Written by: Lisa Kindle, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. After the past few months, I think we can all agree that a little reprieve from life would be nice. Well, you’re in luck because September is Self-Care Awareness Month. Rather than talk about all the “normal” ways you can take care of yourself, I challenge you to take a more creative approach to self-care! I find a way to spend time in nature nearly every day. My go-to form of creative self-care is to go on a walk. It gets me out of my office, the house, away from everything I have to take care of. When I take these walks, I will almost always have a camera because it’s part of my de stressing. These walks are a contemplative way of “seeing” things rather than being focused only on the walk itself. Another way I use nature to connect with my inner-creative self is through nature walks where I create a mandala using objects found along the way such as leaves, pinecones, rocks, feathers, flowers, sea glass, sticks, etc. There are many opportunities for you to experience the benefits of self-care while enjoying the beauty of nature. Sit near a lake Lounge on a beach Go rock hunting Take a walk Watch the clouds Go kayaking Mountain biking Go hiking in a remote area Draw shapes in the sand Make a mandala Relax in a hammock Watch a sunset Watch a sunrise Go stargazing The ultimate gift you can give yourself is the actual act of doing your self-care. It’s in the process that you will find relief. It’s when you are in the moment of walking, collecting rocks, watching a sunset or stargazing .... suddenly you may find that everything else falls away and it’s just you and the stars, the moon, the sunset, the beach.... You remember a forgotten dream. It sparks something within you. It gives you something to be excited about when you get up in the morning. By taking the time for a more creative act of self-care, it truly goes beyond your regular exercise routine, eating right and making time to relax. This is about connecting with your spirit and getting excited about life. For me, that’s my family, my work and my passions, such as walking, drawing, painting and photography. See you outside! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram Read more from Lisa! Lisa M. Kindle, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lisa Kindle, a therapeutic art life coach and leader in building a creative community that inspires people worldwide, is dedicated to a creative lifestyle with a personable approach and an artsy twist! She now coaches one-on-one and in group settings, including retreats and workshops. With over 25 years of professional experience as a corporate designer, photographer, graphic designer, small business owner, and all-around visionary, Lisa's creative spirit shines through connecting people and ideas.

Written by: Adam Zargar, 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 Are you struggling to see a positive future during this global Covid-19 pandemic? Are you feeling unmotivated and worried about the future? Is the growing uncertainty affecting you as a leader? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then as an experienced global NLP Life Coach, I know that fear is at the heart of everything you are presently experiencing. And when you find yourself dwelling in a place of fear, you have to decide which choice of definition of fear you will go with. Are you going to F orget E verything A nd R un? Or are you going to step up and F ace E verything A nd R ise? By reading this I know that you are striving to define fear as the latter. Re-labeling this pandemic as a wakeup call is an essential first step to facing everything. The mere fact of seeing it through the lens of appreciation and opportunity - as a potential gift designed to shake you into living your best life – is crucial in your rise. Through my decade of coaching successful leaders from across the globe, I know that fears are highlighting the areas in your life where you need to take consistent action and step up to be the leader you KNOW you are capable of. When you focus on these areas you will notice that opportunities will start to arise. The purpose of this article is to disrupt the emotional fear-based response you are presently showing, in order to give you another perspective by giving you 3 of the life-changing steps taken from my worldwide downloaded e-book ‘ A toast to Corona – Our disruptive friend .’ These are steps to help you live your best life and lead again with renewed confidence. I believe that with this improved mindset, you and the wider community can radically grow from this situation. You will have more in-depth knowledge, increased gratitude for the many blessings in your life, and higher energy to push boundaries and innovate. You will be able to live a more fulfilling and purposeful life, centered around experiences, growth, and contribution. The three strategies this article will cover are to Become the Hero, Value Time, and Raise Your Standards. Become the Hero As long as you think that the cause of your problem is out there, as long as you believe that anyone or anything is responsible for your suffering, the situation will be hopeless. It will end up with you numbing the pain of your life through TV, boxsets, drink, or comfort food. You will be in a perpetual cycle of regret, sadness, and anger. It means you will forever be the victim in this precious life. It is important to remember that we all go through bad times, and how we perceive and react to the challenges is what will determine our future success. The hero of any book or film did not always start that way. They usually go on a personal journey, learning how to roll with the punches, and perhaps it is the same for you. You will never be a perfect person, and nor should you aim for that. The question is, are you open to being an improving person? "It is okay to blame Covid-19 for the weakening of your business, social connection, monetary fund, or health and for disrupting everything you thought you knew and had." It is okay to be feeling the way you are feeling now. I have had my moments too. It is okay to blame Covid-19 for the weakening of your business, social connection, monetary fund, or health and for disrupting everything you thought you knew and had. What I want you to ask yourself and be honest about is whether you were using blame or excuses before this too. The key right now is to set a time limit on these negative victim thoughts (think minutes not days), and then react in a more empowering way, stepping up to own the problem. What would a hero do in this situation? What must you start, stop, change, and elevate to learn the lessons and grow stronger as a result? What is the learning behind the challenge? What are the reasons behind my wakeup call? The world will reward you and all the positive triers around you. You are the people who seek not to be average. Remember that someone out there, possibly a rival business owner or a competitor for the dream job or promotion, is working on themselves right now. They are going through a training camp within their own four walls, preparing to train hard for the opportunities that are coming their way when the pandemic is over. They have already accepted their part in why their business failed to weather this storm. They have already accepted that they stayed too long in their comfort zone and had not grown their skills or embraced online opportunities. They have already accepted that the business environment will be challenging, even when everything resumes. They are the ones adjusting their sails right now while the storm is happening. They are using the storm. You are already playing catch up, so let us get moving while they are still in sight. "You must recognize you are and always have been responsible for the way your life has been. Own your successes and your mistakes." Now more than ever, you must be genuinely open to development, discipline, hard work. You must move forward to dance with fear. You must recognize you are and always have been responsible for the way your life has been. Own your successes and your mistakes. It is time to step up and react in more empowering ways. This is your chance to rewrite your story and reprogram your computer. When you fully understand this, you will see a shift in yourself and attract abundantly. Quite simply, you will awaken the giant within, and with hope, you will again set yourself free. Action: Use this powerful tool ‘OAR vs. BED’ and ask yourself are you above the line or below the line? Use the time now to get yourself above it. Hero (cause side of life) Steer your life in the direction of your dreams. You have the power: through your mindset and actions you take to own your reaction. O: Ownership A: Accountability R: Responsibility Victim (effect side of life) You may as well stay in bed as life and opportunities will continue to pass you by, and it will always be someone/something else’s fault. B: Blame E: Excuses D: Denial Value Time The 1000s of people who have died or who are seriously ill in a hospital during this pandemic would not wish for another dollar. They would wish for another moment to live life to the fullest. Time is the most precious commodity we have, and it is finite. It does not matter if you have all the money in the world, are the queen of England, or are working for minimum wage. We all get the same amount of time in a day. The difference is how you are using your time. "If you are not using this extra time, free from commutes or distraction, to do the things you have wanted, then you have to ask yourself if it really was or is a priority." You must use what has happened as your loudest alarm and let that be your “wake up”. - If you were complaining about a lack of time before, or you were someone who procrastinated or someone who lived in perpetual negativity, has anything really changed for you? - With a lack of enforced structure due to working from home, some of you who were once organized and disciplined are now using it as a time to switch off from the world. Do you see it as one long weekend or holiday? Some of you are using the extra freedom in your day to fear and worry more. Is it helpful? - Some of you are waking up later than ever and spending the day on an extended Netflix and chill, binge eating, and drinking. If you are not using this extra time, free from commutes or distraction, to do the things you have wanted, then you have to ask yourself if it really was or is a priority. Your mornings have never been so important. Most successful people in the world wake up at 5 am, and I, for one, am more committed to this than I have ever been. Commit to a higher standard than the average, and you will become this standard. Use this time to create an empowering ritual that will enhance every aspect of the rest of your day and give you the energy to create the post-lockdown life that you want. Done consistently and turned into a habit (do it for 66 days in a row), your productivity, energy, relationships, health, mind will all improve. You will be setting yourself up for a better life right now and post lockdown. Action: Read and follow Robin Sharma’s The 5 am Club and commit with me to wake up at 5 am every day for a purposeful first hour of peace and an energy-filled morning. Split the one hour into a 20-minute exercise/ 20-minute spiritual work /20 minutes of growth. Struggling with the thought of it being 5 am? Set the clock (yes clock not mobile) next to your bed 30 minutes forward and then put the alarm for 5.30 am. It makes a big difference psychologically. Raise Your Standards When you or your business are experiencing challenging times, do you sink into being average, and accept the inevitable fate or do you step up, fight harder, and show your best character? This may be a choice you have to make right now. Do you go into survival mode and only look after yourself, or do you support those around you? It is during the storm that heroes are made, and medals are given out. It is during this time that your team, family, or dependent is looking for someone to guide them, support them, protect them, and inspire them. Trust will be won or lost as a result of your words and actions and whether they match. "To truly succeed, your contribution to this world has to be about helping others." Today you are left with a choice that will define this time for you. Spend time understanding your WHY. For it is that powerful why that will get you doing more and achieving more. It won’t come from linking the why to selfish gains. To truly succeed, your contribution to this world has to be about helping others. As a result of that, more money will come as a byproduct. The small tiny choices you will make over the coming weeks will become your habits and directly result in who and what you will become. Will you succeed or fail? It's your choice. In business, you and the brands you represent will be rewarded for stepping forward during this time. I, for one, will always remember and reward the brands, like Marriott, where their CEOs have given up their salaries during this time. On a personal level, it's heartwarming to see people continuing to pay their staff or home help, even if the current restrictions are preventing them from working. It touches my heart when I see countless people offering their knowledge and services for free. We have to care for each other. Use this extra space and time to look at the values you want to live by and the consistent standards you wish to maintain. Look at your community and friends to see if they are encouraging you to grow or to be average. At home, look at how you are using your downtime. Are you doing more courses and reading the books that will help you grow? Are you exploring online workout videos? Or are you using the situation as an excuse to relax all day on the couch and eat junk food? Step up to the challenges ahead. Sure, it may feel uncomfortable at the start, but just remember that every growth phase requires you to get uncomfortable first. Remember, you will get nothing in the comfort zone or as I call it the dying zone. How are you going to step up and challenge yourself as a leader today? What is the thing that scares you the most that you KNOW you must do? Who in your team or family needs you the most? How can you step up and support or reassure them? Actions: Here are three simple steps you can do right now to raise your standards. Choose an accountability partner to support your growth in this. It is what all leaders do by hiring a coach. Choose a course that you think will either up-level your skillset or is something that would make your soul sing. Set yourself a challenge to read more books and commit to a chapter minimum/day. Choose a small habit that you want to change and spend the next 66 days committing to it. An example could be reading a chapter a day or writing one LinkedIn post a day. If you thought that the three steps are useful and would like to understand the full nine-step strategy then please Download it for free here . Take them on board now and then integrate them into your everyday life. Share these steps with your community and even better teach them through doing. For knowledge without action is no knowledge at all. Implement positive, small changes, and be consistent. Over time, you will develop the right habits for lasting results across all areas of your life and be even more valuable in order to serve others and create lasting impact. Follow Adam on Facebook , Instagram and visit his website for more info! Adam Zargar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Founder of UAE Coaching & Leading NLP Life Coach. Psychology | Education | Masters in NLP & Life Coaching - Coach Since 2008 : clients in Dubai, Saudi, Germany, UK, Cyprus, Australia (Face to face and Zoom) As Featured : Dubai One TV |  Studio One TV | Dubai Eye Radio | Daily Mail | Time Out Dubai | The National | Aquarius Magazines | Gulf News

Written by Kamladevi Sharma, International Speaker Kamladevi Sharma is an international speaker on work-life balance, a certified professional life coach and qualified business consultant. She helps entrepreneurs and people in management globally. Whether it's on or offline, many start-up entrepreneurs find it challenging to sustain success. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Statistics, only 25% of start-ups survive 15 years or more in business. Being in the field of business for more than 10 years, I believe that this is significantly linked to an entrepreneur's mindset and, his/her overall ability to adapt to changing circumstances and withstand challenges. Accordingly, to ensure that recurring success contributes to your business's sustainability, the following tips are recommended: 1. Know and remember your 'why' Being seen, heard and profitable among the noise are some of the most frustrating challenges an entrepreneur faces. It is in these frustrating moments that you must remember your 'why'. This way, you create the space for birthing creative ideas and solutions to the clutter you're facing. Otherwise, the focus on the lack of money and other resources can result in you feeling anxious, depressed and wanting to give up. Therefore, remind yourself often, 'Why am I doing what I am doing? Why did I start this business and what do I intend to achieve from it?' To build momentum around this and stay in alignment, you can choose specific words that reflect your 'why' and repeat them often. For example, 'impact', 'well-being', 'abundance'. 2. Distinguish your strengths from your weaknesses In knowing your strengths, you know which traits will benefit you in specific situations and, when to use them. This helps to capitalize on growth opportunities presented to you- whether it be converting your leads or landing a long-term contract. Likewise, in knowing your weaknesses, you know the things you fear and those that hold you back, so you can get comfortable with them and subsequently turn them into your strength. Making your weaknesses your strength is a decision away. So, ask yourself, ‘What am I good at? What do I feel confident about? What do I avoid? Why do I avoid it?’ 3. Get clear on your vision and build your worth around it Your vision will change as you evolve, meet your goals and take inspired action in your business. Knowing when it is changing and taking control of that process is important in being open to the possibilities. Additionally, being deliberate in creating a vision that represents your ideal life helps you to get grounded in the possibility of it manifesting. Subsequently, build your worth around it. Affirm the possibility of it and be open to receiving the endless opportunities that can boost your momentum for success. When you know and feel that you are worthy of your vision manifesting, it manifests with ease, so ask yourself, ‘What does a perfect day in my life look and feel like? How do I value my time and energy? What do I prefer to spend my time and energy on? 4. Coach yourself everyday It doesn’t matter the kind of business you’re in. Some days will be epic, while some will be extra challenging. During these times, your mental health is your responsibility and making the preparation every day for what you have to do in your business is also your responsibility. Nurture the belief that your business is contributing to a bigger cause. When you value your business, those who you connect with experience the value of it. Subsequently, speak positive things to yourself daily and immerse yourself in the positive feelings of those words. Simple statements help, for example, ‘I accomplished it before. I can accomplish it again and again, or my work is changing the lives of millions of people worldwide. I can keep going’. 5. Meditate to recognize the lessons The most unexpected things at the most unexpected times pop up in your business. Orders can get messed up. Your equipment or team can fail you. Stuff happens! The experience of these is the beauty of life. Instead of reacting on autopilot, meditate with the focus of knowing the ‘why’ behind the experience. Ask the question, ‘What can this person or situation teach me in this moment or how can I change who I become when this happens?’ This way, you take on a problem-solving approach and maintain your inner peace. Your mind then looks for solutions rather than get stuck complaining. This level of proactiveness will also help you to develop compassion and empathy towards those you are dealing with, and these will be mirrored back to you. 6. Communicate clearly your likes and dislikes in your business Not knowing your likes and dislikes is a weakness in itself. It leads you to react to triggers rather than stopping the momentum from being created from the onset. Reflect on your day at night and call out the things you liked and disliked in your business for that day. Then consider, how can you get more of your likes into a day? How can you use your dislikes to be a better version of yourself? How can you use it to help someone impacted by your business? Communicate these to those who can be affected in your business by changes in your words and actions, to get them in alignment with your new desires. It helps to keep the flow going, obtain respect for your decisions and, improve your relationships with those affected by your decisions. 7. Make time for fun and play Business can be aggressive and robotic, but you don’t need to become that. The systems and procedures serve a purpose and so do you. Remain authentic. Be mindful, have fun, listen to music, take walks, do stretches, play games, do deep breathing, sing along with the birds and listen to the ocean, immerse yourself in ‘ease’ whenever you can, as much as you can, in your business. Keep the mind detached from the people and situations around you, and attached to what makes you feel in flow and at ease. This helps to keep the mind clear and body relaxed when challenges arise. 8. Accept feedback with the intention to keep learning and growing Whether you like it or not, both positive and negative feedback has a purpose in your life. Attracting it brings an awareness about yourself that you otherwise did not know. Get comfortable with feedback- good or perceived bad. It’ll help you to know what you need to work on, as someone sees it through their lenses. It’ll also help you to improve your communication skills and get clear on who you truly want to be, as compared to what others perceive you to be. Using feedback as constructive criticism is many times the key to standing out in your market. A business venture is overloaded with experiences for mindset and financial growth. The perfect triggers are there to awaken you to learn about the intensity of your emotions, your desires, your creative potential, your resilience and, your ability to problem-solve. It brings clarity to your self-concept, which fosters your stability and business success. However, you can get misguided easily by the frustration of things not unfolding as you expect them to. This often makes you feel like the victim of the process, which prevents you from finding a way around the problems you are facing. Superseding these mindset limitations and being your authentic self, keeps the opportunities for progress and growth open. It makes recurring success possible, so applying the tips above prepares you mentally and emotionally for continuous growth in yourself and your business. It’s your mindset that really challenges you in business and prevents you from experiencing recurring success. For more information, visit: https://revive.coach/ Kamladevi Sharma, International Speaker Kamladevi Sharma is an international speaker on work-life balance, a certified professional life coach and qualified business consultant. She helps entrepreneurs and people in management globally, including you, to eliminate burnout and, achieve balance in their personal and professional lives. Her dedication to achieving clarity, alignment and results for her clients, ensures that they can thrive and feel more fulfilled and successful in their life, career and/or business. Additionally, her expertise in mindset and personal development strategy has benefitted over 4000 professionals globally in personal growth and, over 250 businesses in jumping start a momentum for success in her signature momentum trainings at Revive. She has been featured on several podcast shows on various platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts and, the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine. Kamladevi holds a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Bradford, Bachelors in Social Psychology, Social Research and Business and, certificates in Professional Life Coaching and Counselling. Prior to co-founding Revive, she was magnificent in upper management positions in Guyana and lectured at several tertiary institutions there.

Stephanie is a driven, empowering, powerhouse. She's a Purpose and Business Coach, owning The Path Is Yours Coaching. She's a Certified Life Coach and Neuro-Linguistics Programming Master Practitioner. Her passion for helping women find and follow their dreams in life is unmatched. Stephanie is a mother of four beautiful children and wife to an active-duty soldier. Running and growing her business where ever the Military lifestyle might take her family. – I’m Stephanie Martin, a mother of four, a Military wife, homeschooler family from time to time, and a lover of all things Turtle. After spending most of my life being a stay at home mom. Who dabbled in real estate, life insurance, and sales. I started exploring what my purpose in life was. I know that I was meant to help people change their lives and build their dreams. I had always had a love for asking powerful questions and exploring what made people tick. It just took me a little longer to figure out what my own purpose was in life. After a lot of thought and research, The Path Is Yours Coaching was born. How can you help your clients? – When my clients come to me, they are typically lost, overwhelmed, and struggling to figure out their purpose. As well as how to build the businesses they have been dreaming of. I help them sort through their own ego, fears, self-doubt, and teach them how to build massive online businesses through Digital courses, mindset work, group, and one on one coaching. My clients have major breakthroughs and push themselves out of their comfort zones, to new levels that they could only dream of reaching in their personal lives and businesses. Reading on your website shows that you, at one point, you weren't so satisfied with the life you lived. Tell us a little bit about that time. – When I first started this journey of self-discovery at 30 years old. I knew that I would have to break down some serious walls and deal with things in my past. It wasn’t easy to speak up to those around me to admit out loud. That my dream career wasn’t working for some big business making money for someone else, nor was it only being a stay at home mom taking care of kids all day. As much as I love being a mom and wife, I wanted more. I wanted to be there to support, love, and encourage others to build their dream businesses. To find their own path in life. That was above and beyond what society believed they should or could be. You are a mother to four, and are running your own business. How do you get the time to make it all work? – Being a mom of four and a wife of a Military service member has taught me a lot about running a business. It has taught me that if you truly want something, then you can have it. I teach my children to be resilient as our lifestyle is never-ending change. We move every few years and with that comes total chaos. Picking up our lives and moving to a whole new place we have never been before is scary, exciting, and totally exhausting all at the same time. I have learned that I don’t need to be in control of everything at once. To embrace “the suck” and keep moving forward always, even if that means that my life doesn’t look like everyone else. – That we have to push our selves daily to be the best person that we can be. I have the same 24 hours in a day that everyone else has. It is about how much time you spent, not how much more time you can find in a day. I use my time as wisely as possible. Building my business in “Mom Time” means prioritizing what must get done and setting aside time to get it done. It is waking up earlier to do coaching calls and staying up late to get the work done. It teaches my teenagers and toddlers that moms can be more than the world tells us that we can be. My kids know that when mom is in the business mode, it means that they have to be in learning mode too. We have a structured time in our house where my kids all know that they must be learning and growing when mom is working. They use the time to work on their own weak subjects because we all have subjects that aren’t our strongest. Structure and positive flow is the key to happiness for me while running my business and household in an ever-changing world. You only coach women, is there a reason why? – My business is mostly for women, and as much as I love working with anyone, I feel like my purpose is to help other women overcome the obstacles that we face. It takes a mom to understand a mom. My clients come to me because they know that I get it. They know that even when they feel like the impossible could be possible. No one will get you, push you, and support you like another mom. That “ if she can make it to where she is in life and business, then anyone can.” My business is built on the belief that women are all unstoppable forces of nature. That we can do everything and anything that we decide we want to do in life. Working with women who want to change the world by finding their purpose and building massive businesses is the best job in the world, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. – When my clients or potential clients come to me. Whether on social media, in person at the commissary, or while out and about with my kids. The first thing they all tend to ask is. Is it actually possible for moms to build a business online? Can we actually have it all the way men can? The truth is that we can not have what men have; we as women can have so much more. If I'm feeling lost, what would be your 3 top tips as an expert, to get me on the right path? – I tell them the top 3 tips for building a business in Mom Time. Are first, to stop the "I can't"-mindset. You won't be able to build anything if you keep thinking that you can't do it. To change your mind is to change the world. Second, to prioritize what truly matters to you. Is sitting there on social media watching videos or scrolling for hours really important? Are you making money doing what you are doing every day? Third, Education never stops. The best way to get unstuck and change your life is to learn a new skill or master an old skill. If you are learning, then you are always growing, and growth is key to finding your life path. Connect with me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Stephanie!

Written by: April J. Lisbon, 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 Talent recruiters and HR leaders are required to find the best candidate who has the skills to do the job as well as fit within an organization’s culture. Your organization may find itself with several hundred applicants who present very well on paper. Yet the true test is during the interview process. With so many advocates fighting for more inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace, it may be challenging to determine It is easier to plan for a neurodivergent hire who hired via a job placement center. However, what if the person does not come from a job placement center? How do you know if the candidate in front of you is on the Autism Spectrum? The answer is simple. Unless you know some of the classic hallmarks of Autism or you know someone personal on the spectrum, it may be difficult to spot the signs so that you ensure that your decisions are based on the person’s ability and not their disability. Recently, I had a conversation with a talent recruiter who shared with me some insights into how the hiring process can be skewed, at times, for neurodivergent learners. The discussion centered around a brilliant candidate who met all of the qualifications of being able to do the job. However, because the candidate failed to provide consistent eye contact throughout the interview process, the candidate was not hired. As a parent of an autistic child and advocate, I was filled with many emotions, from outright anger to a realization that people continue to lack an understanding of what autism is and what it is not. I could provide an exhaustive discussion on the characteristics of Autism. However, I know that there is a lot of research on the internet that is available. What I will do is share thoughts as to why Autism works in the workplace. When organizations, no matter the size, fail to capitalize on this talent pool, they are missing out on acquiring dedicated workers who have the potential to outperform neurotypical workers. Here are my top three reasons why I believe that organizations need to take a more objective look at hiring individuals on the Autism Spectrum: Natural problem-solvers. Whether it is cracking a code or building out a program, many individuals on the Autism Spectrum have a natural curiosity to identify a problem and resolve it without hesitation. Photographic memory. Individuals on the Autism Spectrum have strong visual memory skills that help them retain information presented two weeks ago to six months later. This helps them to manage and multitask projects with ease. Structured and detailed oriented. When an organization is considering a candidate to do a job, one question is, can they follow the rules when given? The answer is yes for many on the spectrum. When information is clearly explained and details are given, those on the spectrum will remember every word spoken. Combine this with visual imagery and it is a win-win situation for an organization looking to advance its diversity and inclusion. Sometimes, there are times where the environment may create levels of stress for a potential candidate who may be on the spectrum. Some signs may be visible, and others may be invisible. By understanding that these behaviors are less about a candidate's ability to perform the job and more about the external environment, HR recruiters should feel more comfortable hiring individuals on the spectrum. So, what are a few things that may be visual clues that a possible candidate may be on the Autism Spectrum? Well, let me say that one size does not fit all, and there are some individuals on the spectrum who have learned with trial and error how NOT to display these behaviors. Yet others may display these behaviors and me as a workplace autism advocate, desire that you see this as strengths and not weaknesses. One characteristic used to describe those on the Autism Spectrum is limited eye contact. Limited eye contact consists of watching the speaker for a short period of time while shifting one’s eye gaze in another direction. For those who are unfamiliar with working with individuals on the spectrum, this may come across as either being disengaged or outright rude. Yet this is not the case for those on the spectrum as direct eye contact for an extended period of time creates a level of uncomfortableness. Why? In speaking with several individuals on the autism spectrum over many years, I learned that it is challenging to focus on what is being said and what the person is seeing. The reality is that individuals on the spectrum have difficulty processing nonverbal and verbal cues simultaneously. If the contextual meaning is lost in the conversation, it creates a level of angst, which then leads to shifting the eye gaze. This shift helps the individual on the spectrum to ‘quickly’ filter out what is being said and provide a response that they perceive is expected of the other party. There are times when they may miss the mark. However, how many of us have gotten a question incorrectly doing an interview process? Many of us, to say the least. If you suspect that a person may be on the spectrum, remember that limited eye contact is a natural part of their ability to process every facet of their environment. Some have learned the 'art' of providing direct eye contact, but it can be challenging even then, depending on the environmental setting. We all provide limited eye contact from time to time whether it be cultural or out of mere respect. However, for those on the spectrum, limited eye contact may part of their daily lives. Additionally,individuals on the spectrum are overly sensitive to their environments. Visual, auditory, and/or tactile overstimulation may create a space where it is challenging for a person on the spectrum to focus on what is happening in the now. It does not mean that they are unaware of what you, the interviewer, is saying. It simply means that they are trying to filter out the extraneous barriers to ensure that they hear from you. For some individuals on the spectrum, this may consist of a long pause or possibly wringing of hands or shifting in the seat. They may do this to reduce the level of angst experienced at that moment. As the interviewer, it is okay to ask the candidate if they need more time to process their thoughts before responding. It is also okay to offer a mini-break, especially if the interview is more than 30 minutes. Some individuals who are self-advocates may request to use a fidget object (e.g. a small rock or piece of cloth) to help them be centered during the interview process. If they do, allow them to, as it is a simple request. Your goal is to hire the best fit candidate for the job. If a fidgeting object is necessary for the individual on the autism spectrum to put their best foot forward and secure the job, then let them do it. Another strategy that may help support a possible candidate on the autism spectrum is to reduce the lighting and/or sound within the interview space. Too much lighting and/or noise might make it harder for the candidate to get their thoughts together and respond to questions accordingly. By having one main light on versus two or three can make all the difference in creating a sensory-friendly room. Additionally, if the interview space is highly trafficked, changing rooms where the environment is a little quieter may also be helpful. With the rise in organizations increasing its diversity and inclusion policies to hire and retain the most talented individuals for one's organization, HR recruiters must be comfortable in interviewing individuals on the autism spectrum. By equipping HR recruiters with a few ‘common’ signs to identifying an individual on the Autism Spectrum, they will be able to navigate the interview process with potential candidates with greater clarity, so they feel confident in their ability to efficiently and effectively hire talented individuals on the Autism Spectrum. When organizations take the necessary steps to create an inviting interview process that is stress-free, individuals on the spectrum will shine throughout the process. The first step, however, is to get through the interview process, and with the right team, it is a win-win situation for everyone. Connect with me on LinkedIn, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram! Read more from April! April J. Lisbon, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine April J. Lisbon, Ed.D. is a workplace autism advocate. She helps organizations unlock the benefits of hiring and retaining talented individuals on the autism spectrum. Dr. Lisbon is the parent of a high achieving teen on the autism spectrum. She has over 20 plus years as a PK-12 school psychologist working with individuals from ages 3-22. Dr. Lisbon has been seen in the Washington Post, NBC News, Business Insider, Forbes, Autism Parenting Magazine, The TODAY Show Parenting, Family Circle Magazine, and several other national and international media outlets.

Written by: Ashha Agarwaal , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. What if communicating could be elegant, kind, playful yet very powerful? Most often, what people say is not the complete information they want to deliver. Behind every communication, there is a story or background of information. You communicate to get the information across to the other person, which you would like to have as an outcome. The receiver receives the information that he/she would like to hear and receive. In this process, the communication is often misidentified and hence turn out to be most unkind, intense and create separation. People would like to do domination in a conversation to get control over you. When you do not agree to their point of view, they may fell repudiated. When you agree to the point of view with an internal conflict, you invalidate yourself with extreme prejudice. How to bring elegancy in communication? Elegance is the willingness to create a maximum effort and impact using the least amount of energy. The beauty of communication is that it connects with one another whether it is verbal or nonverbal. Pacing yourself to lead Any conversation, it is important to pace people by listening. It is about perceiving the background information based on your awareness. Mainly people use their ears and eyes to perceive the communication. That's not enough. You need to be present and highly sensitive to the emotions and responses Being aware of creating Connection Animals use telepathic communication. As a human being, you do have the capacity to perceive the energies and intensities. Being in awareness of the nonverbal language, tone of voice and energy levels, you can pick up the key points and the background information they are trying to share. You can match and mirror the styles, gestures, and tones the other person uses to establish the connection. This create a naturally comfortable space and a sense of sincerity The power of being Authoritative The power of being authoritative is being self. It is the willingness to have and acknowledge your own superiority. It is different from proving your superiority that comes from believing you are inferior. One of the most killing word is "sorry" when used in not needed situations. Using 'sorry' frequently undermines the gravitas of yourself. It puts you in an undermining value and in a subservient position. Most often, you can see women use the word ‘Sorry’ often. Why? At an early age, women had been taught that the feminine characteristics are to be resilient, be nurturing, tolerant, be sensitive, kind etc. Apologizing before speaking is just way to avoid any potential conflict of any situation, bringing the softer tone to the conversation and playing safe to sequencing the thoughts and emotions. To be authoritative and in control of the matter you need to put forward, you can change the perceptual positions. Change yourself to a position of the other party on how the person would receive the information. If you have to say, ‘I am sorry I am late,’ and you can just rephrase it to ‘I hope you don’t mind for me being late.’ Approach the situation with No Point of View Most often, you try to impel people with how perfect your point of view is. You would like to be fed as a humble pie of victim judging yourself as your point of view is right or wrong or get into a reaction or agreement. Approaching a situation with no point of view is, you deliver what you need to deliver with utmost conviction, and you have the willingness to receive everything but not to hold onto anything. You are not judging and validating what another person is thinking. You are being yourself and authentic. This keeps the conversation more playful, kind and truer to yourself. Finally, bringing the Elegancy How can you create change, being completely different? Having the willingness to be vulnerable that you can acknowledge, sometimes you can bring the change and sometimes you cannot. Placing your communication in the elegance of needlessness will take you out of the feelings you are using to make you fit in being superior. Feelings are the greatest limitation. Allowance is another way of bringing elegancy onto communication. Allowance is caring, having no alignment or agreement. Everything is just an interesting point of view. Then you are not into the loop of control. Then elegancy in communication is just a free flow, no judgment and being in absolute gratitude. It is just the total willingness to honor yourself and other people. That create the openness, trust and respect in the communication. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Ashha Agarwaal, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Ashha is a thought leader, an influencer with a purpose and mission to contribute in creating a world and community with more consciousness. She is an MBA graduate, specialized in Strategic Management and an IT Professional working with a Fortune 500 multinational conglomerate.  She is also a Mind-Shift Coach and facilitate in creating possibilities in any area of the life from Career, business, health, relationships and much more. She is the founder member of Coachmeright LLP, a platform to provide the support and guidance through coaching for one to move from their limited current reality to create and invite more possibilities in life. It is a simple, pragmatic way of creating life and an invitation to be the real persona in your life, Business and Career. CMR offers life changing transformation tools that one can use in daily life to create an impactful change. Being a passionate Coach, she is also a Certified Facilitator for Access Consciousness Bars, Certified NLP Practitioner, Public Speaker, Mentor and an explorer of Spiritual journey.

Written by: Amber Barry, 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 wish you could duplicate, or even triplicate, yourself to keep up with your workload? If your business is in the start-up stages and you’re relying solely on yourself to keep up with everything, or if hiring staff (gasp!) to help you run your business isn’t in your budget (or totally freaks you out). Here are two secrets you need to take advantage of: 1. Max out your automations 2. Develop streamlined systems These are essential tools at every stage of your business, and they can save you big time in the time, energy and money departments. Whether you’re looking for a way to save your sanity or a way to save big money by not having to hire new team members, implementing automations and systems can be a total game-changer. What are automations? Automations empower you to create automatic responses to repetitive tasks and events so you can ensure a consistent customer experience. What does this mean for you? You’ll be able to remove yourself from the equation so you can direct your precious time and energy towards everything else in your business that requires your unique, human touch. What are systems? If you can offload a big chunk of your everyday tasks and follow-ups with automations, how do you provide your customers with an individualized experience and offer the personal touches that only you can provide? That’s where systems come in! They’re a great sanity saver, especially if you’ve ever stared at the computer for 30 minutes wondering what to write. Systems aren’t a way to completely automate your process, but you can surely create a series of templates and workflows that will help you cut your hands-on time in half. What are the perks of automating and streamlining? You’ll save time. Implementing this flow in your business ensures that you’re using your time and energy in the most effective, impactful ways. You’ll save money. Time is money! By offloading the repetitive work and decreasing wasted time you’ll have more time and energy to focus on the activities that bring money in. You’ll also save money by eliminating the need for additional manpower. You’ll save your sanity. Creating automations and systems frees up a lot of energy and brainpower, and relieves the craziness of trying to keep up with everything. You’ll set yourself up to scale. If growing your business or increasing your monthly revenue is your goal, you’ll need to have systems in place that allow you to double or triple your productivity without maxing out your resources. How to break it down. Start by keeping track of your day-to-day activities and reflect on the processes you go through when you take on a new client, develop a new product or acquire a new lead. Write each step-down and ask yourself these questions. Does this step require my presence and personal touch? This might include things like content creation, 1:1 time with your clients, interviews or marketing strategy. Can this step be automated? This includes regular, repetitive tasks like scheduling, sending out reminders, collecting information, initiating certain email sequences, invoicing and answering FAQs. If it isn’t automatable, can I create a template or workflow to help me streamline this step? This includes many of your day-to-day activities that are repetitive but not fully automatable, like on-boarding new clients and sending personalized follow-ups. Almost everything you do should fall into one of these categories, so create a spreadsheet (or grab a pen and paper), break it down into categories and keep track of your activities for one week. *Side note: if you already have employees in your business, or if you’re thinking about hiring help, you may also want to include a fourth category called delegation. Next steps. After keeping track for a week you’ll start to see a pattern, and you’ll be able to identify what kind of automations, systems, workflows and templates you’ll need to create. Once you know what your needs are you can track down the correct software for the job. I use Ontraport because it allows me to create automations, build out systems and schedule tasks, which frees up my mind so I can keep up with everything else. There are many other options as well, depending on your needs, so I encourage you to shop around and pick the right tool for your specific job. There’s some legwork involved here, but it’s worth the effort! Just keep reminding yourself that you’ll do it once, and it’ll be done. Why am I so passionate about automations and systems? Because I know what happens without them. I didn’t know about these strategies when I was running my first business, and I ended up experiencing extreme burnout. Ultimately, that burnout impacted my passion and drive, and I ended up calling it quits after 5 years. I’ve learned a thing or two since then. Now, when I’m working with clients, I teach them how to implement these concepts into their business so they can focus more on the things they love, while at the same time laying a solid foundation for a business that’s scalable. If you’re looking for help implementing these strategies, I’d be happy to chat! Visit my website to book a free consultation. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website for more info. Read more from Amber! Amber Barry, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Amber Barry is a U.S. based business strategist and consultant specializing in digital marketing, automations and social media advertising for small businesses and startups. She is passionate about deconstructing the process of establishing and growing a business, and aims to make it less overwhelming and easier to navigate for new business owners. She is the founder of Amber Barry | Digital, a digital marketing and advertising agency, and creator of The Go-Getters Club, where she offers online courses and coaching to women in business to help them maximize their marketing efforts and turn their small steps into big wins and massive momentum.She is a Registered Nurse and a Certified Health Coach by training, and draws from her 12+ years of experience in health and wellness and 20+ years as an endurance athlete to help people transform their journey as business owners into an enjoyable, successful, fulfilling experience.

Mindset and wellness mentor Sara Abaza comes from Kuwait and a conservative Arabic family, and she was fed with thoughts of limiting beliefs and a narrow mindset from early age. She was stuck in that mindset for a long time but the turning point came when she started listening to English music. That was the one thing that inspired her to go beyond her surroundings, to go beyond what she thought she was. She learned English by listening to English songs and watching Oprah Winfrey. She started visualizing a different future for herself and manifested things that she wanted and started to work very hard for. Things evolved and today, she's a powerful mindset mentor and speaker teaching people hacks to become stress-free, healthy, and extremely positive which she means is one of the keys to see opportunities in almost everything. She has four kids and is still able to exercise a lot every day and handle stress in a very successful way. Brainz Magazine wanted Sara Abaza to share 3 tips on how to successfully become free from stress since this is a huge challenge in today's society. At times stress is considered as a helping hand in boosting performance, but most of the time it results in giving out impacts that negatively affect the human mind. According to a study done to understand the behavior of stress and its psychological effects here are some examples: Stress is the number one health concern for high school students. 80 percent of all people feel stressed at work. 51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious. 16% had self-harmed and 32% said they had had suicidal thoughts and feelings. 37% of adults who reported feeling stressed reported feeling lonely as a result. It is obvious that no group in our society are free from stress. Both students, as well as employees, are affected by the negative effects. However, there are various tricks to be taken to remedy the problem and manage the stress levels. - The best way to handle the stress is to follow these steps, and if you work upon my advice, you will definitely see a reduced stress level in your life. Sara’s three tips on how to reduce stress Believe that positivity is your best way of living; it affects your health and well-being. Emotionally, mentally and physically. Remember that the awareness of negative emotions is the first step that reverses stress by learning simple techniques such as Heart focused breathing. "Let me your catalyst of change" Speaking about your negative emotions with an expert is an act of wisdom and avoids taking tips on reducing stress from family and Friends. - If you are looking for more than encouragement and want to know the process of healing permanently decide to speak to an expert instead of asking for advice from family and friends, Sara says. Sara strongly believes in that you can design the life of your dreams in a few steps: Manage Your Stress - Learn the scientific and psychologically proven methods to combat the modern world's biggest lifestyle challenge. Find more Clarity - We will lead you in the right direction that will help you accomplish your goal. Have a Healthy Lifestyle - Learn the secret of improving your health and well-being. Transform yourself into a better version of what you are. Fulfill Your Purpose - Each one of you is born with a purpose. Discover it with us and get the right direction to accomplish it. Build Lifelong Relationships - Learn the art of building long-lasting relationships that will take you closer to your goal. To learn more, visit Sara's website and follow her on Instagram

Written by: Henrik Pettersson , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise At the age of 20, Naomi Parker was photographed in a California factory for war material during World War II, flexing her muscles on the famous poster. "We can do it!". What is behind us and what is in front of us are small things compared to what is inside us. Is the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson's way of looking at the same thing. If we only become aware of the power within us, we raise up several "snaps". An insight that increases our self-confidence. Self-confidence. It is mainly about feeling independent from external influences. A freedom that at the same time, makes us take responsibility for both our mental and physical well-being. No one, not even your parents, is responsible for you. Yet so many people cough for excuses, and look for someone else who can help them. Close that kind of door, you yourself are your best servant. Anxiety & worries When you think about things that promise much more than what your efforts require, without taking action, it is because you have thought defensive thoughts such as; am I good enough? What should others think if I fail? Do I have the strength, power and time? Are the risks calculated, the traps identified, and the pitfalls? Have I really thought through everything that can go down the drain? If you think that way, you focus too much on yourself. The ability to start, implement, finish - and start new projects is all about faith. And while we try to avoid failures and unpleasant tasks, we damage - contrary to what we believe, our self-confidence more than we protect it. What should we do to boost our self-confidence, courage and faith in the future instead? The answer is in the following steps: Awareness; Repetition; Take action! First, you should become aware of the issues; Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Who am I? Your personal brand, how you can become clear about who you really are and can stand up for. Qualities that describe you as a person, which feels right in your heart and fill you with self-respect and pride - that you are who you are. Why am I here? It is mainly about the purpose and your life task. You should never forget your purpose; why you do what you do, how this moves you forward, and the significance for loved ones. What is your long-term task in life? Where am I going? Contrary to most people's beliefs, it is neither your knowledge nor the ideas of those around you that will determine your results. The key, along with goal focus, is your ability to take action. For the second, it’s about repetition. To listen and learn and become aware of what is most important right now and act according to it. Repetition reminds our subconscious of focus, and is based on routines for repeating what is most important right now. For example, that is done with the morning routine with 10 minutes of reading, the podcast on the way to work, or pre-programmed episodes on YouTube before going to bed. The third step is about taking action. It’s always action which separates people! You Can Do It!” If we do not understand that we are one hundred percent responsible for ourselves - what we do and do not, we will never find out our true potential. Solution? Embrace the idea of responsibility. Minimize the risk of capitulating to your dreams, and what feels right for you. No other human will ever fix your life. You are the smith of your own success, with energy and discipline and the routines to carry out daily actions in the direction you have decided is the right one. “You Can Do It!” Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and connect with me on LinkedIn ! Henrik Pettersson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Since 2004, Henrik has been working as a coach, educator and motivational speaker around Europe. Life is about growth. The challenge to growth is to gain boldness to handle our fears and vulnerability. To strengthen your spine - to be able to handle your challenges towards stronger results. Life’s tough at times, and the formula for gaining more boldness, and dig deep into, is: Faith – Energy – Focus. His new book is built on the three pillars above, and is called: program yourself to success. Henrik is frequently hired by large companies like Volvo, H&M, and Avis.

Karen is the founder of New Futures On Demand and a believer that everyone has the ability to create a new future with their skillset. She guides small to medium companies and individuals to build a winning profile and launch a profitable online business. She created the Art of Selling Mastermind™️, an online intensive training program that helps people uncover, brand, package, and sell their services, so they create more impact and build their WFA dream lifestyle. It’s a warm summer morning when Karen Yee arrived on camera via Zoom. Her face is bare apart from the black eyeliner and a warm, infectious smile. When we ask her how, specifically, she wants people to think of her—because that’s what you ask someone on the verge of her big breakout moment—she doesn’t hesitate: “the next triple threat”. Business Owner. Coach. Philanthropist. She’s still figuring out the latter. So, what do you ask the next triple threat to the online digital space? Brainz managed to grab a minute with the Big Money Mindset and Business Coach to ask her. 1. A nickname that you have is... – K Dog, Karry, Karrot, Kkay 2. My favorite toy growing up was… – My Pooh Bear and Mickey Mouse that my parents got me for my birthday. 3. The weirdest habit I have is.. – “had” for me. I used a band-aid to save my goldfish that had biting marks from another fish when I was a kid. 4. The one lipstick shade I wear the most often is… – Lip glosses are my go-to – current fav is the Dior Addict Lip Glow. 5. I’m always likely to be early/late? – Early 6. The one film I’ve seen more than five times.. – Grease, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman… 7. One thing I just won’t eat is… – Rabbit – it’s my Chinese zodiac sign..so can’t do it! 8. If you could offer everyone who’s reading this one piece of advice, what would it be? – Start now, be humble and GO ALL IN! 9. The one thing I’d change about myself is… – Don’t stay in a toxic relationship longer than you should. Because you shouldn’t change who you are to please others. Be yourself and CHOOSE people that choose you. 10. Quote you live by is... – To excel in life, you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Stay tuned for Karens upcoming articles, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and visit her website for more info!

Written by: Jessica East, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. You’ve spent years learning, growing and becoming an expert in your field. You have information to share and people are genuinely interested in what you have to say. What’s wrong with a little free advice here and there? Unless you’re retired, a lot. I know it sounds heartless, but stick with me; I’ve learned the hard way. Meeting with free-advice-seekers takes up time that could be used to grow your business, care for current clients, and support those within your organization, depending on you for their professional development. Whether it’s an in-person meeting, a phone call or a video conference, the conversation itself takes time and, if you’re like me, there will probably be post-chat follow-up with links or email introductions as promised in the meeting. Once a year, these chats are nominal, but what happens when your success reaches the masses and you are fielding free-advice requests once a quarter? Once a month? Your business cannot survive if you’re focusing on conversations that are not converting to sales (billable hours) or the development of your own people. “I’m still growing,” you may be thinking to yourself. “I have the time.” While this may be true, we teach people how to treat us. Your business won’t always be “small,” and your schedule may not always be so available. If you’ve spent years teaching people that you are available for free advice, they won’t understand when, suddenly, you are less available or not available at all. “I want to help the next generation,” you say. This is an excellent goal! I wish I had more trusted advisors when I was starting my business. (I didn’t know what I didn’t know until, many times, it was too late.) Unfortunately, even with the best intentions, your free advice will cheapen the classes, workshops, training courses, books, etc. that other folks are trying to sell as a means to pay their bills. As my grandma used to say, “why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” She had a point. What to do Instead Blog / Vlog / Podcast If you are regularly asked for advice, you’ve probably noticed several recurring themes. A great way to share what you’ve learned is to record those for mass distribution. I started a podcast at the beginning of the year to discuss some of the topics that I’m asked on a regular basis. (Anchor.fm is a great asset to publish across multiple channels.) In addition to addressing many of the questions I’m commonly asked, it’s a great platform to have conversations with other experts. It’s also an excellent way to grow your own circle of influence. Publish Articles Working with larger outlets to publish articles is another great way to lend your voice to a topic. Working in media, I know that many outlets are hungry for information and professional insights on a variety of topics. Once published, those articles will most likely live on indefinitely somewhere in cyberspace. Having those links handy on your website or your own social accounts will ensure they’re ready to send to someone who needs to see them. Host an Intern Liam famously declared he had a “certain set of skills” in the movie Taken. Host an intern (preferably paid) and teach them your skills while they work alongside you and your team. Internships can be valuable experiences for both the interns as well as the organizations that hire them. But I need the free advice; what do I do? Honey, we all need help from time to time, and there is no shame in that! Do your research. Check out industry leaders who are publishing content and pay attention to what they say. If you still have questions, find an internship or a volunteer opportunity. There’s no better way to learn about marketing than volunteering with a marketing professional as you work to promote a fundraiser for a non-profit. If you want to learn about finances, offer to assist the bookkeeper for your kid’s soccer team. Opportunities are endless if you look for them. Hitting up a stranger for free advice is a good way to shut that door forever. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jessica! Jessica East, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jessica East entered the creative scene in 2001 when she started her design career at MeadWestvaco. From her initial position as a junior graphic designer, Jessica advanced to a small marketing firm, picking up marketing, social media and event planning skills, and then on to a position as creative services manager for Five Rivers MetroParks. At MetroParks, she took on the challenging role of utilizing and policing new brand standards for an organization that previously lacked any formal marketing department. During her watch, the parks were pulled out of their staid ’70s look and blossomed into a new, energetic brand that matched the organization’s values of making the community healthy and vibrant. Jessica started her own agency, Noir Marketing and PR, in 2012. Ms. East obtained her degree in graphic design at Bowling Green State University, where she joined the Phi Mu sorority and remained an active alumna in her local chapter. In addition to making dazzling designs, this marketing maven has collected enough ADDYs to back U.S. currency. Other awards and recognition include a laundry list of local and national design and professional awards, including several Mercury Awards and nominations, ADDYs of all metals, OPRA and NRPA awards, recognition in Print and GDUSA magazines as well as Teen magazine’s “50 Hot Picks for School.”

Written by: Jennie Stowe, 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 Despite the crazy economy we’re dealing with, a staggering number of people are starting their own businesses. If you count yourself among these proud new business owners, make it your priority to keep accurate records from the get-go! Believe me; you’ll save yourself a lot of time, stress, and money down the road. Understanding finances can be a real hurdle for many of us, so here are 3 steps to start your business on the right foot. Let’s dive in! 1. Separate your business finances from your personal finances. It’s a simple step that will bring so much clarity to your business. Please! No more buying business supplies on your personal credit card … or depositing a business check into your personal checking account. This clutters your life and makes accurate records nearly impossible. Thankfully, this is easy to address: go ahead and set up a business checking account, then if needed, open a business credit card as well. You can knock out this step in an afternoon, so nothing is holding you back. If you’re a sole proprietor, this is a great first step … for everyone else (LLC, S Corp, etc.) it’s also a legal requirement! 2. Keep basic but accurate records of all financial transactions. You’ll be using these records for tax prep as well as for business purposes. Come tax season, the government won’t take kindly to numbers that don’t add up … so accuracy is key! If you can’t fit bookkeeping into your budget, start with a simple spreadsheet so you can at least see your monthly profit/loss. Even if you’re not a computer wiz, it’s easy to create a spreadsheet that tracks categorized income and expenses for each month. Going a step further, there are also some free bookkeeping softwares available, but be aware that these are pretty limited in capacity, and you’ll need to upgrade quickly as your business grows. Free is welcome as a new business owner trying to make a profit, but true quality nearly always comes with a price tag. When you can afford to spend a small monthly fee on your bookkeeping, then check out an online bookkeeping software. I personally use QuickBooks Online with all my clients; they offer a more budget-friendly option that’s great for small service providers. Whatever software you decide to use, do some research and find an online training to make sure you understand how to keep your own books within that software properly. 3. Save all your receipts. You can save them the old fashioned way in a shoebox or folder, but receipts fade and take up space over the years. For that reason, I recommend saving them electronically. You can scan paper receipts and save them along with emailed receipts in a Google Drive folder or similar cloud-based method. You can also subscribe to apps like Receipt Bank or Hubdoc for receipt management. If you’re using QuickBooks Online for your bookkeeping, you also can access their easy receipt management that integrates right into your books. Even as a busy business owner, you should easily integrate these three points into your business. A few minutes now will save you hours and money down the road. In summation, start your business following these three bookkeeping guidelines to set yourself up for success! Separate your business finances from personal. Keep accurate records within your budget. Save your receipts. Best wishes to your business! For more information, follow me on Facebook, Linkedin and visit my website. You will find our online course here! Jennie Stowe, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jennie Stowe lives in Tennessee with her husband and son. She is a Certified Bookkeeper and QuickBooks ProAdviser who helps female service providers with their bookkeeping so they can focus their time on booking more clients and making more money. Solid bookkeeping is vital for a business's success, so Jennie offers resources for every budget! Those small businesses that can't yet afford a bookkeeper are covered by her online course: Keep Your Own Books - The Entrepreneur's Guide to Small Business Accounting.