3 Tips from AJ Hawk on How to Brand Your Business

3 Tips from AJ Hawk on How to Brand Your Business
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To succeed as an entrepreneur you need passion, dedication and a bit of grit. Finding your niche in today's congested market can be tricky, so it's no wonder 90% of all startups fail, according to Neil Patel for Forbes. Nearly half a million new businesses are founded and launched across the United States in one month, and the startups that make it are the ones that know how to stand out from the crowd.

If the entrepreneurial lifestyle is the path for you, you need to be ready to dedicate yourself 110% to your vision and be willing to make some sacrifices along the way. Focus on what makes you happy and what you're passionate about, and with hard work the rest will fall into place.

Perhaps an unlikely entrepreneur emerged in this NFL linebacker who knows a thing or two when it comes to building a strong brand presence. When A.J. Hawk isn't on the field, he runs his own podcast show called The HawkCast.show where he invites influential people for an informal chat.

"I've been a fan of podcasting for over five years and listen to podcasts every day," says Hawk on his motivation for creating his own show. "I started my own show so I could have casual conversations with people I admire and respect, or people I think are just interesting." With his career and life in the spotlight, Hawk knows a thing or two when it comes to building a strong personal brand..

Here are three things that A.J. Hawk does every day to up his entrepreneurial ante that you too can apply to your own dreams or businesses goals.

1. Dedicate Yourself to Your Passion
Coming up with a great business idea is easy; actually executing that idea and turning it into a viable business venture takes dedication and a commitment to do whatever it takes to succeed. If you have the entrepreneurial bug, find something you are truly passionate about to explore. "I'm always on the lookout for things that interest me and things that I am passionate about," says Hawk. "Once I find that singular thing, I dive in and give it my complete attention."

That same passion and dedication landed Hawk a respectable career with the Green Bay Packers, where he would eventually win a Super Bowl Championship.

2. Take Risks, Be Unique
It's tough to get your content and your business to stand out. With everyone vying to be the "next big thing," you need to find your niche market and a differentiating factor that helps your business steal the spotlight. That means taking risks when applicable and daring to do things that others in your field haven't thought of trying.

Sometimes that means venturing down an unusual path, like when Hawk chose a "not-com" domain name for his podcast. Newer businesses are trending towards using "not-com" domains, such as ".show" or ".expert" as a means to differentiate themselves from competitors still using the traditional ".com" domain. "I figured that most people have a 'dot-com' in their website, so having a 'dot-show' (.show) domain could differentiate me and catch people's attention," notes Hawk. "It lets [listeners] know this is a show and not just a website."

3. Authenticity is a Key to Success
In any career, it's important to remain authentic to yourself and your vision. Trying to meet everyone's expectations creates unwanted pressure and can lead to disingenuous behaviors that will only detract from your goals. "If you're not authentic and if you're trying to fake it, people will know instantly," says Hawk. "Stop trying to act like you think people want you to act and only do the things that you believe in."

For Hawk, podcasting was a hobby he was fiercely passionate about and he was able to turn that activity into an actual business venture. If you're only in a particular field for the fame and fortune, chances are you won't be as successful as you hope to be.

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