Written by: Natalia Nicholson, 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 running an online business, your first focus is going to be on attracting customers to your company. Yet, relying solely on traditional advertising methods like mailshots or printed ads is a major mistake. Digital marketing may seem intimidating, but it’s the best option for getting your new or existing online business noticed in a highly competitive marketplace. Why Choose Digital Marketing Methods? The primary reason for opting for a digital marketing strategy is that the number of potential clients or customers you’ll find online is considerably larger than the numbers you’ll attract by advertising only locally. Digital marketing allows you to reach a huge audience in a cost-effective way. Digital marketing also allows you to interact effectively with prospects to find out what precisely they’re looking for. Getting to know that target audience in-depth and allowing them to get to know your business well also helps boost brand loyalty. Even better, digital marketing efforts can be measured effectively since tracking responses is possible. Your Customers Are On the Internet When you’re running an online business, it goes without saying that your customers are already online. They’re already looking for businesses like yours, and that’s why they need to be able to easily find yours, or they’ll go with one of your competitors instead. These days, customers naturally turn online in their research to find businesses that operate within any given niche and to find out more about brands that they’ve heard of. They expect reputable organizations to have a presence on social media and a website that they can visit. Businesses that don’t will simply miss out on their custom. Accessibility to Customers In the modern digital age, customers demand accessibility. If your business's competitors can be more easily found than you can, you'll lose out on business. Therefore, SEO strategies are imperative to help you to get ahead of rivals. Also, prospective customers want to know your company's basics – your hours of operation, what you can offer, and where you're located. They need to find this information quickly and easily through a rapid internet search. When you harness the power of digital marketing, you can extend the scope of your business to a much wider cross-section of the public simply by making your company more accessible. Customers will be able to interact with your business at any time and will be able to contact you via a host of channels. This, too, will boost your business and increase your revenue exponentially. Engaging With Target Audiences Digital marketing strategies allow full engagement with prospects. They allow you to get to know who they are and what they want. You can start conversations on blogs or social media platforms and run surveys to learn more about their requirements. Digital interactions help you identify and then address pain points, find and offer effective solutions for customers that make your business stand out from the crowd. There are a few types of marketing that offer equal cost-effectiveness to digital marketing. You can find out more about its importance and how you can harness its potential by attending my free digital marketing workshop. You too could get your business noticed and increase your profits. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter! Natalia Nicholson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natalia Nicholson is a Serial Entrepreneur, Business and Digital Marketing Coach, and Professional Public Speaker. Natalia has over 20 years of experience working as a digital serial entrepreneur and has had plenty of her own failures as well as success stories. This has perfectly placed her to be able to offer insight and advice to other women aspiring to become digital entrepreneurs, together with those who have already launched their own businesses. Through her mastermind group Women in Digital Business, Natalia teaches them the best way to leverage the potential of digital marketing and helps them to learn the best ways of overcoming the challenges that they are facing when it comes to becoming a successful online businesswomen. Her passion for online business coaching and digital marketing has inspired her to bring inspiration to women from largely overlooked underrepresented groups.

Written by: Henrik Pettersson , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise As a mental coach, you use terms that say as much as possible with the least number of words. One such is commitment, which I often use because it describes how devoted you are and contains driving sentences such as motivation and attitude and determination. Factors necessary for success are about DOING things, not just thinking and pondering and thinking and then postponing and avoiding dealing with the situation. Take action! A challenge that comes from the fact that many feel insecure about the outcome: and start building a story for themselves about why it will not work. Flip the coin. Do the opposite. Unleash your potential. Find reasons, motivation, and see the result in front of you. It is the only thing that counts in the end. Things that separate a mediocre life from a perfect one. A productive from an unproductive. A positive from a negative. Light from darkness. Joy from anxiety. Some do not like their jobs, their results; they are dissatisfied. They want to change their lives. They say they want to improve, strengthen their finances, career, or health. But they do not read books or articles, do not study their fields, never listen to inspirational clips, do not make any plans, lack ambitions, have no clear gameplan and do not develop their skills. They are not committed. A fruit tree is judged not only by its potential but also by its production—the same thing for us humans. We are primarily judged by what we DO, not by how we think. Why then are we so afraid to commit? The answer is simple - as it requires delivery. Not just what many use: - I try, which only create escape routes. Commitment commits. No excuses accepted. Or as we who have served in the military may learn as point 1 A. SOLVE THE TASK! Simply. 7 tips for commitment to reach stronger results; Write down your goal on paper. Be as specific as possible. Instead of just "start training" - write, for example, 3 days a week - 60 min max, Mondays and Wednesdays 18-19 and Sundays at 13. Write down three "why" and what it will give you when you reach your goal. Find someone who holds you accountable. A Personal Trainer or a high-performance coach who gives you inspiration, motivation and makes you want to implement. Burn your bridges, minimizing the chances of explanations. Close your escape routes. Take action instead of procrastination. Meet inactivity with activity. Remove obstacles and escape routes and the word "try". Commit yourself to succeed. Exercise and eat well (at a pace you can handle where you are in life right now). And increase your knowledge step by step – in your field of passion. Commitment is also about how you use your time. How you spend it tells you the truth. It is always action that separates people! Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and connect with me on LinkedIn ! Read more from Henrik ! Henrik Pettersson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Since 2004, Henrik has been working as a coach, educator and motivational speaker around Europe. Life is about growth. The challenge to growth is to gain boldness to handle our fears and vulnerability. To strengthen your spine - to be able to handle your challenges towards stronger results. Life’s tough at times, and the formula for gaining more boldness, and dig deep into, is: Faith – Energy – Focus. His new book is built on the three pillars above, and is called: program yourself to success. Henrik is frequently hired by large companies like Volvo, H&M, and Avis.

Interview with Joud Outry Joud Outry is a Syrian woman from the city of Aleppo. The city of civilization, culture, and history. Joud s tudied Interior Design in Aleppo and was a teacher at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Aleppo. She was also part of the Syrian Girl Scout and participated in the World Conference of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in Switzerland in 2011 representing Syria. In 2011, she decided to start her journey and move to Dubai in order to search for success. Who is Joud? I am a Syrian woman from the city of Aleppo, the city of civilization, culture and history. Studied Interior Design in Aleppo and then began teaching at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Aleppo. I was also part of the Syrian Girl Scout since I was a kid and participated in the World Conference of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in Switzerland in 2011 representing Syria. I am an artist by nature and have an immense passion for arts and music and have been painting, drawing, and playing the piano for more than 25 years. In 2011, I decided to start a new journey and moved to Dubai in order to expand my horizons, discover the new “ME” and search for success in this city of unlimited opportunities. During my first 2 years in Dubai, I earned two diplomas in Sales & Marketing and Business Management. I have worked with a couple of companies and in different domains since my arrival until today and also advised and worked as a freelancer for a few projects in Qatar between 2011-2014. In my spare time, I give piano lessons to a few of my neighbors. Despite having horses and dogs on our farm in Aleppo, I wasn’t a big fan of pets. However, with COVID and lockdown, we adopted a Pomeranian dog, aka Twix who added joy to our house. Tell us more about who you are and what you do? Creative individuals need an attorney to help them build their dreams. Someone whom they can trust to provide them with a sustainable platform and guide them through the complicated maze of making their own identity. Having studied Interior Design and topped that with 2 diplomas in Business Management and Sales Marketing, in addition to my extensive experience in the field of lighting, interior design, and regional markets, the entrepreneurial side of me started taking over and I started a few platforms to share my knowledge with everyone. My passion for success and helping others led me to establish MyFkra ( @myfkra  /  www.myfkra.com ) which is a non-profit platform dedicated to empowering creative Arab women. I launched my career in Dubai in the field of lighting and became specialized in decorative lighting design. The past 10 years combined with my interior design degree enabled me to become one of the outstanding experts in the field. I also developed extensive expertise in market and business development over time and became a brand ambassador for two Italian suppliers for the past 4 years. In 2016, I had another idea and this time it was in the form of a blog, InsideUrBox ( @insideurbox  /  www.insideurbox.com ). It’s all about tips tricks and creative ideas. Since then, I’ve become a home personal shopper for VVIP in 2018. Despite being busy and life taking us in different directions, I always make sure to find time to take a break from the busy life and indulge myself in my beloved hobbies such as painting, creating dazzling calligraphy arts (Check out @al__jeem on Instagram), and playing the piano. Music is my soul-soothing activity when I am looking to get inspired or simply get a break from life. "HAVE the will. Do what you truly love" I have received a few awards in the Middle East, become the face for a magazine, and have been chosen as one of the top 12 entrepreneurs in 2015 and selected as one of the best businesswomen most fashionable awards in 2020.  Who should hire/work with you? Three type of clients: Creative woman with a talent: A talent of creating products/art and looking to turn it into a real project/business. As we aim to support and empower the creativity of Arab Women and encourage creative projects, develop it and expand its scope further.  Any client who is looking to refresh his/her space. Ever wanted your own interior stylist for the day to help you pick out items for your home. We hang out together and shop till we drop.. I am here to put together a shopping list that suits your budget and your home style and turn your space into a fashionable one just by hiring me as your Personal Home Shopper.  Clients who are looking to light up their space. With more than 10 years of experience in the domain of lighting, I can provide you with specialized tips and give you access to products that otherwise would’ve been difficult for you to find on your own. What is your big goal? Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now? I am a very motivated and positive person and my motto is to shoot for the moon when it comes to goals and dreams. "Striving to accomplish big goals is not easy. Most people will give up on their dreams in order to have a clear path." As an entrepreneur, my goal is to achieve greater efficiency in all aspects of my organization. Right from speeding up processes, quicker delivery of services, weaving in improvements in offerings with changing times, be updated with the latest technology, and pursuing excellence in every way. As an expert, what is your top 3 free advice to get a more "elegant" touch in my home?  Crown Molding – Details Matter It’s all in the details. When it comes to decorating your home and making it look high-end and custom-made, details are key. In this instance, the detail is  crown molding . Crown molding has a way of making a room look complete or finished; it brings the ceiling and the walls together, giving them an elegant appearance. Without this finishing touch, rooms tend to look cheap or unfinished. Paint – Color Matters Paint color  is perhaps one of the most difficult decisions to make when decorating a room, especially when the remaining décor will be based on the color palette. However, if elegance is what you are after, there are certain colors that add instant glamour to your home. Choose one of these two color options—bold and dramatic OR soft, understated hues Lighting Makes a Difference Most contractors will choose standard lighting fixtures, which are probably the same they have used over and over again in all the homes they have built. However, designer light fixtures will add more elegance to your home than the standard chandelier and give it a customized and special feel. What is the most important factor that has contributed to your success? First of all, surprisingly, the fact that I am an expatriate and because of it, I am always seeking new opportunities. Everything I do and all the risks I might take are a result of trying to find something that makes me stronger. "In the end, the fact that you are trying is a success by itself. It’s enough that you seek. If you keep on trying and believing in yourself, you will absolutely succeed and reach your goals." I see so many people trying to succeed for all the wrong reasons, even though some of them do succeed, but others fail. In the end, the fact that you are trying is a success by itself. It’s enough that you seek. If you keep on trying and believing in yourself, you will absolutely succeed and reach your goals. You cannot buy happiness with money, and because of that, I feel like I cannot fail, because as long as I do things that make me happy, I do the right thing. What would you say is the biggest challenge you faced? To prove myself in this city of opportunities as an entrepreneur and not as an employee What would you say is your main characteristic? Success means to believe in your capability. With passion, you turn your conception into reality. 10 fast with Joud Work alone or with a partner? - Alone Single or married? - Single Mountain or sea? - sea-beach and sun Risk or routine? - Risk Drama or romance? - Romance Neural or Placid? - Placid Problematic or pacified? - Pacified Money or Love? - Love with money :) Spring or Autumn? - Autumn Apartment or house? - House "You cannot buy happiness with money, and because of that, I feel like I cannot fail, because as long as I do things that make me happy, I do the right thing." - Joud Outry Follow Joud on Instagram , and visit MyFkra and Insideurbox for more information!

As an Intuition Cultivator and Mindset Mentor, Moira Hutchison guides her clients to access the inherent power they have available when they ignite their personal trinity of trust, inner awareness, and self-confidence. Moira works with professionals who have a feeling that there is something better in life for them, but they have no idea how to access it. However, they have a yearning to be guided by their intuition and align with their unique calling. What makes her distinctive and different in this work is that she has developed the ability to take complex energetic and spiritual ideas and interpret them in ways that people find easy to understand, integrate and implement. Hi Moira! Please tell us about yourself. I am an Intuition Cultivator and Mindset Mentor, and my passion is to inspire and support clients to access the inherent power they have available when they ignite their personal trinity of trust, inner awareness, and self-confidence. I specialize in helping people who struggle with finding motivation for change who may be feeling stuck, stressed, and wondering what their life calling or best path is. Essentially, I guide people to recognize and remove mindset blocks, so they can thrive, acknowledge their unique gifts, which leads to them feeling purposeful, prosperous and calm… as a result, my clients align with and serve their calling in this world without suffering from struggle or burnout. What inspires you to do this work and offer the services you do? I get so sad to hear people talk about themselves in a derogatory and judgemental fashion - giving more importance to the "Inner Critic". Where is the loving nurturing that we all deserve and need? It deeply saddens me when I hear people say that they will never succeed or achieve their dreams (or even have one!) or that they hate the way they look. For me, it is all about ensuring inner connection for people – helping them see that there IS a divine plan for them and that they can choose what and how they show up in their lives! I want to guide and support people to take FULL responsibility for the life they have created for themselves… ultimately creating what makes them happy!! Why are you so dedicated to guiding people to get unstuck and taking responsibility for their life? I would say it is mainly because I have learned how it feels to have a loving relationship with me and what to do with the inner critic and the drive to be perfect. I WISH that someone was there with the knowledge and information I now have when I was a teenager/early adult so that I did not have to go through the depressions, ill health and break downs that I have experienced. I think that by getting my message out will allow people to transform their relationships with themselves, which will translate into better relationships all around and huge successes for all. Was there a specific life experience cause you to follow this path? Yes, thanks for asking this - I left home at age 18 to join a religious cult (thinking that this could give me some sense of self!), and I stayed in it for almost two years. Trapped in an overly critical and controlling environment, I gave all my personal power away – until (finally!) I came to the realization that if I did not start tapping into my own inner wisdom and trusting myself, I was never going to figure out who I am or what I wanted to be when I grew up!! I am now blessed to see that all my early adult experience was an amazing gift: I have developed an ability to see beyond the “problems” that arise in life – I can see the deeper meaning within most situations and can help you do the same. I have developed a sense of fun, a sense of ease and a sense of humor – I love to laugh and often help people laugh at themselves… don’t you find that we have the tendency to take ourselves just a wee bit too seriously? Have you been providing the services you currently offer for a long time? I have worked in the intuitive guidance and personal development field full-time since 2004 – prior to that, from 2000, I was splitting my time between my corporate work and healing work. In the corporate world, I worked as an office manager and financial supervisor – I was always viewed as the go-to gal when there were emotional problems, problems at home, depressions, anxieties, and so on . I was also known and depended upon as the person who could think outside of the box and instill a sense of calmness in whichever environment I was in. Could you share a story of how you have made a difference in someone’s life? I would love to… I worked with a client who felt stuck and unable to make better choices in his life – after working through my coaching program, this is what he had to say: "My work with Moira has been amazing and most helpful. She does not fill you with platitudes and etheric ideas. She helps you set realistic goals and outline the steps you need to obtain them. She continues to work with you finding the obstacles to your success and gives you real tools for overcoming them. I can honestly say my life is much better since I took on Moira as a coach." Any final thoughts? In closing, I would like to share: If I could change one thing about the world, I would teach people to fully realize that THEY choose everything in their lives and if they truly get that and find that there are things in their lives that they do not like or does not serve them. Then they have the power to do something about it and change the experience for themselves. For more information and tips on accessing your inner guidance to align with YOUR best success, follow Moira on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, join her Facebook Community or visit her website!

Progressive Thinker Justine Reichman, founder of NextGenChef, considers eating healthy a basic human right. NextGenChef is empowering the next generation of culinary innovators dedicated to regenerative practices and making nutritious food more affordable. Her San Francisco-based platform supports socially-minded entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch their businesses and begin creating greater access to quality food products. The expansive network offers real tools, including a directory of culinary mentors, help with research and development, and dynamic community events. Justine wants to change the conversation so that people everywhere demand a better food system. Can you tell us more about your mission, purpose, and the work that you do? The mission of NextGenChef is to create greater access to a healthy food system. We do this through a platform that connects and supports food and beverage entrepreneurs who build better-for-you food businesses. We connect food entrepreneurs with ventures, resources, thought leaders, and industry experts so that the entrepreneurs can gain insight into the information they need to be able to make more informed decisions. We help them to create better-for-you businesses resulting in greater access to healthy food. In addition, we educate consumers so they make more informed choices about food, which is better for the environment as well. What are the challenges that your customers experience? We look at our customers as our members. They are startups who are often faced with just getting out of the gate. They have an idea but don't know how to implement it and get to the next level. Another common challenge is that entrepreneurs think that they can create a business out of their kitchen, but they are not sure who the market is. We have people who are doing research and trying to understand what the future of food is. We help to demystify what the future of food looks like and the role that these founders are playing in it. We also share those findings with the end consumers so they better understand what they're consuming and, at the same time, create greater awareness on the part of food entrepreneurs. You have a profound understanding of entrepreneurship and building connections. What do you enjoy helping people with the most? I enjoy solving problems. When people say they can't do it, it's that either they don't know how to do it or they don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Then there's a way to fix the problems. Of course, some problems are not solvable, but then we adjust. I like to connect people with the resources that they need. If they don't have adequate information, I help them find it and connect those dots. I encourage them to surround themselves with the key experts and resources. Guiding people to take that vision from concept to purpose is my sweet spot. It's where I do my best work and it's what makes me the happiest. A healthy and sustainable food system is something NextGenChef stands for. If you could give 3-5 tips on how socially-minded startups achieve that vision, what would that be? Don't try to be everything to everyone is my first tip. We think about products from the soil to the shelf, from what you're creating to how you're packaging it. You will realize that not everything is going to be local, healthy, affordable, and regenerative. If you want to be local, then maybe stay in that niche and follow that. Start small and focus. My second tip would be to follow your passion. If you're passionate about waste, be mindful of waste reduction. Whether it's about how you're building your product or how you're packaging your product, follow your vision and your passion. The other thing that I think is most important is to look at sustainability for the company, for you, and for the product. When you're focused solely on the product and not on yourself, that's not sustainable. Integrating sustainability into our daily lives both personally and professionally helps us build a more sustainable business and life. The last point is authenticity, which is a really important thing for businesses today more than ever. Finally, can you share with our readers your next big goal or project? Right now, we are working on Essential Ingredients, which is super exciting. It is a podcast that I'm launching where I get to talk to the founders, the thought leaders, and industry experts who are spearheading the future. It gives me great insights that I will be able to share with the community members of NextGenChef. Moreover, it allows me to connect those members with other founders and thought leaders so that they can build their businesses more sustainably and regeneratively and be able to connect, collaborate, and innovate together. As we think about the future of food, we're working towards our common goal of building a more sustainable and regenerative future. We've got kids and grandkids and the world is going to go on for a long time after us. We have to think long-term. To follow Justine you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, join the NextGenChef community for regular live events, or listen to the Essential Ingredients podcast.

Collaborated post There is not a lot more important to business, especially a small business, than its employees. If you have employees that are happy, then the work that they do will be good and their levels of productivity will increase. That is exactly what will help your business to grow, which is why it is important to not forget to look after your team. Making some small changes to different habits can drastically improve your levels of productivity in the workplace, as well as the office efficiency. These things will help you to get more work done over a much shorter period of time, and it will help to keep small and unnecessary tasks to a minimum. If you want to do more for your employees, then here are some of the ways that you can ensure that their productivity is kept up. Delegate There is no getting away from the fact that delegating things out to others can be a risk. However, for some employees, having an increase in responsibilities is something that can be important for helping to improve job satisfaction and morale. As a result, it can also improve productivity. Look for those employees that need to have some more responsibility. If they have a proven track record so far, then this is something that will help their career and their potential. When you allow your employees to have a chance to gain certain skills and to harness their leadership experience, it can benefit your company, as well as provide your employees with a big sense of achievement. Start as you mean to go on When it comes to having new employees, then you need to make sure that their start in the business is a good one. Having something like an orientation is good to get to know some of the ins and outs of the workplace and the company, but looking into help with employee onboarding should be a consideration too. New employee onboarding is where you integrate a new employee with the business as a whole, as well as getting to grips with the tools that are needed as a new employee, and the information that will help them to do their job well. When you start off in a positive way, it will help them to be as productive as they can be, even if they are new. Reduce Distractions Social media is something that can be useful at times, but on the whole, can be a big productivity killer in the workplace. Of course, having something like a no-phone policy won’t be feasible, so instead, look for ways to make sure that your team can stay focused. This is why it is a good idea to think about encouraging your employees to turn off their phones, but you should encourage them to take some breaks throughout the day, where they can check them. Then when they are back at their desks, they can be as productive as possible. If they feel like they can’t leave their desks, then it can hinder productivity.

Written by: Visa Shanmugam, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It’s no secret that developing and maintaining a positive mindset is essential to success. Most of us believe that our actions (how hard we work, how much we study, how much we work out) impact our success and results the most. It’s not. Your subconscious thoughts, beliefs, the energy you embody and the attitude that you have while taking action impact your results more than the action itself. In fact, I strongly believe that the thoughts that you think before taking a particular action impact your results more than the action itself. That’s how important a positive mindset is. BUT, positive thinking is not always easy to develop or maintain and that’s because of three major misconceptions and myths around positive thinking. I am breaking down the three most common myths about positive thinking. Myth No.1 - Positive Thinking DOES NOT Mean That You Always Have To Be Happy. This common misconception leads to a lot of frustration, as it’s impossible for anyone to be happy all the time. As human beings, we are designed to feel a wide range of feelings, from complete euphoria to utter devastation. From jealousy to contentment. From confusion to clarity. This is the beauty of being human. What we need to realize is that there are no ‘bad’ feelings. All feelings are good and valid. But not all feelings make us feel good. There is a big difference. In this article, I will be referring to ‘bad’ feelings as negative feelings emotions (anger, jealousy, frustration, sadness, grief) and ‘good’ feelings as positive feelings emotions (joy, excitement, confidence, love). I believe that a lot of us fall into the trap of denying ourselves negative feelings in the name of positive thinking. This is detrimental to our well-being and the overall goal of building a positive mindset. A positive mindset is built when we allow ourselves to feel our true feelings. I used to be scared of emotions such as sadness, grief, fear, and anger. These were unwelcome emotions because they made me uncomfortable, and the people around me uncomfortable. Happy emotions, on the other hand (joy, excitement, pride), are feelings that make everyone feel good. So it makes sense that we feel good sharing our positive feelings and emotions, but feel the need to hide our negative feeling emotions. Have you ever observed your child or a friend crying and told them to “Stop crying. This is nothing” or we have tried distracting them with an ice cream or a Netflix binge? How many of us have felt deeply uncomfortable by watching someone grieve because we don’t know the right thing to say? Telling others to stop crying, or to be happy, or distracting them with other activities has very little to do with helping them and more to do with helping ourselves. It sounds selfish, but we tell our children not to cry because seeing them in pain and discomfort makes us deeply uncomfortable. Rather than sit with our discomfort, we tell our children to cheer up, so that we don’t have to experience any uncomfortable feelings. In order to get good at positive thinking, we have to get good at experiencing ALL FEELINGS. When we avoid our negative feelings and emotions, the effects are two-fold. First, we never begin our exploration for the root cause of them and second, we take away our chance at experiencing positive feelings and emotions at a deep level. You can’t know heat without experiencing the cold. You can’t know happiness, without experiencing sadness. In order to experience positive thinking, you have to give yourself and others permission to experience negative feelings and emotions, without censorship. Toxic positivity is the term used when we cover up our true feelings with fake happiness because it’s what is expected of us. When we cover up our true feelings and plaster them with positivity, we trap the negative emotions inside of us physically. If it’s not acknowledged, then it can’t be processed. If it’s not processed, then it can’t be released. If it’s not released, there is no room for the positive feelings to be deeply integrated into our being. Myth No.2 - You Are Born To Think Positive Or Negative You are not born as a positive thinker or a negative thinker. Your family, friends, childhood experiences, and many other variables shape you into whether positive thinking and mindset come naturally to you. You can go from a glass-half-empty kind of person to a glass-half-full. I am living proof of this. How? By becoming aware of the thoughts that you think on a daily basis. We think around 60,000 thoughts a day, only 5% of which we are consciously aware of. The other 95% are subconscious and happen on autopilot. These are thoughts that you think all the time, which are so habitual that it’s impossible to separate where the thought ends and where you begin. Thoughts like “I am not smart enough. I don’t have what it takes. I need to lose weight. I am not confident enough” are thoughts that we think are true about us. We have thought it so often that they must be true, right? Why else would we think it? Not every thought you think is true. Most of the thoughts that we think are perceptions and beliefs, not actual truths. Our negative thoughts are not our own. It was placed by someone else on to you or you interpreted it based on an experience. A well-meaning friend, teacher, or a parent that was trying to help us become our best version. “You need to work harder” becomes “I am lazy”(belief). “You are chubby” becomes “I am fat” (belief). “You are dark” becomes “You aren’t pretty” (belief). Negative feelings are easier to believe and hang on to because our brain is wired to focus on them. It’s easier to believe the negative things about us than the positive ones. Have you ever noticed that several people might give you compliments, but the one person that doesn’t or gives a backhanded compliment is the one you obsess over? In order to cultivate a more positive mindset and thinking, it is vital that you learn to decipher what’s fact and what’s a belief. “I am not smart enough” or “I am lazy” and “I am too busy” is not a fact. It’s a belief. Beliefs can be changed. Facts cannot. When you learn to differentiate your thoughts between facts and beliefs, then you have the freedom to pick whether or not you want to continue believing them. You have the freedom to choose which thoughts you think repeatedly and which ones you let go of. If thinking “I am lazy” doesn’t make you feel good, then it’s a belief that you have permission to let go of and replace it with “I am willing to believe I am productive”. It’s not always easy, but if you want to create a life that feels more joyful, meaningful and fulfilling, the thoughts you think are pivotal. Thoughts are easy to hold on to and easy to let go of. You are the master of your thoughts. Your thoughts don’t master you. Myth No.3- I Can Only Feel Positive When Others Feel Positively About Me Fact: Positive thinking occurs when we learn to celebrate the small wins along the way One of the biggest personal struggles I have faced in my life is learning to celebrate myself, without waiting for others to celebrate me. When we are children, we look to our parents, elders, teachers and caregivers to give us feedback on whether we are behaving appropriately or not. Am I behaving well? Am I making them proud? We learn to feel good about ourselves when others find reason to feel good about us. Our self-esteem and self-worth become intricately tangled with what others think of us and how they feel about us. As we get older, we shift this responsibility from our teachers to our college professors, from our parents to our bosses in our jobs. We wait to feel positive about ourselves until a third party has permitted us to feel positive toward us. “If they think I am good, then that must mean I am worth feeling good about”. One of the foundations of positive thinking is learning to feel good about who we are in the present moment, instead of waiting for others or a future version of ourselves. I will feel better about myself when I have lost 10 lbs. I will feel better about myself once I get into that school. I will feel good about myself if I get this promotion. We wait to feel positive until we have the positive news in hand. This is backward. Instead, learn to celebrate every small step you take towards the big goals that you are working towards, which builds positivity. You worked out today, but the scales don’t show it. Celebrate yourself anyway. You interviewed for the job but didn’t get the interview. Celebrate yourself anyway. You applied to your dream school but didn’t get admitted. Celebrate yourself anyway. Celebrate the journey, not just the outcome. In order to build a positive mindset, you need to be the first in line to celebrate your greatness. And there is greatness within all of us. For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Visa Shanmugam, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Visa Shanmugam is a mindset transformation coach helping professionals reach their highest potential in all areas of their life through radical self-love and spirituality. She has overcome an auto immune disease, depression and deep cultural programming, to creating a life and career of her dreams, including her coaching business Becoming You LLC. Visa is an MBA graduate from University of Texas at Dallas and worked for Microsoft and Fossil.

Collaborated post A fleet of business vehicles needs to be well managed. Small savings on the fleet can go a long way, especially if you can save on fuel. Fuel costs are usually one of the largest expenses in a fleet, behind vehicle depreciation. It’s very important for any business running a fleet of vehicles to make sure that they have processes in place to manage fuel usage. Introduce A Telematics System A telematics system connects your business with your team on the road. The system works to give you an insight into where your vehicles are, and how people are using them. This means you have access to live and historic data about the performance of your fleet, so you can take action to improve things if needed. You can better insight into the fuel habits of your drivers, which then means you find more ways to cut costs and improve your bottom line. When you know how much fuel you’re using, you buy it in the most cost-effective way, from somewhere like https://fuelbox.co.uk/. Keep Your Vehicles In Working Order Vehicle downtime is a huge inconvenience to any business. Vehicles being unavailable or delayed can cause problems like employees missing out on business-critical meetings or a customer being let down by a missed appointment or a late delivery. This can have a knock-on effect on your profits and your company’s image and reputation. Check your vehicles on a regular basis to make sure they’re working properly to prevent problems from occurring. Your regular checks should include: External vehicle condition (tire condition, visible damage, indicators) Fluids (oil, screenwash, brake) Vehicle interior and equipment (seat belts, mirrors) Function checks (lights, horn, wipers, brakes, fuel) If you service your fleet, you can prevent a lot of vehicle downtime and increase your fuel efficiency. Encourage Refueling At The Right Places The cost of fuel can differ widely between different fuel stations. It’s wise to have a list of preferred suppliers in your vehicle policy that you prefer your drivers to use on the go, to keep costs down. Some telematics solutions can be integrated with a fuel card providers to guide your employees to the nearest, cheapest place to refuel. Encourage Fuel Efficient Driving There are lots of benefits to your fleet of vehicles driven in a sensible way. Sensible driving reduces wear on the vehicle and reduces the risk of accidents. The best way to improve the behavior of your drivers and encourage them to practice fuel-efficient driving is to educate them on how to do it. Offer driving training schemes, as well as education on the daily responsibilities like keeping their tires inflated to manufacturer spec, not idling unnecessarily, and not braking or accelerating too harshly. Your telematics solution can monitor your driver’s driving style, which is one of the most effective ways of managing your fleet efficiently. You can find any issues and room for improvement with your drivers and fix any issues in real-time.

Written by: Susan Watson, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise Let us start by looking at what exactly is trauma. Trauma is when our mind and nervous system experience such an overwhelming amount of stress that is just too much, too soon, too quickly for us to process the emotions linked to it correctly. It is just beyond our individual ability to cope. This is particularly important as each of us has a different ability to cope. Therefore, trauma is not the situation or experience; trauma impacts us and everyone is different. Therefore, two people can experience the same situation in every way. One person walks away with no lasting impact, and another may feel coping with life is unbearable. Now that we have identified what exactly trauma is, how does it impact us? In the early days after a traumatic event, there may be overwhelming emotions such as fear, grief, anger, guilt, shame etc. What then happens is a time for processing and making sense of what has happened. At this time, many of those feelings start to lessen and fade. For some people, this isn’t the case, and living with trauma can strain mental well-being. Some may experience depression, anxiety, PTSD and some may start to avoid the pain and experience by using adaptive behaviors such as alcohol or drugs. There may be difficulties with trust and maintain relationships such as work, family, or friends. In many ways, life can be a struggle. It is important to remember here that after a trauma, the autonomic nervous system, which is the body´s control system, will be stuck in the trauma response (fight-flight). The sympathetic nervous system is activated and running, flooding the body with adrenalin and cortisol. More hormones to be ready for survival measures are in self-preservation and defense mode. Therefore, all the emotions we mentioned earlier are fully normal. Anger gives you a burst of energy and all the other emotions such as fear and anxiety; depression is a clear sign of this. It is important for everyone living like this to know this is exactly what is causing the emotions and reactions, which can help greatly by reregulating the nervous system. I love the work of Eric Gentry, the wonderful Trauma Expert and author for Forward Facing Trauma Therapy and Healing the Moral Wound. Eric's work has been an enormous influence in my approach to trauma, and I am so grateful for all he shares with the world. My greatest lightbulb moment seems so simple, and it is. One of the key tasks in releasing past trauma and living your best life is to learn to relax your body fully and completely. No one has experienced anxiety, fear, or anger with a full and completed relaxed body. It is impossible. Practicing both developing an awareness of thoughts and tensions in the body and then relaxing fully and completely resets your nervous system and brings your parasympathetic nervous system back into action – this is your resting part of your system. If you are going into a situation that is stressful for you, do this with a relaxed body, practice many times each day just to fully and completely relax, it is simple but takes a lot of practice to get this right so you can do this in the most anxious moments. Use the following exercises daily. Complete a body scan working from your toes to your head, squeeze each muscle for 5 seconds and relax and then work all the way down from your head to your toes. Now flop, fully flop like a bowl of wet spaghetti. Every part of your body is relaxed, which helps you feel safe, think clearer, digest your food better, and switch back on your ability to learn. You could sit with your hand on your heart and another on your tummy and just look about you. Notice that at this very second, you are 100% safe. We often get told to breathe, belly breaths when anxious or in this heightened state, but that can be difficult. So, sit up straight, hands behind your head, push your elbow back. Do you see what happens? You open your rib cage, and every breath becomes a belly breath. It just happens naturally. Take the time to practice this, becoming aware of tensions in the body, relax fully and completely, do it 100 times a day, no 200 times a day. I can hear you all gasp. Remember, 200 times a day is less than 10 – 15 minutes a day in total and will empower you and help you munch on your journey to a calmer, more peaceful life. Now, this is just one part of moving on, but it is a major part, and for many it is all they need to move on with the life they wish for. If you wish to know more about other exercises or methods available, please know you can contact me directly. My purpose in life is to help others live the very best life they can. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , connect with me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Susan ! Susan Watson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Susan Watson specializes in working worldwide with all ages experiencing Anxiety, Emotions, and Trauma, in a content freestyle, so that no talking really needs to take place unless wanted. Working with feelings and emotions within the body, Susan releases the emotional connection of past experiences. She teaches self-help tools to help others live their best life, the life that is deserved. Susan supports individuals, groups and the workplace with her Be Your Own Empowered Hero workshops, which were introduced as a measure to reduce the risk of future issues with mental and emotional health.

Written by: Susan Van Staden, 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. Goal setting is not a new concept and yet people, including business people, still fail to set goals. In theory, you are 100% in control of your life, of the chaos and stress as well. You choose what you do and how you react. Success is the intentional, deliberate, pre-meditated use of daily choices and actions. I am going to repeat this: Success is the intentional, deliberate, pre-meditated use of daily choices and actions. Taking conscious actions determines your success level. Setting goals to those choices and actions makes it easier. It gives you a roadmap to follow. Any goal setting is better than nothing. You can change your life instantly by simply making a decision. Goals are INSTRUCTIONS to yourself, and the cornerstone of any business – or important life decision. So let’s do some goal setting today. Let’s set your goals for 2021, easy step by step. You can use this method for any future goal setting; we are using the Funnel of Focus technique. Whether it is important Business goals or a personal goal, no matter, the process is the same. Taking your business next level or wanting to go on that holiday to Mauritius. Goals are a purpose, and the actioning thereof is your strategy in achieving them. Your clear vision for 2021 sorted, ready for ACTION!! To start, take a clean piece of paper and write down 5 – 6 Goals you want to achieve. Out of these, choose the most important Overriding goal . This is a goal that is important to set your goals into a forward motion. This is also the goal that you will come back to. To test the importance, give answers to the following questions: (Try for more than one answer). What will you lose if you don’t take action on the goal? When will your overriding goal be accomplished? Where are you right now in relation to your goal? What do you need to do in order to achieve your goal? What are the obstacles between you and your goal? What factor sets the speed in your overriding goal? What is your area of strength relative to this goal? What is your weakest point relative to the goal? What is the worst thing that could happen in the coming year to affect your goal? What is the best thing that could happen to affect this goal? Now we action the goal: What are the 3 most important things you can do in the next month to accomplish the goal? What is the single most important thing you can do this week towards the goal? What long-term actions can you take to keep the goal going? Once you have answered all these questions, you should have a clear vision of your goal and what actions you will need to take to achieve it. You can do the same for all your other goals. It is important that you create habits to accomplish your goal. Habits are the key to accomplishing goals, and most great habits begin as goals. It’s a choice. It is in your power to use habits to reach your goals. The difference between Goals and Habits - Goal: Is something you want and are willing to work towards. It is the future. Habit: Is an automatic pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repletion—something you do now and ongoing. You have the potential to create an extraordinary life for yourself. Failure is essential to success, so take the lessons of your failures and turn them around. What you do with the minutes, hours and days of your life dedicate how successful you are and what kind of life you will have. Take conscious action now, by setting some goals, implementing them effectively, staying focused, and revisiting the goals and adjusting them when needed. Making goals work for you! Happy Goal setting! Connect with Susan on LinkedIn and visit her website for more info! Read more from Susan ! Susan Van Staden, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Susan is a Reformer, People of this personality type are essentially looking to make things better. Susan started Efficio Business Consulting wanting to offer her over 25 years’ experience to reach and help Coach as many Start-up Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners with a with a program that concentrates not only on the business and growth, but helping the owner step into that roll—building a bridge between builder and business. She lives in the beautiful scenic George, Garden Route, South Africa and has two successful adult daughters, her inspiration, pride and joy.

Written by: Maki Moussavi, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. A hallmark of high-achieving people is that they are driven. They know what they want and they go after it. A goal is set. Tasks are lined up to reach that goal. Single-minded pursuit begins. The goal is realized. But at what cost? I had to ask myself that question when I realized I was miserable at the height of my corporate career. MISERABLE. Honestly, it kind of scared me. Was there something wrong with me? How could anyone in my position be unhappy? I was steadily ascending the ladder, financially comfortable, and able to do pretty much what I wanted. How, exactly, was this a problem? I didn’t know at first. I did a lot of self-reflection trying to get to the answer. I had to be brutally honest in my assessment of myself and what was driving me in order to figure it out. There’s obviously no one reason, but a major driver that stood out in particular for me was this uncomfortable truth: I was driven by a need for validation from others. I needed proof that I was good enough, and for me, that came in the form of promotions, salary increases and other forms of recognition. If I didn’t get that validation, what did that say about me? My validation-seeking behavior started when I was quite young. I didn’t get what I needed from at home, so I sought it elsewhere: at school. I was an excellent student, academically and behaviorally. I got the proof I needed that I was, indeed, good enough in the form of grades and praise. The reward system worked for me. I knew that I could prove my value to myself and others by continually reaching for bigger and bigger goals in order to “grow.” "The reality is that it’s easier to prioritize work above other areas because it is how we prove our value." As a transformational and executive coach, I see that the need for external validation drives many high achievers. Career growth tends to be prioritized above all areas of life. Other parts of life get sacrificed at the professional altar. We rationalize that it “will all be worth it” when we’ve reached some milestone. We promise ourselves that we’ll pay better attention to the areas of our lives that are suffering after a particular goal has been reached. But how often does that really happen? The reality is that it’s easier to prioritize work above other areas because it is how we prove our value. It’s even easier to make it the top priority because it’s directly tied to our survival, e.g. it’s how we put money in the bank to live our lives. In professional environments , we are encouraged to put work above all else. Sure, there may be some lip service paid to why it’s important to take a break, go on vacation, and maybe your company even has some ping pong tables thrown in to show you just how much they want you to have a little break in your workday. But none of this cancels out the fact that you can see, with your own eyes, how people who put work above all get ahead. The people who say yes to everything, travel relentlessly (or at least did before the pandemic!), and send emails at 1 a.m. are rewarded. The people who have made it clear work trumps everything else is held up as the shining examples of what an employee or leader should be. "The damage is permanent, and she’ll have to deal with it for the rest of her life" Back in my corporate days, I had a friend who was in sales. Her team had gone through some changes that increased her workload significantly. She was hoping for a promotion, so she put her head down and did the work. Most of her team were road warriors, and she was often at work alone in her area. The stress was continuous, and she worked many more hours than usual during that time, telling herself it wouldn’t be that way forever, and she could duke it out. One day, around lunchtime, she started to feel strange. Her chest hurt, and she was having a hard time taking a deep breath. There was no one around, so instead of asking for help, she drove herself to the hospital nearby. There, they confirmed she’d had a heart attack. At the age of 37, with no underlying risk factors. The doctors said it was “stress cardiomyopathy.” The damage is permanent, and she’ll have to deal with it for the rest of her life. We’ve all heard (or experienced) stories like this. But it’s madness, isn’t it? There’s no professional achievement that’s worth your health, relationships, or peace of mind. Work isn’t the end-all and be-all, though too much of the messaging we receive enforces the idea that it is. We can’t compartmentalize our lives. We can’t set professional and personal goals that are mutually exclusive. What we experience in one area, we experience globally. If your goals are work-focused to the exclusion or de-prioritization of the other aspects of your life, you risk so much - perhaps your health, and certainly the intangible, emotionally fulfilling parts of life that we can be quick to push aside in order to feel valuable. Do your goals need to be re-evaluated? Be sure to consider your life as a whole. You don’t lead two separate lives - you lead one. Make sure it works for you holistically. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more information! Maki Moussavi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maki Moussavi is a transformational and executive coach, speaker and author who helps executives and organizations who seek to empower, strengthen and transform their leadership and teams. Maki provides the mental tools and accountability to enable highly transformative, professional and personal development that focuses on “reprogramming” to a new mindset that is authentic and aligns personal, career and organizational aspirations while gaining clarity on direction and vision. She also supports executive teams and organizations to empower meaningful change during times of transition or cultural challenges. Maki is a corporate career veteran and Master’s-trained genetic counselor.

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. What is so strange about the ‘WooWoo’? I often hear many professionals say how they don’t want none of that ‘woowoo’ stuff to help them in business, their career, or their personal life and brush it off so easily. But what if the ‘woowoo’ thing was actually way more powerful than the practical things you do to be a success? What if it was the foundation of it all succeeding? Would that be so strange? What is the ‘woowoo’ stuff? Breaking down – the ‘woowoo’ stuff is the things that you do outside the box. It is the spiritual things, the faith, the belief in oneself, the meditation, the visualization, the soul work you do internally that transforms the external things in your life. If I had to sum it up – it’s the unseen things that fill in the gaps of effective daily living. Often this is why it is most pushed away to one side, because it is something unseen that requires a deeper connection. So how can it help me? There is so much going on that is unseen and yet is so powerful. Electricity is never seen but is the backbone behind everything we use in our home and office. Gravity is unseen and again so powerful. The wind is unseen yet can make the difference between a lovely day, to a bad day. All these things and so much more are unseen and play a huge part in our daily lives, so how much more can the unseen ‘woowoo’ stuff help us? Meditation enables you to gain the clarity you need to achieve great results in your professional life and personal life. It opens up the soul to be a part of your everyday life and gives you the guidance and the self-belief that leads to success. Without self-belief and faith in who you are, you leave yourself susceptible to doubts, which can sway you and stop you from making decisions that are right for you. Without that true connection to who you are and taking that time out to connect within, you leave yourself vulnerable to being pulled and pushed by external situations, instead of having built a firm foundation in who you are and creating life from the inside out. According to societal expectations, there comes a time in the cycle of life when reacting to circumstances and trying to keep playing the game of life can lead to burnout. Unfortunately, this can be too late for many. But when you balance the practical things in day-to-day living and include the ‘woowoo’ as part of your daily living, you will avoid this and create the balance needed to gain success to a happy and fulfilled life. Remember, happiness starts from inside and no matter how much you try to avoid the inner work, it will safeguard you for the future and be the foundation you need regardless of external situations. So next time you come across the ‘woowoo’ stuff, give it a go…it might open the door to new positive opportunities in life. 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 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.