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☆ I work from a cruise ship for 3 months a year. Here's how I stay productive at sea.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

We live in an Orlando rental, but I run the travel-planning business from a cruise ship for three months out of the year. Video calls can be dicey, but voice calls over WiFi work wellMost of my work is using emails, social media apps, and a web browser, so I don't tend to have problems. The upload speed is the most difficult thing about working on a cruise ship. Cruise ships are comparable to remote working spaces, but they offer so much more. Meeting places are usually free on a cruise ship.

Persons: —, Walter Biscardi, Walter Travel, I'd, we'll, I've, Lady Organizations: Service, Business, Royal, Voyages, Virgin Voyages, YouTube, Virgin Locations: Orlando, Atlanta, Royal Caribbean, Oceania

☆ I started flirting with a coworker after meeting on a video call. 4 years later, I moved to London to marry him.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He was based in London, and we worked together on a project but only ever met online. Alex and I started messaging more and moreIt started out really sedate, but then it got more flirty. AdvertisementThere were many FaceTime conversations with our families before meeting in person, so my family already knew and adored him long before actually meeting. My grandmother died in July 2021 and he was able to come to her funeral and meet my family. My advice for people who meet at work is to set boundariesEvery situation is going to be completely different.

Persons: —, Rachel, Alex, I'd, Rachel My, we've, Iceland Alex, we'd, London Alex, Stanley Organizations: Service, undergrad, Business Locations: London, South Dakota, Chicago, Egypt, Cancún, Mexico, Iceland

☆ I moved to Puerto Rico from New Jersey with my partner. Rent is cheaper, the weather is warmer, and we plan to stay.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Jarrell Chalmers and his partner, Jose Diaz, moved to Puerto Rico to escape high rents in Jersey City. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jarrell Chalmers, a 31-year-old marketing consultant in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Rent is cheaper, but groceries are more expensiveHouses in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. We've also been posting content on how to get remote jobs in Puerto Rico for Puerto Ricans. Things move slowly because people in Puerto Rico live in the moment, and that's what we love about it.

Persons: Jarrell Chalmers, Jose Diaz, —, We're, San Juan —, Oscar Gutierrez, we've, We've Organizations: Service, Jersey City Jersey City, Puerto Ricans, Getty, Costco, Planeta, Cafe Locations: Puerto Rico, Jersey City, San Juan , Puerto Rico, Hartford , Connecticut, Puerto Rican, San Juan, Spanish, Jersey City Jersey, Puerto, New Jersey, Old San Juan , Puerto Rico, Farmers, Florida, States

☆ I pay $2,000 to live with 15 roommates in a Harlem townhouse. My biggest fear was loneliness — this is the perfect solution.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

You're screened before you can move inThe Cohabs team ensures you have the right vibe and are there for the right reasons before you can sign a lease. The rent is fair to me for what I getA bedroom in a Cohabs house. AdvertisementThe roof deck in a Cohabs house. One of the kitchens in a Cohabs house. The Cohabs team really emphasizes this — on the first Sunday of every month, they send us a brunch for everyone to bond over.

Persons: —, Elisa, Cohabs, There's, Cohabs I've, would've, We've Organizations: Service, Business Locations: New York City, Paris, New York, France, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Harlem, Europe

☆ I moved to Montreal to be with a man I met on Xbox. It was a bigger culture shock than I expected.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I spent almost my entire life in Massachusetts until I met my now husband, Marc, six years ago. He's from Montreal, and we met online while playing Grand Theft Auto on Xbox. I'm a pet sitter, so once I got my PR, I could start pet sitting and dog walking here. Quebec is different from the rest of North AmericaThe culture shock was more than I expected. I'm much more confident now, and sometimes when I think I'm going to say something in English, French comes out first.

Persons: —, Melissa Rebelo, Marc, Sauve, poutine, Sauve It's, It's, it's, Thomas, Frank Pepe's Organizations: Service, Business, Facebook Locations: Sauve, Massachusetts, Montreal, Boston, Canadian, Quebec, North America, you'll, Springfield , Massachusetts, Canada, Connecticut

☆ I moved from San Francisco to Singapore. It's so much cleaner and safer, and I can't imagine returning home.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I fell in love with Singapore the first time I visited. Right after my contract with the Navy ended in 2017, I moved to San Francisco to work at Tesla, and then I took a job at my current company, KLA. I took the job knowing it was based in San Francisco, but I kept telling my boss that I would be interested in moving to Singapore if the opportunity arose. Singapore is so safe that it's difficult to explain to AmericansI lived in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. I'll happily return to America to visit but not to liveSingapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but when I lived in San Francisco, the rent was even more expensive.

Persons: —, Nick Burns, There's, 大, it's, It's Organizations: Service, Navy, Business, KLA, Bay, Rapid Transit, hawker Locations: Singapore, Connecticut, South Carolina , New York, Hawaii, San Francisco, Malaysia, India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Bali, Asia, America, California, Bay

LONDON (AP) — Actor Ian Lavender, who played a hapless Home Guard soldier in the classic British sitcom “Dad’s Army,” has died, his agent said Monday. Agent Hilary Gagan said Lavender had been ill for some time and died with his wife and sons at his side. Lavender was the last surviving main cast member of “Dad’s Army,” about a ragtag volunteer unit assembled to defend their seaside English town from potential Nazi invasion during World War II. Originally broadcast between 1968 and 1977, it attracted as many as 18 million viewers an episode -- a third of the British population -- and remains perennially popular in reruns. Lavender played Private Frank Pike, the youngest member of the unit and frequent butt of the epithet “stupid boy!” from commanding officer Captain Mainwaring.

Persons: Ian Lavender, “, ”, Hilary Gagan, Lavender, Frank Pike, Captain Mainwaring, Mainwaring thunders, Pike ”, Army ”, he’d, Pike, Britain’s, Mainwaring, ” Lavender, Michelle Hardy Organizations: Home Guard, Army, Bristol Old Vic, “, EastEnders, “ Dad’s Army

☆ A career coach shares the top industries hiring Gen Z and millennials in 2024 — and where layoffs might happen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Eliana Goldstein is a career coach for millennial and Gen Z workers. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eliana Goldstein, a 35-year-old career coach from New York City. As a career and success coach who predominantly works with millennials and Gen Zers, I help people create careers that don't make them dread Monday morning . From there, we work on strategies to determine the right career path for them, then execute and land the job. Hospitality companies collect data on their guests, such as booking information and reviews, while tech companies collect data on consumer spending habits, among other things.

Persons: Eliana Goldstein, —, millennials, Gen Zers, it's, We've, It's, They're Organizations: Service, Tech, Hospitality, Employers, Technology Locations: New York City

☆ ChatGPT stole one of my clients that brought in up to $2,000 a month. I don't want to be cynical, but the writing is on the wall.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Andrew Neely is a freelance writer who lost a job when one of his clients started using AI. His work for this content-marketing firm used to bring in between $500 and $2,000 a month. Until this year, one of my clients was a small marketing firmI worked for a marketing firm for two years writing marketing copy. After losing between $500 and $2,000 a month, I hustled for a few months trying to find different work. I found new clients and am still exclusively doing writing work, but most of it is for social media.

Persons: Andrew Neely, He's, —, I've, ChatGPT, they'd, I'd, It's, I'm Organizations: Service, Solidarity, National Writers Union Locations: Denver

☆ My husband was forced to return to the office. Life got harder and more expensive when all of the parenting duties fell to me.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

When Marquita Wright and her husband were working from home, they split childcare duties. AdvertisementAdvertisementThen my husband went back to the officeAbout 18 months ago, he was told he had to return to the office three days per week. My husband going back to the office meant we needed to reconsider how to balance our work and family life. AdvertisementAdvertisementMy husband's schedule changed againThree months ago, my husband was told he had to start going into the office every day. I wish my husband could return to working from home a few days a week, but it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon.

Persons: Marquita Wright, Wright, —, Jaime, I've, Marley, isn't, I'm Organizations: Service, Catholic, Waldorf Locations: New Orleans, Milwaukee, Miami

☆ I moved to the US from Italy and it's been a rollercoaster. Here's what has shocked and disappointed me the most about America.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Oana Adamopoulos moved to Washington, DC, in 2012 and then to Sarasota, Florida, in 2017. She was also shocked by the lack of maternity leave and the cost of healthcare. He was offered a job in policy at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC, and we decided to move to the United States. In Romania, new moms get 18 weeks of maternity leave paid at 85% of income, which is not taxed. We moved to Sarasota, Florida, in 2017We moved to Florida in 2017, shortly after our daughter was born, to try to improve our quality of life.

Persons: Oana Adamopoulos, —, There's, it's, I've Organizations: Service, Department of Labor, DC, Florida Locations: Washington, DC, Sarasota , Florida, Europe, Romania, Italy, Greece, Washington ,, United States, America, Florida

☆ I moved to a US military base in South Korea with a month's notice. I love it so much I'm dreading going back to America.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Amber Griffiths moved to Camp Humphreys in South Korea last October after her husband was assigned there. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Amber Griffiths, a 25-year-old military wife, mother, and owner of a baking business. Since my husband is in the military, we knew our life could be incredibly unpredictable, but it was still kind of crazy. In that time, we had to get everything packed, say goodbye to friends and family, and ship our car overseas. We've made so many good memories that I'm dreading going back to AmericaI didn't think I was going to love living in another country as much as I do.

Persons: Amber Griffiths, Camp Humphreys, —, Baskin, Robbins, Griffiths, I'd, Everyone's, there's, we've, We've, I've Organizations: Service, United Service, USO, Google Locations: South Korea, Fort Hood , Texas, Seoul, —, Korea, America, There's, Texas, Australia

☆ I earn a living wage at a bar so I don't have to rely on tips. I'll never work any other way.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Karla Gonzalez is a server and bartender at a champagne bar in North Carolina that pays $18 an hour. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementBefore working at RBF, I worked retail jobsI had never worked at a bar or at a restaurant before. Now, I'll only ever work for a living-wage modelHaving experienced this way of working, I'm not going back. The bar is full of people who are happy to be there, and that's the kind of environment I want to work in.

Persons: Karla Gonzalez, they're, —, I've, Tiffany Welton, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: North Carolina, Raleigh , North Carolina, Salvadoran, New York, RBF

☆ I make up to $20,000 a month as a full-time traveler. I started posting my adventures on Instagram and have funded my way to 159 countries.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Tom Grond has been traveling full time since 2012 and sharing his adventures on social media. I travel full time, and I've visited 159 countries, including Vatican City, Kosovo, and Taiwan. After my big backpacking trip, I went back home and returned to my job, which I liked. When I was working as a dive guide in Ko Tao, Thailand, I started posting pictures of my work on Instagram, which had started getting popular. I love traveling, but I don't like to live as a touristAfter 4,000 days of traveling, I don't need to see every attraction.

Persons: Tom Grond, he's, I've, Instagram, Ko, it's, Joe Biden, that's Organizations: Google, Service, Vatican City, Tourism Locations: Wall, Silicon, Simpelveld, Netherlands, Vatican, Kosovo, Taiwan, Aruba, Americas, Ko Tao, Thailand, Bangkok, Maldives, Istanbul, Dubai, Mongolia, Colombia, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Italy, Vanuatu, Nepal, Argentina, Hawaii, Namibia, New Zealand, Guyana, Syria, Homs, Tom Grond Pakistan, Kashmir, United States, Iran, Algeria, Pakistan, Switzerland, Grond

☆ I started a blog and grew it into a $14 million business. Here's how I did it through affiliate marketing and social media.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A blogger turned wellness influencer and CEO Olivia Amitrano started her business with only $200. She said the best way to grow a blog is to use captivating titles, listicles, and specific solutions. Her supplement business, Organic Olivia, now brings in about $14 million in revenue every year. I grew up with health problems that I always thought were connected, including skin and gut issues and some anxiety. I also have my own supplement line that brought in $14 million in revenue in 2020, my highest-grossing year yet.

Persons: Olivia Amitrano, Olivia, I'd, influencers, I've, we've Organizations: Service, Fordham University, Trader, ArborVitae Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York City, Herbalism, Brooklyn

☆ I made $340,000 in revenue on Etsy last year selling digital products. Here's how I use simple design tools and AI to boost sales.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Bailey runs an Etsy store that makes about $14,000 a month selling digital tumbler designs. So I quit my job and started an Etsy store called Bailey Designed Co., where I sell custom tumbler designs. In January 2022, I pivoted from print-on-demand products to digital productsI was faced with pandemic supply-chain issues, and I also saw a lot of successful sellers on Etsy who were selling just digital designs. In January, I started my own online courses for people who want to sell digital products without a design background. AI has helped me earn more because it's increased my productivity and volume of designs — and more volume equals more sales.

Persons: Bailey, I'm, Evelyn Weiss, Sandra Di, Wholesale Ted, tumblers, I've, Evelyn Weiss's, it's, Kittl's Organizations: Facebook, Service, YouTube, Wholesale, Canva, Google, Society Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, Canva, Etsy

☆ I was a scholarship kid at an elite boarding school. It changed my life, but I'd never send my own kids away.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Kelly Johnson-Arbor said boarding school stabilized her life and helped her overcome shyness. While she had a positive experience, she decided not to send her own children to boarding school. The school gave me extra confidence and a great education, but I don't think boarding school is the right fit for everyone. She had friends who sent their kids to boarding schools, and she wanted me to have that experience. My children are 10 and 12, and given their more comfortable upbringing, I couldn't picture sending them away to boarding school.

Persons: Kelly Johnson, Arbor, Phillips, didn't, Phillips Exeter, I'd, I'm, weren't, Exeter, I've Organizations: Phillips Exeter, Service, Capital Poison Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Phillips Exeter Academy, Niche, East Coast, Andover, Harvard Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington , DC, America, Anchorage , Alaska, Exeter , New Hampshire, Alaska, Exeter

☆ I went to Phillips Exeter, one of the most elite boarding schools in America. It changed my life, but I wouldn't send my kids there.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

While she had a positive experience, she decided not to send her own children to boarding school. I went to Phillips Exeter Academy , which is ranked by Niche as the third-best boarding high school in America . The school gave me extra confidence and a great education, but I don't think boarding school is the right fit for everyone. She had friends who sent their kids to boarding schools, and she wanted me to have that experience. My children are 10 and 12, and given their more comfortable upbringing, I couldn't picture sending them away to boarding school.

Persons: Kelly Johnson, Arbor, Phillips, didn't, Phillips Exeter, I'd, I'm, weren't, Exeter, I've Organizations: Service, Capital Poison Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Phillips Exeter Academy, Niche, East Coast, Andover, Harvard Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington , DC, America, Anchorage , Alaska, Exeter , New Hampshire, Alaska, Exeter

☆ I make up to $1,500 a month cohosting Airbnb units. It only takes me about 3 hours a week and I can do it from anywhere.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He says he spends about three hours a week managing admin for the five properties they cohost. He says they make about $1,000 a month during the year and peak at about $1,500 in the summer. I'm an ICU nurse in Reykjavík, Iceland, but I'm originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee. I spend about 3 hours a week working as a cohostCohosting is integrated into the Airbnb platform, so it makes it really easy. Using the systems I have right now, and while working full time, I'd say I could add another 10 units to our portfolio.

Persons: Seth Sutherland, cohost, Airbnb, Agnes, I'd, I'm, couldn't, Rafael Loza, Sean Rakidzich Organizations: Service, YouTube Locations: Wall, Silicon, Reykjavík, Iceland, Chattanooga , Tennessee, United States, Italy, Tennessee, Orlando, Florida, East Coast

☆ I made $10,000 a month chatting with guys on dating apps. I got some weird requests, but most men just want to feel like someone cares.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Nicole Miranda made up to $400 a day speaking to men on the dating apps Meete and ToChat. She used to spend all her time on the apps, but now she markets them on TikTok for referrals. I was scrolling on TikTok one day when I came across a video of a girl talking about an app where guys pay to talk to you. Once I learned how to market the apps really well, I stopped hustling the guys for money because it was a lot of work and mentally exhausting. There are plenty of girls on the app still making thousands a month talking to guys, but for me, it's turned into an affiliate-marketing career.

Persons: Nicole Miranda, —, I've, they'll, it's Organizations: Service, Verizon Locations: Alburtis , Pennsylvania

☆ I had a 4-day workweek at Kickstarter. I saw huge improvements in my productivity and social life — and there was only one downside.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Former marketing manager Brooke McDaniel said the four-day schedule increased her productivity. She has since started a new job with a five-day schedule but says the schedule was one of her cons. The company transitioned to a four-day workweek while I was on the road. Remote work was the most important factor for a trip like mine, but knowing the four-day workweek was coming gave me additional motivation. All in all, it made me more aware of how I spend my timeThe work-life balance that a four-day workweek offered me was incredible.

☆ I'm a cart girl on a Las Vegas golf course who makes $500 in tips a day. You don't need experience to be successful at this job — here's how I do it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Her main tips for success are to reach out to anyone you know in the golf world and stay positive. Now I'm a cart girl on a Las Vegas golf course, and I share my experience on TikTok with my 2.1 million followers. I usually make between $400 and $500 in tips a day on top of my salary. You can have as much fun partying on the golf course as you can at a day club in Vegas. Looks and outfits get you only so far, so you have to have the personality to make the golfers' day.

☆ Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky's assistant shares the main reason why his schedule is so difficult to manage and how she broke into Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Sugar-Carlsgaard is the senior executive assistant to the cofounder and CEO of Airbnb. She was headhunted to join Airbnb as the senior-executive assistant to Chesky, the CEO, in 2019, and she describes the company as "captivating." Before Sugar-Carlsgaard started, Chesky's team was beginning to transition into having "a lot of eyes" on them as Airbnb grew bigger. It's the way Airbnb functions, she said. Breaking into Big Tech was about "trusting myself and being able to sell myself and my experiences," she said.

☆ I'm a cart girl on a California golf course. The tips are great, but I sometimes have to just drive past the jerks.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Lauren Balcioni is a beverage cart girl who works at a Bay Area golf course on the weekends. She decorates her cart to get extra tips, and she said dressing up for holidays also helps. Her job looked like something I could do on the weekends when my husband, who I'm separated from, looks after the baby. I was up-front that I didn't, and, to be honest, I still really don't. The training process was just shadowing the best cart girl and having her show me everything that she does.

☆ I'm the assistant to the CEO of 23andMe. I do yoga during meetings and answer 400 messages a day — here's what it's like.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

We're always integrating exercise into our work, such as going on walks while we're meeting. One thing we do every week is team yoga, which I love. We even do it over Zoom when we're not together. Sometimes we talk about work while we're doing it. Incorporating exercise into work.

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