The Bellwether, July 1, 2023

BELLWETHER 3RD Quarter 2023 THE Issue 3

JOY VANICHKUL

JANAE SERGIO OVERCOMING EVERYTHING TO SUCCEED WHAT’S IN A LIST? NYT V. AMAZON BEST SELLER TANYA BROCKETT

JOSHUA B LEE UNLOCKING THE HUMAN ALGORITHM

Editor’s Letter THE BELLWETHER MAGAZINE

Our promise is to deliver added value, without the ads. In today's business climate, many companies big and small have lost their way when it comes to upholding a high standard of core values and ethics. We believe that in order to create a more honest business society and to promote trust between corporations and consumers, we cannot simply rely on society’s laws to dictate how we should behave and conduct business. We must seek out and develop the habit of doing what is right, not just what is legal. This is a great first step in reforming our business culture and can result in an action that can truly change the world. Please review our Credo and join us in helping the world live well and prosper fairly. We hope you enjoy the Bellwether Magazine.

Our Belief

We live in a world that is full of content, much of which is geared towards entrepreneurs, fashion lovers and lifestyle enthusiasts. However, the majority of even the most established magazines have become overrun with ads and provide little value. Our vision is to provide a high value magazine and resource that is geared towards entrepreneurs and business leaders who enjoy fashion, travel and a diversity of culture. Our Mission One of the main objectives of The Bellwether Magazine is to not only provide extreme value to our readers, but to promote our Credo. Our hopes are to attain the eventual goal of 10,000 companies adopting it as the framework by which they operate and do business on a daily basis.

Executive Editor

REAL ESTATE ROAD MAP

Learn to navigate the real estate investment landscape.

CONTENTS

HEALTH HACKS FOR HAPPINESS

Health is not just mental and physical, it makes up your entire being.

LIFESTYLE

Work with benefits. Create a location independent lifestyle.

THE BELLWETHER FEATURES

Intelligent Beauty positively affects one’s perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs.

MONEY WITH MORALS

Education goes far beyond the books. Learn why generational wealth matters.

TECH BYTES

Travel is the movement of people

6 simple techniques to generate leads without hard selling your audience.

FAST LANE

between relatively distant

From being trapped in a whirlpool to racing around the world.

geographical locations, and can involve travel by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, airplane

WHATS THE WORD

Unforced errors are correctable mistakes with no outside cause.

AUTHOR ADVANTAGE

How to write a nonfiction book, Part II. "Drafting Your Manuscript"

NOT FORGOTTEN

Committing to excellence as a Bellwether

“THE ONLY MAN WHO NEVER MAKES MISTAKES IS THE MAN WHO NEVER DOES ANYTHING.” ― THEODORE ROOSEVELT

ROAD MAP REAL ESTATE

Avoiding common pitfalls

Navigating the Real Estate Investment Landscape Avoiding Common Pitfalls

In the dynamic world of real estate investment, entrepreneurs and investors are constantly seeking opportunities to maximize their returns and build wealth. However, the journey is not without its challenges. To succeed in this competitive market, it is crucial to navigate the terrain with caution and avoid common pitfalls that can lead to financial setbacks. In this article, we will explore the three most prevalent pitfalls of investment real estate and provide invaluable insights to help you steer clear of these potential traps. By understanding and mitigating these risks, you can pave the way to profitable ventures and long-term success in the real estate industry. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and achieve your investment goals.

Conduct a property inspection: Before buying, inspect the property in detail to identify any potential issues or repairs. This will enable you to negotiate a fair price based on its condition.

Pitfall #1: Overpaying

One of the biggest pitfalls in investment real estate is overpaying for a property. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement and underestimate the costs involved in repairs, maintenance, or renovations. Overpaying can lead to negative cash flow, low return on investment, or in worst- case scenarios, even foreclosure.

Hire a professional appraiser: A professional appraiser will assess the property's value accurately, considering its condition, location, and comparable sales in the area. This information aids in negotiating a fair price.

Avoiding this pitfall

Analyze the local market: Study the local real estate market thoroughly. Look at average sales prices, rent prices, vacancy rates, and other factors affecting property value. This information will help you determine a fair price. Compare prices: Compare the prices of similar properties in the same area to gauge if the property is priced appropriately. This prevents paying more than its market value.

Evaluate income and expenses: Determine the potential income and expenses associated with the property. Calculate rental income and subtract expenses like mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and repairs. If it doesn't generate positive cash

Remember, avoiding the pitfall of overpaying ensures a better return on investment and reduces the risk of financial loss.

flow, you might be

overpaying.

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Pitfall #2: Failure of Due Diligence

Property condition: Inspect the property meticulously for issues like water damage, mold, and structural problems. Outdated electrical and plumbing and HVAC systems can be expensive to fix. Rental income potential: Research the local rental market and compare rent prices. Assess the property's size, condition, and demand for rentals in the area. Expense assessment: Account for mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and utilities. Ensure that

rental income covers these expenses and provides positive cash flow. Cash is king and cash flow is what you should be after. Zoning and permits: Check local zoning and building codes to ensure the property aligns with its intended use. Look for any outstanding permits or violations that may affect value or compliance. Thoroughly and analyzing these factors empowers you to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes when investing in real estate. researching tenant screening, property showings, and lease agreements. Maintenance and repairs: A competent property manager should have an efficient system for handling maintenance and repairs. They should have reliable contractors and vendors who offer quality work at a fair price. A competent property manager should be knowledgeable in financial management and Financial management: accounting practices. They should provide detailed financial reports, including income, expenses, cash flow, and budget planning. By evaluating these factors, you can determine if a property manager is competent and capable of effectively managing your investment property.

Lack of thorough due diligence or failing to conduct proper research and analysis can lead to costly mistakes. This includes insufficient property inspections, ignoring zoning and building codes, and neglecting financial analysis of income and expenses.

Avoiding this pitfall

Location matters: Choose properties in high-demand areas with low vacancy rates and access to amenities. Consider factors like walkability, schools, and shopping centers.

Pitfall #3: Poor Property Management Poor or inadequate management can lead to higher vacancy rates, increased maintenance costs, and a negative impact on property value. To avoid this, it's crucial to hire competent property managers with relevant experience and a successful track record. This will be the difference between a good night's sleep and a headache.

Avoiding this pitfall

Communication: competent property manager should have excellent communication skills, promptly addressing inquiries, A concerns, and feedback. They should provide accurate information on performance, income, expenses, and repairs. Marketing strategy: A capable property manager will have a solid marketing plan to attract tenants and minimize vacancies. They should be skilled in advertising,

Know the qualities of a competent property manager. Experience: Look for a property manager experienced with properties similar to yours in type, size, and location. Request references from satisfied clients. licenses, certifications, or affiliations with rofessional organizations like NARPM. These credentials indicate proper training and adherence to industry standards. Qualifications: Check for

Michael Garrison is an investor, real estate entrepreneur, and construction industry consultant whose mission has been to promote purpose, security, and success. He also hosted two radio talk shows and is the executive editor at The Bellwether magazine. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

Black is the absence of all color. White is the presence of all colors. I suppose life must be one or the other.

-Mary Balogh-

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Blame It On Woodstock by David Gruder, PhD, DCEP

rekindle the fires of social responsibility that had been doused the previous year by the back-to-back assassinations of two leading voices for social responsibility at that time: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. Unfortunately, the Kent State massacre occurred less than a year after Woodstock and Watergate a couple of years after that. With these events, Timothy Leary's injunction to "Turn on, tune in, and drop out"— rather than Woodstock's lessons about social responsibility—finally won out in many circles over wiser voices. Few of us knew it then, but this refocusing toward inner exploration at the expense of social responsibility marked the beginning of the rampant self- centeredness we suffer from today. Despite the huge influence this sequence of events had on me, my fascination with individual freedom remained as strong as my passion to serve the common good. Our Culture Split Into Self- Improvers, Connectors, and Do- Gooders We lacked the collective ability in the 1960s to turn our cultural upheaval into a blessing. Instead, our society fragmented into three groups. Each embraced a different primary focus, and with it

a dangerously incomplete vision of integrity that haunts us and our society to this day. most intrigued with themselves became Self-Improvers , whose primary orientation is self-expression and personal fulfillment. Those Those who became exploring expanded visions of love, collaboration, and companionship became the Connectors , whose main emphasis is on relationships. And those whose primary passion was to make the world a better place became the Do-Gooders .

It was 1969.

My parents were about to send me off to my second year at a wonderful summer camp for the performing arts in the Berkshire mountains in Massachusetts, where I spent my mornings practicing my beloved music and drama and my afternoons on horses and in canoes. They had received a notice from the camp director about an optional three-day field trip to a music and arts festival in upstate New York. “Would I like to go?” “Why not? Sounds like fun.” I was fifteen and rather naïve. So were my parents. Had they known they were sending me to what was to become the infamous Woodstock music festival, they would have come to kidnap me! I arrived at Woodstock a drug- free virgin. I left that way too. Not until years later did I grasp how profoundly my three days at this event has impacted me in other far deeper ways. Woodstock taught me that half a million strangers could truly look out for one another—even with only enough food and toilets for 40,000. It taught me that not only is stewardship possible, but that we can be surprisingly successful at it when those are the standards we set for ourselves.

Self-Improvers

Self-Improvers focus on how important it is for people to be who they truly are. The primary quest of Self-Improvers is authenticity above all else. This includes personal well-being, inner healing, development, self- expression, creativity, success, and individual freedom. Self-Improvers tend to advocate that change only occurs one person at a time, and that the key to change is learning how to manifest our intentions. Believing they cannot have a real impact in making the world a better place, they tend to avoid becoming involved with political or social activism groups. As a result, they tend to not see how focusing primarily on their own personal freedom causes them to neglect their drive for connection with others and their drive to have a positive impact in the world.

For me, and many I knew back then, Woodstock began to

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CONNECTORS Connectors tend to define their sense of self around the belief that love conquers all. Their primary focus is relatedness and feeling creative or fulfilled through involvement with others. Connectors tend to focus more on what they think their relationship needs than on what they need. As a result, Connectors frequently neglect their personal well-being and/or their drive to have a positive impact on the world. Connectors tend not to recognize the impact that neglecting their own personal passions and boundaries has. It is difficult for them to see how being out of integrity with their own authenticity actually prevents them from co- creating the depth of connection with others they yearn for.

Connectors tend to view Self-Improvers as overly self-absorbed. As a result, their insufficient attention to their own personal development prevents them from achieving the intimacy and collaboration they most seek. Connectors tend to view Do-Gooders as being willing to sacrifice relationships for causes. As a result, they tend to avoid getting involved with politics, causes, and other social issues.

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BECOMING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL SELF We all have the three core innate drives over- emphasized by the Self-Improvers, Connectors, and Do-Gooders. Those three core drives are authenticity, connection, and impact. Authenticity is related to self-integrity. Connection is about relationship integrity. Impact has to do with societal integrity. Which do you focus on most and neglect most? The split among Self-Improvers, Connectors, or Do-Gooders has caused our understanding of integrity to become

dangerously limited and blinded. The time has come for all of us to realize that to be a complete self, we must honor all three of our core drives. “Natural developers” have been found to intuitively use seven core life skills to balance their three core drives and attain integrity- centered life fulfillment. It has also been found that anyone can learn to do on purpose what “natural developers” do intuitively. This is the secret not only to attaining the life fulfillment we seek but to resolving today’s pervasive integrity problems and the splits that are damaging our unity as a society.

DO-GOODERS Do-Gooders tend to define their sense of self around being a leader or a supporter of specific causes. Their passion for positively impacting the world tends to cause them to neglect their personal well-being, authenticity, healing, creativity, and/or relationships. Sadly, many Do- Gooders do not recognize that their one- dimensional definition of self prevents them from having as much of a positive difference in the world as they yearn to create. Do-Gooders tend to view Self-Improvers as so self-centered that they are helping to create many of the problems that Do-Gooders seek to correct, and they tend to view Connectors as "bleeding hearts." On the other hand, Do- Gooders need to be made aware of how their inattention to personal development impairs their relationships. Many Do-Gooders genuinely do have their hearts in the right place. But, they don't realize that being out of integrity with themselves and their relationships prevents them from co-creating the better world they yearn to build.

If not you, who? If not now, when?

David Gruder, PhD, DCEP, is a multi-award-winning psychologist, international speaker/trainer, and bestselling author, who mentors thought & market leaders dedicated to elevating humanity & making integrity profitable. The book from which this article was excerpted, The New IQ: How Integrity Intelligence Serves You, Your Relationships and Our World, was a groundbreaking 6-award-winning how-to manual equipping readers to step into dynamic levels of personal, relationship, business, societal, and leadership integrity. Since then, that material has evolved into two comprehensive online programs: The Integrity Guide to Having It All. And SuperChange Catalysts™. Learn more at: https://www.DrGruder.com/Academy.

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How to Find Peace Amid Chaos

By Anna Choi

Chaos often shows up internally. Maybe it’s a dull, throbbing headache, stiff neck, or tight back. Or maybe it’s your constantly running mind that never shuts up, analyzing what happened or what needs to get done the next day right before bedtime. It may be impractical to take time off for a 10-day silent retreat or meditate for an hour, let alone 15 minutes, to release the chaos. Here are three quick, simple ways to find peace in chaos at any moment.

is a major energy center in your body where life is birthed, and it is also known by some as the second chakra. Close your eyes, and relax your mind. Focus your awareness where the vibration is on your energy center. Where your mind goes, energy flows. Energy travels as light, sound, or vibration. This exercise utilizes vibration to help bring your awareness back into your body’s core and center. After 100 or so taps with your fist, suck your belly button in to your spine, like a crunch standing or sitting up. Keep pumping. This is called intestinal exercise. Now that you’ve used vibration through tapping, you’ve brought your brain’s scattered energy from outside yourself back into your body, drawing downward to your gut. Intestinal exercise helps you focus gut and heat your core.

What if you could find peace in any chaos?

Day to day, you might deal with many triggers to your survival brain, unleashing a host of emotions, thoughts, and body sensations each minute that can feel chaotic or out of control.

What does chaos look like to you?

Is it getting stressed scrolling through social media streams on conflict-ridden current events? Getting constantly interrupted by your kids on a video call while sharing space with your partner who is also working from home? Or trying to make many decisions in the face of the unknown?

Moving Meditations

We often focus on exercising our muscles, but what about our organs? With your legs shoulder-width apart, gently use your fists to tap two inches below your belly button, and imagine the vibration going into your core or “gut.” This

Typically, we have hot heads and cold guts. By reversing this improper circulation using the “water up, fire down” principle, you can bring the “fire” in your head down to heat up your core and bring the cold gut energy back up to your head for a calm, cool mind. By exercising your intestines, you’re pumping fresh oxygen, increasing blood flow, better absorbing nutrients, and processing undigested waste to achieve the proper “water up, fire down” circulation. You’ll know you have proper energy circulation if you heat up, sweat, or form saliva in your mouth.

Now imagine one of your happiest memories. Who’s around you? Where are you? What songs and smells surround you? How does it feel? Saturate every cell in your body with the energy of that happy memory. Now go back to the pain. Ask yourself, “What color is the pain now? What shape? What texture? What movement?” My clients who practice this are able to shift their unwanted feeling’s shape, color, and movement—sometimes disappearing the unwanted emotion altogether. The more you master your emotions, the quicker you’ll be able to develop your emotional resilience as a leader.

without having to question or regret the decision.

The more you practice, the easier your body and heart can communicate clearer messages and the more power you’ll have to simply notice your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations passing through rather than getting lost in them.

Mastery Requires Practice

Before you can experience peace, it’s critical to bring your awareness from outside yourself into your body. Then bring that energy down from your head into your core. You’ve now aligned your body, heart, mind, and soul in just a few minutes. By focusing inward, you’ll build your inner guidance system more strongly to guide you through uncertainty. You’ll be the calm in the eye of the storm, no matter how chaotic it gets inside or out. You can choose the most aligned response at each moment. When you have the courage to practice these moments of peace of moving meditations, mastering your emotions, and listening within, you will not only find peace amid chaos; you will become a source of peace in the chaos of our world. By embodying peace in any chaos, you can access an abundant, infinite supply of energy to serve your team, your customers, your stakeholders, and, most importantly, yourself.

Master Your Emotions

Other exercises can really allow you to master your emotions by embracing the “bad” or unwanted emotions like anger, sadness, or jealousy. This practice takes five minutes or less and keeps your focus on observing the emotion rather than becoming or identifying as the emotion itself. There are many exercises, but here’s a sample of one exercise that has proven very powerful with my business leader clients. Close your eyes. Scan your body from your head to your toes. Where do you notice tension, pain, or unwanted emotions? Ask yourself, “What color is the pain or unwanted emotion? What shape? What texture? What movement?”

Listen Within

The final exercise to access peace in chaos is listening within.

Simply close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and ask your heart, “What’s my message for today?” Continue asking and listening. Often, the response is simple in just a few words. You can talk not only to your heart but any organ or area of pain, as well. By tapping into your own inner wisdom to listen within, you’ll get very aligned answers to decisions you need to make

This article was originally published on Forbes.com.

Anna Choi, Founder and CEO of SolJoy, Forbes Author, and TEDx Speaker, serves high achieving, creative, conscious business leaders who want to quiet the mind chatter, cut through distractions, and tap into boundless energy to create leaders with more health, happiness, and peace. Learn more at www.annasunchoi.com/media

Click Here to Read Previous Articles by Anna

Photo by retrateapr from Pixabay.

With Deborah Froese

Find Space Where It Really Matters

Just over a decade ago, after scrambling to meet cascading deadlines and prepare for a conference, I found myself sitting alone in a lovely hotel room in Vancouver, Canada, with nothing to do. As warm sunlight streamed into the uncluttered room and brightened its butter-yellow walls, I ran my fingers over the rich texture of the upholstered chair beneath me and inhaled the fresh, clean air. Gone was the undercurrent of anxiety that had plagued me for weeks prior. I breathed in and out deeply, savoring the moment, noticing how relaxed and peaceful I felt.

space did appear, this gotta-get-things-done- world usually set my mind worrying about the next task and the next, tangling me in multiple layers of stress. Eventually, puzzled, I examined my calendar more closely. Realization dawned. The problem had nothing to do with a full schedule and everything to do with a full mind. Could making time to clear my head give me the space I needed?

My quest for mindfulness began.

I won’t lie; it hasn’t been easy. At first, I felt guilty about putting productivity aside for mindful practices such as meditation and breathing or reminding myself that, as a human, I have limitations—especially if I don’t take care of myself. After several years of intentional practice, I still haven’t nailed it, but I’m getting better at echoing my hotel room experience. It not only feels good to create space and live in the present moment, but it’s also changing me. I’m calmer in the face of life’s inevitable challenges and less likely to let a bad moment or a disagreeable person impact my day. I stop when intuition tells me to. I think more clearly, make decisions more easily, and have a greater capacity for openness and change. I’m also more productive, which means any time I may give up to create that space is returned in spades. If you haven’t practiced finding space where it really matters—in your mind—give mindfulness a try. It just might impact you, those around you, and ultimately, the work you do in positive ways.

I was truly in that moment, surrounded by a glorious sense of spaciousness.

That memory stays with me because it was so powerful in its simplicity and because it took place before I learned to engage with mindfulness. There was no intention behind that experience; it just happened.

But how?

Reflection tells me that vivid present-moment experience sprang from the delight of a new location and the absence of an immediate “to-do” list (or housework) to distract or worry me. Until the conference began the following day, my only scheduled activity was meeting much-loved colleagues for dinner. With hours of nothing to do and nothing to worry about, my mind and body slipped into the space of simply being. I longed to replicate that feeling, but for several years, it seemed impossible. Stretches of unscheduled time were rare, and when such

Author, editor, and story coach Deborah Froese is on a mission to spark change through the stories we share. www.deborahfroese.com

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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. - Helen Keller -

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By Catherine Kontos

Since I’ve adjusted to working remotely, I can’t imagine my life any other way. I can’t picture spending an hour each weekday morning getting ready for the office or spending an hour each way on the daily commute. Nor do I see myself adhering to other people’s schedules. Becoming location independent has added to my life the privilege of traveling anywhere without rushing back to work. I’ve closed deals while sailing on a yacht in the Gulf of Mexico and provided instruction to my virtual staff from a location near the rain forests in Costa Rica. The list can go on, but the important idea is that I’ve spent months away from home without missing a beat. The life of a retreat planner encompasses all of those perks. It’s a freedom like no other. When my husband came into the picture, he, too, began working remotely. So not only do I have company at home, but every time I pass by his office, I steal a kiss! Our schedule even allows us to have our lunch together. And yes, though we work remotely, we still follow a schedule. That’s the discipline I initially missed that got me in trouble all those years ago.

Working remotely from anywhere in the world sounds like a dream. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity? Many people do and later realize they lack the discipline or the tools to work effectively, or maybe they simply miss going into the office.

Then there are the other people, the special ones who can handle it all.

Initially, I was the former and in over my head. At first, I loved working from home. I woke up on my own time, slacked in bed for a while, and found all kinds of things to do with my freedom. Then one day, it caught up with me. The growling list of unfinished items on my “to-do” list was overwhelming. Suddenly I missed the office and felt lonely. I’d run out of the house on weekends for any excuse to socialize. It took years before I got remote working right. It wasn’t easy to change and develop new habits, but when I finally did, working remotely became the dream I’d hoped it would be.

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Have a purpose driven career.

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Become more adaptable When you travel, you quickly realize that not all countries have the luxury of strong Wi-Fi signals. Simple things like toilet paper can be difficult or even impossible to find. Traveling widely equips you to adapt to every situation. It makes you humble and grateful for all the privileges you are accustomed to at home. And, of course, upon returning home, you appreciate all the little things you once took for granted, and you don't fret over the small stuff.

Choose to be a freelancer or entrepreneur

Feel like being independent but only work for yourself without having to deal with all the extras of an entrepreneur? Or would you rather build a business? The choice is yours. It’s that simple.

All I’ve mentioned until now are self-indulgent perks. But those perks help create a happy, fulfilled person who can offer more to the world and impact others deeply. Their cup is overflowing with gratitude, and that inspires purpose. I purposely left this point for last because you need to be well to be great. Whether you decide to become a digital nomad or work from home, it’s a lifestyle that is not for everyone, nor is creating and planning retreats, but if what you read excites you, then you should get curious and decide to switch. You won’t regret it.

If you have any questions or want to see if you qualify to build your own retreats, reach out to Catherine Kontos, Founder & RetreatEO at RetreatBoss™ https://retreatboss.com

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The Power Within

YOU’VE ALWAYS HAD THE POWER, MY DEAR, YOU JUST HAD TO LEARN IT FOR YOURSELF.

The Wizard of Oz

Can we all pause for a moment and read that again?

We have always had the power within us. Can we please stop waiting for someone to save us?

Life gets crazy; I understand that all too well. We end up in situations we didn’t ask for, find ourselves in relationships that our younger selves would shake heads at, and work in careers that don’t serve us. We become tired and battered, and we believe the lies that have been sewn into our lives by our surroundings, by the voices we make space for, and yes, by the lies we tell ourselves.

I don’t know about you, but I think the waiting is over.

I’m not waiting for the world to see me before I feel visible, and I’m not waiting for the world to hear me before I start using my voice. I am not waiting for some other human to show up and save me … I'm finding my own strength.

All of us can create the life we want. We have the power to walk ourselves out of every storm we face and to hold our heads high.

Remember that you have a unique, powerful story within you. Your past matters because it created the amazing person you are today; but your past holds no power over you.

You and you alone hold the power to change your life.

It can be a nerve-wracking realization when you begin to understand your capabilities. But my love, it’s time to stop dimming your shine to make other people comfortable. It’s time to own your life, own your choices and own your power.

Life is too short; the time is now. Stop waiting. Look in the mirror and see the person who will get you through.

What will you manifest and make happen for yourself this coming year?

Owning your power? Letting your light shine? Being intentional? Being a person of action?

You hold the power in you; you always have. It’s time to create the life you want.

Mariel Nichole #SeeTheLightBeTheLight https://www.instagram.com/mariel.nichole/

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INTELLIGENT BEAUTY

JOY VANICHKUL

An Interview with Joy Vanichkul

By Elisabeth Sloan

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From the most ancient of traditions we have available for us to reflect on today, the power of aesthetics and beauty have perpetually been a constant of power for humanity. This global and timeless theme expands throughout every culture, and yet for former International Supermodel and current Beauty and Wellness Entrepreneur, Joy Vanichkul, the transformative power of culture shock became her friend. She embraced the thresholds of merging worlds, industries, people, and ambitions, which transformed the way she understood herself, her multiple businesses, and her relationship with concepts of wellness, beauty, physical and emotional health, expanded consciousness, and the possibilities to unite these archetypes to teach the world how they can heal themselves. Like all entrepreneurs, their skills and success were developed after years of experience, and they designed their sense of leadership, business styles and personable approaches to those around them in both their personal and professional lives. For Joy, this spirit to observe the incredible life around her was her perpetual teacher which led her to be a multi-business owner, including her newest project, Intelligent Beauty. The IB Method focuses on tapping people into their inner and outer strength and potential, which allows natural harmony and sense of inner peace to be the touchstone for every aspect of our busy and complex lives. How did she manage to gain the kind of experience necessary to build this kind of worldwide service? From her earliest years, Joy was immersed in the influences of the power of the heart and the mind through spending days at a time in meditation within temples with her mother and maternal grandmother in Thailand. Through mental and emotional discipline, she was cultivated to discover herself through meditation, her foundation of understanding and respecting the subtle senses were established. “Meditation is my true love,” she says, “it is the foundation of my life.” Joy’s grandmother took her everywhere, especially temples where she could be staying there for 3 to 4 days at a time, while her mother would place her and her siblings to sit for at least half hour for chanting and meditation daily. This discipline and the honor of persistent practice threaded gold into her values of what steady resilience can create within oneself. Her refinement in these senses can be understood from a quantum level, and like all things, the

material world is a beautiful reflection of the more subtle realms; and it was through this that her physical and internal beauty shined. By the age of sixteen, she was discovered for modeling and immediately rose to the top of the field where she worked with and for the most prestigious names and brands in the haute couture international high- fashion industry. From being on hundreds of covers of fashion magazines to runway modeling for Chanel and Dior, Joy was creating a life based on responsibility and worldwide exposure all before the age of twenty. Her light was recognized by the country of Thailand, where among the many prestigious individuals she has been able to work around, with, and for, Joy recognized the foundational value system of respecting one’s elders through practicing silence and simply being in respectful observance and in a listening state around them to fully envelop the wisdom and savvy necessary to make it as far in the industry as she has as one that she had developed as a child, surrounded by elders in Temples. Although these structures were entirely constructive, it was still necessary for her to conscientiously do the inner work on her mind, body and spirit every day on her own to develop her career. As one might imagine, the high-fashion industry is neither forgiving nor an easy experience. “People prepare 6 months for a collection and who will be chosen to represent that show,” Joy states with her warm, soothing tone of voice. And yet, it is all too possible and probable that many models will not be chosen, which could make anyone’s voice tight and shrill in simple recollection of such high-stakes at risk. For me, this was a perfect example of Joy showing years of cultivating her internal world of inner peace, which includes not allowing the pressures of external forces to control her emotional or mental state of mind. It was such a small moment in our conversation, but this was a moment of impact for me to witness, and consequently a strong piece of inspiration on how much control an individual has over their circumstances even when it seems we are at the graces of others for our success. The thing is, the pressure might alleviate once informed that you’ve been chosen, but the responsibility of the position relentlessly steams ahead with what comes from being chosen to represent a brand. “All eyes are on you during a photoshoot, all the while you have a Stylist, Lighting Heads, Hair and Makeup Crews, Photographers asking for your time, energy, space, focus, stillness, motion, angles, and creativity to make it all happen during a brief segment of time all for the one perfect picture,” She says, “Which is then all challenged by being able to handle the critiques that would come from everything just created.” With much riding on her ability to adapt in every circumstance she is asked, it is crucial that she maintains a calm sense of awareness to observe, receive and share new

information quickly and in excellent execution. Yes, the artwork and environment are intended towards the threshold of beauty, balance and art, but it requires those not in the faint of heart to follow through with what is expected of them. I think it would be easy for onlookers to see these stunning and regal Models and think, “Eh, all they have to do is be pretty,” but once you take a deeper look into the daily life, practice, discipline and sheer will necessary to accomplish even one of these milestones, it becomes even easier to be in awe of the inner power that resides in following this path in life. From her blossoming in a fast-paced and high-pressure industry, Joy realized that her earlier experiences with mediation were her touchstone to center herself. It is the connection to peace always in her that gave her the sense of grace to propel her career and self- refinement into something she couldn’t have ever imagined only a few years prior, including becoming a multi-business owner and entrepreneur. The muse found in centeredness is what inspired Joy to create public spaces for others to center themselves through founding her first spa. As someone with much of their life experience based on international super modeling, shifting her focus into entrepreneurship was once again another life-altering culture shock for her to assimilate her talents into. After educating herself through the various fields of business, it wasn’t long after that her spas were a great success. From becoming a member of the Board of Directors of Thai Spa Association to winning the Best New International Spa in 2012, her expansion held no limitations to what was possible for her if she was willing to go deep into the learning necessary to accomplish her goals. This level of humility and ambition sent her on a journey to create her own beauty products, as well as fore-fronting her attention to the influence of beauty that goes so much deeper than the skin. Joy embraced these passions, and it took her to get her PhD in Natural and Integrative Medicine, get certified in Meditation, Hypnotherapy, HeartMath+ and much more. Her desire to respect and understand the mastery of the mind, body and spirit opened the world for her to co-create a Meditation and Yoga Instruction Department at Tree Academy which she directed and taught for around 6 years. This then scaled from four classes to ninety-one by

September 2022, and are on track to continue growth by ten per month onward. Her resilience to adapt to new worlds, industries, education and global influence created a wealth of wisdom, grace, and of course public leverage within her has inspired her to share her gifts and experience by instructing others how to navigate this modern world to reach one’s goals both emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. The power of public leverage that she had built for herself had become a beacon for the disadvantages of women in business who had not had the same opportunities, where she learned the true stigma and mental conditioning that women tend to fall into when it comes to the value of beauty and self- worth. Through many of her friends, teachers and interviews she’s held with women, she was able to identify these mental constraints of these incredible, inspiring and successful women in business such as their selective self- perception that denies the true worth of beauty for themselves. Joy explains that beauty is more than just an image, it is an expression of someone’s internal dialogue of self-care, self-love, and our finesse between our masculine (material gain, taking

action, following through) and feminine (receptivity, empathy, intuition and emotional intelligence) energies that reside within us all. Women who deny themselves the same patience and kindness for themselves in care that they so naturally give to others is a parallel to how we understand beauty. She discusses how women's true power is through our beauty, and the patience, inner gentleness, and creativity necessary in order to manifest that beauty. What is it that makes someone beautiful? Is it really only a skin-deep thing? Absolutely not. Take a look at some of the leading women of history for example. Many of these women were recognized for their actions, how they treated others and themselves, how they use their eyes, their laugh, their voice, their charm, their walk, their words — all of these attributes are cultivated internally before they ever find themselves in the exposure to any sentient observer; and it is this concept which expresses that beauty and harmony start from within. Joy explains how we are all human, and beauty starts internally through balancing our minds, hearts, and health; and this strength develops itself outwards which we recognize as “beautiful.” “These concepts of internal and external beauty standards are not separate,” she begins, “rather it is in their unity.”

And this, my beautiful readers, is where Joy finds her next project in educating others how to till the land of our internal worlds so that we can create a world of nourishment and harmony in ourselves so that we, too, can create the lives of peace and beauty for our own passions and daily life. From the sacred Temples in Thailand, the High Fashion Industry, Royal Courts, medical spas, to her certifications and PhD Candidacy in Natural & Integrative Medicine, Joy has found a bridge to unite her multifaceted insight for others on a grounded, simple structure so that even the earliest beginners can equally reach their goals to remember and become the very best version of themselves. We all know the Albert Einstein quote, “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough,” and this is the very same philosophy Joy utilizes for her projects, especially through her social media platforms. “Simple is key,” she says, as she, as a first-generation immigrant and multilingual individual understands the importance of starting small and building into the complex for continual growth in any subject, “When we use the most simple language possible to describe the core of a message, we are able to reach a much wider demographic of people who are interested in learning more while not intimidating them by wild

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lexicology or concepts.” It is no easy feat to condense thousands of years worth of knowledge regarding science and philosophy of consciousness, beauty and wellness, but it is part of Joy’s mission to share this knowledge through her talents and perspective so that she can play her part in opening opportunities to healing and abundance on a global scale. In order to reach a world-wide audience through her projects, she uses the modern treasure of social media. “Social media is essential right now,” she states, “it’s a platform designed for sharing ideas, and for me, it opens an opportunity for me to share the connections between ancient and modern knowledge to heal ourselves.” From Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok, this is exactly how she uses these social platforms in easily digestible posts that all hold deeply integrative wisdom which we can implement in our daily lives in order to refine them, as well as networking like- minded people all around the globe. Joy Vanichkul is a one-of-a-kind powerhouse of a woman whose seeming destiny has led her on a path of leading others through multiple businesses, projects, and missions in grace and the discipline to see diligence in practice all the way through to world-wide success. From the earliest memories of her life throughout her experience in being a woman in service and leadership, her knowledge and expertise has become a wealth of wisdom to anyone who has ever

looked within themselves and thought, “I know there is something deeper here, but I just don’t know how to reach it.” She strives every day through her own research and practice to educate and inspire the world on how to elevate their consciousness and, quantum physically speaking in regards to the various bio-electromagnetic foundations of our human body, elevate our vibration as individuals and as a collective. Through her work, she teaches others how to be the container of the infinite well of light, and how to naturally share that energy by reaching and maintaining that state of being. To me, it was like Joy is a walking tuning fork, chiming a beautifully complex set of frequency and tone that is reverberated outward as a song, unity of ancient, modern, and international wisdom, of healing, harmony, and of course, beauty. Learn more about Joy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyvanich kul or http:///wellnessofjoy.com

Elisabeth Sloan references history and modern medical technology to combine ancient and modern techniques to enhance the Human Condition. She is also a native Texan, musician, artist, Ancient Historian and Cultural Anthropologist, PhD Student of Natural and Integrative Medicine, and Writer.

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Money with Morals

The Real ROI of Grant Writing By Teresa Huff, Nonprofit Grant Strategist

Start with ROI

ROI Framework

Imagine you’re at work when your boss walks by and says, "Hey, I need a favor. I’m supposed to help at the youth shelter fundraiser on Saturday and I can't make it. Can you step in for me?"

In business, we know investors are looking for a Return on Investment, or ROI. We put money in and calculate, "How much profit will I get back?" In the nonprofit world, ROI is more about creating a Return On Impact. You won’t get your investment of time, money, or resources back when you donate to a nonprofit. In the same way, grantmakers are looking forward. They want to know, "How much impact can we make through this work? How much of a ripple effect can we create by partnering together?" Even better, by giving forward and investing in others, we do get a return back—by way of meaning, relationships, and fulfillment. That's why it's so important for us to band together to help nonprofits build this kind of ROI. A Return on Impact.

How do we go about showing Return on Impact? We do this through the ROI Framework: Relevant, Optimize, and Interact. That’s how we get the results that lead to impact. Rather than simply writing more grants, let’s move upstream to look at the bigger picture and see how each grant opportunity fits as part of the whole puzzle. When we put grants into their proper context, we can effectively build the nonprofit’s ROI.

As a team player and fan of the youth program, you say, "You bet! Happy to."

Relieved, he says, “Thanks, you’re the best!” On the way out, he adds, "Oh, by the way, it's a marathon. Just get some good running shoes and you'll be fine."

Wait—what? A marathon?

Relevant

I don’t know about you, but I’m sure not ready for a marathon on Saturday. …Yet I hear the equivalent of this all the time in the nonprofit world. People hear someone wants to start a nonprofit and say, "Oh, you should just get a grant for that!"

Relevance is twofold in the context of building our ROI Framework:

Establish the relevance of our work to society. Ensure our work’s relevance to the grantmaker’s mission.

Or, "You need a new building? I've heard there's grant funding out there.”

Grants aren’t that simple. You don’t “just” get a grant. Like training for a marathon, grants require preparation, strategy, and hard work. Successful grant writing takes consistent effort, uncovering misconceptions, and willingness to approach strategy through a new lens. We must look at grants as part of a much bigger process.

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Money With Morals

What statistics and data support this mission? Why is this work so critical? First, we need contextual research to ensure the community need for this project: Whose funding priorities best align with the nonprofit's mission? What community gaps does the nonprofit fill? How can they partner to meet those needs? Then we should consider the relevance to the grantmaker: When this Relevance, we should consider the logical proof of ROI. For example, we might say, “For every dollar invested in this program, there's a five-dollar return on your investment. That’s a five-dollar impact in the community to help pay it forward.” In other words, can you quantify what they are saving by investing in prevention? Or demonstrate the impact of the education, services, or intervention you provide? thinking through

confusing. When selling a product or service, the general rule of thumb is, “The confused mind won’t buy.” In the same way with nonprofits, a confused mind won’t donate or award a grant. Let’s strive to eliminate confusion.

How can I support you this week? What's your big vision for this work? What keeps you up at night? What keeps you coming back day after day? Who can I introduce to you that would be a meaningful connection? better questions of our nonprofits? Things like: Instead of saying, “Just get a grant for that,” how can we ask meaningful questions? Then stop and listen to what they say, because that will give us valuable clues as to how we can truly help nonprofits build their ROI: the Relevance, Optimization, and Interactions that will lead to a much bigger Return On Impact. By doing that, we can truly help nonprofits impact the world.

Interact

Finally, Interactions are key. We must cultivate authentic, meaningful relationships with the people we serve, communities, volunteers, board members, staff, complementary organizations, and other service providers. There's a person on the other side of everything we do, whether a grant application, email, or phone call. Grantmakers are people, not ATMs, and we must treat them as such. Adam Witty, CEO of Forbes Books, said, “Business moves at the speed of trust.” We should be building trust through all our interactions and relationships well before the day of the race.

Teresa Huff, MSEd, is the host of the award-winning Grant Writing Simplified Podcast, a TEDx speaker, and the go-to nonprofit strategy and training expert. She’s helped nonprofits triple their funding and maximize their impact. Learn more at www.teresahuff.com

ROI for Results

Relevance, Interact. Nonprofits may have two of the three and make some progress, but something’s still missing. We need all three to build ROI. That's the secret sauce. It's not easy; nonprofit work is a long-term commitment. Like marathon training, it takes time, but it's worth it when you get the pieces together. Optimize, Accidental Creative author Todd Henry makes a bold statement, “In the end, we're more defined by the questions we avoid than the questions we ask.” That’s painful! I don't want to be defined that way. I’d rather ask better questions. I'm going to challenge all of us: How can we ask

Optimize

The next piece of the ROI Framework is Optimization. In other words, the nonprofit should run successfully without grants before we add them to the mix. Is the organization running like a business, or are things scattered? The nonprofit should have:

Solid

infrastructure

and

leadership Efficient systems Organization

Optimization is critical. A business investor won’t finance something

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