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. As a child, did you ever throw a pebble into a pond and watch the ripples radiate from where the stone hit the surface of the water? You were probably just doing something that felt completely natural to you. You didn’t think about it much. You just did it, and the effects of your actions rippled outwards. It doesn’t matter if you intentionally threw a rock in or accidentally knocked a rock into the water. The end result is the same. The rock will create ripples. This is a great metaphor to describe the social impact our actions can have on others and the world as a whole. It’s a topic that’s near and dear to my heart and is something I do holistically through my business and initiatives. Accidental social activism in Honduras Social impact isn’t always an intentional act you set out to do (like setting aside 10% of your profits to support a charity). Sometimes it comes from unexpected places or from a seed someone plants in your mind. I didn’t set out to purposefully create a social impact in my work. I like to say I’m an accidental social activist. In 2013, I was visiting Honduras and I noticed that many women didn’t have jobs outside of the home. I was talking to a dear friend about this and she ever so casually said, “Dez, you should train them to become holistic coaches.” At that moment, I realized that I could give them the foundation for a flexible career where they could become financially independent while benefiting their community. Her idea rippled inside me as I thought of all possible ways that training even one coach could impact the community. The coaches I train could coach their neighbors who are struggling. They could coach tourists. They could coach pro-bono in their communities to make the ripple extend further. The potential impact of a one-week training, coupled with the drive and passion of the women who raised their hand and said, “Yes!” was all I needed to say, “Yes!”, too. So, in 2015 we found 50 interested women, and we taught them to become ICF (International Coaching Federation) Accredited Holistic Coaches. We’ve since trained over 120 women and men in Honduras. The ripples keep radiating for those 120 internationally certified holistic coaches. From those initial 50 women, one became a best-selling author and started running marathons. One started a nonprofit for women. Another one started a different nonprofit in 2017 that I co-founded with her and her family. Each one is impacting their local communities in so many inspirational ways! It all started with one seed and a deep-rooted belief that by changing one life, you can change many! What’s your impact on the world? We’re all making a social impact, whether intended or not. You see, social impact looks at the net effect of our actions on other people and the community as a whole. Everything you say and do has an effect on those around you and has the potential to be a force for good. The key is that it comes from a genuine desire to do good, regardless of the potential for recognition or accolades. There are three ways you can make a social impact: Look for opportunities to make change. Accept and act on a seed you’ve been given. Wait to see what fate puts in your path and act. It doesn’t matter if you purposely act to have a social impact or it just happens based on someone you meet or circumstances in your life. The point is that your social impact, no matter how big or small, will have ripple effects. If you struggle to see how you’re making a social impact, then here are some examples that you may relate to or that inspire you: Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through (in one example of this, drivers in a Dairy Queen in Canada “paid it forward” for 900 straight cars through the day). Start or volunteer for a non-profit related to a cause you believe in. Teach others a craft or skill so they can thrive and go on to teach others. Hold open the door for the person behind you. Support a business that’s doing good things for your community by purchasing from them or spreading awareness that they exist. Stand up for someone being bullied. Ask others what they need and step up to meet them. You may not always see the impact you make, but it’s there, rippling through time and changing the lives of others. What ripples will you create? So today I ask you, what kind of ripples do you want to make in the world’s pond? Even the seemingly “little” things can make a significant impact and change the lives of others. For the women in Honduras who are now trained Holistic Life Coaches , they provide a better life for their families and help other families do the same so that their whole community thrives. For the drivers in that Dairy Queen drive-through , they paid it forward to the next person in line, 900 times. It may have also inspired them to pay it forward in other ways throughout their day. For all those I train and certify to become Holistic Coaches, they are supporting hundreds of thousands of people to live happier lives and step into their true potential around the world. In his presidential inauguration speech in January 2021, President Biden said, “There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you.” Fate dealt me the right combination of people, experience, and seeds of inspiration at the right time. This opened the door for me to directly impact the over 500 holistic coaches in over 10 countries I’ve trained through Radiant Coaches Academy. Everything flowed with relative ease, and now these coaches are creating their own ripples in their communities. No matter what fate sends your way, you have the choice to make a positive social impact in your personal life or your business. If you have a choice, then choose to create ripples in ponds that are near and dear to your heart. 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 and 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, peoples 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 passionate and sincere in helping people live more meaningful lives as a dedicated global humanitarian and social entrepreneur.

Written by: Erica Bowen, 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. ‘Hope’ is one of those words that people tend to overlook, and we also use it badly. Think about the number of times we say to ourselves and other people ‘Oh, I hope it works out for you’, and by that what we are really saying is ‘I wish for a better future for you,’ but we do not really see hope as an active state. We view it as a general state of being optimistic, but again, it does not usually imply action. I have had people comment that hope and faith are the same thing, for example – suggesting that both involve attributing the likelihood of success to some external force or influence. However, the science of hope has completely recharacterized it as a state of action. It has shown time and time again that hope is the most powerful and empowering of what are known as ‘character strengths’ (personality traits and characteristics that are associated with optimal life outcomes, Park & Peterson, 2009). It is the one character strength that is consistently associated with all positive life outcomes, including educational attainment, wellbeing, relationship quality, athletic and health outcomes, coping, resilience, and success (Gwinn & Hellman, 2019). So how come? Snyder’s Hope Theory (Snyder, 2002) proposed that hope is characterized as a cognitive state comprising three elements: 1. Goal-directed thinking: creating a hope goal - the belief that the future can be better than the past in a specific way (goal). 2. Pathways thinking: this means that you can identify more than one way of achieving a successful outcome. 3. Agency thinking: having the motivation to engage with the pathways to achieve the goal. Therefore, someone who has high levels of hope can clearly articulate a goal and identify more than one feasible and realistic way of achieving it, and is motivated to do the work needed. Conversely, when we think about states of ‘hopelessness,’ it could be that the person has no clear goal; has a goal but cannot identify clear pathways to achieving it, or has a goal, can identify the pathway, but does not believe that they will succeed, or that there may not be a reward for success, and so is not motivated to work towards it. How do we actively harness hope to increase success? 1. Identify a clear goal that is realistic and feasible*. 2. Identify all the ways it is possible to reach the goal. 3. Identify all potential factors that might impact on each goal pathway. These should include external (e.g., the influence of other people, technology etc.) and internal (e.g., personal beliefs about success, self-worth etc.) factors. 4. Plan how each potential roadblock will be dealt with if it arises. 5. Identify how you will reward yourself for success. 6. Get to action. 7. Monitor action and evaluate progress regularly (enlist an accountability buddy too). 8. Celebrate how you said you were going to when you achieve the goal. *Whether you declare your goal to the rest of the world is up for debate. Some suggest this increases the likelihood of you achieving it. Other neuropsychological research suggests that if you proclaim the goal, your brain believes it has already been achieved and decreases motivation and the likelihood of action. The beauty of hope is that if you engage in this process and reach your goals, it reinforces your hope and makes you more likely to be successful in the future too! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Erica Bowen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Erica is a registered forensic and coaching psychologist and internationally recognized expert in the prevention of family violence. Formerly a senior academic and Professor, Erica left academia in order to pursue her mission of bringing more hope into the world. She achieves this through working with social entrepreneurs in order to help them to maximize the success of their business without burning out. Her training and experience enable her to, where relevant, bring a unique understanding of the origins and impact of trauma on entrepreneurship, success, management and leadership into her coaching. She is also able to help clients process trauma through the use of Havening techniques if that is needed. Erica is the host of the Hope-Makers podcast which shines a light on stories of hope through interviews with inspiring people doing inspirational hope-making work. References: Gwinn, C., & Hellman, C. (2018). Hope rising: How the science of hope can change your life. Morgan James Publishing. Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2009). Character strengths: Research and practice. Journal of college and character, 10(4), 1-10 Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 249-275.

Written by: Bri Neely, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Throughout most of our lives, we do things because we feel like we are supposed to, accepting the truths of what we have been told rather than letting our own hearts decide. We follow patterns, and we are shaped by systems, leaving us lost within ourselves and placing more faith in individuals who merely see us as replaceable objects. Indoctrination has occurred right before our eyes, ultimately making us blind to the immorality that is being done to us and through us. We have trusted that there is only one right way to live our lives, busy, following guidelines, and living up to the status quo. We no longer living for ourselves but instead living for the benefit of others. Too many of us live in a monotonous routine, losing our passions and living life with no purpose. We live our lives day in and day out; we think about how we could have done things differently, or we think about what all needs to be done, leaving only a small space for us to be truly present. Busy work has become our ruler. It’s not our fault because this seed has been planted far before we were conceived. Generations have been spent working to survive, being told that we live the American Dream, when in reality, we have become servants to the dream. Infancy is rushed before our children are even born. We are already thinking about placement for them, leaving parenting up to a stranger so that they can work their unfulfilling 9-5 to make ends meet, inevitably working to pay for someone else to raise their own children. By the time work is done, we are mentally checked out, leaving no space for patience or presence for the ones who need our energy the most. We get dinner ready, give baths, clean up, and we are tired. Bedtime is strongly anticipated, but it’s not always easy. There is too much on our minds. Anxiety lingers in our nervous system, sending that energy straight to our children and leaving us all exhausted. Before you know it, those infants are in school, placed in a classroom for far too long, and creating more distanced from their creators. We hand them busy work, and we place stressors on these kids to have it all figured out. If you are not on the same path as your peers, you are deemed slow, behind, and more than likely given a diagnosis of something. This feeling discourages children. They start to fester in their minds that they have been like everyone else, they lose their spark of uniqueness, and they lose the understanding of who they truly are. Their intuition has been suppressed, placing validation in others opinions rather than trusting in themselves, training them to disengage with their emotions, and declaring that they are just kids and that the adults know what’s best for them. Although this statement has some justification to it, how can we believe that this is true when we have fostered a society of unempathetic, egotistical, and completely broken humans? Now, adults, we live unconscious lives, stuck in the little versions of ourselves, and accept the life we have been told. Some of us get degrees that serve a small purpose to us, while others immediately jump into the workforce due to feeling unworthy of living to their true potential. We feel lost, confused, and unsure of who we are and what we want to do with our lives, we settle. We settle for someone else’s dream, or we settle for what we know. Either way, we are not living for ourselves. Our years of bottled-up emotions are now coming to the surface, and this scares the hell out of many of us because we have never been taught how to manage all these feelings. Our way of managing these feelings is through prescription, projection, unhealthy relationships, and addictions. We stay on the path that has been paved for us because it is comfortable and it’s familiar, we like familiar, it feels safe, and it’s what we know best. But some of us, whether at age 17, 28, or 42, find ourselves thirsty for more, more understanding, more answers, and more purpose. We become fed up with our habitual ways of living, and we seek a new path, the path that we were meant to travel on. Finding this sacred path takes time and takes dedication. It has been concealed from our awareness, and it is not on the map. The only map that will assist you in this finding this path is located in your mind, you will have to trust your instincts, and you will have to listen to your intuition. How will you know you have reached this sacred path? It will overwhelm your body. You will begin to feel unsure, your mind will try to push you back to familiar, your heart will beat like a drum, your nervous system will be on high alert, but you will feel alive. Take a deep breath, calm your thoughts, and get ready to reclaim your journey. This path will be like nothing you have witnessed before, but oddly it will give you a perplexing sense of comfort. Parts of this new path will be absolutely divine, while other parts will be completely difficult. As you walk through your journey, weeds may conceal parts of your way. Do not become discouraged; instead, start pulling. Uprooting these weeds will be like uprooting your ancestors; each one has a story to offer, each having a purpose for their being. They have taken over because you have been held hostage on the familiar, following the footsteps of others, staying connected with the map that was handed to you. These weeds have been yearning for your presence. They have wanted you to discover this path and change the route of your destination for decades, and they are glad you made it. You will be continuously confronted with choices on your next steps. It will be testing, and you will want to ask for directions, but only you will know the answers you need. With each confrontation you run into, either lessons will be learned, or understanding will be obtained. Either way, it will light your soul on fire and will continue to push you forward. You will go through the hardships because you have realized this path offers so much beauty. Your inner child will walk alongside of you and help you trust what routes to take. They become excited to be on this journey with you because your younger self has always known that you were meant to be here all along. You just became lost along the way. The eagerness to learn will be placed back in your heart, and you begin to accept that nature provides you with all that you need. You just have to look closely. Though all the hardships faced, spectacular discoveries will be revealed, and that, my friend, is what will make this journey so worthwhile. Your destination may take some time to reach, but the journey along the way will be so remarkable that it will not even matter. You will know you are close when you start to feel peace within yourself. All the fears, struggles, and self-doubts will no longer be seen negatively. The time spent alone will give you a strong appreciation for who you are and why you are here in this world. Your path is preparing you for your destination. Embrace the offerings given to you and through you along the way. You will reach a point on your path where everything begins to change. Flowers start to diminish, and the leaves on the trees begin to transform. Their colors will be breathtaking, and an ardent feeling of admiration will overtake your energy field. Leaves will begin to fall freely around you, giving thanks for witnessing their presence. New beginnings are ready to transpire. All the offerings that have been given to you along the way are now ready to give themselves back to the earth, trusting that nature knows it is time for a change. Continue to stay rooted on this path and watch what blooms before you. Allow others to witness this, showing them the beauty of walking off the beaten path. You will inspire, motivate, and change the world by doing this simple task. Continue to reclaim what is yours and plant new seeds along the way. You are essential. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Bri Neely, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Bri is a mom, nurse, and mentor who is ready to change the world! As a mom, she has acquired an understanding that we hold the key to our future; how we raise our children depends on the outcome we receive in our society. As a previous nurse specializing in Alzheimer's care, she has seen the outcome of our conditioned patterns and will no longer contribute to the problem, instead, she is ready to be part of the solution! Her experiences both personal and professional have lead her to her purpose, becoming a mentor for those who are ready to reclaim their lives and restore their roots. Bri has traveled on her own healing journey, which has lead her into becoming her true authentic self; she has found purpose through her traumas and is ready to share her gifts with the world! She believes that in order to heal our future, we must start with ourselves. Bri is passionate about emotional health, physical health, conscious parenting, trauma healing, and mindset work, and is fully convinced that these are the vital components for a thriving future.

Written by: Melissa Desveaux, 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. Could I do it? Did I have it in me? I doubted myself... I’ve been a contributor to two books that made it to a bestseller on Amazon, so I had an idea of the process. I held two of my own collaborations, but they didn’t make it. I was missing something, and I didn’t know what it was. For my new book “Letters of Love,” released 1 February 2021, I knew without a doubt that this book would be special. From the moment I had the idea to create another anthology, it was full steam ahead! I gathered 11 people to join me on this journey, and we made it happen. We went through the many struggles of getting it together. Believe me, writing and publishing a book isn’t an easy feat, but after all the organization and the amazing teamwork from my fellow authors, we pulled it off! We hit No.1 bestseller in Australia and Germany and No.2 in the USA. We even made it on the Hot New Release list in multiple categories and multiple countries! I’ve had many people ask me HOW so I’ll give you a little insight. There is A LOT of preparation and research to get a book to No 1. I was the backbone of it all, but I still needed help. It was my team that pushed it, and we marketed from the very beginning. We gave clues that a new book was coming out. We did a cover reveal. We used our email lists, and we were on social media every day sharing pieces of the book and getting our audiences prepared! Marketing is a KEY factor to hitting the bestseller mark, but not the only one. Categories and keywords need to be in order. You really do need to select them carefully so you can outrank your competitors. Be sure to ask for 10 categories on Amazon. It’s a little deceiving at first because they only allow two when you upload your files. But when you’re in the game and seek insider information, you get to know the little tips and tricks some marketers don’t tell you! Truly though, having a team of people behind you if you want to write and publish a book is going to get you to stand out in the crowd. Especially with the number of channels we can use to share to. Set yourself up long before you decide to launch, and don’t waste time. Start researching those categories and keywords ahead of launch day, get your audience inside a launch party, and make it fun! We actually pulled it off from start to finish in four months! And lastly… Do networking with people in the know your buddies - if you can get into any form of media outlet, such as TV, podcasts, interviews, writing articles in magazines, anything… Just do it! Letters of Love is on sale in all major online stores. You can find Melissa through Facebook or her websites melissadesveauxconsulting.com and melissadesveaux.com Read more from Melissa! Melissa Desveaux, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Desveaux lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two boys. She struggled through three miscarriages and had a stillborn baby in 2007, and after her sons were born, she published her memoir My Life Of Loss. Melissa has compiled and published two books written by women who have experienced pregnancy struggles and contributed to three anthologies. Melissa was nominated and awarded an Australia Day Award in 2017 for her dedication and contribution in helping families through pregnancy loss. In 2019 Melissa became an ambassador for the Pink Elephants Support Network, supporting mothers who have experienced miscarriage. She has also started a business helping influencers write and publish their own personal stories so they can change the world.

Written by: LeAnn Smith, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. So often we are going along, things are good and then - BAM! Something kicks us off course. We stumble, we fall, and we feel defeated. At that moment, we feel like it's a setback or that we have failed. All the work we did up to that point has been for nothing. That's the moment people stop. They feel their progress to that point isn't worthy; it’s not important. And that, my friends, couldn't be farther from the truth. As the writer Ash Alves puts it: “You can have your shit together and then something happens that knocks you off course. This does not invalidate your progress. Sometimes you need to fall in order for a new, better you to emerge. At any time you can recommit to your growth.” Life isn't a straight line. It has twists and turns, peaks and valleys with a few potholes thrown in. Don't give up on yourself. You haven't lost anything. Your progress to this point is still valid and important. As a health and wellness professional, I work with clients who feel they continually fail in their well-being. Part of my job is to educate, motivate and inspire them to shift their mindset from ‘failure’ to ‘learning opportunity.’ Here are some proven ways to look at setbacks and re-commitment: Tip 1: Shift your mindset. Let's flip how we look at this. Maybe what you deem as a failure is actually the best thing that could have happened to you. Perhaps slipping up is preparing you to change, shift and evolve so progress can continue. Evolution equals progression, not failure. Tip 2: What did you learn? Part of the process of recommitting and moving forward understands what made you stumble in the first place. That moment you stumbled was a learning opportunity to take a step back, re-evaluate, assess and switch things up. If you aren’t pausing for the learning opportunity, then you are doing a disservice to yourself. You will stumble again, and probably for the same reason. Pause. Assess. Evaluate. Tip 3: Form a plan. Part of recommitting has a plan to move forward. Take what you learned and put it into action! What do you need to change? Do you need help from a friend, family member, or professional? Your plan doesn’t need to be complicated, just something to cement your resolve that will help you recommit to yourself and your progress. Tip 4: Give gratitude. For me, this is most important. Pause to give gratitude for the learning opportunity. Like all learning opportunities, it’s a gift because it’s a chance for personal growth. As we all know, growth comes from hardship, struggle, and falling. You just got handed a gift of evolving into a better person. Give some much-earned gratitude for that! Listen, you have a choice to either stay where you are and continue to stumble and fall, or you can get back up, dust yourself off, and recommit. The choice is yours. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! LeAnn Smith, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine LeAnn works with clients that are ‘stuck’ in their wellness journey either by injury, illness, disease or otherwise. Her approach is to meet you where you are, partner together to create a customized plan to support your goals and lifestyle. With over eleven years of experience, LeAnn provides a full spectrum approach of wellness modalities to her clients such as Personal Training, Yoga Instruction, Health & Nutrition Coaching. Her motto: Welcome home, your vibrant self awaits! LeAnn also offers Corporate Wellness solutions for organizations of all sizes. With over fourteen years of corporate Human Resources experience, she brings a wealth of corporate, organizational knowledge and understanding, as well as the ability to provide customized and engaging health and wellness solutions.

Written by: Sukanya Datta, 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 beautiful blend of colors, the softness of the fabric, the rich cashmere touch makes us feel gaudy. . How many of us like to be dressed up all the time? Are fashion-forward? And how many would instead prefer the casual look all time? Fashion designing started in the 18th century. Couture and daily wear did not exist. After a century, fashion developed in Paris, which is currently the fashion capital of this world. Both men's and women's trends evolved differently. Clothing fad evolved with celebrities giving bold statement. In the 1990’s Madonna became famous for wearing the cone bra. Lady Gaga, as seen from Met Gala’s. Ever thought of about the backend process that goes on for such events? Preparation starts from months in advance to produce one garment. Beautifully handcrafted garment even takes longer. How many months did it take to make Blake Lively’s 2018 MET Gala dress? The apparel industry is a myriad of collections. It consists of manufacturers, retailers, designers, models, and advertisements. It is so unique due to its endless creations. Since the past decade, there has been cultural evolution, where we have seen varied designs and patterns being implemented globally. This has led to artists coming closer and breaking the stereotypes. The mixing of cultures that can be seen on garments and designs has made people aware of other cultures and break free from stereotypes. Not only this but also, the tech is highly getting involved with fashion. Nowadays, we see renewable energy sector booming since the launch of eco-friendly cars and solar panels. This is not the end. It has extended until fashion. Temperature controlled unique fiber and jackets have made life so easier. Sustainability has started to blend with the core values of this industry. Recyclable plastic is being melted and reused as garments, solar panels being added to conduct wireless charging for our phones, and digital garment trend has also been noticed. The future holds even more exciting things to come! Visit my Instagram for more info! Read more from Sukanya! Sukanya Datta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sukanya Datta is an electrical engineer. Along with the tech side, she is also a certified fashion designer. Being a tech lover, she has had a penchant for creativity. Entrepreneurship is a significant journey. Both tech and fashion have been a boon in her life, from developing monetary strategies and embark on the body positivity mission across the world and bridging the gap between women and fashion.

Written by: Judi Snyder, 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. February is usually considered the “Love” month because on Valentine’s day, we take the time to acknowledge those we love. Few of us think about our relationship with money. As we approach retirement, our relationship with money becomes almost the most important aspect of a secure and joyful retirement. Money isn’t everything but it sure gives you more choices! In many ways, searching for the perfect vehicle to make your money work for you is like searching for the perfect relationship. Many of us begin with the “Blind Date” investment vehicle. You know, the one that your friends are so anxious to hook you up with because it’s perfect and just your type! Then some of us have the “On Again/Off Again” investment vehicle, where one day we are up, but the very next day, we are losing. Often, we stay in this relationship because we don’t know that there is anything better suited to our circumstances. And then there’s the “Steady Eddie/Edie,” the nice guy/gal who you can count on, who is always there, waiting in the wings, in times of trouble or volatility. The nice guys of investment vehicles may be Annuities, Bonds, Dividend Paying Stocks, Gold, Silver, and Precious Metals. If we are really honest with ourselves, at some time or other in our lives we may have been drawn to the “Bad Boy” or “Dangerous Diva” fling, the investment equivalent of Penny Stocks and other risky securities, Oil & Gas, Diamond Mines, or High-risk Auto Loans. The promise of high returns seduced us away from the safety and security of boring old Steady Eddie or Edie. We knew they were not long-term relationship material, but we couldn’t resist their charisma. Our experience with the Bad Boy or Dangerous Diva can sometimes push us to settle with a “Couch Potato.” The Couch Potato investment vehicle sits around on its lazy assets all day long doing very little for you and your future. Low-interest rate risk is real. Sure, you know it will be there when you come home, but it will never help you accomplish what you need in your financial house! Examples of Couch Potato investments include money market accounts or CDs (otherwise known as “Certificates of Deposits,” or as I’ve heard them called “Certificates of Disappointment)!” What we are really trying to find is our soul mate investment vehicle. The one that we can have a win/win relationship with that allow us to glide through the go-go, slow-go and no-go years. The truth is, that like our real-life soul mates, they have a bit of all these characteristics in them. What makes them perfect is how they balance and match what we want depending on our values, goals and objectives! Let’s take a trip back to our dating life and review some things we know about relationships: You can date many nice people, but if the “chemistry” isn’t there, then it’s still not right. Your friends might have the best intentions when trying to “set you up,” but they’re looking for the qualities they like in that person—and not necessarily what you are looking for in a person. Relationships take two, and there is an ebb and flow; sometimes you’re putting forth more effort and sometimes your mate is. Sometimes you need to take a “break” from each other and have some alone time to appreciate each other. When relationships work, it’s BLISS! When they don’t, it’s HELL! They work best when your values and goals match! Take eHarmony, for example. They claim to have the highest number of marriages resulting from their eHarmony program. We are inclined to believe this since my husband Jeff and I are one of their success stories. That’s right, we’re a husband-wife team that’s been in business together for over 17 years, and we met because eHarmony matched our values, goals, and objectives. We know the time and reflection that went into carefully completing eHarmony’s questionnaire has contributed to our success as a couple. Some years ago, we had a client who was very specific about her goals and objectives for her money, and yet she was in a portfolio that was not congruent with her values, nor her objectives. Upon discussing the case, we had an a-ha moment and realized that a person’s “compatibility” with his or her investment vehicles is not that different from what it takes to foster a personal relationship. As financial professionals, we set out to systematize the process, much like eHarmony does with their match-making profile. One of the most common mistakes on professional advice is using the same experts and metrics when you are entering a different phase in your financial life. The single most important factor contributing to eHarmony’s success is that they match couples on their values and goals. When you sign up with eHarmony, you are required to take a version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which assesses how you perceive the world and how you make decisions—your values. In addition, eHarmony asks other questions pertaining to lifestyle, religious preference, children, and other beliefs and goals. Once completed, your data is used to “match” you to another person with similar values and goals. By now, you are probably saying to yourself, I’m reading an article about my money and I’m getting a dating commentary and commercial for eHarmony! How does this pertain to me and my money? Fair question, and here is the answer: A relationship exists between you and your money. The success of that relationship is dependent on how close of a match your values, goals, and objectives are to your investment vehicle choices. Most people never stop to think about their investment vehicles as an extension of their values, goals, and objectives. We’ve come to understand this is why there is so much anxiety around investing. In our experience, most people are unaware of how their investment vehicles “work”, if it’s working for them, and what fees and tax implications exist. If this is true for you, don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, where would you have learned this information? Certainly, it’s not taught in our school systems and the companies we worked for never gave us education on our financial options. And most financial professionals, while well-intentioned, do not have the time to give a crash course on the details of every strategy they recommend. That is why it is important to develop a system to assess each of your investment vehicles and evaluate them as it relates to your individual values, goals, and objectives. We call this systematic process “Money Rules” which require you to consciously validate and confirm that your investment vehicles are in fact good long-term matches for you. Think of eHarmony using the Myers-Briggs personality profile to match you to the perfect mate! Most successful people have money rules, whether they call them money rules or not. You may have strict criteria on what you will and will not invest in, whether you want to actively manage your money or passively invest, the liquidity of your money, what kind of returns you are expecting, tax implications, and most importantly, an exit strategy. The reason most people lose money in the stock market is because there is no exit strategy. Fear and losing money are bad exit strategies! When your money rules are in alignment with your values, goals, and objectives, money flows. When they don’t match your values, goals, and objectives, they cause anxiety and insecurity. So, you’re thinking, I get that I need to have clearly defined money rules, but where do I start? You start by determining your cash flow needs, your required and desired income. You will want to consider your living expenses and any expenses you anticipate in the future, such as a new roof, replacing a car etc.… You will also want to project your sources of income and which ones are guaranteed, like a pension, social security or annuity payment. Please pay close attention to the ratio of total guaranteed income to total required income. This will serve as your foundation. Other considerations include: How easily do you need to be able to access your money at any given time? Are you looking for cash flow or growth/appreciation or both? If both, what percentage to each? How active do you want to be in your investments? What kind of returns are you looking for, and what risk are you willing to take to get them? What are the tax implications of your investment vehicles? What asset class(es) are you most comfortable with that meets your objectives? Are they congruent with your values? For example: A Christian may not want to invest in a company that owns strip clubs and an animal rights activist may not want to invest in companies that test their products on animals. Each of these points are very important considerations when designing YOUR retirement paycheck. You must take the lead. Once you have established your money rules and identified potential vehicles for your money, it’s time to begin the validation and confirmation process, better known as due diligence. What is due diligence? Basically, it means doing your homework! We don’t mean asking your neighbor’s cousin’s father about what investments have worked for him in the past few years! We mean researching historical returns and how they are calculated, strength of the company you are thinking about investing your money, as well as determining who has oversight and if “big money” invests in this strategy. Oversight organizations might include the Department of Insurance or FINRA, where you can research both companies and advisors. Big money refers to professional investors like Warren Buffet, along with Banking and Financial conglomerates. If big money is investing in the strategy, it is fair to conclude that their teams of advisors, tax attorneys, and CPAs evaluating those investments have already determined the strategy is solid. Search engines like google make it possible to have information we need delivered to our fingertips. One word of caution, however: When you research online, be sure you understand the source and motives of the individual or company providing an opinion. Are they a competitor? You wouldn’t expect a Mercedes dealer to sing the praises of Lexus! Are they bloggers? Many times, you have investors who deliberately put out questionable information to influence a company’s stock price. They may hold positions such as “short” or “long” that would benefit from certain movements in the stock’s price [3]. Their opinions may be biased, and they might have ulterior motives. This kind of manipulation tends to work on small to mid-size companies because it is fairly easy to have an immediate effect on their stock’s price. You are less likely to see this with large companies like GE and Proctor & Gamble. The process of due diligence can take some time, but it should not be avoided or assumed. What I mean by “assumed” is this: Just because an advisor from a large firm recommends an investment vehicle, it does not mean it is the best or necessarily a sound one FOR YOU. Another area of consideration in the “romance” of your money is your choice of advisor(s). Did you ever hear the saying, “When you marry someone, you marry their family”? Well, investing is no different. Choose a team that has the credentials you need for that particular asset class and ask for references so that you can hear firsthand about the team’s process and results. Hear me loud and clear: Financial professionals are biased. All of us. We are biased toward the strategies that our licenses allow us to offer you, the investor! Even “fee-only” planners have biases. This doesn’t mean they are bad, they just might not be the expert that is right for you at this time. For example, I’m guessing you aren’t still going to a pediatrician for your healthcare, but that doesn’t mean the pediatrician is a bad doctor. It just means that for this point in your age and healthcare needs, the care may not be the most advantageous. This is exactly why you may need to have several financial professionals with specialties in the asset classes YOU choose. This is why YOU must LEAD your wealth team! Ask your Financial Professionals questions such as: How long have you been in business? What is the dollar amount of your average client account? Are you invested in the strategies being recommended to me? What are your licenses and what asset classes do they allow you to offer me? What is your track record? What is important to you in life? (Yes, this is a fair question. Remember, you desire a true match to your values and the advisor is a very important part of the equation.) What is your long-term plan for your practice? Who will service me if you retire or something happens to you? Be sure and let your advisor team know your communication style. Financial DNA body of work has found communication style traits can be characterized in three areas: Personality, Review Process, and Correspondence. The following is the kind of information I like to see from a client I’m working with: Personality Characteristics & Review Process and Other Communication Be an active listener Move quickly to the bottom line. Give direct answers; get to the point and use graphics, one-page overviews and/or verbal communications Use logic and key points vs. detailed summaries. I need all the information; remember my need to analyze, encourage my input Slow down the pace of communication vs. speed up the pace of communication Do not mistake my lack of response for inattention Offer options so I can decide and allow me time to reflect Look for ways to minimize the risks Newsletter or other educational material: Email, snail mail, text or all? Appointments: Phone call, email, text or phone call followed by text or email? I’m encouraging you to fall in love with your money, not in an unhealthy, co-dependent way, rather a partnership of respect and excitement! Your relationship with your investment vehicles and the financial professionals that offer them, are equally important as your relationship with your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, family, and friends. It deserves the same care and attention you would extend to those you care about. Knowing your money rules and developing them in congruence with your values, goals, and objectives will provide you with a clear path to financial success! To get more information about how to create your money rules, visit www.HomeStretchFinancial.com and schedule a complimentary discovery appointment. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Judi! Judi Snyder, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Judi is a retirement and transition coach, helping people nearing or in retirement find purpose, wellness, and financial certainty in their golden years. In 2004, she transitioned from employee to entrepreneur into financial services. Because of her own transition, she understands the unique challenges that come along with creating a new identity and purpose. Judi became a CeFT®, Certified Financial Transitionist®, to further enhance her solutions for those going through financial transition and address the financial aspects of transition. Becoming a CPRC, Certified Professional Retirement Coach, expanded her tool chest to help clients navigate through the non-financial aspects of retirement, such as finding purpose, exploring spirituality, and health and wellness, which are as important as the financial planning yet rarely addressed. Happiness and fulfillment are about more than money.

Written by: Tanya Heasley, 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. It’s hard to forgive when either the actions of others have hurt you, or your life has been negatively affected by an unseen force, such as COVID – 19. More importantly, you have done nothing to deserve it, and yet it’s happened. Therefore, it can be difficult to forgive when you can’t see a justifiable reason. That said, forgiveness is not impossible to do. 1. Why is forgiveness hard? Reasoning is key to forgiveness and requires you to think about the wrongdoing logically. However, when you experience pain (either physiologically or emotionally), your brain reacts instinctively to reduce the agony and activates your primal anger to keep you from further suffering. When this happens, your rational thinking ability is impaired, and your response to the hurt is to either kick out or hideaway. These behavioral responses of your primal anger could explain why forgiveness is hard to do, but resisting forgiveness can be dangerous too. 2. The Effects of Unforgiveness The danger of unforgiveness is the effect it will have on you. Perhaps you never say anything to those who hurt you, and instead, you suppress your feelings and pretend that everything is fine. The consequence of this is that it can inadvertently fracture your own self-esteem, diminish your confidence, and cultivate bitterness and resentment towards others. 3. Who are you trying to hurt? Resentment is toxic and can destroy you slowly from the inside. For example, if you choose not to forgive, then you are essentially hurting yourself. To illustrate this, I am reminded of the saying, ‘unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die .’ In other words, if you continue to hold a grudge against another person, it will not affect them. It will only be detrimental to your own wellbeing. This thing is, we all make mistakes and can hurt others without realizing it. Perhaps someone has hurt you, and you haven’t told them; therefore, they won’t know what they have done, and you wouldn’t be hurting them with your unforgiveness. 4. What do you want? Why won’t you forgive? Perhaps you struggle to forgive because that would mean that you would have to accept the offense done to you, and those who have hurt you have gotten away with it. Or perhaps you won’t forgive until you’ve received an apology from the one who upset you. Don’t wait for an apology! It is your choice and responsibility to cultivate your own forgiveness, not the actions of others. For instance, the COVID – 19 virus is an unconscious organism; it does not know its effect on all of us, and it cannot say sorry. If you do not receive an apology, where does that leave you with moving peacefully forward? 5. What if you can’t forget what’s happened? Forgiving does not mean you condone the offense, and it does not mean that you forget what has happened either. Obviously, the memories might still be there and may resurface from time to time. True and complete forgiveness is the process of making peace with what has happened and embracing the opportunity to move forward. 6. How to forgive the pandemic, yourself, and everyone else? PRACTICE FORGIVENESS: I know that forgiveness does not come easy to everyone, and it requires practice. This is because forgiveness is a character strength that we all have, and like a muscle, it needs to be exercised to grow strong. Start with something easy, such as forgiving the weather. For example, you planned to do the gardening today or go for a walk, but it’s torrential rain outside. It’s not your fault that it’s raining, and it’s not the rain's fault that it needs to water the land. Forgive the rain for what it’s designed to do. Perhaps you could practice forgiving the pandemic in a similar way too. AWARE, ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT When your primal anger is triggered, it prepares your body to respond to a perceived threat, and this can be felt as unpleasant sensations within your body such as shaking, fast breathing, headaches etc. These can be signs to help you become more aware that something isn’t quite right, and you need to do something about it. Sit and take a moment to acknowledge what has happened recently (or in the past) that might have caused you to feel angry, sad, hurt, etc. Write down what may surface and then accept these thoughts and feelings. Allow them to be and let them become part of the healing process. CULTIVATE SELF-COMPASSION I mentioned earlier that resentment and bitterness are toxic to your well-being. It can distort your personality and affect how you perceive yourself and others. It can also prevent you from restoring any relationships that were once strong because you may fear further rejection or believe you are not worthy of their friendship anymore. Strengthening forgiveness begins with self-compassion. Usually, people find it hard to forgive others because they cannot forgive themselves. If this is you, then I invite you to love yourself more, recognize your mistakes as mistakes, and be at peace with your imperfections. CHOOSE Finally, choose to forgive rather than resent. We all have the capacity to forgive – it starts with a choice, no matter how much it hurts, to choose to practice forgiveness rather than building resentment. Choose to acknowledge and accept that you’re hurt, rather than ignoring it. And choose to love yourself and others more, rather than to hold onto bitterness. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tanya ! Tanya Heasley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As a Positive Anger Coach and Success Mindset Mentor, Tanya Heasley guides her clients to activate their authentic self, cultivate assertive communication, and develop self-confidence so that they can flourish and thrive in all areas of their life. What makes her distinctive and different in this work is her ability to identify and liberate the hidden blockages within her client’s psyche. Her intuitive, empathetic, and direct approach empowers her clients to become the best version of themselves. An award-winning serial entrepreneur, Tanya is also the Director of Tristone Coaching Ltd., a social enterprise with the mission to improve the lives of young people affected by adult anger. With many successes under her belt, Tanya believes that her greatest achievement is being a mum to her four children.

Written by: Mark Sephton, 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. Okay, so everyone is going crazy for the new social media app Clubhouse. What is it? For those of you who don’t know, it is a series of audio rooms. You can create your own audio room, or you can listen or partake in someone else’s. The refreshing aspect is that you can’t text or message someone on the app, and there is no option for video. It’s pure live audio rooms. If people want a written conversation, they have to pop to your Twitter or Instagram, which is linked to your clubhouse account, a great way to increase your engagement across different social media platforms. I have only been pro-active on the app the last couple of weeks. I am not an expert, and I am not sure anybody really is. It's still very much in its infancy. Some significant groups and clubs are forming, and you can both lead and follow, teach, and be taught. Like with any social media app, let it serve you, or you will risk being its slave. I have decided my strategy is to create a room and share through storytelling and conversation both subjects I have authority in and I am passionate about. For me, the key with Clubhouse is to create conversation, not for me to be self-indulgent and lead by ego but genuinely build connections and have conversations with heart. I have come to know a few aspects of the App, starting to see my followers list grow. Periodically you are given 3 invites to send to other connections who are not on the app and have iPhones. Due to the demand of Clubhouse, they have started to build an App for Android users. It seems the more rooms you host and partake in, the more invites you get to invite your network. Be strategic with whom you invite because when you nominate someone, your profile will always be linked to theirs. This gives you more exposure and kudos. I approved one of my connections 4 weeks ago. She has been extremely popular and has generated over 20,000 followers. The good thing for me is that my account is linked to hers, and it's a great way for people to spot you, so when you have these invites, use them wisely, invite influencers, people who are in the public eye, and most importantly, people who will be proactive with the App. I currently have 3 weekly groups. One is every Thursday at 3pm GMT with my dear friend and associate Ashley Bendiksen. We are hosting a number of 'life that matters' rooms. We have so far discussed the power of personal routines and how to be more productive with our time and energy. I have now started to host a room with 2 other leadership fanatics in Mia Kleregard and Olga Piehler, whom I connected through the app. The premise of our weekly show, which is on a Monday at 7pm GMT, is all about leadership. We are discussing topics about how to lead yourself better and what makes a great leader. I have also joined forces with another coach, and I am a big believer that there is more than enough to go around. I salute and applaud those who are not threatened by other people in the same field and look to unify their offering and efforts to create a much more dynamic approach, So I have recently joined forces with Finland based coach Tanja Saarinen. Our first discussion next week, on Wednesday, Feb 17th, is about choosing the right coach or mentor for you. The more rooms you host, the stronger and bigger your audience becomes. Collaborating with others helps you reach and identify new connections, and over the past week, I have been working with new clients and establishing some connections with some great people. Audio rooms play to my strengths. Having interviewed thousands of entrepreneurs on radio and TV, this is a great platform for meaningful conversations and share knowledge. Like with anything, there is a lot of noise, and people loving the sound of their own voice. You need to dip in and out of conversations until you find the energy of what resonates with you and feeds your mind that it greatly desires. We must all speak the language of the one we want to attract. I am excited to be hosting a room with Greg Reid. He is a filmmaker, award-winning author, and speaker. He wrote the book 3ft from gold. I love his energy, and we will discuss “ Stop over planning, let your energy lead you “ This is on Feb 16th @5pm GMT. I would love to connect with you on Clubhouse, so be sure to follow and partake in all the discussions I am hosting. I love to hear other thoughts, questions, and experiences, and each of my rooms will be a safe and welcoming place for you. Clubhouse Top Tips • Use your invites wisely ( Invite influencers and people with a big and engaging audience ) • The more rooms you host and partake in, the more invites you are given • Have a killer bio that shows your personality and your accomplishments • Link your clubhouse account to your Twitter and Instagram • Show up every day, create a room and share your knowledge • Join another room where the conversation excites you. You may get a chance to speak and pick up new followers in the meantime • Join some clubs in the app. When you create an event, it is shared with everyone in that club, another great way to grow your numbers. • Follow others, those that inspire you or you could join forces with • Join rooms where one of the speakers is following you. You are more visible at the top of the app when connected to one of the room speakers • Raise your hand, so speakers and moderators know you want to say something, introduce yourself and then share your thoughts. My Weekly Rooms • Every Monday at 7pm GMT A focus on Leadership Topics with Olga and Mia • Every Tuesday at 11am GMT with Moira Ni Ghallachoir A focus on How to create exciting, engaging, and inspiring talks • Every Wednesday at 11am GMT with Tanja Saarinen - Talking about How to choose the right mentor and coach • Every Thursday at 3pm GMT - A discussion with Ashley Bendiksen about various life matters, from the power of routines to emotions, what they mean, and how to better understand them ***Special Room on Feb 16th at 5pm GMT with Greg Reid, Stop over-planning and let your energy lead you. Feel free to follow Mark on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, or email Mark at info@marksephton.com Visit his website here! You can buy his books Inside Job & Plot Twist on Amazon! Read more from Mark! Mark Sephton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mark Sephton is a personal mentor to entrepreneurs. His mission to help others has seen him break into global markets while working with startups and millionaire entrepreneurs worldwide. Mark's love for entrepreneurship has been expressed through serving as TV host of the show "One More Round." Mark is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and a speaker for corporate events, entrepreneurship summits, and major conferences worldwide when not on the big screen. His personal and professional development expertise has positioned him as an expert in the industry, resulting in transformational experiences for audiences, clients, and businesses alike.

Written by: Stefan Eng, 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 while ago, I received an email about a canceled flight for my daughter coming back from Australia. I made the reservation, and now, I received an email from the Online Travel Agent about the second leg of the flight, which was canceled. She had to travel the next day and overnight at the airport. At her own expense — end of discussion. That was wrong, of course. I called the airline and their support in India. They replied to me that my daughter, of course, should have a room at the airline's expense. The only thing she had to do, was to contact the airline service desk upon arrival. So she did, and everything went smooth and without problems. Trust. It’s all about trust . So, exactly what happened? I am sure the Online Travel Agent was aware that the airline was the one to pay for the hotel. But they did not want to have the hassle of assisting me as a customer. I know for a fact that Online Travel Agents are looking for automation as much as possible. And their interest in actually have a dialog with customers is very little, if at all. And unfortunately, I have similar experiences with hotel brokers. As I see it, they want the quickest path to your credit card. And then find the quickest way out again without the cost of serving you properly. So, the trust I once had for the Online Travel Agents, and Hotel Brokers is gone. Instead, I prefer the Retail Travel Agencies. You know, the travel shop around the corner, where you can meet the eye to eye. Maybe have a chat over a coffee before talking about the best airfares to New York. And “Value for money” hotel rates in Manhattan. I know the service fee is higher. But I am happy to pay since they care about me as a customer and see their travel agent job as a handicraft. With the above in mind, I am now very picky with my choice of travel supplier. And I have my favorite ones. So, If I were to change this in the future I would check the following before making any reservations. I suggest you do the same. 1. Availability First of all, always check how easy the travel agencies are to connect to, pre-, during- and post the trip. Make sure they have a presence everywhere in the travel process. It is possible to stay connected via phone, social media, or chat, like with your best friends. 2. Website With easy access to contact details – including phone number. If it is possible to book or not on the site is not key. But of course it is good. Regardless, you might want to call or chat with the Travel Agency to get further information. Or add a service like seating or luggage etc. 3. Physical office Shows that the Travel Agency afford to have staff. And that they have a focus on the physical meeting. And that is what travel is about, isn’t it? To meet with each other! And certainly you want to meet the person who is planning the most important and best weeks of the year. I mean your holidays, honeymoon, or your first time to experience an exotic destination. Or even your most important business trip. Traveling is a positive value-added to life. That’s why we meet so many smiling faces when booking our trip and when traveling. I know its fiction, but still, who can hold back the tears watching the last scenes at the airport in " Love Actually ." 4. Phone Phone number and contact details should always be visible on the first page of the Website. And there should be a human being answering. And no pinball actions in “- Please select 1 for operator, select 2 for Sales select…blah blah blah.” And definitely without rubbish like artificial “Emma’s” or “Anna’s” that send you to cyberspace... If I make the call, I want to talk with someone. A person. How about you? 5. Chat Look at other service providers today. For instance, the telecom industry is very good at adapting to where customers are. So more of this would be fantastic. If a company states they have a chat, then I expect someone to be there with me in a minute or two. Worst is a robot coming back with an automatic reply “-We normally reply within a few hours. In the meantime, read these articles”. That's not a chat, for god sake! Call it a Q&A or whatever, but not chat. 6. Never pay extra for the possibility to call an Online Travel Agency Some Online Travel Agencies ask the customers, in the buying process, if they want to buy the possibility to call them. (Or similar questions). For me, working in the travel industry means giving service to the ones calling and want to be customers. And assist them when things go wrong, or when they want to ask a question. 7. Cheap can be expensive Whenever I travel, I look for the price. Who doesn’t? However, the price is only one of the factors that influence my choice. Apart from all the above, it is also a question about what guarantees and protection you as a traveler can get. If you are looking at your present and favorite travel agent, do they meet these requirements? If yes, you have found a real dream team. If you still don’t know with whom you will accredit to plan your next trip, here are some final tips and tricks. Using Airlines and hotels direct works as most of them are happy to contact and assist their customers. And they are using social media to reach out with information when things go wrong. So, protect yourself from future trouble. Book via a Retail Travel Agent, Tour Operator, Airline- or Hotel direct. It helps those who care about you to survive this extreme situation. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , Linkedin and visit my website . Read more from Stefan! Stefan Eng, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stefan Eng has more than 37 years of experience working for Airlines, GDS's, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, and Airline IT Companies in this global industry. In 2008, Stefan founded the Travel Employees Networking Group on Linkedin. The group is now a relevant and strong platform to collaborate and discuss travel trends. Also, members can find open positions or search for new candidates. At present, the group has more than 43 000 members. To support the group, Stefan established in early 2020 the site www.travelemployees.com, an Online Magazine & Marketing Portal for Travel Professionals. Here the audience can find articles, quizzes, and lists by Stefan and his Guest Authors, as well as opportunities to advertise for (or find) the world's greatest travel products and services. Travel Employees Networking Group's Online Magazine Travelemployees.com has been elected to be "One of the Best Online Travel Magazines on the Planet" by Feedspot. Stefan is also a consultant in the travel industry, providing services, especially Product Management, Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, and Movie Creation.

Written by: Linda Evans, 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. So you’re leaving your job. Whether it feels devastating, bittersweet, or celebratory, you have probably heard that it is best to leave on good terms and not burn any bridges. If you have a strong loyalty streak like me, quitting a good job with good people can feel excruciating. If it was a soul-sucking job with toxic people, you might be tempted to be vindictive and cruel. Maybe your departure is voluntary, maybe it is not. But the world is small and you never know if and when you will interact with your former boss and colleagues again. Also, we feel good when we do good. So how do you leave a positive lasting impression besides writing a nice resignation letter? After quitting many jobs (including selling vacuums door-to-door with long hours and no base pay), here are some specific steps from my trenches of experience: 1. Write a Gratitude List - Reflect on all the benefits of your job, both tangible and intangible. Maybe the commute was awful but you had an incredible mentor. Maybe you gained some valuable skills and credentials that would have been difficult to obtain on your own. Maybe the location allowed you to discover Ethiopian food and take kickboxing classes regularly. Write down all the small and big things. Share it with your boss and others. 2. Contribute to the End - Once you submit your resignation and people know you are leaving, do not just coast for the next few weeks. You are still being paid, you still have your job title. Be present in meetings, keep commitments, and give your best quality work. Leave no loose ends and create a smooth transition for others to take over your projects. 3. Create the Best Toolkit for Your Successor - Do more than type a vague list of your job duties. Put yourself in your successor’s shoes and imagine what would have been helpful to you when you started your job. Write clear instructions, compile logins and passwords, and label documents descriptively. Put everything in one folder and create a master document detailing how to use each document, then explain it to your boss so they can better supervise your successor. 4. Spend Time with Your Favorite Work Friends - If you were fortunate enough to make some meaningful human connections at your job, schedule lunch with them. Take pictures. Pour out the praise for their support, humor, and advice. Do not say you will keep in touch unless you truly mean it. This is not the time for empty promises. Keep in touch with the gems who become lifelong friends. 5. Clean Your Office Immaculately - Who wants to move into a dusty, crumby, grimy office with the random leftover junk of the former occupant? Absolutely no one. Take home, recycle, or throw away everything in your office or cubicle. Wipe down all surfaces with disinfectant wipes. Ask the custodian to do a thorough vacuum. It symbolizes the blank pages of your next chapter as well. 6. Write Linkedin Recommendations - Write as many genuine, specific Linkedin recommendations as you can for everyone in your organization, and do not tell them about it or ask to return the favor. Expect nothing in return. Let them discover it later and be delightfully surprised. It is like finding cash in the pocket of an old jacket. I promise that if you do all of these gracious and generous things before you leave your job, regardless of the circumstances, you will feel better about yourself and everything you are leaving behind. Your heart might even grow a size. Then you can look forward to the future with hope and serenity. Follow Linda on Facebook , LinkedIn , and visit her website for more info! Read more from Linda ! Linda Evans, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Linda Evans is a strengths-based career coach and personal branding expert. In 2011, she founded her virtual career coaching business, Launched by Linda, LLC. Her full-time career has been in higher education since 2012, and she currently works in Career Services at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Linda has a B.A. in American Studies and a minor in Ballroom Dance from Brigham Young University, and an M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has certificates in positive psychology and public speaking.

Written by: Caroline Brewin, 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 Land of Confidence was always my targeted destination—a place where I was effortlessly charismatic, knowledgeable, and unapologetically myself. But how could one reach these lofty heights? What was the recipe which cooks up this effortless aura? I always thought it was a blend of genetics, experience, and in-depth knowledge, so you know ALL the answers when quizzed by the experts themselves. So I strived and dived into my work and professional development – learning finance expertise, whilst doing every course available on Executive Presence, Leadership, Powerful Influencing, and more. I was learning the theory of how to be confident whilst looking around me for mentors whose behavior I could borrow and embed. The problem was this: All of that training, whilst having some value, didn’t fill the confidence gap. Yes, I may know the theory, but how did that help with the high-pressure sweaty palms and pounding heart? Over time and with repetition, I realized: what really made the difference was being scared, pushing myself into being skin-crawlingly uncomfortable (with a deep breath and silent prayer), and coming out the other side (mostly) unscathed. It was the process that gave me the confidence: trying, learning from my mistakes, knowing I was still alive, and having pride in pushing myself – not that I gained it through books or theory. As it turns out, there is a reason for this. Dopamine. When we step into the unknown, it triggers a dopamine release – like our brain’s cheerleader giving us a chemical high-five for taking that brave action (1). Due to neuroplasticity, over time, our brain is also rewired (2), so we are then more likely to engage in that behavior in the future. This is a smart evolutionary response that drives us to grow, drive and survive. So, you have to experience the discomfort to grow your comfort zone. Each step outside the zone is one further forward in your confidence levels. ‘The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.’ Swati Sharma So how can you use this in real life? With Micro Confidence Challenges. How it works: 1. Pick something you are nervous about; something that scares you or makes you feel uncomfortable, e.g., public speaking 2. What’s the Fear Level from 1-10? (with 10 being, I’d rather boil my head than do it) 3. What would be a Micro Step you could take towards overcoming it? e.g., speaking up in a meeting or volunteering to take part in a presentation. If the fear level in part 2 is at 8, begin at a level 4 to start off with and grow from there. You should feel a bit uncomfortable as it’s outside of your comfort zone. 4. Now take that step. And celebrate wildly when you do – whether you perceive you have failed or succeeded (very important). You tried, and you learned. Again, the dopamine trigger is hit, and your brain will want to do more. And voila! Your confidence level is raised. Your brain’s cheerleader is doing its routine, pompoms and all. And you’re ready to go again. So, far from confidence being a destination, it’s a journey over many steps lacking confidence, to prove that you can deliver in uncertainty. Have a go and celebrate the hell out of each milestone as you made it. Now I don’t hold back, rejoicing each step on my path as I keep pushing my own micro-challenges. And I’m aiming to keep that brain cheerleader quite busy. (1) John D. Salamone, Mercè Correa. The Mysterious Motivational Functions of Mesolimbic Dopamine. Neuron, 2012; 76 (3): 470 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.10.021. (2) MedicineNet. www.medicinenet.com/neuroplasticity/definition.htm — Published on January 20, 2021 For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Caroline Brewin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Caroline Brewin is a professionally trained Executive and Confidence Coach, complemented by over 18 years of Global Investment Banking experience. From Chief of Staff to complex Regional & Global roles, she’s seen it first-hand: the long-term success and profitability of organizations are inextricably linked to the trust, motivation & diversity of their people. She is the founder of Brain Powered Coaching, which uses a neuroscience-based approach to improving Confidence and Leadership; enabling lasting, exceptional results. Through Executive Coaching and her unique Authentic Confidence program, she is committed to empowering Individuals and Corporates to achieve their personal and professional potential.