05 Scientifically Proven Ways to Have a More Productive Morning

It's all too easy to go to bed with good intentions for the next morning--and then spend the morning procrastinating while you wait for your coffee to kick in. But if you're smart and strategic, you can get some of your most productive and creative work done in the morning hours, before the afternoon slump kicks in. Here are a few scientifically proven ways to jump-start your brain and get the most out of your morning.

1. Avoid sleep inertia.

Resist the urge to give yourself a few extra minutes of sleep. You're not doing yourself any favors when you hit that snooze button and drift back to sleep. This practice restarts your sleep cycle, only to interrupt it a few minutes later when your alarm sounds again. Studies show that when you interrupt the early sleep cycle, it extends "sleep inertia," that feeling that happens between when you wake up and when you start to actually feel awake. This makes it even harder to feel alert and awake once you do crawl out of bed. Want to wake up faster? Don't let yourself fall back to sleep!

2. Mind your body clock and don't sleep in on the weekends.

Are you a night owl who loves to sleep in? Do you lack that alert feeling in the morning? You might have delayed sleep phase disorder, which manifests in delayed sleep patterns and a hard time waking up early. Don't despair! You can retrain your body's clock (or circadian rhythm) so that you get used to mornings. Things like avoiding stimulating activities before you go to sleep and using natural light to help you wake up will get you on track. Unfortunately for late risers, sleep disorder specialist Jean Matheson advises that if you really want to change your inner clock, you've got to stop sleeping in on weekends.

3. Have a glass of orange juice.

Prone to stress and anxiety? Well, it turns out that a morning glass of orange juice could help you feel better and put you on the right track for a successful and productive day. One study demonstrated that the scent of citrus reduced anxiety and improved the mood of people who were waiting for dental appointments. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the vitamin C in citrus can also help treat stress.

4. Eat an apple.

While caffeine is a sure-fire pick-me-up, if you're looking for an alternative, eat an apple with your breakfast. While reports that apples are a better source of energy than caffeine may be overblown, the naturally occurring sugars in an apple can give you a much-needed boost and its antioxidants can have long-term benefits!

5. Do your most difficult, stressful tasks first.

If you really want to make the most of your morning, don't waste it on easy tasks. Researchers at Stanford University have found that willpower is a resource that can get depleted as your day progresses and your energy drops. That means that it could become easier for you to get distracted, and harder to get things done. So prioritize: Make sure that you get your top to-do items done first thing in the morning, while your will is strong!

09 Powerful Ways Gratitude Can Change Your Life

Although a lot of people are reminded to be thankful on Thanksgiving, gratitude shouldn't be reserved for special occasions. Showing just a little appreciation for what you have could greatly improve your life year-round. Here are nine powerful ways gratitude can change your life:

1. People Will Like You More

The simple act of saying, "Thank you," inspires people to seek ongoing relationships, according to a 2014 study published in Emotion. Showing some appreciation is an easy way to start a conversation and over time, it can deepen your friendships.

2. You'll Sleep Better

Thinking about the things you're grateful for improves your quality of sleep, according to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Additionally, being thankful helps you sleep longer and you'll feel better rested when you wake up.

3. Your Psychological Well-Being Will Improve

Several studies have linked gratitude to lower levels of depression and less suicidal ideation, including a 2010 study published in the Clinical Psychology Review. Gratitude has also been linked to fewer toxic emotions, like resentment and envy.

4. Your Physical Health Will Improve

Being appreciative has powerful effects on your body. Researchers have linked gratitude to lower blood pressure, fewer aches and pains, and improved immunity. A 2015 study published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice found grateful people even have healthier hearts.

5. You'll Have More Energy to Work on Your Goals

Taking note of what you're grateful for could help you reach your goals. A 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that college students who kept gratitude journals reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, energy and attentiveness compared to their counterparts.

6. You'll be a Better Leader

Grateful leaders motivate their employees to be more productive, according to researchers at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. The study found that employees who were thanked by their managers made 50% more fundraising calls than their counterparts who hadn't heard the same token of appreciation.

7. You'll Recover from Hardship Easier

Gratitude is pivotal in managing stress and fostering mental strength, even during the most difficult times. A 2006 study published in Behavior Research and Therapy found that Vietnam War Veterans with high levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

8. You'll Feel Less Stressed

A 2006 study published in Research on Aging found that older people who were grateful experienced fewer harmful effects from stress than other people. Even those who lived in difficult circumstances, like poverty, experienced stress-buffering properties of gratitude.

9. You'll Feel Better About Yourself

Numerous studies, including a 2015 study published in Personality and Individual Differences, have linked gratitude with higher levels of self-esteem. Some studies report gratitude reduces social comparisons. So rather than feel envious of people who have more than you do, you may be better equipped to appreciate their accomplishments when you're thankful for the things you have in your own life.

Develop an Attitude of Gratitude

There are lots of ways to increase your gratitude. Whether you choose to count your blessings in a gratitude journal, or you decide to share your appreciation with others, take a few minutes to cultivate gratitude. Feeling thankful can be the simplest, and fastest way to improve your life.

How These 10 Rising Entrepreneurs Stay Productive

When you manage a startup, days can fill up fast. And as the company changes, so will your role as CEO. Your work responsibilities can shift from dealing directly with deliveries and customers, to dealing with investors and delegating tasks to hundreds of employees. No matter what your role entails, it’s important to be aware of the daily habits, work systems and mindsets that keep you productive, as well as the things that threaten your efficiency.

We asked a range of founders and CEOs from companies featured in the Entrepreneur360™ Performance Index their top method for staying productive. Whether it’s a strategy for conquering a long-term objective or a quick morning lifehack, check out whether their top productivity tips can help you stay on point and boost your own work rate.

Responses were edited for clarity and length.

1. Focus on achieving one thing at a time.

People always talk about multi-tasking, but if you want to get something done well, you need to give it your full attention. I typically bucket my day into tasks and I try not to move on to the next project until the first one is complete. Always see things through completion.

-- Olga Vidisheva, founder and CEO of Shoptiques, an e-commerce destination that sells goods from local boutiques.  

2. Get up early.

I’m usually at the office by 6:30 or 7 every morning, and it’s amazing how much I can accomplish before the “9-to-5 hectic-ness” sets in.

-- Gautam Gupta, co-founder and CEO of NatureBox, a monthly subscription service that delivers healthy snacks.

3. Outline long and short-term goals to stay focused.

Each quarter, I write my five biggest objectives for both the company and myself, and I share them company-wide. Then, I start each Monday with an executive management meeting, where we focus on the biggest priorities for the week. Finally, each morning on my long commute, I put together a daily to-do list.

-- Matt Straz, founder and CEO of Namely, a cloud-based platform that helps businesses manage payroll, benefits and other HR needs.

4. Don’t micromanage.

Invest the time to hire smart, talented, and driven people, and then trust them to do their job. It’s a hard transition because in the early days of founding a company you know exactly what every single person is doing--most of the time they’re sitting right next to you. Contently is about to be 100 employees, and you just can’t know what everyone does, and if it’s done exactly how you’d want it. But that’s okay. As a manager, you need to focus on the long-term vision of the company and trust the team.

-- Joe Coleman, co-founder and CEO of Contently, a software business that helps companies build audiences by managing the workflow of premium marketing content at scale.

5. Constantly remind yourself of your mission.

This makes it easy to recognize what's important and drop what's not. That way, we can be more productive when it comes to taking on the tasks and challenges that really matter.

-- Jamie Siminoff, CEO and chief inventor of Ring, the maker of the Ring Video Doorbell which allows users to answer the door from anywhere via smartphone.

6.  Have an outside hobby.

It's important to put as much effort into your work as possible, but you can't allow yourself to get burnt out. The first day you don't enjoy going to work is the first day you stop being productive to you and your company. For me, I try to make art as much as I can. I realized at one point that while I was working at an arts-minded company, I was rarely making art of my own. It’s therapeutic.  

-- Aaron Firestein, co-founder and chief artist of BucketFeet, an online retailer that collaborates with artists to design and create footwear.

7. Be specific about the goal you’re trying to reach.

Don't do anything that isn't on that critical path, and continually assess what is on it, as it changes often based on market and other feedback.

-- Gabriel Weinberg, founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo, a search engine that focuses on user privacy and doesn’t track your searches.

8. Stay on top of scheduling.

As a working parent, I always keep my early mornings open because I never know if I must go to a parent-teacher conference or take a kid to the doctor. Our office uses a shared Google calendar and instant messaging, so that we can quickly adjust on the fly.

-- Jayson Rapaport, co-founder and co-owner of Birds Barbershop, a brand of salons that markets affordable, high-quality cuts and color services. The company recently launched a line of hair care products.

9. Choose five things to get done.

I put five things on my list at the beginning of each day that have to absolutely get done that day. When other things inevitably come up and distract me, I can look at my “Top 5” list and see if I need to reorganize my day's priorities.  

-- David Simnick, co-founder and CEO of SoapBox Soaps, a maker of all natural, handmade soaps that donates soap products to children in need.

10. Stop and listen.

It’s surprising how much giving your full attention can boost your efficiency. Too often, we try to start solving problems before collecting all the available information. Also, whenever I speak to my team, I focus on being understood fully, rather than just saying the right thing. It's a small distinction that makes a big difference.

-- Ian Siegel, co-founder and CEO of ZipRecruiter, which lets employers post jobs to hundreds of job boards with one submission and sends job seekers postings via tailored email alerts.

05 Personal Habits That Will Hurt Your Business

It's easy to focus on the business itself when you're considering growth strategies. Our personal lives are connected to our business more then we give it credit. It is easy to act as if everything is separate, but the truth is that each aspect of our lives bleeds into each other. Your business affects you personally, and your personal life affects your business.

If your business is struggling, it may be time to check out your personal life and its effect on your business. The following five personal habits will hurt your business:

1. Lack of rest

Without proper rest, you will take twice as long to do the same projects within your business running on a good night's sleep. A tired mind is a slow mind, yet at times we entrepreneurs burn the candle at both ends leaving no room for rest and recuperation.

Stop wearing the badge of busyness. Rest to be more productive, creative and efficient. Take your business to the next level by getting the rest that your body and mind need.

2. Poor personal finances 

A lack of control over personal finances will rob your mind and your business. When your mind is worried about money, it is not free to be the creative entrepreneur you could be. Expanding personal expenses makes more of an impact on your company then just mental. It can become tempting to raise your salary, taking money that could be used for expansion.

Regain control over your personal finances, and your business will grow and prosper.

3. Relational problems

Problems with relationships -- especially serious problems -- could close the doors on your company. Taking energy from working on your business, relational problems will suck the life right out of you. The more intimate the relationship the more problems will affect you emotionally, mentally and physically.

Take time to repair relationships that need to be repaired, and remove toxic relationships. Fix your business by fixing your personal relationships.

4. Lack of exercise

Many entrepreneurs are notorious for ignoring their bodies. Lack of exercise will reduce your physical and mental stamina. Confidence takes a hit when you aren’t staying physically active as well. With all the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, it is crucial that you do it. Exercise can be intimidating if you haven’t been physically active, so start slow -- but stay consistent.

Make time to exercise to help your business break through barriers and maintain growth over time.

5. Struggling with boundaries

Lack of recognition the between a concern and a responsibility will cause many entrepreneurs to become burnt out and frustrated. When boundaries are not in place, the world sits on your shoulders causing overwhelming pressure.

Remove the mental roadblocks by focusing on and fixing what is your responsibility and leaving concerns to the people that are responsible for them. Free your mind and your business by having firm boundaries in place.

Working on these five habits will help to transform your company and take it to the next level. Though mastery will not happen overnight you can make massive improvements by a little bit of focus. If you recognize a specific habit to being the biggest culpri,t use a bulk of your energy in fixing that specific habit.

Remember: Change your habits, change your business and change your life.

05 Product Launch Lessons From 'Star Wars Episode VII'

Our first peek at Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens practically broke the internet: Everyone was buzzing for days after the new Star Wars trailer premiered recently on Monday Night Football, and the movie is breaking records for ticket sales -- even though the movie won't actually open until December 18. 

Star Wars is one of America's most beloved, best-selling pop culture phenomena, and this new trilogy of films may well become the most-hyped, most-anticipated series of all time. But even though this franchise is probably too big to fail, its producers and brand managers have done a masterful job of building up buzz and audience excitement for this newest launch.

Even if your own brand is far less known than Star Wars, there are several lessons we can learn from the lead-up to Episode VII: 

1. Build upon the best aspects of your past. 

This is not the first new Star Wars movie to be heavily hyped. Starting in 1999 with the debut of The Phantom Menace, the new Star Wars prequels were a critical disappointment and have often been heartily mocked by superfans of the original Star Wars trilogy. But, instead of dwelling on the mistakes or disappointments of the last “new product launch,” Star Wars' producers are reinforcing the idea that this time around is a whole new story – new director, new characters, new villains and new reasons to watch.

At the same time, the new movie is building upon the foundation of the original movies by bringing back Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Marc Hamill in their original roles. So, this product launch is reminding people of what they loved most about the original Star Wars, without dwelling on the negativity around those last prequels. 

Every new product has a past. Whether that past draws on your company’s existing reputation, a previous product launch that did not succeed or even skepticism around your industry in general, it’s best to avoid the negativity and move forward with a clean slate for any new product launch. Ignore past mistakes. Focus on what’s “new” and exciting about your product -- while trying to remind your existing customers of why they wanted to buy from you in the first place. 

2. Show customers that you're on their side. 

J.J. Abrams, the director of the new Star Wars films, has shown from the beginning of the project that he himself is a big fan of the franchise and that he values and respects the responsibility that goes with directing the movie. Even some Star Wars fans who were skeptical about J.J. Abrams as the new director have recognized that he is saying all the right things about feeling honored to be entrusted with the next phase of the story.

Every new product launch has to gain the trust of the audience, even if it’s a widely known and well-loved brand like Star Wars. Your own new product launch needs to reassure customers that you understand their concerns and you’re sensitive to their concerns.

3. Balance veteran leadership with fresh new talent. 

Star Wars Episode VII was co-written by Lawrence Kasdan, the well-respected screenwriter who wrote The Empire Strikes Back (widely considered the best of all the Star Wars movies). In addition, the new movie features new characters played by the promising young talents Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. 

Take a look at who is on your product launch team. Often, those people will boost your chances of success if your launch team has a group of energetic young talents with enthusiasm and fresh ideas, along with more experienced veteran leaders who champion the project and bring their own sense of gravitas. 

4. Make people curious to learn more. 

You don't have to reveal all of your secrets up front; it's best to build anticipation as Star Wars did in its Comic-Con reel in July 2015. Instead of showing all of the special effects and revealing major plot points, the video was more of a teaser that focused on the process behind the making of the movie -- emphasizing the real sets and practical effects, and de-emphasizing the CGI effects which were widely criticized as removing the humanity and realism of the prequels.

The Comic-Con reel reassured Star Wars fans that the new movie would have a look and feel that was familiar and yet also new. The sneak peak was about process, not a succession of simple spoilers. 

In the same way, every new product launch should build anticipation by giving people a glimpse behind the scenes. But stay focused on process. You don’t have to reveal all the bells and whistles of your new product; instead, explain why it is so important and show the care and detail that went into its creation. 

5. Get your employees to be your biggest evangelists. 

The actors and producers of the new Star Wars film are just as excited as the fans. John Boyega, who plays one of the lead characters in the new movie, released an Instagram video of himself at home watching the new trailer and flipping out with excitement for the movie -- he was literally screaming and jumping off his couch. He's obviously on board and ready to promote the project.

In the same way, your internal team needs to include the people most passionate about your new product launch. If your team is excited, they’ll be able to share that excitement with your customers and other audiences outside your organization. The best marketing starts with the inner circle first. 

I’m excited myself to see the new Star Wars movie, and even if the onscreen experience doesn’t quite live up to the hype, the promotion and publicity for this movie have been admirable to watch.

Whether it’s a blockbuster movie or a new product launch, we all can learn from the sense of anticipation and restrained storytelling that Star Wars' producers have employed to promote this film. And of course, I simply have to add that with the upcoming movie's hype train, “The Force is strong.” 

07 Traits That Define Work Productivity Superstars

Whether your business is a startup or large corporation, you need at least a few superstars who can get things done, despite all the challenges and distractions in the world today. Certainly, we've all heard the excuses of those who can't or won't perform. We've heard the repeated demands on our time. 

Further, we've been frustrated by how long some people need to finish a task, and how few results we see from many of our team members.

That's why recognizing, hiring and retaining the most productive people is “job one” for every leader in every business. I have learned from my own years of experience in companies large and small that those people who are the smartest or have the best resume-style qualifications may not be the ones everyone counts on to get the most work done.

What non-resume qualities should a leader look for? Here are the key characteristics I prize:

1. Focuses on completion rather than blind adherence to a defined work process

Processes should be guidelines to achieve a result; they shouldn't just be a compliance road map. People who look for process innovations, to achieve the desired results in the quickest possible time frame, get more done. The maximum value should be on getting things done, where no process has yet been defined.

2. Knows how to read people and navigate organizational hierarchies

Working effectively with other people is the only way to get more done than any one person can accomplish. The same is true of working outside your organization, with the outside powers-that-be. Being able to work with politicians without becoming one is a trait I especially prize.

3. Makes non-threatening decisions with humility and patience

Highly emotional reactions and outbursts are rarely productive in business environments. Instead, calm and resolute determination generates support for the task at hand, rather than distracting from it. People who get things done should be aggressive but not confrontational.

4. Capitalizes on a powerful position title without using it as a stick

Effective leaders get more done by using their power position to ask for help, rather than assigning people to tasks. They know that listening and rewarding can often be more persuasive than giving orders with penalties for non-compliance.

5. Builds a reservoir of goodwill without asking for anything in return

Good business and good working relationships must always be seen as unconditional, meaning not motivated by an expectation of future payback. The result will be people and organizations wanting to help you, rather than feeling an obligation to contribute.

6. Acts within the existing culture, while working to improve it

New challenges should be seen as an incentive to be more creative, rather than an excuse to fail or pick a fight. People who get things done lead change by example, positively showing a better way within the culture. Culture change becomes voluntary, not forced.

7. Displays 'street smarts' and real domain experience.

These are the people who can quickly provide examples of how they were personally able to overcome unusual challenges and achieve results. They also are proud to relate their experience in helping other people on their team overcome hurdles and achieve common objectives.

Overall, one of the best and most visible attributes of people who get the hard work done is that they love to be challenged, and get their satisfaction from resolving problems and getting results. The down side is that they may be easily bored, and quick to look for greater challenges elsewhere if you are not attentive with your leadership and organization, or reward the wrong things.

If your team is like many described in recent surveys -- where only 13 percent of the members surveyed described themselves as fully engaged -- you can bet that the rest will lack the characteristics needed to be the superstars that I have outlined here.

It may be time for you to take a hard look at your hiring, training and motivation systems, to improve your superstar hit ratio. The success of your business depends on it.

09 Things Managers Do That Make Good Employees Quit

It’s pretty incredible how often you hear managers complaining about their best employees leaving, and they really do have something to complain about—few things are as costly and disruptive as good people walking out the door.

Managers tend to blame their turnover problems on everything under the sun, while ignoring the crux of the matter: people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers.

The sad thing is that this can easily be avoided. All that’s required is a new perspective and some extra effort on the manager’s part.

First, we need to understand the nine worst things that managers do that send good people packing.

1. They overwork people.

Nothing burns good employees out quite like overworking them. It’s so tempting to work your best people hard that managers frequently fall into this trap. Overworking good employees is perplexing; it makes them feel as if they’re being punished for great performance. Overworking employees is also counterproductive. New research from Stanford shows that productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours, and productivity drops off so much after 55 hours that you don’t get anything out of working more.

If you must increase how much work your talented employees are doing, you’d better increase their status as well. Talented employees will take on a bigger workload, but they won’t stay if their job suffocates them in the process. Raises, promotions, and title-changes are all acceptable ways to increase workload. If you simply increase workload because people are talented, without changing a thing, they will seek another job that gives them what they deserve.

2. They don’t recognize contributions and reward good work.

It’s easy to underestimate the power of a pat on the back, especially with top performers who are intrinsically motivated. Everyone likes kudos, none more so than those who work hard and give their all. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good (for some, it’s a raise; for others, it’s public recognition) and then to reward them for a job well done. With top performers, this will happen often if you’re doing it right.

3. They don’t care about their employees.

More than half of people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationship with their boss. Smart companies make certain their managers know how to balance being professional with being human. These are the bosses who celebrate an employee’s success, empathize with those going through hard times, and challenge people, even when it hurts. Bosses who fail to really care will always have high turnover rates. It’s impossible to work for someone eight-plus hours a day when they aren’t personally involved and don’t care about anything other than your production yield.

4. They don’t honor their commitments.

Making promises to people places you on the fine line that lies between making them very happy and watching them walk out the door. When you uphold a commitment, you grow in the eyes of your employees because you prove yourself to be trustworthy and honorable (two very important qualities in a boss). But when you disregard your commitment, you come across as slimy, uncaring, and disrespectful. After all, if the boss doesn’t honor his or her commitments, why should everyone else?

5. They hire and promote the wrong people.

Good, hard-working employees want to work with like-minded professionals. When managers don’t do the hard work of hiring good people, it’s a major demotivator for those stuck working alongside them. Promoting the wrong people is even worse. When you work your tail off only to get passed over for a promotion that’s given to someone who glad-handed their way to the top, it’s a massive insult. No wonder it makes good people leave.

6. They don’t let people pursue their passions.

Talented employees are passionate. Providing opportunities for them to pursue their passions improves their productivity and job satisfaction. But many managers want people to work within a little box. These managers fear that productivity will decline if they let people expand their focus and pursue their passions. This fear is unfounded. Studies show that people who are able to pursue their passions at work experience flow, a euphoric state of mind that is five times more productive than the norm.

7. They fail to develop people’s skills.

When managers are asked about their inattention to employees, they try to excuse themselves, using words such as “trust,” “autonomy,” and “empowerment.” This is complete nonsense. Good managers manage, no matter how talented the employee. They pay attention and are constantly listening and giving feedback.

Management may have a beginning, but it certainly has no end. When you have a talented employee, it’s up to you to keep finding areas in which they can improve to expand their skill set. The most talented employees want feedback—more so than the less talented ones—and it’s your job to keep it coming. If you don’t, your best people will grow bored and complacent.

8. They fail to engage their creativity.

The most talented employees seek to improve everything they touch. If you take away their ability to change and improve things because you’re only comfortable with the status quo, this makes them hate their jobs. Caging up this innate desire to create not only limits them, it limits you.

9. They fail to challenge people intellectually.

Great bosses challenge their employees to accomplish things that seem inconceivable at first. Instead of setting mundane, incremental goals, they set lofty goals that push people out of their comfort zones. Then, good managers do everything in their power to help them succeed. When talented and intelligent people find themselves doing things that are too easy or boring, they seek other jobs that will challenge their intellects.

Bringing it all together

If you want your best people to stay, you need to think carefully about how you treat them. While good employees are as tough as nails, their talent gives them an abundance of options. You need to make them want to work for you.

08 Ways to Improve Sleep by Enhancing Your Dreams

How many times have you been lost in an amazing dream only to be startled awake by your alarm clock? Don’t you wish that you could have dreams like that every night? 

We all have had something like this happen to us. We all have dreams each and every night. The difference is that some of us recall our dreams more frequently, which gives the impression that some people dream more often. Others dream more lucidly. They are aware they are dreaming and can influence the dream differently and better.

As I strive to build my startup I become more and more self-aware. I find myself striving to understand myself better. Dreaming is a big part of this. Does the more we visualize our dreams coming true, make the more likely to come true? So this leads me to my question: how do you dream at night?

By following these eight tips, I've have more lucid dreams each night and recall them better the following day.

1. Give your melatonin levels a boost.

One of the best ways to improve lucid dreaming is by increasing your melatonin level. Melatonin is your body’s internal alarm clock and regulates our sleep-wake schedule. The higher the melatonin level, the higher quality dreams that you’re going to have at night.

You can improve your melatonin production by:

• Having a consistent sleep schedule that will keep your "internal clock" on time.
• Light exposure affects melatonin production. Sleep in complete darkness, if possible. A night mask is helpful if you can't make the room dark.
• Foods that increase melatonin production include white and black mustard, almonds, sunflower seeds, cherries and flax seeds. While not as strong, oats, barley, bananas, ginger, tomatoes also increase melatonin.
• Certain anti-inflammatory drugs and antidepressants can block melatonin production.
• If you have a sleep disorder or are experiencing jet lag, take a small dosage of melatonin. Always follow label directions and don't take more of any medication or supplement than recommended.2. Start a dream journal.

Keep a pen and a dream journal next to your bed and start recording your dreams immediately when you wake up. Take the time each morning to jot down or draw your dreams, including every detail you can recall, along with the date and notes of any life changes that you’re going through. Over time, you’ll see patterns in your dream. You will be able to remember your dreams more easily , and the intensity may increase.

3. Get a good night’s rest.

The longer you sleep, the more REM sleep your mind will generate, which means the more lucid dreams that you can recall. Getting more sleep means going to bed earlier, along with raising your melatonin levels and sleeping in a cool, dark room. The ideal temperature range for sleep is 60 to 67 degrees.

Other ways to get a good night’s rest is to avoid taking naps, exercise daily and have a comfortable mattress. When you awaken in the morning, lie still in bed with your eyes closed and think about the dream you just awoke from or had during the night.

4. Reduce stimulants.

Exposure to light decreases melatonin levels. If you’re lying in bed for hours on your computer or smartphone or watching television then can't fall asleep, cut back on electronics. Some experts recommend you have zero -- yes zero -- screens in the bedroom.

However, if you are going to spend some time using electronics before going to bed, then play a video game. According to studies conducted by Jayne Gackenbach, a psychologist at Grant MacEwan University, “people who frequently played video games were more likely to report lucid dreams, observer dreams where they viewed themselves from outside their bodies, and dream control that allowed people to actively influence or change their dream worlds – qualities suggestive of watching or controlling the action of a video-game character.”

5. Change your body position.

Your body position influences the type of dream that you have throughout the night. After studying 670 participants, Dr. Calvin Kai-Ching Yu of Hong Kong Shue Yan University found that those who sleep on their stomachs have positive and wilder dreams. Snoring that interrupts dreams is likelier when sleeping on your back.

Right-sided sleepers have reported more positive dreams and fewer nightmares than those who sleep on their left side. If you sleep on your side, experiment with switching sides.

6. Relax before bed.

Take about five or 10 minutes to relax before going to sleep. Meditate in a quiet, dark room or just focus on your breathing. Meditation can influence your dreams, like replacing nightmares with positive dreams, such as picturing yourself gliding through the air. Being calm helps you remember more of your dreams. A scalp massage is a pleasant stress reliever that helps you relax.

7. Tell yourself that you’re going to dream.

Before your doze off at night, repeat the phrase "I will know I'm dreaming." This technique is known as Mnemonic Induction to Lucid Dreaming, or MILD, a fancy way of saying you’re using a sleep aid. Assure yourself that you will remember your dream. Once you wake up, record your dreams in your journal and think about them. Your ability to remember your dreams clearly will improve if you are consistent.

8. Try the 'wake back' method.

Those wanting to experience lucid dreams should try the “wake-back-to-bed” method. Set your alarm to wake you after you’ve been asleep for around five hours. That's when you are more likely to be in REM sleep. When you awaken, write in your dream journal, then go back to sleep with the intention of having a lucid dream.

Be careful not wake yourself up to the point where you can’t fall back asleep. A cup of coffee is definitely not a good idea during this time!

04 Ways to Become an Expert

Expertise is one of those things that is both rare and a highly valued commodity -- a fact belied by the frequency in which it appears on resumes -- but made clear by the way it is sought out by everyone, from potential employers, to partners and customers. We all understand that expertise is important, but many have a more difficult time of figuring out the right way to gain it.

The pursuit of a degree can certainly help you develop but doesn’t exactly require you to get your hands dirty in a way that allows you to learn practical skills. Working your way up the ladder at an established company also has major benefits, but it often takes time to get the responsibility you need to be able to gain the expertise you’re looking, which can be counterproductive to your effort. Don’t get me wrong -- experience is certainly an excellent way to gain knowledge, but its correlation with expertise is not causal.

Another, and arguably more successful, way to becoming an expert in something is to just strike out on your own and teach yourself. One of the biggest misconceptions about starting a business is that the expertise in running a business is a precondition to creating one. You can always learn from and rely on others, but at the end of the day, there is exponentially more to be learned from doing something yourself.

Here are a few tips in gaining expertise:

1. Don’t trust your instincts.

You may be asking yourself, “What? That’s the exact opposite of what everyone’s ever told me!” Yes, a well-known mantra is to trust your instincts, but the harsh reality is that even the most well-intentioned instincts are often wrong. The key to driving your business forward and developing your skills is to better understand how you make decisions, so you are more capable of knowing when your gut is leading you in the right direction -- and when you may need a second opinion.

We've all been through the process of watching a brilliant idea fail miserably, and while this has its own long-term benefits, it is easier to avoid it entirely. Learning your own cognitive pre-dispositions, whether it be an over-reliance on a specific tool or a risk-tolerance that is far too high, can help you avoid critical errors and grow your business faster.

2. Embrace your ignorance.

Experience can help you identify problems and opportunities in advance, but it can also blind you to other problems and opportunities. Coming in with fresh eyes allows you to establish your own unique perspective and expertise in order to see things that your competition or would-be mentors might not. The sometimes overwhelming desire for the sense of security provided by credible experts can come at the expense of creative growth.

Very often, the most disruptive solution for a specific industry is hidden by best practices that make that option much less exciting or visible. We can argue whether ignorance is actually bliss, but it is fairly obvious that you can't be afraid of what you don't know. Sometimes this lack of knowledge can lead you astray, but it can also be a prerequisite for identifying a new road to success. Being aware of inexperience is important, but embracing the uncorrupted perspective it affords can be a game-changer.3. Learn from your partners.

Whether it be a food supplier for a restaurant or an advertiser on your website, understanding the needs and viewpoints of all parts of your supply chain and sales funnel can be incredibly helpful. Keeping an eye on what’s important to each player in your business gives you a more holistic view of your business and can help you realize critical insights much more rapidly. Equally, it will keep your finger on the pulse and help you stay ahead of market changes.

4. Ignore the stigma of failure.

There are few lessons as powerful or lasting as failing miserably to accomplish a goal. We’re always told to avoid failure, which is why, when it occurs, it can be so devastating. While I certainly would not recommend seeking it out, if failure does happen to come your way, embrace it and use it as an opportunity to learn for the future.

Taking a step back after a setback and properly analyzing what led to it can be an important and liberating process. Undertaking a thorough debrief can help you gather insights into your decision-making process and the way you operate your business. In the best case, it can help you clearly identify areas to change, allowing you to move forward all the stronger.

Most importantly, you will learn rather quickly that while failing may be a gut-wrenching experience, it is hardly the end of the world. Much of succeeding in business is about taking risks, and fearing failure may be important -- but knowing that it is a temporary frustration can empower you to take the risks necessary to achieve true success.

Acquiring expertise will allow you to sit in the driver’s seat of your business and learn and grow as you build your business. But as critical as it is to recognize the importance of expertise, it is more important to have an actionable plan to acquire it. Degrees and experience are great, but sometimes the best way to become an expert is to start learning on your own, testing out ideas and adopting insights you gain into your future endeavors. By keeping these tips in mind, you can make the most of your entrepreneurial pursuits to create the foundation for long-term success.

05 Common Inventory Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Inventory is arguably the most important part of your business. When products are bought and sold, they generate the revenue you need to keep your company afloat. However, inventory is a more complicated subject than it may seem.

The reason is that sales numbers aren’t the only factor that impacts your bottom line. Inventory-cost reduction is just as important; and you may not be doing it right. Are you making these five inventory-management mistakes?

1. Performance measurements are lacking.

You may already be aware of growing issues with performance in your organization. How can you fix problems when you have no standards in place -- no measure of customer service, inventory turns or warehouse efficiency? 

A good place to start is to initiate mandatory tracking of fill rate and inventory turns for all products. These are two metrics your product managers should have a handle on -- all the time. It’s important to monitor fill-rate daily. However, inventory-turn measurement frequency depends on your business’ sales and production cycles. Regardless of what you deem best for your operations, managers should be tracking as well as improving these rates.

Brian Harej, inventory analyst for entertainment company TopGolf, has described, for example, how, with his own company, the business seemed to be flourishing -- with four facilities spread throughout Illinois, Texas and Virginia -- but the warehouse system was quite a different story. Top Golf didn’t have a handle on inventory, Harej explained, and the stress of keeping those locations running was significant.

“We didn’t know when orders were coming in, and we had difficulty tracking what we were sending out,” Harej said. “If a facility was running low on a part, sometimes we weren’t notified until a day or two before it was needed; it would be impossible to get the requested parts to the facility on time.”

To get his warehouse system under control, Harej deployed inventory management software. Now, he no longer has to guess inventory usage at each individual site.

2. Employees aren’t qualified to manage inventory.

Nobody has time to halt operations for any reason, let alone training; but to have accurate inventory management, you need workers you can trust to do the job well. As you take steps to implement a better inventory-control system, consider the following solutions to avoid frustration for you and your workers.

• Hire the right people: Your company potentially has hundreds of thousands of dollars tied up in inventory. Shouldn’t you hire professional inventory managers or people who have a solid background with inventory in the first place.
• Hold inventory managers accountable: Do you have any idea of who is in charge of inventory in your warehouse? It’s important to have a trusted person (or people) in place that know and fully support your strategic goals. If that isn’t the case at your company, your goals may never be fulfilled.
• Emphasize training from the start: Many vendors who offer inventory management software and solutions will conduct on-site training for your employees. Jump on this opportunity. The training is usually customized for your company, and everyone should be learning best practices from the very beginning.

3. You can’t plan, due to a lack of forecasting.

According to the 2015 State of Small Business Report, 56 percent of small businesses surveyed acknowledged a desire to improve customer-service levels. You may be one of them. But you can’t improve your customer service if you’re still reviewing back-order reports and finding ways to put bandages on the problem, rather than investing in a long-term solution.

You may even find yourself lacking knowledge about important factors, like the stock you have in place at any given time. This will frustrate your employees, and if you -- and they -- can’t meet customer needs, those customers will go somewhere else. Your business will never meet today’s fast-paced market demands if you don’t proactively plan for the future.

Changing to an automated inventory-management system will provide real-time data, so you'll always know what’s in stock or what’s trending, up to the moment you download a report. With constant access to accurate data, you’ll always know what your customers want. And when customers are happy, you'll be happy: Specifically, you’ll collect revenue rather than dust on all those products in your warehouse.

4. You aren’t automated.

If you’re currently using Excel or some other manual process to track your stock, you’re wasting precious time and money by sifting through paper and fixing errors one by one. Mistakes will happen: Research shows that even a proficient data entry operator will make one error for every 300 characters he or she enters; and that level of inaccuracy can lead to big headaches if your stock includes hundreds or thousands of products.

Excel and other manual processes don’t operate in real time or allow multiple users to access them at the same time. An automated system, in contrast, enables multiple employees to track items across several locations, all while monitoring orders and shipments for those items.

5. Inventory counts really don’t happen.

Do you stop warehouse operations for days to physically count items and make sure that count matches the data stored in your software? This is an absolutely unnecessary, costly and outdated mindset.

You'll be much better off checking inventory levels in one section per day. With a barcode inventory management system, accurate data is just a scan away.

07 Secrets That Will Make You Much More Likable

Imagine being able to instantly connect with people, and feel at ease among strangers, and stay assured in any social situation.

Human beings are social creatures, which means social skills are a necessary part of a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Some people are naturals, but most of us deal with some degree of social anxiety. The good news is that social skills are like any other skill--most people aren't born with them, and it's never too late to learn.

Learn the seven secrets for becoming the most likable person.

1.  Being smart is good; being social is better.
People like smart people. But smart people are especially susceptible to certain social mistakes, like interrupting, discounting other people's input, or cultivating a know-it-all air. Don't let your intelligence hold you back socially; be a likable person and spend more time being engaging.

2.  Have fun! Seriously.
Being fun is a trait people generally appreciate in others. But situational awareness is the key to knowing how to play it. Be sensitive to what's going on around you; there will be times your playful side can have free rein, but at others it will be necessary to hold back. The trick will be in knowing when to have fun and when to be serious.
 
3. Draw people out.
Be curious about other people, and make a point of finding out what is fascinating and unique about them. Don't hog the conversation but truly listen. Make it your mission to discover what makes those around you interesting. And, because people love talking about themselves, you'll gain a reputation as a great conversationalist and extremely personable.

4. Keep communication collaborative.
Don't make your conversations a monologue but a dialogue; make it a partnership in which both parties contribute. Find a topic--ideally not too controversial or divisive--about which everyone has something to say, then listen as the ideas begin to weave around one another.

5.  An attitude of positivity and praise goes a long way.
Don't be afraid to be positive and encouraging. If someone looks nice, or is well dressed, or played the piano incredibly well, tell him. If you think someone is funny or interesting, let her know. People are drawn to positivity.6. Pay attention to nonverbal communication.

Pay attention not just to the words you're saying but also your pace, your tone of voice, and your body language: posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions all send messages. If you are avoiding eye contact, standing far away, or crossing your arms, you are likely telling others that you don't want to interact. If you adopt a confident stance, smile, make eye contact, stand upright, and uncross your arms, you are more likely to make a good impression.

7. Present the best parts of who you are.
The person who is most liked is one whose actions match his or her words, who presents an authentic self in every situation. We are judged by four things: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it. Our social skills and deeper relationships are happiest when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.

The secret to being more likable is to make your social skills a priority in your life. Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.

11 Clever Ways to Keep an Audience Engaged Without Saying a Word

Just as an image can say a thousand words, hand talkers are communicating far more than they know.

After studying famous TED talks, consultant Vanessa Van Edwards discovered that the ones that went viral featured speakers who used their hands the most. Indeed, an average of 272 hand gestures were used in the least-watched TED talks as compared to the average of 465 hand gestures in the top-ranked ones during the same length of time. 

"When really charismatic leaders use hand gestures, the brain is super happy," Edwards recently told the Washington Post. "Because it's getting two explanations in one, and the brain loves that."

So while talking with your hands is a good thing, it's also important that they're saying the right thing. Here are 11 rules of thumb to follow when using your hands during a presentation: 

1. Keep hand movements descriptive.

Though doing what comes naturally helps you avoid getting too choreographed with your gestures, having pre-planned descriptive gestures at the ready is also not a bad idea.

Indicate with your hands when you're talking about something big or small. Help audience members keep track of what you're saying by holding out one hand to describe the benefits of an issue and then the other to describe the downsides.

And when you say a number below five, show that with your hand to help people remember the number.  

2. Use open palm gestures to build the audience's trust.

Open palms indicate that you have nothing to hide. The gesture may have evolutionary underpinnings and it's one of the few universal recommendations made by speech coaches and body language experts. 

3. Keep your hands in the strike zone. 

The "strike zone" is a baseball reference that in presentations refers to the area from your shoulder to the top part of your hips. That's the natural area for you to gesture, so moving outside that zone can often be distracting. Though it's not a hard and fast rule, keep it in mind.

4. Don't point. 

Just don't do it. Pointing can appear aggressive and off-putting to many in a crowd.

5. Avoid the Clinton thumb. 

Politicians often do the "Clinton thumb," which is when you make a fist and rest your thumb on top. The idea behind it is to coach speakers out of pointing, pounding their fists or looking too aggressive. 

But just because everyone from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton has used it, doesn't mean you should. It just doesn't look natural for most of us. 

6. When you're at a loss, drop your hands to your sides. 

Dropping your hands serves as a reset button of sorts. When you've spent the last few minutes pointing or something just doesn't feel right with the gestures you're using, try this trick. But remember to only keep your hands at your sides temporarily. 

7. Avoid drawing attention to the wrong places. 

Clasping your hands in front of your groin area draws attention to the wrong place. And it keeps your hands still, which means you aren't using them in a more effective way. 

8. Conducting is for orchestras, not public speaking. 

Just as you would mix up the sentences you say, avoid repetitive gestures like slicing the air or chopping your hand into an open palm. Women in particular need to be careful about "conducting" because research has shown that female voices stimulate parts of the male brain used to decipher music. 

9. Keep objects out of your hands.If you have an object in your hands during a presentation, you may unknowingly fiddle with it the entire time. Whether it's clicking a pen's top or rustling papers, all forms of fidgeting distract the listener or make the speaker come off as nervous. 

10. Show your hands. 

You may feel safer standing behind a big furniture piece, but gripping the top of the lectern and making low hidden gestures won't do you any good. Have your hands out and moving or at the very least resting on the lectern lightly. 

11. Avoid spider hands.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has a trademark hand gesture, where she holds her hands in front of her midsection, fingertips and thumbs touching in a diamond shape with the fingers pointed down.

Do not follow her example. The "spider hands" appear tense, and there's a risk of unintended meaning. Keep in mind the shape you're making is similar to the sign language gesture for a part of the female anatomy. And that's the last thing you want to be indicating to an audience. 

06 Reasons Why Startups Should Skip the Big-Bang Launch

Big bang hard launches make sense for large enterprises like Apple or Microsoft, who are building on existing revenue streams and have the resources for lavish events, Superbowl ads and large inventory buildups. But for startups with limited resources and experience, I always recommend a soft launch or toe-in-the-water approach in a local market -- and scale up later.

In fact, for startups, it usually makes sense to announce your solution on social media and blogs even before you have built the first one. Think of it as an inexpensive way to do some real market research -- which big companies can’t do, for fear of getting an antitrust violation for announcing vaporware to impede the market. Smart startups are already doing it on crowdfunding platforms.

Then it’s time to evaluate response and feedback, make the necessary plan pivots, and try it again. Iterating this process, until you see some real traction, is far less risky and expensive than the big-bang rollout. Let me summarize the advantages of this to your startup:

1. Immediate real customer feedback

Startups which insist on operating in stealth mode in fear of competitor response miss the more important customer response. In addition, with today’s fast moving market, the whole environment can change in the year or more you are hiding out to get the solution and your total infrastructure built.

2. Small real revenue today is better than large later projections.

All investors want to see real evidence that the dogs will eat the dogfood before they give any credibility to your hockey-stick projection curves. Funding to support a rollout is much harder to procure than funding to support a scale up, after an initial hint of success.

3. Maximum agility for required pivots

It’s amazing to most entrepreneurs how fast their little startup can become a battleship, hard to turn in a storm. Executing multiple iterations while very small is critical for anyone with a limited budget and runway. Startups need the agility to test various business models and positioning messages.4. Partners and distribution channels will take you seriously.

In many business arenas, brand-name partners and distribution are a prerequisite to scaling the business. A validated early customer following will get their attention, and allow you to negotiate the support you need in time for the real business surge.

5. Build your audience and the product at the same time.

With social media and inexpensive website tools, you can build momentum in the marketplace without the need to spend money on a big-bang rollout. With these tools, it’s easier to measure impact and progress and make required changes than trying to measure big-bang results.

6. Time to train and prepare staff to deal with customers.

A soft launch is less stressful to the team and lets them more gradually re-acclimate from a development environment to a delivery environment. It takes time to learn how to do customer service, interviews and demonstrations. A few missteps can totally destroy your big-bank launch.

But an iterative rollout or soft launch should never be used as an excuse for poor planning or an untested solution. Especially with a minimum viable product (MVP), every feature included must be high-quality, documented well and properly marketed. Free give-away products and beta tests are not the same as rollouts -- you get no validation of the business model.

In any launch, it’s important to have the right training and controls in place to prevent a visible marketing or delivery disaster. Customers have long memories, and they can spread the word very fast with social media, so negative reviews can easily be non-recoverable. It is much smarter to make a few people very happy than to leave many people or even a few unimpressed.

Most of the superstar companies we know like Facebook and Google have never had a big-bang rollout. They started slowly, in limited areas such as one university or city, and then expanded slowly, based on customer demand and resources available. Even big brands like McDonald's and Walmart entered the scene one store at a time.

Yet some entrepreneurs find it hard to resist the urge to get their product or service into the hands of a large number of people at one time. They are so certain that customers are poised and waiting that they forget the costs of a hard launch -- and the risks of a highly visible failure. It’s one of the few times in a startup when it actually pays to be less aggressive.

Proceed with caution.

05 Reputation Missteps to Avoid During the Holidays

Throughout the year you should focus on building a personal brand (reputation) that is consistent with your values and goals and the needs of your target audience. Paying attention to your reputation ensures you are managing (and even directing!) the opportunities that come your way. From business ventures to personal relationships, your personal brand drives the laws of attraction in your favor.

Unfortunately for many, the holiday season seems to be a time when focus on self and long-term vision takes a backseat. While everyone’s holiday experience is unique, the season from November-January is typically filled with urgency (end of year goals, deadlines), jubilation (personal and professional), and reflection (how did we do this year?). Moving into the New Year should bring hope and optimism, not panic or reputation repair from being careless during the holidays.

To protect your reputation during the holidays, avoid these classic land mines:

1. Trying to be someone you’re not.

Your reputation and personal brand are how others – your audiences -- perceive you. You can spend years crafting a brand that positions you as trustworthy, honest, collaborative and inspiring. One mistake and all your positioning can come into question. The holiday season is not the time to try on a new persona and attempt to convince your colleagues, customers, vendors and other audiences that you are someone you’re not. Instead, focus on being authentic with the people who trust you, endorse you, and refer you.

2. Overly casual online conversations.

After some eggnog, you might feel overconfident about telling that blogger, online “friend,” or colleague what you really think. Hands off the keyboard! You might feel brave or invincible, but if your comments are not focused and consistent with your vision for your desired reputation, you could sabotage years of hard work and consistent behavior. The online conversation empowers many with a sense of anonymity and protection. In fact, professionals are fired daily from inappropriate or insensitive posts made online.

3. Letting loose at the company party.

A time to meet colleagues from other offices and build relationship with clients, the company party is a great time to unwind and celebrate. However, losing sight of the reputation you’ve earned can be damaging. Pay attention to your alcohol consumption, office gossip, sharing of news and company information, the appropriateness of your holiday attire and your overall behavior at the company party to ensure your only January hangover is in your brain.

4. Forgetting gratitude

Are you forgetting to thank your online followers, clients, vendors, strategic partners and staff at the holidays? Yes, you are busy and there is so much to do…but these are the people who support you and endorse and validate you throughout the year. Be sure to show appreciation to those who bring your reputation to life year round.

5. Forgetting your desired brand

Now is not the time to forget the reputation you want for yourself. Instead, focus your efforts, celebrations, gratitude and interactions on supporting the perception you want your clients, colleagues, staff, vendors and partners to have of who you are and what you stand for. Your personal brand and desired reputation take a career to build and the focus is on consistency, not perfection.

The experiences you have over the holidays can be wonderful expressions of your values and goals. Be sure to stay mindful of the vision you have for your personal brand, company brand and the needs of your target audience. Use the timing of “holidays” to enhance your value to your communities instead of damage the expectation others have of who you are and what you offer that is of value.

04 Key Things Entrepreneurs Should Know Before Planning a SEO Budget

SEO is no magic bullet. You need to understand its key elements before entering into an SEO campaign.

The marketing industry is all about ideas and strategies. The options to promote brands are so diverse it can often overwhelm entrepreneurs. Moreover, each of these marketing platforms has its own advantages when it comes to helping your company to grow. That said, most startups can't invest time and energy into all these marketing efforts due to budget constraints.

Businesses, large and small, should always plan and budget their marketing activities in advance to keep things under control. Yet, as a local search specialist, one area I continually see out-of-control expenses is SEO.  One reason is that many find planning a marketing budget an elusive task. But this doesn't need to be the case. All you need is a simple plan and budget that is easy to stick to.

But before you begin the process, you need to understand a few things about SEO before you start spending your dollars.

Here are four things you must know before planning your SEO budget.

1. It is a long-term strategy

SEO isn’t a one-time project but rather a long-term assignment. While the search engine will start crawling your website as soon as you make it live and will visit often as and when you add new content, the algorithm is designed in such a way that it will take some time to recognize the changes. The results usually start appearing from the third month onwards, although they will be minimum. It will take at least four to six months for the SEO to start working, and you'll need to wait another six to eight months to see more complete results.

Whatever you do, you won’t be seeing the real effects of your investment until the second year; so you must set your budget accordingly.

So, it is important to understand that SEO isn’t a fad or ply. Instead, it's a series of proven methods to improve your website’s organic ranking. And as in any scientific process, search engine optimization includes a lot of discovery, planning and auditing in the initial days.

Because you won't start seeing the real effects of your investment until the second year, you must set your budget accordingly.

2. SEO isn’t cheap

Contrary to what most people will say you, SEO isn’t really cheap. That said, the cost per acquisition for this marketing tool is second cheapest after email marketing. But still, you will need to shed off a significant amount of money every month for your SEO activities.

Related: 5 Sources of High-Quality Links for Local SEO

Google has extremely complicated algorithm, which is difficult to comprehend if you aren’t from the SEO industry. You will therefore need to hire a quality SEO and digital-marketing company that provides comprehensive SEO services. They are likely to charge you anything between $2,500 and $5,000 per month (or more), meaning you have to invest around $60,000 in a year to start your SEO campaign. Although there are some companies offering SEO services for less, they are often not specialized and can do more harm to your business than doing any good.

3. Don’t forget SEO SWOT analysis

As most of us are aware of, SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A SWOT analysis is a must for all your business efforts, including your SEO campaigns. Using this approach will help you determine the areas where you need to focus more so that you can adjust your budget for those aspects.

Here is an example from MOZ of what your SEO SWOT should look like:

Once you complete your own SWOT analysis, you need to turn your weaknesses into strength and your strength into opportunities.

4. Your metrics to measure ROI

How would you measure your ROI for your organic search? Many incorrectly use ranking as a metric to measure their return on investment but this is typically a bad metric to focus your SEO efforts on. The reason being is that you may have achieved a top ranking on Google for a particular set of keywords, but what about the traffic? Do you have a steady flow of traffic? Do visitors come back again and again for more? Is your traffic converting? What about the bounce rate? What does your sales report indicating?

There are much better metrics to focus on instead of trusting your ranking reports. Think in terms of traffic, repeat customers, leads, conversion rates and sales.

SEO is no magic bullet. You need to understand its key elements before entering into an SEO campaign. More importantly, take the time to plan and budget your campaign in a measured way and make sure you are spending your money wisely.

09 Questions to Ask When Assessing a Market

Surprisingly, I see many organizations struggle to develop an accurate assessment of a market they are already in or are considering entering. Too many companies are not able to properly assess the potential size of the market, the behaviors required to succeed in that market, as well as how much of the market is actually attainable and why.

Assessing market-growth opportunities should be no different than anything else an organization does. There should be a disciplined way of going about it. This assessment will help a company determine whether to invest time and resources in trying to capture parts of that market, so the assessment needs to answer the right questions. Sometimes capturing share of an existing market is not the right strategy, because you should be creating a new market (think Apple's iPad).

It is important to note that you will never be able to know everything about a particular market, but here are some key questions you need to answer in order to make the right decision:

1. What is the current size of the market? What is the potential size of the market? Will it grow or contract? Why?

2. How much of the market share can we conservatively take? What’s that worth to our organization, both financially and otherwise?

3. How well does our product fit into the current market? Can we create a new market for our product?

4. If we are in the market already, what has made us successful and/or what has made us unsuccessful?

5. What are the buying habits in the market and how can we exploit them?

6. What are the different segments of the market? Do we want to compete in all of them or only some of them? Which ones are growing and which are contracting?

7. Who are the competitors in the market and why do customers buy from them? What do we need to do to get customers to buy from us?

8. What kind of margins should we expect in this market? How does that align with the overall margins for our organization?

9. Who are the customer organizations we should be targeting first?

As you can probably glean from these questions, it’s as important to understand what your organization brings to the market as it is to understand the market’s external forces. Often, organizations aren’t able to succeed in a market because they don’t properly assess their own capabilities.

Assessing growth potential in existing or new markets requires some common sense, critical thinking and analysis. Don’t over-think the decision. Review your answers to the questions above and then make an educated decision as to the best move to make.

Are you asking the right questions when assessing market growth opportunities?

6 Ways to Help Attract a Founding Team, Pre-Revenue

So, let's say you have a great idea. Maybe it's been your side project, or maybe you’re 100 percent committed to making this idea a business. In the pre-revenue phase you're now in, you need to focus on how to attract the best founding team. And you need to understand that your road ahead is not going to be easy, because a founding team in an early-stage startup generally has little or no revenue, and a whole lot of potential problems.

At the same time, you probably already know that finding good technical talent, versus business talent, is critical, and that even if you find willing co-founders, unless you’ve worked with them in a prior role, it will be impossible to be sure what kind of fit they'll be.

So, what can you do to attract, and test, good co-founders? Here are six tips.

1. Craft your vision, and keep it simple

Startup founders often struggle to describe exactly what they do. Some of this is natural: In the early stages, you have likely identified a problem and an idea about how to solve it. But there is still plenty of ambiguity, and a lot to iron out before your business becomes viable.

Before you look for co-founders, then, you need a clear vision of what your company does, what problems your idea solves and who your target audience is for that solution. Just as not everyone can be your customer, not everyone can be your co-founder . . . and you need a clear value proposition that works for both groups.

2. Think a little about the future.

Even though you’re in a pre-revenue stage, when it comes to attracting potential co-founders, you must lay out your basic business structure. Although nothing is set in stone at this stage, have an idea about the size you want to build your company to, how you want to fund it and what level of commitment you want from your co-founder(s) in the short and long term.

Once you have a clear vision and the basic framework for your expectations of your co-founder (s), it's time to develop relationships -- and to recognize that it's now all about the people on your team and the culture you create.

3. Treat referrals as the best way to find a good match.

Strong ties are often more important than raw talent. In fact, when you start searching for that perfect co-founder, your first strategy should be to share your vision with your existing networks.

Tell them why you are building, what you are building and what is important to you in a co-founder. You may not get an interested party immediately, but putting your intention out there means that people in your network will start to think about matching you with the perfect candidate.

4. Find or create an open source project or community.

Creativity and ideas tend to flourish within the context of peers operating in a space where creativity and smart thinking abound. Find your peers in the community in which you work. This may mean spending time in a co-working space, a regular meet-up group or even an online forum. Like minds flourish together, and when you find people who like and are inspired by similar things, your co-founder candidates are more likely to fit your vision.

Networking and co-working can also lead you to people who might be able to make a cold introduction to a potential co-founder. Expect that it will take time to develop meaningful relationships, but this kind of introduction may be the path to a perfect fit.

5. Create and consistently maintain a blog or microblog.

Once referrals and interested potential co-founders turn up, they will begin to check you out; they'll be evaluating you just as you are evaluating them.

The single most important signal you can provide to attract these prospective candidates is to consistently share your learnings and professional development. A blog attached to your website is a great tool to market your idea, your vision and your attractiveness to a potential co-founder. Your channel for sharing might also be a series of YouTube videos, a presence on Twitter or even a public online forum. Sharing how you think and operate and how you identify and solve problems is a key component for attracting the talent you need. Do these things on a regular basis.

6. Date first, then plan the wedding (a.k.a. the business partnership).

These tips lead to the most important ingredient: finding a way to test the relationship. As Steve Blank, author of The Four Steps to the Epiphany, one of the founding books of the lean startup movement has said, cofounders should seek to “date first” in order to see if the potential relationship is a good one.

Founders who’ve been through the process a couple of times often say that little of a startup's success depends on raw talent, while a lot depends on how well and quickly people work together. Skills like empathy, problem-solving and reactions to pressure under fire matter. Testing out these skills in a real-world situation can help you assess if the co-founder relationship you've found is a good one.

05 Rules for Closing the Deal With Investors

How much capital do you really need to get your company up and running with money left over to operate? Answering that question is one reason a solid business plan is so important. If you raise too little, you risk running out of money before your business gets off the ground. Keep in mind that if your projections show that you’ll have positive cash flow in a year, that future cash could be available to fuel your growth, in addition to any start-up capital raised from investors.

When raising money, here are some rules I’ve learned from experience with my own companies:

1. Estimate what you need, then double it.

If you can avoid additional rounds of funding, you’ll avoid headaches and interruptions, and often will end up keeping more of your company.

2. Estimate revenue optimistically, but support your numbers.

Keep your projections optimistic but realistic. Provide research and data supporting your conclusions. Your potential investors know that entrepreneurs are always optimistic anyway and will discount your rate of growth, regardless of what you say. By starting out on the high end you can arrive at a better deal than if you started out low.

3. Retain a controlling stake.

If you don’t have majority ownership, then you are by definition a minority shareholder. That means you can be removed from your own company if the majority votes against you. Any decision or suggestion you make can be overturned or ignored.

While you should be a respectful partner with your investors, you don’t want to be their subordinate. An exception to this is if your company is an LLC whose operating agreement gives you special rights and decision-making authority allowing you to retain control even with a minority ownership stake.

4. Project confidence and passion.

When asking for money, never show weakness or desperation. Investors want to entrust their money to someone they believe in.

5. Bring investment documents to the meeting.

Have your standard terms worked out, and change them only if it’s in everyone’s best interest. No investor should get a better deal than anyone else just because they can negotiate a better arrangement. Be prepared to show how much skin you have in the game. Investors want to know that they’re not the only ones taking a risk, but you don’t necessarily have to put up capital. I didn’t when I started my oil company, mostly because I didn’t have any. You just need to demonstrate how committed and motivated you are to your endeavor.

It makes sense. The more you have to lose, the harder you’ll work to succeed. If you don’t have any money to invest upfront, then you have to convince investors with your confidence, your preparation and evidence of your commitment to the success of the business.

05 Habits Every Entrepreneur Should Develop to Become Successful

Establishing a startup is like a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. Though a few of the entrepreneurs already possess the ‘must-have habits to become successful’ coded in their genes, others can incorporate those qualities by observing intently, learning from examples and thus, assimilating the habits of highly successful people around the world.

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey at Info Edge and now at Buildzar, I have learnt that no matter how intensely motivated you are, your habits will keep you going. Some of these are:

Build a Strong Work Ethos:

To build a business successfully, the pillars of ethics are always vital. Firstly, there is . The things that need to be done have to be done in a right way.

Certain factors combine together to create a great work ethos namely . As an entrepreneur, your integrity is vital for your company & team and your team’s integrity is important for your customers.

You are new in business, with a new idea, so people may get reluctant. Out of 10 people, 9 may ridicule your idea. Just learn to accept ‘NO’ from others and take it as positive feedback. Perseverance is the key.

I always say to my team, if you have the conviction to do it, nothing can stop you! A strong work ethos will always keep you moving on the path of success.

Add Value to Everything You Do:

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”

With every small or big task you take on, ask yourself- , and act accordingly. Start doing things not for the sake of just doing it, but with the intent to make it worth it.

Create your personal ‘Value Book’ and add two columns; one for tasks done and second for the values added (to your organization, to your customers, to yourself) and start analyzing. This practice is a sure shot formula to be successful.

Be Productive, Not Busy:

Are you constantly suffering from ‘Not enough time’ syndrome? Are you always ‘too busy’ to do anything? Well, start focusing on being productive so that you can get better results without actually being ‘busy’.

Make to-do lists, focus on one task at a time and set deadlines for yourself. Leave the habit of procrastination, start prioritizing and schedule your day.

Be Nimble, Be Quick:

Although being nimble (quick thinking) is something you will get from your programmed DNAs but still you can develop it as habit just by observing & practicing.

When running your own organization, you have to be quick- both in making decisions and in taking actions. Always be at your toes and get out of your comfort zone. Take up tasks, finish them in time and move to next.

Focus on Details:

To succeed at something, always have an eye for details. I am a strong believer of the fact that beauty lies in the fine print of things. Drill deep down into the problems you are addressing and find solutions for them.

Ask questions. No detail is too small to escape close attention. Leave no stone unturned. Leave no dot unconnected.

It bodes well for one to not get overwhelmed and over excited about developing these habits. Move one-step at a time. Pick up one habit and practice it until it becomes a natural part of your routine.

05 Reasons Why You've Failed as an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is hard, and as statistics show, not everyone makes it. Most of us fall somewhere along the spectrum -- at times we succeed, and at other times, we fail. Yet, we’ve all heard of entrepreneurs who experience success time and time again, in different industries, with different teams and different market conditions. So what is it that these people have that most of us don’t -- aside from the seven- and eight-figure bank accounts? 

That’s what I've tried to figure out. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but based on my experience, the problem is you. When you ask yourself -- “why have I been failing as an entrepreneur?" -- what answers come up?

For some of us, the following subjects may feel oddly familiar, and it may shed some insight into why you haven’t yet reached your full potential. If you’re willing to work on yourself, it may even unlock the key to finally accomplishing what you’ve always dreamed of.  

1. You’re afraid. 

"So deeply seated is the emotion of fear that one may go through life burdened with it, never recognizing it’s presence.” --  Napoleon Hill 

Fear is a tricky fellow, and it is not to be taken lightly. Chances are, you have fears you aren’t even aware of that are holding you back in some significant way. Whether it’s cold calling, showing your product to the world or pitching high profile investors, fear is capable of stopping most of us in our tracks. Unconscious fear often shows up as indifference, indecision, doubt, worry, over caution, procrastination, lack of ambition, jealousy and a myriad of other ways. 

If you’re showing any of these symptoms, ask yourself, what am I avoiding? 

Some people are scared of the truth because they don’t want to admit their own shortcomings, and they fear embarrassment. Others may be afraid of success, because they don’t feel that they deserve it. Some are afraid of failure, and never try anything so that they can avoid failing. But perhaps the strongest grip of all is the fear to be different. We’re both biologically programmed and socially conditioned to fit in with the crowd and conform. It can be hard to break away and do something truly unique. 

The first step to overcoming your fear is to accept that you have it. Feel the fear and do it anyway. 

2. You don’t know how to let go.

"You can do anything, but not everything." -- David Allen

Small-scale entrepreneurs and small business owners are notorious for wanting to do everything themselves. In my consulting business, Profit Fox, this is one of the number-one things I see preventing small business owners from finding real success. Their unwillingness to get help prevents them from ever taking their business to the next level. 

While you might think this is the only way to get things done right, your need for control may be standing in the way of real success, not to mention a little breathing room. If you can learn to let go, delegate, build a team of talented people and give up mental ownership -- and perhaps financial ownership -- of some aspects of your business, it could benefit you in a big way in the long run. It is better to have a percent of something large, than the entirety of nothing. 

What can you let go of today in your business in order to concentrate on the high-value tasks? 

3. You lack persistence.

"Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." -- Thomas Edison

When I talk about failing as an entrepreneur, I am referring to giving up entirely. Setbacks, temporary failures, uncertainty and even failed businesses are all part of being an entrepreneur. It’s the individual who can keep getting back up over and over again who is going to be triumphant. Even the best of the best fail from time to time, but failure may become less frequent, less severe and a greater teacher as you hone your entrepreneurial chops. 

Sometimes it takes enduring effort or repeated rejections to get to where you want to be. My own app has been in the app store for more than three years and is just starting to gain real traction. Tim Ferris was rejected by 25 publishers before finding someone to publish his book, The Four Hour Work Week. The iconic book went on to launch Tim’s career as an author and investor and has spent over seven years on the New York Times best-seller list.

Are you willing to take 25 rejections to get one yes? How about 100?

4. You’ve stopped investing in yourself. 

“I think that much of the advice given to young men about saving money is wrong. I never saved a cent until I was 40 years old. I invested in myself -- in study, in mastering my tools, in preparation. Many a man who is putting a few dollars a week into the bank would do much better to put it into himself.” -- Henry Ford

Just like investing in a business, investing in yourself can pay heavy dividends down the road. If you ended your education with the end of your formal schooling, you’re doing yourself a disservice. The work roles of the future aren’t taught in school. They haven’t even been invented yet. 

If you want to succeed in today’s fast-paced world, it’s best to continue to invest in yourself as if you were a business, whether it’s with courses, coaches, trainings or even getting a personal trainer to stay healthy. Invest in yourself, and you may find yourself experiencing greater success not only in business but in all aspects of your life. 

5. You’re getting things done, but not the right things.

“Efficiency is doing the thing right. Effectiveness is doing the right thing.” -- Peter Drucker 

Is it better to do the right things, than to get things done. Many of us feel like we are too busy to take a second out of our day to have a nice meal, or think about our future. But are all of us really busy -- or are we just filling up our schedule with more and more things, failing to say no to the unimportant and letting our lives be dictated by other people’s agendas? I’m looking at you, chronic email checkers....

The thing you’re procrastinating is often the most important thing you could be doing. Tackle your most valuable task first thing in the morning before you do anything else, and you can make more progress in a couple weeks than you did all of last year.

6. You’re not a finisher. 

“Look, young man. You’re like most people. You think the grass is greener on the other side. What’s going to happen if you go into another business is you’re going to spend another six months, another year, another two years, learning the technical skills of another industry, so you can go out and repeat the same bad business habits that have caused you to be a failure in this business. What you need to do, young man, is learn fundamental business skills. Because once you do, you can apply those to any industry. But until you learn how to make a business work, it doesn’t matter what industry you go into -- you’re still going to fail at it.” -- from The Education of Millionaires by Michael Ellis 

If you have a pattern of starting strong on a new project or business for a couple of months and then giving up, or switching to the next project, you may have a problem with finishing. It is only through persistence that you’ll confront your own personal limits and get enough momentum to get anything worthwhile off the ground. Overnight successes are almost always years or decades in the making. Know when to cut the cord on a losing endeavor, but don’t give up just because you aren’t a millionaire three months into your new project, or your new app hasn’t attracted VC funding yet. 

There is one more thing I want to remind you of. You don’t have to be an entrepreneur all the time -- it’s ok to take a couple of hours off and wear a different hat. Be a sister, or husband, or father or friend. Get some exercise, do what makes you happy and stay balanced and healthy. Your business will thank you. 

If you learn from your mistakes, and get a little bit better every single day of your life, success will take care of itself.