How To Fix My Crooked Smile – Consider Teeth Straightening

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Elize Swanepoel

Many people have a less than perfect smile and ask the question: how can I fix my crooked smile?

Having uneven teeth can substantially affect a person’s self-esteem. However, imperfections like a misaligned smile or issues with bite – an over, under or crossbite, can result in people feeling embarrassed to smile. Apart from the emotional effects, a misaligned smile can also cause physical issues. Besides having issues with cleaning your teeth it could also result in infections and plaque build-up.

A beautiful, aligned smile after undergoing an Invisalign in Sheffield treatment can lead to a healthier and more hygienic smile. The results of a teeth straightening treatment is long-term.

Keep reading to find out what you can do to make your smile healthy and looking great. See for yourself how this brace can benefit your overall wellbeing and physical appearance.

What Can I Do To Fix My Crooked Smile?

When considering an Invisalign treatment, you will be happy to know that you can benefit from a free smile evaluation and a visualization of what your teeth will look like after treatment.

Potential patients often have access to a 3D technology tool to show them the results they can look forward to. You will be invited to work alongside your dentist to determine whether this treatment is the best solution for you. The dentist will always be on hand to ensure that you have access to the treatments that can best enhance your smile.

Here is some more information about Invisalign braces and how they work.

How Does The Brace Work?

Invisalign is a tried and tested method for teeth straightening, and this method gives them a sense of confidence. The dentists will provide you with a series of aligners that fit snugly over your teeth.

These aligners will gently coax the teeth into their new positions. This will happen over time, with a new aligner supplied to you every couple of weeks. You will be able to see the changes that occur from day one.

Once the aligners have been used and your teeth are in their new positions, they will give you a retainer. This will ensure your brand new smile remains in place and prevent any issues in future.

What Should I Do Next?

If you think this type of treatment could be the right option for you, then it is time to get in contact with your preferred dental practice to begin the process. There is no need to feel self-conscious, and you never have to ask yourself again: “how can I fix my crooked smile.” Invest in an Invisalign teeth straightening treatment today and never look back.

Conclusion

Everyone deserves to feel confident in their smile and this procedure can accomplish just that. You no longer have to hide your smile when you have your picture taken, attend social gatherings, or go to work meetings. Take advantage of your free Invisalign consultation at a reputable dentist and start to transform your smile into a beautiful and aligned one.

How To Fix Your Uneven Wooden Floors

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

Wooden floors are a popular choice for many homes, and when they are installed correctly, they can look fantastic and last for many years. However, they can sometimes be uneven, especially if they were not installed correctly, and it can get frustrating when you have an uneven and creaking floor.

Worry not as you can easily fix this issue. It is not a highly skilled job, but you will require the correct tools, time, and patience.

Below is a summary of fixing your uneven wooden floors, making them feel like new again.

How To Fix Uneven Wooden Floors

Image Source: Unsplash

An Uneven Subfloor Surface

When you have wooden flooring installed in your home and it is uneven, the most common culprit is the uneven subfloor surface. You will need to fix this surface to ensure it is smooth and level, which will get rid of your uneven floor.

To do this, you are going to have to take up your floor and depending on the type of wooden floor you have, you may need to purchase a new one.

If you have engineered flooring, there are many reliable providers of Melbourne engineered timber floors you can find.

Ripping Up Your Floor

The first part of the job will be to remove your existing wooden floor, and if you can reuse the floor, you may want to number the back of the floorboards as you take them up, so you know which order they go in when it comes to replacing them.

Take your time when removing the flooring to ensure you do not damage it and have the correct tools for the job. If the floorboards have an interlocking system, be careful not to break this, as breaking them can make the task of relaying them almost impossible.

Smooth Your Subfloor Surface

The next stage of the process can take some time, and you will need some patience to level your floor surface. Any peaks in the floor surface will need to be removed using a plainer, you could use something like sandpaper, but this will take a lot of time.

You will also need to fill any troughs you find on the floor surface to ensure that it is 100% level and flat. Most reputable DIY stores will have a self-levelling floor compound that you can buy to ensure your floor is flat and level.

Take your time when levelling your floor surface, and it can make relaying your wooden floors a much simpler task.

Relaying Your Wooden Floors

Image Source: Unsplash

Once your floors have been levelled and everything is flat, you can start relaying your wooden floors. Try and put each piece of wood back in its original location, which will make it a much easier process. Purchase wooden floor adhesive and start at one end of the room furthest away from the door, laying the floor as you move backwards. Ensure there is plenty of ventilation when using the floor adhesive, and do not rush the job.

With a bit of time and patience, you can relay your wooden flooring and have it looking fantastic again, without any creaking or dips to annoy you. If your DIY skills are not up to the job, it may be worth considering a new floor and have it professionally installed, which will be a much more cost-effective solution.

This post was published in partnership with Mediabuzzer.

How to Step Up and Stand Out Georgia Varjas Style

How to Step Up and Stand Out with Confidence, Courage and Creativity

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

Georgia Varjas is the bestselling author of The Rule Breakers Guide To Step Up & Stand Out and Rule It! How To Step Up & Stand Out.

In our recent interview, she divulges how she developed her 3 C’s – Confidence, Courage and Creativity during her career in showbiz and how you can use them in your life.

How to Step Up and Stand Out Georgia-Varjas-Style

How to Step Up and Stand Out with Courage Confidence Creativity

Georgia: I think my experiences in showbiz, but particularly in the music business gave me these three very powerful words, which I write about and speak about and are in my books:

Confidence
Courage
Creativity

I call them the three big C’s.

Being in the music business, you had to be confident. You’re going to go up on stage and you’re going to play from your heart sometimes from memory, but mostly improvised.

So you had to have confidence. You had to have courage and you had to be creative with it.

And so there were very big lessons in life, not just doing my art, my music, but also communicating with people in show business in the music business. Cause it was tough as a woman. It was very much part of my life to develop these wonderful three big C’s as my skills.

Lauren Kinghorn: Would you like to give us three tips that you would give a young fempreneur, woman entrepreneur, who is just starting out, how to step up and really shine.

Georgia Varjas: I think one of the most important things is to recognize that we have two fabulous communication tools available our voice and our pen.

I encourage young women to develop that confidence, the courage and the creativity to use their voice and their pen to:

spread their message
their point of view
their expertise
their experience
their wisdom
their knowledge

Use these powerful tools and learn to redefine confidence for yourself.

Because for women, it is quite different, especially courage. Courage is not about Spider-Man and firemen. It’s about how we as women define our own type of bravery. It’s not about saving lives. It’s a very special thing. And I think women need to really redefine that.

Creativity, yes, we are very creative but we can also think creatively and that is a powerful message for young women.

I think the second tip I would offer is about decision-making. We’re not really taught or encouraged to make big decisions in our life. We make little ones like what we should wear and what we should drink and which road and bus to take.

But the big decisions in life, we often hesitate and turn to other people for expert advice. When we know if we tuned into ourselves and learned to make good decisions for ourselves, had more self-confidence, courage, and creativity, we would make better decisions and stronger decisions and recognize that we have the ability to do that.

And the third thing is very much about self-belief and self-love and bigging yourself up.

Some cultures frown upon boasting and showing off when you’re talking about yourself, but self-love and self-belief are crucial.

Nature does it all the time, she shows her most beautiful colours. Why shouldn’t we?

And when you’re selling something, you’re going to sell it in its most beautiful and perfect condition. So why shouldn’t we be showing and sharing our talents and skills in the most positive way?

So confidence, courage, creativity.

You can find the rest of this interview over on Fempreneurs Unite

And more below…

Lauren: What do you do for a living?

Georgia: I am a Book Writing Coach

Lauren: What is your zone of genius?

Georgia: Helping my clients see their genius and the bigger picture. My USP is I have experience in many genres.

Lauren: How did you come up with the idea?

Georgia: It was staring me in the face!

I have been writing plays, poems, short stories, scripts for speakers MC’s and myself and of course, I have published 4 books and contributed to 6 anthologies.

Lauren: What has been the number one highlight of your career?

Georgia: So many.

As a creative person, I have moved from writing and producing plays to spending many years as a professional saxophone player and as a Spoken Word artist.

I loved the music business, I loved my Spoken Word career and now watching writers turn into satisfied and fulfilled authors is just as exhilarating for me.

Lauren: What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome in your career?

Georgia: The glass ceiling

&

Lauren: Do you have any daily rituals to maintain a work-life balance?

Georgia: I can’t sit for too long. I have to get up and move my energy.

Either I walk around the garden and snip a few plants, or do some stretches, lunges or downward dogs…dance a little and even do a household chore.

Lauren: Do you have a message you would like the world to hear?

Georgia: Several! Our voice and our pen are our 2 most powerful tools of communication. Grab your confidence, courage and creativity and use them.

Lauren: Is there a book that has had huge significance or meaning in your life?

Georgia: I re-read and dip into Danielle LaPorte White Hot Truth

Because she is discerning and not judgemental, she has humour and experience and shares generously. She talks about the paradoxes of wisdom and I wrote about them a lot myself in my books. Use And instead of But.

She says…Don’t just get what you want, BE what you want.

I like that!

Lauren: What advice would you give someone just starting out as an entrepreneur?

Georgia: Keep learning and listening and turn all your mistakes into future fun stories.

Lauren: Is there anything you wish you knew when you started out as an entrepreneur?

Georgia: Not to be scared of tech stuff!!!

Lauren: What have you gained by becoming an entrepreneur?

Georgia: I realise that the more I learn, the more I have to learn and that gives me the energy to grow.

And, I believe it is super important for women to be financially independent.

Lauren: Who has been enormously helpful to you?

Georgia: My VA!

Honestly, all the amazing things she does behind the scenes for me!

I have always loved working in a team, so first credit goes to all team members paid and unpaid.

And people often come into your life just at the time you need more guidance or knowledge.

Lauren: Do you have mentors in business?

Georgia: With all the member groups and networking events online, I have been involved in I have come across some wonderful brainstorming sessions…these people, mostly women are my real mentors.

Lauren: Are there any courses or studies you feel have been essential to your success?

Georgia: Having first hand and recent experience as a writer and author has given me essential professional knowledge and wisdom for teaching and training new authors.

Also, the Women’s Writers Circle, which is a group program I run for women writing their first book.

It is absolutely inspirational to me, not just how they support each other but how they offer their best wisdom to each other too!

Book a Virtual Seat on Georgia’s Women’s Writers Circle

Work with Georgia Varjas

Lauren: If there was any way I could help you, what it would it be?

Georgia: I think you already are Lauren.

When we give generously and share our platforms with each other, you never know who is going to benefit from hearing or reading what you offer.

Lauren: Who is your target market? If I were to give you a referral, who would I be looking for?

Georgia: Women (or men) with a message to share, with expertise, experience and wisdom that could really make a difference to someone else’s life.

And of course a few good stories.

How to Work with Georgia

Georgia has two Coaching packages available for those who are ready to write their books.

1. The Premium Package, a 12-week one-on-one book writing program
2. The Women’s Writers Circle- an 8-week group program.

Visit Georgia’s Website

https://georgiavarjas.com/

Follow Georgia

Follow Georgia on LinkedIn

Follow Georgia on YouTube

If you’re ready to write your book, schedule a free book planning call with Georgia.

Schedule a Call with Georgia

Enjoyed this interview?

Check out our previous featured digital entrepreneur, Elizabeth Batalla and Learn How to Level Up Fast

Learn How to Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

Learn How to Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

Elizabeth Batalla founded The Institute for Achievement and Excellence.

Elizabeth has distilled her 30 years of experience in corporate management and training into her flagship online program, “Achieving Professional Excellence”.

The Institute for Achievement and Excellence

Course Details and GIVEAWAY

Find out more in our interview below or go to the full podcast on Fempreneurs Unite.

Level up Your Life and Be Unstoppable

Lauren: In your own words, what do you do for a living?

Elizabeth: I help women to be unstoppable so they can achieve success and fulfilment in their professional and personal life.

Lauren: If you wear many hats in business, which of these do you love most, which takes most of your time and which brings in the most income?

Elizabeth:

Love most: creating amazing content to help inform, instruct and inspire all who access it.
Most time: YouTube videos due to the animated content – current animation technology is great but it still has a long way to go.
Most income: It is word of mouth – i.e. personal references.

Elizabeth Batalla – Zone of Genius

Lauren: What is your zone of genius?

Elizabeth: Helping others recognise how attainable achieving their dream(s) actually is, providing practical steps to accomplish it and adding a splash of motivation so they realise living the life they want is not something reserved for the select few.

Lauren: Do you feel you are operating in your zone of genius in your business?

Elizabeth: Absolutely! It is the reason why I created The Institute for Achievement and Excellence.

After 30 years in the corporate world and mentoring many along the way, I decided to package my formula for success in a form that is easily accessible to someone with internet access.

Elizabeth the Entrepreneur

Lauren: When did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: May 2020 – during the early stage of the global pandemic.

I instinctively felt that the world would not be the same and judging from a couple of months prior to May 2020 – that the fallout would be intense and there would be many who would benefit from what I had stored in my head.

Lauren: Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: To do what I love full-time – help women to be unstoppable through easily accessible, high-quality masterclasses that can completely change their lives and ripple out to the lives of their loved ones.

Lauren: Is this your first entrepreneurial pursuit?

Elizabeth: No. I have tried other ventures but with the intention of doing it part-time. The Institute for Achievement and Excellence is the only venture I have dedicated myself to fully.

Lauren: What prompted you to start your own business?

Elizabeth: I was always interested in the possibility of being an entrepreneur but attempted it more as a hobby. I believe the pandemic was a turning point for many… I am one such statistic. I felt a shift in my priorities – from supporting women part-time as an element of my job description to empowering women full time as my burning passion.

Lauren: How did you come up with the idea?

Elizabeth: After 30 years in corporate education and mentoring many along the way, there was an unmistakable trend in the type of questions, concerns, desires, guidance needed etc.

Of course, there is an overlap with some of the elements but for the most part, they can be categorised into 9 life areas.

The flagship program – Achieving Professional Excellence – addresses these elements.

Who Elizabeth Serves

Lauren: Who did you have in mind when you started your business? Who do you serve?

Elizabeth: Who I have in mind: Women! Women of all beautiful shapes, colours and sizes.

Although we have come a long way, women still do not enjoy equal opportunities in their professional and personal circles. A woman may not always have control over her situation but she has control over how she shows up in the situation.

The woman I have in mind is someone who is keen to be the best that she can be, knows that investing in herself never ends and takes control of the outcomes in her life despite the challenges of inequality she faces.

Who I serve: Predominantly women from 25 to 50 who want to achieve success in their personal and professional growth, want a holistic approach to the process and have minimal time to accomplish it.

Career Highlights and Challenges

Lauren: What has been the number one highlight of your career?

Elizabeth: The wonderful feedback from women who have completed the masterclass and are now experiencing a life they thought was only possible for others not for them.

Lauren: What has been the greatest challenge for you to overcome in your career?

Elizabeth: Successfully navigating the world of male-dominated companies as a female…

Lauren: All things considered do you feel it was a good decision to become an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: Absolutely! I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Daily Work Schedule and Rituals

Lauren: Where do you work most days?

Elizabeth: I work from home because I like feeling comfortable and having access to all I need when I am working.

Lauren: How many days per week do you work on average?

Elizabeth: Every day except on Sundays (from noontime, onwards). I step away from technology completely.

Lauren: How many hours do you estimate you work per day on average?

Elizabeth: At the moment – 10 hours 😉

Lauren: Do you have any daily rituals to maintain a work-life balance?

Elizabeth: Absolutely! I follow what I teach. I strive for balance. I have rituals in the morning, mid-day and night. I ensure that by the end of each week, I have given adequate time to all 9 of my life areas.

Passion, Vision and Message

Lauren: Do you feel you are living your passion?

Elizabeth: Yes… and sharing it with the world!

Lauren: Do you feel you have already created your best work?

Elizabeth: I have… and more of my best is yet to come!

Lauren: If you were to die tomorrow, would you be at peace knowing you had lived a full, happy and meaningful life? Or would you feel you were dying with your song unsung?

Elizabeth: I am singing my song as we speak.

Lauren: Wonderful! Do you have a message you would like the world to hear?

Elizabeth: Regardless of your starting point, your dreams are possible to achieve so never, ever give up on them.

Elizabeth Batalla – Advice for New Entrepreneurs

Lauren: What advice would you give someone just starting out as an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: The number one piece of advice is:

Don’t wait for the ideal time to start what you need to do to get where you want to go!

There is never a perfect time to take action so let go of the notion that today is not the ‘right’ day. The biggest obstacle is simply getting started.

Start where you are, use what you have and do the best you can… but JUST GET STARTED.

Lauren: Is there anything you wish you knew when you started out as an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: My attributes of dedication, resilience and patience will be tested – CONSTANTLY.

They are required to maintain the momentum, recover from disappointments and control expectations because sustaining success as an entrepreneur is a race for the marathon runner, not the sprinter.

Lauren: What have you missed out on by becoming an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: The luxury of working 9-5.

The day of an entrepreneur starts earlier, ends later and spills over into the weekends.

Lauren: What have you gained by becoming an entrepreneur?

Elizabeth: Patience, resilience and establishing clear boundaries.

Lauren: Do you feel you chose an easy path or a difficult one?

Elizabeth: Definitely a more challenging one. Being an entrepreneur is no easy feat. The highs/lows, successes/failures, mastery/madness – it makes living quite a rollercoaster of a ride.

Hopes, Plans and Fears

Lauren: What are your hopes and plans for this year?

Elizabeth: To help as many women as I can to achieve their professional and personal transformation goals via my masterclasses.

Lauren: What are your fears?

Elizabeth: What I am doing now! It takes a great degree of courage to step off the cliff of your comfort zone, so you can soar to the heights you are destined to reach.

Tools of the Trade and Mentors

Lauren: Which tools of the trade have been enormously helpful for you?

Elizabeth: Online courses to bridge my knowledge gap. I invest in courses to learn the basics, how to do things correctly from the start, tricks of the trade etc. A lot can be learned from courses at a very reasonable price.

It is time, effort and money-saving. In this way, when I pay for coaches I get more value because the time I have with them is used more for strategic advice rather than basic guidance.

Lauren: Who has been enormously helpful to you? Do you have mentors in business?

Elizabeth:

Helpful: Everyone I come into contact with has value because that is how I choose to see others. As a result, I continue to receive help all the time (and I make sure to pay it forward).

Mentor: Not any one person as it depends on my point of focus or gap I am trying to close at the time.

If you told me a couple of years ago that I would invest in special software and binge-watch how to create animated videos for my youtube channel, I would have thought that maybe you had one too many glasses of Champagne (or whichever drink makes you happy).

Lauren: Are there any courses or studies you feel have been essential to your success?

Elizabeth: Yes – a more in-depth understanding of the various social media and search engine platforms – it’s a challenge to keep on top of changing algorithms and regulations.

Lauren: Is there a book, song or movie that has had huge significance or meaning in your life?

Elizabeth:
There are many so I will share the one that started it for me. I like its simplicity – of the message, of the implementation and of the result.

It is called:

The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn. (orig. pub. 1925)
Another honourable mention is: Who Moved My Cheese by Spenser Johnson (orig. pub. 1998)

Spreading the Word

Lauren: If there was any way I could help you, what it would it be?

Elizabeth: To help me spread the word that there IS a proven formula available for achieving success and fulfilment in one’s professional and professional life.

Lauren: Who is your target market? If I were to give you a referral, who would I be looking for?

Elizabeth: Women 25-40, at the operational – mid-management level in their companies or in-between jobs, eager to improve personally and professionally and want to level up their lives (in a holistic way) – fast.

Learn How to Level Up Your Life Fast with Elizabeth Batalla

GIVEAWAY

Elizabeth is very kindly giving away free lifetime unlimited access to her signature course, Achieving Professional Excellence to one lucky member of Fempreneurs Unite.

The program sells for $599.99 (plus charges) so it’s a VERY GENEROUS gift.

And it’s worth far more to you when you apply what is taught in the program because that’s how you will learn how to level up fast and be unstoppable.

If you’d like to be considered for this wonderful prize, make sure you’re a member of Fempreneurs Unite on LinkedIn (it’s free to join). And leave a comment below this post or our podcast post saying why Elizabeth and her panel should pick you for the award.

She is looking for someone who is ready to level up in their professional and personal life yet may not be able to afford to invest in herself at this stage.

The closing date for the giveaway will be midnight (UK time) on Tuesday 24th August and we will announce the winner on Wednesday 25th August.

Post Update – 25 August 2021

Announcement – We have a Winner!

Our warmest congratulations to Elize Swanepoel, the winner of our Giveaway. Elize left an amazing comment on our post on Fempreneurs Unite.

Elize is super excited to get started on Elizabeth’s course, Achieving Professional Excellence. Thanks so much, Liz for so kindly offering this generous prize.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Kinghorn (@laurenjeankinghorn)

Visit The Institute for Achievement and Excellence

I’m doing this program myself, so I’ll be publishing a full review as soon as I’m finished. In the meantime, have a look at all course details here: https://courses.achievementandexcellence.com/

Remember that the signature course is a combination of every course Elizabeth has created.

Connect with Elizabeth

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Affiliate Disclaimer: If you purchase anything through a link in this post, please assume I have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that I’ll be compensated in some small way at no extra cost to you.

4 Useful Tips on How to Sell on Azure

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

How to Sell on Azure

Microsoft commercial marketplace offers two online stores namely Microsoft AppSource and Azure Marketplace which are both channels that help businesses to market and sell their cloud-based solutions.

Today, we are sharing 4 tips on how to sell on Azure. First, let us tell you a little more about Azure Marketplace.

Azure Marketplace

Azure Marketplace has all the IT resources to solve any issues you might encounter in your online store or business. It is basically like a cloud store or a helpful channel that allows you to effectively market and sell your cloud solutions.

However, only cloud solutions that are certified for running on the Azure Marketplace can be sold here.

Features of Azure Marketplace

When you are using Azure Marketplace, you have access to the following features:

Displaying simulated machine images
Access to the Azure customer base worldwide
Solution templates

There are two ways to start selling on Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

Publishing your Azure certified cloud solutions to run on the marketplace. All the information for publishing solutions on the marketplace and what the process involves can be found under the publisher guide on the website.
Starting your own company or online store for selling products through the platform. You have access to a business guide with information on how to set up your business as well as helpful tips on how to grow your business.

4 Tips on How to Sell on Azure

Before creating your free account on the Azure Marketplace, you have access to free services for twelve months. During this period there are about twenty-five other services that you also benefit from which are also at no cost to you.

You also have the option of upgrading your account to a paid one which will give you access to upgraded features and services.

1. Applying For a Listing

The first step that will be required from you is submitting your offer of the products you will be selling or the services you will be providing. Once your company gets listed on the Azure Marketplace, you can begin selling through the platform.

2. Driving More Leads

Once your company is listed on the Azure marketplace, you need to start generating some leads for your prospective customers. Such leads will give customers access to live instances of your business or applications that are currently available on Azure. This can be incredibly useful as it gives customers insight into how your company will be meeting their needs.

3. Promoting Your Services, Products, or Solutions

The next step will be gaining access to Microsoft’s enterprise sellers. Once you have access, you have the benefit of having access to all Microsoft’s customers worldwide (about 100 regions and countries). You can now start promoting your company or cloud solution via Microsoft’s enterprise sellers.

4. Expanding Revenue

You will also need to keep tabs on your transactions which are basically the income and expenses of your company. Any successful company must leverage some productive commerce capabilities. You also need to obtain insights into the performance of your business and whether you are gaining revenue. You must evaluate whether your business is expanding or not.

Conclusion

We hope this information about azure and 4 tips on how to sell on Azure have been of use to you. The Azure Marketplace is a useful resource for starting and building your own business. It gives you access to IT solutions and a platform with customers worldwide where you can promote and sell your services or products and grow revenue.

This was post was sponsored by Tackle.

Top Ways to Empower Women in Business

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

Ways to Empower Women in Business

When you think of ways to empower women in business, it’s pretty hard not to think of the opposite, the people or circumstances that disempower women.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking of women as victims, sidelined or overlooked by men in power, marginalised, underpaid and more prone to hitting that glass ceiling.

Yet, if you’re a woman, empowering women starts with empowering yourself.

How to Empower Yourself

Empowering yourself starts with breaking out of that victim mentality and believing in yourself.

It’s not about the system, we know it’s broken, but we also know there are many, many women who rise to the top.

It’s not about them. It was never about them. It’s about you, who you are, what you want and what you’re prepared to do to achieve success.

When you believe in yourself, you will have the faith that opportunities will come your way and be ready for them when they do.

When you believe in yourself, you will get educated. You will find a business mentor and accept their mentorship.

You will create a vision for your future, figure out your goals and put an action plan in place to achieve them.

You will commit to the hours and the weeks and the months it will take to see your vision become a reality.

And once you’re empowered and take on a leadership role in your business, you’re in the best place to empower other women. Because empowered women empower women.

Now, YOU can become a business mentor. Now YOU can make a difference.

Why Focus on Women Empowerment in the Workplace?

The primary motivation to prioritize women empowerment in your business is, in many cases, varied organizations are often more successful. This is because women leverage many different perspectives, are innovative and offer deeper insights into their customers.

In our article below, we share 4 top ways to empower women in your business.

4 Top Ways to Empower Women in Your Business

1. Connect Female Employees with Female Mentors

An efficient way of changing the way women think and provoking action is by introducing them to strong female role models within the industry and your company.

For instance, if a female employee is just starting her career, introducing her to more experienced female employees like entrepreneurs or women in leadership roles can be advantageous in assisting her with defining her career path.

A strong mentor-employee connection could also help with building trust among female workers in the company and their own ability to thrive in their profession.

This is especially true in a workplace that is predominantly male-dominated. Introducing them to women in senior roles can give them the confidence boost they need to work hard towards landing influential positions going forward.

Women leaders like Nancy Etz are all about giving women the tools to empower themselves by mentoring young women as well as by offering various scholarships.

2. Remind Female Employees They are Valuable

Women in workplaces that are mainly male-dominated often feel intimidated to voice their viewpoints, for fear of being dismissed or viewed as being too outspoken.

It is essential to remind women that their opinions matter and that they are valuable team members. There are various ways that your company can incorporate values.

The first step is bias awareness and training since you will not know what you are doing wrong until your actions are addressed head-on.

You can also promote a safer work environment where everyone feels confident to voice their concerns or challenges. Promote an open-door policy where female employees can turn for assistance.

3. Accommodate the Personal Needs of All Employees

Everyone has lives outside of the business. It is essential to encourage them to pursue their interest and needs, irrespective of their gender.

For instance, permit parents to knock off early when necessary, support an overall work-life balance of fellow employees, provide competitive parental leave, and be flexible wherever it is possible.

When employees flourish in their personal lives, they are more grateful to work for a company which in turn boosts productivity and loyalty. Don’t just encourage it, but be proactive about it. Organize family days and team-building exercises.

4. Vote for Female-Related Initiatives

It is essential to empower the women in your company by striving towards gender equality and enhancing the future of the work culture in your business.

Women are significantly under-represented in various sectors of the working environment. Hiring an equal gender workforce is a sure way to make a positive difference in your business, showing that both women and men employees are equal and valued team members.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed these 4 top ways to empower women in your business. I encourage you to start implementing them to create a better workplace for everyone. Just remember to start with yourself.

This post was sponsored by Nancy Etz. All opinions are my own.

How to Help Someone with Mental Health Issues Facing Criminal Charges

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

How to Help Someone with Mental Health Issues

If you know one of your loved ones has severe mental health issues involving substance abuse, you’d ideally want to step in to help them before they are facing criminal charges.

The best way you can help a friend or family who is addicted to drugs or alcohol is to encourage them to get expert, professional help. You can recommend they do one of the following:

Call a Hotline
Go to a Psychologist or Psychiatrist for 1-on-1 Counselling
Attend Group Counselling Sessions
Follow a 12-Step Program
Check into a Treatment Centre or Rehab

Unfortunately, sometimes, people with mental health issues land up facing criminal charges and need to go to court.

How to Help Someone Facing Criminal Charges

The best way to help a loved one who is facing criminal charges due to their mental health issues is to hire a reputable, experienced criminal defense attorney.

You and your loved one are not alone in this.

Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney can assist in representing your case and help get the best possible outcome.

How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help?

A criminal defense law firm can assist your loved one in determining whether the case in question is eligible for a drug court diversion program, or if the person is fit to stand trial.

In the case of a drug diversion program, the requirements can be demanding, however, the benefits for those completing them are substantial.

What Happens Next?

The attorney will enter a plea if the person is charged with a crime and needs to go to court. This means pleading guilty or not guilty.

If the person’s mental issues mean he or she doesn’t understand the charges brought in against him or her, the court might decide that the person is unfit to plead.

Before the trial, it will be decided by the court whether the person is permitted to stay. Contingent on the situation, he or she might be able to go home on bail, kept in jail on remand, or sent to a hospital for a report on his or her mental state.

What Happens in Court?

If the person has a trial, the prosecution will need to prove that the person is guilty, whereas the criminal defense attorney will try to prove the person’s innocence.

However, there might be certain exceptions to this. The court has several options of what the outcome may be if the person is found guilty. His or her mental state must be taken into account when the decision is made.

The defense attorney can also appeal the decision if he does not agree with it.

Be Aware of Some The Essential Sections of Mental Health Act

Section 37 – An order that sends the person to a hospital rather than prison.
Section 37/41 – An order that sends the person to hospital as opposed to prison, but with restrictions attached. Some restrictions might be added if the person poses a serious risk to members of the public.
Section 47 – If the person is in prison, he or she can be transferred from prison to hospital to get treatment under section 47.
Section 47/49 – Transferring a person from jail to hospital with restrictions. Section 49 restrictions might be added if appropriate.
Section 48/49 – The person can be sent to prison under section 48 when they are in prison on remand or in an immigration removal centre. Special restrictions will usually be added to the transfer under section 49. That’s why it’s called section 48/49.

A Positive Outcome

Upon successful completion, the charges against the person can be dismissed and they might qualify for having their record expunged or sealed.

A criminal defense attorney can represent the accused and help them understand what is happening and how they can achieve the best possible outcome.

Most importantly, the person can receive much-needed assessment and treatment and if they suffer from addiction, they can develop the skills needed to cope with addiction.

This post was sponsored by Mike G Law. All opinions are my own.

6 Tips on How to Look Younger Naturally

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

This post was sponsored by Vitamium.

We all wish that we could take a sip from the fountain of youth to stay youthful forever but unfortunately, this is not possible. However, there are certain things that you can do to look younger naturally and to stop the ageing process in its tracks.

1. Try to Avoid Unnecessary Stress

Stress can lead to physical changes in your body that fast-track the ageing process. Surges of cortisol and adrenaline results in your blood pressure rising and your heart beating faster. With the daily stresses and a global pandemic, we all feel the pressure. Try to do relaxing activities or meditation to give yourself and your body a break.

2. Invest in Quality Natural Skincare Products

There are plenty of well-known products available on the market that promise incredible results but the sad truth is that most of them are filled with chemicals that can do just the opposite.

Invest in superior quality natural skincare products like this Vitamin C Professional Facial Serum by Vitamium. This serum promotes healthy, glowing skin and even skin tone the natural way.

It’s a natural plant-based product containing not only vitamin C and E but also powerful active botanicals, including witch hazel, aloe vera, organic jojoba oil, botanical hyaluronic acid and MSM.

It is free from any artificial fragrance, additives and stabilizers. This product is one of the best anti-ageing serums on the market because it contains beneficial antioxidants that repair damaged skin as a result of UV rays and the hyaluronic acid increases hydration.

What’s more, if you order this product now, you can enjoy 50% off by using the coupon code NEWYEAR50 upon checkout. (This is a limited time offer, so hurry).

3. Include more Healthy Fats in Your Diet

Omega-3 fatty acids which are found in walnuts, seeds, and salmon are excellent for stabilizing your mood, preventing visible signs of ageing, lowering inflammation in the body, and maintaining healthy bone strength.

4. Practice Yoga

Yoga is the perfect body and mind workout and promotes better posture, enhanced mood, more energy, and less stress. By practising conscious yoga breathing techniques, you become more aware of the link between your mind and body. This can translate into significant anti-ageing benefits.

5. Eat Superfruits

Pomegranates provide more health benefits than any other fruits. The juice is useful for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which could in turn delay the onset of atherosclerosis which help lower the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease or certain forms of cancer. Pomegranates also provide skin protection against damage caused by harmful UV rays.

Goji berries contain five hundred times more vitamin C in weight than oranges and are also rich in carotenoids (a type of antioxidant), iron, magnesium, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E, zinc, calcium, and 18 amino acids.

All these components assist with stimulating the release of human growth hormone that naturally improves sleep, that helps you with looking younger and boosting your immune system.

6. Drink Green Tea

Green tea has many health benefits and is known for reducing the risk of breast cancer. It also helps with the prevention of colorectal, bladder, and cancer recurrence and improves your metabolism.

Drinking just one cup a day can assist with keeping your brain sharp as well as reducing the onslaught of ageing.

Conclusion

We trust this post was informative and helpful and that you will use it as a guide to look younger the natural way.

Do you have any beauty secrets to share on how to look younger naturally?

This post was sponsored by Vitamium. All opinions are my own.

How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lauren Kinghorn

How to Stay Positive During the Pandemic

Let’s face it, since the onset of the global pandemic, it’s not always been easy to stay positive. What with lockdown, social isolation, and having to use hand sanitizer and wear face masks all the time.

Yet we all have to do our bit to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus. Because people are hurting, hospitals are packed to capacity and many of us have either battled Covid-19 ourselves or lost loved ones to the disease.

In this post, we will be sharing our tips on how to stay positive during the pandemic and remain as comfortable as possible.

Invest in Mask Ally to Make Wearing a Mask More Comfortable

Some of us who work in industries that deal with lots of walk-in customers are forced to wear masks all the time. As well as teachers and pupils, lecturers and students and everyone in the medical field.

It is often not very comfortable with your glasses fogging up, having trouble with breathing, and your lipstick clinging to your mask, not to mention your face overheating.

But, these are just some of the discomforts we have to face until the pandemic blows over.

Here’s some good news. If you have to wear a mask all day, there is a way to stay comfortable. We have come across an excellent product that can do just that.

Mask Ally is a mask holder that you wear inside your mask to create some breathing space between the mask and your face.

The Benefits of Mask Ally

- - 3D Mask holder support that allows you to breathe easier.
  - Extra room that avoids your glasses fogging up
  - Made with superior food-grade silicone that is washable, safe, and reusable
  - No more lipstick smudges in your mask
  - Prolonged mask life
  - Increased airflow prevents your face from overheating
  - Keeping your mask cleaner for longer with less contact

Mask Ally is offering a special discount. Scroll down to the end of the post for details.

Combat your Stress Levels through Relaxation

Stress can be very bad for your emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing. Stress can lead to all sorts of health effects like headaches, anxiety, fatigue, social withdrawal, chest pain, and more.

Making time for yourself to relax can assist with reducing these side effects and allow you to reboot and refocus your energy on positive thoughts.

Connect with Loved Ones

We all try to avoid social contact and opt for staying confined in our homes, but you can still connect with friends and family online. You can video chat with them on your phone or laptop and share your experiences. Sometimes all you need is to talk to your best friend or a loved one to feel better and to cope with your current situation.

Exercise Frequently

Looking after yourself and your body is essential, now more than ever. Exercise is not just beneficial for physical wellbeing but also emotional and mental wellbeing. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that help you with feeling more positive. You can go for a family walk or do stretches and exercises in the garden. Don’t forget yoga is an excellent exercise for body and mind.

Take Breaks from the News

I know it is easier said than done but reading, watching or listening to the news can be upsetting when you are reminded repeatedly of what we are facing currently.

Keep yourself informed but remember to only look for updates on the pandemic on reliable sources. Fake news can do a lot of damage and with situations like these, you are bound to come across plenty of it.

Accept what You Can and Cannot Control

There is only so much that you can do to control the situation and to remain safe. Remember to focus and acknowledge the feelings you are having and make the most of situations and safety measures that are within your control.

Conclusion

We hope that you have found this article helpful and that we have done our bit to assist you with staying more positive during the pandemic.

What’s kept you the most positive during this last rather unusual year? Feel free to share in the comments below.

This post was sponsored by Mask Ally. All opinions are my own.

Mask Ally is offering you 35% off AND free shipping via this link.

How to Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Lauren Kinghorn

You step up to the mic, hands trembling, heart pounding. You look out at the sea of faces hoping your jacket will hide the patches of perspiration forming under your arms.

At this point one of two scenarios can play out.

Scenario 1: The terror overtakes you.

Your entire body starts shaking uncontrollably, you stumble over your first few words and run off the stage with your head in your hands.

Scenario 2: You take control.

You take a deep breath, stand up tall, smile and scan the room as the audience settles down… and you’re off. You’ve got this. You launch into your speech confidently, passionately and you deliver your message with the perfect combination of power, ease and grace.

The goal of this article is to guide you to this special hallowed ground, where the stage becomes your safe place, where scenario 2 plays out for you. Every time.

How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking

This post was sponsored by Sam Haskell

If the thought of public speaking causes you to sweat and have heart palpitations, it is quite possible you have glossophobia – the fear of public speaking. And you are definitely not alone. Glossophobia is one of our most common fears.

The words public speaking can cause anxiety and fear in many people’s minds who are otherwise confident and highly competent in their professions.

So why do people put themselves through the torture of public speaking when there are so many other methods of boosting business exposure?

Because stepping up and speaking in public gives the impression that you’re a leading light in your field of expertise.

It’s a way to set yourself up as an authority, a thought leader, much like becoming an Author, but with one difference – it’s instant. One Ted Talk, one talk on an international stage or one YouTube video gone viral and you could set yourself up as an instant expert.

Public speaking also offers effortless referrals as well as better sales opportunities.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s quiet those fears.

Here’s a step-by-step strategy that will help you become a confident speaker.

Step 1: Start Small

If you’re a newbie when it comes to public speaking, begin small. Practice in front of friends and family. Or get yourself a tripod for your smartphone or webcam and start making videos – for no-one to watch at first.

Once you’re confident in front of one or two people or in front of your own camera at home, you can start speaking to small groups and gradually move your way up to larger audiences from there.

Keep in mind that the size of the audience doesn’t make any difference (except that the more people in the audience, the more energy you have to feed off). If you’re familiar with your topic, your jitters will start disappearing quickly.

Golden Tip:

No matter how big your audience, speak as if you’re speaking to one person, your best friend.

Step 2: Prepare Thoroughly

Nothing is as effective in easing your fear of speaking in public as knowing your subject, inside and out.

It helps to create a connection with your audience which is achieved through having confidence in your knowledge.

Practice your speech a few times before getting on the podium. And remember to have some back-up material just in case you have a bit more time left over.

Golden Tip:

Whether you attribute this to Brian Tracy, Dale Carnegie or Aristotle, most orators agree that a good speech follows this simple formula.

Tell them what you are going to say.

Say it.

Tell them what you said.

Step 3: When using Slides, do this

Most business presentations are drawn out monologues with seemingly endless bullet points and PowerPoint slides.

Some may suggest you discard the PowerPoint speech and rather make your material the focus point of the speech.

But if you need the security blanket of a slide presentation to jog your memory and keep you focused, here’s a tip for you.

Use one image, one word or one-phrase on each slide to promptly convey your message.

Golden Tip:

Harness the power of emotion. Use visual images that are humorous, touching or shocking (depending on your subject matter). This helps you emphasise your core points and also ensures your audience remember them.

Step 4: Reframe

Nervousness and excitement are flip sides of the same coin. They create the same bodily reactions.

So in your mind, if you just reframe your nervous jitters as excitement jitters, you’ll be fine.

You can use that energy to deliver a powerful talk.

Golden Tip:

Expect the crowd to adore you – and they will.

Step 5: Open Strong

You will be at your most nervous just before you start your talk. So get very clear on how you will open your speech.

Give a lot of thought to how you will get the audience’s attention. Consider opening with a question, some light humour or a personal story.

Start with the end in mind. Remember that in your introduction, you are setting the stage for your conclusion – tell them what you are going to tell them.

Rehearse your opening paragraph a few times so there’s no chance of you stumbling or mumbling those first few words.

Power poses are proven to work. Do a power pose or look in the mirror, take a long deep breath, and tell yourself you are confident and you’re going to ace this.

Golden Tip:

If there’s nowhere to practice a power stance privately before you go up on stage, consider doing it with the audience – get them to stand up with you, smile and raise their arms in the air or high five the person next to them.

This way you’ll all have a state change.

This is especially important if you notice that the crowd is looking bored or restless after the last talk. Movement acts as an icebreaker, and helps your audience feel more relaxed and receptive.

Step 6: Speak Naturally

Becoming a master at public speaking does not entail memorizing your entire presentation word for word.

It’s worth memorizing key points and prompts and some examples and subtopics to talk about.

Show up as your authentic self. Be as natural as you can.

Share some of your personal stories. This is always a good way of connecting with your audience.

Golden Tip:

Speak with passion. Your audience doesn’t care about how much you know, or how smart you are, they care about what’s in your heart.

Step 7: Engage Your Audience

Starting a monologue presentation places the onus on you to inform and entertain your audience.

Engage your audience by encouraging two-way interaction by asking questions, or cracking a joke here and there.

If you are going to use humour, just make sure it’s relevant and in good taste. Laughter works.

And so do tears. The goal is to help your audience remember your message and when they feel something during your speech they are a thousand times more likely to connect with what you’re saying.

Golden Tip:

Make eye contact with a few people in the audience during your talk.

Step 8: Close Strong

Every bit as important as your opening is your close. A good close takes careful planning and just like the opening, should be rehearsed.

Your close is your conclusion or summary, the chance to tell them what you’ve already told them by highlighting your main points.

Again, you can harness the power of storytelling or humour to drive your points home.

End your speech with a challenge or call to action.

And if the audience isn’t already on their feet giving you standing ovation or calling for an encore, give them an indication that you’re finished by thanking them for listening.

Golden Tip:

To increase the dramatic effect and power of your speech, think of your speech as an exquisite concerto.

Aim to build up to a crescendo at the end of your speech (raise your voice). Increase your tempo as you dash out your most important points. And then slow it right down to a whisper as you deliver your last impactful sentence.

One Final Tip

The power of your imagination is strong. If you focus on your fear of public speaking, seeing yourself shy and uncertain on stage, that’s exactly who you will be.

Instead, use your imagination to visualise yourself on stage confident and in control, delivering your message with power, ease and grace. Be the inspiration to the world you were always meant to be.

Your message is powerful. Do it justice. Write that brilliant speech and deliver it with passion. Step up and SHINE. You’ve got this.

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