Written by: Joel Haasenritter, 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. Throughout history, the world has been plagued by those in leadership positions who have done more damage than good. We have also been blessed by amazing humans who have literally changed the way this world functions; changed the way we think. Whether it is your business, your family, or a classroom, leadership is a fundamental pillar of success and growth. And how you lead matters! Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position. — Brian Tracy What Leadership Is Not I was reminded of the movie “Office Space” recently, where the main character’s boss derides him for forgetting a cover sheet on his reports. He admitted he had made a mistake and had already taken corrective action. However, his boss would not hear him. Leadership will never be founded on a title, seniority, or pay grade. Having any or all of those does not make one a good leader. In fact, in most cases, it reveals one’s true qualities and acumen for better or worse. If you are in a leadership position, work to build trust, not demand respect. Both are earned, never commanded. A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. — Lao Tzu Seven Qualities Of Effective Leaders 1. Vision The ability to set a clear vision can not be understated. As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never know when you get there. But more than just relaying a vision is the ability to involve others in that vision. You may never have 100% buy-in from everyone at every time. But no one will want to board a boat without a destination. 2. Purpose "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." – Mark Twain. There are few things as powerful as having a clear “why,” a clear purpose, and a mission. Not only will it help to shape goals and actions, but it is also what brings people together, intentionally united. And through seasons of hardship, that “why” is what keeps people going. 3. Communication In any endeavor, big or small, no matter how impactful or meaningful, nothing happens without communication – nothing. Every other critical piece of quality leadership can be in place, but one must be able to convey it effectively and with passion. This is plain to see in famous speeches such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have A Dream” or Emmeline Pankhurst’s “Freedom or Death” speeches. 4. Empathy In 2012, Google set out to discover why some teams were highly effective while others fell short of their marks. They studied around 180 teams for over a year and were surprised at the results. What they found is that psychological safety amongst the team had a profound impact on their effectiveness. In other words, the teams who continually excelled felt like they could be heard, like they were seen. They felt like they had a voice and that their voice mattered. If you want to connect with those you lead, have genuine empathy and show it. A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. — Douglas MacArthur 5. Calculated Risk One of the greatest characteristics of effective leaders is their ability to respond in any situation instead of reacting to it. It takes patience and emotional control but making quality decisions rarely happens in a heightened state of emotion. As leaders, we are called on to make decisions that affect people’s lives, their families, and sometimes even where they live. With that comes a responsibility to look for opportunities, calculate the risk, and take decisive action. 6. Passion “A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” — John Maxwell. In my previous article, Seven Ways To Accelerate Your Dreams, I wrote how passion has the potential to move you through self-limiting beliefs and emotional blockers that might be holding you back. But it is also a key ingredient in attracting those who will rally behind a vision. A group that is passionate about a purpose can, and has, absolutely changed the world. 7. Integrity One cannot lead if they cannot be followed… It is easy for the grey areas of life to be taken for granted. A stretch of the truth here, a downplaying of reality when things don’t go as planned there. When questionable actions become the norm, questionable leadership will become the perspective of others. It is not enough to set a passionate vision and communicate it well. Trust is earned, not dictated, and trusting that a leader does what they say they will do, that they hold integrity with themselves and with others, ensures a community willing to follow in their footsteps. Integrity of life is fame's best friend, which nobly, beyond death, shall crown in the end. — John Webster On Passion… The essence of passion is all about getting real with your core values and being true to yourself. It doesn’t come by trying to be someone else or trying to pump up your emotions. Being passionate about your purpose goes beyond excitement and can stay standing even through times of trial. That is because passion and purpose are linked to who you are at your core, what you believe, and how you show up to others. But make sure your passion is greater than your fear, that your vision is greater than those who would count you out, and be cognizant that time does not wait around for you to act on your passion. Once you connect to your passion and purpose, it is time to take action. Be patient. Be persistent. And surround yourself with those who can support your vision, cheer you on, and pour into your passion. On Integrity… Integrity at the highest level is not just about doing what you say you will do. It begins with holding integrity with yourself first. It goes beyond the standard definition of doing what you said you will do when no one else is around. It is also holding yourself accountable for your own growth and actions. It means if you intend on hitting the gym three times a week, but “life” keeps getting in the way, you still get that workout in, even when it isn’t convenient. Only after you keep integrity with yourself, can you show integrity with your words, your actions, and with others." If you would like a roadmap to connecting your passion to your action, download your free copy here. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Joel! Joel Haasenritter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Joel Haasenritter is a transformation specialist who helps people in their 30s and 40s, struggling in times of transition, to find balance, growth, and purpose, so they can absolutely crush the next chapter of their lives! After nearly 20 years of owning a highly sought-after company serving high-profile clients across the southeast, starting and growing multiple businesses, and coaching a development team to bring their invention to market, Joel turned his life's passion toward helping others live at their highest potential. In addition to his one-on-one coaching services, he is a founding Ambassador with Oola Global, which recently launched a revolutionary personal development digital platform in over 40 countries with the sole mission of impacting one billion lives in the next seven years. His interests include exploring the hiking trails of Arizona, studying the art of Gracie Jiujitsu, and spending time with his family.

Written by: Dr. Adriana Popescu, Senior Level 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 epidemic of caregiver burnout is well underway. What I and so many other caregiving professionals are seeing is that people who care for others both personally and professionally are struggling, overwhelmed, burdened, and fatigued. They are taxed physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These caregiving individuals are so essential. What else is possible to support them and contribute to them having more ease? Most of us are caregivers in some way, shape or form, whether we are doctors, nurses, therapists, coaches, managers, friends, parents, or teachers. We look out for other people and put everyone else first; taking a break and caring for ourselves is something that we often overlook. There is an incredible joy to be found in caregiving. Personally, as a therapist and coach, I find that it is incredibly inspiring to empower my clients and see the positive changes they make in their lives through our work together. However, there are moments when I recognize that I am working too much and not taking care of myself. Not taking enough time to care for me results in feeling cranky, tired and burdened. I notice signs of stress and fatigue in my body. At these times, I have to stop and ask: Am I really at my best if I am not taking care of myself? When we give and give and give, often putting other people and their needs above our own, we drain and burden ourselves. I saw this with my own family. My father was a doctor who cared so much for his patients he would be up and out the door at the crack of dawn before I was even awake, working nonstop through lunch, surviving only on coffee and cigarettes and collapsing in exhaustion each night. He put everyone ahead of himself, which took an enormous toll on his life, leading to his early demise at age 54. It makes me wonder… What can we do to take better care of ourselves? How can we stave off burnout? What are some positive and empowering steps we can take to calm and de-stress in the caregiving moments of our days? What is the deeper work we can do to change the way we interact with the emotions, feelings, and strain that are a common side effect of the caregiving role? It is imperative that we as caregivers, take time to nurture and replenish ourselves. We see this in the analogy of the airline passenger putting on their own oxygen mask first before helping others. You can’t assist anyone fully when you are running on empty yourself. I find that many caregivers actually resist or feel they don’t need or deserve these replenishing breaks, rest, and relief when they are aware of the suffering of those under their care. However, we all need to learn to honor our limits and ourselves. In the words of my friend and colleague, author Lauren Polly, as a caregiver, “First it begins with me.” Every day she asks herself: “What needs to change so I can feel cared for?” Lauren recommends taking mini breaks in your day to recharge, even if it means escaping to the bathroom for a few moments of quiet time. This is one small step that can make an enormous difference. I recently spoke with Lauren on a joint podcast episode in which we talked about caregiver burnout and “compassion fatigue,” where you are simply “tired of caring,” and how to use simple strategies to care for yourself as a caregiver. You can find a replay of that show here. There are many fast and easy techniques to recharge in just a few moments, including breath work, grounding, tapping or EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), meditation, yoga, and gratitude practice, among many others. Many of these stress relief tools can be found on the website for my trauma treatment center, Firebird Healing. Breathing exercises are my personal go-to to release stress and calm the nervous system. I have several videos on YouTube where you can learn these in under a minute. As caregivers, we also have to create a community of support. Socialization is a really important part of our psychological health and well-being, as many caregivers feel that they are alone. A key component of having more ease is finding a safe space and supportive and non-judgmental people to talk to about your stress, issues, and struggles. Find a support group, cultivate nurturing friendships, or spend time with a pet or take a few moments to go out in nature. Lauren and I were inspired to create a special online workshop to help those who are suffering from caregiver burnout. This is a course for everyone to care for yourselves and others and let go of stress and trauma brought on by caregiving. You may just discover a nurturing space where you can learn empowering ways to create more peace and ease for you and your body. You can find this here. My vision with this program, as with all of my work, is to create a world in which we are honoring ourselves and our bodies and where we take care of ourselves while simultaneously providing the care, so many people require right now. What would it be like if you actually put yourself first, and recognized that caring for yourself allows you the strength and presence to better care for others? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Adriana! Dr. Adriana Popescu, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Dr. Adriana Popescu is a licensed clinical psychologist and empowerment coach with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in treating addiction, co-occurring disorders, and trauma, and has directed a number of treatment programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Adriana has a private practice in San Francisco and travels around the world coaching and facilitating transformational and empowering workshops. She coauthored the Conscious Being, Conscious Recovery, and Conscious Creation Workbooks, and she hosts a fascinating podcast called Kaleidoscope of Possibilities – Alternative Perspectives on Mental Health. She loves to empower people to overcome their imagined limitations, release their self-judgments, and discover the brilliance within – creating a life of infinite possibilities.

Written by: Miriam Gauci Bongiovanni , 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 aching back? Pain while typing, sitting or exercising? If you’re an adult in the US, there’s a 20% chance that you’ll develop chronic pain, according to the 2019 National Health Interview Survey. And sadly, 7.4% of sufferers have to frequently limit life or work activities as a result. [1] We might think of this as a normal fact of life that some of us have to live with ‒ but in reality, chronic symptoms are far from normal; they are an indicator that the body has adopted some kind of negative pattern . And this can happen due to various reasons. The main reason why chronic pain persists is that both medical professionals and individuals do not identify the factors that are causing it in the first place ‒ and some of these factors could surprise you! It’s just like a crime novel where the villain hasn’t been found yet, and as a result more crimes continue to be committed ‒ but it doesn’t mean that this villain doesn’t exist! With chronic pain, the contributing factors often have to do with incorrect beliefs and treatments, which lead to behaviours that actually worsen chronic symptoms in the long term. And so, based on my experience as a Chronic Pain Coach and MindBody Practitioner, I’d like to make people aware of some of the most common beliefs and behaviours that can actually make chronic symptoms worse ( even though we believe that we’ve adopted them for our own good! ): 5 behaviours that actually cause chronic symptoms to persist: 1. You’re blaming the pain on an old injury ‒ although old injuries may cause scars or imperfections in the body, very few (if any) injuries lead to chronic pain that lasts over 6 months. The majority of chronic pain symptoms fluctuate in intensity or tend to shift location. Sometimes they flare-up ‘for no apparent reason’. This is not how real injuries behave. The only reason why we may keep feeling the pain long after an injury has healed is due to a process called conditioning. This process involves a learned association between specific activities and symptoms, leading the brain to memorise specific pain pathways. [2] What can you do about this? Make sure that any serious injury has healed by having the appropriate tests with a medical professional. Then look for exceptions to the pain, and assess whether the painful areas actually correlate to the location of your past injury. Most often, people find that their chronic pain doesn’t make structural sense! 2. You’re avoiding activities that usually trigger the pain ‒ this is a huge one! Although we may avoid movements or activities which we believe will make our pain worse, each time we do this, we are actually strengthening the conditioning process! This is because each time we shrink away from something due to the fear of pain, we are essentially ‘confirming’ to ourselves that the activity in question is dangerous ‒ and pain is none other than one of the danger signals that the body has at its disposal! What can you do about this? To unlearn this conditioning, people often need to re-engage in certain activities, in a paced and safe manner ‒ so that slowly, the brain will learn that harmless activities like sitting, walking or even running and more intense workouts need not cause pain! 3. You use phrases like ‘it always hurts when…’, ‘I can’t do X and Y’ or ‘ it’s impossible’ ‒ in short, you talk about pain as if it was a permanent condition. By using such statements, you are setting very concrete expectations. Given that expectations play a role in chronic pain, you could be literally talking yourself into pain! What can you do about this? Think about symptoms as being present-moment sensations. If possible, think of any exceptions to the pattern, when the pain was minimal or just about gone, or when you were engaged in an activity and it still didn’t hurt. Never use words like ‘always’ or ‘impossible’ in relation to your symptoms. 4. You’re constantly on the ‘lookout’ for pain ‒ in short, you engage in hypervigilant behaviour. Maybe you wake up and wonder how your pain levels are going to be like. Or you start scanning your body for the first signs of pain after exercise. You may even press the area or move it to check for pain. All of these behaviours and thought patterns actually bring the memory of pain to life, and are often coexistent with a feeling of fear and dread ‒ the very feelings that increase pain perception and overall tightness in the body! Several studies have already linked pain hypervigilance to increased pain levels. [3] What can you do about this? Notice how often you think about pain, or how often you find yourself expecting it. Think about reducing this behaviour by thinking of more positive scenarios instead, and stop yourself from constantly touching or examining the pain area! 5. You are constantly judging your symptoms harshly and wishing them away . As the popular dictum says, ‘what you resist persists’. This couldn’t be more true than in the case of chronic pain. The more negative we feel about it, and the more desperate we are for it to go away, the more likely it is to persist. What can you do about this? mindfulness practices can be very beneficial for chronic pain sufferers. Such practices may help you cultivate more acceptance with whatever sensations you are feeling in the present moment. It all starts by thinking ‘outside the box’. If you’re new to the concept of mindbody pain, then you may find the above reasons a tad conflicting with your current perspective and beliefs. Don’t worry, the majority of chronic pain sufferers think that the above doesn’t apply to their specific situation when they first hear about this. But once you start to understand the dynamics of how chronic pain develops and persists, things will fall into place. And no matter what you’ve been told about your pain, if there’s no underlying serious condition (like cancer or infection), there is much more hope than you think. My aim is always to make things easier to understand for the average person, and it’s for this reason that I founded my blog and coaching venture, PainOutsidetheBox . I literally help people think outside the box when it comes to the origin and persistence of their symptoms. Because if nothing has worked so far, it means that they need to be doing something radically different. And who knows, it may be your own turn for a breakthrough! Follow me on Facebook , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Miriam! Miriam Gauci Bongiovanni, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Miriam is a certified Holistic Life Coach and MindBody Practitioner specializing in chronic pain recovery. After having overcome debilitating symptoms herself by working with the mind-body connection, she continued to study the psychology of chronic pain and pain neuroscience. Miriam founded her coaching and educational venture, PainOutsidetheBox, as part of her vision to educate people on the connection between chronic pain and the brain. Miriam now coaches clients internationally, empowering them to eliminate pain, resume physical activity and reclaim their lives. She is also the author of an internationally-accredited MindBody Syndrome Practitioner Course delivered by the MindBodyFood Institute and runs a self-paced Pain Recovery Program for chronic pain sufferers on her website, www.painoutsidethebox.com. References: [1] CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, Chronic Pain and High-impact Chronic Pain Among U.S. Adults, 2019 ’ (Nov 2020). [2] Paul Ingraham, ‘Chronic Pain as a Conditioned Behaviour’, PainScience.com . [3] Catherine J Vossen1 et. al, ‘ Pain Hypervigilance Influences Cortical Processing and Habituation to Painful Stimuli in Healthy Subjects: A Cross Sectional Pain ERP Study ’, Journal of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine , 2019. Additional Resources by the author: ‘ Acute vs Chronic Pain ’, PainOutsidetheBox Neuroplasticity and Chr onic Pain ‒ a new angle on psychosomatic symptoms ’, PainOutsidetheBox

Written by: Tracey Gazel, 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 Great Resignation signaled an important time in history. Millions of people were feeling so dissatisfied with their current role that they were willing to leave, even during the unstable times of a continuing pandemic. However, many of those people who chose to leave their jobs either made a lateral move within their current organization or started working for a new employer within the same type of role. The result? Whatever problems were plaguing these employees in their former role seemed to follow them into their new position coupled with the added stress of starting a new job. Moreover, all of this movement within the workforce created more havoc and stress on an already-strained system. I think we can all agree that we can do with a little less stress these days as we are in the third year of an ongoing pandemic. The question I’d like to address, then, is what is purpose? And why is it so elusive? Can it be found within your work or is it tied to a career that provides you with the perfect salary, benefits, and work/life satisfaction? Formally defined as “the reason for which something exists”, purpose gives us meaning to our life. It provides us with a reason to wake up each morning. It seems as if many of us have a deep knowing, or even a yearning, to confirm that our life has some sort of meaning attached to it. And if one’s current career feels so overwhelming and high pressure that it’s almost intolerable, and it seems to leave a little, if any, mark on the work for helping to make some type of positive contribution to humanity, it can lead one to question, “What is the point of it all, really?” Here’s what I’ve found in my own life as well as while working with my clients as we dive deep into this topic. Purpose is not synonymous with career. What you do for a living and how you pay the bills does not necessarily fulfill (or not fulfill) a deeper meaning to your life. Yes there are definitely some careers that can feel more meaningful or provide a measurable contribution to society, however, that does not detract from the true meaning of purpose. Finding your purpose and living a purpose driven life starts with you. It’s getting really clear on who you are and how you want to show up in the world. It’s about waking up in the morning excited to tackle the day, regardless of whether you’re facing a seemingly positive and easy day or a difficult and challenging day. It’s about identifying and removing any mental blocks that are standing between you and your ability to feel calm and peaceful in the present moment. It’s about getting clear on how you would like to show up at work and at home, and continuing to do your best to be your best self every day. Purpose is about you being you. It’s about you feeling okay in your own skin regardless of what’s happening in the world around you. And from that space of feeling calm and peaceful in this moment today, determining what other cool stuff you’d like to create in the world. Have you been thinking about a passion project, a side hustle, or volunteering your time with an organization that supports your values? Then it’s important to follow those nudges and see where they take you. There’s nothing wrong with staying in your current role so that you can continue to pay the bills and care for those who depend on you, while contributing your time outside of work to satisfy the deeper desire to give back in some other way. Purpose can also be showing up and giving yourself 100% to your family, friends or any others who depend on you. In summary, purpose is not about finding the perfect job so that you can feel content in knowing that you’ve fulfilled a deeper meaning for your life. Rather purpose is about finding contentment now within your current circumstances and from that space choosing how you would like to spend your time. Living a purpose-driven life and finding contentment today is something I’m very passionate about helping others with. It’s how I choose to provide meaning to others in my own way. To continue to ‘plug in’ with me, subscribe to my weekly LinkedIn newsletter Calm in the Chaos. If you’re interested in learning more about finding purpose in the day-to-day, living with less stress and more calm, and simply enjoying your life more, you may be a fit for my one-on-one executive coaching practice. To request more information send me an email at t@traceygazel.com. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tracey! Tracey Gazel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tracey Gazel is a Neuroscience-Mindfulness Executive Coach, 1 Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Meditation Teacher. She specializes in helping others live with less stress and more calm by de-mystifying the brain and its complex processes so that feeling calm and grounded every day becomes your new normal. She is the founder of Rising Higher Consulting Inc., a coaching agency that helps high achievers who are wanting to accomplish the same amount of work with less stress, enhance their decision making with clarity of mind, feel calmer on a regular basis, and simply enjoy their life more. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can work with Tracey, you can contact her by email at t@traceygazel.com

Written by: Lorraine Rise, 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. Many job seekers are curious about breaking into a new industry. What does it take? How do I get noticed? This is a common goal among professionals who like the skill set they’re using, but feel bored, maxed out, or even pigeonholed. For example, you might be a sales professional interested in changing from healthcare sales to tech sales. Or you may be a project manager in telecom who’s looking for a project management role in software. These types of industry transitions are what I call “career pivots” that often take two to three months to achieve. These are quite different from full career changes, which are more time- and resource-intensive. Here are six specific strategies for entering a new industry: 1. Focus On Transferrable Skills What knowledge and skills have you amassed that would be relevant in the new industry? Examples of highly transferable skills include project management, business development, relationship building, leadership skills, and writing and communication. Be specific as you identify how these skills could be useful in your new role. Don’t forget to emphasize your soft skills as well such as communication, adaptability, and more. You will need to provide examples of this in an interview, so think of times you have demonstrated those skills and why they would be valuable to a new type of customer or employer. 2. Do Your Research It’s important to identify the nuances of this new industry: what matters most to its customers, vendors, and employers? Are there different laws or compliance regulations that you’ll need to know? Do they have a different way of doing business? Is there a new software system you’ll need to learn? You can do a fair amount of research online and read industry blogs and journals to learn about trends, issues, and opportunities in the new industry. 3. Network, Network, Network Networking is critical to breaking into the hidden job market, and also changing careers. If you hope to break into an industry in which you have no experience, you’ll need to make connections and network your way in. Doing online research won’t be enough. Reach out and do some informational interviews. Ask people inside (or outside) of your network who work in your targeted industry what it’s like working in that industry, what pertinent trends you should be aware of, and what advice they have for you in breaking into it. There’s nothing more valuable than getting advice from people who’ve already made the career pivot that you want to make! They can offer tips on what to change on your resume or recommend other people you should speak to. They can tell you what blogs and journals you should be reading. They can give you incredible insights into what matters most in that industry, and what employers are looking for in their new hires. You might even find someone willing to serve as a mentor, which would provide exceptional insight. Before you can have these conversations, you need to identify who to contact. First, look within your own network and see if you know anyone who works in that industry, even if they're doing a different type of job. If you need to reach outside of your network and make some new connections, LinkedIn is great for this. Yes, you can reach out to strangers! The response rate won't be as high, but that's okay. If you get at least one good conversation from it and learn something for your career, that's a success. Set a goal to identify at least three people who work in the new field, whether you know them or not. 4. Uplevel Your Skills You've already identified your skills in Step No1. Now, identify the skills that you will need for this new industry, and come up with a plan to bridge the gap and obtain them. This is also something you can ask your network (Step No3) about: What new skills will you need, and how you can obtain them. While you probably won’t need a new degree, you might need some short-term certifications. Luckily, online learning has never been easier. There are lots of websites out there like Coursera and Udemy. Depending on the new industry, you might need to get a formal certification, such as a project management certification, or to attend a coding boot camp. You might also consider joining a professional association for that new industry. I’ve been a member of the Society for Human Resources Management for many years, and I’ve gotten a lot of value from it, including professional development and education. 5. Revise Your Resume Think of your resume as a strategic marketing document instead of a list of everything you've done in your career. It's okay to leave off jobs that are not as relevant to your new career direction. You should focus primarily on the top half of the first page of your resume, which is the most-read section. Make sure the headline and key skills that you showcase are the most relevant one to the new industry. Also, when you bullet your responsibilities for each position, make sure the first bullet point is your strongest. You want to emphasize the accomplishments or experiences that are most relevant to your new industry. It might be a good idea to show your resume to someone who's done hiring in that industry to get their feedback. If you're not comfortable writing about yourself, consider asking someone to help you write your resume. Getting an outside perspective can help you better identify your accomplishments. 6. Be Flexible When you're making a career pivot or change, sometimes taking a step down in pay or title is necessary, so be flexible. I did this when I left retail management many years ago to obtain a corporate position within human resources. The first step for me was shifting from a salaried manager position back to being an hourly employee – but I was thrilled to do this because I was gaining great experience that would help me forge a new path. You may need to be flexible and accept a lower title or salary to make the change you want. Breaking into a new industry takes a bit of work, but by following these six steps, you can make a successful and fulfilling transition. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lorraine! Lorraine Rise, Exeutive Contributor Brainz Magazine From her very first job out of college, Lorraine has built her career on the practice of coaching others to succeed. Lorraine and her team at Career UpRising have served over 400 clients in dozens of industries, both public and private. Many Career UpRising clients come from some of the most recognizable firms in the country including Microsoft, Amazon, Fannie Mae, Coca-Cola, IBM and more.

Written by: Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar, 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. As an entrepreneur, you likely experience a wide range of emotions, both empowering and disempowering. It's important to understand how to ride the emotional highs and lows so you can stay focused and achieve your goals. People often think of emotions as something that is bad for them, when in fact they are the key to our reality. Emotions are what create our thoughts and actions, and without them we would be nothing. There are three fundamental ways to master your emotions: 1. Recognize your emotions. When you feel an emotion, just recognize it for what it is and don’t try to fight or suppress it. Just let it be, and then take the appropriate action based on the emotion. 2. Accept your emotions. Once you know what an emotion is, accept it for who you are. Don’t try to change or hide from it because that only makes things harder. 3. Own your emotions. It’s not always easy to admit when we’re feeling something but doing so will help us control our reactions better. The entrepreneurial journey is not for the faint of heart. It's full of emotional conflicts, and it takes a strong person to weather them all. But don't worry, if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, there are things you can do to stay afloat. First and foremost, it's important to flex your emotional intelligence muscle. This means being aware of your own emotions and how they affect your decision-making. It also means being able to read other people's emotions and understand how they might be feeling. Having this skill will help you in all aspects of your life, but especially in business. As an entrepreneur, it's important to know how to manage your emotions. After all, you're the one in charge of your business, and if you're not feeling your best, it can impact your work. It's also important to have the right mindset. Meditation and mindfulness can help with this. If you can learn to be present in the moment and focus on your breath, you'll be better equipped to handle whatever comes your way. There are three scientifically researched techniques for riding the emotional challenges of being an entrepreneur: 1. Become aware of your own emotions. It is important to be in tune with your own emotions in order to be able to effectively manage them. Pay attention to how you are feeling both mentally and physically in order to identify when you are starting to feel overwhelmed or stressed. 2. Don’t try to bottle up your emotions. It is okay to feel sad, angry, or scared sometimes – in fact, it is normal! Trying to bottle up your emotions will only make them harder to deal with later on. It's okay to feel sad, angry, or overwhelmed at times. If you keep all of your emotions bottled up, it will only make them worse. Instead, find a healthy outlet for them. Maybe vent to a friend or family member, or write in a journal. 3. Take care of yourself. When you're feeling down, it's important to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Make sure you're eating well and getting enough sleep. You might also want to try some relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga. We are pretty sure your life is full of new challenges every day. The key to entrepreneurial success is having the right mindset. Know and accept that there will be ups and downs. Embrace the fact that entrepreneurial life is full of ebbs and flows. Expect that there will be times when you feel on top of the world, and other times when you feel like giving up. Accepting this reality will help you stay more level-headed during the tough times. No matter what, focus on your long-term vision. When things are going well, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and lose sight of your bigger goals. One way to do this is through visualization. When you visualize your success, it can help you stay motivated during the tough times. See yourself achieving your goals and reaching your full potential. This will help you push through when things get tough. Another way to stay balanced is by taking care of yourself physically and emotionally. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. These things will help keep your energy levels up and allow you to better handle stress. Finally, remember that it's okay to feel all of the emotions that come with being an entrepreneur. The good and the bad. Embrace them all and learn from each experience. As an entrepreneur, you will experience a wide range of emotions. It's important to understand how to ride the emotional rollercoaster so you can stay focused and achieve your goals. If your every day feels like a roller coaster ride of elation and despair, hope and fear ‒ you will need to embrace your inner power that will help you weather the storms and take advantage of the good times. We want to offer you a six-step plan for riding through the storms of being an entrepreneur: 1. Believe in yourself. When things are tough, it’s important to remember that you are capable of overcoming any obstacle. Have faith in your abilities and don’t give up on your dreams. 2. Stay positive. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative when things aren’t going well. But if you want to succeed, you need to stay positive and focus on the good. Remember, every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. 3. Acknowledge your feelings. It is important to acknowledge your emotions, both positive and negative. Recognizing how you feel will help you better manage your reactions. 4. Don't bottle up your emotions. If you bottle up your emotions, they will eventually come out in an unhealthy way. Find a healthy outlet for your emotions, whether it is talking to a friend or writing in a journal. 5. Use positive self-talk. This often takes the form of positive affirmations. When you are feeling down, engage in positive affirmations to boost your mood and confidence. 6. Don't be afraid to ask for help. When you're feeling overwhelmed or down, reach out to your network of family and friends, or seek professional help from a business coach or therapist. If you're like most entrepreneurs, you didn't get into business to become a master salesperson, marketing guru or financial whiz. You got into business to do what you love. But running a business is hard work and it can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day grind and forget why you started your business in the first place. That's where a business coach comes in. A coach will help you stay focused on your goals, help you develop strategies to overcome obstacles and give you the accountability and support you need to succeed. Being an entrepreneur can be both exhilarating and exhausting. The highs of success and the lows of failure can feel like one long roller coaster ride. But with the help of a business coach, you can ride these highs and lows more successfully. A business coach can help you map out a plan for handling the ups and downs of your business, so that you can stay on track and achieve your goals. A coach will also help you get an outsider's perspective, plus help you stay motivated and focused. Emotions can be a powerful force in your life. They can help you feel connected to others, motivate you to achieve your goals, and create positive or negative feelings about yourself and the world around you. it's important to remember that while the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship are inevitable, managing them successfully is possible. Our two favorite tips to help you ride the emotional waves are: 1. Recognize and understand your emotions. When you're feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, it can be hard to think straight. Take some time for yourself to process what's going on and understand why you're feeling that way. This will help you make better decisions and stay on track. 2. Emotional resilience is key. Call it grit, call it mental strength. Be aware that it is important to stay emotionally strong as an entrepreneur, as there will be both peaks and valleys. By understanding and managing your emotions, you can continue to thrive in the entrepreneurial lifestyle. At the end of the day, it is always time to put first things first. Awareness and mastery of your emotions will propel you toward entrepreneurial success without stressing you out. Be aware of when you’re starting to feel an emotion and what it is. This will help you understand where the emotion is coming from and give you more control over how you respond to it. Once you know what’s going on inside of yourself, it’s easier to make smart decisions based on what feels right in the present moment now. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and visit our website for more info! Dr. Kapil and Rupali Apshankar, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Kapil and Rupali are Amazon 1 bestselling authors, and globally respected business and life strategists. They are founders of Blissvana, a boutique personal development, self-growth and success studio. Their coaching methods have been proven at the highest levels of success in every dimension of human life. Kapil and Rupali's lives revolve around love, happiness, abundance and bliss ‒ at home and work. Kapil and Rupali's purpose is to create the highest possible quality of life they can, for themselves and the people they love, while helping others around them do the same.

Written by: Tracey Meredithe McDaniel, 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. Determining what our purpose is in life can be one of the hardest questions that we as humans must try to answer. In this article we will be going through a step-by-step process, exploring your feelings and options, and by the end, you should have a solid tool you can immediately employ in your life, to help give it a meaningful direction! There are three steps to the process of discovering the purpose of your life: Understanding the principle of choice Creating your “underlying principle” Aligning your life with this underlying principle Understanding The Principle of Choice Norman Vincent Peale has this to say about the power of choice. “The greatest power we have is the power of choice. It is a fact, that if you have been groping under unhappiness, you can choose to be joyous, instead. And, by effort, lift yourself into joy. If you tend to be fearful, you can overcome that misery by choosing to have courage. The whole trend and the quality of anyone’s life are determined by the choices that are made”. “Choosing” is the most important activity of your mind, because by making a choice, you are proclaiming your desires to your subconscious mind. Once the subconscious mind gets to know your desires, it is going to do anything to manifest them in your life. The choices you make in your life become your goals. And, if you are sincere in pursuing them, there is no reason why you should not accomplish them. Indecision, on the other hand, not only creates frustration and anxiety but can also confuse the subconscious mind about what you want. But it is important that the choices you make are made by you, in accordance with your true desires, purposes, and aptitude. A lot of us let others make choices for us or make our choices according to what we think is ‘correct’, even if that means that we go against our wishes. What is right for someone else may not be right for you, and the way to know this is by listening to what your heart says. So, to begin with, make a list of things that interest you; things that you have always enjoyed, which make you feel better, and which inspire you to surge ahead, no matter what obstacles you face. Do you like doing something creative, or something artistic? Do you enjoy nature? Do you like the sea? Do you enjoy helping others? Do you get pleasure out of making a difference in other people’s lives? Whatever it is that interests you, write it down and answer these questions: What thing do you love to do? What is it that you love in this thing and why? How could you do this for money, and make a living out of it? Creating Your Underlying Principle The next step is to examine the list you just made and find out if there is any recurring theme. Maybe, it is the contribution that keeps coming up, or an effect to seek or give love, or helping your parents cope with old age. Whatever it is, try to identify the central theme of the things you love to do, and try to put it in a short and precise statement. This will be your Mission Statement. It may even be a quote by a famous person, or a philosophy that has influenced you. Of course, as you grow up, this statement could evolve, but its soul will remain the same. Now, write down your Mission Statement. Aligning Your LIFE With Your Underlying Principle The final step in this journey is to map your path to your ultimate purpose and begin implementing changes that help to align your daily life with your underlying purpose. By making these little changes in your lifestyle, you will start to be able to begin living this principle out daily. It might take a few days, but by becoming aware and intentional of this underlying principle of your life, you will certainly start to feel the difference in your enthusiasm for life. If you realize that you love being in nature, maybe an outing with family or friends could be enough to recoup your energy. If you discover that you enjoy helping those in need, start to look for opportunities to volunteer in your community. On the other hand, you might even want to change your job or start a new business that is more in line with your mission. So there you have it! By following along with the steps outlined above, you will be on your way to finding and living out your purpose. As you go through this process, just remember, You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it with courage. With years of experience as a psychotherapist, life coach, and motivational speaker, Tracey has a wealth of knowledge on effective communication and strives to share the insight she's gained and information she's gathered with as many clients as possible. She emphasizes personal empowerment and supports her clients as they grow into the best versions of themselves. She has previous experience as an Associate Professor and has taught numerous courses in the areas of psychology and human services. She has worked in an array of areas within the human services arena, including but not limited to substance abuse treatment, individual and family therapy, child welfare, adult protective services, program development, as well as investigative/research analysis. She is the author of the book, “The True Heart of the Matter: A Guide for Those Considering Marriage. She is the founder of the “True Heart of the Matter Premarital Bliss Intensive. Tracey McDaniel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from South Carolina State University. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Webster University. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Management from Webster University. She pursued a Ph.D. (ABD) in Human Services from Capella University. She is the Founder of Pathways to Positive Living, LLC, which is a private practice psychotherapy organization that specializes in working with individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, etc. She is also the founder of Meredithe McDaniel Coaching, LLC. This is an organization that specializes in working with high-achieving women. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Stress Management Professional, Human Resource Professional, and Certified Life Coach she has worked with many women who have been assisted in overcoming obstacles so that they can live out their dreams. She has been working with amazing women like you for the past 28 years. Through one-on-one coaching sessions, online programs, video conferences, and written content, she has been fortunate enough to connect with unbelievable females. Additionally, as a human resource management professional, Tracey provides business coaching and consulting services to small business startups that include topics not limited to leadership development, executive coaching, effective communication, conflict resolution, employee relations, etc. She is also the founder and CEO of Meredithe McDaniel Speaks and Events, LLC. As an event planner and coordinator, Tracey helps individuals in the development of a clear vision of what they would like to accomplish and execute the vision into reality. She specializes in weddings and other social and corporate events. She is also a Certified Notary Public that provides notary services for individuals throughout the state. Book a complimentary consultation call here. Tracey Meredithe McDaniel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Tracey McDaniel has spent the last 28 years assisting others with what is "blocking" them from living their best life. Her intuitive, empathic, highly developed skills give her the necessary tools to guide others into a great understanding of personal recognition and personal empowerment. Tracey's insightful perspective and emotional intelligence lead her to fill the role of a relationship and empowerment coach. With previous work experience as a psychotherapist and previous educational experience in Counseling, Social Work, and Human Resources, her coaching style is a mix of an objective perspective and compassionate understanding.

Written by: John Scott, Executive Contributor Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise. I felt pretty good the other day until someone important to me said something that felt like judgment. The judgment hurt, and it took my energy away. I went to my home office and sat there feeling the day was off. I was ruminating on the unpleasant thoughts of being judged. Part of me surrendered to the judgment as if it was valid, and my aspirations for the day disappeared. I made up a game a year ago when I had a similar feeling of being down on myself and have used it since when I needed to shift myself back to feeling good. A friend of mine likens this shift to cutting an old circuit before it overpowers the truth and the good. Is this how I want to feel? I had been walking along a trail that winds through dense woods, connecting my residential area with a large park. Despite feeling down on myself, a little inspired thought fought its way to the surface, encouraging a question about why I was feeling so low. Then this "observer" in me said, "Ok, you feel down. Why is that, and is the feeling legitimate?" And the better question that came next was, "Is this how you want to feel? I reflected on the why and admitted I was tired, not having had a good sleep the last two nights. I had a project I was stuck on, and I didn't seem to have the creativity to finish it. I thought, "What else is true?" So, I started to list the projects and tasks I had completed in the last few days and realized all that good had been diminished in the face of one thing undone. Just that shift to reflecting on the good made me feel better, which led me to consider things I was grateful for, like walking along the beautiful path in the middle of the city and getting several things done—a great family and good health. Gratitude added velocity to the intention to feel better. Then, an idea dropped in that was the answer to completing the project. I was so relieved I was now eager to get at it when I got home. Notice. Name. Nurture. New. That night as I reflected on the day, I paid more attention to the shift and what I had done. Then, the next day, I was thinking about what had happened and came up with this system: Notice the feeling. Practice noticing how we are feeling. We tend toward negative thoughts. Be alert. Name the feeling. I am sad, embarrassed, frustrated, weary, not myself. Nurture the feelings or befriend ourselves: What is the cause of feeling? What is the truth? Take stock. It's easy to underestimate the effects of recent experiences. A friend was saying she was tired, feeling unmotivated, and being hard on herself for all that. When she took stock of her last six months of preparing for her wedding, getting married, and starting a new, senior job, her fatigue became legitimate and worthy of setting a weekend aside to restore herself. Taking stock is about acknowledging, not denying, difficult things. Taking stock is about what has been happening, the truths, and using them as information rather than allowing ourselves to dwell in the suffering too long that no one deserves. Whatever you would say to your best friend, say to yourself. New choice or action. Action is an antidote for feeling down. It often takes some self-care and self-compassion, like a good night's sleep, to regain one's energy and sound perspective. Once I was standing on the shore of Lake Huron on a calm day and noticed the water level had dropped enough that I could see some rocks that were under the water the day before. I was curious about what was going on and found a phenomenon in semi- or fully-enclosed bodies of water akin to a tide called a seiche. A seiche is caused by strong winds or a rapid change in atmospheric pressure that pushes water from one end of the body of water to the other, like coffee sloshing around when the cup is suddenly disturbed. A few hours later, I returned to the beach and found the "missing" water had returned to the previous level. Noticing our energy level can help keep it high. This "sloshing around" can happen with our energy. For example, we can feel good with high aspirations. Then a rapid change or environmental trigger like an unexpected event, a comment, or an action from someone can sweep the energy away for what might feel like at the time, forever. As I was going through this system after feeling judged and depressed, the "water level" flowed back, and I felt re-engaged, attended to essential tasks, and had a great workout at the end of the day. Noticing is like being aware of our thought orientation: is it toward the light or the darkness, to energy creation or energy depletion? Let's do ourselves a favour, be curious, notice our feelings, name them, and help ourselves shift to the good. We all deserve to spend more time in the good of life. Be well, John Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from John! John Scott, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine John worked in sales and leadership in the financial industry for 30 years. For part of that time, he experienced a great deal of stress and didn't know the way back. As a result, John's health and wellbeing suffered. Becoming burnt out was the stimulus to wake up with a determination to do his life differently. John began a private journey to understand and overcome the negative stress he was experiencing. He found a formula for sustainable performance he now shares to help people move through common challenges to experience more great and less grind. John has completed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR, U. of Massachusetts), Foundations of Applied Mindfulness Meditation (U. of Toronto), and the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP, Flourishing Center, NY). John's adventures include: • Climbing Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. • Two dog sledding trips to the Canadian Arctic. • Two record-breaking swim crossings Lake Ontario (51km) • The first to swim from Christian Island to Collingwood, in Georgian Bay (32km). John brings his experience in life, learning, and adventure to help people do life and work well through writing, speaking, and coaching.

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. Nowadays, it is hard for someone who is new to exercise to choose the best way to get fit. It feels like it should be an easy question to answer, but it really isn’t and can be very overwhelming. Between family and friends, exercise styles and diet fads, social media influencers, and the internet, who do you believe? Here is what I tell people when they ask me what is the best way to get in shape. I ask the person if they are interested in group fitness classes or do they prefer to work out on their own. Sometimes finding a group fitness class is a good way to get into fitness because you will have the encouragement of other people to help you get through class. Plus, you can make new friends who can help give you the motivation to go to class. I recommend finding a class that you can try for a month. If you like the class, you can continue it, but if you don’t, you don’t have to renew it for the following month. Also, look for a gym or community center (YMCA or JCC) that has both classes and a gym so that you can do weight lifting or cardio. If you are not interested in group fitness classes then find a gym where you are comfortable. Gymtimidation can be a real thing, especially when you walk into a gym and see people who are shredded and lifting heavy weights. Honestly, most of the time, they don’t care if you are a novice. They are just there to work out. Once you find a gym you want to be a member of, I recommend asking if they have an orientation so they can show you how their equipment works. If you are working out for the first time, take a few sessions with a personal trainer so you can have proper form. It is hard-working off of fitness apps because they don’t always show proper form, and you want to avoid getting injured. There are so many fitness apps and social media influencers that it can be hard to know what exercises are the best. I have seen posts where an influencer will write, “do this exercise over this other one because it works the muscle the best,” or they start with “I see this mistake in a gym often,” and then the influencer proceeds to show how to do the exercise correctly (their version of how the exercise should be done). Usually, when I see posts like the ones I have mentioned, I will read the comments and some do agree with the influencer, but most people will disagree with them, saying how they did the exercise wrong and telling them which exercise is better. People will also comment they are new to the gym and don’t appreciate knowing that other people are “spying” on them and judging how they work out, which doesn’t help with having gymtimidation. The other types of comments I see are also from new people trying to get fit. They say they are confused on what to do because the type of “best” exercise to do is always changing and they just want to do what's best. Try every exercise that interests you that you find on the internet, and a social media influencer suggests, or even that your friends and family may recommend. When trying the exercise, keep in mind any injuries or other health issues that may prevent you from doing the exercise properly. The form is very important, and if an exercise is not done properly can exacerbate an injury. When it comes down to it, the “best” exercise for you is what works for you and your body. 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: Natalie Farrell, 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. Before we delve into this subject, I want to remind you of the definition of a Soulpreneur that I introduced back in article 1, how to grow rich through co-creation . As you read them, be aware of: Which one (if any) feels aligned with your current values as a business owner? Or perhaps you are at a tipping point within your own business story? And wish to learn more about being more authentic to your “true” voice? Are you in a predominantly masculine-driven mindset model and feel scared/nervous/intimidated to use a mix of both your soft and powerful values in public? A Soulpreneur shows up within their soul-led business in 3 main ways: Fully embodied and aligned with their soul purpose As an advocate for non-linear structures and co-equal leading To be a reverberant voice for change and stand out from the crowd When it comes to getting into the nitty-gritty of being a soul-led business owner a true advantage is that they can draw upon their softness and strength in equal measure when and where it is needed. More and more people are recognising that the principles of softness versus power lead to long-lasting and transparent relationships. Therefore, we are increasingly seeing people in senior and leadership roles speaking out about their soul-led values and trend-setting unconventional approaches to life and business. From my perspective, the idea of being a Soulpreneur on my own terms meant that I had to question: Whom I was working for How my input, both mentally, physically, and energetically, was affecting my output. A lifetime quest for sharing knowledge and living a healthy, fulfilled life led to one conclusion. To vow to combine my power and strength with my inherent softness and empathy both within my life and business. In 2015, at the age of 35, this was a key driving force in my career change and decision to approach life and business in an unconventional way. At the time, I was a vocal coach and singing teacher, helping people of all ages to find and develop their voices. My business was successful and had the potential to grow, with talk of franchising and taking on more staff. Whilst I found this rewarding, somehow, I knew deep down that this was not my true calling. I needed to be true to myself and I knew this feeling was not going to go away, so I became curious and decided to explore it further, making vision boards, asking myself questions, and then questioning the answers too. I took a journey inside myself, exploring the silence, listening to the stillness, and searching for my inner voice. One thing that had always been clear to me was that I had a natural ability to encourage people to shine and achieve great things. I wanted to continue to encourage people to be the very best versions of themselves but I knew that this must also apply to me. I needed to push beyond my own boundaries or, to quote internationally renowned yogi Ganga White, to “Stand on the shoulders of the past to find out how to see further into the future.” You can read more on this story of transformation over here in my exclusive interview with Om Yoga magazine . I remember how excited I felt at this point. I had found a sense of relief, as I could give time to exploring other strengths I had beyond teaching. I had determined how I wanted my life to be, how I wanted to be different, and how I wanted both my business and the way I do business to be different. This business was going to be an expression of who I am and the Soulpreneur I was evolving into. Changing careers and following my new path was not all plain sailing. I really felt that I was bringing opposing sides together - the strong, powerful, no-nonsense, straight-talking businesswoman with the serene, balanced, and softer approach of the yogini. Yet even as I wrestled with this, I found there was common ground in my: Commitment to achieve Drive Ambition Determination Focus So, in January 2017, Yummy Yoga Girl was born, and the time had come to make my dreams a reality. I surrounded myself with experts and drew on my NLP and hypnotherapy training to build my self-belief and work through any doubts which were, consciously or unconsciously, holding me back. I utilised skills from my previous career and experiences and broadened my horizons by traveling extensively, eventually training and qualifying as a yoga instructor under the tutelage of Ganga White. Everything was going according to plan, and then an opportunity arose which led me to make a “big leap” decision that would enhance the overall experience for my online lifestyle business model. In September 2017, I launched a boutique yoga-wear range inspired by my passion for slow fashion and sustainable shopping. I project-managed the entire process and brought a team of talented Soulpreneurs together to design and produce a collection of clothes that, I believe, reflect the intricacies of modern-day women’s life. Looking back now, part of me still can’t believe it. My learning journey has been phenomenal, not just because I have had to educate myself about the clothing manufacture and production process but the sales and marketing side as well. Every year the story evolves with new products and offerings being birthed. As a Soulpreneur my roles are CEO, coach, project manager, buyer, communicator, advisor, writer, seller, creator, presenter, producer, financial analyst, and director! Each day is varied. Each project is guided by my soft and powerful sides. The masculine and feminine approach. The playful ebb and flow weaving its way around the structure, order, and spreadsheets! Good luck carving your new path. However, that may look for you. To help you on your way, here are my 5 top tips to guide you through your career change toward Soulpreneurship: Your dream is more than a dream. It’s a devotion to who you are and the belief that you can achieve more than you can dream Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Employ people who are amazing at what they do, learn from them, and enjoy the process and connection of creating something together Be kind to, and look after, yourself. If you feel tired or stressed, STOP and step away. Find some time and a quiet place to reconnect with yourself and rediscover who you truly are. Take a few moments to empty your mind and just breathe, and it will restore a sense of calm and control Reassess. If you feel you are pushing or fighting against something, don’t hesitate to question yourself and be prepared to make changes. I believe that this is of huge importance for your personal development And finally - meditate regularly. Build it into your routine, maybe at the same time each day. This is a crucial part of learning about who you are, how you deal with certain situations, how you can react in a way that is more beneficial to you and others involved, and questioning what it is you truly want within decision-making and life experiences. You are also toning your vagus nerve each time you take a few moments to breathe and just be this, which in turn, brings in the balance you need to ignite your superpower as a Soulpreneur. To find out more about 3 ways to ignite your superpower to be more, read this intriguing article. Feeling lost. Not sure which way to go. But now, there is something more for you and your career. Take Natalie’s 3-minute quiz to find out what type of soul-led business owner you are and get you on the right path to change. Ready to take the quiz ? Follow me on Instagram, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Natalie! Natalie Farrell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Natalie Farrell is a leader in voice activation, intuitive sound healing, and linguistic psychology. With an accomplished 20+ year background in singing, voice coaching, presenting, and writing her work with Solopreneurs acts as a catalyst for profound transformation guiding them to be fully visible within their field of expertise. In 2021, she published her first book, ‘Light The Way’ a powerful companion for modern-day change makers who are ready to go all-in and approach business and life in an unconventional way. Her mission: to release reverberant voices.

Written by: David Campbell, 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. Get the ball rolling. Are you a leader? If you can answer “Yes,” then keep reading. If you still have questions, then I encourage you to re-read my article “Releasing the Leader Within You.” Decide that you are a leader. Now that we have considered who can be a leader and the characteristics of a good leader let’s consider where we go from here. Every leader needs to develop strategies that will enable them to grow in both good and bad times. I now offer five strategies you can employ to strengthen and broaden your skills as a leader. This is not an exhaustive list but rather a good starting point. 1. Leaders need Persistence The dictionary defines persistence as “the fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” What’s the one common attribute high achievers share above anything else? PERSISTENCE. When they have a goal, they simply refuse to give up until they reach it – no matter what roadblocks life throws in their way. In short, they are focused on the goal. I found the following commentary about being focused on the goal to be very helpful. “I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way. Friends, don't get me wrong: by no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, you need to clear your vision. Now that we're on the right track let's stay on it.” Paul (Saul of Tarsus) I find this extremely motivating when I face what appears to be insurmountable opposition to the goal I have set myself. As a leader, we need this kind of attitude when it comes to achieving results. An attitude that pushes through the inevitable roadblocks that get in the way of our progress. 2. Face what isn’t working Good leaders take the time to review and reflect on the past. I was once told that if I lost the opportunity (in business), do not lose the lesson learned. If you are going to become more successful, you have to reject the desire to deny failure and face what isn’t/hasn’t been working. The first time you try something that doesn’t work, it is a learning opportunity. The second time is a mistake. The formula for achieving success is simple: Have a go, review, adjust, have a go. (Repeat until you succeed) As you review, ask yourself: Are the goals simply too big? Are you lacking some essential skills? Do you need more support? No matter how uncomfortable or challenging it might be, if you want to realize success, you must face what isn’t working and do something to change that. I would like to ask: if money, time and skills were not an issue, what would you do next? Choose one action you can take and then do it. Then take another action, and another, continuing until you reach the desired outcome. My mentor, John C Maxwell, speaks about the value of momentum to the leader in his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”. When you start moving forward (in any direction), it becomes easier to change course and keep moving. 3. Rise above your limiting beliefs As a coach, I often come across clients who are not moving forward because, deep down, they don’t think they are actually capable of achieving their goals – or don’t feel deserving of success. These are limiting beliefs – negative thoughts. If you have limiting beliefs or negative thoughts holding you back, take some time now to identify what these are and then transform them into an empowering belief. Using these four steps: Write down the limiting belief or negative thought Describe how the belief limits you Decide how you would rather be, act, or feel Create a turnaround statement that affirms your right to be, act, or feel this new way. For example... Limiting belief: I have to do everything by myself. Asking for help is a sign of weakness. Turnaround statement: It’s okay to ask for help. I am worthy of receiving all the support I need – and I know it will help me reach my goals faster. 4. Stay motivated You control your motivation. It comes from within, knowing your vision and maintaining your passion – but sometimes, an injection from an external source can nudge you forward. My business colleague sets aside half a day per week to learn something new. One of our clients sets aside “think time” for all his executive team. I schedule 30 minutes a day to first walk the dog and then sit and reflect on an article I might have read or a podcast I may have heard. The principle is to take some intentional time to allow external input to your level of motivation. Grow yourself through extending yourself. Find yourself a few minutes every day to improve yourself. It can give you the edge to excel in virtually any area of your life. If you devote more time to developing success-oriented thoughts and attitudes, you will reach your goals faster. 5. To get big results, take bold actions There is usually some level of fear when you put yourself out there in a new project or venture. Most people let that fear stop them. They fail to take the necessary steps to achieve their dreams. Even successful people feel the fear, but they don’t let it keep them from moving forward. Fear needs to be acknowledged and harnessed. Using that experience enables you to take bold actions. By taking a leap of faith and facing your fear, you can transform your life. It all comes down to pushing out the boundaries of your comfort zone. I know that when I went into business for myself, I was unsure of many things. I feared that I would not be able to succeed. I worried about what would happen if I failed. In reality, I could not fail if I didn’t try. But I would always be asking myself: “What could have been?” Having the support of my wife and close friends (who believed in me) has enabled me to step out and I am now seeing the results of facing my fears. In conclusion: If you can implement just one of the above thoughts, and turn it from a thought into action, you will be making a shift in your leadership journey. Leaders are committed to staying the course to the end goal, doing what is needed to navigate around and through obstacles and showing the courage of their conviction. Follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from David! David Campbell, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine David is an exceptionally experienced executive coach. He is an exceptional public speaker who challenges the way organisations and individuals think in relation to business and life. has led reform within a number of organisations and brings a unique understanding of the pressures in both the public and private sectors. He understands the changing requirements and time frames within the business environment and has considerable experience in leading, managing and coaching geographically dispersed (remote) teams. David brings a new insight into the way we think into our success in business to realise exceptional results.

Written by: Charlotte Pineda, 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. Clients often come to me because they feel stuck and that coveted senior leadership role seems out of reach. My first question to them is, “Are you possibly sitting too comfortably in your current role?” If you want to advance your career, you must behave as if you already have the position. Being an effective leader requires getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. “Of all the things a leader should fear, complacency heads the list.” – John C. Maxwell Effective leaders lead by example and see themselves as a work in progress. They never stop learning. Many leaders make the mistake of viewing their roles as destinations. The common thinking goes something like this: “I made it to a senior leadership role, so people will fall in line and follow me, and my career will naturally progress.” This is a huge mistake. Effective leaders lead themselves first. How can you expect to lead and grow others if you’ve allowed yourself to become stagnant? The status quo makes effective leaders uncomfortable. Growth happens outside your comfort zone—not when you’re on autopilot. Effective leaders are self-aware and possess confident humility. They’re not threatened by other’s strengths. Continually focused on sharpening their strengths, they aren’t consumed by their weaknesses. They know their limitations and surround themselves with people who are strong where they’re not and help them flex and grow their own strengths. Effective leaders accept that they have blind spots and solicit 360-degree feedback. The information gleaned from the feedback is reflected upon and used to get better. The higher you go on the organizational ladder, the more you need 360-degree feedback. Think about it; junior and mid-level employees are assessed in one way or another by their managers. Who’s assessing you? Your status as a senior leader should not exempt you from being assessed. Yes—it’s uncomfortable to seek consistent, honest feedback, but it’s a necessary part of being an effective leader. In fact, research proves that top-ranked leaders regularly seek feedback from employees. Effective leaders have a beginner’s mind. They open themselves to learning from people at all levels of the organization and are proponents of reverse mentoring. They look upon differences with curiosity and ask questions to gain new insights. Effective leaders practice steadfast flexibility. They’re firm in their values and ethics but admit when they’re wrong and seek opposing views. As Adam Grant said in Think Again, “We learn more from people who challenge our thought process than those who affirm our conclusions. Strong leaders engage their critics and make themselves stronger. Weak leaders silence their critics and make themselves weaker.” To sum it up, effective leaders are nuanced and agile and adapt to the situation. Yesterday’s challenges may have called for them to stand firm, but today’s challenge may require flexibility and humility. Effective leaders are always pushing beyond their comfort zone and creating safe environments where employees are encouraged to do the same. They embrace the uncomfortable and help their teams strike the right balance of creative tension to achieve the mission. Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Charlotte Pineda, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Charlotte Pineda, CPC, CEC helps busy professionals and executives create life-career synergy. Her mission is to help others craft meaningful lives and careers that allow them to live their values. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, Charlotte can help you gain perspective and set realistic boundaries so you can get ahead and stay ahead in your life and career.