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☆ I refuse to pay my daughter's college tuition even though I made over $500,000 last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Despite this income, my husband and I have not agreed to — nor do we plan to — pay for the college tuition of our oldest daughter, a sophomore at the University of Iowa. To be fair, we've decided that we, as parents, don't get to choose which college our children attend. With rising tuition costs, my husband and I think it's essential to evaluate whether the outcomes in terms of ROI justify the financial outlay for college. Committing to paying for one child's college education means we must do the same for all of them to maintain fairness. Evaluating whether to pay for our kids' college tuition was a challenging decision, but it's rooted in our desire to foster autonomy, responsibility, and financial prudence.

Persons: —, Andrea Mac, It's, I've, we've, don't, we're, they've, We've, We're Organizations: Service, University of Iowa, Business Locations: Greater Chicago

☆ I've lived in LA, San Francisco, NYC, and Chicago. I thought moving to LA would be easy, but there are 5 things I hate about living here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I moved to Los Angeles about five years ago from San Francisco, and I previously lived in New York City and Chicago. LA lacks great parks compared to other cities like San Francisco and New York City. It doesn't feel urban the way cities like NYC or SF do — I don't feel an urban buzz or excitement. I don't feel any sense of communityI don't feel a strong sense of community in LA. Because it's such a driving culture, I don't interact with people as much as I do in other cities I've lived in.

Persons: —, Stevie Howell, It's, I've, Frederic Olmstead, Manseen Logan Organizations: Service, Business, San Francisco and New Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, California, LA, Venice, San Francisco and, San Francisco and New York City, Southern California, mlogan@businessinsider.com

☆ I made over $500,000 last year, but I refuse to pay for my daughter's tuition. It's not a decision I made lightly.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Despite this income, my husband and I have not agreed to — nor do we plan to — pay for the college tuition of our oldest daughter, a sophomore at the University of Iowa. If they spent our money on tuition, we'd need a say in that decision. This decision aligns with our commitment to avoid debt and maintain a healthy financial position, which benefits our entire family. Committing to paying for one child's college education means we must do the same for all of them to maintain fairness. Evaluating whether to pay for our kids' college tuition was a challenging decision, but it's rooted in our desire to foster autonomy, responsibility, and financial prudence.

Persons: —, Andrea Mac, It's, I've, we've, don't, we're, they've, We've, We're Organizations: Service, University of Iowa, Business, Investment Education Locations: Greater Chicago

☆ I left my career in Big Tech and $300,000 a year to work for myself. I no longer have anxiety and am so much happier.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I always wanted to work in Big Tech, and when I graduated from college, I made it happen. Working in Big Tech has lots of perksI loved learning how each of these big companies operated. Related storiesI realized I was just making big companies more money. The people around me would only talk about other tech companies and tech advancements and only hang out with other tech workers. Since leaving Big Tech, I feel like a new personI'm so much happier now.

Persons: —, Jean Kang, who's, It's, Pinterest, overdeliver, I'm, I'd, hustles, I've, would've Organizations: Service, Meta, Intuit, LinkedIn, Big Tech, Business, Big Locations: San Francisco, Big, Big Tech, Japan, Korea

☆ I quit my Big Tech dream job to work for myself. I loved the perks and the 6-figure salary, but the hustle culture wasn't worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

☆ I left San Francisco and moved to LA. Here are the 5 worst things about leaving the Bay Area.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementEven though LA is much larger than San Francisco, LA doesn't feel urban, while San Francisco does. Here's what I felt were the five worst things about leaving the San Francisco Bay Area and moving to LA. AdvertisementAs an artist and business owner, I founded my eco-friendly textile and wallpaper collection business in San Francisco in 2013. I miss San Francisco's culture and philanthropic spiritLiving in San Francisco, I found that many of its businesses have a good environmental or social mission. But I believe, for the most part, San Francisco still has the same caring heart and soul it's had for years.

Persons: —, Stevie Howell, It's, I've, Francisco —, Jessica Silverman, Rebecca Camacho, would've, it's, Crissy, I, Manseen Logan Organizations: Service, Business, San, San Francisco Bay Area, Minnesota, National Parks Conservancy, Area Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, LA, It's, San Francisco , LA, San Francisco Bay, Mandalay, Francisco, Bernal Heights Hill, Dolores Park, Ocean, Stinson Beach, Angel, mlogan@businessinsider.com

☆ I was put on a PIP at a top tech company. I saw the warning signs but it was still traumatic — here's how I bounced back.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Two years into my second role, I was placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP). To cope, I leaned more on my side hustle, which fueled me creatively but also impacted my work performance at times. AdvertisementMy PIP experience ultimately left me feeling disheartenedBeing put on a PIP solidified the reality that employees are expendable. The PIP wasn't the sole reason, but it did accelerate my thinking.

Persons: —, I'd, wasn't, didn't, Tapping Organizations: Service, Business, SMART Locations: San Francisco

☆ I got a job and immediately knew it wasn't a good fit. I quit in less than a year to take care of my mental health.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Basant Shenouda, 27, is one of LinkedIn's biggest career content creators. She once quit a toxic job after less than a year in a tough market and with nothing else lined up. I'm a Gen-Zer and one of LinkedIn's biggest career content creators. Mental health is beyond important, but it's also important to have a sense of financial security during these tough times. I also recommend that workers continuously look toward future job opportunities and look at their careers as a staircase.

Persons: Basant Shenouda, —, It's, I've, it's Organizations: Service, Big Tech Locations: Dublin

☆ I quit my job with nothing else lined up and in a terrible job market. I have no regrets.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

AdvertisementThe management style made the job difficultAt the beginning of my career journey, I tried many different things. Ultimately, I quit after less than a year without any job lined up. I left my problematic job during a bad job market, which greatly stressed me. Mental health is beyond important, but it's also important to have a sense of financial security during these tough times. I also recommend that workers continuously look toward future job opportunities and look at their careers as a staircase.

Persons: —, Basant Shenouda, It's, I've, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Big Tech Locations: Dublin

☆ I was laid off from Lyft and it was a relief. Here's exactly how I used my severance to land somewhere better.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Here are the best ways I spent my severance package. Related storyI put $3,000 from the severance package directly toward the business for basic costs to get my idea off the ground. My severance package gave me the chance to attend conferences and events and make connections that guided my next career move. I also used severance funds to join professional organizations related to my new field, giving me networking opportunities and industry resources. My severance package became a pivotal resource not just to weather the immediate storm of my job loss, but for starting a new career narrative.

Persons: Li, —, Ziwei Li, It's, I'd, I've Organizations: Service, Wei, San Diego Zoo Locations: California, San Diego, LA, La Jolla

☆ I went from making $15K to nearly $700K over my career at Oracle, Apple, and Meta. Here's how I increased my total compensation.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

My salary journey in Big Tech has seen my total compensation — which includes base salary, bonuses, and stocks — increase from $15,000 in 2012 to $685,000 in 2024. I'm a staff software engineer and have worked at three different tech companies, moving from Oracle to Apple to Meta. In California, labor laws make it illegal for employers to ask you about your current salary and salary history. That could involve switching from a non-tech job to a tech job or taking a short-term hit for long-term gain. Unless the employer offers a significant pay bump along the way, total compensation usually takes a drop after this vesting period.

Persons: Sandeep Rao, —, I'm, I've, it's, Glassdoor, haven't, Jane Zhang Organizations: Meta, Apple, Oracle, Service, Business, Big Tech, Microsoft, Carnegie Mellon University, Grad, Employers, Carnegie Mellon Locations: San Jose , California, India, Pittsburgh, Cupertino , California, Menlo Park , California, California, janezhang@businessinsider.com

☆ After 11 years as a digital nomad, living in 60 countries, I'm settling in Mexico. It fits my lifestyle and business goals.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In 2021, I moved to Guanajuato, Mexico. Dixon posing in front of Grüner See, a lake in Styria, Austria Courtesy of Hannah DixonI'm American and British. Friends, who were fellow digital nomads, suggested we consider moving to Guanajuato, Mexico. Dixon and wife Kim Gorchs, on a colorful street in Guanajuato, Mexico. But I learned that renting a place to live in Mexico is a million times easier once you're on the ground.

Persons: —, Hannah Dixon, It's, Dixon, it's, who's, Hannah Dixon I'm, Brexit, I, Kim Gorchs, I'd, I've, Animales, we've, we'll Organizations: Service, Virtual Excellence Academy, Business, Kansas City, National Institute of Migration, Facebook, Sun Locations: Mexico, Bangkok, New York, France, Budapest, Hungary, Guanajuato, Austria, Graz, Styria, Mexican, Kansas City, Kansas, Teotihuacan, Mexico City

☆ I'm a business owner and 6-figure earner. Here's how my stay-at-home husband and I handle the kids and 'chore wars.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . My husband handles 90% of our home life while I earn 100% of our family's income: I'm the family's breadwinner. For the last seven years, my husband has been a stay-at-home dad for our four children — ages 19, 14, 7, and 5. This grueling period tested my resilience and our family dynamics, particularly as my husband stepped up to manage our home life solo.

Persons: Andrea Mac, —, It's, I've, We're Organizations: Service Locations: Greater Chicago

☆ 13 signs your Hermès bag is a fake, from a luxury reseller who's trained to spot counterfeits
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Alexis Clarbour has been buying and selling Hermès bags for a decade and knows how to spot a fake. I took an operations role at an e-commerce marketplace called Portero, where my passion for luxury handbags, specifically Hermès bags, began. Under a loupe, the engraving may look chiseled and not as smooth as a genuine Hermès bag. Serial codeEvery Hermès bag has a serial code inside the bag. There are no deals — if someone offers a new Hermès bag below market in the secondary market, I'd recommend staying away.

Persons: Alexis Clarbour, authenticating, It's, Chanel, reselling, Hermès, —, we've, Kelly, Birkin, they've, it's, sloppily, there's, Le Duc, Price, I'd Organizations: Madison Avenue Couture, Nasdaq, MAC, Madison Avenue, Madison Locations: New York City, Hermès

☆ The 3 worst things virtual assistants have to deal with and how to avoid them, according to a successful VA coach
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hannah Dixon, a virtual assistant coach, discusses the three worst parts of the profession. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Hannah Dixon, a 36-year-old virtual assistant coach, recruiter, and founder of The Virtual Excellence Academy, living in Mexico. After "falling" into becoming a virtual assistant 10 years ago, I did the job for years juggling admin, tech, and creative tasks for clients worldwide. While virtual administrative assistant work is a very needed service, it's just one piece of a large and ever-expanding puzzle. Are you a virtual assistant and would like to share your story?

Persons: Hannah Dixon, Dixon, VAs, —, It's, who've, upskilling —, it's, I've, Logan Organizations: Service, Virtual Excellence Academy, VAs Locations: Mexico, VAs, mlogan@businessinsider.com

☆ My husband was willing to sacrifice his career to be a stay-at-home parent, but I wasn't. Here are the best and worst parts of our arrangement.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Andrea Mac is a growth strategist, and her husband has been a stay-at-home dad for seven years. She says one of the worst parts of the arrangement is the tug-of-war between her kids and job. I have four children, ages 19, 14, 7, and 5 — and while I'm the family's breadwinner, my husband has been a stay-at-home dad for the last seven years. That said, being a breadwinner in my marriage while my husband is a stay-at-home dad has pros and cons. These are the five hardest, worst, and most triggering things about being a breadwinner with a stay-at-home husband.

Persons: Andrea Mac, Mac, —, He's, she's, I'm, it's, Claudia Goldin's Pulitzer, haven't Organizations: Service Locations: Greater Chicago

☆ I moved to NYC right after college to work in fashion — but people were unfriendly and my dream turned into a nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Julia Fernsby moved to New York City from Ireland right after college to work in fashion. Her dream job was not what she envisioned, and the city felt overwhelming and unfriendly. Right after college, I moved to take what I thought was my dream job in New York City. My New York dream had turned into a nightmareI was alone when I woke up, alone when I ate lunch, alone at work, alone at home. My college mentor and I went out for a coffee and she suggested I do extensive research on what kind of job I'd enjoy.

Persons: Julia Fernsby, —, It's, who'd, Regina George, I'd Organizations: Service, Vogue, Central Park, Skype Locations: New York City, Ireland, Cohasset , Massachusetts, I've, Boston, New York, Central, Howth, Dublin, Brooklyn, Manhattan, York, Central Park

☆ I moved to Denver and regretted it because it was freezing, expensive, and hard to make friends. I'm much happier now living in Spain.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Michiels then moved to Spain and finds it easier to make friends. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric Michiels, a 51-year-old a former resident of Denver, Colorado, about his experience living in Denver. I moved to Denver, Colorado in May 2021 from Atlanta, Georgia because of a job decision. I had a Toyota Prius, and because Denver is extremely hilly, the car couldn't make it; it was too slippery. Some things are more expensive here — for example cars and technology — but the day to day is a lot cheaper.

Persons: Eric Michiels, Michiels, —, It's, I'd, didn't, there's, Jenna Gyimesi Organizations: Service, Toyota Prius, Denver, Visa, Healthcare Locations: Atlanta, Denver, Spain, Denver , Colorado, Atlanta , Georgia, Colorado, Colorado Denver, Lakewood, Malaga, jgyimesi@insider.com

☆ I'll never regret living in Europe after giving birth. I got way better maternity leave and my American friends envied me.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen my first child was born, I found myself faced with the harsh reality of no guaranteed maternity leave in the US. And, while the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees 12 weeks of unpaid leave, I wasn't eligible for that. It was one of those non-negotiable parts of American work culture that I felt I had to accept. But if there's a standard of maternity leave throughout the country and company, it makes it much easier to find coverage for those nine or more months. When my maternity leave ended and I asked the school to take another year off — this time without pay but with continued job security — they were 100% understanding.

Persons: Esther Strauss, —, I'd, Europe —, doesn't, Jenna Gyimesi Organizations: Service, Europe Locations: North Macedonia, Europe, Texas, United States, jgyimesi@Insider.com

☆ I'm the executive sales coach lead at Google and work with teams and leaders across the globe. These are the 4 habits that I see the most successful leaders practice.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ikwuakor noticed that the best leaders are even-tempered. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with AK Ikwuakor , a 38-year-old executive sales coach lead at Google from Marina Del Rey, California. As an executive coach, corporate team trainer, and consultant, I've worked with leaders and teams from fledgling startups to global conglomerates such as Google, Duke Basketball and the State Department. The best decision can fall flat if it's not translated into action, so the best leaders create a plan, assign responsibilities, and provide people with resources and support. The goal of successful leaders is the opposite of this: maintaining emotional intelligence while executing their daily objectives.

Persons: Ikwuakor, —, AK, Marina Del, It's, there's, I've, — it's, They're, isn't Organizations: Google, Service, Duke Basketball, State Department, Fortune Locations: Marina Del Rey , California

☆ I was laid off twice and ghosted more times than I can count. After heading down a dark spiral, here's how I bounced back.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Alex Cheney was laid off from recruiting roles at Sendoso and Atlassian within one year. My first layoff happened in June 2022 when Sendoso went through its first job cuts of the pandemic. I signed an offer with Atlassian two weeks after my Sendoso layoff and started one month later. I had just started working on process improvement — another one of my biggest passions — when I was laid off. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe few calls that I did schedule led to black holes where I was ghosted — I've been ghosted more times than I can count.

Persons: Alex Cheney, Alex, It's, Sendoso, I've, I'd, it's, hadn't Organizations: Service, Companies, LinkedIn Locations: Wall, Silicon, La Quinta , California, Robinhood, North America, New York City

☆ I quiet quit my job strategically over 8 months after feeling burnt out and overwhelmed. Here's exactly how I did it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Amy Zhang decided to quiet quit her job because she felt burned out and had outgrown it. I began creating a plan for my quiet quitting journey. My successor wanted to work hard because she knew she wasn't going to get this level of attention from me forever. Two months into my quiet quitting timeline, I went to Italy on a two-week family vacation. What I found during my eight months of quiet quitting is that it's easy to fall into a passive state and stay there.

Persons: Amy Zhang, It's, There's, COVID, — Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Italy

☆ I rented month-long Airbnb stays in 6 different cities before settling in San Diego. Doing a test run in each city made my decision easy.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

She tried living in six cities: Nashville, Austin, Chattanooga, Montreal, Toronto, and San Diego. I ended up renting month-long stays in Airbnbs in Nashville, Austin, Chattanooga, Montreal, Toronto, and San Diego. What it was like in San DiegoMy employer was hosting a company-wide event in San Diego, our US headquarters, the first week of January 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisementI planned to stay in San Diego after the event for my next Airbnb jaunt from January 9 to mid-February. I was always curious about San Diego and had heard that many Bostonians end up moving there and loving it.

Persons: Sophie London, Lewis, It's, I've, COVID, I'm, I'd, Taylor, NoogaNightlife.com, jaunt, pang, — Organizations: San Diego ., Service, Austin Nashville, Austin, Nashville, London, Toronto, Film, Chattanooga Locations: San Diego, Nashville, Austin, Chattanooga, Montreal, Toronto, Wall, Silicon, San Diego , California, Massachusetts, Boston, Airbnbs, Nashville , Austin, After London, Montreal In Montreal, London, Tennessee, Nicaragua, Diego, Balboa

☆ My company runs on a 4-day workweek. Our days can be intense but revenue has increased and we're never going back.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

His company switched to a four-day workweek and saw an increase in revenue. I'd heard about companies, particularly in the UK, experimenting with a four-day workweek, and it made a lot of sense to me. A condensed workweek can be more intenseWe heard from employees that they loved the four-day workweek and never wanted to go back to the old way. If you want to try a four-day workweek at your company, here's my advice:Don't jump in feet first without a preliminary test. If your company's compensation is tied to time, a four-day workweek will be less successful.

Persons: Taylor Rosenbauer, RocketAir, we're, —, workweek, I'd, hasn't, it's Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ My 10-year-old spends up to 5 hours a week learning to code. Here are the best resources I've found to help him get ahead in his future career.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Joel Gratcyk's son Wesley spends a few hours a week learning to code in Python, PHP, and Swift. Wesley started taking free courses when he was 7 and uses both online and library resources. Gratcyk said that whether or not Wesley goes into coding, he'll have an advantage in his career. Another one he's done is freeCodeCamp , which offers over 3,000 hours of tutorials for all levels of computer programming for free. The amount of time Wesley spends on coding changes from week to weekWesley enjoys coding most days.

Persons: Joel Gratcyk's, Wesley, Swift, Gratcyk, Joel Gratcyk, It's, He's, I've, we've, we're Organizations: Service, Khan Academy, Apple Locations: Wall, Silicon, Illinois

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