Miles Dittmar is the young entrepreneur serving you the inspiration you need to change the world and yourself for the better, one smile at a time.
Beaten Path Co is a growing community of people of all ages who do not conform to society's idea of "the norm." Miles Dittmar, the founder and soul behind this incredible brand, is teaching others how to minimize their environmental impact and face each day with a smile. His "Be the Change" campaign focuses on giving 100% of profits to a new organization every month. Beaten Path Co. uses eco-friendly clothing and manufacturers to support their mission of caring for the planet and creating a better tomorrow.
What have you learned about starting a business as a young person? What did you wish you'd known?
Wow, where do I start? From ages 19-22 I've learned more than I ever thought I would because of owning my own company. Among the business skills I've learned, such as running effective ad campaigns, learning how to trademark a company, writing good copy, filing business taxes, and more, I've also learned a lot of personal growth skills that have led me to be the person I am today. Patience, persistence, the ability to not judge myself, and really pushing past the limits I thought I had set for myself.
I'm all about the process and drive so there's not too many things that come to mind about what I wish I knew when I had first started the company.
However, It did take a couple of years for me to realize how important it is to expand my professional circle. Overtime, I joined in-person clubs, social media groups, and reached out to the pros that are in the field I need help with. Networking is key in business and in your personal life.
What is something more people should care about?
More people need to understand perspective. So many people that I've grown up around are quick to judge others without realizing that that other person has lived an entire different life than them. Poverty, depression, disabilities, bad environments, poor parenting, insecurity, and more, all exist in the eyes in front of you. Even though I'm very aware of not judging others, I'm still trying to improve upon this every day.
Nobody is perfect, but understanding others perspectives and being able to empathize with them is an important ingredient in creating a better you.
When it comes to creating change and having a positive impact through creative projects, what advice would you give to someone who doesn't know where to start but wants to do something meaningful?
Similar to my answer in the first question, do not be afraid to ask others for help. You'll be amazed at how many people there are that are willing to help guide you and share their knowledge with you.
My advice is to try to differentiate yourself from other people doing the same thing. Right now, everyone wants to create change and do something meaningful. Don't get me wrong, it's a good thing, that's why I'm doing it with my Be The Change campaign.
It's important to differentiate yourself from other people that are doing the same thing.
Pick a specific niche in how you're going to create change and then drive it. The next steps are to: create an online and in-person community, continuously define and perfect your message, spread your message on social media platforms, organize in-person events, create a website, etc. If you have passion for the change you're trying to create, then all of these steps will bloom through time. Ask others for help, be different from the rest, and spread the word.
Make sure to follow Miles and his brand Beaten Path Co on Insta. Don't forget to check out their website too!