Latest news with #DiaryOfACEO
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Exercise Scientist: This Simple Workout Plan Helps Maintain Muscle When You're Low on Time
Exercise Scientist: This Simple Workout Plan Helps Maintain Muscle When You're Low on Time originally appeared on Men's Fitness. When you've worked hard for your gains, you don't want to lose them—especially if life has gotten busy, making it difficult to get to the gym. But it's possible to work out with a busy schedule. It may take less time than you might think, too. Exercise scientist Mike Israetel appeared as a guest on The Diary of a CEO Podcast, explaining that staying in good shape doesn't require hours in the gym each day—or even each week. His take: Two hours a week is all it takes to maintain your gains, maybe even improve them. "People think the amount of training it takes to get into great shape is exactly the same exact amount of training you have to continuously do to stay in good shape," Israetel that's a myth. He explained that most of the body's complex systems operate in a way where it takes significantly more effort to create change than it does to maintain progress. That means once you've built a solid fitness foundation, upkeep is far easier than people assume. "Two hours total per week week can at the very least maintain what you have, essentially indefinitely," he says. If you're in a busy season of life struggling to find time to train, don't worry about hitting the gym every day. Focus on consistent, efficient workouts—even short sessions count. It's even worth considering switching your workout split to three full-body workouts a week, hitting every essential movement pattern. "You can actually train a lot less and keep all of your gains and maybe make some more," Israetel says. Consistency beats volume when you're busy. And with just a couple hours a week, you can stay strong, fit, and Scientist: This Simple Workout Plan Helps Maintain Muscle When You're Low on Time first appeared on Men's Fitness on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Men's Fitness on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Exercise Scientist: I'm Begging Guys to Follow This One Rule For Muscle Growth
Exercise Scientist: I'm Begging Guys to Follow This One Rule For Muscle Growth originally appeared on Men's Fitness. Believe in the protein hype. Now more than ever before, folks are paying extra close attention to their protein intake. In fact, one study found that in 2024, 61 percent of consumers said they had increased their protein intake, compared to 48 percent in 2019. And there's a good reason for it—it's how you actually pack on muscle. According to exercise scientist Dr. Mike Israetel, the number one requirement for muscle growth is protein. This comes down to eating high-protein foods regularly throughout the day. "The number one requisite for muscle growth is protein," Israetel said on the Diary of a CEO recommends consuming protein three to five times daily at relatively even intervals. Following a classic schedule like breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an evening snack can boost results. As for how much protein, most people don't actually need the often-cited one gram per pound of bodyweight per day. "The average person needs a little bit less than a gram per pound of bodyweight per day of protein. Actually, considerably less—that's kind of the top limit and a cool, aspirational thing to shoot for," Israetel says. That breaks down to roughly 40 to 50 grams of protein per meal across four meals a day. Overshooting your protein target won't make you fat, either—as long as your total calories stay in check. "If you're doing a diet where you take a ton of protein, but you dropped your carbs and fats and your calories are at maintenance levels, you're not going to gain any fat," he says. If you want to see more muscle definition, consistent and strategic protein intake is Scientist: I'm Begging Guys to Follow This One Rule For Muscle Growth first appeared on Men's Fitness on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Men's Fitness on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hospitality Net
10-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Connection Over Code: A Human-First Vision for Hotel Tech
Lately, it feels like nearly every conversation I have comes back to how fast AI is moving—and how easily we can get swept up in it. In an industry that thrives on personal connection, it's worth asking: What does all this tech actually do for the people who make hospitality what it is? Because here's the thing. Hotels don't run on code. They run on people. On housekeepers who notice the little things. On engineers who fix problems before guests know they exist. On frontline teams who deliver comfort, care, and calm when travelers need it most. In a recent episode of The Diary of a CEO, Simon Sinek spoke about the danger of over-automating what should remain deeply human. His point? AI may scale information, but it can't replace the nuance of human judgment, emotion, and care. Hospitality, more than any industry, lives in that nuance. So when we talk about technology—and especially AI—we can't afford to talk about replacement. We have to talk about reinforcement. Support. Empowerment. The role of tech in hospitality should be to help people do their jobs better—not make them feel like they're being replaced by a dashboard. We should be asking: Will this help someone be more present? Will it reduce noise, not add to it? Will it make space for more meaningful interactions? If we get it right, tech becomes the connective tissue—quietly linking people, teams, systems, and signals. It disappears into the background, letting humans do what only humans can: read the room, calm the tension, deliver delight. This isn't just about improving service—it's about protecting the experience of work itself. The best hospitality tech helps teams feel confident, clear, and connected. It strengthens culture. It reduces stress. It brings people back to the reason they chose this industry in the first place. Right now, many hotel teams are burned out. They're working short-staffed. They're trying to deliver excellence without the right support. Technology alone won't fix that—but thoughtfully applied technology can help. It can remove guesswork. Streamline handovers. Surface urgent needs. And when done well, it can restore a bit of joy to the job. This is the future I believe in. Not a world where AI takes over, but one where it helps us tune in more deeply. Where it handles the friction, so we can focus on the feeling. And that's the challenge—and opportunity—facing hospitality today: to keep evolving, but never lose touch. At Unifocus, we've embarked on this very journey. With the recent launch of XiQ—our reimagined guest experience platform—and the emergence of our new Communications pillar, we're laying the foundation for a future where technology works in service of connection. It's the start of something bigger: a hospitality ecosystem where insight, action, and alignment flow naturally—because people are at the center of it all. About Unifocus Unifocus is a global leader in workforce management technology, serving properties in 68 countries and 31 languages. Designed for hotels, Unifocus boosts hotel performance with intelligent analytics that automate labor budgeting and forecasting, delivering precise staffing levels and workloads by streamlining Planning & Scheduling, Time & Attendance, and Operations Management tools. Employees love the mobile app for seamless communication, with features like effortless shift swaps using the award-winning Shift Genius, and real-time prioritization of guest requests, housekeeping and maintenance tasks. Operational efficiency is accelerated with compliance alerts that allow managers to focus on what truly matters: maximizing guest satisfaction and fostering a productive, engaged workforce. Discover the future of hotel operations with Unifocus. Visit today.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Lessons About Brand Ownership From MrBeast's Approach
Jon Stojan is Founder of First North Marketing. We help ecommerce brands get their products seen, sold, and celebrated. MrBeast commands YouTube with a flair for the outrageous. From extravagant stunts to generous giveaways, his approach to content has cemented his digital empire and built a following most brands only dream of. But beneath the spectacle lies a lesser-known venture: Feastables, his chocolate bar brand. It made $20 million in profit in 2024, and I believe it's where his business savvy really surprises. The strategies behind Feastables' growth, discussed in his interview on The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, highlight hard truths that e-commerce entrepreneurs need to confront. And while the story of Feastables is undeniably unique, I believe it offers broader, hard-earned lessons for founders. From launching imperfectly to obsessing over user experience and owning operational failures, the strategies I'll share here can guide any e-commerce brand trying to scale, especially without a household name. You'd think that when someone is already popular, the same level of success would simply transfer onto any brand they work on. But Feastables doesn't seem to be coasting on MrBeast's fame. Instead, he pays attention to the details; he explains in the interview that he's sunk real effort and research into sourcing and understanding how chocolates can be produced without child labor. Too many brands sacrifice values for margins, but I believe being meticulous about the details pays off big time. MrBeast, for example, explained to Bartlett that he planned to do this by tweaking the color of the tab at the bottom of the wrapper so customers can spot their choice instantly. Other brands can do this by getting hyper-specific about what matters most to their audience, whether that's sustainable sourcing, faster shipping or even simpler instructions in the packaging. Brands should talk to their customers, identify what they care about and then bake those values into the product experience itself. Small, thoughtful choices add up to loyalty. MrBeast shared in the interview that when he started selling the bars at Walmart, many chocolate bars were breaking. Most brands would probably still be basking in the 'we've made it' glow of a big-box debut, but MrBeast told Bartlett he spent about $100,000 a week just paying people to go into Walmarts and buy the broken bars. He even installed GoPros on shelves to see why the bars were breaking. This illustrates how brands can turn a flop into a forensic study. Even without a massive budget, you can apply the same principle: Investigate the problem at the ground level. Respond to customer complaints promptly. Review feedback regularly. Send mystery shoppers to stores or run test buys from online marketplaces like Amazon. Don't just stop at what went wrong; ask why it's happening and how to make the experience amazing for customers. That's where the insight lives. Scale or fame alone cannot drive a brand; a relentless grip on every detail, every failure and every fix can. E-commerce isn't about perfect launches or endless budgets but about what you do when the cracks show. Here are four lessons e-commerce operators can implement (no million-dollar war chest required): Your first launch most likely isn't going to be smooth sailing. Sometimes, you get broken chocolate bars on the floor. What matters is how you react. When something goes wrong, iterate on your product and distribution system until it works. For Amazon brand owners, that might translate to simply getting direct feedback. When was the last time you asked a friend or family member to order your Amazon product and give you honest feedback? And if you've done that recently, how have you improved your product based on that feedback? A perfect debut is a myth. But fixing the flaws shows customers you're in it for them. Five-star reviews are great, but it's 10 times more critical to prevent one-star disasters. That's about setting expectations and meeting them—every time. Too many e-commerce brands chase sales and neglect the gaps. Consider this: Where are the weak spots in your customer experience? Common culprits include unclear product descriptions, clunky checkout flows, slow fulfillment, inconsistent packaging and poor post-purchase support. These issues might seem small individually, but they compound over time. If you're not actively auditing the full customer journey from ad click to unboxing, you're probably bleeding trust without even realizing it. Spending $100,000 a week to clean up a launch isn't realistic for most, but the mindset is. Rather than blaming others when issues arise, own the fix and invest time, energy and resources. It boils down to this: Take responsibility. Your next hiccup isn't someone else's fault. It's yours to solve. MrBeast actually has an autoimmune disease, yet it doesn't seem to hold him back. To me, ownership really means showing up despite our challenges. In practice, displaying grit means taking initiative when it's easier to stay quiet. It's responding to negative reviews with thoughtful action instead of excuses. It's restocking inventory after a supplier mishap, working weekends when customer complaints pile up, and showing up on video when you'd rather hide behind the scenes. Owning the ethics, the details, the disasters and the wins is key to success. Amazon entrepreneurs don't need MrBeast's reach, but they do need a similar level of relentlessness. Your next launch could falter. Your customer experience probably has holes. Fix them. That's how you can build something that lasts. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Steven Bartlett Becomes Co-Owner Of Stan To Back Creator Founders
John Hu and Steven Bartlett Steven Bartlett is no stranger to backing the next wave of disruptors, but his latest move is more than an investment. The entrepreneur and host of The Diary of a CEO is joining Stan, the creator commerce platform, as a co-owner to help build what he sees as 'the future of entrepreneurship, one Creator-entrepreneur at a time.' As Stan crosses $30 million in annual recurring revenue and $300 million in gross merchandise value, Bartlett's hands-on involvement signals a growing belief that the middle-class creator is the business story of the decade. Bartlett, whose personal capital and FlightStory Fund are both behind the deal, explained that 'this is not a passive investment. I will be taking an active role in the business as a co-owner,' positioning himself not only as a strategic partner to the executive team but also as a direct contributor to the success of creators on the platform. He added that his involvement would include sharing business insights, helping shape product strategy and offering exclusive opportunities to Stan's user base. 'I am invested in Stan creators,' he said plainly. Stan has grown to more than 70,000 users in just three years, a trajectory that founder and CEO John Hu attributes to obsessive focus on creators who are building real, sustainable businesses without massive teams, investors or platforms. According to Bartlett, Stan stands out because 'it removes friction. It gives creators a streamlined way to monetise, engage their audience and scale all from a single link.' He added that most creators trying to scale spend too much time juggling disconnected tools, and that the most successful ones 'treat their brand like a business from day one,' focusing on systems, automation and leveraging their unique skills rather than spreading themselves thin. Hu agreed. 'The creators succeeding on Stan aren't just influencers. They're educators, coaches, spiritual mentors, even lawyers,' he said. 'They're building lean businesses with high-leverage digital products, courses, communities and services.' Hu added that the company's edge is cultural as much as technological. 'This isn't just a business. We're building for ourselves and our peers. The bar is higher because we care more.' For Bartlett, the appeal of Stan was not only its traction but also its mission. 'Having navigated my own journey and built businesses from the ground up, I totally get the ambition of every creator looking to work for themselves,' he said. 'Stan is the easiest and most affordable way to get started as a creator entrepreneur.' Bartlett said that his connection with Hu was grounded in shared experience. 'My relationship with John is built on a shared experience. Both being self-made entrepreneurs who rose from disadvantaged backgrounds, we are united in our commitment to paying it forward by actively championing Stan creators.' That alignment is core to the company's direction. Hu added that Stan was originally created to solve a problem he faced himself while growing a content business on TikTok and YouTube. 'There wasn't a single product that let you launch and monetize easily,' he said. 'So we built it.' Since joining the company, Bartlett has been hands-on in product strategy and team discussions, particularly around AI. 'He's been texting us constantly about AI,' said Hu. 'It's like having a board member in your group chat.' Vitalii Dodonov, Stan's co-founder and CTO, added that many of the company's current experiments with artificial intelligence emerged from conversations with Bartlett. 'A lot of the ideas sparked from Steven sharing what he's seeing across the industry,' he said. 'We're building something to help creators figure out what to launch and how, faster and more clearly.' Bartlett sees this next phase as a shift in the industry. 'The investment will be used to further enhance the Stan experience,' he said. 'We're building a platform that supports creators at every stage, especially those just getting started.' The investment also aligns with Bartlett's broader vision through FlightStory Fund, which backs growth-stage startups challenging conventional business models. 'The fund is dedicated to supporting disruptive founders with funding, guidance, and a network that fuels their growth,' he explained. 'Stan aligns perfectly with that thesis.' Bartlett emphasized that Stan is not a one-off bet on the creator space, but a central piece of a longer-term commitment to entrepreneur-first infrastructure. 'We invest in missions that challenge the status quo,' he said, adding that Stan represents 'exactly the kind of company we want to scale.' Asked how he would build a creator business today if starting from scratch, Bartlett didn't hesitate. 'I'd find a niche with a proven engaged and loyal audience. I'd post daily content to build my community and I'd use the most efficient and affordable tools to monetize as quickly as possible.' He said Stan would be part of that toolkit, especially for creators who need clarity, speed and access to mentorship. Bartlett also spoke candidly about the biggest mistakes he sees creators make. 'They try to do everything themselves, and they burn out,' he said. 'Time is the one thing you can't scale without. Stan gives them that time back.' While much of the attention in the creator economy has gone to celebrity influencers and big-name platforms, Bartlett and Hu are betting on the opposite: small, focused, independent creators building real businesses. As Hu put it, 'Stan was built on the belief that anyone should have the opportunity to make a living working for themselves.' For Dodonov, the motivation went even deeper. 'The foundational desire to be free… is the most core pursuit that I had,' he said. With Bartlett now embedded in the company's leadership and strategy, Stan is positioned as the backbone of a new class of digital entrepreneurship. This partnership brings together two builders with shared backgrounds and a common belief: that anyone with a skill or story should have the tools to work for themselves. Selected clips taken from my in-depth interview with John Hu about the investment, featured on The Business of Creators podcast.
