Written by: Amber Barry, 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. Business plans are like road maps — it’s possible to travel without one, but you risk getting lost along the way. If you’ve ever gotten lost on a road trip before, you know that it leads to huge amounts of wasted time, frantic frustration, and driving around and around in circles. The same is true when you get lost in your business. Instead of “driving around” aimlessly or grasping at straws trying to find the golden ticket that will lead to the business growth you’re seeking, how about implementing a business framework? A framework is your business road map. Bringing in the right one can keep you on track and guide your progress so you can reach your goals faster and with less of a headache. As a business owner, distractions are plentiful. There will always be someone promoting the “best” new up and coming something or other. So how do you stay in your lane and focus on where you’re going without getting bumped off course every other day? The answer is having clear goals (your destination) and a plan (your framework). When you’re on a road trip, you know your ultimate destination. It doesn’t matter how many scenic detours you take along the way or how many times you get lost — you’ll know when you finally arrive. Your business goals should be the same. When you set specific, measurable, attainable goals, you can determine the path you need to take to get there and then set your mind to it. Here’s how to reach your goals successfully every time: Identify your endpoint. This is the goal you’re aiming for — your finish line or ultimate destination. It’s great to dream big and set huge goals, but breaking those goals down into smaller, “milestone destinations” can help you stay motivated. When you consistently crush your smaller goals, you build the confidence and momentum you need to propel you towards your finish line. And not only that — breaking things down into smaller goals gives you the chance to evaluate your progress and make tweaks to your plan as needed. Do your research. Have other people reached the goal you’re aiming for? If so, how did they do it? There’s always more than one way to reach your destination. Do some research and look into several different ways people before you have succeeded. Then, customize your plan based on what feels doable for you. If it’s not something you can get fully on board with, it’s unlikely that you’ll stick to the plan with enough consistency to produce results. Make your plan. This is the HOW. How are you going to get yourself from point A to point B? And not only that — how are you going to troubleshoot problems and overcome obstacles, because it’s likely there will be hurdles along the way, and things are bound to suck from time to time. Such is life! If you’re aiming for big business growth this year, it’s time to map out and implement the right plan. That starts by building things strategically and solidly from the ground up because your business is only as strong as the foundation supporting it. If you’re looking for a framework to set you on the right track, try my free guide, The Go-Getters Framework . In it, I share the 5 pillars that your business needs to succeed. They are: Client Clarity Consistent Content & Copywriting Clear Offers Automated Funnels A Strategy for Growth Regardless of the plan you choose to use, make sure it is clear, simple, and actionable. That way, you’ll know exactly what needs to be done, and you can devote 100% of your energy towards it to reach your goals faster. To help you make some quick wins, download the framework and get free access to my Go-Getter’s Make More Sales mini-course. It’s a starter kit to set you on the path to business success. If you feel like you need additional support after that, feel free to join my private group or book a call with me. I’m happy to help you review your plans for business growth, brainstorm ideas, and offer momentum building next steps. Onward and upward! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website for more info. Read more from Amber! Amber Barry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amber Barry is a US-based business strategist and consultant specializing in digital marketing, automation, and social media advertising for small businesses and startups. She is passionate about deconstructing the process of establishing and growing a business and aims to make it less overwhelming and easier to navigate for new business owners. She is the founder of Amber Barry | Digital, a digital marketing and advertising agency, and creator of The Go-Getters Club, where she offers online courses and coaching to women in business to help them maximize their marketing efforts and turn their small steps into big wins and massive momentum. She is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Health Coach by training. She draws from her 12+ years of experience in health and wellness and 20+ years as an endurance athlete to help people transform their journey as business owners into an enjoyable, successful, fulfilling experience.

Written by: Mary Yamin-Garone, 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 your own book can be the ultimate marketing tool for your business. It also can: Demonstrate your expertise/knowledge Establish you as an authority in your field Brand your business Instantly boost your credibility. Attract higher-end clients Expand your business Most important, it can give you the edge you’re looking for in today’s economy. With all these benefits, you’d think professionals would have their own book. That’s not the case. While roughly 81% of us want to write a book someday, most of us never start. Of those who do, never finish it. So, what’s the number one reason people give for not writing—or finishing—their book? Not. Enough. Time. Everyone wants a piece of you. Your business wants you. Your family wants you. You want you. You also want to eat healthy, exercise, and sleep well so you can create the positive energy necessary to write that book. Consider these: Writing a book will take a chunk of time and energy. Your life is already full, and you have don’t have any extra time. You just don’t sit down and write a book. Given those facts, how can you make the time to write the book swimming around inside your head? You know, the one that’s been calling to you to write for months, even years. As a book coach, I’m full of ideas about how you can solve that “not enough time” problem. Here are some you can easily implement. Act on your deep desire to write a book. Put your book project on the front burner as one of your top three priorities. Whatever you want from your book, imagine it vividly, then write it down. That’s one of the most important pre-writing exercises. Your desire is what fuels your ability to keep on going even when you want to quit. Review your manuscript/story whenever your motivation starts waning. Better yet, review it daily. Getting started. Many of us have the urge to write a book but can't seem to get started. When people come to me, they almost all say the same thing: "I know I can do it if I only knew how to begin." So, they wait for that magical idea that will inspire them to start. Ideas don't come to those who wait and think. They come to those who act. Pick a story that feels "wrong" —those are always easier to find than ones that feel "right." Write a brief summary of the story, and make sure you finish it. Then pick another story and repeat. Set a weekly, monthly, and yearly goal. Whether you’re writing a novel, a non-fiction book, or -*publishing a series of articles, you must have goals. Without them, you don’t know where you’re going. You’re just floating around, and you’ll never feel like you’ve done enough. Start by deciding what the deadline will be for completing your first draft. From there, you can calculate how many words you’ll need to write each week. Write down your word count goal. Set a reminder on your phone. Put it on your fridge or tape it to your partner’s forehead. Whatever it takes to get it done. You need to keep your goal visually accessible so you can celebrate your successes. Once you know what keeps you from writing and what you’d like to get accomplished this week, month or year, spend the next 15 minutes making progress on your current goal. If it’s time to outline a new book, do it. If you need to finish a chapter, that’s your project. Prioritize. If you don’t choose to prioritize your book project, it won’t happen. I’ve experienced this hard truth when clients aren’t fully committed to finishing their book. They leave disgruntled. Not at me but at themselves. To avoid that, list the things you do that take up blocks of time. Can you hire someone to clean your house or take care of the yard? How much television do you watch? Can you forego that time to work on your book? How about going to bed earlier and getting up earlier? Start with small blocks of time. There are many resources for managing your time better, such as using to-do lists, reward yourself or skip ahead when you get stuck. Even spending 10 minutes jotting down ideas for your book, researching or writing will add up. Here’s a tip I’ll share that helped me be a more productive writer. Set a time to write for those 10 minutes. Don’t let anything keep you from sitting down and writing. It doesn’t matter what you write. The objective is to train yourself to write “on demand.” You won’t believe the power of this simple exercise until you try it. You don’t NEED to schedule a block of time. You can write the beginning hooks for the first chapter. Or you can write the middle chapter or any chapter in between. Decide what your book will be about. Once that’s done, you can break it down into bite-sized pieces. Start by brainstorming everything you want to include in your book. Next, arrange them into chapters in some type of logical order. When it’s time to write, select one thing to do that will move you ahead one step. It could be writing down more ideas for a particular chapter, researching, or writing a page. That’s what professional writers do. They set aside time to write and then set a quota of so many pages written, researched, etc. You can do the same. The key is discipline. Once you start structuring your writing into your schedule, your book will start materializing. That will build the momentum you need to keep writing. Embrace failure. Let’s face it. We all want to succeed and be good at what we do. However, we don’t become the best at something without practice. If you were afraid of failure when you were little, you’d never have learned how to walk. It would have seemed entirely too difficult to be worth all that effort. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a child again to conquer your fear of failure. You do have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. So, as you approach the end of your book writing project, know that it will be hard, and you’ll most certainly mess up. Just be okay with failing and give yourself grace. That’s what will sustain you — the determination to continue, not your elusive standards of perfection. Trust yourself. You can do this. Take time to do what’s important to you and your book writing goals. I help my coaching clients finish their writing projects so they’ll feel confident, complete, smile a lot, and feel new business rushing to them. Inspired? Committed? Curious? To get the outcome you want, take one small action now with no cost to you. Schedule a free 30-minute Book Writing Assessment Call with me. We’ll discuss what book building outcomes I deliver and see if we have chemistry for our partnership to finish on time and laugh a little. Remember, don’t make “lack of time” an excuse for keeping that book of yours inside you. Take advantage of all the big benefits of having a book affords you and write one successfully. Still not sure how to start? Send me a message at mary@theysonewriting.com. For more writing tips, visit my website. Join my Facebook Group and follow me on Instagram! Read more from Mary! Mary Yamin-Garone, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mary Yamin-Garone is an award-winning writer, editor, and book/writing coach. In her 36 years, she has seen most every facet of the writing world as the featured guest writing expert on a weekly radio talk show, the recipient of numerous writing awards and accolades, and the coach and editor for several best-selling authors. One of her proudest moments came after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Mary received the Communication Concept 2002 APEX Award for Publication Excellence for Magazine and Newspaper Writing for her work after 9/11. She recently launched her signature coaching program, Bring Your Words to Life. Mary will help you improve your writing and turn your most important life experiences and knowledge into your best-selling book.

Written by: Jack Wang, 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. For millions of families across the United States, it's an important question. In the 5,000 or so pages of the second stimulus package were a number of provisions related to financial aid and FAFSA simplification; the FAFSA is the financial aid form that parents fill out to get financial aid. As part of that simplification process, there were several combined or deleted questions and many technical changes that will have a small impact. Expansion of the Pell grant, which is geared toward low-income families, is also included. There was another provision in there that really took me by surprise. I was really shocked and haven’t seen any mentions of this in the news. I think it's the biggest thing that changed: How families with multiple children attending college simultaneously are treated for financial aid, specifically their Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Note: The legislation also changed the term EFC to SAI, or Student Aid Index, though what the number represents is unchanged. In this article, I’ll use EFC and SAI interchangeably. In the past, a family’s EFC would be divided by the number of children in college. That figure would be divided by the number of children in college, and the resulting EFC figure would be assigned to each child. For example, for a family with an EFC of $50,000 with 2 children in college, each child would be assigned an EFC of $25,000. Then, each student could qualify for more financial need-based aid, though, theoretically, the family may still be responsible for paying $50,000 per year combined. Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, EFC will no longer be divided by the number of children in college simultaneously. With our hypothetical family with 2 kids in college, each student’s EFC would stay at $50,000, and therefore less likely to receive need-based aid. More importantly, from the family's perspective, this means that the family might need to pay $100k per year. Who does this really impact? Well, obviously, families with multiple children who will overlap in college. It’s a little less obvious from a financial standpoint because there are so many variables, including the college attended (or applied to). The most expensive college in the country is around $80k. Assuming no merit scholarships, what income would you need to still be able to qualify for some financial aid? Working backward, a family could have an Adjusted Gross Income of around $300k to have an EFC of around $80k. Many variables, such as family size and amount of savings, can impact this figure. While not everyone attends the most expensive colleges in the US, the implication is clear - this could impact a significant number of families. According to IRS data for 2017, a $300k annual income is in the top 5% of income and roughly 6% of all taxpayers as presented by the Tax Foundation. Alternatively, over 94% of all US taxpayers have income below $300k, though no data on how many of these families have multiple children. To be clear, families that attend a college at a cost less than the EFC would not be affected. Since the cost is lower than EFC anyway, they would not qualify for need-based aid. The families that would be impacted are those who would attend a private college or a flagship public university, where the costs tend to be higher. As an example, for a family with a hypothetical $50k SAI with two overlapping children, this change is now a big deal. To get a $50K SAI, family income would likely be somewhere in the $200k - $250k range, varying with assets and family size. A common scenario would be a private school near me with a cost of attendance just over $60k, though they give around $20k per year in merit aid. For our hypothetical family with an SAI of $50k and only one college student, the family would not be eligible for any need-based aid. The school would think the family could afford ($50k) more than the net price of $40k ($60k less $20k). What happens when the younger student goes off to college? Before this change, the family SAI would be divided by 2, with each student being assigned a $25k SAI. During the overlap years, both students would then be eligible for up to $15k in need-based, shown as follows: Cost of Attendance — Student1 = 60k, Student2 = 60k Less: Merit Aid — Student1 = 20k, Student2 = 20k Equals Net Price — Student1 = 40k, Student2 = 40k Less SAI — Student1 = 25k, Student2 = 25k Equals fin aid Eligibility — Student1 = 25k, Student2 = 25k Assuming that this school meets 100% of need by offering the family $15k in financial aid for each student, the family would be responsible for $50k in total cost, $25k for each student. Now, under the new regulations, the following would occur: Cost of Attendance — Student1 = 60k, Student2 = 60k Less: Merit Aid — Student1 = 20k, Student2 = 20k Equals Net Price — Student1 = 40k, Student2 = 40k Less SAI — Student1 = 50k, Student2 = 50k Equals fin aid Eligibility — Student1 = Not eligible, Student2 = Not eligible In this case, neither student would be eligible for financial aid. The family would be responsible for a total cost of $80k, or $40k net price for each student. The family would pay $30k per year more. What can a family do to mitigate this impact? Though the regulations do not take effect until the 23/24 academic year, the income used for financial aid will be based on 2021. Thus, any strategies used to mitigate this impact starts immediately. Lowering college costs truly begins with understanding the family finances, the three numbers, and setting expectations. This will help both the students and family understand what schools may be a good financial fit. Once families have a reasonable expectation of finances, then conducting a proper search for colleges that really want your student, and asking the right financial questions. All too often, students and parents are focused on the likelihood of getting accepted and academic fit. While this is important, many families end up in the position of facing a college cost much higher than they were hoping for. Families can also use tools such as TuitionFit, a service that compiles merit and financial aid award letters. Families can compare themselves with other families with having similar financial and academic profiles to see what others really paid for a particular college. Note: I am a subscriber to TuitionFit. Before or concurrently with the search/research, families can employ strategies, starting now, that may involve income or asset shifting and/or use advanced tax strategies to lower the cost of college. These strategies can help pay the bill in the most financially efficient manner, even for families that will not qualify for need-based aid. With one student, these steps are important. For families with overlapping multiple students, these steps become critical IF maintaining your lifestyle while the kids are off to college is important as wanting to be able to retire comfortably one day. Most families conduct the search and research first and worry about financial aid later. Don’t be that family that ends up having to tell your student, “Congratulations on getting in, but sorry, we just can’t afford to send you.” For more information, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my YouTube-Channel & website! Read more from Jack! Jack Wang, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jack Wang is a noted expert in helping US-based families with middle to high school age students lower the cost of and pay for college by navigating the complex, stress-inducing financial aid system while still being able to retire. He's helped hundreds of families and students (including his own 2 children) understand financial aid, student loan options, and payment strategies in the context of overall family finances and retirement plans. Jack studied finance at the University of Texas at Austin and started in the banking industry, where he spent 12 years as a commercial banker helping small to medium-sized businesses. Then he transitioned to be a corporate trainer for 10 years before starting his own firm.

Written by: Tanja Malovrh, 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 give ourselves great promises no matter if it’s a New Year’s resolution or just an ordinary week we have to get through. Sometimes we push ourselves too much. It sure sounds great that your company is growing, but it brings more and more obligations with it. You suddenly get lost in all the information, and sometimes you are constantly taking care of others instead of doing your own work. Even I feel like falling into one of those traps when working hard to achieve all the goals. But it’s not all in working late hours, spending endless hours talking to clients, or worrying all the time if everything will work out the way it should. We all have our superpowers, but where is that secret recipe that just says: “If you do this one thing, everything will fall into place.” At the end of the day, what that one thing actually is? Keep It Simply Stupid or The KISS Method. It sounds funny, but this is probably one of the most useful things that our Math teacher at university told us solving endless math problems. I absolutely love numbers, but sometimes we just make everything too complicated and cannot get to the result. I teach my clients to go back to the basics of business. Yes, we learned that for a successful business, you need to do things that the big companies are doing. They are successful, right? We are forgetting, and they have loads of money to spend on marketing and probably hundreds or even thousands of employees taking care of the wheels to keep ongoing. They have problems as well, believe me, no matter the success visible on the outside. So, here we are in front of a big dilemma which way to go to get results and make some money. Whether we are just starting or being somewhere in between, there is always someone “better” than us. Someone that already achieved the result we want. Finding Basic Recipe That Works for Your Business. Look for what others are doing and just put it into bullet points – this is where I am right now. Within the next three months, my steps will look like this, and the result I really want to achieve is that grand prize. You are the one creating the bigger picture, the special prize you see at the end, or maybe it’s not that big at all. It seems so hard right now, but once you get there, it’s just another thing you had to learn to achieve results. That is called growth. I would say the basic recipe for every business is different. There is no cookie-cutter model that will work for everyone, no matter the industry. My best advice is to find an expert that knows your industry and has done things you are starting with. The Online Success or Failure. Let me give you one practical example I see when working with entrepreneurs. Especially during COVID-19 year, many business owners had to go online or just turn their format upside down. Let’s say you are in the beginning stages of your online business. The biggest mistake many entrepreneurs make is losing time with endless emails sending out to just a couple of people instead of talking to them directly. They work so hard on their funnels but never getting in the sales because the information is not getting to their potential clients. Sometimes you just have to put all those people into one small group where you can keep them until the sales actually happen. In the meantime, you can nurture the relationship so they can get to know you better. Talk to people, learn about their problems, and don’t give up the first time you fail. Once your business starts to grow and you get your first clients in, you will upgrade your offer. Maybe you will add another program, service, or product. You will know exactly what your clients are looking for, so just take that information and turn it into profit. Invest into Your Personal Growth and Learn from Mistakes. When you are in business for several years, the one thing you learn is that investing in your own knowledge and personal growth is never a stupid thing to do. Sometimes you need support from a mentor that will push you over your limits, and your business will bloom. Learning from your mistakes takes a long time, but hopefully, the lesson learned can be used another time. If you are smart, the knowledge you got from making the mistakes can be your next big thing to sell. Just a thought I will leave you with. Everything is within you now – you have the knowledge, have the power, and have the skills. It is just a matter of putting everything into the right place to make it work for YOU. Reach out to me if you feel it’s time to finish up something that keeps you awake at night or just don’t know where to go next. You can book a short 20-minute Clarity Call, and let’s see where you are at right now. For more information, follow me on Facebook and visit my website! Read more from Tanja! Tanja Malovrh, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tanja Malovrh works with professionals within different industries that need support with their business growth and setting strategy the right way. As a Business Strategist, her job is to assess the current set of resources, find the most effective way to use them, and build working business models for her clients. She gained her knowledge being part of the corporate world, holding different positions, building up her own diagnostic clinic from ground zero, and now supporting others with her expert knowledge to scale their business. She is active within European funded projects and having her own research team covering different scientific fields of work.

Written by: Bernadette Bruckner, 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. 2020 is over! What’s next? Can we handle the challenges and financial damage some of us experienced, OR did we make the big shift to something we never expected that we would do? COVID-19 did something to us, psychologically, physically, and, above all, humanly. And yet, we got through it and faced a new year with new hopes, expectations, and confidence. We got shaken, not stirred a la bond! Truly shaken, globally, in a way, most of us have never experienced before. But, out of chaos, challenges, and reordering on many levels, we learned, made new decisions we’ve probably never made before, and took risks we also probably never would have taken without those challenges. Many opinions, beliefs, and values emerged, sometimes creating conflicts between friends, family, and work colleagues. Conflicts that were there before, and yet due to “being too busy to focus on daily living,” were suppressed. I often had the feeling that previously self-evident manners, solidarity, and cohesion were missing and that frustration, excessive demands, and stress-related overstimulation, paired with rudeness and emotional outbursts, showed up that would not have appeared in normal circumstances. Who are we in a crisis? And what facets of ourselves come out when we are overwhelmed with something? These were questions that went through my mind while working at Lidl. Many people believed they had "everything under control" and that "we can easily handle everything." And yet, it is not so. Many of us experienced chances, changes, and opportunities. I have never done so many interviews, written so many articles, been on the radio, been live on social media, and met so many wonderful people around the globe supporting each other. Business is considered and approached differently. My business changed, and I saw how my own resilience methods for different target groups and my business know-how could benefit many people out there. Using all of my business knowledge of over 30 years of supporting my companies and many others and helping those clients see business online/digital differently and using their gifts for building up a digital business, delivering the vision of the power of cooperation and supporting each other. Who were you BEFORE Covid19 and all other challenges in 2020, and who are you NOW? Acknowledge your changes, praise them, and be grateful for everything you have achieved and/or fucked-up learning how to do things differently from before. I built up my businesses (three companies and many co-operations and collaborations) on their VSP—Value Selling Point. They are heart-driven, which is a more crisis-resistant approach than only working on the 08/15-USP and business thinking we learned in school or university. Even in 2021, I will create two more businesses and big cooperation supporting companies in crises and change in Austria. You never know what else is in my mind, as I am known for my creativity! For more than 20 years, I have pursued a huge shift in the fields of health, business, and education. Going on the integral level of thinking and acting, I know today that being on the right track with my tribe and team supporting others that “What’s next?” will generate such a game-changer shift. Creating something completely new is not just words anymore but will become a reality! Sometimes shaking things up big time (not stirring) is a good thing, even when at the beginning of 2020, many became desperate, hopeless, and lost their subsistence method. My question here is always, “What is your living purpose, your big why, and what would you do right now if you could get paid for it?” Adaption is the key, along with acting agile! I grew up with the beLIEf that being in one company till retirement was something good. I always knew that was not my path. So, I worked in more than 15 companies internationally, and did many internships in different companies, to learn as much as possible about building up my dream business, knowing that “creating a sustainable living for the higher good of all of us” IS possible! Knowing your value, your big why, leads you to your living purpose. My question is this, “Which gifts do you use already for your business and which are ‘hidden’ gifts you can create another business from for you and your family?” Stay agile. Recognize and bless your gifts. See the challenges and match your gifts, creating solutions for those challenges. Today, I know for sure that everything I created and built up has been based on seeing the challenges others were experiencing and finding solutions to support their goals. Tomorrow, something else will be needed, and we will find partners finding solutions supporting others again. Together we grow, expand, and nurture each other for better living for everybody. All solutions are here already, and finding like-minded people is the key. More than ever, we have the ability to create something completely new – beginning NOW! My next question is, “How do you want to see the earth, humanity, and yourself today, tomorrow, in five years, in ten years, and beyond knowing?” During lockdown, I read many books, and I would love to recommend two very valuable books for me: The infinite game by Simon Sinek Proofed Planet by Oliver Specht and Axel Nauert COVID-19 did something to us, psychologically, physically, and above all, humanly. Let’s use these changes and make things better – beginning with us inside and out. Seeing business beyond ourselves but sustainable for the higher good of all is my drive for 2021. How about you? For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Bernadette Bruckner, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine The creative allrounder worked successfully in different working fields in Austria and abroad. By her interest in corporate communications, marketing, human resources and many other areas of business, she has appropriated an enormous amount of knowledge over more than 30 years. Numerous educations at international top-trainers like Richard Bandler, Robert Dilts, Roy Martina and Clinton Swaine. Internationally active as holistic trainer in health, nutrition and mental health with exceptional holistic resilience methods. Founder of „iMM – intuitive mentoring method and 1-min-coaching-to-go“, a further development of NLP, as well as „ORINITION® - n(fl)ourish soul.mind.body.“ – an innovative nutrition work of (re-) membering our own body intelligence. Successfully Master’s degree in health management with a focus on public health. International PhD & research in the fields of health communication with focus on psycholinguistics combined with neuroplasticity and health economics. International bestselling publisher and author of numerous books in different languages. Global Author Award 2018 / Nominatee NLP Award in Research 2019 in London. 2021 opening my own research center for intuitive science in Austria.

Written by: Monica Le Baron, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The last 12 months have taught me to be patient, resilient, and very grateful for the people and blessings around me. It has reminded me to spend more time creating meaningful memories and less time worrying about getting things perfect. Sadly, in 2020 I have lost so many people close to me, including my father and one of my best friends. It has been very sad and challenging. And at the same time, I have grown so much. I learned so many lessons and received so much support from my family, friends, yoga sisters, and empowering women-prenuers. That’s why I decided (with inspiration from Laura Belgray) to create this list to bring you free wellness resources from 25 inspiring women in the wellness industry, to help you start 2021 more grounded, inspired, and strong. In this article, you will find stress relief tools, coloring pages, divorce kits, sleep meditations, burned-out quizzes, free yoga for trauma workshops, and much more. Read to the end and download the ones that resonate more with you. And yes, you can share this list with your BFF. Sleep & Deep Rest Get deep rest and fall asleep faster! Waking up feeling rested should be your reality, not a dream. Relax, fall asleep faster, and get the rest you deserve in just 10 minutes! Use this yogic tool I created to feel refreshed before an important meeting, to unplug after work, or before going to bed to help you fall asleep faster and feel rested in the morning. Learn more here! Guided meditation to support healing and deep rest. Get a sense of joy in your everyday life with iRest guided meditations by Lynda Pedley. iRest induces deep relaxation and teaches the body to reduce stress and resolve trauma, neutralize anxiety, fear, anger, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain while supporting overall healing. Start your iRest journey here! Stress & Burnout Relief Stress Relief Series If you feel anxious or have trouble focusing, Jenna Carson’s Stress Relief Series might help you worry less about the future and enjoy the present more. This series contains five tools to relieve stress by calming the body and nervous system, rewiring the brain, and relieving upper-body tension. Get your stress relief tools here! Reduce Stress and Think Clearly It's hard to think clearly while at the same time dealing with stress. Emotional Freedom Speaker & Coach Aditi Ramchandani offers 12 tips to help you reduce stress and gain clarity. Get your e-book here! Feel calmer and more regulated Lydiana Garcia explores six actionable steps to help you stay regulated and resilient during these unprecedented times. Get the Resiliency During COVID-19 e-book to get the step by step guide with simple recommendations and coping skills designed to support you during this pandemic rollercoaster. Burnout Buster Time management is not about the amount of time available or the number of tasks on your to-do list. It is about the energy you have to do the work. If you feel like you have too many irons in the fire and you’re on the edge of burnout, grab this QUICK Burnout Buster, created by Janine Graziano-Full to cut off the “there’s not enough hours in the day” pattern at its source right now… and as many times you need in the future! The Burnout Quiz If you’re experiencing signs of burnout and overwhelm, and instead you would like to transform them into feeling more energize and joyful, then take Becky Franklin’s “beat the burnout” quiz to find out where you are on the burnout scale, and receive the tools to transform burnout, even if you feel too busy to implement new tools in your life right now. Five steps for grounding during instability If you’re looking for grounding tools easy to access during difficult times, get Annie Von Essen’s guide here, and use the steps she provides to help you navigate change in uncertain times. The Ultimate Reset List Simple tips to go from chaos to calm, instantly. In this list, Christa Bevan provides neuroscience backed-up tools to reset your nervous system quickly and effectively. Experience life with less overwhelm, feel more in control of your stress and anxiety, and cultivate calm in your life regardless of what’s happening around you. Goals & Mindset Get a Rockstart Mindset® What if you could feel strong emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to keep going no matter what? Get Gaelle Berruel’s free self-care guide to feel good, grounded, and make yourself a priority in 20 min or less. Download the free guide here! Secret Recipe to Get Anything You Want Do you want to know the secret recipe of how to get ANYTHING you want? The How To Get Anything You Want Workbook by Jacqueline Palfi Toth includes AHA-Moments, tangible, tested, and proven life coaching strategies and exercises, which will help you get the courage and confidence to become a true Dream Builder. Grab your workbook here! Sel-care to Feel Your Best Get the 3 Steps To Streamline Your Self-Care by Sheila Botelho, and discover self-care practices to fill you up so you can let go of the rest. Learn simple ways to boost your daily nutritional needs and be more present with your loved ones. Download it here! Free Coloring Pages Making art calms our nervous system, slows our breathing, and allows us to process information without being reactive instead of calmer, more thoughtful, and reflective. It is also is a powerful way to engage in community and take a stand for justice. Download your free original Radici coloring pages to inspire anti-racist action here. Divorce, Trauma, and Women’s Support Yoga for Healing Trauma. Isolation and stress compounded may increase or create anxiety, depression, and/or post-traumatic stress symptoms. It is also common for interpersonal conflict to intensify, and it can be hard to know where to turn. Yoga can be a wonderful tool in the healing process, especially in complicated and overwhelming times like the pandemic we are facing. Join Yoga Therapist Deborah King for this free yoga for healing trauma workshop here! Feminine Rhythm Rituals Get three days of grounding nourishment for your body and mind. Practice these wintery rituals provided by Korynn Elliott to help warm your heart while the weather is cooling down and the world is slowing down. Divorce Toolkit If you are ready to thrive and not just survive your divorce, this Ultimate Divorce Toolkit created by Dr. Elizabeth Cohen is the perfect start point. The support kit provides actionable tips to grow confidence, optimism, and empowerment through a bumpy divorce process. Grab it here and step into this next chapter with confidence and joy. Women’s Circle Get a free ticket to attend Lisbeth Savard’s New Moon Women’s Circle for the first time. This is a space for women to gather to share, be witnessed, be held to feel fully supported while building a community of like-minded women and awakening inner wisdom. Heart Chakra Guided Meditation Compassion, forgiveness, love, and fear all reside in your heart center. This guided practice with Melissa Ann Boyd will open and balance your heart chakra to allow new magnetic energy to arise within you. Fun Workout for a Busy Day We all have busy days when we can't make it to the gym or our favorite nature spot to walk, hike, or get some fresh air. Sarah Mehl Histand, a personal trainer and mental health counselor, offers a free 20-minute workout video to get your endorphins flowing, release stress, and get energized from the comfort of your living room. Get your free training here! Making Meals Fun and Simple Can you think of on reason your making feeding yourself and your loved ones a hassle? Deena Barselah explains 7 ways we make food for our families way too hard and offers some tips to simplify it and create more peace and enjoyment in your home. Check them out here! If you enjoyed this list, please share it with your loved ones and spread it on social media like fresh-baked chocolate-chip cookies. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more information! Monica Le Baron, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Monica helps busy women simplify their wellness so they can sleep better and have more energy to enjoy life. A yoga therapist and neuromuscular-body alignment expert, Monica trained with renowned neuromuscular therapist Lee Albert and graduated with honors from her MBA. She lived and worked in both Sweden and China, where she started her entrepreneurial journey. She now runs her Sleep Simplified Six-Week Coaching Program and VIP Sessions remotely while traveling the world and getting her beauty sleep.

Written by: Ghesi Stojanov, 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 are anything like me, last year, you found yourself trying to navigate your thoughts and feelings as the pandemic steamrolled its way through your life, quickly making your 2020 a year of self-reflection, self-awareness, and survival. It brought to the surface all kinds of feelings and thoughts that had us questioning our value and worth. Because all of a sudden, we did not have the restaurants, shopping, parties, and work to keep us "busy" (or should I say distracted) from addressing the things that were affecting us long before the pandemic hit. And now, as we head into 2021, we are left trying to work out and work through what 2020 exposed emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually by attaching it to our New Year resolutions. Now don't get me wrong. New Year resolutions are fantastic for setting goals for yourself. We all need guidelines that we create to help measure our growth and keep us accountable. However, studies have shown that less than 25% of people stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% actually accomplish them. Why? Because most of us do not make set plans that will guide us to success, which sets us up for failure. So before you give up on those New Year resolutions, I want to give you five tips to help transform your thinking, empower you, and crush these resolutions. 1. Who You Are is Enough When you're thinking about your New Year resolutions, know that they have nothing to do with your value and worth and everything to do with leveling up in your life. Many New Year's resolutions are anchored to our self-worth, which automatically creates a negative internal dialogue. It makes throwing in the towel easy because we tell ourselves we are "not strong enough" to stay on that new eating plan or "Smart enough" to start that business. We need to stop blaming why things are not happening on who we are and start shifting it to actions we are taking. So please repeat after me! I am enough! I have always been enough! My resolutions have nothing to do with my value and self-worth and everything to do with leveling up in my life and living to my full potential. 2. Own It When we own our journey, we stop passing ownership of why we are not where we want to be to outside forces, in turn giving us power! If we learn to own every part of our journey — the good, the bad, and the ugly, we will start to own our growth and the who, what, where, why, and how of our circumstances. 3. Create a Plan If you build it, results will come! There is a famous line in the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come," that rings true in our lives too. When we can create a strong foundation and guide for us to follow, we stay on track. Start answering the who, what, where, why, and how questions. For example, if health is your 2021 goal: Who: Who can help support you, and who can help keep you accountable? Maybe you'll need the support of a health coach or personal trainer to help get those resolution juices flowing for your first 90 days. What: What does your current everyday living look like? Do you work from home? Are you homeschooling? What activities do you like doing? What are your expenses? What do you do now in your free time? What time do you wake up, and what time do you go to bed? Questions like these will help you map out what will work for you, so you are not setting yourself up for failure. Where: Where are you going to do these activities. If you worked out the what, this would automatically point you to the where. Maybe you're going to walk 30 minutes on your break or go for a jog 20 minutes a day because you know a gym or trainer doesn't fit in your monthly budget. Why: Your why is your anchor. It's what motivated you to say in 2021; I will ---- (in this example, take back my health). Your why should be brutally honest and should be written down, so every feeling and pain point can be thought through and brought to the surface. Writing down our why also gives you something to look back on to help motivate you when you feel like you can't and give you a sense of pride when you start seeing a change. How: The How is about the tools you will utilize to help you level up your growth. How are you going to make this happen? As a coach, I love a good 30, 60, and 90-day plan. The reason most New Year resolutions fail is because of poor planning. A great plan will anchor any goal and create a guide to help you stay on track. When we use this type of planning, we create digestible micro-goals and help us stay focused and not feel overwhelmed. 4. Meditation The demands of everyday living are constantly pulling us in a million directions, and meditation helps you to pause and take 5 minutes for yourself without having to meet any outside expectations. Meditation is a great practice that helps to recenter us by giving our mind, heart, and soul the moment it needs to realign itself by destressing our minds, listening to our hearts, and refreshing our souls. The great thing about meditation is that it is a practice that can happen anywhere, anytime, and has hundreds of platforms to suit any person's needs. 5. Affirmations You need to be your biggest cheerleader, which means we need to make sure our internal dialogue supports our growth and not holding us back. Because there will be days when you slip up, slip back, and want to throw in the towel. Having three words of affirmation to help support your goal placed in places you will see consistently is powerful. These three words have to hold meaning to you and are powerful words connected to you, your feelings, and your goals. I like having my clients place these words in areas that they are guaranteed to see every day at least two times a day (more is better), like the bathroom mirror, next to your bed, or even as the wallpaper on your phone. The point of daily affirmations is to repeat and internalize the words because our minds are amazing sponges that will start to believe the words you speak light and life into. Transforming our perspective is powerful and can make or break our success. Remember, you are enough. You can own your journey. Start creating your plan, keep your self centered, and CHEER YOURSELF ON! 2020 might have been one for the books, but it’s not the end of our story. We still hold the pen and paper to create a life of fulfillment, power, and purpose. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Ghesi Stojanov, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ghesi Stojanov is a transformational coach with a mission to help others find balance, own their journey, and tune in to their power. After the loss of her first child in 2004, welcoming her youngest son with a genetic disorder NF1 in 2011, and a triple-positive breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, Ghesi created techniques that helped her navigate through these challenging moments with power, purpose, and light. She helps her clients on their journey so they can "Be the Color" in their greatest masterpiece that is their life.

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. With the start of a new year, thousands of people will commit to a fitness resolution, only to break it by the end of January. Thousands more, though, will keep those resolutions and become better versions of themselves. Check out these tips and set yourself up to smash those goals! 1. Know your obstacles. Write down all the things that could keep you from working out. What does your work schedule look like? Do you have kids that will need a babysitter? How far are you willing to drive? Do you worry about exercising in front of other people? Knowing all of your obstacles is important so you can overcome them before you even get started. Sure, your friend may love a certain gym, but if it’s 30 minutes in the opposite direction of your after-work commute, heading home is going to look a lot more attractive than an hour roundtrip drive. If you have kids, find a place that is kid-friendly, or perhaps you need to have a home routine for now. There are so many great online work-out options available, don’t let not being able to go to a gym stand in your way. 2. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Whether you’re already a fitness enthusiast or just getting started, don’t try to do everything at once. Eating clean, eliminating soda and alcohol, drinking water, getting plenty of sleep, and regularly exercising are all great things, but trying to do them all at one time (or even trying to do two of them at one time) isn’t ideal. Instead, pick one and really focus on it. When you feel like you’re being successful with one goal, add another into the mix. 3. The scale might not be your friend. Plenty of people decide they want to lose weight. They start exercising and eating better, but the scale doesn’t reflect their efforts, so they quickly grow frustrated and quit. Rather than focusing on the numbers on a scale, focus on how you feel, how your clothes fit, or how your body is changing. 4. Learn the equipment. If you’re just starting out at a new gym, ask for a tour. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or write down the names of the different machines. When you get home, you can always look up YouTube tutorials on each machine, what they’re used for and how to use them correctly. If you’re starting a new class or CrossFit, tell the instructor you’re new and ask if they can review movements with you. Most CrossFit gyms will have an introductory phase to help you learn the proper technique. 5. Fit the vibe. Most gyms have their own vibe and often vary based on the time of day. If you have the option to shop around (see point no 1), check out a few gyms before you commit to a contract. Some staff members are welcoming and friendly, while others could care less about you. You may feel more comfortable with members of a similar age bracket or the same gender. If you can only work out at 6 a.m., but you don’t like the vibe, you’re going to hit the snooze button. 6. Join a Facebook group. I have found some wonderful Facebook groups filled with supportive women. It’s a great way to ask questions, be empowered, and meet people with similar interests but from all different experience levels. There are groups for everything, so do a quick search like “women who lift weights,” and join a group or two. You might be surprised how much you can learn just by scrolling through a group’s feed. 7. Listen to your body. Recovery is just as important as exercising, so take time to stretch and time to just let your body rest. New gym members often ask, “how many times should I come each week?” Check with your doctor first, but my advice is to start around 3 days a week. You need to do your routine enough to make it a habit, but you also need to let your body adjust. You may feel aches and pains you’ve never felt before, and that’s ok. You just want to learn the difference between soreness and an injury. Wearing a heart rate monitor might also help you understand how hard you are pushing yourself and when to take a break. 8. Do you need a Personal Trainer? If you’re just getting started, it might be a good investment to hire a personal trainer, even if it is just for a month. Many gyms offer this service at an additional fee, but like everything, there are good Personal Trainers and bad Personal Trainers, so make sure you feel comfortable with your trainer. They should want to know your history, your goals, any constraints, etc., and then develop a plan for you. Remember, this is YOUR time, and you are paying for it. If you decide to spend most of the time talking vs. exercising, that is your prerogative, but you probably won’t see much improvement in your fitness level. 9. Get the right gear. I hate telling people to spend money on something that they may only use for a month, but perhaps that’s also additional motivation. However, it’s important to have the right gear for the activity. Whether it’s properly-fitting running shoes (or sports bra) or an outfit that you feel comfortable working out in, gear is important to keep you from getting injured and feeling confident. Facebook groups can be really helpful with gear recommendations. 10. Stop caring what other people think. This should be the no 1 item on the list, but I guess you could say I’ve saved the best for last. This is your fitness journey, no one else’s, so don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter 20. What I’ve learned over the last seven years of owning a CrossFit gym is that no one is judging you. They’re too busy doing their own thing, and most people are really supportive. If you struggle with feeling this insecurity (which is common), then perhaps start working-out at home first. If you’re at a gym, put your earbuds in and tune all the distractions out. Feel good about the progress you’re making and remember no one is judging you as hard as you’re judging yourself. 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: Olesya Oligradska, 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’re anything like the rest of humanity, New Years always bringing a sense of refresh, renewal , & the opportunity to start things off right. Can you guess the most common resolutions? Yes, you guessed it, get in better shape & health through exercise & diet. The first few days are filled with power, release, & willingness to do whatever it takes to feel better. For some, these resolutions become a lifestyle, but let’s be real, 90% of people forget about their resolutions by the middle of January. Why does this happen? I’ve taken a deeper dive and hope that this blog will help to guide you in the right direction to once and for all do what you said you would do . It has come clear to me that as a species, change is the hardest commitment to make. But if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s how to adapt to change. So why do we have such strong resistance to change? Quite honestly, how else do you think we become the top of the food chain on the planet with little strength but a strong thought pattern. The first way we survive is by adapting to our environment, not ourselves. The human body is designed to adapt to our environment and the food we eat. Our brain is so old that it still has its old patterns of gorging over food when it is available and has the ability to release the right chemical during a dangerous situation to survive. But in this day and age, food is radially available, and fighting the stress of traffic has become our danger. Another way we survived is by learning to do the most amount of work for the least amount of effort, so we could do more with less energy. This is why we plateau in fitness. We train the body certain movements, and it gets stronger and more efficient at doing that movement. That is why it’s so important to always be changing up your workouts and challenge your body to step outside its comfort zone, so it has the opportunity to once again get stronger and better. So here is the golden question, how are we ever going to stick to our resolution if these hard-wired human responses are coded into our DNA? We start by changing what we put into our bodies instead of restricting and cutting calories. We constantly change up our workouts so that we are always out of comfort zones challenging our bodies . This way, your body doesn't think it's starving and movement never becomes mastered. This way, your brain gets a chance to relax as it goes into a new way of eating and moving. This way, you are replacing instead of restricting, and like mentioned before, our brain knows how to adapt to a new environment but has a hard time changing it's biologically. This is why diets never work, and your body hits plateaus when you do the same workout all year. Here are some ways to make these environmental changes If you have a sweet tooth, replace these with fruit filled with vitamins & fibers, which our body needs. Fruit fell off the trees, and berries grew low on the ground so that we can have easy access to it to fuel our bodies . If you are big on clean, quick foods, it's time to replace these with whole foods. Veggies, nuts, & clean protein. These are a much better option than a calorie restricting option in the frozen section that claims to be clean. When going to the grocery store, pretend the middle aisles in the store don't exist! Play a little game with yourself and see what kinds of yummy meals you can make with only the food you buy on the outside aisles. When it comes to exercise, 2020 has for sure asked us to become more creative with our exercise. If you have access to a studio’s online platform that offers different types of exercise classes, I encourage you to become a member. This was you always changing your workout environment by having a different instructor and different types of exercise. Youtube is another platform that has an abundance of workouts that are both engaging and challenging. If none of these excite you, let's go back to the basics and start walking. Set a goal for yourself that will not only challenge you but also be good for your heart. And last but not least, creating a new morning ritual that will help challenge you to explore who you are. I can’t say enough about the importance of a morning ritual. It has propelled me and my decision to go into coaching. I started asking myself the hard questions. The questions we never ask ourselves, like who do I really want to be in this world? How do I want to contribute and show up? Who do I want to help? Are my daily tasks leading me to the path that I want to be on? Are the people I surround myself with support and encourage me to follow my crazy dreams? Let’s be honest ; we never put time aside for ourselves where we challenge ourselves with these types of questions. But we need to if we want to live our most authentic life. If we are able to make these shifts in our fitness, food, and mindset, we will become unstoppable. We will be able to stick with what we promised ourselves we would do. While these suggestions are not the perfect fix, they will put you in the right space to work with that hard-wired brain of yours. If you choose these suggestions, I promise you will win every time! The brain doesn't want to be hungry and longs for nutrition filled food. It craves different movements to help keep the physical body strong. It thrives on thoughts filled with positive self-talk , encouragement, & stillness by going inward through meditation. My wish for you is that you find your most authentic self this year! My theme for the next decade is alignment. When we align with what fuels us, we are able to take care of others and our beautiful planet. Happy New Year! Follow me on Instagram and visit my podcast on Apple or Spotify and my website . Read more from Olesya! Olesya Oligradska, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Olesya Oligradska is an exercise rehab specialist turned business and mindset mentor. Her passion lies in helping women rewire their beliefs and reclaim their worth so they can sell and grow their business with confidence. She is on a mission to help women build a life of freedom and choice through holistic growth inside and out. She is also the host of The Soulful Selling Podcast, a platform where sales is no longer a dirty word and abundance gets to be the new norm.

Written by: Debra Abraham, 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 has dawned and is ready to serve us new challenges, opportunities for growth and success! Be poised and ready to respond to your calling with these 5 Mind Clearing Tips to sharpen your mind and stay committed to your goals for the new year. (I recommend doing this activity on your own, but you can also do this with your spouse or someone you consider an accountability partner.) 1. Take stock of your business and life events. Write down significant business and life events you have experienced in the year that has passed. Events that resulted in positive or negative outcomes and even those that remain unresolved. As you traversed through these events then, analyze the measures you undertook, assess the efficacy of your decisions, and if your expectations were met. Also, analyze if these best practices can be duplicated for the new year, or do you need to tweak and make adjustments? 2. Take stock of significant conversations and discussions you have had with people you have met, podcasts you have listened to, vlogs you have watched and books, blogs and articles you have read, once again from the year that has passed. Were you particularly inspired by the ideas featured and want to incorporate these ideas and recommendations into your business/life journey this year? Write down items that piqued your interest, made you think/rethink your choices, and those that inspired you to improve any area of your business and life or seek out a new pursuit. 3. Recall forgotten aspirations - Write down activities, you have constantly wanted to explore, but due to the cares of life, have thrown in the backseat. Whether it is learning a new musical instrument, or writing a book, write it down. 4. Identify and zero in - From the previous activity, you should have an interesting list of things you would like to explore and build upon in the new year and those you would like to discard. Which new pursuits or personal journeys would you like to embark on in the coming year? List down one goal for each area of your life i.e self-improvement, family, health, relationships, finance, business, spiritual etc. Having too many goals at one go can be stressful and overwhelming so go easy on yourself! 5. Reflect on your goals and assess if these truly resonate with your being. Ensure that all your goals are helping you to become the person you want to be and not due to external pressures. Stay true to yourself! Prepare, activate and be ready to execute! “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln Spend time to sharpen your mind and be ready to seize the new year by storm! Follow Rockstarzstudios on Facebook, Instagram and visit Debra's Instagram! Read more from Debra! Debra Abraham, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Debra Abraham, founder of Rockstarz Performing Arts Studios, has been coaching students of all ages to find their identities and be empowered through music. She leads a team of instructors who are skilled at providing music education in a nurturing & student-centered environment, allowing students to boldly express themselves. Currently working on building her online singing community, she believes in empowering people to pursue their dreams, free themselves of limiting beliefs and inspire others through their journey. She aspires to inspire small business owners in the areas of mindset & personal development, which will lead towards positive transformation of themselves and their businesses.

Written by: Suzanne Ellison, 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 we come to the end of what can only be described as a very interesting and unusual year for most people, it wouldn’t be unrealistic for you to think that life in general seems to be out of control. Nothing has really made much sense this year, other than to suggest that Covid-19 has been a catalyst that has led to a chain reaction of innumerable unforeseen changes across the world. When looking at the big picture of life, you can easily become overwhelmed. When this happens, I always suggest reducing your focus down to what is going on in your life, using that as a starting point, and then slowly expanding your awareness out from there. The end of a year is always seen as a time to reflect on what has occurred in your life. What you’ve achieved and what you haven’t, the progress and changes you made or didn’t make. The lessons you learned and how they’ve benefitted you. No matter how well you’ve done, there is always room to improve, and if you didn’t hit your goals, dreams, and desires, then what are you going to do differently going forward so that they can become a reality? Every day is an opportunity to make a fresh start, and you don’t need to wait for a new year. Every moment is your chance to do something different. To reach beyond the known, to tap into your deepest resources and create a future that takes your life to the next level, if that’s what you want. We have no limits, other than the ones we impose on ourselves, so if you do have dreams and desires, the question to ask is…. “What’s holding you back?” “If not now, then when?” When I decided to change my life, I didn’t know where to start. I’d spent 25 years building up a dairy of over 400 cows, which were considered the best of their breed in the country. I manufactured 7 dairy products that were distributed nationally. I also owned a gym and had a small grocery store. There was all the staff that I employed, and 2 daughters still at school, and my marriage to a husband who had no intentions of moving anywhere new. There never seemed to be the right time to close or sell my businesses and move on. But we are the creators of our own reality. Yes, outside influences can affect your plans, but that is the beauty of being the maker of your own reality. You have the blueprint and can change and adapt it as you go along. Every moment is yours to experience differently, whether it’s through your thoughts, your feelings, your actions, or a combination of all three. You are the thinker of your thoughts and control how you want to feel and what actions you want to take. No one can control your thoughts (unless you give them control), so the more passionate you are about what you want, the greater the possibility of achieving the dreams and visions you have. My vision of what I wanted was so real. When I finally started to take the steps that would move me closer to that vision, the people and information I needed would come into my life, and because I knew what I needed, I recognized them for what they were. I didn’t stop to think if I was capable of achieving my vision. I just knew what I wanted. The only restriction or limit I put on myself was an estimated length of time of 5 years to make my vision happen, and in the end, I did it in 3 years. I sold my businesses, moved country and continent, found new schools, a place to live, and a job to keep things ticking over until I knew what it was I wanted to do with my new life. Don’t rinse and recycle old thoughts and ideas. Dig deep within yourself to uncover your greatest desires. Give yourself permission to acknowledge and own them. Your reality is yours to create, but if you don’t know what you want, you won’t recognize the opportunities that show up and move you closer to creating that reality. Don’t hesitate, and procrastinate, don’t over analyze and question. Don’t be a perfectionist. No matter what you do, it will be perfect in the end, because it will be what you want. As all the Guru’s say, imperfect action is better than no action. So if you don’t start now…. then when? You don’t have to break your life up into years, your life is constant and continuous, and even if you don’t make a good start, every day is an opportunity to correct the incorrect and keep moving forward. This may all seem like a big scary concept. Visualizing big dreams and then believing you have the ability to make them real. But is that not what dreams are? Thoughts that become real. You can continue to let life happen to you, or you can take back control of your life and make the decision that the right time to act is now. It can be the most exhilarating and scary feeling because it’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone and creating something new that you’ve never experienced before. How else can you change your life? If you know what to expect or how you’re going to feel, then it’s not going to be a new experience. It’s not about recreating the wheel, and it’s about you creating a new way of thinking and doing things that will give you the results you’re looking for. If you don’t do things differently from what you’ve done in the past, you will continue to miss the mark and not get the results you want. But it’s in doing things differently that creates resistance and procrastination and takes you out of your comfort zone, which is why it never seems to be “the right time.” So now the pressure to start afresh at the beginning of a new year is no longer an issue because every day is your opportunity to tweak, change or correct the path you’re on…. If not now, then when? The truth and reality is that there is no “when,” there is only ever “now.” So are you ready to believe and trust in your ability to change your life in a way that will take you to the next level starting today? Follow me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Suzanne Ellison, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Suzanne Ellison is an energy healing therapist, dedicated to improving the quality of life of people who suffer with chronic pain and anxiety, so they can live life on their own terms.

Written by: Lina Rugova , 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. Every year, businesses face a variety of challenges when it comes to overcoming problems. These may relate to production issues or expansion obstacles. However, small businesses, in particular, go through various obstacles to reach their business objectives. Starting a business may be a big achievement for most aspiring entrepreneurs but keeping up with everyday challenges is even tougher to accomplish. From finding the ideal workforce and dealing with technical glitches to building a credible brand image for the company and adapting to changing technology, problems are endless. What makes things even worse is the challenges continue to change shape and form over time. That means small businesses have to deal with newer challenges every year as per the changes in market demand and the economy, which is troublesome for many considering the industry's vast shifts. A small business that fails to overcome such obstacles is most likely to go out of business or suffer adverse consequences. Therefore, a business must respond to shifts and changes accordingly to maintain the business and expand existing networks as per their business objectives. The thing about these challenges is that they can be unpredictable. Sometimes, no amount of preparation is adequate. In 2020 alone, businesses, in general, had to go over a lot of shifts impacting their cash flow management severely. This article will go over the top 5 challenges small businesses are most likely to encounter in 2021 and beyond. 1. Remote Working As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape our lives and we adjust to the new normal, it has disrupted the livelihood of small businesses to great extents. Employees must adapt to new ways of working in an attempt to withstand market pressure and economic downfall. Organizations worldwide have reverted to the smart way of working, which is by taking advantage of remote working. Thanks to technological developments, larger businesses were quickly able to cope with the situation by asking employees to work from home and engaging in online video conferencing for meetings and more. Small businesses, on the other hand, were slow to adopt this tactic. Most of them lacked strategic thinking to anticipate such a work shift. Some of these businesses were able to make their way out of the struggles, while others had to suffer. Remote working is a relatively smart option considering employees are not expected to arrive at a specific location just to keep up with the formal business environment. While this was a form of working businesses opted for particularly to effectively practice social distancing without causing a hindrance in their business management, the idea has seemingly worked. Currently, businesses are still moving forward with remote working and are doing quite well with their respective operations. So much so that employees are not only used to this new normal but prefer it over the traditional way of working. As for 2021, one of the primary challenges that a business is likely to face is the idea of remote working. Not all companies favor it, as some may find that it does not give the desired results. Meanwhile, others cannot adapt because they lack technical knowledge. To address this small business, have to cope with working from home and develop strategies accordingly that support such factors. On the bright side, remote working can be very effective, and with the right techniques, it can be more advantageous than working in an office. The biggest pros are that on-site costs are non-existent, holding meetings has never been easier, and team members can participate in business operations from anywhere in the world. This allows employees to be more efficient in their work patterns. They feel motivated to contribute to their company. So while it may be a challenge at first, it can be very beneficial for small businesses, especially to engage in such a working method as it reduces costs and promotes efficiency and productivity. It gives more opportunities for these businesses to grow and expand in the future. It is no wonder that even larger businesses are considering increasing the working days in a week as employees continue working remotely. 2. Unemployment Another problem that most industries are facing, in particular, is unemployment. Numerous vulnerable businesses couldn't withstand market pressure or were unable to keep up with the entire situation. Therefore, they shut down their businesses once and for all. Small businesses that were dependent on on-ground operations with minimal market segments to cater to were prominent among those who suffered. Unemployment significantly rose in 2020. To maintain business operations and prevent the business from undergoing huge losses, they had to reduce costs to the bare minimum. This ultimately meant saying goodbye to even some of the most trustworthy and productive members of their workforce. Unfortunately, this is something that companies are still dealing with months later. Client dependence is common, especially with small businesses where most of the business's income comes from a sole client or two to three significant others. With COVID-19, the situation is so unpredictable that even such clients face immense hardships with the economic downfall. This means bad news for the business that was depending on them. The company may lose significant clients, and it could be tough to pick up from that point and cater to other clients to recover losses during this process. Businesses must not only respond to changes quickly but also learn from mistakes. Moreover, they need to move on and develop strategic business plans to address these concerns before the need to shut down operations arises. For 2021, the circumstances do not look any different. Unemployment is still a major concern, and while newer businesses will be open to many options and opportunities in terms of the labor force. At the same time, they will also be looking at an economic recession where even consumers and target markets suffer from effects. This can vary greatly on the kind of business and the target market/income group it has. 3. Technological Updates To further complicate things, technological updates are another factor that businesses must keep up with. It may be ironic to note, but while the pandemic had seized physical business operations, it gave rise to technology developments. These filled the gaps and catered to business operations quite normally. In some cases, they helped make processes more effective. In 2021, we are likely to progress with 2020 still haunting us, and therefore, things will not be as different. Small businesses must devise creative strategies based on technological updates. They should have contingency plans for when they need to respond to new developments. A business that fails to respond to such demands in a working environment is likely to suffer adverse consequences, considering consumers would eventually move on to competitors if they come across a better and suitable option. Technological updates can also be costly in some cases. Therefore, as a small business, you must plan accordingly to ensure you manage your business operations quite smoothly without disrupting production. 4. New Generation of Workers From baby boomers to millennials and generation Z. The new generation of workers in 2021 will be more prominent than ever. This is a cause of concern for most Human Resource departments as they would need to plot which workforce may be beneficial for their company and for the role they were recruiting for. A company that relies solely on a specific generation of workers may be taking a risk. A smarter approach would be to include a dynamic working environment. Such changes will allow them to work collectively in an uprise of newer challenges the company might face. While most HR departments rely on what is in demand and are likely to recruit individuals based on their academic background, finding employees with soft skills is important at this point. From a team player attitude to adaptability, to work ethics and growth mindset, all these factors come into play from an employee possessing soft skills. Sure, academic background and experience are necessary, but soft skills are a bonus. This especially applies to companies working with a dynamic working environment, something we will see in 2021. 5. Newer Marketing Strategies Consumers are now bored with traditional marketing forms from the same brands and are now looking for something different and extra. This mindset has led efficient businesses to adopt some newer and unique methods of marketing their business. Some of these methods include video and written content. Video content continues to attract customers from everywhere, and the best way to make use of it is through social media apps and platforms. Not to mention, a significant portion of the target markets are likely to go over video advertisements while they casually get through with their day as they scroll on their smartphone. They are also more likely to notice it than chunky billboards and infographics that block the screen. Written content is just as effective; customers are now buying the idea of companies enlightening them about their customers about their products and why they may need it. It is the perfect strategy to showcase the importance and impact a single product can bring to your life. Therefore, smaller businesses have to develop business plans every year and look at various marketing forms to attract customers from everywhere. A quick response to changes that we may see in 2021 is likely to be safe from the adverse impacts it could have over one that is unable to do so. With new entrepreneurs stepping in and taking initiatives, businesses like these must maintain their operations by thoroughly plotting their business objectives and action plan. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more information! Lina Rugova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lina G. Rugova is a growth strategist, consultant, and coach who teaches business owners how to re-engineer and scale their businesses to the next level by creating a strong market-dominating position. She helps clients address their weak areas, build a personalized development plan, and execute their new high-performing business and marketing strategy with confidence and clarity. Her mission is to change the statistics of those small businesses that fail within the first year.