Written by: Suzanne Ratti, 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. RevOps is the new buzzword of the decade, and more and more business owners realize the tremendous impact it can have on business growth initiatives. But, what is RevOps, and why is it critical to business growth? We’ll explore the value, the candidates, and the outcomes in this article. What is RevOps? RevOps is a multi-faceted role that provides leadership and accountability for Sales, Marketing, and operations, focusing on revenue growth and customer experience. The ideal candidate for RevOps is not always embedded in the existing organization. Sometimes, a fresh perspective or change advocate is necessary to stimulate growth initiatives. The biggest challenge is to break down the walls between these three departments in an organization. So, the leader should have a background and understanding of each of these areas and make decisions that bring about collaboration and enhance the customer journey. Sales Are Not the Only Department Responsible for Revenue Well, that’s a headline grabber for some, but it’s an important concept to grasp. Sales have always been the revenue-generating department, so what’s changed? Everything! The sales funnel no longer a ‘sales-driven process. Technology and buyer behavior have dramatically changed the way people research and buy things. In 2015, Ideas360 created a sales funnel for a client to show how the sales funnel was changing. As you can see, the “Then” version was heavily influenced by the Sales organization. The “NOW” sideshows that the primary responsibility is on the marketing team. This is a big shift in how we approach revenue and how we approach sales training. Sales & Marketing Alignment This shift emphasizes the importance of alignment. After all, the Marketing department is touching the prospect, on average 10x, BEFORE the sales team is presented with an opportunity to sell. The target audience, messaging, branding, and Unique Selling Proposition (USP) must be aligned for the leads to convert into revenue. Without proper alignment, the sales team may never get opportunities. Other times, the sales team had to deprogram the prospect if the marketing message was not on point with the USP. But, if the alignment occurs, not only will conversions go up and your sales team be more effective, but the ROI for every marketing dollar will be higher, too, resulting in a lower cost per lead! The alignment will increase revenue and create a better customer experience as the prospect makes their way through the funnel. How Does Operations Fit In? When an organization wants to implement growth strategies, there may be a silent “Ugh” from the Operations side of the house. After all, if the Revenue team (no longer called Sales and Marketing) hits their targets, the operations team has a lot more work. So, the goal is to bring the Operations team into the last part of the sales process – the conclusion of the sale and the last part of the customer experience. After all, what good is a big sale if the customer is dissatisfied or leaves a bad review at the end of the process? If the product is not delivered on time, not installed properly, or has a bad experience with billing, this can leave a bad taste in their mouth and certainly doesn’t bode well for repeat business. Ideally, growth initiatives are discussed among the team with awareness for scaling operations in alignment with revenue. Technology and systems may need to be integrated to increase efficiencies and communication. Educating the entire team on the client journey and experience helps bring team members into the Solutions Way of Thinking rather than the Not My Job way of thinking. This culture shift occurs because Sales, Marketing & Operations are now reporting up through one leader and held accountable for the entire customer experience and conclusion of the sale. Here is an example of some lessons I learned first-hand from this process. RevOps Creates a Culture of Collaboration When RevOps is done well, it creates a culture of collaboration. All teams are now communicating and focused on the same goals vs. an “Us vs. Them” mentality. A RevOps leader may also suggest that leaders and teams in the Sales, Marketing & Operations be compensated based on revenue goals and customer satisfaction. This doesn’t always mean more compensation, but perhaps compensated in a better way aligned with growth initiatives. If your organization wants to implement growth initiatives, consider the impact that RevOps can have! If you need help, Ideas360 serves as an Outsourced RevOps consultant to help you implement these changes for short or long-term growth strategies. Do you need more creative ideas for Sales & Marketing? Follow us on YouTube , Facebook , Linkedin , and visit our websi te ! Read more from Suzanne! Suzanne Ratti, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Suzanne Ratti is a Sales & Marketing Strategist, a proven performer, and an entrepreneur with a passion for helping businesses revolutionize how they deliver their products and services to their target audience. Her extensive sales and marketing background and 20+ years in the Home & Design industry allow her to translate real-world experience, critical skill sets, and proven business results. Suzanne also provides engaging coaching and presentations that inspire, motivate, and empower business owners, solopreneurs, and their teams to think differently.

Written by: Danielle Christy, 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 weather is warming up and the sun is shining, no better time to clean the kitchen. It’s time to get rid of the junk that harms our environment and bring the nutrients and vibes that allow our bodies and minds to thrive. NO need to make it complicated; here are 5 simple ways to clean your kitchen and lay the foundation for optimal health. Make the heart of the home a joyful welcoming environment for the whole family. The first step is to take a look in the pantry and fridge. Remove everything in these areas and separate them into 2 piles, one pile to save and one pile to get rid of. Take a look at the labels and remove all products that contain any added processed oil ( canola, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, refined palm and hydrogenated), added sugars, words you can't even pronounce and it’s best to have minimally processed foods that contain 5 ingredients or less. Donate or recycle any of these foods and focus on stocking your kitchen with whole real foods, minimally processed, pantry staples and as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Next, take note of what pots, pans and cooking vessels you have in your kitchen. It's important to know that if you have nonstick pans that contain teflon, you could be harming your health without even knowing it. Teflon - as well as notorious chemicals in other common products like BPA, fragrances, and flame retardants - is that they are known to interact with our endocrine systems. They mimic or interfere with the action of normal hormones, resulting in problems with development in children, reproduction, brain health, and immunity. PFAs(PTFE and PFOA) in particular alter metabolism, making it harder for individuals to maintain weight loss. SO it is important to stock your kitchen with cast iron, ceramic and stainless steel. If you are on a budget, start slow and cast iron is really affordable and a pan I use daily. The last thing you want to do is be adding more chemicals into your food when you are trying to nourish your body. Once the kitchen is stocked with nutrient-dense foods and the correct cookware, organize areas in your kitchen to make healthy cooking a breeze. For example, create cabinet zones: one cabinet for prep that includes mixing bowls, cups etc., one for cooking, all your pots and pans baking sheets, one for serving all your plates, bowls and serve ware and finally, one for save all your storage and meal prep containers. Also, labeling your pantry and leftovers is key. Helps keep stock on inventory and reduce waste. Streamline your kitchen to flow and work for your cooking needs. Reduce waste to help the environment and save money at the same time. Talk about a win-win. A few things I recommend to clients is to keep an inventory of what you have in your pantry, fridge and freezer. Make a grocery list each week based on your meal plan and include ingredients you already have on hand. Make stocks with leftover vegetable scraps and compost all other scraps you don’t use. Keep the fridge clutter-free and each week before you go shopping, wipe out your shelves and drawers and freeze any sad-looking produce to blend into smoothies and soups. Small, simple steps can make a huge difference. Finally, toss the toxins you clean with. Did you know that the air inside our homes could be up to 500x polluted than outside air? Just like the pantry, check the labels of your cleaning products and remove any products that contain no label, warnings or eye, skin, or respiratorily irritation, directions that require the use of a mask or gloves, bleach, disinfectant or sanitizer, surfactants and Fragrance. To fully make sure the product you are using is safe, check ewg.org, which provides a complete list of the best cleaning products. Make the heart of the home a healthy and safe space for the whole family to build health and memories that last a lifetime. For more information, follow me on Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Danielle! Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Danielle Christy is a holistic health coach and self-taught personal chef dedicated to helping families and people around the world stop feeling overwhelmed with healthy cooking by showing and coaching them on how to stock their kitchens with healthy ingredients, meal plan and get back to having family meals again. Danielle holds a BA in Hospitality from Northern Arizona University and Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has helped families of all shapes and sizes create and establish a concrete strategy to ultimate health through learning what individually works for them and using whole real food as the medicine of life.

Written by: Karen Mc Dermott, 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. From every negative situation is the potential for a positive outcome. It is fair to say that the world is different from the one we were embracing pre-pandemic. As the ever optimist, I choose to see the positive through the negative, and I was one of the lucky ones who thrived through the upheaval. I took on extra staff during the past year! I am aware that this was not the case for many business owners. I have witnessed many businesses close their doors, relationships fall apart, and general anxiety about the whole situation ripple through. All we have seen on the news was COVID for an entire year. It’s hard not to be in a funk because of what we are being exposed to. As a person who believes in principles that often deflect the adverse outcomes of exterior influences, I am fascinated to look back on the past year that shook the world to its core and to be one of the lucky ones who has grown through it. But is it just luck? I am not blowing my trumpet here. I am simply sharing because my results can also be your results, and it has a lot to do with your thoughts and what you are exposing yourself to every day. My tips for growth against the odds are: Yes, keep in the know but do not become obsessed with news and other external factors that will impede your energy and thoughts. Always be pandemic ready, become adaptable to current circumstances and trends, and creative enough to pivot when needed. Connect with your internal counsel for the answers you need to guide you through. They work 100% in your favor and align with that you give most of your energy to. Set strong intentions, stay steadfast in the essence of them, carry them everywhere with you, and be aware of opportunities and inspired thoughts that bring you one step closer to making them happen. Know when fear is holding you back. When you feel it, honor it by identifying why it came up. If it is unjust, they set it aside and move forward. Action-inspired thoughts immediately. I study, write on, and publish books on success, and the thing that stands people out from the crowd is the perspective they have at any one time. Suppose you are feeling burnt out and a bit soul destroyed about your business when something like a pandemic happens. In that case, you may not have the passion and creative drive in your fuel tank that is required to evolve through it, and sometimes that means waiting, and sometimes it means taking inspired action. Interestingly, and quite aligned with universal thinking, many people thrived in their personal life because of the break from the treadmill of life, the focus being on them, and the opportunity to look at their life through the lens of an alternative perspective seen many people adopt a life-is-too-short attitude. They focused energy on making positive changes to their lives which they were living more of because work priorities had altered. The work-life balance has been more in the spotlight too. The collective perspective on success has now incorporated a value on self-care, which excites me. Even though I have achieved a lot in my life without compromising my core values, I always included self-care in my definition of success. There is a lot to be learned from this approach, and it means that there will be no need to burn out because when we care about ourselves, we won't let it happen. Our generation has been gifted the opportunity to reset, catch up with ourselves and carve out a future that serves us personally and collectively, so let’s not waste the opportunity to clear the decks and grow through it. I invite you to take a moment to think about what the future looks like for you. What is that you want out of life? Has your perspective changed over the past year? Have you made the adjustments in your daily life and, most importantly, your mindset that aligns with your new view? If so, then congratulations. You are on the path to aligned success, which fits you perfectly because we know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success. We need to find our way and do more of that. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my we bsite ! Read more from K aren ! Karen Mc Dermott, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Karen Mc Dermott is an award-winning publisher, multi-genre author, and TEDx Speaker. Karen realized her passion for the story after an epiphany led her to write her first novel in only 30 days. Karen has built a publishing empire and is the publisher for many well-known, best-selling authors and aspiring authors alike. She is a regular Forbes writer, and her signature book series is the Alchemy of Life Magic series. Karen is a passionate teacher and runs her publishing academy, Everything Publishing Academy, which recently won an innovation award. Her motto in life is 'When time and circumstance align, magic happens.'

Written by: Kristen Kubik, 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. You know that feeling when you stare at your phone or stare at your computer and you’re feeling just empty? You feel like you just have nothing left to say? You’ve just said it all! There’s nothing left! Maybe you just feel like you’ve gone through your list of ideas, or you’ve “finished” your content calendar and you’re left wondering, “What’s next?” As business owners and entrepreneurs, there are endless rules to content creation and social media. You’re supposed to make sure you post a certain amount of certain things on certain days on certain platforms for certain people… and blah, blah, blah, blah. All of these pressures constantly put on us can make us feel like we’re running out of content - or even worse, put us into a content burnout. So, how do we fight content burnout? One: Stop Scrolling The number one way we can combat content burnout is to stop scrolling. It’s so easy nowadays to get caught up in social media, email, text messages, and everything else on our phones. We all know that phone addiction is a real thing, and social media addiction is an even bigger problem. The need for instant gratification is messing with our heads more and more nowadays; because we live for the likes, the engagement, and the “perfect” photos… and if we don’t get them, then we think something’s wrong with us. But even further, the more we scroll, the more we’re comparing ourselves to others. The more we scroll, the more we’re filling our heads with other people’s content. And if we’re spending all of our time filling our heads with other people’s content, how can we create? How can we allow the spark of our creativity to ignite and flourish into a full-on flame if we’re smothering it with other people’s content? Here’s the thing: We can’t. We have to give the spark air, because fires need air to grow. We have to let our minds breathe. And in order to do that, the first step is to stop scrolling. Two: Take Time For Yourself How do we break through the noise around us? We have to take time for ourselves. We have to take time to connect. We have to have quiet time in order to allow the creativity in. Hear me out! I’m not talking a long time, hours and hours… because not everyone has that kind of time to spend. We all also have lives - some have kids, some have other responsibilities, some are business owners, some are career-driven people, and so on. Just a simple five to ten minutes a day is all it takes to get your mind quiet and connect with yourself. This can be as simple as just breathing quietly in the shower, or laying in bed quietly right when you wake up - before you grab your phone, before you jump up out of bed to start your day, or even just right before bed - at the end of the day when you’re finally quieting down from all of the day’s events. One of the best things to do is to just sit outside, especially at sunset. You get to enjoy the little bit of sunshine left, right as the dark is appearing, and you also soak in the natural sounds and feelings that come with just sitting and being. The more you do these things, the more you’re able to connect with yourself and your creativity to be able to allow the ideas to flow into you. And the more the ideas are able to freely flow into you, the easier it becomes to create and write the content you need and wants to write from the heart rather than forcing it. Three: Be Intentional When You Get On Social Media Circling back to number one, we get so lost so easily in mindless scrolling that the addiction is an addiction without us realizing it. We get lost in our scroll, and before we know it, we’ve lost hours of our day. So, how do we get a grip on this? Be intentional when getting on social media - or even our phones or computers in general. What does that mean? If you’re opening social media, already have a plan of what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and how you’re getting it done. Then just do it and be done! (Easier said than done, right? I’ve been there, so you’re not alone!) My favorite tip is to pre-write my posts in the notepad of my phone or in the Google Keep app, so I can access the post from my phone or my computer. By doing this, you can intentionally get on whichever platform you post to, quickly copy and paste, then upload and continue without getting sucked into the mindless scroll. Whenever you’re able to take intentional actions, you’re more productive and not smothering the spark of creativity with other people’s content. Implementing one of these things or combining all of these things takes away the feeling of running out of content. You’re able to access the flow of the content creation. And when you’re able to access the flow of the content creation, you’re able to create in a better, healthier way - rather than forcing yourself to write something just to write it; because, at the end of the day, your audience can feel when you’re posting just to post or posting in a way that doesn’t feel normal or true to who you are. Follow Kristen on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and visit her website! Read more from Kristen! Kristen Kubik, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kristen Kubik is a recovering corporate people pleaser who decided that sleeping until 10am and wearing leggings to the office was a much better idea than staying miserable in the 9 to 5 world. Utilizing her talents as a graphic designer, she opened her branding agency in 2016, which later evolved into business mentoring, helping entrepreneurs and career-driven women simplify the steps to their goals and strengthen the connection to their intuition and self-love. Kristen is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who thrives on empowering others to reach their business and mindset aspirations by focusing on embracing their uniqueness. She is also the host of the "As Told Unfiltered" podcast, which is a deep dive into the realness of being an entrepreneur.

Written by: Dez Stephens, 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 recently attended a workshop attended by staff from multiple agencies, and one of the team building, idea-generating exercises was, “Yes, and …” This exercise is based on the belief that great ideas are generated by accepting others’ ideas and adding to them rather than rejecting them too quickly. While I believe in the premise and the practice when creativity and quantity of ideas are key, there are times when you’re better off shutting things down with a simple, no. The myth that saying no will cost you relationships or opportunities is often rooted in fear and simply not true. When you are always saying yes in your relationships, chances are, acceptance and validation are what you’re seeking. You may be craving praise or trying to avoid conflict. Habitually placing others' needs above your own, concentrating on their problems while avoiding our own, or always being the rescuer, can be symptomatic of the disease to please. Genuine thoughtfulness and empathy are excellent traits to have, but the “disease to please” is motivated by a different intention. When you say yes when you really meant no to avoid people being angry or upset with you, your intention is really more about manipulating others’ opinions of you. Side effects include guilt if you say no, and resentment if you say yes. What we fail to understand is no matter what we do to make others happy, we will be left feeling empty if we are not being authentic. Professionally or personally, when you find yourself piling more to an already full plate and feeling overwhelmed from your workload, ask yourself why? Does your value and validation come from being able to handle a superhuman workload? Have you bought into the myth that saying no is a career killer? Your value doesn’t come from being well-liked or being able to manage multiple projects at once. Your worth is more than what you do for others. You can learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Saying no is an important skill, but there is an art to it. The truth is people don’t like to hear no, so how you say it matters. Be sure you are saying no to the idea or the request and not the individual. The word no has power, and it is a complete sentence, but adding a few more words will make it a kind one as well. Don’t substitute phrases such as, “Let me think about it,” or “I’m not sure,” as these can be interpreted to mean you might say yes later. Keep it simple, brief, and honest, resisting the urge to over-explain. The more details you offer, the more it may appear you are offering an excuse and the more to dissect. Resist the notion that taking care of yourself first is selfish (remember the instructions of flight attendants). We must be intentional as the requests for our time, energy and resources are not likely to lessen, so we may have to say “no” more often. Every time you say no to a less than appealing request, you can say yes to something else. The more time you can give to the things that matter to you and the things you truly care about, the more satisfying your life will be. “Things which matter the most must never be at the mercy of things which matter the least.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe For more information, follow Dez on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her YouTube-Channel and website! Read more from Dez! Dez Stephens, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dez Stephens is the Founder + CEO of Radiant Coaches Academy, a social enterprise and prominent international coach training school that certifies individuals to create vibrant, professional, private practices as holistic life coaches, wellness coaches, and business coaches. She is a certified + credentialed coach, master trainer, and marketing strategist. Dez is a social justice entrepreneur, a people's advocate, and planetary activist. She is a co-executive producer of the documentary film "End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock," highlighting Native women fighting to keep clean water on their Native lands in North Dakota and beyond. She is both passionate and sincere in helping people live more meaningful lives as a dedicated global humanitarian and social entrepreneur.

Written by: Soïbon Sanchez , Guest Writer Ace that interview, get that job!! — Tips before the interview. Creating “Curb Appeal” making a good first impression counts!! The first thing that an employer is going to review is the RESUME. The perfectly worded resume will provide the employer with the information that places the candidate at the front of the line as the best person for the job. Have a resume drawn up for every type of category. Also, each resume should emphasize the type of position the candidate is applying for (i.e., a contractor resume is different from a baker, and the applicant may be great at both.) Making sense that a resume that highlights the baking skills is given to one employment and a construction-focused resume is presented to a builder type of employment. Resume > Types of Resumes: There are five major types of resumes. Each one of the resumes achieve a different look for the prospective employee. Chronological Functional Combination Targeted Mini Each resume will highlight different focal points. The Chronological Resume is a brief run-through of work history by when each job was held and the position that the applicant held during employment at that company. The Functional resume focuses on what the candidate did, and the experience gained. This functional resume is handy for specific, targeted skills type of position. The Combination resume is a hybrid of the aforementioned resumes, outlining the skills and relating them to the past employments. The Targeted Resume simply means that this resume is more specific to the company or position applying for, as in the previous example of the candidate professional in baking and construction. The Targeted resume is suited for highly competitive roles. The Mini resume is more of a quick reference for an elevator pitch position or rather on the spot employment position. Well-organized RESUME and a focus on details will help highlight the interviewees' strong suite! Set the stage > Staging to look your best before any interview occurs. What you wear when filling out the application/turning in the RESUME is just as important. Online applications: When filling out the online application, you should dress as though you are in the HR office of the company you are applying for because once you click send, the employer could call you to schedule the interview in 10 to 20 minutes. You should not be rushing for this dream job interview! In-Person applications: When going in-person to turn in your resume application, you should dress appropriately if there is time for you to interview. So, staging/presenting a business look to potential employers is key in successfully landing your dream job? Remember “Dress for Success and Impress,” as well as “Dress for the job you WANT!” Advice > Preparedness is how to arm yourself! When one prepares for battle, they study the opposing side, and they get all the warriors that specialize in combat-ready to fight mentally and physically. When you are going in for an interview, you must have studied the company and gotten the ready (i.e., Mini resume). Online Interviewing! Due to the age of technology, interviews can now be virtual through a computer app or a smartphone. Tips on this type of interview is to make sure your background viewable area is clutter-free and minimalistic to the interviewer. A solid color background and good lighting will be a major key factor. When preparing for the interview, always remind yourself of what the company has as morals and values. This will be beneficial in taking points as the interviewer will see that you are proficient and knowledgeable. This will win you big points as they will see how you will be for the company. Mannerisms come into play during a face-to-face interview. The interviewer will be observing the way you carry yourself (i.e., sitting, standing, etc.), and you must speak with confidence and certainty without hesitation. Post-interview… So now that the interview is over, you can rest now, right? Nope, you have to remain focused and at the ready. What happened? Did you get a job offer? No, well, that is fine. You are still in the running. Remember this article is public, so others have prepared as well for this position. Do not fret. You can still do things to ensure you stay at the top of the list for this position. Many employers give you a time frame when you should be expecting a result of the interview. When this happens, you should check back through phone or in-person in at least two days. This way, you will not be a bother, and you will not get pushed aside or overlooked. Remember, YOU ARE ENOUGH, and this is the job for you because you have prepared for this, and you are confident that you will be an asset to this company! Blessed be & let Positivity Reign! Follow Soïbon Sanchez on Instagram , Facebook and visit her website . You can also visit Jooble !

Written by: Kriti Surjan Thepade, 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 don't think I can do it! I can't write. It's not my cup of tea. These are some of the sentences I've heard frequently in my career as a journalist, writer, and content creator. Content creation is the part of the process where your product or service or you as a person are visible to the world in literal terms. What you write or is written about you serves as the outline for your imagery to everyone else who's reading or hearing it. It's like having an introductory or continued conversation with invisible people who can read you, see you, and listen to you. "Good content is not storytelling. It is telling your story well!" And that is true. As a race, we have always been storytellers; that's how we have preserved history and present heritage to the future through images, carvings, scriptures, and of course- stories! So, coming back to content — it is like telling a story or sharing layers and peels. But, one layer or story at a time! You see, like any other form, relationship, or arena, consistency plays a pivotal role in content creation. It doesn't mean everything has to be molded into a straight jacket. It simply means finding how much and what to share and use and, most notably, when and how. Content creation is like building a relationship that starts from the introduction and gradually cements its bond and roots. Without much further ado, here are a few inputs from me that have always eased and paved my way into writing and creating solid content. 1. Write down your introduction. It can be your bio or your business's bio, or a small text you use for first meetings or formal introductions. If you don't have one, try standing in front of the mirror and talking to yourself as if you are meeting someone for the first time, and then write down the basics about yourself or your business in these categories: Who, Why, What, When, Which, How, and Where. These seem to be the normal 6Ws but are most effective in covering all the bases. 2. Freewriting. Whenever you encounter mental blocks regarding what you should be writing or what subject to cover, start writing freely. It can be in keywords, one-liners, or small paragraphs, and don't worry if everything doesn't make sense; keep writing, and you'll see the flow, and there's always the possibility to edit and rephrase. This helps and boosts a lot in clearing up the mind and clarifying what should be presented. For example, if you have a background in dance. You can write words and sentences like a form of expression. Dancing gives a sense of finding freedom. It is cultural. It is my career, etc. Gradually you start seeing a pattern. 3. Word Chain. This technique is a personal favorite. Known by various names like a word cloud, word blocks, or word chain, this is a practical and straightforward way of expanding point of view, meanings, definitions, and even sentences. All you have to do is write a word and start connecting from there. For example, if you have written the word white, you can add words like cloud, color, milk, rose, etc., just expanding the scenario further. 4. Rhyming words. I have used this technique in my time as a teacher, and not only it makes languages interesting, the rhyming technique provides hilarious inputs and some unique content. For example, shine rhymes with pine. Dine-mine. Nine-wine. So on and so forth. To make it even more exciting and fruitful, try creating sentences and meaning using rhyming words. The sentences don't have to belong or be complicated. But the effort will be worth it! 5. Scribble in order. There was a game I grew up playing. It was called "Name, Place, Animal, Thing." The rule of this game was to fill the above categories in one chosen alphabet. For example, if it were an A: Name from A — Anya Place from A — Algeria Animal from A — Alligator Thing from A — Abacus This game still helps in discovering snippets and vocabulary. And it isn't that cumbersome if you like word games. 6. Show it all. There's one beautiful factor about languages and content, and that is it can be flexible in terms of expression. The meaning being, you are not just restricted to words or specifically selected means to be visible or to express what you stand for. Content creation can include pictures, photographs, any other form of expression, and, more pointedly, any other form of expression you feel is more like you. I hope this helps and aids you in creating some of your most memorable moments and content! Follow Kriti on her Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin for more info! Kriti Surjan Thepade, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kriti Thepade is from India residing in Oslo. She has been working in print and radio for 15 years in India and Hong Kong as a copywriter, editor, reporter, translator, educator, and business partnership manager. She is now a workshop organizer for art and craft (for children) and vision boards (for adults), a content creator, a book consultant, a speaker, and an advocate for body positivity and body neutrality. As an avid writer, her favorite subjects to write about are - politics, culture, food, and travel. When not writing- she likes to bake, photograph, and read. Kriti strongly believes that growth comes when you help others to flourish as well. Kriti holds a B. Com in Taxation, LL.B Laws of Taxation and Forensics Science and Diploma in Cyber Law, Certification in Cyber Crime Investigation, Meditation, and a Life Coach Certification.

Written by: Elle Ballard, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. What is your story? What is it that makes you unique? What happens a lot of the time is we do not give enough value to our story. We think our story is just like someone else’s out there, we believe all other people feel the way we think, but in reality, each of us is unique with our own amazing story, own uniqueness, values, and beliefs. People are different with different life stories. This is all multiplied by the cultural assumptions we grew up with. Our beliefs stand behind our decisions we make in life. If we lead with our story, our strengths, heritage, and backgrounds can help others open up. What is your unique story? If you have a business today or aspire to have a business, what inspires that decision? Where did it come from? I always wanted to be in business for myself but had a lot of unknowns. I graduated from an MBA program with a Marketing degree, worked in a number of corporations, and had a good career. After I lost my job, I realized that this was the time to go after what I wanted finally. The universe always gives us what we need. This is how I realized that my professional life had transformed and had become my passionate life! That is my unique story. Remember, you have a story. Next, ask yourself, "who is my audience, and what do I want my readers to take away when they read my story?" Who do you think will be your story’s primary audience based on what you are writing about? Take time to identify your audience and mission for your book. When we were working on our first Women of the World Network Anthology compilation representing 13 countries, our mission was to give light to diverse stories of women who overcame different challenges to empower and inspire women through other women’s stories in the book. It became an amazing compilation of stories published earlier this year and became a 1 International Bestseller in nine countries! Finally, start crafting your story by building a rough outline of your journey to make sure you are sharing all the essential key steps. After that, expand those key points into paragraphs, including all the details as much as possible. Here is an example of using details in my story: "I am from Kazakhstan, the 9th largest country in the world by land. It is the largest landlocked country, is home of the Baikonur space station, and the land that divides the Asia and Europe continents." Before even starting to read my story, you know where I am from and how that place is different. It makes a story more memorable, more interesting. In summary, always remember how important your story is, identify your audience, and start crafting your story, including as many details as possible. We are currently working on our next compilation that will include recipes and stories from all over the world. These recipes are cooking recipes and professional recipes like "Recipe on living your mission," making this book unique. If this topic interests you, join us for our Anthology Q&A meeting on April 27, 11 AM PST. To learn more, you can RSVP for it here. Follow Elle on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website for more information! Read more from Elle! Elle Ballard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Elle Ballard was born in Kazakhstan and had been living in the US since 2002. When Elle came to the U.S., she had to start everything from scratch while supporting her family at the same time. Elle completed her MBA in Marketing and built a successful marketing career. She left the corporate world to pursue her true passion of impacting and helping people realize their true potential. Elle is a founder of Women of the World Network, John Maxwell Team Leadership Trainer and Speaker, Entrepreneur, and a mother. Despite all the challenges she faced, she always wanted to maintain her authenticity and who she is. This is a core reason for creating the Women of the World Network.

Written by: Annette Densham, 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. A step-by-step success guide that’s available online sounds incredible. It’s free, and you can tap into the information that seems like it is written just for you. Especially if you’ve just launched a business and you’re looking for a tried and trusted pathway to help you on your way. The truth is there aren’t seven steps to success. While these quick, to-the-point hacks can give you a helicopter view of the challenge you are trying to solve, nothing beats hard work and working with specialists who know their craft. There’s no cookie-cutter ladder to success. Real success relies on identifying one challenge at a time and remedying it with an appropriate solution. Success isn’t a ladder with an end destination that’s achieved by completing a predetermined set of tasks with no consideration for your personality type, your background, your skills, or your resources. It’s a recurring two-step program — identify your challenge, innovate a solution, and repeat over and over. These seven (or however many) steps articles summarize a complex and in-depth process. They oversimplify a long and slow journey. If you thought the seven steps sounded easy enough, it’s not surprising because that’s precisely how they get you. 1. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Is the article selling you a this-is-all-you-need solution? You can’t achieve success using only an article. Success can’t be bottled and sold or offered to you through a website. Your journey will change the predicted trajectory that you are on alongside the unique obstacles in your life. There is no one-size-fits-all solution here. 2. Seven-step articles make it too easy. You know that annoying stereotypical sales-guy voice you hear on TV infomercials? They keep saying things like "that’s not all" and "it’s hassle-free," which kind of gets your attention, but at the same, you know you are being marketed to. Websites use the same tactics, except consumers haven’t learned how to recognize that yet. If a seven-step article promises to make your life easier, solve your problems, or give you all the information you’ve ever needed to succeed — it’s a marketing ploy. Success is never easy. Success is not achieved with the cut and paste technique. 3. They don't consider existing circumstances. Existing circumstances give you the fuel needed for your journey to success. Perhaps you have a small budget, perhaps you have knowledge but no budget, or maybe you have a big budget but need guidance on allocating it wisely. Your existing circumstances change your entire trajectory to success. Each human is equipped with a unique set of skills, weaknesses, tendencies, and preconceived notions. These all contribute to the road ahead of you. An individualized consultation will address these factors. A seven-step article assumes you have what you need to make this happen. 4. They don't take into account cash flow or budget. There’s no way a step article can estimate the cost of the seven steps and broken that down to suit a personal budget. Plus, unexpected expenses pop up. Each seven-step would typically be broken down into another seven, if not more, steps. Those sub-steps would depend on your obstacles, including budget and cash flow. Perhaps there are some fundraising steps sprinkled in between the other steps? Maybe you must account for higher prices than you anticipated? 5. They neglect to cover people's skill levels. It’s all good and well to tell someone they are likely to gain 2500 followers by running Google Ads, but you have never created an advert? There’s a great deal of assumptions in these articles. They assume readers have the budget and cash flow, and they also assume that the readers are equipped with the same skills as they are. Once again, those seven steps will have their categories. Most people will need to upskill themselves to follow each step, like learning how to operate Google’s advertising platform to fulfill the step entitled 'run an ad.' How to tell when a seven-step article is peddling to you? Click on steps. Look for an advert on the screen. This will tell you if the article had been written to make money off the ads. So much text. Are you scrolling and scrolling? Do they keep using the same terms over and over? Do they have "sign up now" or other opt-in links everywhere? Feel like your ego is being stroked? These sellers want you to feel like a misunderstood victim who has so much power given the perfect opportunity. Recognize when your ego is being stroked to make a sale. Do they speak to your fears? Are they planting concerns? They often target that sensation of struggling with the emotive language. Recognize adjectives. Emotive language is powerful. Look for adjectives to get you excited: thrilling, exhilarating, terrific, titillating. Are they asking many questions? This is also a typical sales tool designed to disarm you. What can you do to invest in your success truly? Firstly, ignore seven-step articles. Secondly, take an online personality test to help you identify your strengths. For example, an aptitude test may reveal how you react to different scenarios and where your strengths lie. This can help you identify opportunities that will play to your strengths. Remain adaptable. Embracing change, even when it’s out of your hands, has to be one of the most valuable survival skills for individuals and businesses. When you’re thrown a curveball, learn to dance! Seven steps leave out the bit where each stage comes with backward motion, side steps, forward leaps, and need to adapt. This is the second part of the ongoing two-step program to succeed in innovating to source a solution. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Annette! Annette Densham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.

Written by: Eugenia Oganova, 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. You already know what your magic is. You have to pay clients that have awesome results from your work, but… Your business is hovering at the 6-figure line while you’re generating $10k one month and $3k the next. You had a successful launch, and many new clients came in, and then there’re crickets for a few months. This creates a lot of internal uncertainly, and you are so tired of this inconsistent flow. This is because all the strategies that you’ve used to get to 6-figures; the multiple low-end offers the complex 20 step funnels the new freebies every week All these strategies stop working when you get past the 6-figure mark. So, what is required to uplevel past 6-figures? You need a foundation first. You’ve got to put in the work, so you know yourself, your business, your strength and weaknesses, know your message, and what marketing you prefer. But if you try to stabilize at 6-figures and then go past that using the same systems and strategies that got you there — you will end up in burnout. Perhaps you’re already noticing that you’re working hard, with a lot of hustle and pressure, trying to stabilize at 6 figures. And yet, you are not up-leveling. You’re showing up, posting, presenting, networking, but it’s not resulting in the outcome you desire. And it’s confusing because when you were learning to generate $50-70k per year, this was working just fine, but now that you’re over $100k, it’s not working anymore. You’re visible online, you’re showing up regularly on social media, you talk to your audience, but it doesn’t seem to help. Your mind focuses on negative stuff like: "How many likes did my post get?" "Nobody responded to my video — what if I am really bad at this?" "What if my offer is not good?" "How do I even know I’m delivering the right message if nobody comments?" And quite often, we follow the voice of our insecurities and make it mean something that it doesn’t. Like, "I didn’t sign enough clients this month — this means I’m not good enough." It hits your self-worth. This is because when the business is not built on the correct Energetic foundation, you link your self-worth to your accomplishments. "If I sign 5 clients this month — then I am awesome!" "If I didn’t sign these clients, or not enough people commented on my post, this means I’m not good enough, and this means that something is wrong." When we attach self-worth to our accomplishments, we end up putting a lot of pressure on ourselves. And this pressure acts like an energetic interference pattern. It sabotages what we are trying to create! So, how do you know if you are linking self-worth to accomplishments? If you are in a situation where you are noticing: "Wow, I am putting a lot of pressure on myself here!" "I’m freaking out because people are not signing up to work with me, even though I’m taking all the correct visibility steps that I’m told to take, and I’m at the place where I have the audience, and people are reading my content." "I am working hard, but not seeing the results I should be seeing; I’m stressing about people not responding to my content correctly." This attachment of your 6-figure mark because they keep thinking that if they keep doing what got them there, it will work just at, 6-figure mark and inconsistent, instead of allowing you to go further. Coaches get stuck at the 6-figure mark because they keep thinking that if they keep doing what got them there, it will work — but instead, it backfires. Instead, you burn out because you’re trying to accomplish your worthiness! Here are 3 must-know make-or-break points between under 6-figures & multiple 6-figures: 1. You must have a simple business strategy. No more of these one-offs, multiple offers to fit different audiences, or moment-inspired changes in your niche, your offers, your messaging! This is false complexity. You only need one premium offer that is aligned with what you want to bring into this world. Everything becomes streamlined — your offers, pricing, sales process, delivery. The further up you go in income, the simpler it gets. 2. You must have clarity on the emphasis in your message. No more talking only about the pain points. This is an old paradigm from the patriarchal masculine world that is not applicable in the conscious world. I see here that the emphasis is on too many things or the wrong thing for this specific coach and their audience. The message has to be clear, juicy, and memorable to your audience, so they desire to work with you. 3. You must have space for yourself in your business. This is an essential balance of masculine and feminine energies, like an inner happy marriage. So many coaches forget to do this, thinking, "I will have space, hire a support team, take a vacation, when I do my business work" — when in fact, to create consistency and a multi-6-figure income, you need that space now! When you over-DO and under-BE, you are not magnetic to your clients and have to work harder. As a Wealth Energetics Business & Marketing Coach with 20 years of experience, I specialize in helping spiritual coaches and healers who are earning inconsistent $10k/month stabilize and grow their income to multiple 6-figures by aligning their business strategy to their unique Soul Design. So, if this is something you want support around if you’re committed to creating consistency in your business, staying in the correct energy, and finding the proper strategy that works for you, I invite you to join my FREE Conscious Wealth Activation. In five 30-minutes lessons, you’ll learn how to attract and hold premium clients with ease and release the Energetic Blocks that are standing between you and a multi-6-figure Business. Feel free to check out my website. I help my clients save years of pressure and force themselves into ineffective strategies by aligning them to their Soul Design to create from focused intention and only do what works for them. Follow Eugenia on her Facebook and join her free Facebook Group, where she teaches free live classes there every week. Read more from Eugenia! Eugenia Oganova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Eugenia Oganova is an international Conscious Wealth Energetics Business & Marketing Coach for coaches, healers, and holistic health professionals who desire to fully step into their Soul Mission and live their Purpose through a profitable business. She creates high-end custom business, marketing & energetic strategies so that you can attract premium clients and uplevel to multiple 6-figures without burning out or self-sacrificing. Eugenia is a Soul Strategist and a Self-Transformation expert with over two decades of expertise in spiritual entrepreneurship, transformational therapy, and conscious healing and a best-selling author of 3 books. Using an energy-based approach coupled with transformational psychology, extensive business and marketing knowledge, and her clairvoyant wisdom, Eugenia has created many programs that activate long-term core-level transformation in her clients.

Written by: Jesi Carroll, 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. We’ve all heard the concept that if you have a messy home, you have a messy mind. We’re aware that the clutter around us can have us feeling a little chaotic internally. But it goes so much deeper than a slightly uncomfortable, seemingly temporary mood. It’s crucial that we look at the state of our homes and unravel what it’s really saying to us. Because if we don’t, we’re not only missing the opportunity to get to know ourselves more deeply but the full potential of the true healing we’re capable of. We’re missing the opportunity to experience bliss internally and externally at the same time, which creates an incredible life experience. When we pause, look around, and evaluate our environment, level of cleanliness, and amount of stuff, we start to see the truth of who we are. We start to see what’s really going on in our minds and uncover the real way we’ve been viewing ourselves, whether we like what we see or not. When we tap into our homes, we radically face ourselves and with no one else to blame because it’s ours. You see, our stuff (regardless of how much or how little we have of it) is not about the stuff at all. It is the symbol for the experiences, memories, characteristics, and even people the stuff represents. As we collect, we associate to the moment we received the item or the people we were with when it came to our possession. Suddenly that thing has more meaning associated with it, and it feels like more than just a thing. Over time, it becomes our identity. We become so tied to the stuff we own that it can feel impossible to let it go. So we don’t. We continuously find reasons to keep it around and allow it to clutter not only our homes but the energy within them. It can feel that by letting go, we’re actually releasing someone from our lives. It can feel like we’re telling the Universe we suddenly (and almost for no reason) don’t care about the person/memory/experience we’re subconsciously associating with. And that’s painful. We feel guilty and tell ourselves letting go of something would make us a bad person or hurt someone’s feelings. The fears of change, letting go, acceptance of the new beginnings, and rejection (among other things) pop up fast at the thought of release. But when we find our homes piling up with messes left and right (or maybe minimalism is your jam), it’s saying to you that you’re either heavily attached to or heavily avoidant of something. It’s unhealthy and controlling how you show up in the world. When we can bring some consciousness to our unconsciously created habitual environment, we can unravel some powerful information. We can begin to understand what’s keeping us stuck or what’s missing from our lives. We can begin to connect dots and finally see what our patterns are. Only once we observe and become aware of how we’ve been going about our lives (and keeping our homes). We can make any significant change in the direction we desire. But once we commit to observing and making changes, then we can live better and heal faster. The cool thing about personal development through design is that we’re getting to see our growth tangibly and how far we’ve come. Often, personal development can feel like a process that leads to nowhere since we have to trust the benefits and rewards are on the way with no physical proof it’s happening and no timeline of when it will all show up. But with design, we get instant gratification. We can see the difference between an uncluttered, organized home. We understand the immediate effects of how the changed space makes us feel. It’s motivating and exciting. It feels good and trustworthy. The participation feels worth it. We’re interested in sticking with it. And is why it is so rewarding to guide clients through this process. Helping them reconnect to their homes while simultaneously reconnecting back to themselves. Showing them that their homes are just a reflection of their inner state and that mirror can reflect whatever they desire. They need to decide what they want to see. When I work with clients, I guide them through the detachment process, help them dive into the cluttered mess that tends to land in the same spots continuously, discuss the real fears experienced due to perfectionist tendencies that bleed into every area when not dealt with, discuss the toxic people-pleasing that comes into play when decorating for others and not themselves, and so much more. I help them see and digest what reflection is occurring. And when we go beyond the surface like that, a whole world of healing possibilities becomes available. This kind of digging is not always the easiest alone. Sometimes it takes working with a guide and mentor to help you see the blind spots you’ve been missing. But I promise that when you commit to building a new relationship with yourself and your environment, it will be the most rewarding work you’ve ever done. Follow Jesi on Facebook , Instagram, Linkedin and visit her website . Jesi Carroll, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jesi Carroll, Life Design Coach, is a certified Interior Designer and Mindset Coach who can show you how to Re-design your life (AND home) in the way you're worthy of. She specializes in taking her clients from decorating overwhelm and debilitating people-pleasing and perfectionism to relief at home and in life. She believes that design is a mirror that can reflect our inner world back to us. When leveraged properly, it can be life-changing and allow us to dive deep into the subconscious to truly heal. This tool is available to all of us, and she is here to show you how to harness it! Jesi offers virtual interior design, 1on1 life coaching, and an in-depth, immersive experience combining the two worlds of design and coaching. She believes it's time to heal at the soul level and to do so through fun, unique, and non-intimidating modalities.

Written by: Felicia Shanken, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Ever heard the phrase, “Be careful what you ask for?” Words have meaning when spoken out loud. How many of you have said things and noticed, maybe not immediately but at some point, did I create this? No? Only me? Okay, hold that thought! I remember growing up and hearing, especially from adults, always be careful what you ask for or make sure that what you are asking for is what you want. I never really knew the significance of these phrases until later in life. I guess the universe knew I wasn’t ready for what was about to come. Who knew that a simple 5-letter word could be so assertive? Do you believe in creating what you want by speaking it into existence? I know you read this and hear this all the time from life coaches, bloggers, spiritual guidance counselors, mentors, and such phrases. The truth is you bring into your life what you speak on, whether you write it down, say it out loud, or just a simple thought. Have you ever noticed when you constantly talk about good vibes, good energy, feeling good, surrounding yourself with good people, having a great life that is what you attract? The universe or spiritual guide is always listening. When I first started practicing the art of listening to what I was saying, I remember how I was saying it and when I was saying it. When my energy is not at 100%, I don’t want to talk to anyone on any level. Why? Well, think about it. Once you put it out there, you can’t take it back, whether the words are good or bad. In the same way, you attract good things. You can also attract some stuff you don’t want. I remember I was a part of this 5-day challenge conference which I enjoyed. At the end of the conference, they had a grand prize drawing for one lucky attendee, which required a one-year commitment. Of course, I immediately went into defensive mode, saying I don’t want to win, and I hope they don’t call me because my plate is full. As I am sitting there waiting for them to call the winner, the whole time, I am saying, "don’t call me, don’t call me," and yes, you guessed it, “Felicia Shanken, congratulations.” My first words were a 4-letter word, not the one you are thinking of but the other one. I did what any grateful person would do. I thanked them and accepted my gift with a smile. Remembering the concept of you create what you think about, I forgot that could go either way. Not only were my words powerful, but they even attracted what I didn’t want. In the long run, I will probably find out during the 1-year commitment it was exactly what my business and I needed. Remember, the Universe is always listening and watching. It knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome. As you can see, words have power. Referring to a quote from the Bible, "In the beginning was the word..." Whether you are spiritual, believe in a higher power or not, everything was created from the words of God. Think about that for a moment. How powerful is that phrase? Just by speaking into existence, heaven, and earth as we know it was created by four letters – the "WORD." When you are talking, planning, or thinking out loud next time, be mindful of the words you are putting into the universe. They do have meaning; they create and attract what and what you don’t want. Once they are put out there, they cannot be taken back. When you are thinking and talking about your business, be kind to yourself. We all are humans. We are still learning and trying to get it right. Create the life you want personally and professionally. Make sure the "words" you are projecting are powerful, but most of all kind. Everyone is going through something, especially after last year. Leave a kind word or thought on your journey to those you encounter. The universe is always watching and listening. Have a great day on purpose, my friends! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website! Read more from Felicia! Felicia Shanken, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Felicia Shanken is a Women Strategist and Builder. She is the Founder/CEO of the Philadelphia Women's Network Connection, LLC and PWNC Foundation 501(c)(3). PWNC is about helping local businesswomen build their business, connect with like-minded individuals and benefit from shared resources. The Foundation is committed to assisting women in growing a business as solo entrepreneurs transition from full-time or part-time to full-time entrepreneurship. Felicia has also been recognized and honored by "Fun Times Magazine" in their March/April 2020 edition for being "2020 Philadelphia Who's Who Black Women of Influence". Felicia had the opportunity in September 2019 to have her show on RVNTV, a digital television platform called "Power Up Your Passion," where she brings guests on to talk about their passion in life and how it lead to where they are now. Felicia was raised in Queens, New York. She moved to Philadelphia over 20 years ago, where she met her husband, Paul, a native Philadelphian. They live in the Fairmont area of Center City, Philadelphia.