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☆ I worked with Steve Jobs as a software engineer straight out of college. It was like playing on a great sports team.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Rony Sebok got a job at Apple straight out of Harvard in 1983 working on the Mac team. She worked with a small team of software engineers under the direction of Steve Jobs. Interviewing for the Mac team didn't follow the traditional approachAt the time, this was a top-secret project. Steve Jobs once came into my cubicle and asked, "Don't you own a pair of blue jeans?" AdvertisementMacintosh software team photographed in January 1984 for a Rolling Stone article.

Persons: Rony Sebok, Steve Jobs, Sebok, Jobs, —, Steve, I'd, Bill Gates, alums, Lisa teams, Windham, Steve didn't, Susan Kerr, John Sculley, Lisa, OpenAI Organizations: Apple, Harvard, Mac, Service, Macintosh, Computer Science, Microsoft, IBM, BMW, Windham Hill, Polaroid, Mercury, Getty, HP, Havard Business School, Google Locations: East Coast, West, Cupertino, Hawaii, Apple

Millennials are turning to more creative and affordable ways of getting on the property ladder, such as buying a fixer-upper. One day, while out walking, she noticed a beautiful, old house that "seemed empty and looked a wreck." A couple bought a 19th-century manor house in Ohio they saw in the Cheap Old Houses newsletterThe Angeleauxs pose in front of Walnut Hill, a house they found on the Cheap Old Houses Instagram account. In May 2022, the Cheap Old Houses newsletter advertised an 1800s manor house in the small village of Higginsport, Ohio. During the renovation, Wormann handled a termite infestation in the beams, disposing of mountains of trash, and firing unreliable contractors.

Persons: —, Betsy Sweeny, Betsy Sweeny Betsy Sweeny, Sweeny, Kayli, Angeleaux, Connor, Kayli Angeleaux, Connor Angeleaux's, We're, Farleigh, Olamide Soyemi, Cullen Farleigh Olamide Soyemi, Cullen Farleigh, Soyemi, creatives, Cullen, Anton Wormann, Anton Wormann Anton Wormann, Wormann, hadn't, akiya Organizations: Service, McClain House, Federal Housing Association Locations: Wheeling , West Virginia, McClain, Virginia, Ohio, Walnut Hill, Utah, Higginsport , Ohio, Colombus, London, East London, Swedish, Tokyo, Japan, Sweden

☆ Side hustles for introverts: which remote online businesses don't require face-to-face interaction and how to start them
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Taking online surveys and blogging are also avenues for introverts to make money. A UX designer, Etsy seller, blogger, and online-survey taker share how they got started. Brett WilliamsBrett Willams was working as a UX designer at a corporate firm but found the nine-to-five grind boring. AdvertisementRead more: I make up to $150,000 a month as a freelance UX designer. Taking online surveys often doesn't require any communication with other peopleJordan FreyJordan Frey, a plastic surgeon, started spending two or three hours a week taking surveys online to bring in extra income and said he makes between $500 and $1,000 a month.

Persons: —, they're, Brett Williams, Brett Williams Brett Willams, Williams, Tammy Dinh, Tammy Dinh Tammy Dihn, Dihn, Zer, she'll, Read, I've, Samantha North, ChatGPT, Jordan Frey Jordan Frey, he's, Frey Organizations: Service, introverts, YouTube Locations: Portugal

☆ The CEO of Pret was promoted 10 times from store manager to CEO — here are 3 his tips to get the promotion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Pano Christou started working at the British sandwich franchise Pret a Manger when he was 21. AdvertisementPano Christou was 21 when he started at Pret a Manger as a store manager in London. As Pret's CEO, Christou was paid more than £4 million in 2021, including a salary of £400,000, per The Guardian . CEO is the position he's held the longest, followed by general manager, which he held for four years. Maintain good relationships with managementThe CEO said that having great managers he gelled with helped his ascension at Pret.

Persons: Pano Christou, Christou, —, Pret, they're, he's, Andrew Walker, Walker, didn't, gunning, I've, Zers Organizations: Service, Blockbuster, Guardian, Pret, Pret's Locations: Pret, London, New York, McDonald's, Pret's

☆ I moved my family from California to Texas 2 years ago. A friend warned me we would hate it — 6 months later, other families followed us.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Jian Jiao left the Bay Area in 2021 and moved his family to Austin, Texas. The Bay Area had a great job market for senior tech roles with many similar people around. AdvertisementAdvertisementAustin is expensive for Texas but cheap compared with the Bay Area. When my parents flew in from Beijing, they had multiple direct flights into the Bay Area. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe North Austin-South Austin divideMost of the new developments are in north Austin because that's where the tech hubs have been set up.

Persons: Jian Jiao, Jiao, Austin, —, we've, I've, it's, there's Organizations: Area, Service, BP, Google, Oracle, that's Locations: Austin , Texas, San Francisco, Austin, Sunnyvale, California, America, Orange County, Irvine, Southern California, Texas, Bay, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Beijing, South Austin

☆ 3 easy ways you can start using AI right now to make yourself more productive at work, according to an AI consultant
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Ashley Couto | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A study found that over half of the participants using AI for work saw a 30% productivity increase. Here are three ways people can ease into using generative AI at work. Now I work as a generative AI consultant and trainer and use AI tools to save closer to 25 to 30 hours of work a week. A recent study by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Grammarly found that more than half of people using AI at work said they were 31% more productive . If you're hesitant about embracing generative AI, many apps and tools you already use have AI functions you can familiarize yourself with quickly.

Persons: ChatGPT, Grammarly, Slack DailyBot, Felix, Slack . Slack, DailyBot, I've, Couto's Slack, Ashley Couto, It's, Ashley Couto Felix Felix, you've, felix, Couto, Slack, Felix AI, Ashley Couto Felix, Canva, that's Organizations: Morning, Forrester Consulting, ChatGPT

☆ What It Was Like to Work Closely With Elizabeth Holmes at Theranos
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Patrick O'Neill worked closely with the disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes. "Seeing those people be brought to justice is a comfort," he says of Holmes going to jail. I hadn't heard about Theranos before Elizabeth Holmes approached TBWA/Chiat/Day, the ad agency where I was a creative director, in 2012. Working with Holmes closely, I felt like she had to bring herself down to earth to communicate with me. Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos story are now so well-known that when people ask me what my story is, I have to decide whether I'm going to talk about it.

Persons: Patrick O'Neill, Elizabeth Holmes, Holmes, TBWA, Steve Jobs, I'd, Theranos, Elizabeth, we'd, Apple weren't, We'd, It's, Errol Morris, Martin Schoeller, Elizabeth's, hadn't, I've Organizations: Morning, Starco Brands, Apple, Visa, Olympics, Walgreens, Wall Street, Forbes, Wall Locations: Theranos, Arizona, Silicon

☆ I made $127,000 selling PowerPoint templates after my TikTok went viral. Here's how I turned views into sales in 6 months.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Jakob Welle-Smogeli, a 21-year-old college junior whose PowerPoint videos went viral on TikTok. I started making TikToks about PowerPoint presentations from my bed. Six months later, I had 3.8 million TikTok followers on my faceless profile and have made over $150,000 from my brand. I started making cool PowerPoints from bed and recorded them for TikTok and Reels. Seeing my PowerPoint templates generate real income was amazingIt was mid-September 2022 when I officially launched my templates.

☆ I bought a crumbling Victorian townhouse for $18,000 and transformed it into my dream home — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Betsy Sweeny bought a 3,025-square-foot crumbling Victorian house when she was 27 for only $18,000. Sweeny's living room during renovations. Betsy SweenySweeny's renovated living room with replica curved glass windows. It wanted staged after photos, so within 12 weeks, I finished one bathroom, the living room, the dining room, the foyer, and the exterior. The primary bedroom, living room, dining room, and baths were completely finished — the kitchen was ugly.

☆ This man built a dream home out of two passenger airplanes that only costs $200 a month — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Joe Axline bought land in a private airport in Texas and two retired jets to create his dream home. He renovated the 60-foot body of a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jet into a three-bed home. The second plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, has a refurbished 1970s cockpit. "I thought that was pretty awesome," Axline told Insider. Axline told Insider he had about $250,000 in savings he was willing to spend on what he dubbed "Project Freedom."

☆ I'm a 'ring girl' at high-profile boxing matches. Here's how I landed the gig and use it as a second income.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ring girls walk across the ring in boxing matches with flags that tell the crowd what round is next. One of my older friends was a ring girl, the girl who holds up a sign during the fights showing what round is coming next. I was making more as an influencer – ring girl was never a full-time income. I got the job as a ring girl for a new boxing night this summer through an agencyApollonia Llewellyn in the ring at a Misfits boxing match. The agency had advertised a couple of other ring girl jobs but they weren't suitable or I was busy.

☆ I built a 'tiny house' hotel that made $860,000 in bookings in its first year. Here are my tips for starting a successful short-term-rental business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

French shares how he grew direct bookings and the property's social media to find early success. Last year, I built and opened a "tiny hotel" — a short-term-rental property made up of seven tiny houses — that made $860,000 in bookings. Live Oak Lake. I started growing the Live Oak Lake Instagram presence when we opened, and now we have 70,000 followers. We make about 10% more profit through direct bookings because we can avoid booking-site fees.

☆ I'm the Wordle editor. People complain about the words and recognize me on the street — but I wouldn't trade this job for anything.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

She applied to be an associate puzzle editor at The New York Times in 2020 and got the job. I'd always loved puzzlesStarting in my late teens, I'd solve The New York Times Sunday crossword. I would submit them to The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and the Los Angeles Times. Becoming the Wordle editor has been transformative in my personal and professional lifeI've had someone recognize me in a local store and ask, "Aren't you the Wordle lady?" Being the Wordle editor is a thrill, and it's an honor.

☆ I got a free first-class upgrade on my flight from New York to London. The luxurious perks were absurd.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I flew with British Airways from New York to London and got a free first-class upgrade. With the upgrade, I could access the newly renovated exclusive Chelsea Lounge in JFK's Terminal 8. I'm a frequent flyer, and a Silver British Airways member to get double air miles to use toward my regular flights. This return ticket from London to NYC usually costs £1,700, or around $2,000. I looked up the price-comparison site Skyscanner and found first-class single tickets from New York to London with British Airways on sale for between £4,000 and £9,000, or between around $4,874 and $10,968.

☆ Fitness influencer Grace Beverley starts her day with the hardest task on her to-do list. Here's the morning routine that helped her found and run 2 companies.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

She aims to get eight hours of sleep a night and lists three nonnegotiable things to do each day. I usually write my to-do table once I've sat down in the office or at my desk. For me, creating a productive morning routine is about understanding when I work best and when I find it hard to work. I know I need to tackle work that requires more concentration at the start of my day. Understanding that I need that space between deep work and calls or administrative tasks is important to staying productive throughout the day.

☆ I'm the CEO of Gymshark. Here's what my morning routine is like, including the habits I follow to the minute to feel grounded for the day ahead.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He wakes up every morning before 6 a.m. and makes eggs or bacon for breakfast every day. I find having a repetitive morning routine really grounding – wake up, make eggs and bacon, be with the dogs. I'm often the first one in the officeOnce I get into Gymshark HQ, which is usually around 7:30 a.m, I'll try and sit in the social area where there are couches and a cafe. I'll spend the rest of the day in a meeting room I've commandeered in our headquarters as my office. Running a business is always going to feel chaotic, but having these areas of stability really make a difference for me.

☆ CEO of Gymshark Ben Francis has grown his activewear brand into a billion-dollar business before turning 30. Here's his morning routine.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ben Francis founded Gymshark in 2012 and grew it into a billion-dollar activewear company. I find having a repetitive morning routine really grounding – wake up, make eggs and bacon, be with the dogs. I'm often the first one in the officeOnce I get into Gymshark HQ, which is usually around 7:30 a.m, I'll try and sit in the social area where there are couches and a cafe. I'll spend the rest of the day in a meeting room I've commandeered in our headquarters as my office. Running a business is always going to feel chaotic, but having these areas of stability really make a difference for me.

☆ These 5 side-hustles could help bolster your finances before a likely downturn in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Kiera Fields | Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Side-hustles could help bolster your finances ahead of a likely downturn. Vending machines have emerged as a popular side-hustle given their appeal as a passive income source. The business has a fairly steep entry cost but once up and running, vending machines require minimal time commitment other than refilling. He made another $100,000 in revenue running a YouTube channel linked to his vending machines business. Carlos OchoaLike vending machines, laundromats have a high cost of entry but can ultimately provide a solid stream of passive income.

☆ I worked for Elon Musk in the early days of SpaceX. Twitter execs need to be ready to work with 2 different people — good Elon and bad Elon.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He was impressed by Elon Musk's vision but he would yell and once called Cantrell to work at 3 a.m.Cantrell gives Twitter employees his advice on their new boss. Elon wanted to buy Russian rockets because they were cheaper than US rockets and had been told I was the guy to ask because I'd worked with the Russians. Working with Elon was like working with two different people: the good Elon and the bad Elon, and you never knew which you were going to getThe good Elon is very funny and charming. There are people at Twitter who are going to need to decide whether they are 100% aligned with Musk's mission for it. That's the good Elon.

☆ Elon Musk can be 'vicious' in the workplace, a former SpaceX VP says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Grace Dean | Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former SpaceX VP says Elon Musk can be "vicious" in the workplace. Jim Cantrell told Insider staff never knew whether there were getting "good Elon" or "bad Elon." He added Musk could change Twitter's business performance "from sheer force of willpower." Musk added Twitter to his portfolio in late October, acquiring the social-media platform for $44 billion. One workplace-culture expert previously told Insider that Musk's "autocratic leadership" would be in "great contrast with the type of openness and flexible mindset that is integral to Twitter's culture."

☆ A 25-year-old built a 'tiny hotel' in Texas that's generated $500,000 in bookings this year. Check out the $3.1 million property.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

French bought a small plot of land and built a "tiny hotel" made up of seven cabins. In March 2021, he bought a 5-acre plot that would become Live Oak Lake. Live Oak Lake has generated more than $500,000 in bookings since its opening, as indicated by screenshots of Airbnb and Stripe dashboards reviewed by Insider. At the time, he projected that the construction costs of building his tiny hotel would come to about $1.6 million. Isaac FrenchIn addition to the seven identical cabins, Live Oak Lake has a common area with a small dock, picnic tables, paddleboards, and kayaks.

☆ I made $500,000 in revenue in under 2 years from my candle business. Here's how I did it without any paid ads.
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-10 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Gaby Jones, 26, made her first candle in 2020 after she and her partner bought $725 of materials. Here's how Jones grew her business by scoring major department-store deals, as told to Kiera Fields. I made a basic website for "Caia Candle" on Squarespace and put the website live in June 2020. We hired our operations manager in January 2021 to oversee the London studio so I could focus on the business side of things. We want to develop deep DTC branding, so we are using the money to get content creation, paid ads, website updates, and more staff.

☆ I make up to $150,000 a month as a freelance UX designer. Here's how I did it and why I have a 'no-meetings' policy.
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-18 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Williams was working as a UX designer at a transport company when he began freelancing on the side. He made up to $150,000 a month from his clients by offering his service as a subscription. I make up to $150,000 a month running a one-person design agency, but I didn't study design at college. In 2011, I was offered a job making social-media assets for a California design agency, so I dropped out of college. I started my UX design business as a side hustleI found my corporate job boring and wanted more creative design work.

☆ I quit my manager role at Google after 10 years and moved my family from California to Austin, Texas. People questioned my decision, but it was worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-15 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 2011, after two years at Oracle, Jian Jiao started working at Google as an applications engineer. This is Jiao's story of his time at Google and why he left to work for BP, as told to Kiera Fields. I didn't realize the internship I did at the software company Oracle would fast-track me to a tenure at Google. My tech lead at Oracle left in 2011 to start a new team at Google and asked me to join. At Google, I worked on advanced technology surrounded by people who were completely aligned with my goals and technical knowledge.

☆ I manage 134 Airbnb rentals. Here's how I use the 'rent-to-rent' strategy to earn a passive income without having to buy property.
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-09 | by ( Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Having not found a tenant, he put the rental on Airbnb – within days he made thousands in bookings. Luke now runs his Airbnb business full time and has 134 properties across the UK and Dubai. The plan was to make enough money sourcing deals to invest in my own property to rent for passive income. I found a property owner who had gone into mortgage arrears and no longer wanted to manage her property. The plan was to rent it to a tenant and pay rent and pay back my debt.

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