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. It is interesting to pause and hold space for contemplation when considering the difference between knowing and doing. The reality is that we can all have knowledge. We have access to so much information. We gather information from people, history, stories, books, archives, social media, and google. We have more information thrown at us each day. Is our problem really having or not having knowledge? We all have so much knowledge at our fingertips. Knowing is not just about knowledge. It’s not simply just about what we read or consume. It's not always about what our mind can perceive or its ability to retain information and have the ability to bring that information to mind. Knowing can also be found in the heart or even the gut. That's why we hear from time to time to follow our gut. Some frame this as intuition, others a sixth sense, and perhaps even our inner voice. Knowing can probably be equally explained as knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is important to understand what it is to know something. It’s important to know who we are and who we are not. It is important to know our abilities and our limitations. Knowing is good. It's the first step to a breakthrough, and it's the first step to accomplishment. Without knowing, we don’t have the understanding, truth, or knowledge of something. The reason I am writing this piece is because there is a lot of knowledge out there. There is a lot of information out in the world. As a mentor and coach, I have consumed huge amounts of content, books, and stories. I have also gathered lots of knowledge through personal experiences, adventures, failings, and setbacks. In essence, when people hire me to be their coach or mentor, they are actually paying me for my brain, my experiences, my understanding, and my knowledge. The one thing that concerns me the most is despite all this knowing—knowing how, knowing why, knowing when, we end up not doing or not being. The main difference between knowing and doing is action—action-based on truth, based on facts, and information. We are in such a privileged state, and I don’t know if we are just taking advantage of the abundance of knowing, or we’ve become lazy or have just become accustomed to others picking up the pieces, spoon-feeding us truth. The biggest challenge right now is despite knowing what to do. We don’t do it. Despite knowing who we really are, we allow some stranger or troll to knock us off course. That despite all the wisdom, information, and knowledge, we still don’t apply it. Knowledge is not king, and applied knowledge is king. We can know that something is true, but until we do that which is true, we will understand it but not a revelation of it. We can know the truth through someone else or have the revelation of truth by experiencing it ourselves. We may be in a position where we want to lose weight. We may know that we need to exercise, enough sleep, balanced diet. We all know this, and yet despite our knowing, we do not do. Why? Knowing the truth about losing weight won’t make you lose weight. It’s applying that knowledge of eating right, sleeping enough, and exercising regularly, which will take the truth and make it into revelation. Applied knowledge is what takes a thought of information and turns it into an act of revelation. To simply know how something works does not make it tangible in your life, you can read my books, and you can read my articles, but none of what I say will manifest in your life unless you apply what I say. That is the main difference between knowing and doing. We must take all this information we consume daily. Decide what is your truth and then apply it. If you have never taken time to pause and consider why you don’t do that which you know is true, then please do it now. Please don’t waste another day knowing what needs to be done and not having the revelation of doing it through action. If you want me to help you take what you know and turn it into something you do, then please reach out to me, and we can communicate further. Feel free to follow Mark on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, or email Mark at info@marksephton.com 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: Ibbie Aromolaran, 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. Hopefully, you’ve heard of The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. If you haven’t, perhaps this article will be your nudge to find a copy and read it. It is an eye-opening piece of work that introduces and describes the five general ways humans use to express and receive love. These include acts of service, gift-giving, words of affirmation, physical touch, and quality time. Yes, relationships require a portion of all of them to survive; however, there is typically one that holds more weight than the others for each individual. Not everyone communicates love in the same way, which is why learning your love language and that of your partner is so crucial. I have spoken to quite a few people who have said something along the lines of “I love giving gifts. That’s my love language”. And as innocent and thoughtful as their sentiments may seem, it makes me cringe every time. You cannot go into a relationship with your preference for how to show love to someone. This is how relationships fail. If you aren’t prepared to love someone the way they need to be loved, all your good intentions and efforts do not matter. Even if you like to give gifts, your partner may just want to be touched. Even if you prefer to be touched, your partner may just like to hear words of affirmation from you. You have to learn your partner’s love language for the relationship to thrive. And you have to learn how to communicate your love language to others. Identify your love language. Identify your triggers. Identify your boundaries. Identify your wants and needs and be ready and able to express them to the people you love. Take plants, for example- sunflowers require direct sunlight and long, hot summers to survive. Whereas, Chinese Evergreen plants survive quite well in low light, which makes them great indoor plants! Now imagine you take a sunflower and try to grow it in the low light of your bedroom… it probably wouldn’t survive very well. Think of your relationships in the same way. A previous partner may not have needed what your current partner needs. Tune into that when learning your partner’s love language and when communicating yours. Someone who truly loves you will make every effort to speak your love language. You should do the same for them. Love people the way they need to be loved consistently. Make every effort to learn them, understand them, and speak their love language. This will greatly improve the quality of your relationships. Take the love language quiz to find out yours! For more information, you can find Ibbie on Instagram, follow her on Facebook, connect with her on LinkedIn, and watch her on YouTube! Read more from Ibbie! Ibbie Aromolaran, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Known for her unique, time-saving, efficient & fun approach to dating, Ibbie Aromolaran has a passion for guiding and empowering ambitious women to create the love lives of their dreams. As a Mental Health Therapist turned Certified Dating Coach, she is deeply dedicated to helping women uncover their deep-rooted barriers to successful dating and build new, effective habits from the ground up through her high-end, 4-phase program that helps women learn to date like pros and create meaningful connections within 12 weeks! Ibbie has a certification in dating & relationship coaching, a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and is currently in her doctoral program studying social psychology and the science of human interactions. All in all, she is keenly interested in sharing her knowledge about how humans can best connect with one another.

Written by: Tina Collura, 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 the new year begins, many people start by setting resolutions for themselves only to find that they slide back into that comfort zone within a few weeks or months (sometimes even days!). The resolutions are quickly forgotten or pushed aside. This year let’s do something a bit different. The Comfort Zone Are you stuck in your comfort zone? It is an easy thing to do. After all, your comfort zone is well… comfortable. It’s safe, calm, and cozy, and there is never that feeling of being out of control. Unfortunately, it is also a place where you can be stagnant. You don’t learn and grow in your comfort zone and therefore can end up limiting yourself and stifling your potential. I want you to start by identifying the three things that you want to change in 2021. They could be about anything. Perhaps you want to start having a healthier lifestyle, or you are looking to change careers. Maybe it’s that you want to start having a better work/life balance or better relationships. Whatever it is, I want you to ask the following questions and write down the answers. Will moving outside of your comfort zone add value to your life or those around you? Why do you want to move outside of your comfort zone? Is it for you, or is it because of outside influences? Are you ready to commit to your plan and give it 110%? Are you ready to commit to the actions needed to succeed? Will being successful in your goal make you genuinely happy? Were those easy to answer? If you are ready to commit to this new goal, the answer is probably yes. Perhaps it’s been yes for years, though. So, what stopped you? Was it a four-letter word that starts with ‘F’? I mean fear, of course. The Fear Zone As you think about moving out of your comfort zone and going along a new path, what fears do you feel are holding you back? Some common ones are a fear of failure and not being good enough. Some people have fears about what others will think and if they will be viewed as an imposter. Perhaps it’s the risk of losing control or having the security of the status quo. Do any of those resonate with you? Is it something else? So, how do you work past these fears? My first recommendation is to start small as this will help gain your confidence about being outside of that comfort zone. Here are 9 steps for you to take which will help you succeed with your larger goals. 1. Switch Up Your Routine For example, try a different route if you are out driving or walking instead of going the same way you normally go. Another example is changing up your morning routine. If you have a routine that has become a habit, see if you can change one small thing. This will help you become more adaptable. 2. Move Towards Fear This one sounds scary, doesn’t it? I want you to try something that you are afraid of. Perhaps it’s cooking a new recipe or going for a ten-minute walk by yourself. The main thing is that I want you to try something that makes you a bit uncomfortable. One of the things I encourage my clients to do is called 10 for 10. In it, I want them to try ten new things for ten days (or weeks or months) This will help you become more comfortable with vulnerability. 3. Give up Control of Something Are you a bit of a control freak? Start by letting go of something small. This will help free you from needless worries and allow you to focus on what is important…. Like yourself! 4. Try Something New Until You're Comfortable Repetition is key here. For example, maybe you want to start your morning with some stretching or deep breathing techniques, but you feel awkward and unsure of what you are doing. Don’t stop! If you keep doing it, you will gain more and more confidence. 5. Ask Questions By asking questions, you ‘arm’ yourself with knowledge that will help not only your confidence but can often lead you to your greatest ideas and insights. 6. Start Conversations with strangers I know this can be incredibly challenging for introverts or very shy people, but it’s a great way to get comfortable with public speaking and let your voice be heard. By starting a random conversation with someone while waiting in line or walking in a park can be great first steps. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation… you can even start by saying ‘hi.’ 7. Say Yes When You Normally Would Say No That sounds strange, doesn’t it? I want you to agree to something you would normally say no to in the past. It’s time to stretch your boundaries a bit. 8. Appreciate Those Around You Take the time to appreciate (and show appreciation) for those around you. Taking that moment to remember the good in your life, whether it be people or things, can help you realize that beauty, love, and support surround you. 9. Get in Front of a Camera It’s time to stop hiding and be seen. I remember when Covid-19 lockdown measures went into place here in Ontario. I had committed that year to focus on the growth of my coaching business, but how was I going to do this with these new restrictions? It seems so obvious in hindsight, but at the time, I was terrified about going virtual and doing videos. I will be honest, those first couple of videos I did were a bit awkward, and barely anyone watched them. The main thing is that I had tried, and even though I wasn’t happy with the results, I kept at it. And guess what? I got better! I was more comfortable and got to the point where I was excited to do them. I moved from recorded videos to live videos to have a better connection with the people watching and answer the questions as they came up. With that increase in energy and confidence, my viewers grew as well! By moving yourself out of the Comfort Zone and through the Fear Zone, you will now be able to enter the Learning and Growing Zone. Turn your vision into your reality by doing the following three things: Get Visual – Create a Vision Board to help you visualize and gain clarity on what your goals are. Break down your action plan into small achievable steps (which is actually my superpower!) and celebrate those wins! Build a support system with the people around you! We all need to hear encouragement from time to time, so find at least one person who will cheer you on. If you are interested in working with me directly to help you create a plan and move it into action, please contact me at tina@seeyourselfgrow.com . I would love to hear from you and help you in your path to success! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn ! Tina Collura, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tina Collura helps highly motivate and self-driven people who are struggling with working long hours, missing out on precious moments with their families and who are always putting themselves last regain 12 days a year! She helps these people take back their lives, make their visions a reality with a detailed and customized action plan that will start getting them results in less than 30 days! Tina's is the Founder and CEO of the "See Yourself Grow" Coaching Company established in 2009. She has been a successful coach since 2005! Certified with the Quantum Success Coaching Academy. Tina was just named as one of the 500 people featured on the Brainz Magazine 500 Global list of 2020, for her outstanding Entrepreneurial Work and Coaching Processes!

Written by: Julie Miller Davis, 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. Well, it's here! We've all been waiting for it for months. It's finally 2021! Everyone has been talking about how they cannot wait for the new year and for things to get back to "normal" or to get going. Well, I hate to tell you this, but "normal" will not be here for a very long time—maybe never. So much has changed that our businesses and the way we do business will never be the same again. There is no waiting. There is only moving forward. So what will you do to ensure success in this coming year? The first thing, as in any year, is still to goal set. Let's start there. At JMD Productivity, we have some big goals this year, as should you! I had THREE of my clients break 6 figures for the first time ever, and all were limited in what they could do in the year of Covid. So, now they are looking at how they can continue to grow in 2021 when things change again. For me, I have my big revenue and number of people served goal. But, as you know, you have to break that down into smaller chunks. How will it happen? Here, I'd like to give you five tips for setting and reaching your goals this year. 1. REVIEW THE LAST YEAR. Yes, we must look back to look forward! What worked? What didn't? What changed (everything!)? What did you learn (a LOT)? For me, I was thankful that I had moved most of my business online already. However, I learned more from my clients about serving them better on that platform, and I am making changes for that to happen. As you know, I also figured out how to run my event in a hybrid format, which is here to stay! I also know what NOT to do for my event and my clients, and I know to keep growing some things in my marketing much change. 2. SET YOUR BIG GOAL . I know many of you are resistant to S.M.A.R.T. goals, but they are so important! Don't say that you want to serve more people. How many more? In what way? Your goal MUST be specific and measurable. If it's not, you'll have a difficult time knowing if you're on track or if it needs to be tweaked during the year. 3. BREAK IT DOWN. The is the HOW. How will you reach it? I had a client who recently told me she wanted to serve 2 to 4 new clients a week this year on average. When I asked her the revenue goal, she couldn't really tell me because each client could sign up for a different bundle. We went further and looked at where she made the most revenue and the level where she signed up the most clients. All of a sudden, she could create a revenue goal. She wants 2 of X clients and 3 of Y clients each week. This makes all the difference in the actions she will take in any given week. 4. GET ACCOUNTABLE. Seriously. Let someone--a coach, a colleague, and mentor, your group, know your goals and how you intend to make them a reality. DO NOT JUST TELL A FRIEND. Goals should be shared not just with a great cheerleader but with someone who will ask you how it's going and then give you TOUGH LOVE if you're not doing your part. Friends are too forgiving and often don't understand business or YOUR business. Get serious about this accountability thing. I have an accountability partner for this year who is in a coaching program and mastermind with me. We are meeting two times a month and checking in. Our meetings will help us take action and help us get the most out of the dollars we have invested to be in this program. 5. GET INTO ACTION. This, of course, is the biggest thing you can do to reach your goals. One of the foundational pieces I teach in my programs is what you are going to DO. We spend so much time thinking about things and wishing for things and hoping for things that we never get into ACTION. So what are you going to DO to reach these goals of yours? And WHEN are you going to do it? How often will you do these things? AND, if it isn't working or didn't work in the past, what will you do differently? There is NO BLAMING allowed--take control and take action. Mostly, what I recommend is that you go ahead and set the goals—don’t shy away from them! You can always adjust and recalibrate (I suggest you do!) throughout the year. We must continue to look ahead to what is possible and start forging our way. I’m right here with you. Please know that! To start getting things done, you may want to start HERE with my Daily Productivity Planner. Enjoying my BLOG? Be sure to like me on Facebook and follow me on Instagram for more information! Julie Miller Davis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine A driven entrepreneur serving others by helping them reach their goals, Julie Miller Davis works with business owners and leaders to reset their productivity patterns, become more efficient, and bust through roadblocks to reach their goals with excellence. An award-winning coach and trainer, Julie has led and developed highly successful teams, helped hundreds escalate their own businesses and achieve goals they may never have thought possible. Her superpower of out-of-the-box thinking uncovers new ways to solve business stagnation, resulting in growth and propelling her clients into new and exciting directions.

Written by: Kiesha King-Brown, 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. Having tangible goals and evidence of traction relative to timelines and vision is even more important for small businesses than large corporations. A solid strategy gives clarity to prioritization, is necessary to get investor partnership, and helps make a case for a higher valuation. Yet, small businesses are much less likely to have a formal strategy in place. Strategy in day-to-day business life as we traditionally know it enables the path to success. It can also ensure that small businesses are focused on the right tasks that align with the actual business lifecycle stage they are in and where they may be headed. In the Seed or Development stage, business strategy is about business planning, ensuring market need, and determining business structure. The Start-Up stage prioritizes client relationships, processes, value proposition, establishing KPIs, and other key strategic aspects. Growth Stage strategy includes focusing on what sells best, core business areas, and streamlining operations. Expansion strategy is about gaining market share, and strategy in the Maturity stage determines expansion or exit once cash flow becomes negative. Strategy reflective of the correct business stage, in the correct timing, keeps small businesses on purpose, so they don’t become one of the 50% that don’t make it past year 5. Strategy in the midst of uncertainty and economic disruption serves a dual purpose. It provides guidance for success in the form of survival. And it shields business owners and leaders from many of the distractions that could significantly cause the business to digress. It allows small businesses to focus on strategic direction and goals coupled with contingency plans, experience, and partnership. And oh, by the way, it minimizes panic and stress, improving efficiency in challenging times. Businesses must have a foundational strategy that is agile to meet changing circumstances and customer expectations. Thus, the strategy shifts from blueprint…to direction in the form of guidance. There are key things to keep in mind in times of challenge relative to strategy. Focus on what you can impact: 1. Understand what can be transitioned to an online experience 2. Innovate how the experience can be more engaging online and more experiential 3. Decide what tactics could be used to increase sales based on changing customer needs 4. Increase personal connection with customers in-person and online through- Social Media Live Chats and Events, Webinars, Social Media In-Person Events Follow Up Communication 5. Revisit/Find ways to Improve marketing strategy Localize market research Assess execution against current customer expectations 6. Lean into Digital Transformation Increase Speed, Improve Interaction 7. Increase level of Data Analysis and Application from Contact Forms, CRM, etc. Determine who has valid interest Assess who is ready to buy now Eliminate Bots 8. Implement a Lead Nurturing Process to develop strategic messaging that initiates and sustains relationships with your Brand 9. Invest in technology that will improve productivity and help differentiate you from the competition to help acquire additional customers and loyalty 10. Be more routine about understanding what the competition is doing from all aspects around the customer 11. Have a list of internal and external business partners designated as ‘think tank’ partners that can help you innovate ways to adjust to changing environments and continue to generate income with less staff, virtually, with supplier issues, with reduced hours, etc. 12. Partner with a big company and some of its freelancers or contract workers in advance in case you need contingency resources Make strategy a priority and constant necessity so that as circumstances vary, your business shifts from blueprint to directional guidance vs. success to survival. Differentiated Consulting helps Retail and Small Businesses pivot strategically for continued success. Kiesha King-Brown is also COO of iDue Systems, who helps small business owners take the guesswork out of each step of the Life Cycle stages with its intelligent digital coaching solution PillarFive.com. For more info, follow Kiesha on Facebook, LinkedIn and visit her website! Read more from Kiesha! Kiesha King-Brown, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kiesha King-Brown is an experienced Business Executive that partners to help small business owners accelerate growth with strategic, AI-enhanced consulting to spend more time working on the business than in the business and spend more time doing the things they enjoy. She has an MBA in Management, BSBA in Marketing, and holds certifications in Consulting and Executive Coaching. She draws her inspiration from 20 years of experience at Fortune 200 companies in Executive Leadership and HR positions helping leaders build strategies, enhance development, and grow their business. Kiesha is the author of "Differentiated Leadership," an Advisory Board Member for a Talent Management SaaS company, and Chief Relationship Development Officer for a Business Development SaaS company.

Felicia Shanken is a Women Strategist and Builder. She is the Founder/CEO of the Philadelphia Women's Network Connection, LLC and PWNC Foundation 501(c)(3). PWNC is about helping local businesswomen build their business, connect with like-minded individuals and benefit from shared resources. The Foundation is committed to helping women growing a business as a solo entrepreneur transition from a full-time or part-time job to full-time entrepreneurship. Felicia has also been recognized and honored by "Fun Times Magazine" in their March/April 2020 edition for being "2020 Philadelphia Who's Who Black Women of Influence". Felicia had the opportunity in September 2019 to have her own show on RVNTV, a digital television platform called "Power Up Your Passion," where she brings guests on to talk about their passion in life and how it lead to where they are now. Felicia was raised in Queens, New York. She moved to Philadelphia over 20 years ago, where she met her husband, Paul, a native Philadelphian. They live in the Fairmont area of Center City Philadelphia. Who is Felicia Shanken? Hello everyone, I’m Felicia Shanken. I was born in Washington DC and grew up in Queens, New York, and yes, no matter where I live, I will always be a New Yorker. I have four brothers, no sisters, lots of nieces, nephews, and cousins. My family stretches from Washington DC down through North and South Carolina. I come from a medical background of over 25 years, where I started in radiology and went back to school at Gwynedd Mercy University for my nursing degree nearly 6 1/2 years ago. I worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs in Philadelphia until I decided to “fire them” more than three years ago to pursue full-time entrepreneurship. It was the BEST decision I ever made in my life! For over 20 years, I now live in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, where I met my soulmate. My husband, Paul, and I have been together 16 years and married for 11 of those. We don’t have children, but we do have an adopted rescue pittie mix whom we adore. Maximus is turning 10 this year, we believe. So, who is Felicia Shanken? A woman who decided to go for it and not settle for what life has thrown her. Did you have a role model growing up in your home who was an Entrepreneur? Believe it or not, no. I was raised in a single-parent home. My father was around but not very active in my life. My grandmother raised me. She worked every day until she retired. I would watch her go to work daily, whether she wanted to or not, to make sure that I had everything I needed to thrive in society. I knew I didn’t want a life of working a job every day and answering to someone else. I wasn’t going to build someone else’s dreams while mine wasted away. I always had some type of side business for as long as I can remember, when I did have a job. I was involved in services from vending machines to multiple multi-level-marketing businesses such as Avon, Herbalife, and Tupperware. You get the picture, and I guess you can say I was finding my niche. How did Philadelphia Women’s Network Connection come about? I was going to networking events in Philadelphia and its suburbs and felt something was missing. I felt unfulfilled when I left the events. I would get other people’s business cards, and to be honest, there may have been follow-up or not on my part. One day in December 2018, while drinking tea in a Panera Bread, I had a thought, vision, divine intervention, or whatever you want to call it of forming a women’s network organization. Here’s the kicker, I never ran a women’s business group before, and I certainly didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to organize different events, with a guest speaker at each one providing us with content we could apply to our businesses immediately to help us grow. I wanted fashion shows, health and beauty days, women’s specific issues in the business world, and so on. I wanted my events to be fun, where women could come together whether they were dressed in a $2,000 outfit or a comfortable pair of jeans that cost $15. In other words, no judgments, no drama, no competition. Simply, women coming together networking, collaborating, enjoying each other’s company, and leaving with great content. I had no idea that PWNC would turn out to be what it is today. I started with a vision, and now I am being interviewed by an international magazine almost 3 years later. What a blessing this journey has been. What is it that you do for the PWNC community? It’s funny you ask that. My family asks me all the time, “what is it that you actually do?” I always laugh because I say to myself, if I told you, would you remember? So, here goes. I am a women strategist and business builder. I am the founder and CEO of the Philadelphia Women’s Network Connection, LLC and non-profit PWNC Foundation, Inc. My team and I strategize with women business owners by identifying their strengths. We build quality connections and share resources that will get excellent and proven results in their business. We do this through workshops, seminars, events, business building courses, and so on. We have a paid membership in PWNC for those who are more serious about growing their business while taking it to the next level. We work exclusively with these members to help them reach their goals, whether it’s marketing, sales, getting out of their comfort zone, or workshops that are crucial to building their business. I always inform my members when they join that “80% is their responsibility and 20% is PWNC’s if they want to be successful.” We can help them build their business, but they have to put in the work and make the commitment. I always say, “I can give you the plate of food, but it’s up to you to eat the meal.” Who should hire/work with you? Women entrepreneurs, small business owners, and solo entrepreneurs from all over the world who are looking to grow their business. Speakers who are motivational and those who have great content on building small businesses. I am not saying that men cannot work with us. They, too, are encouraged to come to our events, workshops, and business-building classes. We surely need and welcome their support too. Before COVID-19 hit last year, PWNC collaborated with some other organizations and planned a huge men’s summit. The event was specifically planned for men and their concerns. We had male speakers scheduled to discuss hot takes on mental health, sexual abuse, wellness, and everything in between. The all-day summit was planned for men to come together, celebrate, network, and just enjoy the benefits of brotherhood. Women were not encouraged to attend. However, if the men’s partners wanted to come, they were welcome to do so. PWNC is planning to reschedule the men’s summit for Fall 2021. PWNC has a track record of success, and I am happy to say. We are very proud of growing our organization in less than 3 years while being recognized for our accomplishments. I have been recognized by Fun Times magazine as a “2020 Philadelphia Who’s Who Black Women of Influence” and by Brainz magazine as a “500 Global Small Business” award recipient. Again, a huge THANK YOU to Brainz magazine. Also, I recently became a “Grow with Google Community Partner,” a huge win and honor for us. Everyone knows that Google, which also owns YouTube, dominates the digital world. Lastly, we are also a DWEN (Dell Women Entrepreneur Network) member. The benefits of this network group are amazing, to say the least. We have the honor of networking and collaborating with women from all over the world who own businesses. We are taking it all in and enjoying the moment. Hard work does eventually pay off, and people do notice! What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? My biggest goal is to continue building PWNC to its highest level yet. I want to leave a legacy and plan on being here into the next decade. I am a very young baby boomer now, so only God can answer that question. I would like to see thousands of paid members, community members, corporate sponsors, and PWNC being able to offer more community grants to our small business entrepreneurs, business owners, and solo entrepreneurs. Through our PWNC Foundation, I want to offer more to women looking to transition from full- and part-time jobs to full-time entrepreneurship the opportunities they need. I would love to see PWNC collaborate with more global companies that align with our mission. I want to know that I made a difference in someone's life. Because of PWNC, they decided not to quit, to go after their dreams, to want more out of life, not to settle, and to make an impact in the world. Most of all, I want them to remember that no matter where you come from, look like or what your highest level of education is, if you stay focused, dedicate your life to your dreams, then you will be successful. It happened for me, and it can happen for them. The only difference between them and me? I simply made a DECISION! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website! Read more from Felicia!

Written by: Melia Diana, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. We are called to live the good life. Find our purpose. Make others happy. Push through the difficulties. Whatever it is…we have to want more for ourselves and the life we live. There comes a point in your life where you walk away from mediocracy. When you walk away from all the drama and the people that cause it. Dispose of the petty things that don’t bring peace to your soul. Instead, you crave deeper, more intimate relationships with people who actually show up. Friends who encourage, inspire, and uplift…not tear down, ignore or belittle. Surround yourself with solid people you can always count on. Ignore the world’s instant gratification techniques. Ignore the quick fix illusions that society claims. Stepping out in the unknown…we must come to terms with a few things. It’s a long progression. Longer than you would desire. We don’t always know the next step. You will make mistakes. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone is going to embrace your mission. Be content in your calling. Some will take offense no matter how loving you deliver a message. Some will be envious but have no idea the hardships you pushed through to get to your destination. Honestly, some people will dismiss you because your light hurts their darkness. "Honestly, some people will dismiss you because your light hurts their darkness." I’ve come to terms with myself that my fulfillment and joy comes from God- not people. After all, we are supposed to be God pleasers, not people pleasers. “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Galatians 1:10 NLT). God wants our security to be in Him; not material possessions, standard worldly ways, or external objects. My identity is in Christ and not what others claim. Naturally, there will be haters because the devil is the ruler of the world (See John 4:4). Don’t give up! Know who you are in Christ. You might be the only glimpse of the Bible others see. Be the source of light this world desperately needs. As we walk boldly in our calling, we do it afraid. Here's the kicker; it takes time, patience and persistence. God is not your personal genie. Full completion is when He thinks you’re ready to handle a much bigger step. We advance on His timing and not our own. The waiting to see the fruits of our labor can be quite overwhelming and unbearable at times. Stepping into your purpose with cause hardships. Patience is suffering. The enemy will attack. Investing in yourself is necessary to grow, learn, and achieve success. "Walk courageously in your calling" Be content where you are at today. Breath. Rest. Look how far you have come! Step by step, little by little, we are Gods’ soldiers out on a radical mission. To fulfill a Gods given gift. To help others with our unique stories. To give hope in a time of great need. Walk courageously in your calling. Do it for God. People want integrity, honesty, and sincerity, not carved copy images of someone else. False ambassadors will not prosper. Stay in your own lane, my friends. Stay focused on your calling, not someone else’s. Keep your eyes focused on Christ and walk courageously in your calling! Check out my new book on Amazon Blessings xo, Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and check out my website and YouTube-channel! Read more from Melia! Melia Diana, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melia is an International Best-Selling Author, Certified Christian Counselor, Speaker, and Relationship & Dating Coach; specializing in inner healing transformation. She has spent over 14 years in medical & fitness field, as a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and Certified ACSM Personal Trainer helping people through her passion to deliver attainable and solid goals. But it doesn’t stop there! Melia’s extensive certifications and background led her to utilize her faith, knowledge, experience and personal development to brand and design her own Signature Coaching Programs. She developed a unique methodology to help clarify the missing links and identify core root problems hindering God’s best. She takes women through a one-on-one transformational healing journey, guided by the Holy Spirit, for restoration of their hurting souls and removal of toxic wound patterns. With a godly approach, she helps Christian women to break all barriers and have loving relationships they’ve always desired. She is faith-based author of Vertical Relationship: 4 Steps To Salvation & Getting Right With God and International Best-Seller of Overcomer: Redeemed Masterpiece, where she wrote “7 Keys To Finally Have a Godly Man.” God’s mission for Melia, is helping lost souls find true healing to cultivate fruitful relationships. With her God given gifts, Melia just wants to sincerely help others heal through the love of Jesus Christ. Her empathetic approach encourages and inspires others for growth, wisdom, and a stronger mindset for a more abundant, peaceful & fruitful life.

Rachel Marie Paling is an International Game Changer in Education, in particular, the education of languages. She has created the method and approach Neurolanguage Coaching, which incorporates professional coaching and principles of neuroscience into the learning process. She coaches and trains teachers worldwide, transforming them into certified and ICF accredited Neurolanguage coaches and has created the Neurolanguage Coach network with over 800 NL Coaches in just over 70 countries worldwide and is now bringing the approach to schools and institutions over the world through her licensed trainers and in nine languages. Who is Rachel? You know that’s quite an interesting question. At this point in my life, I am tempted to answer that I am the sum total of all the parts that I have been through my life, but that now they are fully integrated into the real, genuine me. Over the last 10 years, I have been working so much on developing my training programs which encompass coaching and neuroscience and this has really given me a lot of insights about myself, my life, my experiences and also how my brain, if I can say it like this, really operates. So, at this point in my life as a mature woman, I would say that I am a very calm, peaceful, in love with life, passioned by my work, happy person. Over the last six years, I have really learned to live every day to the full, to have more focus and attention on the things that really matter in life and to be equanimous and positive. My life experiences gave me the gift of traveling as well as living in various countries, which facilitated the learning of many languages, but also the opportunity to experience other cultures, other ways of thinking and other ways of being. I wouldn’t change a single thing from my life. In fact, I would even go back and relive every single moment, because now finally I can fully understand that everything that I have done has contributed to what I am doing now. Without that pathway, I wouldn’t be here today. I was born in England but I left at a very young age and consider myself to be a European, having lived in Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland. Last year I came full circle back to live in Spain. I’m absolutely loving living next to the Mediterranean again, in the countryside, next to one of the best wine regions of Spain called Priorat. I adore the hot weather. I love traveling. Freedom is extremely important for me, but I must confess that over the last year I quite enjoyed staying at home in the countryside, being able to get into my car at any time and go to my paddle board at the beach then going out on the sea for moments of absolute bliss and tranquility. Paddleboarding has become part of my life as well as meditation. What is it that you do? Well, I have created a new method and approach to learning languages called Neurolanguage coaching, which combines principles plus the structure and standards from professional coaching together with the principles of neuroscience, namely how the brain likes to learn and how the brain reacts when learning. I crystallized the method in 2012, creating a training program for language teachers that carries the accreditation of the International Coaching Federation in the US. It is one of the only language teacher training courses worldwide to carry such an accreditation. Over these past eight years, just over 800 language trainers have become Neurolanguage coaches. They form a network across the globe in over 70 countries with all different language combinations. In the last two years, I have also trained 24 of my professional neurolanguage coaches to become teacher trainers of my course. They are now delivering the course in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Slovakian, Polish, Arabic, and Portuguese. The whole approach is quite transformational for both the coach and the learner. In addition, we offer another course, also accredited by the ICF, called Neurolanguage Communication, which is for teachers of any discipline. The essence of everything that we are doing is to really change the way that teachers teach and help them to deliver learning in a much more brain-friendly, curiosity arousing, enjoyable way. Through the years that I was developing this concept, it really was extremely tough at times. There were many ups and downs. I did everything by myself without any financial backing and as a pioneer of something totally new I often encountered resistance and negativity, but there was one thing that really kept me going and that was the vision that through this work I would one day create an educational foundation that would really make a difference. That one day dawned last December 2020 when my business partner Gary Houlton and I signed the constitutional document of the Neuroheart Education Foundation. As you can imagine, it was an extremely emotional day for me. We will be officially launching on February 14th this year 2021, the day my grandfather celebrated his birthday and the most heartfelt day of the year for all of us, all over the world. What will the Foundation focus on? My vision is that there will be two major focus points: the first will be to train teachers not only into the neurolanguage approach but also into other innovative topics such as meditation, yoga, nature, neuroscience, heart science, entrepreneurship. By training teachers into such topics they can then bring these into their schools and educational systems. The second focus will be the creation of a homeschooling program for children, whose parents cannot afford the schooling system. Moreover, a remote schooling program for villages or areas that need creative and innovative ideas to bring education to groups of children there. The foundation will be seeking to raise funds so that the trainers, teachers and coaches who are delivering the training courses will in fact be paid, whereas the teachers or the children receiving the training will receive it for free. I do think it will be a unique concept for the world. Furthermore, I believe it will be a way of shifting education and teaching into a more holistic 21st-century approach. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? At the moment, my big goal is to see the foundation flourishing, and delivering its programs and training globally. At this point in my life, I am extremely happy with the basics and with simple countryside living. Nevertheless, it is really important for me to live as a social entrepreneur, maybe even as a model for others to follow so that they too can create other social institutions that could help move humanity forwards into a different way of working and living. When I see myself in ten years, I can imagine that I will be working just as much and loving it just as much. I can imagine that I will be traveling, discovering new places, new cultures and, of course, learning new languages, as well as constantly innovating and creating. In other words, I want to live and experience the concept of neuroplasticity daily as a citizen of the world, paddleboarding whenever I get the chance in places I had never dreamed of, appreciating the beauty of our planet, and absolutely living life to the full. The NeuroHeart education foundation will be launched on the 14.02.2021. Our websites will soon unveil the way forward of the foundation. www.neurohearteducationfoundation.com For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit our website! Read more from Rachel!

Marilda walked away from a successful 20-year career as Senior Project Manager, as, for many years, she felt unfulfilled: she was continuously struggling to juggle career and family. And eventually found herself drained and depressed. Marilda massively changed her life in 2019 when she realized that developing a new set of skills in the current economy is a must. And here is why: over $2.5 trillion per year is being spent on retail purchases online and, over the last few months, there's been a 25% increase in online sales. By leveraging the digital skills, Marilda created her own business - Living My Digital Life - and reached a whole new level of work-life balance. This shift would not have been possible for Marilda if she had not discovered the power of affiliate marketing. She is now the owner of her time and can build her career around the family (not a life arranged around the job as it used to be). Her mission is to empower other women to stand up for themselves and make the same shift. Hence Marilda offers a program that walks you through specific steps to learn the skills you need to create a profitable online business from scratch. Who is Marilda? I consider myself a woman who has awakened from a long “dream-hibernation”! We, women, are a bit like that... eternal dreamers. We struggle to take care of the children, work, and more work, housework, cooking, grocery shopping, the list is endless every day. And we live in a daydreaming mode, wishing we had a magic wand to accomplish everything in a few seconds. We want to have Wonder Woman's powers to be perfect all the time. I used to be like that until the day I woke up and realized I was completely disconnected from reality. My real-life did not align with my dream life, and this resulted in constant unhappiness. After decades of juggling career and family and finding myself stressed, depressed, and exhausted, I decided to call it quits, and I reinvented myself. From hibernation to awakening, passing through all the stages of the problematic acquisition of awareness and a profound transformation. I am the mother of twin boys, I am Italian, but I now live in Malta with my family, which has further expanded by adopting two beautiful cats rescued from the street in miserable conditions. I graduated in Italy and then got a degree at Peking University, where I improved my Chinese language knowledge. I worked for 20 years as a Project Manager for a renowned translation company. And today, I am a digital marketer and affiliate marketer, and founder of Living My Digital Life. What is it that you do for your clients? I don’t call them “clients” but companions or beautiful souls, people who have decided to embark on a path of transformation to find their own way in this world, business-wise and life-wise. They are people who want to free themselves from social conditioning that pushes us to work like mice on a wheel and traps us in a working model that is not fulfilling. I help people, especially women, reinvent themselves in the digital economy, which offers tremendous possibilities. Yet, people don't know about them and don’t take advantage of this vast opportunity. I help them understand the best options available and start shifting from the traditional economy into the digital economy. What do you offer? Help, guidance, and above all, a course that serves people to position themselves effectively on the online landscape. People are terrified of moving into the digital economy (despite realizing that the traditional economy is dying) because they don't know it. The course makes sense as it speeds up the practical learning: it is a selection of techniques, tools, strategies, and detailed application. There is currently a massive gap between those who have the skills to work online and those who are just starting: the course fills this gap quickly and effectively. More and more people are losing their jobs and realize that the only way to thrive is to move into the digital economy, but they don't know where to start from and can't afford to get lost in the thousands of information found on the web. They get lost, frustrated, and give up, falling back into the spiral of precarious or low jobs. That is why they look for a course to get out of digital illiteracy. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? My goal is to serve women, helping them take their place in this area, close the gap with men, and ultimately fulfill themselves in their working and personal lives without ever giving up their role as mothers (or their dreams). Too often, women are forced to choose between working or having children, or, if they choose both, they are trapped in the constant and exhausting struggle to juggle career and family. It is anachronistic, and the digital economy offers the possibility to escape this trap. Where do I see myself in 10 years? At the center of a community of empowered women who can change this society and the planet's fate. Yes, I am still a big dreamer!... What’s your biggest regret? Not having started earlier. I have spent the last ten years of my life chasing time every day. And always losing the battle against time, because you know, if you chase time, you are always late... The most recurrent phrase I have told my children is "Hurry up; we're going to be late!". By living this way, I have missed so many opportunities to live in the moment and enjoy the little beautiful things. For example, a funny face, a playful expression, a game, a discovery, and those moments never come back, because children grow up fast and don't stay with us forever! You changed your life drastically; what have you gained? Flexibility, which means the ownership of my time. I can organize my work according to my needs and those of the family. I follow a detailed plan and focus on priorities when my children are at school; thus, I am very productive. I start my day early; I am self-disciplined and apply various techniques to complete each task effectively. This way, I have plenty of time for myself and my family. Freedom: I don't have to prove anything anymore. I'm not stuck in a 9-to-5 corporate job, and I don't have to please my boss or colleagues. I work and study (because I continue to educate myself in this area) according to the principle of achieving results, so I don't count the hours worked but the goals achieved. I can experiment with new strategies and techniques; I make mistakes and learn not to make the same mistakes again without explaining myself to anyone. Spirituality. I learned to live mindfully and be present in the moment. On this 'transformation journey,' I started to go within and listen to my soul, which, for so many years, had been screaming its needs and desires, but I couldn't hear, caught up as I was in the struggle to balance work and family. Happiness. I was suffocating in sadness and depression, without even realizing it... as I was working long hours in the office and I was away from my kids. I couldn't spend quality time with my family (not to mention me-time). I used to live looking forward to the weekend, but you know the weekend flies by, and you then the Monday Blues hits. Now I’ve finally learned to balance things differently, in a smarter way, and, as a result, I started to live with more serenity, which gives me energy, motivation, and joy. What is it that you plan to do with your life? I intend to live authentically. I want to live to the fullest; this is the reason why I wanted to stop juggling career&family so firmly. That working model was stealing my time and energy and was preventing me from LIVING. Survival and living are two different things: most people, especially women, survive—no joy, no reward, no fulfillment, just dreams that remain empty hopes. Why do you work with women? In my corporate career, I visited many companies (as a senior project manager, I was on the first line with customers). I observed that most of them were male-dominated environments. I also noticed that whenever a woman landed a promotion, she could powerfully inspire more women to move up the career ladder and create beneficial outcomes for both male and female employees. The office was more inclusive and balanced. However, I also know that these are exceptions: most women are struggling, earn less than men for the same role, work harder, still don't get promotions, and are also in charge of taking care of kids. Motherhood is still considered a penalty. When I changed my career and moved into an online business, I saw that there are so many opportunities for women to build a profitable business and, most importantly, achieve a whole new level of work and family balance. The issue is that women are scared and need guidance to make the shift, so I started to empower and inspire women to find the courage to reinvent themselves by showing them that the change is possible and necessary. What are your top three tips for getting started? It is difficult to choose just these three tips, but these are probably the most important ones because people never consider them, yet they are the foundations of our "why." And without meaningful 'whys,' it is difficult to move forward (in any direction). 1. Take responsibility for your choices. 'We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.' I love this quote by Confucius; it's so true. We cannot waste our life by merely surviving and complaining all the time and feeling unhappy or unfulfilled. It doesn't make sense at all! We have responsibilities for ourselves, our kids, and this planet. We have to make choices mindfully, and we have to be accountable for these choices so that we may never regret having wasted our lives when we have no more days to add. When we understand this, then the second life starts. 2. Look inside and decide what matters the most and what you want to achieve. This is when our “whys” come into play. To position yourself in the online market, you need to know your vision, values, intentions, and purposes. Otherwise, your steps will be unsteady and your message ineffective. Easier said than done…that’s why you need to embark on a journey to rediscover and empower yourself. Go within. 3. Meet like-minded people, and take action. To go through this transformation, getting in touch with a community of like-minded people is crucial. You need to talk, share, see, feel, and ultimately meet people on the same journey; those people will support you anytime to face your fears and take action to move forward. Nothing is going to happen if you don't take action. Procrastination is the number one cause of failures in the digital market; that's why you need somebody to push you and hold your back. What’s the best option to start an online business? There are many options and possibilities, but I always advise to start from Affiliate Marketing, which is the same path I chose. Affiliate Marketing is low risk because it requires a little investment and time, and I know how precious time is for working moms. When you start this business, you sell products from other companies and get a commission; the great thing is that you don't need an office, or a warehouse, or an accountant. You can start just one or two hours a day, alongside your job, and when the income stream is steady and continuous, then you can quit your job and focus on this primarily. As an affiliate, you can sell an unlimited number of products; you don't need to buy any of the products you sell; you only need to learn how to promote them, but obviously, you want to choose the ones you like best or feel comfortable. Once the promotional campaign is set up, possible sales take place 24/7. This way, you can spend your time with your children or dedicate time to yourself while your business continues in the background. Your office may be the SPA if you want, so… There are other options, of course, it depends on your skills and desires. Maybe you want to go to E-commerce, or you can join Amazon FBA, for example. Amazon FBA will do the heavy work: customer payments, packaging, distribution, and customer service. What you have to do is prepare marketing and advertising campaigns and sell the products. There are so many options that people don't even believe. That's why the course is helpful: it speeds up choice and practical learning. Follow Marilda on Instagram, find her on Facebook, or visit her website to learn more about the programs. Read more from Marilda!

Written by: Susan Watson, 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. At some point in our life, every one of us will experience a loss that is so great, and our hearts seem to break. A loss can be many different things — death, broken dreams, divorce, job loss, and more. There are no rules around a broken heart. Whatever we love and have become attached to place us in a state of vulnerability to heartache. Today, I briefly want to touch on grief and healing. Every person needs to know that no matter what you feel and think right now — mending your heart, finding hope and meaning in the future — it is possible, even if it feels impossible at this moment. Please know your grief is real and unique to you. No one will feel the loss and grief the same way as you do. Grief is personal, and it is what you feel and think. It is what takes place inside you. I wouldn't ask anyone who is grieving not to feel what they have inside. I wouldn't tell them to hide it from the world. Your grief is real, and it deserves to be acknowledged. Allow yourself to spend time with your thoughts and feelings. Express this outwards. Do not hide it, mask it or pretend it doesn’t exist. This is a special and important message as all our instincts scream at us — it is too much, too much for us to bear. This is a terrible pain, and we may instinctively wish to deny it or hide it from the world. After the initial shock and numbness of grief wears off, the healing can start its journey by several steps — acknowledging that your heart is broken and you are feeling pain, and acknowledging healing is required, and the journey takes time. Your very own personal journey will take as long as it takes. However, healing can take place. If you give your grief the time it deserves during the early months, you will find that your life will find meaning quicker, and the healing will start to take place. Let us be clear on what I mean here. I am not saying that a major loss in our life and deep grief ever really fully leaves us. I am saying that your life can have meaning again. Your life can grow around your grief. You may carry it inside you. However, you can still feel joy, passion, and purpose going forward. Try not to compare your grief to that of others, even to close family members. No one is you, and no one will feel and think the way you do. Try and speak out about your loss, thoughts, and feelings, as this can be comforting. It can bring some peace, even if it is just for a little while. There are stages we move through when healing. They include grieving, mourning, and learning to live again with meaning. As I mentioned, how long that takes is down to you. One thing that is for sure is that unexpressed grief does not heal. Healing takes courage. To heal, you must allow yourself to feel. Self-care is so important. Be gentle and patient with yourself. Do not expect too much too quickly. Do what feels right for you. Rest and eat you as well you can. Take warm baths. Take a couple of minutes, a few times a day — just sit and be aware of your breathing, taking long, deep, and slow breaths. You could even set an alarm to do this as a reminder. If you have been lucky enough to love and to have been loved back, you will at some point face loss and grief. Loss and grief are the love for what has been lost. Although the grief does not have such an impact on your life as your life continues to grow, the love stays the same. My dad died suddenly over 26 years ago. When I talk about him, and I do a lot, I think about how much I LOVE him... not loved him. You see, the love never fades or lessens. I love him as much as I always have. The love stays and becomes precious. It's part of you, and it never leaves you. It stays in a gentle, caring, and wonderful way. Enjoy the love... the love that is precious. I know it is hard to be kind to yourself when you are suffering. When you laugh, you may feel guilty, wondering how you can do that. I want to share that you can still feel joy while you grieve. Think about this. If a loved one gave birth to a new baby, would you feel joy and happiness? Would you still celebrate the birth even if you had experienced a loss? Laughter, love, and joy can and do live side by side with loss and grief. You can feel and acknowledge both. Try writing down at least 15 things that can make you smile. Aim to at least see the good things in life and feel content while you feel sadness. This is such a massive subject, and I have barely touched upon it. I want to invite you to visit my Facebook page, "Healing a Broken Heart." You can also find my website here. I do add information and support daily for all who are looking for a helping hand. I hope that I can help you find some comfort when you need it most. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, connect with me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Susan! Susan Watson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Susan Watson specializes in working worldwide with all ages experiencing Anxiety, Emotions, and Trauma in a content freestyle, so that no talking really needs to occur unless wanted. Working with feelings and emotions within the body, Susan releases the emotional connection of past experiences. She teaches self-help tools to help others live their best life, the life that is deserved. Susan supports individuals, groups, and the workplace with her Be Your Own Empowered Hero workshops, which were introduced as a measure to reduce the risk of future issues with mental and emotional health.

Jade Geary, 30, is a trained Instructional Designer, soon to be a Doctor of Education, and the owner of Wanderlust Course Create. In her Facebook Community — The Course Makers Corner, she serves over a thousand women to help them get clear on their course goals. She also connects with thousands of people on Instagram to help them take the confusion out of developing courses. You mention you are an instructional designer. What is that? That’s a great question! It wasn’t a term I was familiar with either until five years ago. Essentially, an instructional designer takes a learning situation and looks at the most effective way to design and develop the course. My goal is to not only make learning fun but to ensure that courses are effective and engaging. To do this, I draw upon instructional design theories, adult learning theories, and learning theories. Everything I do and suggest is backed by research, but I make it much more fun for my clients. How did you become an instructional designer? There is no set path to become an instructional designer. There are degree programs and training programs but a lot of people, like me, just fall into this line of work. I graduated with my Master’s in Library and Information Science in 2015. The university I work at needed an Instructional Developer, a great start to introduce me to instructional design. In 2018, I took a job as an Instructional Design Librarian. I started reading everything I could to learn how to make effective credit-bearing courses, webinars, tutorials, and more, but I still needed some help. I enrolled in a Doctor of Education program that I knew would help me give the skills to be the best at what I do. Do you think having an instructional design background is important when it comes to helping people make courses? Yes and no. I think my background really helps because I’m an expert at online learning, but there are definitely people out there making incredible courses on their own. What is something you wish people knew about your work? Something I have ran into is that people don’t want to work with an Instructional Designer if they aren’t familiar with the subject the course is about. The thing is, that’s what Instructional Designers are trained to do! It is a huge bonus to have someone looking over your course, who isn’t an expert on the subject. The course maker brings all the knowledge to the course, but an instructional designer is making that everything flows and is presented in the best way possible. What inspired you to start your business? I have really loved working in higher education and freelancing with various educational institutions, but I had wanted to broaden my horizons. When COVID hit, it was the perfect excuse to push myself out of my comfort zone and start working with even more incredible people. I hastily launched in May 2020 as Jade Geary Designs but went through a rebrand in the fall and decided on Wanderlust Course Create. If you could give some advice to our readers, what would it be? 1. A course is not the answer to every learning situation. That’s why we have programs and 1:1 coaching. 2. Always work on building up your audience before launching a course. 3. Check in with your audience to see if they are interested in your course. You don’t want to spend all that time making a course for people not to be interested. Connect with Jade Geary on her Facebook , Instagram , and her website . Read more from Jade!

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. How many of you have wondered about making money by just being at home? How many of us have children doing part-time jobs? Would we like them to earn their own at an early age? Have you pondered there are various to keep yourself and your children busy in an effective way even during a pandemic? The simplest trick is called “learning.” Nothing beats knowledge. Many suffer financial debts; some need to earn for their daily bread and butter while some need to cater to their daily expenses. One of the approaches is FOREX. Forex stands for Foreign Exchange that is a global currency exchange between nations. The market talks about how currency relates to one another depending on international businesses. Let’s discover how it’s different than the rest. How does Forex work? The trade between different currencies is decentralized. The rates and interest rates are often regulated by the country’s central bank. The central banks also depend on inter trades of countries and political scenario. Flexibility of Forex? Every country have their own time zone, and forex operates over 24 hours every week globally. Major markets close on Friday at EST time zone, and some reopen on Sunday midnight. Thus taking advantage of this, a person can even passively trade. Moreover, trades over different schedule over the same time zone also boosts durability. Why important? Because it is so flexible that you can make more money throughout the week, long term and short term trades gives the trader an open-ended edge. Moreover, there is high liquidity and high profits can be earned from short trades as well. How can you benefit? We all must have heard or even faced that instant money earned can flow away if not taken care of. Trading mindset is of utmost importance. Often while making profits, mind can easily lose focus and be tempted to “invest” more and earn bigger. But NO! This is NOT gambling. If trading is done with such a mentality, then nobody would emerge as a winner. It’s true that the more the investment, more the gains, but if this is used as a roulette, heavy losses may come its way. In this market, assets are often known as positions. Such positions can also be held for a short duration ranging from 5minutes to 4hours and thus giving added gain. Q n A: Is Forex similar to the stock market or options? The simple answer is NO. Stocks are monetary certificates offered by companies listed through IPO. They operate only during business hours. Some offer after-hours trading for few hours. Options are a type of contract offered by companies that allow people to trade over a certain period of time. Can I start Forex for as little as $100? Yes, you can, but you will not make much profit. As a new trader with less capital, many would be wary of investing. But for a long term profit, it is better to start off with more funds. Check out the dollar profit for diversified funds: How much money should we begin with? Many seminars and gurus will talk about seed investment of $20,000- $50,000. But a lot of us will not like to risk huge amounts while starting out. So the best value for a beginner would be $1000-$5000. Is Forex only for adults? Can children and teens learn it too? Absolutely! The earlier they learn, the wiser they become. Many teens opt for a part-time job to earn extra cash. But due to the pandemic, most could not venture outdoors. I believe learning Forex could be a great option to earn money while being at home. What strategies should I implement? This could be often confusing, but more could be read in my last article on surviving a financial crisis. 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 big journey and 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.