Written by: Natasha Bazilevych, 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 had a moment when you were giving a speech or presentation and forgot what you wanted to say? How did you get out of that situation? Would you like to have a strategy to help you always remember your speech perfectly well? I was in this situation a few years ago when I was giving a speech at my Toastmasters club. In the middle of my delivery, I suddenly realized I couldn’t remember what’s next. At first, my brain froze in panic. Then it started searching for ideas. Meanwhile, my face was keeping a neutral expression. I tried not to let anybody know I was feverishly searching for ways out of an awkward situation. Do you think I was able to fool the audience? I doubt it. Of course, I kept on talking, jumped to the next point, and eventually got back on track. And maybe some people didn’t even notice. But, in any case, the effect and the power of the speech was lost. How can we prevent such failures from happening? I’ve got a few tips for you. Remember the Big Idea of your speech. May it be your lighthouse, the beacon of light in the dark storm. Even if you get nervous, forget the words, knowing the main idea, the key message of your speech will help you get back on track. Write and remember the outline perfectly well. Allow it to be your map, your navigation system. Keep it in mind by all means. Make sure not to have too many points in your plan. Use odd numbers as they’re easier to remember. Our brain focuses better on lists of 3, 5, or 7. Memorize the opening and the closing. First of all, remember your opening. Carve it into your brain. The first few seconds or even minutes are usually the most nerve-wracking. If you know your opening sentences perfectly well, it’ll gain you confidence and help you get into a speech flow. And don’t forget to prepare and memorize your ending. Otherwise, you’ll start rambling, talk too much and kill the power of your message. Learn the transition phrases and sentences. If you’d like to remember the whole speech word by word (which is not always necessary), transition sentences will be your torches in this tunnel. You’ll most likely have several sub-points supporting your main idea. Memorize the phrases that connect these different small ideas within the speech. It’ll often be the first sentence of each paragraph. Rehearse the speech minimum three times. How often in your life have you heard phrases like “practice makes perfect”, “repetition is the mother of skill”? It’s because they’re true! And no matter how sick and tired you are of hearing them, make sure to apply these truths in public speaking. Rehearse your speech. Repeat it several times just to yourself. Then, ask your friends to listen to you. Finally, shoot a video of yourself giving the speech and then watch it for analysis. These are my five practical tips for you. Would you like to dive deeper into public speaking? We’ve just reopened enrollment to our 8-week advanced program Speak With Power. You’ll learn how to: Overcome nervousness and build confidence Write clear and concise messages Use storytelling and humor in speeches Speak with persuasion and win debates Convince your customers with ease Deliver speeches with power Join today because the doors will close in a couple of days! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Natasha! Natasha Bazilevych, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natasha Bazilevych is an international speaker and business trainer. She teaches business owners, top manager and entrepreneurs to give powerful presentations and reach audacious goals. Natasha has been teaching business skills for 13 years, has two bachelor degrees and an MBA. Her signature program “Speak With Power” is a unique experience after which each participant knows how to overcome fear, craft powerful messages and deliver them with confidence.

Written by: Sukanya Datta, 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. Ever wondered about the history of how beauty evolved? This dates back to the era of Queen Cleopatra to the Victorian era. As seen through history, the meaning of beauty varied from country to country. Styles evolved, wanting women to achieve the perfect body. Asymmetrical waistline, lesser mass in the body and no scars was considered to be the epitome of beauty. A woman’s body has been the subject of scrutiny for several centuries. The norm remained in the society and the core problem remained unsolved. Young girls being pressurized to achieve perfect looks. Most advertisements in electronic media and newspapers revolved around women having great bodies. Of course, it’s never bad to have such bodies. But things tend to get worse when people start comparing themselves and ashamed of their physic. Lest, a person who seems to be larger feels neglected. In the realm of society, most stereotyping takes place. We often find people blatantly criticizing others for shapeless bodies or scars. Constant nagging often leads to depression. We, as a woman, need to understand the societal pressure another woman has to undergo. How often do we find people getting bullied in public or perhaps in the families only? These issues have mostly remained silent. Beauty, as defined by laws, has seen women going into depression. The term “fat”, “overweight”, “skinny” and “underweight” has been misinterpreted, and people have been wrongly judged. A fat or skinny person may be termed as unhealthy. But appearance is often deceiving. Have you ever thought that you can maintain a hearty life with a balanced diet and exercise and still loving the cellulite that is developing underneath? “OVERCOMING ALL THE CHALLENGES” Acceptance is of utmost importance. The mental stress that comes with and having to deal with it daily becomes a challenge for many. We often find ourselves in turmoil that lingers on—surrounded by the negative energy created that stirs in mind and the environment, and this gets carried on to others as well. Delving into the deep ocean of mindset. It is seen that issues have risen when there is insecurity and low self-esteem. Certain situations put people into their own dilemma. Is the fear of inner self causing this low confidence? Why are they ashamed of themselves? “CHANGING THE WORLD” We are here to believe in ourselves and that you are beautiful. Life is short. People often forget their own virtue. Every day each one of us strive for a better living. Eliminating unstable minds that create havoc in personal life. We have to unite and fight this. Bring change in our society and trends. Change is what we need. Visit my Instagram for more info! Sukanya Datta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Sukanya Datta is an electrical engineer. Along with the tech side, she is also a certified fashion designer. Being a tech lover, she have had a penchant for creativity. Entrepreneurship is a big journey and both tech and fashion have been a boon in her life. From developing monetary strategies and embark on the body positivity mission across the world and bridging the gap between women and fashion.

Written by: Nancy Michieli, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Like many girls growing up in the ’80s, I loved Wonder Woman and wanted to be her. I thought her pose was strong and magnificent. In 2012, Amy Cuddy’s famous TedTalk on “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are”, led us on a movement of Power Posing as our inner Wonder Women. The study focused on evaluating if body language would allow us to increase risk tolerance with decreased stress by assessing levels of testosterone and cortisol. The launch of this TedTalk, a series of studies on power posing, has struggled to validate Amy and her team's work. But here is the question, does power posing help women in the workplace be more successful. I propose No, it doesn't. Imagine walking into a room or a meeting with a woman taking one of the two open power poses. How does she make you feel? When women come across as aggressive, they are less liked, negatively impacting our ability to be heard and respected. We don’t want to feel like we are entering a boxing match. In research by Laura Kray, on feminine charm indicated that women are more likely to be successful in negotiating if she is both flirty and friendly. Women who are only friendly are seen as too nice and give everything up. Whereas using the combination of flirty and friendly in feminine charm has a sense of self-interest in the negotiation. These women who employ feminine charm can negotiate better while maintaining their likability. So, if Women need to have more feminine charm, then I propose replacing power posing with boosting our self-esteem and learning how to be more Fun, Flirty and Fabulous. According to Nathaniel Branden, when we have high self-esteem, we have the confidence to assert our needs and wants without minimizing those who are around us. Here are three tips for using body language for success: Fun - Engage Your Mindset Prepare yourself for a business meeting or life event like playing a game. Make it fun! When we look at challenges as hard, our mindset finds roadblocks which prevent our success. If we shift the perspective to fun and a game, this will allow our creativity to shine. It takes the pressure off, relaxing us and allowing us the opportunity to win. Flirty - Smile away We often think of flirty in a sexual connotation, but we can be more flirty in a non-sexual way when we have high self-esteem. A simple technique to learn how to be more flirty is to practice smiling in a mirror or laughing at yourself and the situation. These techniques will help you feel better about yourself and quickly shift your emotion from stress to success. When you smile at people around you, they relax, and you become more likable and approachable in the situation. Fabulous - Practice Yoga Standing Poses How we stand or sit in a room, people will take notice. In 2017, Agnieszka Golec de Zalava did a study to compare using Yoga Standing Pose to Power Poses to increase Energy and Self-Esteem. This study indicated that if we stand in the open position, we can increase our energy because our lungs are in a position to connect better with our breath. As well, the mountain pose opens our hearts, making our body is more receptive to those around us. You can walk into any room as confident and owning the space. When women increase their energy in a relaxed, confident stance, we increase our self-esteem, becoming fabulous. In my experience in the Oil & Gas industry, when I walk into a room relaxed, with my head held high, my body open, with a smile on my face, and high self-esteem, I have been able to lead teams to save companies as much as 10 Million dollars in a single year. As well, I have received a job offer where I could write my paycheck at whatever value I wanted. Women, if you want to increase your success in business and life, then stop power posing and develop your feminine charm by raising your self-esteem and learning the benefits of body language. You have the right to be happy and flourish in life and business. Follow her Podcast Luv2bMe, on Instagram at nancymichieli, or take her free 60-Seconds to Boost Your Self-Esteem. Nancy Michieli, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nancy Michieli is excited to launch a new movement Luv2bMe. She is inspiring women to boost their self-esteem to be more fun, flirty and fabulous to flourish in life and business. Nancy is a Certified Rapid Transformation Therapy Practitioner, Certified Holistic Life, Career and Executive Coach and Certified Consulting Hypnotist. As well, Nancy holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, her Diploma as a Certified Sommelier from the Canadian Professional Sommelier Association and loves to compete in American Ballroom 9 Dance with the charming husband. During a successful 25 year career as an Engineer, Project Manager and Leader in the Oil&Gas Industry, Nancy discovered that women in the male-dominated field succeed when they bring their feminine charm. Her mission is to help women fall in love with being women, engaging their elegant, assertive feminine energy to achieve their life dreams.

Mark Sephton is a personal mentor to entrepreneurs. His mission to help others has seen him break into global markets while working with startups and millionaire entrepreneurs worldwide. Mark's love for entrepreneurship has been expressed through serving as TV host of the show "One More Round." When not on the big screen, Mark is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine and a speaker for corporate events, entrepreneurship summits, and major conferences worldwide. His expertise in personal and professional development has positioned him as an expert in the industry, resulting in transformational experiences for audiences, clients, and businesses alike. – I am of the belief that our own stories actually say a lot about our future. They give credence to what is to come. We are all an expression of the stories we are apart of, the ones we have experienced, and the ones we tell ourselves. It's a two-fold understanding based on the past stories and the narrative and stories we tell ourselves each and every day. Between these two caveats is where your current state and future lie. – When I started working with entrepreneurs, it quickly became apparent that there were some key markers and indicators to what indeed inspired an entrepreneur and also what hindered them. After 3 years of working with entrepreneurs, I decided to reflect and trawl over the notes I kept for each and every client. Once I had calculated and evaluated the essence of these notes, the findings for me were very interesting. What I found from these observations is what now has formed my GPS system. What is your GPS system? – The essence of my GPS system is what I formalize with a client and use as a framework to engineer and frame our sessions. The GPS helps reveal blindspots, efficiencies and deficiencies, and it's through me detecting and analyzing the health of each of these fundamentals, which helps gauge the focus and shift of our ongoing work. The GPS is made up of 10 key focused fundamental indicators of what I believe makes up a person's basic DNA and how to understand your health and performance within that is where growth and your focus should lay. – I have now been working with entrepreneurs, creatives and business owners for the best part of 10 years, and I get a huge kick out of seeing others innovate, create, build and outsmart the current problems and challenges we all face. I love the energy of business and I love the creativity and audacity of finding a solution to a problem, which is really the essence of business. Where did your love of business and people come from? – My love for business stems from my late grandfather, he showed me at a very early age that having a solid reputation was the bedrock of any lasting business and the business will scale based on one thing and one thing only. The bigger the problem, the bigger the reward, the more people affected by the same problem will always indicate how valuable your solution is. In effect, the more people affected by a problem you solve, the more money and scalable your business becomes. As for reputation, the best way to grow that is through a combination of being authentic, stop trying to be someone else. Secondly, it's showing up and delivering that which you promise. – I have now been working for entrepreneurs for over 10 years. I was in the hospitality industry for 12 years, developed brands, increased margins, improved customer experience, improved operations and the list goes on. I have always got a kick out of service-related businesses. I love to give of myself. I received a diploma in coaching and then took my hospitality experience with my love of working with people and formalized my own hospitality consultancy business, and from there, I pivoted to working with entrepreneurs and creatives. How do you build your brand? – I started producing content on YouTube, which then was discovered by Entrepreneur magazine, which then gave me the confidence to write my first book “Inside Job”. Whenever you have a book, you seem to get invites for speaking at conferences and summits naturally. Eventually, with all the content I was creating, which coincided with me hosting my own radio show “ Talk Business “ for a local community radio called Radio Plus, I was very much in the sweet spot of what I loved to do. – Radio then took me to TV where I was headhunted to host my current TV Show “ One More Round “ I joined allegiance with Direct Sales TV and have recently formed a new partnership with Glewed TV Via the Roku and Apple Networks. I went on to write my second book “ Plot Twist, “ and I am currently writing my third book. This third book will be specifically for men, helping men be better men, helping men express their emotions and how to deal with what is expected of them. What are some key entrepreneurial truths? – I came from a broken family. There is clear evidence that a high percentage of entrepreneurs had a problematic childhood and the common denominator for this is based on the fact that if you had to problem solve as a child, it actually raised your ability and skill to problem solve more effectively as an adult. Interestingly that then equates to the fact that the majority of businesses are just about solving problems. That's why our future experiences, which I call stories, lead the way for your future. – I have always taken my experiences both in my personal and business life to actually build something in the future. My 3 keys to the kingdom, which are paramount to ensure you make the right choices and head in the right direction, are doing what you love, doing what you are good at and doing and committing only to the opportunities which will take you to where you want to go. – The great thing about my GPS system is it will pinpoint exactly the direction you are to take. It will then formalize where you need to focus your energy and crystallize the direction you are to take to make sure you have a fulfilled life and one that creates a legacy where the essence of who you are will outlive this earthy body. I want that for me, and I want that for those I work with. How do we continue to grow and develop? – We must continue to become reflective and constantly look at how we can grow and develop within ourselves. Over the past year, I have been working with a psychologist after identifying a number of problems that I have not been able to master. I have been able to identify what the issues are, but unfortunately, I couldn’t mentor myself regardless of my wealth of knowledge and tools I kept to fix the problems, So I practice what I preach and I went and found some support, its been working and my reframing of my thoughts and my ability to soothe myself when those problems arise has been significant. – I mention this because it's so important that we get help, but more importantly, that we get help from the right person. When it comes to mentoring and coaching or even working with a psychologist, go work with someone who has what you don't have, or has what you want, a piece of your puzzle. Don't just work with anyone. Look at what the person represents, look at what they offer, look at what they have that you would like, and then base your choices on them. – For example, I have never sold a business in my life, but I have taught and coached thousands of people on what direction they should take, what they were put on earth to do, and how to lead themselves and their choices better. If you come to me wanting someone to help coach you through the process of selling a business, I am not your guy. Go find a coach who has done that. – It's worth noting that when selecting a coach or mentor, you find one who fires you up, you need a bit of chemistry, you need to be challenged, you need to be able to get real and you need to welcome being told what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. How do you work with entrepreneurs? – One of my most watched Youtube videos is called “ How to Give Birth “ I would like to say I am a marketing genius with this one, but it kinda just happened. If you go to YouTube and write how to give birth, you will see hundreds of videos and in most cases, you see a woman in extreme pain literally giving birth as a thumbnail. When you come across me and my smiley face, I am sure curiosity gets the better of most or perhaps even hatred if women think how this man can say about childbirth and click and watch my video. The truth is my Youtube video has nothing to do with giving birth naturally. It has everything to do with giving birth metaphorically. We all have a dream, a vision or something within us, which we want to take from a simple thought into reality. We all carry something deep within us which we need to express, you will have to go take a look at the video to get more of what I am saying, but I talk about how we need the pressures of life in order to get what’s within us out of us and giving birth to the dream and desire we have carried within us over the years, if you need help giving birth I am your man. – I love getting inside peoples heads. I love making people think. I love to work with high energy people. It is a privilege to come alongside someone who clearly has something within them, a solution to a problem, an innovation and idea, or a concept. They want to express what they have and need some directional input, a way of taking what's within them and expressing it in a profitable way and true to who they are. I give all I have in each session in both energy and my stories and experiences, which have served me and helped me build my own brand and circle of influence. – It's never too late to change your course, regardless of what happened to you in the past, you can write the next chapter on your journey, it's time to write another story. A story that you are proud to be the author of. Feel free to follow Mark on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and YouTube , or email Mark at info@marksephton.com You can buy his book on Amazon !

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. When I first moved to Costa Rica, I began exploring all of the exotic fruits and vegetables that hold such powerful medicinal properties. After all, I left the world of Western Medicine after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2013. Having taken myself off the medicine prescribed to me to prevent recurrence meant that I had to be well prepared to replace these with ‘food as medicine’. My predictions were accurate – there are more exotic fruits and vegetables here to create your own natural pharmacy! One of my many favorite exotic fruits is Mangosteen. The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters tall. The edible fruit is deep reddish-purple when ripe. In Asia, the mangosteen fruit is known as the "Queen of Fruits," while the durian (Durio spp.) is known as the "King of Fruits." It is closely related to other edible tropical fruits such as button mangosteen and lemon drop mangosteen. The outer shell of the fruit is rather hard, typically 4-6 cm in diameter. Cutting through the shell, one finds a white, fleshy fruit 3-5 cm in diameter. Depending on the size and ripeness, there may or may not be pits in the fruit segments. The number of fruit pods is directly related to the number of petals on the shell's bottom. On average, a mangosteen has five fruits (round up figure). Prevents hardening of the arteries Protects the heart muscle Anti-Parkinson, anti-Alzheimer and other forms of dementia Anti-depressant Prevents and arrest fungus Prevents bacterial infections Viral fighters and prevention of infections Prevents gum disease Anti-diarrheal Lowers fevers Eye care-prevents glaucoma and cataracts Pansystemic - synergistic health effect on the whole body Energy boosters - anti-fatigue Anti-aging Weight loss Lowers blood fat Anti-tumor benefits Cancer: Mangosteen helps in the prevention of cancer with its powerful antioxidants. Lowers blood pressure Numerous references to "Immunostimulants" Blood sugar lowering On top of all of these benefits, it tastes amazing, and when I imbibe in these as I do for breakfast often, I feel more energetic for the rest of the day. Now, if you cannot come to visit me soon at the Socrates Center in Costa Rica where I will prepare a plethora of exotic and healthy fruit and vegetable delights, you can find Mangosteen juice at many natural health food stores and if you cannot venture out, you can also order the juice on Amazon! 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 and 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, Yamuna Body 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 https://fxnutrition.com/

Written by: Hoda Elsobky, 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. Did you ever wonder why you don’t seem to be doing something that you love, or why you don’t seem to be loving what you do? Did you ever woke up in the morning wondering why nothing seems to be working the way you wanted it to be? If you found yourself there, don’t worry, I was there too! I was wondering if anything could ever work for me, and as the title suggests:” I reinvented myself!”. Actually, during my journey, I reinvented myself four times – If I could do it, you definitely can! Here is my story, I was doing bits of here and there, but never been doing what I exactly love to do. Only when I got clear about my passion, then nothing could have stopped me. “Writing” was my passion, and once I got hold of it, I started reading every single book that fell in my hand, I researched and studied how to write my first book, I went to a writing retreat, and simply - I did the work! And walked its walk, and now I am simply holding in my hands my first book “ Dare To Be Happy ”. Since then, my life has changed, and everything seems to fall in its right place ever after. Tips to help you discover yourself and your Passion: Ask your Parents and your closest old friends about your most dominant character/characters and your talents. What is it that they always saw in you? Ask yourself what is that thing that when you perform, you lose track of time, and you don’t seem to get tired while doing it. On the contrary, you find yourself full of Energy, Passion and Love. Try to get more connected with your authentic inner self. Meditation, relaxation, Yoga and Prayers can all help. Ask yourself direct questions, like what is my passion in life? Or seek the help of a Life Coach. Once you reach a clear answer on each of the above questions, then don't waste your time any longer; the floor is yours! Start the process of "Reinventing yourself" immediately. Here exactly lies the sweet spot between what you love doing, what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. This is your "IKIGAI' as clearly stated by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, and this your "FLOW State" as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. To conclude, if you think you don’t have any Talent, then you are wrong. No one in this world is born without a special Gift or Talent. There are only people who haven’t yet discovered the genius in themselves. Throughout my life I saw obese people becoming slim; less pretty women becoming beauty top models; Shy People becoming Public Speakers; Academic low flyers holding top positions and the list goes on.. You can be whatever you set your mind to. This is proven through studies, observations and real life. To learn more, follow Hoda on Facebook , Instagram and visit her website and Youtube-Channel ! Read more from Hoda Elsobky! Hoda Elsobky, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Hoda was born in Cairo, Egypt. Graduated from the American University in Cairo in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majored in Economics and minor in Business Administration. Later, She received her MBA in Marketing. Her greatest interest lies in the fields of philosophy and positive psychology, with a focus on self help and wellness. Above all, she is passionated about happiness as a way of living! She have worked in multinational IT companies in Egypt, like IBM and Oracle, in sales, marketing and business development capacity, from 1994 till 2005. At that point she flew with her husband to live in Vienna for three years and then to Dubai. There she discovered her passion for writing.

Owner and founder of Grant Method Coaching, Susanne Grant helps business owners create a work-life balance that works for them, their families and their business. She is a mental health advocate and on a mission to end the stigma around it as she was diagnosed with PTSD at 17 herself (now fully recovered). She knows firsthand how important it is to include your mental health into your business plans for long-term sustainable growth. Tell us more about yourself, Susanne. – After being diagnosed with PTSD at 17, I knew something had to change long-term for me to be able to function in society. Even though I was told I was beyond help by my psychologist at the time, I found a way to recover from the “unrecoverable”. – Understanding the importance of (mental) health and its impact on my daily life, performance and intimate relationships has given me great insights over the years, which I am now honored to share with fellow entrepreneurs. – As a mother of 2 and a wife living abroad, I know how challenging life can be with all the different hats we have to wear. I believe it is time to open up the dialogue about the importance of (mental) health and well-being to create a balance that works for us, our families and our business. Why did you start your business? – What drives me is the number of fellow entrepreneurs struggling with their mental health, not to mention the shocking numbers the "me too movement" revealed to us, for example. As a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I cannot stress enough how important it is to STOP these patterns in our generation, so our children and grandchildren do not have to deal with the deep-rooted programming that is passed down as "culture". – I am passionate about creating real sustainable (mental) health and wealth for all by changing the mindset, unhelpful beliefs and breaking (generational) patterns. It is time to no longer accept these outdated norms; where the hustle culture is promoted as a means to success and being busy is seen as a badge of honor. What is the Grant Method? – Working mostly with entrepreneurs who are also parents, it became clear - if we desire to create a balance that works - we need to start inside our home. We need to start taking a holistic approach to business if we want to make this work for those involved, which is not just the business owner or employees, but also the families who are affected. – When we look at the unit as a whole; being a parent, partner, child, sister, brother, and more AND look at the different elements that make this unit work. I.e, when all the needs are met emotionally, spiritually, physically, intellectually AND financially. Not just financially. That's how the Grant Method was born! – I take my clients through a 3-phase program where we: EXPLORE what they want and help them get clear on their personal and business goals. ELIMINATE the overwhelm, anxiety and all the other "stuff" they are holding onto with my powerful transformational and mindset 1:1 coaching. EXECUTE my proven and personalized strategy, so they manage their business in a new and exciting way that works for them ! – The most fascinating thing happens when my clients feel fulfilled by their work-life situation. New passions appear, new opportunities are created and they start giving more by volunteering for example. As I support these inspiring entrepreneurs to create a work-life balance that works for them, they are now impacting their communities worldwide. Why is Work-Life Balance such an important issue? – We live in a culture where “the hustle” is promoted and being busy is seen as a badge of honor. However, when talking about long-term sustainable business goals, we rarely seem to talk about the importance of mental and physical well-being of those involved. Yet, if you want to create a life well-lived, you want to find a balance that works. – Your business affects your relationships; your relationships affect your business. If you feel burned out, frustrated or fed up, everything will be affected! Creating a balance that fits your needs and requirements helps to reduce stress and prevent burnout, not to mention reducing your risks of depression, anxiety and insomnia “ Work hard, sacrifice everything you got and you will succeed! How often have you heard these kinds of statements? How we define success as a culture has led to many struggling with guilt, anxiety, stress and burnout… Is the way we define success ready for a drastic upgrade? I think it is time to open up the dialogue about the importance of (mental) health. ” - Susanne Grant What are your plans for the future? – As we improve (mental) health of business owners around the world and the way they spend time with their family, overflowing into their local communities, I believe we can change this world together! It's time to ditch the hustle culture, where driving yourself into the ground is seen as an effective business "strategy". – My next goal is to start working with HR departments and corporate teams, on top of my 1:1 clients, who are ready to embrace the importance of the team's mental and physical health and the business as a whole. Connect with Susanne on LinkedIn . You can find out more at grantmethod.com and sign up for her newsletter for her latest tips and tricks to help you find your ideal balance.

Written by: Saskia Kremer, 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 don't believe in a 'work-life'-balance! And for someone who is a performance trainer, this statement might seem contradictory or at least raise some questions. Now, let me elaborate on this: When I brought my children to school this week for the first time in almost 6 months, I took some time to look back. It made me realize the weight and pressure of the last months. Being there for my kids 24/7 as a solo parent and running my own business was rewarding, but also had its toll… When lock-down hit, from one moment to the next, it felt I had at least two additional full-time jobs…: we shifted to home-learning and I had to grab the opportunities to pivot my business to secure a living. In these circumstances, there is just not a 'balance' in the daily life. Sometimes you just have to accept that situations are out of ordinary and require extraordinary measures! You simply cannot have the perfect balance in one day, sometimes not even in a week or a month. And letting go of that pressure frees up so much space and energy! Circumstances invite you to let go of perfection, dive deep each time to tap into that inner space to fuel motivation, focus and perform like a top athlete. The key to avoiding burnout is that you need to be aware that this happens so that you can adjust accordingly. It is a conscious choice! I know the sacrifices I made, and WHY I made them, I hold that space within me and this allows me to recognize when 'my time' is there. Only then I can 'catch up' on the rest as soon as the situation allows for some space. This 'out of balance situation' is true for our personal life when events or circumstances require our extraordinary attention. It is also true for our business: if you want to achieve out of ordinary results, you need to choose what you are going to focus on, make extraordinary choices to make your dreams come true. Are you ready to step up and make your dreams come true? Give yourself a jumpstart to increase your performance. Ask yourself: What is my deepest WHY to do what I do? How does it make me feel? What is the one action I can take right now to make it happen? How can I implement this on a daily/weekly basis? When you have the answer to these questions, making choices and keeping focus will become way easier, since you know where you are going and what you want to achieve. The sacrifices are no longer sacrifices, but an intentional path to growth! Do you want to know more and boost your Performance in unforeseen circumstances? Download my free ‘ High-Performance Guide ’ here! For more info, follow me on LinkedIn , visit my website and join my Facebook-Group ! Saskia Kremer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As an Executive Coach and Trainer, Saskia helps successful, time-challenged high-level management, directors, and business owners increase their performance and their teams' productivity, without the stress and the overwhelm. Once a Missionary, working alongside Mother Teresa herself, made her live all around the globe, helping people discover their meaning in life in sometimes heartbreaking circumstances. After leading multiple projects and International communities, she left the missions following her own experience of burnout. Starting her own business allowed her to combine her philosophical and theological research together with her rich multi-cultural experience. She places the human person at its center, allowing it to find its unique place and thrive. In 2016, as a single mum of 2 young children, she moved from Holland to Ireland and specialized in working with business owners, directors and managers, showing them how to create a bigger vision for their business and life, freeing up their own time so they can excel in what they are best at and increase their profit and satisfaction, without the stress and the overwhelm.

Written by: Silke Harvey, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. Let’s face it. Our modern, fast-paced world doesn’t leave much time for relaxing and enjoying the moment. From the time you get up until you go to sleep, every second is filled with scheduled activities, chores, work, errands and dozens of activities on your to-do list. You work your way through the day at a breakneck speed just to drop into bed late a night to hopefully snatch a few hours rest and to do it all again tomorrow. This unsustainable pace is the reason why so many people are suffering from burnout, mental health problems as well as many physical diseases. Humans just aren’t made to tick like this. Nature intended for us to live in harmony with Mother Earth and her rhythms and not at the speed of this modern society driven by consumption and making money. In my workshops, I’ve come across this problem time and time again. For many of my clients, the time spent with me often was the first breather they’d had in weeks or even months. And during this time of stillness, of relaxation, their minds suddenly realized the rat race they had been caught up in ­– the fact that they had been living with a feeling of deep unhappiness and anxiety for so long that they believed it to be the norm. Having worked in a corporate environment and suffered from burnout myself, I can identify only too well. I tried all of the spiritual practices, read all the self-help books and, just like my clients, came to the conclusion that there is just too much to do in the day to sit cross-legged on a yoga cushion for an hour or more at a time. Time is precious; time is money. But during my own recovery from burnout, I also realized that no matter how much money our time is worth, it’s even more valuable when it comes to our own health. Then it becomes immeasurable, in fact. Over time, I developed my own signature method for teaching my clients how to relax even when things are busy. This method is based on five pillars. Every day, take as little as 10 minutes out of your schedule and engage in at least one of the following activities: 1. Time for Fun This is the big one. Life without fun is miserable, a ready-made recipe for negativity and depression. Humans are hardwired to need fun to keep up their positive energies. Spend time doing something that really lifts you up and see the massive difference it makes. It can be as easy as putting on a favorite song and having a really good dance around the house, doing a jigsaw puzzle or singing in the shower. Keep it simple. 2. Time for rest Another biggie. Rest doesn’t have to involve going to bed or sitting down meditating for hours, although it’s great if you can work up to that! Practicing mindfulness, being entirely present in the moment, in the here and now, is a powerful tool for resting the mind. It’s as easy as focussing fully on what you’re doing. Washing the dishes – feel the temperature of the water, watch the bubbles dance in the sink. Walking – observe the leaves on the trees, the clouds... The possibilities of integrating mindfulness in each day are endless. Yet every single minute spent doing this helps to relax and clear the mind. 3. Time for nature Connecting with nature is essential for our human wellbeing. We are all children of Mother Earth and need to feel her regularly to maintain a healthy balance of body, mind and spirit. Go outside, even if it’s only for a short walk around the office block in your lunch break. If you live in an urban environment, even feeling the fresh air, sun or rain on your skin is already making that connection to nature. Breathe deeply whilst walking in nature and practice your mindfulness at the same time. The effect is immediate and uplifting. 4. Time for gratitude Each day, ideally just after you get up, write down three things you are grateful for. It can be as little as just a few words, no need to write a novel. By focussing on the good things in your life, there is no way the brain can think about negative stuff at that moment. So there’s yet another opportunity to up the positive vibes. And even in the worst of times, there’s always something to be grateful for. If you’ve had a bad time, start simple. The delicious taste of that first cup of tea or coffee! The sunshine through the window! It’s raining outside and you’re warm and dry inside! Once you start thinking from a perspective of gratefulness, life will soon become a beautiful wonder, each and every day. 5. Time for reflection Like gratitude, a daily practice of reflection can help you appreciate everything you have in life. Sit for a while and think about your day. What went well? What didn’t go to plan? Then try and learn the lessons that life has offered you there. Keep your focus on a positive outcome. Appreciate the good things that happened. Don’t dwell on the negative ones. Writing this down in a journal helps many people to gain even more clarity. But whichever way you choose to reflect, taking the time at the end of each day is a worthwhile practice. Try out some of these activities and experiment with them. There’s no right or wrong way of going about them. They are highly personal to each and every person. You’ll find that these tasks will become an effortless part of your day, and you’ll most likely end up spending much longer than just 10 minutes on them. You may even end up engaging in all of them. But whatever you decide, persistence is the key. Even if things are difficult initially, start with just a minute at a time and slowly up the game until it becomes second nature. You’ll be surprised how quickly your mind will improve and how much you’ll slow down even when things seem out of control and stressful all around you. The result will be a happier, more relaxed you with lots more energy to handle the stress all around you. If you’d like to find out more about working with me, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website. Silke Harvey, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Silke Harvey is the writer and founder of the Inner Hippie Club, a community for women who’ve lost their mojo and want to release their Inner Hippie, that carefree teenage feeling before life got serious. A professional musician, corporate employee and freelance translator in her former life, Silke draws on her colorful past and personal experience with burnout and surviving in stressful working environments to help women reclaim their inner joy and bring a healthy balance back into their lives. She has developed an effective method based on time for fun, nature, rest, reflection and gratitude. Silke is a certified Reiki Master, Reiki Drum practitioner, Seichem practitioner, Chakra Dancing and Creative Mindful Meditation facilitator and HAO animal healer and applies many of these techniques when working with clients.

Written by: Laura Lee Harrison, 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. Surrounding yourself with amazing, empowering, and inspirational people is so important in life. If you are a Business Owner or Entrepreneur, this is an aspect that is imperative to your growth. Recently I was able to reconnect with an amazing man Zyrack Dean Osmon! This man has so much light that he shines. He modeled for me 10 years ago while I was in Makeup school. That introduction has come full circle and we are back in each other’s orbits. He truly is a leader; he uplifts and inspires. He has a huge heart and is on a really incredible journey. I felt like it was important I share him with the world. Since I have a platform to share the journey, I hope you find inspiration with what he shares below. He is a man of many talents and has lived a life that wasn’t always easy. Before we dive into it, I want you to know that you have the power to change your reality, to create whatever reality you would like to live today! It doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen if you are dedicated to yourself and to your future. Dean is a pillar of strength and has persevered, even afterlife has handed him trauma and loss over the years, he still loves big, shines bright and takes care of himself so he can help the people around him by uplifting them and encouraging them to do the same! I asked Dean a few questions which you can see and read his replies! See his tips below that really apply to anyone and any area of life. They are important and a valuable reminder to us, on how we could choose to live every day! Who are you? Where do you live, what do you do? – I am a performer, performance trainer, manager, professional talent agent/booker and owner of Walkerville School of Drama. I currently live in my hometown of Windsor Ontario, Canada. Currently, I am the Lead Agent for Toronto & East Coast Representative for Ignite Artists Talent Agency. I represent artists in all artistic mediums such as, film, tv, commercial, print, voice-over, dance, vocals, and motion capture (MOCAP) for video games. – I am a born mentor and love the process of growth with all artists and humans in general. After the passing of my biggest mentor, my mother - I began to feel lonely and was truly missing my family. After living in Vancouver, BC for 14 years and owning a talent agency called Maijah Lewk Talent of nearly 9 years, I decided to pack up and return to Ontario. I closed my agency as of Oct.01, 2019 and took 8 months off to properly heal and align my spirit back to being healthy and joyous due to grief and loss. Out of pure gratitude, I decided to bring back my industry knowledge of these past 30 years to uplift, inspire and educate my hometown of Windsor and it's creative arts community. I launched Walkerville School of Drama in July 2020. My mindset is to create effective change in the performance arena, Windsor and the community as a whole. In a sense, you could say that I have fully stepped into the shoes of my LEADERSHIP role but with a sheer desire to uplift smaller communities with aspirations to connect small-town artists to the greater markets across N. America. For those who may not know what it is that you do, please go into more detail. – I am a Professional Talent Agent and Booker for creative arts artists. Actors, singers, dancers, and models. I am a Drama School owner, instructor, and private acting coach. I help develop, market, brand artist and their performance careers. What is your vision and mission? – My vision and mission is to create effective change through social justice, racial and gender equality. Through performance, I strive to create a voice and recognizability as a means to provide a vast platform for artists to champion a cause and run with it. When others recognize you, they tend to lend an ear and listen to a cause and purpose. The idea is to use star power for the betterment of all humans. Charity and "community efforts" are the primary ways to be a part of creating a bigger picture towards effective GLOBAL change. Are you involved with any charities, or do anything to give back to the world? – Yes, I am involved with community charities such as the food bank drives, student programming, mentoring, and teaching the less fortunate. With each student that trains at Walkerville School of Drama, we donate $5 per student to feeding the community and providing better OUTREACH programming for the youth in Windsor. When did you start doing this, and how come this subject is so important to you? – I started doing this nearing 35 years ago. Through my own performance career, I was very fortunate to have trainers and mentors to help elevate and propel me into an IDEA that I am worthy and could be whomever I chose to be. I figured, if I could rise up out of a life of poverty and uncertainty, then I could do so for others. It was a community effort that saved me and kept me on the straight and narrow. I learned at a young age through our youth mentoring and charity church programming that giving is truly the greatest gift one could give. Also, knowledge is attained in hopes that those "in the know" would foster the idea that teaching back to small communities would create a greater global intent and purpose. Please provide 3 to 5 tips based on your vision and mission. Focus on being around others that believe and support your purpose and intentions Always work hard with the idea that OTHERS will benefit along with you Believe in YOURSELF - others will be drawn to that conviction and want to be around your positive position. Always have gratitude for the smallest of your successes, as the universe is receptive to all energies. Love & Respect ALL others no matter how different they may be. What you put out there is what you will inevitably get back. Do you have anything you want to add to this article or story that you think is important that we touch on? – Patience. We all want immediacy with our wants, but alignment is key in all our successes. Never be at a STANDSTILL as it is the vortex that holds us all back from success. Thank you, Dean, for all that you are doing, and everyone you impact. As you continue to spread your ripple, through the people you work with, the world will experience it as well. Keep growing spiritually and mentally, while helping others to do the same. The world will change as we grow to learn to love ourselves which ultimately will spread love and joy worldwide. Follow Dean on Facebook & Instagram! Read more from Laura! Laura Lee Harrison, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Laura Lee Harrison is a Confidence & Beauty Strategist who works with professional women to help them deliver their message on stage or on camera effortlessly, by assisting them with their beauty regimens, so they feel beautiful as they are with their unique features. She also guides business owners to their first 6 figures in business with her business partner and their Social Media Agency, Media Exclusive. The agency and scheduling platform help entrepreneurs to show up and scale business with ease and consistency. As a sole parent, multi-business owner and International Best-Selling Co-Author, Laura Lee has had to overcome many obstacles in her life and within her own mindset to get where she is today. Daily she uses her story to inspire and empower entrepreneurs globally, showing them no matter their circumstance in life they can achieve their goals, if they choose to never give up on themselves.

It might be tough times for the tourism industry right now, but for one global hospitality consultant, it’s only provided more opportunities to shine. Vicky Perez, founder and CEO of boutique firm Vicky Perez Consulting, has been using the pandemic to put more than 20 years of expertise in the hospitality industry to work in new ways. We recently sat down with Vicky to get her insights on the current state of global tourism and how she is maintaining productivity and hope during these times of uncertainty. What does the role of an international hospitality consultant look like during a global pandemic when most people aren’t traveling? – It might sound counterintuitive, but our current situation where tourism is at a standstill is the ideal time for companies to bring in a hospitality consultant. We see this pandemic transform into a period of reinvention. Now more than ever, brands need to stay connected with their guests and prospects because competition is so tight. Taking time to invest in this reinvention is what will help brands drive themselves forward. It’s no secret that tourism as a whole is suffering right now. What is going to separate the strong, resilient brands and companies from the ones that don’t survive the pandemic? – Many people have come to believe that the concept of hospitality is nothing more than a commodity. But when you look at some of the best world-class brands, you’ll notice that’s just not true. Service can still be a differentiating factor, but it needs to go beyond basic vanilla and focus on the details. It’s time to get creative in connecting the messaging with the actions. What do you think is the single most important thing for brands to prioritize right now? – For many companies, especially smaller boutique brands, this is going to feel much like starting from zero. I recommend going back to the basics, re-examine the core mission and brand values, and ensuring that everything you’re doing now supports the brand. From there, companies should look for new opportunities to serve their guests in a way that’s impactful and valuable. What can other hospitality brands and tourism-dependent companies do to follow your lead in remaining hopeful and productive? – We need to remember that the desire to travel isn’t going anywhere. If anything, wanderlust has only been building. From the tourist’s perspective, millions of people are sitting at home right now, planning their next adventures, and we as an industry, need to be prepared for a rapid bounce back. – I know times are difficult right now for so many brands and companies, but we are in a unique position right now to examine everything we’ve been doing up to this point, identify our weaknesses, and discover ways that we can make ourselves more resilient moving forward. You can follow Vicky Perez for additional insights on shaping the guest experience, building brand excellence, and stepping up as a leader in the Tourism & Hospitality industry, on Facebook and Instagram, connect with her on LinkedIn, or visit her website.

Linda Evans is a strengths-based career coach and personal branding expert. In 2011, she founded her virtual career coaching business, Launched by Linda, LLC. Her full-time career has been in higher education since 2012 and she currently works in Career Services at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Linda has a B.A. in American Studies and a minor in Ballroom Dance from Brigham Young University, and an M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has certificates in positive psychology and public speaking. How did you decide to start your career coaching business, Launched by Linda? – I had just graduated from college in 2011 and knew I wanted to help college students figure out their future careers, but I wasn’t sure of how to get that kind of job (yes, the irony), so I started editing my friends and family’s resumes for free to gain experience. They were basically my guinea pigs! I kept practicing those skills for 3 years before I felt like I could start charging a fee, mostly so people would take me more seriously. As a personal branding expert, how would you describe your personal brand in 5 words? – Strengths-focused, efficient, passionate, curious, concise You have degrees in American Studies and Psychological Counseling, but your work is not directly aligned to those areas. Do you still use your degrees in your work today? – I still love those subjects and continually learn about them through books and podcasts. American Studies trained me to look at an issue from many different angles, which is very helpful in getting my clients unstuck from their frustrating situations. My Counseling program trained me to be a more empathetic, nonjudgmental listener who is always attuned to my clients’ mental health needs. You’ve worked full-time in higher education for 8 years and you’ve had your side business Launched by Linda for 9 years. How do you balance them? – Mostly through time boundaries. I have my full-time job from 8am-5pm and I do my side business in the evenings and weekends. They mutually inform each other and it’s fun! Who is your ideal client? – I really like working with clients from a variety of backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, industries, etc. Variety is the spice of life! To me, an ideal client is simply someone who is open, humble, and motivated to create positive change in their life. What are the most common problems you address with your clients? – I serve clients with 3 main types of career issues: They don’t know what path to pursue. They need help getting job offers. They are fed up with their current career and want a change. – The underlying theme is feeling stuck in their career somehow. I love helping them get unstuck. What do you wish more people knew about personal branding? –There are so many myths that keep people from designing and managing their brand! I wish more people knew that they already have a brand, so they should manage it intentionally. It’s kind of like your nails - you’ve always had them, so you should take care of them or they will get out of control or get in your way. Where do you hope your business will be in 5 years? – I hope to expand my clientele numbers exponentially, as well as the age range of my clients. I’d love to create an online course on personal branding that is in-depth and interactive. I want to produce highly relevant and practical content for large publications, conferences, and webinars. How do you define and measure success? – Purely by my personal mission statement, which I’ve had since 2010: “To inspire and empower others to discover and fulfill their potential and add greater meaning to their lives by advancing their education and careers.” If I’ve achieved at least one portion of that by the end of each day, I’m feeling great. Do you have any theories or models you use in your work? – Yes! I have studied Positive Psychology, CliftonStrengths, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in depth and integrate it into my work. I also use several career development theories and models including the Diamond Career Model, Holland’s Theory, Theory of Work Adjustment, Planned Happenstance Theory, and Cognitive Information Processing. I’ve even created a couple of my own - The Launched by Linda Model and Model for Career Changing Success. Who is your greatest role model, and why? – Lucille Ball because she knew her worth and her passion, and she kept working hard despite many challenges until she achieved what she wanted. She never really retired because she loved what she did. I’ve tried to emulate her independence, courage, and ambition throughout my life. She became successful in New York City, where I earned my master’s degree at Columbia University. She also found joy in marriage and raising good kids. What cause(s) are closest to your heart? Anti-sex trafficking, especially of children. I started learning about it just a couple of months ago and have been horrified by the atrocities in the world. I support Operation Underground Railroad. I also care very much about protecting the environment and promoting liberal arts in education. What are your favorite hobbies outside of work? – Reading, playing piano, singing, salsa dancing, trying new restaurants, traveling, and spending lots of quality time with my husband. How do you recharge? – Take breaks from social media and screens, go on walks, and catch up on sleep! What is a regret you would like to go back in time and redo? –I wish I'd minored in music in college. I minored in ballroom dance and it was my whole life, but I wouldn't mind staying on an extra year to get some serious music education! What goals are you currently working on? – I'm applying to a PhD program, which will hopefully help me write a book and give me more college teaching opportunities. If you didn't have to work for your livelihood, what would you do with your time? – I'd be learning all the time! I'd go to culinary school and get an MFA in music. I'd take drawing lessons and clogging lessons. I'd be reading a lot more books and writing some too. I'd travel the world with my husband. I'd still keep my business, Launched by Linda, because it's so fun and it provides a vehicle for me to fulfill my personal mission. What's the best advice you've been given? – Most of the best advice I live by comes from my mom. One of her greatest lessons was, "Knowledge is the only thing that no one can take away from you." We're both avid lifelong learners. What do you want your legacy to be? – Literally what my business name says - I want every person I've interacted with to feel like I've helped launch them closer to achieving their full potential. Make sure to follow Linda on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit her website for more info!