Thursday, January 31, 2019
This Is What It Feels Like When Your Child Finally Goes to College
Parents spend years planning for the day when their child leaves home and goes to college. This is what it really feels like when it happens.
How to Map Out Your Finances For 2019
In order to put your best foot forward in 2019, it is important first to discover and analyze what worked and what didn't in 2018.
Here Are the 5 'Soft Skills' Businesses Need Most, According to LinkedIn
Creativity and persuasion were two of the most sought after skills by employers today, according to a new LinkedIn survey.
Regardless of the Brexit Outcome, British Prime Minister Theresa May Is a Determined Negotiator. Here's What You Can Learn From Her
Time will tell if she's a brilliant tacticianor merely going down swinging.
In 1 Sentence, Eventbrite CEO Julia Hartz Reveals She Has Something That Often Leads to Succe
If you do, you're very, very lucky.
5 Career Lessons to Learn From Tom Brady
There are a number of things we can learn from Brady that directly apply to our careers.
5 Super Bowl Ads That Backfired Terribly
Advertisers spend millions on securing air time for commercials during the big game, but sometimes they aren't received as planned.
How Small Businesses Are Finding Ways to Advertise Beyond Facebook and Instagram
Businesses are deciding that Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter no longer should be their automatic go-to.
How to Discover Your Leadership Blind Spots
Why uncovering your blind spots is hard, and why every leader must ask these two questions.
5 Business Travel Hacks That You Can Pack in Your Suitcase
Business travelers are always looking for ways to hack their travel. Here's five low cost ways to make life on the road easier.
Alan Alda Just Gave the Best Speech of His Life. Here's the 1 Trick He Uses to Communicate More Effectively
How often do people on both the left and the right have kinds words for the same speech? That happened here.
Want to Get Started with AI? This Expert Has 5 Recommendations
Thinking about using AI in your small business? Consider these expert recommendations first
3 Phrases That Make Your Customers Think No One Knows What's Going On At Your Company
3 Phrases That Make Your Customers Think No One Knows What's Going On at Your Company.
3 Ways That Mentally Strong People Avoid Self-Sabotaging Behaviors
Possessing a great strategy means very little if the tendency to self-sabotage isn't addressed. However, no need to fret, implement these 3 habits.
How to Derive More Joy From Your Work
Professional achievements aren't the only rewards you should seek in your work. Here's why.
What Women Business Owners Really Need to Succeed, According to a New Study
This new study is a series of impact reports in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and HelloAlice.com. The first specifically looks at women entrepreneurs and the tools they need to succeed.
The One Piece of Career Advice I Wish I'd Known When I Was Younger
If you want a long, successful career, you will be the only constant.
You Don't Have to Memorize Every Speech. Here's When You Should Use a Teleprompter
To everything there is a season, and to every public speaker there is an ideal tool or technique for remembering your brilliant speech.
3 Social Media Lessons From a Doll With More Than 109,000 Instagram Followers
The remarkable customer experiences you deliver should extend to social media.
What to Do When Your Business Flight Is Overbooked
If you've ever been on an overbooked flight, you understand how stressful it can be. Here's what you should know.
4 Ways to Embed Inclusivity Into Your Culture
Just when you thought you understood diversity, you realized your workplace wasn't actually all that inclusive.
Need a Good Business Idea? Take a Look In the Mirror
When building a business idea, start with what you already have.
Painful Truths About Hiring That Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know
While many new businesses seek to hire employees right away, focus should first be on establishing the business without them.
Can't Find The Right Candidate For The Job? These Hiring Tips will help!
Do these five things to streamline your hiring process this year.
Do This One Thing Four Times a Week and You'll Think More Clearly, A New Scientific Study Has Found
In just 6 months, people saw significant improvements in the part of the brain that helps with planning, reasoning, and problem solving.
Why Colorado Springs is the Next High-Growth Colorado City
A unique blend of best-in-class technology opportunities, views and greenways have Colorado Springs poised to become a destination city.
Are Working Moms Less Devoted To Their Work?
Bright Horizons, Modern Family Index, working mothers, working moms, mothers, moms, working
Here's How Bots Steal Your Most Private Information
Dailymotion is just the latest website to be targeted by credential stuffing. Other businesses should take note.
How to Handle Unexpected Conflict With a Business Partner
You may not know when or why, but it is inevitable that you will disagree with your partners at some point. Learning how to diffuse a contentious situation is paramount to your companies continued success.
Forget Demographics. This Is the Powerful Tool You Should Be Using in Your Marketing
Demographics alone are rigid and outdated. Use psychographics to learn how your customer thinks, feels, and behaves.
Your Guide to Writing Google Ads That Sell
Google ads not performing as well as you'd like? Apply these 4 simple strategies to take your ads from zero to infinity, fast.
Companies Are Losing Customers Because of This 1 Overlooked Practice
Don't focus on what is most convenient for you at the expense of your customer and their experience.
Want Your Business to Stand Out? You Need to Create a Loyal Community. Here's How
Struggling to convert your customers into loyal, lifelong super fans? Here's what you can do about it.
From $227 Million to $3.8 Billion: The Unlikely Story of How Robert Kraft Bought the New England Patriots
How did Robert Kraft pull off his purchase of the New England Patriots, a franchise now worth billions? Perseverance, risk, and an uncanny ability to play the long game.
It Costs More Than $3,000 to Onboard New Employees -- Here Is Why It Is Worth It
Employee onboarding is an early investment that leads to long-term value.
Why Marketing Automation Matters for Your Business
Marketing automation can free you up to focus on big-picture business strategy.
Want to Retire Early? Becoming an Entrepreneur Is Your Best Bet
Reach financial independence earlier in life by setting up your business with the FIRE movement in mind.
Poorly-Run Meetings Can Cost You Thousands Each Year. Here's How to Fix Them
The only thing worse than a boring, unproductive meeting is a boring, unproductive meeting that costs you thousands of dollars.
3 Marketing Ideas You Can Learn From the Greatest Super Bowl Ads (Without the Price Tag)
What these famous advertisements can teach you about business marketing.
It's Bad, But Are You Focused On The Right Things To Fix It?
A powerful lesson from a storied sports franchise about the cost of missing what matters most.
Feeling Gloomy This Winter? Here Are 6 Ways to Boost Your Mood
If you feel depressed and isolated in the colder months, you're not alone.
3 Times It's OK to Quit Your Job Without Another One Lined Up
Most of the time leaping into the unknown is a terrible idea. These are the exceptions.
3 Ways to Access an Insider's View of Venture Capital
These are the best venture capital podcasts, newsletters, and blogs to gain an insider's view of the exclusive industry.
It Took Richard Branson Just 1 Word to Give Elon Musk Some Brilliant Career Advice
Billionaires Richard Branson and Elon Musk have a lot in common: highly creative, they both value progress, leadership, and high-growth startups.
Want Meetings That Actually Get Results? Get Rid of These 5 Issues
Before you try even one more logistical hack, consider how you think about meetings in the first place.
In 12 Words, Einstein Explains What It Means to Be a High Performing Leader
Albert Einstein is many things, but one thing that goes unnoticed is the excellent leadership advice he gave with one simple, but powerful sentence.
Want To Thrive In The Age of AI? Follow 3 Simple Rules
The biggest threat to our future isn't being replaced by robots. It's our reluctance to reinvent ourselves.
This Fund Will Invest $100 Million in Women-Led Businesses. Here's Why That Matters to You
We know that gender bias holds women entrepreneurs back, especially in terms of venture capital. What happens when that barrier is removed? This $100 million fund is geared to find out.
Here's Why Your Tax Refund Will Likely Be Late This Year. And Either Smaller or Larger Than You Expect
Tax reform and the government shutdown make for a lot of uncertainty.
I Quit Twitter and I Can't Believe How Much It Improved My Life
To appreciate social media's true costs, it helps to take a break from it.
Quitting Facebook for 4 Weeks Can Make You Happier, Stanford and NYU Research Shows
Based on the results, you should probably give it a try.
7 Tom Brady Leadership Secrets That Will Bring You Remarkable Success--On and Off the Field
New England Patriots star quarterback and team leader Tom Brady might set a new record at Super Bowl LIII Sunday. Will you watch the commercials?
This Teen's Mom Says He Found Apple's Big FaceTime Security Bug a Week Ago (But She Couldn't Get Anyone to Listen)
Can your customers reach you in an emergency?
4 Business Instagrams to Follow Immediately
Instagram can be inspiration - if you take in the right stuff. Follow these from United Masters, Nitch, Brain Picker and Daily Stoic to elevate your game
17 Daily Habits Practiced by Highly Successful People
They're easy to adopt and can help you push yourself to the next level.
Simon Sinek Says Understanding 1 Thing Will Speed Up Your Success as a Leader
It will build trust and improve relationships, whether you're a startup of 10 or an established firm of 1000.
The Economic Forecast According to Yelp: a Downturn Is Coming
Yelp's Economic Index, which analyzes consumer sentiment based on factors like reviews and check-ins, suggests early signs of an economic slowdown.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Why Most Successful People Fail Miserably First
Failure helps you understand what you want and more importantly who you want to be as a leader.
A Surprising Simple Solution to the Fake News Problem
Fake news is an old problem that has been given a fresh breath of air. Here are five things you should do to stop it affecting you.
Four Winning Traits Every Star Employee Has (and How to Spot Them)
Really smart people are great at pointing out threats.
Facebook Just Shut Down an App It Used to Secretly Pay Teenagers to Install Spyware on Their Smartphones
The company offered up to $20 a month to install a VPN that tracked users' data.
Disney, Universal, Apple, and Netflix All Want J.J. Abrams. Here's Why
A bidding war has broken out in Hollywood over J.J. Abrams. Here's what he can teach you about being a Le
You Can't Resist Comparing the Polar Vortex to Antarctica, Everest, or Mars. Neuroscience Explains Why
Analogies are powerful teaching tools.
7 Ways to Get the Best Night's Sleep in a Hotel Room
If you suffer from insomnia when you travel, you are not alone. Here are a few things to do to get restful shuteye.
Why Your Phone May Be the Biggest Roadblock to Success
It may be your greatest distraction in almost every aspect of your life.
Why Google's Workers Claim the Company is 'Out to Lunch'
Google employees are asking their employer to address a diversity 'crisis' and respond to several unmet demands.
Looking to Improve Your Business? Don't Let Your Employees Come to Work When Sick
Employee presenteeism is something that is steadily gaining attention and rightfully so. It's costing billions of dollars. Here's how to solve this.
4 Finance Rules for Keeping a Startup in the Black
Running out of money is unfortunately all too common in the startup world, but it rarely happens in a flash. Avoiding that situation is all about making sure you don't go too far down the wrong path--to the point where there's nothing more you can do.
Why Remote Employees Are Most Likely to Quit (and How to Keep Them)
Two-thirds of remote employees consider themselves disengaged. Here are a few tips to ensure your remote team is excited to do great work every day.
The 1 Trick Oprah and Richard Branson Use to Catapult Their Careers
The better you get at doing this, the greater the success and satisfaction you'll have in your career (and life!).
Richard Branson Says This Is the Most Important Thing for Entrepreneurs to do -- And You Can Start Right Now
Most people simply don't, or won't, ask for help. Here's how to break out of the mold.
6 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter That Will Get You Hired
Cover letters fill-in the gaps left by your resume and help you tell your story to recruiters in a more cohesive and compelling way.
Working Out of This 1 Spot Can Boost Your Productivity, Creativity, and Happiness
You wanna go where everybody doesn't know, your name.
Marketing to Gods - Part 3
Paradoxically, as "tech-centric" as many connected consumers might be, they are driving offline retail.
Difficult Person Driving You Nuts? Here are 3 Strategies to Try if You've Tried Everything Else
You can't change someone else's behavior, but you can change your mindset
Here's What You Need to Know About the Saints Fans' Lawsuit Against the NFL
Some fans are so angry over the blown call, they're suing the NFL. This professor explains the legal issues at stake.
These 3 Principles Will help you Navigate A New Business Partnership
Taking care of business means having difficult conversations, cultivating culture, and trusting your gut
4 Easy Ways to De-Escalate Workplace Conflict
Workplace conflict can't always be avoided, but strong leaders can resolve them with ease.
A Living Legacy: 33 Powerful Teachings From Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Learn the practice of "deep listening" and transform your relationships.
How to Plan Your Entire 2019 Content Calendar in 5 Easy Steps
Stop scrambling and get strategic: the best process to plan your content calendar
The Power of People: How Backroads Became the World's Largest Adventure Travel Company (With Nearly Perfect Guest Ratings)
Need to learn how to hire, train, and manage a highly distributed, nearly autonomous workforce? Backroads might be the perfect role model.
The 1 Reason Why Coffee Meetings Are the Best Way to Build a Strong Professional Network
Why you should have more coffee meetings, and tips on how to get coffee meetings with 3 types of people.
The Importance of Creating a Multichannel Marketing Strategy
Utilizing multiple channels throughout a campaign can help you improve connections, leads and conversions.
How to Increase Accountability for Your Budget Plan
Gaining employee buy-in through a culture of accountability in the workplace is key to the successful execution of your budgetary goals.
The Simple Mindset Shift Elite Athletes Use in High-Stress Situations to Calm Their Nerves
Channel your inner athlete. Don't let your nerves get the best of you before a big event or presentation.
To Survive a Recession, Your Business Needs 'Stickiness' -- Here's Why
How to recession-proof your business with four easy steps.
Think You Have a Great Idea for a Small Business? Here's How to Know
While the proof is always a solid revenue stream, there are definitely ways to determine if your idea for a business will actually be great.
How the Best Leaders Put the Needs of Others Before Their Own
If you aren't interested in putting others needs before your own, leadership isn't for you.
Make Your Customers Happy And Close Sales At Warp Speed with 4 Steps That Anyone Can Follow
Make Your Customers Happy And Close Sales At Warp Speed with 4 Steps That Anyone Can Follow.
In 4 Words, Will Smith Outlines the Secret to True Happiness in Life
Happiness and fulfillment in life can come from both personal growth and professional development. Will Smith adds this to the wellness conversation.
Successful People Think Small, Not Big. Here's Why
It's tiny step, tiny step, tiny step, not huge leap and fall on your face.
Interruptions Steal a Ton of Your Time. Here Are 3 Ways to Get Those Hours Back
The cost of interruptions in the workplacehas been clear. Now the solution is too.
The Secret Ingredient for Raising Financially Responsible Kids: Gratitude
Be careful: the way you talk about money will influence your child's financial outlook for life.
This 1 Simple Exercise Will Help You Envision the Future You Want (and It Only Takes 5 Minutes)
How to create a "painted picture" that will help you envision the future success of your business.
How to Avoid the Time-Sucking Cash-Flow Nightmare of Unpaid Client Invoices
Unpaid invoices can create a cash flow crisis for a small business. Here's how to put a system in place to avoid non-payment and late payments.
Is Your Device Both Your Lifeline and Your Achilles Heel? Here's How to Responsibly Unplug
Electronics have found a way to control us-- and our companies are suffering for it.
In Just 8 Words, This Emotional Super Bowl Ad Nails Why You're Not Reaching Your Potential
Take inspiration from the hero ofthis adand insight on seven ways you can stop engaging in theself-limiting behavior it highlights.
The Smartest Parents Let Their Children Fail
It's hard now, but it will pay off, according to bestselling author Jessica Lahey.
In 12 Words, Richard Branson Lays Out His Best Relationship Advice (Including His Definition of Love)
Relationship questions are common, so relationship advice (especially on healthy relationships) is always welcome--even better from a billionaire.
How Can You Be Sure You Have Emotional Intelligence? Begin by Asking Yourself 11 Spot-on Questions
Whether you're assessing your own emotional intelligence or that of job candidates in a job interview, start with these questions.
Miki Agrawal's Unapologetic New Book Offers a Glimpse Into the Mind of the Fallen Entrepreneur
The former 'She-E-O' of period-proof underwear startup, Thinx, is now calling herself a 'Disrupt-Her.'
How Old Is Your Company? (Trick Question)
It's why this 93-year-old ex-CEO is still fighting his old company, apparently.
3 Ways to Use Coffee to Increase Collaboration and Innovation
Spending a few cents more per day per employee on better coffee out-performs pricey tech and team-building.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
How Leaders Can Take The Pain Out of Giving Performance Reviews
Develop a coach approach driven by powerful questions for reflection.
I Reduced My Screen Time by 50 Percent and It Wasn't That Hard. Here's How I Did It
These strategies for reducing screen time are easier than you think. And only one of them is cheating.
How to Overcome Any Entrepreneurial Challenge as a Founder
Challenges are part of the gig when you're an entrepreneur. Here's how to overcome the hardest ones
6 Top Digital Marketing Conferences You Have to Attend in 2019
Learn the latest trends in content marketing, stock up on some new strategies, and get your networking on.
3 Smart Strategies for Managing Your Marketing Budget
Start by pausing underperforming initiatives, then optimize all remaining projectsand leverage marketing automation.
6 Ways to Revamp Your Weekly Routine
The key to being productive throughout your week is the plan you make at the beginning. Here are six ways you can be more productive.
How to Clear Your Mind So You Can Do Your Best Work
Having a million things on your mind is no excuse for doing your best work. A weekly Mind Sweep might be just what you need.
9 Critical Success Factors Startup Founders Always Forget
Slow growth after a certain point is a sign of a lack of product-market fit.
The Packaging Industry is Massive, and It's About to Be Disrupted
Technology isn't just for creating new products and services. Disruptive technologies are transforming the packaging that comes with just about everything we buy.
How Workspaces for Women Are Thriving in the Wake of #MeToo
They're offering women from different industries and professional backgrounds a chance to connect.
Uber's New 'Unhappy Hour' Promotion: Get a Free Ride if Your Super Bowl Team Loses
Super Bowl 'loser's city promotions' aren't new.
How to Praise a Stellar Employee Without 'Playing Favorites'
Don't let your recognition of one employee hurt the rest of the team's morale.
Deloitte Partners Explain Why Leaders Should Adapt an Entrepreneurial Framework to Survive
Stay ahead of the competition by following a proven entrepreneurial framework
How to Survive as an Entrepreneur When You Can't Pay Yourself
Whether it's a slow-paying client, a sudden layoff, or just being an entrepreneur, here are some tips to help you get through.
The Simple Recipe for Creativity That Everyone Should Know
Creativity is not about finding a final result, but rather about a process that can be practiced.
This 1 Simple Habit Will Make You Stress-Proof This Year
Don't tell your mind what to think. Tell it what to do.
How a Business Accelerator Program Can Impact Your Future
The adage "Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future" has empirical evidence to support it.
Purpose Washing, Hustle Culture, and Automation: Business at a Crossroads
The conversation in Davos showed that CEOs are considering their priorities: fairness or growth, humanization or efficiency, government or business power. In the middle of conflicting agendas, business leaders will have to make tough choices.
This 1 Skill You Should Start Building Today to Improve Your Chances of Startup Success
Improve your chances of startup success by focusing on financial literacy.
How to Win Customer Loyalty in Less Than 10 Seconds
Forget customer satisfaction. If you win a customer's loyalty, you've got a customer for life.
The New England Patriots Shout the Same 2 Words After Every Win (and Have Trademarked the Phrase)
The New England Patriots shout 'Awww Yeah' after every win and are now trademarking the phrase
4 Reasons Why Slowing Down Will Actually Make You More Successful
While many people believe that hustling is the key to success, slowing down is actually a faster way to succeed.
3 Things You Must Do Before You Start Your Next Project
Money is never wasted if you learn something.
New Year, New Data: What Your Startup's First Quarter Can Tell You About Your Business
Your small business's first quarter results not only set the stage for the entire year, it also signals some of the changes you should make.
This 1 Unconventional Habit Will Make Your 2019 More Successful and Stress-Free
Momentum is riding high since its the beginning of the year. However, the secret to success isn't about what you will do, it's much simpler than that.
Never Use a Number When Communicating (Unless You Do This)
$5.7 billion, for example, is just an abstraction.
Watch Out for Mobsourcing When Using Crowdsourcing
It's important to remember that popularity does not equal correctness
Creative Employees Don't Want Your Open Office Plan
Time and experience has shown the open office layout may not be the best environment, and maybe never was.
Why Sometimes The Most Powerful Thing To Say Is Nothing
Why Sometimes The Most Powerful Thing To Say Is Nothing - Why Silence is the Source of Great Strength
Are You Making the Right Enemies?
Negotiating with venture capitalists can test your patience if not your pocketbook. But keeping your emotions in check is important, particuarly in world where everyone knows everyone.
This 1 Thing Can Cut Physical Pain, Save Money and Up Your Focus
The fMRI scans have never been clearer.
Why Paying Your Employees to Exercise Makes Great Business Sense
People are encouraged and educated to exercise. Yet, very few people are actually exercising. It's time to start merging exercise in the workplace.
Why You Should Hire a CMO to to Help Build Your Personal Brand
Writing, publishing and promoting a non-fiction book is practically a full time. An interim CMO who heads the project could be just what you need.
How to Maintain Your Culture as Your Company Grows
How To Maintain Culture as You Scale Your Company
NBA Superstar Anthony Davis Just Turned Down $48 Million a Year to Be Traded (for a Profound Reason)
Leadership lessons lie within on pursuing what really matters.
How a Screaming Boss Helped Steve Blank Develop His Brilliant Startup Philosophy
The man behind the Lean Startup movement, serial entrepreneur Steve Blank, explains the most powerful moment that informed his career
Want to Be Smarter? Every Morning Ask Yourself, 'What Will I Be Wrong About Today?'
A small dose of intellectual humility in the morning makes you smarter all day.
The Biggest Factor Hurting Your Company's Growth? It Could Be You
Leaders are known to cling to their visions so tightly that they don't realize how they're impacting their team members -- or company growth.
3 Ways Millennials Differ from Generation Z in 2019 Trends
Millennials and Gen Z (the generation after Millennials) differ in more than just age. Trends in marketing, ecommerce, and more will shift with them.
Steve Jobs Said You Should Ask 1 Crucial Question Every Morning to Master Your Work Life
He said this is what guided him from the age of 17 until he died.
3 Ways Your Thinking Must Change if You Truly Want to be Happy
You can achieve a higher level of contentment and peace, regardless of what's going on in your life.
These 4 Key Ingredients Are What's Making Video Marketing The Next Big Trend
Advancement in technology and the rise in smartphones means it affordable for you to create a good quality video.
The No. 1 Quality Reporters Are Looking For In Their Go-To Story Sources
Think about what they need more than what you might want.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Apple Says It Has a Fix For the Crazy FaceTime Bug That Lets You Eavesdrop on Anyone
There's a way to make the device of the person you're calling answer without their knowledge.
Got Anxiety? 7 Natural Remedies for Anxiety That Work Fast
Panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and PTSD all affect your work life. Natural remedies for anxiety can help, and can be shared with employees.
Why Entrepreneurs Should Constantly Be Searching for New Opportunities (Even While Running a Successful Company)
Here's how to balance your current endeavors with your future opportunities.
13 of the Most Powerful Couples in Tech
Some of the world's most prominent tech founders and CEOs are dating or married to other industry leaders.
Why Small Businesses Are Expected to Be a Hot Commodity in 2019
A combination of a stronger economy and healthier companies helped lift sales prices for businesses.
What the "The Green Book" Can Teach Us All about Perseverance and Entrepreneurship
Even our worst days and challenges can provide opportunity to keep on going.
5 Essential Qualities Your Next Hire Must Have
Hiring is never easy or fast--but you can get a lot better at it if you clearly define what you're looking for.
Change Your Mindset and Stop Dwelling on Past Mistakes With These 7 Tips
Any missed opportunity can be seen as a chance to learn and drive future growth.
How To Deal With That Co-Worker Who Gets All the Attention
Treat them (and all those around you) like a field study.
Why Howard Schultz's Presidential Announcement Is Already Very Unpopular
The billionaire executive who ran Starbucks for more than two decades received a wave of immediate criticism over a potential presidential run.
How This Company Created the First Software Development Apprenticeship Program Approved by the Department of Labor
I talked with Heather Terenzio of Techtonic about the company's unique recruiting and training program, and its impact on talent and diversity.
3 Reasons Why Every Business Leader Should Join a Mastermind Group
Use a formalized method to push your business forward
A New Study of Over 10 Million Meetings Reveals Why They're So Darn Boring. Here's the Secret to Making Yours Stand Out.
Just a few minutes of creative thinking makesall the difference.
What MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe Learned From Being Audacious
Fast growth can be bad, be good to your neighbors, and the movie industry needs disruption.
Was Your New Year's Resolution to Start a Business? Here's 3 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Started
Starting a business isn't easy--start small and you'll feel less overwhelmed.
The Age of the Individual Contributor is Over. So Is Email
High-performing teams do not rely on email. Period.
Facebook Announces New Measures to Improve Transparency and Accountability
Facebook can now delete pages linked to bad actors, even if the page hasn't violated the rules.
Why Is Facebook Integrating Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger?
Reports say Facebook is looking to integrate the messaging components of their 3 big apps.
Los Angeles Rams Head Coach, Sean McVay, Has the Assistant You Need
We need someone to take care of things so we can focus.
Why Building Mental Strength Is Different For Women
Research shows women face some clear disadvantages when it comes to building mental muscle.
Why You Can't Find High Performers to Hire--and What You Can Do About It
Hint: Perks don't matter as much as you think.
A Poor Corporate Culture Can Destroy Your Brand--Here are 3 Powerful Ways to Drive Workplace Loyalty
If corporate culture isn't a priority, you're welcoming failure.
Your Audience Doesn't Read. That's Why You Have to Do This.
Science demonstrates the importance of taking a fresh approach to content.
How This Year's Super Bowl Will Be Powered by the Sun (Sort of)
Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the most sustainable sports arena in the world thanks in part to some innovative solar installations.
Want the Brain of a 40 Year Old When You're 80? Science Says Start Doing These 5 Things Now
Yes, diet and exercise matter, but so do these other simple interventions you can start doing today.
Science Says You Should Get 15 Percent Wrong When Learning. Here's Why
Straight-A people might be bright, but they're also probably not challenged enough.
Australia Open Winner Naomi Osaka's Post-match Interview Is a Master Class in Grace and Humility
In a world that's grown gloomy with the clouds of conceit, Naomi Osaka is a breath of fresh air.
This Study Found 1 Simple Step to Practically Guarantee You'll Achieve Your Goals (For Real)
This study says that writing down goals and strategies isn't enough. Creating accountability reduces procrastination and helps to complete goals.
This Type of Employee Will Sabotage Your Team -- and Eventually You, Too
The worst type of employee you could hire is the one who doesn't care about others.
Why You're Spending Too Much Time on Your Email List
Make sure you're not wasting time marketing to people who aren't even reading your emails.
The Complicated Business of Building a Startup Scene From Scratch in Camden, New Jersey
Some Camden entrepreneurs are trying to reinvent their struggling city as a hub for tech startups. Job one? Launch a tech startup.
Want to Banish Stress from Your Life Forever? Here Are 7 Powerfully Effective Ways
Research reveals that 77% of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress. Kick stress out of your life once and for all.
Unhappy in Your Job? Here Are 7 Powerfully Effective Ways to Tell Your Boss
According to Gallup, 85% of employees are not engaged or actively disengaged at work, representing approximately $7 trillion in lost productivity.
A New Generation of Black Founders Is Rising in Atlanta--and the Startup World Is Taking Notice
Forget Silicon Valley. Black entrepreneurs have discovered the best tech scene in the country.
8 Years Ago, a Zen Blogger Revealed a 4 Step Process for Changing Your Life. It's Even More Relevant Today
Leo Babauta, author of Zen Habits used this approach to go from couch potato to marathon runner.
Time to Look for a New Job? These 7 Warning Signs Will Let You Know When It's Time to Go
Research shows that more than 50% of people who are currently employed are considering a new job. Does that include you?
3 Settings to Change on Your iPhone to Spend Less Time Being Distracted
Are you spending too much time looking at your phone? Here's how to cut down.
Warren Buffet Says This Career Advice Is All Wrong. It's Like 'Saving Up Sex for Your Old Age. It Just Doesn't Make a Lot of Sense'
The Oracle of Omaha speaks the truth again.
I Drove My Used Electric Nissan Leaf From Snohomish Washington to Tigard Oregon
Battery range anxiety is a real thing for EV drivers. Here's how I faced it down.
18 Days Until the Next Shutdown (Unless This Happens First)
Well that was fun. Let's do it again (said nobody).
Sunday, January 27, 2019
5 Important Business Travel Tips You Should Stop Ignoring
Stay safe by being prepared and keeping loved ones up-to-date with what you have planned.
3 Ways to Be a More Genuine Brand
Customers are becoming more skeptical than ever. Try these tips to enhance your brand's authenticity when genuineness is in short supply.
1 Simple Way to Increase Employee Participation
It's not rocket science, but this communication technique really works
These 3 Technology Inflection Points Will Change Our Future Beyond Recognition
Get ready for a new era of innovation
The 2019 Entrepreneur Conferences You Should Have on Your Radar
Entrepreneur conferences help you keep up with the latest trends, learn new skills, become a thought leader and curate a great network -- and this list will streamline your planning.
The Surprising Trump Administration Memo At the Heart of the Shutdown's End
If there was a moment that ultimately led to the government re-opening, could it have been something as simple as this?
Tired of Facebook? 5 Great Apps to Use Instead
Nearly half of adult Facebook users have taken a break for several weeks or more, and more than a quarter have deleted the app from their phone.
The Best City for Startups Isn't in the USA
Corporatist policies have created a USA business environment that's deeply hostile to entrepreneurs.
Why the Blockchain Is Still Like the Nineties Internet
Remember When They Laughed at Jeff Bezos for Selling Books Out of His Garage?
Saturday, January 26, 2019
How to Write Emails That Super Busy People Will Actually Read
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How to Find a Mentor Without Bothering Everybody You Respect
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Apple Should Hire Musk and Fire Cook
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To Build Your Brand, Avoid This Questionable (and Common) Press Release Tactic
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Corporate Exec-Turned-Entrepreneur Shares 3 Secrets of Success for Any-Sized Business
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Read These 3 Books Before Hiring Your First Employee
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How an Outsider Improved My Company's Internal Feedback Process
If you're wondering whether or not your company has one--you likely don't. It's essential you start building a program for feedback as soon as possible because as I've learned recently, the benefits can be tremendous.
How to Prevent Ageism in Hiring
By hiring only young employees, you may be missing out on premier talent.
7 Incredibly Powerful Podcasts for Women Entrepreneurs
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Here's Why Hiring for Skills Alone Can Be a Big Mistake for Your Team
84 percent of recruiters say culture fit is a prominent factor in the hiring process. Here's how you can hire the best by taking more than skills alone into consideration.
These Are the 5 Biggest Myths About Big Data
Big data is all the rage. But are you sure your company is ready for all it entails?
Struggling to Grow Your Business? It's Okay to Quit--Just Ask Richard Branson
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10 Items Business Travelers Should Always Have in Their Carry-on Bag
Prepare for the unexpected and travel smarter with these flight essentials.
When Venture Capital Runs Dry, Use These 6 Techniques to Soldier On
Some VC firms are once again warning that a "long winter" of funding is coming. Here's how to prepare for a downturn in VC funding.
NFL Referees Made a Huge Mistake. This Sports Betting Company Refunded Failed Bets Anyway
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When a ref blows a call, potentially angering some of your customers, you do what New Jersey's PointsBet Sportsbook did.
Businesses That Rely on Federal Employees as Customers Struggle to Keep Their Doors Open
Government employees who aren't getting paid during the shutdown are conserving resources, hurting businesses across the country.
Mark Zuckerberg Says Facebook Needs Your Information 'for Security and Operating Our Services'
The Facebook co-founder defended his company's business model in a new op-ed.
Marketing to Gods: Paradoxes for Making a Next-Level Move -- Part 2
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The Shutdown Could Ruin Your Travel Plans: Here Are 4 Possible Solutions
With airport accessibility hit hard by the government shutdown, you need evasive action.
Pay Attention to the Rihanna LVMH Conversation
This potential deal has broader implications for the way you need to run yourbusiness.
How to Succeed in a Turbulent Industry: 3 Top Tips from a Cannabis Entrepreneur
And you thought the wine industry was tough to disrupt. How about disrupting a disruptive industry -- cannabis -- when even baby steps are revolutionary? Here's how it's done.
How to Find the Right CEO to Scale Your Company
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How to Save Your Business When Disaster Strikes
While it's hard to anticipate every disaster that might hit you, there are some steps you can take that will protect your business from massive operational interruption or loss of assets.
Can E-Scooters Break Into New York City? It's Complicated, But Early Signs Point to Yes
Inc.'s writers and editors explain the most fascinating indicators from Davos, how electric bikes and scooters are zooming into reluctant municipalities, and what small businesses can learn from Netflix's price hike.
Don't Get Seduced by That Amazing New Marketing Software Without Doing This First
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Friday, January 25, 2019
Apple Should Hire Musk and Fire Cook
Apple, Tesla, SpaceX, and Boring under Elon Musk would make Apple under Steve Jobs seem like small beer.
To Build Your Brand, Avoid This Questionable (and Common) Press Release Tactic
All press releases are not created equal. Know the difference and beware the ones that cost money but don't produce results
Corporate Exec-Turned-Entrepreneur Shares 3 Secrets of Success for Any-Sized Business
Joanne Moretti, Former Fortune 200 SVP & CMO, shares 3 keys to driving success anywhere from small to large businesses.
Read These 3 Books Before Hiring Your First Employee
These books provide you with practical tips on hiring and communicating with your first employee.
How to Prevent Ageism in Hiring
By hiring only young employees, you may be missing out on premier talent.
How an Outsider Improved My Company's Internal Feedback Process
If you're wondering whether or not your company has one--you likely don't. It's essential you start building a program for feedback as soon as possible because as I've learned recently, the benefits can be tremendous.
7 Incredibly Powerful Podcasts for Women Entrepreneurs
Get fired up to grow your business--and real-world advice on how to do it right--with these essential podcasts from top female entrepreneurs
Here's Why Hiring for Skills Alone Can Be a Big Mistake for Your Team
84 percent of recruiters say culture fit is a prominent factor in the hiring process. Here's how you can hire the best by taking more than skills alone into consideration.
These Are the 5 Biggest Myths About Big Data
Big data is all the rage. But are you sure your company is ready for all it entails?
When Venture Capital Runs Dry, Use These 6 Techniques to Soldier On
Some VC firms are once again warning that a "long winter" of funding is coming. Here's how to prepare for a downturn in VC funding.
Businesses That Rely on Federal Employees as Customers Struggle to Keep Their Doors Open
Government employees who aren't getting paid during the shutdown are conserving resources, hurting businesses across the country.
Can E-Scooters Break Into New York City? It's Complicated, But Early Signs Point to Yes
Inc.'s writers and editors explain the most fascinating indicators from Davos, how electric bikes and scooters are zooming into reluctant municipalities, and what small businesses can learn from Netflix's price hike.
Struggling to Grow Your Business? It's Okay to Quit--Just Ask Richard Branson
Even though Branson loved Virgin Records, quitting it is what allowed him to be super successful.
10 Items Business Travelers Should Always Have in Their Carry-on Bag
Prepare for the unexpected and travel smarter with these flight essentials.
NFL Referees Made a Huge Mistake. This Sports Betting Company Refunded Failed Bets, Anyway
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When a ref blows a call, potentially angering some of your customers, you do what New Jersey's PointsBet Sportsbook did.
Mark Zuckerberg Says Facebook Needs Your Information 'For Security and Operating Our Services'
The Facebook co-founder defended his company's business model in a new op-ed.
Marketing to Gods: Paradoxes for Making a Next-Level Move -- Part 2
Brands that provide clearer maps to navigate the road ahead will make it more likely that they will become trusted a preferred purchase destinations
The Shutdown Could Ruin Your Travel Plans: Here Are 4 Possible Solutions
With airport accessibility hit hard by the government shutdown, you need evasive action.
Pay Attention to the Rihanna LVMH Conversation
This potential deal has broader implications for the way you need to run yourbusiness.
From Trash Pickup to Managing Multi-Million Dollar Investors, This Cannabis CEO Redefines Entrepreneur Leaders
And you thought the wine industry was tough to disrupt. How about disrupting a disruptive industry -- cannabis -- when even baby steps are revolutionary? Here's how it's done.
How to Find the Right CEO to Scale Your Company
Companies have different needs while growing. Having a Growth CEO with the right mindset can make all the difference.
How to Save Your Business When Disaster Strikes
While it's hard to anticipate every disaster that might hit you, there are some steps you can take that will protect your business from massive operational interruption or loss of assets.
Don't Get Seduced by That Amazing New Marketing Software Without Doing This First
Here's how to tell if your marketing team is suffering from makeshift marketing.
Watch How Levi's Makes Perfectly Distressed Denim in 90 Seconds
The 165-year-old clothing manufacturer shows off F.L.X., a platform that uses lasers to replicate vintage denim, in this 360-degree tour of their Eureka Lab.
5 Compelling Traits of Exceptional Mentors
Starting your own business is challenging. Accessing entrepreneurial experience can be the key to success.
7th Circuit Court: Age Discrimination in Hiring is Legal
Judges say Congress never intended to protect job candidates, only employees.
What If Getting That Big Breakthrough Came Down To One Word? Good News, It Does.
The secret to breakthroughs is smaller (and more powerful) than we think .
New Study: Reading Fiction Really Will Make You Nicer and More Empathetic
A definitive new study has great news for book lovers: yes, reading fiction boosts your EQ.
Employers Are Overlooking the Next Big Workplace Crisis--Employee Caregiving Responsibilities
Caregiving is impacting millions of Americans, especially those in the workforce. Companies must pay attention to this looming crisis.
What a Life Coach Really Helps You With All Day
Their service can separate "wanted to" from "did it".
33 Inspirational Quotes About Life That Will Lift You Up (and Make You Laugh)
Inspirational quotes, famous quotes about life, best quotations on life: They help us to dream, to reach, to fail fearlessly, and to succeed.
The 3 Elements of Successful Business Partnerships
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Why Your Business Should Be More Environmentally Focused, According to a Recent Climate Change Report
A company's position on the environment was once an afterthought. Now customers are more likely to demand that you actually do something.
Bill Gates Says You Should Ask 4 Crucial Questions to Assess the Quality of Your Life (1 Is From Warren Buffett)
The younger Bill Gates would have never asked these questions to assess his personal success.
People With High Financial Security Make Their Bed More Often and Spend Less Time on Social Media
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Want More Effective Communication? Listen to the Wisdom of Mark Twain
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4 Social Media Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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Build Better Relationships on LinkedIn Using These 3 Simple Steps
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Google Asked the U.S. to Reconsider Rules That Allow Employees to Organize Without Fear of Punishment
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9 Services You Didn't Know You Could Deduct From Your Business Taxes
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Elon Musk Reportedly 'Rage Fires' Employees, and Experts Say It's a Terrible Leadership Tactic
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New Report Says a Quarter of All U.S. Jobs Will Be Disrupted by Artificial Intelligence
The changes will hit hardest in smaller cities, especially those in the heartland and the Rust Belt.
This 37-Year-Old Mayor Wants to Be President. Here's What He's Done for Small Businesses
If Peter Buttigieg were to win the Democratic nomination, he would be the first openly gay presidential nominee from a major political party.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
The 1 Reason Your Business Might Be Using SaaS Tools Completely Wrong (and How to Fix it)
The software-as-a-service revolution is upon us, but companies are making a costly mistake by embracing it incorrectly.
How to Foster a More Resilient Team by Forming Habits Around Gratitude
Bring your humanity to work to improve team dynamics and business outcomes.
You May Not Hear About America's State of the Union, But You Should Consider Your Own
Don't let the Trump or Pelosi in your company get in the way of your annual review. If you don't do it right, your shutdown could be more than temporary.
7 Ways to Let Down Your Employee Without Losing Them
Here is the best way to be the bearer of bad news: Let them down gently, and maintain optimism.
Traditional Marketing Doesn't Work on Gen-Z. Here's What Does Work
Be more real and honest. This is how you get people interested these days.
A New York Bookstore Owner Actually Closed His Business to Protest Abortion
Jon Speed, bookstore, business owner, abortion, pro-life, pro-choice, New York
Fighting for Social Media Followers? You're Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Entrepreneurs are spending millions on social media followers, but can't even reach customers. Here's why newsletters, meetups and emails are the future
Adam Grant Says Understanding 1 Thing Separates Successful People From Those Who Only Dream
Adam Grant says the outcome is important, but where success is concerned, one thing matters a whole lot more.
How One CEO Grew Her Business by 300% While Caring For A Sick Family Member
Struggling to make a choice between your business or your family? You don't have to.
How to Reach Product-Market Fit Faster Than Ever
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Mentally Strong Women Refuse to Do These 13 Things
There's societal pressure to engage in these unhealthy habits. But they'll drain you of the mental strength you need to be your best.
3 Ways These CEOs Balance Their Work and Personal Lives--and You Can, Too
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Barbara Corcoran's Tough-Love Advice for Raising Successful Kids
Spoiling your kids won't build persistence and self confidence.
Want Loyal Customers? Treat Them Like Friends--Here's How
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The Single Most Essential Rule About Pricing
Discussing price with your customer before they've signaled "yes" means you've already bungled the sale.
Clutter Increases Your Stress and May Mean You're a Procrastinator, New Study Finds
The good news is you can fix it.
Bird, Lime, and Other Startups Swoop Into New York City to Lobby for E-Scooter Laws
Despite lack of safety data and clarity about rules as to where riders could ride and park, advocates optimistic that slate of bills will pass.
Physicists Have Discovered a Formula for Success, and It Contains a Brutal Truth Most People Don't Want to Admit
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Michael Phelps Uses This Mental Trick to Prepare for Any Difficult Situation
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Authors: Beware of Book Stuffing as a Path to Publication
Companies offering people a chance to contribute a chapter to a new book for a hefty fee is on the rise. Buyer beware.
How to Spot a Fake Glassdoor Review
You want honest reviews of the company you're thinking about joining, but how can you tell?
Still Trying to Meditate? This $250 Headband Can Finally Teach You
The Muse II is a $250 headband that reads your brainwaves and can (theoretically) teach you how to meditate. We put it to the test.
How to Better Set Your Goals in 2019
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Science Gives Another Reason to Love Coffee. If Your Counterpart Holds a Cup, You Make a Better Impression
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I Survived A Micromanager By Understanding This 1 Thing
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How the Rams' Coach Keeps His Head in the Game? This Surprising and Savvy Hire Has Everything to Do With It
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The Top 10 Facebook Messenger Marketing Hacks of All Time
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Wednesday, January 23, 2019
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This Is How You Lead a Team That Spans 4 Generations
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Create a PHP Email Script and Form
Forms on websites can be used for a lot of purposes besides being a place to contact the website administrators. In previous posts, I covered how to create a fully functional contact form in PHP and how to build your own Captcha and integrate it in your contact forms. In this tutorial, our focus will be on creating forms in PHP that are meant to serve other purposes like gathering information about a job applicant, booking hotel rooms or getting information about marriage events from clients.
Choosing the Right Fields for your Forms
In the contact form tutorial, we learned that different organizations and websites will most probably want to get specific information from people contacting them in order to assist them in the best possible way. For instance, a contact form on a school website might ask parents information about their kids enrolled in that school. Similarly, the contact form on a shopping website might gather information about the last product people bought in order to serve them better.
If contact forms can vary so much between different websites and organizations, it is reasonable to assume that forms which are supposed to serve completely different purposes have very different fields. For instance, you will most probably ask people booking a hotel room if they will be accompanied by any other adults or children. Asking the same thing of a job applicant would make no sense.
This is an important thing to remember when you follow this tutorial. The basic concept of creating a form, gathering all the information and sending it somewhere ,by email will stay the same but the code will almost certainly need changes to work for your case. You might want to add different input fields to your forms and assign different names to those fields. This will then affect the PHP code in the backend. If you make changes in the forms, make sure you update the PHP code as well.
You can take a look at this list of 20 Best PHP email forms to get some inspiration about the layout of form elements or different input fields that you might want to add to your forms.
PHP20 Best PHP Email Forms
Creating an HTML Form
In this tutorial, we will create a form to book hotel rooms as an example. For simplicity, we will also not use any additional JavaScript or PHP libraries.
With this in mind, lets write the markup of our form. We need to ask people making a reservation their name, email address and phone number. After that, we ask them to provide details about the number of children and adults that will accompany them, the check-in and check-out dates along with the types of room they prefer. In the end we will ask them if there is anything else that we show know before their arrival.
<form action="reservation.php" method="post">
<div class="elem-group">
<label for="name">Your Name</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="visitor_name" placeholder="John Doe" pattern=[A-Z\sa-z]{3,20} required>
</div>
<div class="elem-group">
<label for="email">Your E-mail</label>
<input type="email" id="email" name="visitor_email" placeholder="john.doe@email.com" required>
</div>
<div class="elem-group">
<label for="phone">Your Phone</label>
<input type="tel" id="phone" name="visitor_phone" placeholder="498-348-3872" pattern=(\d{3})-?\s?(\d{3})-?\s?(\d{4}) required>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="elem-group inlined">
<label for="adult">Adults</label>
<input type="number" id="adult" name="total_adults" placeholder="2" min="1" required>
</div>
<div class="elem-group inlined">
<label for="child">Children</label>
<input type="number" id="child" name="total_children" placeholder="2" min="0" required>
</div>
<div class="elem-group inlined">
<label for="checkin-date">Check-in Date</label>
<input type="date" id="checkin-date" name="checkin" required>
</div>
<div class="elem-group inlined">
<label for="checkout-date">Check-out Date</label>
<input type="date" id="checkout-date" name="checkout" required>
</div>
<div class="elem-group">
<label for="room-selection">Select Room Preference</label>
<select id="room-selection" name="room_preference" required>
<option value="">Choose a Room from the List</option>
<option value="connecting">Connecting</option>
<option value="adjoining">Adjoining</option>
<option value="adjacent">Adjacent</option>
</select>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="elem-group">
<label for="message">Anything Else?</label>
<textarea id="message" name="visitor_message" placeholder="Tell us anything else that might be important." required></textarea>
</div>
<button type="submit">Book The Rooms</button>
</form>
We have used two basic patterns to check if the provided name and phone numbers are valid. Phone numbers follow different formats depending on the locale. This means that you will have to update the value of pattern attribute accordingly.
We have also set the minimum value of adults and children to 1 and 0 respectively. This way we can prevent people from mistakenly adding negative values.
You can add more elements to this form for other services that the hotel provides like pickup, room service etc.
Right now, visitors can set both the check in and check out dates to a past value. We can avoid that by simply setting the value of min attribute on both the check in and check out dates. In our case, we will set the minimum possible check in date to be the current day. The value of min attribute of the check out date will be the check in date.
The JavaScript code below will handle all the logic for us. The months are zero-based so we add 1 to the returned value to get the actual month. The returned date value can be any integer from 1 to 31 depending on the current time.
When the date and month values are in single digits, they are padded with an extra 0 so that the final string stays in a valid format.
var currentDateTime = new Date();
var year = currentDateTime.getFullYear();
var month = (currentDateTime.getMonth() + 1);
var date = currentDateTime.getDate();
if(date < 10) {
date = '0' + date;
}
if(month < 10) {
month = '0' + month;
}
var dateTomorrow = year + "-" + month + "-" + date;
var checkinElem = document.querySelector("#checkin-date");
var checkoutElem = document.querySelector("#checkout-date");
checkinElem.setAttribute("min", dateTomorrow);
checkinElem.onchange = function () {
checkoutElem.setAttribute("min", this.value);
}
The following CodePen demo shows the us how the form behaves after adding the above markup and JavaScript functionality.
Sending the Form Data by Email with PHP
The final step involves collecting all the data from our form and sending it to concerned people in an email. This is actually very easy to do. First we gather all the information using $_POST variables. Once we have the required information we sanitize it to remove anything malicious. Finally, we create the body of our HTML email and then send it using the mail() function in PHP.
The following code will go into a file called reservation.php. The file name will be different if you changed the value of action attribute of the from in previous section.
<?php
if($_POST) {
$visitor_name = "";
$visitor_email = "";
$visitor_phone = "";
$total_adults = "";
$total_children = "";
$checkin_date = "";
$checkout_date = "";
$room_type = "";
$visitor_message = "";
if(isset($_POST['visitor_name'])) {
$visitor_name = filter_var($_POST['visitor_name'], FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
}
if(isset($_POST['visitor_email'])) {
$visitor_email = str_replace(array("\r", "\n", "%0a", "%0d"), '', $_POST['visitor_email']);
$visitor_email = filter_var($visitor_email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL);
}
if(isset($_POST['visitor_phone'])) {
$visitor_phone = filter_var($_POST['visitor_phone'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);
}
if(isset($_POST['total_adults'])) {
$total_adults = filter_var($_POST['total_adults'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);
}
if(isset($_POST['total_children'])) {
$total_children = filter_var($_POST['total_children'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);
}
if(isset($_POST['checkin'])) {
$checkin_date = filter_var($_POST['checkin'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);
}
if(isset($_POST['checkout'])) {
$checkout_date = filter_var($_POST['checkout'], FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT);
}
if(isset($_POST['room_preference'])) {
$room_type = filter_var($_POST['room_preference'], FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
}
if(isset($_POST['visitor_message'])) {
$visitor_message = htmlspecialchars($_POST['visitor_message']);
}
$recipient = "booking@demo.com";
$headers = 'MIME-Version: 1.0' . "\r\n"
.'Content-type: text/html; charset=utf-8' . "\r\n"
.'From: ' . $visitor_email . "\r\n";
$email_content = "<html><body>";
$email_content .= "<table style='font-family: Arial;'><tbody><tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Visitor Name</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$visitor_name</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Visitor Email</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$visitor_email</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Visitor Phone</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$visitor_phone</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Total Adults</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$total_adults</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Total Children</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$total_children</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Check-in Date</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$checkin_date</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Check-out Date</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$checkout_date</td></tr>";
$email_content .= "<tr><td style='background: #eee; padding: 10px;'>Room Type</td><td style='background: #fda; padding: 10px;'>$room_type</td></tr></tbody></table>";
$email_content .= "<p style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 1.25rem;'><strong>Special Request from $visitor_name —</strong><i> $visitor_message</i>.</p>";
$email_content .= '</body></html>';
echo $email_content;
if(mail($recipient, "Hotel Room Reservation Confirmation", $email_content, $headers)) {
echo '<p>Thank you for booking a hotel room with us. We hope you have a pleasant stay.</p>';
} else {
echo '<p>We are sorry but the booking confirmation email did not go through.</p>';
}
} else {
echo '<p>Something went wrong</p>';
}
?>
We begin by sanitizing the name and email address of the visitor. After that we sanitize the check-in date, check-out date, number of adults and number of children using the FILTER_SANITIZE_NUMBER_INT flag. This flag removes all characters from the input except digits and + or - signs. It works out great for sanitizing our dates because we expect them in the format YYYY-MM-DD—just digits and the minus sign. You should go through the PHP documentation to learn about all the sanitization and validation flags.
Once we have sanitized all the input, we start preparing our headers. By including Content-type: text/html in the email headers, we will be able to use HTML tags inside our email. For this tutorial, we are keeping it simple and showing all the user data inside a table. Any special message left by people booking a hotel rooms is shown below the table.
Final Thoughts
In this tutorial, we have covered the basics of creating a PHP email script that sends data from forms filled out by people. When creating forms, it is important to lay the elements out properly and make sure that you only ask for information that is actually required. Creating an unnecessarily long form with improperly laid out elements will discourage users from filling out the form. You should also make sure that every element is named properly. Proper sanitization of user input is important as well.
If you have never created your own forms and are unfamiliar with PHP, it might be better to consider using scripts created by professionals. We have created this list of 20 Best PHP Email forms to help you get started. These form come with extra features like Captcha, scheduling emails and file uploads.
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PHP20 Best PHP Email Forms
If you have any questions related to this tutorial, please let me know in the comments.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2019
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Why 2019 Is the Year of the Rebrand
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How Rams Kicker 'Greg the Leg' Delivered a Clutch Performance When 70,000 Screaming Fans Wanted Him to Miss
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How Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Successful CEOs Regain Control Over Their Time
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Too Busy to Volunteer? How One CEO Prioritizes Community Involvement
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Saturday, January 19, 2019
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3 Website Form Errors That Can Cost Millions (And How to Fix Them)
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118,000 People Bought Cars From This Forgotten Automaker Last Year and I Still Can't Get Over It
That's more than Volvo, Land Rover, Lincoln and Mini.
United Airlines Just Started Doing Something Truly Radical (And It'll Actually Please Customers)
I never thought I'd see the day.
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