Magazine Articles

Tatiana Alekseev with New Image Works for Lufian

A Self-Made Entrepreneur’s Journey to the Top 10 in the US | Interview with Tatiana Alexeev

By Kristina Lufian June 9, 2024 1120

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDRII IVANCHENKO

With passion, determination and vision, she built a successful business in a few short years.

Her story will not only inspire you but may even convince some of us that we are dreaming too small or help us realize that our obstacles are often just excuses. If you say these are just loud words, then explain how a single mother was able to establish a fast-growing business without knowing English and how through her exhausting never-ending schedule she remains an upbeat and enthusiastic person. A dreamer? A fighter? Or maybe a miracle-maker?

I couldn’t help but ask myself this question while talking to Tatiana Alexeev, owner of “New Image Works”, one of the country’s top medical spas, who has raised a daughter on her own and achieved impressive business success while doing it.

She did not become dejected as a result of the unfair world, despite challenging circumstances as an immigrant and years of hardship. Quite the contrary, she became one of the most successful individuals in Chicago. She has led an extraordinary life.

I had the opportunity to meet her and ask the question we all want to know, “How did you achieve all of that?”. In this exclusive interview with Tatiana Alekseev, you’ll discover what helped her persevere and what catapulted her success as a businesswoman and hopefully help you understand what a dream big attitude can do for you.

“This business introduced me to wonderful, fascinating people which has made the experience memorable for me.

Our team had the privilege of meeting two absolutely wonderful doctors who run charities for disadvantaged children in Vietnam and organize a week of free treatments in a hospital in Hoi Ann every year (before the pandemic). They donate their own money, time, resources and enormous dedication to helping children with cleft palates and upper lid ptosis. Hundreds of people seek out their services each year. We were fortunate to join their group in 2019 and help with everything we could – from surgery assistance to taking photographs.

The local people’s response amazed us the most – everywhere we went in town, we encountered people recognizing our crew and thanking us in the most sincere way. This was the most emotional and powerful trip of our lifetime! The opportunity to meet such inspiring people only makes me love this business even more!”

The medical spa has locations in Chicago & Glenview, IL and Miami FL.

Schedule a consultation & determine the right treatment plan for you.

newimageworks.com

Natalie Martinez from NBC 5 with Lufian Magazine

Lufian Stars Magazine Articles

Natalie Martinez: Breaking News and Loving It

By Lufian Staff November 3, 2023 3556

Lights, Camera, Action!

When most people are settling in for the night getting ready for bed, Natalie Martinez is likely smack in the middle of the night’s top breaking news. An NBC 5 News reporter, who has dedicated her life to being a professional journalist, has a list of accomplishments each of which deserves its own discussion. She is now a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, been named one of Chicago’s Most Influential Women according to “I’m Every Woman Expo” of March 2011, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and the Chicago Chapter President in 2016.

She enjoys a successful career, popularity, a happy family, numerous vacations on exotic islands and gets to display her bright smile on your TV screen five days a week – this is how we see Natalie Martinez. At first glance, it may seem her successes came easy, but what’s behind that success? The Lufian star has a very passionate story of sweat, tears, dedication and constant sacrifice to share with our readers. But as she emphasizes, this journey is a big part of who she is and why she considers her profession one of the best in the world, and the only one for her.

Unexpected Inspiration

Many assume that successful people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth or that fate has continually smiled upon them. Not so with Natalie. The choice to become a journalist was not always an obvious one to her. As a sophomore in college, she had initially decided to follow her father into his dentistry practice. Unexpected circumstances, being in the right place with the right people, changed the course of Natalie’s life. She recounted, “…my boyfriend at the time was the youngest of 8. He took me to all his family functions. I found myself essentially interviewing his eldest brother, Ed, about his job at every function.” Her instinctual curiosity and those experiences interviewing Ed helped Natalie to realize there was something else out there that she not only had a skill for, but which awakened a passion. It was a passion to meet new people, learn new things, get to the bottom of issues, and… find the truth.

It’s not everyone’s grind, but it is for me.

Natalie Martinez

What’s Behind The Camera?

Do you think that being a reporter and a television news anchor is the ultimate dream job? Natalie confessed to Lufian that although the viewers only see the end production of her work on a 30-minute newscast, the work that goes behind the scenes is very challenging and tests one’s nerves and health. “You always have the challenge of making dead finding a bathroom, a hot meal, any meal and an obliging interviewee. Finding a safe place to work and conduct interviews can be a challenge, especially when covering breaking news.” It takes more than a college degree to be a real journalist. Natalie told us that a journalist often experiences ugly scenarios and sometimes exposes themselves to life-threatening situations. This often comes with considerable mental strain and one has to be mentally resilient.

“You don’t get training to be a first responder or psychologist, but oftentimes you have to behave like one and really just be there for the victims who are going through so much.” Martinez explained that sometimes you have to put aside your role as a reporter, remember that you are a human being and be present for the person that needs you to just listen.

I was not sure if I was going to be a journalist. But, now I can’t imagine any other life.

Natalie Martinez

Uncovering and reporting the news demands every minute of your attention. “News waits for no one, and certainly for no holiday,” she emphasized. Due to her dedication to her profession, Martinez has sacrificed many comforts of life and also many of those cherished special moments millions of us take for granted during the holidays. She looked back at her 25 years in the industry and remembered working through the nights, the 3 a.m. mornings, most weekends and missing out on many holidays with her friends and family. The bright side? As with many jobs, as one gains seniority, those sacrifices can decrease significantly.

Family

Martinez and her Brazilian husband Flavio Gama lived in separate countries for 12 years while maintaining their strong relationship. In 2013, Flavio moved to Chicago and soon thereafter, at the age of 46, Natalie Martinez Gama gave birth to their baby girl.

After years of striving to become the best journalist she could be, her new challenge was to somehow maintain the work ethic that got her where she was, all while raising her child with her husband. But just as in the early part of her career, she found the way. Natalie emphasizes that you must have endless love for the job to bear the challenges it presents. Raising a family is clearly one of those challenges given her career obligations, but the support of her family is invaluable and she uses it as one of the best ways to recharge. She and Flavio are real examples that love can’t be contained by borders and that if you want to make something work, you can, even though it may not be the traditional path.

Hazards of the Job

As one might expect, pregnancy didn’t stop Natalie from pursuing her passion and she worked until the latter stages of her pregnancy. She recounted, “Toward the end of my pregnancy, I was covering stories where I probably should not have been. But I would not encourage anyone to follow suit. In fact, I remember one live shot where I was so pregnant that I had to use the ladies’ room every hour. I was not drinking enough water, because I knew that would force me to be near a bathroom, which I could not realistically do.

Was it life or death? No. But is that something that every 8-month pregnant woman is willing to do? Probably not. It’s something for you to consider if you would like to truly be a roving reporter.”

Mental Resilience

Journalism is no doubt an interesting and exciting career path, but to be successful you must be motivated and dedicated. It’s not easy to understand the rollercoaster of emotions that goes along with being a reporter. One day you may be reporting on the death of a child, the next on the 100th birthday of someone’s grandfather. You need to be able to tell both stories with the appropriate and sincere emotion. Natalie explains, “When faced with the task of telling someone’s story, I’m always motivated. Getting to work, some days, especially after covering particularly horrible stories, is difficult. But once I’m there and someone needs me, I’m fully there. It’s likely the only time they’ll ever have the nerve to go on camera. If I don’t tell their truth, they likely won’t get another shot. I take the responsibility very seriously and am always present for someone who entrusts me with their time and emotions.”

Natalie also shared the importance of maintaining her professionalism in the face of personal adversity. When her beloved cat Nigel was howling from cancer that would soon consume him, Natalie managed to go on air and conduct an interview. Mindset is crucial to professionalism and to Natalie. She told herself, “Focus, Natalie. Flavio is comforting Nigel. Nothing you can do at this moment.”

Part of a journalist’s job is to live through the very difficult moments experienced by the heroes and honestly and accurately share their stories. According to Natalie, when she meets people experiencing gut-wrenching tragedy, it reminds her to always keep things in perspective. “As bad as I may perceive my day is going, it’s usually not as bad as what my interviewee is going through. And THEY are the ones who need support and full attention, even if it’s only for 10 minutes.”

When faced with the task of telling someone’s story, I’m always motivated. Getting to work, some days, especially after covering particularly horrible stories, is difficult. But once I’m there and someone needs me, I’m fully there.

Natalie Martinez

for aspiring journalists

Tips From Natalie Martinez

Do:

Use the amazing services and mentors at organizations like the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (“NAHJ”), the National Association of Black Journalists (“NABJ”), the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (“NLGJA”) and the Asian American Journalists Association (“AAJA”). Natalie adds that such organizations can be of great assistance for your career. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists can also be an incredibly valuable tool for college students. They give away thousands of dollars in scholarships yearly, money that Natalie’s local chapter earns solely for the purpose of redirecting to aspiring journalists. If journalism is your path, please use the services of organizations like NAHJ. You will not regret it;
Trust your gut, your instinct could be your best asset as a reporter;
Be honest with yourself and others;
Know your surroundings, and what It’s going to take to get the story safely;
Learn from your mistakes;
Accept help and constructive criticism;
Try;
See a hole? Fill it;
Prepare to live on the skinny for a few years;
Volunteer. Rewards far outweigh the effort;
Lend your voice, especially if you’re in a public position, to those who don’t have one;
Stay focused;
Stay hungry.

Don't:

Do it because you want to be on tv. It’s just a very small fraction of your workday;
Be above starting in a small market where you can make mistakes and learn;
Give up;
Expect to make millions;
Depend too much on others. Try to be self-sufficient;
Whine. Your boss has heard it all;
Compare your work situation with others. Natalie says, “This was the best advice that I got from a General manager many years ago. He is still incredibly successful and has nurtured the careers of many. You have no idea what somebody else’s contract or personal situation might be, and you should never compare what you have at work, to them. Ever.”

One of the things that’s so exhilarating about this job is that you are in the middle of the news as it’s happening. You have an incredible responsibility to give the information as best you can gather. That challenge of getting to the bottom of something, or at least trying, and sharing what you’ve learned with the viewers, is the reason I think many of us do what we do. It’s important and I encourage the next generation of journalists to go for it with everything you’ve got!

Natalie Martinez

Do you wonder if you are born to be a journalist? Could you see yourself in the middle of a crime scene, a victory parade, or how about a social uprising not knowing what could happen next? Would you enjoy your lifestyle, or do you need a desk and standard set of monthly “to-do’s”? Our Lufian star says:

“At the end of the day, it can be the most fulfilling and best job in the world. I’m so honored to have a career that I also happen to love. Anyone who is handed a microphone should, in my opinion, use that power to do good.”

I was not sure if I was going to be a journalist. But, now I can’t imagine any other life. Yes, you can master self-discipline and enjoy the lifestyle of meeting deadlines. Yes, you can! Si se puede!

Natalie Martinez

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By Yuliya Kralevska, Sofiya Chlyoupek and Kristina Lufian

Boost Brainpower Magazine Articles

Enhancing Your Cognitive Ability: Exercises That Boost Your IQ

By Vita Kushmyruk October 9, 2021 1520

Have you ever taken an IQ test? If not, you probably should take a little more interest in your IQ level. According to Ken Richarpeople’s and Sarah H. Norgate’s research, people with higher IQ tend to be more successful at work.

Although IQ is not the only factor that defines your exceptional job performance, it’s still one of the most important things employers look at. After all, the higher one’s IQ is, the better the reasoning and problem-solving skills they have. What employer wouldn’t want that?

Less than 1% of people get to be called “very gifted”, meaning they scored 140 points or more on an IQ test. Around 51% of people on the planet have average intelligence (90-110). The good thing is, anybody’s brain can be trained.

So, here are 5 effective exercises you can do to boost your cognitive abilities:

1. Learn both poetry and prose

Nowadays rote learning is perceived as an antonym to so-called “meaningful learning”. But don’t be fooled: simple old-fashioned memorization can truly boost your brain function. According to career educator Ben Jonson, a brain is a learning tool, and it requires active effort to push things into short-term memory.

It takes even more work to memorize information long-term. Irish research showed that learning by repetition improves neuronal plasticity in the brain since it activates memory structures in the hippocampal foundation.

2. Take Up Basic Neurobics

Neurobics includes a great deal of non-routine exercises that can keep your brain fit. Most exercises require breaking a pattern and doing common things the hard way, helping you build new neural pathways. They can be as simple as shopping at a new store, changing your usual way of working or taking a shower with your eyes closed.

What does it have to do with anything? According to the co-creator of this term Lawrence Katz, Ph.D., neurotics can prepare our brain for meeting various challenges whether it’s memorizing someone’s name, fulfilling creative tasks at work or mastering a new computer program.

3. Start Meditating

It’s hard to believe that being so still can actually improve your brain activity. However, a 2010 study by a group of American neurobiologists and psychologists says that meditating for just 20 minutes a day can improve your fluid intelligence. Fluid intelligence stands for the ability to solve problems and find new logical ways to deal with day-to-day situations. To get better at those, you have to meditate regularly.

4. Learn To Play A Musical Instrument

Music can stimulate your brain function in a unique way because you develop an emotional connection with it, says a neuropsychologist at the University of Westminster, Catherine Loveday. While playing a musical instrument, a person engages multiple senses (like vision, hearing and touch) to perceive information.

That’s why learning to play a musical instrument increases grey matter volume in different regions of the brain. Studies by German neurologists have shown that regular and intensive music training can even impact brain structure, enlarging certain parts.

Learn how to boost your brainpower with music in the Lufian Magazine Issue No.6.

5. Carry On With A Life-Long Education

It’s highly recommended for young adults to stay at school as long as possible. Studies have shown that each year of school gives you on average 3,5 additional IQ points. However, even if you’re out of college, it doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. Take up informal education: take a professional course once in a while, read books or watch shows related to your field and choose a mentally challenging career.

There are hundreds of various IQ tests on the Internet. However, most of them are only there to obtain web traffic, says neuroscientist Dean Burnett. Do not waste your time on unsupervised online tests with automatic scoring. If you want to check your IQ and get decent results, try tests accepted by Mensa. Mensa is the world’s oldest and largest high IQ society that’s only open to individuals who get over 98 points on their IQ tests.

Two truly great minds Albert Einstein and Steven Hawking believed the main trait of intelligent people is the ability to change and to adapt to change. Indeed, only those who stay open-minded, eager to solve new problems and acknowledge their mistakes can learn continuously and become highly intelligent. So, quoting Steve Jobs: “Stay hungry, stay foolish,” and use our tips to boost your brainpower!

From the April 2020 Issue No.4 of Lufian Magazine

Lufian Stars Magazine Articles

Consuelo Vega: The Story Of A Small-town Girl Who Makes It To Hollywood

By Kristina Lufian July 12, 2021 1547

Downtown Chicago. Frozen Lake Michigan and the bright lights of the Chicago skyline. She is taking in the view and savoring her second cup of cappuccino. Today like never, she is ready to share her story with the world. A story that reminds me of a Hollywood movie script that she’s been hiding for many years.

Here in front of me at the coffee table, I see a self-confident beaming blonde that proudly introduces herself as a Mexican film actress and a businesswoman. In her background, over 14 of her movies are listed on the IMDB, and her image represents only success, recognition and admiration.

In this perfect picture, for the first time, while she remains in the United States, she is about to reveal how overcoming barriers of a very humble beginning, she’s built herself and the life she always wanted. And here she is, Consuelo Vega, in a world of contrasts, confesses to Lufian Magazine that her current image of success actually came from an extremely poor childhood in a small Mexican town.

While she’s celebrating her life today, she recalls the years of sleeping with her parents and siblings in her auntie’s garage without any beds and a barely-working fan in tremendously hot weather. “As a kid, I never had a big appetite, so luckily our family not having enough food on the table was never a problem for me. And now, I am definitely making up for all those years of not eating enough,” she says laughing.

Living in a small garage, little Consuelo didn’t know anything about the limits of her dreams. She would write story after story, converting them into scripts and asking her friends to rehearse the plays with her. She assured all of her neighbors that very soon she would be a famous actress.

Nobody would imagine that years later, the little girl’s fantasy would become her reality. Living her dream in the movie industry today, Vega has worked in films in Hollywood, Bollywood, as well as for Hispanic films and stage plays with highly renowned Hispanic actors.

“Lo mas sencillo es complicarlo todo,” one of her latest projects, has become the 3rd most successful movie of the month in Mexico after it hit movie theaters; currently being broadcasted on Netflix. Her most recent film “Tijuana, I love you” is soon to be released in movie theaters also and has already been acquired by Netflix.

Millions of people in the world don’t even dare to dream of Hollywood and an acting career thinking it’s unreachable. And most of those who do try, focus too much on the fame and luxurious lifestyle which rarely results in any success on the big screen. The reality of this career is that statistically less than 1% of actors ever make it. Vega confesses that due to its highly competitive industry, an actor that chases fame and money without a passion for the craft simply gets “a ticket to frustration instead of enjoying the journey of an acting career.”

Keep learning. You’re never fully grown as an artist.

Consuelo Vega

Very often you are not taken seriously. Outside of Hollywood, many people tell Consuelo that acting is not a serious career. Very little do they know that besides being an actress, she has a college degree, runs her own businesses and dedicates months of each year to filming. “I must confess, even being a business owner and making a living from it, I was never able to escape my heart from being an actress. I truly believe we can succeed at anything we commit and work hard at,” she tells Lufian Magazine.

I do not regret even for a minute my decision of getting a degree in accounting and finance first, as it is something I enjoy as well. It also helped me get on my feet and overcome poverty.

Vega believes that managing her own business has helped her acting career to a great extent, as it allowed her to work in a more relaxed environment, to reduce uncertainties and stresses about the future.

This is a question she gets early and often. Many have the false impression that “it’s enough to be attractive” or “it’s all about connections.” Well, Consuelo Vega belongs to the 1% that made it and is ready to share all the tips and secrets with Lufian readers on how to become an actor and, moreover, how to get a real role in a film.

Sorry to disappoint you, but the answer is very simple, yet most realistic: “You do so only by getting trained, getting good at what you do and keep polishing your craft.” Because no matter how good connections you have and how good-looking you are, you can’t get a role if your talent can’t support it. “The same way having a connection in a hospital wouldn’t give you a job as a doctor if you don’t have the proper training in med school,” Consuelo assures. In this regard, acting is no different than any other occupation.

The beauty of acting practices is that one can always boost brain power such as memory, productivity, improvisation and creativity. In other words, acting is like an entertaining brain exercise.

Actress Consuelo Vega didn’t stop at acting. Very soon in the film industry, she discovered a new passion for photography, video storytelling and editing.

Today, not only you can find her in front of the camera but behind it as well. “As a storyteller, I now film videos and take artistic pictures to share with my followers on social media. Through my camera lens, I aim to inspire them and make them feel something by sharing my journey as an actress and my love for traveling,” she tells Lufian Magazine.

You are personally invited to connect with Consuelo Vega on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook under @ConsuelovVegaMX and get inspired by her content. “Photographs are the pause button of life so we can savor moments,” she describes her works.

In the meantime, stay tuned for the release of the new movie “Tijuana, I love you!” featuring Consuelo Vega. She promises an exciting project with seven stories tied together, each of which has an intriguing and unexpected ending. You can easily find it on Netflix soon after its release in movie theatres.