Sept 2019
Lady Anita
Duckworth Bradshaw Creating Global Visibility opportunities for Leaders
Find Mindfulness
in Marketing How To Awaken Your Inner Self Energies Modernising Traditional
Italian Jewellery
SHE
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR
October 12th, 2019 Hilton Old Town Antwerp, Belgium
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Autumn is here and we learn again.
them affect us.
Seasons of seasons ... episodes, chapters of a beautiful life, It is amazing how time passes depending on your emotions, right? When you are having a bad time or you are not enjoying what you’re doing, the time stops. Seconds drag by, you check the clock expecting an hour to have passed instead you find that barely five minutes have elapsed. But when you are doing something you love, like sharing some precious time with a loved one, it is the complete opposite, time flies past, hours disappear in seconds and there isn’t enough time in the day.
We have only this one life, the one we remember, the one we are conscious of, so we must do our best to make the very most of it. Exercise is the best way to keep our energy levels high, our endorphins coursing though our bodies, making us feel happy and on top of that, we become fit.
Twice this year I have been invited to collaborate in anthology books, which was a great honour. I searched for something to write about and decided I would talk about something from my life. Not because I believe I am extraordinary, but because I firmly believe that by telling my story, someone else may be able to take something away from it and that it might help them in their life. I am aware that all of our lives are filled with dramas, happiness, sadness, joy and so much more. I do believe we are learning now to focus on doing those things we love, even though that means that time will pass much quicker. So we must take advantage of those moments, feel them with every cell in our bodies. There will always be bad times too and we must learn to keep breathing, breathe deeply and not let
We should practice meditation, helping us to visualise our life and make things happen. Breathe deeply when you feel emotional. But most importantly, never give anyone the power to ruin your life, never give them permission to have power over you, your time, your life. It is your life, so live it well. And what about healthy eating? I love travelling and due to my work, do it often. Sometimes it is really hard to get a good meal when you need it, rushing from one appointment to another. So keep healthy by taking vitamins, otherwise your body will not be able to support you and you will end up becoming ill and having to spend a few days to recover, even though you want to try and keep going, your body will tell you – enough! So it is vital you look after yourself. And last but not least, remember to practice the two Ls – Love and Laughter. You are here to remember, to enjoy, and to love one another as much as you love yourself.
Bring it on Autumn.
Verónica Sosa Publisher www.businessfitmagazine.com
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Art Corner - p34 Creating Awareness of Outsider Art Pauline Schreurs EVENTS -------------------------Independent Women’s Summit p12 Today’s Inspired Latina - p44
FIT FEATURES
Pashion Fashion - p14 Traditional Italian Jewellery Design Avel Lenttan
Mark Vargas p22 Lady Anita Chioma Duckworth-Bradshaw p46 The Power of The Divine Sacred energy Mario Sanchez Avila p38
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Who Said Old? Ismael Cala p10 Mindfulness in the Era of Marketing Madness Bhupinder Sandhu p18
How To Create a Kickass Relationship with Your Partner Waleska Cerpa p6 Clutternomi Kathleen Ronald p30 Business with Purpose Needs an Aligned Vision and Effective Actions Viola Edward p48
Publisher & Founder Verónica Sosa Business Fit International Advisory Board Viola Edward Vikki Thomas
REACH OUT For information on advertising or placing an article in Business Fit Contact us: Email: hello@businessfitmagazine.com editor@businessfitmagazine.com Phone: +32 468 218 887
Contributors Dr. Amit Kaur Puri Avel Lenttan Bhupinder Sandhu Ismael Cala Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz Kathleen Ronald Marie Diamond Mario Sanchez Avila Pauline Schreurs Viola Edward Waleska Cerpa General Editorial Coordinator Claire Morley Art and Design Director Leo Collier Bett Graphic Designer Adverts Javier Sanchez
Sparkle Up Your Romantic Date Marie Diamond p42
Green Towers Dr. Amit Kaur Puri p28
Social Media Team Cristina Aguayo Rub Diaz
Copyright © 2019 by Verónica Sosa. All rights reserved. This Magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.
M-20318-2017
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Business
How to Create a Kickass Relationship
with your partner that will boost your business results
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Financial coach, Waleska Cerpa, shares with Business Fit readers her tips on building a successful relationship with your partner and how combining knowledge and efforts and working as a team can bring happiness and fulfilment. In 2011, when I started my path toward financial freedom, I wanted to change my life. I wanted to be successful, to have a business and a lot of money. I did not know how I was going to do it, but I wanted it and I was willing to do whatever it took to get it. At that time I was going through a love-hate relationship with men, I was in my facet of “I am almighty, I do not need a man, I am a 4x4 woman, I am going to adopt a child, etc ...” Terrible right? In one of those magical trips that life gave me in 2013, I travelled to La Paz, Bolivia and came across the Rich Dad Advisors book series. There was one in particular which caught my attention called “Team Code of Honor” by Blair Singer. The book said it would teach me how to create a successful business team to grow my sales machine. At that time I had no business, no team, no sales, but I decided to buy it anyway to see what people who did have this life were saying. I must confess that I did not understand anything about the book. It gave a lot of examples from sports champions and I do not have much knowledge in this area either. If it had been any other book, I would have left it aside, however something inside was telling me to continue reading and so I did. It all made sense when I got to the part where he was talking about family, Blair (now my mentor) explained how he had built a code of honour for his marriage and with his children. He said that the family should have rules and that everyone should adhere to that code if they wanted to be successful as a family. This made sense to me, it was a concept I could resonate with. This approach was closer to what I felt about relationships and very distant from the suffering of Romeo and Juliet I had been taught.
with our kids, would you like to come with me for the ride?” He looked at me and said: “Is it possible?” And I replied, “I have not done it yet, but there are people out there who have, and this is what I want”. That day we both said “Let’s do this” since then, it has been an incredible adventure of ups and downs which have made us grow financially and personally. My husband is a Software Engineer and I currently work as a Financial Coach. We have learned to combine our knowledge and efforts to develop online programs. He has his ideas, projects and dreams and I have mine, but we have performed better on the business perspective when we have worked together; when we make decisions together; when we discuss the direction we should take together and when we celebrate our triumphs together. After seeing the results we decided we would make our combined efforts our primary job and each have a side hustle to continue feeling independent. This has not only made us grow our business, but it has brought more happiness and fulfilment into our relationship I am not a “relationships guru” but I feel I have become an expert in my relationship with my husband, especially when it comes to working as a team. Here I want to share with you what I have learned along the way:
It has been an incredible adventure of ups and downs
I said to myself: “I wonder what it would be like to have a partner for life”. Three months later I met my now husband and from our second date I said: “I do not want to waste time here, I want a man who loves me, with whom I can build a family but who also wants to build businesses, be financially independent and do worldschooling
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Business
1. Know yourself first: If you want your
relationship to work in every area of life each party must know who they are. It is a fundamental step and you cannot skip it.
2. Do not judge: Neither you nor your partner. Every person comes from a different family, or even different countries. We each have different habits and so you must be open to understanding why the other person does/says/ thinks certain things and know that it’s okay. You chose that person for a reason so don´t judge him or her.
3. Create space: Each partner needs space
to just BE, do not interfere, do not absorb that persons’ energy, let your partner express everything he or she has inside (the good part and the not so good part).
your relationship will be played. Remember that in the absence of rules everyone creates their own. Creating a successful relationship is not about the Facebook photo or how you show up at a party, rather about what you do in private when nobody sees you, when the shadows of each one emerge, and you have to deal with it. If you follow these guidelines you will not only have an extraordinary relationship, but it will extend to everything else, your health, your business, your finances and all areas of your life. If you manage to create or already have a kickass relationship DM me at @waleskacerpa on Instagram (My account is in Spanish, but I´ll catch up with you in English)
4. Put yourself in their shoes: This is a good
exercise to accept other points of view. You do not always have to agree with what your partner thinks, but you can agree to put yourself in their shoes to try and understand their perception.
5. Communication: For me, the most
important thing in my relationship is communication. It means talking about everything that happens to me and listening to everything my husband is going through. Having an open, direct and honest communication has prevented us from having unnecessary fights. It’s learning to express and listen to the hard, the difficult, and even what you want to avoid. When you learn to communicate in this way you have a real relationship.
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. Take your partner’s advice into account: Let’s be honest, if you have an open relationship with your partner, where communication is a pillar and there is space to exchange ideas, there will come a time when your partner will know you more than your mother. This means that sometimes (even if it hurts your ego) your partner will be right about something you don’t want to admit. And they will speak up not to ruin your day, but because they love you and want the best for you, so take his/her advice.
7. Create your own Honour Code: Marriage
is an extreme sport and all sports have rules, you must create the rules by which the game of
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The most important thing in my relationship is communication.
Waleska Cerpa helps women and couples in the Hispanic Community to manage their money and design the lives they truly desire through step by step programs. www.waleskacerpa.com
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Mindset & Emotion
Who said
OLD?
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Life and business strategist, Ismael Cala, reflects on age and the importance of looking forward using the lessons learned from the past, but remembering to live in the here and now. Age is always a reason for reflections, especially for those who link goals with dates and take as a reference their birthday, to review the story of their lives. It is true that, as we age, we are more prone to draw conclusions, look back to check what we’ve done, and try to look forward. We must always keep in mind that we can’t go back to the past to fight, only to learn. In many ways this can help us prepare for the future, but we must do so without obsessive anticipation and always leaving a space to embrace uncertainty. Aging is not synonymous with expiration. In fact, the great Chilean psychologist Pilar Sordo always says, and rightly so, that old age only begins when memories impose on projects.
In the process of introspection which surrounds any anniversary or celebration, we must keep our inner child alive: that being which lives within us, connects us with our childhood and with the most genuine dreams we ever had. According to Paulo Coelho, “we have to listen to the child we once were”, because nobody “understands magical moments” better than this child.
As we age, we are more prone to draw conclusions
For example, old age may not have started for Liudmila Járeva, an 86-year-old Russian grandmother, named “the oldest volunteer in the 2018 World Cup.” Mrs. Járeva was a Spanish teacher, but she wanted to re-practice our language and feel useful among the fans attending the event. And she got it. Last year in Thailand, the king himself handed Kimlan Jinakul, 91, her bachelor’s degree in Humanities. If that’s not a record, it’s pretty close to it. Jinakul is not the exception in that country: Sukhothai University offers classes for seniors and has enrolled almost 200 students over 60 years.
We must keep our inner child alive
Nowadays, we see intense debates about how long human beings can live thanks to scientific development. I agree with the most optimistic of these, but without disregarding the importance of the here and now. Now that I am turning 49 and walking towards the “half wheel” (as they say in my native Cuba when you reach 50), I feel more inspired than ever to reflect on achievements and new challenges. This time I want to celebrate it with the audiobook “Despierta con Cala” (Wake up with Cala”), a new sound experience for those who work for a full and balanced life.
Ismael Cala is a life and business strategist, best-selling author, and international speaker specialising in personal development and mindful exponential leadership. The New York Times identified him as “the Latino Larry King”. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), USA. Founder and president of CALA Enterprises Corporation - focusing on leadership, mindfulness, happiness, productivity, and excellence. www.IsmaelCala.com
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Independent
Womens Summit
We are born with the internal power, wisdom, knowledge and tools to achieve greatness, to fulfil the mission of our current life. But if for any reason we lose access to this power, we are disconnected from our internal guidance, our own compass which shows us the best path to achieve our goals, be successful, be happy, be fulfilled and at the same time stay true to ourselves. We are so exposed to the “dreams” which are in reality not our dreams, to the “wishes” that again have nothing to do with us, to the “necessities” that are somebody else’s necessities.
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After years of being dependant on someone else’s opinions and thoughts about us, trying to fit in with a specific section of society, of following the system because it seems safer, we find we have forgotten who we really are, what we really want and the ability we have to be able to achieve higher goals in life. We no longer know how to have real dreams, our dreams, and how to attain them. As entrepreneurs instead of finding ways of doing business which bring us not only financial rewards, but which also develop us, open up new avenues and bring greater transformation to the world, we focus on one goal only - to grab, take
and use what we can. Therefore we are not giving better value, providing greater quality or finding the best way to solve problems. These disconnections from who we are and our dependency on external factors which do not serve us, affect all areas of our lives, not only business and financially, but also our private relationships, personal growth, our health and even the entire eco-system we have created around us. . Independent Women Summit serves many goals, but the primarily one is to help you obtain your independence on mental, emotional, spiritual and financial levels. As a result, you will be able to make choices and decisions to help you to live the life you really want. You will be totally independent from somebody else’s opinions and their ideas of how your life should be. You will have the tools and knowledge to help you build the life you want to live, the lifestyle you dream of. By using the talents and abilities you already have, you can open yourself to the world and serve it in the best way possible. You will learn different way to connect to your true self, a higher self, which will constantly guide you in life, to be happy with who you are and as a result have a healthy self confidence and unshakable self-worth. And this leads us to another aspect of getting your Independence - financial education and freedom to allow you to build up a life based on your own terms and conditions: work on projects you choose, with people you want to work with, in a place that inspires you and brings power. There is only one person who can dictate how big your income should be - YOU! What you need are the right tools, knowledge and a great network of like-minded people who can help, support, inspire, motivate you to always be the best version of yourself. Independent Women Summit travels all around the world to unleash greatness and grace in women and help them to live their limitless life. And teach it the next generation - our children and be good role models for them. We thrive to make each of our events unique and bring the highest possible value, connect different cultures and wisdoms, bring on stage the best speakers from different industries in order to help you widen your knowledge in
business and personal development. Results from our attendees so far have included new businesses, new joint ventures, becoming international speakers, obtaining a power to achieve goals, great friendships, finding the right coach, boosting self-confidence leading to playing big and much more. Join our next event that taking place this year in Dubai! November 9, 2019 is the day when your life become limitless. Get to know our speakers and obtain more information: www.independentwomensummit.com And only available during September, you can get your ticket with a special discount of 30% using the code BusinessFit_09. Independent Women Summit 2019 Live limitless
Pashion Fashion
Traditional Italian Jewellery Design
meets technology
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The central figure of the collection is the triangle which symbolises the feminine
Passionate about design, art and jewels, Avel Lenttan has aggregated a team of experienced and seasoned managers and partners in the luxury industry and founded her own luxury goods tech company. We hear about her concept of combining Italian artisan’s manual skills with technological innovation. Avel Lenttan, entrepreneur and luxury designer born in Slovenia, inspires, and aspires to a life rich in creativity, curiosity and beauty. Through her many travels and multicultural experiences, she has developed the vision of a globetrotter which reflects on her namesake brand of top jewellery, thereby offering a melting pot of suggestions captured at the four corners of the world. ‘Global contaminations and Italian design blend together to create something unique and contemporary in which every woman can mirror herself’ is the brand’s leitmotif. Avel Lenttan has reinterpreted the distinctive sign of Italian design, thanks to personal and extremely creative research to discover exemplary beauty. It is the result of voyages of experience, imbued with spirituality and introspection, intertwined with curiosity and the desire to explore, grow, measure and open herself to the world to create sophisticated, solid and distinctive aesthetics. A strong many-faceted personality, changing and fluctuating like the emotions life arouses, is reflected in her collections, in the continuous
dynamism of life and in the ‘sweet navigation’ in the sea of technology and luxury. The Italian goldsmith’s art, the undisputed excellence of Made in Italy, which is recognised worldwide, is a perfect fusion between the past and modernity and is the synthesis of love of beauty, together with craftsman’s knowledge. Values that have given Italy world leadership in the production of gold and jewellery. Italian goldsmithing and high-end jewellery sectors are distinctive throughout the world due to a range of qualites. These are: excellent hand-manufacturing skill, precious raw materials, advanced technologies and techniques of design, plus the unique creativity of artisan goldsmiths. In the Avel Lenttan brand, these high-quality elements are fully expressed and exalted. To create a brand reputation ex novo is not easy. You need great capabilities, a vision of the whole and foresight, without mentioning that for a woman, in a sector which is typically maledominated such as this one, the required effort is even more significant. The stars of Avel Lenttan’s brand are luxury jewels, creations of inspiration that spur a sophisticated but at the same time modern and versatile beauty. They include in themselves the pathway of experiences, of professional life and
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Pashion Fashion
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the system of values of the entrepreneur and artist. The first collection, Mirror, overflows with precious gems that find multiple expressions in sets, necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings with pleasant and dreamy coloured nuances. The central figure of the collection is the triangle which symbolises the feminine, the lunar cycles and fertility. The Avel Lenttan brand was born under the sign of a double soul. A dual track regard for quality: on one hand the Italian artisan’s manual skills, on the other technological evolution oriented towards traceability, security, simplicity to buy the product and a tailor-made user experience. Today more than ever, women want to create an identity of their own, to reach objectives and realise their dreams, to freely express their thoughts, moods, feelings and ways of being. As a woman, Avel Lenttan knows these desires of the heart very well: to allow oneself to buy or to receive jewels or luxury items for one’s own personal use, to book exclusive holidays to share with women friends, are ways of looking after and nurturing oneself, apart from objectives reached and dreams realised. However, women also want to be able to count on the security and traceability of their jewels. These are needs that Avel Lenttan understands fully, so she has introduced and implemented a number of technological innovations in the top jewellery sector: digital prototyping of the product, thanks to a system that, although automated, preserves the artisan’s touch of Made in Italy; the online 3D visualiser, which makes it possible to personalise the configuration of one’s jewel, by choosing materials, sizes and finishing. Digital identification
guarantees that each product has personalised digital information which is traceable over time, from production to delivery of the products, to goods returned; and an ‘identity document’ to protect the product’s authenticity. Finally, the technical support offered reflects a professional and rapid approach beyond borders. In the world of luxury, as in business in general, knowledge of the market, leadership, ability to recognise and to catch good opportunities, to move in the right direction, to define coherent lines of action, to believe in oneself are musts that Avel Lenttan has developed in the course of her professional life and has made her very own. The luxury sector is atavistically in the hands of men, yet times are decidedly changing. Thanks to the growing and pervasive importance of women’s empowerment, there are more and more women in the whole world who are generating their own wealth and controlling their own investments. What’s more, education has had a major role in creating awareness of genderequality. Now the world of women is more open to experience, by means of paths of personal and professional growth, with unconventional options in the world of luxury. With the launch of her brand next autumn, an exemplary union of craftsmanship and technological innovation in luxury, Avel Lenttan is a concrete and inspiring example.
Avel Lenttan iis CEO of Evolvea Switzerland and the founder of Avel Lenttan Jewels. She is an international executive and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of international and multidisciplinary experience in the tech industry. She is currently preparing to launch her first jewellery collections. marketing@avellenttan.com - www.avellenttan.com
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Mindset & Emotion
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Mindfulness in the Era of
Marketing
MADNESS
Mindfulness coach and practitioner Bhupinder Sandhu looks at how marketing promotes mindfulness as a brand when in fact true happiness is a state of mind and cannot be found through the possessions we own. Mindfulness has been in fashion in the West since the beginning of the 21st century; we see a beautiful woman, a top athlete or a blissedout monk at the top of the mountain practicing mindfulness on the cover of the magazines. Marketing makes us believe that to be mindful we must either become like one of them or need loads of money. The question here is whether marketing companies are making this sacred art of Mindfulness a brand? And the answer is YES they are, as they have done with everything else. They have even branded death. Marketing is a great way to enhance your business but are you mindful of your product and the marketing strategy? Marketing is an art; it needs a lot of passion and creativity when done with a clear consciousness but it’s unscrupulous when psychological and scientific techniques are used to trick the human mind. Food companies hire food scientists, psychologists and even neuroscientists to
engineer a certain crunchiness/flavour to causes the dopamine hit they know consumers want more of. They psychologically manipulate our mind to believe in their product or service. Beautiful models in fast food adverts don’t actually consume the food they advertise and the giveaway toys for children are designed to make them return for more. It is important to be mindful of these strategies. We get hooked into buying foods and electronic gadgets which I call the modern-day addictions without being aware. The new norm for society is an addictive lifestyle where the mind is not run by the human part of the brain (Prefrontal Cortex, the newest part of the brain associated with complex cognitive behaviour, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behaviour) but is instead controlled by the chimp part of the brain (limbic part, the oldest part in the human brain which is responsible for fight or flight responses). We are living in an era where we have the newest version of everything - phones, cars, clothes, you name it, we want the latest model. We wouldn’t use a 15-year-old phone to make phone calls, so why are we using the part of the brain our ancestors used when they were huntergatherers, to live our lives.
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Mindset & Emotion
Happiness and Unhappiness are states of mind
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Due to our lack of mindfulness, we are letting THE WOLVES, who are a minority in society manipulate us for their benefit. We have become more and more educated but less and less wise. We need to increase our awareness, and this can be done just by being mindful. Mindfulness is not a religious practice as many people think, it is a secular practice which anybody can do. It is simply the art of living in the present, without judgement. Mindfulness is deliberately paying attention to the things we normally would not even notice and becoming aware of our present moment experience as it arises. When we practice Mindfulness, we pay attention to what is happening in our mind, in our body and to our thoughts, to the stories we tell ourselves, as well as to the emotions and physical sensations as they arise. It’s just like becoming our own observer. Marketing campaigns are designed in such a way that we are unconsciously attracted towards these addictive external sources (circumstances and people). The desire to acquire more and have a better tomorrow means we have become slaves of the external stimuli. But once we have it, it’s not enough and that better tomorrow gets postponed to the next tomorrow. As most mindful teachers say, most of the time your mind is like a balloon in the wind, blown here and there and everywhere by your external and internal circumstances. Have you experienced that feeling? When you feel nothing is in your control?
So, if you really wish to have a good day, every day, there are things you need to do. The first is to slowly and progressively reduce outsourcing happiness and unhappiness on people and circumstances. In other words, we need to stop attributing our happiness to what’s going on externally, and we need to stop blaming others -especially blaming others – for our unhappiness. While we continue to hold others responsible, happiness will be very unstable and illusive. Our job is to actively cultivate a source of peace and happiness coming from inside our own mind. Here’s something to commit to memory: “Happiness and Unhappiness are states of mind and therefore their real causes cannot be found outside the mind.” With a peaceful state of mind, we will be happy regardless of people and circumstances. If our mind is unpeaceful or agitated, then even in the best of circumstances, we will find it impossible to be happy. It’s not what is happening that’s making us happy or unhappy, it’s how we respond to those things which determines whether we are happy or unhappy. Our state of mind is crucial in determining happiness or unhappiness. According to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), in 2016/17 there were 12.5 million working days lost to stress, depression or anxiety, with over 526,000 people in the UK reporting that work-related stress was making them ill. This amounts to nearly 40% of all work-related illness. Mindfulness helps to induce a state of relaxation and we reap the benefits like decreased stress, improved general health, improved academic success and resilience, because the limbic part becomes less active and the human part becomes more active. While everyone has something to gain from practicing mindfulness, there is one caveat: to reap the maximum benefits of mindfulness, it truly needs to be a practice, meaning that it must occur regularly and often. “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha
Bhupinder Sandhu is a mindfulness coach, a devoted mindfulness practitioner and Founder of Aksa Valley. Sharing the art of mindful living with the World is his passion and purpose. He believes that anyone can create the kind of incredible inner change he has undergone once they know how. bhupinder@manzeerasolutions.co.uk www.manzeerasolutions.co.uk www.aksavalley.com
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Interview
Mark Vargas If you see an opportunity,
go for it, and don’t look back
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A trusted adviser and close confidante to some of the most high-profile political and business leaders in America, tech entrepreneur in health care and political opinion writer, Mark Vargas, tells us how his Mexican grandmother’s influences on his upbringing helped him become the first person in his family to graduate and his subsequent move to Washington DC put him on the track to success.
Who are you?
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of three brothers. My father is a truck driver for UPS, and my mother is the Director of the RISE Program and the ADA Compliance Officer at our alma mater, Judson University. In 2004, I was the first person to graduate from college in my family. My parents made many sacrifices and were committed to seeing their son graduate with a college degree – and for that, I am eternally grateful. After my graduation, I took a huge gamble and moved to Washington, DC, with only $72 in my checking account. I didn’t have a job, or any money, but I knew I wanted to be in DC. As a student at Judson on September 11, 2001, I knew I wanted to serve my country, and going to DC would move me closer to that goal.
What is the single best piece of business advice which helped shape who you are now and Why?
The best piece of business advice I’ve ever received is to embrace failure, don’t be afraid to take risks, and if you see an opportunity, go for it, and don’t look back. In other words, if you see a crack in the door, lunge your whole body through it. I am a firm believer that every single person has a purpose here on earth, but oftentimes, we are too afraid to realise it. We minimise our strengths and maximise our weaknesses, and in the end, we are left wondering what could have been. I give an inspirational talk titled, “Are you comfortable with your destiny,” where I explain that we are all destined for greatness, and that greatness has different levels – but none more important than the other. Some are destined to be the change in their family or their community. Others are destined to influence the country or the entire world – but we all have a place and a purpose. And regardless of your strengths or your calling, we all play a critical role in today’s society. And that’s why I challenge people with the phrase, “are you comfortable with your destiny?”
In 2007 I got a job working in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq fourteen times as a civilian advisor from 2007-2010 on a special task force which specialised in rebuilding war-torn economies by attracting foreign and direct investment opportunities. Today, I am a tech entrepreneur and the cofounder of a tech company in healthcare, and I am involved in a variety of projects, including working with the White House on criminal justice reform, health care reform, and I remain a close confidante and informal advisor to former President of Mexico Vicente Fox. And last May, I launched “Conversations with Mark Vargas,” a highly influential speaker series as part of Judson University’s World Leaders Forum, where I invite the most recognisable names around the world for an informal one-onone conversation where we discuss successes and failures, inspiring stories, current events and more.
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Interview How do you take care of your body, mind and soul?
Life is fragile and we should never take our health for granted. I have to admit that I haven’t always maintained a healthy lifestyle. It’s hard to do. I operate in a high stress environment; and I don’t always exercise like I should, but I remain committed to being healthier, and I recognise its importance. In the last twelve months I have committed to eating healthier, sleeping more, and I have cut drinking soda from my diet. In fact, unless it’s a glass of wine or a cocktail in the evening, I am almost always drinking water – lots of water. And I work out, but not as consistently as I would like. But like many, I am a work in progress, and I am getting better at being more disciplined about this each day.
What is your definition of success? How did you finally know you had succeeded in your business?
Defining “success” can be dangerous – because if you’re like me, you’ll never be satisfied. You will always want to push yourself to the next level. Being ambitious and unafraid to take risks and unafraid of failure is a double-edged sword. I think a better way to define success is to measure your happiness. If you are happy or enjoy what you are doing, then you are successful. The same principle can be applied to working. Too often people are working at their job, which means, “just over broke,” and they are unhappy. But if you are building a career and a lifestyle, that’s something entirely different. You enjoy it, and it’s easy to lose track of time throughout the day, because you love what you do – you enjoy waking up in the morning, and you look forward to facing the day’s challenges head on. And so if you are happy, then you are successful.
What is your next milestone?
It’s hard to set milestones because sometimes my life feels like one giant crazy rollercoaster ride, and I’m just a passenger. Oftentimes when I think I need to go in one direction, I end up going in the exact opposite. God has a sense of humour, and he almost always creates opportunities and leads me down a path that I never could have imagined. Literally every single day is a new adventure, and so rather than stick to milestones, I’m going to continue to live by some core principles that guide my everyday life.
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1.
Am I taking enough risks and am I being
challenged?
2. Am I happy with what I am doing? 3. Am I making a difference in people’s lives? 4. Am I utilising my God-given gifts and talents to serve and help others
Who has supported and influenced you on your life journey?
There are so many people who have helped me along the way, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my parents and grandparents, and their influence on my life. It’s funny, I am part Mexican, but I do not speak Spanish. I’m also an informal advisor to the former President of Mexico. Riddle me that?! Thank goodness former President Fox and Mrs. Fox speak English – otherwise I’d be in trouble! But in all seriousness, growing up, my Mexican grandmother Victoria believed that – and I think
We are all destined for greatness
Interview by Verรณnica Sosa
25
Interview this is common with her generation – if we spoke Spanish, then we would grow up and be factory workers and blue collar workers like the rest of the family – and my grandmother was not going to allow that to happen. She would often say that her grandchildren would grow up one day and wear suits and ties to work, and we’d get an education and graduate from college. In her mind, we had more opportunities if we spoke English, and so she made it a rule that we were not to learn Spanish. And unfortunately, she passed away many years ago, but I think she’d be happy today. Her dreams for her grandchildren were realised – and we have her and my family to thank for it.
Despite our differences, we all deserve a second chance
You recently launched your own speaker series. Tell us about that.
I had been in discussions for some time with Judson University President Dr. Gene Crume about the best way to leverage my unique network and support my alma mater at the same time. And so when Dr. Crume proposed a new speaker series as part of the University’s World Leaders Forum (WLF) called, “Conversations with Mark Vargas,” I jumped at the idea. For the past eight years, the WLF has welcomed guest speakers on campus including former president George W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Mexican president Felipe Calderon, former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev and many more! And to link my new speaker series with the WLF, which raises money for student scholarships was quite an honour. Twice a year, I’ll invite some of the most recognisable names in business and politics to join me for an informal, one-on-one conversation covering a wide range of topics – from current events to politics, business, life lessons, successes and failures, and inspiring stories. This unique and behind-the-scenes conversation will allow attendees to see a more personal side of my guests because each guest will be a personal friend of mine, so the conversation will be more relaxed. And more importantly, proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will fund entrepreneurship and diversity scholarships for students at Judson. I officially launched my series on May 16th, and my first guest was billionaire entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. It was an incredible event and series launch, and I’m looking forward to announcing my next guest – look for an announcement very soon!
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You deployed to Baghdad, Iraq 14 times as a civilian, what was that like?
From 2007 to 2010, I had the honour of serving as a civilian within the Office of the Secretary of Defense on a special Iraq task force handpicked by senior Defense officials. The task force specialised in rebuilding war-torn economies by attracting foreign direct investment opportunities and helping to facilitate public-private partnerships to create jobs and drive down terrorist-related activities associated with high unemployment. The Spring of 2008 was very dangerous – we were under rocket and mortar attack probably 25 times a day. Situational awareness is critical to survival in a combat zone, and so you always needed to be ready to seek cover in the nearest shelter. And when we’d drive outside the safe zone, we were always wearing our “battle rattle” – bulletproof vests and helmets, in case we came under a surprise roadside attack. It was also interesting working in Saddam Hussein’s palaces. When coalition forces took control of Iraq from Saddam’s regime, we used his palaces as office space and living quarters. We’d swim in his swimming pool, watched movies in his home theatre, and at night, we’d go to the palace rooftop and smoke cigars. It was very surreal.
You’ve become very passionate about criminal justice reform; tell us about some of your advocacy efforts.
At a time when the United States seems so divided, the idea of fixing our broken criminal justice system seems to be a rare moment of bipartisanship and unity. And the First Step Act, which President Trump signed into law last December, is a big step in bringing about much needed changes and reform. Under the Act, it ends the practice of shackling incarcerated women during childbirth; it gives incarcerated non-violent inmates who are elderly or terminally ill a pathway to go home and die in the arms of their loved ones, instead of alone, and behind bars; it places inmates closer to their families; provides major incentives for inmates to attend life-changing classes; expands programs to better assist inmates in rehabilitation and recovery; and gives thousands of non-violent inmates the opportunity to come home sooner.
The First Step Act does more than initiate criminal justice reform; it restores dignity and decency back into the conversation and sends a message that despite our differences, with proper rehabilitation and help, we all deserve a second chance. I’ve also written several opinion pieces that were published nationally; evangelist and civil rights leader Alveda King, the niece of the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr quoted me in an article she had written about the need for prison reform, and I’ve been working behind the scenes with the White House on criminal justice reform matters. And although the First Step Act is now law, we still have many more steps to go. We’re just getting started.
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Environment
Green Towers
in Our
Cities 28
Best ethnobotanist award winner Dr. Amit Kaur Puri advises builders and architects on the benefits of metropolitan reforestations, here we learn about the advantages of green scrapers. Green towers are emerging around the world, adding vertical forests to dense urban pollution. These buildings purify the air, create microclimates and add tree cover. Dr. Amit Kaur Puri, female scientist and founderPresident of AKP Healing India has launched a project for metropolitan reforestation. The aim is to contribute to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity via vertical densification of nature within a city. Using this method, there is no need to further expand the city and it operates in relation to policies for reforestation and naturalisation of large urban and metropolitan borders. Vertical Forest green scrapers are sustainable residential/commercial buildings. Dr. Puri offers her expertise to builders, architects and designers to build in more sustainable green spaces by incorporating natural air purifiers. AKP Healing India enumerates the following benefits of green scrapers: • Reduces urban heat island effect and smog • Cleans outside air of pollutants and dust and offsets the carbon footprint of people and fuel emissions • Acts as a sound proofing barrier • Insulates and cools the building exterior, as well as protecting it from the elements • Creates habitats for birds and beneficial insects, thus increasing biodiversity • Increases real estate value • Speeds up recovery time for patients through biophilia • Reduces absenteeism in the workplace and boosts employee morale Green walls mitigate air pollution levels by lowering extreme summer temperatures through photosynthesis, trapping particulate matter, and capturing gases The ability of green walls to provide thermal insulation for buildings means less demand on power, and as a result, fewer polluting byproducts are released into the air.
Dr. Amit Kaur Puri is the founder and President of AKP Healing
India, Scientist, Ethnobotanist and social activist. She works for triple E’sEnvironment, Education and Empowerment, has published over a hundred research papers, authored three books and has produced a documentary film about Mewati women. Her contributions to make a greener and healthier world are highly appreciated.
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Business
Clutternomics! Clear Your Way to Profits,
Productivity, and Peace! Award-winning Business Consultant and Business Growth Expert Kathleen Ronald explains what business clutter is, how it could be costing your company and restricting growth, here she gives us some tips on how to resolve it. I’m curious, have you ever calculated the economic costs of your clutter? I am guessing that a few business professionals might suspect, but most owners have NO idea what their business clutter is costing them and their company. Let’s look at a couple of sobering facts about business clutter:
» In a study by Brother International, U.S.
corporations lose “$177 billion annually” due to clutter.
» Stephanie Winston, the author of The
Organised Executive, estimates that each day a full hour is lost to disorder, costing an organisation over $8,000 for an employee earning $65,000 a year.
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» At 30 employees, $240,000 a year is LOST Please take a moment to do this math for your company! Your conclusion just may be the catalyst to get you clearing things. The costs and the depths of the various types of clutter we deal with daily in our businesses are staggering.
What do I consider business clutter?
Business clutter touches every facet of your business. It is not only our physical clutter, but it includes two-legged clutter (i.e. people),
Business clutter touches every facet of your business
mental clutter, emotional clutter, financial clutter, marketing clutter, sales clutter and more. In each of these areas you will find issues and challenges which when left unaddressed, will wreak havoc on the health and growth of your company. As a Business Growth Architect, it is my job to ensure 20-50% growth while cutting overhead costs, programs, inefficiencies, two-legged clutter, interruption clutter, and many other issues and challenges. “Each Mess is a lock on the gate which keeps abundance away.� Raymond Aaron
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Business
How do you get started?
My first step when working with a new client is always an assessment. Have you ever performed an anonymous survey of all of your employees? If you want to know the truth about what is going on in your organisation, this type of survey will tell you. Most likely you will be surprised and even alarmed when you see the results!
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Until you do an anonymous survey, you may not have all the facts
This rarely used strategy will help you uncover hidden issues and challenges as seen from your employees’ perspective. I worked with a company of 90 employees once, and their survey revealed over 540 issues. Another time, working with an event marketing firm – not as consultant but as actual staff – I went through this exercise with seven of our employees and we found over 300 issues and challenges. It is hard to believe, but until you do an anonymous survey, you may not have all the facts.
So, what did I do with the results?
First, I took the issues/challenges and categorised them as Hot, Medium, and Cold. After thus segmenting the issues, it took me two years to create sustainable solutions for clearing that list of 540 plus. But by doing so, the company moved from $20 to $30 million and is now an $80 million company.
De-cluttering your responsibilities!
I’ve applied the same strategy on a much smaller scale when working 1:1 with small business owners. My client Anna was working seven days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day. I asked her what her vision was for her life, and she wanted to get married and have two kids. Well, as you can imagine, that was not going to happen until she culled her excess responsibilities and activities. The first exercise I assigned her was to complete my signature “Day in the Life” exercise. She listed every single duty she was performing. I asked her to circle the ones she loved, and we were going to creatively delegate all of the activities that someone else could take on. There were 3040 action items on her list, and she only LOVED maybe 5 of those! At that point, I realised one of the biggest issues to resolve was her need for control. She would never grow her company while she was doing most of the work herself. She had to learn to let go. I’m happy to report that she did get married, she had two kids, she sold 50% of the business to her new partners and then ended up working
only 3-4 hours a day while still making the same income as when she was working her old business model.
Instant Returns
Meanwhile, to attract instant abundance while you are crafting your survey questions, start with your desk. The desk is ONE single zone in your office. Now break it into sub-zones. For example, top of the desk, under the desk, and side of the desk. Take a sub-zone and remove everything from it. When tackling office products, pick up one item at a time, and ask these two simple questions: Do I love it? Am I currently using it? If you get a no/no, let it go. If you get a yes/no, you keep it until you get a no/ no. If you get a yes/yes, keep it! With all the other items, release old files, papers, business cards, and any other items that do not need to be on your desk. Then create a system of processes which supports your working needs. Make it a daily task to keep your desk in order. I like to take 15 minutes at the end of each day to perform maintenance on my desk. I have ADD; I am a creative and an entrepreneur, so I generate a daily mess. It is the way my brain is wired. Many of you might be able to relate to this, it takes focus for those of us with ADD and ADHD to keep a clean space. But as you adopt this strategy, you will notice a significant difference in how abundance flows into your life! If you want to live in REAL-EASE, you must master the art of RE-LEASING! If you want instant abundance, CLEAR some space and you will get it! I promise! I hope you are feeling inspired to PIVOT and take the time to implement some of the above strategies. They will help you with a life of less stress, less frustration, and over time will bring a plethora of benefits and substantial gains to your business! If you have any questions or would like to share your “clearing” results, I’d love to hear from you!
Kathleen Ronald , “Business Growth Architect”, for over 30 years she
has helped companies, business owners and solopreneurs to customise strategies which support them to have first-year revenue increases of 2050%. She is an internationally renowned speaker-trainer, an unparalleled networker, an award-winning business consultant and poet, a contributing best-selling author and the founder of Speaktacular. www.speaktacular.com
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Art Corner
Creating Awareness of
Outsider Art 34
ARTISIT - Edward Teeuw
“La pureza del Arte” is an initiative which focuses on ‘Outsider Art’ from Mexico and the Netherlands, Pauline Schreurs shares with us how organising these programs and activities brings awareness and visibility.
ARTISIT - Benito
Artists from the Netherlands and Mexico have been participating in and organising projects promoting Outsider Art. Unlike other genres of art which follow a specific set of guidelines of artistic traditions, Outsider Art refers to the actual artists, who are often untrained and self-taught. In some cases the art is created under the conditions of an altered state of consciousness and can be the product of an unquiet mind; the artist may have disabilities or suffer from exclusion. The mission behind these programs and activities is to bring awareness and visibility to Outsider Art. One project initiated by “La pureza del Arte” was ‘La pureza del Arte, una búsqueda del Arte Outsider’, which translates as ‘The purity of Art, a quest for Outsider Art’. This project took place between October 2017 and February 2018 in Mexico, when a number of events were organised. The work of fourteen artists - represented by four organisations in the Netherlands (Galerie Atelier Herenplaats, Via Kunst, Galerie Niffo and Atelier Anders Bekeken) and eight artists from Mexico – were exhibited, while other events – workshops, seminars, lectures and film evening also took place. In addition two open studios were founded. ‘La pureza del Arte, una búsqueda del Arte Outsider’ was a great success, keeping in mind the unfamiliarity of the concept of ‘Outsider Art’ and the limited accessibility of people with physical and mental limitations to education and art in Mexico. This accomplishment, combined with an active group of enthusiastic people, provided the motivation to think about the future of ‘Outsider Art’ in Mexico, which led to a new project, called: ‘IMPULSE’. ‘IMPULSE’ will take place in several museums in Mexico by the end of this year. By collaborating with well-known institutions, the concept of ‘Outsider Art’ will not only have a wider reach but it will also become more legitimised. ‘IMPULSE’ aims to build bridges between several forms of
art, tries to reach beyond stereotypes and stigmas of high and low art, by creating a surrealistic world with space for new creations. Aiming to deconstruct labels, changing perspectives and ideas, in a world in which the audience is not only an observer, but mostly a participant. The exhibition will be established with the curator Erandi Avalos. In the near future the goal is to do active field research in Mexico. Field research in this context means to go into excluded communities, psychiatry’s and so on in order to find Outsider Art. Parallel to the field research it is hoped a suitable museum in Mexico will be able to host changing exhibitions or presentations over the period of at least a year. Up to now “La pureza del Arte” is funded by small donations and time and effort by several volunteers. It is hoped a foundation will be established to raise money in order to make the work more effective and sustainable. ‘La pureza del Arte” is an initiative by Pauline Schreurs (artistic director), Lia Bijnsdorp (director of Foundation IISBE), Fanny Velazquez (project manager) and Josafat Pérez Velázquez (researcher).
Pauline Schreurs works as artistic leader and program manager for
several artistic and cultural projects in the Netherlands and Mexico. All her projects contribute to creating a platform for artists. www.facebook.com/lapurezadelarteunaencuestadearteoutsider/ schreurs.pauline@gmail.com
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Art Corner
ARTISIT - Ricardo AP
36
ARTISIT - Jessica Magnin
37
Body
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The Power of The Divine Merging physics and life force, Mario Sanchez Avila, The Body Awakener, developed his therapies to become an exceptional and unique Holistic Healing modality, integrating major deep-tissue bodywork techniques with profound knowledge of human anatomy and energy centres, here he shares with us his 5 Elements theory. Discover How ‘The divine sacred energy‘ can awaken your inner self energies, eliminate your body pain, release past traumas and breathe new life force into your body When you align the 5 elements of energy in your body, you not only become loose, limber and relaxed, but you also start to flow with life! Conventional body work only touches the surface of the problem by targeting the symptoms. It might offer relief in the short run, but the problem often comes back worse at some point or other. Our body’s energy comprises of 5 Elements – air, earth, water, fire and ether. Aligning those energy elements and getting them to flow smoothly through our body, will take care of most pains and aches and creates a synergistic flow of energy which is greater than the sum of its parts.
THE 5 ELEMENTS THERAPY
The 5 Elements Therapy connects the essence of the body with the five elements of nature. It combines movement, physical therapy, structural integration and sensory immersion, simultaneously transforming thought patterns,
Sacred Energy postural patterns and any stuck, repetitive ways of engaging with the past or reaching for the divine sacred power with in you. This therapy is a life changing experience for anyone seeking more connection to the divine power. A moving of energy which awakens the body from years of staleness. Your new-found energy will give you confidence to express your nature as a human connected to your strength. It is stepping into your body mind and soul. It will call for you to go deeper into your pleasure and vulnerability. It will release negative emotions like shame, anger, sadness. It will also work to release traumas, stress and pain. You will begin to feel inner peace and the beauty of joy and happiness. It will help you accept yourself as you really are. The 5 elements therapy will free you from blocks which are holding you back in your everyday life. It helps with relationships, at work, in the way you walk, in the way you express yourself. You will begin to see the world through a lens of beauty light and weightlessness. It will help you to feel deserving, happy, and clear about your intentions and your desires. You will begin to have experiences, you have never experienced. Mario Sanchez Avila will be in Brussel for 10 days from 12 October, to arrange a meeting use his contact details below.
Mario Sanchez Avila The Body Awakener, has been a dedicated and
enthusiastic practitioner of deep tissue bodywork for over 15 years and he shares his healing gift all over the world. His passion to travel, charisma and unmatchable energy has brought transforming and exceptional results of longterm effect to patients in more than 35 countries. www.globalhealingwaves. com Instagram: Thebodyawakener Facebook: Globalhealingwave
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Beyond Business Mastery 20TH - 21ST SEPTEMBER 2019 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
I’m putting together a 2-day event. I’m sharing my personal blueprints, systems, checklists, and deepest insights that have helped me and my clients achieve outstanding results in business.
When you come to my ‘Beyond Business Mastery Program’, you’ll walk away with:
Take the next step to regain your personal power and take charge of your business and more importantly, your life today.
■ The 5 key areas of your business you need to improve immediately to add a ‘Zero’ to your bottom line ■ How to attract and keep the amazing team members that’ll propel your business to the next level ■ Build a resilient mindset destroy limiting beliefs
and
Here are some (out of many) testimonials f rom our clients: ■ “In the 100-year history of our business, we’re now making more money than we’ve ever made before.” - Giles, Poperinge ■ “Arnon has helped us break all financial records for our business. Best part is, the business is fully systemised and grows without me 97% of the time.” - Stijn, Ledegem
For more information on this special event, visit https: //www.beyondbusinessmastery.be or call us on +316 1552 2495
Spirituality
Sparkle Up Your Romantic Date Using Feng Shui
42
With clients which include billionaires, A-list celebrities, writers, speakers, CEOs, Fortune 500 Companies, governments and with more than 300,000 students online Marie Diamond gives Business Fit readers some tips on how best to treat your date. For your next date or hot night out, be sure you know the birthday of your romantic partner so you can determine their relationship direction. Go to https://mariediamond.com/energynumber/ and find out the energy number of your romantic partner and the personal relationship direction.
Listen to them with attention as they want to give you advice on everything.
6. Energy number 5 for woman: West direction They love to talk about their childhood or about their first date when they were younger. Make them laugh and take them to a cultural inspiring place.
7. Energy number 6: Southwest direction
Once you know his or her relationship direction, you can see below which topic is important to talk about during your next romantic date.
They love elegant dates. Make sure you are well dressed, take them to an elegant place and open the door for them when they are female. To win the heart of a man with this energy number, ask about their mother.
1. Energy number 1: South direction
8. Energy number 7: Northeast direction
They will love dancing or listening to music. Give them compliments and boost their selfesteem.
Ask about their religious, philosophical or spiritual background and talk about the questions of life. Pray together before you start eating and say thanks when you leave.
2. Energy number 2: Northwest direction They will love to go stargazing and eat something exotic. Listen to them with attention as they want to give you advice on everything.
3. Energy number 3: Southeast direction Make an agreement about who pays the bill on your date before you start. They love to hang out somewhere chic and fancy without it costing a lot.
4. Energy Number 4: East direction Bring flowers and make sure you walk in the park after dinner so they can enjoy the smells of nature. Make sure you surround yourself with a fresh perfume. Light and gentle.
9.
Energy number 8: West direction
They love to talk about their childhood or about their first date when they were younger. Make them laugh and bring them to a cultural inspiring place.
10. Energy Number 9: North direction Ask how their job is going right now. Go to a restaurant close to the water or with a fountain inside. They love the noise of water, it inspires them. Go to a place that is not too crowded as they want to talk. Hope you enjoy these tips and have a wonderful successful date. With love, Marie Diamond
5. Energy number 5 for man: Northwest direction They will love to go stargazing and eat something exotic.
Marie Diamond is one of the world’s top transformational leaders, speakers, and bestselling authors. She is the only European star featured in the worldwide phenomenon The Secret. She merges her intuitive knowledge of the Law of Attraction, with her studies of Quantum Physics, Meditation, Feng Shui, and Dowsing to transform the success of individuals, and corporations.
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Today’s Inspired Latina ‘Jumps the Pond’ The Today’s Inspired Latina book series all started with a simple inspiration—a chance for Latinas in America to share their stories of success in the face of adversity. The creator of the book, Jackie Camacho Ruiz, admits that when she conceived the idea, she never anticipated that it would grow to become a global international movement! “When I was working on Volume I, I went looking for a dozen or so ladies to participate. I got 26!” she said. Authors in the series tell inspiring, personal stories. They reveal experiences of immigration struggles, finding business and/or personal success in America and discovering their
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deepest, fullest potential through self-reflection and responses to opportunity. They discuss how they’ve embraced or released the relationships in their lives that have moved them forward or became their greatest roadblocks. Since the series launch in 2015, a volume of Today’s Inspired Latina, featuring 25 or more Latina authors, has been published annually until this year, when two books were released. Volume V debuted in Chicago in May and a volume featuring European Latina authors will be launched in Belgium in collaboration with Seminario Hispanas Emprendedoras in October. In five years, the movement has spread like wildfire, attracting Latina authors across America, and then spreading to Mexico, Puerto
Rico, Dominican Republic, and South American countries like Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru. Then, when Ruiz was invited to speak at a European conference in 2017, the potential of Today’s Inspired Latina “jumped the pond” and became a movement on another continent as well. She now has Latinas from around the world who have expressed interest in participating in volumes VII and VIII. With a flair for building community, Ruiz has also developed a close-knit network of “book sisters” who support each other in launching speaking careers and new businesses, writing more books, taking leadership roles, and serving nonprofits. Many authors are now mentors for The Fig Factor Foundation, a nonprofit which Ruiz started to help unleash the amazing potential in young Latinas. Today’s Inspired Latina has also captured attention from American Fortune 500 brands like Estee Lauder, who reached out to the “book
sisters” with a special event called “Belleza” which is now being held throughout the country. Ruiz also launched the speaker series, LatinaTalks (a TedX style event) to highlight the authors, and even began a “Latina of the Year” award program, which has honoured two recipients thus far. This year, May 23, 2019 was declared Today’s Inspired Latina Day by a City of Chicago Commissioner. Ruiz is thrilled and honoured by the attention, inspiration and motivation that the book series has given so many authors as well as those who have read the books. As a motivational keynote speaker herself, she understands the importance and power that sharing your personal story can have on others, your life, and your career. “Everyone has a story to tell, and you never know how your words can so positively affect someone else’s life,” Ruiz says. ”So don’t hesitate to tell it!”
Interview
Lady Anita
DuckworthBradshaw 46
Passionate about enhancing and transforming women, Powerhouse Global Women founder, Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw, answers our questions in one of this issue’s interviews.
Who are you?
I am Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw, a MultiAward Winning Global Impact Leader, A certified life coach, best–selling author, and the Global propagator of the Powerhouse Global brand. I create global visibility opportunities for leaders.
How Do You Remember Your Childhood/Early Age?
I am the last of seven surviving children of my parents. Growing up in my native country (Nigeria, West Africa) was a challenge, but exciting at the same time. My childhood formed the woman I am today. Walking through the paths of difficulties, learning to survive in the mist of storm, and gaining leadership skills from the early age of seven tells you what I have experienced. The bitter/sweet experiences are the backbone of my evolution.
What Was Your Motivation To Achieve What You Have?
My motivation to achieve what I have today emerged from my childhood struggles. It was a decision to be an influence in the matters that affects others.
Does ‘Balance’ In Life Exist for You? If So How Do You Achieve It?
‘Balance’ exists in different forms. What matters to one person might mean less to the other. My world (family, personal and work) is very busy, but I know my limit and I have learned how to distract myself.
Tell Us About Powerhouse Global Women
Powerhouse Global is a Global brand (Powerhouse Global Women, Powerhouse Global Leaders, Powerhouse Global Awards, Powerhouse Global Conferences, Powerhouse Global Speakers and Powerhouse Global Academy). Our journey started six years ago with our core focused on women empowerment. However, we have evolved since the inception of our business.
You Are A Published Author of Personal Development Books, What Subject Matters Do They Cover?
I am a published author of over five personal development books. These materials can be found on amazon.co.uk
What Is Capacity Building?
Every human being has the capacity to be great. Capacity building is the process of developing one’s inner gifts in order to do, have and become more.
How Can People Develop Their Leadership Skills?
The best and easy ways for people to develop their Leadership skills are; a. b. c. d. e. f.
Become a servant Change your circle of influence Become an observer Develop active listening skills Become a lifelong learner Be ready to embrace diversity
What Is Your Favourite Quote and Why?
My favourite quote is: “It is not the blowing of the wind that determines the destination, but the setting of the sail.”- JIM ROHN
What Are You Most Passionate About and Why?
Inspiring, motivating and empowering others are my passion. I am so passionate about this mission because LEGACY is important to me.
Interview by Viola Edward
47
Business
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BUSINESS WITH PURPOSE
Needs an Aligned Vision and Effective Actions
Transpersonal Psychotherapist, Viola Edward, explains how a vision of the future is an essential aspect of the individual and of an organisation and the importance of creating a system to achieve your own vision of the future. Just like with individuals, organisations are a context where there is an ideal, a wish or a dream a group of people strive to achieve. This ideal is described in a concept known as VISION which is nothing more than what we want to be in the future. The vision of a holistic organisation covers the whole company and the people who are connected with it. It suggests a direction for the future, a dream or a challenge people share in common. Having a vision of the future is fundamental for the strategic planning of an organisation independently of its size. We all form part of some kind of organisation with a vision, whether this has been stated or not. If you don’t have your own personal vision of the future, it is going to be difficult to accompany a group, an organisation or a company which is progressing towards its vision of the future. If your dream is to get away from the city in three or five years-time, to buy a farm and to live in nature, that’s fine because while you have your vision of the future in mind and in your heart, in the here and now, you will be aligned with your vision and giving the very best of yourself in your job so that your dream comes true. By having your own vision, the more you strive for it, the more you support the company where you work now in its vision, and the faster and more dynamically and harmoniously the company reaches its vision, the better it will be for you, too. The company wants you to give the best of yourself here and now so that you can get to where you want to be.
The best students are the ones who have clear goals
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Business If that means with the company, that’s fine and if not, that’s also fine. A vision of the future of an organisation has basically the same features as individual personal vision. It needs to be formulated by the leaders and shared with its members, and it should be comprehensive and detailed, based on values and principles, and be impressive and encouraging. Maintaining a positive attitude in terms of the future is essential. According to many experienced teachers, the best students are the ones who have clear goals. The fact that this is more important than both social standing and IQ for a child to get good results, is very revealing. A holistic organisation is a group of people, whether it be a business or not, which achieves balanced effectiveness by consciously taking care of all of the different elements involved. These elements include the people, processes and systems, structure, strategies and the sustainable profit, all within the context of a permanent interaction, where whatever happens to one affects the other, either supporting or restraining it. A vision of the future is sustained by values which are the heart of the energy flow in an organisation, as they establish the correctness of the path that is chosen. From my point of view, a holistic team, family, organisation even a country fits Dr. Ichak Adizes’ PAEI model of Management styles. It is very appropriate for it complies with the four dimensions of effectiveness or the basic functions which generate indispensable results in the short and the long term: • Produce effective results: producers (P) What to do. The basic reason of the existence of the organisation. Produce Products or Services to satisfy the need of the customer. • Administrate efficiently: administrators (A) how to do. How to get things organised, planned, systematised and under control by the rights procedures, processes and systems. • Entrepreneur: Be constantly enterprising and adaptable to changes: Entrepreneurial people (E) How to innovate in ways that are in tune with their vision of the future. It requires having ‘sight’ and the ability to see things plus the willingness to believe in those visions and undertake significant risks. • Integrator: An organisation is the result of integrating and developing people at both the personal and professional levels. Integrators (I) know how to create teamwork through people’s
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commitment over the short, medium and long terms. Well integrated organisations have persistent culture of mutual respect and trust. . The four PAEI functions permanently interact. An organisation is holistic when there are leaders who understand human effectiveness is possible when the individual is conceived as a whole (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies which are always interacting with each other). Processes that are successful in strengthening and ensuring the balanced, harmonious growth of an organisation (small, medium or large-sized, public, private or involved in manufacturing or providing services) must satisfy the individual’s four levels, the five dimensions of organisation and the four dimensions of effectiveness. A vision of the future is an essential aspect of the individual and of an organisation. In the individual, it is represented by the spiritual dimension or sense of meaning, whereas in an organisation it is represented by the strategy and function of the enterprise. A vision of the future should thus point to your destiny or that of the organisation. It is not so much a question of figures but more of the consequences of having achieved your goals. By focusing on figures, all you achieve is a very narrow-minded approach. The important thing is to see things in their broadest sense because this way, the figures will multiply in the end. With a vision of the future, the power is in your hands. Do you want to be a mere observer or an active part of your life and the world? No one can condemn you if you want to be an observer although this will have its consequences and you will have to accept them. The choice is yours whether to just float or to swim in the ocean of life. Create the system to achieve your own vision of the future because you don’t want others creating it for you. My wish for you is to recognise and accept the leader in you regardless of whether you are an employer or employee. A leader knows how to build an enterprise from his/her role; all it needs is time, energy and room to achieve it, and this means purpose, attention, passion and direction.
Viola Edward is a Transpersonal Psychotherapist and breathwork pioneer with over 25 years’ experience. A leader with individual and corporate clients. A specialist giving professional trainings in Relationship, Breathwork Mentoring, Stress Management, Feminine Energy and Breathwork for Recovery. She is the co-owner of Kayana International and author of two books: “Breathing the Rhythm of Success” and “Who Makes the Bed?”
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