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Redefining What it Means to be Courageous

Ryan Lenett

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When you hear the word courage, you might be tempted to believe that it’s all about throwing yourself into daunting situations without thinking twice. It’s also common to think that people who have made significant achievements are fearless.

But with celebrities such as Robin Williams and Anthony Bourdain succumbing to mental health challenges, we might need to revisit the meaning of being courageous. In fact, the National Health Interview Survey indicates that 9% of the men surveyed experienced daily symptoms of depression or anxiety. Sadly, only one in three sought treatment for these conditions, and only one in four spoke to a medical professional. These are some of the worrying revelations signaling a need to redefine what it means to be courageous, particularly as the concept pertains to men. 

For Certified High-Performance Coach and the mastermind behind the Siena Strategy Partners, which constitutes the base for her coaching efforts, Kate McKay, the answer isn’t about how we behave in moments of crisis but rather in how we live our lives on a daily basis. “Being courageous means valuing your inner world and respecting your ideas enough to communicate them effectively. It means seeing intimacy, romance, and emotional connection as worthy of your time and effort,” McKay says. “There are ways for men to come out of their holes and become as confident as they want to be. All they have to do is look inside themselves to find the answers.” 

Identifying Our Fears  

It’s a well-known fact that pinpointing our fears can help us overcome them. When you look at the things that worry you, you start thinking more logically. This, in turn, helps you take action and break the cycle of fear. According to McKay, most of us have three main fears in life. The first one is the fear of change and that whatever is waiting ahead of us is just too hard to overcome. The second is the fear of the outcome of our actions and that the effort we put into something won’t be worth it. Finally, the fear of loss. “I think the last one is the most significant one,” McKay elaborates. “We fear that if we take action, we’re going to lose someone or something that’s important to us. Because we’re going to grow beyond that thing or person.”

To put things in perspective, McKay advises bringing to mind a change that you have been reluctant to make or a goal you have failed to chase. She then advises examining the precise reasons why you have been stalling. Is it the fear of loss? The fear of hardship? Or the fear that the outcome of your actions might not be as satisfying as you expect?

Life is a Journey


Traditionally, society has viewed people who accepted the challenge and made it to the finish line as courageous, completely overlooking their journey. However, if we look closer, the culture of fixating on goals and neglecting the hurdles in the journey to those results contributes considerably to today’s mental health issues. Often, those who don’t hit their goals feel like failures, not understanding that challenges are just a part of the path to success. And sometimes, those who excel have put themselves through sleepless nights, poor eating patterns, substance abuse, and many other unhealthy habits.

So how do we gain the courage to overcome these obstacles? The answer lies in going inward and paying attention — rather than overlooking — the journey. In particular, McKay believes that it takes fortitude to express our feelings, thoughts, and needs to the world. She also believes that learning how to communicate more consistently builds the kind of confidence that breeds success. Not being honest with others, on the other hand, diminishes courage.

The Power of Action

Once you’re aware of your fears and how they manifest in your life, you can respond to these challenges with action. Since facing obstacles head-on builds confidence, your actions are likely to break the cycle of fear in your life. This is because people that take action, rather than shy away from life’s obstacles, tend to develop a better sense of who they are. This, in turn, usually makes them more resilient and ready to deal with life’s little or big surprises. “A good start is identifying a few areas in your life that require more decisive action,” McKay says. “Then it’s a matter of committing to taking a few leaps forward in those particular areas.”

Unleashing Your Inner Warrior

Embracing courage — or unleashing your inner warrior — can be a game changer. Not only can it equip you with a different perspective on the world, but it can also help you empower others. “A warrior is a person who shows great vigor, courage, determination, inner strength, and heroism when confronted with challenges. Someone that uses adversity to implement necessary changes and manifest the best version of themselves,” McKay says.

McKay is adamant that hiding from fear is futile. Rather, we need to examine it and move through it. “Nothing is worse than regret. It’s not an option because staying the same is unacceptable. Everybody has their inner hottie and everyone wants to claim it. I won’t say it’s easy, but it’s possible,” McKay narrates. “This is where the right coach can help you clarify your vision and take action. This is what’s going to lead you from fear to courage.”

To empower others, McKay has written a book entitled, “Claim Your Inner Warrior: How to Live a Life of Courage and Unleash Your Personal Power.” The follow-up to her best selling

“Claim Your Inner Badass” aims to help men overcome fear through introspection and action.

Ryan is a car enthusiast and an accomplished team builder passionate about crafting captivating narratives. Known for his ability to transport readers to other worlds, his writing has garnered attention and a dedicated following. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Ryan continues to weave literary magic in every word he writes.

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Entrepreneurship

Jas Mathur Builds Celebrity Backed Brands at Emblaze One Inc

Ashley Waithira

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In the world of showbiz, constructing brands backed by celebrities is no simple task. The challenge of preserving their reputation, combined with the immense pressure of consistently delivering quality and dodging negative press is a colossal undertaking. Yet, Jas Mathur has carved a niche in this space, showcasing mastery in forging collaborations with numerous celebrities.

Being a serial entrepreneur and a celebrity himself, Mathur possesses an intimate understanding of the intricacies involved in curating celebrity-backed brands.

Successful Brands Built by Emblaze One

  • Amarose: Amarose, backed by entrepreneur and television persona Amanda Saccomanno (popularly known as Mandy Rose from WWE Smackdown), is a distinctive line of beauty, skincare, and personal care products.
  • Limitless X: Launched by Jas Mathur himself, Limitless X Inc. has become a massively successful entity. As a lifestyle agency, it crafts brands and products within the nutrition, wellness, and weight-loss niche. Jas leveraged his celebrity status and unparalleled business acumen to make this a success.
  • Vybe: Venturing into the realm of digital applications, Vybe is an online dating platform crafted especially for Africans, facilitating both online and offline interactions.

The Secret to Building a Successful Celebrity Brand

Building a celebrity brand isn’t similar to a regular brand. It demands understanding the celebrity’s ethos, blending it seamlessly with the brand’s message, and ensuring authenticity at every touchpoint. Emblaze One, with its expertise, has mastered this art. Their strategic maneuvers, coupled with an innate understanding of both the brand and celebrity persona, lead to successful brands that resonate with the masses.

More about Emblaze One

Emblaze One Inc. was founded on February 13, 2012, and has its headquarters situated in Los Angeles, California.

Emblaze ONE Inc. specializes in developing celebrity-backed brands and creating tailored web platforms/solutions/SAAS. Recognized as an award-winning global interactive and web development agency, their dedication to cutting-edge digital experiences is evident in their growth trajectory. Their clientele’s recurring referrals are a testament to their efficacy.

With a team brimming with innovative thinkers, they have strategized for numerous global companies and famous celebrities. In their words, “Design is our language. Venture is our mindset.” Their collaborations with athletes, entrepreneurs, and enterprises, have redefined brands and lead to innovative business strategies.

Jas Mathur, the CEO at Emblaze One, says, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it. Passion, Purpose, Focus & Commitment can make any dream come true!” With two decades of executive management prowess, he helms both Emblaze ONE Inc. and Limitless Performance, Inc.

Emblaze One’s mission is to elevate companies by amplifying their creative capital. Their services, grounded in achieving tangible results, are designed to foster growth and innovation.

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Business

Top Entrepreneur Talks About Why Immigrants are More Likely to be Attracted to the Business World

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2022 reports released by the American Immigration Council show that nearly 44% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. The actual percentage of businesses founded by foreign-born individuals who moved to the US is 20.4%, an exceptionally impressive statistic because immigrants make up only 13.4% of the American population. These businesses cumulatively generate ~7 trillion US dollars for the American economy annually, a figure worth more than the GDP of most other countries in the world.

Several studies in the past decades confirm that immigrants from foreign countries are more likely to delve into entrepreneurship and become business owners than native citizens.

With all the statistics, reports, and figures backing these findings, the motivations behind the immigrant’s entrepreneurial struggle and determination remain unclear to many economic scholars. Despite the social, economic, and systemic inequalities and injustices that are undeniably meted out to immigrants in many foreign countries, these driven individuals still manage to break the limits, adapting and excelling in all forms of society. This phenomenon is not limited only to the United States. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the vast majority of developed countries have a higher growth rate in immigrants than native-born citizens. 

“The United States is a country built on the basis of immigrants, a country that has come forward with the efforts of many people who come with the American dream, seeking a better quality of life,” says Katherine Grullon Cuervo, Colombian-American entrepreneur and business lead at Distrivision, an international wholesale distributorship service supplying Shapewear, Lingerie, Activewear, Body & Garment care to business owners.

Most immigrants from third-world or war-torn countries leave their home nations and relocate to advanced countries in search of stability, greener pastures, and fresh opportunities to put roots down and genuinely thrive, as against merely surviving. The odds aren’t always stacked in their favor and the journey is never easy from the get-go, but perseverance is a quality that’s never lacking within the immigrant community. Tenacity and the ability to scour market opportunities with fresh eyes allow them to create unique micro-niches with massive potential in existing and new markets.

Never settling for the minimum

Distrivision is a franchise that was founded by Maria Ruth Cuervo, Katherine Grullon Cuervo’s mother, a versatile serial entrepreneur who came to America from Colombia. Katherine highlights the immigrant’s perspective of entrepreneurial success from Maria Ruth’s inspiring journey.

As a 13-year-old teenager growing up in Manizales, Colombia, Maria Ruth found her passion in enterprise management while working with her own mother and learning the ropes of the family business. Years later, she decided with her husband to sell everything they owned and migrate to the United States with their children, determined to give their girls the best quality of life within their means. Upon her arrival in the US, Maria Ruth wasted no time securing a job as a factory worker, and even then, her passions continued to soar.

“Starting from the bottom always reminds us where we want to go,” Katherine says. “Knowing where we come from and what we had been through, Maria Ruth, with her hard work was able to get promoted to a new position, although the difference in pay wasn’t a lot. Her entrepreneurial spirit flared, and all she wanted at the time was to find a way to generate better income. This is something that’s ingrained into the mind of the common immigrant – never settle for the bare minimum. We come from places and countries where work is sweated and a lot must be sacrificed for a living to be made. Luckily, other members of our Hispanic community with entrepreneurial passions were able to encourage Maria Ruth to start her own business.”

Infinitely grateful to her community for the motivation and unconditional support, Maria Ruth founded Shapewear Central, a boutique importing figure-shaping garments from Colombia. In due time, Shapewear Central set itself apart as a franchise bringing in high-quality useful products at fair and honest prices, and eventually, aspiring entrepreneurs sought out Maria Ruth for assistance to delve into the business.

With her daughter Katherine working actively in marketing and branding to oversee the transition, Shapewear Central became Distrivision, a distributorship and partnering franchise supplying everything from Shapewear and active wear to lingerie and post-op products. The business now offers employment and identity to hundreds of people across its headquarters and partner stores, founded on a legacy of honesty and transparency.

Systemic obstacles birthing a generation of determined entrepreneurs

A major factor attracting immigrants to entrepreneurship in foreign countries is the inadequacy of education for employment prospects in their home countries. In Colombia and many third-world countries, having a university education or degree certificate is not always a sure bet to getting established in the corporate world. Owning a business or accepting lower-tier employment are usually the only options for families without top-tier connections, and this trend forms a strong mindset within migrating citizens.

Also, many analysts claim employment difficulties are only faced by undocumented immigrants, but in reality, the discrimination spreads wider and also affects fully documented people, including those with permanent residencies.

The immigrant’s eagerness to make an honest and sufficient living is often taken advantage of by dishonest employers. They may be forced to work longer hours at reduced pay, work without employee benefits and insurance, show up on holidays, be kept in the dark about their rights and entitlements, and be subjected to racial discrimination and harassment.

This harsh reality becomes a strong motivation to establish their own businesses, be their own bosses, and provide better opportunities for their community members and other people.

As Katherine recalls, Maria Ruth built her business from scratch on the foundations of honesty, transparency, decency, and trust between the brand, its patrons, and partners. Despite the language being a barrier at first and other trials she faced as a young Hispanic woman in America running an importation business, Maria Ruth was determined to succeed. Holding onto her principles and values, today, she continues to run a business built on passion, grit, and communal love.

Katherine says: “We focused on creating an image that will identify more with what we do, which is wholesale distribution as a company. We focused on the transparency, love, and care with which we work together, along with the tireless effort we put into helping our business partners grow — both the business owner and our suppliers to maximize their results by being transparent and trustworthy.”

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Entrepreneurship

Serge Creator, Founder of Serge Creator Studios, Shares Industry Secrets

Cam Speck

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Every industry has its own set of inside secrets that are essential for the growth of that particular sector. If you can crack the code, you will definitely make it, but if you cannot, you will be amongst the many who tried but failed to achieve what they dreamed.

Similarly, a creative industry like content creation and brand building has secrets and growth-hacks you won’t find on Google. Serge Cheretovich AKA Serge Creator, the mastermind behind Serge Creator Studios, was kind enough to reveal his and his company’s way to success. Read this article to find out what that is.

Serge Creator and Serge Creator Studios

Before jumping to the secrets of success revealed by Serge, let’s find out more about him. After gaining experience in content creation and social media growth for over a decade, Serge, a content creator and visual artist, decided to launch his own company in 2018. And since then, he has been actively invested in transforming the lives of content creators through his creativity and his team’s out-of-the-box ideas.

Now that he has succeeded with his game plan, he is reaching out a helping hand to others like him who want to make a name for themselves in the industry. Serge explains 8 secrets for social media growth and brand building: 

Leverage Creative Tools

As an Innovative Entrepreneur, Serge learned the emphasis of creative tools in Content Creation. He has helped his clients get success with the help of his App SRG+, this app will soon be available to the public and you can pre-order it from the App Store. 

Be Consistent

Serge Emphasises the importance of pushing forward even when success is nowhere to be found. If you are not consistent in what you do, getting the motivation to succeed at any cost can be challenging.

But this doesn’t mean only passion will help. You will also have to develop a routine and stick to it, whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly. This schedule will help build anticipation in your followers and drive them to look forward to your content if you are a creator.

Know Your Audience

According to Serge, you are creating content for your audience, so it is extremely important that you understand them completely. Their likes and dislikes matter the most, and hence before starting anything, see what they are interested in. Your content should gives them value.

Create High-Quality Content

As a content creator, you are expected to deliver original and high-quality content to your audience. Serge recommends doing this with the help of research and creativity.

The reason behind Serge’s soaring success is the quality of his content. You will understand what we mean if you visit his personal website and witness how he creates and edits his videos and images. 

So, ensure your content is informative, attention-grabbing, and original. According to Serge, this may not sound like a secret, but it is the most important ingredient of success in growing your social media accounts.

Embrace Multiple Content Formats

As new forms of content emerge daily for the audience to enjoy, staying updated and experimenting with various formats is essential. Initially, blogs and videos dominated the scene, but shorter videos like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are gaining popularity now. It’s worth exploring these options to discover what resonates with your audience.

Be Authentic

Serge Creator Studios’s success lies in its unchanging authenticity and original content. Authenticity is vital in content creation; that is how Creator Studios could differ from every other Social media management firm.

With your content, focus on showcasing your creativity without being overly concerned about its reception. Instead, embrace the opportunity to express yourself, and you may find that your unique voice and style will captivate viewers in ways you never expected.

Be natural and be yourself while creating, as people are more likely to engage with content that feels humane to them.

Build a Community

The reason why building a community is a great thing is that it helps in connecting with others and making them feel included. But in addition to that, it also creates a loyal and engaged audience. So, encourage your followers to engage with each other and, most importantly, with you.

 

These invaluable industry secrets that have contributed to Serge’s success can also help you build your social media channel and brand. We hope this guide serves as a roadmap for aspiring content creators and brand builders. For further questions, you can reach Serge via their website to learn more.

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