Eric Deegear, entrepreneur and business coach, was forged in the fires of Texas and currently lives in Boise, Idaho, building his part of the Deegear family empire.
He is the founder of a number of companies, including Deegear Coaching, where he guides entrepreneurs through personal and professional success. Another of his businesses, Brotato Games, is fun side game-design project, where new and innovative card games are created for people to enjoy with their friends. All of Eric’s ventures focus on making the world a better, healthier and more enjoyable place to live.
Eric began honing his entrepreneurial chops as a massage therapist in 2010, which gave him great insight into the human body and how best to fix it when it breaks. This calm, alternative medicine side of his personality balances the eager, determined drive that fuels his ambitious appetite. Now a fully-fledged CEO, Eric manages several enterprises and investments that have earned him mentions in industry publications and local podcasts.
Eric travels often all over the world, but enjoys returning to Boise, Idaho, a place of beautiful natural settings and integrated community. In his free moments, he can be found dancing with friends, hiking in the great outdoors or improving his French skills.
Where did the idea for Deegear Coaching come from?
I love the study of the mind and decided to finish my undergrad at Boise State University with a Psychology Bachelor of Science. Finances and business have always come naturally to me and I often found myself giving life or entrepreneurial advice to my friends and family. During the pandemic lockdown in 2020, I made an official coaching program and opened my doors for clients.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Each morning, I wake up around 8 o’clock and immediately write my daily to-do list, short term and long term goals in my notebook. While I’m fixing breakfast and getting ready, I listen to an audiobook. My content of choice ranges from fantasy and sci-fi series to motivational self-help books. I start my work day and use music to keep myself energized and focused. Phone calls and emails make up the bulk of my work hustle. I take breaks to exercise and do yoga to de-stress and keep my mind from getting too fatigued. I end a day with some reading and journaling, or sometimes hanging out with friends and playing boardgames.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I journal a lot about my ideas. Once they’re past the written stage, I test out the concept on my close friends or family members. If they still seem viable after that, I make a prototype or hypothetical version so I can do further testing and improvement.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The ability to reach everyone in the world with my ideas or products is amazing. We are truly interconnected now as a species. The fact that I can imagine something, share the idea online and get funding from all over the world from interested individuals fascinates me. The average internet surfer has more information and power to use the info at his fingertips than ever before.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I read voraciously and listen to a lot of audiobooks. I am constantly discovering new methods and ideas through this which I implement immediately into my strategy. It doesn’t even have to be the new bestseller which sparks my creativity; I can easily pull a crazy “what if” from a classic work or fantasy novel. Nobody else does this and that gives me an edge over my competition.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Go out and try new things. Meet people. People give you the best opportunities. They say that luck is preparation plus opportunity. You can prepare all you want, but until you put on your shoes, head out the door and meet people, then your opportunities will be few and far between.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That you can enjoy the fun side of life and still be productive as hell.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Read more. Listen to audiobooks on double speed and you can gather information into your brain at a ridiculous rate. You’d be amazed at all the opportunities you have to fit in 10-20 min of an audiobook: grocery shopping, fixing meals, driving, doing mundane tasks, etc. The more information you have, the more valuable you become. The average adult reads less than 6 books a year while the average CEO reads 30. Why do you think that is?
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I have invested heavily in myself and that investment pays me back in so many ways through my businesses. I’m not just talking about a financial investment; time, energy and thoughtful contemplation are all ways you can increase your value. Sales, marketing, connections, etc have all been vastly improved by how I treat my personal growth.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I had a failed kickstarter at the start of my Brotato Games endeavor, but any “failure” can become a lesson if you look at it in a different light. Mine taught me how not to run a kickstarter campaign. It was disappointing, but I don’t have time to stop and cry about it. Let yourself be disappointed, but move forward with a new plan.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Create a giant Rosetta Stone-esque monument/museum in the center of the United States and sell time-capsule spots within the walls. It would make billions. Of course, it will also COST billions, which is why nobody will be crazy enough to do it except for me, haha.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I spent it on new running shoes. You can’t go wrong with getting a great pair of shoes for everyday use. Your feet will thank you for it when you’re old.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
I love Canva, which is basically a simplified online version of Photoshop. I use it for creating all of my graphics for the Massage Success Club, which is a learning resource and group coaching community for post-graduate Massage students. Canva allows me to build attractive images and documents that I can offer my clients.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
“The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson. I personally listened to this book (on double speed, of course) at least 15 times last year. It’s short and packed with great info, especially the introduction read by the author. I recommend it to every single person who is interested in improving themselves and doesn’t know where to start. It’s so easy, that’s why everyone overlooks it.
What is your favorite quote?
“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.”
– Wayne Dyer
Key Learnings:
• Read more quality books and leverage audiobooks to your advantage.
• You can enjoy life and still be productive.
• Journal extensively about your ideas.
• Invest in yourself. It’s one investment that will always pay you back.
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.