November
5, 2018

4 min read

Credit Charlie Moyer’s father for sparking his interest in all things beard-related. “I was really just curious if I would look like my dad, because I had never known him without a beard,” says the military veteran and founder of Badass Beard Care, maker of all-natural beard grooming products. “I’d wanted to grow my beard out since I was able to grow facial hair.”

Moyer’s dreams of growing what he calls “god-like facial hair” were put on hold when 9/11 happened, and he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. “I grew my beard out whenever I could,” he tells Entrepreneur, “while underway on our ship, or on leave. But the longest I was ever able to do it was about two weeks.”

Related: The Most Successful Companies Led by Entrepreneurs 

After being medically discharged in 2014 due to injuries sustained while serving, Charlie was finally able to start on his personal beard journey. He quickly realized, however, the products out there weren’t quite good enough, and he began making his own oils and balms. Today, Badass Beard Care offers premium beard oils, balms, waxes and washes in 13 scents, deodorant, tools and more.

Image credit: Badass Beard Care

How did Moyer go from experimenting at home to forming a business that grossed $1.5 million in the first year and is projected to gross $3.5 million in year four? Thank the time he spent in the Coast Guard. As we celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week from November 5 to 9, learn how Moyer’s military experience helped define his entrepreneurial journey.

1. He listened to his commanding officer.

“My wife was not keen on the idea of me growing my beard out, so she insisted that I get some kind of product to make it softer and look well groomed. I couldn’t find anything in the stores, and online products had hit-or-miss reviews, so I decided to make my own.”

2. He shared his product with fellow vets.

“That’s really how this turned into a business, sharing samples at the local veteran’s center. A little product goes a very long way, so I was happy to share. Soon after, they started asking to purchase some for friends and family, and even their roommates who tried the samples started asking to make purchases. I eventually put the products online so that I could just mail the products, which made it easier.”

Related: How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money

3. He knew how to adapt.

“The ability to adapt and overcome is something that I attribute to my military service, and that has been a big help with learning everything there is to know about running a business. I think it also helped me to gain a sense of self-accountability, which is extremely important in the success of a small business.”

4. He utilized federal programs.

“A lack of experience in retail, business or entrepreneurship can be a hinderance. However, there are several local and federal programs designed to help vets transition into the civilian workforce, and even to start a business. There are also reduced or waived fees in some cases that can help get the business off the ground.”

Related: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader

5. He understood the two keys to success. 

“A good product and great customer service. Businesses grow with word of mouth more than anything else, and reviews can make or break you. Customer service is the key to making people want to talk about and share your product or service. It shows in reviews and repeat purchases. And remember, a well-groomed beard invites confidence, and people see that confidence. Any beard can be badass; all you really need is to believe it yourself.”

October
31, 2018

6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Many entrepreneurs and business owners believe that a company’s “brand” is simply the company’s name and logo. That’s not true, of course: A brand is more than just its underlying company’s name and logo.

Yet, it’s also true that that a name and business logo are key ambassadors for a brand, so it’s important that both be strong.

Related: Top 10 Reasons to Rebrand Your Business (Infographic)

Your company’s own brand is the sum total of the experiences your customers and prospects have with your company. A good brand communicates what your company does and how it does it. A good brand also establishes trust and credibility with your prospects and customers. And because a brand evolves over time, many companies, including some of the most successful ones, rebrand.

You may have noticed recent rebrands by Dunkin’ Donuts, Weight Watchers, Uber, Unilever and others. That’s why it’s worthwhile to look closely at why companies rebrand and what your own company should know to successfully rebrand your business. When should a company even consider rebranding? Here are ways you can know when the time is right.

Companies should rebrand to better differentiate from the competition. 

If your company name is generic and similar to that of other businesses, you’re hurting your brand. A generic logo will similarly hurt your brand. A related problem occurs when you use stock art in your branding or marketing materials: You may be hurting your brand because everyone recognizes stock art when they see it; and those photos may turn up being used by your competitors.

This is where rebranding comes in: It can help your business stand out from your competitors’ by showcasing the things that make your company different and better.

Even the best companies change their brand identity. For example, did you know that Google started with the name “Backrub” or that Accenture started out as “Andersen Consulting”? It’s not unusual for a company to outgrow its name and look for a fresh, unique business name that can help grow its business. Maybe it’s time that your company do the same.

Companies should rebrand to give new life to outdated branding. 

It’s possible that your Comic Sans font, flash-based website or 1990s color palette is dragging your brand down and making your business look outdated. What are you going to do? The answer is “rebrand,” something even the most successful businesses do, as seen from the various iterations of the Airbnb logo:

Smart companies rebrand because they know that good design can make or break a business, because they know they’ve outgrown their original mission. Maybe your business started off selling personalized t-shirts, but now you want to add customized coffee mugs. If your branding revolves around t-shirts, customers won’t know that they can look to you for mugs, too.

This is a common problem,. and we always advise clients to make sure their business name is not too narrow or literal.

Related: 5 Signs It’s Time to Rebrand Your Company

Companies should rebrand to outgrow their poor reputation.

Uber’s recent brand overhaul was necessary to break ties with its bad reputation and visibly demonstrate a commitment to a new, improved culture. If your business is struggling to overcome a negative reputation, a rebrand can help consumers see you in a fresh new light.

Companies should rebrand when their business evolves.

Sometimes, a business gets the opportunity to expand or target a new market. When that happens, it’s important to ensure that your new customers and prospects can connect with your brand. That’s what happened with Pabst Blue Ribbon, a low-price U.S. beer popular with fraternities and hipsters. China’s version of PBR — the stately sounding Pabst Blue Ribbon 1844 — sells for $44 a bottle!

This happened because Pabst saw a chance to re-market itself to the Chinese craft beer market — a market unaware of its budget reputation in the United States. By doing its homework, Pabst expanded into a new demographic and significantly grew its business.

6 things your company needs to know to rebrand successfully

1. Start by understanding your mission and values. Before you rebrand, it’s crucial that you clearly understand your company’s mission and values. Consider and assess what makes your company special. Why does your company exist, and what values does it have that are essential?

2. Develop a rebranding strategy that works with your existing branding. Many companies don’t have the luxury of starting from a clean slate. If you’re doing a partial rebrand, make sure to take the existing brand assets into account. BrandExtract, a branding firm with over a century of experience, explained why consistent branding is important, saying:

A consistent brand helps increase the overall value of your company by reinforcing your position in the marketplace, attracting better quality customers with higher retention rates and raising the perceived value of your products or services …. In contrast, erratic,
inconsistent behavior quickly leads to confusion and mistrust.

3. Consider the market and your competition. Before you rebrand, do your due diligence. Research what your competition does. Determine how you stand apart from your competitors, and what your true value proposition is. It’s vital that your new brand be fresh and relevant, but not so of-the-moment that it ends up looking dated too quickly.

4. Collaborate with your team. Your brand may be one of your most important company assets, but just as valuable are the people that help grow your business every day. Include voices from across your company: Some of the best ideas and most valuable feedback come from departments you might not expect.

5. Manage the rebrand carefully. A rebrand is often a complex and lengthy endeavor. Without a careful plan of attack and a well-managed process, the rebrand can quickly go off the rails. Set deadlines and mitigate going down those pesky rabbit holes with a well thought-out project plan.

6. Launch your rebrand and tell the world. Even the most incredible rebrand is wasted if you never actually launch it. Make sure you plan your rebrand launch and be prepared to explain why you rebranded. Minimize the risk of customer confusion through a carefully planned launch that showcases the story behind the rebrand.

Related: Dunkin’ Donuts Announces Big Rebrand. 3 Things to Know Today.

A rebrand is a declaration of your company’s commitment to upward growth. Change is never easy, but sometimes, as the song goes, a change will do you good.

October
30, 2018

8 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

I just got back from my honeymoon to Egypt and the Seychelles islands, and it was life-changing. As I flew and traveled to my various destinations, I thought about traveling as an entrepreneur and how it’s been one of the best ways to grow personally and professionally. While a number of my trips in the U.S. and abroad were for personal reasons instead of business purposes, they all had an impact on how I ran my companies and my view on the world.

Here are some of the reasons why I believe traveling as an entrepreneur is vital to success and a few of the places I recommend visiting.

It’s easier and cheaper than ever.

First off, it’s easier and cheaper than ever to travel anywhere in the world. Personally, I like to ball out when I travel, but if you’re a bootstrapped entrepreneur, there are hundreds of different tools that can make your trip easy and affordable.

Kayak and Google Flights allow you to find the most affordable airfare possible.

Related: 5 Science-Proved Reasons Vacation Will Boost Your Brain

Entrepreneur travel hack: I put everything I charge on one business credit card that provides a ton of benefits and points. Using one credit card for all of my company’s charges creates a massive influx of points that can be used for airfare or lodging. I recommend United’s Visa or if you have the spend, the Centurion by AMEX.

While booking my most recent trip I used Booking and noticed that the site let me schedule a pickup and dropoff ride for the same price I’d pay for Uber or Lyft. So, instead of waiting for my Uber, my driver waited for me. This made the whole taxing process painless. I dug around and found out the service was offered by Mozio. They power Booking, along with Hotels.com, SkyScanner, Despagar and a slew of others who’ve integrated with their API, making it easy for travelers to schedule ground transport rides. As an entrepreneur, I’m always looking for ways to save time and cut redundant corners. Being able to book and schedule everything from one site, at the same price, was a big win in my book. You can see the excitement on my face below. 

Also, you don’t have to book a hotel anymore and can use Airbnb pretty much anywhere, if that’s your cup of tea. Its experiences are super cool too, which allow you to book activities at your travel destination. I’ve used it a handful of times, and have been more than satisfied each time.

You see the world from a different perspective.

If your business does any work with another country, you need to see the world from their point of view. It doesn’t matter if you’re outsourcing, purchasing products or selling your merchandise to those outside the U.S., it helps to learn how people approach life in general. This can help you with negotiations, marketing and understanding your customer in general.

I recently went to Spain. I have clients in Spain, and to see how they conduct themselves, the culture firsthand, and the day-to-day life of how people interact opened up my eyes. My clients are typically hard to get a hold off late in the afternoon. I’ve obviously known of the Spanish Siesta (translated to nap in Spanish), but until I was actually there in person, I couldn’t grasp the magnitude of what it meant. Siesta typically lasts from about 2 to 5 p.m. and pretty much everything shuts down: restaurants, businesses, even public transportation. If it wasn’t for going there and witnessing this in person, I don’t think I ever would’ve truly understood why I couldn’t reach my clients daily during their late afternoon.

Related: 7 Entrepreneurs Who Built Businesses Off Their Love of Travel

I also went to the Bahamas a few months ago. I stayed at the beautiful Baha Mar hotel, which was gorgeous and new, with a ton of delicious restaurants and a manmade coral reef on their beach. I highly recommend it if traveling to Nassau. While there, I snorkeled with all types of animals from squid, to sea turtles and even sharks. Snorkeling with sharks was incredible — being with sharks underwater created a million different feelings for me. I realized there were a lot of feelings that can be associated with starting a new business or daily emotions I experience as an entrepreneur, such as excitement, fear and uncertainty. Once we were done, I had a bunch of new ideas and mapped out a growth plan for one of my companies that had been an ongoing obstacle leading up to the trip.

The different perspective can be culturally or a natural shift in thinking like being underwater with a bunch of sharks. Regardless, the shift that occurs will benefit areas of your business you may not even imagine.

You’ll get inspired.

When you see the same things every day, you tend to get stuck in a rut. Traveling will open you up to new experiences that will inspire you. You may come up with a new product idea or see a way of solving a challenge you’ve been facing. Often, I find myself being hit with inspiration when I’m traveling and relaxing. While I consciously focus on the beautiful blue ocean or the fascinating landscape, my subconscious is solving problems I’ve been dealing with for weeks at home.

I also recently visited Kauai, where I stayed at the Kiahuna Plantation, a hotel I stayed at while I was a kid, and ate at some amazing local restaurants, including the Beach House restaurant in Poipu, Da Crack Tacos and Papalani Gelato. I always find that eating local cuisine, especially when I’ve never had it before, pushes me out of my comfort zone. Something as simple as eating different food or waking up to a different sight outside my window is all it takes to inspire me with new visions for my life, new ideas or to help existing obstacles I’m facing in any of my companies.

Entrepreneur travel hack: TripAdvisor is great for local info, but the best way to find the best local spots is to ask the locals! Anytime I travel I ask locals the best things to do, the coolest places to stay and the best food to eat. It’s a failproof plan to travel and experience the local culture.

You’ll recharge your batteries.

If you’re coming home every day feeling exhausted and simply have little desire to get up and do work in the morning, you need a break. Traveling gives you that. Get away from your normal routine and try something new and different. It’s not enough just to take a few days off work. You need to escape.

My most recent trip to Costa Rica was a complete escape for me. I needed a break from everything, so my wife and I took off.

Entrepreneur travel hack: I never turn my phone plan on when traveling. Rather, I just use wi-fi wherever it’s available. It’s so much better and allows me to stay disconnected rather than tethered to my phone, messages and emails. Plus, when I’m on wi-fi it helps me get things done faster, knowing I have a finite amount of time to use the network. I also use tools to keep me off social media, like Antisocial, an app that allows me to limit the number of minutes I am allowed on social media per day. It’s great to keep my habits in check.

Related: 4 Tips That Will Help You Actually Afford Your Dream Vacation

I’ve been to Costa Rica three times, and during this last trip, we spent most of the time snorkeling and white water rafting through the jungle. My wife and I love to stay in Manuel Antonio because it gives us the ability to go to the ocean and jungle easily. The combination of ocean and jungle is unlike anywhere else I’ve traveled; pair that with wild monkeys, fresh fruits, food and lush green wilderness and you’ve set the stage for the most disconnected and recharging trip of your life. When I came home, I felt completely renewed and ready to get back at it. Our favorite jungle tour company is Amigos del Rio, and we’ve white water rafted with them three separate times.

It’s easy to feel like the only solution to get more done is to work more hours, but I’ve found the opposite to be true. Yes, it’s imperative to work your butt off, and although it may seem counterintuitive it’s also vital to drop everything and travel. If you need to recharge, need inspiration or want to view the world from a different point of view, I highly recommend traveling. You’ll find that the many different experiences you have will make you a better entrepreneur.

October
29, 2018

6 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It took a while for many business owners to realize the power of social media — to understand that this wasn’t just a fad nor a  means for sharing family photos. Iit was a tool that could grow a company’s relationship with its target audience and drive sales.

Related: 10 Important Skills Your Social Media Manager Needs in 2017

But now that most of us are aware of the benefits that come from a strong business social media presence, it still can be difficult for many of us to master, especially when we have so many other aspects of our businesses to manage.

That’s where hiring a social media manager comes in. This position can lessen your workload and potentially  create masterful social media strategies for your company that get results. So, considering that your first task here is to find the right person, how can you tell if a candidate is a social media pro and not just, say, a regular Facebook user?

To find the answer, take a look at these six tips for hiring your first social media manager.

Does this person understand your brand?

A social media presence that’s not in line with your brand voice will confuse customers. Even though a social media manager might have exciting, innovative ideas for your Twitter or Facebook account, this person has to make sense for your business. If he or she doesn’t get that, this individual won’t be a good fit for your business.

For instance, Wendy’s social media accounts are known for their humor and light-heartedness, but those qualities obviously won’t be appropriate for every business.

Image credit: Wendy’s Twitter

Tip: A good social media manager will be able to adapt to your brand’s voice and understand how to connect with your ideal audience on social media.

Related: 10 Important Skills Your Social Media Manager Needs in 2017

Is this person capable of managing multiple channels?

If you want your business to make a big splash on multiple social media channels, you’ll need a social media manager who can juggle multiple different accounts. An effective social media manager won’t rely just on a sharp memory and good multitasking skills; this person should be familiar with the tools that will make his or her social media management more productive.

Tip: Make sure your first social media manager hire is well-versed in a social media management software like Buffer or Sprout Social. Using one of these tools will demonstrate that this person is organized to a “T” and capable of stepping up your social media game on not just one platform, but many.

Is this person committed to collaboration?

Your social media manager may not have to come into your office every day; he or she might even be a full-time remote worker, but what’s necessary is that this person be willing to collaborate with you. That means not being isolated from the rest of your team. It means staying up-to-date with what’s going on in order to run your social media accounts effectively.

So, having a familiarity with communication tools like Slack or Trello will be vital for your social media candidates. If a candidate has experience with these tools, chances are that he or she has collaborated successfully with a team before.

Is your candidate a good writer?

An awesome social media manager knows that to increase engagement and sales, it’s not just about posting a pretty image online; the manager has to be able to write copy that converts. And he or she has to convince users to buy, or at least engage with the post, in just a few short sentences.

Related: Barack Obama’s Former Social Media Manager Breaks Down the Future of Digital Strategies

Consider giving your applicants a test to write numerous versions of a headline for the same story. That way, you can see their writing skills in action and test out their creativity.

Does the candidate have a strong online presence?

A social media manager without an online presence is akin to someone applying to a job without a resume. So, when looking for a talented social media manager to add to your team, do a little digging and check out candidates’ social media profiles.

It’s not just about how many followers they have — it’s about the quality of those followers. Are any of them experts in the industry or other key influencers? Also take a look at what type of content candidates regularly share with their followers. Your candidates’ profiles should give you an insight on how well-versed they are with the platform.

Is this person analytical?

An effective social media manager doesn’t just keep your social media profiles up-to-date; he or she constantly strives to improve. Having an analytical mind is a major win in a social media manager because it means always being on the lookout for strategies your company can borrow, to explode your social media presence.

For instance, it’s a great sign if your candidate has experience using a tool like BuzzSumo, which monitors what blog post topics, social media posts and listicles are popular with users online.

Image credit: Buzzsumo 

You also need a social media manager who knows how to report on ROI. So, make sure the candidate has an understanding of analytics and can navigate the dashboard of a tool like Sprout Social, which can provide invaluable insights on which content works best, among other important factors.

Related: 14 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs for Managing Social Media

Over to you

Your social media profiles don’t exist just for looks. If they’re managed well, they can actually grow your business. Take advantage of these tips when hiring your first social media manager, and watch your online presence blossom, your reach widen and your sales soar.

October
28, 2018

1 min read

According to an infographic by Cyber Security Degrees, 62 percent of Americans own at least one smart device. The most common of these is a smart TV, which nearly half of American adults own. These devices, like a smart watch or a connected car, can sync with the internet or your mobile device and make your life easier. 

However, they also come with plenty of risks. This infographic breaks down some of those dangers, which include: 

• Malicious endpoints
• The Mirai botnet attack
• The Senrio devil’s ivy attack

By making yourself aware of these pitfalls, you can secure the devices that mean the most to you and make sure that others can’t take advantage. Check out the infographic to learn more about the dangers involved with the internet of things and how you can be safer.

Source: CyberSecurityDegrees.com

October
27, 2018

1 min read

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some of us might be great leaders, great teachers or great speakers. Others might know every aspect of their business, but struggle when presenting in front of a crowd. If you are one of the latter people — either because you think you’re a poor public speaker or simply because you don’t like it — it’s not the end of the world. You can always improve and grow, turn weaknesses into strength. 

Whether you  need a little practice, some coaching or something else, you can get better with time.  

Even if you have a fear of public speaking, there’s still hope. Some mindfulness and meditation tricks can help you improve in this aspect. This infographic by Buffalo7 can help you conquer that fear and crush your next presentation by giving you six great tips. Start by focusing on turning your nerves into positive energy. Try to stay as positive as possible, because negativity can be its own self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Check out the infographic below to learn the other five steps and beat public speaking anxiety.

Source: Buffalo 7

October
25, 2018

11 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Being an entrepreneur means sleepless nights, impossibly tight cash flow, and sacrificing everything for the good of your business. You’re powering through but barely surviving. Health routines, sleep, diet, and relationships fall by the wayside for the sake of success.

To many, you’re overwhelmed, overworked, exhausted, out of shape, and rapidly headed for burnout. Your business may be successful, but if health is wealth, you’re broke.

If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Daniel Thomas Hind is the CEO of EvolutionEat, a health coaching company for entrepreneurs. He’s helped thousands of workaholics emerge from that same place — a place that’s personally familiar to him. Just a few months ago, Hind experienced entrepreneurial burnout. He was heading three companies, and the extreme stress caused his body to shut down.

Now he’s on a mission to help other entrepreneurs avoid hitting rock bottom from burnout. He believes that by focusing on their health, entrepreneurs can take control of the massive impact they have in the world.

The rise before the fall.

Hind began his entrepreneurial journey at 26 years old, offering nutrition coaching. He had grit and a sense of adventure but no idea how to run a business. Hind differentiated himself by telling clients he would “work harder than anyone you’ve ever worked with.” He outdid himself from the beginning, making good on that promise and offering clients “around-the-clock support.” His customer base grew rapidly. 

After starting EvolutionEat, Hind met Daniel DiPiazza, a fellow Los Angeleno whose business Rich20Something helped millennials become entrepreneurs. DiPiazza recognized Hind’s talent and soon hired him as head of marketing. Together, they turned Rich20Something into a seven-figure business with a best-selling book.

Hind and his business partner, Daniel DiPiazza.

Image Credit: Nicole Fallek

Between EvolutionEat and Rich20Something, Hind got to know many successful, high-performing entrepreneurs. He invested six figures in coaching and leadership development, found his mentor, Rich Litvin, a high-performance coach, and traveled the world to fine-tune his craft.

“I was making serious money for the first time in my life, heading two companies, and learning what it means to lead,” Hind recalls. “I was making a difference. It was such a high and I wanted more.”

At the end of 2017, Hind and DiPiazza founded the Wilde Group, a marketing consultancy helping social influencers and authors build businesses around their influence. EvolutionEat began to scale rapidly at the same time, so Hind stepped back from Rich20Something.

When Hind and DiPiazza had an opportunity to meet with the Los Angeles alternative newspaper, LA Weekly, they came up with an idea for a standalone digital platform that would feature the city’s social celebrities and rising stars. They called it The Vanguard, got funding, and partnered with LA Weekly to build the startup.

Between EvolutionEat, the Wilde Group, and The Vanguard, everything was going well — until it became too much.

Burnout.

Hind was building two startups while growing a consulting business, all three in the early stages. He didn’t have a system that ran smoothly without him, so they all required his attention. “I didn’t have time to sleep, which is a pretty big red flag,” he laughs. “Despite coaching all my clients to do the opposite, I was operating on pure willpower. Everything looked great on paper, but every morning was excruciating.

“I wasn’t sure how I could do this much longer,” he remembers telling himself. “I was constantly on the verge of a breakdown. I knew it was ridiculous, but I felt trapped and powerless. I couldn’t quit — I was responsible for 70 people, everything would crumble.”

 

Hind, shortly before his body shut down from fatigue and stress.

Image Credit: Daniel Thomas Hind

Hind kept this up for six months, until their partners in The Vanguard wanted to take the company in a different direction. He and DiPiazza decided to sell their shares back to their investors in June 2018.

“We were sad to let go of the opportunity, but secretly, I was relieved,” he recalls. “I had been operating in survival mode. But there is a limit to how much you can handle before you break. I found that limit.

“My body had been running on fumes for so long, it finally shut down. Stress hormones punch holes in the immune system. I was really sick for two weeks after we sold back the company. I’d be in bed and wouldn’t be able to move my body.” Hind became incredibly lethargic and depressed, sleeping 12 hours a day.

“I decided I wouldn’t continue living the way I had been. I couldn’t continue living this way.”

An evolution.

Since recovering, Hind says that experience was the best thing that’s ever happened to him. “I was talking the talk and didn’t realize I wasn’t walking the walk.

“I was addicted to stress. It was my validation for being enough — it always had been. I felt like I wasn’t working hard enough unless I was stressed to the point of overwhelm. That experience taught me that I didn’t need to look outside myself to prove I was significant.”

He notes that it’s not necessarily in an entrepreneur’s DNA to slow down. Like most entrepreneurs he knows and works with, Hind has always been a hard worker.

Since he was a kid, sleep wasn’t exactly his friend. Hind went to an all-scholarship high school for the gifted, was an all-state soccer player, and played in a band. “I remember getting the 5:31 a.m. train to Manhattan from Long Island every day to school. There I was, a 15-year-old drinking coffee among the bankers and lawyers.”

In fact, Hind’s burnout isn’t the only reason he can relate to his clients. Food was his drug of choice to get by. “I grew up an emotional eater and addicted to food. It was a coping mechanism.”

Hind’s weight caused him to struggle with depression, which he says started around first grade, when a teacher called him “husky” in front of the class. After high school, he got into Georgetown University where he continued to struggle. He exercised daily, sometimes twice, but was still 35 pounds overweight.

Then Hind discovered the Paleo Diet after college. “For the first time in my life, I finally had control over how I looked and felt. My mood improved, which is a big deal for someone who grew up with depression and highly anxious.”

Hind was young and became obsessed with his appearance until he started coaching others and focusing on the health benefits of his new lifestyle. That was the foundation of EvolutionEat, which has always been closely tied to his own journey.

Hind says he became “self-obsessed” after discovering the Paleo Diet at age 22.

Image Credit: Daniel Thomas Hind

“So many people struggle with their health and diet because of deeply entrenched coping mechanisms that make it hard to follow through with our intentions,” he says. “Of course, I understood this intellectually before, but because I’ve been there in more ways than one, I understand it on a deeper level now. I’m also proof that it doesn’t have to be this way.” 

The entrepreneur’s problem—and solution.

“When you’re starting out, all you can do is survive. You work harder than you ever thought possible. That survival mechanism is an advantage at first. But as you work harder and sacrifice more to reach each new milestone, that becomes all you know — it becomes wrapped up in your identity,” says Hind.

“But it’s not sustainable. We cannot reach our full potential if we aren’t healthy. You eventually become a cost to your business.”

Hind believes that there’s a bigger issue at play. “Our culture has glorified the hustle, so we feel like something is missing unless we’re working ourselves to death. We think this is the cost of admission to be successful, but that’s false.”

After working himself into the ground, Hind is now proof it doesn’t have to be that way.

Image Credit: Nicole Fallek

“Success does not equal stress. Successful people actually aren’t busy, they’re purposeful. They have systems and teams to execute their vision. True leaders know their zone of genius and that you have the most impact when you cultivate deep, creative work. That’s how you put a dent in the universe.”

Hind admits it’s difficult to change. “I know what it’s like to feel like you’re in too deep. Unless you have a physical reaction like mine, leaving you with no other choice, getting out of survival mode is not a flip of the switch. It takes effort, which feels easier to allocate to your business. But that will come back to bite you.”   

The evolved entrepreneur.

That’s why Hind is dedicated to building the best health and performance coaching company for entrepreneurs. The purpose of EvolutionEat is to help other entrepreneurs who are profitable but living in survival mode like he was.

“Being the hyper-motivated person I am, I was on a mission as soon as I recovered from my burnout,” says Hind. He recently developed the Evolved Entrepreneur’s Operating System (EE/OS, for short) to help successful entrepreneurs design their lives like leaders. The programmatic methodology helps them create business results by optimizing their energy, health, and performance.

“First and foremost, being a leader means being a leader for yourself. This isn’t about your ‘lifestyle’ — it’s about your life. Mastering your energy flow, incorporating discipline into your decision-making, and improving your health is fundamental to living a meaningful and explosive life. And it’s good for business!”

Hind believes expert coaching is the ultimate secret weapon for entrepreneurs. “It’s a mirror into the future that sees only your potential, reflects only your power, and demands complete responsibility for leading life with purpose. And who is mightier than an evolved entrepreneur on purpose?” 

In less than a year, one of Hind’s clients doubled his revenue, halved his workload, lost 30 pounds, and overcame binge eating. Now he meditates twice a day, exercises five days a week, and reads a book per week. Many of Hind’s clients see similar results. 

 

Hind has found his life’s purpose; and it doesn’t involve working 24/7.

Image Credit: Mark Clennon

As for Hind? He practices what he preaches. He starts the day at 4:45 a.m. with a run to Santa Monica beach, where he meditates and goes for a lone swim with the sunrise. He has his own cast of coaches, and he’s writing a book based on his experiences about what it means to be an “evolved entrepreneur.” He often disconnects for days to work from his cabin in the woods. Most importantly, he found his life’s purpose — and it doesn’t involve working 24/7.

“Entrepreneurs are going to change the world,” he says with conviction. “But we need healthy relationships with ourselves first.”

It’s Hind’s mission to help others develop these kinds of relationships and leave a legacy.

Connect with Daniel Thomas Hind on his website, Facebook and Instagram. Grab the free [EE/OS] peak performance guide to create absolutely absurd results in your health, life and business: just click here.

October
23, 2018

5 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

SEO is essential all year long, but did you know that you should be switching up your SEO for the upcoming holidays? According to a survey from UPS and Comscore, 51 percent of customers polled said they preferred shopping online. They said that they turned to search engines to find the perfect gifts, tips on how to host a rockin’ holiday party and holiday recipes.

Related: How to Improve Your Google AdWords Campaign This Holiday Season

So, consider the obvious message here: The holiday season is the perfect time to attract shoppers to your website and maximize your sales.  

But consider something more: If you want festive shoppers to find your website and all the awesome products you have to offer among the glut of other businesses on the web, your SEO needs to be optimized for the season.

And the good news here is that there’s no need to completely overhaul your SEO strategy; all you need to do is make a few little tweaks to push yourself ahead of the competition. So, don’t waste another minute; the holiday season is right around the corner. Here are four simple steps to boost your seasonal SEO traffic.

Get specific with seasonal keywords.

You’ve already got a list of keywords that drive traffic to your site year-round, but for the holidays you need to incorporate some seasonal keywords. Consumers will be scouring the web for the perfect gifts and using holiday specific search terms to find them. You can use Google Trends to discover what key phrases users are searching for during this holiday season. That way, when shoppers start searching for those phrases, you can be found weeks, even months, before your competition.

Think about what your ideal customers might be searching for. For instance, if your online store sells electronics, consumers might search for “Black Friday flat screen deals” or “Cyber Monday free shipping deals.” Take advantage of the most popular search terms and lead users straight to your shop.  Another trick is to add the year to your keyword, for example “Black Friday 2018,” to attract consumers looking for up-to-date deals.

Produce holiday-themed blog posts.

Consumers always turn to Google to search for holiday ideas and advice to get them through the season. So, if you want to show up in the search results for their queries, start creating holiday-themed content. Start brainstorming holiday blog post ideas early and plan out your posts on a content calendar. Make sure the topics you choose are related to your business and help consumers solve a problem.

Related: What, Exactly, Is Influencing Our Holiday Gift Choices? (Infographic)

For instance, the holiday-themed content that Crate & Barrel creates features that chain’s products but also helps holiday shoppers out with valuable tips and advice.

Image Source: Crate & Barrel 

Consider specific buyer personas when crafting your holiday content; for example, you’ll want content that targets busy moms, and other content that targets dads who struggle with gift giving. Remember to always scatter those holiday specific keywords throughout your blog posts naturally, to ensure your content gets found by your ideal customers.

Optimize your landing pages.

If you want to attract big crowds of traffic this season,you need to revamp your existing landing pages for the holidays. Take some of the seasonal keywords described above and incorporate them into your landing pages. Be sure to include lots of internal links to your holiday-themed content and product pages. Change your page title and meta descriptions to speak to the holidays specifically and update your images and videos for the season as well.

Another important factor in your SEO this season is rich snippets. What are rich snippets? When you do a search in Google, most results show up with a blue title link and simple description below, but rich snippets include images, ratings, pricing details, product availability and more. Rich snippets will help you rank higher and get more sales, so you’ll want to update your website with schema markup using Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper.

Don’t forget that Google, Bing and other search engines have to have enough time to follow your links and find your holiday landing pages, so make these holiday-specific changes to your landing page at least 30 days before the holiday you’re preparing for.

Create a holiday gift guide.

Holiday gift guides have been around forever in physical form but if you want to attract shoppers to your online store, you need to create a digital holiday gift guide. Gift guides not only help consumers’ holiday shopping go smoothly, but they’re great for SEO because they feature different products that web users are searching for. Additionally, a well-executed gift guide will decrease the number of clicks between your home page and product pages, which is a plus for SEO bots scouring your site.

Image source: Invesp 

So, create a new webpage for your gift guide and include seasonal keywords, phrases and links to give your gift guide a boost in search results. You can also try to get your gift guide featured by other websites and publications to obtain more links that lead back to your website.

Related: 5 Tips to Get Your Website Ready for the Holidays

Over to you

Don’t worry, you’ve still got enough time left to step up your SEO game for the holidays. With these simple steps to boost your SEO this season, your website will be front and center in search engine results and the minds of shoppers. What better way to celebrate the season than with a ton of new customers?

October
21, 2018

1 min read

About half of all organizations have a shortage of cybersecurity talent, according to Digital Guardian. There were 302,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2018, which Digital Guardian claims is 30 percent of all cybersecurity positions. Companies are at risk of losing data, getting hacked and more because there simply isn’t enough supply for the global demand.

As a result, Digital Guardian reports that there is a 0 percent unemployment rate among cybersecurity experts — 0 percent! 

Learn more about cybersecurity, what it takes to get into the field and what you can do to protect your company even with a shortage of talent, by checking out the infographic below.

Infographic by Digital Guardian