Best in Business Magazine February 2022 by bestinbusiness

THE MAGAZINE ENTREPRENEURS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! GROWING LEADERS

FEBRUARY 2022 | ISSUE 04

BEST IN BUSINESS MEET COACH BRANDI MILES: Leading our future with a true servant's heart!

A Lion's Tale... Being Bold in Business

NONPROFIT NEWS:

MISSION 22: SERVING OUR VETERANS AND WORKING TO STOP SUICIDE!

TRAINING NEW MANAGERS TIPS FOR GROWING OUR FUTURE LEADERS

FEBRUARY 2022 | $7.99

SHEILA FARR | 03 | GROWING NEW LEADERS WWW.GULFCOASTTRAINING.ORG

BEST IN BUSINESS

CONTENTS NOTES + PICKS + FEATURES + A LITTLE GOOD NEWS

03 EDITOR'S NOTE Editor Sheila Farr talks about the importance and excitement in - growing new leaders.

10 FEATURED BUSINESS: A LION'S TALE, LLC

Meet the owner of a bold, new business and learn about his mission to encourage others!

27 BOOK BITES: AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Learn more about a few of the authors from the international best-seller, Empowered To Win (3rd Edition)

34 TRAINING NEW MANAGERS

HOW TO SUCCED AS A NEW LEADER

Helping the next generation learn to lead! Learn about good training for new managers and leaders.

39 NONPROFIT NEWS MISSION 22: BRINGING AWARENESS TO VETERAN SUICIDE

36 SPECIAL: THE BEST (OR WORST) BOSS I EVER HAD!

COACHING WITH A SERVANT'S HEART! Meet Veteran life coach, Brandi Miles! A former solider who's changing the world one Veteran at a time!

18 THE COACHING CAREER FIELD EXPLODES! (PART 2 OF OUR 2 PART SERIES)

38 BOOK PICKS We share our picks for the best new books about leadership!

1015 HOWARD AVENUE, SUITE C BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI 39530 TRAINTHEGULFCOAST@GMAIL.COM WWW.GULFCOASTTRAINING.ORG

02 FEBRUARY 2022| ISSUE 04

Leaders and entrepreneurs share about the best (or worst) boss they ever had...and what made them that way! Contributing authors Cindy Ann Rogers and Brenda Young

BEST IN BUSINESS

A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR BEST IN BUSINESS MAGAZINE STAFF Sheila Farr, Editor-in-Chief Mary Bell, Design and Imaging CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sher Graham, Feature Writer & Dr. BizBuzz Cindy Ann Rogers Brenda Young

Sheila Farr, Best in Business Editor and Publisher

Growing New Leaders Gulf Coast Training & Education Services, LLC Rob's Cabinets & More, LLC Smokin' Guns Range & Shooting Academy WedgeCorp

Best in Business Magazine is a monthly publication that celebrates small businesses and entrepreneurs. It is designed to provide business, leadership, and management information that will help propel businesses to their next level and help them be the best of the best. Office of Communications: Best in Business Publishing, LLC 1015 Howard Avenue, Suite C Biloxi, MS 39530 Phone: (228) 229-3117

Welcome to our February issue! This month we're focused on developing new leaders and managers. This is really important to us, so there's an abundance of great information that we hope you will find useful. Here at Best in Business Magazine, we are excited about bringing you new information that can make a big difference for your small business! We're featuring COACHES this year - and this month is significant to me because we're celebrating a young woman who coaches Veterans! Our feature coach is very special to me because, in addition to co-authoring a book with her, I've had the honor of getting to know her on a professional basis, and believe me - she IS a WORLD CHANGER! We wanted to thank you for your feedback on our first few issues and let you know that we are committed to bringing you innovative and relevant business information that WILL make a difference to you if you put it to use! If you need direction or help, please feel free to call on us...we're committed to helping you succeed! Let's work together to be the BEST in business!

Sheila

03 FEBRUARY 22/ISSUE 03

SPONSORED BY:

BEST IN BUSINESS

Rob's Cabinets & More Making Dreams Come True Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast Since 2009

Rob Cavaco, Owner 10447 Lemoyne Boulevard D'Iberville, Mississippi 39540 (228) 326-4830

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 5

COVER STORY

COVER STORY: Coach Brandi Miles is Helping Others "VU" Life Differently! by Sheila Farr

Brandi Miles is a world changer – and she wants to bring you along for the ride! A mother of six, love is her superpower. Brandi is a Life Coach for Veterans and a believer in the power of playing (which is evident in her signature tie-dyed, well, everything). She helps Veterans go from camo to rainbow. Brandi’s clients learn how to "VU" life differently and break free from the fear that often makes Veterans feel stuck after they leave the structured and controlled life they’ve known in the military. She uses her life experiences and education to provide them with support, encouragement, structure, and advice. It all started in 2019 when she entered a coach training program with Coachville. Having left the military in 2014, she struggled a few years, just trying to find her purpose in life after serving in the U.S. Army. It was no coincidence that she found a training program that would not only change her life but in a sense, would also save it. We visited with Coach Brandi recently and learned more about her journey into the coaching career field, and her leap into entrepreneurship with her new business, Veterans Unleashed, LLC.

Everyone loves Coach Brandi's signature red glasses! She is FIRE!

BB: What prompted you to start your new business and how long have you been a Coach? BM: In January 2019 is when I started Coachville, the first two years was about selfdiscovery, healing, facing my true self, learning how to help others the proper way, setting boundaries, creating an environment to help me live my dream, learning to love myself again and others, realizing who I’m really here to help, figuring out my purpose in this world. So, in 2021 is when I really started discovering the business that I wanted to create to help Veterans. June 2021 is when I registered for my LLC for veterans unleased LLC. That is when I really started getting serious and knew that I needed a life coach a personal life coach to help me and guide me into successfully building my life coaching business for Veterans. Originally, the reason why I felt like I really needed a life coach is because I was a country girl from Mississippi that joined the military, I had no idea how to start a business and most definitely how to be an entrepreneur I don’t think there’s ever a right answer for that but having a life coach that knows the way and helping me become the best life coach for veterans I could possibly be.

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 6

COVER STORY

BB: What are some of your favorite things about your career field? BM: My favorite thing about being a life coach is being able to help and connect with other Veterans. I think that I’ve always been the type of person that gave people advice and tried to talk to them through problems, but I didn’t have the skills that I have today to be able to really help them. I think it’s pretty amazing that I’m getting paid to help Veterans the way that I’ve always helped them in my military career. My whole military career I was supply sergeant, so soldiers always came in there to receive something from me or request something from me and at the same time they would always come in to talk about their current situation, other problems, and issues, and I used to be the one that gave them advice. Now I’m able to do it in a more professional setting and have the skills to be able to do it in a more professional way and get paid for it. Amazing!! BB: Have you always been interested in coaching? What sparked your interest in it? BM: Honestly, I didn’t know what a life coach was until I watched a Netflix show by Tony Robbins and once, I saw how he was helping people. I was like, "I want to be just like that and I’m going to be!!!" BB: Who do you serve? What type of person can most benefit from your style/brand of coaching? BM: Happily, I serve Veterans! I serve Veterans because they are my avatar, they are me - and I am them! It was a hard transition coming out of the military, trying to find my way, getting out of control and into freedom, finding my purpose. But I was able to do it and that’s why I’m able to help other Veterans do it. I believe that all Veterans can benefit from my style of coaching. From the soldiers that are stuck in depression and feel alone and don’t know what to do with their life all the way to the soldiers that are ready to start living their dream and just need someone to guide them through the process. I’m your girl!!

You'll always find Coach Brandi wearing some form of her "signture" tye-dye!

Practicing a little self-care with a friend!

PAGE 7

BEST IN BUSINESS

COVER STORY

BB: As an entrepreneur, what are some of the struggles you had getting started (if any)? BM: Lol if any! Becoming an entrepreneur sits up there with going to war as a soldier and facing myself as a life coach. This is been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because it’s all on me, it’s all on my terms. It’s all about how much work I put in. It’s hard work to be consistent in showing the world how much value you can bring them. What I’m giving Veterans is not a tangible item; it is not something that they can’t bring home and say. I’ve" got this." It is a process of them working on themself, so I feel like it’s a collaboration between two people to help them become the best version of themself, but sometimes it becomes a little difficult when you’re getting so much resistance from Veterans because it’s not a tangible item. I can say that I was very resistant to it too, but if Veterans could just trust the process, it can change their life forever! Entrepreneurship is a new world to me and I’m just getting started! So, if you’re looking to become an entrepreneur, get a life coach that can help guide you through the process. BB: What do you most enjoy about being an entrepreneur? BM: Honestly, I never see myself as an entrepreneur, but I do see myself as a life coach. I really love creating my own hours, and being able to spend all this time with my family. In the military if you’re not deployed, going to school, completing some training, there’s always something, so you're always being taken away from your family at some point or another. As an entrepreneur, I make my own hours and I schedule around my own personal family events, which is pretty nice to be able to spend that quality time with your family that you missed so much when I was in the military. BB: What did you do for work prior to starting your business? BM: From 1998 to 2014 I served my country in the Mississippi Army National Guard where I was active-duty taking care of all the soldiers as their Supply Sergeant. After the military I worked as a Warehouse Supervisor from 2014 to 2017. I did my job very well but the civilian world was very difficult after leaving the military, so I trained someone to take my place and resigned. 2018 was the darkest year of my life. In 2019 found Coachville!!! BB: What advice would you give to those just starting out in business? BM: Just like I said before: get a life coach that can help you through the process! Find someone that knows what you’re going through and what you want to do. A coach can give you a better perspective on things and guide you through the right programs, the right things to get involved with, the networking, and all the things that will make a big difference for you.

PAGE 8

BEST IN BUSINESS

COVER STORY

BB: What would you like our readers to know about you or your business? BM: I'm a life coach for Veterans. Right now, I consider myself a baby life coach; I am like a sponge, learning from as many life coaches as I can in my Coachville community and from my local community! I have a long way to go in my business and in my dreams, but I'm learning from everyone I connect with, and hopefully, they learn and get value from me as well. My purpose in this world is to change Veterans’ lives, one Veteran at a time! BB: How may others reach you or learn more about your business? BM: I invite readers to connect with me in these places: Email: VeteransUnleashed1@gmail.com FaceBook: Personal Page-@CoachBrandiMiles Business Page-@VeteransUnleashed Veterans Women Group-@VeteransUnleashedWomen Instagram: @CoachBrandiMiles TikTok: @VeteranUnleashed

Pick up your copy today at amazon.com

PAGE 10

BEST IN BUSINESS

BUSINESS FEATURE

a lion's tale, LLC Alred Wells, Jr., is a two-time international best-selling author, U.S. Air Force First Sergeant, and an entrepreneur with a passion for helping others share their story. An active-duty service member with over 29 years of service, he has achieved the top 1% rank of Chief Master Sergeant, is the coauthor of two best-selling anthologies, “My Walk Past Hell Volume II: The Men” and “Cage Fight: Overcoming the Battle in Your Mind," and he is the CEO of A Lion’s Tale®, LLC.

Best in Business Magazine sat down with Al to learn more about his business, his motivation, and his entrepreneurial spirit. The following is our interview with him:

BB: What prompted you to start your new business and how long has the business been operational? AW: I can thank the COVID-19 Pandemic as the catalyst for the birth of A Lion's Tale. It's funny how we make excuses for doing things that are on our hearts or on our minds. As a First Sergeant (Human Resource Manager) in the Air Force, I had the deepest desire to learn our Airmen's (Air Force members) stories. We are all different and are motivated by different things. What makes you tick? What motivates you to succeed? What is your story? Those questions were the beginning of A Lion's Tale. During the pandemic, I realized I had the most precious commodity...TIME! I could not blame anytime or anyone for not moving on my desire to start a business. I remember a time when I felt ashamed of my story and how low I felt because of my experiences. Later in life, I realized low points make you who you are. I would not have the patience and understanding I have now if I had walked through my hell. If I had not been brought to my knees and humbled by the mistakes I have made, I would not be able to laugh at myself now, life is serious enough, so I had to learn to relax and take myself less seriously. We have life experience and those exact life experiences are what makes us unique, the power is in sharing those stories to help others get through their struggles...that is what A Lion's Tale is committed to doing...sharing life experiences in the hopes that it inspires someone to see past their situation #wearyourstory. We want to encourage everyone to not be ashamed of what you have been through but to instead, share your story so you can be a blessing to others. A Lion's Tale celebrates its two-year anniversary in April, and it has been an amazing ride! BB: What are some of your favorite things about your product line and/or career field? AW: I absolutely love how I feel when I don the Logo, my mindset changes. I feel like I can accomplish anything because the logo represents what I have been through - I have survived many battles and yet I still stand. A Lion's Tale is a mindset. We choose to walk with our heads hanging low because of what we went through, or we can work on our mindset to take everything we have endured as a lesson to make us better. A Lion's Tale believes in self talk...lets boost yourself up, believe in yourself, motivate yourself. Everything starts from within! #Mindsetloading With so many negative things going on in the world, A Lion's Tale hopes to be a light that cultivates a mindset and culture of "I see you...keep going." I get excited and pumped up just thinking about it. You never know what someone is going through and wearing the A.L.T. logo says - you may not know my story, but I am proud of who I am today. BB: As an entrepreneur, what are some of the struggles you had getting started (if any)? AW: Some of the things I struggled with were time management, content creation and establishing a social media presence. By far, time management is the key. I have an active 9-year-old son that plays on an AAU basketball team so finding the time to juggle daddy time, full time active-duty member and investing time into my business was and still is difficult. Working for yourself or as I like to say, working for your customers, is a blessing and watching your business grow is absolutely amazing. However, everything aren't always peaches and cream, there can be some long hours and missed opportunities because you are spending time focused on improving your business. Researching data points, networking, sales, distributions, partnerships, choosing and utilizing the correct platform to showcase your products/services, etc., and the list goes on. You may not be able to socialize with your friends/family as much because you have a task you want or need to complete. You may not be able to meet up for cocktails or brunch at the exact time because you have a same day order that you want to get out - the customer request a quick delivery because it is a last-minute birthday gift. Customer satisfaction is paramount so do everything we can to please the customer and sometimes this takes time. Prioritizing business and social time is importance and on any given day, the tide sways from one side to another.

BB: Is there a story behind your product line that you'd like to share? AW: Absolutely, my product is based on my life and probably yours as well. It is the story of "Failed.Overcame.Succeeded." My life is a culmination of failing, overcoming, and in many aspects succeeding. It is the lessons we learn as we navigate life that make us who we are. Every lesson does not end in a first-place trophy. However, if we are smart, we walk away with a lesson, then self-reflect and improve our thought process. Our logo is very significant: lions represent strength and courage; the battle scars of A tested Lion tells a Tale. We have all failed at some point in life, the real story is how we overcame and succeeded. This brand is my life, the brand's logo is a scarred and battle-tested lion ready to do battle again. There's a scar over his eye - which is a reminder to see past your scars to focus on what's ahead of you. He is growling, mouth open, teeth on display to let life know, I am here and am ready to take on the next battle! BB: What did you do for work prior to starting your business? AW: I am an active-duty service member with over 29 years of military service. I have had a few part-time jobs while serving on active duty, but the Air Force has been my career. BB: What advice would you give to those just starting out in business? AW: Do it! I allowed myself to be frozen in fear! Just do it. Believe in yourself! Looking back, I wish I would have started my entrepreneurial journey sooner. Now I realize the thought of failing and being labeled as a failure paralyzed me. Everyone isn't going to see the vision you were blessed with, but that's ok, because your vision isn't theirs...it was given to you. DO IT NOW! We are all given talents to give to the world so figure out what yours is and share your gifts and ideas. Find your niche and touch them with the gift you are given. Do not believe the market is oversaturated, because the market does not have you and your spin on whatever it is you are bringing to the table. Study your craft, learn how to get better, and surround yourself with those who lift you up. The entrepreneurial journey gets lonely; others may believe you are wasting your time with "fill in the blank" - but that's ok, take wise counsel from those you trust and see if this is right for you. You may fail once, twice or maybe three times, but failure is an opportunity to learn so take note of the actions while you are down, rise and try again. I say take notes while you are down because thoughts in the exact moment are true thoughts and emotions. You can filter the rawness later but capture them immediately. It also serves as a reminder of your feelings at that moment...this may help you focus because you don't want to feel those feelings again.

BB: What is the best way for others to reach out to you or learn more about your business? AW: Please reach out to us at:

A Lion's Tale, LLC Facebook: @alionstaleapparel Instagram: @alions_tale email: alionstalellc@gmail.com website: www.alionstaleapparel.com

WE HAVE LADIES AND MENS ACTIVE ATTIRE AND HOT NEW RELEASE OF UNISEX JOGGER SETS AS WELL AS LADIES YOGA/WORKOUT SETS! PLEASE VISIT US AT WWW.ALIONSTALEAPPAREL.COM

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 17

BEST IN BUSINESS

ADVERTISING

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 18

WHAT IS COACHING

What in the World is a Business Coach (and do I need one)? Part Two of a Two-Part Series by Sheila Farr

For a fee, coaches will work alongside executives and business owners to help them define their goals, polish their vision for their business, and set in place a series of strategies that will help the owner achieve their goals and vision. If a business owner has tough questions or runs into problems along the way, their coach will be able to help them navigate their issues in the most effective way possible. Having a business coach is much like having a highly experienced partner on your team, and the value that they offer to business owners is priceless. Whether your business is struggling and you need a way to revive it or you simply want to take your brand to the next level, bringing on a professional business coach is one of the most effective options you have available. What Does A Business Coach Do?

Business coaches serve as both trainers and mentors, training you in the skills you need to be successful in your business and serving as a source of information should you ever have any questions about what you should do. Much like any other coach, business coaches work to refine your talents, hone your goals, guide your decisions, and do everything else that they can do to ensure that you and your business are successful. Business coaches start by learning everything that they can about your brand, from its value propositions to its target customers to the challenges it will face and beyond.

Once your business coach has learned everything that they can about your offerings and systems, they’ll next want to learn more about your vision for your company and the goals that you have for it. Just as every company is unique, every business owner’s vision is unique as well, and a business coach will need to know whether you are wanting to turn your business into a livable income for you and your family or a multimillion dollar corporation. Next, a business coach will work with you to set beneficial and attainable goals for your team. These goals will be ones that you need to hit in order to efficiently grow and achieve the vision you lay out. Once a set of goals are in place, your business coach is there to help you meet them, aiding you in devising a set of strategies and action plans designed to push your business to meet its goals and helping you navigate any challenges that come up along the way. Throughout this entire process, business coaches serve as an invaluable source of personalized information and advice. Running a business, small or large, can far too often feel like fumbling around in the dark hoping you find what you are looking for. Business coaches help keep you focused and looking ahead so it's easier to level up in business.

Source: Harvard Business Review

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 20

Tips for First-Time Managers: How to Succeed as a New Leader by Sheila Farr As a new manager, or a manager in a new job,

1. Adopt a growth mindset

you've got a lot to do. Adopting

growth

mindset

the

most

First-time managers can often feel overwhelmed

important mental shift you need to make as a

by their new responsibilities and everything that

new manager.

comes with them, so we organized the below tips to help you hit the ground running.

As a new manager, you have a lot to learn. It's a career change compared to being an individual

You can work on them in whatever order you

contributor, not just a promotion. If you don't

choose, but we suggest you first digest the list in

adopt a growth mindset, you won't be able to

the sequence we have it below to get a clear

learn and develop the skills necessary to be a

picture of what you need to do to get started on

good leader.

the right foot. Even if you've been a manager before, recognize Here are six things you should start working on in

that being at a new company, you'll have a lot to

your first day as a manager:

learn as well. Every culture is different, so what worked at one company and one team, may not

1. Adopt a growth mindset

work at your new job.

2. Build rapport with everyone you can 3. Start one on ones with your team right away

As Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck spoke

4. Practice asking good questions & listening

about in her TED talk, belief is the key ingredient

5. Get to know your peers

to improvement. If you have a fixed mindset –

6. Look for some quick wins

you believe that people can't change or improve – it directly impacts your ability to grow and develop. However, it doesn't just change how you act and treat yourself, it affects how you treat your entire team.

PAGE 21

BEST IN BUSINESS

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

PAGE 22

BEST IN BUSINESS

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

2. Build rapport with everyone you can

How to build rapport

Rapport is the foundation of great working relationships.

There are many ways to build rapport. The key is finding out what's important to them and what you may have in common, such as:

The trust and understanding you develop through building rapport leads to: Healthy, open communication A better understanding of what makes others tick Makes it easier to give those people the benefit of the doubt Creates a healthy environment to give and receive feedback between you and them Rapport is the foundation of a strong relationship because of a simple idea: with understanding grows empathy and compassion. Think about how your relationship with a friend or loved one differs from a stranger. Someone you know you will go out of your way to help, listen to what they have to say, and value their opinion. A stranger? Not so much.

A likeness in your upbringing or background Similar family or cultural background You like the same sports teams Enjoy the same hobbies Watch the same shows Or have similar goals or values One simple thing you can do is ask to go out for coffee with those around you. Use it as a chance to speak with them in a less formal setting, and get to know them. If you're reading this as someone hiring new managers, consider including a gift card to the local coffee shop in your employee onboarding package to encourage this.

PAGE 23

BEST IN BUSINESS

3. Start one on ones with your team right away

One on ones are the most powerful tool you have as a manager. They give you a way to: Build rapport Give and receive valuable feedback Uncover and work through issues Develop your team members, and even Build future leaders One on ones are the secret weapon of great managers, however, it takes a while to develop a solid one on one foundation with your team members. For that reason, it's important to start having one on ones with your team right away. The sooner you start having regular one on ones with your team, the sooner you'll have a strong foundation of rapport and a stream of feedback coming your way. With those in place, you can start catching little issues before they become major problems. You can also then start working on being a multiplier for your team. 4. Practice asking good questions & listening

As we talked about in the last point, those one one one conversations with your team members are a valuable opportunity to build rapport and gather feedback, among many other things. Two of the most important keys to making the most of those one on ones, and any communication you have with your team members, boss, or peers, are asking the right questions and being an effective listener.

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

A manager's job is to ask the right questions Asking good questions can unlock insights to improve your team's performance, or uncover an issue that you didn't even know existed. Some of our favorites for when you start out with your new team include: What have your past managers done that you'd like me to also do, or not do? What are your career goals and where did your last manager leave off with them? How do you like to receive feedback? What works best for you? Work on developing a habit of asking questions more than feeling like you have to have all the answers. This curiosity mindset will help you uncover insights that help you become a better leader and manager to your team. It's also about becoming an effective listener To make the most of asking the right questions, you need to be an effective listener. Most people are used to conversing in a way that they're just waiting for their next chance to speak. When they do this, they're missing out on truly learning what the other person has to say. Instead, stay focused on the things the other person is saying. Pause and give them time to fully express themselves. Then ask a follow-up question or two to ensure you understand everything they're saying. As you get comfortable with those habits, the final step is to practice Active Listening Skills:

PAGE 24

BEST IN BUSINESS

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

5. Get to know your peers

Developing a strong relationship with your team members and your boss are important as you start out. It's also important to work on building relationships with other teams and peers you work with regularly. Entrepreneur and former VP Engineering & CIO Kate Matsudaira believes these relationships are critical as she said in an interview: "You should have 1-on-1's with other groups, other teams, other organizations, and other managers that are doing work that interface with you. Understand how you and your team need to work with other teams." Get to know your peers, especially the other managers of those teams, so you have a better idea of how you and your team fit with the other parts of the organization. Peer one on ones, like one on ones with your team, are a great way to build strong working relationships. This will help you fix any problems that come up as you collaborate, and make them more open to your requests if you need something from them or their team.

PAGE 25

BEST IN BUSINESS

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

These meetings create open lines of communication that can reveal problems you'd otherwise never know about. Rather than letting another team quietly resent you or your team, why not proactively prevent it by regularly speaking with them? Who you should be building these peer relationships with will vary depending on your role, department, and level in the company. A few examples would be: An engineering manager would benefit from peer 1 on 1s with product managers and designers their teams work with. A sales leader would benefit from building relationships with customer success and account management leaders in their territory. A customer success manager would benefit from building relationships with sales leaders and product managers for the product they support. A simple rule of thumb is that if you depend on their work, or they on yours, you should have a peer 1 on 1 with them. It's also beneficial to meet with peers who would benefit knowing more about your work or vice versa (like customer success managers sharing issues with product managers). 6. Look for some quick wins

Throughout all your discussions and meeting people, from your team to your boss and your peers, look for some quick wins to build momentum: If there are small things you can do that will make your team happy, do it. If something small done by your team would help another team, do it. If you can tweak a process to be better, get team buy in and do it. Whatever it is, any quick wins you can snag early on will help build momentum that you can build on. That momentum is powerful as it can help prevent burnout, especially when that progress is related to things that are important to your team members.

PAGE 26

BEST IN BUSINESS

TRAINING NEW LEADERS

Quick wins = progress = a happy, motivated team

According to researchers at Stanford and the University of Virginia, the Progress Principle is key to long term happiness at work; small, incremental progress on what matters most is the main reason people feel satisfied at work. It's an effective remedy to the learned helplessness that often develops in teams and companies when employees feel like nothing they do makes any difference. As you speak with your team and get to know their processes, look for small wins that can give your team a sense of momentum. If you listen carefully, you'll find that your team members will often bring up issues and ideas, so it's not all on you to figure things out. Also, by acting on what they tell you, you'll build more trust and support from them; they'll know you're truly listening and care.

PAGE 27

BEST IN BUSINESS

AUTHORS

Special Feature: Authors' Spotlight

empowered to win: empowered, embraced and equipped Release date: 27 January 2022

Allison G. Daniels, is the CEO of AGD Publishing, LLC and an International Best-Selling Author who has written over 31 books. She helps authors, aspiring authors, consultants, and goal-setters to write, share and publish their book to create multiple streams of income, gain authority in their field and maximize their book sales. Allison is the Creator of the “30 Day Write to Finish Book Writing Program,” helping turn writers into successful published authors. Affectionately known as a strategic, focused team leader in the corporate world, she now applies the same principles in the publishing industry. SOCIAL MEDIA: Website: www.allisongdaniels.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonDaniels9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisongdaniels/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGDPublishing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allison.g.daniels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-g-daniels-b701342a/ Youtube: Allison G. Daniels - YouTube Podcast: https://bit.ly/TheAuthorsLab-Podcast

Visionary Author, Allison G. Daniels

PAGE 28

BEST IN BUSINESS

AUTHORS

Dr. Essie McKoy Dr. Essie McKoy is an Award-Winning Educator, SixTime Amazon Best Selling Author, Host of #1 Podcast Dr. Essie Speaks Education, President/CEO of Dr. Essie Speaks Educational Consulting. LLC. Dr. McKoy received her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) and an Educational Specialist Degree (Ed. S.) in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from Appalachian State University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education with certification in Learning Disabilities from WinstonSalem State University. She has additional areas of certification in Public School Administration/ Principalship, Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in English, and the Superintendency. Her dissertation topic, “A Study of Elementary Principals’ Perceptions of Accountability and Leadership in an Era of High Stakes Testing,” is a foundational part of her book, “The Heart of School Transformation: My Journey into Transforming Urban Schools."

SOCIAL MEDIA: Website: www.dressiespeaks.com Podcast: www.dressiespeaks.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dressiespeaks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/emckoy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dressiemckoy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmckoy/ HeyPapi: https://heypapipromotions.com

PAGE 29

BEST IN BUSINESS

AUTHORS

Dawn Lieck Dawn Lieck is a world-class business professional with remarkable expertise in the areas of wellness and multidimensional coaching. A mirrored portrait of what it means to be a “Renaissance Woman”, Dawn’s abilities have earned her professional respect amongst generational influencers. Setting the standard in her field, Dawn is an International Speaker, best-selling author, and the CEO of both Finally Free, LLC, and Dawn Lieck Enterprise. Affectionately known as the “Transformation Life Coach”, Dawn helps successful professionals harness their true potential by putting them in touch with themselves on an intrinsic level. Having an unyielding passion for personal development, Dawn motivates clients to renew their perspective, conquer fear, and to create life balance using a system of pragmatic strategies. Dawn’s mantra is simple; “DO IT SCARED”. SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook Dawnlieck and Dawnlieck Finallyfree1llc Instagram Dawnlieck LinkedIn Dawnlieck

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 30

Rosalind Agurs, an exuberant life and Christian enthusiast, is a published author having authored two works, “Your Best Singing,” and FEAR NOT! A 52 Week Action Devotional. She loves to share that the Bible is your greatest manual for living and to show others how to cultivate the Word of God into your life so it comes up for every situation, challenge or emotion presented. Therefore, she is committed and excited to produce action-taking resources that, when applied, lead to victorious living! Roz is your “go-to girl” for ideas, information, and implementation.

AUTHORS

Rosalind Agurs

Rosalind resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Benjamin, is the mother of three and credits her intrinsic values of faith, family, integrity, couth and commitment to her wonderful parents, whom she was blessed to work alongside with in active ministry for 33 years. God gets ALL the glory out of Roz’s life! She stands complete in Christ and is humbled and honored daily to serve God and His people! SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: Rosalind Agurs Gizelle Taylor-Daniels is a wife, a mother of two, and a grandmother of two. She is a Clinical Office Manager with Family Medical Counseling Service Pediatric Department. Gizelle is genuinely passionate about helping individuals achieve ultimate health care. She is committed to the promotion of preventive pediatric care. In addition to the promotion of physical, mental, and the social well-being of children with the aim of attaining positive health. She enjoys serving her community her focus has been and will continue to secure maximum results of prosperity and educating the community. Gizelle holds a B.A. with honors in Health Services and a Certificate as a Community Health Worker from Trinity Washington University SOCIAL MEDIA:

Gizelle Daniels

Facebook: Gizelle Daniels Linked In: Gizelle Taylor

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 32

TALK BACK!

TALK BACK! Way back in December, we asked you about the biggest challenge you've faced as an entrepreneur. Here's what you had to say...

"Money! The lack of starting out and the inability to keep it and run a profitable business." ~ Chad B., Upper Marlboro, MD~

"My biggest challenge is marketing. I really don't understand the difference between marketing and advertising and I'm not sure how much of either I should even be doing. I could really use some help understanding how to budget for marketing and how to understand if it's even helping." ~ Kim B., Denver, CO ~

"For certain, my biggest challenge as an entrepreneur is having to do everything on my own. I'm just getting started, so finding a way to get it all done without being completely frazzled is my struggle." ~ Kelley C., Macon, GA ~

TALK BACK! LET US HEAR FROM YOU! EMAIL US AT TRAINTHEGULFCOAST@GMAIL.COM TO SHARE YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS, AND THE CITY/STATE IN WHICH YOU ARE LOCATED AND WE'LL SHARE YOUR COMMENTS IN OUR MARCH ISSUE!

"Finding customers is my biggest challenge! Any suggestions for someone who is just starting out in a life coaching business?" ~ Kathy S., Adrian, MN ~

PAGE 33

BEST IN BUSINESS

ADVERTISING!

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 34

FEATURE

Featured Topic

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD TRAINING FOR NEW LEADERS BY SHEILA FARR Leadership...can make or break an organization.

Leadership Development Leads to Sustained Success

Why is leadership development so important? Because it represents a great chance for

So why is leadership development important?

organizations to seize a competitive advantage in their industries.

Leadership development enables organizations to do the following 4 things that drive sustained success:

If your business commits to developing its leaders, you can expect to gain a significant competitive

Improve bottom-line financial performance.

advantage by improving the bottom line; attracting,

Attract and retain talent.

developing, and retaining talent; driving strategy

Drive strategy execution.

execution; and increasing your success when

Increase success in navigating change.

navigating change.

Improve Bottom-Line Financial Performance There is data that backs this up. 5,000 leadership program participants around the world were

Companies that rate highly for their investments in

surveyed by Deloitte & Touche — as well as 8,765 of

human capital deliver stock market returns 5 times

their colleagues — and 99% of the participants

higher than those of companies with less emphasis

surveyed said they achieved success on their target

on human capital. Leadership development builds

goals related to communication, self-awareness,

capacity to reduce costs, drive new lines of revenue,

implementing change, and other areas.

and improve customer satisfaction.

A whopping 97% also told said:

Attract, Develop, and Retain Talent

The program better prepared them for future

Leadership development boosts employee

leadership responsibilities.

engagement, increases the organization’s ability to

Lessons learned were relevant to their leadership

deal with gaps in the talent pipeline, and reduces the

challenges.

headaches and costs associated with turnover. Great

Colleagues who went through one of our

leaders attract, hire, and inspire great people. A

programs were able to translate what they

manager without strong leadership skills will struggle

learned into organizational impact, especially

to attract and retain high-performing employees.

when it came to management capabilities,

In addition, it’s often significantly less expensive to

overall effectiveness, cross-boundary

develop, coach, and promote people internally over

collaboration, and openness to diverse

the long run than to hire someone externally, which

perspectives.

makes leadership development a good investment.

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 33

Drive Strategy Execution Effective leadership development isn’t development for its own sake.

Organizations need a leadership strategy that closely connects with the business strategy and equips employees with the leadership skills needed to implement it. Leadership development allows organizations to shape the culture and strategy of the business.

In the words of The Conference Board: “Leadership development has enormous power in both shaping and changing the culture and strategy of business. Developing, coaching, and promoting people internally is significantly less expensive than the costs typically required to hire someone externally.”

Increase Success in Navigating Change Leadership development increases people’s ability to lead in a disruptive world. When organizations look beyond developing senior executives and high potentials to unlock the full potential of their talent pools, agility is magnified.

So, when you have the opportunity to become a leader - either within a larger corporation or a small business - be sure that you pay particular attention to growing new talent, and providing all the tools and resources they need to become good leaders; you'll be so glad you made the investment in them!

Sheila Farr, is the CEO of Gulf Coast Training & Education Services, LLC, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Sheila teaches small businesses and entrepreneurs how to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones by developing business strategies that work! Visit her website at www.gulfcoasttraining.org

FEATURE TOPIC

BEST IN BUSINESS

PAGE 36

CONTRIBUTORS

THE BEST (OR WORST) BOSS I EVER HAD... TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES When I think about my career as a Respiratory Therapist, there are some great bosses that stand out. On the other hand, there have also been a few not so great. Working below some of these “bad bosses” was frustrating. Most of my frustration I’ve felt working is when I felt isolated, as if my team and I were on an island and our opinions were not considered when decisions were made. Many times, we weren’t invited to the table to discuss changes

When you are in a position of leadership speaking positive to and about your subordinates is a must. I was a E-4 (Petty Officer Third Class) in the Navy going for a command advancement promotion to E-5 (Petty Officer Second Class). Normally a sailor has to take an advancement test in order to get promoted but there are cases where the commanding officer can promote an outstanding sailor to the next rank.

that impacted our work directly. My supervisor did not care for me even though she and I I’ve also had bosses that I would consider “The Best Boss”. Happily, one of these individuals is my current boss who is Chief Operating Officer at the organization which I work. I have known her for quite some time, as we have worked at the same facility for years. It wasn’t until 2020, with the outbreak of Covid at our facility, that I received a promotion and became to report

had never had an altercation. She went into the E-6 meeting and decided she was going to bad talk me to the other E-6s (Petty Officer First Class). There was no way she thought it wasn't going to come back to me and others in the command. This almost made me give up on pushing for the advancement but I didn't let her see me fold. My commanding officer promoted me to E-5.

directly to her. I could not fathom why she would do something like that. One of the best qualities of my boss, my best boss, is that she listens. Over the past two years, we have gone through many challenges and changes in order to

After that, I was so uncomfortable working with her that I asked to be moved to another office. I continued to work hard at everything that I did.

provide adequate care for our patients. I’ve had to ask her for many different things; new equipment, premium staffing and even bonuses for my current staff. She’s been approachable each time. I’ve never had a boss as present as she is. I can honestly say that I feel as though “she has my back and my teams back.” This is priceless especially with the current

That was the moment that I realized that just because you are in a leadership position, it doesn't make you a leader. To be an effective leader, you must be willing to lead from the ground not from the seat. Leaders breathe life into those that trust you to guide them to the next level of their careers.

situation we’ve all encountered over the last couple of years.

No matter how you feel about your subordinates, you have to be able to separate your personal and

Being in management is a difficult job. It requires many qualities that can at times be difficult to maintain on a continual basis. The greatest qualities a good boss should have is to lead by example and to listen to your

professional feelings. There is a difference between a manager and a leader. Managers oversee every minute thing going on. Leaders teach one how to get something done effectively.

team.

Cindy Rogers Director of Respiratory Therapy and International Best-selling Author

Brenda Young Entrepreneur and International Best-selling Author

PAGE 37

BEST IN BUSINESS

DR. BIZBUZZ

Ask Dr. Bizbuzz Reader's Question: "What is the best way to start a business plan if you opened your business, but never actually made a business plan?"

Angie, Waldorf, MD

Dear Angie, Your question is a great one, and believe it or not - it's something we see more frequently than you'd think! We always recommend that you START with a good plan for your business, but if your business is already up and running, you can start developing your business plan simply by writing down the things that you are currently doing. Write down information about your revenue streams and your pricing policies. Be sure to write down your weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual marketing plans. Include information about what's working in your business and what isn't working, too, because this can show you where you might be able to make adjustments. Once you get everything written down, develop a plan for the next year or two; that's at least a step in the right direction. After you get the plan, use a good resource to help you format your newly developed business plan. As we mentioned last month, one great resource to assist in writing your plan is SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential business mentoring services to prospective and established small business owners in the United States. www.score.org. Our Editor, Sheila Farr, steps in this month to answer your questions, but Dr. BizBuzz will be back in March with more helpful suggestions for helping you level up in business.

You can ask Dr. BizBuzz Send your business questions to us at: bestinbusinesspublishing@gmail.com

PAGE 38

BEST IN BUSINESS

a little good news... SHARING GOOD NEWS AND EXCITING EVENTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE!

Calling all entrepreneurs! The Boss Your Lane Conference is scheduled to begin in April. If you're interested in learning more, visit them at: www.speakatbosssummit.com

Watch for the authors of "Cage Fight: Overcoming the Battle in Your Mind," out and about on various speaking engagements this spring and summer! Congratulations to Visionary author, Ashley Robertson, on achieving international best-seller status with her riveting anthology about the power of a positive mindset! Congratulations to the writing team of "Mindshift Achievers." Congratulations to author and publisher, Allison G. Daniels, on making the international best-seller list with Empowered To Win (3rd Edition)

PAGE 39

BEST IN BUSINESS

NONPROFIT NEWS

EXCLUSIVE: NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MISSION 22:

This month, we're celebrating a unique and extremely impactful organization: Mission22. The best way to understand exactly what they stand for, it is easiest to go directly to their website to see who they are and learn about all of the programs they offer. As stated on the Mission22 website: Mission 22 is a national community supporting active service members, Veterans, and their family members, through three areas of focus: Support and Treatment Programs— for active service members, Veterans, and their family members, addressing Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, suicide risk and other challenges. Social Impact— uniting civilians and the military community to raise awareness of issues active service members, veterans, and their family members face. Memorials— remembering and honoring service members and Veterans through large scale installations and digital initiatives, while raising awareness for issues faced on home soil. Through this largely volunteer effort, we continue to make a national impact, and our community is growing every day. We are proud to lead this mission supporting our military, Veterans, and their families.

I became affiliated with Mission 22 in 2020 when I joined as an Ambassador for our Region. As a former U.S. Air Force Reservist, it was important to me to find a way to give back to those who served our country and came home changed and challenged. After learning more about Mission 22 and its dedication to Veterans and their families - I knew it was the place for me. One of the most common ways they work to bring about awareness and change is through their annual challenges. The first one I ever participated in was the 22 Push-Up Challenge. This is where you commit to doing 22 push-ups for 22 days in order to help bring about awareness of the 22 Veterans that commit suicide each day (some statistics may vary). Since joining them in 2019, they have added a whole host of challenges and our volunteer numbers have grown significantly. Together, we are making a difference!

I wanted to share more about why others join to support Mission 22, and learn more about their experiences with them. Here's what others have to say about this life-changing organization: "My story is simple and I am thankful I do not know one of the 22 personally. I just want to say how important our information booths are! I was at a CVMA ride where Angela Bleckley was set up and 15 minutes not only changed my life but saved my life! Now I am closer to those in Mission 22 than my family! I make it a personal mission daily to hand out info and talk to as many people as possible. I thank God for this organization and the opportunity to be in this fight!" Kevin E., North Carolina

Working a Mission 22 event

Bringing awareness to Mission 22 and all that it stands for

"I was introduced to Mission22 by my dear friend, David Wood, who is also an ambassador for Mission22, and fellow jeeper. I have always felt that giving back to veterans was of utmost importance. They sign a blank check to government up to and including their own lives, to protect our freedoms at home, it is the least we can do for them.

Bringing awareness to Mission 22 at home and in the community

The most enriching experience for me since becoming part of the Mission22 family, by far, has been the ability to talk with folks at booths. Sometimes you stand there and just listen to a story. It could be a story of loss, a story of survival, a story of ones own journey to overcome obstacles. In the end, just listening, is what people need most. Someone who is willing to be there and be attentive to what they need to say at that moment. I would love for everyone of all ages and walks of life to know that, Mission22 is there for them. Whether they want to join our ambassador program, or join one of our programs for veterans, spouses of veterans, or our equine program for children of veterans in Oregon. We have teenage ambassadors with permission of parents. I think having our youth as part of our ambassador program is an excellent way to continue for generations the importance of taking care of those who protect us." Shannon T., Oregon

Jeepin' for Mission 22