Written by: Diana Noble, 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. When growing up, I distinctly remember if I learned a word for the first time, suddenly I would hear it everywhere. As an adult, I’ve discovered this isn’t something isolated to my experience alone. It’s actually known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon (AKA frequency illusion). Little did I know at the tender age of 8 that this was actually a thing. The older I got, the more I noticed this coincidental occurrence popping up in other areas of my life. When my parents bought a Pontiac Sunfire when I was 11, all of a sudden, I noticed Pontiac Sunfires everywhere as if it was the only type of vehicle anyone drove on the road. I’m sure you’ve noticed this kind of experience– also referred to as selective attention – in your life too, where suddenly your awareness plays a huge part in what you consciously see around you. That’s exactly how I feel about one specific word that has been beating me over the head at every turn in 2020. That word? Consistency! In every workshop I’ve attended, presentation I’ve watched, or training seminar I’ve been to, the word “consistency” has reared its ugly head as a bit of a wake-up call to this self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur. Even my own Coach uttered these 4 syllables to me when we first began working together earlier this year. As someone with a touch of ADHD who has bounced from one idea to the next for the last decade of being in business, consistency is one of those elusive ideals I’ve previously shied away from until now. Not because I don’t believe in it, but instead as a defense mechanism used to prevent myself from getting too bored. The fact is, though, that consistency is the one ingredient that will take your business from wherever it is now to wherever you want it to be in the future, and that logic can’t be denied. This one ideal will bring results to your business (and life) like none else. If you already knew that, just consider this a bit of a refresher. Ever wonder why subscription boxes are so popular? (You mean I don't have to think about what I need to make for dinner 4 nights a week because it just comes to my door every Monday? I'm in!) It’s all about consistency! Here's 4 reasons why you need to add the word “consistency” to your vocabulary and daily practice if you’re a business owner: 1. When you consistently show up, your customers/clients know what to expect. When you consistently deliver efficient products and services, people praise you. This is so important in business. Nothing can ruin a reputation more than unmet customer expectations. In this day and age where anyone can add a review to your Facebook page or give you a 1-star rating on Google at the click of a button, you want to make sure your customers are happy and being consistent in your business when it comes to serving the people who keep it going is huge! 2. Being consistent saves time, and in business, we all know time is money. When you get really good at doing what you do because you do it consistently each time, those tasks and workflows become part of your autopilot, meaning less time and energy are needed. This frees up your resources so you can focus on growing your business. 3. Consistency allows you to have a basis of measurement. For example, if you’re testing out a new system but the actions aren’t performed consistently, how will you ever know if your new methods work? Short answer – you won’t! 4. There’s a psychological component of consistency when it comes to accountability. If people rely on your consistent performance, you sure don’t want to let them down. Just like that subscription box – if your customers expect it to be delivered on Monday, then you better make sure they get their box on Monday. Accountability is doing what you say you’re going to do, and it’s really hard to do that without being consistent. And, when you consistently take out the trash every Wednesday night, your wife doesn't secretly curse you Thursday morning when she hears the garbage truck roll by your house NOT taking your garbage. Okay, I admit, that was a personal example (love you hunni!), but it is another anecdotal demonstration of how important consistency is as a whole, in life and business! The question you have to ask yourself is, are you consistent or consistently inconsistent? If it’s the latter, then find one area of your business where you can make improvements and take it one small step at a time. Remember, a million small steps turn into one giant leap over time. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Diana Noble, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Diana Noble is a serial entrepreneur quadrupling as an ICF Certified Business and Leadership Coach & Consultant. Having owned and operated 5 businesses in the past decade, one of which sold in 2019 and the other 4 she still runs today, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience in business and now helps other business owners take a 360° view of their business to address gaps between where they are and where they want to be. As a community business leader, she has been recognized for many awards including Top 40 under 40, Top 50 under 50, Woman of Inspiration, Outstanding Media Services Award and many others. She has a multi-faceted approach to business and leadership, and clients who work with her feel like they, too, can take on the world! Through her own actions, she has proven that if you want something badly enough, you CAN have it, and she is incredibly passionate about helping entrepreneurs and leaders realize the same.

Written by: Rita Hurry, 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. To begin or not to begin? Is this something that you are asking yourself? Do you find that some days you are ready to go for it, and other days you just can’t seem to get motivated and rather hang out in the land of doubts than take action? Many potential Business Owners and Entrepreneurs have battled with this question over time, and when age plays a factor, the doubts begin to increase. But why should these change things? The older you get, the wiser you become. It’s not a negative. It is actually a positive. Many start when they are older and become a huge success in their careers. I am in my 40’s and opportunities have fallen into my lap now more than ever, and with each year, as I grow older, I am trying more and more new and exciting things and expanding my business each time. The key to moving out of the ‘begin or not to begin’ phase is to take your focus off the age factor and the thing that is the reason for the doubts and connect to the feeling. How do you feel when you think about taking action? Is there an element of excitement at the thought of doing it? Or are you filled with even more doubt? If money or age was not why you held yourself back from taking action, would you go for it? What do you have to do to make it happen? Asking yourself these questions and connect to how you feel. You want to get out of your head and into your heart. What feels good to you? Many creatives who I have worked with and who I have interviewed always share that the main element of their success has always been when they enjoy what they do and place that as a priority. This frees their dependency on the result and brings an energy of optimism to the task and less anxiety placed on the result. This is a great approach to making career decisions and life in general. When we place so much expectation on the result, the stress of the outcome can overtake the enjoyment of the task and therefore replace excitement with fear. Fear only holds us in doubt longer and keeps us stuck in the should I/shouldn’t I stage. Feeling Good Feeling good is your key to getting out of the stuck and uncertain phase. When you connect to that feel-good aspect, you know you have embarked on something that lifts your soul and ignites you from within. All good decisions are made from this feeling. It helps you reconnect to who you truly are and what you truly want from life. Our internal guidance is the compass of life. Learn to trust it, and by doing so, you’ll chase the cobwebs of doubt away and realize that it’s never too late to start or begin again. Your future is in your choices, so trust your choices and trust your feelings…they will never let you down. Visit me on my Facebook, Instagram, Podcast, and Website! Read more from Rita! Rita Hurry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Rita´s mission is to help individuals in the Creative Arts, Media, Music, and Film Industry, believe in their dreams and never give up on making them come true. Making the impossible - I'm Possible. She began Life Coaching in 2003 and has never looked back since. She is a great believer in Personal Development and Mindfulness work, whether it is practically or spiritually. Rita is a Subject Matter Expert in Law of Attraction & Flow Coaching, Mindfulness & Meditation, Business as well as Nirvana Fitness and Energy Healing. She was awarded Best Law Of Attraction Coach in 2015. She has coached many clients across different professions. For example, CEOs and Entrepreneurs; Casting Agents; Actors; Singers; Musicians; Authors; Artists; DJs; and so many more across the globe and nationwide, including those working in the education industry. She currently is the co-founder of RIME Entertainment and co-hosts and co-produces an online Interview Show called RIME Entertainment Showcase, where she and her co-host interview people from all over the globe who have overcome hurdles in life and are now fulfilling and living their dream.

Written by: Maggie Robinson, 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. Your customer journey is the route your customers take from thinking about purchasing to the moment they receive your product or service. With Christmas around the corner and more people looking to avoid shopping in person, getting your online customer journey sorted now could make it a merry Christmas all around. It seems obvious that you want to make the customer journey as simple as possible for your customers. But in reality, it’s often overlooked as business owners concentrate on their own processes and experiences. For example, your website might have a great system for letting you know about orders and stock levels, but for your customer, it may be clumsy and time-consuming. Putting obstacles in the way of the purchase makes it more likely your customer will give up and go elsewhere, but understanding your customer journey means you can spot potential problems and make the process quicker and easier for your customer. Understanding your customer journey To get a true understanding of your customer journey, you need to put yourself in their place. Hopefully, you already have a good idea of who your ideal customer is, so you should know or be able to find out how they’re likely to buy. Think about whether it’s likely to be a planned purchase or an impulse buy. Do they use a computer, or a phone or tablet? What time are they likely to be browsing? All this and more will inform your customer journey. But the customer journey starts even earlier than this. What is it that makes your ideal customer think about making a purchase? Is it something they buy regularly, do they need to solve a problem, is it a luxury product? Whatever the reason, you need to make sure you’re at the right place at the right time to catch them when they move to make that purchase. Taking actions such as working on your website SEO, for example, can help to put your name in front of your customer when they’re looking to solve that problem, so you’re the one they go to for their solution. Getting to your website isn’t the end of it. You may think that once your customer has reached your website, the deal is almost done, but that’s not the case. The internet has made it easier to compare products and services than ever before – people even price check on their phone while standing in front of a product in a shop. Once your customer has found you, you need to make the process of buying as quick and easy as you can. As well as making it a more enjoyable experience for your customer, it also means there’s less chance of them abandoning their purchase and looking elsewhere – something that happens between 60% and 80% of purchases for most online retailers. This is particularly relevant now, as coronavirus procedures have forced many businesses to change how they do things. Those businesses that have made things clear and simple for their customers seem to be the ones faring better. Businesses that have made it difficult for customers have suffered – life is complicated enough right now. People don’t want more problems to overcome and will simply go elsewhere. Common hurdles in the customer journey While it’s impossible to know exactly what is going on in your customer's mind, you can get a good idea of possible problems by examining how your customers behave. For example, if you have lots of customers adding items to their basket, but abandoning at checkout, maybe your shipping costs are off-putting? If people browse your site but don’t buy, perhaps you’re not competitive enough or aren’t providing enough information about your products. How to identify and solve these problems As mentioned above, you need to put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Let’s take the example of a business selling baby clothes online. A primary customer persona would be new parents – they need to buy new clothes for their baby, but have lots of choice. Their motivation is necessary, but many other factors come into it – price, quality, look, and sizing. This business needs to make it easy to see what the clothes look like, which price bracket they’re in, what the clothes are made of and how they fit. For example, children’s clothes can be sold by age or by size in cm. Depending on where your customer is based, they may not have the time or inclination to make the conversion themselves. If someone is looking for clothes for a newborn and the website is full of pictures of toddlers and young children, the parents may assume that the site has nothing for them and leave before they even get to the clothes. On the other hand, another customer persona could be grandparents looking to buy gifts. This group has a different motivation. They want to provide a ‘treat,’ so they may be willing to take more time sifting through options and making their choices. The best way to find out what is happening is by going through each customer journey, step-by-step. Traditionally, this was a nice, simple process, also referred to as the marketing funnel: Awareness > Interest > Desire > Action There have been lots of iterations of this over time, but it works on the assumption that customers follow a set process. However, the increase in online shops has changed our shopping habits, and that simple process can now look like a spider’s web, including things like website visits, social media recommendations, influencer suggestions, wish lists, in-person visits with various paths and repetitions in a single customer’s journey. Making sense of the spider’s web It can feel like tracking your customer journey is an impossible task, but there are many ways to tackle noting all the interactions and decision-making points a particular customer encounters. Once you’ve done this, you should be able to see the steps in your particular journey, which could be putting people off buying from you. If you struggle to see things from another perspective or need help in identifying those custo mers and the potential sticking points in their journey, a marketing expert will be able to help . Contact Smart Thinking Consultancy or email Maggie . Follow her on Twitter & LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Maggie ! Maggie Robinson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maggie Robinson is the founder of Smart Thinking Consultancy and works with businesses across the UK, supporting their digital and traditional marketing needs. Maggie’s all-around approach allows businesses to benefit from her knowledge and experience of all aspects of marketing, rather than being tied to just one activity. From website health checks to Google ads, brand awareness to marketing campaigns, Smart Thinking Consultancy can help your business achieve its goals. Whether you need one-off assistance with a single aspect of your marketing or a full, cohesive strategy, Maggie has the knowledge and experience you need. Maggie is a former South West board member and current Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She has worked with well-known household brands as well as many small to medium-sized companies.

Written by: Michelle DiMuria, 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. Warning: Possible Triggers “Michelle, you’ve been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” Words that continue to haunt me to this day. 2017 was not my year! I was a woman who had just been diagnosed with PTSD, and I was a victim of sexual assault. It was a lot to take in; I was overwhelmed, to say the least. So many feelings and emotions ran through my mind. All I wanted to do was run and hide. Disappear into the darkness, and that is exactly what I did. Shortly after my diagnosis, I began to share my story with some of my closest friends. Their reaction hit me like a ton of bricks. “You’re crazy! I can’t be friends with you anymore.” I could not believe what I was hearing. They were supposed to be my friends. How could they turn their backs on me? I was broken, simple as that! The only thing that made sense at the time was suicide. My mind was made up; everyone would be better off without me. Writing three letters, I placed them next to me as I sat on my bed with a handful of pills. I can still remember how those pills felt, in my hands. I felt at peace and I was ready for the next step. I just wanted the pain to go away. The vivid images of what happened to me when I was rape. But my time here was not done, and my guardian angel saved me. I knew I had a long road ahead, but I was ready. My PTSD would not define who I was. So how did I overcome some of the obstacles in my life? I build a roadmap! 1. Journal – You would be surprised how beneficial journaling is. I have been journaling since 2017, two to three times a day. Depending on what is going on in my life and if I am struggling. One of my favorite starters is, “Today I am grateful for….” And you can create a journal of your own or buy a journal and make it your own. I buy plain ones and decorate them. 2. Rewards – Reward yourself! It is important to take time and recognize all that you have accomplished. My rewards include: Peanut Butter M&M’s, binge-watching Chicago Fire, The Resident, and of course, all the Marvel movies. I am a huge comic book fan. Fun fact, I wrote my very first comic book this year! Other rewards include buying something I have saved up for, having a cheat day (In-and-Out Double Double with animal fries), and watching my all-time favorite movie, The Sound of Music. 3. Self-Care Days –These are so important in my roadmap. My self-care days consist of Lavender Oil in my diffuser, watching the Arizona Cardinals during football season. There is just something about yelling at the TV that is so therapeutic. My phone is on silent, and my full attention is on the game. The ONLY time I will check my phone is if my mom is bringing pizza and wings. It is a football tradition and one that I love. Other self-care days include soaking my feet in lavender Epson salt, watching Hallmark Christmas movies when they come on throughout the year, and drinking delicious green tea and/or black tea. It depends on my mood and if I have had a bad PTSD episode. 4. Educate – I have created a workshop called “Through the Eyes of a Survivor.” An hour-long workshop that shares my own personal civilian insight into what it is like being a survivor of rape. I share my own personal tips and tools that work for me. It is a huge part of my healing process. I want people to understand what it is like for someone who has been raped. I do not share graphic details about what happened to me, but I do share the impact it has had on my life—both personally and professionally. 5. Support System – My support system is amazing, and I am so lucky. You can create any type of support system that works best for you. For me, I have a three-tier system. The top tier consists of 10 people. Those ten people, I call my “emergency” contacts. That does not mean it is an actual emergency, it simply means they are always there no matter what. They check-in, they are there when I need someone to talk to, they help me through an episode and make sure I am okay after I share my story. The second tier is my backup if I need some extra assistance. This usually happens when my PTSD episodes are bad. And finally, my third tier, a group of people I reach out to when I just need a little encouragement. My advice to anyone who is reading this, build a roadmap that works for you. This does not even begin to scratch the surface of what my roadmap looks like. My roadmap has 30 different “stops.” Each help me in a different way, depending on my situation and if I have any roadblocks in the way. Never be afraid to ask for help! I have a group of men and women that I reach out to. They are part of my BEE Squad! They help me both personally and professionally. What makes them different from my support group? They help me on the professional side when it comes to bouncing ideas off them, how to handle situations if I sometimes need due to having a bad PTSD episode or just need some guidance. Remember, we are all human beings, and our mental illness does not define who we are. The famous saying, “time heals old wounds!” And it does, I genuinely believe that. Here I am running my own foundation that focuses on the civilian side of mental health. I am creating an online platform for 2021 and enjoying life. Excited for what is to come in 2021, and I am excited to have you on this journey with me. For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Michelle DiMuria, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle DiMuria, is a survivor of rape and the founder and CEO of the BEE Daring Foundation. Graduating with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice (2016) and a Master’s of Criminal Justice in 2017. After being Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in 2017, Michelle contemplated suicide. Shortly, after her guardian angel saved her, Michelle realized her calling in life. Creating her foundation sooner than later. The BEE Daring Foundation focuses on the civilian side of mental health, providing workshops, resources, events, and more. Launching her own digital mental health magazine, Michelle has crossed paths with over 6,000 people. This year, Michelle launched her podcast BEE Real and self-published her first comic book! Michelle’s goal, to eradicate these stigmas that surround mental health.

Written by: Tom & Ania Yatar, 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 path towards abundance is a subtle dance between pushing and allowing, between striving and surrendering, between taking action and letting go. Your mindset towards money is fundamental when you want to create more income and achieve financial freedom. When it comes to surrendering, you let go of the need to succeed and control the outcome, and instead, you trust that all the resources you need will come to you in their divine timing. Surrender isn't about giving up, giving power over, or losing. It is not waving the white flag of failure. Each one of us, at a point, strived and tried so hard to achieve a specific outcome than anything else seemed like defeat. Well, it isn't. Surrender is the climax of developed and knowledgeable behavior. Surrender is the beautiful space of acceptance and letting go. It is allowing—allowing for life to unfold in front of you exactly how it's supposed to. No matter what alternator motives, expectations, or agendas you might have had. It's that arms-wide-open energy goes down to only one thing. And that is trust. Putting your complete trust in the Universe that you know you will be ok no matter what happens. The current situation might not be perfect or going according to your plan, but know that everything is going to turn out exactly how it's supposed to for your highest good. To download your FREE Abundance Meditation go here. Why do we want to give in to surrender? Because this is how we get our way. When we surrender, this is when we can experience real freedom. Free from our limiting beliefs, negative talk, drama, emotional blocks, all the stuff that is stuck within ourselves that is not allowing us to transform and be our highest potential. This will prevent you from reaching your goals and living an extraordinary life. At first, it might be hard. There will be a lot of resistance. But focus on your goals and your surrender. Eventually, it will happen, and it will take over your body completely. Let go. Let go. Let go. You will discover you're slowly surrendering without even knowing. Once you surrender, you will be ready to receive, ultimately able to manifest the life that you desire. You will be open and willing to embrace these new changes with a completely free heart and be able to take anything that comes your way. , If we want to understand surrender, we need to look at its opposite. Control To be obsessed with control means that you lack faith in the ability of the Universe to provide for your needs. Those who want to always be in control act from profound scarcity, which they want to replenish with the need to manipulate the environment around them. However, the concept of control is illusory and blind since we have way too little control over the vastness of the Universe. The only things we can control are our thoughts and actions, and attempting to go beyond those is relatively futile and not realistic. To cooperate with the Universe, we must learn to surrender and let go. To accept our vulnerability and impermanence and trust that everything works according to our greatest good. So How Do We Surrender? There are three different ways that we can grow to the point of surrender: Lack of Control Sometimes you wonder if you would change or leave a negative situation that is happening right now. When the answer is no, you feel like you have your definite answer. Most of the time, we have no control of the situation, but we control how we choose to act over the crisis. Are we upset? Angry? Sad? Or do we look on the bright side and give gratitude? How you act is surrendering. Enhance your manifestations with this jaw-dropping Law of Attraction routine. When Things Fall Apart You had a death in the family. Your website crashed. Your car got hit. This all feels like everything is always going wrong. This is an opportunity for you to surrender, whether you realize it or not. If you don't recognize these actions, then you're going to go down that spiral. Instead of trying to fight it, perhaps a deep breath and a reminder to trust will throw you securely into the arms of surrender—a more calm response. Things fall apart because we need to learn to work with the chaos of uncertainty and because we need to understand the important lesson of trust. A calm mind is the result of secure confidence in the Universe. When you have faith that things will work out, you are not shaken when a crisis shows up. Instead, you let go of your need to understand what is happening and surrender to things' natural flow. The problem will disappear in the same way that it has appeared in your life. You are strong enough to withstand any chaotic situation, and you have all the tools you need to overcome it. By Choice Through intuition, our mental state, personal development, we invite surrender in. But we have to choose to see reality as surrender and notice it when it is in front of us. Surrender is a form of letting go of the energy that you can not control. When we surrender our control, we step out of the way and allow the Universe to guide us to where we're supposed to go. We also tell the Universe that we are ready to receive. Tap into the abundant possibilities available to us, and manifest the life you desire with no restrictions. Energy flows where attention goes, so open up and set yourself Free! Trying to control the world around you is a waste of energy - instead, learn to let and accept that we are tiny particles in an expansive universe. We can take care of our thoughts and actions and leave the rest to the Universe. To let go of the need to control the world around means to connect to your inner grace and wisdom. And when we are in class, we manifest things from a place of inner peace and profound acceptance. A still heart is mighty and can create more miracles than a noisy mind. Therefore, let your heart be still and surrender to the Universe, knowing that everything will fall into its place in its divine timing. You have everything you need to thrive and flourish in the world. Join our FREE Facebook group of Vibrational Manifestors here. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and visit our website for more freebies! Read more from Tom & Ania! Tom & Ania Yatar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tom & Ania Yatar are world travelers who have helped thousands of people attract financial wealth, mental & emotional health, perfect physical health, relational and spiritual wealth. We both started out working jobs that left us living paycheck to paycheck, exhausted and worn out. We were only able to dream that we’d ever get to live the lives we truly wanted, longing for the freedom to live life on our own terms, and time to enjoy life to the fullest. Individually we each set out creating our own businesses and learning new skills, where eventually, we both came to understand the importance of mindset and its effect on our businesses. The way we created consistency in our marketing and the abundance mindset for ourselves is the exact same methods we teach to our students now. This is what Vibrational Wealth is all about.

Written by: Miriam Grunhaus, 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 estimated that more than ten million people experience domestic violence in the United States alone each year. Multiply that by the kids who witness parents abuse, and we have a catastrophe in our hands. The pandemic has exponentially raised these numbers, and unless we do something about it, next year, these numbers will be a fraction of the reality. Strong women also fall prey to cowards who don’t know how to treat a lady, and somewhere up the line, we have missed the mark on how to raise our sons in a way we can be proud of. I have four daughters. I vividly remember giving a speech at the celebration of my youngest birth. I was sharing how happy I was to have a fourth daughter, despite so many friends who wished upon me to have a son when I was pregnant for the fourth time, I secretly wanted another little girl. I was so incredibly joyous to be carrying a daughter because of what it meant. I knew I was carrying a mother; I was carrying another queen; I was carrying the future. She would be strong to care for her family and would be independent of having the life of her dreams. She would be strong, resilient, and determined to achieve what she desired. I was so proud of the women I was raising. Of the princesses who would turn into a queen. When beautiful, multi-talented, and gifted, Shakyra fell in love; she thought she had found her soulmate and life would begin… she didn’t know that the following years would prove to be the most challenging of her life, breaking her soul, breaking her spirit. She was the owner of the first black woman-owned bakery in Key Biscayne. It was thriving, growing, and satiating the sweet tooth of the South Florida community. But the one who was supposed to be her cheerleader, the one who was supposed to be proud of her, was becoming more and more enraged. He pulls the rug from under her, saying that they would move to a place where they could start over, live an island life where they would better raise their very young son. It would also be far from her business, from where she was thriving, and she would need to start all over again. But she wanted to believe in him, and she tried to make the family work; she was in love and couldn’t accept that the intentions were far from pure. Island life was very different from the dreams she had. The abuse continued, but little did she know that the love of her life had become a person she couldn’t recognize, a life of illegal activities, using her good name to further his goals, she was truly blinded by her dreams. Shakyra tried to raise her baby in the sun until she realized that it was a matter of life and death, and they would need to escape. Carefully planning, she would have to wait for the right time to make a move. When the right time came, it was rushed, it was urgent, it was miraculous. By the time she sat on that fateful Jet Blue flight, with her baby, without any of her belongings, she knew she could finally take a deep breath. They were safe. Stories such as Shakyra’s is hard to share. If we put ourselves in all the “Shakyra’s” shoes, it is hard to process how the person who vowed to care and protect for their beloved are, too often, the ones who actually hurt them physically, emotionally and even spiritually. Our homes are no longer a sanctuary but places of torment and discord. It is time that we do a better job. We must up-level how we raise our families to ensure we are raising good, loving, and caring humans. It is time to introspect and make some real changes. For all of the Shakyra that deserve better! Photo: Bettina Avila @bettinaavila Model: Shakyra LaShae @shakyralashae For more information, follow Miriam on Instagram and visit her website! Read more from Miriam! Miriam Grunhaus, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Miriam Grunhaus is an Author and Fashion Designer of Mikah Fashion www.mikahfashion.com. Miriam’s first book, Heal with Gold www.healwithgold.com/book, is available at http://bit.ly/HealwithGold. Her follow up course, Heal with Gold, will be out before the end of the year. To find out more about her you can reach out to sales@mikahfashion.com Miriam’s clothing line is inspired by Kintsugi. Kintsugi in Japanese means golden Joinery. It is also known as Kintsukuroi (金繕い, “golden repair”). This is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

Written by: Natasha Choat, 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 has been the year of changes in so many ways. The world, as we know it, is changing. Careers that were once deemed to be lifelong choices are disappearing almost daily. As countries and states continue to close borders, people’s livelihoods are in the balance. We learn that exchanging our time for money (active income) is no longer a safe option and that we need to be open to new opportunities to earn an income. So, what is residual income? Residual income allows you to increase your wealth passively by earning money while you eat, sleep, watch Netflix and spend time with your family. With the availability of social media and other online platforms, finding an opportunity for residual income is easier than ever before. Residual income refers to money that you continue to generate after the initial works is done. There are many options to generate alternative income; however, most are much more time-intensive than others. When you earn residual income, you aren’t required to be present or involved to still receive an income. While there is an ease that comes from having residual income, there is still an element of work required; however, the time invested is significantly less than with active sources of income. Jim Rohn is famous for saying: “I’m working full-time on my job and part-time on my fortune. But it won’t be long before I’m working full-time on my fortune. Can you imagine what my life will look like?” My question for you is: Can you imagine what your life will look like? For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and join my Facebook Group! Natasha Choat, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natasha Choat is a leading Non-toxic Lifestyle Coach, entrepreneur, and former Human Resources professional. Her passion comes from her son being diagnosed with eczema and anaphylaxis and the link between the products we use every day in our homes. Natasha cares about your health and your wellness and her mission is to help people make the switch to a non-toxic living lifestyle, help with today’s biggest health issues and earn a residual income.

Written by: Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Sharing food has always been apart of human history. As referenced in the Bible, we gather and break bread together to forge relationships and build memories with loved ones around food. Food is used to celebrate holidays, life, and joy. Sitting around the table is a place of memory where we relive our youth and the types of foods that live on through stories of our lives. We all remember those foods like when grandma made liver or when we would try and sneak the dog our vegetables under the table. It brings us back to a time of place and emotion. The ritual of family dinner began in the mid 19th century when the dining table was created. Dinnertime was a time for the family to gather as one, communicate and build relationships. Parents during this time educated children on religion, conversation, and table manners. Today the ritual of family dinner had changed. With both parents working, everyone now at home, and constant technology distractions, more people are eating solo, eating standing up, and relying on processed foods to fuel their bodies. Meals are becoming less and less about gathering around the table, so many sales of tables have decreased by 30% in the past few years. So what can we do today to bring back family meals and eating healthier at home? First off, we can start by cooking whole real food meals at home. The less processed foods and more whole foods we put in our bodies, the more our lives will thrive. It does not need to be fancy; it can simply be a one-pot meal or a sheet pan-roasted chicken dinner with vegetables. Being organized is key, and knowing what is in your pantry and fridge will lead to family dinner success. Get the whole family involved have kids help plan and prepare the meal. Do themed meal nights and explore different cultures and cuisines. Serve meals family style and even have a picnic outside. Make it fun. There are sixteen opportunities a week to have family meals and build healthy memories around food that last a lifetime. Eating at home will build healthy relationships and also build healthy minds and bodies. Studies have shown that eating home-cooked meals maintain weight, improve sleep and decrease consumption of processed foods. It’s especially imperative for children. Homemade meals help children build self-esteem, reduce mental health, bring more communication, and make weight control easier into adulthood. The more children are involved in making and serving the meal, the more likely they are to eat more nutritious foods. It also allows them to be creative. Learn about foods they love and build deeper bonds with those around them. No matter if it is one day a week or all seven, try and make family dinner a priority to bring love, joy, and delicious foods back to the dinner table — one table, one chair, and one bite at a time. For more information, follow me on Instagram and visit my website! Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Danielle Christy is a holistic health coach, and self-taught personal chef, dedicated to helping families and people around the world stop feeling overwhelmed with healthy cooking, by showing and coaching them on how to stock their kitchens with healthy ingredients, meal plan and get back to having family meals again. Danielle holds a BA in Hospitality from Northern Arizona University and Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has helped families of all shapes and sizes, create and establish a concrete strategy to ultimate health through learning what individually works for them and using whole real food as the medicine of life.

Written by: Desiree Bolin, 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. Who is the best fit? With numerous factors to consider, it’s tricky navigating the sea of qualified & unqualified applicants. I wanted to take a moment to fill your arsenal with tactics that work when it comes to hiring. Feel free to shoot them down, but don’t be afraid to implement them. I’ve seen them work first hand. Culture Consider, before you actually begin the process, looking within your company at the current culture. The last thing you want is chaos & disruption to workflows. The wrong team member can throw a wrench into the entire plan. Survey your team to gain a clear understanding of how your team functions & find out what is missing. Predictive Index analysis – both behavioral & cognitive – can also be highly beneficial to culture clarity. Competency As you begin to initiate the hiring process, an in-depth knowledge of your tech stack is essential to clearly define the competencies that any new hire should have. For full comprehension, you should analyze it in its entirety to ensure maximum efficacy. Too many changes at once can also be highly disruptive to the company’s flow. You have to have total cognizance of what your company is using to hire confidently & ensure competency in the correct areas. Experience Most companies won’t “go green” for the hiring process. Unless your company is that rare gem, professional background is an important factor to consider. However, considering someone’s educational background can be just as effective for experience and might even save you money. Ideally, before interviewing, you will have the Scope of Work (SOW) & Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for each position available. Also, transparent descriptions of the role(s) you are attempting to fill, along with accurate requirements & responsibilities, are essential to ensure the first round of interviewees are qualified candidates. This will save you an immeasurable amount of time during the process. Mindset This consideration ties into the cohesiveness that exists with your current team members. One person with the wrong mindset can detrimentally damage workflows and relationships. Say you’ve found a candidate both competent & experienced enough to handle the profession. Now you should conduct a thorough qualitative interview to determine how that potential would handle certain situations. For even more insight, record the interview and have a deep analysis done prior to making any decisions. You may even consider a round-robin type team interview, where your current team becomes involved with the interview process. This can be invaluable feedback since they will be working closely with any new hire. Methodologies Last but certainly not least, the working style of any entrant is, again, essential. People all have a different way of accomplishing tasks / overcoming obstacles. Some of these styles will be more compatible than others. During the interview proceedings, ask if they prefer constant or intermittent collaboration, a boisterous or tranquil working environment, a lackadaisical or hurried air around deadlines & turn around times. Rapid-fire, qualitative questions that are unexpected, such as these, will be the most telling of your new superstar. I endeavor to ensure that you step away with some novel ideas & that you choose to implement some (or all, I won’t be upset) of these thoughts. As you know, decisions like these are among the hardest to make. Your judgment will not only shape one person but multiple. Because of this, management positions are often refuted due to the inevitability of confrontations that come with them. There are a few things that you should keep in mind. You were chosen. Your deliverance is valued. Be strong, but be armed. Be proud. You are perfecting the process. For more information, follow Desiree on Facebook , Instagram and visit her website ! Read more from Desiree ! Desiree Bolin, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Desiree Bolin is a highly recommended EVA and OBM, passionate about helping business owners and C-level executives create repeatable, scalable processes that have never failed to decrease stress and overwhelm. With no heavy lifting required, she will help you drive change and growth within your organization. She has helped companies of many different industries and structures attain exponential success. She will continue to provide high-level support and friendship to all who need her.

Written by: Lynn MacDonald, 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. Magic tricks always seem to amaze me. Being an observant and watching with wonder can feel so bewildering and exciting at the same time. I gasp while watching with a keen eye when the assistant willingly enters into a box and the magician carefully slides swords that pierce through the opposite end. The magician opens the box, and the person pops out unscathed, smiling and waving, of course. Wink! The illusionary nature of magic, the best-kept secret that keeps you curious as you watch in amazement as though it’s real. Speaking of secrets, I have a secret. It’s what no one tells you. It isn’t anyone’s fault. Most people simply don’t know it. They aren’t aware of it. As always, we don’t know what we don’t know until we do. It’s hidden ; no one talks about it. It’s unbelievable, a miracle, actually revolutionary, in my opinion. This secret comes with tremendous unlimited benefits. It’s like hitting the lottery! Metaphorically speaking, of course. I must confess, I feel like I’ve struck gold with this secret. I can no longer hide it. It’s a tragedy that more people aren’t aware of it. If they were, more people would thrive living in their innate mental health, living their dreams, having their desired prosperous business, etc. Oh! Before I forget, non-serving habits would fade naturally. Yes, it’s that potent. It actually has the potential to transform the world, one person at a time. I describe it for me as though I’ve gotten astonishing amounts of freedom. Awakening genuine, authentic innate feelings of happiness, joy, peace, calm, contentment, wisdom, resilience, confidence, courage, creativity, enthusiasm, love, and understanding. The list doesn’t stop there, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. I know you will be perplexed and doubtful at first as you innocently initially go straight to the intellect to try to analyze and figure it out. No worries, you’re in good company. I did too, and my clients did too. You see, it’s a matter of the heart. As you know, knowing something from an intellectual level doesn’t have the power to transform your life. Just like that magic trick. I know when you gain your very own insights and realizations, you’ll have the keys to the illusion. You will no longer feel stuck and wondering, “How do I become more motivated?”, “How do I have less stress?”, “How do I stop hearing sugar call my name?”, “How do I have a better relationship with money?”, “How do I become more confident and procrastinate less?”, and “How do I stop feeling anxious?” Those big scandalous questions fade when you see that you too were living an illusion. Simply because of a misunderstanding of where your experience of life comes from. It’s through this misunderstanding you felt stuck, like something was missing, lacking, or wrong. Secretly, you’ve been overconsuming self-help books, free webinars, and googling to find out the mystical, magical questions. You know the “magic formula.” I’m curious, do you know where your experience of life comes from? Have you had a situation in your life where you responded very differently than someone else in the same situation? Do you feel happy on a sunny beautiful day but moments later feel sad? Do you wake up one day so excited then the next morning feeling overwhelmed and absolutely nothing in your life changed? Did you go through a difficult situation in your life feeling upset one minute, then later laughing with friends? As you continue your reading journey here, these questions will become crystal clear! I won’t keep you in suspense. Allow me to pull back the curtain just a bit so you can see some light. I will share what I have come to see by understanding through insights and realizations how our experience of life is created. I must warn you. It’s nothing like you’ve been living. I’ve come to see from a new level of understanding that my feelings give me absolutely zero information about my past, future, lacking confidence, money, weight, bank account, procrastination, imposture syndrome, things I haven’t done yet, my relationships, sugar, “difficult people,” habits etc. I know, a shocker! What? Feeling simply give me real-time feedback to the quality level of thinking I'm in at any given moment. That's it. There's nothing to analyze or figure out. I’ve come to see when I have a craving, when I don’t feel confident, or when I feel depressed. It’s because I believe my thinking in that moment to be true. The feelings I am experiencing are a result of my thinking. It doesn’t mean I have to feel like something is wrong. It’s simply coming from how I am using the power of thought, my psychology, in any given moment. Here’s the gold, when I know it’s my thought, it changes much quicker, I can get over it. When I don’t know and think it’s because of a person, situation, traffic, weather, the scale, dwindling bank account or circumstance, it’s harder for it to change easily. That’s it, nothing more. It’s ok to have the experience when you see it’s thought moving through you and knowing it will pass in the next moment. When I see what it really is, I am not hooked, I am not living in the illusion. The illusion of looking for a cause as we humans love to do. I simply notice being with the experience as it flows through me. I am soon connected back into my innate capacity of well-being, confidence, strength, courage, resilience, wisdom, creativity, power, etc. I’m back in the flow of life where I can create again, feel calmer, feel more peace, and navigate life with resilience. When I realized that something greater than me was responsible for generating thoughts within me moment to moment, I experience feelings in a whole new way never known before. I saw it was NOTHING like anything I've read in books or learned in classes. These books and classes were missing the spiritual nature of thought. Here’s what I’ve come to see. By understanding where my life experience comes from, I no longer need coping strategies such as reducing stress, top 5 tips on how to be more confident , and how to stop emotional eating, etc. As I wiped away the misunderstanding, clarity occurred . It’s from this place you have power . You live more from your truth, a place where you have all you need. What a relief! Pure freedom! You too, are being lived by the "powers that be ," whatever thought is being generated, you will experience. You will continue to experience it until your thinking changes. What an illusion! Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this? That’s why I am sharing this with you! Actually, this is GREAT news! Imagine if everyone in the world experienced these realizations into how our experience of life is created? I know we wouldn’t focus so much on trying to change what we think is a problem. More people would suffer less and thrive more. What if we just knew that our bodies feel feelings that move through us because thought creates those feelings, all temporary, passing, and fleeting? There’s nothing to do but gain an understanding. Those feelings we experience are simply a barometer of how we are thinking in any given moment. It’s from this understanding transformation occurs from the inside-out. What if we just allowed our feelings to point us back into the flow of life instead of looking for causes to blame someone or something? Sit with this and consider this without judgment. An open mind is primed for awareness, insights, growth, and evolution. Follow me on Facebook for more information! Read more from Lynn ! Lynn MacDonald, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I’ve been a corporate trainer for a Fortune 500 company. I’ve been a yoga teacher with consistently sold-out classes and a professional hypnotherapist, successfully curing some of the biggest fears and phobias people have. All of this, plus studying with some of the highest level teachers on the planet, has led me to understand human nature that I use to help strengthen professional women, shed their old beliefs and become the potent, prosperous leaders they’re here to be.

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. The marketing gurus all tell you, “Done is better than perfect!” “Get out of your comfort zone — you just have to put yourself out there!” “Share your freebies, drive traffic, get more subscribers!” So you try to comply. You put your offers together. You run some Facebook ads. You even get some people on your list, but no one is buying. You feel defeated. You give up on Facebook ads. You wonder if running a business is right for you and question whether you should give up. I know those feelings well because I’ve been there. I struggled with these concepts for the better part of a decade before the light bulb really clicked, and I could see the big picture. Now, as a business coach, I see a similar struggle in clarity with many of my new clients, so I know I’m not alone in this. The gurus are right, of course. At least to some extent. It is important to jump in, get started, and get uncomfortable, but the secret to success lies in building a strong foundation first. It's because it doesn’t make sense to spend time or money trying to drive traffic to a lead magnet opt-in or an offer if you don’t have the steps or systems in place to nurture and capitalize on your new leads once they step into your corner of the internet. Understanding the details and flow of how it all works together can help you implement the strategies your business needs to grow and thrive. In my guide, The GoGetters Framework , I boil it down into 5 essential pillars. 1. Client Clarity When you know your offers and their specific needs, writing your copy clearly becomes a lot easier. It also helps you craft offers that fit your audience's needs and create copy that resonates with them. 2. Consistent Content Showing up on social media consistently is a huge hurdle for many people, but it’s pretty mandatory these days for any business to have a social media presence. My advice: streamline it and weave in a solid strategy as often as possible. 3. No-Brainer Offer This can be a specific offer that you drive traffic to consistently, a tiered structure of offers in the same vein that starts at a low price point and goes into VIP pricing, or even a package deal — typically in one area of expertise. One of the biggest challenges I see people running into is trying to be all things for all people. Don’t do that. You have to be known for one thing before you can be known for multiple things. Make your mark first, and then expand. 4. Automated Funnels A funnel is an automated sequence of events that occurs to convert a new lead into a customer. There are many ways to do this. An example is social media ad > lead magnet > persuasive email sequence > sale. Automating it creates a consistent, cohesive message and makes it easier to test what's working and what isn't. It also ensures that you have a follow-up sequence in place to not spend money bringing in new leads that ultimately fall through the cracks. 5. Growth Strategy In the entrepreneurial world, growth is the name of the game! You're after consistent income — probably even more of it! Having a growth strategy, a system for testing and leveling-up, and basic knowledge of your KPI (Key Performance Indicators) is key. Missing this step can lead to wasted time and money, poor business decisions, and an overall uncertainty of moving your business forward. These pillars are your foundation — without them, your entire structure is likely to feel shaky, disjointed, and confusing. But here’s the thing: your business is only as strong as the foundation supporting it. When you take the time to identify the problem area and strengthen the foundation, your business can flourish and grow. If you’re feeling frustrated or defeated, please don’t give up. Download this free guide to help you see the big picture and get the action steps you need to put it all into place. 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 U.S.-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. She offers online courses and coaching to women in business to 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: Gabby Cole, 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. Each morning, Expectation wakes up and puts on her corporate mask. She slips into her carefully crafted mold of who she should be—of who everyone wants her to be—and leaves her true self and her own aspirations in a crumpled pile under the bed. At work, she is successful. She loves her work, and her coworkers love her. She has climbed the ranks and is checking off all the boxes of a list written for her by her mate, Society. Still, Expectation is starting to get uncomfortable. The mold is fitting tighter and the work is becoming less satisfying. A voice in the back of her head says something is missing. Something important. She tries to share it with her colleague, Fear, but Fear just says to stay under the radar. “You’re safe where you are. No one is questioning you. No one is judging you. You are not failing her. What more do you want?” For a long time in my life, I felt like this character of Expectation, and I think many other women have, too. The weight of opinions on what to do, how many children to have, how to raise them, what job to have, what to wear, what success should mean—it gets heavy. Despite having been able to find success in my career, there is always something pulling at the back of my mind telling me I am so close but not quite there. After the birth of my twins, I realized what I was seeking was authenticity. Yes, I wanted to be good at my job, but I also wanted to be a present mom that my girls could be proud of. I wanted to be true to myself first, and see how the rest of my life fell into place. Much like in the story above, Fear stood in my way at first. What would my coworkers think? What would the other moms think? What if bucking the status quo drew too much attention to me? Should I even rock the boat at all? Luckily for me , my heart would not quit. For me, there came the point where the feeling of wanting more out of life was so strong it was actually overwhelming. But it wasn’t overnight—in fact, it took eight years before I really started down the path towards authenticity. If you’re still reading, maybe it’s because you feel this way, too. Just by acknowledging you want change in your life, you’ve already taken the first step: Discovery. You’ve said (even if it’s only been to yourself in the quiet of your mind) that something is missing. This is the point where you have to make a decision. Now is the time to take control and redirect your trajectory. Become louder than the fear. I grew my self-assurance, and I finally found my purpose after accepting a sales position with a new company and then realizing that I had changed companies seven times in eight years. I had to pause to ask myself, “What am I truly looking for.” You may be asking, where do I begin? Know your worth So much easier said than done, but find things that bring you joy and fulfillment, and recognize that you were designed to be that happy all the time. You are worthy of enthusiasm, satisfaction, and love. Try journaling about what you love about yourself. What you’re good at, what you get excited about, and as you get to know yourself, treat yourself like your own best friend. Say only good things, and believe it. Surround yourself with people who know your worth There are enough nay-sayers in this world. If you have people who tell you it’s not worth it or you can’t do what you set your mind to—cut them out! Make your circle one of the people who love you for everything you are, and don’t focus on who you aren’t. And make sure you do the same for others. Live your truth every day Once you determine what your truth is, set out to do as many things as possible in service of that each day. If you want to start a business, spend an hour a day planning it out. If you want to spend more time with your family, set aside time for a special activity. Don’t let anything get in the way of what truly makes you happy. After a long eight years of struggling to figure out what it was I really wanted, I now have direction, drive, energy and purpose. Purpose, I discovered, was looking for all along. Knowing my purpose gave me the peace to pursue the path to peace in who I am. Wherever you are in your journey as a mom, in business, or as a woman just seeking herself, know that the first step towards becoming who you want to be is as simple as saying it out loud. Be okay with saying, “I don’t think I’m happy. I want a change.” The power to become your most authentic self is within your control. Are you ready to take that first step? For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Gabby Cole, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I am Gabby Cole—Founder/CEO; mother of twin girls; and advocate for moms everywhere. I was married in 2011 and by 2012, I was a mother to twin girls. I have an established career in pharmaceutical sales, as well as pursuing my dreams of becoming a “Mompreneur.” It is my hope that I can dedicate my life to helping women like me find their purpose and become the woman and mother they want to be.