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🚐 Harvest Hosts CEO Shares How He Turned His Idea into a Thriving Business

Today: Harvest Hosts story; The Power of focus time; Geoffrey Hinton Leaves Google.

Author

Chai Sip
May 02, 2023

ISSUE #063

☕ Good Morning! Sippers,

Joel Holland was feeling burnt out from his life in Washington D.C. when he and his wife discovered the joys of RV travel. However, they found that many campgrounds and parking lots were too boring and that they would prefer to stay at unique locations like farms and wineries.

In today’s Issue 📬 :

  • Harvest Hosts story.

  • The Power of focus time.

  • Geoffrey Hinton Leaves Google.

SIP WORTHY

Harvest Hosts CEO Shares How He Turned His Idea into a Thriving Business

Holland had a hunch that other RVers would feel the same, which led him to create Harvest Hosts, an RV membership program that connects RVers with small businesses across the country. Since its founding, the program has grown exponentially and has become a valuable tool for both RVers and small business owners.

🚐 The Beginning of Harvest Hosts: Holland found inspiration for Harvest Hosts during an RV trip where he realized that many RVers, including himself, wanted to stay in unique locations instead of boring campgrounds.

👀 He noticed that a similar program already existed in France, called France Passion. After finding a small program in the U.S. called Harvest Hosts, Holland decided to purchase the program and grow it.

💻 Growing the Program: To grow Harvest Hosts, Holland used online channels such as Google and Facebook, spending nearly $1 million per month on Facebook ads.

He also partnered with influencers on YouTube and Instagram. The company never allowed affiliates who weren’t actual members to promote the product. However, Holland found that recruiting hosts was unexpectedly difficult. Despite this, Harvest Hosts has grown exponentially and now has over 8,700 locations and 250,000 members.

🏭 Helping Small Businesses: Harvest Hosts provides small businesses with a way to generate additional revenue without any costs. Holland acknowledges that small businesses face significant challenges, and Harvest Hosts is committed to helping them navigate these.

Harvest Hosts members appreciate small-town America and the support they can give to small businesses. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from both members and hosts, with hosts appreciating the opportunity to share their lifestyles and passions.

👋 Harvest Hosts has grown into a valuable program for RVers and small businesses across the country. Holland’s initial hunch that RVers would appreciate staying in unique locations has proven correct, and Harvest Hosts is now connecting RVers with small businesses nationwide.

INSIGHTS

1️⃣ Identify a need: Holland saw a need in the RV travel market for unique and scenic places to park, and created a solution for it.

2️⃣ Research existing models: Holland discovered the France Passion program and the Harvest Hosts program, and decided to acquire the latter to build upon its existing network.

3️⃣ Double down on your critical pieces: Holland recognized the importance of building out the host network to ensure the success of the program, and dedicated significant resources to host recruitment.

4️⃣ Focus on cutting through the noise: Small businesses are constantly pitched new programs, so it’s important to stand out and communicate the benefits clearly.

5️⃣ Support small businesses: Holland believes in supporting small businesses and helping them navigate challenges like the pandemic and inflation.

If you’re thinking of starting a business, Holland’s story offers some inspiration and practical advice. Start by identifying a need in your industry, researching existing models, and focusing on your critical pieces. And don’t forget to support the small businesses that make up the backbone of our communities.

IMPROVEMENT SIP

The Power of Focus Time for Mental Health

It might be difficult to reconcile work and personal life in today’s fast-paced environment. It is critical to maintain a clean mind in order to give your all in all you undertake. This is where the concept of “focus time” enters the picture. It is defined by Microsoft as “uninterrupted stretches of time in your day to get your most important work done.”

But focus time is not just limited to work.

It’s essential to take breaks and set aside time to rest and rejuvenate your mind. As Sarah Smith, a mental health advocate, says, “Mental health needs to be a priority in your life because it affects everything else.” Here are some reasons why you need to implement focus time in your life:

  1. To Give Your Brain a Rest: Our brains are not designed to work continuously without rest. Giving your brain a break helps it to recharge and come back stronger. “The brain requires downtime to process information and organize it into cohesive thoughts,” says Dr. Michael Freeman, a psychiatrist and business coach.

  2. To Avoid Burnout: When you are always on the go, you are more likely to experience burnout. Taking regular breaks and focusing on your mental health helps prevent burnout. As Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, says, “We need to take care of our mental health in the same way we take care of our physical health.”

  3. To Increase Productivity: Taking breaks and focusing on your mental health can also increase your productivity. According to a study by the Draugiem Group, people who worked for 52 minutes and took a 17-minute break were the most productive.

  4. To Give Your Eyes a Break: With the rise of remote work and increased screen time, it’s essential to give your eyes a break. Taking a few minutes to look away from your screen can help reduce eye strain and prevent headaches.

  5. To Remind Yourself that Life Exists Outside of Work: It’s easy to get caught up in work and forget about the other aspects of life. Taking breaks and focusing on your mental health can remind you that there is life outside of work. As Linda Esposito, a psychotherapist, says, “When we neglect our mental health, we risk losing our sense of self, our identity, and our purpose.”

It’s essential to take breaks and focus on your mental health to lead a balanced life. As Robin Sharma, a leadership expert, says, “To have a rich life, we need to take care of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.” So, set aside some focus time for yourself and give your mind and body the rest they deserve.

HOT SIP

The AI Godfather Speaks Out: Geoffrey Hinton Leaves Google to Warn About Dangers of AI

Photographer: Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images

What’s Sipping? ☕ Geoffrey Hinton, a renowned figure in the AI industry, recently quit his role at Google to speak freely about the potential hazards of artificial intelligence.

🔥 Hinton is known as the “Godfather of AI” for his groundbreaking work on neural networks, which has powered many of today’s AI systems, including ChatGPT. However, he now believes that AI could soon surpass human intelligence, making it necessary to address the risks associated with it.

👴 At 75, Hinton cited his age as a reason for his decision to leave Google. He also expressed his concerns about AI eliminating jobs and creating a world where people “will not be able to know what is true anymore.”

💻 Despite his resignation, Hinton remains positive about Google’s responsible use of AI. He tweeted that he left Google to “talk about the dangers of AI without considering how this impacts Google” and that “Google has acted very responsibly.”

🤖 With Hinton’s departure, it remains to be seen how his warning about the dangers of AI will impact the industry. However, his expertise and influence could be significant in shaping the future of AI.

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