The SharkPreneur Podcast
I had the opportunity to sit down with Seth Greene on the SharkPreneur podcast and we talked about the things that have helped Orion and I successfully build LIFEAID. Some things we discussed: how good positioning in your marketplace can lead to product distribution in conventional channels, why it’s important to hire people who are the right cultural fit and will represent your brand well, how LIFEAID is a beverage that tastes good and keeps you hydrated, how LIFEAID has different beverages to help different needs of your body, and why challenges should be looked at as opportunities to become a better entrepreneur.
How Exercise May Help Us Flourish
Our exercise habits may influence our sense of purpose in life and our sense of purpose may affect how much we exercise, according to an interesting new study of the reciprocal effects of feeling your life has meaning and being often in motion. The study, which involved more than 18,000 middle-aged and older men and women, found that those with the most stalwart sense of purpose at the start were the most likely to become active over time, and vice versa.
"If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”
—Steve Jobs
New Research Shows South Africa’s Levy on Sugar-sweetened Drinks is Having an Impact
Three years ago South Africa introduced Africa’s first major tax on sugar-sweetened beverages based on grams of sugar. The tax now stands at about 11% of the price per litre. Research shows that excess sugar, particularly in liquid form, is a major cause of obesity and is a risk factor for diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, many common cancers and tooth decay. Recognising this danger, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that individuals should consume no more than 10% of total calories from added sugar, and preferably less than 5%.
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep Work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship.
HindeSight | No. 62
3 Ways to Master the Art of Sales
Gyms depend on their members to keep the lights on and the doors open. In order to build up memberships, owners, coaches, and staff have to be comfortable selling what the gym has to offer. On this episode of The Mind Your Business Podcast, host James Wedmore gives three tips on how to build the mindset of selling.
How to Get More Efficient Sleep with Dr. Allison Brager
I’ve always been an advocate for quality sleep, especially when it comes to overall performance in fitness and business. To say I was excited about the launch of DREAMAID GO was an understatement. With the introduction of DREAMAID GO, we had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Allison Brager, a sleep scientist and CrossFit athlete, to ask her all of our burning questions about sleep.
"Always deliver more than expected.”
—Larry Page
Ice for Sore Muscles? Think Again.
After a particularly vigorous workout or sports injury, many of us rely on ice packs to reduce soreness and swelling in our twanging muscles. But a cautionary new animal study finds that icing alters the molecular environment inside injured muscles in detrimental ways, slowing healing. The study involved mice, not people, but adds to mounting evidence that icing muscles after strenuous exercise is not just ineffective; it could be counterproductive.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
In this instant New York Times bestseller, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows anyone striving to succeed—be it parents, students, educators, athletes, or business people—that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a special blend of passion and persistence she calls “grit.”
HindeSight | No. 61
The Whoop Podcast: John John Florence
On this episode of the Whoop podcast, world-champion surfer John John Florence (and brother to Team FITAID athlete Nathan Florence), shares how mindset prepares him for elite performance.
Our Australia/New Zealand Partners are Officially LIFEAID
This week, we completed the acquisition of our Australia/New Zealand distributors, Fit Trendz, officially welcoming them into the LIFEAID family. They have been flying the LIFEAID flag in the land down under since 2015 and we’re excited for them to help us continue to grow our global footprint.
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
—Theodore Roosevelt
8 Reasons Sleep Is Crucial for Entrepreneurs and Leaders
In the gym business, nutrition and training are paramount to what we do. So is sleep which sometimes can be the first to go when life gets hectic. There were many nights while building LIFEAID, that I didn’t get proper sleep (and I’m sure there will be more as we continue to expand). However, I’ve experienced the benefits of getting proper sleep for myself and it continues to be a focus for me.
Dare to Lead
Brene Brown is a New York Times Bestselling author, researcher, and professor who has spent the last two decades studying shame, vulnerability, courage, and empathy. In this book, she lays out the road map of how to be an effective leader by taking ownership, asking questions and staying curious.
HindeSight | No. 60
CrossFit Open Wrap Up with MisFit Athletics
On this bonus episode of the MisFit Athletics podcast, the “Goon Squad” recaps the first phase of the CrossFit season, the CrossFit Open and look ahead to Quarterfinals which kick off this week.
There Are No Rules to Healthy Eating
As CrossFit athletes, we learn that the foundation of health is nutrition. When the methodology first was introduced, the Zone Diet was the prescription. That has changed over time and while I am a proponent of healthy eating (hence, the origin of LIFEAID), there is a lot to consider when it comes to diets versus lifestyle with nutrition.
"You don’t learn from following the rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over."
—Richard Branson
How to Say 'I Don't Know' with Confidence
When Orion and I started LIFEAID, there was a lot that we didn’t know. We had never started a beverage brand before! If we tried to build the company without acknowledging those blind spots and seeking the answers to those questions, there is no way we would have made it to the 10 year mark as a brand.
Screw Business as Usual
One of the things I love about Richard Branson is that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He leads his businesses with conviction and is celebrated for it (as he should be). In this book, Branson argues that people, communities and the planet are perhaps more important than focusing on profit in business.
HindeSight | No. 59
Managing Time and Setting Expectations with Marcus Filly
It may feel like a lot of things aren’t within our control right now, however, we absolutely have control over how we spend our time. Former competitive CrossFit Athlete turned functional bodybuilding coach, Marcus Filly talks about his strategies in time management and how to set expectations on this episode of the Active Life podcast.
A Changing Gut Microbiome May Predict How Well You Age
In a new study in the Journal of Nature Medicine, the constantly changing and diversifying of your gut microbiome is a sign of healthy aging. How and what you eat plays a big role in this, because certain foods (mostly processed foods) can kill off some microbiomes. I talk about gut health a lot, specifically the negative effects of Sucralose to your gut microbiome which is why we do not use Sucralose in any of our products.
"A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well."
—Jeff Bezos
11 Lessons for Entrepreneurs From Jeff Bezos's Tremendous Success
At the core of Amazon’s success is it’s focus on delivering an excellent customer experience. As Jeff Bezos steps away from his CEO role at the company, Inc. lays out 11 lessons that all entrepreneurs can learn from him.
First, Break All the Rules
Ever since LIFEAID was started 10 years ago, we’ve leaned on some unconventional approaches to building the business and our employees. We have a talented team and it’s always been in our DNA to highlight their strengths and encourage them to always keep growing. This book is a product of a decade’s long management study from the Gallup Organization that debunks some myths and exposes methods of how to get the best out of your employees.
I Want to Build High-Performers
HindeSight | No. 58
Over the Wall with Rob LoCascio
Ron Aniello joins Rob LoCascio on Over the Wall from the studio in New Jersey for an inspiring conversation about how to surround yourself with talented people who can boost your creative process and set you off towards success. There’s tons of helpful knowledge in this one for anyone experiencing creative frustration, self-doubt, or issues answering the call of their own curiosity.
Unhealthy Foods Aren't Just Bad For You, They May Also Be Addictive
Orion and I started LIFEAID because we saw a trend in kids consuming high sugar, high caffeine beverages. We wanted to provide people with a healthier alternative without all of the junk. More and more we’re seeing people adopt healthier lifestyles, but as this article suggests, there are still strides to be made.
"Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom."
—Sandra Day O’Connor
What Business Leaders Can Learn From Tom Brady and Serena Williams
Every quarter we establish our goals as a company and individually, putting them into a vision statement that is shared weekly in present tense. This has been a big reason why we’ve been able to push LIFEAID forward for the last 10 years. Good to know that we’re in good company.
Think Again
In this book, Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant lays the groundwork of why it’s so important to always listen like you’re wrong. It allows us the opportunity to approach situations with a new perspective; especially those that we are closest to.
Are You Willing to Rethink and Unlearn?
-No. 57-
Mindful Productivity: The Power of the Pivot
Feeling like you want to make a huge change in your life? Feel like something needs to change or that your energy levels are drastically different than they were a year ago? Maybe it's time for a pivot.
Don't Underestimate the Power of a Walk
Technology is a great tool especially in this day and age, but it also has an overwhelming ability to suck us in. I don’t know about you, but there have been days where I realize I haven’t gotten up from my desk all day and I can feel the difference. Especially now, I have gotten into the habit of taking some of my meetings while on a walk to get some movement.
"No matter the risks we take, we always consider the end to be too soon, even though in life, more than anything else, quality should be more important than quantity."
—Alex Honnold
Is Two Hours Outdoors the New 10,000 Steps?
With the cooler weather and government shutdowns across the country, getting outdoors and enjoying nature may not be as easy as it once was. In a 2019 study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports showed that participants who spent two hours or more in nature had a better chance of reporting better health and well-being than those who spent less than two hours outside.
The Art of Impossible
Bestselling author and peak performance expert Steven Kotler decodes the secrets of those elite performers—athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs and more—who have changed our definition of the possible, teaching us how we too can stretch far beyond our capabilities, making impossible dreams much more attainable for all of us.
HindeSight | No. 56
How I Built This: Joel Clark of Kodiak Cakes
When he was 8 years old, Joel Clark loaded bags of his mom's whole grain pancake mix into a red wagon to sell door-to-door. By the mid-90s, he and his older brother had upgraded to selling the mix out of a Mazda sedan and calling it Kodiak Cakes. As he tried to scale the business, Joel made some risky business decisions and almost went bankrupt, but eventually got the brand into Target—a major turning point. Today, Kodiak Cakes is approaching $200 million in annual revenue as one of the best-selling pancake mixes in America.
Now is a Great Time to Practice Mindfulness
The practice of mindfulness is a big part of my daily routine. A big question I get from my team is how to practice mindfulness. It’s not about bypassing feelings, but leaning into them. This article explains why leaning into our feelings are beneficial and ultimately make us all better leaders.
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
—Theodore Roosevelt
The Best Time to Work Out
In a new study conducted by The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society, it was found that there actually is an optimal time to work out. This study focused on men with Type 2 diabetes and found that participants had better results when working out in the afternoon as opposed to earlier in the day.
Good to Great
Why be a good company when you could be a great company? Stanford researcher and consultant Jim Collins breaks down how to create long-term sustainable performance in order for a company to achieve their greatest potential.
HindeSight | No. 55
Resiliency and Grit in Adverse Times
I was joined by my friend and LIFEAID co-founder, Orion Melehan, on The Active Life podcast where we discussed what it takes to build a business through challenging times.
Defining Your Purpose
There has been an overwhelming reckoning with questioning purpose over the last year. What may be a small piece of life is actually a very important practice of longevity. Studies have shown that a defined purpose results in improved stress response.
"Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."
—Jack Welch
State of the Fitness Industry
Two-Brain Business conducted a comprehensive study on the current state of the fitness industry. A 59-question survey was sent to a 30,000-person email list as well as their Facebook group. The data that was collected from 6,000 gyms was analyzed by an outside consultant and packaged by Two-Brain Business.
Blue Ocean Strategy
The fitness space is crowded and now more than ever business owners are challenged with figuring out how to think outside the box to separate themselves from the competition. This book gives you the tools to create your own wide-open space or blue ocean.
HindeSight | No. 54
Eric Roza on Make Pods Great Again
CrossFit CEO joined Make Pods Great Again to discuss the current state of CrossFit. He talked about how his journey has been since taking over, obstacles and challenges he has faced in his personal life, and the new Open format and how he approaches the Open personally. He even gave listeners the scoop on the hire of the new Chief Technology officer as well as spent some time discussing his thoughts around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the CrossFit Community.
Building a Morning Routine in 6 Steps
Having a morning routine has always been important to me and my success in building LIFEAID. We talk about them often in our weekly meetings and I encourage everyone on our team to find a routine that works for them. If you are struggling to create a morning routine for yourself, this is a great article to help you build one.
"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are."
—J.P. Morgan
Strategies for Success in 2021
2020 was a trying year on all businesses, but specifically small businesses. This year, there will still be challenges to overcome, but approaching business with strategic thinking can help navigate these hurdles with more confidence and success.
Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to do is Healthy and Rewarding
While exercise was essential for our prehistoric ancestors, it’s not essential for the lives of the common man. However, even though we don’t rely on hunting and gathering, that doesn’t mean exercise isn’t something that should be part of our daily lives.
More on Exercise and Evolution
HindeSight | No. 53