Written by: Alaina Schwartz, 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 ever feel exhausted? That is growing and scaling your business is not meant to be this hard? Do you believe that there has to be an easier way to scale your business? A way to go from the constant hustle and grind to flow? To do that, there are certain principles that you must follow. These five principles will not only impact what you do right now. But have the potential to impact your business and your life for the next 10 years. These are often the key critical pieces that most entrepreneurs overlook. Without these principles, it’s hard to grow predictable income and get off the rollercoaster. These five are all necessary to scale to a 7+ figure business: 1. Energy It won’t matter how great your systems and strategies are or if you’re disciplined. If you’re draining your energy, drinking 10 cups of coffee a day to keep going, working 50+ hours a week consistently, your body will give out. It’s science! To maintain optimal, peak performance, you must give your body what it needs (self-care, healthy nutrition, movement, sleep, love!) to thrive. (Some studies show that your productivity level declines working more than 50 hours/week, to the point that any extra hours beyond 55 are pointless). 2. Clarity Knowing what matters and what doesn’t. The key is making progress on the right activities. If your action is focused on the right things that move you to the lifestyle you want to live, if you are connected to your internal guidance, so you’re not constantly searching outside of yourself for what to do, you will have the clarity necessary to achieve the success you want. 3. Structure Structure = Freedom. Adequate systems to make sure you are efficient as possible, daily routines to maintain your energy, practices that keep your mindset invincible. The structure will allow you to measure progress. What gets measured gets managed - you will see incremental improvement or falling short to course correct. 4. The Right Attitude High-achievers do not let the economy, COVID, age, political climate, competitors, environment, past, or failures/setbacks hold them back. An attitude of gratitude, consistency, persistence, and faith will overcome any challenge and turn it into opportunity. 5. Accountability The more successful you are, the more support you need. The proper accountability will help ensure you don’t stay small and play a much bigger game - the game (purpose) you came here to fulfill. You stay on track, focus on the right things, and execute with speed (money and success love speed!). Even better if your accountability comes from someone who has already done it or helped others get where you are going. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Lastly, the proper accountability will also ensure that 1-4 above are on track and show you the fastest path to the life you want to live. If you’d like to scale with lightning speed while shaving 10-30 hours off of your work week so you can live the bigger purpose and lifestyle you started your business for, I invite you to connect with me here on LinkedIn. Here’s a free case study to watch. For more info, visit Alaina Schwartz and follow Alaina on Facebook and Instagram. Alaina Schwartz, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alaina Schwartz is the Founder & CEO of Alaina Schwartz Enterprises. She’s a speaker, author, and Business & Mindset Mentor. At 14, Alaina suffered a traumatic brain injury, and her mother was told she’d have permanent brain damage. Her mother retrained Alaina’s brain for a full recovery. Then, after 18 years as an attorney in the music industry and the EVP and Exec Board Member of the largest independent music company globally, she walked away from it all to discover her purpose. Her personal life completely unraveled. She became hyper-focused on building her life purpose and rewiring her brain again for success and fulfillment. She has created multiple six-figure companies and a beautiful life since. As a business and mindset coach/mentor, she uses those experiences and her training as the foundation of her work with entrepreneurs, helping them scale their income & impact while working 20+ hours a week less. Alaina’s mission is to help people remember who they truly are so they can live their purpose and full potential.

Written by: Laura Harstad, 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 began my entrepreneur journey, I signed up for courses, connected with coaches, learned how to do social media marketing, and started building a business. But I soon realized that even if I could create the perfect funnel, the secret ingredient essential to my business's success was bravery. I remember planning my first big virtual conference, and I decided to send an invitation to the top expert to be a keynote speaker at my event. I never expected to hear from them, but one day, I received a phone call. After a few seconds, it dawned on me that I was speaking directly to the expert! We talked for over an hour, and by the end of the call, she had agreed to speak at my event! Being brave enough to reach out to this person led to the incredible privilege and honor of having her as a keynote speaker, and a few months later, she asked me to produce and host her event! Just one moment of bravery led to a life-changing experience. One moment of bravery might be all that’s keeping you from the next level in your business. One moment of bravery might be the one thing needed to make a difference in someone’s life. One moment of bravery could change the course of your life forever. Bravery can be infused into all aspects of your life and business. As an entrepreneur, I could easily list hundreds of moments of bravery: Hitting publish on my first “Hey everyone, I have a business!” social media post. Investing in a business coach before I was making any money. Going live on Facebook for the first time. Leaving my stable job to become an entrepreneur. Choosing to spend time with family over work. Do you wish you had more bravery in your life? Here are three tips to get started: 1. Don’t limit your self-worth. Many people think, “I can’t reach out to that person. I’m not important enough.” If I had let that thought win, I wouldn’t have connected with the keynote speaker for my conference! We are all worthy and have deep value. Never compare yourself to someone else and think you’re not as good as them. Each person in this vast world of ours brings something wonderful and unique to the table. 2. Get really clear on your why. Bravery will seep into your bones if you are passionate about your purpose. Nothing will be able to stop you! There won’t be room for fear or doubt when your drive is based on a deep and clear purpose. Take some time to ask yourself - why do I want to start or grow a business? What matters the most to me in life? 3. Don’t let other people tell you what to think. Unfortunately, many people get pushed into a box because of the limiting beliefs of other people. They are told, “That’s your business plan??? It’s never going to work.” or “Why would you leave a stable job and income? You’re going to ruin your life.” We listen to the voices around us instead of being anchored in our purpose, worth, and what brings us joy. Dream big and stop listening to the doubts of people around you! Today, I celebrate all of you who were brave enough to follow your passion and create your path, and I encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect on your incredible journey so far! We all have the same number of hours in a day. Choose to live bravely! At Beyond Brave Co., we are passionate about lifting up entrepreneurs and helping them to live, love & give bravely in life and business. Connect with us today and completely transform your business! For more info, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Laura! Laura Harstad, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laura Harstad is Vice President at Beyond Brave Co., a company that proudly focuses on serving female founders. Their mission is to help female founders build brave leaders and teams so that they can experience joy and success both personally and professionally. Laura has produced and hosted numerous online events including a live show called "Coffee with Laura", where entrepreneurs shared powerful stories about overcoming obstacles and pursuing their dreams. She is also an inspirational speaker - encouraging audiences to take brave action and live a life of purpose and joy. Prior to her journey as an entrepreneur, her career path included 18 years of combined experience in education and non-profit organizations.

Written by: Mendy Linden, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In summary, having or finding purpose is overrated , everywhere you look people are talking about finding purpose and how to find yours. It has become a collective obsession, which keeps so many of us cornered. You may be a person who is experiencing or had the experience of having some troubles in your life . You want to have a life purpose . The lack of purpose makes you feel empty and insignificant. We think that having purpose is the key to feel significant and valuable. That bringing value to others is the way of being important. We crave feeling important, valuable, and meaningful. We also think that this can only be accomplished by walking the path of purpose. The internet and social media seem to be filled with people who found theirs and live it out, out loud. But for you, somehow, it doesn’t click, and it makes you want to cry. You are looking and searching. You may start something, and halfway through, it doesn’t resonate anymore. What is going on here ? Why is it not working for me? What is wrong with me? Nothing is wrong with you, darling . There are so many people like you, thinking you need to have a purpose of having a meaningful life. Allow me to shine some light on what is happening here. Spirituality and Purpose When troubling things happened to you, there is a huge chance this has brought you to the path of spirituality. This path seems healing and soothing. Which it definitely can be. But it also carries a stigma that everything should be love and light. And if you can’t make it through the day without constantly checking your thoughts and emotions, something is wrong with you. Because so many others are doing it, right? There must be something wrong. There is nothing wrong, what is happening is completely normal, but you don’t hear much about it because people are afraid of being rejected or seen as incapable. This is shadow. Can you see how working towards the light is creating shadow? There is always shadow when there is light. We live in a dual experience . One can not be without the other. Somehow we collectively decided that having a purpose is the way to save your life. The Law of Pendulum Galileo discovered this law in 1602. Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist, astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher. This brilliant man discovered that the full swing of every pendulum movement takes the same amount of time, no matter how big or small the swing. How does this apply to us and our craving for having a purpose? When the pendulum swings out the extreme right, it has to come back and swing out , through the middle, to the extreme left. Therefore, if we fill our bodies with the good vibes of the light, we will eventually deal with the other side of the pendulum, the shadow. Meaning, we have to maintain light practices , journaling , meditation, visualization to maintain the energy. It is hard work. Undoable for many of us. Upper Limit Problems Comes With Life Purpose According to the HuffPost , this is what Upper limit problems means: When we hit the upper limit , meaning when we achieve success, happiness, or wealth, our ego tends to bring us back down within the lines ; in other words, our comfort zone, by giving us negative thoughts or behaviors that ruin what we’ve achieved – like losing all the money after winning the lottery or arguing with your spouse. How does this apply to us? It means that we need to shift our energy every day constantly . Can you see how the promised of living in the light has many ‘enemies’? How it is asking for constant work, alignment, adjustment, and management. But Most Importantly... Our experience of it not working out. The two reasons I gave here, pendulum and upper limit problem, fall into nothing compared to the evidence of our own experience. There is no one-size-fits-all in this matter. It is like everybody wants to wear the same shirt, same size, same color. For some people, it fits like a glove. Others look pale and ill, and others don’t even fit in it. Believing in we all need to wear this shirt ( a metaphor for: living in purpose) and not being able to be making us feel extremely miserable. So sad, because there are many shirts (different sizes and colors) that would make us feel absolutely beautiful. We are an almost invisible group of people playing make-believe , working freaking hard every damn day, and still not thoroughly enjoying the fruit of the labor. It is the belief that something is wrong with us and we are doing something wrong that makes us believe more in this ‘shirt’ than ourselves. What is the alternative for living life purpose? It is living in art! The alternative is evaluating your need for purpose and detaching yourself from the need to be valued by others. Unhook Y ourself from the Grip it has on you . Investigate if the grip of this big yet invisible burden is worth the quality of your life. In my humble opinion, it is not. It is a waste of the quality of life you can live if the whole Life Purpose thing wasn’t even a thing at all. Stop Suppressing Shadow By not allowing shadow, by looking away, by making everything well with the management of thoughts and emotions, we bypass what is happening. We live in a dream state, especially when we are hooked to 1 truth. Our belief system is warning us of danger when we are presented with anything else. Generation after generation, we fear the dark, as we are scared of harmless spiders and mice. We fear what we don’t know. When we need to enter an unknown space in the dark, we are scared of the things we can not see. Especially when it has a reputation. Our bodies resist. Our hair stands up. Every sensation in our body is telling us to get the fuck out. But what would harm you there? There is this exhilarating feeling of exploring a new land . Exploring shadow is nothing less than this. Once we allow shadow in our life, it gets easier and easier. We get to know ourselves better and better. Be Aware of the Trap Through Nothing is more important than how you make yourself feel. Don’t fall into the trap of switching direction and going at this religiously without loosening the mindfuck of making it mean something. Don’t use it to become valuable and to matter. Start to Make Your Life a Piece of Art That is Your Life Purpose Not to show the world, not with the underlying energy of look at my art and value me, but from your intrinsic self-worth . But to free yourself from the grip of illusion and manipulation. And you could say, that is your Life Purpose. If you feel drawn or intrigued, join my F acebook group and connect with me on Instagra m and Linkedin . You can also visit my w ebsite . Read more from Mendy ! Mendy Linden, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mendy is the inspiring creator of the Self Leadership program ‘Living Free & Fulfilled’, about growing emotionally, mentally, energetically, and financially. She welcomes women to this self-discovery journey to uncover, understand and embrace their inner demons as a source of untapped potential and resilience to find their inner strength. Driven by an unsettling feeling of “not belonging,” Mendy is no stranger to the hurdles of life. The self-worth and preservation she found within are what fuelled her to embark on an adventure, transform herself into a happier and more conscious person, and become an intuitive guide for every woman wishing to change their life—helping them to rewrite their narratives. In the past 13 years, Mendy has helped clients, on a one-to-one basis, to achieve their life goals. She does this by providing her clients with the tools to face their fears and break the barriers that impede self-love, growth, fulfillment, and success.

Written by: Dr. Hynd Bouhia, 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 world has completely changed these past years, becoming all digital and relying primarily on technology, artificial intelligence, and networking. The sanitary crisis exacerbated the situation making e-commerce and digital transactions the main survival recipe for companies and businesses. This trend will carry on as new economic perspectives shape up and bring big hopes to business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporates. The question is, how could everyone play a part in that new trend? How can we ensure more entrepreneurs are prepared to master technology and be part of the digital world? To ensure that everyone has the same opportunities, how can we prepare and empower women to launch their own digital business and embrace technology? It all starts at the education phase and all the training that complements it and confidence-building and nourishes the capacity to lead from childhood. In particular, to have more women and young girls contribute to the digital transition, it is important to prepare them through the right programs and access inspiring women role models, which will get them ready to embrace technology and navigate through this fourth industrial revolution. The challenge is to get both boys and girls to choose scientific paths and get introduced early on to computer science and technology. Boys seem to be more predisposed to make that choice. Thus, computer science remains largely a man’s world, with few girls steered in that direction or earn programming credentials. This said, by staying enrolled through university, especially in STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—girls will positively impact girls throughout the larger community. So the focus today should be to ensure that there as many girls as boys going getting all the technical skills to feel part of the digital transition. Several statistical analyses have evaluated the many ways women add value to, generate knowledge in, and create new products or processes for the vital field of science. But despite ongoing pressure to boost their presence, women still represent a small minority of researchers. Today, we’re starting to understand better why, where, and how their numbers remain low and how much is lost with their absence from field or laboratory and innovation and technology. The new motivational and inspirational book “African Girl, African Woman” shows how preparing women and empowering them through the right programs and access to inspiring women role models will get them ready to embrace technology and navigate through this fourth industrial revolution. The book calls all women to improve their skills and knowledge to contribute fully to the development of their community and economic growth. This inspirational book demonstrates how agile, empowered, and tech-savvy females will transform the African continent for good. For that, several programs, networks, and initiatives have been launched to support women in technology, encourage girls to code and to choose STEM, and find inspiration and passion in the digital world. The book shows the importance of getting women involved in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning programming to avoid the creation of biased algorithms and mechanisms. Several women leaders and role models have been successful in the technology sphere and managed to rise through the corporate ladders and beyond the glass ceiling. These women leaders in tech are inspiring role models for all women around the world to look up to. Silicon Valley, where the tech boom started, announces the Year of the Women on a perennial basis. This makes some sense; women have, after all, made progress in technology and entrepreneurship. Yet they face such persistently discriminatory and sometimes openly sexist barriers – hiring, promotion, access to venture capital – that Silicon Valley is, to this day, still regarded as a nearly exclusive boy’s club. Those brave and determined women who crash this fraternity and succeed are even more remarkable and worthy of becoming stars for all young women. The future of entrepreneurship is taking the form of tech startup companies. The trend was accelerated with the sanitary crisis and the lockdown. People are reinventing their way of working to survive through the crisis by moving everything online. Being tech-savvy is becoming the norm for success. Companies are turning digital, and both women and men need to be prepared to embrace this pivotal change. Finally, the digital world is reinventing itself in every region of the world to fit the need of its young and booming population. A large trend of adaptive and frugal innovation is attracting millions of entrepreneurs to surf on it. Yes, each country and city harnesses and adapts technology in unique ways. This is why it is important to prepare boys and girls for a technological transition early on through STEM disciplines and raising awareness. This attention should be emphasized for girls in particular. They seem to be lacking the right motivation and support to boost them through a scientific career. But the call to become digitally savvy is for both girls and boys. They should develop the right tools at the right time for them to shape their behavior, build their confidence, and help them develop the necessary attitude to be part of the large pool of tech entrepreneurs who are taking over the world! For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Hynd! Dr. Hynd Bouhia, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Hynd Bouhia has cumulated more than 20 years of professional experience in high-level and leadership positions, covering investments, financial structuring, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development strategies. Hynd Bouhia was nominated by Forbes among the 100 most influential women in the world in 2008 and the most influential women in Business in the Arab World in 2015 and honored as a member of the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars in 2018. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University (GSAS 1998), an Engineering degree from Ecole Centrale Paris (1995), and a Master from Johns Hopkins SAIS (2000), Hynd Bouhia started her career at the World Bank in Washington before joining Morocco’s Prime Minister as an economic advisor. She was appointed in 2008 as the Managing Director of Casablanca Stock Exchange. After that, she structured and managed investments and venture capital funds. As the CEO of Strategica, she advises entrepreneurs, companies, and institutions on economic intelligence, sustainable finance, and growth strategies. Dr. Hynd Bouhia is the author of the motivational book for women entitled "Africa Girl, African Woman: How agile, empowered, and tech-savvy females will transform the continent for good."

Written by: Alix Rufas, 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. Ego stories. We all have them. These are stories in our heads that keep us small. The ego is there to protect us, to keep us safe and in the known — inside our comfort zones. This is how ego stories might sound like in our heads: Let’s not take too many risks here Let’s play it safe and stay in the known This is too scary. Let’s divert into a distraction instead I’m not an expert yet, so I better not share what I know Other people will judge me; I better not put myself out there I’m not good enough yet; let’s “learn” a little more behind the scenes before actually creating value for others... But also: Why am I not there yet? Why haven’t I made it yet? Why does my path to success take so long? Why do others seem to have it better? Ego stories shame us for not being “further ahead” in our lives while simultaneously getting loud every time we seek to grow and expand outside our comfort zones. It’s important to know how to recognize our ego stories and their attempts to sabotage our growth if we seek deep fulfillment and satisfaction in our professional lives. The best way to counter disempowering ego stories is to tap into the voice of our higher self. Contrary to our ego, our higher self wants us to trust, have faith, and tap into a much more empowering take on life. Our higher self wants us to tap into our unique blueprint of skills, personality, superpowers, life experience and leverage into the world to create value in our unique way. This is how our higher self tends to sound like: Dare to access your unique truth and vision Know yourself; it’s all already within you Trust the above, follow your intuition and take steps accordingly Dare to create value for the world in your unique way You creating value in your unique way is *more important* than your fears You are here to step into your most authentic life path fully The more you embrace your most authentic life path, the more the universe has your back, and the more likely you are to create true fulfillment in life Embracing our higher self requires us to allow ourselves to access it in the first place. It requires us to learn how to take away the power from our ego stories. And it requires us to take powerful action in alignment with our higher self, not our ego stories. If you feel like (re)connecting to your higher self, I invite you to head over here to request your free 15-minute guided audio in the yellow pop-up you’ll see appearing. My “future-self” guided meditation is an all-time favorite of my clients worldwide and moves many to tears when they let themselves be guided. Make time to tune into your higher self. Learn to trust that voice. Take consistent, powerful action in alignment with it. Take the ego stories off the driving seat. And watch your most authentic (professional) life bloom. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alix! Alix Rufas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Alix is a Full Potential Speaker and Coach, empowering women worldwide to build their most fulfilling professional lives. Before growing her current coaching business and its team, she started several other ventures; worked for the International Labour Organization (United Nations), several universities, and a start-up accelerator. ​To date, she has individually coached 300+ female leaders around the world. She has led 10 leadership retreats around Europe; and given 50+ public talks. She has also created multiple online programs and transformative digital experiences. Alix is incredibly passionate about and committed to empowering women worldwide to thrive on their full professional potential.

Written by: Kelisha Mills, 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 started listening to thought leaders on the Clubhouse app. I love this app because you can hear valuable information daily from celebrities and experts for free. You also have the unique opportunity to speak directly to these experts when you are invited to the stage to ask them a question relating to the topic chosen. Now, imagine you have thirty seconds to ask Oprah or Kamala Harris a question about success or business. What on earth would you ask them? I was fortunate to be invited to the stage to ask a question to some influential businesswomen. I live in the Caribbean, and my question was how to market my product in the US while living internationally. However, I beat around the bush so much with irrelevant chatter that my question was not straightforward. This prompted the amazing and accomplished Forbes Riley to interject. She noted that, after all I had said, she did not get what the real question was. I felt horrible but empowered to do better. This caused me to research “how to ask great questions in the presence of influential people.” Not only will you pique their interest, but you will immediately be put on their radar as someone who is focused and knows what they are about. When you ask great questions, you... Get clear on what is important to you. You’ll receive advice and solutions to your challenge. Become a better thought leader through increased knowledge from a mentor Become connected with the expert who brings opportunities for future partnerships Spark an intelligent conversation that elevates your awareness of a topic. In my research, I found the definitions for the word “question” were quite interesting. The Merriam Webster Dictionary notes a question is: 1. A n interrogative expression is often used to test knowledge. 2. A subject or aspect in the dispute or open for discussion. 3. A subject or point of debate or a proposition to be voted on in a meeting. 4. A n act or instance of asking. 5. T orture as part of an examination. 6. R oom for doubt or objection. In essence, the question asker is in a state of not knowing. However, the way they seek the answer can be good or bad. As business owners, especially women entrepreneurs, we can sometimes find ourselves on the bad side, meaning we are constantly questioned. Most of the time, it’s by our children, spouse, friends, family, and especially when it comes to funding. Therefore, when it is our time to question someone else, we have difficulty expressing ourselves. It happens to me when I’m in rooms I feel I'm not qualified to be in. So, let's learn how to ask great questions! 1. Get clear on the purpose of your question Why do you want to ask this question? Whose progress is it relevant to? What benefit will the answer bring to you, your clients, or your network? Is the atmosphere right to ask this question? Believe me. Some people ask questions knowing very well that they know the answer, only to rebut with intellectual concepts to make themselves look smarter than the person they ask. I have seen this time and time again at conferences and meetings. The ethical approach would be to think about what you don’t know about the topic at hand and formulate your question that would: a. extract the deep thoughts of the person b. spark further dialogue on the topic c. brighten the spark in their eyes and allow them to express their passion Questions that can achieve this response from the influencer will cause them to share more than they usually do in public settings. This gives you the power to be the initiator of insights from the person and places you in an advantageous position in terms of being on the same level as them, even for a moment. 2. Introduce yourself in less than 30 seconds This is also known as your elevator pitch. When you are in a setting with high-quality people, you have a golden opportunity to let them see how beautiful and smart you are. So, if you skip over your name and what you do, you can lose the chance to connect with other persons in the setting who may be interested in your product or service. In 30 seconds, you should state your superpower and be relatable. Every setting is different, so your pitch should never be static or rehearsed word for word. Gain the skill of assessing the room and make assumptions about the person you are talking to by finding out all you can about their likes, dislikes, hobbies, family, and business. This truly sets you apart because it shows that you have done your homework. This also increases your “likeability.” 3. Leave the door open for other valuable contributors Sometimes we have blinders on and look only towards the person we are asking the question. This closes the door towards others who have aligned businesses that can be very profitable if connections are made. To leave the door open, thank the person for answering your question and leave a call to action that is appropriate for the room, like, asking them to “slide into your DM’s on Instagram, or to connect with you on LinkedIn. 4. Find a way to store or repurpose your newfound knowledge So, what are you going to do with this information? Are you going to keep it for yourself or share it with others? Are you going to write an article or record a podcast? Find ways to share what you have learned. Sharing is indeed caring. This would increase your title as a thought leader. I have seen, especially on Clubhouse, that those persons who ask great questions go on to be called upon by the very influencer to host and moderate their rooms. I hope this article was helpful. I’d love to connect with you! Slide into my DM’s and let me know what the thing that stood out the most to you was. Follow Kelisha on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website. Kelisha Mills, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kelisha Mills is a wife, mom of 4, author, speaker, and Entrepreneur (BSc. Entrepreneurship) for over 13 years. Kelisha specializes in life makeovers for mom entrepreneurs, helping them gain the clarity and confidence they need to find symmetry to run a successful business and have quality time with their families.

Written by: Mags Thomson, 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 speak to so many people who want to write a book, so many! There is a high probability that you do too. The statistic that's usually quoted is that around 85% of people want to write a book, and only anywhere between 1% and 5% make it happen. If you want to be among the 1-5% (and you do), then keep reading! You probably have an amazing idea for your book. You know exactly what story you want to tell and how it is going to help people. You can about see yourself talking on the local radio about, or in your wildest dreams, Oprah is inviting you to her Soulful Sundays. So, let me ask you? How many pages have you written yet? I've heard every excuse in the world, from bad grammar to the time not being right, and from nobody would be interested in what would be the point? Let me tell you. I guarantee that you have a story to tell that can inspire others. You have something to say that has value to other people. You are full of stories and experiences that will make an amazing book! So, let me reframe some of your most stubborn limiting beliefs around publishing your book and get you on your way to your Soulful Sundays' interview. Limiting Belief 1: It Only Counts If It's a REAL Publishing House Some people seem to believe that being a published author depends on being in the good graces of a traditional publishing house. As if being self-published is cheating somehow because you didn't have to convince other people of the validity of your book idea. As a recovering validation junkie, I get it. It feels good to have someone else tell you that you are good enough or special enough. The truth is, though, that you already are exemplary and special enough. Plus, that a traditional publishing deal is not all it is cracked up to be. It certainly doesn't mean that your book idea is or isn't good or that you somehow have more or less value. All it means is that you are a safe investment. They look at your experience, at the size of your audience, and of course, they also look at book trends. But, you might be the next trendsetter. Have you ever considered that? An investment in yourself by self-publishing may feel scary, but it is also the most empowering choice you can make. Consider that a traditional publishing deal often means: You have no right over your writing. You still have to do most of the marketing and adhere to the publisher’s guidelines on that. You still have financial risk because if your book doesn't sell enough, you are often required to pay back some of your advances or buy up unsold books. You only earn a small margin on the sales of your books. Limiting Belief 2: The Timing Just Isn't Right. Newsflash! The timing is never right for anything. So, stop waiting for the bloody timing to be right and do it already! Oh, you were hoping for more? Okay! We are all busy entrepreneurs and looking to make the best decision about work-life balance. The truth is that this isn't going to change. Six months from now, you are still going to have a to-do list, your kids still need loving attention, your pets still need walks, dinner needs cooking, and your social media scheduling still needs to get done. The same is true for next year and the year after. I always say, time management isn't about time ; it's about priorities. Writing a book doesn't have to take as long as you think it might. The authors who join our House of Hives co-authored books generally take about two to three hours to write their 3000-word chapter. Free up about an hour a day, and you will be more or less done with your first draft in two months. Writing your book isn't really about time or timing. It is about the priority you give it and what value you attach to it. Besides a potential source of passive income, a book can create many opportunities for you and your business. In my previous article in Brainz Magazine, Five Reasons Every Entrepreneur Should Write a Book, Now . Limiting Belief 3: I'm Not Expert Enough You are likely much greater an expert than you give yourself credit for, but even if you're not. That's not a problem! The most successful books are the ones that tell personal stories of transformation and overcoming. Talk about your experiences and how they shaped you and your business. Share the lessons you learned and how people can apply them to their own life's challenges. You are an expert on you and your business, and the most effective way to get that expertise across is by telling the stories that helped you gain these insights. I've said it before ( here ), and I will say it again, stories are one of the most effective ways to engage your audience. Limiting Belief 4: I Write Bad That's what editors are for, my dear! Get a good editor to help you structure your writing and take care of your spelling and grammar (and for all the grammar fanatics out there: Yes, I know this subtitle is grammatically incorrect, it's for effect). I heard someone say recently, "It's called best-selling author, not a best-selling writer!" and I agree. Although your book needs to be written well, the most important part is taking your audience on an emotional journey with you. You are full of stories that will do just that. So long as you have that, it's a question of hiring the right experts to help you out. Limiting Belief 5: What If Nobody Is Interested? There are billions of people on this earth, and you think that none of them are interested in what you have to say? That is highly unlikely! Getting people to read your book is about getting visible. That can be a little daunting, but that's a limiting belief that is important to overcome in general, especially if you are an entrepreneur. You, your business, and your book will not be everyone's cup of tea, but you can pull in the right people by being deliberate about your packaging and promotion. You've found endless numbers of inspiring people and books in your life experience, and by that same principle, people will find you! Limiting Belief 6: I Don't Have the Skills to Publish and Promote a Book! Skills can be learned, and experts can be hired, so don't worry too much about the nuts and bolts of this thing; your stories, energy, and vibe. Those are the elements that truly matter. Everything else is just the dressing-up. This is exactly what we help our authors with at House of Hives. Whether they join a co-authored book or work with us on a solo project, we help with the editing, design, marketing, and even work with the visibility and imposter syndrome aspects of this journey. Are you ready to make your book a priority in your business? Book a call with me here to discuss our co-authored titles or the possibility of working on a solo book. Follow Mags on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit her website for more information! Read more from Mags! Mags Thomson, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Mags is a story coach, impact co-creator, and the founder of House of Hives. She helps female entrepreneurs and change-makers use their personal stories in their business, bridging the gap between emotive storytelling and strategic marketing. Together with developmental editor Karina Asti and event strategist Ana Gallo, she helps women co-create books and collaborative online summits to empower themselves and their brand.

Written by: Trisha Miller, 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 the phone rings, Mrs. Abrams startles, and her heart races. She looks at the phone screen to see who it is. It is not the hospital. It is her son. She tries to answer it, her hands shaking. Memories flood her mind and fill her body. She remembers when the hospital called and said she needed to get there as soon as possible because her husband would not live much longer. COVID was about to take his life. But he somehow escaped the killing and went on to fight, struggling for weeks to wean off the ventilator. After the phone call, her heart slowly returns to its normal rate and rhythm. She had started on medication for anxiety, and her son took over communicating with the medical professionals. She could not talk on the phone to anyone from the hospital. She just could not. After taking a week off to retreat into medication-induced rest, she was able to see her husband and hold his hand. She encouraged him to keep trying. Her voice softened by her altered state. He smiled at his troubled wife. He would eventually recover, breathe on his own, have his sense of humor back, and be able to walk again. Mrs. Abrams would be able to stop the medication and start smiling again, full of gratitude for the miracle that was her husband. Another phone rings, and Mr. Baron’s life is instantly transformed when he is told that he is being “let go.” Due to COVID, the business he works for is shutting down. Adrenaline shoots through his veins. Would he lose his house? He had just purchased his first home six months earlier, an accomplishment he had worked long and hard for. A doorbell rings, and the family looks at one another. Who would be visiting them? No one was allowed to come into their home. They have already lost their grandfather and uncle to COVID. They will not fail to protect themselves. They have learned a tragic lesson. The living room is suddenly filled with fear and mistrust. Two friends talk on the phone, and their voices begin to fill with tension. They disagree about whether their children should return to school. One thinks it is necessary for her child to be adequately educated and to socialize with peers. The other feels certain that if her child returns to school, he will bring home the virus and infect her aging mother, who lives with them. Both friends are adamant, and they both feel mistrust. We have been traumatized by the effects of COVID-19 on individuals, families, businesses, communities, societies, nations, and the world. Our trauma came in many forms: death, severe illness and debilitation, loss of jobs, disconnection from friends and family, restrictions everywhere, including children not going to school and seeing their friends, and economic fallout including evictions, failed businesses, and homelessness. Our trauma extended to extreme mistrust of leadership and government to protect us from the virus and rescue us from this fallout. Our mistrust expanded to conspiracy theories and blaming China for creating this disaster. The symptoms of PTSD can be seen in our individual and collective Post-COVID Traumatic Stress Disorder (PCTSD). These include nightmares of people dying, unwanted memories (like the phone call from the hospital), avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma, heightened reactions, anxiety, and depressed mood. Behaviorally, this takes the forms of agitation, irritability, hostility, hypervigilance, self-destructive behavior, and social isolation. Psychologically, this can include flashbacks, fear, severe anxiety, and mistrust. The mood is affected and can include loss of interest or pleasure in activities, guilt, and loneliness. Insomnia is common. And finally, emotional detachment and unwanted thoughts can occur. Refusing to wear a mask could be interpreted as avoiding being reminded that the virus is killing thousands of people a day. Self-destructive behavior comes in the form of increased rates of alcoholism and suicide. We feel guilty for potentially spreading the virus unknowingly, so we become more rigid with protective behaviors, including never going into a grocery store. We are filled with mistrust of others, not knowing what they do outside of work or outside our “pod.” We become irritable and sometimes agitated about our circumstances. Children are angry at COVID for keeping them from their friends for so long. We are filled with dread about another “wave” of death and destruction, if not from Covid, then from some new viral enemy. Has COVID-19 affected how we treat each other? We have always had racism in this country. COVID has intensified the mistrust and anger that underlies racial behavior. Asian-Americans have been increasingly targeted with violence, connecting them with the conspiracy theory that China created this virus to attack us. Hate crimes against Asians in this country increased by over 200% during the pandemic. Post-COVID Traumatic Stress Disorder has increased agitation, mistrust, heightened reactions, irritability, hostility, and hypervigilance. If a person was prejudiced before the pandemic, our collective PCTSD intensified it, leading to increased racial and ethnic conflicts. Brutality by law enforcement on black men and women became undeniable as phones videoed the harsh realities. People of every race watched these videos, taken up close, showing the true personal experiences of racial violence. These scenes and images then became further traumatizing to us collectively. We want to get vaccinated and immediately attend concerts, cheer at major league baseball games, and throw big parties celebrating our return to freedom. We see the light at what we hope is the end of the tunnel, and we are rushing toward the light. We envision ourselves relieved, with the dark clouds lifted. Certainly, we will be happy at last, we assume. However, trauma takes time and well-thought-out interventions to heal. The effects of trauma can suddenly burst forward when triggered, even amid our celebrations. When it does, will we recognize it as a symptom of PCTSD? If we do not, our healing will be prolonged; our symptoms could even get worse. If we recognize this, we can develop informed interventions, especially at the societal level. Will our collective heartbeats eventually return to normal rate and rhythm, like that of Mrs. Abrams? What will it take for us to heal? First, it is important to know that PTSD is difficult to treat and takes an exceptionally long time to heal. Treatment requires a professional who is trained and experienced in the treatment of PTSD. Time alone is not sufficient. Treatment includes exposure to the traumatic memories with professional support in a manner that helps the individual feel safe. The individual is taught techniques for pulling themselves out of the time machine that forcefully takes them back to the trauma. Meditation and yoga can assist the person in strengthening their ability to stay in the present. The stress response of the body, heightened with PTSD, is calmed through an increase in self-awareness and self-care. Coping skills are a necessary focus to rebuild resilience. Exercise increases both physical and mental strength and confidence. Group therapy can provide validating and inspiring support. The therapist-client relationship helps the individual begin to trust again, a step toward learning how and when to trust others. And finally, the individual must feel and process grief, forgive themselves for what they [possibly unconsciously] blame themselves for, and build trust in themselves. Can these methods be utilized to help groups of people heal? An essential component of any therapeutic approach is trust in the therapist or, in the case of a group, the people attempting to facilitate the healing process. Establishing that trusting relationship is the first step. Who is currently attempting to help us heal from the trauma of COVID? It appears that, in our country, it is our state and national leadership and the CDC. How will we be able to trust these people who are responsible for our healing? Furthermore, our current generalized mistrust is an after-effect of COVID on an individual's brain and a PCTSD symptom of the group. A powerful example of this on the individual level was reported recently in a reputable news publication. “Like a light switch, it happened this fast, this intense paranoia hit me, Ivan Agerton said in interviews. “It was single-handedly the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.” Agerton, a former marine described by others as a “a very self-aware, in-control-with-chaos guy,” had no prior history of mental illness. But after a mild case of COVID-19, he plunged into a state of hypervigilance, paranoid delusions, and auditory hallucinations that lasted months and required psychiatric hospitalization twice and anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medication. He very slowly and gradually improved but remained fearful the psychosis would return. This post-COVID psychosis is being increasingly reported. The New York Times discovered this mistrust on a group level when they asked their readers to write in and tell them how the virus has affected them. One person wrote, “For me, the pandemic has made the staggering demise of this nation’s collective faith in government abundantly clear to the point of absurdity.” Many who wrote in and can be heard in almost every setting in the country; in barbershops, family gatherings, co-workers sharing lunch, and friends talking on the phone. COVID has created mistrust and has exacerbated our pre-existing trust issues. The ability to trust is to see and accept reality and have confidence in our ability to cope with what we fear another might do. If a mother feels mistrustful when her daughter is assigned to a male teacher for tutoring, she is certainly not naïve. The reality is that some men are sexually inappropriate with teenage girls. There is also the reality that the school is liable for the safety of their students and therefore takes precautions to protect them. It is not JUST the mother’s job to protect her daughter in this situation. When she sees this as a shared responsibility with the school and explores how the school prevents and monitors these risks, she gains confidence in them. When she explores her OWN ability to protect her daughter and deal with her fears, she sees that she can coach her daughter to be empowered to protect herself. The mother also sees that she can cope with her worst fears and get her daughter and herself professional help if her fears are realized. Let us apply this to our current situation with PTSD. We must be able to see and accept reality. The reality of COVID is found in statistics of new cases and deaths reported to us daily and reports from the CDC on the latest research findings of how the virus is transmitted. Even more poignantly, the reality is felt as we see on tv body bags stacked in refrigerated semis and communities struggling to find places they can bury their dead. Recent research reports that one in three people knows someone who has died from COVID. Acceptance of this reality would lead a person to unambivalently wear a mask out of fear of catching or spreading the virus and to feel great sadness about the number of deaths this virus has caused. Next in the process of developing trust is to have confidence in our ability to cope with what we fear may happen. We have, indeed, lost our confidence in this matter. When we look back over the last year, we see poor coping. We see indignation at needing to wear a mask, inadequate PPE supplies, and politicizing this public health threat. Lastly, to trust, we need to see empathy, compassion, integrity, and reliability in those we need to trust in. With the political turmoil of the past year, many people could not find any of these qualities in national leaders. Our new leaders face a hard battle to regain trust. They must demonstrate empathy and compassion for the losses we have suffered. They must act in accordance with valuing human lives. They must do what they say they are going to do to protect us. We see examples of empathy when the leaders visit graves of those who have died from the virus or when they lead us in a moment of silence for those lost. Compassion is felt when we see leaders seeking to address the financial burdens caused by this virus. We perceive integrity when leaders report facts based on science rather than political agendas. Reliability is demonstrated by follow through on promised changes in laws that are needed to restore peace in our own country. Indeed, our leaders have hard work ahead of them to restore peace in own country. Their efforts will need to cover many bases in addition to the multiple challenges associated with managing this pandemic. Vaccines and masks will not calm our social unrest. Violence and hate crimes must be acknowledged, and genuine intolerance must be expressed. Actions must follow. President Biden and Vice President Harris visited Atlanta and condemned the shootings and rising hate crimes against Asian Americans. Biden stated, “…hate and violence often hide in plain sight. It’s often met with silence. That’s been true throughout our history, but that has to change because our silence is complicity.” Actions followed when legislation was introduced to ban assault weapons and increase oversight at the Justice Department of coronavirus-related hate crimes. As trust builds in our leaders, “interventions” can be pursued to address our societal symptoms of PCTSD. In Florida, a program is being implemented to teach children and teenagers “Computer Literacy.” This program seeks to give youth the skills to recognize misinformation on social media and the internet. In some cities, volunteers are organized to escort elderly Asian Americans as they walk to local destinations. Psychotherapy is now readily available via Zoom and advertised on social media, normalizing this method of gaining self-awareness and support. Exercise and yoga teachers and coaches offer classes online as well. Coronavirus has shown us our true colors, and some silver linings have appeared. During our lockdown and shutdown of sources of the arts, we have seen some innovative and inspiring efforts to keep access to the arts alive. Musicians play music on their balconies to the audience of their neighbors. Choirs sing on Zoom, and their voices are heard through YouTube videos. Art galleries offer virtual tours. Performing arts are kept alive with cast members recording scenes in their homes or outside and making this available to the public for a fraction of the price of a ticket to the theater. Many patients who have come back from the edge of death and survived COVID express their renewed appreciation for time with family and the importance of taking better control over their health. This silver lining is common, and if it lasts, it could change our cultural priorities away from workaholism and self-neglect and toward family-centered life and better health. This would have systemic effects, such as better parenting, lower crime, lower rates of drug addiction and suicide, higher rates of high school completion, and lower health care costs, among many other things. Post-COVID Traumatic Stress Disorder will be with us for quite some time. We have within us the capacity to heal and even grow from the traumas associated with this pandemic. We need strong leadership as well as strong bonds between us to recover. With determination, we can emerge better than before. Dr. Trisha Miller, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Trisha Miller is a Patient Advocate at a hospital in St. Louis, MO, and a Life Coach to clients in various parts of the country. Her decades of experience as a Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist informs her current work. Having worked as a psychologist with individuals of all ages and with almost all challenges, she can quickly understand the needs of the patients and clients she now works with. As a Patient Advocate, she assists patients going through major medical issues, such as those related to COVID, as they struggle to win their battles with illness and injury. She is a Certified Patient Experience Professional. As a Life Coach, Dr. Miller works with individuals looking to face personal and/or professional challenges and growth with the support and advantage of experienced, expert guidance.

Written by: LeAnn Smith, 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 get asked often by clients, and people in general, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They struggle with balancing their healthy habits and life’s twists and turns. They find themselves becoming easily unmotivated, which leads to frustration. It isn’t long before feelings of failure and disappointment creep in. The problem isn’t their need or want to be healthier but finding a consistent resolve to sustain their healthy habits. I get it, and I understand. The answer lies in a question. What is your why? More specifically, why do you want to be healthier? When I start with a new client, I ask them why they want to be healthier. I will typically get an initial response of "to lose weight" or “look good for vacation” or “to fit into my skinny jeans again.” These are great goals, but they aren’t life-changing, motivating reasons to remain consistent in your well-being. To get to the true root reason, I use the Five Whys Method. This method was created in the 1930s by Sakichi Toyoda, a Japanese inventor, industrialist, and founder of Toyoda Industries. The Five Whys Method is a problem-solving technique that asks a series of five questions, or five ‘whys”, to get to the root cause or answer of a problem. In our case, it is understanding or realizing your why to become consistently healthy. After explaining the method to my clients and working through the questions, they might end up with something like, "so I can manage my health issue" or "to not trigger a health issue" to “to start living my life rather than being a bystander.” See the difference in the statements? “To fit into my skinny jeans” isn’t motivating enough. It’s a great goal or side effect, but not enough to sustain you through life’s challenges. Now take a powerful statement like “to manage my health issue.” Your mindset shifts. Your resolve shifts. One is vanity, and the other is about life or (potentially) death. That root reason becomes your motivation to be consistent in your health. To understand that a balanced, healthy lifestyle will have peaks and valleys. Keeping your ‘why’ in focus will bring you back into your wellness journey. It won’t be easy, but neither is living a life unhealthy, sick, on medication, or worse. To find your why, you have to keep digging. It may not be readily evident to you at first. Challenge yourself to move beyond the superficial “look good on vacation.” Remember, those are goals but not your true “why.” Once we truly understand our 'why,' we can put words into action. Our mindset and behaviors towards living a balanced, healthy lifestyle will shift. Your reason for eating healthier will shift. Your purpose for exercising will shift. You will connect the dots between your “why” and start doing the work. We realize the journey to better health doesn’t have an end date but, rather, a realistic approach to living our best lives. Having a clear reason or purpose can motivate us to keep moving forward. I highly recommend that people post their 'why' on the fridge, mirrors, or anywhere as a daily reminder. When you have a tough day, and we all do, you have that affirmation of why you are doing the work. To bring all the work we are doing back into focus. If you are finding yourself stuck on a never-ending cycle on your wellness journey, ask yourself the five why’s. Be honest with yourself. The answer might surprise you. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from LeAnn! LeAnn Smith, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine LeAnn works with clients that are ‘stuck’ in their wellness journey either by injury, illness, disease or otherwise. Her approach is to meet you where you are, partner together to create a customized plan to support your goals and lifestyle. LeAnn provides a full spectrum approach of wellness modalities to her clients with over eleven years of experience, such as Personal Training, Yoga Instruction, Health & Nutrition Coaching. Her motto: Welcome home, your vibrant self awaits! LeAnn also offers Corporate Wellness solutions for organizations of all sizes. With over fourteen years of corporate Human Resources experience, she brings a wealth of corporate, organizational knowledge and understanding and the ability to provide customized and engaging health and wellness solutions.

Written by: Jacqueline Rhule, 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. Throughout my 23yrs in business, going through the highs and the lows and of life in general, what has always guided me through has been my commitment to doing the inner emotional and mindset work. My overall foundation of a solid spiritual philosophy underpins and infuses everything I do — how I live and coach my clients in their businesses and the other areas of their lives. Without that, I would have very likely buckled, for good, and not kept moving forward, not dared to pursue my dreams, and not developed a resilience to the numerous things that can derail us. Back in 2015, after a culmination, up to that point, of profound personal growth, soul searching, and healing, I sat and wrote the letter below. I felt and still do that. It was so important a message to pass on to everyone. What if we only knew this? It could deeply inform and permeate our lives and help us to live our best lives now and in every moment. It’s what your soul wants you to know. So, here it is. Dear Amazing One, I thought it probably helpful if I introduce myself first. I am your Soul. That steady, constant presence that simply cannot leave you. I know where you’ve come from, and I know all your hopes, dreams, and fears. I only offer words of support, encouragement, love, and joy. You know when you’ve tuned into me accurately when the messages you receive make you feel good and don’t diminish the wellbeing of yourself or others. I always want the best for you and believe that you are unlimited. Above everything, I want you to know you are so worthy of being on this planet, just by being born and being “You .” When you can hear me clearly and consistently, we become a formidable team. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I am you, you are me - the same . Have to say, though, you do make me chuckle at times. Sometimes I’ve been throwing all sorts of signs and messages your way in answer to your questions and requests, but, momentarily, you’re looking everywhere else with your inner ear muffs on. Regardless, nothing could ever stop me from continuing to get your attention and continue loving you. I figured it would be highly beneficial to you to gather together a selection of some of my best messages on life and living at the end of this love letter. My desire is that when you are feeling lost or confused, angry or sad and in need of some comfort, you’ll read over these messages and that they’ll gently tug you back towards your soul knowing that, everything’s well and that you are always loved beyond words, no matter what. Things are always working out gloriously for you. You may as well acknowledge me fully as I could never leave you, so let’s get cracking on letting in those juicy dreams of yours. Hmm , now let’s see, what’s the next inspiring step to take? Love ‘n Hugs Your Soul xxx P.S: I hope this letter feels like a hug from the inside out. Always remember that life is rigged in your favor, and your high propensity to succeed is not to be sniffed at. It is your actual reality. P.P.S: As a treat, I’ve looked into my treasure chest of “Soul Messages” and plucked out x11 that I think you will just LOVE. I enjoyed composing them. I hope you enjoy reading them. 1. “Pssst, can I tell you a secret? A little birdy told me that the world is ready for your unique talents and take on life… well… what are you waiting for?” 2. “All things are unfolding in perfect timing. I know your preferred timetable, so sit back and let me handle things. All you have to do is hold to your end result and be open to the inspired action I’ll be sending your way.” 3. “Want to experience more miracles? Then increase your levels of faith that ‘everything is always working out for you.” 4. “Faith does feel amazing – try it. You can start with a teensy bit, then build it up gradually, until you are a walking bundle of ‘Faith.’ The ease that gives you in life is quite phenomenal”. 5. “Oh, the bliss of not being held back by fear. Now make a list of what you’d do… go on… I dare you…” 6. “There are times when you’re too hard on yourself. Just because you may have ‘temporarily’ missed your target doesn’t mean that all is lost. There’s an even better target just around the corner.” 7. “The advice you give to others is second to none, so whenever struggling with a decision, imagine you are talking to a friend, and that friend is you.” 8. “As in the words of the ‘Frozen’ song, ‘let it goooooo, let it goooooo...’, that is, worry, fear and stress.” 9. “Paradigm Shift: Believing is seeing, no way around it, so you may as well embrace it.” 10. “[Breaking News] We aren’t here to merely enjoy snippets of happiness. Life is meant to be good the MAJORITY of the time.” 11. “You have the ability to feel happy now, regardless of whether you have the money, the relationship, the house or car, etc., of your dreams. Now that’s what I call FREEDOM ” Now my lovelies, imagine knowing this so profoundly. What difference do you think it would make in how you show up in your business and the rest of your life? You’d take more chances, and those so-called “chances” wouldn’t be that. They would be “empowered choices.” All because you have your soul cheering you on, giving you boldness, because you know you can’t get it wrong. So please promise yourself that you’ll do your best to remember the heartfelt content of the above love letter and inspired messages. And if this article acts as a blessed reminder of your amazingness, I am very happy as that is precisely what I meant it to do. I love you, and your soul loves you. Always remember that. - Jacqueline x💛x Follow Jacqueline on Facebook, Linkedin , and Instagram. You can also visit her website . Jacqueline Rhule, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jacqueline Rhule is a Business Coach (Business Coaching With Heart & Soul) who helps entrepreneurs to grow their businesses with much more ease and flow and turn their passion to prosperity faster. She also coaches you in the other areas of your life to ensure an optimum work-life balance, all within the realms of personal growth, spirituality, and the law of attraction. She believes that most of the work lies in improving the mindset and clearing any negative thought patterns that are holding you back. When coupled with practical business steps and advice, an unstoppable momentum to success and greatly enhanced overall happiness levels can be achieved. Email her at jackie@serenitycoachingtips.com.

Written by: Alka Patel, 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’ve watched hundreds of TEDx talks over the years, engrossed by the storytelling, fascinated with the punchy messages. And at the end of each viewing, the same, recurrent thought, “I’d love to do a TEDx talk.” Then one day. I just changed the words from, "I’d love to do a TEDx talk” to, “I’m going to do a TEDx talk.” What happened next happened fast because I made it happen fast. When you know you’re going to do a TEDx talk, you know exactly what you want to share with the world. Not just want to share but NEED to share. Because the impact of what you need to share is that powerful. There’s no Richter scale. It’s a ripple effect that can’t be measured. TEDx is not about a talk. It’s about THE talk. And that’s why it took me just 58 minutes to write my speech. Because it already existed, somewhere deep, somewhere meaningful. Here’s what I did in 58 minutes: 1. Created a visual storyboard with 9 screens. 2. Added 9 pictures to the storyboard to capture the heart of the talk. 3. Added 9 captions under each image. 4. And then let my heart form words through my fingers – and out it, all poured without pause – in 58 minutes. I’d watched so many TEDx talks that I knew the 5 key elements that I needed to incorporate into my talk to create a lasting effect. Opening hook Closing question Catchy catchphrase Visuals Rollercoaster for emotion, story, fact. This took me 58 minutes. Because when you know, you’re going to do a TEDx talk, it comes with a sense of urgency. And when I start something, I get it finished. I’m a classic Belbin completer-finisher. My heart, my message, my life’s work, on paper, in just 58 minutes. What I quickly acknowledged once I’d written my talk was that here I was amid lockdown, with TEDx events suspended all around the globe, and yet it was that sense of urgency that held me steadfast to my words, “I’m going to do a TEDx talk.” I found out that, like the rest of the world, TEDx had also pivoted into the virtual space, with opportunities now to record a TEDx talk yourself. I explored virtual TEDx events and found out who worldwide had virtual events coming up in the next month. I sent pitches to 3 event organizers, and within 72 hours of saying out loud, “ I’m going to do a TEDx talk,” I received my yes! An invitation to be a TEDx speaker. There was no time for coaching or mentoring or reading any one of the vast TEDx books out there. My talk had to be delivered in the next 28 days! I marinated in the elation of that moment. Closed my eyes. I visualized myself on that stage, except there was no stage. This was a virtual event. Yet, I wanted the magic. The black and red backdrop. The lettering. The iconic round red carpet. I wanted all of it. And within 10 days of my yes, I had it all. I recreated the magic of a TEDx stage within my own home. Carpet, backdrop, letters, lights, camera, action. Covered by the beauty of my red dress, I stepped onto the red carpet, completely naked and exposed by my every word. Listen carefully, and you’ll hear the quiver in my voice. Watch intently, and you’ll see the glisten in my eyes. And 18 minutes later, it’s a wrap. A few more shots from a few more angles for the camera crew and the day is done. It is etched in my memory, every moment. It took a single moment to say I’m going to do a TEDx talk. 72 hours to get my yes. 58 minutes to move my talk from heart and mind to paper. 10 days to step onto the red carpet, naked in a red dress. 28 days for my idea worth sharing to be spread around the world. 18 minutes for impact to be felt. What else can I tell you about how to write a TEDx talk in 58 minutes and deliver it to the world within 28 days? 5. Don’t pause – write without pausing. Write your whole talk in one go, beginning to end, without going back, without trying to correct what you have written. Do this to allow all the subconscious depth and meaning of your talk to flood through. 6. Connectors. Once you have written your talk in full, uninterrupted flow, go back and look at your connectors. How have you linked your different story elements together? Add these connectors in if they are missing, as they are essential to the flow of your talk. Every word counts, every phrase counts, every pause counts, and you need meaningful connection. 7. Write for the ear. How we write and how we talk are very different, and for the script of your TEDx talk, you need to write as if you are talking. Talking as you write will help you find the flow. Use easy language. Use everyday language. Include questions. As you write, talk out loud. 8. Check your word count. At an average speaking rate of 130 words per minute, an 18-minute talk will have 2340 words. Your talk will have pauses and variations in speed – aim for 2000 words to stay within the 18 minutes. For each of your 9 storyboard elements, aim for 220 words each. The elements don’t all need to be the same length, but it’s a useful starting point. 9. Perform for the eye. Your TEDx talk is a performance like no other. A monologue that’s acted. And like any performance, you need rehearsal—practice, practice, practice. Practice won’t take away your passion. Your passion will still show through as if you are performing each time afresh. Record yourself - just a simple camera or phone. Watch yourself back and look at where you can sculpt your performance for entertainment, education, emotion, and energy with a natural ebb and flow in your narrative to take the audience on a journey with you. Let the performance come from your heart. If you feel it, your audience will feel it. 10. Have fun. Expect a roller-coaster of emotion when you do a TEDx talk. Fear. Frustration. Sadness. Confusion. Fulfillment. Elation. Expect it all. It touches every nerve fiber in your body, every neurotransmitter. Experience it all, but don’t forget fun. When I decided I would do a TEDx talk, I bought myself a mini red carpet. Just a tiny 70cm circle that I’d stand on every day. And I loved standing on it. Barefoot. In my heels. I was playing with my dogs on it. That was fun. It made me feel grounded and ready. I had fun with my clothes too. What you wear matters. It helps you feel confident. For me, it had to be a red dress. Always. And I had a lot of fun trying on lots of dresses – and when it’s the one, you know! And when I saw my talk on the TED Talks youtube channel for the first time – that dance I did, what fun! One idea. One story. One catchphrase. One question. One red dress. One red carpet. That’s how to write and deliver a powerful TEDx talk – written in 58 minutes, recorded in 28 days, delivered in 18 minutes. Watch my talk: Health is a verb, not a noun. Follow Dr. Alka on her Twitter, Youtube channel and check out her website. Dr. Alka Patel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Alka Patel is a sought-after TEDx speaker, doctor, coach, author, and podcaster who amplifies health as a skill and an asset to inspire individuals and bold businesses to create compassionate lifestyle changes for happy, healthy living and connected workplace wellness. One of her greatest passions is empowering and equipping individuals and organizations to connect to their DNA- Discover, Notice and Activate who they are, what they want, and where they are going. She is the Founder of Lifestyle First® and Creator of The Lifestyle First Method® - a groundbreaking, research-backed blueprint for life transformation. She is the host of the acclaimed Lifestyle First Podcast. And she’s changing the definition of health!

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. COVID-19 disrupted the world in a way not known for decades, and its repercussions will likely change our lives for decades to come. But don’t despair. Some changes are good. Like learning to slow down, be creative at home, appreciate family and friends and truly connect in more personal ways. As we navigate this novel virus, we’re re-learning how to have meaningful connections with our clients, friends, colleagues, and family without putting them at risk. This is a novel challenge. So how do we extend greetings to the people in our lives? As a coach and counselor , I decided to take some time and learned about the kinds of greetings other cultures around the world practice – and many of us here at home that you probably took for granted. They may become meaningful practices for us in the days to come. Namaste and other ways we can share our greetings. Unless you’ve been living in isolation longer than the last month, you’re familiar with the word "namaste." In Hinduism, it means "I bow to the divine in you." It’s a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit word – perhaps even older – a gesture of respect and reverence. Your hands meet at your chest, and you bow to communicate your thanks to – or for – someone. While many of us on this continent only experience the greeting at a yoga class, it’s been a cultural norm in India for centuries. It’s a sign of genuine thanks and goodwill without touch. There is an equally meaningful greeting on the African continent that conveys a connection without a physical connection: Sawubona. In South Africa, sawubona is the Zulu word for “Hello.” There’s a beautiful and powerful intention behind the greeting as sawubona means, “I see you, and by seeing you, I bring you into being.” Wow, imagine being greeted like that! Wouldn’t that be more energizing than a half-hearted handshake or a forced and awkward hug? We all have an opportunity right now to redefine social contact and the authenticity behind it. Our lives have become increasingly impersonal with the use of technology to communicate. But in this age of ‘high tech,’ we realize now we had become extremely ‘high touch,’ as well. Touch is conspicuous in its absence during this time of COVID-19. Ubuntu So let’s seize this opportunity together and practice another social norm from the Zulu language: Ubuntu . Coarsely translated, it means “humanity,” but it’s often interpreted as, “I am because we are.” Here’s how Archbishop Desmond Tutu explained the concept: It is about the essence of being human… It embraces hospitality, caring about others, being willing to go the extra mile for the sake of another. We believe that a person is a person through other persons, that my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours… The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. Therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging. An anthropologist is said to have witnessed the concept of ubuntu firsthand – I’m not sure if it’s a fact or fable – when she put out a basket of fruit in a small African village, gathered the children, and challenged them to a footrace to the basket. Whoever got there first would get the most fruit. When the anthropologist started the race, the children all joined hands and ran to the basket together. She asked why, and one child responded, “How can I be happy when others are unhappy?” We’re in this together. The coming months are going to challenging. We’ll be relearning how to function as more separate beings physically while still working towards common goals – at home with our loved ones, at work with our clients. Yes, this virus is contagious – we can’t avoid that reality – but I firmly believe that positivity is contagious, too. It always has been. I use the word enthuenza to describe my spreading enthusiasm and focusing on positive and hopeful expressions, no matter the crisis or challenge we may be facing. It doesn’t mean hiding from the reality of our situation. It means taking an opportunity to rethink our relationships. Find new ways to explore them and build upon them. As coaches and counselors, it’s our job to navigate disruptive change for the clients under our care. Just as scientists worldwide are working to find a physical cure for this novel virus, it’s our responsibility to help guide people through the emotional changes that have come from this challenge. We’re changing the way we greet people, and change can be good. If you’d like to have a conversation about ways to keep a connection, I’d love to hear from you . We’re in this together. Check out my powerful online course on Conscious Living Mastery . 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.