This week I had the pleasure of learning about a business in the health and fitness industry called Hydrate the Hood by speaking to Mike Frazier. I was able to ask Mike a series of questions to understand his inspiration behind his business and to learn the benefits of his products.
Continue reading for the questions I asked and the responses I received from the entrepreneur himself, hopefully this article is an introduction to a healthier lifestyle for every reader to enjoy
Q: Can you tell me about the inspiration behind you starting your business?
A: First and foremost, I believe in entrepreneurship and having control of your life. I first started in February selling the PH9 generator to my peers and those who are into fitness, like myself. However, the sole inspiration behind Hydrate the Hood was when I was working in a local community center with senior citizens in an arthritis prevention program. One of the participants in the program was suffering from multiple strokes over a period of 4 months. It was brought to my attention that he needed help in managing his health. He was on heavy blood pressure medicine as well as the right side of his body was temporarily paralyzed.
So, I took it upon myself to help him. I gave him a PH9 generator and I advised him to drink a gallon of alkaline water a day in combination with a walk around the track three times a week as long as he could. For two months we did that and he came back to me one day and told me that his doctor took him off all of his medications. Since then, he has not had any strokes and he no longer needs his walking cane for assistance.
When he told me this it came over me as that I can use this to help people who are in this same situation. Just by changing someone’s water, I changed somebody’s life and that’s when Hydrate the Hood was created. My inspiration for having my own business was to find a way to live in my purpose and bring value and help to the community in the health, fitness, and overall well-being. The most significant message that was told to me was that there are two important days in your life: the day you were born and the day you find the reason why you are here on earth. Once I figured out what my purpose was on earth, I knew I had to give my all into it the blood, sweat, and tears. I know in the long run it will pay off with my persistence and a relentless drive to succeed.
Q: Who would you say is your target audience/ who are you trying to reach with your product?
A: I would say that everyone is a target. Our mission is to enlighten everyone on the benefits of alkaline water and the importance of adequate and efficient hydration. Education is our motor in this endeavor.
Q: What are the benefits of purchasing your product?
A: There are many benefits of Alkaline water such as it helps all the systems within the body by detoxing your body of acidity and the cancer cells in your body. You are making an investment in your health. Alkaline water also boosts your immune system and it gives your body more oxygen which enhances your central nervous system. You are also saving a lot of money from buying bottles water. The average American spends $1200 on bottled water. You can use the water out of your house, the fountain at work, and anywhere else that has drinking water and turn it into alkaline water with our ph9 generator. Lastly, you are providing a generator for someone in need. For every generator that is sold another will give to someone in the underserved community.
Q: What else do you offer or want to offer through your business?
A: I want to offer more education and knowledge about making healthy choices through nutrition and exercise. People need to know the importance of nutrition and exercise and how we can prevent a lot of health problems just through clean eating exercise.
Q: Can you explain to my what campaign you are currently doing?
A: Our current goal to close out the year is to sale 1000 cups and give away 1000 cups by December 31st. We want to start by getting involved in the local schools to provide for the students and as well as the teachers.
Q: So far how much support has people shown you for #Hydrate the hood?
A: We have gotten a lot support for Hydrate the Hood. Since we started the campaign back in March, we have had support from Inner City Investments (ICity) which is a non-profit organization in Nashville that very involved in the JC Napier community. The TSU women’s basketball team has given us support as well. We have supporters and ambassadors in Memphis, TN. My fraternity Omega Psi Phi has given me a lot of support as a great resource to get the campaign out and making purchases for themselves as well as for their families. One of our biggest supporters is Beyond the Diamond which is a baseball and softball training program in Nashville ran by Daryus Meriweather. His program has made an avenue to reach the baseball and softball industry with providing generators to the kids in his program as well as other youth baseball/ softball programs in the city.
Q: What are some goals you have for your business?
A: We want to continue to make a difference in the community. My biggest goal for my business is to get national exposure all over the country. With the momentum that has been created just in Nashville I know that we can’t stop just here. There is somebody in another city or better yet another country that we can help just as we did those here in Nashville.
To learn more about Hydrate The Hood visit: https://www.kultureworld.com/pages/hydrate-the-hood-campaign
