Optimal StartUp Daily

Nir Eyal shares 4 ways to use psychology to win your competition's customers. Episode 166: 4 Ways to Use Psychology to Win Your Competition's Customers by Nir Eyal (Case Study on Netflix, Blockbuster & More). Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. The M.I.T. Technology Review dubbed Nir, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.” Nir founded two tech companies since 2003 and has taught at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He is the author of the bestselling book, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products. In addition to blogging at NirAndFar.com, Nir’s writing has been featured in The Harvard Business Review, TechCrunch, and Psychology Today. Nir is also an active investor in habit-forming technologies. Some of his past investments include: Eventbrite, Product Hunt, Pantry, Marco Polo, Presence Learning, 7 Cups, Pana, Symphony Commerce, Worklife (acquired by Cisco) and Refresh.io (acquired by LinkedIn). Nir attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University. The original post is located here:  and  This episode is proudly sponsored by DesignCrowd! Get $100 off your first design project with the coupon code OPTIMAL:

Kristin Wong shares some common freelancing writing myths. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 165: Let's Bust Some Freelancing Writing Myths - Part 2 by Kristin Wong (Freelance Writer Salary & Benefits - Pros and Cons). Kristin Wong is a freelance writer and journalist who writes for Lifehacker, Mentalfloss, and New York Magazine. She frequently covers travel, personal finance, and human behavior. Kristin launched her own blog, www.thewildwong.com, to write about life as a work-from-anywhere freelancer. She aims to help other creative entrepreneurs navigate the tricky world of freelancing, from managing money to traveling the world to staying productive and getting stuff done. Kristin is a self-professed money geek and is slated to publish a book about personal finance in March of 2018. The original post is located here:   & in ! and  This episode is brought to you by SendPro from Pitney Bowes. SendPro has three times the features of Stamps.com at one-third the price… Visit  to learn more and try it FREE for 90 days.

Kristin Wong shares some common freelancing writing myths. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 164: Let's Bust Some Freelancing Writing Myths - Part 1 by Kristin Wong (Work Life Balance). Kristin Wong is a freelance writer and journalist who writes for Lifehacker, Mentalfloss, and New York Magazine. She frequently covers travel, personal finance, and human behavior. Kristin launched her own blog, www.thewildwong.com, to write about life as a work-from-anywhere freelancer. She aims to help other creative entrepreneurs navigate the tricky world of freelancing, from managing money to traveling the world to staying productive and getting stuff done. Kristin is a self-professed money geek and is slated to publish a book about personal finance in March of 2018. The original post is located here:   & in ! and  This episode is brought to you by SendPro from Pitney Bowes. SendPro has three times the features of Stamps.com at one-third the price… Visit  to learn more and try it FREE for 90 days.

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits shares how to deal with criticism gracefully. Episode 163: The Art of Handling Criticism Gracefully by Leo Babauta (Side Hustles). Leo Babauta created Zen Habits, which is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness. The original post is located here:  and  This episode is proudly sponsored by DesignCrowd! Get $100 off your first design project with the coupon code OPTIMAL:

Neil Patel, a blog millionaire, shares strategies to blog consistently and build traffic. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 162: Neil Patel's Guide to Blogging Consistently - Part 2 (Efficiency & Productivity). Neil Patel is the co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar and KISSmetrics. He helps companies like Amazon, NBC, GM, HP and Viacom grow their revenue. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 online marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies in the world. He was recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and one of the top 100 entrepreneurs under the age of 35 by the United Nations. Neil has also been awarded Congressional Recognition from the United States House of Representatives. The original post is located here:  and  This episode is proudly sponsored by DesignCrowd! Get $100 off your first design project with the coupon code OPTIMAL:

Neil Patel, a blog millionaire, shares strategies to blog consistently and build traffic. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 161: Neil Patel's Guide to Blogging (Passive Income & Business Ideas). Neil Patel is the co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar and KISSmetrics. He helps companies like Amazon, NBC, GM, HP and Viacom grow their revenue. The Wall Street Journal calls him a top influencer on the web, Forbes says he is one of the top 10 online marketers, and Entrepreneur Magazine says he created one of the 100 most brilliant companies in the world. He was recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by President Obama and one of the top 100 entrepreneurs under the age of 35 by the United Nations. Neil has also been awarded Congressional Recognition from the United States House of Representatives. The original post is located here:   & in ! and  This episode is proudly sponsored by AltMBA! They're now accepting applications for upcoming sessions:

Steve Pavlina has a 12-part series on how to network with busy people! This is Part 12. Episode 160: How to Network with Busy People - Part 12 by Steve Pavlina (Social Media Marketing). Steve Pavlina is widely recognized as one of the most successful personal development bloggers on the Internet, with his work attracting more than 100 million visits to his website, StevePavlina.com. He has written more than 1300 articles and recorded many audio programs on a broad range of self-help topics, including productivity, relationships, and spirituality. Steve has been quoted as an expert by the New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, the Los Angeles Daily News, Self Magazine, The Guardian, and countless other publications. He's also a frequent guest on popular podcasts and radio shows. The original post is located here:   & in ! and

Steve Pavlina has a 12-part series on how to network with busy people! This is Part 11. Episode 159: How to Network with Busy People - Part 11 by Steve Pavlina (Online Business). Steve Pavlina is widely recognized as one of the most successful personal development bloggers on the Internet, with his work attracting more than 100 million visits to his website, StevePavlina.com. He has written more than 1300 articles and recorded many audio programs on a broad range of self-help topics, including productivity, relationships, and spirituality. Steve has been quoted as an expert by the New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, the Los Angeles Daily News, Self Magazine, The Guardian, and countless other publications. He's also a frequent guest on popular podcasts and radio shows. The original post is located here:   & in ! and  This episode is brought to you by SendPro from Pitney Bowes. SendPro has three times the features of Stamps.com at one-third the price… Visit  to learn more and try it FREE for 90 days.

Nick Loper shares real-life business failures he endured. Episode 158: My Side Hustle Failures by Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation (Efficiency & Productivity). Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation is an entrepreneur involved in a variety of projects. He started the website because he believes in the hustle. After all, what’s riskier: starting a business, or relying on your job as your only source of income? He used to work full-time for a giant corporation, but built his business during the night and weekends... and you can do it too. The original post is located here:   & in ! and  This episode is proudly sponsored by AltMBA! They're now accepting applications for upcoming sessions:

Steve Chou shares why hustling isn't the only answer. Episode 157: Read This If You Are Hustling Hard But Not Seeing Results With Your Business by Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job. Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job carries both a bachelors and a masters degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, but spent a good portion of his graduate education studying entrepreneurship and small business. When he and his wife had a child, they launched an online store to supplement their income, and quickly replaced Steve's wife's income stream through the new business. Steve blogs about it all at MyWifeQuitHerJob.com The original post is located here:   & in ! and  This episode is brought to you by SendPro from Pitney Bowes. SendPro has three times the features of Stamps.com at one-third the price… Visit  to learn more and try it FREE for 90 days.