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In today's wired world, we are constantly bombarded with messages telling us that we need more stuff to be happy. But what if the opposite is true? What if we can achieve greater happiness by simplifying our lives and eliminating excess clutter? This is the premise behind minimalism, a lifestyle movement gaining popularity recently. This post will explore minimalism and how it can lead to a happier life. So whether you're considering simplifying your life or want to learn more about the minimalist lifestyle, read on! Define minimalism and explain how it can benefit your life Minimalism is living a simplified life with fewer possessions and obligations. The philosophy behind minimalism is to focus on what truly makes us happy and remove anything that distracts us from that bliss. One can mitigate distractions such as material items by embracing minimalism, keeping only those with significant value or utility. As a result, minimalism can bring clarity in our lives, helping us focus on activities and relationships most important to us and avoiding time wasters. Living in this manner opens up more free time for ourselves and encourages decluttering of clutter from both physical spaces (such as homes) and mental ones (such as unhealthy thoughts). Ultimately it sets the stage for a more purposeful life full of joy and satisfaction. Describe how to declutter your home and belongings Decluttering your home can be challenging but rewarding if done step by step. Start small and focus on one area, like your living room, bedroom, or closet, at a time. First, sort through any superfluous items, decide what you want to keep, and can donate or sell. Next, take the items that are staying in the house and group them together according to their usefulness or purpose. Finally, assign each item its own place so it's easily accessible when needed and won't require frequent shifts of other objects. Following these few steps can help maintain an orderly and stress-free home environment while ensuring you keep only those items that truly matter to you. Offer tips on how to live a more minimalist lifestyle Living a minimalist lifestyle can seem overwhelming at first, but there are some simple steps we can take to make the process meaningful and rewarding. Start by decluttering your physical space – begin with clothing, going through and only keeping those items that bring you joy. Next, focus on your "mental space", by striving for solitude daily. It can be as simple as taking 10 minutes of quiet reflection or an entire day of unplugging from all technology. Finally, create an intentional schedule. Plan out each day in advance and limit yourself to no more than three major tasks a week. After taking these small steps, it won't take long before you start noticing the positive shift towards living a life with more purpose and less stuff! Share stories from people who have embraced minimalism Minimalism has become an increasingly popular lifestyle choice because it emphasises living a life of intention. Many success stories have been shared by people who have adopted a minimalist lifestyle, with some that are incredibly impressive. One such story comes from Peter Chislett, who sold all his possessions and moved onto the sailboat he lived in for the next seventeen years. His minimalism allowed him to experience travel and adventure more frequently than ever, ultimately teaching him valuable lessons about himself and the world around him. Another example is Elena Brower, who, after becoming an entrepreneur at age 25, could pay off her seven-figure debt by embracing minimalism and making responsible financial decisions. Both stories deserve to be celebrated as they stand as testaments to how powerful minimalism can be in creating exciting opportunities. Discuss the challenges of minimalism and how to overcome them Adopting a minimalist lifestyle is often seen as a desirable way to reduce stress and gain freedom, and while that is certainly an admirable goal, it can also be a challenge. One of the biggest challenges to becoming a minimalist is letting go of possessions; most people have difficulty parting with items they have grown to love or have been attached to for many years. Another challenge might be staying motivated in the midst of the daily grind; it's easy to adhere to a minimalistic lifestyle when everything is going well but more difficult during stressful times. To overcome these difficulties, setting clear goals and holding yourself accountable is important. Establishing parameters - like what items you want to keep, donate, or throw away - will help you focus on your desired outcome. Additionally, surrounding yourself with supportive people engaging in similar pursuits can motivate and ensure sustained progress towards minimalistic living. Encourage readers to try out minimalism for themselves Minimalism is a trend that has been picking up steam in recent years, and it could be the perfect thing to help you take your life to the next level. By cutting out extraneous items and focusing on only the essential things, you can gain clarity when making decisions and create more space for meaningful experiences. And it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing approach; even small changes can make a big difference. Whether you follow minimalist trends to the letter or use minimalism selectively, you'll quickly realize that living with less is often more gratifying than living for excess material possessions. So why not give it a shot? You might find yourself pleasantly surprised! Despite the challenges that come with minimalism, it is clear that embracing this way of life has the potential to enhance your lifestyle and bring peace of mind drastically. The stories from people who have embraced minimalism are a testament to its transformative power and how much can be gained from living simply. As you take steps towards consciously reducing your possessions and distractions, remember to maintain an open mind and recognize that minimalism looks different for everyone. Whether you want to take baby steps or dive right in, we encourage you to try minimalism – it's not something you'll regret! The rewards of minimalism are plentiful, so if you choose to embrace this lifestyle, it will benefit your environment, create balance in your life, and help you focus on what truly matters.

Exclusive Interview of Robin Vermaat of RV Consultancy. Edited by Powered Magazine Meet Robin Vermaat, the Founder and CEO of RV Consultancy, a visionary leader dedicated to driving organizational success. With a remarkable track record of transforming businesses, Robin is renowned for their expertise in strategic planning and operational excellence. In this exclusive interview with Powered magazine, we delve into Robin's entrepreneurial journey, leadership philosophy, and their unique approach to empowering businesses. Discover valuable insights, practical advice, and their vision for a future where companies thrive. Tell us about yourself and your business. My name is Robin Vermaat. I’m from the Netherlands and have been living in the UAE for over a decade. In 2021, I started my own consulting business, RV Consultancy, which provides logistics and management solutions on a commercial level. We provide commercial growth strategies to the logistics/3PL industry, and for the management business, we cater to all industries with our soft skill processes and training. What were your biggest challenges when starting your business? Securing businesses and projects on a consistent basis was one of our biggest challenges when starting our business. We had to work hard to establish ourselves as a reliable and trustworthy partner for our clients and build a strong reputation in the industry. However, through persistence and dedication, we were able to overcome these challenges and grow our business successfully. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? Always move on; never quit. Failure is part of life and of business when you start, so don’t be afraid to fail. Learn from your mistakes and use them as opportunities to improve and grow. Similarly, when you experience success, don't become complacent and always strive to continue growing and improving. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? Try to be innovative and persistent. The market is competitive, but if you have a good product or solution that is "missing,” try to capitalise on that while providing your proposition. Additionally, staying up-to-date with industry trends and consumer behaviour can also give you an edge. It's important to be adaptable and willing to pivot your strategy if necessary. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? Adversity always happens This can’t be avoided, but you need to be agile and keep pushing forward, as there will be a moment when things will click in your favour. Every day is a new learning day. It's important to have a clear goal and purpose in mind, as this will give you the drive and determination to overcome any obstacles that come your way. Additionally, having a support system of friends, family, or mentors can provide encouragement and help you stay motivated during tough times. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? Never give up, keep pushing forward, and create a good client portfolio or connection when starting out that can support you when needed. It's also important to continuously learn and improve your skills, as the industry is constantly evolving. Seek out opportunities for professional development and networking to stay ahead of the game. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? Automatization, digitalization, and drones are the current trends that the logistics industry is looking into, and with RV Consultancy, we provide those services to our customers to fulfil their needs and requirements. What have been the most rewarding and difficult aspects of your chosen career or business path? Being nominated and winning awards for my work by several institutions is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career and business path. It shows recognition for your hard work. On the other hand, dealing with difficult clients or navigating through tough economic times can be challenging. However, overcoming these obstacles has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? You must be persistent, agile, flexible, and, in my opinion, have out-of-the box thinking. With all this, you have a good chance of being successful in your field. Having strong communication and interpersonal skills is also crucial. Being able to effectively collaborate with others and build relationships can greatly enhance your career prospects. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers that we haven’t already discussed? If you want to have an assessment of your company and are interested in growing your business locally or internationally, please let us know and we can schedule a free call via my LinkedIn page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/rv-consultancy/

World's Leading Cryptocurrency Exchange Faces Legal Battle Over Regulatory Compliance. In a significant blow to Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao. The complaint, filed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., accuses Binance of operating a "web of deception" and lists 13 charges, including artificially inflating trading volumes, diverting customer funds, misleading investors about market surveillance controls, and failing to restrict U.S. customers from its platform. The SEC alleges that Binance and Zhao secretly controlled customers' assets, allowing them to commingle and divert investor funds at their discretion. The complaint also claims that Binance established separate U.S. entities as part of a scheme to evade U.S. federal securities laws, corroborating investigative reports published by Reuters in recent years. According to the SEC, from three years ago until June 2022, a trading firm owned and controlled by Zhao, Sigma Chain, engaged in wash trading on the Binance.US platform, artificially inflating the trading volume of crypto asset securities. The SEC revealed that Sigma Chain spent $11 million from an account on a yacht. SEC Chair Gary Gensler commented, "We allege that Zhao and Binance entities engaged in an extensive web of deception, conflicts of interest, lack of disclosure, and calculated evasion of the law." In response, Binance stated that it intends to vigorously defend itself, emphasizing that the SEC's jurisdiction is limited as Binance is not a U.S. exchange. The news of the lawsuit had an immediate impact on the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, experienced a drop of up to 6%, reaching its lowest level in nearly three months. Binance's native cryptocurrency, BNB, also declined by over 5%. Industry experts predict that the lawsuit's ramifications will extend beyond Binance and could significantly affect the broader crypto industry. This legal action adds to Binance's existing legal challenges, as the company was previously sued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in March for allegedly operating an "illegal" exchange. Additionally, the company is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for suspected money laundering and sanctions violations. Binance released a statement on Twitter: Today, the SEC filed civil claims against Binance s in what is the latest example of regulation by enforcement under the current Commission. To be clear, we believe the lawsuit is baseless and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously. However, we want to address what has become an all-too-common occurrence for entities and individuals operating in the American digital assets industry. For nearly two and a half years, Binance has engaged in good faith with the SEC. All along, the objective of our engagement has been consistent: work constructively toward a clear, practical regulatory framework that enables businesses like ours to grow, create jobs, and provide American consumers safe access to digital assets. While we remain open to a productive compromise that protects our customers and their digital assets, with this latest action taken against our business and following similar actions taken against Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, and other market participants, the SEC seeks a near eradication of our industry. Simply put, today’s filing is unjustified by the facts, by the law, or by the Commission’s own precedent. The relief sought by the Commission would harm the very investors the SEC is charged with protecting. It would also stifle innovation and punish our company and industry rather than working to allow American businesses to thrive. We continue to call on Congress to step in and pass bipartisan legislation that creates a workable regulatory regime for digital assets and reins in the bureaucratic overreach of which our industry is the victim. Until then, our country’s role as a leader and innovator will continue to be undermined. As Binance faces these legal battles, its future remains uncertain. The outcome of the SEC lawsuit will have significant implications for the exchange and may reshape regulatory approaches to the cryptocurrency industry in the United States. Market participants are closely watching the case as it unfolds, awaiting further developments that will shape the landscape of crypto trading and regulation. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. The information provided is based on the knowledge available at the time of writing and may be subject to change as the legal proceedings progress.

Exclusive Interview of Abiola Adediran of Genea. Edited by Powered Magazine In the realm of wealth management and family office services, Abiola Adediran stands as a trusted partner dedicated to nurturing wealth, fostering long-term prosperity, and safeguarding legacies. As a Partner at GENEA FAMILY OFFICE, Abiola brings a wealth of expertise, insight, and a genuine passion for helping families navigate the complexities of managing their wealth. In this exclusive interview with Powered Magazine, we have the privilege of exploring the insights and expertise of Abiola Adediran. Tell us about yourself and your business. I Abiola Adediran, grew up as the first of four children in an average middle-class family. Growing up for me was marked by very strict discipline, and I was often surrounded by people who were much older than me, and I learned a lot from observing and listening to them. I started out as a science student and studied project management technology. I also qualified as a chartered accountant while I was at the university. My professional career began as an investment banker at Oceanic Capital in Nigeria, after which I moved to consulting at one of the Big 4 consulting firms, KPMG Professional Services, where I was involved in statutory audits and other advisory engagements for clients in the financial services industry, mostly banks and insurance companies. I left as a manager and moved into the investment management industry, where I worked as the group chief financial officer of Coronation Group. I had oversight of multiple businesses and was instrumental in growing them into sustainable businesses. During this time, I was also involved in setting up and managing a single-family office, Tengen Family Office, that managed the assets and affairs of the promoters of the businesses. My work in the last fifteen years has focused on delivering cutting edge strategic transformation for businesses and creating sustainable impact and returns for all stakeholders. I now run an independent, boutique multi-family office, Genea Family Office, which provides innovative advisory services to wealthy families and enterprises, helping them to build lasting legacies and preserve their wealth for multiple generations. What were your biggest challenges when starting your business? The biggest challenge I’ve had when starting my business has been building the brand to grow and scale. More often than not, consulting businesses are about the exchange of intellectual knowledge for value and are usually very hard to scale. I needed to build a business that would thrive without me and could generate and execute client mandates without relying on me. I was able to build a unique model that allowed me to leverage technology and a virtual consultant consortium to serve more clients and grow the business. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? I enjoyed a great deal of success in navigating my career, and I was fortunate to be able to access the right training, exposure, and mentorship that gave me a lot of leverage and helped me harness my strengths and improve my weaknesses. I don’t dwell on my past successes, but I’m always quick to move on to the next big thing and reach for more because I believe that the possibilities are endless and you only get as much as you reach for. I’ve also had my share of failure, and this has helped me develop the staying power and determination to manage difficulties and the resilience I need to press through challenges and cut through complexities. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? It has been about clearly defining the target market we serve and understanding their needs well enough to be able to create unique solutions that solve their problems. We remain nimble and quickly adapt to changing market trends and customer preferences while leveraging technology as much as possible. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? I’m motivated by the desire to make an impact and leave a lasting legacy. I’m also of the opinion that adversity does not last forever. Setbacks and failures are a part of life, and when the going gets tough, the easiest thing is to look for something to blame and play the victim, but rather than do that, I choose to change how I think about hardship. I try to see the lessons in hardship and how I must change and evolve to become a better person and make better decisions by using the experiences to grow stronger. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? My advice to new start up founders would be that they should decide what is important. They need to have the ability to see through what is not very important. Although tempting, fancy office spaces and exotic branded stationery are vanity progressions. Having a tested product or service that people are willing to pay for and getting more people to know about it and actually buy it should be the focus at the early stage. Another thing is the fact that entrepreneurs don’t just need money; they also need support. I’d encourage them to get business mentorship from experienced business leaders, attend meetups within their industry or local community, and seek out online support via forums and groups. You’ll be surprised at just how willing others will be to help and offer advice for free. Lastly, they should stay focused and ensure that they understand the purpose of what they are doing because it’s easy to get distracted by shiny objects. If you find that you are heading in a direction that doesn’t support your business purpose, you risk derailing due to potential distractions. How have technological advances affected the way you conduct business/operate your venture? We leverage technology significantly in running business activities. From managing virtual teams to executing client mandates and meetings online, we use different technology tools to ensure that tasks are done on time and maintain a good level of productivity. In what ways has customer feedback/response influenced how you prioritize goals/objectives for your business/venture? We seek customer feedback to improve our product and service offerings and ensure that we’re changing with the realities of the business environment. We use insights from customer feedback in new product development to ensure it is tailored to their needs. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? A new form of globalisation that recognises interdependence and the good of humanity based on the collective actions of countries, businesses, and people will start to emerge. As a result, companies will change their governance and business management models with a greater focus on corporate social responsibility and the well-being of people. Another trend is the accelerated rate of digital transformation through the use of AI, which will force companies to take radical steps to adopt technological advancements and modernise their culture, organisational structures, measurement systems, and operating architectures. Even if the organisation is ahead today, we have to be continually prepared to change, take calculated risks, and fail fast, or the business will get disrupted. The use of an on-demand workforce will increase, especially with the increase in global mobility. Organisations need to understand and learn how to engage and retain on-demand talent with improved people management programmes, strategies, and tools to create value for an on-demand workforce. What have been the most rewarding and difficult aspects of your chosen career/business path? The most rewarding aspect of my career path is that it prepared me very well for the entrepreneurial path I’m currently pursuing. I had the opportunity to develop the depth of my expertise as a transformational business strategist, cutting across critical areas of enterprise building. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? Transferable skills like problem solving, communication, critical thinking, showing initiative by proactively handling situations and finding answers to questions without direction, and leadership skills using interpersonal skills to coach and develop others are skills that are critical for success. How has working remotely or online impacted your business/venture over the past year? Working remotely has allowed us to scale and increase the reach of our business beyond our local geography. We’ve been able to leverage virtual teams/consultants and serve clients in other jurisdiction without having to move or set up offices in multiple locations. What tips would you like to offer to others who are in a similar position to you but looking to take their careers/business further? For those looking to transition from a professional career to business, they need to be prepared before they launch out. They need to have a clear and compelling vision of what they are meant to be doing, develop themselves by developing relevant skills that help develop resilience, and understand how to build a business from scratch. They should also test their ideas and ensure that they are sustainable and profitable before they decide to make the move.

Exclusive Interview of Magomed Aliev of Expovision. Edited by Powered Magazine In this exclusive interview with Powered Magazine, we have the privilege of delving into the mind of Magomed Aliev. From his early inspirations and entrepreneurial journey to the remarkable advancements and transformative experiences crafted by Expovision, we explore the insights and perspectives of a true industry trailblazer. Tell us about yourself and your business. I Magomed Aliev, my life experience is related to entrepreneurship in the field of IT technologies, and since my first year at the university, I have begun to try myself in this. When I had not yet graduated from the university, I was offered to become the director of the Technopark at the university, where I began to gain experience working with startups. I studied the work of creating a startup from all sides, both from the side of the startup itself, developing my projects, and working with accelerators to learn all aspects of startup development. I gained experience in the start-up industry in the US while doing an internship there, as well as participating in some of the best accelerators in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. I also managed to work for a medical IT startup producing lingual braces. Having gained diverse experience, I started working on my own project. In 2018, I founded my IT company, Expovision. Initially, it was a small startup that later turned into a company with more than 30 employees. Now our company operates in several industries and includes individual projects within Expovision. We want to build a blockchain company that will make services for people better and easier. The core of our company is the financial sector; for this, we issued our Expo tokens, and around the core, a number of projects united into a single ecosystem: Expocar - An online car dealership where we mainly work directly with car manufacturers and eliminate numerous intermediaries between the factory and the client. We have also developed our own unique 3D configurator for car selection. Edenwise - a P2P platform for international cash transfers. We allow you to quickly and reliably transfer cash between cities and countries. Expovision - An educational centre for the training of IT specialists and a digital studio for the provision of IT services. A couple more projects are under development; we want to create a large ecosystem using blockchain technologies and Expo tokens. Today, most blockchain projects and cryptocurrencies have no practical application either in business or in social life. We want to change this and offer the world products that they can use to improve their lives using advanced technologies. What were your biggest challenges when starting your business? My main challenge was created by myself. I set myself the task of helping young students become professionals, attracted them to internships, gave them tasks and the opportunity to learn, and then they became employees of my company. It was difficult to organise work with an IT team whose average age was 19–20 years old, but in the end, it justified itself. We even opened an educational centre for the training of IT specialists, which has been operating for 3 years, and we take the best graduates into our team. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? I never react too emotionally to success; I take it for granted, and I perceive failure as experience and work on mistakes. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? Our work is so connected with advanced technologies that we constantly monitor the market and how it changes; most often, we even try to get ahead of it and constantly test new niches and technologies so as not to be among the lagging behind. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? Stagnation occurs in people in two opposite cases. When he gets success and achieves his goals, and when something doesn’t work out for a long time. I have been in both situations. When something did not work out, I convinced myself that hard work would sooner or later yield a result. And when I was successful and relaxed a bit afterwards, I reminded myself of my big goals and ambitions and that I'm far enough away from them. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? Study all the details of the area you have entered, and preferably work at least a little in this industry in order to know the whole kitchen and not make a lot of mistakes. And constantly try to be as active and daring as possible; business does not tolerate patience. How have technological advances affected the way you conduct business or operate your venture? In our company, we use not only ready-made products that are available on the market but also develop our own. For example, for the Expocar project, an online car dealership, we developed a bot that constantly monitors sites with car sales announcements around the world, selects the best offers according to specified criteria, and provides them to the manager. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? I believe that the blockchain will have the same scale of change for the whole world as the Internet did in its time. It is necessary to follow this trend and prepare for the introduction of this technology in all industries. What have been the most rewarding and difficult aspects of your chosen career or business path? One of the most difficult stages was when I was just starting to make my first projects and they didn’t work out very well. I realised that the problem was that I didn’t have enough experience in these industries, so I began to study them deeper and work in these areas myself. You need to know the market in which you work. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? Leadership. I think this is the most important skill. It includes a number of advantages that an entrepreneur cannot do without. How has working remotely or online impacted your business or venture over the past year? I have two sides here. The parts of the projects where there was already well-coordinated teamwork continued to work successfully remotely as well. And the team that gathered remotely had problems with it; it was difficult to establish high-quality work between employees. I came to the conclusion that they need to work together offline, at least for a while, after which online work will be effective. What tips would you like to offer to others who are in a similar position to you but looking to take their careers or businesses further? Networking, networking, and more networking You won't build a great company without it, and to do good networking, you need to be active and participate in various events.

Exclusive Interview of Pasquale Davide, of HRCoffee. Edited by Powered Magazine Pasquale Davide de Palma is expert in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Social Recruiting and Social HC. Pasquale's interests are focused on human capital management, he has a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Bari, and has studied at MELIUSform Business School and Spegea Business School, Italy. Tell us about yourself and your business. I Pasquale Davide, started HRCOFFEE, a part of Exprivia SpA and an IBM business partner, specialises in HR tech innovation. Established in 2018 in Molfetta, Italy. HRCOFFEE became a finalist at the World Open Innovation Conference (WOIC) at the University of California, Berkeley, and was recognised as "one of the best global startups. Today, the HRCOFFEE SaaS solution is used by well-established companies operating across borders, including ID Logistics Spain, Lundbeck Italia SpA, IEEE, and Barilla SpA. Everything we do is based on the fundamental idea that people are the heart of any organisation. Employees are not just "numbers" but active actors in the organisational value-creation process. We firmly believe that when people are in a state of well-being at work, they can build positive relationships with others, realise their potential, develop creativity, and make meaningful contributions. Thus, we advocate the importance of the social aspect of ESG, including professional development, employee welfare, diversity, and inclusion. In 2021, HRCOFFEE was awarded the Family Audit accreditation for its high standard of employee well-being policies and practises. What does HR Coffee actually do? HR Coffee has developed two platforms: The HRCOFFEE Platform, which includes three elements of digital HR: traditional HR, social HR, and people analytics, is useful for those organisational leaders and HR strategists who want to create and strengthen internal communication, employee engagement, and cognitive analytics projects. This is a bottom-up platform, so a people strategy process is needed. This platform uses IBM Watson. The second platform is Splash, a low-cost platform that helps HR managers gain a good understanding of people analytics and apply it in their practise. Splash uses ChatGPT, an AI-powered tool that helps to interpret data with ease and provide actionable recommendations to successfully manage employees. Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence, fill-gap processes can be developed. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? HRCOFFEE remains competitive through continuous learning and development and an understanding of the changing needs of customers. We focus a lot on training our team internally, conducting market research, and advancing technology. Every three months, we conduct focus groups and organise events to generate discussion and gain feedback. This approach helps us to look critically at our two platforms, improve them, and develop them further, as well as stay informed about customer needs. Curiosity drives innovation, and at HRCOFFEE, we value curiosity. I believe that being curious and open to new ideas is important for organisations to stay competitive. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? When I started taking my first steps in the world of using data applied to HR practise, it was 2002. It was my first year of university, and I was fascinated by the world of business psychology. At the time, only a few talked about using data in companies. I remember that I was fascinated by books written by Dr. Jac Fitzenz. I met Professor Dean Spitzer, Frank DiBernardino, Salvatore Falletta, Fermin Diez, Sandeep Apte, and of course Nigel Nicholson. I was fascinated by the use of cognitive data in the quantitative world; back then, the indexes were mainly quantitative, and I remember that Dr. Jac urged me to go ahead, to study, but above all, to be curious. Today I feel very grateful and want to say thank you to all those fantastic people who shared their knowledge with me, because it was the real strong motivation. I have always felt in search of what I find today in HRCOFFEE, a startup whose drive is curiosity. So, if I had to advise anyone entering the world of HR technology, I would tell them that the most important thing is not to forget that you need to be curious, because to be innovative, you have to be curious. In the word "innovation, there is an extraordinary word: "action. The action to innovate is the most important process for HR, and this starts with curiosity. And this drives me to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity. How have technological advances affected your life? Technological development must not be stopped. We should not be afraid of it; we must govern and manage it. We must learn to surf the waves of innovation, and as I said, we do this by remaining curious. HR deals with people. It deals with the needs and dreams of those who work within organisations. If we are afraid of technology and its progress, it means that we will end up no longer being citizens of the world; we will put ourselves in a ghetto, and organisations die in ghettos because the soul of the company is missing. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? I think the world is changing. Today, the most important trend is data. The data will greatly influence the next decade. I think the problem will not be technology or artificial intelligence. I believe that the real problem will be the ability of HR to identify, in a world of confusion, the real and useful data points for the people strategy. I think it's a historic moment—HR is preparing to become strategic for the business, and this is the first time in history. We are facing a revolution of organisations, a sort of small industrial revolution, where HR will be strategic but will need to have tools and instruments such as the people strategy and a co-programming document on corporate strategy. I will give an example. It will be strategic to understand that talent is no longer static but dynamic and therefore in transition; it will be strategic to analyse the individual leadership of people; it will be important to work on individual worker development plans; and it will be essential to move on to the concept of the corporate community. In short, we are facing an epic moment because technology will be able to support many of these processes. Here I see an important growth in the world of engagement and connectivity. Clearly, this can be supported by analytics platforms where HR can develop their training because the problem is not using standard platforms but being able to customise your own people report analytics to understand organisational trends. So to conclude, I also see a need emerging to deepen people analytics processes, and this is the first time in the past 18 years. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? I think the passion for organisational processes is crucial for the HR Tech world, but above all, the love for one's work, the strong ethics to be applied, and the striving for success We always need to remind ourselves that we work in a world of people and that we are at the service of the organisational process. We are the balance sheet of the organisation, and because of this, we must have a lot of humility. What problems does the world of human capital management face today? In my university years, I imagined a bottom-up management system of HR processes through data, then I imagined it through a system that I called the People Performance Plan. If you think about it, these three words indicate the present, the past, and the future of organisational processes. Over the years, I have become convinced that the main problem of what is now called "people analytics" is basically the confusion created by data, the enormous amount of data, and the difficulty of knowing how to use it. For this reason, I created a sort of training platform: a technology coach who helps HR professionals understand which data points to choose, why to choose them, and how to improve processes. The second problem I've noticed over time is the ability to read and interpret these data, and we do this today through the use of artificial intelligence. Today, we use artificial intelligence (IBM Watson and ChatGPT), which helps interpret data by giving interpretation suggestions. That is why I believe that HRCOFFEE technology is useful to the HR world because, through social organisation processes and data analysis processes, it helps to understand and gain insights from corporate knowledge! Knowing that the evolution of organisations is determined by the development processes of creativity How is remote or online working impacting the HR world? I believe we are facing an important organisational pivot point. The experience brought by the COVID pandemic has made us aware that today's physicality of the workplace can fail and has given us the awareness that technology is a strategic tool for developing the organisation. However, this produces some important reflections, such as: Organisations must choose the technology to use to enable work. This means that the IT team and the HR team must talk to each other and collaborate to understand the needs and requirements. Attachment to work dimensions—physical spaces and team members could be lost, and therefore HR must develop engagement processes through important internal communication. The use of analytics becomes strategic because it serves to understand the organisation's trends. We must not be afraid to face managerial uncertainties. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers that we haven't already discussed? Yes, let me recommend a free online webinar that we will be running on June 27 where we'll talk about the importance of people analytics for everyone. This is a very important and strategic topic, and you can learn about it from the top researchers and practitioners in the field of people analytics. We have also created a blog section on our site, hrcoffee.us. It's a space open to everyone; anyone who wants to tell their business story can do it! Through our blog, we would like to share knowledge and expertise with the broader community and contribute to the improvement of the world of work.

Exclusive Interview of Steve Madincea of Fantastec Sports. Edited by Powered Magazine In the ever-evolving landscape of sports technology, few individuals have made as profound an impact as Steve Madincea. As the Managing Partner of Fantastec Sports Technology Ltd., Steve has pioneered groundbreaking solutions that are transforming the way we engage with sports. With a deep passion for both sports and technology, Steve has bridged the gap between these two worlds, introducing innovative platforms and experiences that enhance fan engagement, athlete performance, and sports business operations. In this exclusive interview with Powered Magazine, we have the privilege of diving into the dynamic world of Steve Madincea. Tell us about yourself and your business. I Steve Madincea, started my current business Fantastec Sports Technology with my business partner Simon Woollard in 2018. We identified few sports enterprises were using technology effectively to engage with the massively growing digital first sports fan base. What were your biggest challenges when starting your business? The greatest challenge was convincing many within the sports sector of the upside they could have by focusing on emerging digital sports fans. They mostly thought of engagement as in-stadium and were just learning about the powers of social media. When we demonstrated our various MVPs, they were blown away, and I think many of the products were probably over their heads. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? The exact same! Don’t let your ego get too big when you have success, nor should you allow yourself to get too low when failure occurs. Instead try and enjoy the challenges every failure brings. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? We employ multiple strategies to stay competitive in our rapidly changing market. The first thing we do is have constant dialogue with current and future customers to understand what is on their minds. The second is to keep an open mind to the various solutions coming onto the market. Never “pooh-pooh” a competitor’s approach or product. Instead, try to understand it and see what learnings you can get from their perspective. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? Whenever we get great DMs or email notes from fans, which is quite often, we know all of our hard work is paying off. That’s why we share all customer input far and wide throughout our team. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? Never join something where you know all the answers. The professional challenge of looking for the right answer to customer issues can rarely be beat. Pushing yourself and learning new skills are equally motivating. How have technological advances affected the way you conduct business/operate your venture? Almost every day we discuss new tools and tech that can help us serve our customers better. During a recent AI workshop, we uncovered four distinct areas where we could apply AI and/or machine learning to make our products, features, and processes better. In what ways has customer feedback/response influenced how you prioritize goals/objectives for your business/venture? Customer feedback has been our backbone from day one. But you must understand that different customers like to engage in different ways. While Discord was popular for a long time, hardcore crypto enthusiasts embraced it, chasing away many authentic sports fans. So, we have tried to create varying feedback and engagement platforms for different constituencies. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? As Web3 opportunities emerge, it quickly becomes evident that there are more solutions to customers problems this year than there were last year. So our product has quickly evolved and now offers more utilities than it did just six months ago. I think that rapid responses to sports fans needs will continue to accelerate change for us and others. What have been the most rewarding and difficult aspects of your chosen career/business path? The most rewarding by far has been having a hand in developing bright young people. It is so great to watch them grow and then go on to bigger and better things for themselves than they ever imagined. Maybe the most difficult are the people who don’t want to change. They are often older. They don’t feel the need or the desire to re-invent their working ways, and that is kind of sad. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? Keep an open mind and never stop learning. When you work at a pioneering enterprise like Fantastec you must be open-minded about any solution as things have been and will continue to change so quickly. How has working remotely or online impacted your business/venture over the past year? I am going to go on record and say that remote working is overrated. As someone who has had horrible commutes, I get the novelty of exchanging that commute for some extra “me” time. But all great businesses were built by teams. Teams are in direct conflict with me. We may never go back to five days per week in a big city office. But I think full remote working will ultimately become known as a fad like the Rubik’s cube! What tips would you like to offer to others who are in a similar position to you but looking to take their careers/business further? Get out and engage with people. There is so much wisdom in the world, and it is yours and there for the taking. Through my formative years, I created a “mantra” where I wanted to learn something new from every person I met. Sometimes it is something bad about their working practises, but at least I learn it! People are what make business fascinating, and only by meeting with them can you truly learn. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers that we haven’t already discussed? All entrepreneurial businesses are tough, and they should be, or else everyone would be doing them. You will have setbacks. Don’t dwell on them. Instead, deal with them, learn what you can, and move forward. Never ever stop moving forward as a professional, as a team, or as an enterprise. Constantly moving forward is at the epicentre of your professional growth.

Exclusive Interview of Judy Xu of Balance Group. Edited by Powered Magazine In this exclusive interview with Powered Magazine, we delve into the inspiring journey of Judy Xu, exploring her unique insights, her transformative coaching techniques, and the profound impact she is making in the lives of her clients. Prepare to be enlightened and inspired as we uncover the wisdom and expertise of Judy Xu, a driving force behind personal and professional transformation. Tell us about yourself and your business. I’m Judy Xu. I am the owner of the Balance Health group of businesses and a transformational coach and healer, dedicating my life to serving others. After a long corporate career, I decided to change and seek out my soul’s purpose, and I have stayed very aligned with that ever since. Today, I am a transformational coach for senior executives and entrepreneurs. I bring together Western wisdom and Eastern traditions and integrate coaching and healing modalities like Shamanism, Buddhist psychology and hypnotherapy, numerology, and others to bring deep healing and transformation to my clients. My business, Balance Health, is another expression of my desire to be of service. I often stress to the team that our vision is really to support people to heal, grow, and find bliss. We have very experienced master healers to holistically support our clients, and we are bringing these approaches to the corporate world, where we facilitate corporate wellness events and promote conscious leadership. How do you think about strategy in a changing market? For me, my main focus is on what I would really like to create and how I can master my craft. This is why I’ve learned from the best people in the industry over the years. I studied with some of the world’s best executive coaches, such as David Peterson, former Chief Coach at Google, or Claire Zammit, on transformational coaching and female power. I learned from teachers, pioneers, and masters in Shamanism, Akashic records, and Buddha psychology. Learning is followed by practise. I have coached many clients over the years and developed my own methodology and system for supporting my clients. And I am on a never-ending journey of learning and growth, not only for me individually but also for us as a business. As an example, one of my female coaching clients is the Asia CEO of a large financial services firm. She relished the coaching as a perfect combination of high quality executive coaching and spiritual growth that allowed her to grow and realise her full potential. Her feedback and journey opened my eyes to the unique value that I can provide in this market: to deliver more than just regular executive coaching, helping my clients holistically, at a deep personal level, and raising their consciousness as leaders. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? Over the last 15 to 20 years, we have seen a lot of growth in the segments of personal development, coaching, and wellness. At the same time, our customers are also becoming more sophisticated. They are not only looking for straightforward success but rather for more: personal fulfilment, purpose, meaning, feeling fulfilled, fully realising their potential, and wanting to be fully alive. This level of self-actualization requires very deep support, which is not easy to come by. At the same time, our clients are also looking for a more holistic approach. Many are seeking to truly understand the connection between the physical body, mind, emotions, and spirituality to improve their wellness and day-to-day performance. Even in the corporate and leadership worlds, we see the yearning of people to grow holistically, improve their mental fitness, and stay interested in mindfulness. On this basis, I launched a mental fitness programme for high performance executives and entrepreneurs that has been very welcome and successful, delivering great results to C-Suite executives who want to reach their full potential and stay mentally fit during challenging times. What have been the most rewarding aspects of your chosen career? The most rewarding aspect is seeing the success of our clients. We are very close to them, so we can feel their joy and celebrate with them when they overcome difficult patterns and are able to create a very successful life. There is nothing better than hearing that one of our clients finally got that desired promotion or managed to publish that book they always wanted to write. For our business, one of the most fulfilling events is when we see emails from our clients who had fertility challenges, sending us photos of their sweet, cute newborn babies. It makes all of our hearts melt with happiness and gratefulness that we were part of the journey. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? The demands on coaches today are very different compared to 10 years ago. Clients are looking for more than direct success; they are looking for a deeper level of fulfilment and demanding real transformational results. The traditional way -oriented, action oriented executive coaching—is not able to deliver the necessary results. A deeper skill is needed. That deeper skill should be able to go to a deeper identity level—the level that resonates with the whole core stories of what people tell about themselves or about life in general. The deeper skill should be able to identify the psychological roots beneath it to transform their core beliefs. Before you know it, you might find out that your client has traumas that are limiting his core beliefs and blocking him from reaching his goals. The deeper skill must be able to identify how to heal the client from this psychological root and implement better actions so the new goals can be reached. Coaches need to have the capability to look at a person’s life holistically—looking at their physical, mental, emotional, energy, and spiritual aspects and heal the imbalances that they can find. Oftentimes, an imbalance happening at the spiritual-energetic level that is not being addressed ends up as an issue at the emotional level. If it is still not addressed at that level, it will manifest at the physical level, and so on. We need to have a deeper understanding of what is happening in the person’s life to see the patterns and resolve them more easily. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? One of the important things that anyone should learn is how to take a very neutral perspective on success and failure. We should not be attached to success. In the same way, we should not avoid failure. To me, failure is a process towards success, and in that sense, there’s really no such thing as failure. I learned to understand more about who I am, what my calling is, and how I can improve things and be of service to others. “Your life is not about you; it's about everybody whose life you touched and the way you touched it. “ What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? I would sum it up in three things. Be very very clear of what is your intention, what is your vision, what is your purpose. Ask yourself 5 times why to go deep and to become super clear of what your purpose is and help you to go forward even in challenging times. Use your imagination and intuition to think big, to dream big and to really feel and sense what’s the real highest possibility that you can achieve. Embrace it as if you have already created that future. Future is not something out there. Future is something that you can already embrace now. Take your personal growth seriously. For the readers who are entrepreneurs and business owners, take your own personal growth very seriously. Often what you see on the outside (external conflicts) is a manifestation of what is happening on the inside (internal conflicts). You need to look inward to know what needs to be worked on. Inner work allows you to see external business challenges in a different perspective, and hence you will naturally handle challenges with more ease. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers that we haven’t already discussed? We all have great ambition and potential. But remember that we can only perform at our best when our own needs—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—are fully met. That is the only time that we can serve in a very neutral space and really be of true service to others. I wish you all the best in your own journey of creation, your own journey of growth, and your own journey of service.

Inclusive leadership is essential for innovation. A diverse team of people with different perspectives and experiences can generate new ideas and solve problems creatively. However, to create an environment where everyone can contribute, leaders must be aware of their biases and assumptions and consciously try to include everyone in the decision-making process. By valuing diversity and fostering inclusion, leaders can unleash the creativity of their teams and spur innovation within their organizations. Defining inclusive leadership and its benefits Inclusive leadership is essential for leading teams and organizations in the 21st century. It seeks to cultivate an environment of belonging and connection in which all members are seen, heard, and engaged. Inclusive leadership fosters trust, sustainability, creativity, productivity, innovation, and knowledge sharing. It prioritizes equitable solutions for decision-making and encourages open communication between members of diverse backgrounds with different points of view. Ultimately, inclusive leaders create a strong culture where everyone has opportunities for growth and development. By leveraging each individual's unique experiences and perspectives within a team or organization, benefits such as increased efficiency, proactive problem-solving, and greater engagement from team members can be realized. The business case for inclusive leadership Inclusive leadership has become a keystone for successful businesses in the present day. It goes beyond simple diversity and inclusion initiatives. Rather, it involves creating an organizational culture that actively encourages respect and collaboration amongst members from various backgrounds. As well as promoting better internal morale, this type of leadership can help to form strong relationships between your business and its external partners, creating a more robust network for growth. Empowering those traditionally not in positions of power to take part in decision-making has been shown to provide perspective, increase creativity and foster innovation - resulting in a more productive and profitable environment. Thus, the business case for inclusive leadership is clear: companies that embrace it will emerge as stronger leaders within their respective sectors. How to foster an inclusive environment within your team or organization Creating an inclusive environment at work is essential for an efficient, productive workplace. By establishing ground rules of mutual respect and encouraging diversity of thought, managers can foster a nurturing, welcoming atmosphere that values all voices. Taking the time to get to know team members and fostering collaboration rather than competition between coworkers will go far towards developing a safe space for everyone in the organization. Additionally, ensuring everyone has access to resources necessary for growth and development, such as mentorship programs or workshops on different skill sets and topics, is essential. Showing appreciation for other cultures allows team members to bring the best of their experience into the workplace, leading to increased creativity and innovation in problem-solving. Taking steps to ensure inclusion will benefit everyone in the company while ensuring every member feels heard, respected, and valued. Examples of successful companies with diverse and inclusive cultures Companies looking to cultivate diverse and inclusive workplace cultures have succeeded in various ways. For instance, some organizations have emphasized developing unconscious bias training for their entire workforce and investing in regular review processes that empower employees at all levels. Companies like Google and Microsoft have incorporated these methods while committing to the financial investment of resources towards creating supportive environments where individuals can feel accepted and comfortable sharing their perspectives. Ultimately, operating with such commitment to meaningful diversity is essential for any organization hoping to foster strong team dynamics, build trust between staff members, and increase creativity within their ranks. Tips for building an inclusive organization from the ground up Creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace can feel like an uphill battle, but there are strategies employers can use to make progress. Small actions like fostering diverse recruitment strategies, training on unconscious bias, and creating opportunities for employees of different backgrounds and perspectives to interact with each other help lay the foundation for a culture of inclusivity. Regularly assessing processes, policies, and tools for their impact on diversity is another excellent way to create a workplace where everyone feels valued. Employers should also strive to address persistent behavior issues when they arise to maintain workplace equity. By building these practices into an organization from the ground up, businesses can create cultures of inclusion that will benefit them greatly in both the short and long term. If you’re looking to build a more diverse and inclusive organization, starting with strong leadership is essential. Inclusive leaders create a better environment for all employees and see tangible business benefits. By understanding what makes an inclusive leader and fostering that same behavior in your team, you can build a more diverse and successful company from the ground up.

In today's business world, there are countless different leadership styles. So how do you find your own personal style? Understanding yourself and others around you and taking the time to experiment and grow. In this post, we'll explore how to develop your personal leadership style so that you can find your voice as a leader. Read on to learn more! Define what leadership means to you Leadership means identifying what needs to be done in any situation and motivating and inspiring the team to help complete the task. The leader's ultimate goal should always be to ensure their team's success by providing guidance, support, and resources as needed. The leader needs to set a strong example by taking the initiative whenever appropriate to create an environment where others feel comfortable taking risks and stretching themselves in pursuit of goals. Leadership doesn't begin and end with one person, though; everyone has a role in fostering a culture of collaboration surrounding success. Identify the different leadership styles and which ones resonate with you Leadership styles come in various forms, each unique and tailored to the individual in question. The four leadership styles are authoritarian, participative, delegation, and persuasive. Authoritarian leaders are typically seen as direct managers who dictate what followers should do without explanation. Participative leaders understand the importance of team input and decision-making and make their teams feel respected through open dialogue. Delegative leaders hand responsibility off to their teams to autonomously handle tasks while still being closely managed. Finally, persuasive leaders are convincing and seek to ensure that every team member supports their vision. Personally, I find that a combination of participative and persuasive leadership is the most effective style for me personally as it gives my team room to contribute while also promoting unity under the same objectives. Understand your values and how they contribute to your personal leadership style. Understanding your values is the first step to becoming a leader. When we know what matters to us and our core values, we can use those beliefs to guide us in making decisions and taking action. Knowing this can also help build self-confidence and create a strong sense of purpose. Our values shape how we view the world, interact with others, and have leadership styles. For example, someone who values kindness might be a more collaborative leader than someone who places greater importance on results. Understanding our values allows us to be more explicit about what kind of leader we want to be and find creative ways to inspire success for ourselves and those around us. Develop a clear vision for your future as a leader A clear vision of where I want to be as a leader is an essential motivation for striving and achieving. As I grow and learn more, leading others toward a worthwhile goal becomes more exciting. My vision for my future as a leader involves being a uniting force that brings the needed change and opportunities to my organization. With this in mind, I will focus on fostering good relations and finding innovative solutions. Moreover, I aim to help build trust, success, and mutual respect while leveraging diverse resources to reach positive outcomes. This will put me in the best position to effectively lead my team into the future. By creating a strong mission that acknowledges all stakeholders involved, I hope to create long-term success. Find your voice as a leader and communicate confidently and effectively As a leader, the ability to find your authentic voice and use it confidently and effectively can set you apart from the pack. Communication is a key part of successful leadership, and speaking with clarity and assurance will show your peers, subordinates, and bosses that you can lead. It also makes individuals more likely to trust you as a leader since they feel confident in your ability to steer them in the right direction. Even if you don't feel like an expert on a particular topic, clear communication can make all the difference in how your message gets interpreted by those around you. Take the time to develop what works best for you so that your voice has power when communicating with others. Be open to feedback and continuously grow as a leader Staying open and receptive to feedback throughout your career is important as a leader. Not only will the feedback help you identify areas of growth, it can also help you uncover elements of your leadership style that are successful. Understanding both the good and bad moments will make it easier to focus on refining and improving your abilities. If you stay open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to learn, you can continuously develop as a leader while minimizing repeating past mistakes in the future. With this approach, you have the power in yourself to reach greater heights faster and create a significant impact in whatever role or organization you are part of. Leadership is a complex and multi-faceted topic, but it boils down to a straightforward question: how do you want to lead? Defining what leadership means to you is the first step in understanding your personal style and finding your voice as a leader. From there, you can develop a clear vision for your future and start taking steps toward becoming the leader you know you can be. Continuous growth and improvement are essential for all leaders, so remember to seek out feedback and stay open-minded about different approaches. These six tips should help start your journey to becoming an effective leader.

Discovering inner peace can be a difficult journey but necessary for achieving mental harmony and personal growth. We all have moments of stress, anger, sadness, and frustration. But with the right strategies in place, it's possible to progress toward finding lasting inner peace and contentment. Here are ten strategies for achieving mental harmony to help you start: Get organized: A cluttered space can equal a cluttered mind. Take some time each day to straighten up your surroundings and eliminate anything you don’t need. Set priorities: Trying to do everything simultaneously is a recipe for stress. List what’s most important and focus on one task at a time. Simplify: The more complicated your life is, the more stressed you’ll be. Try to streamline your schedule and commitments to make things easier on yourself. Exercise: Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress and boost your mood. A brisk walk, run, or workout can improve your mental state. Relax: It’s important to take some time each day to unwind and relax. Whether it’s reading, taking a bath, or meditating, find something that helps you relax and stick with it. Connect with others: Spending time with loved ones can help reduce stress levels and promote feelings of happiness and well-being. Help others: Doing something nice for someone else can help take the focus off of your own problems and make you feel good at the same time. Laugh: Laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to stress relief. Spend time with friends, watch a funny movie, or read a humorous book to lighten your mood. Practice gratitude: Be thankful for the good things in your life, no matter how small they may seem. Focusing on the positive can help reduce stress levels and improve your outlook on life. Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can make you irritable and stressed out during the day. Finding inner peace is a journey; it takes time to develop healthy strategies that work for you. It’s important to be patient with yourself and not expect immediate results. With practice and dedication, you can achieve mental harmony and contentment in your life. Good luck on your journey to discovering inner peace.

Making decisions can be stressful. We often second-guess ourselves, wonder if we're making the right choice, and worry about the consequences of our decisions. This stress can lead to indecisiveness and poor decision-making. But there is hope! Meditation can improve decision-making by reducing stress and increasing focus and clarity. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed by a decision, take a few minutes to meditate and see how it can help you make the best choice for yourself. Meditation is an ancient practice that has been used for centuries to cultivate a clear and balanced state of being. It focuses on quieting the mind and allowing our bodies to relax, allowing us to reconnect with ourselves and those around us. Meditating regularly improves our mental clarity, reduces stress levels, and deepens our sense of inner peace. Regular meditation practice can also help us gain an increased understanding of ourselves, increased physical energy levels, improved concentration, greater overall health and vitality, and a stronger connection to life as a whole. Meditation has been shown to provide a number of mental and physical health benefits, including improved decision-making skills. By taking the time to meditate and focus on the present moment, practitioners are able to quiet their inner chatter, allowing them to approach decisions with greater clarity. Studies have found that meditating regularly can help you develop focus, reduce anxiety and stress, sharpen your attention span, and increase self-awareness. People who practice meditation gain deeper insight into their own feelings about specific issues as well as the potential outcomes of their decisions. Meditation can also better understand yourself - what behaviors or triggers lead you to make poor decisions - and help you develop long-lasting solutions for better decision-making. Meditation can be a great way to relax and combat stress, but if not done correctly, it may become counter-productive. To reap all the benefits of meditating effectively, start by finding a comfortable spot with minimal distractions and setting a timer or alarm for your session. When beginning your meditation journey, start small, maybe just 10 minutes a day at first, so you don’t get too overwhelmed. Then come up with a method that best works for you - focusing on your breath, counting down from 100 etc.; this makes sure your meditation routine is sustainable and becomes something enjoyable you look forward to. Lastly, remember that ‘straightening the back’ doesn’t mean sitting on the floor in perfect position; leaning against a wall or even lying down can work just fine too! Any posture that allows you to remain alert yet still be comfortable can be ideal for successful and fruitful meditation sessions. With the daily grind and stress of modern life, it can be challenging to find relief. Meditation effectively reduces stress, improves our mental and physical well-being, and calms the mind. To reduce stress through meditation: Start by setting aside a few minutes each day to dedicate to relaxation. Find a space where you feel comfortable letting go of distractions and focusing on your breath. Don't worry if your mind wanders: gently bring your attention back to the present moment. Relaxing imagery, such as a peaceful beach, can help ease anxiety; this visualization will help train your brain to stay in the present and not dwell on past or future worries. Meditation is about finding peace within yourself; it may take time and practice, but committing just a few minutes daily to meditate can transform your mindset and outlook on life.

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years to achieve inner peace, clarity, and enlightenment. One form of meditation that has gained popularity in recent years is Vipassana meditation. This ancient practice originated in India more than 2,500 years ago and has since spread to many parts of the world. Vipassana meditation is a technique that involves observing one's thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment or attachment. Its goal is to deeply understand the nature of reality and the impermanence of all things. By cultivating mindfulness and awareness through regular practice, one can gain insight into the workings of the mind and develop greater clarity, concentration, and equanimity. If you're new to Vipassana meditation or are curious about this practice, here's a beginner's guide to getting you started: A Beginner's Guide to Vipassana Meditation Find a Suitable Retreat Center or Teacher The best way to learn Vipassana meditation is through attending a retreat centre or finding a qualified teacher to guide you. Many centres worldwide offer residential retreats ranging from several days to several weeks. These retreats provide an immersive environment where participants can entirely focus on their practice without distractions from daily life. It's important to research different centres and teachers before committing to one. Look for reviews from previous attendees, check their credentials, and ensure they follow authentic Vipassana teachings. Establish a Daily Practice Routine Once you've completed your first retreat or have received guidance from a teacher, it's essential to establish a daily practice routine at home. Regular practice is key to developing mindfulness and awareness over time. Start with short sessions of 10-15 minutes each day and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable with the practice. It's helpful to set aside a dedicated space in your home for meditation where you can sit comfortably without distractions. Focus on Your Breath In Vipassana meditation, focusing on your breath is often used as an anchor for your attention. Begin by observing your breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils or abdomen without trying to control it. As thoughts arise (which they inevitably will), acknowledge them without judgment or attachment and gently bring your attention back to your breath. Observe Your Thoughts and Emotions You'll notice patterns in your thoughts and emotions as you continue the regular practice. The goal is not to suppress them but to observe them with curiosity and non-judgmental awareness. By becoming aware of our thoughts and emotions in this way, we can develop greater insight into our habitual thinking patterns that may be causing stress or anxiety in our lives. Practice Gratitude Gratitude is essential to Vipassana meditation as it helps cultivate positive emotions like joy, contentment, and compassion towards oneself and others. Take time during your practice sessions or throughout the day to reflect on what you're grateful for in life - no matter how small it may seem. Be Patient With Yourself Remember that Vipassana meditation takes time and patience - there are no quick fixes or shortcuts when developing mindfulness skills. Be kind and patient with yourself as you navigate this journey towards greater inner clarity - celebrate small victories while remaining committed to regular practice over time. In conclusion: Vipassana meditation offers many benefits for physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual growth - including increased clarity, concentration & equanimity; reduced stress/anxiety levels; deeper insights into self-awareness/habitual thought patterns; improved sleep quality/immune function etc. To get started with this ancient form of mindfulness-based training: Find a suitable retreat centre/teacher; Establish a daily routine; Focus on the breath; Observe thoughts/emotions; Practice gratitude; Be patient/kind with yourself With regular commitment & dedication over time anyone can discover inner clarity through practicing vipassana techniques!

CEOs are under pressure to deliver results. They need a team that can execute and produce results. But how do you build a high-performance team? In this post, we will explore lessons from successful CEOs on building a high-performing team. We will also look at common CEO mistakes when building their teams. By the end of this post, you will better understand how to build a high-performance team to help your business achieve its goals. The importance of having a clear vision for your team It is essential for team members to understand the ultimate goal they are striving towards. With a clear vision, teams may be able to prioritize tasks, leading to clarity and a lack of focus. A unified vision keeps all team members motivated; it communicates what success looks like and shows them the milestones they need to reach to achieve it. This allows team goals to remain consistent and drives progress together. Having a clear vision also helps build trust among teammates since they know everyone is dedicated to the same challenge and working in pursuit of a shared outcome. Establishing and expressing a clearly-defined vision from the outset will help your team stay on track as you navigate any rifts or challenges that might arise in achieving that goal. The role of the CEO in setting the tone for the team The role of the CEO in setting a successful tone for the team is essential to any organization. A CEO must embody their company's values, lead by example, and inspire their team to strive for greatness. They should also be a reliable source of guidance and reassurance during times of difficulty. An effective CEO knows how to communicate to their team with clarity and passion--inspiring them to take ownership of their job and take pride in their achievements. Moreover, transparent decision-making and access to the latest technologies are two ways a CEO can keep morale high and create a culture of collaboration, innovation, and productivity. Ultimately, it's up to the CEO to set the tone; a strong leader can make or break a team's success. How to build trust within your team Building trust between team members is essential for any successful team, but achieving it can be challenging. An effective way to build trust is to foster a spirit of open communication within the group that gives everyone an equal opportunity to share their ideas, regardless of their position in the organization. Additionally, it is crucial to create an environment that encourages individual members to share both strong and weak points so they feel comfortable taking risks and voicing disagreements. At the same time, you should guard against a culture of criticism among your team, instead focusing on giving constructive feedback that leads to positive solutions and further trust-building. Finally, by providing each other with emotional support in place of judgmental criticism, team members will begin to feel safe in trusting each other. This trust can pave the way for greater collaboration and productivity. The importance of effective communication within the team Good communication is essential for any team to be successful; it helps members better understand their roles, set expectations, and foster collaboration. When a team communicates well, everyone shares and works together to achieve the same goal. Team members can use effective communication to build trust and create a respectful atmosphere. Effective communication can also help develop problem-solving skills in team members, as each person can voice their ideas with clarity and confidence. In short, teams become much more efficient when all their members clearly understand how to communicate effectively. How to handle conflict within the team Managing conflict within a team can be challenging, but it's essential for effective communication and collaboration. The key is to approach the issue without any blame or judgement objectively. Employees should discuss their issues openly and honestly, identifying the source of the conflict to find a satisfactory resolution for everyone involved. Communication skills such as active listening, using positive language, and being willing to compromise are essential when addressing workplace conflict. It's important to focus on problem-solving and look down the line at prevention methods that could help preserve relationships after reaching a solution. With open minds and respect for differing perspectives, teams can work together in harmony despite the conflict. Tips for creating a high-performing team Crafting a high-performing team is a challenging task. It begins with assembling a group of people with the right skills, experience, and personalities. Once you have created your team, building relationships and fostering trust is important, so your team members feel comfortable relying on each other. Creating an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive is essential for maximum performance. Clear communication and collaboration between team members are also crucial to achieving successful results. Lastly, leadership should focus on empowering their associates; when given ownership over their work, team members are more likely to take the initiative and help drive the team's success. Putting these tips into action will help you lead a high-performing team! A successful team is built on a foundation of trust, open communication, and a shared vision. As the CEO, it’s your job to set the tone for your team and ensure everyone is working towards the same goal. If you can, you’ll be well on your way to creating a high-performing team. Thanks for reading! I hope these tips help you build a fantastic team of your own.

Leading a team through tough conversations can be one of the most challenging aspects of being a manager or supervisor. However, difficult conversations are essential to maintaining a productive and positive work environment. By navigating these conversations effectively, you can become a more effective leader and help your team thrive. Here are some tips for leading/navigating difficult conversations with your team: Define the purpose of the conversation - what do you want to achieve by having this talk? This conversation aims to devise a plan of action that will lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. The goal is to develop strategies and strategies for improvement so everyone can feel confident about achieving their desired results. We want to ensure that all parties involved have a positive experience and can contribute ideas and solutions. This conversation is an opportunity for collaboration, creative problem-solving, and identifying potential challenges as we work together toward our common goals. Choose a time and place that is comfortable for both parties involved When scheduling a meeting, it is important to choose a comfortable time and place for both parties involved. Considering their respective workloads and potential transportation or accessibility issues should always be a primary focus. By finding a location that is easy for both parties to access, ideally, with convenient public transportation, time management will become more straightforward, and the risk of arriving late can be avoided. These steps might seem like small details, but they can make all the difference in ensuring effective progress rates during each session. Be clear and concise with your words, and avoid making assumptions about what the other person knows or doesn't know Clear, concise communication enables practical problem-solving, successful goal achievement, and efficient collaboration. Avoid assumptions when communicating with others whenever possible, as it can be difficult to infer the full meaning of a message or fully understand its implications without context. Instead, take the time to explain yourself clearly and provide sufficient detail so that all parties involved can understand your perspective and leverage the information effectively. Conflict can arise from misunderstandings or miscommunication; to reduce their likelihood, it's important to ensure that your words adequately convey the intended message. Listen actively to what the other person has to say and resist the urge to interrupt Listening actively is essential in any healthy conversation. Taking the time to truly understand what the other person is saying and respecting their legitimate feelings and thoughts can be an invaluable part of communication. Resist the urge to interject and instead focus on absorbing the presented information; considering counterpoints and formulating opinions can always come later. Doing so will show respect and create a constructive environment conducive to progress. Be respectful of the other person's opinion, even if you disagree with it In any conversation or debate, it is important to remember to respect the other person's opinion. This means listening to what they say and understanding their point of view, even if you disagree. Respect for others can often create an atmosphere of openness and understanding, leading to productive dialogue and even greater mutual understanding. By taking a respect-based approach when discussing differing opinions, we can ensure that our interactions remain positive and beneficial for everyone involved. Seek common ground, and look for ways to find a solution that works for both of you Finding common ground is key to any successful conversation. In most scenarios, the ultimate goal is to find ways to resolve an issue mutually beneficial. Everyone has unique wants and needs, so it’s important to understand each other and how compromises can benefit both parties involved. This can be done through open dialogue, asking questions, and listening properly before suggesting a solution for everyone. It may require creativity, but by using strong communication skills and being open-minded, you can find resolutions that will make all sides happy. Confronting a difficult conversation can be daunting, but following these simple tips ensures the discussion goes smoothly and achieves its purpose. Remember to define the talk's goal before it happens so that everyone is on the same page from the beginning. Active listening is critical to understanding the other person's perspective, while Respect and compromise are necessary to maintain a positive relationship even after a disagreement. With these guidelines in mind, you'll be ready to handle anything thrown your way.

In today's business world, leaders must have more than just IQ to be successful. They must also have EQ or emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware and understand your own emotions and the emotions of others. It's about being able to regulate your emotions, respond effectively to emotions in others, and create positive relationships. This may sound like a lot of work, but empathy is a natural human ability we can all tap into. And when it comes to leadership, empathy can be incredibly powerful. Here's how empathy can help you lead with emotional intelligence: 1) Empathy builds trust and rapport: When you actively listen and truly understand where someone is coming from, they feel heard and appreciated. This fosters trust and mutual respect- critical ingredients for effective leader-employee relationships. 2) Empathy leads to better decisions: Leaders who empathize with their team members can better see different points of view and make more informed decisions. 3) Empathy enhances creativity: Trying to see things from another person's perspective encourages out-of-the-box thinking and allows opposing ideas to build off one another in new ways. 4) Empathy creates engaged employees: Employees who feel valued and understood are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work. When leaders show empathy towards their team members, it cultivates a positive work environment where everyone feels part of something bigger. 5) Empathy improves communication: Effective communication is critical for any leader wanting to get their message across (and prevent miscommunications from happening). Those with strong emotional intelligence skills can better put themselves in other people's shoes, pick up on nonverbal cues, and resolve conflicts constructively. Empathy is a foundation of emotional intelligence, so it stands to reason that if you want to become a more emotionally intelligent leader, empathic skills should be at the top of your list! Fortunately, developing empathy is something anyone can learn with time commitment practice. To become a more compassionate leader, read for specific tips on cultivating this important skill. Define empathy and emotional intelligence Empathy and emotional intelligence are the foundation of strong interpersonal relationships. Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person's feelings or compassion for another person's situation. It involves recognizing emotion, being able to interpret it properly, and then responding with sensitive action. Emotional intelligence involves self-awareness when faced with a difficult situation, applying critical thinking, regulating emotions in yourself and those around you, balancing logic with intuition when making decisions, and maintaining an open mind to respond to challenging situations effectively. These skills can help us establish strong relationships by understanding one another's values and perspectives. The benefits of having empathy as a leader Being an empathetic leader can be incredibly advantageous in a variety of situations. Empathy requires one to understand and identify with the needs and concerns of others, thus allowing a leader to relate better to their team members. Additionally, the ability to empathize allows a leader to assess situations objectively and recognize when intervention may be necessary. Having empathy as a leader also intuitively encourages better collaboration between team members by fostering understanding and providing people with a safe place to express themselves. Empathy is integral for successful organizational communication as it helps create an environment that values every person's opinion or contribution. Therefore, leaders with empathy give their teams an advantage as it fosters efficacy, enables trust building, and bolsters teamwork. How to develop your empathy skills? Developing empathy is an essential skill that can majorly impact our relationships and work life. Honoring our empathy skills requires time, patience, and effort. To tap into our powers of understanding, it is essential to open up to the emotions of those around us to approach situations compassionately and preemptively. One way to foster this kind of awareness is by actively listening with the intent to what others are saying – focus on their words rather than being preoccupied with thoughts of your reply. Additionally, reflect on how different events and circumstances may affect us differently depending on our unique experiences and perspectives. Through exercising these skills, one can gain a greater appreciation for empathy and strengthen their capacity for compassion. Examples of successful leaders who use the power of empathy in leadership Some of the most successful leaders are those who use empathy. One great example is Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, who has managed to turn around the struggling tech giant since he took office in 2014. Nadella has become a beacon of leadership in corporate America, thanks to his intense focus on understanding employee experience and using empathy to make innovative trade-offs. His ability to relate with people on an emotional level has been one key driver in both fostering meaningful relationships with Microsoft's stakeholders and inspiring employees. Other prime examples of effective leadership within large corporations that employ empathy include Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors and Kenneth Chenault, former CEO of American Express. Each has implemented strategies prioritizing compassion towards people instead of simply viewing them as numbers, highlighting how this approach can result in tangible results. The importance of leading with emotional intelligence in today's world Leading with emotional intelligence in today's world has never been more critical. Good leaders understand how to appropriately use words and gestures to inspire, motivate, encourage, and guide their employees. Furthermore, they know how to be mindful of others' emotions and positively influence outcomes by utilizing empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills to reach desired objectives. With the shift towards remote work environments, strong leadership abilities that include emotional intelligence have become indispensable tools for building successful teams and organizations. Leaders who try to practice emotional intelligence can create a positive atmosphere in their workspace and drive their team members to tremendous success. In conclusion, empathy is the ability to understand and share another person's feelings. Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware of and manage one's emotions and the emotions of others. Successful leaders use the power of empathy in leadership to connect with their team, build trust, resolve conflicts, and inspire employees. With the ever-changing landscape of 2020, it has become even more critical for leaders to have the emotional intelligence to lift those around them during difficult times. Are you an empathetic leader?

As TikTok becomes increasingly popular, there is a growing concern that the app could be banned in the United States. This would have a major impact on businesses that use TikTok to reach their target audiences. In this post, we'll take a look at how a potential TikTok ban could affect businesses and what companies can do to prepare for it. TikTok is the story of an unlikely success. Created with a dream of connecting the world through short videos, this app took off like a rocket to become one of today's most successful social networks. It all started when developers at ByteDance realized that the two-minute time limit offered something special in creating compelling content. Instead of long-form stories, viewers could consume quick, fun clips that fit their busy lifestyles. The user base exploded, and soon, TikTok was being used by people everywhere to entertain each other, express themselves artistically, or find inspiration for new projects. Today it has grown to be so popular that its options for creating, sharing, and viewing videos are unrivaled. From lip-syncing trends to dance challenges, there’s always something new to explore on TikTok - no wonder it continues to draw massive audiences worldwide. The potential implications of banning the widely popular social media app TikTok in the US could be wide-reaching. This move could lead to an erosion of free expression and creativity on digital platforms and limit users' access to information from multiple sources. Further, it might drive away potential innovators from the app's highly-collaborative community, resulting in a decrease in innovative ideas and content. Beyond this, a ban would limit opportunities for users to monetize their content, which could be an issue for many influencers who rely heavily on their digital presence and frequently utilize social media platforms like TikTok to gain new followers and sponsors for their work. Therefore, banning TikTok would have far-reaching implications and likely affect millions of users worldwide. Businesses worldwide could be affected by a TikTok ban as this popular platform is used for entertainment and marketing. Brands have been utilizing TikTok as an engaging and cost-effective method to reach their target audiences -- with the ability to reach millions of users instantly. Without the app, businesses will have to turn to other digital advertisements, such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads, which are more expensive options. Additionally, businesses that capitalized on viral trends or created viral campaigns will suffer due to losing out on an enormous user base. It is yet unclear just how much businesses will be impacted, but it certainly appears they would lose out on many potential customers and brand visibility. The possible outcomes of a TikTok ban are numerous, and it's difficult to predict what can happen. It could negatively impact small businesses relying heavily on the platform for advertisement and promotion. Additionally, this potential ban will affect popular content creators, as they may lose their livelihoods if they receive fewer views or no income from their videos. Furthermore, users may turn to other social networks, such as Instagram, to share creative and funny content, but with a different set of algorithms that may not appreciate some topics in the same way as TikTok does. This is a major concern as it could stifle creativity, resulting in more uniformity among users. Ultimately, all these issues combined could have an immense impact on the culture we have come to cherish today, making it difficult for us to assess the full consequences of a TikTok ban accurately. What businesses should do if a TikTok ban does happen If TikTok is banned, businesses large and small should not be too discouraged: there are plenty of other social media platforms to explore marketing opportunities on. While some may differ from what businesses may have done on TikTok, such as needing more text-based content for most platforms, the strategies and approaches are still similar. Social media can still entertain and engage customers, generate interest in products, services, or events, boost customer loyalty, and determine customer needs. Businesses can stay competitive in this ever-changing digital landscape by pivoting their efforts to remain relevant on new platforms. TikTok has become a sensation all over the world, especially among Gen Zers. Despite its popularity, there is a possibility that TikTok could be banned in the United States due to security concerns. If this happens, businesses must be prepared to avoid negative consequences. While the outcome of a TikTok ban is uncertain, businesses should still be aware of the potential implications and plan accordingly. Have you used TikTok for your business? What do you think about the potential ban?

As social media platforms continue to grow, so do the ways in which companies are looking to monetize them. Facebook and Instagram are testing a new feature that would allow users to purchase verified blue checks for $12 a month. This would allow users to distinguish themselves from others and potentially improve their visibility on the platform. While it's not clear if this feature will be made available to all users, it's certainly something that could be appealing to those who are looking for ways to stand out on social media. This feature is being rolled out in Australia and New Zealand for testing. With the growth of social media, verifying one's account with a check mark has quickly become more valuable than ever before. Facebook & Instagram are capitalizing on this value by selling blue checks for $12 a month. While it might seem outrageous, those who purchase the checks will be making a statement; they not only stand out but also have taken the necessary steps to gain verification for their accounts. In addition, these checks can also increase user engagement as there is an inherent trust in verified accounts that allows users to take what is shared more seriously. That ready access and intrinsic trust may be worth the $12 a month paid for an ultimate validation -- the blue check mark.

As a performance coach, Meherun combines her extensive expertise in psychology, leadership, and goal attainment to guide individuals on a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. Through her personalized coaching programs, she empowers individuals to break through limitations, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals with confidence and clarity. Join us as we delve into the world of Meherun Hamid, exploring her unique approach to coaching, her remarkable achievements, and the profound impact she is making in the lives of individuals striving for success. Tell us about yourself and your business. My name is Meherun Hamid, and I have had the privilege of being a full-time headteacher at an independent school in London for over 10 years. In addition to my professional role, I am also a mother, wife, grandmother, performance coach for women, and author. My life has been a constant juggling act, balancing numerous responsibilities, which has taught me valuable lessons about resilience and self-care. I have channelled these insights into my coaching business, where I help other women navigate the challenges of modern life and prioritise their well-being. I have also used the combined skills of coaching and my role as a headteacher to embed strategies to help children manage their mental health and wellbeing and authored a children's book on overcoming fear titled Manny the Scaredy Cat. What were your biggest challenges when starting your business? When I decided to start my coaching business, I encountered several significant challenges. One of the first hurdles I faced was stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unfamiliar world of entrepreneurship. I also struggled with crafting a compelling message that would resonate with my target audience and finding the right clients to work with. To overcome these challenges, I focused on networking, building relationships, and developing a clear brand message and marketing strategy. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? Throughout my career, I have experienced both success and failure, and I have come to see both as essential learning experiences that contribute to personal and professional growth. Whenever I achieve success, I take the time to reflect on what worked well and how I can replicate that success in the future. Conversely, when faced with failure, I use it as an opportunity to learn from my mistakes and make improvements for next time. I believe that maintaining a positive attitude and a willingness to learn from both successes and failures is key to achieving long-term success in any field. My faith really helps to keep me grounded and find focus when I feel lost or fear creeps in. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? In today's rapidly changing market, staying competitive requires constant adaptation and innovation. To differentiate myself from others in the coaching industry, I draw upon my unique story and experiences, which allow me to connect with women from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from ethnic minority communities. I strive to be authentic in sharing my journey and aim to provide as much value as possible to my clients. By offering impactful coaching and sharing my insights and lessons learned, I can inspire and empower others to overcome their own challenges and achieve their goals. Ultimately, my goal is to create a positive impact in the world and leave a lasting legacy. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? My core values of faith, growth, and impact serve as the foundation for my motivation and drive in the face of adversity. As a Muslim, my faith is my biggest source of strength, and I often turn to my beliefs for guidance and reassurance during challenging times. When it comes to growth, I continually seek opportunities for self-improvement through reading, taking courses, and seeking mentorship. I believe that personal growth is essential for success in any area of life. Lastly, impact is important to me because I want to make a positive difference in the world. By helping others overcome their challenges and achieve their goals, I am able to leave a lasting legacy. I believe that we all have the power to make a difference in our communities and beyond. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? To anyone embarking on a new journey in their chosen field, my advice would be to take the leap and not be hindered by past fears or future anxieties. Focus on the present moment and invest in yourself by seeking help to learn the skills you need to succeed. Once you have acquired the necessary knowledge, put it into action, and remain committed to continuous learning and growth. Remember that success is a journey, not a destination, and that perseverance and adaptability are essential for long-term achievement. How have technological advances affected the way you conduct business or operate your venture? Technological advances have significantly impacted the way I conduct my coaching business. The proliferation of digital platforms and tools has opened up new possibilities for reaching a wider audience and delivering my services more efficiently. Online communication and collaboration tools have enabled me to connect with clients from all over the world, transcending geographical boundaries. While the rapid pace of technological change can be overwhelming, I view it as an opportunity to embrace innovation and continually enhance my coaching practise. By staying current with the latest trends and technologies, I can provide my clients with the most effective and relevant coaching experience possible. In what ways has customer feedback or response influenced how you prioritise goals or objectives for your business or venture? Client feedback is invaluable in shaping the direction and priorities of my coaching business. By listening to my clients' needs, preferences, and concerns, I can identify areas for improvement and adjust my approach accordingly. This enables me to better serve my clients and ensure that my coaching remains relevant, impactful, and effective. Prioritising the needs of my clients is essential for building a loyal customer base and achieving long-term success in the coaching industry. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? In the coaching industry, I foresee a growing emphasis on engaging and interactive learning experiences. Gamification is emerging as a popular trend, with coaches integrating game elements into their programmes to make learning more enjoyable and effective. Additionally, public speaking is gaining prominence as a powerful medium for inspiring and reaching larger audiences. By embracing these trends, coaches can stay ahead of the curve and continue to deliver meaningful and impactful coaching experiences. What have been the most rewarding and difficult aspects of your chosen career or business path? The most rewarding aspect of my career as a performance coach is witnessing the transformative impact of my coaching on the lives of my clients. It is incredibly fulfilling to see the positive differences I can make in the lives of others. On the other hand, the most challenging aspect of my work is maintaining empathy and understanding while remaining grounded and not being consumed by the hardships of others. Essential skills for success in my field include role modelling—demonstrating that my approach has worked for me—and the ability to empathise with others without getting lost in their struggles. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? In the coaching field, certain skills and areas of expertise are crucial for success. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential for effectively conveying ideas and connecting with clients. Active listening and empathy enable coaches to understand their clients' unique perspectives and challenges. Furthermore, the ability to provide constructive feedback and guide clients towards personal growth is vital for fostering positive change. How has working remotely or online impacted your business or venture over the past year? The shift to remote work during the pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities for my coaching business. My development as a coach actually began during the lockdown period, when remote work was the only option. This provided me with ample time to explore new learning opportunities and adapt to the digital landscape. Although the learning curve was steep, I embraced the challenges and utilised technology to my advantage. This allowed me to broaden my reach and expand my business, ultimately helping more people find balance and achieve their goals.

Exclusive Interview of Natalise Kalea of Parallel Health. Edited by Powered Magazine In our exclusive interview, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Natalise Kalea Robinson. From her early inspirations to the founding of Parallel Health, Natalise shares her insights, challenges, and profound experiences that have shaped her into the visionary leader she is today. Tell Us About Yourself And Your Business. My name is Natalise Kalea Robinson, and I’m the co-founder and CEO of Parallel Health. Parallel is a precision health company currently focused on skin and dermatology. In a world where personal care, skincare, and even healthcare is not personalized, we believe the future is precision. In the realm of skin, we believe that personalization can be accessed via the skin microbiome – an ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. that tells us a lot about our health. When our skin microbiome is in harmonious balance, we age better and have fewer skin issues. However, when there is an overgrowth of one type of microbe, we can experience accelerated aging, acne, eczema, rosacea, and a whole host of other issues. At Parallel, we’ve developed a best-in-class skin microbiome test using the highest precision technology. And then we offer custom active phage serums (phages are microbes that infect bacteria) to specifically target bad bacteria and leave the good bacteria alone (unlike antibiotics). We also have in-house dermatologists who can offer personalised prescriptions for acne, rosacea, melasma, and aging for those who qualify. In the future, we will be expanding into various segments, enabled by our discovery platform. What were your biggest challenges when starting your business? The biggest challenge in the microbiome space is getting a foundational database that is clean, robust, and accurate. The microbiome is inherently a big data challenge. So the first thing we did when we started Parallel was join the Illumina Accelerator. With their support, we were able to amass the largest database on the skin microbiome to date using whole genome sequencing. How have you handled success and failure over the course of your career? 1) Resilience is essential because failure is inevitable. 2) While success should be celebrated, it's important to avoid becoming complacent. What strategies do you use to stay competitive in a changing market? "Follow the data" is one of our catchphrases. We base our decisions on our sequencing data and science, and we combine that understanding with clinical understanding, consumer research, and clinical insight. We think we can maintain our competitive edge in the market by being completely in tune with science and our audience. What motivations drive you to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity? Our main goal is to enable people to live their best lives. We merely want to assist you in optimizing authentically; we are not attempting to change who you are. The desire to improve people's lives is what motivates us to move forward. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their chosen field? Don't analyze too much at first. Execute and remain dedicated to learning. After that, you can keep improving and iterating. How have technological advances affected the way you conduct business or operate your venture? We can comprehend the skin microbiome and find novel targeted phage and microbial actives thanks to advancements in genomic sequencing. With “startup” capital ten years ago, we would not have been able to operate at this level. In what ways has customer feedback or response influenced how you prioritise goals or objectives for your business or venture? Customer feedback is crucial to what we do. If people don't care, it doesn't matter what you build. What trends do you see emerging in your industry that are likely to shape its future growth and development? I get to interact with a lot of pioneers in the field of skin health thanks to my position at Parallel. Compiled in the last few months are my latest takeaways for the future of skincare: Personalization and Precision: An increase in personalization will result from improvements in our understanding of the skin's microbiome. With our Skin Microbiome Discovery Kit, Odor Microbiome Kit, and (soon to be released) Body Blemish Kit, Parallel is leading the way in this movement. People are better able to select the ideal products for them thanks to this thorough understanding. Sustainability: There is an increase in refillable and ethically sourced packaging due to the growing demand for environmentally friendly skincare. For an example of how Parallel is utilizing refillable technology, look at our Custom Active Phage Serum. Inclusivity: Future consumers will expect brands to be aware of and respectful of diversity, offering products that take into account differences in gender, age, ethnicity, and other factors. At Parallel, we think that since each of us is unique, so should the products we create. Integration of Health and Wellness: Skincare benefits your overall health and wellbeing in addition to its cosmetic benefits. As more people become aware of the connection between skin health and mental health, diet, exercise, and sleep, this all-encompassing perspective is likely to continue to influence the industry, including Parallel. Continued Technological Innovation: The use of AI in skincare is likely to grow as analysis becomes more complex. Therefore, skin guidance will become even more accurate and reliable as Parallel develops. I'm enthusiastic about what this future holds for all of us as citizens. Greater effectiveness, less waste, and better experiences for all are made possible by increased personalization, sustainability, inclusivity, holistic integration, and AI technology. What have been the most rewarding and difficult aspects of your chosen career or business path? You have to wear many hats, especially if you work in the startup industry. With little time and money, it's very challenging to execute at a high level, but you have to make it work, so it's a never-ending struggle. But that also pays off. Every day, you get the chance to change the world. I'm also incredibly appreciative of being able to assemble a group of smart, talented people. Building a team culture that promotes not only productivity but also health and happiness is important because, at a startup, you frequently spend more time with your coworkers than your family or spouse. Are there any skills or areas of expertise that you think are essential for success in your field? Our vision at Parallel is very broad, so we require expertise in a wide range of fields. We are constantly on the lookout for qualified individuals, particularly in the fields of microbiology, bioinformatics, data science, bioengineering, dermatology, infectious diseases, materials science, chemistry, formulation, marketing, business development, operations, and commercialization. How has working remotely or online impacted your business or venture over the past year? It allows us to move more quickly and hire talent from all over the world. Additionally, it has also enabled us to reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining a physical office space and travel expenses for meetings and conferences. However, we have had to adapt to new communication tools and strategies to ensure effective collaboration among team members. What tips would you like to offer to others who are in a similar position to you but looking to take their careers or businesses further? 1) Never believe someone who tells you that you can't do something. 2) Invest in sincere interpersonal and professional connections 3. Embrace rejection and use it as motivation. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers that we haven’t already discussed? Visit www.parallelhealth.io/waitlist to join our waitlist if you're interested in learning more about your skin. You can benefit from a complimentary one-on-one consultation with one of our doctors, as well as special offers on customized skincare.