Written by: Mariann Sebestyen, 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. An individual with feelings of insecurity is someone who has a general sense of uncertainty or anxiety regarding their worth, abilities, skills, and value as a person. This gives the impression that they are at risk or in danger. There may be something you would like to try out right now, such as an application for a promotion, a date, getting to know someone or enrolling in a course. However, a voice inside makes you question if you deserve all you've achieved, or if you are good enough. Insecurities can appear in your life in various ways: Feeling inadequate daily Lack of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence Feeling incapable or ill-equipped to cope with stress A general sense of uncertainty about the world Feeling anxious about relationships with others Limited ability to make quick decisions and poor decision-making skills Being overly critical of yourself and other people To mask how you really feel, you portray yourself as overly confident An obsession with perfection that leaves you unsatisfied Avoidance of social situations and a desire to be alone A difficulty trusting others and building relationships based on mutual understanding and trust Poor communication patterns that place more importance on the other person's needs and wants What causes your insecurity: An absence of family emotional support: Individuals who have a loving, supportive family are less likely to experience insecurity The absence of physiological needs satisfaction: People who are unable to meet their physical needs, such as food, housing, and safety, often have difficulty meeting psychological needs, such as security. Lack of emotional intelligence: People with low emotional intelligence cannot accurately detect their feelings and those of others, leading to unhealthy relationships and diminished trust. An absence of openness: People who are not open, curious, and comfortable in new situations report more stress and fear, resulting in a lower sense of safety. Lack of agreeableness: Individuals who are disagreeable experience more interpersonal conflict since they are unable to assist, support, or empathize with others. As a result of these characteristics, social situations are perceived as risky and less secure. The presence of a mental health condition: Anxiety and depression are bidirectionally related to insecurity. Narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder also have a connection to insecurity. Overdependence on others: When people become dependent on others or relationships, they become insecure since they perceive a risk of the relationship ending. Taking steps to address insecurity will help a person minimize its negative effects, and find renewed stability, security, and a sense of worth that will propel them towards happiness and increased well-being. How to overcome your insecurity: Talk to a therapist. The key to becoming more confident and feeling more empowered about yourself and your abilities is to address your insecurities and worries rather than avoid them. Insecurity causes people to feel insecure and unsure about relationships, so they are unable to share their experiences and feelings with others, which leads to isolation and shame. Self-talk: How you talk to yourself and how you see the world will greatly influence your insecurities. More secure and comfortable people are those who speak to themselves more positively, challenge their negative self-talk, stay focused on the future, and find positive aspects in the world around them. Practice self-compassion: Compassion and self-love are essential. You are more likely to have effective changes if you give these to yourself rather than looking for them from others. By loving yourself, you create a sense of security within yourself. Reparent Yourself: Parents can impart many lessons and examples to you that can contribute to insecurity. Learn new perspectives about yourself, other people, and the world around you by closely examining your beliefs. As a result of this process, you can establish a sense of security and self-worth. By changing your mindset and perception of yourself, you will be able to form a stronger view of yourself and strengthen your beliefs. Let’s work on your self-confidence together! I am happy to listen and help you to achieve your goals. You can reach out to me by email or book a chat with me. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Mariann! Mariann Sebestyen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mariann Sebestyen is an expert in inner child wound healing, breaking free from unhealthy patterns and restoring a healthier self-concept. Adversity in early life left her with developmental challenges, childhood wounds, unmet needs, and the feeling of powerlessness and helplessness. Mariann generated strategies to extraordinarily change her relationship with herself, step into her power and create a positive self-image to become. She has since dedicated her life to helping others unleash their power, letting their true selves shine, and confidently move towards a new life. She is the founder of Inner Child Wound Healing and the Childhood Trauma Healing Journey program. Her mission: Self Restoration.

Written by: Nicki Brown, 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. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right coach for you, but it’s not only what they will tell you that you should consider…it’s also what they don’t tell you. 1. I am not the expert and I will not tell you what to do. I am not an expert. The only thing I’m an expert on is me, and my life. Even coaches that have years of training and experience, or have seemingly been through the exact same things as you are not the expert. Only the best coaches know that YOU are the expert and the authority on your life. Outsourcing you're decisions and strategies to anyone else, even someone who appears to have “been there, done that” is the best way to accidentally create a misaligned goal, strategy and life. The truth is that nobody is more of an authority on what’s best for you than you. A good coach will not give you the answers but rather give you the questions you need and the safe space to help you draw out and explore your own inner wisdom. Why does it feel safer for you to outsource your decisions to experts? Sure, it would be easier and maybe even more desirable to hire a coach who can pretend to give you all the answers and tell you what you should do in order to get the outcomes that you want, but all that would do is build a reliance on the coach and that’s not helpful because when the coaching relationship ends, you haven’t been empowered with the tools and the confidence to set goals, navigate challenges, make decisions and trust your intuition. Many of us have been conditioned to look externally for approval and validation on what’s the “right way” to do things, and in doing so put those “experts” up on a pedestal, and unconsciously painting ourselves as helpless and in need of saving. The truth is there is no one way or “right way” to accomplish what you want, there is just finding the best way for you. It’s natural to want to look to an expert or authority to help direct your life and your decisions—I mean, they seem to have it all figured out right? Many of us have spent the majority of our lives looking to parents, authority figures and social constructs to tell us what the right and acceptable way to do things is, and have disregarded our own knowing and our authentic self in an effort to maintain a sense of approval, love, safety and belonging in our relationships. This is a subtle form of self-abandoning that creates disconnection from ourselves, our needs and our desires, and it seeds self-doubt and uncertainty. It also subtly undermines our own personal power by rejecting choice. We fear making a choice may lead us to make the “wrong” choice, and we either fear being wrong and the rejection we perceive we’ll be subjected to as a result, or we fear taking personal responsibility for the sense of failure and crushing disappointment if we chose wrong. But what if the perceived experts only became experts because they dared to get it wrong and to be wrong in the pursuit of their desires? The truth is, choice gives people a sense of personal control and agency in their life, so own that. 2. I cannot fix you, heal you, or get you results. Only you can. True self-development is exactly that—self-directed. Clients need to direct their own goals, their own healing, and their own strategies and processes for achieving what they want. It’s the only way to create sustainable changes and aligned results in a client’s life—by ensuring that they are the ones leading them, not us. The best coaches see their clients as smart and capable, not as broken or in fixing because you’re not broken, so there is nothing to fix. Society has convinced you that there’s something to fix so there is always something else to sell you. There may be parts of you that have been wounded, things that you’d like to improve or work on and goals that you’d like to achieve but often, these things can become entangled in our minds with our own insecurities and seeing ourselves as broken or in need of fixing becomes synonymous with seeing ourselves as helpless victims, and/or as wrong, and “not good enough”. Our words matter because they shape our beliefs. There is a trap that people fall into in the personal development space, and that’s the trap of “never good enough” and “never satisfied" that can sometimes leave people endlessly pursuing “improvements” because unconsciously, we never feel good enough. In my opinion, the true goal of the work is not “fix yourself” and finally feel “good enough” but rather to realize that there is nothing to fix and you’ve always been good enough exactly as you are. Some of the most skilled coaches know that rediscovering your wholeness and your inherent worth is key to creating your outermost desires, because as soon as you realize you don’t NEED something else to make you feel better, your motivation shifts. You are beautifully and perfectly imperfect, and the only thing you need to fix is your relationship with yourself—reconnect with your authentic self and develop your self-love and self-confidence. The human brain loves to have a problem to fix, so we often create them, and the ego loves to make everything about us, so it can become really easy to get wrapped up in our stories and fabricate problems. Who would we be if we stopped believing that we had all these problems that needed to be fixed? Would we love ourselves better? A big part of my job as a coach is holding up the mirror for people to see themselves more clearly and then when they still can't, giving the mirror a good cleaning and having them take another look. Sometimes it can become hard to see ourselves clearly, simply because we’ve gotten so accustomed to seeing ourselves with a critical lens, or the way that others see us, that we can’t envision anything else. On that note, I also can’t heal you. I do tell my clients that I can help them heal—but by that, I mean that I can facilitate the self-healing journey. I can help provide you with knowledge, tools and techniques, to begin that healing journey, but I can’t heal you. You listening to me and taking all the tools and applying them isn’t some magical cure, and the support I provide may not be all-encompassing because each persons’ journey is different, and each person’s time to heal is different. On that note, time itself cannot heal you—-if you bury your head in the sand for ten years and don’t deal with something, it doesn’t just go away. Doing the work heals you. Giving yourself the time, support and space to DO the work to heal and being patient with the process, that’s the only thing that works. And that’s also why you’re the only person who can get you results. 3. I’m not perfect and I don’t have it all figured out. This kind goes back to the expert thing. As coaches we’re often taught that we’re our own best advertisement and that we need to show our clients what’s possible through us. There is great value in this but also a lot of dishonesty because at the end of the day, we’re all just human, and no matter how much we up level our skill, we will always be challenged in new ways. The real problem is simply the lack of transparency, about what it really takes to get somewhere. Some coaches will not show or share the things that they still walking through or struggling with in their day-to-day, or at least not until we're on the other side of it because we’ve often felt this expectation that we need to do “better” than our clients so they have someone to look up to, or that we need to be perfect so that we’ll attract clients who want to pay us for our services. I know that I myself have fallen into this trap, of feeling like there is this expectation for me to be perfect and to have it all figured out, and then, and only then could I say “ Here is what I went through and here is what I did”, instead of “here is what I’m going through, and here is what I’m doing”. Now let me be clear, sometimes going through something is a process that you’re not ready to share in the moment because it’s too difficult while you’re still navigating it, but that’s different from the coaches I’m talking about who show themselves living these luxurious lives as a billboard for coaching services—-as it to say: “Work with me and your life can be like this too!” And in my opinion, that’s no different than a perfume ad. I’m not here to paint an illusion of some perfect or grandiose life, like when you do the work that life gets easier and you walk around every day like you’ve won the lottery. Life doesn’t get easier. At each new level there will always be challenges that break you down and fill you with doubt, you just become better equipped to move through the challenges of life with more ease. I think people often enter coaching thinking there will be this before and after moment, like there is some finite point or “end state” where we’re fully healed and unaffected by stresses, challenges and disappointments, etc, but that’s not true. Life is cyclical, it ebbs and flows and there will always be ups and downs. We may become more immune to smaller things because we’re practiced general awareness, mindset, inquiry etc. but we will still have bad days, we will still experience heartbreak, disappointment and any number of unfortunate circumstances and we will still feel all those negative emotions. The goal is not to achieve a “perfect life” or rid ourselves of those experiences but rather learn how to be with them, to recognize our own power, capabilities and resilience in the face of them, to gain the tools and experience to often move through it more quickly and easily and to look for the opportunities. As coaches it’s our job to embody our work, to live the principles that we teach…but it’s also our job to set level set expectations and to be honest and transparent about the work we can do and what we can really help our clients achieve. While I always see infinite possibilities for my clients and encourage them to see the same, it’s also important to shift expectations and reimagine concepts like success and luxury so that we can really re-envision what “living the good life” really means to us. 4. A Specialist is not Necessarily Better than a Generalist People often think that a specialist is better than a generalist but the truth is that a specialist is better for specific problems. What most people don’t realize is that their problems are rarely specific in nature, below the symptom or the presentation of the problem is often a more general or common pattern or problem. Many coaches are told to niche because that’s what sells and scales. That’s how we’re told to market to people. Nobody buys “coaching”, they tell you, so we’re taught to come up with a niche that we want to work with or think we can help and market with that in mind. That’s how you get “Wellness Coaches” and “Mompreneur coaches” and “Relationship coaches” and “Life purpose coaches” and “money mindset” coaches and so on…but here’s the thing, all aspects of our life are deeply related. If we’re having a problem or experiencing a pattern in one area, that same problem is very likely present in another area. The struggle that you have with people pleasing for example, may impact the way we interact with our partner, and it may also impact our finances or our career. The truth is “root cause” coaching is the answer for many people—it’s understanding what’s at the root of the problem and resolving it there. Most people try to solve symptoms so they go to something specific thinking that’s the answer but symptoms are just one of the ways that the real problem is presenting itself. What is causing the symptom? Addressing that is where the real change happened. As I said, most people’s problems are general, at the core. They’re rooted in stories based on fears and insecurities because we all want the same thing at our core—love, security, and belonging. 5. Credentials and Accreditations DO matter The coaching industry is full of people who call themselves coaches and think that just because they have experience walking through something themselves that they’re qualified to coach people—-without any real experience or expertise in “how” to actually coach and do so effectively and ethically. Sure, for many people who desire to become coaches, they have innate skills and may have been informally coaching their whole lives—like myself. There are also many people who may go through a certification program who may still not be great coaches, or maybe they are good coaches for someone and not for someone else. It’s true, there are good coaches, and not-so-good coaches, whether certified or not. But here is my personal opinion, as an unregulated industry, it’s important I think to create some guidelines around how to coach people well AND how to do so in a way that is ethical and integrity. Also, there are MANY programs out there that certify coaches AND…not all of those programs are certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and/or the Association for Coaching (ACC). These organizations are governing bodies that ensure that programs adhere to a certain minimum standard of — coaching certification programs that have been approved by these organizations have had their curriculum vetted and ensure that coaches are not only getting the content training the coaching skills training through peer coaching and supervision of coaching skills. In summary, there are no shortcuts, quick fixes, or silver bullets. There are no experts, no one is one-size fits all approaches or blueprints, that will give you all the answers, or the fast track. You can’t skip steps, bypass pain, or shorten the time it takes to heal or develop yourself. Be wary of anyone who tries to sell you those things. As I said before, what is right for someone else, is not necessarily right for you, what worked for them will not necessarily work for you. We each have our own beautiful and unique combination of experience, skills, personalities, strengths and challenges. The trick is to see the entire process as a journey — without an end state. We’re constantly evolving as humans. Sometimes you’ll work at it for a long time and see almost no progress. And sometimes you’ll seem to have made quantum leaps overnight. It’s less about specific steps and more about the overall shifts in your being and the small steps and aligned actions you take daily to get there. One thing is for certain, the better you know yourself, the easier and faster it is to align your actions with your desires and actually achieve what you want. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Nicki! Nicki Brown, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nicki is a women’s empowerment coach and the owner of Sunflowers In Sunshowers, a company that focuses on helping women flourish through holistic and transformational life coaching. She is passionate about the work she is doing to help women love themselves wholly and live their life more fully. After experiencing a “quarter life crisis”—she struggled with her identity, life direction and overall life satisfaction—this was her awakening. She began a healing journey of self-discovery and uncovering which led to dismantle her pre-conceived beliefs and re-define not only herself but her vision of “the good life”. This journey eventually led her to realize her calling as a life coach and pursue a certification as a life and health coach. Her mission is to help women heal from their past conditioning and misunderstandings so that they can uncover their authentic selves, step into their power and create their vision of “the good life” too. To date, she has had the privilege of helping women all over the world from London, England to Portland Oregon.

Written by: Kadena Tate, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. It is important for any association to track their growth to determine whether they are meeting their goals. There are many ways to measure growth, and the most effective way will vary from organization to organization. In this blog post, we will discuss seven different ways to measure growth in your association. We will also provide tips on how to use each metric to improve your organization's performance. Membership and retention rates. One of the most common metrics for measuring growth in an association is membership and retention rates. Tracking these numbers over time can help you understand how successful your organization has been at attracting new members, as well as retaining those members over time. You can also compare your retention rates to industry benchmarks, which may reveal areas where you can improve. Revenue and costs per member. Another important metric to track is revenue and costs per member, which will give you a sense of the overall financial health of your association. This number will vary depending on what type of membership model your organization uses, but you can use it to benchmark yourself against similar organizations or make strategic changes to improve profitability. Engagement metrics. In addition to tracking membership and financial metrics, it is also important to look at engagement metrics such as website traffic and social media followers. By measuring these numbers over time, you can identify trends in your audience behavior and use that information to create more targeted marketing campaigns. Event attendance rates. Associations typically host events throughout the year, and it is important to track event attendance rates so that you know which events are popular with members and which ones are not performing as well. This data can help you make decisions about future event programming, such as scaling back programs that aren't drawing a big crowd or focusing resources on events that have been successful in the past. New product or service launches. Another way to measure growth in your association is by launching new products and services that are aligned with the needs of your members. Tracking data such as sales numbers and customer feedback can help you understand which offerings have been successful, so that you can prioritize future product development efforts accordingly. New member acquisition channels. It is important to track the effectiveness of different methods for attracting new members to your organization. This may involve evaluating things like email marketing campaigns, social media advertising strategies, or paid search optimization efforts. By understanding what works well and what doesn't, you can make smarter decisions about where to invest your resources moving forward. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in your association are also important metrics to measure. By tracking these numbers over time, you can identify trends in diversity and inclusion practices, as well as areas where you may need to make improvements. Whether you're looking for ways to engage underrepresented groups in your community or simply want to create a more welcoming environment for all members, these metrics can help guide your efforts. Whether you are just starting out or trying to grow your existing association, it is essential to measure your growth to stay on track and achieve your goals. By tracking these key metrics over time, you can make more informed decisions about how best to move your organization forward. Which metrics have you found to be the most important for measuring growth in your association? And how do you use this data to inform your strategic planning and decision-making processes? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Kadena! Kadena Tate, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kadena Tate is the author of “Cultivating Courage: The Path to Reclaiming Your Power” and contributing author of the NY Times Bestseller “Business Model You,” published by Wiley Press. In addition to writing books, Kadena also works as a revenue strategist and business model designed for authors, coaches, and speakers who want to create movements, masterminds, and membership programs.

Written by: Julie Pecarski , Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. A couple of years ago, I tracked my food for a period of time for a little science experiment! As someone who grew up with this whole "calories in/calories out" framework for weight loss, there has been a lot of research that suggested that reducing caloric intake wasn't the best approach when it came to restoring metabolism, fat loss and changing body composition. In my own experiment, I was surprised to learn that given my activity level and weight loss goals, I was vastly under-eating. I was consuming around 1200-1400 calories WHICH for most (if not all adult women) is very low. When I began working with women in my own programs, I started to see this common caloric intake theme among most. It's no surprise, really. It's common to hear from celebrity trainers, fit-pro influencers, major weight loss companies and fashion magazines that women need to be as thin as possible at all costs. But, at what cost exactly? Well, reduced body mass can equate to: Low energy and irritability Miserable, weak, and never able to crack the last 5-10lbs they wish to lose. And, let's not forget the massive increase in cravings that you get where you can often resort to binge eating...then feeling massively guilty about it because you think you "caved"...then you reduce your calories even more. Rollercoaster. Now, the calories in / calories out theory DOES matter, especially if you are over-consuming than your energy output. But, there are several things that factor into energy balance: Here's what happens when you overly restrict calories over a long period of time: Your basal metabolic rate declines thus "reducing energy out". Your BMR is where most of your energy output comes from (even before exercise) making this important to protect. Exercise becomes more difficult as you have less available energy (both stored and dietary), again reducing "calories out" General, everyday movement (or NEAT: non-activity exercise thermogenesis) reduces "energy out". As you get within that 10 pounds of your ideal goal, your body may use proteins in your muscle (a key organ for metabolism) instead of the fat that you ultimately want to lose (specifically, adipose tissue ). Digestion slows so your body can extract every last morsel and every last nutrient it can from the limited supply it is getting...which "increases energy in". I know it’s crazy...but you need to eat to be strong. You need to eat to FUEL your muscles. Otherwise, your body is smart and will determine that your muscles are not necessary and start to get rid of them. You need to FUEL your brain ‒ otherwise expect poor moods, sleep, focus, attention and learning capacity. You need to FUEL your body so that it can perform. I know that it is hard to wrap your head around eating more but the 1200-calorie approach is unreasonable and unrealistic over the long term. Our bodies including our brains, muscle and our bones need adequate nutrition. If you are looking for a way to refuel and restore your metabolism with a simple, easy-to-follow structure, my signature program FUEL 30-Day Metabolism Reset is open for 2023. The FUEL framework will have you properly increase your calories without feeling like you are on a diet along with the support and accountability from a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. More details can be found for FUEL 30-Day Metabolism Reset here. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more ways that I can support you! Read more from Julie! Julie Pecarski, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Julie Pecarski is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Weight Loss Coach in the business of helping women feel stronger and more confident as they step into the next season of their lives. While working in the corporate world, Julie put her body through the extremes of eating too little and trying on the latest fad diets in an attempt to make herself look and feel a certain way, not realizing that this was a disaster for her metabolism. Julie now coaches other high-performing women lose weight and regain confidence through a balanced approach that restores metabolism and super-charges energy levels.

Written by: Lisa Marotta, 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. According to most, it is never the right time to start. You will never find the perfect time, but putting your health first should always be a priority. Below are some tips and tricks on how to get back on track before the new year kicks in! This time of year always screams “procrastination” to most. So many of us have said the below comments in our heads… I will just wait until the new year to start up the gym again. There are too many events and holiday parties coming up. I don’t have time. I do not have the energy or desire to even start. I will wait until Christmas is over. I already have gained so much. I feel it in my clothes. Another 4 weeks won’t hurt. Let me just enjoy this month and I will revisit my goals come January. There never is a good time to start anything. There will always be commitments, schedules, events, and fears in your way. Think of it this way, whenever you do decide to start, that will be the perfect time for you. Why? Because it’s further than you were yesterday. Any type of start is a good start. Taking a step forward shows you are ready to overcome your setback or “slump” you may temporarily be in. While the holidays can be very magical and happy, they can also be extremely hectic and stressful. Many people tend to skip their routines, go off their meal plans, avoid the gym, etc. More often than not, setbacks are very common this month. So, how do we overcome that “holiday setback”? How do we get ten steps ahead of a New Year’s Resolution? Well, it is challenging, but still possible to overcome a setback before the new year hits. Below are some tips on how to do so. Avoid extreme changes. Do not change EVERYTHING on a Monday. Possibly, start the first week with nutrition and by the second or third week, you can implement exercise into your schedule. If you change all at once, you have a greater chance of getting overwhelmed. Talk it out. Talk to someone that is a good listener. If you express your frustration, desires, and goals... maybe it’ll help get everything off your chest while also giving you some motivation. For the first week do not weigh yourself. Strictly focus on sticking to a nutrition routine. Once you hit the 7th day of that, then start weighing yourself and track those weekly averages. We don’t want the scale to defeat us on day one. Write out a plan. Even if this is a small plan, write it out! Write out your grocery lists, exercise plans, and morning/night routines. This will keep you organized! Find yourself an accountability buddy or coach. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals will help you stay on track. Being able to see someone else do this will just prove that it’s all possible and realistic. Jot down your “why”. On days you want to give up, circle back to this as a friendly reminder. Practice self-love. Give yourself grace, acceptance, and love. It’s okay that you had a setback. No human being can be perfect every second of every day. Understand your setback, learn from it, and grow from it. This is a journey of life, not perfection. For more info, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and visit my website! Read more from Lisa! Lisa Marotta, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Lisa Marotta is a certified Nutritionist and established owner of Lifestyle with Lisa. In 2017, Marotta decided to transform her lifestyle for the better, both physically and mentally, and it was the best decision she has ever made. She chose to create Lifestyle with Lisa, an all-inclusive and dynamic nutrition-coaching service, to help those who are facing the challenges she did just a few years ago. As a nutrition coach, she customizes her programs to meet all of her client's individual needs. From meal planning and fitness routines to maintaining a positive mindset when faced with life’s challenges, Lisa builds custom strategies to help her clients not only reach their goals and desires, but to maintain them. Often times, people may feel as though they do not have the right tools or motivation to make the changes necessary to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Her goal is to help those see that their goals are achievable and that support can be found both internally within them self as well as externally with the right tools.

When someone goes to law school, they spend years studying all the different laws in the United States, prominent court cases, etc. While the law is a complicated facet of our nation, one type of law tends to be far more complex than others: personal injury law. Personal injury attorneys have a complicated job because personal injury cases can cover a wide variety of injuries in a variety of places. If you need more convincing, here's how personal injury law is more complicated than other areas of law. Personal Injury Law Requires an Extensive Knowledge of Tort Law The key difference between different types of lawyers, general, personal injury, etc., is how much knowledge of tort law they have. All lawyers must study tort law as part of their schooling, but personal injury attorneys have to know everything there is to know about it because all personal injury laws govern tort law. Personal laws are in place to protect people's rights when they're in an accident that is someone else's fault. Personal injury lawyers deal with cases where an individual or their property is harmed. What Is Tort Law? Tort law is confusing to those who didn't attend law school and can even get a little dicey for those who didn't become personal injury lawyers. So, what exactly is tort law? A tort is an omission or act that causes injury or harm to someone else. Tort gives the courts the ability to prove that that person's actions or lack of activities can make them be held liable for the injury to the victim. Since personal injuries cover a variety of accidents, personal injury lawyers need to understand all the different facets of the law surrounding the particular injury—for example, car accident laws, dog bite laws, worker's compensation laws, etc. They Cover a Wide Array of Accidents Personal injury law covers so many areas. These lawyers must comply with all sorts of laws within their jurisdiction. With so many accidents and injuries that can be classified as personal injury, learning the ins and outs of various laws is critical and more complicated than other areas of law. Here are a few examples of accidents that personal injury attorneys can handle. Car Accidents Auto accidents are the leading cause of death in the United States, and personal injury lawyers can assist in getting the victim compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and more. Doing so requires extensive tort law knowledge and an understanding of automobile laws in their state. Medical Malpractice Lawsuits We can consider medical malpractice lawsuits and personal injury cases, so these lawyers also need an extensive understanding of what medical malpractice is to handle these cases. They can be tricky, but their extensive knowledge base helps them fight their case. Worker's Compensation Cases Workplace accidents are common in many fields, so when someone is injured on the job, personal injury lawyers must understand all workplace safety laws to ensure their client gets the compensation they deserve. Product Liability Product liability is harder to prove, but that's why personal injury lawyers are the ones who tend to handle these cases. Whether it's automobiles, pharmaceuticals, electronics, or something else, they have a lot more work to do when dealing with product liability cases than in other areas of law. Wrongful Death Sometimes injuries result in death, which can result in a wrongful death suit and a personal injury case. Wrongful death is complicated, and personal injury lawyers have many loops to jump through to prove their cases. Dog Bites While dog bite injuries aren't nearly as common as other personal injuries, they happen, and there are specific laws that personal injury lawyers must understand to fight their cases. Conclusion Personal injury law is a complicated law covering a broad array of situations. From worker's compensation to car accidents to wrongful death and everything in between, these lawyers have demanding jobs and require extensive knowledge of tort law.

Written by: Melissa Enoch, 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. December 2022 marks the last month of the year and brings with it many celebrations that involve family activities, family functions and the connections that come with all of the celebrations. Unfortunately, those activities begin and end during the months that many people also suffer from what has come to be known by the acronym S.A.D. which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that is related to the changes in seasons. Mayo Clinic cites that there are more than 3 million US cases of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder per year and occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times. Gratefully, it is treatable by a medical professional, only lasts a few months with many people capable of self-diagnosing. Mental Health Therapists, could be considered as a “medical professional” asking screening questions that can only take a few minutes such as Do you feel down when the days are cloudy and have no sunlight? Do you feel moody more often in the winter than the other times of the year? If it is cold, rainy or snowing, do you find it hard to get out of bed? If there is no sunlight outside, do you feel like you have no energy? If you consistently affirmatively answer many of the questions, the diagnosis could point to either Mild, Moderate or Severe Seasonal Affective Disorder, and depending upon the level; the answer could be as simple as getting more exercises and making an effort to go outside to the possibility of the doctor prescribing a temporary prescription of anti-depressants to help get through the season. Scheduling an appointment with the doctor or therapist answering some basic screening questions could lead the suggestion to contacting the therapist for a more thorough assessment. This assessment could help delve into more pointed issues such as the difference between Sadness and Depression, coming to the realization that feeling Sad is a normal feeling that everyone experiences, it is the mind and body’s way of helping you express your thoughts, feelings and the possibility that something is missing from your life that needs to be addressed; and can the struggle can be the result of some unanswered situations from childhood that surfaces when the body is depleted of the neurotransmitters; epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin during this time of the year. These neurotransmitters regulate mood and behaviors. Once this assessment is completed by the therapist, there is an agreement that is made between you and the therapist about things that can assist with helping work through the concerns during this season, known as a treatment plan. Working with the therapist on a short-term basis may be enough to help encourage healthy coping skills are in place throughout the season, including helping with the completion of basic task, creation and implementation of self-care activity, celebrate successes, development of a schedule that includes fun, play, meditation, exercise and participation in psychotherapy also known as talk therapy to identify the childhood memories that are continuing to resurface causing mental, emotional difficulties during this time of year. Hopefully, someone that reads this article has identified their concerns and realizes that most mental health disorders have a beginning, a strategy and a treatment. Treatment begins when There is an opportunity to learn, grow and heal. Taking charge of the situation is that answer to addressing the issue. Staying focused on the matter at hand is imperative to its resolution Focusing on the areas of concerns one issue at a time prevents from becoming distracting. If the issue or situations keep repeating, then it requires a resolution. Research has found there is an association between avoidance and resolution. Remain open for suggestions to assist with the resolution of the issue. Seeking out the real root cause of the struggle is the key to its resolution. Be vigilant. Stay calm throughout the process. Do not generalize your situation with anyone else’s situation. Ask all the questions needed both with medical professional, therapist, family and friends for any insight. Be honest with self and others about concerns. Stay in the first person when focusing on the thoughts, feelings and emotions associated with the issue. Remain humble. Take one step at a time as you work through the issue. If learn that there is a pattern in behavior passed down through generations, stay focused yourself throughout this process. Understand that the need for greater understanding may occur that may be difficult, but will be for the better. Find a resolution; otherwise it will continue to persist. Visit my website for more info! Read more from Melissa! Melissa Enoch, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Melissa Enoch is Owner/CEO/Director of Trinity Counseling Services LLC, a private substance abuse and mental health facility located in Burlington and Charlotte, where she uses her twenty-eight years of experience to educate individuals about various mental health and substance use disorder topics. Melissa is also the founder of Women of Strength, a non-profit educational organization focused on women's networking and community awareness. In her spare time, Melissa is interested in making jewelry, shooting photography, and mentoring young professionals.

Written by: Nicky Espinosa, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. The recession isn’t the biggest problem facing executives. The truth is much more concerning. We are on the verge of a leadership crisis. The pandemic has taken its toll on the c-suite. Our executives are burned out! These leaders have sacrificed their time, health, and mental well-being to take care of their organizations. And they’ve done it in silence. They are expected to create stability with their teams despite feeling overwhelmed. We want them to inspire confidence despite being stressed and exhausted. And we are seeing the fallout. A recent Deloitte survey revealed that almost 70% of executives are considering leaving their jobs. Can you imagine what that might do to the economy?! With very few organizations having the right mechanisms in place to support their top executives, many are left to figure it out on their own. So, they do what they know best…focus, get up earlier, and work harder. Listen…If you’re an executive you need to hear this. Working harder is not working. In fact, pushing harder is making things worse. What you need now more than ever is to feel inspired again. You need to get your spark back. You need to simplify so you can have the impact you strive for without sacrificing what fills you up. When working harder isn’t working, you’ve hit a threshold. You can’t keep going this way. It’s time to stoke the fires of inspiration again. Start by taking a good look in the mirror. What do you want for yourself now? How have you changed over the years? How has the pandemic affected you personally? What’s important to you at this phase of your life? Chances are good that you are carrying the burden of expectations that have changed. You’re likely spending more time than necessary on work that’s no longer a priority. Emotions might be running the show more than you care for. And let’s be honest…your ego is keeping you from admitting that this isn’t working. Enough is enough. Take a pause. Ask the questions. Reflect. That inspiration is still in there. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Nicky! Nicky Espinosa, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Nicky Espinosa is a leadership expert and executive coach specializing in supporting women executives to reach their full potential. She is a former healthcare executive, author, and professional speaker with 20+ years of senior leadership experience. She is on a mission to close the gender gap in the C-suite by empowering women to confidently level the playing field.

Written by: Jill Witte, 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. True Fit Balance is my personal training company that I started about 3 years ago. I created it because of my own journey to lose weight and I wanted to help people do the same. While I still help people lose weight, my niche has changed (as I talked about in my article “Unlocking My “Aha” Moment”) to helping people get ready for joint surgery (knee, hip, ankle and shoulder). As well as working with clients post surgery and physical therapy. I also train people who have chronic diseases and cancer. I have written about life being like a GPS (3 things to Learn From The GPS That is Life’s Journey).. We want to get to our goals the quickest way possible but it is the detours and stops along the way that really shape what our journey’s destination will be. The Beginning of my journey started with crash diets and a wanting to understand how my body worked. I was strong but really wanted to learn how I could develop different parts of my body, so I attained my personal trainer certification. From there I wanted to understand how my body responded to food. Since I was a kid I have always had stomach problems and instead of taking something to help soothe my stomach I wanted to learn how food worked for my body so I got my nutrition certification. The biggest thing I have learned from my certifications and just working on myself is that everybody’s body is different. Our muscles and digestive systems don’t react the same way to something, like someone else might. This is what I teach my clients on top of training them and sometimes it is hard to teach them because we see in social media posts and the quick fix programs that are out there. When it comes down to it, losing weight, gaining muscle, recovery from an injury and working through a chronic disease is a process and should not be rushed. As I continued working with clients I saw that some people felt they couldn’t workout because of an old injury or they had a chronic disease and I have always felt that anyone could workout it is just trying to figure out how they can. Again this is a process not a race, so I started expanding my certifications so I could work with cancer patients and clients who had chronic diseases and injuries. I wanted everyone to feel like they could workout. The most popular concern my clients have is balance because as they get older if they fall it is harder to come back from injury. A lot of my clients have seen their active friends fall and get injured and they are not the same after because they are now scared to do something for fear of falling and getting injured again. My Continuing Mission of working with my clients is to help them overcome their fears and have them do exercises that replicate real world scenarios so we can break it down together and they can create new muscle memories. It is hard to guarantee injury prevention but what I do is help my clients better prepare themselves if they ever do fall. When working with True Fit Balance you are given an exercise program that is tailored to you and help you create a healthy balanced body and mind. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Jill! Jill Witte, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Jill Witte, is the founder of True Fit Balance. She is a personal trainer who is certified as a Senior Fitness, Cancer Exercise and Clinical Exercise Specialist. Jill also has certifications as a Nutrition, Brain Health and Life Coach. She created True Fit Balance because of her past experiences of trying to find what exercises and foods worked for her. Now, Jill helps her clients find what works for them by connecting the brain, body and nutrition to create a healthy balanced body. Jill also hosts "Can You Relate Fit and Health". A podcast were she talks with people about their stories of overcoming injury or illness.

Written by: Rudo Muchoko, 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. Growing up, I always wanted to do normal jobs like nursing, becoming a doctor, or even being a teacher. My grades were favourable, but because I’m naturally an introvert, it was difficult to pass the group work stages of interviews, etc. After a while, as the internet began to gain momentum, I started taking Microsoft courses to improve my writing skills. This kept my interest in reading piqued. I enjoyed going to the library, and consuming knowledge became a secondary thing in my life. My library reading drew me towards Afro-romantic novels. Some of the books, however, left me hanging, which caused a lot of frustration. I’d try so hard to finish the story in my head, which resulted in me taking pen to paper and jotting down my version of the endings. In hindsight, this is how my journey to becoming an author began, but my confidence in this craft was cemented when I decided to finish my short story When Love Strikes. Being an author felt like I needed to instantly become famous and be on the New York Best Seller list after being published. I mean, who doesn’t want that? My author and entrepreneurial journeys have certainly been ones to marvel at. I was fresh out of university when I decided the 9-to-5 was not for me. Backstory: While in university studying publishing and English, I began editing for up-and-coming authors as well as some designing and proofreading work. This was exciting because, as a student, I needed the money but also received indirect training in publishing skills. When the award nominations started coming, it hit me! People are reading and rating my work? I continued to apply myself and discovered a whole new side to publishing books. Publishing is not merely about getting a book out there; it is about what your book can do for you. As an author, I would ask myself, "What is the purpose of this book, and how can it reach more people?" What is the message in the book? When I first wrote When Love Strikes, I was excited to get it into the hands of readers and didn't do much research into the publisher I chose to help me, nor did I know much about marketing and sales. Big mistake! The book went out into the world with grave grammatical errors, and it wasn't edited to publishing standards. I was livid and told the publisher I would take matters into my own hands and publish it myself since they refused to make corrections, citing the amount I had paid at the time as inadequate. So I self-published and learned a lot during the process. The most important lesson was: developing a good rapport with publishing professionals, i.e., editors, designers, web developers, printers, people in the media, and other publishing professionals. Publishing a book takes a community, it's not a one-person job. I’ve put together a chapter in my book, Awakening the Power of Self Publishing: The Ultimate Guide, on how one can successfully create purposeful relationships with publishing stakeholders. The most important relationships for authors are between them and their publishers. A second important relationship is with the editor, and the third is with bookstores and printers. These service providers and their skill sets are key to your book's success. As publishing entrepreneurs, it’s essential to network with other professionals in this field. Nobody knows it all, and networking has taught me to draw strength and knowledge from other entrepreneurs. Sometimes it gets very hard, and it is easy to want to give it all up. I hit rock bottom in my publishing entrepreneurial journey after becoming a mother. I was stuck between becoming a stay-at-home mom or a working mom. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help either, but it came with its blessings. While in university, I managed to undertake all publishing process tasks by myself and was clueless about working with, let alone managing a team. It was when I began getting external help that the idea of having a team became interesting. What made it more interesting was the idea popped up during the pandemic and everyone was working remotely, which made things accessible. Creating a team wasn’t just about working with people I would see every day but connecting online and using each person’s unique skills made it quite interesting. That is how RMPublishers Ltd began to establish itself as a great workplace, with a nurturing spirit and a team that understood the task at hand. The boost for me was receiving the nomination for Businesswoman of the Year at The Women's Business Awards and the knowledge that there are multiple support groups for entrepreneurs in the publishing sector. One of the RMPublishers' visions for 2022 was to create a space for authors to network and promote their writing. Authors Literary Essentials was born, a quarterly magazine designed to publish the work of emerging writers, promote authors published by RMPublishers, share research-based knowledge with publishing professionals on how to monetise their craft through diversification, and, finally, promote a reading culture. Another successful project under our belt is the Author’s Perspective Podcast which gives authors a platform to interact with their readers taking them behind the scenes of their literary journey. With the introduction of audiobooks, we began converting the books in our portfolio to audio in a bid to actively become a part of the global digitisation era. These same books and magazines are now deposited in the British Library which is something our authors can brag about. What can help authors do more with their books in this day and age of zero to nonexistent sales? Start with what you have. In my new book, Awakening the Power of Self Publishing: The Ultimate Guide, I train authors to become brands using their books. Everyone is writing content to help the next person and share their expertise, but what good is that content if no one reads it? Authors must build a brand with their books, become guest bloggers, contribute articles, find speaking engagements, and start a podcast, the list of activities to promote and expose their work is endless. The idea is to become a trusted authority on the content you are producing. Other people go on to turn their knowledge into courses and masterclasses, and so can you. As a creative, publisher, and author, Rudo Muchoko has become a passionate supporter of publishing works. She writes, edits, and publishes books, magazines, and audiobooks to lead and mentor authors using the suggestions in her book, Awakening the Power of Self Publishing: the Ultimate Guide In this guide, you will discover: The importance of author credibility The differences between traditional publishing methods and self-publishing The advantages of getting book reviews Establishing and maintaining meaningful publishing relationships Maximising your online presence Creating a successful book marketing strategy Keeping your book relevant and profitable after it has been published! Pre-Order here Email: info@rm-pa.org Rudo Muchoko, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine As a creative, publisher, and author, Rudo Muchoko has become a passionate supporter of publishing works. She writes, edits, and publishes books, magazines, and audiobooks to lead and mentor authors using the suggestions in her book, Awakening the Power of Self Publishing: the Ultimate Guide.

Written by: Torie Mathis, 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. Personal branding is essential for any entrepreneur. Your personal brand sets you apart from your competition and helps you build trust with your target audience. However, there are a few common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when it comes to personal branding. Let's cover the three biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make with personal branding and how you can fix them. "All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You." ‒ Tom Peters 1. Not Having a Plan The first mistake entrepreneurs make is not having a plan. When it comes to personal branding, you need to treat it like any other marketing strategy. This means setting goals, defining your target audience, and creating content that aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience. Without a plan, your personal branding efforts will be scattered and ineffective. To fix this problem, start by creating a comprehensive personal branding plan. This should include specific goals and strategies for reaching those goals, as well as a timeline for implementing your plan. You should also take the time to research your target audience and create content that resonates with them. 2. Being Inconsistent The second mistake is being inconsistent with your personal brand. This means having different styles or messages across different platforms. For example, if you're using a professional headshot as your profile photo on LinkedIn but a casual photo on Facebook, that's inconsistency. Or if you're using one tagline on your website but a different one on your social media accounts, that's also inconsistency. Your personal brand should be cohesive across all platforms so that people recognize you no matter where they see you online. To fix this problem, try using the same style and messaging across all of your platforms to create a consistent, professional personal brand. This may mean hiring a graphic designer or copywriter to help you create content that matches your brand guidelines. You may also want to consider using the same profile photo and/or tagline across all of your platforms. 3. Not Staying Relevant The third mistake is failing to stay relevant. Just like businesses need to keep their marketing campaigns relevant to current trends, entrepreneurs need to do the same with their personal brands. This means periodically taking stock of your goals, target audience, and content to ensure that everything is still relevant and aligned with where you want to be professionally. If something isn't working or resonating with your audience anymore, don't be afraid to adjust accordingly. To fix this problem, take the time to evaluate and adjust your personal branding strategy as needed. This may mean making changes to your content or social media platforms or even rethinking the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of your personal branding journey. The key is to constantly be open to improvement and evolution so that you can continue to build an effective personal brand that helps you reach your business goals. 4. Not Being Authentic People can spot inauthenticity from a mile away. If your personal brand feels forced or fake, people are going to be turned off—and they won't be likely to do business with you. To fix this problem, take some time to really think about what makes you unique and what values you want to share with the world. Once you know those things, it'll be much easier to establish an authentic personal brand that resonates with people. "If people like you, they will listen to you, but if they trust you, they'll do business with you." ‒ Zig Ziglar 5. Not Standing Out In today's crowded market, it's more important than ever to stand out from the crowd. If your personal brand blends in with everyone else's, you're not going to make much of an impression—and you're not going to attract many customers. To fix this problem, take some time to really think about what makes you unique and what values you want to share with the world. Once you know those things, it'll be much easier to establish a personal brand that stands out from the rest. "It's important to build a personal brand because it's the only thing you're going to have. Your reputation online and in the new business world is pretty much the game, so you've got to be a good person. You can't hide anything, and more importantly, you've got to be out there at some level." ‒ Gary Vaynerchuk Personal Branding Success Personal branding is essential for any entrepreneur who wants to succeed in today's competitive market. By avoiding these mistakes and following the tips above, you can set yourself up for success with your personal brand. Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs, like you, use digital marketing to grow your business without wasting time, money, or sanity. She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, speaker + trainer, and digital marketing coach. You don't need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or dedicated staff to market your business. In fact, you don't even need a lot of time. What you need is to be SMART. Torie hosts SMART AF, a show for non-techy entrepreneurs looking to grow their small business, with her husband Sean Mathis, and is the creator of SMART AF Magazine. Learn digital marketing for your small business at toriemathis.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Torie! Torie Mathis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs like you use digital marketing to grow their businesses without wasting time, money, or sanity. She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, speaker + trainer, and digital marketing coach. She'll show you how you don't need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or dedicated staff to market your business. In fact, you don't even need a lot of time. What you need is to be SMART. Torie hosts SMART AF, a show for non-techy entrepreneurs looking to grow their business, with her husband Sean, a fellow entrepreneur and founder of the Miles Through Time Automotive Museum. She is also the creator of SMART AF Magazine and Smart Arsenal. You can learn digital marketing for your small business with Torie at toriemathis.com

Written by: Chynna Morgan, 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 growing your brand, having a user-generated content strategy (UGC strategy) is vital to your success. There are several benefits of having a user-generated strategy, but three will benefit you, no matter your brand's level. Having a UGC strategy helps build trust, allows you to be cost-effective, and helps your brand create experiences that promote brand awareness. In addition, these three areas will enable you to engage with your audience, giving them the power to amplify your brand while saving costs. It is very easy for brands to overlook the power of having a UGC marketing strategy. But you might also be wondering, what does UGC stand for? UGC stands for User Generated Content, a form of content shared by your audience and customers centered around their experience with your brand. It could be in the form of reviews, feedback, photos, or videos. Creating a strategy around user-generated content is engaging for your audience and allows you to be cost-effective while getting the much-needed ROI for your company, depending on your goals. It's all about trust One of UGC's biggest strengths is the ability to be more trustworthy and authentic than any other type of content. When you see a real person vouching for a brand, your audience is likelier to check out your product simply because a real person is relatable. When you think of an ad campaign or a paid influencer, it could look more forced and not as authentic to your audience. According to a report, 84% of consumers trust peer recommendations above all other advertising sources. When your audience sees real people interacting with your company, it significantly influences their curiosity about whether they want to buy your product. User-generated content puts your customers at the forefront of your brand and allows them to vouch for your brand, which is the best type of marketing. Want to save on Marketing Spend? User-generated content is the most effective and converting content and is essentially free. As a brand, we all know how important it is to balance marketing and content dollars. With user-generated content (UGC), you're creating experiences that invite your customers to create content around your brand while also getting the ROI you need. A recent study states," the average cost of hiring an influencer can run into millions of dollars. The average cost of asking your customers to share posts of them enjoying your product? Next to nothing." You are getting a massive library of authentic content that you can use throughout your calendar year to help market and promote your brand while minimizing cost. Content created by your customers or employees can be highly cost-effective while maximizing ROI. Your goal is to create experiences that invite your customers to create content around your brand seamlessly, and boom, there goes your content for the year. Brand Awareness When customers love something, they want to yell to the mountains about how much they love your brand or product; amplifying this is a part of brand awareness. As a brand, you need to create opportunities that allow your audience to boost your brand to their network. Social media is a great tool that helps your audience to spread your brand through UGC. When someone shares, retweets, comments, or mentions your brand, it helps build awareness and relationships with your customers. The question is, how do you create opportunities for people to do this? First, you must be clear on what type of content you want your audience to make and think about the content that will benefit your brand the most. Once you finalize that goal, you can create specific campaigns and invite customers to create content for you. For example, the platform Viddey, allows brands to create user-generated video campaigns within minutes. You create a campaign that generates a QR code or URL link that you send your audience, and they can create video content, depending on the prompt you give them. Giving your audience the power to create content is fun and amplifies your brand because they are most likely to share with their network. Studies show that consumers are four times more likely to make a purchasing decision when referred by a friend. The benefits of having a UGC strategy are endless; one thing we know for sure is that it is fun, engaging, and empowers your audience's purchasing decisions. Can your brand benefit from a UGC strategy but need help figuring out where to start? Check out Viddey – it makes UGC campaigns simple and easy! Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Chynna! Chynna Morgan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Chynna Morgan is a trailblazer in the marketing and music technology industry. She has worked with several companies around the world to create shareable brand experiences using the power of sound and music. She is on the cutting edge of adtech with her tech startup Viddey. She is dedicated to sharing innovative ideas and perspectives on how you can engage with your audience and, most importantly, get your ROI.