wrong way; start and develop what feels comfortable for you without judgment. Meditation Myths: It is only for certain religious groups It is an escape from reality It is easy You have to sit with your legs crossed You have to do it at a particular time of day Often people meditate to start their days or before sleep. Only you can dictate the right time and place for you. Fit it into your daily routine and become consistent at the practice. Meditation Benefits: Increase self-awareness Reduces stress and control anxieties Helps with focus and concentration Improve overall mental and physical health Like any other topic, there is much more to learn and understand about meditating. But what I know for sure is that it is a practice that, when done consistently, will elevate your consciousness and improve your life. Enjoy a 30-day guest pass to the Aura App and start your meditation practice. “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. – Lao Tzu Follow Stacey on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website for more info! Read more from Stacey! Stacey Henry-Carr, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stacey Henry-Carr is an ex-corporate leader who now helps people identify, interrupt, and replace blockers to live more meaningful and intentional lives. She is a Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach, Marisa Peer Certified Hypnotherapist, and an author of "Live Your Truth and Break the Cycle." She practices authentic leadership and servitude in everything she does. She has always had a passion for helping others to become their best selves. She has a passion for reading, writing, traveling, dancing, singing off-key, and the beach. She spends her days coaching clients, writing, and creating meditation recordings. Stacey has overcome her life challenges which have strengthened her will to serve others. She believes that her true legacy to her children will be the lives she has touched by motivating and inspiring others to change. She writes inspiring quotes such as "Visualize what you desire and laugh out loud as if it is already accomplished."

Written by: Joanna Hakimi, 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 writing an online dating profile, what do people typically include? You try and give a snapshot of yourself. You try and present yourself in the most positive light. You explain who you are, how you live your life, and what you are looking for in a relationship. What should you not include? Negative things about you. Negative things about your past relationships. Negative things you see in people. And, most importantly, sarcasm — do not include sarcasm. Why? Why not include sarcasm in your online dating profile? It Is important to show that one has a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves. However, when a dating profile says ‘I speak sarcasm,’ as hundreds do, it’s really saying, ‘I have latent hostility and will use sarcasm to project my anger onto you.’ Is that how you want to advertise yourself? According to Science Direct, sarcasm is an indirect expression of anger. Sarcasm is underlying anger and rage that is expressed through sneering or cutting remarks. Clearly, this is not funny. Sarcasm is unsettling. It is criticism disguised as humor. When you attempt to build an intimate and loving relationship with another human being, this is not the best approach. Sarcasm in a relationship is a ticking time bomb. Over time, sarcasm can wear away at the trust between two people and cause one partner to question everything being said in a relationship constantly. It can be passive-aggressive and cause a major rift between two people who previously were very much in sync. The underlying anger can be poison in an otherwise healthy relationship. This is not to say that there are moments in time when sarcasm is appropriate and truly funny. To break the ice in a business meeting, amongst small groups of friends, sarcasm is funny even in family atmospheres. Our point here is to steer you away from using sarcasm in a relationship between two people hoping to grow more intimate. When you are working to foster a relationship based on trust, vulnerability, and matters of the heart, it is better served to keep sarcasm at bay. Thus, unless you are Jerry Seinfeld or a professional at reading your partner, it's simply best to engage in humor but steer clear of sarcasm. Follow Joanna on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Joanna! Joanna Hakimi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joanna Hakimi is a proud entrepreneur and licensed marriage and family therapist. Starting her first successful business at the age of 17 and being president of the Young Entrepreneur’s Society at the University of Georgia, she never closed the door on opportunity. She then went on to Northwestern University and attained her Masters in Science, becoming an LMFT. After being a successful LMFT in the northern suburbs of Chicago for more than 10 years while simultaneously running a mindful goods boutique for 5 years and accomplishing a 200-hour yoga teaching certification, Joanna was itching for a new adventure. Seeing a need to connect independent professionals such as life coaches, wellness coaches, therapists, and career consultants searching for new clients, LifeChangers.info was born. Joanna's goal is to empower and enlighten others to reach their full potential while being their most authentic selves.

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. Everywhere you look, "video" is taking off! Social media, stories, lives, online courses, even videos within emails. Video is "key" to getting your message seen, heard, and "engaged" with by the right people. But! "What should you say in these videos?" What inspiring piece of content will you create that resonates with your target audience and positions you as the go-to authority!? Boring videos won't get watched, and irrelevant content says all the wrong things about you and your business. Creating endless content that drives little to no traffic gets exhausting. Releasing a bad video could cause as much damage as a bad customer review (and you don't want that now, do you?) Here's where to start. These 5 videos will help you: Prime and seed your audience to your exceptional value Get them familiar with your unique message Make them more likely to buy from you These 5 video types aim to eliminate the "I'm not sure"/"do I trust you?" barriers. They talk directly to your target audience and what they're interested in, what they're searching for, what they need to hear from you ! If you want to shine online like the exceptional entrepreneur/business builder you are, then t his top 5 list of videos to create is for you! Problem Videos Your most lucrative target audience is searching for a solution to a problem. When you can talk directly to their problem, then they'll see you (or your product/service) as the solution to their urgent needs. The "urgent problem" is the first problem you can solve for them. It's what they need to be solved now . Your job? Create videos about their urgent problem and how you solve it! Describe the problem as it shows up in their world. Ensuring you communicate with compassion and understanding. Next, transition to how your product/service solves that problem for them. And always remember a clear call to action at the end. Tip: Ensure you do market research so you can uncover the language your target audience is using to describe their problem. Then you can talk to them in their words. Using their own language makes it easier for them to connect with you because they'll feel that you 'get' what they're experiencing. This will help skyrocket your know-like-trust factor fast! Desire Videos The other thing your lucrative target market will be seeking (other than solutions to problems) is the satisfaction of desires . Your job? Create videos that talk to their core desires and show how you can help them achieve satisfaction. Core desires are the most powerful of them all! Core desires can include safety, security, belonging, increased status, significance, variety, and connection. Tip: Contrary to popular belief, your job in marketing isn't to create desire in your potential client or customer. Instead, the desire must already exist within them. Your only task is to 'add fuel' to their desire, make it burn so bright and so strong, that they must take action with you to satisfy it now ! Using emotionally charged language, emotional stories, and 'before and after' contrasts is a great way to tap into their desire and ignite its purchasing power! Question Videos Your lucrative target market has questions - they're seeking answers, solutions, and information. So, when you position yourself as the provider of answers or as the expert who tackles the hard questions, you become more valuable in their eyes, and trust is established in a really genuine way. Your job? Start by making videos that target the questions they are searching for on Google & YouTube and provide the answers (or access to the answers) they're seeking. Tip : Whether in business or social media, if you have a group, pay attention to conversations as people usually ask questions regarding the things they're struggling with. Another resource you can use is https://answerthepublic.com/ . Here you can find all the questions people are typing into google as related to your topic. It's a treasure trove of content ideas and can help take the guesswork out of targeted content creation. Story Videos People love to communicate through stories, including your Ideal Client or Customer. It could be a story about you, a client of yours, someone you know, or even a story about them ! Stories are highly influential when you can create an emotional connection and reaction in the target audience. Your job? Collect & craft stories into videos that people can relate to. Stories that encounter the same challenges your Ideal Client is going through Stories in which the subject successfully overcomes obstacles and succeeds in the end Stories that increase the perceived value of your offer Tip: Russel Brunson recommends an easy 3-step script you can use for highly engaging content. First, grab their attention with a hook (a big juicy headline or promise). Second, emotionally engage them and show them the 'before and after' transformation or crucial 'aha' moment using a story . Third, transition to your offer of how they can experience similar results too. Sneak Peek Videos People love seeing the 'real-life' stuff, the stuff that isn't always perfect! There's a time for 'professional' content, and there's a time for 'personal' content . Both provide an opportunity to showcase your unique point of difference in the marketplace - you ! Create videos that show your business's day-to-day or inner workings, behind-the-scenes life, and the real-time results of those you help. Showcase your personality, your professionalism, and proof that what you do is accessible for others too! Remember, as much as these videos may focus on you, the strategy is that everything you show is relevant to your Ideal Client and their decision-making process. It's not just making content for content's sake because that's exhausting! Tip: When doing this kind of video, always ask yourself what you are trying to show them. There must be a strategy behind it. What do they need to see from you to feel like you're the right person to work with? Is it? Honesty? Trust? Humour? Flaws? Warmth? Personality? Fun!? What will make them say things like "oh, they're just like me!" or "I'm not the only one" and "I can do it too!" Remember: Create a content schedule with your strategy in mind - and stick to it! Found this article valuable? Click the link below to download the complete PDF and save it somewhere safe: The Top 5 Videos To Use In Your Marketing Now To Attract MORE Clients Online 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.