Written by: Stephanie Reh, 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 both a hyper-functional and dysfunctional relationship with time. I’m obsessed with it. I get a lot done in a short amount of time, and yet I’m always looking for new ways to maximize my efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I produced the Time Is On Your Side speaker series to help accountable people find more time and make the best use of it. I interviewed over 25 influencers for the series, many of whom are fellow contributors for Brainz Magazine. Rather than summarize the general takeaways from the speaker series, I will reflect on some of the most relevant insights to my life right now. In doing so, I will reference a sampling of key learnings from some of the speakers in the series. First, time management is a lifelong challenge and opportunity. This I knew already, of course. In fact, I depended on it! It excites me as the Accountability Evangelist to confirm that there will always be ways to enhance my time management approach to make myself more effective as I seek to help more people serve more people. Summit headliner Robyn Pearce encouraged me to be prepared to evaluate my approach and adjust as necessary continually. In addition, her parenting tips, along with related wisdom from Corina Taylor, are game-changers for navigating the remaining school-age years with my daughters. Barbera Schouten told me you have to know who you truly are to understand how you work best, and then you can design your time management approach accordingly. This wisdom gave me permission to honor my preferences rather than fight them in an attempt to adopt a generally accepted best practice that doesn’t work for me. Second, changes to my time management approach needn’t be complicated or revolutionary. A small tweak to my system can have a huge impact. Small tweaks are easier to incorporate and are less jarring. The downside is I don’t always notice the difference right away, but when I stick with the new habit, the benefits become clear. Thanks to Steuart Snooks, I have pared down my number of email folders. It never occurred to me that I could be OVER organized! While I’m not quite ready to reach his level of austerity, I immediately noticed the time savings from eliminating layers of subfolders. Amber Barry’s summit interview and recent Brainz Magazine article motivated me to analyze my processes further and seek to automate as much as possible. Without even taking action on that yet, my mental relief is palpable, knowing that there is a straightforward path to get where I want to go - which is a place where I am doing more about less and spending most of my time on the stuff I am best at and only I can do. Third, I need to challenge my assumptions about how I spend my time. Agnese Rudzate gave me a new definition for procrastination: when I do easier things that don’t matter instead of harder things. Busted! From Karena Calhoun, I learned I could set myself up for flow, even for activities I don’t enjoy. Say what?! Alka Chopra taught me that self-care needs to be intentional but not necessarily purposeful. It’s meant for rejuvenation, not to accomplish something. Super hard for me, but it totally makes sense! Patricia Suggs helped me get to the root of my dysfunctional relationship with time. I find it hard to be present because I’m often thinking about what I should be doing rather than what I am doing. She convinced me that doing my best and being my best at the moment increases my chances of the future being great for me. Sold! Finally, unwavering conviction about my primary purpose and top priority goals is the best way to protect my most precious resource: time. I aim to protect it but often find myself giving it away just because someone asked for it. I’m learning that the stronger I feel about what I am trying to accomplish, the easier it is to say no. Ironically, there is liberation in restriction. Mark Sephton, Brainz Magazine Ambassador (among many other things!), is a master at using value filters to decide how he spends his time. If it doesn’t meet his criteria, he doesn’t do it, and he leaves room in his schedule to entertain new opportunities that meet his criteria. Saying no to many things means saying yes to the best things. While these reflections are very personal and relevant to my own circumstances, I share them here because I suspect readers may nod in agreement with many of my insights, seeing how the concepts apply to their lives as well. This is why I gathered so many other experts to share their own experience with time management: to make their collective wisdom available to the people I choose to serve and to fill my own cup so I can continue to pour into others. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Stephanie! Stephanie Reh, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Reh is on a mission to help more people to serve more people. Stephanie’s aim and passion as CEO & Founder of Accountability Evangelist are to help accountable people achieve their most ambitious goals so that they can happily live a life of fulfillment and make a tremendous, positive impact on the lives of the people they choose to serve. Stephanie’s signature offering for personal transformation is the Focus & Momentum Goal Mastery online group coaching program. She specializes in Succession Planning / Leadership Development, Strategic Planning / Goal & Risk Management, and Change Management for Mergers & Acquisitions for organizational transformation. Stephanie is an active community volunteer and champion. One of Stephanie’s current priorities is to help build a thriving, diverse, and inclusive entrepreneurial community in Western New York State, USA.

Written by: Anna-Karin Lingham, 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. Your brand may be established and successful already. Perhaps it is new and searching for its best road ahead or it may be stagnated and looking for a fresh new start. Whichever of these scenarios aligns with you, I am sure that you can find some juicy amounts of hidden energy that is not yet revealed. Find it and release it into powerful results! I´m referring to your brand ambassadors. Who? You may think. And my answer would be — all the powerful people, both within and outside of your company. Anyone who will walk the brand and talk about it in an engaged and positive way. At work and during their spare time. With co-workers, clients, family, and friends. A brand ambassador truly likes, maybe even loves, and feels proud of your brand. Imagine the value of a happy brand ambassador compared to someone dissatisfied. Since buyers often listen to the network around them when they make their choices, you will earn a lot by cultivating your happy ambassadors and turning around the dissatisfied ones. If this is a new area for you to work with, you can look forward to an inspiring and rewarding road ahead. I call it Ambassador Branding. My true belief is that you will find increased results, stronger brand culture, and enhanced joy of work as this becomes a prioritized branding field in your company. Let´s look at some basic steps that will help you get started and move forward. Draw the map. Your brand ambassadors come in many different shapes. They may be employees, former employees, potential employees, spokespersons, suppliers, clients, influencers, and other interested parties. Depending on their role and relationship to the brand, they will act and be credible in different ways. Draw the map of who they are, how they interact with their surroundings, and what kind of support they may need from you. Is your map a pyramid with a large number of people with certain needs at the base and a few with a niched need at the top? Or is your map a number of circles with the most initiated people in the middle and a big crowd in the outer circle? No matter how it looks, make sure to draw it and create your overview. Set the goals. You have your map. You have identified who your brand ambassadors are. You likely also have a vision, values, and overall goals for your brand. Now break this down to each group of ambassadors. If you work with influencers, what is your purpose and goal for them? Are there certain actions that you can emphasize and strengthen in your culture to make your employees spread the good talk? Do you have a good process for choosing suppliers to make sure that they are aligned with your brand on a personal level? Make your goals as concrete as possible, but remember that rules do not make up great ambassadorship. You must earn it. Create the conditions. You can not force anyone to love your brand. It is only trustworthy when it is genuinely radiated and expressed by your brand ambassadors. So you need to give them good conditions. How? Let me give you some examples: Keep your employees involved in your brand platform. Make sure that you have a common view on your mission, values, and where you are heading. Keep people updated. Instead of holding information tight in a small team, anything that can be shared will make people feel included and valuable. They will answer questions easier and prouder with correct facts instead of speculations. Be transparent. Show both inside and outside the company what intentions you have on your market and how you reason in different situations. Give people a chance to sympathize with your brand and your actions. Remember that your ambassadors listen to both facts and emotional aspects, as they notice, like, choose, buy, love, and recommend your brand. So offer them both, and you will be generously rewarded. When your happy brand ambassadors grow, your company grows. For more information, follow me on LinkedIn , Instagram and visit my website or Pick My Bra in ! Read more from Anna-Ka rin ! Anna-Karin Lingham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Anna-Karin Lingham is a branding expert with a great interest in both business and people. Since more than twenty years back, she has worked with marketing, branding, and business development both in Sweden and in an international arena. She has had leading roles in companies like the Axfood group, the global premium brand Hästens Beds, the health company Apotek Hjärtat and the sports fashion brand Björn Borg. She has launched the concept of Ambassador Branding, where corporate and personal branding meets great financial results, strong job satisfaction, and brilliant ambassadorship on the market. Anna-Karin has been appointed Mentor of the year by the Stockholm Marketing Association. She has written a guidebook in personal branding and is an active business developer, speaker, and mentor. She is also an artist and outdoor adventurer, with a special fondness for high mountains. Her mission is to help companies and individuals to open their own windows and take place in greener and greater arenas.

Written by: Stefania Piccardo, 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. One of the many cultural aspects that I like about Italy, and that I mostly miss where I live, is the open market. Open markets are the center of everyday life in most Italian cities and towns. They are vibrant, colorful, and noisy, surrounded by lots of chatters, bursting with life at every angle. As soon as you start your journey into an open Italian market, you experience the culture, the people, the aromas, the lively chattering of the vendors and their customers, the vibrancy of the food. This is the place where you can dive into the Italian culture, connect with the people, chat about anything, and experience their way of living. The first thing you will notice is that there are lots of stands called bancarolle . You can find pretty much anything, from fruit to vegetables, all freshly and locally grown, to fresh fish and local meat, to bags, shoes, clothes, flowers, and home accessories. Vendors will shout out their merchandise and the cost to attract customers’ attention and encourage people to come over to their stand and buy. For example, you may hear them say, "Carciofi a 2 euro al kilo! -Artichokes only 2 euros per kilo!" Vendors will often offer you a taste of what they sell, and they will be very happy for you to take it and taste it. Everything is locally produced and freshly grown. All the food is seasonal so that you won’t find watermelons or strawberries in winter or artichokes in summer, for example. If you are unsure how to cook something, vegetables, fish, or meat, the vendors will be more than happy to advise and recommend tasty recipes and ideas on various ways to cook their produce. The best time to go to the open market is early morning or no later than 11 as the best products will be gone by then. Usually, queues are not monitored here, so you would need to ask, "Who is last?" ("Chi e’ l’ultimo?") and wait for your turn to be served. For the fruit and vegetable stands, the vendors will provide you with a bag to help yourself to whatever you need and want, then you will pass it back to them, and they will weigh the bag and tell you the cost. They will add some aromatic herbs like fresh parsley, basil or celery into your bag for free, which is a plus! This won’t happen in a supermarket where the fruit and vegetable have to be weighed by the customer on a special scale with a corresponding number for each item. One of the golden rules to remember in an open market is “Do not touch the food”! The vendor may get annoyed and tell you off! Usually, there are handwritten boards in the vegetable or fruit crates with the following words, "Si prega di non toccare!" ("Please do not touch!") Disposable gloves are usually provided to customers to help themselves before selecting anything. A piece of advice vendors will probably not speak English, so it would be a good idea to learn a few sentences before diving into the intense spirit of an Italian open market. Let’s explore some of the common and useful sentences and expressions that you could use in this situation: You can approach the vendor by saying, "Buongiorno, vorrei un kilo di carciofi per favore." ("Good morning, I would like a kilogram (2 pounds) of artichokes, please.") Or “Vorrei due etti di prosciutto cotto per favore.” ("I would like two-quarter pounds of cooked ham, please.") Or “Mi da un etto di parmigiano grattugiato per favore?” ("Can I get a quarter pound of grated parmisan please?") "Mi da due etti di Grana (Padano) per favore?" (In Italy, if you only mention Grana instead of saying Grana Padano, everyone will understand.) "Can I get two-quarter pounds of Grana, please?" The vendor may ask you, "Che altro desidera?" Or ask, "Altro?" They are asking if you would like more. If you are looking for ideas on how to cook something at the vegetable stands, you can ask: "Come si cucina?" "Come lo faccio questo?" "Come si fa?" (informal) "How do I cook this?" Open markets have such a good impact on society as they are a meeting point for both young and old. They offer a positive, unique, and cheerful experience completely different from what you may get in a supermarket. People usually greet each other, and you may start chatting with people you don’t know at the vegetable or fruit stands. There is plenty of opportunities to chat with vendors pretty much about anything. The sellers may ask about your family, or "what are you cooking today?" Or give you impartial advice on something you try on, like a coat or a pair of shoes. If you are buying flowers, they will ask which occasion it is, and they will recommend the best bunch of flowers for you to gift. Now you know what to do and what not to do in an open market in Italy. If you have any questions, drop me a comment below. Follow us and keep an eye on similar interesting articles! Credit for the picture to www.tripadvisor.com Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stef ania ! Stefania Piccardo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stefania Piccardo obtained her Ph.D. in English language and literature from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. During her academic years, she worked for Scottish distilleries and castles as a tour guide in multiple languages. Her love for Scotland brought her back to Aberdeen in 2003, where she obtained an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University. She then worked for multiple organizations but soon realized that she wanted to teach languages privately to the corporate level. Stefania has helped many students achieve the best grades in school and university, but most of all, she has the ambition to train corporate employees who deal with import/export, foreign trade or want to develop their career and expand their horizons for more opportunities in Europe and beyond. She speaks four languages, including Italian, her mother tongue, English, French and Spanish, and she founded Language tutor4U back in 2012. In addition to her teaching schedule, she works as a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, the innovative and traditional Indian restaurant she owns, along with her husband in Aberdeen City center since 2018. As a keen writer, she also enjoys feeding social media posts and writing for her blogs about Italian and Indian cultures, languages, and much more!

Written by: Veronica Sanchez De Darivas, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The pandemic took the world by surprise, and its consequences are far beyond our imaginations. For this reason, it is very important to look after our mental and physical wellbeing, starting by paying attention to our negative emotions and thoughts. One of the first things people experience during hard times is anxiety and insecurity due to uncertainty and hopelessness. And we have to add fear to this equation, which in fact is the root of all other low vibration feelings. Almost every country has reported an increase in mental health issues during this hard time. Then it is more important than ever to improve our coping mechanisms and be better prepared to face whatever is coming toward us. Here are a few practical steps to follow to boost mental well-being and have some tools to go to when needed. Action Step One Write a journal. Writing has several mental health benefits because it helps us reflect on our emotions and actions, and in doing so, we can find solutions and act accordingly. Action Step Two Write a list of ten positive feelings and emotions, create two mantras with them, and repeat these mantras several times a day. Mantras, according to research, calm the mind, and through the power of repetition, we can change thoughts. Action Step Three Acknowledge a negative emotion you might be having, replace it with the opposite emotion. For example, if you feel unrest, replace it with calmness by recalling a time when you experienced this positive emotion. Stay there as much as you can, feeling calmness in every cell of your body until such negative emotion is gone. This short exercise requires a bit of effort, but we are powerful creators, and we can do what we want when having the will to make a change. Action Step Four Control your attention. Our attention is like a laser, difficult to direct. However, by being aware of where your attention is going, you can redirect it to other things. As I previously said, we are creators who then put our abilities and knowledge to work, write, paint, dance, watch movies, read a novel, chat with friends, and create something uplifting. Action Step Five Meditate. I can’t stress enough the benefits of meditation. It brings you inner peace and helps you reduce stress, anxiety, and negative emotions. Meditation brings you back to the present moment, liberating your mind from unwanted thoughts and visions. Meditation gives you clarity, certainty, and so much more. Action Step Six Ask for help if you feel you cannot cope alone with your current situation. Often in our society, asking for help is seen as a weakness, and this way of thinking has been very detrimental to our wellbeing. Family and friends can do a lot for us if we know how to approach them, and mental health services are there to serve you. Bonus Action Step Do all these activities from the heart, with purpose. Our heart is the place where the energy of love sits. I am sure that better times are ahead. However, it is always good to be ready to tackle life with its ups and downs. Be courageous, be kind to yourself, be wise. For Guided Bilingual Meditations (English / Spanish), visit my new YouTube channel and subscribe. To get a copy of my journals, visit my Amazon author’s page, click here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Twitter and visit my website for more info! Read more from Veronica! Veronica Sanchez De Darivas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Veronica Sanchez De Darivas is an expert in inner-self intelligence techniques. She shares tools on how to manage stress and negative emotions and on how to use high vibration words. Veronica is a Spanish grammar and literature teacher. During the last ten years, she has dedicated herself to spirituality. She is a Certified Instructor for the Cyclopea Method of Internal Activation of the Pineal Gland (Third Eye), a method created in South America 30 years ago by the spiritual leader Fresia Castro. Veronica is currently the only instructor in the world teaching this life-changing method in English. Veronica is also a number one bestselling author. She has been writing for many years for online magazines and blogs in Spanish and English. Veronica is both a Chilean and an Australian citizen now living in the UK. Her mission is the expansion of consciousness.

Written by: Amanda Rose, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. What is cancel culture? Essentially, it is a new type of ostracism, with the idea of “canceling” out an individual for existence, banishing them out of the social, community, and/or professional circles. Let us explore the good, the bad, and the ugly that come with cancel culture. The Good Let’s start with the positive, which can be summed up with one word: Accountability. No longer are people getting away with truly horrible acts. People find their voices and be heard instead of dismissed when they share their stories about what they’ve experienced. There’s power in numbers. The “Me Too” movement proved that the days of staying silent are long gone and that abuse and mistreatment of any kind will no longer go unseen. It makes us redefine what’s acceptable, what behaviors will no longer be tolerated, and how we can progressively move forward. As renowned Toxic Relationship coach Jenn Rose puts it, "Cancel culture is actually Accountability Culture. This is why so many people hate it. It looks like they'll all have to start being accountable if they actually acknowledge the accountability part... so instead, they label it cancel culture so they can cancel their own accountability too." The Bad The real trap is that we are human, and we all mess up. There are also two sides to every story. We also know that “truth” is elusive and varies based on perspective. Life is not black & white or cut & dry. It is simply mottled shades of grey. In the recent high-profile “wife beater” libel case involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, we see a good example of blurred lines. As British Television personality, Sharon Osbourne, commented on the case, "Do you know what I think," she began, "It takes two to tango. I think that they had a very vulnerable relationship. I think they're both as bad as each other. She gave him as well as she got — it wasn't just like a little mouse in the corner being battered. She gave him back, and I think that they were both drinking." Sharon continued, "I don't know what they were using. I have no idea who was doing what, but I know they were both drinking, and it's a volatile relationship. I had a relationship like that with my husband at one time. I would give him what he gave me." The court ultimately ruled in favor of Amber Heard, and subsequently, Johnny Depp was “canceled.” He was dropped from current film projects, and his career is essentially in an indefinite limbo. We are essentially creating a world through cancel culture where, if you mess up (whether you are really guilty or not), you’re done, finished, and may as well check-out from living because there’s no second chance or opportunity to grow or atone for past mistakes. All-or-nothing idealism is totalitarianism rearing its ugly head. The Ugly The real problem with cancel culture is that you are no longer “innocent until proven guilty,” and because of that, it is shockingly and frighteningly similar to a witch hunt. All that must happen is that you are accused of something, and suddenly, you are an outcast, banned from the life you knew. It is extremely scary because it destroys the lives of innocent people and doesn’t offer any path to redemption for offenders. Piss off the wrong person? Boom, they pop out an accusation, and bam, you are banished. You are a social outcast, your career opportunities dry up, and no one wants to be near you for fear of association. CEO of The Present You Inc., Tony Babcock, said on the subject, "In this fast-paced, instant gratification world, we are way too quick to categorize circumstances and now people. I’m all for accountability where it’s due, but I’m also all for perspective, patience, and taking the time to understand a person before villainizing. People often jump on the bandwagon before discovering facts. I long for a world where we take the time to use empathy first instead of Judgement." Conclusion Accountability, empowering the voices of those who have been mistreated, and awareness are all great qualities for us to embrace as a society. But cancel culture itself needs to be phased out. Canceling out anyone, guilty or not, leads to a frightening world to live in, and it stops us from growing from our mistakes. Words matter, and “cancel culture” in and of itself is toxic. Taking a page from Jenn Rose, we should rename it “Accountability Culture,” a way of living we can all aspire to, making personal, corporate, and societal responsibility the norm. For more information, visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Instagram! Read more from Amanda! Amanda Rose, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amanda Rose is the founder & director of The Infinite Power of You Inc. It is a multi-published multi-genre author, business, wealth, & mindset coach, actor, motivational speaker, and online course creator. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has been in the online space since 2013 and a sales expert for over 10 years. It's her passion to help her clients build lives of freedom and joy and thriving businesses with multiple revenue sources through strategies combined with mindset mastery — Amanda's mission to shift human consciousness to create soulful abundance through mindset practices.

Written by: Patrick Wiliams, 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. Yes, the world is crazy right now. But you can cultivate your “inner chill .” Here’s how. As Dickens wrote in A Tale of Two Cities in 1859, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. “ Doesn’t this ring so true today, too? There are many views and perceptions for us in this world. If you watch and read the news, you may become inundated with the negative, the sensational, the political, and feel incredibly stressed or anxious. And yet the whole world is not that. There are many great and wonderful acts and human stories. You may have to search for them, but they are so uplifting. We need to be conscious of what we say to whom and that the people (and forms of communication) we have in our lives are truthful and transparent. Even the news and movies we watch are conversations. Sometimes we need to make choices to balance the media meme of violence and negative news with positive and uplifting media. From Falling Awake, Dave Ellis writes, “Moment by moment, we get to choose our conversations and community. What’s at stake is enormous—everything we say, hear, watch, listen to, read, and see. No choices are more powerful than these.” Here are 9 things you can do on purpose to have an extraordinary life — no matter what chaos exists outside of yourself: Have a target, a personal mission statement, a life purpose, or a compelling future that draws you toward your desired life. You can only prefer your future, not demand it. Planning and goal-setting help, but remember that even airplanes are off-target 90 percent of the flight. Lots of mini adjustments are made to what is occurring in the now. Have an uncluttered life. This includes physical and emotional clutter. Do a clean sweep of unwanted things, and then work on where and with whom you can be “emotionally naked.” Work on life’s incompletions. It is said that we all come with baggage. A true friend is one that will help you unpack! Live in the present. Sure, you have to envision and think about your future, but it is really unknown and made up. Even your story about the past is just your story. It has been said, “The past is history, the future but a mystery. The present is a gift. That is why it’s called the present.” Create a toleration-free zone. If there are things that are bugging you, what I call “gnats and nuisances,” things you are frustrated by, then follow the guide of “do it, dump it, or delegate it (or delay it).” By choosing not to tolerate energy drainers, you can take action by taking care of the toleration. Or you can dump it. That is, forget about it, especially if there is nothing you can do. Get it off your list. Or you can delegate the challenge. Hire someone who can fix it, or complete a task for you, or take it off your radar. Or delay it. Deal with it later, but don’t worry about it today. Why waste energy on it? The key here is not to deny it and forget to do one of the other strategies. Just give it time and revisit. Give yourself extreme self-care. Be good to yourself. Not just nice but extreme. Reward yourself with something that gives you energy rather than drains you of energy. Get a foot massage. Go to the beach, the woods, the mountains, or the lake. Go out for a special treat. Do this periodically, and you build up reserves! Understand the myth of work/life balance. Have a center point to come back to. Balance is temporary, but a practice of daily centering and coming back to balance creates a more sturdy sense of security. Say no and yes with conviction. When I coach my clients on living their best life, we get to clarify their purpose early on. Then when they have requested from others or demands of the job, they can consider the request of their time and energy. If it fits with their purpose statements and values, they say yes. If it does not, they say no. Or at least they can say, “Maybe. Let me think about it.” You can do the same thing. Many people do not tell the truth when others ask them to commit to something or help another, and that lack of naked communication costs them dearly. Choose to under-promise and over-deliver. This is a hallmark of the coaching profession and that of personal or business development. It does not mean to make promises or commitments that are not well-conceived or important. But it does allow one to have some leeway. For example, if you are asked when you can have a proposal on your supervisor’s desk at work. State you can have it in a week and deliver in five days. Do this instead of promising something you can’t deliver or that will not be polished and ready for review. I’m sure you can think of any personal or family life areas where this same strategy can be helpful. Respond, do not react. This is tantamount to living a less stressful life on purpose. As humans, we have a natural, built-in reaction of fight-or-flight. But our evolution also allows us to pause for a brief moment and survey the options that may be available to choose instead of a knee-jerk reaction immediately. Even first responders and emergency professionals are trained to react with responses available. They quickly ascertain choices based on their training instead of a less trained person reacting with fear, paralysis, inaction, or unhelpful action. To design a preferred personal future, you need to have a plan and yet be present to life’s natural flow. Our lives are shaped by incompletions, fears, attachments, addictions, unmet needs, procrastinations, and tolerations. Like barnacles on the hull of a boat, we must have an annual cleaning, at minimum, for smoother sailing. Clean up your clutter, unfinished business, and wounds—Orient your life around your values and gifts. Be an observer of life. Be curious and learn what you have the opportunity to learn. Life is moving forward always, but you cannot step in the same river twice. Check out my powerful online course on www.ConsciousLivingMastery.com . Visit my websites at www.d rpatwilliams.com and www.ConsciousLivingMastery.com . You can also connect with me through Facebook or LinkedIn . Read more from Patrick ! Patrick Williams, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As a coach for 4 decades, Pat is a founding member of the ICF and is an inaugural member of its Circle of Distinction, a Master Certified Coach, a Board-Certified Coach, and member of Forbes Coaching Council. As an educator, he was a founding member of Harvard University’s Institute of Coaching, has taught graduate students at several notable institutions, and served as a curriculum consultant for the Coaching Certificate program at Fielding International University. And he was named Educator of the Year by the New England Educational Institute (2008). Dr. Williams is also Past President of ACTO (Association of Coach Training Organizations), ICF board member, and Honorary VP of the International Society for Coaching Psychology.

Written by: Viviana Di Leo, 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. Raise your hand if you have never doubt yourself. I am sure every single person, including me, has doubted at some point in life. Questioning whether it is good enough or capable enough or how to do some things if never been done before. Self-doubt occurs when we feel doubt or uncertainty over our ability and actions. This involves lack of confidence, forms of self-sabotage, lack of self-love, and even lack of self-worth sometimes. Many times, in my sessions, I realize it’s because people tend to anticipate, they act like they have that crystal ball telling the future, and it is not a bright one. It's full of negative scenarios. A certain level of self-doubt is good because it indicates that you understand what you need to improve or make you cautious and not that impulsive. However, persistent fear and self-doubt can hugely affect your life in a bad way. What is creating this self-doubt? Negative Self-talk You do not have kind words towards yourself; you repeat to yourself you can’t, you don’t trust you are capable, you feel not good enough. Your Past Triggers You This is when every situation brings you back to a moment you could not speak up, or you were told you were not good, or people say you are wrong. Know your brain doesn’t understand if something happened 10 minutes ago or 10 years ago. If you keep repeating that story to yourself, your body feels the same emotions over again. Comparing Yourself to Others It is one of the main reasons people suffer from self-doubt, and in the world of social media, this is getting worse. More people comparing chapter 10 of someone’s life with chapter 1 of your life. When talking about self-doubt, we need to address self-love and self-worth, which is a process if you haven’t loved and accepted yourself in years. When you love yourself, you feel peaceful, and it helps you move forward and avoid getting stuck. You might be asking yourself, how do I do this? When do I start? Trust me, you will know. Maybe you feel exhausted from hearing the same things from yourself over and over again. If you want to improve your life, know that you have to decide and make a choice, the choice of saying goodbye to living in the constant unhealthy relationship with yourself and your inner critic. Closing this chapter in your life might bring feelings of sadness and loss, but you decide to close it , and if that bringing that power means an impact on your present and your future, would you be willing to start making progress in your life. Know it takes your commitment and your willingness to start and keep it going. Others can guide you. Until you don’t build a strong foundation (confidence), you will seek external validation. So, how do I know I released self-doubt? You feel peace of mind. If a situation triggers doubt, you are aware and can shift the way you face it. You stop doing and redoing things with no ends. You live a more conscious and aware life feeling more fulfilled. You stop wanting to find the mistakes behind something that did not work. You can spend a long time wondering what it would look like to live without that inner critic voice or sabotaging everything you do. You can spend a long time blaming yourself or the other person, situation. Or... You can choose differently. Choose your peace of mind. Choose to release those patterns and deciding how you want to live from now on. It is super rewarding to see my clients close those subconscious patterns and finally feel free, peaceful, and enjoy life. Every day you have the opportunity to write a new chapter starting fresh. Will you start a new chapter today? For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my webs ite ! Read more from Vivian a ! Viviana Di Leo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Viviana Di Leo is a Certified Peacefulness & Fulfilment Coach. She helps women on their self-healing journey to live a more peaceful and fulfilled life. She's an Expert in Biodecoding & Emotions.

Written by: Liz Sparkes, 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. Over time we develop many limiting beliefs and thoughts about ourselves. We experience various traumatic and challenging events, but we also experience rich, beautiful moments that make our hearts sing. However, we have this uncanny ability to cling and be shaped much more by our perceived negative and difficult experiences. These take us further away from feeling connected and at ease. I have heard our minds be described as having Velcro for bad experiences and Teflon for good ones. In truth, we are built to survive, and therefore the fact that we find it difficult to release difficult experiences supports this. It's in our nature to stay safe. When this becomes a preoccupation, it reduces our joy and flow with the world. Our connection to our destiny! Over the last decade, I have explored how we can release ourselves from the subconscious and conscious fears, beliefs, and ties that reduce our ability to connect deeply with our true nature, our soul self. Often clients describe the feeling of something being missing, a sense of loneliness, or lack of connection. Having looked around for what felt like a lifetime for this similar ‘something,’ I recognize this sense of searching. The need for that connection to the deepest part of who we are. As we begin to peel back the layers of experience, emotion, and tightly held restrictive beliefs, we begin to connect with the essence of who we are. The ability to perceive and get close to our real sense of self allows a settling down, reducing anxiety, and clarifying what we really want from our lives. The hardest part can be the transformation, the period where the awareness grows as we open up the boxes that we pushed deep into our subconscious mind. In all honesty we are learning and transforming during our entire lives, but there are points where this opening up and seeing ourselves with absolute clarity gets intense. The power and strength of compassion work have never failed me, both for myself and my clients. I am so passionate about it that I Co-wrote an MSc in it and ran training and sessions as much as possible. When we choose to heal and open up to the real self, integrating the shadow or cast aside parts of ourselves, compassion brings the soothing element of courage and buffers against the challenging emotions. Just placing a hand on the heart and feeling the warmth can engage you in such a deep sense of peace. As we start to work with the energy of compassion, it allows a surge of determination and strength that you didn’t know you had. Cultivating a compassionate backdrop is known to impact our minds and bodies in such a huge way. We start to let go with more ease, be with difficulty differently, and allow ourselves to be seen for who we are. Compassion meditations and practices are worth exploring, whether in a group or with an expert, or alone using something like Insight timer (a wonderful free APP for meditation). During my time leading people through compassion meditations, I have witnessed shifts in people’s awareness, changes to perceptions of physical pain, improvements in physical health, and a rate of emotional healing that without the support of compassion may have taken a lot longer. As you begin to treat yourself with the energy of compassion, the ability to transform increases. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and visit my website for more info! Read more from Liz ! Liz Sparkes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Liz Sparkes is a health psychologist, intuitive coach, and meditation and reiki practitioner. After completing a Ph.D. in Pain Psychology and training to facilitate meditation and mindfulness, Liz dedicated herself to helping others feel more empowered and fulfilled. Liz has developed academic and private transformational courses for a heart-based living, meditation and compassion, awareness, and moon living. Liz works with groups and individuals in workplaces, health settings, charitable organizations, and holistic retreats. Liz utilizes a mixture of psychological and ancient spiritual methods for healing and to support living life from the perspective of the heart, gaining greater insight and intuitive trust.

Written by: Michelle Greene Rhodes, 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 we enter further into May, spring is in full bloom. I see it as a very feminine, compassionate, and maternal time of year. Not only is May the month of Mother’s Day and International Nurses Day, but everywhere in nature, we see the world blooming again. As the weather becomes more nurturing, we see new growth and regeneration—a slight return to something somewhat "normal." However, as we witness all this new life bursting forth around us, it’s important that we, as women, remember that it’s not only important to nurture those in our circle, but that we also turn our loving nature inward, taking time to care for ourselves. When we remember to make this a priority, then we too can bloom in the spirit of spring. There is so much to (re)focus on during this time of realignment, limiting stress, and nurturing mental wellness. Mental wellness can only be achieved if we learn how to keep our stress in check. When we get caught up in the business of life and start focusing on others’ needs and requirements to the detriment of our own, we can lose sight of our personal goals, and our wellbeing can suffer—time to make self-improvement a priority. If you are a mother, the world dedicates a day to appreciate you. Rather than luxuriate in just one day, we can use this holiday to remind us how strong and hardworking we are every day. That there is a date on a calendar dedicated to us is proof that we should make time to appreciate ourselves all year long. Even if you’re not a mother, you’re still a creator and nurturer. You’ve created businesses, nurtured relationships, and cultivated many amazing things in your life. So it’s important to recognize yourself and give yourself some TLC this month. The same is true if you’re a nurse. Let’s use the one day the world recognizes us to make sure that we are aware of our worth all year long. It is always nurses' day in my book! So, by making self-care a priority, you’ll naturally reduce the stress in your life. And when you’re less stressed, you’re better able to help those around you. This month we just completed a getaway for a small group of nurses so that we could decompress, recharge and reconnect. By prioritizing self-care, we are put in a position of strength from which we can offer unlimited support and encouragement to our children and teens, both our own and those in our communities. When we are actively taking care of ourselves, health risks naturally go down. We can’t prepare for everything, of course. There are genetic elements and chance factors that play a role as well, but we can definitely improve our chances by prioritizing wellness, making time for self-care, and supporting each other to do the same. Let's become better today than we were the day before. If you are pretty on point with your self-care regimen, you still might be walking around in unfulfillment in other ways. Whether it be in your personal or professional goal achievement, filling yourself with positivity during these trying times, or just plain tired of being "stuck" where you are, then consider joining other Nurse Leaders and myself as we discuss ways to "Become Your Best Self" during my 3-day Masterclass in June. There only 10 seats available at this table, so register today. We look forward to hearing from you about what you plan on doing this season to remain whole, well, and better than the day before. Visit our website for more info and connect with us on LinkedIn ! Read more from Michelle ! Michelle Greene Rhodes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle G. Rhodes is a Corporate Wellness Consultant and is Certified in Managed Care and Licensed as a Registered Nurse. By combining her love for Managed Care/Population Health background with her innate ability to create educational programs and cost savings solutions uniquely designed for each employer, Michelle is sought after for her multiple successes in cost-saving and exceeding targets. She has helped corporations craft wellness programs that offer definite returns on investments and meet and exceed their annual performance measures and goals. Michelle creates various wellness initiatives for awareness campaigns all the way to the creation of wellness culture transformations. Michelle Rhodes Media LLC is also a continuing education provider for Nurses by the California Board of Nurses and provides workshops for Nurses to learn continuously.

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. Many of us are struggling big time at the moment (or were even before COVID-19) when what we experience as our coping strategies seem not to work anymore. More than ever, we are inside and forced to wear masks when outside, hiding and protecting ourselves due to how we perceive we should behave in society, in relationships, at work, etc. Does hiding our true selves work long-term? As we see a rise in mental health challenges, both before Covid19 and massively during the pandemic, it seems that we, even those of us with tons of further education, including health education, have no idea how we can handle all the challenges facing us in many areas of life today. What if we finally let go of all the masks, curtains, and false identities that seem to drain us of tons of energy to keep a picture up of someone we ain’t? “Come as you are, as you were…” was a song title by Nirvana which I love very much. Who are we without our filters, identities built to impress others, and all the imprints we have held on to since childhood? Who could we be if we are just simply ourselves? With no hiding of our flaws, of our weird behaviors, without everything else? Would we be loved anyway? Authentic and radically honest — with yourself! The most authentic and radical version of ourselves is when we are close to dying! I nearly died four times. I cannot (and never did) present a mask that wasn’t me. I am me as I am! That’s what I love in children the most before they get conditioned, trained, and imprinted with lots of others’ beliefs. I am an introvert who was lucky enough that my parents didn’t have much time for me… so imprints from others were given, but not that much. Today, I see it as a blessing. Back then, I was lonely and yet, not unhappy! 😊 Were you ever radically honest with yourself? If so, how was it? Did it hurt? Was it beautiful? Was it weird? Asking yourself what is honest anyway? “I have to lose weight, but not right now – I love chocolate bars too much!” – was that radically honest with yourself? Would we be divided, unbalanced, and unhappy if we were honest with ourselves? Let’s imagine being honest with ourselves now: Who wants to lose weight? Who wants to have this chocolate bar? Who would be happy if we lost weight while eating chocolate bars? What’s this about chocolate bars and being skinny anyway? Place all taboo topics on the table to heal them through being simply you as you are! One thing I really hate is when someone is lying to me, and I sense it. Which, as a highly sensitive, intuitive person, is quite often. Even as a child, I was totally pissed about that! And yet, so many people try to be someone who they are not at all. What is your biggest, hidden secret that no one should know about? Is it that bad? If so, why did you do it? No one on this planet was born a bad person. No one! We are made through how we are conditioned, raised, and have experienced life. Yes, that’s my view on living here on earth! From whom do you want to hide? From yourself, and what you did? I wanna use the words of Perry Power, an abused child survivor, “break the silence,” and no more hiding due to guilt, shame, or similar bullshit. Healing begins with being radically honest with yourself. Completely honest with yourself. Say what you want to say and do! Act and speak up your truth. When it’s too tough, say what you want to say to the mirror. Or to your cat. Then repeat. Say it silently. Then out loud. Then louder. Then again! Then to others. You are never alone. There is always someone supporting you. Always! “Come as you are, as you were As I want you to be As a friend, as a friend.” — Nirvana. Our frame is not our limitation. When I found out about “framing” and imprints that influence us from childhood, I had a key point in my life. Understanding that we get conditioned from childhood, seeing the world from the views we learn from others, I knew I could immediately change my perception about life and the world. “How real is reality?” Paul Watzlawick asked, yet we do not know if we do not jump out of the framings and imprints we learned from others. But, stop! Is it possible when we are surrounded by those who gave us those frames and imprints? Is it? How would the world be without those framings and imprints we learned from others? Similar, or completely different? Many of us have the feeling that “there is more than what we grew up with!” You too? I experienced that, and after learning what beliefs are and how we can see the world in other ways, my life changed. Yes, my so-called friends went away, as I was not “useful” to them anymore. I met many new friends—friends who are supportive and nurturing and don’t make jokes about me or take advantage of me. My family’s behavior towards me changed. My business changed. My life changed. I live my life the way I love to, not as others would love to see me live it, and I know you can too! "Come as you are – authentic and radically self-loving and honest! With yourself!" How would your voice be if you told your story? Is it like a romantic story? Or does it have a loving script? Who would you be in the script of your own story? Do you like the actor of your life, or not? Would you stand up for yourself by simply being you? No matter what? Or for some else? Let’s rise together. As an authentic woman. As an authentic man. For yourself and, if not, maybe for me – speaking out your truth without any masks or barriers. Come as you are. No matter what. Nothing else matters! Let’s meet at eye level. On a human level. On a heart level. United, we heal. United, we grow and go beyond. … all hurt. … all abuse. … all destruction. … and start completely new! NOW! 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: Gauri Kacherikar, 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. COVID-19 has disrupted markets and lives at levels not seen by many. As cases worldwide soared, executives were stunned, unprepared for the rapid shifts that would test even the most experienced of experts. The disruption wreaked by this pandemic was swift, unprecedented, and underestimated. While it largely reset the world we once knew, the term “new normal” became a staple in how we defined these novel times. But the impact on and shifts in markets and human behaviors were far from normal and definitely elusive of offering insights necessary to recognize any sense of normalcy or clear path forward. Businesses that don’t take the time to understand what’s changing and why, as times and trends continue to evolve, will miss their opportunity to earn relevance and thrive in this new world. A significant majority of customers are more than ready for brand humanization. According to Salesforce research, 84% of customers say the company's experience is as important as its products and services — up from 80% in 2018 . During these times of disruption, data-driven empathy enables empathetic marketing, customer engagement, and genuine experiences. As customers’ circumstances, needs, and sentiments evolve rapidly, accumulating a clear understanding becomes mission-critical . “Change is the Only Constant” — Heraclitus, Greek philosopher Changing and succeeding under any conditions is something that all of us are currently experiencing as we adapt to the daily challenges of the pandemic. The breathtaking speed took a toll on the physical and emotional well-being of employees. In a traditional workplace, priorities like protecting people and communicating effectively were part of everyday leadership. When the workplace culture moved into the home, remote working altered the status quo. Making intentional choices about work and team became difficult for anyone simultaneously homeschooling children and running a business. Business leaders need the agility to create a vision and support a company’s greatest asset: its people. As Leaders and Organizations, you know that the change needs to happen, but you don't really know how to go about delivering it. Where do you start? Whom do you involve? How do you see it through to the end? There are many theories about how to "do" change. Many originate with leadership and change management guru John Kotter. A professor at Harvard Business School and world-renowned change expert, Kotter introduced his eight-step change process in his 1995 book, " Leading Change ." The first time I read this, I was blown away by the simplicity of the fable and the 8 steps that Kotter has laid down as a framework for organizations to follow their journey on implementing change. No matter where we live or what work we do, all of us have got to expect a devastating series of cataclysmic ripple effects as long as the world’s ice(pandemic) continues to melt. Just as how the penguins solve their problem in this fable and turn it into an opportunity by harnessing the power of “the excitement and the learning that happens… when (we ….. leaders, employees, and organizations ) come together with others to make something extraordinary happen”. Employees and Upskill At the inception of a technological revolution rife with AI and automation , we will cause job obsolescence. As organizations look at cost-saving measures or get more comfortable with remote workers, the onus will be put on the employee to evolve with their position; if they don’t, there is a real chance they could become obsolete. The competition for employment will be fiercer with a remote workforce. Candidates will no longer just be competing with people in their city but from every corner of the globe. McKinsey discovered that 50% of global job activities could theoretically be automated ; that could mean 400-800 million people could be displaced globally due to automation by 2030. Now 85% of the jobs that will be available in 2030 haven’t been invented yet. Those entering the workforce will have a higher probability of an irrelevant skill set tomorrow. An upskill is a must!! Common examples of upskilling efforts include digital skills, analytics skills, and organizational transformation skills. Upskilling is no longer an expensive and strenuous affair - thanks to the digitization of communication , learning, and upskilling immensely. Availability of e-learning content in various formats and different languages is greatly beneficial . What stops you from transitioning ? Analyze your transferable skills. Now is the time to get creative, and here are some ways to attack it. Set up goals for your upskilling. Identify your subject matter areas that boost your employability and potential to change to a slightly different job – the more skills you develop, the more opportunities become available to you. Upskilling allows you to stand out from the crowd in the current competitive job market. Hop on to courses that help you stay relevant to the industry and not lag you behind —Shadow someone in your company with these newly identified skills. Start contributing as a subject matter expert to your peers. Collaborative learning is important. Every person requires different workouts to build the part of themselves that needs the most attention and focus. So it’s necessary to plan and implement your own learning workouts to become the best professional version of yourself. Embrace mobile learning: Remote learning is not just for our kids right now. People often use Google and YouTube in the flow of work, and eLearning should be no different – after all, it is just another resource that can be used to craft skills. Leaders as Coaches Shifting a leader’s style from managing workloads to coaching employees takes thoughtful efforts by both the leader and the organization. Here’s how to make it happen. Get to Know Team Members on a Personal Level Great coaches build relationships that make individuals feel valued and understood. They take the time to evaluate strengths, provide ongoing guidance and connect on a level that builds trust. To achieve this, you must genuinely know your team to tap into their strengths and understand how to best support them. Start with empathy and patience. Especially in a crisis, we cannot forget that we are all human – and tapping into that humanity is the foundation of leading in such uncertain times. Understanding your team or workforce as individuals is paramount if you’re going to help them navigate the uniqueness of their situations. Are their children’s schools closed? How are they managing the multiple roles family members are now playing together at home? Do they have loved ones in high-risk populations? Are they in an area with reduced or overwhelmed health systems? Find ways to bring these stories to the surface. Being virtual requires creating space for these chance encounters to occur on purpose because they won’t work by happenstance, and the unsaid will remain unspoken. You can’t help if you don’t know what they need help with, and that requires spending extra time reaching out and listening. If you do this well, you might find yourself building deeper personal relationships. Double down on deepening trust between employees and the organization, and communicate authentically. Employees (and leaders) are swirling. They need to know they are going to be taken care of . They can rest assured their employer acknowledges their situation and is doing everything they can to ensure business continuity with a heightened appetite for flexibility. Day-over-day, the needs of people are going to change . Find and highlight the silver linings, the human moments, and the fun. There is plenty of pressure to remain in intense problem-solving mode. There is logic and reason behind doing so, as it is true we have little to no time to waste. However, our ability to respond with the big picture in mind and open people to what is possible is dependent not just on logic but on passion and energy (the Heart we keep mentioning). As humans, we need moments of brightness, levity, connecting more deeply with each other and unlock our creativity. This is a simple concept but requires us to take the time to work it into our days of virtual connection . And a final thing: as a leader, take care of yourself, too. You may not know what you need right now: you too have never been in this moment, under these circumstances. Sorting this out for yourself will only amplify your appreciation for those around you who are also trying to do the same. This is an extraordinarily equalizing time – a shared human experience. Lead from that common denominator, and you will position your team to Thrive through the uncertainty. Organizations and Blueprints Organizations have been forced universally into programs of rapid and drastic transformations. In many cases, this has caused a rapid rethink on how work should be carried out virtually. The pandemic resets major work trends . HR Leaders need to rethink workforce and employee planning, management, and performance and experience strategies. The recent Gartner trend shows 32% of organizations are changing to contingency workers as a cost-saving measure. The pandemic has forced the pendulum of a long-observed pattern to an extreme. As the pandemic subsides, the global merger and acquisitions (M&A) will rise to their peaks. Companies will focus on expanding their geographic diversification and investment in secondary markets to mitigate and manage risk in times of disruption. This rise in complexity of size and organizational management will create challenges for leaders as operating models evolve. Organizations must transform to: Embrace New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman’s perspective that humans who want to adapt in an age of acceleration must develop “dynamic stability.” Rather than trying to stop an inevitable storm of change, Friedman encourages leaders to “build an eye that moves with the storm, draws energy from it, but creates a platform of dynamic stability within it.” Leverage the opportunity to return to work by designing the future of work, employing the lessons, practices, and goodwill they built during their accelerated crisis response Design work for well-being by redesigning work towards output instead of activities Target programs and policies that bring out workers' personal best while affording them health protections need to work safely. Use technology as an augmentation or collaboration strategy instead of purely substituting humans with technology. Invest in resilience for uncertain futures. Follow Gauri on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info. Read more from Gau ri ! Gauri Kacherikar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Gauri Kacherikar is a global business leader and has extensive experience working with the Nordics. She comes with unique capabilities and has led businesses across diverse sectors, including Public and Healthcare, Financial Services. She believes her learnings from the Stockholm School of Economics have contributed to her futuristic approach and thought leadership. As a Coach, she brings an uncanny ability to nurture, coach people to achieve their goals, and advance their career paths. Her mission is to empower women to grow as successful entrepreneurs/corporate executives. Her signature program, "MidLife Energizer," has helped women transform their lives and dreams to find their purpose. "Build Your Executive Presence" is another program that has assisted women in their career trajectories. She has been recognized by the Swedish Royal Family for her gender equality initiatives and is a winner of the Sandvik India Diversity Awards.

Written by: Danielle Perlin-Good, 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. Over the years, I’ve received many questions about writing, editing, and marketing books. Yet the most simple—and prominent—question I’m asked is, “Where do I start?” While a great book coach can certainly guide you in the right direction, you’re still responsible for your own content creation and deliverables. A ghostwriter can help unearth the stories inside your soul onto the page, and a great ghostwriter will also work with you to craft a beautiful manuscript by creating scenes with sensory detail. Ghostwriters can help you determine which stories make it into the manuscript and which stories may be saved for another book. A ghostwriter will work with you one-on-one to uncover and understand your story, your main themes, and your target readership in great detail. Think of hiring a ghostwriter as a part of your publishing team and a fantastic resource to shed light on what’s most important to you in your life. You have way too many responsibilities already. You’re a very busy entrepreneur who’s booked solid for months on end. You may have family obligations. You may volunteer at your local animal shelter. You don’t want an added responsibility of writing a whole book yourself, even with a coach. You can’t take on another large responsibility in your life and still maintain your other obligations. You cannot possibly create enough time in your calendar. Your calendar won’t allow you to write your own story. You have time to run through previously written content, yet you can’t possibly take the time to craft original content. You need a ghostwriter to help alleviate this roadblock. You’ve never written a book before. You enjoy writing for your job. You may like journaling, and you may love creating simple captions on LinkedIn. You may even dabble in creative writing. Yet you continuously ask yourself, “How do I even start the process of telling my story?” You may find that frustration takes hold of your body, mind, and soul, and you’re unable to understand how this project will come to fruition. A ghostwriter will work with you closely on the overall organization and structure of the manuscript. You have significant emotions tied to your story. When going back in time to traumatic events in your life, it can be difficult to write about these experiences in your book properly. A ghostwriter will be able to interview you calmly, eloquently, and effectively, getting these stories out of you and showcasing how these events can help your book become exactly what it needs to be. Unfortunately, most of my clients have experienced some traumatic event in their lives, including sexual abuse, verbal assault, and domestic violence. While working through these emotions, a great ghostwriter will acknowledge your experiences and ensure the readers understand the significance as to why these stories made it into the book. Hiring a ghostwriter will, in fact, get you significantly closer to publishing your book. Connect with me on LinkedIn, or check out my website for more information! Read more from Danielle! Danielle Perlin-Good, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Danielle Perlin-Good is The Written Legacy Coach. She works with emerging C-suite leaders to unleash their memoirs, self-help, and personal growth non-fiction books so they can share their powerful legacies and transform lives. Since 2008, Danielle has written and edited hundreds of articles, books, social media content, e-newsletters, and more. She went from working overnight shifts at the Tribune Company to corporate digital marketing gigs, one of which was at Albert Whitman & Co., an esteemed children's publishing house. Danielle uses mindset techniques, exceptional editing skills, and quantum healing modalities to ensure her clients develop a beautifully crafted and publishable book that they will forever cherish.