CI Magazine - September 2020

SE P T E M BE R 2 0 2 0 I S S UE N O . 0 8 £2.25

IN B A D GOOD TA S T E Casting a critical eye over social media habits with

PIXIE TURNER BACK TO WORK Fr o m t h e r i s e o f t h e p a s s i o n e c o n o my to p i voti n g d i r e c ti o n

FOREWORD

BACK TO

WOR K

I might be biased but I do love September.

It’s my birthday month, and that does potentially make me highly biased, however,I find that September almost becomes a mini new year in itself. From a new found love of stationery to an urge to revamp our working space and clear the pantry, the Equinox energy is particularly strong.

It becomes that time of the year when we can really think about what we achieved so far and what do you want to do next. The whole "back to school "cycle has definitely ingrained in our brain the idea that after slumber of the holidays it’s time to go back to the "daily grind". Nevertheless, this is a year like no other. Many of us really didn’t have the chance to fully rest, as creatives, entrepreneurs and companies alike found new ways to evolve and pivot throughout

this pandemic. This is why this month we wanted to explore the new evolution of the passion economy, how people are connecting more deeply online, and also the ways that social media is shaping our relationship and our own feeling of belonging. We even sprinkle a bit of magic into the month, inquiring about a deeper connection between ourselves and the spiritual world.

This issue falls right before the inauguration of the fifth edition of the Creative Impact Awards - which proves it's definitely time for the team to get back to work. We are so excited to be able to celebrate again this year (albeit virtually) as everyone really needs something to look forward to in 2020. With the hope that you can join us for a productive, exciting, invigorating end of 2020.

Fab Giovanetti Editor in Chief

FAB’S FAVES CHOCOLATE BARS I have an obsession, and that obsession comes in the form of chocolate squares.

Preferably salted caramel dark ones.

BIRTHDAY MONTH Just like that, I am turning thirty - and I cannot wait to celebrate it with some time off in the countryside.

BAD TASTE Check out cover girl's Pixie Turner podcast busting health myths and reviewing health documentaries with co-host Nikki Stamp ( p13)

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 03

CREATIVE IMPACT

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Fab Giovanetti Contribution Editor Amy Lanza

CONTRIBUTORS Columnist Charlotte Willis; Hannah Wallace Special thanks to Pixie Turner, Debbie Clarke, Ruth Ridgeway, Calista, Stacey Sargison, Claire Stone, NH Jacobi, Emma Harrison, Sara Kiyo Popowa

SUBSCRIPTIONS Creative Impact is the ultimate tool and resource for creatives and conscious entrepreneurs. We offer a single issue purchase as well as a yearly subscription with access to our back catalogue Website http://bit.ly/creativeimpactmag Current members of the Creative Impact Collective will be able to download each issue directly for free via the member section on the online platform.

VISUALS & MORE Lead Designer Michael Cavalli Stock photography Pexels; Rawpixel; Unsplash Affiliate links Amazon Associates

Creative Impact Mag

is part of Creative Impact group For inquiries or suggestions, contact us at: Website creativeimpact.group Email info@creativeimpact.group Advertising brands@creativeimpact.group

FOLLOW US Facebook Facebook.com/creativeimpactc Instagram Instagram.com/creativeimpactco TikTok Tiktok.com/@creativeimpactco Twitter Twitter.com/creativeimpactc

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MAGAZINE s s i m r e v Ne issue ! an

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CONTENTS

16

I N TH I S I SSU E BACK TO WORK

|

SEPTEMBER 2020

34

ISSUE NO. 08

42

ESSENTIALS 03

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58

FEATURES

WELLBEING

24

Keep on smiling

56

05 Contents

29

Showing up online

58 Enriching lives with angels

06 Good news

32

Ways to fall in love

60

Back to school tips

09

Monthly calendar

35

Be brave

65

On the bookshelf

11

Mission statement

66

Hannah Wallace column

12

Charlotte Sophie column

68

Feminine power

13

Top podcasts

40

Taking on TikTok

14

Expert profile

42

Passion economy

16

Cover feature

46

On pivoting businesses

72

Products to look out for

26

Founder series

48

Being an 'authorpreneur'

74

The perfect bento box

36

Behind the content

52

Refresh your home office

78

Lunchtime recipes

Editor's note

PRO SECTION

Creative Impact top picks

FOODIE

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 05

Good

IN THE NEWS

NEWS As we are consuming news more than ever, we thought we’d bring you our very own special roundup of happy news.

Gorilla born in Bristol NATURE | UK

A baby gorilla was born in Bristol's Zoo, helping to secure the future of this critically endangered species. The new baby joins a troop of six gorillas, which are part of a breeding programme to help safeguard the future of western lowland gorillas. This ties in with a series of conservation projects focusing on western lowland gorillas in Monte Alén National Park, Equatorial Guinea – an area highlighted by the IUCN as critically important for the conservation of this species. Kala gave birth naturally, overnight to the infant with dad, Jock, just a few metres away and the rest of the family troop nearby. Keepers arrived this morning to find the little gorilla nestling in its mother’s arms.

YOU CAN HELP This month we highlighted the Gorilla, sadly there are only around 1,063 mountain gorillas left in the wild. Search online to find more information from WWF, and many zoos around the world that need your help.

ADOPT A GORILLA FROM WWF

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IN THE NEWS

New sustainability course launches

US Beyond Meat announced a new collaboration with EVERFI, a social impact education technology company, to create a science-based course on sustainability that will be available for free to students, teachers and parents beginning in October. EVERFI focuses on developing online courses to address critical issues affecting society, and, this particular course, centered on sustainability, is in collaboration with Beyond Meat.

The course will launch in October for the US and will be available throughout the whole school year.

EDUCATION |

New plant-based drive thru is coming to town FOOD | UK

Meatless Farm is proving that fast food can be better for the planet, your health and still taste incredible by launching the UK’s first plant-based drive thru. The UK brand has taken over London’s famous Car Wash and replaced it with a pop-up drive through in collaboration with street food burger joint Mother Flipper.

Take your next yoga class on Facebook FITNESS | GLOBAL

Facebook for Business has introduced a new service, which enables users to create their own event, host it and collect payment, all in one place. The new "Paid Online Events" solution builds on the existing Facebook Live option, which allows users to stream live to followers. Using the new functionality could prove useful for personal trainers and small gyms looking to expand their customer base.

Taking on the cover girls PHOTOGRAPHY | UK

A new challenge has been taking over social media. Elderly residents at an English care home have been taking part in the latest viral internet trend— recreating iconic Vogue magazine covers.

Seniors at Robinson House Care Home recently made like fashion photographer Annie Liebowitz was in the building and struck some brilliant poses. The care home in Bristol, England decided to get involved with the latest social media craze that originated on TikTok.

Circular ethical fashion FASHION | UK

Ethical athleisure brand TALA, founded by May c over feature Grace Beverley, tested last month a brand new exciting collaboration with the popular fashion app Depop to allow access to samples from its pre-production, shoots and campaigns, at a discounted price. The aim is to combat sample waste and help offset the negative impact of fast fashion and the textile industry more generally, which generates more carbon dioxide emissions than shipping and aviation combined.

Instagram is upping its game again SOCIAL | GLOBAL

One of our favourite new Instagram features includes the chance to pin up to 3 comments on Individual posts. Instagram’s pinned comments are yet another comment moderation tool. You can’t pin your own comment but you can be strategic in the comments you choose — spend less time on the trolls and spam comments, and focus on testimonials and conversation-starters.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 07

Try Canva Pro for Free

08 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG

COMING UP

SEPTEMBER09 CALENDAR

September | ORGANIC SEPTEMBER A month-long campaign which aims to raise awareness of Organic products, and the brands, producers and farmers who bring them to us.

1 2 3 4 5

Q&A WITH RACHEL HUGH Thur 10th September | 5pm In this inspiring live Q&A we’ll be discussing business, crowdfunding and the overall journey of the plant-based colossus the Vurger Co with co-founder Rachel Hugh.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

GROUP MASTERMIND AND ACCOUNTABILITY Tue 15th September | 1pm The group mastermind call is all about discussing the key steps to launch your next product. We’ll discuss goals for the month, lessons and achievements.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

13 14 15 16

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Tue 22nd | AUTUMN EQUINOX

Tue 8th | INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

Sun 13th | ROALD DAHL DAY

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đ&#x;š´đ&#x;?ƒ

Tue 22nd | NATIONAL FITNESS DAY

Wed 16th | 100 DAYS UNTIL XMAS (sorry)

17 18

Sun 19th | TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

CREATIVE IMPACT MASTERCLASS: CREATE BETTER SALES PAGES Tue 8th September | 5pm What does it take to write better sales pages? Join us for a masterclass outlining the ABCD method and discussing how to create an emotional connection and outline your customers' journey in a compelling way.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

19 20 21 22 23

GROUP MASTERMIND AND ACCOUNTABILITY Thur 24 September | 5pm In this hot-seat style call, members can share their own sales pages and launch strategies based on our challenge's templates and timelines and get the relevant feedback from fellow members.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

24

Wed 30th | INTERNATIONAL PODCAST DAY

30

25 26 27 28 29

CREATIVE IMPACT MASTERCLASS: EMAIL WRITING WORKSHOP Tue 22nd September | 7pm Workshop with ConvertKit on how to write better emails.

Join Angel Marie (ConvertKit) and our founder Fab in this free online workshop to learn how top creators write incredible emails that get opened.

FIND OUT MORE HERE BOOK CLUB WITH GREAT SOLOMON Tue 29th September | 2pm Meet author Greta Solomon. Join us for a very special chat with author Greta Solomon to discuss how to use journaling, writing and creative self-expression to wake up, connect to inner wisdom, and heal the tender, violated parts of their inner worlds.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 09

COVER FEATURE

START MONETISING YOUR EXPERTISE

Teachable Create and sell online courses and coaching services with the best online business platform

Used by the entrepreneurs to sell $500m+ to over 18 million students

FIND OUT MORE

MISSION STATEMENTS

WHAT’S YOUR MISSION? We asked our collective members what’s their mission and how they are looking to make a positive impact on other people and the planet, and here’s what Steph had to say.

HEL PI NG PEOPL E About Stephanie aka nurturedplate

Founder and coach of Nurtured Plate

Geneva, Switzerland I want to help people live long, healthy lives, and help them avoid the onset of chronic diseases.

I believe that a plant-based diet is a proven positive contributor to this effect due to its many properties.

Through coaching, I empower people to easily and effortlessly transition towards a plant-based diet and understand how to change their nutrition, habits and lifestyle, in order for them to reach their goals.

TO EA S I L Y

TRA NS I TI O N

TOWARDS A PL A NT- B A S ED

DIET AND B ECOM E THE HERO ES OF THEIR TR A NS F ORM A TI ONS TH ROUGH LI F ES TYL E A ND NUTRITION A DVI CE. ”

Stephanie Dominguez www.nurturedplate.com

C lic k h er e to se e m o re a b o ut St ep h a n ie o n In st a

I truly believe that by taking care of your plate, you can transform your life. I am passionate about showing people how wonderfully nourishing and tasty plants can be and I wish to support them by bridging the gap between what they learn and applying it to their lives.

I became vegan 9 years ago, and more recently started pursuing new fitness and performance goals.

Over the years, I learnt how to adapt my nutrition and habits to sustain my goals. I felt more confident than ever, energized and stronger about the journey towards my best self and optimum health. I also discovered a way to channel my creativity and passion for food towards nutrition and health. I want to share with others what I learnt over the years and use my skills to help them achieve their own life transformations so they can also become the heroes of their transformations.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 11

COLUMNIST

CONTEMPLATING WITH CHARLOTTE

The Anxiety Gamble How to process anxiety thoughts and embrace the new normality we are bound to experience day-to-day

E

very day, we are used to taking mediated risks.

We stay a few minutes longer in bed than our commute allows us to, cycle on busy roads, take public transport, eat the pot of yogurt that’s slightly past its use-by date… These micro-risks are part and parcel of an average day for many of us (although, perhaps you are better at keeping yogurt then me).

When you throw these risks into a day riddled with uncertainty surrounding your health, wealth, job-role, wellbeing and future (all of which are now affected, thanks to COVID) suddenly it becomes overwhelming.

Welcome to the great Anxiety Gamble. A game which sees you risk your mental wellbeing and stability in order to slot back into society’s dictation of what you should or should not be doing with your return to work. Peer pressure from friends to go back to the crowded bars every Friday afternoon? Perhaps you see colleagues ditching their WFH lives and commuting their way back to the office as fast as they could sell their IKEA desks and laptop stands on Facebook Marketplace?

There is pressure on ourselves to return back to a distorted working normality, which in itself is anxietyprovoking, that it’s easy to feel the odds of mental wellness stacking up against you. Minimising your risks in the Anxiety Gamble will not only safeguard your mental health, but will also enhance your ability to thrive and be productive. In order to overcome anxious thoughts, we need to first explore what exactly is triggering our concerns, before attempting to gain control and work with our fears.

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When you have 30 minutes to yourself in a calm and safe environment, explore your feelings of anxiety towards returning to work. What specific aspects of returning are you feeling the most anxious about?

Think about why this may be?

Once your concerns are noted down, you can begin to work through them. The secret to turning the odds in your favour? Adjusting your working life to adapt to your concerns. This is a proactive way of taking control of an uncertain situation and win the Gamble. At this period in time, people at work should be more “Manage your own than understanding internal expectations about your concerns, of workload, focus and and willing to alter your completion during your “normal” working day accordingly. period of adjustment.”

Travelling during off-peak commute hours, working part-time from home, or weekly team check-ins may help you to adjust your working life. You must also manage your own internal expectations of workload, focus and completion during your period of adjustment. Be cautious that deadlines you’d reach in a few days, may now take a week or more to complete, and that this is ok. Most importantly, now is the time to be honest and open with yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable or confident with an aspect of your return to work, it is far better to fold and choose an alternative pathway to success, rather than to gamble all you’ve got on something with an undesirable loss. @charlottesophiewrites

WHAT WE’RE FOLLOWING

DID YOU KNOW

In Bad Taste 15+ EPISODES

We have a podcast of our own! The Make an Impact show is now back for its third season.

Expect more interviews, inspiring stories and insightful hacks on how to grow your brand online whilst making a positive impact on other people and the planet.

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE

In Bad Taste sees nutritionist Pixie Turner and cardiothoracic surgeon Nikki Stamp cast a critical eye over health documentaries and the claims they make to reveal fact from fiction within the wellbeing, health and fitness space.

From talking about sugar and veganism to cancer and coffee, this podcast busts some myths.

Cli ck on an y po dc as t ar tw ork to ge t the lin k

Pixie also features as our cover woman for this month Page 16

PODCASTS CHOSEN FROM OUR COLLECTIVE MEMBERS

POSITIVELY SELFISH 85+ EPISODES

It’s okay to be more protective and selfish with your time and do more for yourself rather than just give and give and give your time to everyone else around you. Tune in for inspiring stories, awesome information and overall empowerment as Robyn Lee inspires listeners on how to be more positively selfish.

LOVE SEX & MAGIC 10+ EPISODES

Love Sex & Magic is a podcast for people who believe they can have it all and know they deserve it. Join coach and author Mel Wells as she hosts the most inspiring, reputable and knowledgeable voices in the fields of love sex and relationships, health, spirituality, self love, and personal development.

DREAM AND DO PODCAST 35+ EPISODES

Dream and Do is a podcast for women who are ready to make changes, hosted

by Nicola Rae Wickham. Tune in for confidence pep talks, soulful insights and all things creativity and wellness. Be inspired by powerful conversations with women who are dreaming and doing in action alongside solo episodes with Nicola.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 13

IN PROFILE

EXPERT PROFILE

Becky Stanton

CV

Job title: Mindset &

I’m Becky, a Mindset & Manifestation Coach, and my mission is to inspire and empower female business owners to attract more money, more opportunities, more clients into their life by being 100% true to themselves. I passionately believe that business can be fun and effortless when you embrace and align with the CEO within you – and stop trying to be like everyone else. There is a magnetic power when you unapologetically stand in your truth in business – and that’s when you will start attracting more into your life and business with ease.

How can people feel more confident about improving in your field of expertise?

By being a true version of themselves and not trying to follow the crowd or ‘success blueprint’. Success means whatever it

KNOW YOURSELF Before the strategy and action, get to know who you are in business.

Here are some questions to help: what do you enjoy most? What inspires and motivates you to carry on? What are you trying to create?

How will you get there with ease and fun?

Manifestation Coach Skills that help you:

NLP Coaching.

Emotional Freedom Technique, Hypnotherapy INSTAGRAM WEBSITE

means for you. Feeling good looks and feels like whatever it does for you. There is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in business. You can be successful by being wholly yourself – it’s about leaning into the acceptance of who you are, believing it’s possible for you and giving yourself permission to be you in business!

PRIORITISE YOURSELF It sounds simple, but prioritise feeling good!

When you are feeling your best, you will attract more into your life and create an even greater positive effect in your business. Raise your ‘vibe’ in an instant and tap into self-care.

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START BELIEVING Self-belief is powerful in business! Prioritise your mindset daily and choose to believe anything is possible.

There are many ways to start doing this yourself such as journalling, affirmations, tapping, hypnotherapy, as well as working with a coach.

What is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to your field?

Focusing primarily on strategy and action!

It’s natural to fall into the ‘hard work creates success’ mindset, as that’s what many of us are brought up to believe. The harder I work, the more money I make. But strategy and hard work only ever take you so far – and often lead to burnout. For sustainable, consistent and joyful success, your mindset and energy must be a priority! It’s about enjoying the journey.

What is your favourite thing about being part of Creative Impact?

I adore this supportive and inspiring community! It’s evidence of how being yourself in business is your superpower.

Look around at the magnificent people within this community – all creating success on their terms, doing what they’re passionate about, and inspiring others by being themselves! It’s a powerful network to be involved in.

Free monthly training

Click to view calendar

Email marketing for online creators CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 15

d o Go

COVER FEATURE

THE BAD TASTE How to develop better relationships with food and yourself with Pixie Turner Interview by Fab Giovanetti

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COVER FEATURE

R

ight before kicking off our conversation, Pixie Turner and I spent a few minutes catching up on life and reminiscing about when we met (around 7 to 8 years ago, if memory serves me right).

She recalled those times as the ones in which, as young adults, we tend to be “naive, innocent and wrong”.

“That is a good time to be wrong, to be honest” she adds. “It happens, or better, it will happen to everyone.

If you do appreciate that you're not always right, and you start questioning things and looking at things in a more objective or almost critical perspective”.

This is the spirit of our chat and the piece you are about to read. We explore how social media and our hyper-connected world is shaping our moral compasses, challenging our beliefs and affecting who we are at a very fundamental level.

This is part of Pixie Turner’s mission; one that is not based on telling people what to eat, but helping them develop better relationships with food and themselves.

Turner is a registered nutritionist (RNutr) (MSc) and qualified ACT therapist specialising in intuitive eating, disordered eating, and body image - as well as an

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 17

COVER FEATURE

#activism

"There's so much activism that happens on social media that I think deserves to be celebrated" PIXIE TURNER author of three books. Her work is mainly focused on nutrition counselling, a speciality in the area of nutrition and dietetics that aims to combine nutrition with counselling skills; to explore both what you eat as well as why.

It can truly change our society to its core, so much so that Twitter can influence policy and Instagram has become a new catalyst for change: “there's so much activism that happens on social media that I think deserves to be celebrated” explains Turner.

As we talk through her latest book, “the Insta-food diet”, we examine the new rules of social media which dictate that we are not what we eat, but rather what others believe we eat: “it's an exploration of how social media has affected our food choices, and how it's affected who we take advice from, including how we eat - whether that's perhaps mindful eating, tracking or performative eating.”

“Often when we talk about social media and our health, it's painted in a very negative light. While I will happily admit that there are very many negative aspects of social media, there are also beautiful positive aspects that I think deserve a little bit more airtime than they've been given in the past.”

Social media is a major part of modern life. Most of us can't imagine not using it, and it's unrealistic to assume that that's even possible. From influencers deciding what foods we buy to government policy, via food shaming and comparison envy, activism and extremism, the role social media plays is now truly undeniable.

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We are only just beginning to understand the influence these platforms have over our decisions around food and health, with many of these processes happening without us being aware. But maybe we should be more aware.

Despite a wealth of information at our fingertips, there are still so many things we get wrong about our health, and with a new diet book out every other day,

COVER FEATURE

The Insta-Food Diet: How Social Media has Shaped the Way We Eat Platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook haven't been around long, but they have already made far-reaching impacts on our health and wellbeing. We are only just beginning to understand the influence these platforms have over our decisions around food and health, with many of these processes happening without our being aware. But maybe we should be aware.

From influencers deciding what foods we buy to government policy, to food shaming and comparison envy, activism and extremism, the role social media plays is now clearly undeniable.

Published 6 Aug 2020 Available Hardcover; Audiobook; Kindle and other digital platforms FIND MORE INFO HERE

it’s no wonder people are confused. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook haven't been around long, but they have already made farreaching impacts on our health and wellbeing: “when it comes to subjects like nutrition, nowadays we have information overload, so people end up having access to too much information that is conflicting and confusing.”

PIC: @RUTHROSEPHOTOS

Through her book and her work online, she’s looking to bring a better understanding behind how our brain is affected by social media at a deeper level, something a geek like myself finds incredibly fascinating.

Like the fact that on social media, our lives have become so public, that it has made it so much harder for us to change our minds.

Turner explains that because if we've made a statement publicly and we change our minds, we are seen as flaky: “We're seen as unreliable,

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 19

COVER FEATURE

"Who you follow is your responsibility.

We ought to take that responsibility seriously and hit that unfollow button when needed."

PIXIE TURNER

20 | CREATIVE IMPACT MAG

COVER FEATURE

even though people changing their minds in the face of evidence is a really, really good thing. We should absolutely be encouraging this as it is such a good thing for people to do.”

PIC: @RUTHROSEPHOTOS

As our lives are so much in the public domain, now, it makes that so much harder. This comes from a new sense of ownership that is instilled through the exchange of value happening on social media, which Turner outlines through the idea that people feel a sense of ownership over your identity when they follow you.

ourselves and others and help us better navigate relationships online.

“If somebody else is getting defensive and aggressive towards you, it is usually a result of you saying something that they aren't happy with. That could be because you're wrong, but it could also actually not be about you at all.”

In a way, she explains that that anger and that feeling of defensiveness could very much be about that person, and it has in and it can sometimes have nothing to do with you.

“The brain sees it as if it has invested in this person” she explains “in this example, people owe me something and if they are different to what I expect, that is a betrayal and a poor return on my investment.

People get angry and defensive about it because it is something that was unexpected.”

Knowing that is what helps just have that little bit of understanding as to what's going on and to not take it so personally; creating a healthy distance between you and the comment that someone is throwing at you.

Through understanding of how our brain works, she argues we can bring greater awareness to

“I think that helps me, at least when people have been quite aggressive and abusive to me on social

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 21

COVER FEATURE

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"If you appreciate that you're not always right, you will start to question things in a more objective, almost critical perspective" PIXIE TURNER media� she admits “it means I can handle it so much better as a result, because I understand why they're doing that. It does not excuse it, but my understanding of it, and my recognizing that actually, often it has very little to do with me and everything to do with them.�

In “the Insta-Food diet�, Turner provides the reader with a handy list of tips to make social media a little bit of a better and happier place for you: “I think it's all very well talking about the theory, but it's nice to be able to put that into practice.� By the end, you'll be armed with knowledge and tactics, so you can take back control and make social media work for you.

Among some of her favourite tips, going on a quarterly (or yearly) un-follow exercise is a hard favourite, encouraging you to take a critical look at who you're following on social media.

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LISTEN HERE Pixie hosts the podcast In Bad Taste with Nikki Stamp, which is featured in our podcast reviews section P13

Find out more about Pixie's work online on her Website here

Turner recognises that this is a space that you can curate far more than the real world. “As such, you have a lot of power and responsibility to take over who you decide to follow. Who you follow is your responsibility. I think we need to take that responsibility seriously and hit that unfollow button.�

Take the responsibility over this aspect of social media in that you absolutely can control and dive deeper: “If someone makes us feel like sh*t, or if we're just not really happy with what someone's posting, just unfollow. Just do it. Replace them with puppies, because you can't feel bad about yourself if you're looking at pictures of puppies.�

JUST SMILE

During challenging times Written by Debbie Clarke

B

oy oh boy have we been having some challenging times around the world this 2020. Forest Fires, protests, landslides, explosions oh and a little thing called a pandemic. It can be hard to keep smiling in the face of such adversity. To keep focusing on the good stuff, when the news is full of panic and there are people dying across the world from Corona.

So how can we keep our peckers up and keep putting one foot in front of the other?

One of the ways is to take hope from people who have come through enormous challenges themselves.

People like Victor Frankl, inmate 119104 in a Nazi concentration camp, who was able to survive, when most of his family and even his pregnant wife died. Victor put his survival down to finding meaning, even in the most horrendous circumstances.

Author bio

Victor wrote in his best-selling book Man’s Search for Meaning, that “the last of the human freedoms(…) to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” His words remind us that the only thing we have power over is how we react to situations.

When I was 29 I was diagnosed with cancer. I was a single mum and had a one year old baby. It was horrendous. I was scared of dying and worried that my daughter wouldn’t know me.

I would say there were 2 things that got me through and enabled me to have fun while I went through chemotherapy. One was finding meaning in my life, I had to survive for my daughter. There was no way this would drag me down. I also asked myself what I could learn from the situation. How could I come out of this a stronger, better person?

Debbie Clarke aka debbiedooodah is the Happy Business Strategist; an awardwinning yellow obsessed empowerment & marketing coach helping entrepreneurs build businesses they love. Find out more about Debbie here

So back to our central question – How can we keep smiling in challenging times?

1. Find some meaning in your life. What goals do you have for the future? What people need you know and will need you in the future? How can you help others and be of service to them?

2. What can I learn from this situation? Life is always throwing us curve balls, it’s just what it does. So what can you learn? How can you move on stronger and more resilient?

3. Focus on what you can control, and let go of what you can’t. Rather than reading the international news and focusing on events halfway across the world, can you focus on what’s happening in your local community?

There are tons of other elements I could add in here. Time in nature is proven to improve your mental health. A good sleep makes everything seem better. Connecting with others. Laughing and simply smiling, even when nothing is happening releases endorphins and makes you feel better.

So why not go for a walk and pass a smile onto a stranger? It will make you and them feel just that little bit better.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 25

RACHEL HUGH

FOUNDER SERIES

Having extra fries With Rachel Hugh

A

fter a trip to California, Rachel made it her mission to bring tasty vegan food to the streets of London – and to make Veganism mainstream. The Vurger Co. was born. In just four years, the brand has exploded in popularity, growing from a market stall to a multi-site restaurant and retail product company, serving up 100% Vegan fast food using environmentally friendly plant-based packaging. Last year, The Vurger Co. raised £1.4m and Rachel was named on the Forward Fooding Top 10 Women in Food Tech and top 35 Female entrepreneurs under 35 in the UK 2020.

My eureka moment Neil, my co-founder, suffered for years with a health concern that no doctor could get to the bottom of. It blows our mind that nobody asked him what he was eating and whether that would have an impact.

Instead, he was prescribed every pill possible which of course did not work. Following these years of suffering and hitting the big '30' birthday, we took a trip to California, and one vegan Mexican restaurant in particular blew our minds. It was then we realised London had it all wrong. Nobody was creating delicious, exciting and innovative vegan dishes in our city and making them convenient and accessible in a gorgeous environment.

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CV

The Vurger Co Founded: 2016 Job title: CEO INSTAGRAM WEBSITE

Validating the idea We knew the only way to get any idea if people genuinely wanted this was to get cooking and get out into the world with our creations. So we set up a market stall in North London (whilst we worked full time in our jobs at the time) and sold our burgers every single weekend to gain feedback, insight, understanding of our customer and what is and isn't needed in the market place. It was the best learning curve and has made us who we are today without a doubt.

The failure I am glad I experienced We set out to open a restaurant, our market stalls were the stepping stone we needed to prove our concept. However because a Vegan concept in a mainstream site in London was truly untapped territory, we spent a lot of time convincing, educating, setting tasting sessions and speaking with institutional landlords and small investors. We didn't command the importance or relevance in 2016 that

3 TOP TIPS FOR...

ANYONE STARTING A BUSINESS BRAVE Don’t be scared, take that leap of faith! It is so important to always stand up for what you believe is right, no matter what.

we thought we would. In spite of everyone telling us 'no' is what we do have and that was our community we had amassed on social media. So that's when we turned to crowdfunding our first restaurant. We used the power of our community, those who spoke highly of our food because they're already fans to drive the change we needed.

Going against the tide That you have to be an 'expert' in a field to start something from scratch. The best ideas and businesses were born from those who had buckets of passion to drive some form of change through the product they were creating without any prior knowledge. The point here is you become an expert through every single day that you're working within your business, surrounding yourself with its natural problems to overcome and finding a way to make your product better every single day. Nobody is born an expert in anything, just keep working hard at it.

The role of social media Social media has been extremely important to our business. We built our crowdfunding campaign in 2017 on our community we had built on Instagram. This allowed us to talk to our customers, gain their insights and hear immediate feedback regarding their recent experience. We wouldn't change our community for the world. We are open, honest and authentic and this has allowed us to build a trustworthy platform people feel comfortable to be a part of.

Biggest advice you’d give to someone Don't be scared, take that leap of faith! It is so important to always stand up for what you believe is right no matter what the outcome may be. That little voice inside that speaks to you before making a key decision, or your gut instinct telling you to stay away...

Listen to that, it's your guiding light! Then secondly I would say to remain positive, just keep looking for the positives in every situation without fail.

COMMUNITY We knew the only way to get any idea if people genuinely wanted our product was to get cooking and get out into the world. This allowed us to build a trustworthy platform that feels comfortable to be a part of.

PASSION

The best ideas were born from those who had buckets of passion to drive some form of change through the product they were creating.

CREATIVE IMPACT MAG | 27

SHOWING UP

"Do it with heart, do it with Meaning, do it with soul "

H

Showing up online and being visible through live streaming with Stacey Sargison Interview by Fab Giovanetti

ow can you truly and wholeheartedly show up for yourself and your audience? With a smile in her eyes, a brave new stylish hairstyle and inspiring fierce energy about her - Stacey from Northamptonshire in the U.K. is not your average business coach.

“I was realising there was a wave of people that truly wanted to be seen. They were nervous, but they wanted more than ever they felt being called to share their gifts.”

She points out that it was not just coaches.

Photographers, makeup artists and other businesses whose physical doors were closed needed to find a way to survive. I helped them nurture their audience and then their audience bought from them in various different ways”

Stacey draws on anything from mindset techniques (like the one she’s used to follow her own dreams despite humble beginnings as a daughter of a Naval Officer) to turning multiple set-backs into an opportunity in order to help normal people create profits all through using Facebook Live videos.

“I show up live whenever I feel called to and make sure every single piece of content can help somebody. I wanted to help a lot of people who were feeling overwhelmed, struggling, unsure, because the whole world turned upside down.”

At just 37 she’s got a Bachelor of Arts(BA) Degree in Marketing from University of Leeds,

is a Facebook Live star viewed by millions and boasts having a career of working with the likes of Patsy Palmer to Tom Cruise and hosted sell-out events at The Ritz in London. That’s not to mention her very own TedX Talk in 2015.

And having only recently gone from divorcee-on-the-brink-of-bankruptcy to living between London and Sydney whilst running a multi-6 figure business helping entrepreneurs thrive in a Pandemic, she knows, oh too well, how to turn lemons into lemonade.

“I was traveling the world, had clients and was successful. Then I went through a divorce, a separation and lost all my money; so this year when the pandemic struck my whole life turned around” she

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SHOWING UP

shared with me during our chat “This is simply because I wanted to show up, and I thought, I'm the business owner, the buck stops with me. I still want to make money even though there's a pandemic, how can I show up in truth and honesty and support other business owners?” As soon as the pandemic struck, she did what came naturally to her, and went live: “I talked about who wants to sell successfully? Who's done with thinking it's all doom and gloom?

Who's ready to think a different way? I did a live stream and people were saying ‘I'm in I'm in I'm in I'm in!’.”

Everything she was implementing, through her own methodology around live stream creation, and how to sell and convert, was happening in front of her very eyes: “I was like, right, I can rinse and repeat this process and help as many people as possible do this for themselves, with audiences that they already have.”

would gather like moths round a flame, bees around honey. People, more than ever, wanted connection and transparency.”

Inspired by her trademark strapline “You can achieve anything you put your mind to” Stacey has recently helped beauticians move their business online and helped single mothers follow their dreams and get off benefits during lockdown: “this is how the pandemic success happened. I started showing up, asking who else wanted to serve and not be apologetic about it”.

She made the conscious choice to show up and be present as a way to be of service AND be true to the brand she built. “For me, when the pandemic struck, it was about people really taking a stand for their businesses, really being passionate and saying, ‘you know what, regardless of what's happening in the world people are still spending’. There is investment that people are making.”

The power and confidence within the idea of showing up and being of service is something that has allowed many to survive and thrive against the odds. “Do it with heart, do it with meaning, do it with soul.

As I started to share my vulnerability, people

“I chose to rise up through it and be proud of the business owner that I am” she continues “I wanted to call in more women and men who were proud of what they were putting out into the world and wanting to sell without feeling they shouldn't because the

“I've definitely seen deeper connections.

People are looking for it - before it

was a bit of a surprise, whereas now

people are actively searching for them."

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SHOWING UP

world's going crazy. Consciously choosing to think of the positives - as much as that sounds like a cliche.”

As we went deeper into the conversation, we explored what prompted so many people to show up live in the midst of a pandemic.

“Within my soul, I realised I needed to feel aligned, I needed to feel that I was still telling the truth. Do I still believe in this?

And I think that's really important. For me doing this is more than a business. It is

a way of life for me.” She remarks how more than ever, we need to come together to rise up and to shift the consciousness, not just within ourselves, but globally. “It’s about beautifully tapping in and connecting with your audience in a way that nobody else is doing right now, because everyone else is in panic mode.”

lack of connection with humans whilst we were all in our own little worlds and in our own homes. There was a real need for connection. Beyond money. Beyond that, not there's nothing wrong with that. But beyond the physical transaction of a business, it was that they wanted to c onnect with their customers”

Is the business you have created really reflecting who you are? Is it really reflecting your values? “So many people had their values shaken up, and realised there was a

While exploring how this wave of online connections has changed the way we show up online, she highlights one specific shift in the way viewers interact with her videos.

“Through my events more people are watching for longer, more people now are listening to me as they're doing their dinner or in the car, and I'm talking a live stream, you know, not just a podcast, so there's such power in it. The engagement piece in videos is so important.” She continues “I have seen longer, deeper, meaningful connections have happened and more friendships. I mean, serious friendships have been happening online and supporting one another.”

The stunning 6.1ft Visibility Coach encourages people to be themselves in the way Oprah did to create their version of success. Does it mean that she’s always on, ready to be on camera? Not necessarily.

Tapping into the reason why we show up and embrace visibility as a way to support others is what can truly help us push beyond our comfort zone: “I want to show up and share my message because at least one person might need to hear what I'm saying.”

After this chat, I realise there has never been a better time to show up and go live online “I've definitely seen a deeper connection.

People are looking for it now - before it was a bit of a surprise that they've made the deep connections, whereas now it's like people are actively searching for it.”

Author bio

Find out more about stacey and her online courses for success at www.staceysargison.com

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LOVE YOURSELF

3 WAYS TO FALL IN

Written by Emma Harrison

W

hen we think of love, we tend to think about romance; those long dreamy days we could only possibly have and enjoy in the company of our 'other half'. Culturally there is a notion that the right partner will somehow make us ‘whole’, that our soul mate is the ying to our yang and that they will solve all our problems.

(w it h y ou rs el f ) to see the meaning of life or end world poverty. If this was the case, the world would be a much different place.

As in any relationship, the one you have with yourself is one that you will have to work at and nourish every single day; along the way there will be epic highs, horrible lows, some failures and oh so many wins, but they will all be worthwhile.

LOVE | L^V |

noun [mass noun] 1 An intense feeling of deep affection: babies fill parents with feelings of love | their love for their country.

• A strong feeling of affection and sexual attraction for someone: they were both in love with her |

I'm not sitting here looking to write a novel about romance and how we need to find our lobster (to quote the amazing Pheobe Buffet) in order to experience love.

It has taken me most of my time on this planet to learn how hard it can be to love yourself and I'd like to think I've learnt a few things along the way.

we were slowly falling in love.

•A ffectionate greetings conveyed to someone on one's behalf: give her my love.

•A formula for ending an affectionate

I count myself as one of the lucky ones, I found my soulmate over a decade ago and whilst we have our ups and downs, I still love my partner as much now as I did back then. But no other person is the solution to all your problems, nor will they enable you

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The Beatles once said that 'all you need is love' and that is so true, but we need to remember that love starts with the love we have for ourselves - because how can we expect others to love who we are if we don't?

letter: take care, lots of love, Judy.

• ( Love) a personified figure of love, often represented as Cupid.

2 A great interest and pleasure in something: his love for football | we share a love of music...

1 2

LOVE YOURSELF

01

TALK

... kindly to yourself. One thing I have started to do is ask myself 'would I say that about someone else' when I have a negative internal monologue. On the whole the answer is no and that is often enough to stop my mind in its tracks and turn it around. Those moments of internal negativity are completely normal, and even the most positive of peaches out there have moments of self doubt from time-totime. One helpful tool is the use of positive affirmations, short and simple phrases that help to train the subconscious mind to adopt a positive outlook. My current favourite is: “I am driven to create the best possible life I can.� Next time you catch yourself spiralling into that negative monologue, ask yourself whether you'd say that to someone else. Create a positive version of that thought as an affirmation instead to help retrain your brain.

02

LISTEN

... to your heart. Many of us fail to really listen to ourselves as we don't allow ourselves to switch off enough to do so ... when was the last time that you totally detached yourself from the outside world and truly listened to yourself? For me it was about four months ago and I know that that isn't right! If you haven't listened to yourself for a long period of time, you can't really look after yourself.

Taking time out to meditate, practice gratitude or journal allows you to see what it is that you really want or need and allows you to be able to react and nourish your mind, body or soul appropriately. So many times I've reacted to a feeling without listening to myself and ended up feeling worse that I started out because I've reacted in the wrong way.

03

3

CELEBRATE

...every victory, no matter how small they feel. I've started to keep a 'brag book' in which I list every single accomplishment and the sense of fulfilment I get when I look back on what I have achieved and what I am capable of achieving when I put my heart and soul into things is such a mood booster on those down days! I also 'treat' myself too; from a new bouquet of tulips after publishing a new download, to a bottle of bubbly when working with a new client - treating myself really helps me to cement that feeling of accomplishment.

Author bio

C li c k here to se e her webs it e

Emma is a trainee personal trainer and wellbeing mentor with a passion for adventure, lycra and far too much activewear in her wardrobe!

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INSPIRATION

"If people are doubting how

far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore."

MICHELE RUIZ

BE BRAVE

On doing one courageous thing Written by Ruth Ridgeway

I

remember this coaching session I had with a client. It was a one off call (something I don't normally do) and she was struggling with how to move her business forward and slot all the pieces into place and actually launch it.

When we started the session she thought she needed more jigsaw puzzle pieces (to do more) first - yet honestly she didn't.

Because after listening to her it turns out the real challenge she was facing was that she was trying to be everything to everyone instead of the right person/solution for just the right people. When I showed her this I saw a light bulb instantly go off!

Before she took a deep breath and said “'Oh crap, THIS is what my niche and total passion is and I haven't been owning it at all” Within 24 hours of our call, words and courage started pouring out of her. All of a sudden she knew exactly what to say, how to say it, and who she needed to say it to (those soon to be clients who needed what she offered).

A couple days later I received another email from her (I love these ones), where she said” 'I've been really thinking about our session and what I really want to do is run my own retreats. I haven't been owning that either, I thought I had to do XYZ first but then I thought - instead of starting BIG with a full on week long retreat, why don't I maybe hold some day retreats and see how those go?'

So my question for you is: what one courageous step can you take today that could change everything? Hit send on the one important email? Say yes to a big but scary opportunity, and figure out the details/how to do it later - one of Richard Branson's own personal faves. Can you reach out to one person you know could help move your business forward?

She told me before she lost her new found courage that she reached out to someone she used to know who had a retreat centre. Their reply? They loved her idea and on the spot they arranged a meeting to discuss them and plan out how to make them happen.

Because when you choose to do the courageous thing - you’re choosing to build your business from a place of love instead of fear. And then, well that’s when the biggest of business dreams have the best chance of really coming to life.

Through one session she had her niche. That of course was in her the whole time, yet she hadn’t given herself permission yet to fully own it. Through one session (and one phone call) she’s now in talks about bringing one of her biggest dreams to life.

Author bio

Ruth Ridgeway is an unconventional business coach who helps online coaches, designers and copywriters own their unique awesome and stop undercharging to create consistent £5k+ months in their business. She’s also a fierce advocate for all things self love (because it’s where it all starts) and building your business in a simple and spacious way. Find out more here

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INTERVIEW

BEHIND THE CONTENT

@ rachel.evans.phd AKA DR. RACHEL EVANS

I’m a psychologist (PhD) and my mission is to help eating disorder suffers to regain hope and achieve FULL recovery. I know it’s scary to accept that you have an eating disorder and to open up to someone about it because I've been there. The content on my social media and blog is designed to help you begin to question if how you’re eating, exercising and/or thinking about your body is making you truly happy, and how to move forwards. I also work closely 1:1 with clients to change their mindset and behaviour through coaching, hypnotherapy, nutritional interventions and holistic support.

Behind the content The right content feels right to me and aligns with my message. I’m terrible at making a content plan, even though I went through the training in the Creative Impact membership! I like creating content based on

(Clockwise) Instagram posts about her breakfasts and her work.

what is important to me or what is an issue for my clients at the time; it feels more authentic to me that way. It’s worked so far, so I’m going to stick with that.

On making a bigger impact I hope that it’s encouraging people to have a healthier relationship with food, their body and themselves. My content has always been focused on health, but it’s changed focus in the past few years from promoting ‘health’ as something that can be achieved through diet and exercise, to developing a healthy mindset so that you can make those things an enjoyable, rather than guilt- or anxiety-provoking, part of your day. I also like to run free challenges in my Facebook group to help people apply any eating disorder recovery tips.

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INTERVIEW

Lessons and achievements Not believing in myself; when other people liked my content then I was surprised. I think I could have put myself forward for more opportunities if I believed in myself more and wasn’t scared for someone to say “No”. Now I realise how important it is to be your own cheerleader; even if sometimes it feels a bit cringey sometimes.

I think my biggest achievement was being able to say goodbye to my blog Healthy & Psyched (which I had for almost 5 years) and set up a new website (eatingdisordertherapist.co.uk) which is more aligned to what I am doing now.

Nuggets of gratitude My husband who has been with me through the

ups-and-downs of having an eating disorder and recovering. He encouraged me to start my original blog and travelled all over the country with me to various lifestyle shows and blog awards. I know that he doesn’t always understand when I am talking to him about my business now or the psychology of eating, but he’s there to support me.

FUN FACT I’m a really good cook, but when I have to cook

About being a Creative Impact member I love that the community has adapted to Covid-19 and has so many online events and masterclasses now. Since I don’t live in London it’s far easier for me to attend now. I really like the use of the ‘breakout room’ feature on Zoom, as I find that I can still meet and speak to new people during the class.

for new people it always seem to go wrong!

CLICK HERE...

Find out more about Rachel and her work on her Website here

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IS REELS REALLY GOING AFTER TIKTOK? Call us shocked and appalled – sarcasm alert.

Instagram has just released a competitor to challenge TikTok's social video domination Written by Fab Giovanetti

O

ver the past three months, Instagram has been testing its new Reels feature in a variety of countries, including India, which most recently banned TikTok (this is certainly not a coincidence).

Yet, this isn’t the first time that Facebook, Instagram’s parent company, has attempted to launch an alternative to the new cool kid on the social block. In 2019, Facebook launched its short-form standalone app Lasso, which failed rather miserably. Reels is a new feature and could be the response to the growing popularity of TikTok, which has surged in popularity over the last 12 months. Unlike Lasso, Reels is clearly

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playing on Instagram’s popularity and the familiarity of its users with features like Instagram stories. Imagine reels as the hybrid child of IGTV and Instagram stories.

Instagram Reels can be shared on Instagram Stories, shared to users in DMS, or added to a new Reels tab on a user’s profile.

Now popping on your feeds, as well as in the explore Feed, Reels are dangerously similar to TikTok videos in their format. Users can record 15-second video clips set to music and share them to Stories. You can add your own soundtrack, specific songs and even a new suite of AR effect. Seriously, the feeling of deja-vu has become staggering by now. The editing format of Reels can be found in the

Stories tab, among other popular options such as ‘Create’, ‘Live’ or ‘Hands Free’. Top Reels also collate all of the best-performing public Reels for an extra chance to go viral.

To post a Reel, simply open the Stories tab and select the Reels option at the bottom of the screen. Tap on the Audio option and select the song to play in the background of the video, or use original audio by recording a video using your own phone. You can either upload a video or record by pressing the button. Add AR effects or edit the video using Timer, Speed, and Edit options on the lefthand side. After creating the video, you can share it with just your followers or everyone on Instagram.

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You can easily watch Instagram Reels by going to the Explore feed on Instagram by tapping the magnifying glass icon. You’ll see a Reels video featured at the top. Tap Reels and swipe down to watch more Reels videos.

The folks at Instagram (and Facebook) are smart, I will give you that. Bringing as many features together to allow creators to express themselves in a variety of ways has been something that has constantly pushed them ahead of the curve.

Would this new feature be the end of TikTok? It is clearly too early to tell. Yet, as so many people are going back to their normal routine, it will be interesting to see how TikTok usage will shift in the coming months. Only time will tell, yet I am excited to see what is coming next.

Here are three ways you can make Reels work for you and your instagram followers 1. You can use Reels just like you’d use Tiktok - to bring your audience behind the scenes of your content or ahead of launching a new product or service 2. Share short tips and educational videos using text and music combinations to make your reels educational 3. Take the “Reels” word to the letter by creating short snippets of a specific experience (a workout, a local trip, or a recipe) to give a trailer preview of a longer form video or piece coming up in your feed or IGTV

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PRO SECTION

THE RISE OF THE PASSION ECONOMY Written by Fab Giovanetti

S

o far this year has been throwing us more than one curve-ball. On a personal level, the way we define “normal” has drastically shifted.

On a professional level, the world has been shaken to its core in more than one way.

The way we define career and work has changed forever. No, I am not just talking about needless Zoom meetings and adjusting to the work-from-home life.

From flexible careers to the rise of entrepreneurship, and a new way to sell expertise and talents, the economy has changed significantly.

It’s not just me saying it, you all.

Famous membership site Patreon added more than 100,000 new users between mid-March and July. OnlyFans reported

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daily six-figure sign-ups on its popular cam site. Etsy logged 115,000 new sellers in the first three months of the year, more than double the past two years’ user growth.

Our personal favourite Teachable, which lets people make and sell online courses, signed on 14,000 new creators between March and

July, and in July reported its first quarterly revenue over $10 million.

From eBooks and meal plan templates to online classes, podcasts, membership clubs, newsletters, we are all looking for a new way to express ourselves in what has become the “passion economy”.

Coaching clients taught me that talking about stuff is always better than letting it stew in your own head, and you will become more productive once you start focusing on what you will do rather than what you could or should do.

The biggest mindset shift new business owners can make is to treat everything they work on as an experiment. Expecting learning rather than success. This takes the pressure off and makes the whole journey a lot more enjoyable.

Joanne Malon

Karen Sargent

@Joanne Malon

@karensargent.co.uk

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As more and more people jump on board of this new train, loads of new business owners find themselves constantly fighting with a new type of pressure: “New business owners are often told to ‘create it’ or ‘write it’ and they will come.

This is terrible advice and often leaves new business owners with a crisis of confidence when sales don’t automatically trickle in after they’ve launched their website” points out organisational psychologist Karen Sargent.

Is there a way new business owners can beat the feeling of anxiety that comes up with empty carts and slow momentum?

“Success in business is created by connecting frequently with your ideal clients” adds Sargent. “When you show up regularly with authenticity and confidence potential clients get to know, like and trust

you and that’s when they will decide to do business with you.”

Despite having seen a massive uptake in online businesses and careers changing, the “passion economy” is still full of misconceptions and can be hard to navigate.

Before being forced to pivot and change the way we did business, so many people thought they would not be able to take the proverbial leap, or leave a job that was yet still unfulfilling. It’s that same idea “that it is ever too late to make a change, or that you don’t have the power or ability to change your working life” points out career and life coach Joanne Mallon. “You always have the power, and there are always other choices to be made. You don’t need to know what every step of your new path will be, but if you take the first step then the next one will naturally appear.”

Be curious and ask questions.Talk to people and find out what they do and how their sector works, ask them how they would utilise your skills in their sector.

Alison Grade @freelancebible

Personal beliefs and mindset have been the biggest hurdle most new business owners have been facing, at least until the idea of “work and career” was toppled over its head once and for all.

Yet, this new economy is not new. Since the late 1990s, Kevin Kelly (of 1,000 true fans fame) has predicted that social

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networking and online payment platforms would open up a range of new, and newly fulfilling, career choices.

The passion economy is one driven by the idea that we are constantly growing, and forever changing as human beings.

We’ve been led to believe that our set of skills has limited value and can only be used in our current jobs or careers. “The reality is that we possess an abundance of skills that we often overlook and which can be transferred to other jobs, careers or businesses” shares qualified executive coach Susana Jaime.

As the passion economy is one led by freelancers and so-called “solo-preneurs”, the skills we are now looking to refine are much different than the old idea of leadership and career advancement. To develop a successful freelancer psyche,

Channel your courageousness, feel the fear - know that it’s normal to be scared but just make sure you take the action anyway. Make that decision, do the right but scary thing for you - you will not regret it.

Sophie Clyde-Smith @sophieclydesmith

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Alison Grade, author of the Freelance Bible, argues that you need a balance of skills, financial drive and desires (passion to get out there and tell people).

“Without financial drive you have a hobby, without desires no-one knows you exist.

Between you and your team you need to have the full range of skills to deliver your services” explains Grade “Even freelancers buy in skills to support the delivery of their work (either behind the scenes with finance and admin) or as collaboration partners on client projects.”

So how can new business owners get started and be part of this new wave of change and build a passiondriven business? If you are thinking complex business plans and five-year plans, well, think again.

List three things you would like to change. Once you have done that think about the following question: what could you do differently? Then ask yourself: how can you start implementing this?

Susana Jaime “Many people might disagree with this one but before I went self-employed I was so terrified of having to create a business plan it really held me back. I got stuck on it thinking it was the only way for me to move forward” shares Sophie Clyde-Smith, BSc, success and transformational coach.

“After speaking to loads of peers in the coaching industry, I realised that many other successful business owners didn’t have one. I decided to pick and choose which aspects of a business plan might serve me and I found some alternative strategy documents that were much simpler and super effective.”

All in all, following one’s passion may not be everyone’s path to success, however, having the opportunity to set a career that truly fits us and our own individual lifestyle is incredibly unique to these very transformative times.

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How to adapt to keep your business dreams alive Written by Rosaria Barreto

A

t 11 years old I knew I wanted 2 things in life, The first was to run my own business and the second was to be able to exercise whilst I work. I did everything I could to get there, PE GCSE, A-levels in PE, Biology and Psychology and I even took it one step further and got a degree in Exercise and Fitness management whilst gaining all the qualifications I needed to be a self-employed fitness professional. At the age of 20 I had achieved my career dreams!

I was a businesswomen running my own business, teaching classes and running private training sessions, I had even written an online eBook. The first two years of my entrepreneurial journey saw me running my own wellness

events, winning awards, and working with brands. But two years went on and I started to become complacent. What does one do when they have achieved their dreams quite early on in their career? New dreams start to occur.

I wanted to go bigger, I wanted to be even more of an expert in my field, I wanted to help more people. During that time I had also fallen in love with helping older adults, I had the opportunity to work privately and in nursing homes and had noticed the huge market potential in the meantime.

On 23rd March 2020, the UK prime minister announced a national lockdown, PANIC! I completely lost it, I burst into tears and the only thing I could think about was “how on earth is my business going to survive!?”

All that hard work, time, and continual professional development that I had put in over the last two years had been for nothing (slightly dramatic I

know, but that’s just me). After Boris’ announcement I woke up with one of those post ‘cry headaches’, guzzled some water with the hope of t clearing my head and did what I thought best! I contacted all my clients and let them know that Vitality Hub (my business) would be going online.

I made a 'corona health' support group on Facebook and created a schedule of weekly classes. I’d had to adapt quickly and think on my feet. Unbeknown to me most of the personal training community had done the same!.

Lucky enough my customers stayed loyal and I managed to keep 80% of business, plus I had a lot more time now that I was no longer commuting. I decided that I would do things that I had wanted to do for years but hasn’t had the time, until now.

Growing my own fruit and veg (sad to say 2/3 attempts have failed), starting a

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PRO SECTION

SIX TIPS

You can do, to help make your business dream bulletproof

01

Take your business online!

Make sure that you have the ability to run your business virtually AND in person

02

Always have a plan B. Do you have ways of improving your business? Try offering additional services that compliment the main aspect of what you do.

03 YouTube channel and changing the senior exercise industry forever.

Someone recently asked me, ‘do you want to be in the same place you are now, in a years’ time?’ I had to do something different, I sought out a coach and went back to basics, re-learning and putting myself into situations in which I had no choice but to be innovative.

During the first few weeks of lockdown I had started virtual senior exercise classes and I loved it! The feedback I got was amazing

Author bio

and most importantly the positive effects that the class was having on the members mental health was astonishing, I felt a certain excitement I hadn’t felt in a while. I started a crowdfunding campaign to be able to develop this idea further. It’s still ongoing and it is one of the most difficult things I have ever done.

Although the 2020 pandemic has been an absolute horror for many entrepreneurs it's also required many businesses to adapt much faster to the digital world, it’s the future of business.

Rosaria Barreto also known as the Vitality Coach helps women and seniors live happier and healthier through the power of exercise! With a background in clinical exercise, she is on a mission to change the mindset from 'exercise is for active individuals' to 'exercise is also for people who struggle to move due to clinical health limitations'. @the_vitalitycoach

Don’t be afraid to do things you’ve never done before. Growth is only enabled when you come out of your comfort zone

04

It's vital that you try to adapt to the environment before your competition. Being one step ahead of everyone else can make all the difference

05

It's okay to feel afraid, ‘having no money makes you think creatively’. Stress can be good! If you don’t feel passionately about something and take risks then is it worth it?

06

Self- development is vital for taking your business to the next level. Work on yourself ALWAYS! Take time to develop your knowledge and mindset every week.

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PRO SECTION

Upgrade your writing

The truth about becoming an

Authorpreneur Written by NH Jacobi

P

ublishing a book is easier than ever these days. By introducing Kindle self-publishing, Amazon has revolutionized the market, and as of June 2020, indie authors account for 30%-34%% of e-book sales in the largest Englishlanguage markets.

Unlike traditional publishing, where an author writes a book and everything else is taken care of by the publishing house, self-publishing requires you to be more than an author. You'll have to become an authorpreneur.

What does it mean to be an Authorpreneur?

Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity beyond resources controlled. Once you set out to publish a book on your own, you’ve decided to become an entrepreneur in the field of book publishing – an authorpreneur.

You will spend a lot of money, hoping to gain a return from sales. Making smart and educated business decisions will become part of your routine.

Deciding whether you want to publish wide and access a larger audience or be exclusive to Amazon and reap the benefits of Kindle Unlimited, understanding how much to price your books and when the right time to run sales is are only a few examples.

More of your time will go into marketing than into writing. Constant learning, growth, and development are key factors to your success, just as much as your writing quality.

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Things no one tells you about self-publishing As I mentioned, deciding on the self-publishing route means you’ll have to put in more than just the effort of writing, even if you choose not to touch on any other aspect (such as social media and marketing).

My blog post, From Idea to Published Book, gives a comprehensive overview of how to evaluate your selfpublishing process, including self-editing and what to look at when choosing an editor. One of the most surprising facts I learned when I went into self-publishing was the success statistics. The biggest problem with this specific point is the lack of transparency, but the unofficial numbers are that only 0.01% of self-published authors will earn enough to become full-time authors.

An average self-publishing fiction author will have to write and release approximately 10-12 books before starting to see revenue. This means that, even with a rapid publishing pace, it can take up to two years to see any return on all your hard work, and even then, there are no guarantees. For that reason, so many authors are taking on additional related work, such as paid beta reading, editing services, cover design, and social media management.

You must be aware of this going in and develop a business strategy, even if all you do is write. Also, take into account that you'll continuously need to learn new skills.Like any business, personal growth and improvement are what will eventually drive you up, as well as forward.Lucky for you, I’ve been doing this for a while, and have some hard-earned tips that can make your authorpreneurship journey easier.

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Free ways to make your publishing journey easier Find your community

The number one tip I give anyone who decides to enter entrepreneurship, especially in a creative field, is to connect to like-minded peers. No one will understand you like the people who are making a similar journey to yours, and these are the people you’ll go to for support, inspiration, and motivation.

At the end of the day, your fellow wanderers will be your biggest cheerleaders.

Furthermore, a community of like minded people is where you’ll find recommendations for service providers, ask for advice when you’re stuck, and create professional partnerships that will boost your writing career forward, such as anthologies, interviews, and event participation.

Strategically speaking, actively getting involved with the writing community in your genre is probably the best way to spread your name at the small price of quid-pro-quo.

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Understand your message I talk a lot about visual voice, my entire business is built on it. When I say, "find your visual voice," I'm actually saying, "understand your message."

A message doesn’t have to be elaborate or sophisticated, it can be as simple as showcasing your books, but it must have value, which should be translated into a strategy that corresponds with your goal.

The best example I can think of is Becca Steel. Her Instagram is 100% about books, mostly her own. Her engagement is off the charts for every post, because she gives the added value of visuals that tell you something about her books combined with captions that leave you an emotional wreck, running to read her books.

Another excellent example of a unique style that provides added value is M.L. Broome, a dictionary and thesaurus nerd by her own assertion, who barely uses photos and yet has one of the most visually appealing and engaging profiles I’ve encountered.

Not only is it pretty, but it's also true to her and her character, it feels authentic because it is.

Those are two very different accounts who do a great job of translating their message into added value. Your message needs to be true to you, that in itself is the best value you can give your readers.

An integral part of this process is figuring out which platform works best for you. To return to Becca Steele, as impressive as her Instagram feed is, her Facebook game is even stronger. It’s a lot of trial and error, but in the end, it will be worth it when you genuinely connect to your audience.

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Give yourself time

Give yourself time to understand your writing process, it's easier said than done.

Every person you’ll speak to has a different process. Some need to create a book bible, others an outline, some just go wherever the characters take them.

In all honesty, most writers are a mix, even the non-fiction writers will each swear by a different method of writing.

More than that, when I write fiction I am non-linear and on the most part a pantster (someone who thinks by the seat of their pants rather than plans), but when I write blogs or guides I can’t start without having all my headers outlined.

Many people will attempt to sell you the "best method for writing a book."

However, the only globally valid tip is to sit down and start writing, figure out what works for you, and from that point forward, look for tailored resources. That being said, there’s an unending pool of free resources out there that can help you understand your process.

Figure out your goal

Take a deep breath

Your goal can be the number of books you’ve published, followers on social media, anthologies you’ve participated in to boost your career.

Practicing this specific piece of advice does not come naturally to me, I’m very much a “want it all, want it now” type of person. Which is how you burn yourself out (speaking from experience).Take a moment to scroll back up to the numbers at the beginning of the post, let them sink in.

Understanding where you want to be with your writing career in one, five, ten years is critical, not only for figuring out your business strategy but also vital for keeping your motivation high, especially considering tip number five (coming right up).

For me, brand awareness is an ongoing central goal, and I've been developing my author brand relentlessly over the past year. It's taken away from my publication pace, but I firmly believe that it's the right place to invest my efforts in the long run.

Something no one told me before I decided to go down the self-publishing path is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Hence my author blog title, Not a Sprint.

Unless you manage to tap into an unmet market need and market yourself wisely to become an overnight sensation, being a self-published author is more about persistence than talent.

Sure, a well-written book will garner more positive reviews, but very few selfpublished authors will explode on their first, second, or even third book.

The beauty of fiction is that it’s evergreen.

Once you release a book, it's out there, and whenever a new reader stumbles upon your work and loves it, they’ll go looking for more. It’s why more books mean exponentially growing income. Yes, it's discouraging, and you'll want to throw in the towel more times than you’ll be able to count, but if you’re in it for the passion and not just the sales, you’ll pick yourself up and keep writing. So, learn to breathe and develop nerves of steel, you’ll need it.

Author bio

NH Jacobi is the CEO and founder of Night Owl Creative, a brand awareness boutique that helps entrepreneurs and small businesses find their unique visual voice. Go to her Website for more information

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PRO SECTION

FOUR WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR HOME OFFICE Written by Fab Giovanetti

F

arewell, vitamin D and sunny beaches, the time has come to put our big boss pants back on and pursue those big dreams of yours. Yet, holiday blues are a thing for far too many people. Being able to bring joy and refresh inspiration is not just something for your vision board.

Upgrading your office space can be an amazing way to refresh and recharge your space. What is one thing that can make our September a little brighter?

There are incredibly simple and effective ways to liven up your space by making it more personal, just like the new Zoella x Etsy collection, incorporating handmade items throughout your own space to spark joy.

“My home is my sanctuary” says Sugg, who believes in incorporating handcrafted items throughout her own space to add joyful touches. “It’s the place where I feel most relaxed and safe. It’s always important for my surroundings and the overall vibe of my home to make me feel that way.” In collaboration with 9 talented Etsy UK sellers, Etsy has partnered with Zoe Sugg (the power woman behind Zoella) to create items bursting with bright colours and delightful details.

“This collection offers a lovely mix of home décor items that will inject a little something special into your space” so check out our top picks.

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‘Just the Essentials’ Blush Pink Pouch This blush pink pouches makes a fantastic clutch and is perfect for carrying your handbag essentials.

You can also use them as grown-up pencil cases for your desk to legitimise it as part of your wishlist.

Stitched and printed in the UK, complete with a black cotton lining and heavy-duty gold colour zip.

Greeting Card Let your besties know how special they are with this positive and fun card - or even send a thank you note to a client or a teammate to surprise them! Digitally printed with an original Oh, Laura design, these cards are blank inside for your own message. Extra karma points as the card will be sent without any plastic packaging to help save the planet, and in a board backed envelope to ensure it reaches you in perfect condition!

PRO SECTION

Recycled sketchbooks with Vent for Change This illustrated Zoella sketchbooks are made entirely from recycled and sustainable materials with either the Dream or Create logo to the front cover. It’s ethically produced with plain certified sustainable paper ideal for notes and sketching as the cover is made from recycled paper with 30% citrus pulp. Great as a journal, notebook, sketchbook or making your to do lists - exactly what you need to start planning that world domination of yours.

Click on any product picture to get sales websites

Planter pot Who says your desk does not deserve a spanking new addition as Autumn approaches? This planter is handcrafted from a creamy white stoneware clay and finished in a shiny dusty Rose pink glaze and hand painted black oxide dashes.

Just add your favourite plant and it’s guaranteed to brighten up your home offer. And of course has a cheery face to make you smile every day!

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CREATIVE IMPACT

WELLBEING DID YOU KNOW?

Angel numbers are the most commonly seen mode of communication by angels.

These are typically repeating sequences of numbers, which we can spot in our everyday life

THIS ISSUE

Magic

WELLBEING

TOP PICKS FOR GETTING BACK TO IT September often means getting back to it: whether that’s school, work or a better routine.

We’ve shared a few of our favourite prompts, tools and tricks to create an effortless yet effective routine to maximise your productivity, make life a little easier and more fun!

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WELLBEING

SNACKING ON THE GO! Getting back to work/school and bringing lunch/snacks with you never felt so good with Stasherbags. The endlessly reusable silicone bags come in a range of functional shapes, sizes and colours. They fit in your bag, fridge and freezer - a great option for you and the planet.

Click on any product picture to get sales websites

WOODEN CLIPBOARD Looking for a way to showcase your latest vision board, your favourite quote or maybe add some swag to your desk? This standalone clipboard artfully combines pinewood and a leather strap to bring you a unique desk or tabletop display. We all need a bit more inspo on Mondays.

PERSONALISED JOURNAL/PLANNER Papier has the most wonderful range of planners, journals, notebooks and more all available for personalisation to make writing down your thoughts and lists that much more fun! From quirky and fun to floral and classic, there’s something for everyone.

There’s even gift boxing options - they make a thoughtful present.

I’M THE MAGIC PIN Let’s be honest, we all needs a sprinkle of magic in our lives. This pin is the perfect reminder to yourself and your nearest and dearest, that you are special. Embrace that fact that you add some magic to all areas of your life.

Perfect for jackets, blazers, your favorite backpack/book bags, messenger bags, etc.

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Why angels and spirit guides

ENRICH OUR LIVES Written by Claire Stone

W

hen we incarnated on Earth we did not arrive alone. You see, every single one of us was born with a Guardian Angel and whole team of Spirit Guides.

I was born with the ability to see and hear Angels and Spirit. I assumed that everybody could until my religious family taught me otherwise.

Throughout my life, I have received so much support from beyond the veil that I really don’t know how I would have managed to get so far without them. Guides can help

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you with so many things. Mine have helped me to find missing items, whispered ‘stop’ in my ear before a tyre blew out, ensured that I have been in the right place at the right time and given me ideas for my work. They are very practical.

Angels can help you to become a better person, to open your heart and develop the heavenly virtues such as compassion and forgiveness. Angels lend you courage so that you may shine your light and ascend.

If you have been unaware of who your Guides are so far, you may be wondering,

WELLBEING

Here’s how to invite your Guardian Angel in to help you today SET THE INTENTION I like to light a candle and hold my hands in the prayer posture to get myself in the right mood.

SAY THE FOLLOWING ‘‘Dear Guardian Angel, thank you for all of the times that you have helped me in the past and it has gone unseen. I am ready to get to know you, to become close friends. Thank you for leaving me a confirmation sign in the physical world today that I can clearly understand. Thank you".

At the end of the day write in your journal any confirmation signs you received. This could be a bus driver wearing an angel broach, a white feather, a repetitive number, an angel quote in your social media timeline or even a sparkle of light in your peripheral vision.

Keep the process going each day and you will be amazed at what you get; an ally, a confidant, a best friend.

why they don’t help you? This is the important thing that you need to understand about Angels and Guides; they are bound to the law of Free Will. As much as they would love to dive in and help you, they are limited in what they can do. They must patiently await your invitation.

I have always had a thirst for spiritual knowledge, and so I have asked my guides all kinds of questions over the years. Each day, I say my prayers and I invite them to help me to make the most out of the day, to protect and guide me. I constantly offer up the invitation.

Even if you have no perception of your Angels and Guides you can still call them in to work with you.

I always recommend that people get to know one Guide at a time, it would be confusing otherwise. I also suggest that your Guardian Angel is the perfect Guide to work with first, of course this is your personal choice but, in my experience, Angels create a great foundation because they are so pure and loving.

You can trust the angels, yet discernment is required with the world of spirit, after all, they are but formless humans.

Author bio

Claire Stone, Hay House author of The Female Archangels: Reclaim Your Power with the Lost Teachings of the Divine Feminine.

The Archeiai are emerging right now and reaching out to all beings on earth to empower, comfort and support us through our earthly journey. Founder of Angel Mystery School. www.clairestone.co.uk

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WELLBEING

BACK TO SCHOOL TOP TIPS

Simple ways to boost your energy to achieve your September goals

T

Written by May Al-Ali

he holiday season is almost over, and it’s about time to jump back into our routines. From going back to school (online and offline) and getting back into our work routine, it’s key to prioritise wellbeing to keep energy up and running.

When it involves wellness and health, it’s the littlest and most consistent efforts that bring the best results as “the doctor of the future will no longer treat patients with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition and lifestyle measures.”

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CREATIVE IMPACT MAG

Eat healthy foods Food is life, what we put in our bodies directly affects how we think, sleep and feel. Having regular eating habits, especially when working from home, can give us a boost in energy. Try to reduce red meat and animal fats. Eat plenty of fibre, wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and oily fish. Reduce processed high sugar foods, drink lots of water and limit caffeine.

WELLBEING

y e to enjo s, Take tim r activitie o f e im t e hat Set asid rojects t p d n a s ite, hobbie t and wr c le f e r , book nature, . Read a in y jo lk n a e w u yo long ok ride or a arn to co e e L ik . t b a in a take or p s your pet vie, draw o h it m w a y h watc or pla y recipe h lt a e h cy. a new your fan s le k ic t ver – whate

OF NON-OFFICE-BASED BUSINESSES HAVE

TOLD EMPLOYEES THEY’LL BE INVESTING MORE IN WELLBEING AFTER LOCKDOWN (perkbox August 2020 research)

Notice the here and now Take a moment and try to ‘be’ in the moment – feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air you breathe. Practise mindfulness; breathe deeply, focus on being in the here and now.

Find your purp ose Do you wake u p and dread goin g to work? Are yo u passionate about your job ? Research shows that tru e happiness comes from fin ding our purpose and p ursuing that in life. So ask yo urself, what is it that makes m y heart sing with joy? And try to put step s in place to do more of that.

d talk Connect with others an ong Develop and maintain str ople relationships with the pe rich your life. Share, who support you and en together. Reach out laugh, eat and enjoy life en you need support. to friends and family wh th others increases Building connections wi our sense of belonging.

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WELLBEING

OF BUSINESSES TOOK MEASURES TO SUPPORT THE WELLBEING OF FURLOUGHED STAFF (perkbox August 2020 research)

Get enough sleep Our bodies revolv e around a circadia n clock. Get into a ro utine of sleeping and waking at regu lar times and aim for 7-8 hours slee p a night. Try to go to sleep between 10pm-12pm as th is may encourage th e most deep REM sleep and help yo u wake up feeling most refreshed.

Exercise Physical activity improves psychological ce feelings well-being and can redu n by of anxiety and depressio is one of the releasing endorphins. It ral ways to most effective and natu e and out. help you feel good, insid Limit alcohol Alcohol is linked with increasing rates of certain cancers and binge drinking can cause permanent damage to our stomach linings. As well as that alcohol is a depressant, negatively affecting our moods & our blood sugar balance. For optimum health limiting intake is highly recommended.

Deal with stress Be aware of what triggers stress for you and put in place tools to manage stress such as meditation, breathwork, walking in nature or just phoning a friend.

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WELLBEING

Author bio

Mays is a registered Nutritionist specialising in naturopathic healing with the important inclusion of a functional medicine perspective.

She helps individuals find their inner health with personalised diet and lifestyle plans, incorporating the latest clinical research, lab and genetic testing and beautifully healthy food. www.healthymays.com

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WELLBEING

THE FREELANCE BIBLE Alison Grade

Award-winning entrepreneur and freelancer Alison Grade, guides you through everything you need to know to start your self-employed life. She will help you develop your personal brand, pick up the financial essentials, grow your client base, manage work-life balance, negotiate deals and value your time as you become more established. The complete guide to turning your talent into a fulfilling career.

Click on the books to get sales link

BOOKS H E LF CHOSEN FROM OUR COLLECTIVE MEMBERS

SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT Samin Nosrat

A masterpiece loved by all foodies, Samin Nosrat’s book revolves around the four key principles that chefs would always fall back on to make their food better. By mastering those four variables, Samin found the confidence to trust her instincts in the kitchen and cook delicious meals with any ingredients. Her simple but revolutionary method will give both professionals and amateurs the skills to cook instinctively.

HIGH SCHOOL

Tegan and Sara Quin

An inspiring memoir for creatives from creatives, High School is the revelatory and unique coming-of-age story of Sara and Tegan Quin. The book is set during the height of grunge culture in the 90s, before turning musicians and global LGBTQ icons.

While grappling with their identity and sexuality, they faced academic meltdown, their parents' divorce and the pressure of what might come after high school.

THE SWITCH Beth O’leary

A fiction book for your late staycation, the Switch follows the stories of overachiever Leena and her grandmother Eileen. Leena is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical, and escapes to her grandma's house for some rest. Eileen is newly single and would like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen. An offer from Leena will change everything.

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WELLBEING

FINDING GRACE WITH HANNAH

The power of equinox September is a month of change; it's the end of summer and the turn of the season to Autumn.

P

oints like Equinoxes, the solstices, and the moons cycles all provide mini resets which are powerful for us to use in our lives to pause and to see where we are at. The two Equinoxes we have are two days of the year where the day and night are equal, so twelve hours light and twelve hours of darkness, and it represents balance and realignment. In Latin “Equinox” means equal night.

We are in the northern hemisphere so it’s Autumn equinox however in the southern it’s spring, and it's on the 22nd of September this year. In this I’m referring to the autumn where the days will now become shorter and we will have longer nights so we have more darkness than light.

This year has been one of the strangest years of people's lives and people have felt disconnected and disconcerted. So the importance of reconnecting to the cycles of nature is greater than ever to have a positive impact on us as we ourselves go through inner seasons.

Connection is key right now it keeps us grounded and allows us to see where we are at - no matter what we are doing in our lives. We need to give ourselves kindness when we have moments where we slow down to reflect and reset.

September is known as the harvest time; this is a really good time to acknowledge your growth and expansion or what hasn’t been happening for you. It’s a time to see what you need to let go of and what you need to nourish. As it's the last quarter of the year, you can see how you want your year to end.

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This is a time to go within more and to be mindful of slowing down for the winter ahead; getting ready to cosy in on those dark nights. Define the internal slow down in a way that works for you; when we reconnect more with the seasons and moon, it's a personal journey. The key is to really learn to listen to yourself and to get intimate with that. The more we do this, the easier it gets and we feel more in our centre and more in the flow.

As we watch nature change before our eyes as it dies off, watching the leaves fall off the trees. This metaphorically for us, allows us to see what we need to let fall away. What we need to let go of to “This is a really good time create space or what is to acknowledge your no longer serving us, growth and expansion and ask yourself: where or what hasn’t been do you need more balance in your life? happening for you” I would suggest creating a ritual where you sit down and think about what you want to let go and then release this. You could, if inclined, write it out and burn it. Knowing that you are creating space within yourself and your life, because if we don’t do this regularly we get very backed up - there’s no room to realign and let other things in for the future.

Feel the gratitude for what has been and let yourself use this Autumn Equinox as a mini reset for the last quarter of the year. @thehannahwallace

WELLBEING

AFFIRMATION

“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”

ROY T. BENNET

Author bio

Find out more about Hannah, writer, blogger, and podcaster at @thehannahwallace or head to Hannah’s website to download her free meditation.

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5

Steps into your Feminine Power

with the Female Archangels aka @calistaascension

N

o-one could have predicted a year quite like 2020! These are stormy, uncertain times yet, now more than ever, angels walk with us. No matter if you know nothing about angels, know you have a guardian angel who has been with you since conception, and who will remain as a loyal supporter until you “graduate” from this earthly adventure.

Your celestial bestie also acts as a bridge to connect you with the “special forces” of the angel realms – the Archangels.

For eons, Archangels have been depicted as masculine beings, but times are evolving!

In response to moving out of the patriarchy and into the Aquarian Age in 11/11/11, the female Archangels, known as the Archeiai, have stepped forward to help heal our divine feminine nature no matter the gender we identify with.

Although angels are androgynous, like a coin, they have two sides (one male, one female) to best relate to humanity. Angels help us to identify the parts of us which are out of balance, and give us ways to step into our feminine power so we can enjoy a harmonious life while staying rooted as the calm in the centre of any storms. Here are five ways to step fully into your feminine power with the help of the female Archangels.

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WELLBEING

FIND OUT MORE

Calista is an award-winning author, pioneer of spiritual ascension and a magical leader. Calista has attuned thousands of souls worldwide to the angelic, elemental, and crystalline kingdoms and believes by healing and empowering our lives we help all of creation to thrive.

CalistaAscension.com

01

Remember your wings!

It is not just angels that have wings, you do, too! For a moment, close your eyes and see wings growing from the back of your heart. While you can wrap your wings around you for cosy comfort, Archeia Faith (twin of Archangel Michael) guides you to assume your authority by keeping your wings outstretched! Anytime you need a boost of confidence, fan your wings wide and enjoy the power of being your bold true self.

02

Drop the story Angels hold up a mirror to show us where we limit ourselves and therefore, deny the natural progression of living our bliss. Feel the lioness of Heaven coming forward now, Archeia Strength (twin of Archangel Ariel), and give to Strength what you feel are the limiting stories, belief systems, expectations and ideals that are holding you back.

She’ll burn these away as she reflects that it’s time to be the victor of your life not the victim.

03

Find balance Feel good about giving to yourself pauses for meditative rest throughout your day.

Quieting your mind allows you to sense angels more easily and resets your nervous system to the rhythm of your own empowered soul.

04

Prioritise pleasure One day a month, set hourly alarms on your phone to signal you to stop what you’re doing and in-joy a “pleasure moment”. Whatever turns your senses on, be they physical, emotional, spiritual or auditory pleasures, bring your full beings in to the moment.

05

Find the punchline In every situation, whether personal, political or worldly, find the humour! This will help you to gain an angelic 360 perspective to clearly see the truth of a situation, while helping you stay in-lightened and detached from drama and density.

Check out Calista's book

Her exciting new best-seller, The Female Archangels - Revolutionary teachings to Heal and Empower Your Life is the first book to solely profile who the female angels are. GET IT HERE

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Authentic vegan-friendly family recipe

100% natural & certified organic

CREATIVE IMPACT

FOODIE FUN FACT School lunch has its roots in Germany in 1790 as an American-born man began mass feedings for poor kids working parttime in exchange for schooling.

THIS ISSUE

Lunchbox

FOODIE

QUICK AND SIMPLE FOODIE FAVOURITES Getting back to routine often means less time in the mornings and evenings for spending in the kitchen. This is where a few reliable favourites and meal prepping comes in handy - so there’s really no excuse to not have a home-cooked meal to come home to.

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MICROWAVABLE MUG CAKES Not strictly a product you can buy off the shelf, but when they take less than 2 minutes, you’ll be thankful. Vegan, Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, indulgent, healthy, chocolatey‌ There is a recipe out there for everyone. You're just a mug, a spoon and 2 minutes away from dessert heaven for all the family. Click here for a recipe by the lovely Amy

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How to make

THE PERFECT sushi bento box h S h is o D e l ic io u s W it

Written by Sara Kiyo Popowa

A

re your ready to become a bento master?

Every great bento starts with one ingredient: the perfect rice. We’ve been chatting to queen of bento boxes Sara Kiyo Popowa a.k.a Shiso Delicious to discover what ‘sushi’ actually means, how to build the perfect bento box and how to choose the perfect combinations.

PIC: CAROLINA LLAMUSI-SILBERMANN

Bento originates in Japan, where it is a neatly boxed-up portion of an everyday meal. It’s often prepared at home (often by the mother of the house), and taken to work or school (or bought ready-made on your way to work). A typical Japanese meal is made up of lots of small dishes eaten with a bowl of rice, so a bento is similar; it almost always has a portion of rice, with a number of small dishes packed neatly and often prettily in a bento box. You’ll bring your own boxed up chopsticks too, and pack it all up in a small bag to take in your school or work bag.

Why bento boxes Bento needs to be fast and easy enough to do every day without going crazy, and tasty and varied enough not to make you bored. Pre-prepping a few components helps, and so does picking up a few Japanese ingredients and methods. These guys have been making bento for generations and many Japanese foods are very well suited to go in a box, stay out for half a day and still taste fresh and delicious.

and preserves it. Sushi was developed pre-fridge times, so preparing it like this meant that both the rice and the raw fish put on top (or inside it) would keep fresh for longer.

The origin of sushi

Once the sushi rice is seasoned it’s shaped in different ways to fit with different types of toppings or fillings.

These can be everything from raw fish to freshly cut aloe vera (one of the more experimental toppings I’ve seen)!

Many think that raw fish is ‘sushi’, but it is actually a way of preparing rice – tossing freshly cooked, Japanese rice in a vinegar/salt/sugar seasoning liquid which both flavours

Nori (the thin seaweed sushi rolls are wrapped in) also has a preserving effect – it’s an edible super-barrier that makes it harder for bad stuff to get to the rice, while keeping the rice moist for longer, too.

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PIC: CAROLINA LLAMUSI-SILBERMANN

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The most well-known sushi outside of Japan is nigiri sushi (the little pillow with a topping) and maki-sushi (the rolls) but you can also use sushi rice to make a chirashi-sushi, sushi bowl, where the the toppings are beautifully arranged on top, or oshi-sushi where rice and fillings are pressed together in a box, then cut into pieces.

Sushi types explained My favourite type of sushi is probably the kind where I sit at a high counter, watching a skilled sushi chef do their dance to create beautiful little morsels of deliciousness that’s put in front of me one by one.

This is a rare, but amazing treat!

(Clockwise) Build your bento box gradually, making sure the food is snug; Ingredients for umami, including nori sheets and Vermicelli; adding the finishing touches; Shiso Delicious holding different bento boxes; mix grain rice with three rice balls.

If we were to have a peek at a typical Shiso Delicious lunchbox what would we find? A typical Shiso Delicious lunch box has foods that I love for their taste, visual appearance and nutritional properties. They have to be practical too, easy to source and make.

Most of my bento (lunch boxes) always have a good amount of grains/carbs, with leafy greens, some type of protein, fresh fruit and veg and some seasoning/ nutrient sprinkles. I use a lot of Japanese and East-Asian flavours in my bento, not just because I love them, but because they work in dishes that keep well, and are delicious eaten cold which is essential in a bento.

Sara’s bento combinations • A mix-grain rice (eg Japanese white rice + wholegrain rice and quinoa mixed) • A big handful of salad greens • A quick-pickled vegetable which adds tangy salty flavour and takes just minutes to make • An ‘overnight egg’ (‘cooked’ overnight on residual heat to save time), and/or a few slices of smoked tofu • fresh or dried fruit • a handful of toasted seasoned nuts/seeds • probably a scatter of sesame or pomegranate seeds because I’m obsessed with them!

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PIC: CAROLINA LLAMUSI-SILBERMANN

Bento 101 Find a box that fits your portion size (or the person you’re making it for), where you can arrange the food is snug, so that it doesn’t move around in transit. The visual is important (so you can have that ‘bento ritual’ moment when you open your box!) so try to group your ingredients together, even if they are just simply cut veggies. Then you can choose whether to pick from each dish when you eat (the Japanese way) or mix it all up as a big salad at lunch time.

Be very clear about what it is you want to write about – it is a crazy amount of work creating a book so you want to be sure it is something you burn for! Make sure you have a unique angle to what you want to write about, make it into something exciting that only you can do.

Now that you've read the fundamentals of making bento boxes, why not delve further with Bento Power, from Sara Kiyo Popowa GET IT HERE

PIC: JENNA FOXTON

Check out the book

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SERVES 1 BENTO

Lazy Tamago Bento PREP TIME 20 mins | EQUIPMENT Chopping board, Jar, Frying pan

Making ‘tamago-yaki‘ – Japanese rolled omelette – the traditional way may seem a little daunting, but here is my fail-proof, super-reduced version that‘s ready in 2 minutes (yes, really!). It was one of the first recipes my husband Andy tested for this book and he makes it all the time now for his own bentos. Layering the egg with a nori sheet in the pan makes it easy to flip and fold, and adds both nutritional value and good looks.

Recipe adapted from Bento Power by Sara Kiyo Popowa (Kyle Books)

INGREDIENTS Lazy Tamago • 1 organic egg • a little oil, to fry • a pinch each of sea salt and chili flakes • 1/2 or 1 nori sheet Bento • 1 portion of cooked rice • a few radicchio leaves, or any other salad leaf • 2cm cucumber, very thinly sliced (1–2mm), using a mandolin if you have one • toasted nuts and seeds • 1/2 tsp brown rice vinegar • 1 pinch each of sea salt and gochugaru (Korean pepper) or chili flakes • 1 wedge of (blood) orange • toasted sesame seeds to taste • herbs, to garnish, optional

NOW TRY Instead of salt in the Lazy Tamago mixture, use 1/2 tsp tamari soy sauce or regular soy sauce.

DIRECTIONS 1 | Crack your egg into a glass jar with a lid, add salt and chili, close the lid tight and give it a really good shake.

2 | Heat a medium frying pan over a medium heat until hot, then drizzle with a little oil.

3 | Pour the egg mixture into the pan and quickly tilt to cover the surface like a crepe. Immediately (yes!) place the whole nori sheet on top and within seconds you‘ll see your tamago curling up at the sides, ready to fold in three.

4 | Slide onto a clean chopping board and leave to cool slightly before cutting into bite-sized strips.

To assemble bento box 1 | Arrange the rice in one end of your box and use a piece of radicchio leaf as a bowl for the lazy tamago.

2 | Use baking paper to make a small pocket each (optional) for the cucumber slices and toasted nuts and arrange them wherever you have space in your box. Drizzle the vinegar over the cucumber and then sprinkle with a little salt and gochugaru or chili. The cucumber will marinate slightly by lunchtime.

3 | Add the orange and finish with a sprinkle of sesame and herbs, if using.

4 | Close your box and pack in a bento bag or furoshiki with chopsticks or a fork.

Fridge life: Eat the same day.

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NAILED IT?

Share you creations on Instagram by tagging @creativeimpactco as well as the team at @shisodelicious

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Did you know...

The name Vermicelli, which means “little worms” in English comes from Italy. However it has been adopted in other countries around the world to refer to various types of noodles, including Chinese rice noodles and Latin American fideo noodles

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SERVES 1 PORTION

Busy Days Instant Noodle Bento PREP TIME 20 mins | EQUIPMENT Kettle, Leak proof container

I ate so many instant noodle meals as a university student in Japan – back then I had no idea I could make my own, wholesome version in minutes! Thin dry rice vermicelli rehydrates quickly in hot water, so just put them dry in a heatproof container, add a delicious miso paste and ginger soup base, plus raw veggies (you can use any veggie as long as it’s sliced thin or grated). When you’re ready to eat, it’s just like the original – pour boiling hot water over, wait a few minutes and then slurp down your warm instant noodle soup.

Recipe adapted from Bento Power by Sara Kiyo Popowa (Kyle Books) INGREDIENTS • 1/2 nest (50–75g) dry rice vermicelli • a handful of salad greens • 1/2 small carrot, grated • a small piece of red cabbage, cut into thin slices • 1 tbsp brown rice miso paste • 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil • 1 tbsp tamari • 2cm piece fresh ginger, washed but not peeled, finely grated straight into your bento box • fresh chili, sliced, or chili flakes, to taste • fresh coriander, to taste, optional • a slice of lime, to serve, optional

DIRECTIONS 1 | Use a leak-proof box, or a repurposed jar with a lid for this bento. Break a whole, dry nest of noodles in half (over your sink, as pieces will fly everywhere!), 2 | Jam one half into your container together with the rest of the ingredients. No need to arrange neatly for this bento!

3 | Close tightly and pack your container in a bento bag or furoshiki with a fork or chopsticks.

4 | To serve, remove the lime slice, if using, pour boiling water over to submerge the ingredients, close the lid, leave for 5 minutes or a little more, then open, squeeze the lime over and eat.

Fridge life: up to 3 days as long as the noodles have not yet been rehydrated.

TOP TIP Meal prep a few Busy Days Instant Noodle Bentos and keep ready to go in the fridge. Less perishable veggies like carrot, cabbage and broccoli are best used for this, salad greens and herbs can be added on the day. Cubed tofu or cooked beans are both great added to your bento as a protein boost.

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