Education & Teaching

Africa: Open for Business: Discover the ABCs….

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Welcome to “AfriCAN” – the can-do continent, the vast, vibrant and diverse continent offering a wealth of human and natural resources that translate into opportunities for business, your business.

Complicated? Not necessarily. Africa, with all its diversity and largesse, can be difficult to understand, to grasp. Just like most new business ventures. However, successful business in Africa is as straightforward as ABC: Appetite, Bandwidth, and Capital.

It starts with growing an Appetite to actually go and build a well-rounded understanding of the reality on the ground today, of who your customers are and what they need, distinguishing between real and perceived risks, and identifying accurate market intelligence.

Then you’ll understand the Bandwidth successful companies give their Africa-focused teams to build relationships and to learn how culture and history influence business, the first place to start your business, and to identify the best type of market entry and business setup.

With the right appetite and bandwidth, you’ll make better decisions regarding Capital which is about more than just the money to run the business. Successful companies invest in social capital, cultural capital, and economic capital.
Throughout the book, you’ll find stories of entrepreneurs, local and global companies – some that have gotten it right and others that did not.

Based on the author’s 30 years of wisdom, successes, experiences, mistakes, stories, and friends she acquired working and living across the continent of Africa, this book challenges perceived ideas of Africa. It is a call to go beyond the imagery of the past and to explore, embrace and invest in “AfriCAN” – the can-do continent.

Meet Deanne De Vries

Dr. Deanne De Vries—who has spent thirty years working and living across Africa for startups (including her own), venture capital firms as well as global non-profits and international organizations—looks at life, and Africa, differently.

With an intimate understanding of the vibrancy, largesse and diversity of Africa’s 55 countries, how this impacts business and where the opportunities lie, her advice and vision changes the way people and companies start, operate and grow their operations across the Continent.

Through the wisdom of African proverbs and many first-hand stories, Deanne, introduces her readers and her audiences to the reality on the ground so they can leave behind the misleading conventional wisdom and outdated images of Africa.

As comfortable climbing to Everest Base Camp to fund raise to build a maternity hospital as she is addressing an audience at Madison Square Gardens, interviewing Heads of State across Africa for her recently completed PhD, or crossing on foot the South Sudan border with Uganda to understand the situation her truck drivers face daily, Deanne looks to understand the “why” of the on-the-ground reality so she can raise others up as well as introduce everyone to AfriCAN: the can-do Continent.

    ALIVE ON PURPOSE: Unclench from Fear and Step Into Your Power Backbone, Heart and Balls

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    Alive On Purpose is a book for men who want to thrive on purpose, get in power and provoke personal freedom through a mission that changes the world.

    This book will inspire and provoke your longing for freedom. If you let it, this book will help you disrupt the lies that have been holding you back, and guide you to the core truth of who you are in your bones.

    Men need to be challenged. Purpose work helps men find the courage to follow their calling and create their unique path of personal mastery & initiation.

    Alive On Purpose is a road map to guide men through passivity, collapse and trauma so they can address what’s holding them back at the level of root cause.

    In these pages I guide and inspire you to embrace the vitality of your purpose as a man. This book simplifies the process of knowing your purpose. Your purpose is the special sauce. Alive On Purpose is the path of initiation & alignment of backbone, heart and balls.

    Allow this book to guide you through your greatest breakthroughs and awakenings.

    This book confronts, challenges, guides and empowers you to:

    • unclench from hidden fears so you can unfold your deeper purpose
    • transform anger into powerful leadership
    • uproot self-doubt & self-sabotage at the level of the deepest level so you can get ALL IN to your unique purpose
    • help you disrupt, with love, the lies you’ve clung to or hidden behind and invite you to take more courageous risks
    • claim your true power by shifting your shame story & becoming unstoppable as you embody your mission
    • unbury your inner king with healthy pride so you can lead & serve at full tilt
    • master the male mode of feeling and desire, the frequency the male body vibrates at
    • pick up your sword and align the powers and path of your backbone, heart & balls

    Alive On Purpose will guide you to transform from being stuck in default purpose to being unapologetically driven by who you are and what you are alive for.

    Brother, the world needs you to penetrate it with your purpose in the most courageous way and this book will guide you through and beyond the obstacles.

    This book is an essential companion for men willing to do the work and become leaders in their life, work and relationships. Alive On Purpose is part of a greater global movement and brotherhood of empowered men living, leading and evolving with fierce love and radical truth.

    This book lights a fire for you to sharpen yourself, as a man, as iron sharpens iron.

    If you’ve been looking to get aligned with your purpose, to become unstoppable and wholehearted deliver your gifts in the world this book is for you. Let’s do this!

    Meet Gabriel Keczan

    Gabriel Keczan is the Founder of Alive On Purpose Coaching for Men, a Writer, Ritual Artist, and Therapist. He was raised with four sisters on a farm in  a large extended family in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. His mission is to impact the lives of one million men by connecting them with love, purpose and power.

    Gabriel guides men through collapse to claim the personal freedom to live a purpose-driven life, as love.

    Gabriel lives with his beautiful wife, two sons, cat and two bonus daughters in the beautiful, small city of Nelson British Columbia, Canada, un-ceded homeland of the Indigenous Sinixt people. In his spare time, he loves exploring the mountains and waters of the region with his family.

    Don’t Buy a New House! BUILD IT

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    Has looking for a new home left you discouraged? You are not alone!
    There are very few good options and buying an over-priced fixer upper is just not appealing.

    But what if I told you:

    • Right now, you can build a great custom home exactly as you’ve imagined and save 10-15% of the cost by doing it yourself!
    • These savings will translate into positive equity from the day you and your family move in to your new house!
    • Lenders are offering great “One & Done” programs that make it easier and cheaper for you to finance construction with a single loan that converts to a regular mortgage.
    • There are great professionals out there who’ll make it easy for you!

    Older homes are now functionally obsolete and with the current shortage of new construction homes, it will take builders years to meet demand.

    Meet Roger Luri

    Roger Luri lives in Chicago with his wife Christine and two sons.

    “Growing up in Chicago, I’ve been intrigued by architecture and building since I was a kid”

    Roger has been in the real estate and development business for well over 30 years. His companies have specialized in home building, real estate development, general contracting, architecture & design and real estate brokerage. He formerly served as a director on the board and on the loan committee of Ravenswood Bank.

      Wake Up : Books For 1, 2, And 3 Year Olds

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      You and your toddler will enjoy endless time together as you read and sing along to the most memorable nursery rhymes around. This beautifully illustrated collection is bound to become your child’s favorite book, as these  rhymes help start them on their reading journey. The content of the books will help develop a child’s imagination, creativity and encourage children to learn new things. A book for children to learn simple things through rhymes and rithmic activity. This book is written for little children, who just starts learning letters and rhyme. We all know that kids love rhymes and rithms, so we made this book with small poems and songs which they can sing along. Each page has a small illustration or image to keep reader engaged in the rhymes.

      Meet Girdhari Mahto

      My priority is to provide good quality.

      Reclaim Your Hero: Transform Your Pain into Power and thrive. Numquam Deficio (Never Quit)

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      As first responders and military we are the heroes for everyone else. We are first on the scene to emergencies at home and abroad.

      So what then do we do when we are drowning and searching for breath?
      What do we do when we can’t escape the shadow that follows us in the sun and the darkness?
      What do we do when our world is spinning out of control and our world is falling apart?

      I know this world. I lived under the rough seas and the shadow of PTS(D) for 10 years. As a Navy Rescue Swimmer with service in the special operations community and as a firefighter, I embraced the suck! It took me 10 years to discover what is embraced, embraces you back. I wrote this book to share my journey and show you it is possible to reclaim fun, fitness and fortitude. It is possible to come out from under the shadow and the depths.

      It is possible to Reclaim Your Hero and transform your pain into power and thrive. Numquam Deficio! Never quit! Hooyah!

      Meet Mathew Grace

      Mathew Grace is a devoted father, a Retired Navy Rescue Swimmer, Professional Firefighter, speaker and mentor. He discovered how to Reclaim his Hero and free himself from a 10 year battle with PTS(D). His mission is to show veterans and first responders how to break through the powerlessness, overwhelm and darkness of PTS(D) so they can reclaim confidence, movement and freedom once again. Hooyah!

        DeltaU: The Change Starts With You

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        To best serve others and achieve our goals, we must maximize our capacity to do work on our surroundings and influence others. DeltaU is a guide to build yourself up and increase your internal energy. Create a change in you!

        Many of us constantly struggle with stagnation without understanding why. DeltaU uses the laws of nature to help explain why we often fail to accomplish our goals. Combining personal stories, modern personal development, and fundamental science, DeltaU provides strategies to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of success, well-being, and fulfillment.

        If you are interested in personal development, DeltaU will offer a unique approach that you have not seen before to transform into a high performing individual that aspires to grow. If you are interested in science, DeltaU will provide you with novel strategies to use that knowledge to better your life. By integrating the world’s of personal development and the fundamentals of scientific knowledge, readers will be inspired to grow and excel in these areas.

        Meet Dan Toogood

        Dan Toogood is a science educator, endurance athlete, and writer from Saskatoon, Canada. He focused most of his teenage life on being a high-performance athlete in track and cross-country. Today, he competes in sprint and Olympic triathlons and road races from 5km to half marathons. After completing a master’s degree in protein biochemistry, the focus of his career pursuits shifted away from research and towards educating and assisting students transitioning to university or who were already in their first year of university. Dan is currently a biology instructor at the Health and Sciences Academy at Bishop James Mahoney High School, a one-of-a-kind program in Canada that offers off-campus university courses to high-school seniors. In his classroom, he aims to pass on the growth mindset and share the many lessons he has learned in life to allow students to elevate their standards and then push to reach them.

        Mastering Your Life Through Self-Coaching: The Tactical Guide to Get You to Show Up and Earn the Right to Be a Leader of Leaders

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        You might want to take control of your health, spend more quality time with your family, and develop your leadership skills so you can confidently help others, but you’re unsure how to do that with all the stress from your career and the demand on your time. You might feel like you’re constantly stuck in your head, beating yourself up or feeling like an imposter, which causes you to feel overwhelmed and lack self-confidence. Or maybe you want to be an exceptional leader at both work and home so you can make the kind of impact you really want to make. If so, you sound very much like I did. I wanted to not only feel successful, I wanted to be significant. Not just at work or home, but both. “Create a legacy” sort of thing…. But I was messing it all up. Sound like you too?

        If so, chances are you’re asking yourself if that’s even possible for you. I want you to know this is not the way it needs to be, and it is possible for you. This book was created after helping thousands of others in our crazy career turn it around, just like it helped me. Discover the framework we used to get into incredible shape, connect better with our family, develop our leadership, and manage our time without taking away from the other important areas of our lives. Dive in, it’s time for you to get some help and become a MASTER at self-coaching too.

        Meet Marc Hildebrand

        Marc Hildebrand is a husband, father, Certified PUSH + LIFE Coach Instructor, and current Law Enforcement Officer of 19 years who struggled through self sabotage for decades. After discovering what was truly holding him back, he was able to take his life back by navigating a 100 pound weight loss journey, creating better connection with his wife and kids, and showing up as a more confident LEADER in all areas of his life. He now coaches other LEADERS how to MASTER their mindset and actions, so they can reach their full potential in every area of their life!

        Contrast Brings Clarity: The Unexpected Path that Led Me to Homeschooling

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        Does one size really fit all? As lovely as that might sound, people come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. It is therefore virtually impossible to design a clothing item that can truly fit all people. In reality, the ‘one size fits all’ ideal is actually designed to fit sizes within a specific range.

        Much like clothing items, traditional education centers around a ‘one size fits all’ methodology. As a result, a single-core teaching model is used for all students, regardless of their individual learning style. And this applies to teaching styles as well as to student evaluations. So, as a parent, what do you do when your child does not fit into that one core teaching model?

        In Contrast Brings Clarity, Teressa answers that very question. Her courageous response completely changed the course of her life — and that of her son. While she struggled to build a suitable educational experience for him, Teressa overcame countless obstacles and, in due course, answered the homeschooling call. Eventually, side by side, mother and son embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.

        Along her incredible journey, Teressa learned numerous strategies that helped her son succeed academically — and she would like to share those strategies with you.

        Meet Teressa Kennedy

        Hello Friends!

        My name is Teressa and I am a proud homeschool mom, entrepreneur, and author with a passion for education.

        At this point on our homeschooling journey, I feel it’s necessary to share our story with the goal of helping parents, and educators like yourself, work towards building stronger partnerships between schools and families in our mission to educate our children. From my personal experience, children learn best when parents, educators, other family members, and community members work together to encourage and support them along their journey.

        As parents, we want the best for our children, but sometimes we stand in our own way by solely relying on our experiences to help educate them. My son gave me gentle reminders to show me that he and I have two different learning styles. As much as I tried to teach him the way I was taught, it was not effective. Also, I came to the realization that I had limitations, and needed others to help support my son and me along our educational journey.

        We have an amazing village of fellow parent educators, family members, teachers, and clients who all share the same vision about supporting our children’s unique educational journey.

        I hope our story will encourage you.

        All the best,
        Teressa

        The Sensitive Stone: A Transformational Journey to Discovering your Inner Rock

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        In the eyes of many, people who are too emotional are coined too sensitive. They do not have a “backbone” and need to have “thick skin”. While this is true that we are “too sensitive”, it is also true that we have this amazing ability to constantly overextend ourselves to help others through their trials and tribulations. We love too hard, lose ourselves in other people’s ideas of us, and exhaust ourselves, succumbing to emotional and mental instability such as having meltdowns, anxiety, and anger issues.

        This “journeying” is for those who are ready to transition from being the go-to doormat to becoming the STONE that courageously and unapologetically says “NO!” It is for those who have reached their limits and are ready to cultivate and master the art of their own truth and happiness.

        Part 1: Being a Sensitive one—You discover the patterns leading to the detrimental habits that caused you to lose yourself.

        Part 2: Becoming a Sensitive Stone—you learn to “toughen up” while maintaining your compassion.

        Part 3: Balancing the Stone—with any power there is balance that must be exercised otherwise you risk losing yourself again.

        Part 4: Affirmations and Practices—These little gems remind you of your efforts no matter how small they are and help you continue to grow into the self you are meant to be!

        As one embarks on this journey, they are still maintaining their compassionate nature, but through their newfound inner strength, they will live confidently, boldly, and peacefully.

        Here’s to you!

        Meet Tamika Thomas

        T. S. Thomas has been a frequent contributor for Flawless-Life Magazine as a Lifestyle Content Writer, focusing on emotional and spiritual well-being. Since then spiritual growth has continued to be her focus. Embarking on her own journey to discovering inner peace, she found her true purpose—to experience the beauty of life and to guide others through their trials so they may embark on their own journey to discovering inner peace. To showcase her level of creativity, she has also attended The Institute of Children’s Literature and though her focus is in the non-fiction arena, she has written a fiction novel, “The Black Stone”, which largely touches on developing self as it brings the characters from the pains and struggles of life to the gains of strength and courage.  

        “Writing is all I’ve ever known, and I find that words are the healing stones for the most helpless of souls and the most dying of hearts. If your will and desire to transform your life are as strong as your pain, then there is a jewel to be found in the darkest corner of your life.” -T. S. Thomas

        30 Christmas Recipes for Kids

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        We all love our kids, but we also need to show them time to time that how much they mean to us and there is nothing more special you can do than creating a custom made menu dedicated to the kids during the holidays! Gifts are, of course, a big part of the holidays but food can also serve as a great way to show your love to them.

        Meet Menchenia Viktor

        My cookbooks cover all topics and all subjects. If you want to dive deep into the possibilities of cooking with any type of ingredients. If you are looking for great tasting pressure cooker recipes or authentic ethical and cultural dishes. I will offer you a delicious and simple cookbook.