Written by: Jessica East, 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 brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers,” or so says Wikipedia. Organizations can agree that having a brand and carrying it through to both their print and digital assets is key for growth and customer recognition. But what about rebranding? While it’s tempting to throw caution to the wind and start a new brand as fashions or department heads change, that may not be the best solution. Things to consider before rebranding Why? Seriously. WHY do you want to rebrand yourself? Some reasons where I do not suggest a client rebrand: They’re tired of the look. They hired a new person/vendor who wants a rebrand. They feel like the look is dated.* An effective rebrand is more than a logo It must be thoughtfully and strategically crafted and rolled-out. Fun story: I once worked at an agency that rebranded itself before having a strong, internal marketing person (one year later, they hired me). For the next 4 years AFTER THE NEW LOGO WAS INTRODUCED, I was still correcting people and tossing materials with the old logo and brand. Communicating the importance of branding to your internal people is essential, so they don’t torpedo your organization’s ability to effectively market itself. A rebrand must be strategically unveiled to the public When you are ready to “go live” on your website, you must also be ready to toss all old assets (or recycle if you can) and replace them with new digital assets, printed assets, uniforms, and apparel…anything where your logo appears. In addition to the logo, think about all the ways you use your colors, fonts, and graphics. It’s common to use creative assets on apparel, vehicles, and even interiors. Remember that, even with the new brand that has been expertly unveiled, your client/customer base will need 6-12 months to associate that new brand with your organization. Should you let cost and client/customer learning curve dissuade you from rebranding? Absolutely not. In fact, there are many reasons why a rebrand can be in your organization’s best interest: Merger or buy-out bringing multiple organizations together. Name not representative of present services or product offerings. Legal reasons such as copyright or trademark infringement. There are times when rebranding makes sense for the future of the organization. Don’t be afraid to move in a new direction; just be sure that you’ve accounted for the totality of the cost and impact a new look will have on your employees and clients. If you feel like your look is dated, consider a color refresh instead of a rebrand. Yes, you’ll still need to update all assets, but you won’t start from scratch with client/customer recognition. When in doubt, ask a pro One of my personal mantras has always been never to let fear hold you back. Because there are so many moving pieces to a new brand roll-out, I strongly suggest hiring a professional to help you. Nothing is worse than trying to save money by keeping something in-house and then bungling it. Often the fix will cost more than hiring a pro in the first place. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jessica! Jessica East, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jessica East entered the creative scene in 2001 when she started her design career at MeadWestvaco. From her initial position as a junior graphic designer, Jessica advanced to a small marketing firm, picking up marketing, social media, and event planning skills, and then on to a position as creative services manager for Five Rivers MetroParks. At MetroParks, she took on the challenging role of utilizing and policing new brand standards for an organization that previously lacked any formal marketing department. During her watch, the parks were pulled out of their staid ’70s look and blossomed into a new, energetic brand that matched the organization’s values of making the community healthy and vibrant. Jessica started her own agency, Noir Marketing and PR, in 2012. Ms. East obtained her degree in graphic design at Bowling Green State University, where she joined the Phi Mu sorority and remained an active alumna in her local chapter. In addition to making dazzling designs, this marketing maven has collected enough ADDYs to back U.S. currency. Other awards and recognition include a laundry list of local and national design and professional awards, including several Mercury Awards and nominations, ADDYs of all metals, OPRA and NRPA awards, recognition in Print and GDUSA magazines as well as Teen magazine’s “50 Hot Picks for School.”

Written by: AJ Merlin, 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. Can you remember what your resolutions were in January 2020? Is it weird to think about them almost a year in a pandemic? Before starting all over again with new goals for a new year, let’s take some time to reflect on the past year and see what is worth remembering. How do you know if you’ve been successful? Don’t compare what you’ve achieved (or not) with the pre-COVID standard. You’re here reading this, which says a lot. You’re focused on your career, and no matter what happened, you’re determined to be successful. Has 2020 slowed you down? You’ve plenty of time to catch up. Have you been overwhelmed with the amount of work you had to pull off? I hope you learned how to look after yourself and take a break (if not, keep reading). Treat 2020 differently and don’t compare it to the previous years. We used to live in such a fast-paced world where we only focused on the big wins. Celebrate the smallest victories you had and keep doing this moving forward. The year of self-awareness If 2020 has taught people one thing, it is how to look after themselves. Did you learn to play a new instrument or to speak a new language? According to Business Insider, Duolingo got new sign-ups rise to 108% in March 2020. Did you bake more? Banana bread now has 1.7 million posts on Instagram. Maybe you had so much work to do, juggling homeschooling, more house chores, and a new way of working. (I’m raising my hand here). How did you unwind when you had five minutes to yourself? With a different way of living, we got more involved in what matters to us and our self-development. What could you do from now on to make sure your mind doesn’t spiral into negativity? And if you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late. It can be as simple as going for a walk, run a hot bath, or do some coloring. How gratitude is the way forward How do you feel about the pandemic? One way to stop your brain from feeling negative feelings is to practice gratitude. Your brain cannot focus on negative and positive thoughts at the same time. Gratitude is the weapon against fear. So what are you grateful for? You might find it hard at first, but try to find ten (yes, ten!) things you’re grateful for. It can be as simple as “I’m grateful I have access to drinkable water.”. Maybe now you cherish more your family and friends. Maybe you discovered a new skill. Whatever it is, write it down, frame it if you want to, and remember what your strengths have been in 2020. Let’s be honest. No one has a clue what 2021 will be made of. We’re all hoping homeschooling will be better than 2020, and we should. So when you start this new year, remember all the amazing things you’ve accomplished for the past year, even the smallest victories, remember what you’re grateful for and what really matters to you, and enter 2021 with the confidence that you’ve got this. I know you do. For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Read more from AJ! AJ Merlin, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine AJ is a Creative Mindset Coach who helps female creative freelancers and entrepreneurs strengthen their mindset and befriend their inner critic to manifest their full potential. She worked in the film, TV, and video games industry for the past ten years as an assistant producer, a script supervisor, an LQA tester, a writer. Her coaching business focuses on providing creative women with mindset tools that free them from their struggles and help them become their true selves. She focuses on three particular pillars: How to tackle your inner voice and reframe it so it becomes your empowering mentor, how to be efficient with your time and keep your motivation up no matter the obstacles, and how to feel empowered as a woman and achieve your dream in alignment with your values.

Written by: Adelina Stefan , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. For many of us, the end of the year is a time to recharge, spend time with your family, and reflect on what worked and what didn’t during this year. It’s also a time to celebrate what we have achieved in a year full of uncertainty despite the potential. When reflecting on your actions and goals, two key questions to ask yourself are: 1. Did you accomplish what you planned or not? If yes, take a moment to celebrate, be grateful and define your new year’s resolutions. 2. If not, what held you back? It can be poor planning, commitment, lack of support, illness, unforeseen events, or anything else that may have stopped you from being fully focused on what really mattered to you. This will help you understand the root of not achieving your goal and whether it is still worth focusing it. In other words, if you could change something, what would that be to make it happen? What are the things you are proud of, and what areas in your life still need improvement? Maybe you spent too much time on getting some courses certifications that now you have realized it was not worth it, or maybe, you have worked so hard that you spent too little time with your family. As the answers will be unique for each of us and differ depending on each situation, reflecting on the past year’s goals and achievements will help you decide what you would like to include in the backlog of activities for 2021. For me, I think it was a productive year, being able to spend more time with my family, focus on my business and complete a few other certifications that helped me develop both on a personal and professional level. As an Agile Coach, having used Personal Agility System to help people gain more fulfillment and balance in their lives, I believe that a first step in setting priorities and resolutions is defining “what really matters?”. However, it’s not an easy question to answer for many of us. However, if you don’t have a clear destination in your journey or don’t know the values that drive you to those goals, why would you still do something? Setting goals can help you improve, change, become a better self, and make you feel that you are going in the right direction. However, it needs commitment, time, and perseverance. These are 5 golden tips that will help you achieve the New Year’s resolutions: 1. Align your smart goals with your inner values. What are you passionate about? what do you like to spend your time and energy on? By reflecting on your values and what makes you effective, you will become more confident in what makes you unique or at least unusual, in your own competencies, and hence, on what you need more. 2. Prepare well. Many of us are often absorbed by the end outcome and tend to rush into actions without being fully prepared for that change or transition. Invest enough time to familiarize yourself with what you need to get there and what resources you possess. Last, if you cannot manage it on your own, don’t hesitate to ask for support or someone who can help you move forward. 3. Start with small steps . For instance, if your goal is to become proficient in a specific language, set smaller milestones, such as completing an intensive course by March or preparing for your language test by September. Then, define the activities for that period. List at least one action for the next week and schedule time to accomplish it. 4. Reflect on your progress . Track regularly your progress to check if it works or if you need to make adjustments before being too late or spending too much time on something that doesn’t add value to you. Remember that you can always change something if it’s not going into your target direction. 5. Celebrate small wins. Even if you are driven by the result, it is important to take a moment to celebrate your small accomplishments that are part of your bigger goal. It can be that you found a new way of doing things easier, eliminated a bottleneck, or someone offered to help you get unstuck. What are your goals or intentions you set as we enter a new unpredictable year? Regardless of what resolutions you commit to, the goal is to improve your life and do more things that matter and bring fulfillment in your life! I wish you a New Year with happiness, health, and new achievements and inspirations in your life, and stay agile! If you have big distant goals, but you feel that you are not getting closer, or if you are not happy with your current personal or professional situation and where you are going, schedule your free clarity call with me and see we can work together towards your goals. Follow me on Facebook , connect with me on LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Adelina ! Adelina Stefan, Executive Contributor, Brainz Magazine Adelina Stefan is a Professional Certified Coach & Intercultural Facilitator specialized in Career Development, with a deep expertise in international HR recruitment and selection and Training and Development. Having worked for 10+ years across cultures, Adelina seeks to catalyze individuals’ potential, helping them create and implement their unique career blueprint and, at the same time, achieve a healthy work-life balance. She specializes in working with ex-pats and mid-to senior-level executives dealing with challenging work environments that can affect their performance and well-being. She supports organizations in building a corporate coaching culture by highlighting individuals’ maximum potential and engagement to become dedicated and highly successful employees. Her practice includes Career, Life, Executive, and Agile Coaching for individuals and developing and implementing corporate Human Resources practices for improving intercultural relations.

Written by: Michelle Greene Rhodes, 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. Adjusting to change can be challenging. Be it planned or unplanned, gradual or sudden, change is inevitable and very much part of being human. Over the past few months, we’ve experienced an extraordinary shift in our way of life due to COVID-19 pandemic. Even though lockdown is easing for many countries around the world, the pandemic has forever changed our lives. The use of masks and gloves is a part of our routine now; social distancing and queuing is now the norm. Public transport looks very different and our eyebrows are raised when we hear someone cough, sneeze, or sniffle. Schools and universities have moved online and workplaces have also changed due to social distancing. Such a gloomy situation is bound to have a deeply negative psychological impact on people. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll not only on the global economy but also on the mental health of many. With travel deferred, schools shut, loss of jobs and the mounting number of cases, the pessimism one may feel is normal. Such unprecedented circumstances can bring your morale down and emotionally drain you. The ambiguous and challenging times that loom ahead of us can leave our emotions going on a rollercoaster almost every day. So, how do we tackle this? Let us take a look at some tips that may come in handy while trying to navigate through uncertain times. 1. Acceptability is the key It is often said that ‘what we do not understand, we fear.’ As humans, it is only natural to respond to uncertain situations with fear. The first thing to do in these uncertain times is to accept the new normal. It is natural to feel vulnerable in such circumstances. You don’t need to feel stranded or alone. The pandemic is a problem that the entire world is facing. Acceptance can help you process your emotions and move away from any sort of negativity faster. Accept the reality and look for prospects that will assist you in moving forward. 2. Feeding positive thoughts to your brain Yes, it is possible to maintain a positive mindset during this pandemic. Don’t give in to feelings of gloom and doom. Such uncertain times call for a change in mind-set. It is absolutely imperative to keep a positive mindset and keep feeding our brain with positive thoughts and ideas. While it is easier said than done, training your mind is key and it does well to bear in mind that it is not an overnight process. 3. Distractions are not always bad Sometimes distractions can have a fruitful outcome. When you find yourself having low morale or feeling demotivated, avoid over-analyzing. Distract your train of thought by taking a break with some entertainment or a hobby that you might be pursuing. This will break the negative line of thought, enabling you to focus on what you are doing with a more optimistic attitude. If you feel that negative thoughts are taking over your mind, or you begin to experience fear, stress, anxiety or depression, seek help. Don’t stifle your thoughts and worries inside you. You can talk to a friend or a mental health professional. Talking about your fears and feelings can help alleviate them and lift your spirits. In summary, taking learning out of these tragic pandemic times will help you to stabilize even after this situation subsides. By utilizing positive thinking, which is an abstract concept- so of course there is more work to be done after doing so. To progress, you will need to take action yet also allow yourself rest. Taking action in any given situation can help you rise up, increase your confidence, and set you apart. Remember that although the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world and disrupted our lifestyles, how we respond to it matters the most. Choose to think positively, take action in ways that make you feel better, and get the adequate rest that you need to reset your thinking so that your thoughts and actions line up accordingly. Visit our website for more info and connect with us on LinkedIn ! Read more from Michelle ! Michelle Greene Rhodes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle G. Rhodes is a Corporate Wellness Consultant and is Certified in Managed Care and Licensed as a Registered Nurse. By combining her love for Managed Care/Population Health background with her innate ability to create educational programs and cost savings solutions uniquely designed for each employer, Michelle is sought after for her multiple successes in cost-saving and exceeding targets. She has helped corporations craft wellness programs that offer definite returns on investments and assists them in meeting and exceeding their annual performance measures and goals. Michelle creates various wellness initiatives for awareness campaigns all the way to the creation of wellness culture transformations. Michelle Rhodes Media LLC is also a continuing education provider for Nurses, by the California Board of Nurses, and provide workshops for Nurses to learn continuously. References: https://medium.com/live-your-life-on-purpose/5-fears-that-are-holding-you-back-from-pursuing-your-dreams-1fe7b8ee6e2c https://thriveglobal.in/stories/yes-it-is-possible-to-maintain-a-positive-mindset-during-this-pandemic/ https://www.peoplemattersglobal.com/article/life-at-work/how-to-navigate-through-uncertain-times-with-a-reframed-mindset-25903

Written by: Xiomara Overman , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. 2020 is the rise of more business trends in the technology industry that positively influences all other industries. As an Export Business Advisor, I've seen the new business trend in March 2020. This Business Trend has five important factors that businesses need to be aware of in order to be able to Pivot or Thrive in 2021. This business trend I am referring to is the "Data Processing in Business Operations." To have a sustainable business, waste management and crisis management are essential assets. The five important factors in business operations are as follows: Factor 1: Financial Data Management Factor 2: Internal Communication Data Management Factor 3: Crisis Resistant Data Management Factor 4: Waste Management Factor 5: Database Management Each factor needs to be carefully considered, and the needed Technology Tools should be in place, specifically in 2021. The lack of secure data processing in most businesses made most of the businesses unable to pivot in time when most governments in several countries declared lockdown in the midst of the crisis caused by the pandemic. The industries most affected were those that didn't have a Data Processing System that is automated and reliable. The next case gives an overview of why the five factors are essential in making the decision to pivot during a crisis. Case description: Problem: The number of customers is decreasing based on the data collected in 3 months. Evaluation: Which services are not in demand anymore? What is causing the decrease based on the Data? When were the first signs shown according to the Data? According to the Crisis Resistant Management Protocol, which are the steps to avoid a crisis that may affect operations in the next month? To have a secure Data Processing System in your business, it's important to have Cybersecurity Tools with the needed Internal Protection Protocols in place. That's why if one of the five factors are missing, 3 major impact may occur in your business: Economic impact, especially in cash flow management Unsatisfied customers Cancellation of several services that has an impact on the income streams It's time to add the needed procedures in the five mentioned factors to successfully pivot and thrive in 2021. We help businesses find the gaps in the mentioned factors and improve their Data Processing System with the needed Digital Resources. Send a message for additional information or questions about the Data Processing Trend to info@activ-services.com. Cherish the special moments during this Holiday Season and a Happy New Year 2021! For more info, follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website ! Xiomara Overman, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Xiomara Overman is an International Business Advisor with more than 8 years of experience in Strategy and Procedures Management. For the last 3 years she has worked with International Companies in improve their Business Processes for export from their Products and Services. She is the Founder and CEO of ActiV Business Development Services. During the Pandemia she worked closely as member from the Professional Team from the Ministry of Economy Development in Curaçao to help restructure Businesses in have Crisis Resistant Processes in Business. She has the possibility as Partner from SUM International to help Businesses scale their Business in Central America, including Dutch Caribbean and enter the European Market successfully. She and her ActiV Team are ready to provide guidance with Public Relations Services and Trade Documentation in 6 languages. She organizes Innovation Tour to enter New Markets in the Central and Latin America Region. Her Mission is develop Business Processes that are scalable and crisis resistant.

Written by: Vicki Ravangard, 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 was not surprised to see that 'Satisfied' from the musical Hamilton featured as my most played song of 2020, with 94 streams since July 7th . This song literally got me through the summer months of lockdown. The underlying message in this song really started to ring true for me. One of the big themes for me this year has been slowing down, this has been one of the hardest things for me to do, but it also allowed me to reflect on the fact that I was always trying to get somewhere. It became clear to me that I was so focused on reaching my next goal, I was not able to find peace in the moment. I constantly overlooked how much I had achieved and underappreciated all that I had created. This was a direct reflection of what had happened in my life & career to date, yet when I was given the time to slow down, instead of using it to take a break and acknowledge how far I had come, I redirected all of my energy into starting my business. I had got caught up in another hamster wheel of doing more and avoiding the uncomfortable feelings that were surfacing, which eventually resulted in falling out of love and losing connection with what I was trying to create. In a few short months, my business became more like a job and another thing that I wanted to escape from. I was constantly wanting to get to the final destination, always wanting more, and never feeling satisfied with where I was. This is an exhausting cycle to be in, and it left me feeling uncertain, unfulfilled & overwhelmed, forcing me to go inwards in a way that I hadn't done before. I never thought that it would be possible to feel that way about something I was so passionate about. Have you ever tried sprinting a marathon? That's exactly what I was trying to do. I hit the wall and was heading straight for burnout. I had literally set myself up for failure. Have you ever given up on your dreams because you thought there had to be a quicker way to get there? Or blindly followed a path that is not meant for you because someone else told you that was the way to do it? There is an illusion about what it really takes to be successful in your life & business. So many people are looking for a quick fix, trying to find the short cut to success, motivated by money and disconnected with who they are and what they truly desire. In order to create lasting change, we have to be willing to do the work that will lay the foundations for our future. If you are showing up as an Entrepreneur, you are already finding the courage and strength to face your fears, to be seen, to fail and to fly. You have taken center stage and the world is your audience, but what song are you singing? What message will you share? The real key to knowing what you want to do, is understanding what your driving force is and what you are passionate about. Are you making decisions from a place of joy or fear? Fear-based decisions carry an energy of lack and often leave you subconsciously feeling that no matter what you do, it will never be enough. Are you doing things because you are scared of losing something, or do you have a fear of not being able to keep it? When you do what makes sense based on what other people are doing, what you think is ‘right’ or what will pay back the quickest, you are neglecting the abundance that is available to you. When you align with joy and embrace the co-creation process, you will feel such certainty with every cell in your body that people need to hear your message, regardless of the outcome and without expectation. Playing the long game doesn't always return immediate financial results and it is by no means the easy road, but in my experience, it has been worthwhile. It has taught me forgiveness, compassion, self-love and resilience. It has not been without challenges, but the lessons have been invaluable. Are you prepared to take the road less traveled ? "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I. I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference." - The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost Many will blindly follow the path that those have trodden before them. There are those that will look at the path less traveled but decide not to take it, then there are the leaders and change-makers who know that it is their soul calling to choose the path where few people have gone before them. Here are my 3 top tarot tips & to help you navigate the road less traveled : Go back to basics When you feel like giving up, dig deeper than you ever have before. Use all of the Mindset tools and rituals that you have learned on your growth journey. Don't just show up and talk about them, apply them to your daily life. Create a solid morning routine. Every day make a commitment to get up, get dressed, brush your teeth and have breakfast. Set yourself up for success by giving yourself the best opportunity to clear your mind and breakthrough your fears and limiting beliefs. Lay your foundations Create structure in your long-term plan . Look at the bigger picture; use your logic & intellect to see past what is right in front of you and focus on the long-term strategy of where you really want to go and what you want to create. Explore your vision and gain clarity on what it actually takes to get there. Do what you love Believe in yourself and do what brings you joy. Practice the art of allowing your intuition to guide the way and listening to when your Ego is trying to take charge. Your Ego is telling you what you want but your intuition is guiding you towards what you need. Get honest with yourself about what it is you desire, your beliefs about making it a reality and release the feeling that you need to do anything else. The fastest way forward is to see what's right in front of you, deal with the situation at hand and work on releasing resistance to what is keeping you stuck so that you can find the strength to push through challenges as you come up against them. Remember, we all have free will. We always have a choice in everything we do. Making a decision is not final, it is the start of a new journey. Surrender the need to know where this path is taking you and trust that when you listen to your heart you cannot go far wrong. Follow me on my Instagram , Facebook , and visit both my Facebook-Group and page . You can also find more information on my website . Read more from Vicki ! Vicki Ravangard, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Vicki Ravangard, is an Intuitive Mentor, Certified Angel Tarot Reader & Part Qualified Accountant. Vicki spent 10 years working in corporate finance and in 2020 was placed furloughed from her job. She took this opportunity to follow her soul calling and birth her spiritual business - Take Her To The Moon, so she could serve her clients through divine guidance and mentoring, energy healing & tarot, helping them to truly align, connect & transform their life and raise their consciousness. Vicki has a huge passion for creating music, writing, traveling & Disney and is continuously inspired to blend the magic of these tools into her life & business.

Written by: Stephanie Kable, 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. This is a classic situation. January 1st, or even a few days earlier, you make a list of your new year’s resolutions: I will eat healthy meals from now on (after the family dinner for New Year’s Eve, of course), I will get up at 6 am every weekday, I will go to the gym regularly, I will learn English 2 hours a day, etc. Passed January 15 (in the best case scenario), all these good resolutions are forgotten, and your regular habits take over. This year, it’s going to be different. Let’s see how we can change our habits for the better. Know your why. Take some time to reflect on the reasons why you would like to adopt a new habit. The habit itself is usually just the first step to something much bigger. For example, you want to improve your English and will take an English course online . The reason behind it is probably that you want to be ready in case a new job opportunity arises. You feel you need more confidence when you speak English to have a more successful career. No matter what the reason behind your resolution is, make sure you reflect on it and remember your why. Write your goals and read them every single day. Writing your goals can help you remember your why and understand what you need to achieve them. You can stick your goals on the wall in the office, and you can put them in a diary or review them daily through morning affirmations. It’s very important to keep the awareness strong. So do what works for you. Make it a routine, commit to practice on a fixed day at a fixed time. Now that you know your why and are aware of your goals, it’s time to put your new resolutions into your weekly calendar. Ask yourself the question, if I want to achieve this goal, what should I commit to weekly? If you want to exercise more, let’s put “going to the gym” in your calendar. Ideally, you want to block judgment regularly each week or each day on your schedule. Stick to it for at least 30 days. Once it becomes a routine, you won’t forget about it, it will be part of your habits, and you are less likely to give it up. Be realistic with your goals. Many people are so enthusiastic with their new resolutions that they set goals that are completely out of reach. Instead of serving them, it actually causes them to lose motivation and to give up more easily. If you are not an early riser, don’t expect to get up at 5 am every day. Start putting your alarm clock 10 or 15 minutes earlier so that you progressively get into the habit of getting up early. Celebrate your wins The journey is more important than the finishing line. Enjoy the process of getting new habits that will change your life forever. Celebrate your wins throughout the journey. If you are on a diet and want to lose 10 kilos, celebrate each kilo you lose. Don’t wait until you reach your ideal weight to be satisfied with your new way of life. Talk about your goals, have someone accountable for them. This is something that I find particularly important. When you have a goal, talk about it, don’t keep it to yourself. This way, you will be more committed to it, and you will find support through the people you share it with. Do you want to write a book this year? Make it a public statement. You will feel closer to achieving your goal. Be careful when you take a break. We are all human, and sometimes we need to take a break from our goals and our new routines. Maybe because we are on holiday, or maybe because it’s just a bad day, acknowledge this without judgment, evaluate if they are still relevant to you, and get back into it as soon as you can! The path to success is correlated to how successful we are with our habits. On different occasions, like the beginning of the year, we get clarity on what we should do. If you take these steps, your new year’s resolutions won’t be just wishful thinking. Follow me on Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stephanie ! Stephanie Kable, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Stephanie Kable is the CEO of Live-English.net, an English online school that helps professionals worldwide feel more confident with their English as a second language. Through online one-to-one and group lessons via Zoom, the team of native-English teachers provides an efficient, convenient, and fun way to improve English speaking skills. Stephanie holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Paris-Dauphine (France) and an M.A. in Information Systems from Institut Mines-Telecom - Business School (Paris, France). Fond of languages, technology, business, and personal development, Stephanie combines all these fields of knowledge to offer unique English courses focused on each learner's needs.

Written by: Awaz Ahmed, 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 a hard time for everyone, and sometimes we can’t control our emotions. Stress triggers the body to react to challenges or situations and often requires attention. Many people may experience stress one time or another, and each person responds differently. It’s important to note emotional self-awareness (being aware of own your own emotions) is essential in managing stress levels. If individuals don’t manage their stress, it may lead to mental or physical symptoms such as heart racing, sweaty palms, and chronic headaches. Have you reacted too soon? Was the situation emotional? Did your stress get in the way of your professional or personal life? Well, whether in a professional or personal setting, here are 4 easy and helpful tips to manage your stress. 1. Remember to stop, take a few breaths and reflect. This will create self-awareness, relax your body and mind. 2. Take your own personal time out. Go for a walk, a coffee, or anything for alone time. No one wants a break? If this occurs around people, encourage the group or individuals to take a time out. For example, you can say, I think tensions are running high; I think we need a break. 3. Name your emotion. Ask yourself what emotions you’re feeling and connect them specifically to a source or a situation, concern, or issue. 4. Diaphragmatic breathing. Breath in and count to five exhale and count to five, 5x. You can use your hand on your chest and/or abdomen to see how u feel after. This can be done to your comfort: sitting or lying down. Follow me on Linkedin and visit my website! Read more from Awaz! Awaz Ahmed MBPsS, Business Psychologist, Business and Emotional Intelligence coach Awaz Ahmed is a Business Psychologist and Coach, helping organizations and individuals in the workplace by encouraging and facilitating clients in a range of professional and personal areas. She has also worked internationally and is the founder of aweology; a company platform of Business Psychologists and professional coaches. With a MSc in Business Psychology and coaching Awaz Ahmed, is also a certified emotional intelligence coach, NLP practitioner, certified 70+ hours of ICF coaching training, member of the British Psychology Society, American Psychology Association, Society for Industrial and organizational psychology and currently studying her Ph.D. in Business Psychology. Through her extensive experience and education in Business Psychology, she is highly skilled and passionate about research, psychometrics, assessments, training, development, recruitment, and coaching.

Written by: Amanda Rose, 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. Entrepreneurs are plagued by conundrums regularly about which paths to take to run their businesses. One of those tough questions that entrepreneurs must ask is, "Should I list my prices or hide my prices?" If you are stumped on which direction to go, you're not alone. There are 2 schools of thought when it comes to this. Let's explore them both... School of thought #1: Keeping your prices hidden When I started as an entrepreneur, I was taught never to post the pricing of my products. The idea was to ensure that people did not pre-disqualify themselves because of the cost. In practice, this school of thought generally means you need to reel prospects onto a sales call, make them want your product or service, overcome their objections, walk them through finding a way for them to afford it, then close the sale quickly before they have time to think it over. After years and years in business and well over a decade in sales, I have concluded that I don't like this method, nor do I recommend it, for the following reasons: 1. YOU ATTRACT THE FREEBIE HUNTERS If your audience never sees you share your pricing, they may assume that promoting is free. Unfortunately, this means you will run into the issue of having many shocked and upset people on the other end of the phone when you drop the price tag on a sales call. PROSPECTS WILL ATTEMPT TO GUESS YOUR PRICES (MOST OFTEN, INCORRECTLY!) Several months back, as I was scrolling my Facebook Newsfeed, I saw an entrepreneur post an advertisement with a professional graphic and well-crafted sales copy for an upcoming 3-week course running without stating the price. Based on what I had seen, I assumed the course would be a minimum of $1500. I later discovered the course was only $97! HIDING YOUR PRICES REPELS MANY POTENTIAL BUYERS Shoppers are both aware and warry; they do not like getting onto a sales call blindly. No one likes being sold to or pressured into making a quick decision. Many prospects will move on and pursue another business for their needs if you are not transparent with your prices upfront. YOU ADD EXTRA WORK TO YOUR PLATE You will end up needing to do three times as many sales calls due to having a lower conversion rate when you wait until the call to let prospects know how much your product or service costs. When a prospect knows the costs upfront, they are already interested and more likely to say yes by the time they get on the call. PRESSURE-BASED SALES LEAD TO CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION AND HIGH REFUND RATES Not only do you have to do more sales calls to make sales, but you are also having to do more customer service work to handle disgruntled customers who regret having said yes! You will be issuing more refunds, dealing with more bad reviews, and having to douse the flames of angry customers. On top of being time-consuming, this drains your energy, makes you feel bad, and can stop you from wanting to get on more calls. School of thought #2: Price Transparency This school of thought is used by business owners who are confident that they have nailed their ideal client avatar, who want to attract the exact right clients, and who are ready to invest. After I transitioned from hiding my prices, as I originally had been taught to do, and I began to get my pricing out front and center, my sales increased exponentially, and my refund rate dropped to next to nothing! I use and recommend this method because: THE PERCEPTION OF VALUE IS CREATED When your prices are out in the open, on social media, on your website, etc., then subconsciously, your audience begins to associate you and your business as being of value. Likewise, it repels the people who are looking for freebies and handouts, saving you a great deal of time. PROSPECTS ARE PREPARED TO PAY When you get on a sales call with a potential client who is already aware of your pricing, then they don’t have to overcome a sudden “sticker shock,” and instead, they will be ready and willing to invest. YOU WILL HAVE A HIGH CONVERSION RATE You will not need to do as many calls, and besides, the calls that you do get on will have a better percentage of conversion. Your sales calls will be geared towards start dates, proposals, objectives, and contracts rather than focusing on overcoming price objections and getting someone’s credit card number before changing their minds. In essence, the prospects you have lined up will be primed and ready to buy before they ever get on the call! How great is that?! IT EMBODIES CONFIDENCE When you aren’t trying to bury your pricing under red tape and know your value in the marketplace, it speaks volumes about your confidence in who you are and what you do. You will not care who your prices scare off because you know that listing them will attract the right people. You will also give buyers confidence in parting their money to you; people will only buy from people they trust, and your inner confidence will exude out and put prospects at ease to know they are making the right choice. PEEPERS AND CREEPERS When your prices are out in the open, you will attract the buyers, who don’t even need the sales call; they will hop on over to your website and buy! The Exception to the Rule: Market Price & Custom Jobs As with everything in life, there are always exceptions to the rule. Depending on your business and offerings, you may have a sliding scale, need to provide custom quotes, or offer market price* goods. In these instances, it can be beneficial to offer examples or price ranges. *Market price refers to goods that change value based on supply and demand. Conclusion Price transparency can give your business a major leg up by saving you time, bringing more of the right customers to you, and repelling people who are just looking for freebies! Ready to Maximize Your Marketing? Get signed up for Marketing Ba-Bling! The 10-Day Marketing Intensive will transform the way your business attracts customers - and get 50% Off with Coupon Code BRAINZ50. For more information, visit my website and follow me on Facebook! Read more from Amanda! Amanda Rose, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amanda Rose is the founder & director of The Infinite Power of You Inc., a multi-published multi-genre author, business, wealth, & mindset coach, actor, motivational speaker, and online course creator. She is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has been in the online space since 2013, and a sales expert for over 10 years. It's her passion to help her clients build lives of freedom and joy, and thriving businesses with multiple revenue sources, through strategies combined with mindset mastery. Amanda's mission to shift human consciousness to create soulful abundance through mindset practices.

Written by: AnYes van Rhijn, 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. 2021 is nearing, and most people can’t wait to say goodbye to 2020! But, when I ask people what will be different for them in 2021, I often hear them say they don’t know. In reality, they are “hoping” that things will indeed be different but haven’t looked into how they could make sure that they will be. They simply go with the wave of what life throws at them, which currently is not filled with a lot of nice things. But when I dig a little deeper, what becomes apparent is that there isn’t much for them to do as they don’t have a vision to work towards in the first place. That, to me, is a challenge. Not having a vision is like turning your GPS on when you’re driving away from home but not entering an address in it. That could lead you just anywhere! Is that what you want for your life? Let me give you four very simple steps that will bring you back in the driver’s seat! 1. Take stock of where you are right now. If you want to know where you’re heading to, you first want to see where you’re leaving from. Take a bird’s eye view in all areas of your life and ask yourself how satisfied you are with them on a scale of 1 to 10. These areas are: Romantic life Professional life Family life Social life/Leisure Finances Health and wellbeing Physical Environment (where you live) Personal Development/spirituality Once you’ve done that, take a closer look at each area and ask yourself: What do I like about it? (i.e., what do I want to keep or have more of?) What is it that I don’t like about it? (i.e., what do I want to get rid of?) What is missing? (i.e., what do I want to add?). You now know what your starting point is. Let’s now move on to step 2! 2. Write your vision But… I hear you say… “I don’t know what my vision is; how can I write it down”? The truth is, you know what your vision is. You just don’t know that you know! So, let me explain how you’re going to unearth it (and be prepared for an amazing ride because if you follow the process well, you will not only have a vision, but you will also be completely uplifted by it!). Let me set the scene: You have a magic wand, and everything (yes, I said everything) is possible. There is absolutely nothing that stands in the way (yes, all your worries have been taken care of). What does your life look like in, say, 3 or 5 years from now? You will take a deep dive in all areas of your life, one by one, and you are going to write it down in full detail. There are three keys here: Write in the present tense (you already have it), Write in the smallest details, Involve all your senses. More often than not, it’s getting started that is the challenge, but once your pen starts running, you will have a hard time stopping. So, you can, for instance, describe what your day looks like (e.g., “it’s 9:00 am, I’m sitting in my garden and am enjoying the smell of my coffee. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my arms, and I am getting ready to have my first client call”… you get the gist of it). If you suddenly start thinking that something is not possible, simply remember that nothing stands in the way. 3. Create a vision board You will now need cardboard or foamboard (as big as possible depending on the wall space you have available to hang it up), a spray of repositionable glue, scissors, and colored pens. What you’ve done in step 2 is you’ve unconsciously started creating mental imagery for your vision. This will make it very easy for you to resonate with images that you will associate with it. You will now use magazines or platforms such as Pinterest or Instagram to gather pictures (these may be things, places, words, quotes, etc.). You don’t have to decide at this stage which ones you want to keep. Just sort them by theme. Once that is done, lets the fun begin and create your vision board. There is no wrong or right way to do it. Just follow your intuition. You can leave lots of empty spaces or have it very crowded. Mine is quite busy, and I have created a flow by theme. It starts from the bottom center and moves as a spiral from left to right. 4. Turn your vision into an action plan Now you have this beautiful vision board, and you’re all excited about it, but if you leave it there, all it will remain is … a dream! Let me help you turn it into reality. It is a straightforward process: Ask yourself what you want to have achieved in three years from now. Then do a “brain dump”: list (one topic per Post It note) everything you can think of that you need to be doing to achieve your three-year plan. Extract from it what you need to do in the first year (at this stage, I suggest you move from Post It notes to a project planning or To-Do software) Then, what you need to do in the next 90 days Then, what you need to do this month, this week, tomorrow. Et voilà! Now it is your turn! What will you do to ensure that 2021 is different from 2020? If you follow this process, you will not only have a clear vision of what you want your life and business to look like, but you will also know what you need to work on in 2021! There is, of course, more to it. You need to know how to stay connected to that vision, how to stay intentional and focused on it when fear will creep in (and I guarantee that it will), how to build a mindset that focuses on possibilities rather than on the challenges that will come your way, how to handle the shiny objects that will distract you from your end goals as well as what tools to use to optimize your time. If you want help with all the above, I suggest you look at my Write It, See It, Do It - Turning your vision into action 5-week online intensive that is now open for enrolment. You can find more details and read the raving reviews here. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website! AnYes van Rhijn, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine AnYes van Rhijn is an award-winning Life and Business Strategist. Also known as The Reinvention Mentor, she helps female entrepreneurs and business owners who feel trapped in their life, create on their own terms the fulfilling business that will sustain the reinvented life they desire. She helps them clarify the vision of what they want their life and business to look like, build the confidence and the mindset to dare go after it, create a business strategy and a personal brand that is aligned with who they are and what is important to them and, last but not least, implement the systems/tools, personal effectiveness, work-life balance and self-care to ensure it is all sustainable.

Written by: Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Simple by definition, is plain, basic, or uncomplicated in the form of nature, or design without much decoration or ornamentation. Yet, why do we make things in life so complicated, especially when it comes to health and nutrition? When we begin with simple and take things back to the root of what it is, things in life would be much more enjoyable. Keeping it simple, whole, and real is one of the keys to healthy living — from eating healthy, to cooking delicious foods, to being present when eating. The simpler we keep things, the more capable we are at achieving goals. The mind is wired to thrive in society today; however, everything is rushed and distracting, and is easy to lose sense of self. So much noise on what should be eaten and how to nourish the body that outside sources control is how we live. One way to take back the control is through the kitchen and finding out what you bio-individually need to thrive. Eating and cooking at home brings inner and outer health to ourselves personally and the family. A few ways to make it easier to cook and eat healthier are as follow: 1. Start small. Do you want to try and eat more fruits and vegetables? Make them the first thing you see when you walk into the kitchen. Place a bowl of fruit on the counter, put vegetables at eye level in the fridge, so you are encouraged to eat them as it is the first thing you see. 2. Count your plants and fill your plates with color. Cook foods you are comfortable making and flavors you love to eat. Bring fun and joy into the process of cooking, turn on your favorite tunes, get the kids involved. Cook a family passed down recipe. Choose one new fruit or vegetable a week and incorporate the flavors you love. Travel with your taste buds through food. Want to travel to Asia? Make a stir fry, Italy make delicious spaghetti and meatballs, the warm beaches of Mexico make a taco bar. Transport and make memories with simple whole foods. 3. Basic meal prep and planning. It is essential to keep things simple in the kitchen. Here are some ways to help make meal prep part of your lifestyle. Double up on what you are cooking and make use of the appliances as well. Roasting a chicken in the oven, throw in a few sheet pans of vegetables too. Blanching or steaming vegetables, add some eggs to the water. Make a giant batch of grains and freeze half for another meal in a few weeks. It doesn’t have to be fancy cooking. A few staples make it easier to go for the healthier choices and set you up for success. A little bit each day goes a long way. Celebrate the small wins and embrace the simple art of cooking and eating more whole foods. Open fewer boxes, bring more colors to the plate. Your taste buds and brain will thank you. Bring the joy back to your every day and live life to the fullest. For more information, follow me on Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Danielle! Danielle Christy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Danielle Christy is a holistic health coach, and self-taught personal chef, dedicated to helping families and people around the world stop feeling overwhelmed with healthy cooking, by showing and coaching them on how to stock their kitchens with healthy ingredients, meal plan and get back to having family meals again. Danielle holds a BA in Hospitality from Northern Arizona University and Certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She has helped families of all shapes and sizes, create and establish a concrete strategy to ultimate health through learning what individually works for them and using whole real food as the medicine of life.

Written by: Laura Flanagan, 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. You might ask, "Why is meditation important?" One of the most important (and possibly overlooked) reasons is that the mind is your most valuable asset. What’s going on in your mind can make you happy or miserable, successful or broken, energetic or lifeless. In short, the quality of your mind dictates the quality of your life. So, then, what is the power of meditation? It helps you to know your mind and master your mind - gradually. And this affects everything else ... all aspects of your life. There are four main “skills” that meditation will help you develop. These are such important skills that you can consider them “superpowers.” 1. Focus. Focusing means that you can zoom your attention in on anything and sustain it there, ignoring distractions. The length of time you can sustain your attention increases with practice. The ability to focus is essential in all spheres of life: career, education, finances, and performance. We live in times of continuous distraction – our attention span keeps getting shorter. We lack focus because so many things are competing for our attention, and as a result, our mind easily gets dispersed everywhere. Focusing allows you to: Be more present in your daily activities, rather than getting lost in your mind Be a better listener and communicator Avoid falling into the trap of multitasking, enabling you to become more time and energy-efficient Enjoy the blessings of your life more deeply, however small (a good meal, time with your family, your favorite hobby, etc.) In meditation, we are training this skill every time we zoom in our attention into the object of our focus (breath, mantra, etc.). 2. Perspective. Meditation helps us over time to not get sucked into mental and emotional stuff. It’s the ability to see with clarity and serenity, to let go and move on. Oftentimes we don’t want to dwell on something, but we just can’t help it. Emotions are usually the driving force for this. They can get complex and messy pretty quickly. Maybe it’s a traumatic incident from your past or an addictive emotional pattern such as victimization or negative self-talk. Perhaps everything is going well with your day, until someone says something that triggers you to fall down a rabbit hole of confusion, anger, and doubt. Or maybe it’s just your thoughts bullying you into interpreting things through the lenses of fear and pessimism. In situations like these, finding perspective comes in handy. It frees your mind, allowing you to see the bigger picture. It won’t stop those nagging thoughts and feelings – but it will allow you to view them more like a cup of salt thrown into the ocean, rather than a cup of salt thrown into a small bucket. In meditation, we train perspective every time we realize that we’ve gotten sucked into a stream of thoughts, and reclaim our attention by removing it from that thought-trap. 3. Pause. People often refer to this as 'being present' - which many already understand as one of the powers of meditation. When we live in an unconscious, automated way, we become the product of our environment. We often react, rather than respond. This is the nature of the untrained mind. We act on the loudest impulse in our heads. We reproduce our past conditioning. Very much like a popular ski hill, when getting off the lift, our skies (if we do nothing to prevent them from doing so) will fall into the overly carved pathways of other skiers. Our untrained minds fall into the same neural pathways and we repeat our patterns over and over again. Living a creative and fulfilling life requires just the opposite. It requires that we are intelligently present in the moment, acting mindfully. For that, the ability to pause is essential. Pausing gives us space to: Avoid acting on anger or other destructive impulses that can permanently ruin relationships and prevent us from experiencing deep love and compassion. We have probably all experienced regret by acting impulsively and without pause. Without the pause, regret has an opportunity to walk through the front door and take a strong seat. Break bad habits. Remember the paths on the ski slope. Pausing before acting allows us to see other 'untraveled' paths along the slope so that we don't fall into the same grooves in the hill. Find clarity about what’s really going on. Make wiser decisions based on the needs of the moment. Re-align your actions in life to your core values. Think less, worry less, and be more. Reacting without thinking is easy – it’s the path of least resistance. Pausing is harder – it’s a skill that needs to be trained, a virtue to be developed. In meditation, we train pausing every time we notice that we’re distracted, and we interrupt that stream of thoughts. It’s a condition for you to be able to zoom out. 4. Reboot. The powers of focus, perspective, and pausing come together as the ability to “reboot". Think of your mental world as a computer with a hard drive, always near capacity. Some of your files and programs are informative, entertaining, or useful. Others are full of old, useless information. Some programs or files may be addictive, taking your attention away from new and healthy programs or files. The problem is that the computer doesn’t obey you all the time. The computer randomly opens programs or files that induce anxiety, fear, or negative emotion. Sometimes you try to open a new window on your computer, but after five seconds you find yourself back to the original window. The more you develop the abilities to focus, gain perspective, and pause, the more you keep your computer running efficiently and for your benefit. As a result, your favorite windows and programs get more screen time, and the crappy ones end up being deleted. The protocol for rebooting is: Notice that a negative program has come up. This could present itself as fear, anxiety, negative self-talk … even labeling the emotion can help. Pause it. Take a deep breath in and then step back with pause. Rather than fighting it, realize that you can choose not to watch it. Perspective. Take a 50,000 ft view so that you can see the bigger picture. Remember that your consciousness is larger than this thought or emotion. Don’t try to resist the thought but realize that you don’t need to focus on it. Open a new program. Just like opening a new window in the browser on your computer, open a more helpful or enjoyable program. This is rebooting. It is an exercise of harnessing your attention – developing the power to decide what it should be focused on. When we meditate, we train the mind every time we gently return our attention back to our chosen object (breath, mantra, etc.). And we may do this hundreds of times in our meditation. Think of the opportunity to strengthen the mind in this way! It is like taking our mind to the gym. If you would like to learn to harness these 4 Superpowers, the upcoming Change Your Mind, Change Your Life 8-week Meditation course could be for you! Or consider gifting the course to a loved one. It is a great way to start a new year. The class begins on Saturday, Jan 2nd, 2021, at 9 am CST. We meet weekly for one hour and you will be provided recorded guided meditations for the different focus each week. You will also receive an e-book to assist in learning the skills and methods we will use in the live course. To learn more, click here! Register EARLY for the upcoming 8-week Change Your Mind, Change Your Life course! See you in the New Year for a new YOU! Blessings & Light, Laura Follow me on Instagram, YouTube and visit my website for more info! Read more from Laura! Laura Flanagan MS, RYT, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laura Flanagan is a Scientist by education and career, but she recently left her corporate job and moved to Costa Rica with her horse to open an Equine Therapy Center. Concurrently with her career as a scientist, she has been teaching Yoga and Meditation for over 18 years. Laura is a Yoga Instructor, YamunaÒBody Rolling Instructor, Meditation Teacher, and Director of the Socrates Center in Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica. She has helped thousands of clients with physical pain through her certification with Yamuna who uses a form of small ball therapy. She has used her Yoga, Body Rolling, and Meditation practices to assist in her own recovery from breast cancer. She is also enrolled in the Functional Nutrition Counselor program through the Functional Nutrition Alliance.