Written by: Corey Butler, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. As mindset trainers, we always tell you that your results are a reflection of your beliefs and that the real task is the 'inner work.' It's not the environment, events, or circumstances that determine success or failure, and being successful is something that anyone can achieve. In 2016, I put this to the test when I decided to stop what I was doing and allow my identical twin brother to mentor me in creating a new business. He had already created a successful business, winning the 2 comma award for creating a million dollar funnel using Russell Brunson's Click Funnels software platform. Would I be able to replicate the same success now that I was being told exactly what to do? Or was my 'inner game' going to get in the way? I want to share some lessons I learned along the way as I listened to my twin brother about creating success in business. 5 Lessons from a million dollar mentor 1. Everything is relative to our own definitions It's important that you have clarity in what a successful outcome looks like for you. In my case, I was a musical recording artist when I embarked upon this journey, and success for me was people listening to my music. As a result, the measurement I used was my fan base and how many plays I would get. I wanted people to enjoy my work. When it came to my brother, the measurement was sales and money. These different ideas produced very different results. One created thousands of online fans, willing to pay nothing or very little for my work, and the other was producing ten of thousands of dollars in revenue per month. The message was simple; get clear about what you really want, and get clear about your values. 2. Get out of your own way I've spoken to hundreds of people trying to get ahead, most of them struggling, and there is always a common theme of self-sabotage. Personally, I couldn't tell you how many times I have argued that my way is right, with little or no evidence in the form of results to back up my actions. If your way worked, you would already have arrived at your destination. There's always a good reason for this stubbornness and why you are not listening to good advice, and that is your little self is getting in the way of your big self. Step side and move forward. The less you think about what you are doing, the better. Just trust in yourself. 3. Imperfect action beats perfect inaction This has to be one of the most powerful lessons I ever learned. People that get things done just get on with it. It's not about being perfect, it's about keeping up momentum and moving forward. Our internal guidance system is built to direct us as we move along, but there is nothing to direct if there's no action. The 'law of attraction' will bring you opportunities, but it is the 'law of action' that brings hard results. 4. Identify the beliefs that are holding you back If you are not getting the success you want, then you have one or more negative and limiting beliefs buried deep down. Check your mental blueprint. What do you really think about who you are to be doing what you are trying to achieve? This is where social and environmental conditioning can really hold you back. You receive your programming from the people around you when you are at a young age. Start building positive ideas about what you are capable of, what you deserve, and possible. For example, do you find it hard to ask for money? Why? What tasks make you uncomfortable? Why? 5. Love and accept yourself unconditionally This final lesson didn't come from my brother but from a more recent million-dollar mentor in my own industry. Underpinning the principle is an immutable law of nature. Life doesn't give us what we want, and it gives us what we are. You have to become successful from an internal standpoint before you experience success externally. Imposter syndrome is the cause of many a failure. Not accepting deserved success because of a lack of self-acceptance, or love, or worthiness. You have to get rid of all of that and see yourself as a champion! I’ve learned from my experiences that those goal achievements are only as difficult as you want to make it. However great they seem, the obstacles will always move out of the way when the mindset is aligned. The struggle always comes from internal resistance, and it’s all about releasing that resistance to move forward. It’s easy to look at what’s going on around and blame all sorts of conditions that you have no control over, but that’s not how it is. You are in control if you decide to be in control. You can make a decision that you are going to do whatever is required to reach your goal. Accept that you have the talent and ability to do it, and then start believing in yourself. I've learned that the difference between success and failure is always in mind. If you would like to read the full story of 'My Twin Brother – Lessons From a Million Dollar Mentor' and become a part of our conscious entrepreneur success community, then check out my website. You can follow Corey and Gabriella on Facebook! Corey Butler & Gabriella Gozon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Corey and Gabriella are leaders in high performance mentoring and mindset training. Corey became interested in how the mind plays an instrumental part in determining the success that people achieve in different areas of their lives after working with numerous professional tennis players to improve their psychology over a 15-year period. This led him to partner with Bob Proctor, the world's leading authority in unlocking human potential, and the Proctor Gallagher Institute to start helping entrepreneurs to create quantum leaps in their businesses through raising conscious awareness and teaching how to unlock latent potential. Gabriella joined Corey in 2018, bringing her corporate experience and passion for success psychology. Together they created ‘The Conscious Entrepreneur’, The two now work to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs create a greater impact in the world through the application and implementation of success principles that harmonize thoughts and actions with natural laws of the Universe.

Written by: Moira Hutchison , 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 not always easy to be truly yourself. At home, you can relax, but once you go out that door (or meet with someone on camera) it is a different matter. You feel the need to behave and dress a certain way. You are less open with your preferences and opinions ; especially when dealing with people, you do not know that well. It is not easy to be original. In our formative years, there tends to be immense pressure to fit in. Those that are authentic are fodder for bullies in the educational system. Truth be told, there is much to be gained if you dare to be authentic. Secretly, we all admire those brave enough to be themselves. Many of the most creative people are the most highly valued. You do not get to become a CEO, or successful actor, musician, or artist without the courage to be yourself. There are many benefits to being authentic, both professional and social!! Increase your self-confidence and enhance your life by daring to be authentic: 1. Trust your instincts and intuition. Two things that makes you original are your instincts and your intuition. They are yours and yours alone. Both are based upon your unique experiences and view of the world. Anytime you learn something new, you are affected. That knowledge influences your perspective. Start small and rely on your gut to make small decisions for you. Try going for a drive and allow your intuition to guide you. Take turns in the road that just “ feel ” right to you. Trust your gut when you lack sufficient information. 2. Change your clothing. Do you dress the way you prefer, or do you dress to fit in or to impress others? This is not a suggestion to wear a miniskirt or a purple suit to your bank job, but outside of work, you are largely free to do as you please. Dress to impress yourself. 3. Share your opinions openly. There is no reason to tell your colleague that her new hairstyle reminds you of a housewife from the 50’s. However, you can freely share your opinions on less personal things. Be open regarding your taste in movies, music, food, and other similar topics. Allow others to see the real you. 4. Be kind to those that are brave enough to be authentic, too. If you are critical of others, you will be afraid of receiving the same treatment. This will stifle your freedom to be yourself. That acquaintance with the green hair, eight cats, and smells like potpourri? Be accepting. 5. Be willing to make mistakes. Make decisions as wisely as possible but make them and do your best. If you are afraid of making mistakes, you will never be authentic. 6. You have nothing to lose. The late Steve Jobs stated, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” In 100+ years, there will no one left on Earth that ever saw you or spoke to you in person. There is no reason not to be yourself and enjoy the time you have. 7. Spend more time with your friends. Part of the reason you like those people so much is your ability to you be yourself around them. It is refreshing, and you feel better about yourself. So, why not spend more time with them? You might develop the habit of being yourself. Isn’t it time to be your true self? You have been living as a shadow of yourself for too long. Realize that this is your life and being anything other than your true self is being less than you can be. Be courageous and show the world who you really are. 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 ! Read more from Moira ! Moira Hutchison, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine 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 feel 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.

Written by: Mona AlHebsi , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I am certain that many of you would agree that year 2020 has shaken us deep to the core, changed our perspectives towards life, and compelled us to reexamine the true purpose of our existence. We heard about the mass awakening happening to many people across the globe. This will continue in 2021 and beyond to result in more liberation, enlightenment, and expansion for the human species. We could be living in the most exciting time ever in the age of humanity because we will witness ourselves being more aligned with our true essence invariably and better connected to our universe with all that it encompasses. Many of us suffered in some way or another in 2020, either physically, emotionally, or even spiritually, and experienced pain in various forms such as job misplacement, financial instability, or perhaps an unfortunate loss of a loved one. These scenarios were very tough to go through at that point. However, what they really came to do is to reveal ourselves and allow us to pause and contemplate who we are and what matters the most. When we experience pain and have had enough of it, we reach a point when this state becomes extremely uncomfortable. We then force ourselves to push our boundaries to think, feel, and behave differently to create a shift in our current circumstances and thus change our reality. Ekhart Tolle once said: “Suffering is a wonderful teacher, suffering is most people’s only spiritual teacher, and suffering deepens you, it gradually erodes the mind-made sense of self ~ the ego.” As we prepare to wrap up the first week of 2021, how much would each of us say that we have been transformed from what we were this time last year? What have we endured since then, and what we have gained as a result? What are our priorities in 2021, and how different they are from what we planned a year ago? One thing is certain, many of us have more clarity compared to last year and came out stronger, more intended, and way balanced mind, body, and spirit wise. We have evolved in such a way that many of us no longer think that a “traditional job” is the only way to make a living or that adopting mainstream philosophies concerning work, life, or having fun will make us happier, richer, or more accepted. Any wise person who went through all this and undoubtedly understood the message of 2020 would never dare to await things to go back to the “old normal.” Go ahead and create your “new normal” based on your new, elevated version calling. There are many more choices, opportunities, growth, and fulfillment out there when you dare to listen to your soul, calling away from all the worldly and mental noises. My loving advice is to trust your intuition and take the first step towards your liberation in 2021. Your intuition knows it all because it is your inner wisdom derived from your higher self. Never bargain this for the temporary rewards that the materialistic world will lure you into. Your soul is immortal and timeless, and you have all the answers you are looking for within you, so learn to listen to your soul. Still not sure how to start? Email me at info@monaalhebsi.com For more personal effectiveness and career success tips, visit my website . Connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on Instagram , Twitter & Facebook ! You can also subscribe to my channel on YouTube . Mona AlHebsi, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mona AlHebsi, is an Award Winning Hotelier, HR Practitioner, Success Coach, Renowned Author and Speaker. She has recently been named as “Most Influential Woman in Hospitality Human Capital” and "Inspirational Female Leader" due to her eminent contributions in the hospitality industry and Human Resources profession. Through her book “Beat The Odds”, Mona is aiming to provide a roadmap to all hoteliers and working professionals on how to make their work a vehicle to delivering excellence and achieving astounding success. She instinctively knows how to ignite the courage in others to stay true to their values and capitalize on their strengths, which will ultimately steer them towards success and fulfilment. Mona'a life mantra is "The more odds you beat, the greater will be your feat"!

Written by: Danielle Perlin-Good, 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 art of writing a book has been around for centuries. But in the last 15-20 years, Amazon has turned the world of publishing upside down, making it easier than ever to publish a book on your own terms. Nearly 1.7 million books were self-published in the U.S. in 2018, according to the latest ProQuest Bowker Report from October 15, 2019. This is an outstanding 264% increase in only five years. If you’ve recently scrolled through your social media feed, and seeing someone else become a best-selling author invigorates you, I invite you to join the conversation, leave a legacy, and start the process of writing your ideas in book form. 1. Books are gifts. My dad calls books, “the gifts that keep on giving.” And it’s true. I participated in a beautiful secret Santa book exchange in December through a wonderful women’s organization, and each participant received an incredibly diverse list of powerful books. 2. We need more best-selling authors who don’t go by “John” or “Jon.” Don’t get me wrong—I love the name, John. It’s not personal. My brother’s name is Jonathan, and the first name of one of my favorite health care professionals is named Jon. Fortune recently ran an article citing, “Of the year’s 200 bestselling business books, only 17 were written by women. That’s equal to the number of business bestsellers written by men named John or Jon.” My jaw dropped upon reading this news. Ladies, let’s get down to business and write our damn books in 2021. We need our voices heard. If you’re reading this article and your name is John, please, continue to write, but encourage your female colleagues to write their ideas, too. 3. Bring more value to your conversation. You’re an expert in your field. Why not write about your expertise in book form? Although the majority of non-fiction books are between 50,000 and 75,000 words on average, yours doesn’t have to be. By writing about your own experiences, you’re also allowing your vulnerability to shine through, which is so beautiful in itself. 4. If you don’t write about it, then someone else will. Have you ever read “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert? It’s one of my absolute favorite books. That “big magic” idea you’ve had for 20 years won’t just go away. In fact, it will be transferred and downloaded, and while each of us has our own unique set of experiences, the “Big Magic” may find a new home. Grab a hold of your ideas. Nurture them. Spend quality time with them. The relationship you have with your next best-seller will certainly make your future and your career brighter. 5. We didn’t know what 2020 would bring. We don’t have access to a crystal ball. At least, I’m not aware of anyone who has access to a crystal ball. If I did, I’m not even sure I’d use it. Last year rocked us as a society in countless ways. It showed us that we have less control than we initially thought. We don’t have complete control over the trajectory of our lives, and isn’t that beautiful, miraculous, and riveting, in a way? We can’t predict the future, but we can write about our past experiences to help others. Your legacy book is just waiting for you in the back of your mind, desperately wanting you to devote time and energy to it this year. Make 2021 your year, and write a best-seller. Follow me on Instagram, join my Facebook-group, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Danielle! Danielle Perlin-Good, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Danielle Perlin-Good is The Written Legacy Coach. She works with emerging C-suite leaders to unleash their memoirs, self-help, and personal growth non-fiction books so they can share their powerful legacies and transform lives. Since 2008, Danielle has written and edited hundreds of articles, books, social media content, e-newsletters, and more. She went from working overnight shifts at the Tribune Company to corporate digital marketing gigs, one of which was at Albert Whitman & Co., an esteemed children's publishing house. Danielle uses mindset techniques, exceptional editing skills, and quantum healing modalities to ensure her clients develop a beautifully crafted and publishable book that they will forever cherish.

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. Part 1 of 2 Here’s a story about a lovely lady. Her name is Mary (not her real name, but her story is real). I coached Mary early on in 2020 for 3 months. She was open and committed to looking into a new direction for help with anxiety. A day in the life for Mary was like many other days. She woke up, went about her usual activities. She is an executive in a career she absolutely enjoys. Her job was stressful and at certain times of the year. Mary felt overwhelmed, worn out during those stressful times, and her anxiety, as she called it, reared its’ ugly head. When she had chores to do, such as laundry, cleaning, gardening, etc., she felt anxious. She said, “it bothered her when she wasn’t able to keep up as fast as she wanted.” During holidays when she was expecting company, she felt anxious. She couldn’t relax and enjoy the holidays because of the pressure of all the extra shopping, cooking, wrapping, cleaning, etc. She wouldn’t fly because she feared flying and would miss out on family trips. She then became extremely anxious about the virus, which was just brewing when we began our coaching. Now, anxiety was in full swing once again. Mary was no stranger to those uncomfortable feelings. She suffered from “her anxiety” as though it was part of her. She blamed her father as she learned it from him growing up. He always responded to life with anxiety. He was short-tempered would yell and scream when something didn’t go right. He worried about everything all the time. He would be irritated at the long lines in the grocery store and would yell at the clerk when it was their time to check out. Mary spent 20+ years in and out of therapy talking about what was weighing on her mind, mostly rehashing her past. During those 20+ years, she was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and panic disorder. She believed there was something wrong with her. She felt she was not normal. She thought, this is the way I am going to be for the rest of my life. She felt hopeless because she didn’t see a way out. Luckily for Mary, she was so WRONG! There certainly was a way out of her anxiety, panic attacks, and depression! Today, well, it began during our 3 months together. Mary is no longer coping, struggling, or managing anxiety, stress, panic attacks, and depression. Instead, she’s thriving and living all of her unlived life. She said, “I never thought there was a solution to the way I think.” “I thought it was in my genes because my father was like this too, so then I was too.” “At 60 years old, I am living in a world of peace, love, contentment, happiness, patience, compassion, and much more”. By the way, I didn’t give Mary any tools or strategies. We never addressed anxiety, stress, depression, or even panic attacks. Instead, she gained real-time realizations and insights, which created a shift in her thinking when she understood how her life experience is REALLY created. It’s from that understanding the big monster under bed no longer looked scary. What Mary didn’t know for 20+ years was the No. 1 BIGGEST MISUNDERSTANDING that keeps people in label living, coping, managing, trying, and struggling innocently, of course. Where do you think your experience of life comes from? Last year, I asked at least 100 people the same question, and they look dazed and confused. I can understand why. We don’t really learn this in life. We don’t come with a manual when we are born of how life REALLY works. Many responded with the following ideas: my divorce my dwindling back account my past the virus my job my ex-spouse relationships difficult people I had a few people say the weather makes them feel blue. In fact, I’ve been asked a few times, “why do I feel down on a sunny day?” Perfectly innocent, when you don’t know where your experience comes from. Here’s the gold, when we innocently believe that the cause of our stress, anxiety, depression, etc. comes from a person, the past, an event or anything outside of us, this creates unnecessary suffering. Because we feel it is outside of our control. This leaves us feeling hopeless and powerless. This leaves us attempting to change, control, or monitor our thinking about what we think to feel positive and happy. This leaves us feeling as though we have to wait or attempt to change something outside of us to feel happy, calm, peaceful, etc. This leaves us in label living because we think there’s something wrong with us. We spend a lifetime “working on ourselves” just to cope or manage. This leaves us at the mercy of trying to find that magic app, tool, tip, or technique that will make us feel more peaceful and calm. This leaves us feeling like we can never live with peace of mind until everything in our world is right, free of drama; everything is in order. This leaves us feeling like our personality is fixed, not fluid, that we are stuck in living in a personality, “it’s just the way I am.” I remembered many years ago; I would have panic attacks just thinking about my upcoming flight back home from Chicago. My flight was weeks away, and I’d be home thinking about it. I would break out in a sweat; my heart would beat so fast I thought I was having a heart attack. Honestly, back then, I had no idea where my anxiety and panic attacks were coming from. I simply believed the reason was BECAUSE I had a fear of flying. I never questioned where my feelings were coming from. I’m happy to report, I no longer have anxiety when thinking about flying or while I’m in the air. What I am about to share with you next month will provide you hope that you too can live a life of freedom---peace, calm, happiness, contentment, joy, etc., just like Mary. Next month, I will pull back the curtain on how our experience of life is really created. Specifically, how all feelings such as anxiety, depression, stress, worry, overwhelm, etc., come from and how you can spend more time living from what isn’t to what is without doing anything with your thinking. Check out Part 2 next month, the best-kept secret you should know that will free you from insecure thinking. 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: Gina Cassano, 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 I sit here on the beach, listening to the sounds of the waves, feeling the warm breeze, and studying my mastery program, I started to think about a conversation I had last night with a friend. You see, the company she has worked at for decades recently announced that another company is acquiring it and that nothing is certain. After all the loss and grief she has experienced over the past several years, this news was yet another blow… she simply wanted to have some peace and security in her life. With this news, the fear of the unknown of what's to come has left her overwhelmed with fear and the inability to overcome grief. Where will she go? What will she do? How will she be able to support herself without losing her home? She’ll be all alone. All of these are valid and real questions. As I sat there and listened, I noticed that much of what she was saying was negative and based on grief and fear. She felt betrayed by the company that she was loyal to for decades and terrified for the rest of her life! So now what??? After listening to her, we openly talked about the possibility of getting laid off. It was then that I suggested trying to think about this situation from a new perspective; what if this is the blessing she needs to move on with her life and get past all the grief she has felt in past years? What if this fear held her back from realizing the potential opportunities that could open up for her once she let go? I explained that although her feelings are very raw, real, and certainly justified, to move forward and accept new opportunities, she must let go of whatever she’s holding onto. Since transformation is about letting go, what must she let go of to move on truly? Let go of the idea of being comfortable and always working for the same company. What makes her so certain that this isn’t the change she needs to get past all the trauma and heartache she has experienced and begin to thrive and grow truly? What makes her so sure this isn’t a higher power closing one door and opening another for her? Then came silence… We talked about her skills and the things that she’s inspired by and loves, such as art. That’s when she mentioned a job opening she came across, right near her home, and how she has many of the required skills and experience. Ah-ha! That’s a sign! Not only was this a well-known business, she lives in the country, and it’s very rare to find a position like this in that region. For so many people, life is not all sunshine and rainbows, but with change and letting go comes opportunity for growth…if they’re aware enough to notice. It was like a lightbulb went off! Maybe, just maybe I’m on to something…well, then there’s hope. What if this was exactly what she needed? While my friend was much more light-hearted by the end and grateful for our conversation, I was grateful too; to be there to show her that one door has to close for a new door to open. While the fear of uncertainty is still there, it’s significantly less, and she now has positive things to think about and even renewed hope. To me, that’s priceless. Never give up hope on what is possible…you’re exactly where you need to be at this moment in time. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Gina Cassano, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Meet Gina Marie, certified Transformation Mastery Coach & Relationship Strategist, and Founder of MindShift Coaching Services, and TeenLife | TeenStrong. Gina dedicates her life to being a master of mindset, habit, and behavior change, first for herself, then for others. She is living her passion and dream of guiding people towards the life they desire, and most of all, deserve. Gina works with leaders who struggle with their relationships at work and home. She helps them connect and create a shared vision so they can move their business and life forward with enjoyment and ease! As a former agile business coach, she quickly realized how being unhappy at home impacts mindset and behaviors at work. She supports leaders on creating deep and meaningful relationships so that they show up being present and focused, as the authentic leader that their team and the organization needs them to be. Gina believes that how we show up in our personal relationships affects how we show up in every aspect of our life, and vice versus. So, when things feel unsettled at home, we carry that with us, and it comes out in who we are at work, and everywhere else. One part is learning how to have successful relationships, and looking inward is the other because mastery starts within. Gina’s Purpose: To support people on their life journey, so they say, “because of working with you, my life has improved, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” Gina’s favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

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. Building a business is never about building a business. It’s about building yourself so that you can build your business. There’s a popular but rather dismaying data point that says that small businesses’ failure rate is 90%. Why is that number so high? In today’s day and age of digital information and access to knowledge, why do so many businesses continue to fail? If we all have access to the same strategies, data, digital media, etc., what makes 9 in 10 fail? Many fail because it’s not about what you know or do, but who you are when you do those things. What is your collective mindset when you are showing up for your business? As a woman, who has been in business for herself for the last 9 years, I have learned the hard way that mindset and your energy (mental, emotional, and spiritual) have more to do with entrepreneurial success than any strategy ever will. The business world doesn’t have to be all competition and cutthroat . It can be highly collaborative and nourishing if you choose to believe that there is more than enough to go around for everyone to flourish. 14 years of schooling, 3 years of undergrad, and 2 years of business school taught me how to survive and compete. But 9 years of being a business owner taught me how to thrive and collaborate. Here’s what I know to be true, having learned on the job: You have what it takes to succeed, even your wildest dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are unrealistic. Great businesses were built on unrealistic dreams. Not every strategy is right for you. Trust yourself first before you trust any strategy. If something doesn’t feel good to you, then it wasn’t meant to be executed that way. It’s totally okay to rely on your gut. In fact, your gut has a sixth sense which helps you make intuitive decisions, which data and analysis can’t do. There is no competition. The only competition is you. You will experience less stress and overwhelm if you choose to believe that there are more than enough clients to go around, and there is more than enough money to go around. Market saturation is a myth. You can always find a client base if you know what sets you apart and believe in it. Making a wrong decision is better than waiting to decide because you learn from your mistakes . Failures aren’t failures. There are only lessons. Forgive yourself for making mistakes. The most successful people move on quickly, without shame or guilt. The quicker you forgive yourself, the easier you will be able to move on to try new things in your business. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to quit something because it no longer aligns. Note: I am not talking about quitting because the going gets hard..... Your belief in yourself is the biggest determining factor for success. Not your marketing or your sales prowess. Business is mindset first, strategy second. For more information, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Read more from Visa! 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 autoimmune 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 the University of Texas at Dallas and worked for Microsoft and Fossil.

Written by: Alina Machita, 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. After being raised by a narcissist, you might have some weird behaviors you don’t understand. There’s a very good reason for this and a way to fix it, so it stops happening. If you’re still in contact with your narcissistic parent, you feel like a frayed ball of nerves. The problem is when you’re always under constant attack, you never have a chance to heal in between blows. A narcissistic parent likes to keep you on your toes. You’re always second-guessing yourself, and you don’t have a chance to make your own decisions. Once you stop the cycle of narcissistic abuse, something very painful happens. You start to heal. Healing is not pleasant, but when you start to heal from narcissistic abuse, it’s brutal. You outgrow narcissistic abuse, and you also emotionally outgrow your parents, siblings, and possibly all of your unhealthy relationships. When you’ve been abused this way, it’s already left its mark on your life, and you can’t erase it, but you can fight back. A narcissist will never develop the ability to win the internal battle, but you can. After being raised by a narcissist, your struggle is with self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. When a parent narcissistically abuses you, you’re told every aspect and angle of you is bad, wrong, and shameful. You’re never taught how to love and accept yourself. You’re taught to hate yourself for being a normal, imperfect, flawed human being. When you’re a narcissist child, you question every decision you make because you don’t trust yourself or your gut. That’s a problem. The only way to stop the insanity is to replace what you’ve been taught about yourself with the truth. When you realize you didn’t have a normal childhood. After being raised by a narcissist and fully understanding what that means, it turns your world upside down. It changes everything you thought you knew about your life. You go through phases of trying to disprove your mother or father is a narcissist because if it was something else, anything else, there might be some hope. You hold on to this hope there might be some chance you’ll get them to see how they’ve hurt you, and then they’ll change their behavior. This will never happen. Their behavior will never change… never. Rule number one is to stop going to them for emotional support. When you decide, you feel liberated by it, and you stop seeking their approval. You can’t change a narcissistic parent. If he/she was going to change, don’t you think they’d have done it already? How this healing process works is you change and evolve, and they don’t. They stay the same, so when they continue to do the same things they’ve always done, stop being surprised. Getting stuck in the past. You start reliving the past, and sometimes it feels like you’re right back there, trapped and defenseless. You must remind yourself you’re not defenseless as an adult. It’s a terrible and sometimes paralyzing state to be in. When you start practicing the power of now, it brings you back to the present. It reminds you you’re not there anymore, and that’s not your life anymore. We can’t keep going back there to torture ourselves. That feeling of being helpless, hopeless, and trapped isn’t reality as an adult. You have options; you have choices and a hell of lot more resources than a child. A narcissist wants you to believe you’re too fragile, broken, and damaged to ever amount to anything. When a narcissist has raised you, you’ve already survived decades of daily emotional, psychological, and many times physical abuse. When you put a stop to the abuse, it gives you the space to heal. Healing from narcissistic abuse is exhausting, and the first year is always the hardest. A narcissistic parent will harass you and start doing even more crazy weird things stop this from happening because their biggest fear is losing control. They’re afraid you might see them for who they really are. They don’t want you to heal, and they don’t want you to get better. When you stop seeking approval from anyone but yourself, your life will begin to change. No need for approval equals no control. What are your needs? I’m not talking about the physical things like food, shelter, water, or clothing a narcissistic parent thinks you should be eternally grateful for. Yes, thank you for the bare minimum basics I could’ve gotten at any orphanage across the country. When you take a good look at yourself during this healing process, it takes a conscious effort to separate your wants and needs from what the narcissistic parent thinks your wants and needs should be. Narcissistic abuse leaves a stronghold of control that remains even after going no contact. It takes time to untangle yourself from that. No one gets to tell you what to do or how to be anymore. Do whatever you want as long as you own it. Great advice, right? All this advice isn’t going to do you any good. The information you’re looking for is a little further down. What’s the worst thing you can do to a narcissist? Get to know yourself, take care of yourself, and live a better life without them. Don’t worry, someday karma will show them how good you’re doing, and their life will still suck. Deep down, narcissists know this too, and that’s why they work so hard and put in an extremely abnormal amount of effort to maintain control of their children and spouses. If you need proof, start taking away the narcissist’s control and see how violently they react. No one can throw a bigger temper tantrum than a narcissist who loses control of someone else’s mind. Here’s what you don’t need in your life. Judgment Blame Shame To be insulted To be ignored To be rejected To be ashamed Toxic relationships Abusive relationships More pain We need to stop the abuse, so we have time to recover. A person has weird and awkward behaviors when they feel disconnected. Every healing method you’ve tried hasn’t worked and isn’t able to fix this core issue. When a narcissist raises you, you’re told your instincts are wrong, and what you’re feeling isn’t real. They do everything they can to make you feel inferior and less than. Anytime you show the real you, it was shamed, scolded, or frowned upon. This kind of trauma is deep in the subconscious, and it controls everything. Reconnecting with yourself on a deeper level is the only way to stop these behaviors. If you’re secure in who you are and own it, you won’t have these weird social issues around people anymore. Here’s a list of techniques I’ve tried that actually work and solve the core issue and the root cause of what you’re experiencing. The Emotion and Body Code by Bradley Nelson It’s the only thing that works, and anything else you try will have temporary results, which is a complete waste of time, as in years, and money. I know because I was just like you, out there looking for a piece of hay in a pile of hay. It’s just like that. You need and deserve the newest, most groundbreaking information on how to heal from narcissistic abuse, and The Emotion Code is what you’re looking for. Final thoughts… When a narcissist raises you, it’s usually their way or nothing, and many times I chose nothing, and that’s what I got. As an adult, I’m in charge, and I can take care of myself. More than anything else, I want nothing from her. She can keep her nothing. Eventually, you realize you don’t need what you never had. Nothing from her is everything to me. Need support? It’s tough trying to recover from this and straighten it out on your own. I want you to know about The Emotion Code, and a personal session with an Emotion Code Practitioner was like ten years of traditional therapy in an hour. Expect miracles! Book your free session today! For more info, visit my website & follow me on Instagram! Read more from Alina! Alina MaChita, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hi, I’m Alina. I’m an empath, a transformational healer and a Subconscious mind Specialist. I have an unshakable passion and gift to help women stop self-sabotage, unlock their subconscious mind, release trapped emotions and subconscious blocks, keeping them from living in love, accomplishments, and balance. Most of my work is done directly within your Subconscious Mind where your Power is; utilizing muscle testing is a way to communicate with the subconscious mind and sophisticated systems like Emotion and Body Code and Raising levels of consciousness, removing physical and emotional blocks and stored trapped imbalances that can keep you from abundance, creativity, emotional balance and lightness of being.

Written by: Agnese Rudzate, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I hear people saying, “I do whatever it takes” to grow my business, to create more impact, to support my vision and mission. But when it comes to making a choice, a lot of them procrastinate, find excuses and reasons to do it just a little bit later. When they will be more prepared and ready to handle the “growth.” However, the main reason women I work with is the fear of betting even busier than they already are. This is what's holding back so many from achieving amazing results, creating greater impact, and truly level up like never before. And I get it! If to level up in your business means to work longer hours, it's simply not worth it. Let's switch your mindset into a fearless level up mode and show you how to go full force ahead and work less. You see, success means very little if you have “no life” outside your business. Surely you want to enjoy the fruits of your work, right? Surely you want to be able to spend time with people you love, create long-lasting happy memories without feeling guilty about missing out on business opportunities, and vice versa. Level up and work less guilt-free. It takes a switch in your mindset to get out of the thought about hard bork being something to look up to. Saying like: “True success requires sacrifice,” “Success is no accident, it is hard work,” “time is money.” You see how we have been conditioned into adapting these believes that serve us in a very little way. How about thriving for this instead: “Being wealthy means having time,” “Making money is easy,” “Success comes effortlessly.” At the end of the day, it comes down to what we allow ourselves to believe in. But the best part is that we can change our beliefs, we can change our habits and behavior so that it serves our mission, goals, and vision to create impact, change lives, and be the best we can be in this world. It's all in your hands (and head)! Understanding how much your time is worth and how much you want it to be worth is the fundamental step towards clarity of your success path. When I ask women what they would do with extra 10 hours per week, most of them turn away in disbelief, commenting that it is unrealistic. And the truth is - it is! It is absolutely unrealistic if you believe that! If you can’t tell me right now what you will do with as little as 2 extra hours every day, you will probably never have an extra 2 hrs per day. What we believe we achieve, steps back and think about it for a moment. What would it mean for you to have these extra hours? How would you prefer to spend them? And don't think about your household work, outside business obligation, or even another work project because you will always find time for those (usually by lacking sleep, self-care, and other balanced life fundamentals). What would it take to create those 2h hours in your day so you can recharge and be a better you for everyone, including yourself? If the answer is clear for you, you are truly ready to level up and work less. Your commitment is what will take you from where you are at the moment to where you want to be both in your business and life. Once the diction is made, there is no way back. Now the path leads only up. Your commitment will allow you to aspect the guidance, trust the process, implement new ways to work smarter, not harder, and truly leverage your time in business so you can work less and enjoy the success. Yes, it will not always be easy. Yes, it will require you to step outside your comfort zone. Yes, it will challenge you in more ways than one. Yes, it will be all worth it, because nothing, nothing is more precious than time. This is my life's mission to help women truly leverage their time, work effectively, efficiently, and effortlessly so they can work less and level up at the same time. You can always earn more money, but you can’t get more time. We all have 24hrs per day, so it's important how we choose to spend it. If you are ready to level up and work less, if you are ready to leverage your time and grow your business, if you are ready to take the next step in creating time freedom while running a thriving business, I invite you to join me in “Less is More” Academy . The doors are open. Have fun creating the life of your dreams, and never stop improving. I'm cheering you on! For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn or visit my website ! Read more from Agnese! Agnese Rudzate, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Agnese Rudzate is a Business Productivity Coach and Time-management expert with a professional background in Quality Management and Empowerment Coaching. She has turned her lifelong passion for organizing into her mission, helping women gain the confidence, clarity, and time freedom they deserve by providing action steps, tools, and customized strategies. Agnese is a firm believer that anyone can achieve business or personal goals through a deeply focused effort based on her coaching. Through structure, systems, and processes that bring results, Agnese teaches her clients to manage their business with ease, create time freedom, and scale profits.

Written by: Janet Henson, 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 COVID-19 pandemic is straining many marriages and some to breaking point. In many countries, the divorce rate is rising as couples are impacted by the emotional, physical, and economic fallout since March 2020. The COVID-19 pressure effect results in marriages becoming more fragile due to couples experiencing so much stress. Reason or the final straw My experience with my clients is that often COVID-19 is not the reason for the split but the catalyst, the final straw. It’s just that final push for one of the partners to realize that they are unhappy and wish to change their lives . COVID-19 has made many people realize that life is short and they need to grasp it and live it to the fullest . Staying in an unhappy marriage, especially a toxic one, is no longer an option. COVID-19 is a real test of a relationship , and lockdowns suddenly mean that couples have to spend 24 hours together seven days a week. Disillusionment is brought to the fore after being forced into closer proximity and spending more time with their partners. The annoying behaviors and opinions of their partners suddenly come into focus, and thus a realization that they can no longer accept this in their lives. On a positive note, facing the fact that you need to leave an unhappy marriage in the long run is a good thing. However, many couples thrived during lockdowns and used it as a new restart to the relationship. They re-evaluated their lives and realized that their lifestyle was too hectic and driven by material desires, which meant they had lost their way. Thus, averting a possible split down the road if they had not taken action. An excuse to stay in a bad relationship? In some cases, those struggling in a relationship used COVID-19 as an excuse to stay in a bad relationship. Quite often, when a relationship breaks down, we are in denial and fear the future, and so COVID-19 becomes another reason to bolster our denial vibes. It’s important to face the fact that denial has to be faced at some point. Extra burden for working women Working women who already felt that they were burning the candle at both ends suddenly had the extra burden of homeschooling , juggling child care, and trying to work from home. Stress levels have been exacerbated to new levels, quite often hobbies that previously de-stressed were unobtainable due to gyms being closed or simply that time was no longer available with the additional roles mentioned above. It’s important to share this new ‘workload’ with your partner . Additional Curve Balls Many of my clients, already in the process of divorce, were thrown additional curved balls. Often the whole process suddenly ground to a halt as divorce processes were delayed. Court delays have also left my clients in no man’s land with frustrating zero progress. Financial agreements that were already in the arbitration process had to be restarted as reduced income and investment shortfalls were impacted. For those divorcing later in life, it is essential to revisit pension splits as some pensions' capital value is linked directly to the performance of the investments underlying it. Those who had already started planning a new life had to rethink due to reduced financial settlements. Suddenly their rental or buying abilities were affected or delayed. In some cases, they were forced to remain living with their ex placing them in a unique situation of being confined with a partner they were actively trying to separate from. It’s important to seek financial advice before you agree to any financial settlement, especially as the road map has significantly changed. As the pandemic has evolved, court hearings, mediation, and solicitor meeting have now become virtual. In certain cases, it may be harder for some to handle mediations or court appearances virtually . Divorce is an emotional process . Sometimes, the human connection of having your team in your actual room can be calming. Co-parenting For those couples who have already split and are co-parenting , COVID-19 amplifies conflicts and can create new ones. Just the very process of children living in two homes and, in some cases, two countries has brought a whole new dimension of challenges. Some parents are missing out on seeing their children, and this is heartbreaking . Couples may also disagree as to what is COVID-19 friendly behavior . One parent may wish to isolate the children whilst the other still lets them mingle with other families. One may feel it is perfectly ok for a child to fly to visit them in another country whilst the other feels flying is not acceptable in a COVID-19 environment. In some circumstances, maintenance payments have also been impacted. It is really important to put the children first in these times, you may not still be married, but you are both still parents. Co-parenting goes better when parents are flexible with each other, so you need to put away previous grudges and work together with the new circumstances, communicate well and work together to solve new, specific challenges. New lockdowns Many of us face another lockdown, and the reality of this means that even more divorces will result. If you can work on your marriage, turn it around. If not, accept the fact that you have grown apart and need to move on in life. Seek help Remember that divorce is the second most traumatic experience in life, overlaid with COVID-19 means that this is magnified even more. I strongly encourage you to seek help from a team, a lawyer for legal matters, a financial specialist, and a divorce coach to deal with the emotional and psychological trauma that divorce brings. How I help you As a divorce coach, I address the emotional issues . My role is to hold your hand to cross the bridge and navigate the emotionally troubled waters. I am here to help you navigate every single step of your painful situation with strategies to enable you to move forward in your life. My job is to support, educate and guide you as you move into a new and improved life. I can be your co-navigator in your journey, and I aim to create a safe, supportive, non-judgmental, and understanding environment. My approach is holistic as I am a great believer in the mind and body working together. What is in your body is in your brain. I believe you need to harmonize your body with your mind to operate at full capacity. I used this approach in my divorce journey and recognized the multi-faceted benefits. To schedule a call or to find out how you might benefit from JH Holistic Divorce and Break Up Coaching, email janet@jhdivorcecoaching.com or fill in the contact form on her website. You can also follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and Linktree for regular updates. Read more from Janet! Janet Henson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Janet Henson is a globally sought-after Divorce Coach, dedicated to guide men and women through one of life’s most traumatic emotional events - divorce. Janet's quest is to banish the stigma that still surrounds divorce and prove that the end of a marriage can be the empowering, life-changing, and affirming event ever to happen to you. Her coaching experience coupled with her own divorce experience enables her to develop coaching programs designed to help individuals transform their lives by taking control of their minds and equipping them with the strategies and tools they need to successfully deal with this major life event. Enabling them to navigate and cope with their journey with positivity and confidently transitioning into the next phase of their lives . Janet specializes in divorces involving narcissistic abuse, high conflict, divorce in later life, and ex-pat divorces.

Written by: Nancy Michieli , 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. One of the most common questions I receive as a coach is “What is Feminine Energy?” For years we have been trained, coached, and taught to use more Masculine Energy in the corporate world. These masculine energies include; Confidence, Inner Strength, Discipline, Logic, Capability, and Assertiveness, to name a few. While there is a need to develop our Masculine, we as women must learn to engage our more Natural Feminine Energies. The following are the Five (5) Feminine Energies I empower women to engage within their leadership practice: Creativity Creativity is the source of life. This life can be in the form of another human, or the business world, the source of a new idea, invention, or business. Women are physically designed to be the creators of life. This is one of the most natural feminine energies we have. Here are a few tips to increase your creativity: 1. Connect with the arts - listen to music, draw, paint, dance, or read. The arts are all about connecting with creativity and expressing that. 2. Connect with nature - go out for a walk and see what mother nature has to offer. She is always changing with the season and weather. It may be the way the snowbank is created or the beautiful new flowers which have blossomed. Either way, take time to notice the differences daily. 3. Connect through play - we can get too busy to play, but learning how to play with others in a fun game is full of inspiration. Watch children when they play. You will notice how amazing their imagination is when they are having fun. Intuition Intuition is our internal knowing. It is a gut instinct, which helps guide us in our direction. Even when things seem logically right, your intuition may tell you differently. Unfortunately, we often follow the beliefs we have been taught. When we follow our intuition, it will generally lead us quicker in the right direction. It helps us make the right decisions faster in the workplace. Here are the three types of intuition and how to connect with them: Directional intuition - the ability to listen to your gut and determine the path your or your team should follow. Informational intuition - the ability to analyze large amounts of information quickly to determine a promising action course. Social intuition - the ability to read a person without a word being spoken by naturally picking up body language and verbal cues. To connect and use your intuition better, engage in a practice of stillness. Take a few moments before or after a situation to sit and be still. Connect your mind with your body. How are you feeling? What is this feeling telling you? This requires practice, but the more you practice connecting with your intuition and your inner feelings, the better and faster you will use said intuition at a moment's notice. You will develop an inner trust, helping you make decisions faster and aligned with who you are. Flow Flow is considered one of the most efficient ways to get work accomplished. Often we get so caught up in responding and being available at a moment's notice that we lose out on productivity. Being in a state of flow for 90 minutes will help you complete actions faster and easier. As a leader, teaching yourself, your workers, family, and friends to give you 90 minutes of space will strengthen your ability to get more done, increase your self-esteem and provide you more time to be responsive to those around you. How to get into a state of flow: Inform others not to disturb you during this time. Turn off any distractions - phones, messaging, emails. Clear the space so you can work. Set yourself a timer for 90 minutes and get to work. This may seem uncomfortable at the start, but the more you do this, the more you will achieve. As a leader, this is a great tool to teach your team to be more effective and loosen the stigma of boundaries in the workplace. Nurture Women are known to be natural-born mothers, to nurture and develop the children of our future. Even if you are like me and have never fully developed motherly instincts, you may find that you still have the skill to nurture. As a leader taking time to nurture your team to help them develop the skills aligned with their strengths will provide your business and project with better success. Take time to connect with each team member. Where do their individual strengths lie, and how can you help them develop the skills to achieve the results your business or organization needs? Surrender Surrender is the final key to the puzzle of success. This is probably the most uncomfortable Feminine Energy that I see high achieving women leaders struggle to achieve. To surrender is to place trust in others, to rely on and allow others on your team to succeed. An example is to go on vacation and allow and trust your team to function without your support. To do this, you need to have developed good intuition and learned how to nurture your team. You know their strengths and your weaknesses. You become more open to possibilities by listening and supporting your team in their achievements. The best part of learning how to surrender is that it provides you with the freedom to achieve greater things, share with others and truly step into your roles as a leader, not a doer. As a High-Performing Feminine Leader, how do you connect with your feminine energy? How can you increase your creativity, intuition, flow, nurture, and ability to surrender to create increased results in yourself, your team, your business, or your organization? Follow her Podcast Luv2bMe , on Instagram at nancymichieli , or take her free 60-Seconds to Boost Your Self-Esteem . Read more from Nancy ! Nancy Michieli, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nancy Michieli is excited to launch a new movement Luv2bMe. She is inspiring women to boost their self-esteem to be more fun, flirty and fabulous to flourish in life and business. Nancy is a Certified Rapid Transformation Therapy Practitioner, Certified Holistic Life, Career and Executive Coach and Certified Consulting Hypnotist. As well, Nancy holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, her Diploma as a Certified Sommelier from the Canadian Professional Sommelier Association and loves to compete in American Ballroom 9 Dance with the charming husband. During a successful 25 year career as an Engineer, Project Manager and Leader in the Oil&Gas Industry, Nancy discovered that women in the male-dominated field succeed when they bring their feminine charm. Her mission is to help women fall in love with being women, engaging their elegant, assertive feminine energy to achieve their life dreams.

Written by: Michele Levandusky, 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. Now, see how intriguing that was for you to click on this article to read it? Stick with me for just a moment and see why. Working with businesses to help them build a database can sometimes have obstacles. One of the easiest ways to get something is to give something. I think we all expect we need to give our email out to get something in return, right? But some business owners are afraid to give something away. I’m not saying give away the farm, but you can spare a chicken, right? For example, you needed to give your email to get the latest app on your phone, right? You needed to give your phone number for them to send you a confirmation text, right? So, business owners shouldn’t be afraid to ask people for this information...but also don’t shy away from giving something in return. Let's use a Car Wash, for example. If I owned a car wash and built a database of my current and potential customers, I would offer “Join our VIP Program and get a FREE Car Wash!” Heck yeah, you would probably sign up for that, right!?!? Who doesn’t want a free car wash! As the business owner, I now have your email and phone number that I can market to you personally. Maybe it’s a slow Tuesday afternoon, and I can send out a message to my VIP Club and say, “Hey Steve, FYI, 50% off car wash today only”. Yep, I may lose 50% of the profit, but I’d rather lose 50% than not have any business at all. In turn, you, Mr/Ms. Customers will be more likely to come back to my car wash whenever your car requires some TLC. How about “Hey Mr. Customer, Happy Birthday! Stop by and get your car washed today and get a Free Interior Cleaning”. Heck yeah! Hold my cupcake, and I’m on my way! What happens? My detailer will most likely get one heck of a tip, which will make them super happy. Mr. Customer will now have a clean car inside and out, and once again, he will return for his regular car cleanings, and I now have a loyal customer who will tell his friends and family about my service. Building databases like this is vital to the growth and success of any business. No matter what type of business you have, I can come up with a plan. Look, if nothing else, 2020 taught us we don’t know what to expect next. If you’re relying solely on Social Media and Pay Per Click to build your business….think the “What if’s” What if Zuck cashed in his billions and shut Facebook down? Be proactive, not reactive in your business! When you give something away and build a customer loyalty program, they are 75% more likely to choose you over your competition. 20% of your current customers will make up 80% of your company's future sales. And, just a 5% increase in customer retention increases profits by 25% to 95%. That’s worth giving away a few chickens from the farm, right? For more tips, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Michele! Michele Levandusky, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Not your average digital marketing gal! With 30+ years of business experience, a Masters in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor's in Business, I know from both learning and experience that digital marketing is more than just status updates and hashtags. At My Cup of Media, we build database resources, turn clicks into customers, customers into loyal, repeat customers while providing measured metrics and a true, trackable ROI. Along with that, we manage your online reputation to build those solid 5 stars reviews.