Written by: Ellie Shefi, 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 new year is the perfect opportunity to take stock of how your daily habits impact your long term success. Whatever you want your life story to be, you are the author, and right now is the time to make positive changes that will sustain and accelerate your path to success! The most successful people stick to simple, daily habits that keep them focused on exactly what they need to do to make the most of their time and maximize their results. This can be you! You can stop filling the pages of your life story with things that don’t serve you and instead make intentional choices every day to create the life you truly want. Your daily choices become your habits, and your habits become your routine, which drives your outcomes and shapes the story of your life. Write the story you want by taking control of your habits now! Here are four ideas to get you started as you brainstorm about the habits that will best serve you in the coming year: 1. Start Each Day By Investing In Yourself Your morning routine sets the tone for your whole day so set yourself up for success by being intentional about how you begin. Morning routines look different for everyone, so give yourself some time to experiment with what works best for you. The important thing is that you find a morning routine that energizes you to cultivate a positive mindset and focus on the most important tasks for the day. Many are at their best when they get moving first thing in the morning with a yoga practice, a run, or an early morning bike ride to clear their heads. If breaking a sweat right after you roll out of bed is not your thing, you might want to consider activities that invite you to look inward, like meditation, reading, or journaling. Lots of people do a little of both! Whatever habits you cultivate to care for yourself at the start of each day, be sure it’s a routine you enjoy. If it feels like a chore, it’s tough to stay consistent. Make your morning routine something that you look forward to each day, which fuels your fire to succeed! 2. Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers. Repeat. When I first start working with a new coaching client, I pay attention to the types of questions they ask. As Tony Robbins says, “Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” This is absolutely true. The reason we ask questions is so we can use the answers to make better decisions. So, whether you’re working to improve your performance, pivoting to provide a better product or service to your clients, or seeking to deepen a relationship with a loved one—the quality of the questions you ask is important. Are the questions you’re asking problem-focused or solution-focused? Do they presume something can’t be done, or are they empowering and framed from the perspective of “How can I…?” By asking probing, solution-focused, how questions, you’ll get the information, you need to develop solutions, make improvements, and progress along the path of success. So make it a habit to ask excellent questions! Build this habit by starting to ask the most important questions: the ones you ask yourself. When you ask yourself better questions, you get better answers, and when you have better answers, you make better choices. And what do your choices become? The habits that shape the story of your life. So ask yourself better questions. Ask the tough questions. The questions you’re afraid to ask. The questions that require you to get specific about who you are, what you want, and what you need to do to create the life you desire. Once you’ve answered these questions for yourself, then you can reach out to trusted friends, colleagues, and mentors for further perspective. Take their answers along with your own and progress into action! Invite your community of support to hold you accountable as you build new habits, take new action, and keep moving forward. 3. Pursue Progress One Win at a Time Burnout! Failure! Unfinished projects! It happens to us all! Everyone has moments where we lose our motivation, fixate on setbacks, and just can’t seem to get where we want to go. So what’s the difference between the people who quit and the people who succeed? Habits. When you’re committing to a lifetime of success, you must cultivate working habits that keep you focused on progress. Yes, dream big! Then, create a plan. The path to success happens one step at a time, with many milestones along the way. Avoid getting overwhelmed and losing steam by making a habit of focusing on the most important task right now, rather than the mountain you’re climbing. When it comes to creating an action plan, I like to work backward from my end goal by creating quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals. The logic here is easy. If I can accomplish my daily action items, then I know I’ll accomplish my weekly goals. If I accomplish my weekly goals, then I’m on track for my monthly targets...and so on. The key is to ensure tasks and milestones are realistic and achievable. If it’s more than you can handle, then it’s easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged, and then it’s tough to make progress. And, remember, not every day will go as planned, but if you make a habit of focusing on your progress—taking it one step at a time and refusing to let setbacks distract you—you’ll achieve your dream in no time! 4. Focus on What You Can Control Nothing will waste your time and halt your progress like focusing on the things you can’t control. Many people are looking back at 2020 and realizing they poured a ton of time and energy into things that were completely out of their control. The question is, how much time and energy did they pour into making positive choices in situations where they did have control? It’s two sides of the same coin! No matter the state of the world, there will always be situations that you can’t control. And, of course, you can’t control how other people behave. However, in the brilliant words of Victor Frankl, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” You can choose how you react to uncontrollable situations. You can choose growth. You can choose progress. You can choose to remain solution-focused. You can choose to be grateful and find the good, the lessons, and the blessings in situations and events. Focusing on the things you can control takes practice, but, like all habits, it gets easier and easier the more you do it. The next time you get frustrated, something’s not going as planned, or things feel out of control, just pause. Give yourself time to find that space between whatever is happening and your response. You might be feeling angry, sad, or even fearful. That’s ok! Acknowledge your feelings, then assess the whole situation with a clear head so you can adjust, learn, and move forward. It’s incredibly empowering to master this habit, and the results are undeniable. When you learn to focus on what you can control and let go of things you can’t, you’ll be unstoppable. One final note for you as you kick off the new year: keep it simple. The biggest mistake people make early in a new year is overcommitting. To create lasting habits that will fuel your path to success, follow the lead of the most successful people in the world by cultivating simple, daily habits that will serve you in all areas of your life. If you start every day by investing in yourself, asking better questions, pursuing progress one win at a time, and focusing on the things you can control, 2021 will truly be your best year yet. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Ellie! Ellie Shefi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ellie Shefi is the very definition of tenacious. Having overcome a lifetime of adversity, including abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, cancer, and a myriad of other health issues that have seen her fight for her life for over two decades, Ellie has mastered mindset, resiliency, and resourcefulness, and she has dedicated her life to the empowerment of others. Ellie is an attorney, entrepreneur, coach, business strategist, keynote speaker, and award-winning author; featured contributor to publications, podcasts, television shows; teacher, trainer, philanthropist, and engaged community servant. Ellie’s mission is to impact lives. A master problem-solver and opportunity creator who's determined to change the world, Ellie is the go-to expert for practical, easy-to-implement, results-driven tools, strategies, and resources that equip and empower you to take control and create the authentic, abundant life of your dreams. She is the creator of You Are Not Your Scars™, a movement that provides resources to empower women; Unlocking Your Superpower™, a program that provides resources to empower entrepreneurs; Creating An Impervious Mind™, a program that provides resources to empower the mind; and Made 2 Change The World™, a movement that provides resources to empower the next generation. Ellie is also the creator of Amplify Your Story Now™, a program that provides resources to authors and aspiring authors, and Sisters Rising™, a book series that provides women with a platform to tell their stories, showcase their businesses, and raise awareness of their work. An award-winning author, Ellie's books include: Unlocking Your Superpower: 8 Steps to Turn Your Existing Knowledge Into Income; Sisters Rising: Stories of Remarkable Women Living Extraordinary Lives; and The Authorities: Powerful Wisdom from Leaders in the Field (which she co-wrote with Les Brown, Bob Proctor, Marci Shimoff, and Raymond Aaron). Ellie is also the author of the upcoming book SuccessOnomics, which she is co-writing with Jack Canfield.

Written by: Aden Eyob , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Ever wondered why change is cumbersome or short-lived? Have you exhausted the plethora of self-help books and seminars only to find yourself back in the same coping mechanisms you willed yourself out of? The reality is, change, and one that is long-lasting, is gradual and requires self-awareness. Furthermore, understanding the stages of change is pivotal to make a difference - whether that's on your desires, relational or organizational goals - it comes down to the logical level on which you currently operate and the change you're attempting to make. According to Robert Dilts, a developer, author, trainer, and pioneer in the field of Neuro-Linguistic programming proposed six fundamental Neurological Levels to change: environment, behavior, capabilities, beliefs, identity, and spirituality, which is often depicted in a pyramid diagram as follows: Environment : The first pillar of the change pyramid is about the surroundings, the external conditions that affect a person's behavior and experiences. Associated with the senses and with the questions "where?", "when?" and "with whom?" Behavior : The next stage of change is concerned with the externally perceived actions and reactions of a person. Composed of their thought process, physical activities, use of words, mannerisms, and conduct. At this level, the question is about the "What?" Capabilities : This third stage of the change pyramid consists of a person's skills, competencies, knowledge, and abilities. An individual operating at this level is focused on the 'how' to achieve something, based on their existing experience or need for new skills. Associated with the question of "How?" Beliefs : This level of the pyramid of change is attributed to the beliefs, values, moral compass, and motives of a person. The domain of 'the Why' is about the individual's underlying reasons/values behind the demonstrated behavior or action. Essentially composed of what a person believes and holds as vital to them, associated with the question of "Why?" Identity : The fifth stage of the pyramid of change is the core of who you are and could also be deemed a self-image sense. It is the cornerstone of a person's personality. Conversations at this level, such as 'I am a failure' or 'I am a success,' are engaged and influenced by identity-based words. Associated with the question of "Who." Spirituality : The highest level of the change pyramid is affiliated with the realm of higher connection, the bigger picture, and vision—this about a person's place in the greater scheme of things and the meaning of life. An individual operating at this level is focused on connecting to a source, universal wisdom, or community at large. The question at this stage is of "What else?" The basic idea behind the neurological levels of change is that each level directly affects those lower in the hierarchy. A lower level may, but will not necessarily, change those above. Therefore effective change comes from the Identity level for what you say, you eventually become. In the end, the delicate art of change lies in your model of reality - so what will you change today? Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Aden Eyob, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Aden Eyob is a leader in mindset. She is the clinical neuroscientist and author, The Book on Mind Training: The Secret for Positive Living. She is the founder and CEO of Mind Medication, a fusion of neuroscience-psychology and spirituality based mindset consulting and speaker service that helps you uncover your why unlock potential and free limiting beliefs to achieve the impossible. Her clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, and celebrities—her mission: a world free from limiting beliefs.

Written by: Jane Parmel, 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 always gave everything my all and was brought up to know that it was a great thing to be a “Jane of all trades”, if you will – I was told that people will always look to you for help and you should be ready for everything. So, you paid attention, studied, learned what you did not know, and offered help when you could. Google search has made many of us geniuses, but there is nothing like speaking with someone who has “been there, done that” – it is reassuring in a way, to know that someone may have questioned what you question and was able to get through whatever with a bit of advice. I read a post by Gifford Thomas on the Leadership First blog: "Some people think a leader should have a complete set of skills, characteristics, and abilities to handle any problem, challenge, or opportunity that comes along. This myth of the "complete leader" can cause stress and frustration for leaders and their teams." I found this to be funny as I have been reading more and more about how, as a small business owner, you are expected to wear many hats, jump in when necessary, handle every fire that arises, but it's not generally the best thing. The industry I was involved in for over twenty years had one motto – “Never say ‘No, we don’t do that’ – tell your customer, ‘Let me get back to you with a price.’” I can tell you firsthand, and as a witness to several other businesses I have been involved with – it doesn’t work! Can you do all those things? Possibly. But should you? Maybe the deeper analysis here should be a big maybe – but only if you have a team to work on those things collectively. Success is measured in many ways when you are in business. Here are a few things to consider when you are looking for business success and avoiding a crash and burn for yourself: 1. Be clear about your company’s vision Make sure you know what you expect people to be saying about your business when the job is done and you are out of the room. An ounce of direction is worth a pound of a good recommendation from your client. Fulfilling your company’s stated promise by all your employees is vital. 2. Two-way communication is key The actor Tom Hardy said, "I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO." Find out the “why’s” and the “where’s” for the journey that your staff members have for themselves. When there is a foundation of trust and interest, people will tend to be more open and willing to share. In larger companies, middle managers are key in this role. 3. Don’t micromanage Set out tasks, clearly defined, from beginning to end. There should be clear parameters that the work should stay within and the expected outcome or results just as defined. Let them do their jobs! Follow-up on the part of middle management or upper management is essential. And LISTEN to the comments that staff comes to you with when they are discussing their work. 4. Embrace feedback Listen and silent are spelled with the same letters. Hear what they say, accept suggestions, take things into consideration. Then make changes and tweaks to your plan or task accordingly. 5. Have empathy In the big picture, remember that this is a person’s job – not their life. You may feel that it is your life and that is a choice you made. But feeling like you are part of something bigger, part of a team – great leaders acknowledge that their team is the backbone of the company. Companies have been made and broken because employees either have disdain for their job or a love of the company they hold dear. An empathetic leader who understands where each of the staff is in their journey helps to foster open channels of communication and lessens the chance of micromanaging, creates an environment for resilient and strong teams, and can succeed with the concept of power in numbers. Want to get further? Build a team that you can trust and can trust you, the leader! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Jane! Jane Parmel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jane Parmel, the creator of "The Profit Project," helps women to powerfully transform their businesses by up-leveling their money mindset, signature system, and pricing to recognize their value and create a more profitable business through authentic marketing and efficient operations. She makes your bottom line the high point of your business! Jane is also the NY Global Business Connector for the Women Speakers Association, hosting events connecting women with resources to amplify their role as a “Phenomenal Message Maker” – clarifying their message, increasing their visibility, and growing their audience.

Written by: Asya Grigoryan , 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. “If you create an open space within yourself, love will fill it.” — Deepak Chopra. “Because wherever there is air and light and open space, things grow.” — Helen Oyeyemi. I was going through my Facebook thread and came across a friend’s post that caught my eye. She was sharing that twice a year, she does a cleanout, the idea of which is to throw away ten items a day for the period of ten days. At the end of this “project,” hundred items leave her home and open up space for new things. But most importantly, this decluttering exercise helps her free up her mind from all the old emotions and thoughts and opens up space for new experiences, fresh ideas, and positive emotions. While I was reading the post, a light bulb went on in my head! I always adhered to the philosophy that “genius is simple,” and to me, this was a perfect illustration of this concept. I am a leadership and career coach, and I work with people from different walks of life and different cultures and backgrounds. In the process of our work, we touch on very deep and often very personal areas of clients’ lives. And letting go of thinking patterns and emotions that are holding us back from moving forward is a big part of our work. The stories and journeys my clients share with me are just as unique as each person on this planet. But at the same time, we are all humans, so different and yet so alike, and certain patterns can be observed in the way we think, feel and behave. And that’s why I believe that just as this idea resonated strongly with me, it can appeal to and help many readers who seek to bring change to their lives. So, as I read that post, I found it a great idea and threw myself into this project, very committed to cleaning my house from useless stuff. My eyes were wondering eagerly, looking around for items taking the space in my home, basically taking MY space. To my own surprise, I started noticing things around me and seeing them differently. There were new but never used items, there were others that served their term, and it was time to say goodbye to them, even though I felt some unexplainable attachment to them or memories associated with them. There were other things that I was keeping so I can MAYBE use them occasionally, but as you can guess, it never happened in the past few years. There were also things that I was holding on to with HOPE that I will use them one day again, like clothes from my past or numerous paints and brushes (as I used to paint and then stopped), etc. In other words, I found so many things that had to be thrown or given away and perhaps be of better use to someone else. But they were definitely not serving me in any way, except taking my space, not just physically, but also putting the mental and emotional burden on my brain, because every time I looked at them, I felt almost like I can’t breathe freely. Now, please don’t get me wrong. My house looks quite neat and clean. It’s not one of those cases where you see a lot of cluttering all over the place. I do get rid of stuff from time to time, yet I never did it in a structured way, and what’s more important, I hardly did it by facing every item one by one and stopping to think: do I really need you? Do you serve me? Or maybe you did, but not anymore? What makes it so hard to get rid of you? I realized going through this exercise that besides cleaning the house, what I really needed so badly was clearing up my mind, getting a fresh start, and letting go of thoughts and emotions that don’t serve me anymore. They felt like a heavy load that you have to drop to fly or move on. Many studies show the correlation between the cluttered spaces and anxiety levels of people living or working in them. The cluttered spaces can also affect our sleep, our ability to focus and work productively. The visual destruction of clutter increases cognitive overload and, as a result, influences our cognition, emotions, and certain behaviors, including our relationships with others—the items we hold on to carry also an emotional burden with them. Saruwatari, the author of the book, Behind the Clutter, says that we “hang onto far more objects than we need, and, instead of motivating us, they become talismans of guilt and shame.” They remind us of unfinished business or of how we used to look and, in a way, control our life even though we don’t necessarily realize it. Feng Shui, a pseudoscientific traditional practice originating from ancient China, also claims that energy forces can be used to harmonize individuals with their surroundings, and according to Feng Shui philosophy, removing clutter as soon as possible makes you feel immediately good, because “objects retain lots of energy and physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually block our ‘path’ forward.” (Maureen Calamia, a re-nature Feng Shui consultant) As a coach and a psychologist, I know that getting rid of certain thoughts or emotions that are holding us back from moving forward is not an easy task. It doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes it takes months of hard work to identify those thinking patterns, facing them, and replacing them with the new ones. But I can guarantee that taking this ten-day challenge of clearing up your space and your mind will produce some immediate results and will leave you uplifted, refreshed, and more focused on your present and your future. It will be a great step towards giving yourself a fresh start and opening up to new experiences in your life. Here is how to do it: 1. Decide for yourself the length of the challenge and the number of items you want to get rid of each day. It doesn’t have to be 10 items a day for 10 days. Find a number that you feel comfortable with and that you are ready to commit to. You can also modify the project a bit. For example, nowadays, many people struggle with overloaded mailboxes or hundreds of photos that we take and mostly never revisit. So it could be something like committing to delete ten emails a day or ten photos a day from your phone. Or going through your old contacts and deleting the ones that are not in your life anymore. 2. Put a meaning in this exercise. It’s not just a ‘winter clean up.’ It’s an exercise of opening-up SPACE for new things in your life. 3. Go through items one by one, face them, even talk to them, if you feel like it. For example, I find it not easy saying goodbye to some things that hold good memories for me, related to my kids when they were very young or some items belonging to my late grandparents that are so dear to me. But there are way too many of them... and at some point, it’s important to appreciate them and to let go of them because life moves forward and you risk getting stuck somewhere in the past if you surround yourself with all the memories and refuse to live your life here and now. 4. Repeat this exercise every year or twice a year. Bringing structure to the exercise is really important. We all do cleanouts at some point: we throw away useless stuff, make donations, and yet I find that setting aside a special time and assigning it a special purpose makes it so much more powerful than just occasional and random clean up. 5. Embrace your newly created FREE space. Let your eyes wander freely in your new, even if slightly changed, environment. Think to yourself of all the positive things and emotions you’re open to experiencing and let your brain do the magic of finding its path towards them! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Asya Grigoryan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Asya Grigoryan is a certified Leadership and Career Coach and a results-oriented business professional with more than 15 years of experience in talent management, organizational development, change management and business consulting. She works with young leaders who seek to enhance their leadership skills as well as with CEOs of small and medium companies who face a challenge of clarifying their competitive advantage and positioning in the market, need to rethink their vision and strategic direction as well as struggle to create a corporate culture aligned with their values and supporting their vision and goals. In her work, Asya uses a holistic approach with the main focus on the well-being of individuals and organizations she works with. As an expat wife and a mother of three young children, during the last 10 years, Asya has traveled, lived and worked in few different countries and faced the challenge of reinventing herself professionally and personally several times along this journey. That’s why, one of her passions is in empowering women, who feel stuck and who are seeking to reinvent themselves or perhaps are struggling to make a transition in their life and career. She is very committed to helping her clients gain or regain confidence, overcome any limiting beliefs, recognize and lean on their strengths and values and to truly become the Leaders of their own lives!

Written by: Holly Mosack, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. In my last article, I gave you tips to help you smash your fitness goals. Thanks for all of the great feedback, but it sounds like there’s a lot of frustration around staying on track with nutrition. I got you! Now, I will NEVER claim to be a nutrition coach (I like potato chips and sweets way too much), but I do know some smart people who can help. So, I sat down with Registered Dietitian, Katrina Howard, to find out why so many of us fail at our nutrition goals. Here’s what she had to say. 1. You’ve lost weight As our bodies become smaller, our basal metabolic rate (BMR) gets lower and we don't need as many calories each day. The BMR is the number of calories required to keep your body functioning at rest (essentially known as your metabolism) and is based on your gender, age, height, and weight. Try this BMR calculator to see your rate. I would suggest reevaluating your calorie goal for every 10 pounds lost to make sure you are still in a calorie deficit. Don’t forget, your daily calorie goal depends on your daily activity, so it’s not unusual to have different goals throughout the week. 2. You are not consistent If you create a 500-calorie deficit Monday through Friday and then eat like crap all weekend, you can easily undo all your hard work. It may be better for you to set a weekly total calorie goal versus a daily goal. Also, be consistent eating your meals as skipping meals usually leads to overeating later in the day. 3. You're not weighing your food If you are just eyeballing portions, there is a good chance you are underestimating the amount. Let’s say you are eating a portion of peanut butter, which is typically two tablespoons. If you just guessed, you could easily be off by one tablespoon, which would equate to an extra 100-200 calories. That will start to add up throughout the day. Use measuring cups and spoons, or better yet, buy a digital scale and start weighing everything. I hate to say it, but it’s almost pointless to have a calorie goal if you aren’t going to weigh or accurately measure your food. 4. You’re comparing yourself to others If we all ate the same and worked out the same, we would still have very different body sizes, thanks to our genetics. Don’t get frustrated if someone is doing the same thing as other people in your gym and she is losing weight faster. This is about you and your health. Think about where you will be in a year, even with slow weight loss. Do what works and is sustainable for you - that’s the key. 5. Stressed or sleep issues These affect our hormones, making it harder to lose weight. If you are at a particularly stressful time in your life or can't get eight hours of sleep, aim for weight maintenance instead of weight loss. The last thing you need to do is get more stressed out about not losing weight! 6. You aren’t doing the basics I have a lot of friends that do different nutrition diets for periods of time. You know these people and you know these diets. You’ve probably tried one of them yourself. Intermittent fasting, keto, paleo – they all can work, but they also take a huge level of commitment and often a complete lifestyle change. People do these regimes for several weeks, lose weight, but then gain it all back when they stop. This is why I recommend starting out with the basics. Are you drinking enough water? Eating enough protein? Eating your 5+ servings of fruits and vegetables? Moving your body daily? If you aren’t doing these regularly, you need to get the basics down first, or you won't be successful in the long-term. 7. You need a coach Sometimes we need an unbiased outsider to tell us that we are drinking too much wine, eating too big of portions, or not eating enough protein. This is where a coach comes in handy. There are some great apps that help you track your food, or you can hire an online coach. Just make sure they have the right credentials and education. The title “nutritionist” isn't regulated so anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. If you have any conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or are breastfeeding, it would be in your best interest to hire a qualified registered dietitian to help (some states even have laws as to who can give nutrition advice to these populations and for a good reason). My favorite apps are Avatar Nutrition and Renaissance Periodization (not sponsored, just my opinion and what I use). My friend and colleague, Gerald at G Force Nutrition also coaches clients one-on-one and would be happy to get you started on a plan that will help you meet your nutrition goals. Alright, I know what I need to work on (reasons 2, 3 and 6, for starters) and am excited to see if I can actually sustain a nutrition program for more than a few weeks! For nutrition tips (or just to say hello), you can follow Katrina on Instagram at @supermarketsecrets.rd. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Holly! Holly Mosack, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine When Holly ended her career in the United States Army, she struggled to find her purpose in the civilian world (outside of being a mom) until she and her husband started a CrossFit gym. She quickly found a new passion in helping women become stronger, both physically and emotionally. She wants to empower women to stay active by removing barriers, which is why she founded a line of leak-proof apparel, Moxie Fitness Apparel, to help the 1 in 3 women who experience stress incontinence. Holly is an executive-level communicator with 15 years of manufacturing experience in talent acquisition strategy, service quality, and continuous improvement. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and is a CrossFit Level I Trainer.

Written by: Karen Yee, 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. Tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re starting out again or wanting to grow your business and find yourself: 1. Consuming all the free videos on YouTube 2. Trying to figure it out yourself 3. Price shopping As a CEO, as a business owner, I know EXACTLY how you feel right now. I’ve been there, and I want you to know: Sometimes we need to change our perspective to thrive. And sometimes, we talk ourselves out of the opportunities we need because it has a dollar sign in front of it. As a CEO, as a business owner, I know the value of investing. The knowledge that I paid to acquire directly relates to the amount of money I get in return! 👎You may be like, “OMG, this course is $3997! I can’t afford that” 👍Instead, think, “How much is this going to make me?” 👍Instead, think, “If I make this investment, I’ll make my money back AND more.” There’s also a risk of NOT investing. I want you to understand that staying stuck where you are is not moving the needle for yourself or your business. Acquiring knowledge will get you to your ultimate goals. My students who take the Art of Selling program earn four, five, and SIX figures. They invested in themselves, showed up, and scaled tremendously. They didn’t let a dollar sign hold them back. One statement that stays with me to this day is from Robert Kiyosaki: “We are given two great gifts in life: your mind and time. It is up to you in what you do with both. Remember that with each dollar bill that enters your hand, you, and only you, have the power to determine your destiny. Spend it foolishly, and you will join the poor. Invest it in your mind, and you will be choosing wealth as your goal and your future. The choice is yours, and only yours. Each day with every dollar, you decide to be rich, poor, or middle class.” I am choosing to share this with you to share it with your family, friends, and children to prepare them for the world that awaits. Your future is determined by the choices you make today, not tomorrow. If you want a clear direction, clarity today vision for tomorrow, and a proven roadmap for your service or product business, send us a message, and we’ll be happy to help. I hope you found this article valuable, Karen Follow Karen on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website for more info! Read more from Karen! Karen Yee, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Karen is the founder of New Futures On Demand and a believer that everyone has the ability to create a new future with their skillset. She guides small to medium companies and individuals to build a winning profile and launch a profitable online business. She created the Art of Selling Mastermind™️, an online intensive training program that helps people uncover, brand, package, and sell their services, so they create more impact and build their WFA dream lifestyle.

As an Executive Coach and Trainer, Saskia helps successful, time-challenged high-level management, directors, and business owners increase their performance and their teams' productivity without the stress and overwhelm. Once a Missionary, working alongside Mother Teresa herself, made her life all around the globe, helping people discover their meaning in life in sometimes heartbreaking circumstances. After leading multiple projects and International communities, she left the missions following her own experience of burnout. Starting her own business allowed her to combine her philosophical and theological research together with her rich multi-cultural experience. She places the human person at its center, allowing it to find its unique place and thrive. In 2016, as a single mum of 2 young children, she moved from Holland to Ireland . She specialized in working with business owners, directors, and managers, showing them how to create a bigger vision for their business and life, freeing up their own time to excel in what they are best at and increase their profit and satisfaction without the stress and the overwhelm. Mother Teresa played a big role in your life , and she inspired you to become a Missionary yourself. What was your encounter with her, and how did that inspire you to give up everything and serve the poor? My mother was doing voluntary work with the Missionaries of Charity, where she worked in soup kitchens and cared for the homeless. One fateful year, she was chosen to drive Mother Teresa from Rotterdam to Amsterdam and brought the rest of the family along. That car journey made a huge impact on my life. I was only 12, and I remember her wrinkled face and her intense gaze. She was so personally present to whoever she would meet , and it was as if the rest of the world no longer existed. Her attention would be the same for each person, whether that person was the president or the homeless. "I remember Mother Teresa looking at me very intensely, and she said 'you will be one of ours' and as a 12-year-old, seeing someone I greatly admired, I just wanted to jump in and say 'let's do it ,' I didn’t have any clue about the consequences." "I think I was so much intrigued by her presence and her gift in her service to the poorest that at that moment I think it hit home in me that that was something I would like to do with my life." However, despite my enthusiasm, Mother Teresa insisted that I finish my education before becoming a nun. She even wrote me a note answering my letter when I was 16-year-old, instructing me to stay in school, I could come and see when I turned 18, and so I did. The Missionaries are present in places of extreme poverty or distress. What was your experience, and what can you do for people in these circumstances? My first posting was to Zagreb in Croatia, just after the Bosnian-Serb war, a desperate, dark time in European history. However, only years later, when I entered the courtroom where Radovan Karadzic was being cross-examined, I realized the tension and uncertainty we were living in. When you are right in the midst of it, you do what needs to be done: I listened to the stories, just sat with them in their distress . There are times when you don’t need many words. As Mother would say: ‘the heart speaks…’ I think we can compare it to the current global pandemic: we do what we need to do to survive. It is only later on, when the storm has calmed down, that you can start to see the damage and the impact. Yet, you did not stay in the missions. What made you leave? It was while I was stationed in Rome that I decided to change orders. Although I loved the Missionaries and the work I did with them, I was missing an intellectual challenge. So I joined a young congregation in France that was specifically orientated towards the research for truth through philosophy and theology. There, I was asked to lead several projects and international communities. I trained young girls to introduce them to religious life, their studies and support them in their life choices. Around age 30, I was on Mission in the Philippines when I hit rock bottom. Physically, emotionally and mentally. I felt completely depleted because I had given so much. As contradictory as it may seem within an environment of recollection and spirituality, I had forgotten to truly resource myself along the way. Although I was part of a congregation, I felt I didn’t know where my roots were anymore. I had traveled the whole world, but I no longer knew where I was coming from or where I was going… So I moved back to Holland, searching my roots, rediscovering myself, my core values, and what I desired in life. How did you start your own business, and how does your previous experience transpire in the work you are doing now? It wasn’t easy to settle back into the lay world. After almost 14 years, I came back, and the world had changed, everyone was settled in their own lives, and I came with a whole different experience: I needed to rediscover everything! When I was looking for a job, recruiters said to me: “well, you know, with your background, with your history, with your studies… there’s no job we can find you.” I just did not fit any mold. I decided to get qualifications as a Counsellor and in holistic, energetic therapies. At the same time, I created my own business, where the human person is at the center. I started helping people with disabilities or mental health issues which needed to go back into the workplace. I worked with employers to recraft the jobs and ensure that "the job description fits the employee and not they need to fit a job description .” My service then evolved into what I currently do: helping successful, time-challenged entrepreneurs and high-level management to become better leaders, create a bigger vision for themselves and their business, increase their performance and productivity without the overwhelm. Stress and overwhelm is a big problem I encounter in a lot of business owners. Stress just builds up. And it’s a muscle that slowly and slowly tightens, and we’re not even aware of it. I call it the silent killer. I create that space where they are heard in their doubts and fears. I support them to understand what they need personally and professionally to make the choices to step up as better leaders in the challenging world of today. For more info, follow Saskia on LinkedIn , visit her website and join her Facebook Group ! Read more from Saskia!

Written by: Jennifer Jank, 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 shocking how complex modern life seems to be. How many decisions must be made before breakfast, not even counting the ones you need to make once you get to work. As a result, many of us yearn for more simplicity. Especially when it comes to finances, the number of financial products available is staggering, and there’s little formal education. Though many consumers aren’t aware of it, often the so-called “new” products are simply old ideas renamed to be attractive in the current circumstances. The 21st century requires us all to deal with money, which seems to be increasingly more complicated. The question for everyone in business is how to work most efficiently with their money in both their personal and work lives. The secret is that finance doesn’t have to be complicated to get you where you want to go. Certainly not as much as it’s made out to be. Yes, you can drown in a quagmire of private equity, stock option trading, cryptocurrency, short selling, and remainder trusts if you like. However, it’s not required, especially for those of us busy with running our own empires. In reality, there are just three rules to focus on that will help you focus on what you need to focus on. (Say that three times fast!) They apply to both personal and business finance. 1. Mind the gap If you’re a Brit, this should be familiar! We’re not talking about the gap between the platform and the train when it comes to both personal and business money management. It’s the difference between income and expenses. And unlike railway construction, where finances are concerned, it’s in your best interests to make this gap as wide as possible. Increase income Making more money is a great way to enlarge the gap. In your personal life, this could include asking for a pay raise, looking for a job that pays more, or adding another income stream through a side business, or monetizing a hobby. In business, you may need to simply raise your prices. 2021 might very well be the time to do it, especially if you’re underpriced relative to your competitors or haven’t raised them in a few years. Also, consider adding a product line or revising your marketing or sales strategy. Decrease spending This one should be pretty obvious! You get a much bigger gap through increasing income and decreasing spending. Audit your budgets at home and work to see any recurring charges for things you don’t need or use anymore. When buying something new, consider the ROI or return on investment. Do you need the brightest, fanciest, loudest widget that’s also the most expensive? Can you use a different one that’s less expensive but still takes care of your needs for now? Sometimes you do need to buy the higher-priced option if it will last longer than its cheaper competitors. Debt decreases the gap Just a reminder that you have a lot more options when you're debt-free. In addition to the interest payments that bulk up your budget, debt itself reduces the amount of money you could be using to invest instead. 2. Use the power of compounding Speaking of investing! With compounding returns, the longer you let assets grow, the better off you’ll be. You’re probably familiar with stock market returns and interest compounding, but it works for non-financial assets as well. Personal Letting the power of compounding work for you is especially helpful when it comes to investing for retirement. You don’t have to set so much aside if you get started early and allow the money to grow. Don’t try to time the market. $10,000 with a 6% return grows to almost $18,000 in ten years and doubles in 12, without any additional cash injections. And more importantly, without any withdrawals of cash (before retirement). Treat your retirement portfolio as you would a surly teenager. You know how annoyed it gets every time you open the door to its room. (And you really don’t want a close look at what it’s up to in there.) Over time your surly teenager grows up and becomes a functioning adult. Eventually, you’ll have a reasonable portfolio on your hands, but the more you try to interfere with it, the worse it performs. Business Unless you’re a money manager, you probably won’t do a lot of investing in stocks and bonds in your business. But you will be investing: in people, in your own skills, in equipment, etc. Your firm’s growth compounds over time when you invest properly. Investigate the assets you’re considering carefully, human and otherwise. Investments are a major component of success. 3. Let it go There are things in life that you can control and things you can’t. Trying to manipulate outcomes when they’re genuinely out of your hands is a recipe for stress and distress. When it comes to money, there’s a lot that you have no authority over. Not just you personally, but most people have no say in them. Spend your energy on what you can affect, and let the others go. What you can’t control: this is a selected list, but there are plenty more! Market returns Recession and/or stock market drop within the first years of your retirement How any given asset class will perform in a particular timeframe The available investment options in your employer retirement plan Whether an expensive piece of machinery will break How other people invest How other people view you and/or your business What you can control (unfortunately, this is pretty much it): Your own actions. For example: How much you save How much you spend Whether you have exposure to different asset classes in your investments The principles and values underlying your life and/or your business Whether you prepare contingency plans By making these three actions into habits, you’ll take charge of your finances without introducing a lot of complexity. In your business, you’ll be able to make good investments that help grow it instead of slowing it down or saddling it with too much debt. Your personal money life will be easier as well. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and visit my website for more info! Jennifer Jank, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jennifer “JJ” Jank works with women who are making the leap from employee to entrepreneur through courses and a book to be published in February 2021. She also helps businesses build their online credibility through eBooks, testimonials, and articles. JJ holds a BA in Physics from Rutgers University and an MBA in Finance from New York University. She is a Certified Financial Planner ™ professional. Currently, she’s the President for Women Leaders Forum in Coachella Valley, as well as the webmistress for the Palm Springs chapter of AAUW. She is also a speaker on various topics including personal finance and entrepreneurship. JJ has been published in Journal for Divorce Financial Analysts and Coachella Valley Weekly, among others.

Written by: Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Healthy eating takes the right environment to cook food! With these tips, you can make your kitchen the prime place for preparing wholesome meals. Healthy eating is a certain kind of lifestyle. It takes more than just buying healthy foods or making plans to cook from scratch. You have to physically set up your environment to accomplish your wellness goals. Simplicity One thing we do as humans is overcomplicate things regarding health, especially in the kitchen. Typically kitchens are stocked with every pot, pan, and spice imaginable. In most cases, this adds more clutter, stress, and wasted money. All you need are the basics 7-10 spices, a good cast iron skillet and a few different sized saucepans, and a kitchen knife. Of course, if you use certain tools all the time, you definitely want to keep those on hand as far as food goes; the fewer boxes and processed foods, the better. Stock your kitchen with whole foods that make cooking a breeze: frozen fruits and veggies, single packed frozen proteins, good quality oils, vinegars, and salt. Build layers of flavor with simple and delicious ingredients to master your health. Approachable Make healthy eating and healthy lifestyle changes approachable to what works for you and your schedule. Sure, diets and programs work but are they long-lasting and developed into habits. Take tiny baby steps daily to improve and reach your goals. For instance, if your trying to add more vegetables to your diet, start the day off right and make a smoothie blend in greens, riced cauliflower, and squash right in. Make a hearty bowl of soup. The vegetable possibilities are endless. Don't forget to write down your daily wins and give yourself credit for all the healthy steps you are making to change your life. Variety It is the spice of life. To keep your health journey delicious and exciting, variety is key—nothing worse than eating that same chicken breast and steamed broccoli every day. Switch things up every time you grocery shop, pick up one new fruit or vegetable you typically don’t eat, and add it into your weekly meals. Travel through food, find recipes from places you love to visit, and make a meal inspired from there. I mean nothing better than a delicious bowl of pasta from Italy! Even ask a friend or family member for one of their favorite recipes and have fun experiencing the flavors and memories from their kitchens. Organized Organized kitchens are the key to ultimately supercharge your health and life. The first thing to do for the organization is doing a kitchen purge of both food and cookware. Pull everything out of the cupboards and get rid of anything broken, expired, or never used. For food, read your labels and ask yourself, is there added oils and sugars? Where did this food come from? And will it nourish my body and mind or harm it? For cookware, look out for Teflon or nonstick there are a ton of endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in these, and you want to have stainless steel or cast iron. Once this step is complete, it is now time to stock the pantry with whole real foods and minimally processed foods. Keep an inventory and label what you have on hand in your fridge, pantry, and freezer. Also, set aside 20-30 minutes a week to meal plan, make your grocery list and set yourself up for success weekly. These steps will save time, money, and stress and bring joy into cooking again. Recipes Having gone to healthy family favorite recipes on hand makes healthy eating and cooking much easier. Get a binder with divider tabs and add your favorite handwritten, printed out, and torn out magazine recipes. It is also great if you have recipes from your favorite cookbooks to add in there too. Just make a note on what page and book the recipe is so that you are not hunting for the recipe before you make it. Also, if you make a recipe and make a few changes write it down, so you have that to reference the next time you make it. Lastly, make sure you read the whole recipe through before you start cooking. To ensure you have all the ingredients and tools on hand to make the delicious meal. These five tips can help supercharge your kitchen and health by keeping things simple, approachable to you and your lifestyle, have variety, be organized, and cook with recipes and the foods you love. Get a healthier kitchen and life one bite at a time. For more information, follow me on Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Danielle! Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Danielle Christy is a holistic health coach and self-taught personal chef dedicated to helping families and people around the world stop feeling overwhelmed with healthy cooking by showing and coaching them on how to stock their kitchens with healthy ingredients, meal plan and get back to having family meals again. Danielle holds a BA in Hospitality from Northern Arizona University and Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has helped families of all shapes and sizes create and establish a concrete strategy to ultimate health through learning what individually works for them and using whole real food as the medicine of life.

Written by: Corey Butler , 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 motorsport fan and an aspiring sim racing driver, I often find myself scrolling through Youtube videos trying to find content on the subject. While trying to solve my slow lap times during my races, I began to look for some coaching advice, hoping I would find the answer. I found several channels dedicated to this topic, and one of them was an ex-racing driver Enzo Mucci. I subscribed and started watching the videos. It became very interesting to me that the ideas that he was talking about were the same principles that we teach our business clients, but with very different goals. I began to think about how the mental skills and the success mindset of a racing driver transfers to the entrepreneur's world. Like race drivers, entrepreneurs, business owners, and pretty much anyone who wants to succeed need to possess mental skills like: Performing under pressure Remaining mentally resourceful in times of crisis Overcoming mistakes and failures Handling competition Cultivating personal and interpersonal skills I recently had a chat with Enzo (who has worked with a number of Formula 1 drivers) to discuss how these principles cross over into completely different disciplines. I decided to ask him the principles that these elite-level drivers employ to transfer to the work of business success? Here are six things he told me: 1. Know what you want. That sounds simple, but most people are 'fuzzy ' at best when it comes to their goals. Create a clear mental picture of the goal in every detail. Then put it in writing and review it daily. 2. Become the person you need to become to achieve the goal that you want. “Acting as if” you already had achieved your goal means thinking, feeling, acting, and coming from a place of belief that your goal has already happened. Think like a champion! 3. Attach enough emotion to your goal so that it really means something to you. Can you evoke the emotions that you would feel had you just achieved your goal? Blending the right emotions with your mental images is the secret to moving your subconscious mind into action and making things start to happen for you. 4. Be honest about what has to be done to make progress. Are you an action taker? Are you prepared to get out of your comfort zone and do whatever it takes regardless of how scary it gets? Nothing happens without action, be honest with yourself. 5. Learn from your mistakes. Mistakes act like signposts to success, and they point the direction. I love the expression 'fail fast and fail forward.' Don´t let mistakes get you down. Use them to learn from and drive you on. 6. If you really want it, you will find a way, or you will find your true destiny on the way. These are all simple principles, they are all basic, but I recently listened to an interview with an expert that was asked, “why is 6 times F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton so hard to beat.” This is what he said: “He just does the basics better than anyone else.” Follow Corey and Gabriella on Facebook and visit their website ! Read more from Corey and Gabriella! Corey Butler & Gabriella Gozon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Corey and Gabriella are leaders in high performance mentoring and mindset training. Corey became interested in how the mind plays an instrumental part in determining the success that people achieve in different areas of their lives after working with numerous professional tennis players to improve their psychology over a 15-year period. This led him to partner with Bob Proctor, the world's leading authority in unlocking human potential, and the Proctor Gallagher Institute to help entrepreneurs create quantum leaps in their businesses by raising conscious awareness and teaching how to unlock latent potential. Gabriella joined Corey in 2018, bringing her corporate experience and passion for success psychology. Together they created ‘The Conscious Entrepreneur,’ The two now work to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs create a greater impact in the world through the application and implementation of success principles that harmonize thoughts and actions with the natural laws of the Universe.

The founder of Mama Bear Domain , Kelly Hater, is not your average mom. She is a mom warrior. Her mantra, “Stop Existing, Start Living,” sheds light on how she overcame her struggles in motherhood, fitness, loss from suicide , miscarriage, and postpartum depression . Her 15+ years as an entrepreneur helped her take back her own life after grappling with tragedy. She is devoting her passion for fitness, health, and wellness to being a life coach for moms. Kelly’s services through Mama Bear Domain aim to help moms at the root of mom guilt discover grace so that they can prosper as a mom and a woman. She offers accountability, structure, expertise, and, most importantly, empathy to moms from all walks of life. Mama Bear Domain’s approach is one of a kind as this potent formula Kelly created first to help herself is getting known worldwide. Kelly gets her clients out of their comfort zone to embrace the fears holding them back from self-actualization. “Stop Existing, Start Living.” Kelly calls Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, home. Her husband, Nate, adore her, and they have two beautiful, flourishing children, Jaxon, 5, and Annabelle, 2. She and her husband “walk the walk,” as they say, by hitting their backyard studio gym together in the mornings before the sun is even thinking about rising. They enjoy a hard-earned retreat space on her weekends in rural Kentucky that she fondly refers to as “The Camp.” Kelly initially went to school to become a radiologist. She quickly knew that she needed a more social career and switched her focus to athletic training. When she realized that athletic training patients could avoid injury with a stronger fitness base, she knew Health Promotion specialized in Exercise Science was the perfect fit for her. It helps that she possesses her parents' best personality traits, such as spatial reasoning and entrepreneurial spirit from her dad and interpersonal skills from her mom. The rest is history, as they say. Kelly completed her B.S. in Health Promotion from The University of Cincinnati and started her own business as a Certified National Strength and Conditioning Association Personal Trainer. For the past 15 years, Kelly has helped dozens of clients achieve their health and fitness goals. Not only has she helped others achieve their fitness goals, but she is a decorated bodybuilding champion. Her titles include but are not limited to 2nd place Jr. Nationals Figure Championship 2012 and 4th place NPC USA Figure Bodybuilding 2012 appearances and a top 10 finish in 2017 NPC National Bikini Championships just 14 weeks post miscarriage. “I have a team of support.” While personal training and competing in bodybuilding afforded its rewards, being a mother has proven superior to Kelly. Her transition to motherhood was not without its struggles. Kelly’s fitness foundation gave her the confidence she needed to get back on track after several traumatic events took her down a dark path. Kelly knows firsthand how difficult and alone a mom can feel. This is exactly why Kelly is devoting her passion for fitness, health, and wellness to coaching other moms. Kelly said, “I have a team of support, Nate, Jaxon, my mom, and my mother-in-law, the list continues. Yet the transformation of the pain I was experiencing needed to come from within.” Kelly researched for more “mom help” while looking for a method to overcome these struggles. There was nothing that fit her needs. With her mindset, she created a formula based on her knowledge and life experiences to tackle the mom problems she was facing. The formula was so potent. She designed a program to help other moms. Using wellness and self-awareness to build true self-actualization. Kelly’s clients no longer let mom guilt, mom burnout, and self-loss steal their identity. “I was very coachable at a young age.” Kelly, 35 years, has always had a natural talent in the sports and fitness world. She has always enjoyed learning new skills and the physical and mental challenges presented by sport. Her coaches loved that she was so coachable. Kelly recalls being made the slap hitter on her softball team because she was the only one who could adapt to hit both right and left-handed. Kelly recalls many great coaches in her life, but her all-time favorite coach was her dad. He was Kelly’s biggest fan. He championed her entrepreneurial spirit and was her business mentor. He was an entrepreneur himself and helped her start her first LLC that is still operating today. Kelly was the sole breadwinner for several years, while her husband completed his education in nursing. Sadly in 2014, her father committed suicide—striking Kelly and her family with unspeakable grief. Waves of anger, sadness, despair flooded her thoughts for quite some time. Kelly says she still carries the grief with her today, especially when she craves her dad’s entrepreneurial insight and wisdom. Nate has not wavered in his support of Kelly through this loss. No doubt this tragedy folded a new level of devotion into their marriage. “I’m more than postpartum depression.” Motherhood looks natural for Kelly. She glows when she talks about her children. Even when describing her restless nights and bathroom battles with her daughter, she has a smile the size of Texas on her face. Kelly said, “Annabelle is my mini.” Her son, Jaxon, 5, sees the world in 3 dimensions and can build lego sets like no one's business. Kelly describes Jaxon as a calming presence in her life. Sadly, in her second pregnancy, Kelly experienced a miscarriage. She decided to compete in a bikini- bodybuilding competition to have something to look forward to after experiencing loss from her miscarriage. Her top 10 finish at the National Championship gave her the positive mindset she needed to try pregnancy again. With God’s grace, in 2017, she was blessed with a daughter, Annabelle. Annabelle’s birth was stressful, Kelly recalls. When it came time to hold Annabelle in her postoperative state, Kelly could not bring herself to feel joy. She remembers vividly giving a fake smile in the photo of herself holding Annabelle at the hospital. “I think my dad’s suicide saved me from taking my own life during my postpartum depression.” After returning home, things did not improve much. She continued to be overwhelmed. She felt guilt, lack of interest in life, and self-loss. She found it difficult to concentrate, and she even had thoughts of harming herself. Kelly knew the severity of her feelings from her experience surviving her dad’s suicide. She and Nate recognized that this was not the ordinary “baby blues.” It was something more grave. The “baby blues” and “postpartum depression” (PPD) are not interchangeable. Baby blues are a normal hormonal adjustment period after birth that usually resolves naturally within 3 weeks postpartum. After these feelings didn’t go away by Kelly’s 6-week postpartum appointment, she sought help from her obstetrician. She describes her admission of her depression to her doctor as a huge weight being lifted from her shoulders. She went through a full diagnosis and treatment care plan for PPD. Her recovery took over a year to come full circle. Kelly attributes her life today to her father. She says, “I think my dad’s suicide saved me from taking my own life during my postpartum depression.” And Kelly is not alone in her postpartum struggle. Approximately 21% of women experience major or minor depression following childbirth. (Wisner KL, Sit DKY, McShea MC, et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2013). Kelly’s medical care has been critical to her success in overcoming the PPD. One of the things the psychiatrist coached her to do that has helped is journaling. As an Ode to her late father, Kelly decided to journal in an online blog format. She felt as though others might be able to benefit from her experience. It turns out Kelly was right. Many moms could relate to her stories, and they even reached out to her for fellowship and support. By sharing her story, Kelly could most naturally support other moms who were also experiencing stressful motherhood. With each story shared, Kelly became more committed to helping other moms. This is how she discovered that her true passion is to help moms stop merely existing and start living a meaningful multi-dimensional life again. She narrowed her entrepreneurial efforts into what is now Mama Bear Domain , where she offers life coaching services for moms that aim to help them overcome motherhood complexities. Along with an eBook: Mom, Open your Eyes to Self-Awareness . “I looked at my current situation and turned it into opportunity.” Living through a worldwide pandemic has been eye-opening to Kelly. Of course, like many others in the fitness industry, she reports income loss, and some clients have not been able to maintain their regular work sessions with her though it is not because of anything that’s been within Kelly’s control. It has most definitely changed her daily operations to include various safety procedures. “For safety reasons, I had to stop all onsite fitness training with my clients, and many went virtual. I took on virtual preschool at home like most parents out there did during the stay at home orders. That was tough, and I prefer not to do virtual school.” By the way, she sends kudos to all the homeschooling families out there. From another perspective, though, it has afforded Kelly’s time. Time is a priceless gift, and Kelly took the opportunity to put some of it towards reflecting on her business goals. In doing so, she realized that risks in business could bring opportunities for the future. So this year, for the first time since her dad passed, she decided to expand her business. You can tell by the huge smile on her face during this interview that she is thinking about how proud her dad would be of her taking the risk to invest in a business expansion. Surely he is smiling down at her today even as this article is published. Kelly says that she does her best to practice what she teaches regularly. Kelly uses the 8 dimensions of health as a baseline when working with her clients. She preaches that one’s well-being cannot be fully balanced unless all 8 dimensions are being considered and addressed. “I am constantly balancing my wellness dimensions.” She recalls that two weeks into the stay-at-home orders from the governor's office, it was so obvious to her that her eight dimensions of health were out of balance. She needed to direct some attention to her environmental and occupational dimensions. And so, in true Kelly fashion, she did not hesitate to take action. Remember Kelly’s mantra, “Stop Existing, Start Living.” She truly lives and breaths this mantra every day. It is indeed inspiring. Kelly recalls with a stern face, “We sacrificed for so many years to become financially free . We lived bare-bones for 5 years, counting every penny, and it paid off, literally. We successfully rid ourselves of $70,000 in student loans. We paid off our home mortgage in full, and we paid off all our car loan debt. It was a huge weight lifted from our shoulders.” She said that in spending more time at home, it made us realize that we needed more adventure in our life while we were financially fit. She and Nate wanted something they could do together as a family. It took a financial risk, but they bought some land in northern Kentucky and have never looked back. It has been a blessing in their lives. Kelly says, “it’s called “The Camp.” It has become my ultimate zen space.” They’ve taken on some DIY remodeling of the manufactured house on the land, which has inspired Kelly. It’s obvious how she speaks about “The Camp” that she is proud of where her experience and ambition have taken her in her life. She is taking full advantage of all the opportunities, both good and bad, that life has to offer and not simply to exist anymore. FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A MOM: My absolute favorite thing is to hear my kids giggle. The sound of them laughing gives me complete peace. LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A MOM: I dislike the potty training experience. BEST ADVICE FOR TANTRUMS: When your kids are having trouble controlling their emotions and you find yourself in the middle of a toddler tantrum, I get a favorite book and sit down on the floor near them and start reading a book out loud. Eventually, they stop crying, and they will come to sit with me and listen to the story. Through this approach, I hope it will teach my kids to use reading and journaling as a tool to sort out their feelings. BEST ADVICE FOR SIBLING SQUABBLES: When my kids argue, I turn on music, and we have a dance party. FAVORITE TIME OF DAY WITH YOUR KIDS: Bath time is and always has been my favorite time of day with my kids because I am less distracted. I’m a sucker for cuddles. FAVORITE PAST TIME WITH YOUR KIDS: I love to play cards and legos with Jaxon, and I love to play dinosaurs color with Annabelle. FAVORITE PAST TIME WITH YOUR HUSBAND: I love when we wake up early and hit our gym together. We give each other the extra push to be better. We truly feed on each other as we continue to grow. Work with Kelly! If you are struggling with mom guilt, mom burnout, feeling overwhelmed, or just plain aimless. “Stop Existing, Start Living.” Look no further; Kelly is the Mom Coach for you! You plus Kelly versus your “mom struggles.” Follow Kelly on Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , Pinterest and visit her w ebsite . Please note: If you or someone you know have thoughts about hurting yourself, someone else, or a child or if you hear or see things that aren't there, get help right away. You can: ● Go to the nearest emergency room. ● Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or reach them online. ● Contact the National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the U.S., anytime, about any type of crisis. For more information about Postpartum depression, please reference Postpartum Support International (PSI). It is a world-wide organization founded in 1987 that exists to provide support, reliable information, resources, and education for distress in pregnancy and postpartum. There are PSI coordinators and volunteers all over the world who help women, families, and providers find support and make connections. You can contact PSI at www.postpartum.net or by phone at 800.944.4PPD.

Written by: Xiomara Overman n – Firma, 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 read recently in an article online that “The Rise of Tech is the Fall in Business Operations” which I don’t think is going to be the case in especially Inventory Management and Quality Management at warehouses and manufacturing companies. What is going to happen in 2021 with the Rise of the use of Tech in Business Operations? In this article, I have shed some light on some of the important tech changes that benefit Business Operations. Investing is in tech the most logical decision in time. The Rise in Tech is the future, the next phase after the Integration of Kanban and Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing Management. The Rise of New and Tech Innovation will be the onset of new changes, including innovation in business operations in 2021 and beyond. In 2021, we expect an onset of innovation, especially in business operations, that is beneficial in warehouse management and manufacturing. The technology improvement in 2021 sets the stage for better development in business operations. The operations management are going through the following changes: 1. The tech with innovation in artificial intelligence is one of the investments that, especially the wholesale agencies and procedures in inventory management, will have more benefit. 2. The use of big data in finance management and manufacturing is essential. 3. The adoption of new tech in business operations is essential to lower operational expenses and a more effective inventory management. Those are the three areas that you are already able to see a significant increase and benefit starting in 2021. The advance in tech will have beneficial changes in the processes and procedures, having better quality control and better waste management processes in place. We can provide guidance in procedures and process management as an Export Business Agency. Are you looking for advice on which area you need to invest in at this time to be ahead of your competition? We can provide an extensive process management evaluation at your business installation to give you advice in which area to improve. In the monthly publications, you will read more about the new systems and business operational changes necessary to enter new international markets that I will write about that will be of interest to you. Next month, I will write an in-depth article about business operations and the benefits from the Export Canvas, one of our services especially for businesses who want to enter new international markets. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Xiomara! Xiomara Overman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Xiomara Overman is an International Business Advisor with more than 8 years of experience in Strategy and Procedures Management. For the last 3 years she has worked with International Companies in improve their Business Processes for export from their Products and Services. She is the Founder and CEO of ActiV Business Development Services. During the Pandemia, she worked closely as a member of the Professional Team from the Ministry of Economy Development in Curaçao to help restructure Businesses in have Crisis Resistant Processes in Business. She has the possibility as a Partner from SUM International to help Businesses scale their Business in Central America, including Dutch Caribbean, and enter the European market successfully. She and her ActiV Team are ready to guide with Public Relations Services and Trade Documentation in 6 languages. She organizes Innovation Tour to enter New Markets in the Central and Latin America Region. Her mission is to develop Business Processes that are scalable and crisis resistant.