Written by: Ceza Ouzounian, 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 last year has been hard to date and meet new people, and we aren’t back to normal just yet. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t put the inner work in so that when you are out and about again, it’ll be easier to attract your dream mate. You may have noticed that you keep attracting the same kind of partner and end up in similar relationships, and neither is right for you. You know something different needs to happen to break this pattern and attract that person you dream of and be truly happy in your relationship. So what can you do to attract that dream mate and have that dream relationship you desire? These are 5 steps you can implement now to start creating a change and attract your dream mate. Step 1: Let go of your past relationships and exes. You may be thinking you have let go of your past relationships and partners. But have you really? It might be that past exes pop up in your head and remind you of that time they did something to annoy you. You may have unanswered questions about what happened in the relationship and are desperate for answers. You could be angry at yourself for being with them, remembering all the stupid things you allowed them to get away with instead of walking away. Possibly you are stalking them on social media, always wanting to see what they are up to and who they are with. Maybe even messaging them and enquiring what they are doing or who they are with, occasionally flirting to see if they flirt back and still want you. It might be that you constantly compare any relationship or potential partner you meet now and decide they aren’t as good as your ex, and you will never meet anyone as good. These are just some examples, but all of them tell me you haven’t let go of a past relationship or ex. This is okay. Don’t judge yourself if this is you. Who hasn’t held onto something from the past longer than is needed? Identifying that you are holding on to these moments, these resistances, is the first step to letting them go. We want to let them go because they will be affecting who you attract into your world and how you behave in your relationship. The easiest way to start letting them go is to write down everything you wish you could say to them, ask all the questions you wished you could have asked. Everything. No one will see this list or letter. Do not send this to your ex. This is purely for you to get everything out of you. You can swear, be nice, cry, write about your feelings, and say whatever you want. Allow whatever emotions to come up. At the end, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and with each exhale, imagine yourself letting everything you wrote down go. If you felt you wanted to, you could burn the paper and imagine letting it go that way. Step 2: Clarity on what you want. Right, so you have written your list of everything related to your past relationships, and you’ve let it go. Now you need to get clear on what you actually want in a partner and relationship. This is a really important step. If you don’t know what you truly want, then how will you find it or know when you do find it. These wants and desires are unique to you. It isn’t what you think you ‘should’ want or what your parents think you should want or friends or society. It is what YOU want. Get a piece of paper (yep, more writing coming up!) and draw 2 lines down the page to create 3 columns. At the top of the first column, write “Must-Haves,” at the top of the second column “Would Like But Not Essential,” and at the top of the third “Absolute No-Nos.” Then you are going to fill each column. The first is everything you want your partner and the relationship to have. These are the non-negotiables. They must be present for you to consider that partner and relationship. The second column is what you would like to be present in the relationship, but it isn’t essential. The third column is everything you absolutely do not want in your relationship or your partner. Get specific, especially with the Must-Haves. What qualities does your dream partner have? What qualities do they bring to the relationship? What is your ideal relationship like? This helps get you really clear on what you are looking for and what you know you don’t want. Step 3: How does step 2 make you feel? You’ve got clear on what you do and don’t want. When you read over that list, what thoughts and feelings pop up for you? It could be you are reading over your list, and you notice a thought popping up that says that the relationship you desire is impossible for you. Or maybe your inner critic tells you you aren’t good enough, pretty enough, clever enough, or worthy enough? Reading over the list, you may find that you start feeling sad or angry or hopeless or any other emotion. There will be thoughts and feelings coming up (and if they don’t come at this point, they probably will in Step 4. I want you to allow them to come up and note them all down. Whatever you think or feel is ok, even if it seems illogical, get them down, so you know what they are. You may find that you have positive thoughts and emotions coming up as well as negative ones. That is great. We want to know these negative thoughts and feelings because these are the blocks that are going to stop you from attracting your dream mate. They are the ones that will sabotage you getting what you want. Often we have no idea these blocks are stopping us from reaching what we want. So, it's really important to start noticing them. Normally I would work on this with you in-depth using the Energy Alignment Method, but too big to explain that for this article, so instead, I want you to close your eyes and breathe into those negative thoughts and emotions, feel them, and then imagine letting them go. Leaving your body and floating off into the distance. Make sure you also forgive yourself for the negative thoughts and feelings that came up. Remember, it is good they came up because only then are you aware of them and can start to let them go. When you know the blocks, you can decide to change your behavior and, therefore, the outcome! Step 4: Visualise, visualise and visualise. Step 4 is all about tuning in to what is possible. Tuning into that dream partner and relationship that you wrote you wanted as part of Step 2. If you had some positive emotions and thoughts from the previous step, you could use them for this part. I want you to close your eyes and visualize your dream mate. What kind of person are they? What do they look like? What do they smell like? What are they saying to you? What are you saying to them? How do you feel being with this person? What is your relationship like? What is an average day like? Where are you? What are you doing? What does it feel like to be with them? What are you grateful for in your relationship? Get as clear as you can. And really anchor yourself in the feeling of being with that person and in that relationship. Step 5: Actions to take. To sum up, you have let go of exes, you have clarified what you want, you’ve explored what negative thoughts and feelings have come up, and you have visualized how it feels to be in your ideal relationship with your dream mate. Now, this is all very well, but nothing happens without action. I want you to decide on one action step to take today. It could be you decide to notice your negative thoughts more often to see if there is a pattern emerging that could be a block to attracting your dream mate. It could be you decide to sign up for an online dating app. It could be you decide to take it easier on yourself and make self-care a priority. It could be you decide to work with a Relationship Coach. It can be whatever you want it to be. One thing, big or small that is going to move you forwards. Don’t miss this step! You absolutely can have the relationship and partner you dream of. Keep working on your blocks, tuning into what you want, and take those small actions to move forwards. If you need any help, please do reach out to me. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Ceza Ouzounian, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ceza Ouzounian is a Relationship Coach, an Energy Alignment Method Mentor, Fitness Instructor, best selling author and speaker. She helps successful entrepreneurial women have the relationship they desire. Ceza knows exactly what is required to have a relationship you love, that is full of support, passion and love, and has helped many women reach their desired relationship. She shares the valuable lessons from her own journey and what she has learnt from work with clients and those around her to support her clients to have their dream relationship.

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. Have you ever in your adult life looked in the mirror and thought, “WOW! I thought my life would be more on track, and the chaos would be behind me.” You have a plan—the plan changes. Whether personal or professional, the only control available is you and the looking glass you choose. Yet you scramble, grasping in every direction to make sense of your environment and the outcomes you live. The Journey What outcomes, life lessons, challenges, and successes have you experienced along your journey? Your outcomes support or interrupt every level of your life. Take one path, and everything goes smoothly. HOORAY! It is celebration time. Take the other path, and the road is bumpy. This is the path many choose. It presents a plethora of outcomes, which build upon themselves, creating chaos. You either ask yourself, “How do I get out of this mess and onto where I want to go?” or “Where do I start over?” Both delay the success you always envisioned and caused problems. The Domino Effect Those problems affect areas, which have domino effects everywhere they touch. Does this sound familiar? If you answered yes, you might have experienced a delay wreaking havoc through one or more areas of your life. Those areas include any or all of the following: finances, lifestyle balance and fun, relationships, education and growth, health, family, and career. In your finances: Are you overloaded with bills? Are you saving for your retirement or paying medical bills and depleting your retirement savings? Is your dream home the one you sleep in every night? Are you working two jobs and still cannot meet month’s end? Do you have enough to live on without saying, “maybe tomorrow”? In your career: As the CEO/Manager/Lead: How can I get better communications going? How will we meet this deadline better? Who is best suited for this next promotion? What is the biggest problem my group is experiencing, and how do I help? As the Employee: Could I have a better office-life? Could I get that raise I’ve been thinking about? Could I be considered for this next transfer? In your family: Is there continual bickering? Are meals joyful, or are they quiet, filled with tension, or arguing? How have your interactions changed, and when did this start? In your health: Have you developed a stress-related illness—diabetes, cardio issue, depression? Are you missing work? Are you missing family events? Are you losing sleep? When is the last time you laughed with your children or your grandchildren? In your relationships: Are you married to the love of your life, but you have long lost passion? Have you forgotten why you married your spouse? Is your heart hurting, and you do not see a way to ever heal? These are some of the ways your life is affected when delays create havoc and change the stability in how you live and make decisions. Inward Expansion Look back. When did you start making adult decisions? Did you plan for the future or just for the moment? Have your decisions lead you to your greatness or the many curvy roads, which led you “here”? Is “here” your final destination or your next decision-making step? Whether you are at your final destination or in the middle of your journey, you must decide the type of outcome you want. Consider answering these: How long has this particular “thing/feeling/decision (IT)” been affecting your life? What are you doing in your IT discovery? What have you done in the past to release IT? How have you worked forgiveness with IT? Where do you see yourself going with IT? IT affects your life IN EVERY WAY! You’ll want to ask yourself: Are you comfortable betraying yourself? – NO leads to change. YES is a self-inflicting attitude and fits in this category, along with anything “out OF your Control”. What payoff(s) are you getting? Clearing Chaos Turn IT into winning on solid ground. Without measures in place, life continues to be filled with chaos and feels unrewarding. Consider this: Decide IF you want to move on from what is holding you back. Once you make that decision, clarity begins to happen. You make a plan(s) to create outcomes, which support and move you out of the chaos toward the life you envision. Work your forgiveness program. Forgiveness cleans the slate, allows a fresh start, removes judgments, and more for all parties involved. Work on your belief(s). Either you have beliefs, which support or deter you. Determine their purpose. Work with someone you trust who will help you see outside your blinders, keep you accountable and offer valuable insight on this part of your journey. Work the release. Release that which no longer serves you. Allow for new beginnings, potential, and outcomes to be discovered. You may even decide what you wanted is no longer your desired outcome. The choices you make or do not make determine your outcome and how you experience it. Make your plan. You are in control. Stop dancing in the chaos and start winning on solid ground. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! 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. Fran is founder of Heart Driven Action, coaching and consulting. She is a certified Spiritual Coach, Mapping Strategist, certified in ThetaHealing, holding a M.A. in Journalism and B.S.B.A. in Business.

Written by: Andrea Ryan, 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. On the day of lockdown last year, I landed on the shores of Blighty after 10 years in Australia. I had no networks, aside from close friends and family I had kept in touch with, I had a table from garden furniture in the corner of a rented house, as all our belongings were yet to reach land. I had no idea where Generation Wellbeing, a company I had set up 2 months before I left Australia would lead me. Having just been in business for over a year now, I have learned a lot! So with a little help from Madonna, I thought I would take some time to celebrate and share those lessons with you. 1. Keep It Together. You’re on your own. Just because in a previous life, you led a team that consistently achieved outcomes, it doesn’t mean that’s a transferable skill. Being in the throes of a new business is a League of Your Own . There are no teams, no camaraderie, no CEO or colleagues to check in with, and no pre-agreed business strategy with the Senior Management Team to run with. You are flying solo. It's just you, a business plan if you’re lucky, four walls, a computer or your phone, and an idea of what you want to sell. These are the moments we need to keep it together and act like your own CEO, your own team, pass the hat around until the last ones standing. 2. Get Together. Tell everyone what you do. I relocated back to a village I had only visited in the past. Aside from my brother living not far away, I knew no one. In those early days, it’s important to find a way to connect with your ideal client. In lockdown, that’s a challenge but one I accepted. Don’t underestimate the power of community. It’s taken a while, but I sought out the local gym and made suggestions of ideas for collaboration with the owner to engage weekly with the members. I went to coffee shops and left flyers, and sought out business owners with studios that I could align with. I leaned on my sister in law who introduced me through her circles. I joined local women's community groups through Facebook and offered to speak in their networking sessions and the FSB through LinkedIn to attend networking events. I have and will continue to build relationships as they are the secret ingredient to building a business. 3. Express Yourself. D on’t repress yourself. This first year, I have revised, tweaked, rewritten, added, and refined my service offerings. As one of my values is advancement and expertise, I continually invest in myself through education, my own coach, reading, and researching. I want to be the expert in what I do, and the person recommended to go to for advice on Imposter Syndrome and Female Leadership. To be that person, you have to believe you are that person, build your platform around who you are and express yourself through all your different mediums. You want to attract your people to connect with you, who will become part of your community and ultimately buy from you. The more I have refined my business, the more I understand that my ideal clients are like me, believe in what I believe, want what I want, and aspire for more. If you don’t shout about what you’re good at and why, then how will they know? 4. Deeper and Deeper. Are you all in? At some point, you have to stop saying and start doing. You have to ask yourself, am I dipping my toe in to make a few pennies, or am I diving in fully clothed to search for the deeper hidden treasures? If you favor the latter, you’re going to need to make sure you know ‘why’ you’re doing what you’re doing, your purpose, as this is the driver for everything. There will be days you aren’t going to want to face things, technology, people's opinions, feedback, a project you have to deliver. There are going to be days when you feel overwhelmed — you procrastinate or think you’re not good enough. There will be days when you feel stuck — you can’t understand why you’re not making any money or getting any traction. You’re going to want to give it all up. The secret to not giving in to that temptation? Knowing why you’re doing this. If you know the why, then the what, and the how-to become much more than you ever imagined. If you are thinking of setting up your own business and taking the plunge, firstly, congratulations, and secondly, here’s a little download for you on the basic essentials to just starting. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Read more from Andr ea ! Andrea Ryan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I'm a transformational life and business coach for women. I support women to enable their journey of self-discovery and drive change through their personal journeys. Professionally I help female entrepreneurs align their mental and emotional journey with business guidance and mentorship. I have had a 15-year executive career, heading up business and marketing strategy, brand management, and leadership in the disability employment sector, sport, and award-winning business development director in a mental health Not for Profit. Spending three years on the Australian National Committee for UN Women as a Committee Member and as a consultant to Human Rights start-ups, I am constantly seeking board and volunteer roles that offer me the opportunity to utilize my skills to give back and contribute to the wider community. Quoted in Marketing Magazine Australia as the 'Accidental Marketer,' I have a flair for the creative, which fuels my passion for supporting women to step into their power, thrive in their careers. I become leaders who will instigate change to make this world a better place.

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. We were delighted to have recently won “UK’s Most Inclusive Female Entrepreneur Network” in the 8th Annual Business Excellence Awards 2021, and along with our other awards, including being listed on the Brainz Global Awards Honours List, this got us thinking about how awards have transformed the success of our business. Here are our top tips for winning awards to skyrocket your business success. 1. You've got to be in it to win it. It's an old saying, but it's true. You have to look at your work positively and just apply (or ask someone to nominate you on your behalf)! 2. Blow your own trumpet! Many of us find this difficult, but it's important, so be proud of what you do. Applying for awards is inextricably linked with business development, and winning certainly gives you a competitive edge. 3. Passion wins awards. Passion for your business and industry always shines through in applications. So, be authentic and communicate your work and purpose positively, which will grab the judges' attention. 4. The David and Goliath complex. Don't be afraid to pit yourself against much bigger companies. Most awards are based on the quality of work or impact you've made, not on the number of employees/sales/etc. Often bigger companies hire a marketing agency to apply for awards for them, which means the passion is sometimes diluted on their application. 5. Set targets. It might sound crazy, but it takes time to prepare award applications, so do your research and schedule them into your diary, so you are always one step ahead. 6. Don't be disheartened. If you get nominated or shortlisted but don't win, use the awards night as an opportunity to network, and still make sure you still shout about this in your marketing (as this is still a huge achievement!) 7. Pay attention to the questions. Award applications can be a bit like a lengthy job application, so it’s important to answer the questions carefully rather than just trying to sell yourself. 8. Putting pen to paper. Firstly, keep an eye on trade/sector magazines, which often run awards, and local press for local business awards. Read through the categories and criteria carefully to make sure it's a good fit and that you have a fairly unique offering. Keep asking yourself, "what makes me/us different" as you complete the application. If there's the chance to supply supporting evidence, a PowerPoint works well as you can add images and text and stats to demonstrate your business growth. And tie in award applications with your blog or case studies/testimonials (these are invaluable when it comes to winning awards, and show that your customers are blowing your trumpet too!) If you work completely on your own, then use a community like HER Business Revolution or Brainz to get feedback on your draft award applications before submitting them. 9. Plaster success everywhere! Customers are impressed by award-winning companies because it increases your reliability and strengthens your business’ reputation. If you win, put the award logos everywhere — on your website, social media, email signature, pop-up banners, brochures, and flyers, in advertorial press, and try for free press coverage if you can get it. Whatever you do, make sure that award works hard for you! 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 Revolution . 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: Dr. Hynd Bouhia, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Mathematics is part of our daily lives. Surprisingly enough, we use mathematics in everything we do — setting up our monthly budget, grocery shopping, our way of thinking, inner logic, organization of our thoughts, solving complex problems, and daily management of our business and companies. And of the multiple theories, Game Theory seems to be the winner. It explains the strategic interactions between agents or players in any real-life situation — the relationship between colleagues, family members, friends, and people in general. Discovered in 1920, Game Theory became a base tool for microeconomics and for the modeling of zero-sum games in 1944. More research and 11 Nobel prices put the theory on top of economic thinking. It is applied not only to social science, political science, international relations, biology but also in business and organizations. In addition, Game Theory explains frequently seen behaviors in human relations. Particularly, the 1950 prisoner dilemma is the most popular as it simplifies the understanding of treason in business and our personal relationships. What is the prisoner dilemma? It illustrates the situation where two players find an interest in cooperating, but where, in the lack of communication. Each one would choose to betray there when the game is played only once. Like in real life, we get only one shot in an acute situation where decisions can be definite. The question is, why? Well, because if one of the players betrays the other, the cooperator is then strongly penalized. If both players betray, results will be less favorable compared to a joint cooperation. Understanding People’s Behavior through the Prisoner Dilemma Thus, the prisoner dilemma mirrors people’s behavior around us, whether in the business, among friends or family members. The concept is used in psychology to treat media rumors, in tariffs strategy, in business competition, and many other domains. To better apprehend its relevance, Princeton Professor Tucker gave the example of two partners in crime kept in two separate cells. They were both presented with three options: If only one of them denounce the other, he gets freed while the other receives the maximum sentence of 10 years; If they both denounce each other, they get both 5 years sentence; If they both refuse to speak, they get the minimal sentence of 6 months for lack of relevant information. This theory led to several economic games testing the players' economic rationale and their possibility to reach a Nash equilibrium improving their welfare within the Pareto optimum without deteriorating others’ situation. Besides mathematics and economics, the prisoner dilemma is pertinent to psychoanalysts, ecosystems’ scientists, biologists, and political science specialists. It is also used in some philosophy paradigms and cognitive science. Prisoner dilemma is therefore applied in any field whenever two or more agents have a common interest in cooperating, but an even more important interest in not doing so is one default, while there is no way to constrain the other to cooperate. For instance, these are two companies in the same market where one decides to increase the price and inflate the returns. If they both increase the price, they will both lose. In another setting within a team, one member could betray the boss—even wrongly, as he can see himself jumping the ladder hierarchy. Similar situations emerge among associates, partners, and investors in the same fund or structure. There is often a temptation to use similar tactics. In the world of information, the competitiveness in the media business is similar to the prisoner dilemma. Certain media give a privilege to information speed before quality, which generated errors pooling phenomena. This prisoner dilemma explains some bizarre behavior between a boss and a confused subordinate, or a demanding client, a relationship with a toxic person, jalousie, and negative acquaintances. They all lead to the same point of betrayal and hatred, and negative energy, in addition to a spiraling destructive trend and confusions. But once we understand the logic behind the prisoner dilemma, betrayal can be predicted before it even happens. You become a master of your own doing and expectations in your business. This is why any entrepreneur or business owner needs to protect himself by keeping his moves secret and mastering his or her surroundings—risk analysis and a thorough strategic plan with a clear understanding of their competitor. We live in a competitive world where treason had become a time and space transcending reality. In fact, treason found a comfortable sit in all aspects of our lives: in our homes, streets, offices, cities, structures, and the most powerful organizations. If TV shows and series are getting more fascinating, they reflect this ever-growing phenomenon where cruelty, lies, and fakeness have taken over our societies. Where did the values and manners go? Humanity has been high-jacked by overblown egos and “I want everything only to myself, and now” by selfishness and cupidity. Nevertheless, this planetary meditation dictated by the pandemic has awaken that lost compassion in people’s hearts and showed us back the path to goodness, sharing, serenity, love, and abundance. A positive vision of a better world sheds light on more grown-up and conscious people and business actors! For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my webs ite ! Read more from Hynd! Dr. Hynd Bouhia, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Hynd Bouhia has cumulated more than 20 years of professional experience in high-level and leadership positions, covering investments, financial structuring, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development strategies. Hynd Bouhia was nominated by Forbes among the 100 most influential women in the world in 2008 and among the most influential women in Business in the Arab World in 2015 and honored as a member of the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars in 2018. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University (GSAS 1998), an Engineering degree from Ecole Centrale Paris (1995), and a Master from Johns Hopkins SAIS (2000), Hynd Bouhia started her career at the World Bank in Washington before joining Morocco’s Prime Minister as an economic advisor. She was appointed in 2008 as the Managing Director of Casablanca Stock Exchange. After that, she structured and managed investments and venture capital funds. As the CEO of Strategica, she advises entrepreneurs, companies, and institutions on economic intelligence, sustainable finance, and growth strategies. Dr. Hynd Bouhia is the author of the motivational book for women entitled "Africa Girl, African Woman": How agile, empowered and tech-savvy females will transform the continent for good."

Written by: Denisse Espalter, 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 many times do you find yourself feeling stressed, going in circles, not making the time for yourself? Working hard to reach that goal at the top of your company ladder? Being the one that always volunteers at your children’s school and trying to run your own business? I believe I heard a big yes! However, how do we get out of these circles that cause stress? When you stop and know, our mindset gets us in trouble, and we have to learn to come to terms with how to pivot that mindset and create a habit of paying attention to our emotions. Our obsession as a culture to have it all at the expense of our most valued possession—our health is not something we need to compromise. Self-care is not all about taking a relaxing bath or going for a walk. It comes down to learning to step back and pay attention to our inner voice and what we are craving for ourselves. I know that making yourself the priority of your life sounds selfish to many, and maybe selfish isn’t a bad thing. You cannot expect anyone else to make you the priority of their lives, right? Wouldn’t that be even more selfish? Maybe by being selfish and taking care of ourselves, we stop expecting other people to bring us what we need. This usually leads to disappointment because no one can read our minds. Our ability to show up with presence, a positive attitude, and full of energy with your friends, family, and those you love, is determined by how well you manage your health. Here are a few key items that can make a difference in how you create that new mindset shift that will allow you that better path where you listen to your emotions: Pay Attention to What Matters – YOU: Start by paying attention to yourself and your emotional needs. You start by actively listening to yourself and restating your thoughts gently, out loud to yourself. Let Go of The Guilt: Allow yourself and permit yourself to make yourself a priority! Doing this does not mean you are a bad spouse, mother, friend - it is allowing a better version of yourself to come to a rise. It is ok to say NO when you need to and not always feel the need the please everyone around you. Don’t Say I Don’t Have Enough Time for Myself: One of our common arguments against self-care is not having the time. But the reality is you don’t have time not to. The World Health Organization estimates that stress costs businesses $300 billion a year. More than half of the population reported not being able to concentrate due to stress and sleep deprivation. Make the time! It’s more about the quality of the time spent rather than about trying to set aside an hour in your schedule. Consistency is Key: Get in the habit that this is on your schedule for yourself. In turn, this starts to become a habit that you implement, and it becomes a perpetual habit that you’re able to carry out regularly rather than just here and there. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: When it comes down to it, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to stop comparing yourself to others! This is one of the biggest self-care gifts you can give yourself. When you’re always comparing yourself to other people and feeling like you don’t stack up, you’re really discounting your own uniqueness and taking away any chance of being happy with who you are. Bottom Line: Believe that self-care means treating yourself with compassion, prioritizing yourself in your own life, and creating boundaries. Let’s start looking at self-care by filling ourselves up first! Fore more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Denisse Espalter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Denisse Espalter is recognized as a top Life & Style Coach and a sought-after Communications Expert. After multiple life-changing experiences, learning how to pivot her mindset, and not let fear hold her back, she created Unboxed Life and Style, a lifestyle brand. She developed a company that not only has amazing self-care & entrepreneur boxes, she also coaches, educates, and inspires women on how to take their life experiences and learn how to evolve with them as their life and style change. She offers courses on how to clean out the layers in your closet to become the better version of yourself, and shifting your mindset. Encourages women with Love the Skin You're In program. She teaches how to develop a self-care routine and how to prioritize yourself, as well as a Leveling Up Entrepreneur course where you gain clarity, confidence, and build strategies to grow your mindset. Her Book Everyday Woman's Guide to Doing What You Love will be released in June 2021. Her mission: Is to be a resource and teach women to stop doubting themselves. "The more clear you are on what you have - the more confident you will be!"

Written by: Jennifer Gattinger , 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. Machu Picchu in Peru, the Colosseum in Italy, the Great Wall of China. Chances are that you’ve heard of the Seven Wonders of the World and maybe even had a chance to visit a few of them. Now, what about the 8th Wonder of the World? According to Albert Einstein, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it, he who doesn’t pays it.” So, what is compound interest, and just what makes it so powerful? Compound interest is interest earned on interest. In other words, the interest you earn on your saving or investment account’s balance is added to the balance and reinvested on a monthly or yearly cycle. This, in turn, allows you to earn even more interest. Let’s take a look at an example. Imagine that you have $10,000 in your investment account that earns 7% interest (conservative average annual return on investments). At the end of year 1, you would have earned $700 in interest. Rather than withdrawing that money, let’s suppose that you choose to reinvest your $700 interest earnings in year 2. That said, you’d start year 2 with a $10,700 balance, and assuming the same interest rate, you would finish the year with $749 of earned interest. Assuming you continue to reinvest your interest, you’d be starting year 3 with $11,449 and so forth. Earning $700 interest in a year may not seem like so much at first glance, but what about if you had more time to let your investment grow? At this point, take a moment to make your best guess on how much $10,000 invested at a 7% rate would be worth after 20 years of compounding. What about after 30 years? Would you be surprised to find out that if you left your initial investment of $10,000 and let compound interest work its magic for 20 years, that it would be worth $38,697? Now how would you feel knowing that your initial investment would be worth $76,123 after 30 years? It’s important to note that these numbers were calculated without factoring in additional contributions over the years. Contributing an additional $100/month to your initial $10,000 investment, for example, would increase your balance to $87,891 in 20 years and $189,475 after 30 years! Let’s look at one more example to drive the idea of compound interest home. In this scenario, Mark lands a nice job right out of college and starts investing $300 into his retirement account at age 25. Meanwhile, his friend Julie decides to start investing $500 into her retirement account at the age of 35. Let’s see what happens, assuming they both want to retire at 62 years old. *Figures calculated using this compound interest investment calculator Over time, Mark contributes $133,200 to his investment account, while Julie contributes almost $30,000 more. However, Mark ends up with almost $130,000 more at retirement age. This is simply since he was able to take greater advantage of compound interest over the years. When it comes to compound interest, time is your greatest asset. As the famous Chinese proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” This couldn’t be more true when it comes to starting your journey towards financial prosperity. Your time truly is now. If you would like to learn more about how you can take advantage of the 8th Wonder of the World, join our upcoming group coaching course . Sign up by Friday, April 2, for a special early bird price! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jen n ifer ! Jennifer Gattinger, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jenny is a personal financial coach with a passion for helping millennials reach their financial goals. Having completed a degree in Economics, along with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Coach Master Training, she teaches them how to organize their money and put it to work so that one day, sooner rather than later, they won’t have to. A millennial herself, Jenny’s financial savviness has allowed her to follow her dreams of travel and visit 50+ countries as well as compete internationally in two different sports, all while maintaining a sense of financial wellbeing.

Written by: Jeanette Eriksson, 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. Suddenly, there is so much talk about leadership, its importance, and what is required from a great leader. You would have thought that this would always have been at the forefront of any company conversations, but that has not been the case. Over the last year there has been a leadership-boom in articles, conversations, courses, coaching, and I find it intriguing. I can’t decide whether the newfound lease of leadership-life has derived from COVID — employees feeling anxious, less resilient and needing better leadership to cope better and be their best at work or, if remote working has changed the view of leadership, hierarchy and giving staff the support and trust they always required to be happy in themselves having a sense of a clear direction and feel supported. I hope, and think, it is due to the latter. Also, I very much hope another reason for this much needed and positive development is a change in leaders’ own thinking — having a yearlong pandemic, spotlighting the requirement for trust and respect across the whole workforce, and understanding the need for everyone to be (and feel safe being) authentic, feel trusted and flourish within their self-belief. Now, I would like to throw in my two pennies and talk about winning concept leadership. I believe it starts with being an authentic, stable leader. However, it is not enough to just be authentic. Authenticity means to stand up for your beliefs and values which is great, but if you want to be a skilled leader, then you must bring your congruence. I hear some of you say, “What is this word you speak of?” Congruence is a term used by a humanistic psychologist — Carl Rogers, to describe a state in which a person’s ideal self and actual experience are consistent or similar. In other words, it is having the ability to say, think, and radiate views and feelings consistently. This consistency builds the solid trust needed in an organization and between a leader and their team. If you were to be awfully specific authenticity means, "This is me and take me as I am." This quality does not necessarily require the want or the need for adaptability, which in fact is getting more and more important for us all, including for those significant leaders of today and tomorrow. So, if you combine being authentic and congruent, then my view is that you have the winning ability to constantly adjust according to your environment, which is when you and yours can fully succeed in business and management. We have all had to adjust when we have joined a new company or workplace, which is easier for some than for others. It is not always easy but often necessary as every place is different. Adjusting is a part of winning, making changes, and building trust and relationships. My advice to anyone who is a clever, value-driven leader, who genuinely wants to make positive changes, is to decide how far you are willing to make a change in your new environment. Look at the concept of adjustment as a rubber band and decide on how far you are willing to stretch this elastic in the environment you are in to ‘fit in." Then, decide at which point you are going to feel that the rubber band has become too stretched to continue. When you reach the far-too-stretched point, then it could be time to leave your role and plans, but not until then. Society now needs a healthy realism and feel safe, knowing that we need to make some adjustments which we have certainly learned during the past year. We need a congruent leadership, which is consistent in thinking, acting, and speaking. This will create a sense of security, which is so needed right now — a leader, who understands the concept of the stretched rubber band. You have to accept that you need to make daily adjustments and be flexible but at the same time have full control over your inner compass so that you know your own limits. That makes it easier to stay and be resilient. As a leader and as a human being, you need to reflect on the difference between how you perceive a situation and how the other person or other people experience it. It is really important in today’s world that we don’t force ourselves to become populist or anxious and act in ways we think we should, but really we shouldn’t. This could lead to us removing all our own great qualities and thinking. As I consider myself a leader, or at least have been one as heading up teams and departments, during team sport captainship and as a National sports coach, and work with leaders, I try to carry the ‘great leadership’ flag through books continuously, articles, coaching work and podcasts. I try to remind everyone around me about the importance of this and how to be better. I totally encourage leaders to support and learn from each other. It is also crucial to get as many leaders educated and trained on the new leadership style needed to navigate the fast-moving world we live in. This new world is totally built on trust, not just in your own organization but also outside of your own company. We need to start working in more integrated ecosystems, work together at different levels, cross-departmentally, and with other organizations. You can’t just sit there and be all innovative by yourself. You won’t innovate to your full potential. Instead, you need to find ways of developing and innovating your own company together with others. Which will require even more need to build trust at so many levels and directions and makes the importance of linked leadership even more important. Let me give you a golden nugget. However big or small, every company needs to run on the desire to create, innovate, and move forward. The best way to achieve this is to build on the employees own drive and desires. So, the first thing a leader needs to do is to tap into exactly that. Talk to your staff and establish and understand what fires them up. That is where the magic happens! Each one of your team will bring you something amazing and unique. An organization's culture and success are the total of everyone’s involvement and desire to move forward. Many people are not aware of where their skills and passion lie and simply what drives them. This is something that a coach or a great leader can help bring out. After you have established all the inspiration, belly-fire, and skills, then you can create teams that can work across other areas. This brings new thinking and skills across the board and allows for more resource-shifting according to need, which also creates a much more flexible workforce. To create the best flexible team, you will need to create a feeling in your people. Connect both the brain and the heart. Get everyone to invest in the vision of what you are all creating and where you are all going. Create a strong feeling of direction. This will create engagement and a feeling of importance — what we are doing is important and it means something. When I work with companies, I always try to get to the classic why? Why are they doing what they are doing, and for whom? It is so important to believe that what they do matters and not just for themselves but for someone else too. This creates a strong commitment. That, my friends, is what makes someone a great leader. It creates a happy team which equals to a successful team and company. It’s about time that we build the best people we can, as nothing is a bigger win-win for all and sundry. 2021 is a new era. We have learned so much over the past year, and I think two of the key things are being in touch with how we are truly feeling and how we best interact with others. Maya Angelou said it best, “At the end of the day, people won't remember what you said or did. They will remember how you made them feel.” This is something we should always carry with us in our everyday life. Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jeanette! Jeanette Eriksson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jeanette Eriksson created Nordicly out of her passion for making people and systems work, achieve and feel better. Being Swedish, having lived in London for more than half her life, Jeanette uses innovative Scandinavian thinking in her coaching and consulting approach when working with individuals wanting to achieve personal goals and business leaders, who want to improve their own leadership skills, the happiness and productivity of their staff and the performance of their company. Having led large teams for many years whilst gaining national sports success, both as a captain and player and at the national team coaching level, Jeanette has learned all the tricks of the ‘personal and business development’ trade. Jeanette is also a best-selling author in UK, US, Canada and Mexico, by contributing to the ' 1 Habit to Thrive in a Post-Covid world' book. Whether you need help to improve yourself and pivot in our new, ever-changing world, or build your people and help them achieve clarity and progress in life and/or perform at a higher level at work, Jeanette is your Nordic(ly) solution.

Written by: Sheila Kadeer , 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. Did you know that you can use crystals in your business? Mystics and spiritual leaders have been using crystals since the dawn of time. Think about the Egyptians and their amulets and jewelry made of lapis lazuli and turquoise, which they used for protection and good health. The benefits and uses of crystals have been documented in literature dating as far back as ancient China, where crystals were used in traditional medicine. Apart from being pretty to look at, crystals work on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. They work through vibration which can have an effect on our minds and bodies. Some crystals even emit electricity when put under pressure - this is called the Piezoelectric effect and is used in modern technology. Crystals have also become popular in cosmetics. So could crystals help in business? I think so, and I have been using them for years. These are my top crystals and how I use them in my business. Black Tourmaline This one is a must for keeping negativity at bay. It is a strong protective crystal and is said to protect against electromagnetic smog, radiation, and geopathic stress. I keep one by my laptop and printer. To protect your working space, you can place a small piece in each corner of the room. If I am going into any negative situation, I wear a black tourmaline necklace. I do a lot of paranormal investigations, and this is my go-to protection crystal. Citrine I love the joyful energy that citrine has. It is the stone of abundance and helps in wealth creation and keeping hold of your money. I have a small tumblestone of citrine in my purse. It is useful to place in cash tins, registers, and in the wealth corner of your home or business, located in the south-east. It is known as “The Lucky Merchant’s Stone.” Iron Pyrite This is known as “Fools Gold’ and is good for success and abundance in business. Place a piece on your desk to energize it, and if you have employees or a retail space, place a piece in a communal area to energize those around. It is also great for fatigue and helps business owners who have been burning the candle at both ends from making any bad decisions due to tiredness. I keep some crystals on my desk, and pyrite is one of them. Turquoise This is my favorite stone for aiding in communication. If I have to give a presentation or go live, I wear a turquoise necklace around my throat to help me speak effectively. Need to write a blog or post? This crystal can help with writer’s block. Great for problem-solving, too, and calming nerves before public speaking. Malachite A good luck crystal that encourages change and is great for new businesses. Obstacle in the way - malachite will sort that out. If you are shy, this crystal can help boost your confidence to pick up the phone and make that client call. Your conversation will become so easy, and your anxiety will be a thing of the past. Keep a piece handy on your desk. Make sure it is in a polished, tumbled form as it is toxic. Fluorite Need some focus and discipline, then fluorite is a must. It will help you concentrate, get stuff done, and improve your mental abilities. If you have an overactive mind, this can help you think in a clearer way to stay calm in stressful situations and keep your focus on the task at hand. Hold the crystal when you need support. Carnelian A beautiful stone for motivation in success in business. It attracts abundance and good luck. It is great for helping you make sales as it promotes drive and determination. It helps you trust yourself and improves your mental abilities. If you want confidence, this stone will give this to you. I have a small piece of this which I hold on sales calls. I keep a small bowl of assorted tumbled stones on my desk, so I can grab what I need and hold it when I feel called to. I also have crystal jewelry that I wear during the working day. Why not give crystals a try and see how they work for you and your business. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Sheila Kadeer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sheila Kadeer is an Intuitive Business Coach, Therapist, Author and Teacher. She helps women heal the energetic blocks holding them back from embracing their true gifts and passions so they own their soul’s calling by creating an impactful business that brings them joy, freedom and fulfillment. Working on the subconscious and energetic blocks using a mix of hypnotherapy, past life regression, future life progression and ancestral healing along with her psychic superpowers she facilitates rapid transformation in her clients. Her professional background was within Product Marketing in the IT and telecommunications sector and has also been a serving Police Officer and Private Investigator. She is also the creator and author of The Sensitive Soul Wisdom Cards and co-author of the inspiring Kindle bestseller Born For This! The Journey To Success in Life, Love and Business. Regularly featured in the media, she was a radio host for A1R Radio and Moonstruck TV as well as appearing on Psychic Today as a celebrity psychic.

Written by: Anna Filatova , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of experti se. Build a successful online business by focusing on these 5 areas. It’s been over a year since the Pandemic hit the UK. Around the same time last year, I finally had the courage to become an entrepreneur, the dream of mine that I’ve had since I was 14. I heard people saying that I’m crazy starting a business during the Pandemic, but the reality is that every economic downturn brings many opportunities and possibilities. It’s about finding that gap in the market and providing your customers with a solution to their current problems. The last year has been challenging but also exciting and fun. Here are my 5 biggest lessons that I’ve learned as an entrepreneur during the Pandemic. 1) Build strong relationships. People are everything to any small business or large organization. That includes your customers and your employees, contractors, suppliers, vendors, and anyone else who is involved in one way or another in your business operations. By providing value and incentives to your customers, nurturing and keeping them warm, you will build strong connections and relationships, and ensure that you have a community of dedicated and involved people who will share your journey with you no matter what crisis you are in. Being an effective leader to your team goes a long way. It’s essential to support your people with technology and tools that allow them to work efficiently from home and provide the flexibility they require while managing their work duties and family issues. 2) Learn to love social media. Many people cringe when they hear about social media. I know it can be overwhelming, frustrating, and exhausting, but if a business has no customers, it won’t survive even if the market situation is in their favor. Social media provides a good alternative to what we used to know when business was done in person. In the last year, many people have started spending more time online than ever before: shopping, attending different events, organizing family gatherings and working remotely. You need to find a way to attract your clients and keep those connections warm, and with access to social media, you can reach a much wider audience and use it to your advantage. 3) Be clear and transparent with your communication. Communication is essential for many areas of our lives. Customers want to see a clear message when following their favorite brands. They want to know what has changed during the Pandemic and what is the way forward. If you communicate clearly and transparently with your customers, they will be highly engaged. The important thing here is to remind your customers how much you value them, provide incentives for their commitment and make it clear that you will get through these difficult times together. 4) Manage yourself effectively. You’re the face of your company, and if you’re a solopreneur, you’re the company. You want to make sure that you’re not only managing your business but also yourself in terms of how you are showing up. To be successful, you need to be extremely organized with everything that is happening in your business and personal life, be committed to your own success, and take responsibility for your own actions. You need to ensure that you stay productive, efficient, and positive no matter what challenges you might face and manage your stress levels effectively. I believe that a healthy body sustains a healthy mind, so a good practice would be to create some healthy habits and routines that could help you with high energy levels and support your mental well-being. 5) Get support. Many entrepreneurs think that they can do everything themselves, but the truth is that you are not an expert in every field, and you won’t have enough time or energy to do everything alone. Getting support might mean different things to everyone. Some might find support networks with other business owners a perfect option. Others might need to outsource various tasks that they might not be as good at or to allow themselves to save time and energy and focus on something more important. Some entrepreneurs like the idea of partnerships to split the responsibilities, but it doesn’t suit everyone. Hiring a coach or mentor is a great way to stay motivated and focused on your goals, overcome fear, self-sabotage, and challenges that you might be facing, and create strategies and action plans that will allow you to reach the success that you desire without feeling stuck, overwhelmed or burned out. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Anna Filatova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Anna is the founder of Dreams and Beyond Coaching Ltd, a coaching and mentoring firm that was founded in March 2020. The company offers a variety of services including coaching, mentoring, business consulting, training, retreats, one day intensives, team coaching and personality profiling. From a young age, Anna has been curious about learning and development and areas such as personal fulfillment, potential and success. She has always believed that people have hidden potential and by believing in them, challenging and mentoring them, she has helped a large number of individuals to thrive and achieve high results in the their careers and lives. Anna earned a Honors BA Degree in Business Studies in International Hotel Management from National University of Ireland Galway in 2011 and a MBA for Executives with Global Perspective from London School of Commerce in 2015. Before becoming a certified coach, Anna spent 9 years in Hotel Management and 5 years in Investment Banking. When she was 25, she had burnout that made her realize that health, well-being and work-life balance are more important than killing herself for a fast career progression. As a Business and Success Coach, Anna helps entrepreneurs, business owners and their teams to strive for success in business and their personal lives without feeling stuck, overwhelmed and burned out. She ensures that they have all essential tools and resources for development, growth and success.

Sandra D'Angelo is a Certified Life Coach & Trainer who works with Business Professionals to help them boost results in their careers & privately. Sandra coaches her clients to increase their focus, take effective action, boost their productivity and achieve more in their professional and personal lives by putting themselves first and creating a dynamic life balance. What made you become a Life Coach? I have always been interested in and fascinated by the human mind and its power. I knew that I wanted to be self-employed. I also knew that I needed to be patient, so I committed to gaining experience in fields that would help me start my business later. Throughout my career, I worked in the recruitment and education industries, in sales & consulting. I never considered these jobs to be regular sales/consulting roles because my work had a strong impact on the people I worked with. At the beginning of my career, I helped students choose their education paths, and then later on in my career, I was helping professionals choose and build their career paths. Education and career are very important parts of our lives, and both have a huge influence on people's future. Without even knowing how to label it, coaching had pretty much always been a part of my work. The moment I decided to become a certified coach was a couple of years ago, I had found myself at a big crossroads in my life, and I had hired a coach for myself. I was at the point where everything was okay, but I didn’t feel fulfilled and satisfied with only being “okay.” I worked with the Coach, and it literally changed my life. I created a plan on what, how, and when and decided that I needed to start doing what I'm best at & the most passionate about - helping Business Professionals create the life they want for themselves, in their careers, and privately. For the past two years, I have been a full-time, self-employed Coach and am absolutely in love with what I do. I am continuously interested in investing in myself and my knowledge to give my best to my clients. In addition to being a Certified Life Coach, I hold an MBA in Communication & PR and am always on the lookout for ways to improve my skill sets. Please check my LinkedIn for more information. What is Life Coaching? There is a misconception that something needs to be “wrong” with you to hire a Coach. That just isn’t true. A lot of people who hire a coach are those who have reached a point in their life in which they feel stuck and aren’t sure about how to move on. They seek objective support to help them “get out of their heads” and overcome obstacles between them and their goals. As a Coach, I partner with my clients to help them achieve their goals in their professional & personal lives. I help my clients bridge the gap between where they currently are and where they wish to be by asking probing questions, raising their self-awareness, and challenging them to open up to new perspectives. As a Coach, I am trained to listen, observe and then customize the coaching approach to the individual client's needs. Who are clients that hire you? Clients that I work with are Business Professionals, who have found themselves at a point in their lives where they have reached a certain career level, are settled in their private lives but are wondering “what now”? If you are a Business Professional and feel as if you are trapped on the hamster wheel and need to get off it, if you feel stressed and overwhelmed with what is happening around you or if you are stuck with too many ideas but don’t know how to put them into a reality – we should have a chat! I work with clients to increase their focus, take effective action, boost their productivity and achieve more in their careers and privately. How does coaching with you look like? I believe that there is no “one size fits all.” With that being said, my program is individually tailored to every clients' needs. In general, there are two ways we work together: by committing to a Life Coaching Package, which is a minimum of 12 one on one coaching sessions. Another way is by committing to a Single 90min Goal-Setting Session. I am currently working on more exciting projects, but I’m not yet ready to share more details. So, stay tuned. In terms of my coaching approach and according to my amazing clients' words, they describe me as a straightforward & challenging but also caring & inspiring Coach. Feel free to check out my website to read some success stories (www.approachyourcoach.com) What are the benefits of hiring a coach? There are plenty! Getting out of your “safe” zone, taking effective action, increasing your focus, boosting your confidence, gaining clarity, viewing different perspectives, reducing stress levels, improving productivity, having an accountability partner and ongoing support, plus you get to work with me! I think that one of the biggest benefits you gain from hiring a Coach is the non-judgemental and fully objective environment you find yourself in. An environment that helps you self-reflect on a deeper level increases your self-awareness and helps you find ways to overcome whatever you encounter on your journey, in your own way and at your own pace. My goal as a Coach isn’t to make my clients dependant on me – my primary goal is to help my clients achieve what they initially came to me for and, on the other hand, reach the point in which they can pause, step back and “coach” themselves through any future situations to come in their life. For more information, connect with Sandra on Facebook, LinkedIn and visit her website! Read more from Sandra!

Written by: Stephanie Booth, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I've always been able to spot patterns in human behavior. I don't know if it's because I'm a human design reflector or it's something unique to me but it's something I've always been able to do. Reflectors are a very uncommon personality, and we're known for our deep wisdom. One of my superpowers is observing trends and patterns most can't see. And today, I'm sharing my first ever Coaching Industry Trend Report. After a year of global change, we’re bound to see some changes rippling through our industry-and industry I love and care about. The most successful people are the ones who can modify themselves and adapt to change. I share these trends with you to empower you to trust yourself, innovate, and experience your own vision board life this year. So if you like to be in the know, here’s what I see coming for 2021 and beyond. TREND 1 | Less Proving Ourselves & More Leading Ourselves Over the past decade, value-based marketing strategies have dominated the coaching industry. The idea behind this approach has been this idea that if we give someone a taste of our content, they’ll trust and hire us. This led to people feeling that to ask for money, they needed to first prove themselves. But the reality has always been true that buying decisions aren’t made with logic. They’re made instantaneously and in the intuitive or emotional centers. Buying is emotional, and after a year of raw, untended emotions, I think we’re going to see the value and logic-based approach ("do these 3 things to be successful" “the X strategies to grow your list fast,”) and less convincing replaced by a more honest, intuitive, and story-telling marketing approach. I foresee that the most successful coaches in the coming years will be the ones who are their own success stories. Look for the coach who leads herself and calibrates all her circumstances back to her instead of letting them tell her who she is. She’s strong and unapologetic in her approach. And she leads the way in marketing trends we’ve never seen before-choosing not to prove herself but rather share herself. TREND 2 | Less Copy/Paste Business Programs Teaching a skill will always be needed. We always need to learn new things. However, knowledge is not power, and it’s only potential power. Let's talk about competence. Have you ever found a coach who you feel like coaches effortlessly? She’s just masterful at facilitating breakthroughs and makes it all look so easy? That effortless style of coaching is unconscious competence in action. It’s dedication to a skill for so long that you can perform a skill with complete mastery in an unconscious way. It’s almost more of a reaction than a thoughtful set of actions. My Trend Prediction I predict the coaches in the industry who’ve built their business on the foundation of teaching a skill, like list building or lead generation, are going to see a diminishing return over the next year-plus as self-trust and competency takes the industry by storm. And thank God, honestly. Instead of programs boasting duplicatable marketing that lack genuine soul, the best selling techniques that still feel sleazy, or lead-gen systems that conflict with our values, We'll see a growing trend of coaches showing people how to become an unconscious competent in their skills and learning to trust themselves and their unique perspective. Coaching people into unconscious competence is masterful work, and you'll only see this from highly skilled coaches. They’re the ones you’ll want to be learning from. TREND 3 | Coaching Rates Increasing Exponentially The coaches who can teach people how to become an unconscious competent in their unique skill set are among the world's most sought-after skills by the elite successful people in this world. Why? When you’re an unconscious competent, you’re exhibiting such mastery that you can scale your income without a limit. These coaches will have the freedom to raise rates in a big way. Their client results speak so loudly that demand will be high for this type of coach, driving rates up exponentially. If you see this kind of coach, act now. Chances are, in a year, their rates will be exponentially higher. TREND 4 | A Growing Focus On Integrity Coaching is a famously unregulated field. Anyone can choose to call themselves a coach and charge money to share their wisdom. No matter how qualified they really are. That’s the beauty of this industry, honestly. And it can be one of the biggest pain points of many certified or trained coaches. We'll see a growing desire for integrity in the coaching industry, which is wonderful. But beware of polarizing or reactionary coaches who like to "rant” about the industry's problems or confuse boundaries with a lack of transparency. Remember: people who cling to and defend their point of view are likely living in fear. And what they live in is where they lead you. Instead, look for coaches here who challenge themselves to be their own success story and encourage an atmosphere of personal excellence. TREND 5 | More Transparency and Connection Based Programs In the past, I’ve felt deeply unhappy with my mastermind investments because I didn’t know to look for one important thing. I’d sign up with a person who lacked transparency or fully hid how they created the result I desired. I realized I’d signed up to be mentored by a woman who refused to let people in or would project their insecurities onto their clients then gaslight them. At first, I thought, “if that’s who I have to be to have a million-dollar coaching business, I won’t do it. But I learned instead how important it is to me to be mentored by someone who gets results I want to get the way I want to get them. Since then, I’ve happily invested in working with women who believe that they get to stand in their power, share their honest approach, and have healthy, empowered boundaries. And it’s been life-changing. While information-focused programs (like the mastermind I joined focused on launching) will still be popular-remember, knowledge is potential power-masterminds are about to explode in a big way as people recognize how much they’ve missed human connection and community. I believe over the next few years; the highest-priced programs will be about connection and transparency instead of information. How to Choose A Mastermind: Masterminds will be a dime a dozen. If you're joining a mastermind, I’d recommend that you find a leader who you resonate with-look for a person who’s getting results you’d like to get in a way you’d like to get them. Those I recognized a long time ago that I’m looking for a coach who’s making the income I desire to make with a spacious schedule and an intuitive approach, not rigorous discipline and rigid rules. Once I learned this about myself, all my investments have paid off multiple times over. TREND 6 | Mental Health and Bias Trauma De-Stigmatized In 2021 and beyond, we're going to see mental health destigmatized in an even bigger way than ever before. We’ll also see ourselves normalize and welcome the BIPOC community sharing their experiences with racial bias and racial trauma. We’re already seeing this to a certain extent, but don’t be surprised to hear many coaches begin sharing their mental health journey, including their experiences with depression, anxiety, medication, and more. Remember-not every happy face is happy. As people share their experiences, learn to embrace their honesty and look up to their resilience more so than admiring their happy smile and pretty life. And let this reassure you that you're not alone in your experience. I also predict that we’ll start seeing a growing trend in tv shows with themes around therapy/therapists and mental health. TREND 7 | Less Burnout and More Self-Trust Every business goes through seasons-some are busy and full, and others are slower and more introspective. But for over a decade, the industry has been dominated by aggressive white men who preach a gospel of “discipline” to ten ex your results. But what they’re really saying is “masculine energy is the only way to be successful.” and “If you’re tired, push through. your effort will pay off.” I predict that the day will come when powerful, feminine success stories will dominate the horizon. I see a world where women make loads of money leveraging the magnetism that is feminine energy, where women are considered powerful, not for emulating masculine ways, but instead fully embracing their feminine magic. And the new gospel will be one of rest. Receiving and reassurance that you can create the life you want the way you want it. TREND 8 | More Representation I’ve saved the most important “trend” for last. It’s not really a trend, just a necessity. In the coming years, we’re going to see BIPOC people safely step into their divine purpose. Unlike ever before, we’ll see the rise of the wealthy, powerful, feminine black woman, and it will become standard as it should. Aggressive white men will no longer dominate coaching. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this. It’s long overdue. And I’m excited to participate in turning the tide toward equity and representation. Comment and share the trend you see coming to the coaching world over the coming year. For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website ! Stephanie Booth, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Booth is an NLP practitioner & success coach for online entrepreneurs who is most known for her theories and work around breakthroughs. She has been named a Yahoo Finance top success coach to follow and has had her work featured on top podcasts in the business and coaching spaces. Stephanie believes that breaking through limitations follows a natural pattern and the most important personal growth work we can do is learn to allow a breakthrough, where we would naturally self-sabotage. Stephanie hosts mentorships, masterminds, and signature programs, such as her popular program, Magnetic Minds to help entrepreneurs harness the power of the mind in creating their success.