Written by: Bronwyn 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. There are three parts to getting money flowing into your life. They are money IQ, money EQ and gratitude. Money IQ is your mindset around money. Money EQ is how you feel about money, how your body reacts to your thoughts. For your money to flow, it is not just your mindset but also your body. It is a mind and body experience. It is not only having a positive mindset around money but having a positive feeling around money too. There is equally an IQ and an EQ around money. Many people change how they think about money but overlook how they feel about money. If your body is not in tune with your mind, your body can equally block money flowing in the same way that your mind can. The IQ is how you think about money and what you learn about money. Many people learn how to trade on the stock market or buy and sell a property or do a Degree to earn a higher income, this is all money IQ. However, it goes further, money IQ also includes what you think about money as this translates into words and actions. If you believe money is evil or that you have to work hard to earn money, or that you can’t afford certain things, that will all translate into words and actions, which of course becomes your reality. These beliefs mostly come from childhood. You may have heard your parents or adults around you say, “No, we can’t afford that.” Or “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Or “Do you think I’m made of money.” These negative money mindsets or money wounds, as Ken Honda calls them, can limit your flow of money. It will show up as not wanting to ask for a pay rise, or when you are negotiating a salary, you negotiate a lower salary than your worth, or you are fearful when spending money. In business, it can show up as under-pricing your goods or services, or discounting unnecessarily. It can also show up by hoarding money or always feeling that you don’t have enough money to pay your bills or go on holiday. There are many ways a “money wound” or a negative money mindset will express itself. Then there is the EQ, your emotional intelligence as Ken Honda describes it. One can have a positive mindset, and still, the flow of money is blocked. If this is true for you, then check in with your body. If when you think about money, your body cringes, or you feel tight in one area of your body, then there is a block that needs to be cleared or released for money to follow. When your mind and body are not in sync, there will be inner turmoil, with your mind being positive and your body still holding negative beliefs. Although money will flow better than having a negative mindset, it will still be an uneven flow of highs and lows. When your mind and body are in sync money will flow more evenly, like your breath, in and out steadily. Money is a commodity and we think of it as such. However, if you reframe how you think about it and think of money as air or energy it starts to lose its negative power. No one worries whether they will have enough air to breathe tomorrow or next week, or next year. When you have a positive mindset and bodyset towards money, you know that you will always have enough money, and it will come to you easily and effortlessly. Money should flow in and out of your life just as you breathe in and out. So as money comes in, be grateful and as it goes out, be grateful. Florence Scovel Schinn said “Bless the money that comes in, bless the bills that come in as paid and bless the money that goes out as being replenished many fold.” Ken Honda says something similar, say “Thank You as you receive money and say Thank You as you spend the money.” I noticed that in this act of gratitude, my body relaxed and became more open. The amount of money that you are being grateful for does not matter, it is the act of gratitude that keeps the money flowing. So to have money flowing into your life easily and effortlessly, your mind and body need to have the same beliefs surrounding money. If money isn’t flowing steadily into your life, I can help you resolve it either in a one-to-one session or in my course. By Bronwyn Smith - Transformational Therapist Mindset Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist If you would like to learn more Join my Facebook group Mindset Revamp with Bron . Follow me on Instagram transformational_therapist or go to my website www.transformational-therapist.com to be placed on the waiting list for my upcoming course. Bronwyn Smith, Executive Contributor Brainz Magainze Bronwyn Smith is a successful Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist trained as a Rapid Transformational Therapist (“RTT”). Bronwyn was trained by some of the most impressive people in the industry. Tony Robbins and Chole Madanes as a Coach and Marisa Peer as a Rapid Transformational Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist. Bronwyn is passionate about working with business people and entrepreneurs to change their mindset to enjoy amazing success and wealth. Before Bronwyn became a Coach and Clinical Hypnotherapist, she was a Litigation Lawyer for nearly 30 years. During that time she built a successful practice with clients ranging from major corporations to mums and dads. Bronwyn also changed the Law of Demurrage in New South Wales. Bronwyn is the Transformational Therapist transforming people’s lives by showing them how their dreams can become a reality and changing their mindset around money, success, knowing that you are worthy and that you deserve the best, believing in yourself, overcoming obstacles and naysayers in order to live their dreams and create their best lives.

Written by: Sandra Daniele, 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. Why does the elephant keep showing up? Does it feel like every time you go to start something new or take a chance, that darn elephant shows up in the room? Fear not, you got this. Fear is the elephant. You know it’s there lurking, but you do not address it. You Find Excuses and Run. (FEAR) What changes if you face the elephant and stop running? Fear is not intended to keep you stuck , but it does play a role in keeping you safe. Traditionally considered a negative emotion, fear can also be powerful in pushing you past your pre-defined limits. Use fear to your advantage as motivation to push you forward. Fear gives you two choices; you have the choice to keep running, or you can do what Susan Jeffers says, “feel the fear and do it anyway.” You can change the circumstance of your experiences just by making different choices. Take the first step forward by addressing your fear and your thoughts around it. This helps identify your self-imposed roadblocks. Here is what you need to do, write a letter to fear. Let all your swirling thoughts run wild on the page. Allow yourself the freedom to sort through the emotions holding you back. Before I launched my coaching business, I wrote my own letter to fear. Dear Fear, I’m ready, it’s time to launch. I have been standing on the edge of the high dive board, waiting to find the courage to plunge into the deep waters below. I have been standing here for some time, frozen, scared, literally paralyzed by the unknowns. I want to jump; I want to explore this sensation of taking chances and trusting. I imagine the ripple of the splash when I hit the water, reaching others – maybe those who have jumped before me or maybe those too scared to climb to the top of the diving board. The jump itself will be quick, the thrill will be immediate and the relief when I hit the water exhilarating. Just jump, I say to myself. I wish someone would push me. The descent would not be graceful, but there would be no time for fear to take over. The person that pushed me knew and saw my potential for success, they knew the splash in the water would be the start of my next transformation and that my technique in making the splash could always be refined. Oh, fear, I’ve got the basics, I climbed the ladder, I surveyed the pool, I learned to swim. The work has been done, now let me go. I know there will be moments of holding my breath, gasping for air, and working hard to resurface after plunging in the water. I am ready to jump, fly, swim and survive. Let’s do this. Coaching here I come. SPLASH! Your turn to take the first step. What do you need fear to know? What’s possible when you let your emotions and thoughts flow without judgment or attachment to the outcome? Fear can be used to propel your dreams forward. It can be the starting gate for change, creativity and living a life you know is meant for you. Take a chance on yourself, and once you take the first step, be sure to thank fear for pushing you into the realm of unlimited possibilities. Looking for more ways to move yourself into action and past fear, schedule a complimentary Curiosity Call. Working with a coach can be the push you need to make your own splash and chase away the elephant. Go ahead, feel the fear, and take the first step. You got this! For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Sandra Daniele, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sandra Daniele is a certified life coach who has helped numerous women break through limiting beliefs that were holding them back from relationships, jobs and the life they desired to live. Sandra is passionate about joining women on their journey to self-love and acceptance while guiding them to confidently show up as who they are, not who they think they need to be. She has discovered the secrets to identifying what is most important in life and how to live authentically. She gladly shares these secrets with her clients. In her free time, Sandra enjoys beach yoga, reading and time with family and friends.

Written by: Fran Pedron, 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. Why? Why? Why? Why? You’ve heard that and said that since you were a kid. Today though, is your answer any better? Why creates chaos, stagnation, or power. Do you see yourself in each? There lies a great advantage when you know. Do you ever sit and wonder why? Why makes the world go round, either right-side-up or upside-down. For a kid, “why” is a learning curve. Children have the neatest way of offering time-interrupts, with why-this and why-that. Sometimes to the point of their parents throwing up their hands in frustration. Either you have grown out of that learning curve or live frustration daily, which might be from moment to moment. Adults, however, choose big people's actions, where the consequences surpass frustration. In the Cyclone Have you experienced any repetitive patterns in your life where chaos is the status quo? Events happen that hit your pause switch, and you feel like you’re in The Twilight Zone or experiencing Ground Hog Day over and over and over again. After a while, this becomes a living life pattern. The expectation is built, and the outcome is pre-determined. And the pattern has negative connotations. In your personal life: ruts are built; relationships end; self-destruction happens mildly or very in-depth. The list is limitless. In your professional life: raises are low or non-existent; promotions arrive slowly, or the invitation never comes; busy-work affects job performance; ostracizing is commonplace; and much more. What have you experienced in your personal and/or professional life? Dissatisfaction lingers in both areas. Frequently, there is bleed-over, and both are a blur. Movement is a challenge and often stops. Impossible Options Have you ever experienced a time where no movement happened in any direction? Many times, forward motion is non-existent, and stagnation is the continual word of the day. When this happens, life stops, similar to chaotic times. The outcome, however, is different by leaps and bounds. Health deteriorates, emotionally and physically. Finances bottom out. Hibernation is chosen out of depression, fear, and so much more. Many people choose detrimental action to stop the continual downward spiral. If you see yourself here or are experiencing these and similar outcomes, please reach out for help. Your local mental health professional can guide you in the right direction. Why directions also have power performance. Your Why as Your Biggest Win Knowing there is the power to be had in your why builds momentum. And your cry of victory is heard around the world. Your why discovery is a bountiful treasure. It opens your doorways historically blocked and often holds outcomes you never dreamed imaginably. Have you ever noticed a period in your life when all of a sudden an awakening occurred? That awakening destroys those cycles of defeat, ending life-stealing habits, chaos, and stagnation. Drilling down in your why gives birth to answers, unlimited possibilities, and positive outcomes. Start with your original “why” answer. Think about the result you were searching for. Why would reaching that outcome be important to you? How would you feel about that outcome happening? Do you see a pattern of enlargement and possibility happening for you now? As you continue to delve into each answer, ask yourself the next question. Repeat this process until you get to the root of your “why.” As you break through each layer, you begin to have clarity and direction. What do you want to do? IT. Why is doing this “IT” important to you? Why would “IT” happening be important for you? Why is “that IT” important for you? Go through this process for six to eight levels. Now in reflection: What understanding have you achieved? Do you still need to achieve this particular item/event in your life? How do you feel? How do you see yourself in the future? This process works for anything. Pause, take a breath, and build this discovery muscle. Know that any day you experience being inundated with “why” and stymied where to go next, you have an answer. An answer leading you into your Heart Driven Action, the reflection of your truth and your true passion. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Fran! Fran Pedron, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Fran Pedron combines intuition, education, and life experience to help clients understand their foundational self-definition, make changes, and intention-purposed plans, which align with who they are as they create their desired outcomes. Her experience in insurance, technology, accounting, communications, along with being abruptly downsized later in life, led her to understand how change affects people and their decision-making processes, along with the need to make decisions aligned with their authenticity.

Written by: Serena Fordham, 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. Being a self-employed mum with children of any age (but particularly if they are young) can be very challenging at times! If you are a mum who works for yourself, then I am sure you can relate to your brain's conflict between spending time with your children and working on your business – it’s a constant tug-of-war. I know I constantly feel guilty that one of these is suffering, as I haven't got enough time in the day to do everything! And as for household chores, I’ve found it’s easier to employ somebody, so now I have a cleaner (when pandemic restrictions allow)! So, here are my top ten tips for juggling motherhood and self-employment: 1. Make lists and prioritize. I like to have one list for both business and mum stuff to confuse myself by using separate ones. I also put everything in my diary, so nothing is missed! 2. Find amazing childcare. My children are now school age, so it’s less of an issue during term time. When they were younger, I was lucky to have my parents and in-laws look after the children whenever I needed them. Although I did still feel guilty when leaving them for a business-related appointment! 3. Prepare. Get bags, clothes, lunches, etc., ready the evening before. Mornings are the craziest for us! 4. Work when the kids sleep. Schedule work time for when the kids are in bed. A few hours every evening can help clear your work to-do list, and a full working day will! 5. Outsource work and ask for help. Take the opportunity to outsource some of the work you don’t need to do. I’ve been lucky to have some amazing ladies who help in my businesses, and they make me feel like all is not just on my shoulders. Plus, self-employment can be pretty lonely at times, so having a team to support me is lovely! 6. Find others in the same boat as you. Connecting with other self-employed mums who are in the same boat as you can help. Try joining a networking support group such as HER Business Revolution for support. 7. Get a box of tricks up your sleeve. When your children are at home, make sure you have a box of crafts or games that the kids can do themselves. This will keep them entertained if you have to make a business call or complete work when they are around! Even short bursts on a tablet or half an hour in front of CBeebies isn't going to do any harm either! 8. Schedule quality time with the family. Time with your family is very important as your kids grow up so fast. Even a quick trip to the park or reading them a story makes all the difference! 9. Don't beat yourself up. Don't worry if everything isn't done that day. No woman is superwoman (even though we like to think we are!). Just move stuff to next week's to-do list. It’s not the end of the world! 10. Make time for yourself. All this juggling can leave you shattered, so make time for yourself. I like to get my nails/hair done, visit the spa, or have the occasional afternoon tea! Although a long soak in the bath (with no kids) is even a nice treat! Feel free to visit my website & follow me on Facebook for more tips like this! Read more from Serena! Serena Fordham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Serena is an expert Business Strategist, Growth/Development and Empowerment Mentor to Female Entrepreneurs, and a best-selling Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, and successful multiple Business Owner. Her main passion is offering business strategies, support, and empowerment to ambitious and high vibe business women both locally and internationally – through HER Business Revolutio n . She is also known for her organizational skills by owning Glow Virtual Assistants and supporting women and child-related charities (also founding two charitable initiatives – Mums Empowerment Movement and SociaBubble).

Written by: Aida Dryjanski, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. How come there are times when you go inside a restaurant or a social gathering and felt either a sense of anxiety or even panic? Then, there are other times when you feel totally relaxed, at peace, and in alignment? All of us have felt both, either the elevated or the exhausting energies. Several factors determine factors that determine the levels of energy that you are vibrating. Factors like where we are, with whom, how do we feel, what we are thinking, and many other external elements that may vary along the way. But the reality is that your energy determines your quality of life. The way our emotions influence the inner and outer energies of our being will be manifested in our daily actions, feelings, and ideas. For example, if you are having a bad day, you probably feel sadness, anger, guilt, or probably you are frustrated or irritated. You are vibrating low, which means that your energy is depleted and low, and perhaps your health will suffer the consequences. You will feel tired, beat, ill. At the same time, your work will be impacted. Your results will downgrade as well as your productivity and creativity. Your efficiency will deteriorate, and most probably, even your relationships will suffer. On the other hand, if you are having an excellent day, your emotional levels will be vibrating on high levels of energetic frequencies that will make you feel joy, happiness, peace, love, calm. Consider this for a moment. There is no doubt that everything that surrounds us is energy, including us. Therefore, your energetic frequencies and vibrations will change according to your emotional condition, affecting and interfering with your physical, emotional, and mental states. If there is one thing you can count on in this world, it is inconsistency and unpredictability. Your journey in life is always a series of ups and downs. Challenges and opportunities that come and go. The only constant is you, how you will deal with all the adversities that you may face. If you feel drained inside, you will not accomplish your goals. But if you cultivate and regulate your inner emotions, you will be able to manage your energy that will help you endure anything that comes to you. You will shine and prevail. Is it possible to learn how to self-regulate your own emotions, consequently, to modulate your inner energy? The answer is yes. It is not an easy task, it takes work and the use of different methods, but it is possible. How? There are many practices and methods that you can use. In short, you can learn to be more in touch with your own intuition (yoga meditation, deep breathing). You can learn to be more conscious and aware of the present moment by focusing on what is really happening within yourself and your immediate surroundings. Practice understanding how to tune up to your inner self, how to “feel” your energy, and self-regulate your emotions, therefore, your reactions, passions, thoughts, feelings, and actions. Here are some ideas: Believe in yourself. Know yourself. The more confident, assertive, and satisfied you are with yourself, the less than external factors will affect or influence you. This also includes becoming aware of your own thoughts. Thoughts are also energy, and if you tend to be a negative and pessimistic person, it will disrupt your energy. Start to notice all the thoughts and words you say to yourself and others daily. Afterward, start using more positive and encouraging thoughts and words. When we lack faith in the process or ourselves, our energy is blocked. Practice Deep Breathing. Breathing exercises help you relax. Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body and the mind. When you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. Throughout your day, take time to stop. Close your eyes. Go inward and feel into where you are. Do you feel present? How do you feel in your body? Practice Take Time For Yourself Take time to renew and rejuvenate. We lived in a hectic world with non-stop activities all day long and surrounded by fast-paced distracting, and sometimes, even disrupting technology. Set aside some time every time you feel drained, sluggish, over-tired, and worn out. Disconnect yourself from the daily routine. If possible, try to connect with nature and breath some silence and peace. Calm your inner chaos. You will come back a new person. Hang Out with the Right People Certain situations or people can deplete our energy. Your circle should include people who motivate and inspire you and who believe in you—set boundaries. Be protective of your energy and avoid those who diminish it. .Try to notice, to feel, and to observe: What happens to your energy in the presence of others? How do you feel in their presence? Take note of your breath and your body. Do you expand or contract? Move your body, stretch your mind. If you are strong and healthy, if you eat well, move your body, exercise your mind (reading, painting, meditating), you will feel and become more motivated and inspired. Your inner self and your outer self will become stronger and more flexible. Start your day right. Your body and your mind will flow and expand because you are activating your whole being. Remember, energy can neither be created nor destroyed—but it can be transformed. It is your choice. I know it is not always easy. However, it is in your power to decide and take responsibility if you want to feel tired, sluggish, frustrated, angry, sad, or stuck, rather than alive, joyful, peaceful, encouraged, inspired, loving, motivated, giving. Be patient in learning how to master your inner self is a process, but it is attainable. Consider this. Your energetic field varies in frequency and vibration according to your inner activities, including your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, plus the external stimuli you receive through your senses. Therefore, you can start by being more conscious and aware of how you manage your emotions and energy. You can also be more alert and present in your everyday life. Take small steps… until you. Understanding that everything in your life is entwined and that what you do or do not do in one area of your life will affect the whole of it. In short, if you live your life congruently, in attunement with your inner self, all that you reflect will be an insightful, energetic reality that we all will perceive and that you will wish to emit and transcend. You will come out empowered and strong, fulfilled, and ready to embrace your life. By mastering your inner emotions and energy, you will master your life. Follow Aida on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit her website for more info! Aida Dryjanski, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aida Dryjanski is a Business and Mindset Coach and Consultant. She holds a BA in Advertising and Communication. She began working for Advertising Companies and a Publishing House, as well as Affiliate Marketing. After her mother suffered 12 years of a debilitating and painful illness, Aida decided that her mission was helping others going through life-shattering events. She holds certifications in Mindfulness, Focusing, Psychosomatic Integration, Emotional Intelligence and a Virtual Coach Graduate. Aida has her own coaching and consulting practice. However, there was a time when she struggled with her self-esteem and self-confidence. She felt lost and afraid. Until one day, she decided to change. And she did. Through lots of inner work, self-development programs, live workshops, and more. Now, she gives back. Her passion is helping women to renew, grow, and transform themselves, their business, and their income at any age. She does this through one-to-one sessions, group sessions, online courses, programs, and more. Aida not only helps her clients navigate and strengthen their mindset and emotions, but she gives them guidance, strategies, and whole-heartedly support. Her clients emerge renewed, transformed, and ready to achieve their next level in their personal and professional life. Aida knows and believes that there is greatness in every person.

Sharee is a registered Psychologist, Executive Coach, and iRest Meditation Teacher. She is the creator of the workplace wellbeing program RESPOND and of the immersive doctor care program RECALIBRATE. She has worked in public, private, and not-for-profit sectors over the last 30 years, building a unique combination of expertise in organizational, health, and counseling psychology. Sharee helps people improve their power skills, principally self-care and human connection. Working with Sharee is about developing capacity, purpose, and wellbeing through skills like mindfulness, compassion, and emotional intelligence. Sharee is an experienced facilitator and coach working 1-2-1 and with small and large groups in health and education. She is accredited with several organizations doing what has become really vital work in this VUCA+ pandemic world, including Resilience at Work and The Potential Project. Sharee works with leaders in healthcare and education, particularly doctors. You are Australia’s leading doctor coach. Can you tell us about who you are and how you started working specifically as a doctor coach Sharee? My lived experience is integral to the work I do. As a registered psychologist, an international federation accredited coach, and a meditation teacher, I am intrigued by people. I have been studying psychology, the behavior of people, for 35 years. Thirteen years ago, my husband Tim was diagnosed with cancer. After a four-year rollercoaster journey with lots of highs and some big lows, Tim died. It was a devastating time for our three young children and me and our whole family. Even though I was a health professional, our family had been fortunate and hadn't spent much time as users of the healthcare system. During those four years walking beside Tim, we met many healthcare professionals in many different institutions; doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, complementary therapists. It was a real-time study of how the state of the health carer impacted us as patients and families. Tim and I talked about this a lot, how the people in our care team were relating to us and how those interactions made us feel. Sometimes it distracted us from the work of healing. Navigating health care with a challenge like cancer is difficult enough without managing relationships. We often felt like we were doing more relationship management than we should have been. I’d been working as a psychologist for about 12 years, but this was different. Being inside the healthcare system, specifically, the cancer universe, looked through a whole new lens, one where we didn’t have many bearings. We were both meditating as part of our self-care during those years. We were learning a lot about the power of our minds, how to respond to our emotions and how to ask for help, how important community was to our wellbeing, individually and as a family. After Tim had died, beyond the grieving, healing, and recovery we were doing as a family, I constantly thought about the doctors we had met and the impact they had on the whole healthcare system. I wondered how their wellbeing was taken care of in the context of their work. I started asking many curious questions about medical training, their expectations of work, level of burnout, really exploring everything I could about being a doctor. What I discovered were significant systemic failures, and Coaching for Doctors was born. In truth, I started on this journey as a patient advocate feeling frustrated and disappointed, even angry, viewing doctors as having poor communication skills and concluding that they weren’t trying hard enough to understand and connect with their patients. I held many assumptions and biases about doctors back then. Now I know that modern medical training and culture have a bias toward science and technical skill to the detriment of the art of medicine. I love science. It has led to unraveling many complex medical questions and better lives for people. Our response to the COVID pandemic would have been entirely ineffective without science. However, this bias, like all biases, has a dark side. Neglecting the art of medicine means that many doctors do not feel skilled in communication, connection with colleagues, or patients. They do not have the skills of leadership they need to be truly effective. They cannot take good care of themselves and each other within the demanding and complex environments they work. I thought the skills I had in counseling, coaching, and organizational psychology and my contemplative practices might be useful to doctors interested in their own high performance and wellbeing. After working closely with doctors as their coach for more than seven years, I have learned that many of them simply don't have the training they need in what we have traditionally called soft skills, which are better described as power skills. And they want to learn these skills. They know they don’t have everything they need to do their job really well and to feel fulfilled in their work. I now find myself advocating for doctors in a system that has not valued their humanness and has ignored the high rates of burnout, depression, and suicide they have experienced as a profession around the world. The consistency of these mental health issues across countries does point to systemic issues as much as personal skills gaps. Can you tell us a bit about a doctor’s working life from your perspective? Well, I can share some thoughts, it's important to remember that there are millions of doctors working around the world and they are a very diverse group, doing a hugely diverse range of activities. And I am not a doctor. Having uncovered my own biases, I don't want to propagate any more stereotypes! What I can say is to be accepted into a medical course at university, a student must be very committed. They need to apply themselves consistently for a long time, five to seven years of study, and up to 15 years to specialize. They are rigorously examined and assessed throughout those years, and the environment is highly competitive. These young adults are willing to sacrifice a lot of their early adulthood for a long-term goal. These young people in the main are achievement-oriented, perfectionism is a common problem, and they are by necessity competitive. They are excellent at delayed gratification, able to persistently apply themselves to their goals, willing to face challenges, and to witness human suffering. These qualities along with high expectations of self and an unwillingness to ask for help or admit their emotions, especially fear or confusion out loud, are common. The phrase doctors use to describe themselves to me more than any other is problem solvers. Doctors generally work long hours, giving up a lot of their family time and social life to benefit their patients. Their work can be very complex and can include hundreds of interactions with people in a day where the outcomes are uncertain, and the problems are not resolved in the way people would like. Many doctors, though not all, are regularly exposed to heartbreak, distress, trauma, and grief. Most doctors feel time-poor and find it very difficult to prioritize their own needs when patient demand is high. The support offered to doctors is highly variable and often non-existent, which is a serious problem in their mental health and burnout. This lack of support is also an issue for doctors who want to build their leadership skills, as there has been no clear avenue for this in most healthcare organizations. The culture of medicine in many countries still endorses implicit ideas about doctors being superhuman. We have seen a lot of this in terms of expectation and behavior during the pandemic. These are powerful forces that prevent people from asking for help and perhaps limit the development of relationships and collaboration skills in healthcare. To learn, we need to be able to ask questions. There is a vulnerability in doing that, and doctors have been trained to limit their expression of vulnerability and a whole range of other emotions. This notion of look like you are in charge of instilling confidence in others has some serious downsides. By creating this culture of don’t ask, don’t tell for doctors when it comes to emotions and collaboration, we have limited their opportunities for learning and development in the power skills of emotional intelligence and effective communication. How are doctors using coaching to support their work? When we are fatigued, under pressure, and time-poor, we are less effective in our decision-making, emotional regulation, and relationships. We tend to get tunnel vision and become very narrow in our thinking. In this very task-focused state, we can damage or neglect relationships. Healthcare is about taking care of people, which means relationships are central to being effective. To be truly effective, we need to have insight and respond to whatever we learn, perhaps change our behavior at the moment. We need high levels of awareness to alter our habits and transform them into another way of being. Coaching is contextual, emergent, and contingent. As the trust develops between coach and coachee doctor, more nuanced goals can develop. Coaching focuses on performance, awareness, wellbeing, and meaning. It is a future-focused creative process designed to help the coachee behave in ways aligned with their values and help them meet their goals. Together the doctor-coachee and coach consider the impact of the doctor's mindset, attitude, beliefs, decisions, and behaviors on themselves and their system, their environment. Many doctors use coaching as a safe space, a sounding board to test ideas, confront difficult feedback, process problems and envisage the future. Coaching intends to facilitate new thinking, unearth barriers and build a scaffold for accountability. A doctor might use coaching to make a career decision, to learn particular skills - for instance, how to improve their exam or interview performance, they might want to learn or hone their skills in mindfulness or communication and practice applying their skills at work. Another example might be that the doctor wants to have a greater influence as an educator helping junior doctors, or perhaps, they are worried about their emotional regulation and recognize a gap in their capacity that they want to understand and address. Many doctors want to learn how to manage their time or priorities, find more work-life balance, or practice managing other people. The range of goals that can be bought to coaching is really unlimited. You are a big advocate for doctors having a coach, particularly psychologist coaches, is there any research evidence for this? Yes, I think that if more doctors had a coach they trusted and worked with regularly, many of the problems in health would be reduced or resolved over time. In the first instance, coaching is a protective factor for the doctor who can build skills to improve performance and prevent or minimize problems like burnout. Once the doctor has raised their own awareness and has more clarity about their goals, they are empowered and are more likely to seek changes within the wider system. I believe they will relate to their patients more effectively, mentor junior doctors differently, lead teams effectively, challenge organizational culture more, and choose not to enable unhelpful structures in the same way. In other industries, coaching has shown itself to be a useful mechanism for achieving greater good goals. Coaching facilitates insight and activates personal agency, empowering the coachee to take action, not just wonder about what they could do. This focus on achieving goals sits well with doctors. They want to solve problems and help people. I advocate for coaching because it is preventative action, and prevention is better than cure. Liselotte and colleagues published their work in the Journal of American Medical Association in 2020, looking at the potential benefits of coaching for doctors and found that professional coaching significantly reduced emotional exhaustion and overall symptoms of burnout in physicians and improved their overall quality of life and resilience. Professor Jan Ritchie found in 2001 that there are benefits if the coach has an academic background in psychology. This is not surprising to me; much of the work we do in coaching is about understanding people, their motivations, and biases. Clearly, I'm biased! I think psychologist coaches have a great deal to offer the medical profession. Coaching seeks to generate new thinking, insight. The coach doesn't need to have the same skills as the coachee. When they do, this can be a limitation, and the conversation can revert to mentoring or training. This is the risk a doctor coach working with another doctor needs to remain attuned to so that the unconscious biases of medical culture do not limit the exploration possible in coaching. Coaching offers an evidence-based process that helps us think in terms of strategy and details. It is a safe space for new ideas to be explored, for biases to be recognized without fear of career damage. The coach has a different mandate to a supervisor, and the conversations have a different flavor. In the coaching space, transformation can occur for individual doctors who can be empowered to affect the systems they work in. When coaching is an accepted process like it is in the corporate world, doctors will engage a coach without fear of judgment. If coaching can be seen as a normal developmental process for the benefit of all, I think it will change the landscape of medicine. Our high achieving, perfectionist doctors, can recognize their humanness, hone their communication and emotional intelligence skills, connect with others more effectively and stay well for the long term even though they do incredibly complex work and meet human suffering constantly. Obviously, when our doctors are well, the health outcomes of patients improve, and so does their healthcare experience. Patients are better and happier, and doctors are more fulfilled. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved, including the organization, who can have happier staff and happier patients who are all ultimately contributing to the process of improvement. It sounds great having a trusted confidant and a process like coaching. What stops doctors from having a coach as you describe? There are two key barriers to doctors seeking coaching. The first one is time, specifically how they and their employers choose to prioritize time. Sometimes we need to take short-term pain for a longer-term gain, which is hard to do when there are so many demands on the system. Nearly every doctor I have spoken to loves the idea of coaching, but many say they cannot fit it into their schedule. The second barrier comes from the doctor’s mindset or belief system. I will give you some examples, an unwillingness to lean into what feels uncomfortable, like unfulfilled dreams, difficult emotions, conflict or confusion, an internal story that this is tantamount to asking for help which means failure a very real belief for many doctors. Coaching is effortful. It holds the coachee to account and requires the coachee to articulate their inner experience and to reflect on it – warts and all. Then it expects action, living true to our values and goals. It takes energy. And it can be just the energizer a person needs to grow and make a change in their life or work. Like many things in life, starting coaching can be the hardest part because it is all a bit unknown. We are intentionally taking responsibility for ourselves, being accountable for taking action. The coaching process is a careful balance of risk, challenge, accountability, and high trust. The coach must hold a very safe container for the work to happen within. Some doctors arrive ready with a clear problem to resolve. Others immerse themselves in the process, curious to see where it takes them. You sound really motivated by your work with doctors, Sharee. I certainly am. I am naturally intrigued by people helping them to understand their lives, themselves, and their behavior so that they can progress in ways that are meaningful to them is an awesome privilege. Very often, it involves big change. I am honored to witness these transformations and am inspired by what people can do when reflecting and leaning into their experience and personal agency. Doctors are the lynchpin of our healthcare system. They give so much of their lives in service to the community. We can do medicine better as a career and for patients. Coaching offers us a mechanism for individual and collective systemic change. When doctors raise their self-awareness, emotional intelligence, leadership, and communication skills, they are more effective. I have had the privilege of witnessing this happen many times. As the doctor feels more engaged and fulfilled because they are more effective in their work with patients and more connected with their colleagues, the health outcomes for patients improve. The ripple effects of well doctors are huge, and they are measurable. Coaching is one of the ways we can transform healthcare. I have so much faith in our doctors if we help them grow their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. We have to prioritize this work and give them the time and space they need to develop to come to coaching. Doctors are humans long before they are medical practitioners. It’s time we recognize that, and it’s time they recognized it too. To work with Sharee, take a look here. Connect with Sharee on Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram! To learn more about how coaching can help doctors be high performers and stay well for the long term, read her white paper here.

Written by: Amy Goober, 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 entrepreneurs, we are always strategizing, planning, list-making, and then doing. While there are roadblocks to getting into action in the first place, there are also obstacles to getting the job done. If you spend all of your time analyzing and researching, you may find yourself always working on your projects but never quite finishing them. I believe that Perfect is the enemy of done and have found it true for myself and countless others who do put the time in but struggle to get things completed! Here are 5 steps to help you get your next project done! 1) Define the project. To get things completed, you have to decide what the goal is and what needs to be included. Without finite dimensions set in place from the start, you can find yourself working away forever and never quite knowing when you are done. It’s worth the time on the front end to answer these questions: What is my goal? What are the necessary components? Do I need additional help or input from someone else? Is there a deadline for completion? 2) Set a timeframe. Without setting parameters on your time, any project can go on forever. You discover more information, you find additional questions to answer, you get distracted by other priorities, and before you know it, you never finish what you started. Setting a timeframe also helps with accountability. Make sure you give yourself enough time, but not too much! You know what is reasonable. When you are not concrete with your own deadlines, you also know how easy it can be to lose momentum. 3) Break up your project into smaller chunks. If your project is a big one that requires a lot of energy and stamina from you, you will probably push it off over and over again because it seems like too big of a mountain to climb! The way to overcome this obstacle is to break it up into manageable pieces. I encourage the people I coach to set their timers for three 30 minute blocks at the beginning. They know when the timer goes off, they are done for that session. Why do I recommend this? First of all, you will be more likely to get started on a challenging goal if you know you’ll only have to work on it for 30 minutes at a time. Secondly, you’ll get going, and then by accomplishing some of it, you’ll have the confidence to tackle another part and then another. You’ll develop the momentum you need not only to get started but also to keep going to the finish line! 4) Review, Revise, Review, Revise It’s important to have a framework for your projects to know where you are starting and when you have finished. I use this system, and I recommend it to clients I work with. Work through each step of your project. Review what you’ve done. Make any necessary revisions — put the project aside for at least one day. Review the project again. Make any necessary revisions - proofread or double-check your corrections. You’re done! This is the system I’m using for writing this article! We could all spend months creating something that we think is perfect. But, what about the time we could have been spending creating other articles, content, coaching, etc.? Time is something we have to use to our full advantage, and if you find you are struggling to get your tasks completed, follow this structure, and you’ll be checking more things off your To-Do list! 5) Complete Then Celebrate! When you’re done, you’re done. Second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking will not serve you. The best thing you can do when you complete a task or project is to celebrate! Count that as a win and shout it from the rooftops. Cross it off your To-Do list, give yourself a pat on the back, order a special treat, book a manicure or head out to the driving range for an hour. It’s critically important for you to praise yourself for your completions, to celebrate with something special, and to savor it. This tells your mind that you are done , that you know it may not be perfect, but you were able to acknowledge that it’s completed and you are ready for the next challenge! Repeat after me, Perfect is the enemy of done! Reach out for a complimentary Action Assessment! It’s a 30-minute call where I can help you take positive forward steps on your current project or task! Find out more about Amy on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and get into action at her website! Amy Goober, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amy Goober’s newest program, Drive Your Life ™, helps women put themselves back on the To-Do List and get into action. Drive Your Life ™ is a dynamic signature talk, focused small group coaching program, vibrant Facebook group, and soon-to-be-published book. Amy’s program supports women to get into the driver’s seat of their own lives using a unique 5 step process to start moving forward. With this program, women are finding success in many areas, including career, health and wellness, love relationships, parenting, friends, and activities. Amy received her B.S. in psychology from Cornell University. She opened The Icing on the Cake, a Boston cake bakery, at 26 in 1986. She has since sold it, but it continues to be one of the top bakeries in the Boston area. Amy has helped over 600 clients in her 7 years of health and wellness coaching. Amy has moved from bakery founder to stay-at-home Mom, seasoned health coach, and now founder of Drive Your Life ™. She speaks on leadership, health and wellness, and personal motivation topics.

Written by: Natalie Gray, 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. Interviews can be nerve-wracking. We often focus on how scary it is as an interviewee. However, many people forget that the interviewer might be nervous, too, especially if it's their first time. Interviewing for the first time can be daunting. There is a lot of responsibility placed on the interviewer. What's more, if you're nervous about your performance as the interviewer, you may not be entirely focused on what the candidates have to offer. First time interviewing can take place in a range of formats: You are asked to be part of an interview panel for the first time. You are interviewing for your first direct hire. You are an experienced interviewer but are interviewing for the first time in a new company. You have your own company now. So, if you're about to become a first-time interviewer, in whatever scenario, how can you make sure you get it right? Why is confident interviewing essential? It is the interviewer that is responsible for creating a conducive interview environment for the candidates. By setting the tone, pace, and questioning with confidence, you can get the best out of your candidates. What's more, a structured and confident interview process can also help drive candidate satisfaction. It also allows you to make fair and accurate assessments to make the right decision for your team. When you consider that your interviewing is essential for building a diverse, inclusive, and happy team and organization, there is a lot to consider when hiring. The cost of a bad hire Unfortunately, investing in effective interviewing strategies, skills training, and best practice modeling aren't always a priority for companies. The lack of focus on interviews is surprising, as bad hires can cost a company millions. For example, the CEO of Zappos said terrible hires cost the company over $100 million. Furthermore, the US Department of Labor says the average cost of a bad hire is 30% of the employee's first-year earnings. It is not just the financial costs that come with a wrong hire either. The team morale and productivity can take a significant hit, as an employee engagement levels. A poor performer can put extra pressure on other employees and cause bad habits to spread like wildfire throughout the organization. With this in mind, upskilling for successful interviews offers many benefits, including the financial savings it can provide for the company. So, if you're preparing to interview, what can you do to be a great interviewer? Interviewing for the first time: what to do 1. Avoid arrogance Many interviewers will deliberately try to rattle, provoke and trip up a candidate. This type of behavior can mean you lose out on top talent. After 15 years of career coaching, I've lost count of the number of candidates I've seen withdraw from an interview process because they didn't want to work with their interviewers. Remember, an interview is a chance for both candidates and employers to determine whether there is the right chemistry for both parties. By being arrogant in the interview process, you may deter the people who are the best fit for the team. 2. Show up professionally When you interview, you are representing the entire company. You are the first experience a candidate will have with the business. Showing up professionally, confidently, and consistently will ensure your business delivers a great impression. Even if the candidate isn't the right fit, they may still talk about your company – you want this to be positive. 3. Prepare for each interview To ensure you get the right hire, you need to be clear on exactly what you and the hiring manager are looking for. If you are interviewing with a panel, ensure that the whole board knows their role, whether they will speak or just observe. In some cases, it can work well to give each member of the panel a different focus area. Spend time preparing for each interview and create a clear and comfortable process for both you and your candidates. When you consider what the repercussions of a bad hire can be, it is never a good idea just to wing it. Have a clear goal in mind, and make sure you feel prepared and ready. Top pre-interview tips Ask for help – If you're new to interviewing, or need refreshing, don't be afraid to ask for support. It's much better to do this than end up with a bad hire. Shadow interview - It can help to observe interviews to see what works well. The HR team or recruiting company can help with this. Get clear on values – Understanding the company values and assessment process can ensure you hire the people that will fit with the company dynamics. Understand the feedback process – It is important to create feedback for each interview, so it's important to know what the company assessment process entails; there may be recruitment forms or guidelines that you need to follow. Prepare your questions – Spend time creating a question list. With each question, work out what information you'll gather from the answer. Does each question help you make a hiring decision? You may hear some great interview questions, but the questions you use must be relevant for the role. For example, will the classic 'sell me a pen' interview question help you determine if the candidate is the right hire? Read up on the candidate – Going into an interview with a clear idea of their resume/CV can help you move past the generic interview questions and get to the deeper, valuable information that can help you make a hiring decision. Fully understand the job description – Your candidate will be looking to show how they fit the job description; make sure you know what the company is looking for. During the interview tips Create a welcoming atmosphere – Get the best out of the candidates by making them feel comfortable. This means smiling, showing interest, and active listening skills (read my blog post here for more listening tips). Try to match the pace of your candidate to create a comfortable conversation. Be open-minded and curious – It is all too tempting to make snap judgments in an interview, but remember, they may be nervous. Refrain from judgment and personal questions that have nothing to do with the role. Ask open questions – You won't find out much about your candidates if they just deliver yes/no answers. Instead, focus on open-ended questions that allow them to deliver expanded answers. For example, can you share a time when…? Can you give an example of what…? Write quick notes as you go – After the interview, you'll want to write up your feedback quickly so that it doesn't get blurred with another candidate. During the interview, try to make quick notes as you go so you can deliver accurate feedback. Don't spend ages writing notes as this can detract from the process and if you are making notes on a laptop, let the candidate know what you're doing. Ask the same questions – If you are interviewing multiple people for the same role, make sure the questions are the same for all candidates; this means the interview process is fair and consistent. Allow time for the candidate to ask questions – The interview process is just as much for the candidate as it is for you; allow them to ask questions and give honest, professional answers. Remember, you are representing the company as the interviewer, not just yourself. Top post-interview tips Log and share feedback quickly – After each interview, it is good to write your feedback straight away to be accurate. This way, your feedback won't be swayed by the following interview, and there won't be comparisons to other candidates. Instead, it will be fair and candidate-focused. Share supporting example of your hiring decision – What exactly does make your chosen candidate the best choice? What examples did they share which show they would be a good fit for the role? Consider experience vs. ability – It is easy to dismiss a candidate if they don't have the experience that the job description requests. However, it is important to remember that skills can be learned, and experience can come with time – do they have the abilities, transferable skills, and potential you're looking for? Check for bias – It is a good idea to review your interview feedback and check yourself for any bias that may affect your feedback or hiring decisions. Remember, you want the best person for the role, not someone that gels with you. Often, people use their gut instinct on whom to pick; however, there may be an unconscious bias that gets in your way. Ask for your interview feedback – To up-level your interview skills, ask others to shadow you and get feedback from them to help you deliver effective interviews with confidence. Don't just assume you are a great interviewer; keep looking for ways to improve. Look for potential – It is easy to dismiss all candidates because they don't tick every box. Instead, look for potential – who is prepared to upskill and up level, who just needs more experience? Don't spend months waiting for the 'perfect candidate – this can cause work to mount up and your team feeling overwhelmed. Be decisive – It doesn't help to have someone indecisive or neutral on the interview panel. Get clear on what you're looking for and stand by your reasons. This doesn't mean being the only one on the panel always to say 'no.' I've seen countless people who think saying no to every candidate is a badge of honor. People use it to say, 'I told you so,' and it can impact the working experience with the new hire. Tip for interview skill development I often hear people tell me they are 'great interviewers,' and maybe they are correct, but as companies, the industry, the team, or even you change, it's important to invest in this skill. Here are some tips for ongoing development: Assess your feedback - How many people do you say yes to versus the no or maybe candidates? It can also help compare your feedback and results with others to see tactics you can use yourself. Asking others to shadow you regularly can help you to improve your skills continuously. Challenge your bias – Bias can manifest in many ways and can often be subconscious. It can help to challenge bias in yourself and in others to ensure interviews are always fair. Invest in coaching and training – If you notice bias or resistance in interviews, a coach can help you work through unconscious bias. You may also benefit from training to ensure best practice interview techniques. Ask your new hires for feedback – They have been through your interview style firsthand and will be able to give you feedback from the candidate's perspective. What can you learn from the candidate side of the interview? Consider candidate experience surveys – These can help you understand how to improve the organization's hiring and interview process. Be willing to change your mind – You don't have to follow the same interview process, and that's 'how you've always done it'; look for improvements, new techniques, and approaches that can ultimately help you get the best hire for the role. Coaching for Interviewers If you're looking to develop your interview technique, I provide interview-specific coaching. Coaching can help ensure you make the right decisions around hiring and deliver a positive impression as an interviewer. With 15 years of interview experience, I have helped thousands of candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers. If you want to find out more about how I can help, book your free 30-minute consultation with me today here. What are your best and worst interview experiences? Have any of the tips mentioned above resonated with you? I'd love to hear your experiences of the best and worst interviews. My worst experience was when, after a five-hour interview process for a senior role, the HR manager began asking me about whether I wanted children and if the commute would be 'too much for me! Straight away, I had to ring the recruiter and withdraw from the process. Have you had any similar experiences? Let's start listening today by booking a free consultation call. Connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Natalie! Natalie Gray, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Natalie Gray is a skilled Leadership & Career Development Coach; her unique no-nonsense approach helps clients get clear on their vision, take action, and stay committed to progress. Natalie uses her extensive senior leadership experience in fast-paced global corporations to help executives succeed in their business and career goals. Following ICF endorsed professional coach training, Natalie draws on her talent for helping others connect the dots in both their personal and professional life, enabling clients to move forward with confidence, clarity, and a holistic strategy. With 15 years of experience in innovative, growth-driven organizations such as Facebook and Cisco, Natalie is ideal for drawing on her business knowledge, extensive training, and natural communications skills. With Natalie’s understanding of growing and excelling in complex organizational structures, she helps clients see their opportunities from a different perspective, drawing upon her industry insights to uplevel her clients. In short, Natalie brings out the best in people, ensures revitalized progress, and helps clients get to clear, measurable results.

Written by: Lauralee Schmidt, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Automotive care is much like medical care. You want to find a good diagnostician, a clean & modern facility that’s reputable, and a helpful, educated team to surround you. Your car is an extension of yourself, and a healthy vehicle is important to keep you moving along in life. So, find yourself a good auto doctor because your car or truck is the second most pricey item you will purchase, following home, and I think it should be cared for by people you trust. You wouldn’t have surgery done at your brother’s friend’s house because they like watching Grey’s Anatomy. Why would you consider taking your vehicle to your brother’s friend’s house because he says he’s watched some youtube videos on a repair? Find a professional. Cars are far too sensitive and modernized for the average Joe to work on them out of a garage. Sure, things like brakes and oil changes can be accomplished, but leave the lights and major repair to the pros. So, how do you find a quality auto shop in the sea of Google-bought ads? ASE Certified Technicians are a must-have, in my opinion. To reference my medical comment above, this certification is like the Ph.D. for auto technicians. It shows your technician has taken time to educate for and pass standardized auto industry tests on various levels of repair and maintenance. To me, that shows their willingness to keep their skills up to date and that they care about their ever-evolving career. The auto industry is moving at the speed of light, and continuing education is a must for a professional auto technician. A dedicated, intelligent, motivated technician is a tremendous asset not only to the shop they work in but to you, the vehicle owner. Accept nothing less for your vehicle and look for the ASE Stamp on an auto shop. An Accommodating Advisor to guide you thru the repair process is a key player in auto care. The advisor is the person you will most likely be in contact with from start to finish of your vehicle's shop visit. That person having great communication, a positive attitude, and providing an educational moment is important. There is nothing worse than someone explaining technical car info and making it way too complicated for comprehension. There are so many things that can go wrong with a car these days. It’s mind-blowing, and having a human express the vehicle's needs in basic terms is so helpful. Having someone you feel comfortable asking questions to, having a general conversation with, and learning to trust, is such a breath of fresh air in the car care community. Take some time to find that person. You do not have to use the first shop you see. A clean facility often translates to a job well done. A cleaning lady once told me, “a clean house reflects a clean heart,” and I always felt that was true. If you find an auto shop that takes pride in their facility, offers amenities to their patrons who visit and create an environment that feels welcoming, you have probably found a shop that takes great pride in the car care they deliver as well. It shows a little extra care is taken in the details, and that is something I always looked for in an auto shop prior to owning one. You shouldn’t get your vehicle back with sticky handprints on the steering wheel or oily residue dripping off the bottom of your car. A facility that pays attention to detail in the front of the shop will more than likely be paying attention to detail in the shop's back. Reviews are a must to look thru. I shouldn’t even have to say this but look at their Google & Facebook reviews. Just take a moment to know where your money is going, what their business ethics are, and who they cater to. Not all shops offer the same services, and not all shops run the same way. Find one that you feel works best for you and your needs. I think you get more bang for your buck, customer service-wise, in an independent shop, but I also own one, so I may be biased. But looking back, customer service is what made our shop thrive. The shop has been short-staffed through the years, so many times I know our guests got tired of hearing it and having to wait on appointment availability. If we hadn’t had the customer service piece in place, I know our retention rate would be far less, making the shop less successful long term. Look at reviews. They are a sneak peek at your potential satisfaction. Tour the shop. It is not an outlandish request to see where your car is going. I am visual, and if I am going to spend my hard-earned money on maintaining my vehicle, I like to see where it’s being taken. I pay attention to things like what the garage floor looks like, what the lifts look like, and what the equipment sitting around looks like. I also like to see what other kinds of vehicles are on the racks for repair. These are all telltale signs if the shop can provide quality work. Antiquated equipment, a haphazard work environment, and a lack of cars or racks are all little red flags. Are they going to analyze your vehicle’s needs accurately and deliver quality work inside an unstructured environment? Maybe, but is “maybe” a good enough option for you and the vehicle you rely on daily? I could get knit picky and tell you to look for awards, check out their website, and check out what local community sites have to say about them, but I won’t. I will leave it with these top-line things to check for when looking for auto care. At the end of the day, you want an honest and upfront shop when the conversations on the car are difficult. You want a quality repair done, and you want it done for an amount that doesn’t bankrupt you. Those shops are out there, and they are waiting for you. Just take a little time to look around, see what they have to offer, and remember that a family-owned shop may offer a better service than those big dealers. If you are in Ohio, Schmidt Auto Care welcomes you for Full-Service Auto Repair on Domestic, Euro, Gas, & Diesel. Plus, Fleet Care. Car Caring for our Guests since 2009. For more information, follow Schmidt Auto Care on Facebook, Instagram and visit their website. You can also follow her beauty pages here! Read more from Lauralee! Lauralee Schmidt, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lauralee is a cosmetic guru turned auto care goddess. Her years inside a cosmetic education role with a Fortune 500 company armed her with knowledge and skills that paired perfectly with her passion for branding a business and educating a client base. Her goal is to educate women in car care, change the auto industry's stigma, and be a guiding post for branding and business development. From international beauty campaigns to underneath a car, she has successfully navigated the world of business and branding.

Written by: Ashley Van Brabant, 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. Ditch comparing and create a life well-lived. In our westernized culture, we are encouraged from every angle to be our best, to do our best, and strive for better. We are obsessed with constantly improving our home, relationships, health, career, and whatever else we perceive needs some extra work ethic. Everywhere you look in our culture, a variation of ‘be better’ is blasted in our face. As sensitive souls, we can’t help think that to find success & happiness. We need to sculpt who we are to reveal our hidden potential. We need to meditate, buy a diffuser, manage our stress, and tone our bodies to have a life worth living. But, what if our obsession with being our best was actually the thing in the way of creating our true desires? The intention behind being our best is supportive and motivating. Except, best is a word that finds meaning in comparison and judgment. For example, in a competition, the gymnast that comes out on top is the one that, compared to others using predetermined judging criteria, was superior to their competition. This isn’t to say that comparing is wrong. It’s an excellent tool for decision making, think of pros & cons list, super helpful. However, in the context of comparing who we are and all that makes us human. It’s like walking in a forest and trying to judge the best tree. Even with criteria, it is impossible. There are too many to choose from. Additionally, unless we have created our OWN criteria, it’s natural to default to society's criteria. Reinforcing the monotone ideas often does not have room for our diversity, let alone the broader gender, ethnic or spiritual diversity found in humanity. When we listen to people changing our culture, like Brene Brown, they are precise with their language. For example, Brene uses the term ‘whole-hearted.’ It’s descriptive and specific. We can feel what it means. Simply changing our words has a profound effect on our perspective because it changes our meaning. It’s the difference between saying "live your best life" and "live a life well lived". The former causes images of the usual status symbols like fast cars and giant houses, whereas living a life well lived causes a more personalized vision of our unique values. A simple switch can make all the difference. Below are some phrases I hear myself and my clients say that can cause us to self-sabotage and an alternative option to using instead. I need to be better about __________. Alternative: I am being different about ________. I am trying/doing my best. Alternative: This is what I am capable of right now __________. I am improving ________. Alternative: I am expanding my ability to __________. My best self is __________. Alternative: I am _________________. Often striving for our best brings many worthwhile changes to our lives, but if we stick with it, we get the comparison, negative self-talk, and a feeling of not measuring up. Instead, if we use small language shifts, we can keep the worthwhile changes and create space for our unique selves to shine. Resonating with this message? If you are a sensitive soul trying to improve your quality of life and create a better world, check out the Rise Up! Uplevel Challenge Starting April 26 for 5 daily 15 min challenges to uplevel your mind, body, soul & community. Follow Ashley on her Facebook and Instagram . You can also visit her website for more info! Ashley Van Brabant, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ashley Van Brabant is a Belief Re-patterning Practitioner, founder of The Adventurous Spirit, and creator of the Unlearn & Uplevel program. Growing up in rural Alberta, she was a sensitive soul with a passion for horses, nature & spirituality. Now, she is a transformative spirit standing for equality, leadership, hope, and adventure. On any given day, you will find her with her horses, snowboarding, or having hard conversations about environmental, social, and political issues.

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 on 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. Who is Gauri? An empowered woman is powerful beyond measure and beautiful beyond description. In life, there are moments where you step back and ask, "How did I get here?" I find myself going back to the roots. I was born in Pune, India, to incredible parents, with a futuristic vision. I started my professional career with a German healthcare company. This gave me an early exposure to European work culture. The acquisition of this company by a Nordic company brought in a new dimension to my personality. Working in the Nordic culture of equal opportunities, flat hierarchies, work-life balance nourished my leadership capabilities. My career took a leap when I was selected for the Leadership Program with the Stockholm School of Economics. In my role as Business Manager, I have led large global teams in public, finance, and healthcare domains. While doing so, I realized my passion for people, to mentor them and help them grow. It dawned on me that women have potential but also have self-limiting beliefs, low self-esteem, and that’s where I pursued Coaching. I engaged myself in informing the network (iLEAD- I Lead for Equality and Diversity) that focused on bridging the technical gaps for women back from maternity, Coaching and Mentoring women in Leadership roles, and building the talent pipeline. Being a key contributor to a collaborative project on women empowerment and equality in the workforce (by the Swedish Institute and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce), I was invited for a special luncheon with the Royal Majesties of Sweden (King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia) during their visit to India. What is it that you do for your clients? As a part of my coaching, I offer 3 programs — MidLife Energizer, Build Your Executive Presence and Grow Your Business. MidLife Energizer: "The Mind is everything. What you think you become.” Is a famous quote by Buddha, and I have experienced it too. Midlife or middle age is that transitional period of life between young adulthood and old age. It is a time for a personal transformation where the values of youth need to be replaced by a different set of values. This period is a good interval to re-assess one’s life, Live your passions, Embrace your possibilities. As a part of this program, my coaching focuses on 3 main elements — Rejuvenate, Rediscover, and Reconnect with yourself. Build Your Executive Presence: Executive presence is a combination of personal traits and outward behaviors that create an image of leadership competence and trustworthiness. In my view, Leadership presence is organized into three categories: a) behaviors that impact a leader’s immediate self b) team, and; c) the overall organization. It is the ability to inspire, empower others with your charisma, communication, and confidence. Reach out to us to build this wow factor in you. Grow Your Business: We work with a large number of clients from various industries, including: Food Business Retailers and Resellers Home accessories Fashion design and accessories Our experts are equipped and will assist you in uplifting your brand, promote it in global markets, optimize your costs, thus bringing in rapid growth in your revenue. Who should hire/work with you? The MidLife Energizer Program is designed for anyone in the midst of a transition — a job loss, career change, an empty nest, geographic move, or anyone who is simply feeling unhappy or lost in life. If you are lying awake at night wondering, “What’s next for me?” Why am I here? What am I meant to do on this earth?” Trust me, you are not alone! And this is the perfect place for you to connect. Build Your Executive Presence is a program designed for Women Leaders to dismantle stereotypes. When it comes to executive presence, you want to make people feel like you’ve got their back, and you can take care of it, whatever it is. It doesn’t mean you have every superpower. Some things you’re going to be excellent at, and some you’ll just get through. For example, I’m not good with numbers. I was at a new job overseeing a department of 70 people, and they called me in and told me everything I would be doing, and then they told me, "You’re going to also have to do the budget." And I said, "No problem." But when the meeting was over, I went into the stairwell and started hyperventilating. I thought about all the things I could do specific to my talent, and there I was, focusing on the one thing I was going to be uncomfortable with. I was hyperventilating and crying, and I was a wreck. But then I calmed myself, went to my department assistant, and said, "Who is the person who deals with expense reports?" I found that person and asked if she had worked on budgets, and she said yes. I said, "Tomorrow, we’re going to set aside three hours to work on the budget," and she said, "No problem." All of us feel like imposters at one time or another. None of us wants to feel judged. But having an executive presence is about making people feel you can handle things and that you’re smart enough to know your strengths, and for the things you don’t know, you can figure it out or seek help in figuring it out. Grow Your Business is outlined for everyone who wants to be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneur Coaching is meant for the person who is committed to creating a thriving, successful business. We focus on where your business is currently, evaluate what’s working and what’s not; determine goals; and create an action plan. The partnership tends to be a coaching/consulting hybrid, meaning that I use a coach approach to helping you build your business while incorporating my experiences and resources when they are in service to your goals. My clients tend to be service-based businesses and often focus on the educational, creative, or personal growth fields. Follow Gauri on her Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website for more info.

Adelina Stefan is a Professional Certified Coach & Intercultural Facilitator specialized in Career Development, with deep expertise in international HR recruitment and selection and Training and Development. Having worked for 10+ years across cultures, Adelina seeks to catalyze individuals’ potential, helping them create and implement their unique career blueprint and, at the same time, achieve a healthy work-life balance. She specializes in working with ex-pats and mid-to senior-level executives dealing with challenging work environments that can affect both their performance and well-being. She supports organizations in building a corporate coaching culture by highlighting individuals’ maximum potential and engagement to become dedicated and highly successful employees. Her practice includes Career, Life, Executive, and Agile Coaching for individuals and developing and implementing corporate Human Resources practices for improving intercultural relations. Who is Adelina? I am a Professional Coach & Cultural Expert passionate about catalyzing potential and growth in individuals and organizations to create a positive change. A dual citizen of Greece and Romania (born in Romania, having lived and studied in Greece), I started my career 11 years ago as a Consultant in Greece, working in the travel industry with people of different nationalities and cultures. I moved to Switzerland in 2015 to join my partner (currently husband), and we live in Zurich together with our 2.5 years old daughter and Birman cat. As a passionate advocate of the entrepreneurial spirit, a life-long learner, and an ex-pat, I was always interested in sharing my experience with other international people and facing similar challenges as ex-pats, dealing with the cultural shock while trying to make a seamless career transition, using their unique skills and talent. Though I didn’t know what I took to build a successful business in coaching in Switzerland, the journey itself was inspiring and motivating. I could engage with people with a diverse background and deepen my expertise in HR practices in recruitment and training, and development while pursuing my MBA and a MA in Business Administration at the same time. The result was publishing two academic books with the support of my mentors and building a great network of professionals across the globe. G lobal Strategies For Culturally Diverse Workforce: HR Agenda A dvancing Intercultural Perspectives Through Corporate Training Though I had many opportunities in academia and contributed to academic research, I felt that the direct impact on catalyzing an individual’s potential and creating a positive change through coaching was stronger and more aligned with what really matters to me. This happened after I moved to Switzerland and I started my coaching practice here. When my daughter was born, I wanted more flexibility and more quality time with my family while doing what I love and empowering people to do what they love. My practice includes Expat Career & Personal Agility Coaching for individuals and Executive Coaching for building cultural intelligence and improving cross-cultural relations across the globe. When I’m not coaching my clients, I love cycling, hiking, and traveling with my little family. What is it that you do for your clients? I help ex-pats and professionals integrate successfully into their new culture to communicate with more impact, gain more clarity, purpose, and fulfillment, and achieve sustainable career success. I inspire ambitious professionals to develop their talent and pursue their passions while navigating a foreign territory to create alignment around what really matters and maintain a healthy work-life balance. I work with mid-senior level executives dealing with challenging work environments that can affect their performance and well-being, feel disconnected, unsure about their next career step with low confidence, feel stuck or lack a work-life balance, and are overwhelmed by their priorities. Using my HR expertise, I support individuals in creating an effective and eye-catching resume and master the interview process to secure the job they want and do what they love. As a Personal Agility Recognized Ambassador (PARA), I enable individuals to create alignment around what really matters in their work and life. Personal Agility System, created by Peter Stevens and co-created by Maria Matarelli, applies the “agile concepts” of organizing and simplifying processes into individuals’ lives. For instance, in a personal context, spouses and partners can coach each other to set and achieve goals together, while for people in transition, Personal Agility seems to have amazing in achieving what really matters through a career and increase self-esteem. Through my corporate services, I support organizations in transforming obstacles into opportunities by unlocking leaders’ potential to maximize their overall work performance and organization. In a business context, Personal Agility can enable managers and their staff to achieve high alignment and transparency about goals, forecasts, and milestones achieved. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? I will definitely continue with my existing ex-pat community supporting people in transition as they are getting amazing results. I have just launched my career strategy course where I share agile strategies and techniques to help people find a job in the Swiss market, teaching them how to develop their professional brand, prepare their application and enhance the interview skills. I am also working on a new team and group coaching program to bring a positive change in people’s life. Being part of an agile community, I have exciting ideas and new collaborations on the horizon and with my team. Stay tuned to learn more soon! Your top 3 tips within your expertise? Though it’s quite difficult to narrow down the success factors as every situation is unique and it depends on a certain context, 3 tips to a rewarding career and fulfilled life: 1. Know yourself and your purpose. Knowing your own strengths and talents is crucial in achieving success. When you choose to focus on your purpose, you will no longer be distracted by comparison. You are in competition with your previous self! Choose to grow as you pursue your purpose. 2. Focus on positive facts. Many people around me, including my clients, describe me as a very positive person with a lot of energy to get things done. When we experience challenges or obstacles, negativity will come easily in our minds. No matter how difficult a situation can be, remember that this is something temporary and focus on your positive attributes as those are the key elements towards success. It’s ok if you couldn’t achieve everything you planned for today. And start transforming your negative statements into positive ones. Think about what you could do differently tomorrow to focus on what really matters to you. 3. Celebrate small wins. As John Gordon said, "Big opportunities come from doing the small things with a big dose of passion, love, purpose, and excellence." I often hear from my clients that they haven’t accomplished anything special in their career, apart from getting the job done. We often tend to focus on the outcome without paying attention to any significant steps along our way that contributed to that achievement, but big goals don’t happen immediately. By celebrating what you got done, even if it was planned or not, you will acknowledge whether you are on the right way towards your vision and, at the same time, increase your self-confidence. Follow Adelina on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit her website for more info! Read more from Adelina !