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. Have you ever been injured emotionally? Have you ever felt that emotional heaviness in your chest like your heart was breaking? When we experience negativity, whether it be from a traumatic event or chronic abuse, our subconscious mind works diligently to protect us by building a wall around the heart, known as a heart-wall. While this heart-wall may be necessary to survive at the time, it keeps us from living a full and vibrant life. With mindfulness and time, you can discover and eliminate your heart-wall and find heart-wall healing. What Is a Heart-Wall? A heart-wall is a safety measure. It is a virtual security system installed by your subconscious that keeps toxic, intruding negativity out and allows you to survive. Although it serves a purpose, it should only be there temporarily. While a heart-wall is not an actual physical barrier around your heart, it is built with “materials” that are very real to your subconscious. The “material” used can be reflective of the event that caused the construction of the heart-wall in the first place. Your subconscious may have constructed it from wood from a memory of hardwood floors when the traumatic event happened, for example. Or it could be a good memory that gives you strength, like making it out of kryptonite because you loved Superman as a kid. These heart-wall materials are subconscious manifestations of energy being used to defend yourself and your emotions. You are using your own energy to keep yourself safe and help you function through a difficult time. How Does a Heart-Wall Hurt? While the construction of a heart-wall can protect you from bad feelings coming in, it also keeps out the good feelings. Conversely, your love, desire, and happiness get trapped behind that heart-wall, so you are unable to send out positive vibes. So you can see that a heart-wall doesn’t just hurt you. It can hurt those around you who need your joy and love. A heart-wall can be an emotional prison. Until you find it and release the trapped emotions and energies causing it, you will go through life somewhat like a zombie. You are moving, you are surviving, but you are not living. How Can You Release a Heart-Wall? By using the techniques described in The Emotion Code book , you can take steps to release a heart-wall, whether it be your own or another’s, and finally start living a full life. The first step is the identification of the wall. Simply ask yourself the question, “Is there a heart-wall?” Sometimes a heart-wall can be hidden, so you may have to ask, “Is there a hidden heart-wall?” The next step is very important. You must ask if the heart-wall can be released. Most of the time, the answer will be “yes,” but occasionally, the person is just not ready to let that guard down. It can actually be quite overwhelming to suddenly feel again. When a person is ready to tear down that heart-wall, it happens through The Emotion Code healing process of releasing the trapped emotions. Sometimes this can be done all at one time, while other times it may take a series of sessions over a number of days or weeks. Learn how to identify and release trapped emotions by becoming an Emotion Code practitioner, Discover the Emotion Code . The Emotion Code In my work, I’ve discovered that approximately eight out of ten people have heart-walls that are keeping them from living a joyous and fulfilling life. Through The Emotion Code , you can better understand the physical and psychological connections and how they affect everyday life. Imagine for a second, your life without a Heart-Wall? Book your free session today ! For more info, visit my website ! 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.

Bradley-LaFleur is the CEO & Founder of Brooklynn Three. Brooklynn Three is the parent company of Salon Rouge Spa, LaFleur Couture Wellness Boutique and This Beautiful Tripp Blog. Our mission is to help people transform their lives from the inside out by offering a variety of holistic based and safe products from makeup, vitamins and cleaning supplies all the way to a wide variety of spa services. You're a very productive entrepreneur with an online healthy products boutique and a spa & hair salon. You have a strong passion for health, wellness and beauty. Can you tell the readers more about the work you do and the purpose behind it? Absolutely! This Is my favorite subject. After opening my spa and starting my family, we found out our son was growing a tumor in his liver. From that point forward, my husband and I became more conscious of what we stocked our kitchen with, what cleaning supplies we used, and what bath products we used on our son. Flash forward three years later. I am running and pass smooth out mid-run. I woke up to a severely damaged right knee and left ankle. After running several tests, it boiled down to me, not taking care of myself internally. That's when I decided something had to change. If we are providing healthier options for our son, we should also start making healthier choices for ourselves. That is how LaFleur Couture Wellness Boutique was born. The goal of the boutique is to help others like me. I have researched each company and tested almost every product before presenting it to my customers. When I first started searching for what I needed personally, it was very overwhelming. I didn't know what brand was better, what company was telling the truth and which products were best suited for me. I am here to reach as many people as I can in order to cut their search down significantly and connect them with products and spa services that are really going to make a difference in their lives. We sit down with customers, see their main problems, and help them transform their lives on the inside and the outside to really inspire the best versions of themselves! Of all the things you do, what would say is the one thing people mostly ask you for help about? I know you said one thing, but I have to give two answers. I get asked constantly for help with hormones and equally as much for sleep. There are people who come to me in tears over these two issues and I have great products, which I personally take daily to help even out hormone levels and give you amazing sleep. Is that also the one thing that you're most passionate about? Yes. As someone who constantly struggled with hormone issues and getting a good night's sleep, I am very passionate about these two problems. Not having enough sleep on top of not having the correct hormone levels can wreak havoc on your mind, body and life. I couldn't turn my brain off and I would just toss and turn every single night. Even on my most exhausting days, I couldn't get any sleep. Ever since I gave birth, my hormones have been a nightmare: hot flashes, emotions, brain fog, and extremely low sex drive. Today, I get an amazing night sleep every night, have great focus to maximize my workday, and start to really get my sex drive in check. ….Oh, and the only time I have a hot flash is when I have anxiety. Would you say that your three main areas: Health, Wellness, and Beauty, are connected? Health, Wellness and Beauty are interconnected 100%. Beauty does not start and end with the way you look on the outside. When you take care of yourself through self-care and being conscious of what you put in and, on your body, you start to transform yourself. When you feel good, you look good and when you combine the two, you feel empowered like you could conquer the world. That is why I always say self-care is a must! In order for you to put your best self out into the world, you must feel like the best version of you. What are your 5 best tips on how to experience more health, wellness and beauty in your life? 1 SELF-CARE Give yourself a spa day, take a bubble bath, read a book, lay in bed and binge-watch your favorite tv series, unplug, take a vacation, go on a girl's trip, do something to help recharge your battery. In order to radiate the best you, you need to feel like the best you. 2 PAY ATTENTION TO INGREDIENTS You would be SHOCKED at what ingredients are hidden in some of our favorite foods, lotions and makeup. I recently found the same ingredients in my favorite cereal as I found in a tub of paint thinner under my kitchen sink… 3 MEDITATION I was recently turned on to meditation. I am skeptical of everything, but I am not lying when I tell you it has transformed my life. Meditate, however, and whenever works best for you. I lay in bed on my back every night after everyone else has gone to sleep and repeat positive affirmations over and over. I start with health and beauty and finish with my business goals. I also recommend meditating on positive relationships coming into your life. 4 BE TRUE TO YOURSELF Stop being a people pleaser. You are very capable of being a nice human without sacrificing what truly makes you happy. We cannot please everyone all the time. Be yourself with no apology. That is one of the biggest lessons I am learning right now. 5 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE VIBES Become a problem solver and a positive light in your life and others. Got a problem? Ok, let's fix it! We all have our down days, but the trick is keeping the positive thoughts flowing. You ARE beautiful, you ARE successful, you have a wonderful life and people love you. You CAN do this, mama! You will get through this situation. Surround yourself with like-minded people who are going to support you and lift you up. Don't surround yourself with people who are going to be negative all the time or add to the days when you are feeling negative. Finally, what do you have in front of you and what's your next big goal or project? Directly in front of me, I have a huge desktop calendar right beside my daily planner. My desktop calendar tells me specifically what I need to do when I sit down at my desk every day and my daily planner lets me know my weekly schedule. I love to be organized. It brings me peace in an otherwise chaotic world. My next project is to start my 3rd web series. This series will be based on interviewing other entrepreneurs from all walks of life in order to share more stories and reach more people. I want everyone to understand that no matter what crazy situation they find themselves in or how they may feel at this point in their lives, they are never alone. There are people they don't even know who care and who have gone through the same situation they are going through. My next big goal is to write my first book. I have a women's entrepreneur co-op book coming out in November called She Rises for Tomorrow, but I have 4 books of my own and I am dying to sit down and write. Stay Tuned….! For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube-Channel and visit my website! Read more from Brooklynn!

Written by: Julie Saillant, Guest Writer It’s a well-known fact that entrepreneurs wear many hats and struggle to be efficient trying to keep up in an ever-changing world. If you are one of the many business owners who is the sales rep, accountant, coach, and the person who is trying to do it all and you don’t know if you are coming or going, we need to talk! We are all struggling to keep up with our daily tasks AND looking to stand out from the competition. Phew! It can be exhausting just thinking about it. Yet one idea around how effective we are has been haunting me. Are we truly operating at a high-performance level or are we just spinning our wheels? The definition of performance is achievement, accomplishment, the act of performing; and the definition of high performance is better, faster, more efficient than the others. I like to think of a high-performance person as someone that can complete many tasks efficiently. As an entrepreneur, I facilitate my own marketing, execute and write my own blogs and orchestrate how my brand looks and feels, all while posting to social media and sipping on filtered water making it look cool. Yet no matter how hard I try, or how efficient I think I am, I’m not able to do everything well. No one can, and new studies are now showing that we should step back and focus on one task at a time to get the best performance out of ourselves. Here are 3 ways to up-level your business fast! STEP #1 – DO ONE THING AT A TIME Why should we focus on one thing? Recent research has shown that “single-tasking”, allows you to get more done with less stress and it can even make you more creative. Trying to do too many tasks at one time will slow you down and doesn’t allow you to do your best work in an efficient way. To complete all your tasks, you must do one thing at a time. At first, this may feel slow – that’s ok. It can also feel tedious – that’s ok too. The truth is, your brain was built to do one thing at a time – and do it well. If I gave you the option of completing 3 tasks in one-hour or 1 task to complete in the same amount of time, you would probably choose to complete one task and that would be a good choice. Yes, you are probably fast and smart enough to complete all three tasks, but the quality of those tasks is what’s important. For example, it would be better for you to write an email pitching your company’s services with 100% of your focus on composing an excellent email vs writing the email while thinking of three other things you should be doing. The truth is, your brain was built to do one thing at a time – and do it well. STEP #2 – SLOW DOWN TO SPEED UP To level up your game, you need to slow down to speed up. It’s been proven that slowing down and focusing on one task at a time, instead of 2 or more, will allow your brain to complete the task at hand more efficiently. Most days, we switch between apps and websites over 300 times per day and check our email or IM every 6 minutes. When you remove all distractions and focus on one task, it enhances your creativity and allows you to understand what is most important and what can wait. The more focus you have, the better you will become at finishing it faster. Slowing down also allows you the chance to prioritize your tasks in terms of importance. Completing the first and most daunting task is the best way to move forward. Once that is out of the way, the rest will seem easy. STEP #3 – FOCUS You have 3,000 thoughts per minute all fighting for your attention. Between your own thoughts, your business, your family, social media, and any extracurricular activities you may have outside of those three areas, it can leave you with little time and even less focus. Focus is defined as the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition. There are only 12 hours per day and you must prioritize what you need to accomplish each and every day. It’s your job to eliminate all distractions and focus on completing the most important tasks that will move your business forward. When you allow yourself the time to focus on ONLY WHAT’S IMPORTANT, you will quickly see that you can accomplish more in a smaller window of time. If you want to lower your stress, have higher productivity, and be happier, the key is to slow down, focus and do one thing at a time. Written by: Julie Saillant, Guest Writer Julie Saillant is a Transformational Intuitive Coach and Animal Whisperer who helps her clients access and leverage their gifts to find their true soul’s purpose. She uses her gifts of seeing and removing negative energetic blocks while bringing in positive animal attributes that will help you on your soul’s path. For more information, visit her website and follow her on Facebook.

Written by: Andrea Ryan, 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 have sung in front of over 9000 people, across audiences all over the UK & Europe, I’ve danced in front of judges, spectators, spoke at events and was always the one to do the work, wedding and party speeches. So when my former CEO asked me to Emcee at our annual conference, I accepted without hesitation. It's not rocket science. I'm not writing this post because there's any great science to it. I'm writing this because I had no idea what Emceeing meant! I used to watch them and think that looks easy. I can do that. Oh, how I wish I knew then, what I know now... After 2 years of emceeing, here's what I learned; 1. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail Get involved in the day whether you work for the company or not. Make sure you have sight of the presentation, the format of the day, and that you are involved in collating that presentation so you can guide it and give yourself talking points throughout the day. 2. Get familiar with the AV Arrange an early meet with the AV team on the day to do a run-through. Don’t get involved in anything else; lock yourself away. Lastly, bring in the CEO and go through the main points with them. 3. Come on to music It’s a great way to get the crowd going and you. Purposefully insert songs whenever you are welcoming the audience, fitting with the theme for the event, the brand, choose a song that resonates with the crowd and the purpose of the day. 4. Start as you mean to go on You’re good to go. The bright lights are shining upon you. Avoid the stage shock by opening with an icebreaker, an anecdote or a joke, then onto housekeeping (phones on silent!!!) straight into your opener. Follow this with introductions of speakers on throughout the day, which leads me onto my fifth point... 5. Get up close and personal Don’t just read from the script. Look up the speakers before the event, find out what they look like, and meet them before the event kicks off. Talk through their bios but keep it interesting. Ask them to give you an anecdote you can offer to the audience to keep it interesting. 6. Sit at the front Make sure you are right at the front of the stage or near the lectern. Ready to go. Also, that you have a couple of copies of notes and AV have a copy of your script, if you need one. 7. Expect the unexpected Sometimes things don’t always go to plan. Someone is in your ear or waving at the back of the room, saying that person isn’t here yet, we need 10 more minutes. Though spontaneous, you can still prepare to some degree. Take more time to talk about a segment coming up, ask the audience thoughts on a particular topic. Worst case, bring the next segment forward or go to another speaker. Then sort the remainder of the day whilst they’re on! 8. Run Forrest run You need someone to keep you informed of what’s happening, a runner. They need to keep you accountable for time in line with the itinerary. Someone to be at the side of the stage for any competitions you are doing and to run a mic through the audience if necessary. 9. Mingle darling Use lunchtime to reassess and pivot for any situation that may have arisen and adjust your script. Go out mingle with the crowd. You then have some material for when you go back in after lunch, you spoke to so and so or someone said something interesting, that gives a little more variation from your script. 10. Smile Usually, there is a photographer at the event. This is a prime opportunity to get some headshots and full-length shots for your portfolio. Also, don’t forget to ask for any there were taken on stage of you. These will be great for your website or socials. It may be a while before you are asked to emcee given the current climate but, when the time is right, you’ll be good to go! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Andrea Ryan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I'm a transformational life and business coach for women. I support women to enable their journey of self-discovery and drive change through their personal journeys. Professionally I help female entrepreneurs align their mental and emotional journey with business guidance and mentorship. I have had a 15 year executive career, heading up business and marketing strategy, brand management and leadership in the disability employment sector, sport and as an award winning business development director in a mental health Not for Profit. Spending 3 years on the Australian National Committee for UN Women as a Committee Member and as a consultant to Human Right start-ups, I am constantly seeking board and volunteer roles that offer me the opportunity to utilize my skills to give back and contribute to the wider community. Quoted in Marketing Magazine Australia as the 'Accidental Marketer', I have a flair for the creative, which fuels my passion for supporting women to step into their power, thrive in their careers and become leaders who will instigate change to make this world a better place.

Written by: Madelaine Gomes, 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. Why do we deny ourselves self-acknowledgement? Have you ever come up with a brilliant idea that excites you, inspires you, and scares you? After planning it carefully and sitting on it for ages, you started to think that you are not good enough to pull it through and then handed your idea over to someone else. Thinking that the person can do this better than you, for a list of reasons, and then discover that the person failed miserably at your expectations, leaving you with the realization and that you could do it better, but now you have run out of steam? How many dreams were killed or hi-jacked in this manner or not even started due to self-doubt and discrediting ourselves? What are the reasons we fall prey to this? The lack of knowing ourselves deeply leaves us vulnerable with a feeling of not being good enough, filling a void by seeing our own brilliance, locked away deep inside of us, in others. We suffer from Conditional thinking, that started in our forming years, which shaped our Self-Image and now affects our behavior and results! ● We are confused about our true Identity and Greatness, therefore giving our powers away to others, thinking they are better equipped to fill our void. We give in to our negative self-talk, which results in procrastination. We fear the embarrassment of perceived failure. We fail to plan our Vision in the finest detail and align ourselves with the skills needed to complete this successfully. We judge ourselves by our past perceived failures. This list can fill pages, but I want to guide you to unlock your “I AM” POSSIBLE stepping into your true Greatness and not your imperfections. How do we step into our “I AM” POSSIBLE unleashing our true Greatness? Self-Actualization is your KEY to step into your “I AM” POSSIBLE. Honor your Uniqueness as it is a Spiritual Gift given to you! Identify your Values and Strengths, which form the foundation of all your outcomes. Forgive yourself for the past and give yourself credit for the Wisdom gained. Love and Respect yourself deeply, which will reinforce your boundaries and allow you to step into your Personal Power. Do not give mind-time to your negative Self-talk; rather replace this with overriding loving and positive beliefs that are aligned with your Future. Stop comparing yourself to Others and rather invest your time Becoming “I AM” Possible. Use a threat of GOLD, to mend your cracks lovingly, knowing it’s part of becoming “I AM” POSSIBLE. When we are given a dream, vision or idea, it is given to YOU and YOU only! When we do not honor this, it gets taken away from us and someone else might pick up on it in the Quantum Field and before you know it, it is done! Leaving you with that sinking feeling that you should have, could have and did not! The small percentage of people reaching great success are the people who took the idea, dream, or vision and did not spend time on the first points mentioned in this article, but rather put all their energy on the second section of this article and blew life into their Greatness and became “I AM” POSSIBILE! The Key to your “I AM” POSSIBLE, stepping into your Greatness is within YOU, waiting to be turned, to be believed in, to be loved and respected, and to grow and develop into Greatness. I am an Executive Contributor to Brainz Magazine and a Doctor in Metaphysical Science, Pranic Healer, Mindset Alchemist, and Executive Business Coach. I am a former Director of a Top 10 Company and have studied Self and Professional Development for the past 20 years. I help my clients deconstruct their old, outdated paradigms and redesign beliefs and habits aligned with the Vision for their Future so that they break through their glass ceiling. Connect with me to schedule an appointment. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit my website! Read more from Madelaine! Madelaine Gomes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine I am a Doctor in Metaphysical Science, Pranic Healer, Mindset Alchemist and Executive Business Coach.  I merge Science with Spirituality and Business as we are never only the one. I am the Founder of a Mind, Body and Soul Program called “I AM” POSSIBLE, stepping into your Greatness.  Assisting Leaders, Executives and Coaches to reconnect with their “I AM” and aligning their Career, Relationships, Money and Health with their “I AM”.

Collaborated post Starting a business from scratch isn’t easy, and the first initial few months to a year can be the most challenging. There is a lot of competition out there, and it takes the right idea and a concoction of hard work, time, and money in order to make it a success. If you’re thinking of starting up a business, then it’s worth understanding what goes into making one that stands the best chance of surviving and thriving in this modern world. Here are some tips on starting up a business from scratch. Have Enough Money To Start Up Properly Firstly, a budget is probably the most important part as there are a lot of things that will need paying for. Whether that be paying for your website domain to sorting out suppliers for your products and manufacturing, there’s a lot to consider. There are some things, of course, that will cost no money, but it’s good to at least have a start-up fund that you can rely on for the necessary purchases needed to launch your business. It’s worth looking at what you have available and what you might need to either save or look for investments/loans, etc. There are likely to be people out there that would be willing to invest in your business. If not, then there are those companies and banks that will be willing to give you a business loan in order to get your idea off the ground. It’s worth doing some research to know exactly what you need for this to happen. Create A Website Creating a website is important to building your business success online and, hopefully, on a global scale. The internet is such a powerful tool to utilize, and it’s a way of putting your stamp of existence in the world. When creating a website, you want to consider paying for a web design that’s unique to your business and has been tailored to help sell whatever service or product you have. You also want to think about the layout and your audience’s demographic. It might be that you have an older audience who need something a little bit more clear cut and easily visible. There is plenty that you can show off on your website, too, and perhaps having a blog will help encourage more traffic to your site too! This https://setapp.com/how-to/how-to-create-a-website is probably very helpful in knowing where to start. Utilize Social Media Social media has been a hub of activity for many across the world, and you will find that most people nowadays have some form of social media account. With that being said, it’s important to utilize it for your business, especially in the early days. It’s good to figure out what platforms work best for your business industry and what is worth avoiding. You’re going to have to spend lots of time building up your social media following. It’s important to do so, though, because it could really set your business up for lots of success and longevity. When it comes to social media, it’s important to look out for your audience and to cater to what they would want to see. Creating your own imagery is important, rather than to use stock photos. But it also needs to be high-quality, and the content needs to be consistent. There’s a lot to think about when it comes to your social media channels. Outsource What’s Needed Outsourcing is essential when you’re just starting up. You might not have the funds or needs to hire full-time staff, but there might be tasks that still need completing. With that in mind, it’s good to think about what is needed in order to get your business off the ground and running. You may be a one-person band for the time being, and so there will be things you can excel at and things you need help with. We can’t all be talented and perfect at everything, so be honest with yourself. Try to find the tasks that will need outsourcing and when the time is right, get them outsourced. Try not to wait around or delay it just because you don’t have the people available in-house. Waiting around could end up you missing out on opportunities! Be Willing To Adapt The reason why many businesses will fail is that they’re not willing to adapt or change with the trends. There are going to be situations where you need to change up the pace or do something different that you might not have done before. A lot can change in the space of a few months, let alone a year and so it’s important to acknowledge this and be willing to adapt as and when it’s needed. By being able to do this, you’re less likely to fall behind or get stuck in the past. Instead, by changing when it’s needed, you’re going to open yourself up to so many opportunities when they come along. Don’t become a dinosaur in your own industry because it can be easy to become one. Expect Failure Failure is going to happen. There are likely to be some teething problems along the way and so when it comes to business, expect things to fail. Failure isn’t a bad thing, and although we all want success, it doesn’t always come along when we expect it to. Instead, it’s important to acknowledge the failure to learn from your mistakes so that they don’t happen again. When we see failure as a good thing, we tend to get back up and try again sooner. We don’t allow ourselves to become affected too much by the bad experiences, and that’s something worth carrying forward when it comes to your business. These are issues you’ll see arise as a new business, and they are to be expected! Starting up a business from scratch isn’t for the faint-hearted, and it can be difficult to retain success. However, using these tips, you’ll stand a better chance at succeeding.

Written by: Tracy Chalmers, 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 little straight talk today. No BS, just straight shootin' from an Entrepreneur who has walked in your business shoes. Now, if you can't take some tough love or can't handle to hear hard truths, do not read this article. Stop here and click away, please. But if you can, I will start here.... Friend, you are more capable and powerful than you might think. I believe in you, even if you doubt yourself, your path or your business right now. I say that because I get it.... I've made some massive (some would say crazy) choices these past few years that most would RUN from as I have further aligned with and leaned into my passion, my calling, which I'm meant to serve and my authentic self. I've been a full-time entrepreneur for seven years now . My early years were painfully lean and all over the place as I discovered my unique value and honed in on who I was. I found myself often frustrated and I was filled with trepidation as I second-guessed my every move. Subsequently, these last few years have been different. They have been more about the growing pains of business and I still do occasionally wonder if I'm making the most effective choices for growth and longevity. I have made big, audacious, scary goals. I’ve made choices and business decisions that made the hair on my neck stand up. It was exciting At moments, I wanted to run the other way from the decisions I had to make because they were... well, kind of scary and seemed, in that moment, too far fetched or unattainable... but I knew I had to follow through to take my business and growth to the next level. I get it. Some days, it's just hard. In the quiet moments, there have been times I worried I made the wrong choices... Entrepreneurship and business is not for the faint of heart. I believe it is a calling, not unlike medicine and health care. There were and still are days when doubt would creep in and the worry and anxiety of failure would take hold. It can be paralyzing. All entrepreneurs, regardless of the industry, have those flip-flopping moments of doubt, frustration, elation, fear, fearlessness and paralysis (sometimes all in the same day). I'm giggling here, but with all that in mind, I'd like to share with you: 8 of the many lessons I learned as a business growth coach these last few years. I always touch on these points with my clients inside my programs and methodology. I find these or similar issues bubble up for many of them at some point in their journey. I know some of my lessons learned and growth insights can help you too. 1. It may seem far easier to settle, stay comfortable, remain stagnant and make excuses than it is to get uncomfortable and scared and potentially create massive results ... you will not create what you are meant to create in this world by staying inside your comfortable, cozy box with your blankie. Stepping into one’s greatness and what you’re meant for can be terrifying, uncertain, hard, and maybe confusing. Stepping up to create the transformations, the innovations and impact in this world only you can uniquely create is important work and people are waiting for you. Will it be hard? Probably. Might your fail? Maybe. Might you regret not trying? Most likely. Pick your hard. 2. It's more painful to sit in mediocrity, below par complacency or misalignment, then it is to walk away and stand up for your integrity, alignment and authenticity and show the nay-sayers or non-believers what you are made of. (Believe me, there will be plenty of them, especially as your business grows) Their vocal lack of belief and negative comments on social platforms or gossip says more about them and their lack and insecurities than they do about you. It is in no way a reflection of you. Remember that. Please do not take advice from people you would not trade places with and keep in mind, people who are more successful than you will never waste their time with petty, childish and jealous chatter. 3. There will be many times throughout your entrepreneurial journey you will be tested . And you may wonder if you'll be tough enough to weather the storms. If you want to create more mental toughness, it's simple: Be tougher. Be grittier. Stand for what you believe in and what you don't. Learn to say NO, when it doesn't feel right or fit your business plan. There is no right or wrong in your business and if something doesn't work as effectively as you'd like, use the data or metrics you collected to re-evaluate and pivot. Change it up. And when you are stuck or gapping out, ask for help from those who have walked successfully before you. They may very well have the connector lifeline you're looking for to connect those elusive dots of understanding. 4. Stop chasing likes, double taps, followers and endless, going nowhere chit chat's in messenger. Profit is way more fun. Business is not a popularity contest. Too many businesses fall prey to or never get off the ground because they put too much weight on likes, friends, followers and chatting inside DM's looking for an opening to drop their business into the convo. The social platforms can be fantastic for business when used strategically but do not get swept up in the platform's popularity part. Don't forget about income-producing behaviors that generate real leads and revenue. Likes and double taps do not pay your bills. 5. Too many entrepreneurs are afraid to invest in themselves . They waste countless hours on the school of google trying to piece together some sort of strategy, looking for the latest tactic, picking up every free download available but never truly invest in real, tangible, move the needle coaching. It is sad to see them wasting so much time and energy piecing dribs and drabs together instead of investing in themselves to 3X or 5X or 10X the investment by hiring a coach that will actually teach or mentor them with what they need to know and significantly cut down the learning curve. Isn't your time worth it? Honestly, how are you to know what you need to do when you have not done it before? You were taught how to walk, talk, brush your teeth, print your name and ride a bike. Why are you reluctant to be taught how to build a lucrative, impactful legacy business by someone who has already done it? Don’t be so hard on yourself. Get the help and support you need. You don’t know what you don’t know. 6. Money.... the root of all evil, some would say... and if you have any negative thoughts or feelings around money such as how you don't seem to ever have any, money eludes you, you can't justify paying for coaching, or you have doubts about your worth and value of services and it shows up in how many sales you close… oh I could go on. This list would be a kilometer long .... If any money stuff comes up for you, you seriously need to do some money mindset work around it. You have to. Or you can plan on continuing not to have enough money to shake a stick at. It's not that you were not meant to have money... That is total BS... it's that you are choosing to remain stuck, blocked and friend, this may hurt a little; you must find it easier to complain about not having money than to actually get off your ass and do something about it. Money can be a magical thing. Just think of all the good you could do in this world if you had the money to create tremendous impact in the lives and charities you care so deeply about. To make a huge difference.... how would that feel? It is important to look at money differently if you plan to have any. I grew up in an environment where I was exposed to negative talk around money. My parents didn't have much, so to my young ears' money had to be bad and all those that had some were bad people... That is the simplified message I internalized as a little girl. I grew up instilled with a negative money mindset. I did a lot of work around that several years ago, and it has paid off tenfold. Seriously. Do the money mindset work. 7. To do EPIC Sh!t, you must be ready to make mistakes and fail epically . I promise you that your travels on the road to success will not be easy. Mine certainly has been bumpy! I have failed more times than I can count or care to admit. But with each was a learning opportunity. And that is what makes success all the sweeter. There will be many twists, wrong turns, bumps, scrapes and bruises along the way as you walk the journey of an entrepreneur... I have been wounded MANY times... but do you know what? It doesn't kill you! You heal, you grow, you learn, get stronger and far capable! 8 . And lastly, I also know that people ponder WAY. TOO. LONG . People sit around, waiting for a sign, meditate, read tea leaves, scared to make a decision, reluctant to go after their dreams, afraid of looking bad or being vulnerable or hesitant to make a massive move for their business. They lie to themselves, stay inside their box with their blankie and then hope and wish on the outcome for months or even years, never having made a ‘draw a line in the sand’ decision. Then they find themselves back up at my first point. Hope is not a strategy. Sadly, many live with regret. It is up to you. The only way to get effective, profitable results is to push past all the other BS that life is throwing at you, roll your sleeves up, keep your head down, make mistakes, learn hard lessons, pivot, go with good enough, seek the right kind of coaching and tweak as you go. Become bulletproof, be the visionary or creative you know you are, stay authentic and in alignment. I promise you; the end results can be freedom and lifestyle rewarding.... IF you bet on yourself. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , YouTube and visit my website for more info! Tracy Chalmers, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tracy Chalmers is a slightly rebellious, outside of the box, call it like it is business growth and transformation strategist. She uses a magnetic combination of her clear-cut communication style that she developed as a professional educator and trainer, her business acumen and proven strategies while intuitively identifying blocks and gaps in entrepreneurs. Tracy helps them get crystal clear business direction, while focusing on the behaviors and income-building strategies to make six-figure leaps in their business using timeless business principles, unique mindset models, empowerment, and cutting-edge marketing strategies to sell online. Tracy is a multiple award-winning Entrepreneur, Business Transformation and Growth Strategist, Trainer and Author. Authentically Aligned. Courageous Leadership Redefined.

Written by: Maggie Perotin, 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 Success is non-negotiable for you as an entrepreneur. And you have plenty of good habits that are leading you there right now: your drive and creativity being two examples. However, since building an empire is exciting and daunting, you might have accumulated a few bad habits. The main few that I encounter most often with my clients, and help them shed altogether, are: being always "busy" without really producing the results they want getting regularly distracted by many "shiny objects" at home or online not being able to focus and achieve the state of flow procrastinating over the actions that they know deep down would move the needle in their business. Does any of these sound familiar? If yes, you can read on because today I’m sharing with you five powerful tips to help you become a high-achieving entrepreneur. 1. Stay connected to your Vision The high achievers not only have a Vision for themselves and their business but are also deeply connected with it. Once you have a Vision, align any critical decisions about your business with it. This will help you choose the most effective strategies (marketing, offering, structure, growth opportunities) and tactics for your business. Such alignment will create laser focus and the ability to overcome the "shiny object syndrome." 2. Challenge yourself with setting ambitious goals Ambitious can mean different things to different people, and there are many theories on how far your goals should go. My take on it is that your long-term goals should be VERY ambitious, something that makes you quite uncomfortable. However, as you break down your goals into smaller chunks: this year, this quarter, this month – each one should be stretching past your current abilities but at the same time not paralyzing you through its magnitude. The "Goldilocks Rule" proposed by James Clear is to set the most immediate goals 10% over what we are comfortable with accomplishing. If you're ambitious enough to go beyond that rue, then get a coach. Just like top-performing athletes would not achieve top results alone, you need a "trainer" to push you well past your comfort zones and give you tools from their expertise to get there. 3. Create routines and habits that make the execution of goals easier What helps me with ensuring that I write this blog every week? Grow my coaching business while working a demanding corporate leadership job? Or raise my kids and excel at an online executive MBA? It's all possible because of good habits and routines that support my goals. And my clients achieve amazing results when they start implementing my high-performance portion of coaching (they go as far as doubling or tripling their monthly income just by that!) Structuring your days so that you don't need to waste time and energy, making decisions about every little thing makes it easier to maximize the time you have for your business. We all have 24/7/365. We all need to sleep, eat, and have time for loved ones and ourselves. There is only so much time each of us has to pursue our business goals. High achieving athletes, CEO's or artists ensure to maximize this time with only value-added activities, work that is not a distraction but a vessel bringing them closer to their Vision. If you're wondering how to go about creating such habits for yourself, check my new High-Performance Kickstart program here 4. Have fun Marc Anthony said it best: "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life." I'm assuming you became an entrepreneur to do what you love. But I also know that it's very easy to get tangled up in day-to-day busyness and fire fighting. If you lose the fun, passion, and joy from what you do every day, you'll also lose creativity, ideas for improvement, and innovation that keep your business competitive. So don't forget about FUN. As you create structure, routines, and habits, fun needs to have a place alongside other things in your business. 5. Invest in Your Personal Development I'm passionate about self-development, so maybe I'm biased. But I've seen the positive changes investment and dedication to it make on me, my clients, and all the high-successful people. If you study Olympic athletes, all successful entrepreneurs - CEOs or artists, you'll realize they all invest in themselves enormously. Why? Here are three critical reasons from your business perspective: If you grow, your business grows. For one thing, it's impossible to move your business to the next level if you don't move to the next level first. It's like planting all your seeds in the garden and then expecting them to grow without watering them. The water for your business is your creativity, innovative ideas, relationships, organization, and leadership. You need a tap to take if from, and that tap is self-development. When you improve as a person, your relationships improve as well. Here I'm talking not only business relationships with your clients or suppliers but also your partners, employees, and the loved ones around you. In other words, as you develop your leadership skills, such as listening, communication, conflict resolution, self-management, team development, etc. they will, by all means, have a tremendous positive impact on your personal life as well. Personal development is a huge time saver. The better you become at any given skill, the less time it takes you to do things. It's how you save tons of time so that you move on to the next thing and grow even more. So here are my final thoughts. The trick to success in your business is not just knowledge and skills or mindset but also doing. The fact that you read my blog and know more now than you did 5 minutes ago isn't going to bring any benefits if you just leave it at that. That's why I developed a High-Performance Kickstart 4-week program that will focus on getting you into consistent and super effective action mode—interested in learning more about how you can benefit? Click here . Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and visit my website ! Read more from Maggie! Maggie Perotin, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Maggie Perotin is a business and leadership coach, helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses without the overwhelm so they can live the life they want. Through her DREAM-PLAN-DO coaching model, she helps her clients reach their potential and get results while maintaining balance in life. Maggie has over 13 years of coaching and leadership experience in the corporate world in various domains. She holds a Masters Degree in International Relations, Facility Management Administration designation, and currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Jack Welch Management Institute. Maggie uses all her knowledge and experience to help entrepreneurs be strategic and creative in building a successful business and brand that attract their ideal clients. She is passionate about spending quality time with her blended family with four kids in the Canadian nature, traveling, self-development, and healthy cuisine of the world.

Written by: Lannette Inouye, 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 recall the day like it was yesterday as I entered a strange old building in Mission B.C. Canada; I still recall hearing his voice in my head, calling out my name from across a large dingy basement hall. “Lanna!”. It was Springtime in 1987 and I was not in a great frame of mind for many reasons, yet intuitive enough to know that this journey I was about to embark on would forever change my life and outlook! The individual I am referring to in this article, I am not at liberty to publish his real name for privacy reasons, so from this point on, I’ll refer to him as T.J. Upon meeting T.J., he approached me with a very large personal space parameter. I tried to move up closer to him; however, he kept stepping backward with wide eyes that were not quite focused in my direction; there was no eye contact in other words. “You need to go to see Jenny in the office!” He said with urgency, as he pointed to directly behind me. So, off to see Jenny, I went. T.Js Background In 1987 T.J. was a 28-year-old autistic man who had been institutionalized for a majority of his youth in Woodlands Institutional School, New Westminster B.C., Canada. T.J.s parents were forced to surrender him at the young age of 3 years old to the Canadian Government and the Court system placed him there. While in Woodlands, his whole childhood was spent living behind large walls in a large cold building, much like a prison with dozens of other vulnerable children. He was barricaded from living a normal childhood. He wasn’t exposed to family love and guidance. Nurturing wasn’t something he understood or trusted, with good reason! In fact, he wasn’t even encouraged to communicate! He spent most of his days heavily medicated or traumatized with very little access to mental stimulation or outdoor access. Regardless of how many times T.J. asked about his family, he was told nothing about them. His past was a mystery to him! Woodlands Institution You can read about the long and abusive history of Woodlands Institution on Wikipedia or type in Woodlands Institution, B.C. Canada in the search bar, many articles will pop up. Warning! The content in these articles is about true, traumatic experiences, records of horrific abuse, and critical incidents towards vulnerable residents under the care of this institution; the reports are absolutely shocking! Who was T.J., really? From my experience, I found him to be an intelligent, artistic, meticulous and anxious young man with so much empathy. When I met him all those many years ago, he was a misunderstood 28-year-old man, reading books on a grade 3 level, who had just discovered some of his own self-worth. He had left Woodlands at the age of 18 and moved in with his grandmother. For 10 years, he lived in her home and he wouldn’t let her go within his very large personal space; he was frightened of the outside world. If she had moved within his bubble, he would have panic attacks and violently throw himself Into the corner of the room and self-abuse, or throw household objects at her. His grandmother reported T.J.s doctor on several occasions of him biting so hard on his own hand that he’d bleed, and on a few occasions, he broke bones in one of his hands and gave himself a few concussions. She tried to get help for him, but due to his age, he was an adult in the eyes of the law; therefore, not eligible for certain services at that time, except antipsychotic medication, which seemed to bury TJs true personality. June Was a True Friend & Advocate One day a woman who had moved into a neighboring home approached his grandmother to offer help. For privacy reasons, I will refer to this neighbor as June. As it turned out, June worked for a Community Living Society that offered programs for adults who lived with barriers. Life skills and counseling were only just a couple of many services available. This nonprofit organization was called M.A.C.L. As mentioned earlier, T.J.s needs were neglected as a youth and he suffered abuse at the hands of some staff at the Woodlands Institution. He was born with A.S.D., but developed P.T.S.D. and many other psychological disorders due to being traumatized at the hands of professional healthcare staff. He was also not educated or nurtured during his long stay at Woodlands. With the help and guidance of June and the staff of M.A.C.L., T.J. was able to ease into a life-skills program and a trusted emotional support network. Over time he eventually felt comfortable participating in group activities. When I met him, he had a part time job working with a yard maintenance business, which he seemed to take much pride in and made a minimum wage. He also was being awarded by M.A.C.L. as a Self Advocate and an Advocate to other adults with autism. T.J. was a mentor to many! I learned a great deal about my new job at M.A.C.L. from my Supervisors and other staff members; however, T.J. taught me the most value. T.J. spent many hours and days of his own time teaching me how to communicate with people on the spectrum. He would stand on the sidewalk at 8:00 AM almost every day, look for me as I walked to work, and then escort me into the building. Then he’d bring me a coffee. We became fast friends and maintained our friendship until, sadly, his passing a few years back. I still miss him today! He Taught Me More About Myself Than Anyone Else T.J. was an amazing friend and mentor to me! He taught me how to fully listen, by becoming quiet. It’s sometimes easier said than done, but with practice, most people can quieten their minds and learn how to communicate nonverbally. T.J. would say “ Just be quiet for a while and listen to me, Lanna”. Words from a wise, and often misunderstood man! Because of T.J. these are some of the guidelines I’ve set for myself. Over time I Learned... To become quiet and observe That how I feel can be felt by others and mirrored The world is full of empathic individuals if you just listen for a while • To feel calm within and nonverbally display my zen To observe and listen to nonverbal cues That actions speak louder than words That sometimes the outside doesn’t match the inside for a reason That clear spoken sentences with long pauses allows room for responsive communication One to one communication is more focused and trusted To open my mind To explore possibilities To understand that teachers come in various forms To understand we all have transferable skills We all have value To like myself That the word disability is just a label • That labels can become crippling The most frequently asked question from people I meet? Q: How do you get to know someone who’s autistic? A: Be patient, be calm, and let the individual observe you from afar first. Do something positive that you enjoy doing within their view. I like to draw quietly and would draw a picture a few seats away during my break. If I happen to notice this person looking at me, I won’t look straight at them, rather I’d glance up, smile, then return to my activity. Pay attention to body language and what they might be interested in. Such as, in the first two weeks of getting to know T.J., I observed he had an interest in bird watching, so I started drawing birds. After I completed a drawing of a crow, I got up and purposefully left my art at the table, then went to the bathroom. When I returned, I found T.J. holding my drawing and pencil. He said, “here, you left your art here”. I love crows!” Thank you, T.J., I love crows too!” I replied. Then he quickly walked away. Every day we’d have more interaction than the last, and I’d always let him make the first move. When he appeared restless or anxious, he usually wouldn’t be open to an interaction, and that was ok with me. By him behaving aloofly, I took this as a cue to give him some space to reflect, but also let him know I was close by if he needed me. Eventually, those days became farther and fewer. After a couple of month T.J. gained trust in me and he became the one to initiate a conversation with me by drawing a bird as I watched from afar; he’d leave his drawings behind to do something else. One day he asked me why I hadn’t picked up his drawings and looked at them yet. He seemed hurt and confused. He asked me if I didn’t like them. I assured him, that I very much enjoyed them, and believed he was a wonderful artist. “Then why don’t you pick them up?” he asked. “Why don’t you bring them to me?” He concluded. As it turned out, our drawings had become a form of nonverbal communication. With me not picking up his drawings and giving them back to him, as he had done for me, I was telling him I didn’t appreciate his efforts to form a relationship. We continued this form of communication at the center for several years until he moved on. It was a sad day for both of us that we weren’t going to see each other every day; however, I was so very happy for him as he was moving to his own apartment with his new roommate and an Independent Community Living team to help him adjust to his new life. We made arrangements to meet a couple of times a week for coffee and a tea after our workday. We met at a diner and exchanged drawings for a few more years until he sadly lost his battle with cancer. Rest In Peace T.J., I hope you realized the positive impact you made for many! In conclusion... Before I met T.J. and had formed an unbreakable bond, I had no idea how to live my life. I was basically living in my head, unaware of the effects I instilled upon others because of my negative behavior. More than 30 years have passed and I still follow these guidelines I learned from my late friend T.J. These guidelines I use consistently and successfully for my work as a Special Educational Assistant, and my business, as well in my own life too. I can only conclude that the benefits of these guidelines are limitless. On those rare occasions that PTSD rears it’s ugly head, I’m reminded of T.J.s first lesson. “Just listen Lanna, and stop talking for a while”. You’ll hear it”! Connect with Lannette on Facebook , Instagram and visit her website for more information! Read more from Lannette ! Lannette Inouye, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lannette, also known as Lanna, who lives in a small community on the West Coast of Vancouver Island in Canada. She is a budding artist whose designs have become a beacon to advocate for vulnerable people of society. For over 3 decades, she worked for and with nonprofits, and now special education, concluding many of those years volunteering her spare time helping those in need of resources. With a solid background in advocacy and a natural risk-taker, she has the added skills and tools to move forward and make a difference, so she founded and created Expressive Designs by Lanna with the intent to affiliate her art business with non-profit support societies and form partnerships of trust. One of her goals is to demonstrate to other small businesses how communities and businesses benefit from a partnership such as this. Her desires as a successful, independent, supportive businesswoman have been a lifelong dream, and she feels her new journey is full of positivity and hope for many.

Written by: Suzanne Ratti, 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. Does this picture remind you of the ‘Good Old Days of Networking?’ Prior to 2020, networking events were the go-to for expanding your sphere of influence and seeking out new business opportunities. Now that the New Normal has taken hold and Zoom dominates many hours in our days, salespeople in particular are fatigued and finding the business development process challenging, to say the least. Here are a few Business Development Techniques for the New Normal that will not only help you continue to expand your sphere of influence, but may just lead you to better business relationships, long-term. The Problem with Networking Even before Covid, there was a lot of debate over the value of networking. Was it really an effective business development technique? Handing out business cards, scheduling coffee meetings, and searching for real business opportunities took time and resources. Quite honestly, it decreased the averages of the typical sales-close ratio because so much time was often spent with the wrong people. For this reason, I think 2020 has presented us with new opportunities to increase the efficacy of networking. Here are a couple of examples: While on a zoom call, work the chatbox. Listen to introductions and only reach out and/or make time for people who actually have the potential to help you either expand your sphere of influence and/or do business with you. Use the chatbox to qualify who you should be spending more time with. Make your introduction count . The 30-second elevator speech is critical in today’s zoom environment. Make sure your elevator speech tells people clearly and concisely what problem you solve, what solution you provide. Be OK with saying “No.” Just because someone reaches out to ask for a coffee chat (zoom or in-person) doesn’t mean you’re obligated to say yes. Protect your time and resources by time-blocking a limited number of hours per week for these activities. Then, when the time is full, it’s full. It also will cause you to do more qualifications with the requester about what they hope to gain and how they think the meeting will be productive for both of you. Work Your Sphere Linkedin is the most under-utilized tool on social media and yet, for most businesses, it’s the best platform to connect with business professionals. Not only can you ‘connect’ with the right prospects based on industry, job titles, etc., you can use the messaging or premium features to communicate. This is a back-door opening that may allow you to bypass gatekeepers and get to decision-makers. But, just like with networking, you should be purposeful in your communication. Are you effectively using it as a business development technique? Try these tips: Ask questions! When you stop promoting and start asking questions, you’re much more like to be engaging. Stop selling, start solving! Nobody really wants to connect just for the sake of connecting. Determine if your prospect has a need, a pain point, or a challenge that you can help solve. If not, don’t waste your time…or theirs. Oh, and if you don’t know how to use Linkedin to build meaningful and productive connections, take a sneak peek at one of the recent courses we ran on how to use Linkedin to expand your sphere of influence effectively. Post Meaningful Content If you are reading this paragraph, this article has grabbed your attention, provided some level of value, or provoked further thought. Do THAT with your content rather than posting just for the sake of posting. Your followers will perk up when they see your posts, stop scrolling when you’re in their newsfeed, and want to see what you have to say. If you’re posting every day of the week just for the sake of posting, without inherent value, you’ll start to disengage your audience, so be purposeful. Take time to create meaningful content and, most of all, provide solutions. Remember, as I like to say, “Are you selling something or solving something?” Solving wins every time overselling! Are you ready to use business development techniques to create more sales? We help individuals, teams, and entire organizations create better strategies for a more productive sales funnel that impacts your bottom line! Schedule a call or consultation with Ideas360 to create sales-driven strategies that win! Do you need more creative ideas for Sales & Marketing? Follow us on YouTube , Facebook , Linkedin and visit our website ! Read more from Suzanne! Suzanne Ratti, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Suzanne Ratti is a Sales & Marketing Strategist, a proven performer and an entrepreneur with a passion for helping businesses revolutionize the way they deliver their products and services to their target audience. Her background in Sales and Marketing for powerhouses like  Xerox  and  SmartCEO  allows her to translate real-world experience, critical skill sets and proven results for businesses in virtually every industry and setting. Suzanne provides engaging coaching and presentations that can inspire, motivate and empower business owners, solopreneurs, and their sales teams to think differently.

Collaborated post A commercial vehicle is a great investment for your business, whether you use it for deliveries or as a means to get out to your customers. There are a few important things to consider when choosing a vehicle, however. You need to think about what you want to use it for and what size vehicle you need. There are also ways you can save money on your commercial vehicle, so you don’t want to miss out. Here are five factors to consider when buying a vehicle for your business. Size and capacity As part of your general business planning, you need to take into consideration your yield and how many products you’re going to make and distribute. This will help you choose a vehicle. You might opt for a car or van, or perhaps you’ll need a larger truck. The size and capacity you need depend on what you’re going to use it for. There are also legal weight requirements to adhere to so familiarize yourself with these. If you go over your van’s capacity you could get in trouble with the law, so it’s advisable to get as informed as possible. Used or rental options There are plenty of options in the Automotive industry. You could opt for a brand new vehicle, go used, or even hire one. The choice you make depends on several factors. If you’re looking for a vehicle you can customize, then ideally you should buy it. You can save money by going used and upgrading it yourself. For a temporary option, you could also consider renting a commercial vehicle, this might also save you money in the long run and you won’t have to make that initial big investment. Driving condition You need to ensure whatever vehicle you get for your business is in a good condition, especially if you’re buying a used van. This could save you on maintenance costs down the line. You also need to ensure your commercial vehicle is safe to drive and fit for the job. Insurance options If you’re buying something larger like a van or a truck, it’s a good idea to look into commercial insurance for vehicles. This pretty much works the same as for vehicles for personal use, but you might need to double-check your driver’s license covers it at least. Speak to your insurance provider and find out if there are any differences or even discounts for commercial vehicles. You might be able to save money here as well. Tax reductions If your vehicle is used for commercial purposes you could be eligible for a vehicle tax exemption. Find out what you’re entitled to before you choose your commercial vehicle as you might be pleasantly surprised. A commercial vehicle is a great way to get your business on the road, and if you can save money on the way, why not? If you’re looking to make your business mobile this year, make sure you choose the right commercial vehicle for you and your team.

Collaborated post Treating your customers the way you’d want to be treated is essential for your business to succeed. When you know you’re giving them some quality time, and you’re going the extra mile for them, simply because that’s what you’d want from a business representative, means you’re going to lock your customer base down sooner rather than later! So, if you’re in the mood to learn a few more things about crafting a quality customer service experience, even during busy times like the holiday seasons, make sure you keep the points below in mind for your business. Be Honest Being honest is the best thing you can do for your customers. When you’re honest, the customers will come to trust you faster, and that only helps to build the customer base you really want. Being honest is a big part of building a relationship, and it only improves communication both ways, which helps the customer service desk to move a lot faster too! Leave an Impression If you were the customer here, you’d want to find an amazing, value business that has everything you could need for your purposes. Quality alone leaves an impression, so when you’re the business, you’re going to want to create an experience unlike any other! This makes sure your business and its products stay with the customer that’s just clicked onto your website or walked out of your doors, simply because you’re aiming to bring them back again and again. One of the best ways to go about this is to focus on the main factors of being accessible, and being desirable at the same time. And because of the digital world we live in, that means your website is going to need the kind of interface that makes this easy to pull off. Software such as Userzoom might be the ticket here, if you don’t have a web designer of your own to complete a job like this for you. Don’t Keep Them Waiting! And finally, be sure to keep your wait times to a minimum. After all, customers can have very low patience levels, and when they’re stuck in line or stuck waiting at a virtual receptionist for longer than 5 minutes, they’re likely to give up altogether and take their business elsewhere. And if you were the customer, you’d hate waiting for too long too! You’d think the company didn’t know what they were doing, or didn’t have the right staff to man the desks, and that reflects badly on small and big businesses alike. So keep things moving - have an average wait time, let people know where they are in line, have more than one person manning the help desk, etc. All of these methods go a long way to improving a customer’s perception of you! Treating your customers how you want to be treated is key to success. Make sure you’re keeping ideas like those above in mind if you want to improve your customer service desk.