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☆ I made $221K in passive income after quitting my corporate job to go into real estate. Here's how I built up my portfolio to 38 properties.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Erika Brown is a real estate investor who made six figures in passive income in a year. I'm a self-made real estate investor who trains Black and Brown folks, especially women, to invest in real estate to build passive income and close the racial wealth gap. Through my corporate job and speaking with executive clients, I learned that many higher-ups owned real estate. Time is a concern for many, especially because passive income is supposed to be passive. The reality is that many forms of passive income do take time and effort to establish on the front end.

☆ I use ChatGPT and it's like having a 24-7 personal assistant for $20 a month. Here are 5 ways it's helping me save time and make more money.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

She says using ChatGPT is like having an assistant and gives her more time to focus on her children. It also helps me answer client questions in a contextually appropriate way and has afforded me more time to concentrate on my kids' extracurriculars or help them with homework. I've created a list of common questions that potential clients ask about particular properties, buildings, or locations, such as, "What's the square footage?" I'm able to engage with a larger number of potential clients at any given time. Generates data reportsChatGPT can generate data reports that allow me to analyze the performance of particular client interactions, as well as outreach and marketing campaigns.

☆ I use ChatGPT and it's like having a 24/7 personal assistant for $20 a month. Here are 5 ways it's helping me save time and make more money.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

She says using ChatGPT is like having an assistant and gives her more time to focus on her children. It also helps me answer client questions in a contextually appropriate way and has afforded me more time to concentrate on my kids' extracurriculars or helping them with homework. I've created a list of common questions that potential clients ask about particular properties, buildings, or locations, such as "What's the square footage?" And once we receive a response from the potential client, we can forward their information to the relevant team for a more personalized follow-up. I'm able to engage with a larger number of potential clients at any given time.

☆ I work from home with my cat in my lap and once stayed off-camera in a video call so I could do a face mask. I don't feel I'm missing out on office life as a remote worker.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sometimes I'll work for longer if I feel like it, but as long as I fulfill that self-set requirement, I'm satisfied. Also, I get to work with my cat in my lap or right next to me all day, which helps with my well-being. To keep my boundaries, I set timersIf I'm logging off at 5:30 p.m., I'll set an alarm for 5:15 p.m. to let me know it's time to start winding down. I'm lucky that my company offers many virtual and in-person team-building events, so I have the option to see people face-to-face. I like going to these events because they're fun, but most importantly because they're planned ahead of time.

☆ I'm a tech exec who starts every day with a 3-minute cold plunge. My mind has never been sharper.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I'm one of those people who starts each day with a cold plunge for productivity and stress reduction. My morning cold plunge is usually the most challenging part of my day, so everything after that is much easier. I decided to convert a chest freezer into a full cold plungeMargist building his cold plunge. Now when I sit down at my desk after my cold plunge, I'm wide awake, focused, and ready to dive into deep work. Cold plunging has helped me manage my fight-or-flight response in stressful work or life situationsI find myself feeling less emotional during tough conversations after taking a cold plunge.

☆ I found it stressful to work from home as a Gen Z account exec. Here's why I'll choose to work in the office every time — even if it costs more to do so.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Devin Walsh spends up to 40 minutes commuting to work at least four days each week. I live in Midtown Manhattan and take the subway to our office, which is in the Financial District. Sometimes I go into the office all five days of the week if work is busier. Another added bonus of making the trip into the office is the face-time you get to have with senior leaders. If I work from home on a Friday, I typically fill it with meetings, one-on-ones, brainstorms, and general catch-ups.

☆ Remote work hasn't been the best for my career — I was passed up twice for promotions. But it's been amazing for my personal life.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hannah Hood got passed up for a promotion she wanted while working from home — twice. While her career took a hit, she loved the flexibility in her personal life and even got her MBA virtually. The first promotion that I got passed up for took place when we were 100% remote, in the thick of COVID. Now I'm about three months into a 100% remote job as a corporate marketing manager at ServicePower, where most of my coworkers are over 500 miles away. I'm not worried about getting passed up for opportunities because we're all in this remote environment together.

☆ The 10 most prestigious private preschools in Miami — and how to get in
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Valeria Avirett is an education consultant and the founder of Miami School Advisors. She says as Miami has become more desirable, spots in top preschools are harder to land than ever. "People are moving to Miami seeking a lifestyle and not necessarily moving for a job," Valeria Avirett, an educational consultant and the founder of Miami School Advisors, told Insider. "I struggled to find the right school for my own children in Miami — Westminster Christian School, which we all loved! Avirett's team released the first edition of "The Miami Preschool Guide" in spring last year, which profiles 101 preschools in the most popular areas of Miami.

☆ I make 6-figures a month in revenue making games on Roblox. Here's how I started earning thousands in my first year.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Madsen creates new games on Roblox and updates his previous games to keep up a revenue stream. I remember when I made my first $2 from a Roblox game I created in 2017. Now, I've been generating six figures a month in revenue from Roblox experiences I've created or been a part of creating since 2021. I also create Roblox experiences outside of Splitting Point with friends. The reason is that even if it's a beautifully designed game, it isn't a Roblox game.

☆ I Work Remotely and I Don't Miss Office Life. I'm Never Going Back.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

As someone just starting my career, I couldn't afford to relocate for a job; I either had to find something locally or warm up to the idea of virtual work. Sometimes I'll work for longer if I feel like it, but as long as I fulfill that self-set requirement, I'm satisfied. To keep my boundaries, I set timersIf I'm logging off at 5:30 p.m., I'll set an alarm for 5:15 p.m. to let me know it's time to start winding down. Then they feel mentally unprepared, uncomfortable in their outfit choice, or torn between exercising after work, making a homemade meal that night, or going to a work event. I'm lucky that my company offers many virtual and in-person team-building events, so the option is there if I want to see people face-to-face.

☆ I swear by ChatGPT as a recruiter. Here's how it saves me 10 hours a week and helps me hire the best candidates.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She started using ChatGPT to complete tasks and said it saves her at least 10 hours a week. I quickly started using ChatGPT for my agency, which specializes in hiring top engineering and healthcare talent. Before using ChatGPT, it took me a long time — around 15 hours a week — to manually put together lists that matched my criteria. Now, I only spend roughly five hours a week making lists of items for my Boolean search strings. ChatGPT saves me a minimum of 10 hours a weekPreviously, I did the research and writing for my Boolean search string manually.

☆ I moved my family from NYC to Buffalo. Here's a cost-of-living breakdown and how we're saving thousands a month.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

This translates to a monthly income increase of approximately $10,000. In NYC, we paid $3,350 per month for a two-bedroom apartment that I'll generously say was 900 square feetWe paid 44.8% of our pre-tax income each month on housing. If I include principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, we now pay 9.6% of our pre-tax monthly income on housing. This rate was also subsidized as it was the hospital daycare, so we spent 21.9% of our pre-tax income on childcare each month. So, with just housing and childcare alone, our monthly savings from the move is already $5,000.

☆ I'm a manager at Google who also goes to culinary school at night. Here's my daily routine and how I manage both.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

After class, I swap my clogs and chef whites back for my work clothes. I was surprised to learn that chefs don't wear their whites to commute, as doing so would pose a sanitation risk. Class runs for four hours and ends at 11 p.m. Courtesy of Vic Walcott

☆ I added the 'scary hour' hack to my mornings. My ability to focus shot up and so did my productivity — here's how it works
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He said the "scary hour" productivity hack helps him complete his most daunting task each day. My best productivity hack is popularly referred to as the "scary hour" — one hour where you tackle the most daunting but impactful task on your plate. But defining your top priority can be tricky, which is why I prefer to call it "scary hour" rather than "golden hour" as some people do. One of my "block sets" in LeechBlock ensures that I can't browse email, social media, my investment portfolio, or other distractions during scary hour. I use a Notion Habit Tracker to log what I completed during scary hour each day, which helps me stay accountable to my scary hour tasks.

☆ I'm a software engineer who struggled with procrastination until I tried 'monk mode' — here's how it saves me up to 3 hours a day
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

2 hours of 'monk mode' at a timeI began by committing to two-hour blocks of monk mode at a time. To prepare for my time in monk mode, I eliminated as many distractions as I could. I was finishing my work day in about six to seven hours instead of working nine to 10 hours. Monk mode can be intense, so it's important to take care of your physical and mental health. Keep track of your progress with monk mode and adjust your approach as necessary.

☆ I'm a CEO who stopped checking my phone when I wake up. Now I'm less stressed and more energized.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He stopped checking his phone for the first two hours of his day after seeing it trending on TikTok. At this point, I'm comfortable using my phone for my notes app and to take a peek at my calendar. I've found that I'm more prepared to handle my work once I sit down to do it. My clientele and line of translation work are fairly stable and routine, but urgent matters do occasionally come up. You'll be less inclined to check your phone once you know there's a boundary set on both ends of your personal and work relationships.

☆ I'm a manager at Google by day and culinary student by night. Here's my daily routine, which starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

☆ I'm a senior director at Roblox. My day starts with a 6 a.m. bike ride and ends with journaling before bed — here's what my routine is like.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

We make it a point to have dinner together as a family every night around 7 p.m. It's one of the rare times we can sit down together, without devices, and give each other our full attention. Sim enjoys dinner with his family. Courtesy of Richard Sim

☆ The daily routine of a Ford executive who's up at 5:30 a.m., listens to a 'hype song' on the way to work, and ends the day with wine, TV, and a 'golden hour'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

I set aside time for reflection and gratitude at 10:30 p.m, reading reflections from "For I Know the Plans." After a tough day, I remind myself what Michelle Obama's mother told her: "You can't expect to be liked at work or in public, but come home — we will always like you here." Sutton Phung likes to end the day with reflection and reading. Courtesy of Sondra Sutton Fung

☆ I'm an Amazon influencer who makes $1,000 or more a month. Here are my best tips for building this online side hustle.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elena Duque is a guest host on the TV channel QVC and has a side hustle as an Amazon influencer. She earns commission by promoting products on TikTok, Instagram, and her blog. Her tips include talking about one Amazon product per post and including a clear call to action. I make at least $1,000 a month in affiliate commissions by sharing my favorite products on Pinterest, TikTok, and my blog. Here's my advice to anyone trying to start a lucrative side hustle as an Amazon influencer.

☆ I'm a head of talent for Big 4 accounting firm EY. Here are the qualities I look for in candidates and how to showcase them in interviews.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

EY's Ginnie Carlier gives her advice for how to get a job at an accounting firm. The Big Four accounting firm values lifelong learners and candidates with an "adventure mindset." Today, as the EY Americas vice chair of talent, I lead efforts to create exceptional experiences for over 98,000 people across 31 countries. We're looking for transformative leaders who go beyond a growth mindset to adopt an adventure mindset — just like I did! Candidates should feel empowered to ask questions throughout the processAsk about our firm, culture, business, and teams.

☆ I live in a town of 1,100 people. Inflation has changed the way I grocery shop — here's how.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I live in Altamont, Tennessee, a small rural town with a population of around 1,100 people. The closest grocery stores we have near us are The Dollar Store and Piggly Wiggly, which are walking distance from my house. I usually buy a protein like chicken or beef, vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts, and occasional carbs like potatoes. If I buy beef, that will usually put my bill over my $100 weekly limit. The cost of Starbucks ground French roast that I buy from the grocery store has increased by more than 50%, from $6 to $10.99 per 12-ounce bag.

☆ I'm a CEO who tried 'monk mode' after seeing it on TikTok. My productivity shot up, and so did the quality of my work.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Josh Wood, the CEO of Bloc, tried the 'monk-mode' productivity hack popular on TikTok. Monk mode is where you commit yourself to completing a goal without any distractionsIn monk mode, you take it upon yourself to adopt the isolation and self-discipline practices of monks. For me, monk mode is better because I can go into this "mode" for a lot longer and not be distracted. Monk mode is useful for achieving a state of heightened productivityI would say my productivity in monk mode is five times better than when I'm working normally. But the most important aspect of monk mode for me is that I don't have to work insane 80-hour weeks anymore.

☆ I coach workers at Amazon and Google through layoffs. Here's what I tell those who've been let go and those left behind.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Alisa Cohen has coached tech workers at companies like Google and Amazon. More than 50% of my career-coaching clients work in Big Tech, and another 30% are in B2B SaaS or e-commerce. I'm seeing some large tech companies like Google and Meta offering 10 to 16 weeks of base salary plus one to two weeks for each additional year worked. I coach job seekers to consider if the work environment, leadership, and culture are aligned with their values. I coach clients to connect their actions to their results — and importantly, to communicate the value they've added and impact they've made.

☆ I borrowed $50,000 to pay for college 10 years ago — now I owe double. The interest fees are screwing everyone over.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Lisa Sass, 31, took out $50,000 in private student loans to pay for college. At 31 years old, I never thought I'd be nearly $100,000 in debt — and that's just for student loans. Paying half allows me to afford living expenses and other bills, but my student-loan payments only cover the interest. I still owe $95,576 in loans, and it sucks that private loans were left out of President Joe Biden's forgiveness program. I think loans need to get repaid, but I don't think interest rates should be as high as they are.

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