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☆ How a millennial who quit her job rather than return to in-person work ended up thriving as a freelancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rachel Dunlop works from her condo in Canada as a freelancer, after leaving a job without another one lined up. She loves working with clients in different fields and being able to work when she's most productive. She quit during 2021 for various reasons, including the likely return to office, without another job to move on to. This isn't the first time Dunlop has tried freelance work though. She said she did some freelance work from mid-2013 to mid-2014, but said "at that time, it was not for me at all."

Persons: Rachel Dunlop, Dunlop, Rachel Dunlop doesn't, She's, haven't Organizations: Service Locations: Canada, Wall, Silicon, Toronto, Fiverr

☆ 30-year-old spent $0 launching a food photography side hustle—now he brings in $134,000 a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Sean Audet stumbled into photography as a career by accident, and nearly for free. Audet quickly realized he had a knack for the work and started taking on his own clients for a food photography side hustle two years later. "Every once in a while, I'll stumble upon something that gets me super excited," Audet, 30, tells CNBC Make It. "With no prompting, I'll just start working an extra 12 to 14 hours a day on something that interests me. Here's how Audet scaled his side hustle into a full-time job, and how he plans to use his interest in A.I.

Persons: Sean Audet, Audet Organizations: Red River College, CNBC Locations: Winnipeg , Canada

☆ Essence Magazine was meant to be a place for 'Black girl magic.' Internally, some employees say it was more like 'Black girl tragic.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

"Essence is the most deceptive Black media company in America. Essence Magazine was first published in 1970 at a time when Black business and civil rights leaders called for greater self-determination and empowerment. The magazine was the brainchild of a group of four Black businessmen who identified a lack of publications for Black women in America. "And that is to serve Black women deeply, to serve women of color in a way that no one else has thought about." Essence CEO Michelle Ebanks, Richelieu Dennis, and Essence chief content & creative officer Moana Luu at the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon.

Persons: Richelieu Dennis, Dennis, Susan Taylor, Taylor, —, Jason Kempin, wasn't, Essence Communications Michelle Ebanks, Rich Dennis, Arturo Holmes, Margarita Corporan, Forbes, let's, Black, didn't, Sandra Okerulu, Michelle Ebanks, Luu, Moana, Rich Polk, Wears, Danielle Young, Julee Wilson, Candace Montgomery, Wilson, Montgomery, Martha, Martha Dennis, Rechelle, Sophia, Richelyna, Alan Lescht, bristled, Ebanks, Joy Collins Profet, Readers, Essence's, Collins Profet, Caroline Wanga, — it's, Wanga, unappreciated, Travis Montaque, cofounders, Lionel Hahn, Yesha Callahan, Rich, That's what's, Yoonji Han Organizations: Black, Essence Magazine, Time Inc, Vogue, Sports, Essence Communications, Entertainment, New York Times, Meredith Corporation, Brands, Ventures, Upfronts, Babson College, The, Depot, PepsiCo, Accenture, Unilever, Inc, Magazine, Magazine's, Penske Media, Getty, Essence Ventures, Afropunk, Vice Media, Black Entertainment Television, Digital, Sports Illustrated, Media, Fortress Investment, NASDAQ, Trace Media, texturism, Hamptons, Readers, Employees, Staff, BET, Culture, Democracy, Inkwell, Essence Locations: America, Black, Liberia, Queens, shea, Moana Luu, Martinique, France, Paris, Philippines, Hollywood, Industry City, Brooklyn, Cannes

☆ Former Essence Magazine employees say they witnessed a 'hellish' and 'dehumanizing' culture at the leading publication for Black women in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

On June 28, 2020, a group of women using the name Black Females Anonymous published a damning public letter that shook Essence magazine, the leading publication for Black women in America, to the core. Essence magazine was launched in 1970 at a time when Black business and civil-rights leaders called for greater self-determination and empowerment. The magazine was the brainchild of a group of four Black businessmen who identified a lack of publications for Black women in America. "And that is to serve Black women deeply, to serve women of color in a way that no one else has thought about." Essence CEO Michelle Ebanks, Dennis, and Essence chief content and creative officer, Moana Luu, at the 2020 13th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon.

Persons: Richelieu Dennis, Dennis, haven't, Susan Taylor, Taylor, —, Jason Kempin, wasn't, Michelle Ebanks, Rich Dennis, Arturo Holmes, Margarita Corporan, Forbes, let's, didn't, Sandra Okerulu, Ebanks, Luu, Moana, Rich Polk, Wears, Danielle Young, Julee Wilson, Candace Montgomery, Wilson, Montgomery, Martha, Martha Dennis, Rechelle, Sophia, Richelyna, Alan Lescht, bristled, Joy Collins Profet, Readers, Essence's, Collins Profet, Caroline Wanga, — it's, Wanga, unappreciated, Travis Montaque, cofounders, Lionel Hahn, Yesha Callahan, Rich, That's what's, Yoonji Han Organizations: Black, Time Inc, Vogue, Sports, Essence Communications, Entertainment, New York Times, Meredith Corporation, Essence, Inc, Brands, Ventures, Upfronts, Babson College, The, Depot, PepsiCo, Accenture, Unilever, Magazine, Magazine's, Penske Media, Getty, Essence Ventures, Afropunk, Vice Media, Black Entertainment Television, Digital, Sports Illustrated, Media, Fortress Investment, NASDAQ, Trace Media, texturism, Readers, Employees, Staff, BET, Culture, Democracy, Inkwell Locations: America, Black, Liberia, Queens, shea, Moana Luu, Martinique, France, Paris, Philippines, Hollywood, Industry City, Brooklyn, Cannes

Growing up, my parents believed money was hard to come by and that nobody likes their job. For instance, I had trouble saying "no" to work, worked myself to the point of exhaustion, and tended to stockpile funds so I would be ready for any lull. It took quite an adjustment for me not to feel obliged to work 40 hours a week, or that I needed to adhere to traditional working hours. I've also expanded how I make money through working on a book that I'll be self-publishing and starting an Etsy store selling stickers and stationery. For instance, some of my top values are increasing my own financial literacy, financial security, and opportunities to be creative and help others.

Persons: I've, Austin L Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Hawaii, Vietnam, workcations

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). With the student loan forgiveness plan struck down, my husband and I are revising our budget. After all, $20,000 in student loan forgiveness could have a significant impact on my bottom line. If you're looking at your expected student loan payments and the number seems daunting, don't give up just yet. We both have a fair amount of student loan debt, so allocating a big chunk of our budget to pay those eventual student loan payments was necessary.

Persons: Joe Biden's, I'm, we've, It's Organizations: Service, Hulu Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ I quit my job in TV to bartend and freelance. It's allowed me to better connect with people and the freedom to work on my own projects.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sara Loaiza worked in TV production for five years before quitting. In 2022, Loaiza, 28, who lives in Brooklyn, quit her job in TV production to work as a bartender and freelance on the side. I was in high school when I first found out about TV production. When I came back to the US, I picked up a bartending job because I didn't want to let go of that freedom in my day-to-day life. Even without a corporate job, I'm less anxious about the futureLoaiza often works as a freelance assistant producer multiple times a month.

Persons: Sara Loaiza, —, Loaiza, I'm Organizations: Service, CNN, Español, CNBC, World Trade Locations: Loaiza, Brooklyn, Europe

☆ How a 23-year-old freelancer makes $48,000 in NYC without a college degree
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

This story is part of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which details how people around the world earn, spend and save their money. While growing up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., Brunotts always expected to go to college. But after reviewing the potential costs of attending music school in NYC, she ultimately decided against pursuing higher education. She brought in around $48,000 last year and says she's on track to make more this year. When she has earned more than her weekly goal doing work for clients, Kate spends time working on personal music projects.

Persons: Kate Brunotts, Brunotts, I've, Kate, Matt, hadn't, Lauren Shamo, Maherzad Todiwala, she's, she'll, Roth, It's Organizations: CNBC, New York City, Washington , D.C, Center, Citi, Google Fi Locations: New York, Washington ,, NYC, Upwork, Venmo, Brunotts

☆ I make 6 figures working 20-hour weeks as a freelance writer. Here's what my typical day looks like hour by hour.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Zulie Rane | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Zulie Rane is a freelance writer who earns six figures a year while working around 20 hours a week. At the end of this article, you should have a solid idea of what it's like to be a freelance writer. 7:00 - 8:00 a.m: Start the day (for real this time)I start a day in the life of a freelance writer with an alarm. After all, it's not just a day in the life of a freelance writer — it's a day in the life of a freelance writer and her two cats. Hopefully this snapshot of my Mondays gives you a good idea of what it's like to be a freelance writer.

Persons: Zulie Rane, —, Astrid, dislodging, it's, Sally, — it's, Slack, I've, I'm, you've, there's, Here's Organizations: Service, Twitter Locations: Boston, Salem, Euronews, Spain

☆ 38-year-old makes up to $9,000 a month on Fiverr—his 3 best career tips: ‘Stay a perpetual student’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

While he was "going to school, working at Domino's, working at McDonald's, I'm still rapping," he says. "That's still what I'm doing in my breaks, in my free time, on my weekend. Burton, who's based in Houston, graduated from the University of Houston in 2013 and ended up working at a call center. Today, Burton's working full time as a rapper on the site, writing original verses for people and making up to $9,000 per month. Here's his career advice for new grads looking to find work doing what they love.

Persons: Mike Burton, I'm, It's, Burton, who's, He's, Here's Organizations: University of Houston Locations: Domino's, McDonald's, Houston, Fiverr

☆ I used AI to double my income in one year. It wasn't hard to do and didn't cost me anything.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Kristen Walters | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

She used AI to help create faceless YouTube videos, affiliate content, and digital products like ebooks. So I thought I'd share some of the ways that I'm currently using AI to make money in 2023. But combined, they add up to a substantial monthly income from both YouTube Adsense and affiliate products. Digital productsI've been creating simple digital products like ebooks, workbooks, audiobooks for over a decade now.Man, I'm getting old. Of course, you don't have to use ConvertKit.I've also sold digital products using Teachable, Etsy, Gumroad, and my own website(s).

Persons: Kristen Walters, I've, it's, Jasper, ConvertKit.I've, people's, snoop, It's Organizations: YouTube, Adsense, Jasper, Management, PAS, Amazon Associates, AIDA, Publishing, KDP Locations: Jasper, Park

General liability insurance covers a wide variety of events that could harm my small business. See Insider's picks for the best life insurance companies »It provides broad financial protectionProfessional liability insurance is geared toward people who provide services. General liability insurance can protect against these events:Bodily injury: Suppose you host an event or have a brick-or-mortar store. In that case, general liability coverage can help pay to repair or replace someone else's damaged items or property. Should I host in-person workshops or events, general liability insurance can cover medical or legal bills if someone gets hurt during an event.

Persons: —, I'm, creatives, Chubb Organizations: Service Locations: begrudgingly

☆ IRS: Meet this June 15 deadline to 'avoid a surprise at tax time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The due date for 2023 second-quarter estimated tax payments is June 15, which applies to income without withholdings, such as self-employment earnings, investments, gig economy work and more. Some filers also make quarterly payments when their employer doesn't withhold enough from each paycheck. Last week, the IRS reminded filers to consider quarterly payments to "stay current and avoid a surprise at tax time." It's important to calculate tax payments accurately, pay on time and to consider meeting the "safe harbor" rule to avoid underpayment penalties, Lovison said. "Keep records, monitor your tax situation, and seek professional guidance for a smooth tax experience," he said.

Persons: filers, Sean Lovison, Lovison Organizations: IRS, Finance, WJL Financial Locations: Philadelphia

☆ I made $250,000 in sales last year making digital templates and usually work 4 hours a day. Here's how I started my business and quit freelancing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Umair Mansha | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He's since built a business selling customizable Photoshop design templates and mock-ups online. In 2012, I started selling templates on GraphicRiver — a marketplace where you can sell digital templates, vectors, and Adobe add-ons — to diversify my income. In Romania, I pivoted my freelancing efforts from creating printable graphics to designing templates for clients' branding, web design, and 3D design. I was making five times as much from my template business as I was as a freelancer and it was less stressful. A well-designed website showcased my work and lent credibility to my business, helping attract clients and establish trust.

Persons: Ali Rahmon, —, I'd, TikTok, I've, It's Organizations: ESPN, Service, Sports, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Kings, NBA Locations: Syrian, Romania, Syria, American

One is about the possibility that we’re going to have this super intelligent AI that’s capable of great destruction. casey newtonI think that’s right. But it’s just like — I don’t think — I don’t think about to do these things in the moment like Dan. I don’t think that there’s an ethical issue with doing what he wants to do. And yeah, I just think it’s going into an area that’s going to be uncomfortable for the friend.

Persons: kevin roose, casey newton, we’re, ” casey newton I’ve, kevin roose It’s, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, clowned, New York Times ’, Kate Conger, Casey, Ajeya Cotra, kevin roose Totally, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, They’re, Kevin, Dan Hendricks who’s, “, “ I’m, don’t, you’re, I’m, — casey newton, it’s, ChatGPT, casey newton I’m, I’ve, Martinez, Varghese, kevin roose Tyler, —, Steven A, Schwartz, ”, they’re, it’ll, there’s, Mr, Bean, We’ve, James Vincent, It’s, Jensen Huang, Harry Potter, Harry Potter of, kevin roose —, casey newton Parallelelizable, Parallelizable, — casey newton Let’s, that’s, who’s, NVIDIA —, casey newton Well, doesn’t, katie cogner, Kate Conger who’s, katie cogner Hi, katie cogner I’m, Dan, what’s, Getty, casey newton Kate, let’s, John, Here’s John, john, kevin roose That’s, Kate, he’s, He’s, he’ll, casey newton That’s, There’s, we’ve, “ I’ve, ” Kate, cogner, Prince Harry, katie cogner Doesn’t, Harry, casey newton We’re, We’re, kevin roose Kate, they’ve, Joni Mitchell, Chris Vecchio, Chris, kevin roose I’m, You’d, casey newton “, you’ll, casey newton Oh, ” kevin roose Organizations: The New York Times, NVIDIA, New York Times, Safety, Google, AI, ChatGPT, Avianca Airlines, Delta Airlines, China Southern Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, “, Bar Association, Texas, M University Commerce, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Harry Potter of Kentucky Christian, Facebook, eBay, “ New York Times, Boston, Garden, MetLife, TED, AIs Locations: British, Avianca, Durden, ChatGPT, Taiwan, Kentucky, Hogwarts, Harry Potter of Kentucky, California, Madison, —

☆ A step-by-step guide on how to create and monetize an e-book in as little as one weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Corrie Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Alexander says that with the right tools you can create a book in as little as a weekend. Canva has a ton of free book cover templates that you can use as a springboard for your own design. To create your e-book, I would recommend one of two options:Canva: The first option is to create your e-book within Canva. However, there is still a lot of work you'll need to do to get the e-book ready. For instance, you'll need to manually add in your table of contents, page numbers, and any other visual elements.

Persons: Corrie Alexander, Alexander, —, caan, Jasper, Jasper Jumpstart, You'll, Grammarly, Speechify, Canva, Jasper Art, you've, It's, you'll Organizations: Service, Google, PayPal, YouTube Locations: Jasper, Canva

☆ The chief design officer of Strava shares how she found the courage to speak up as a woman of color working in a male-dominated field
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Beyond working on brand and marketing design, product design, and research and content design, Butler strives to make the fitness website and app something for everyone. Combining her background in advertising, marketing, creative, and product design, she's at the forefront of Strava's user experience. There's about [several] functions that report to me: product design, brand design, content and copywriting, also content design and copywriting, design operations and then research. My team really works on the product experience — so the Strava app, iOS and Android, as well as our web-app experiences, desktop and mobile web. At Strava, when you're not in tech — like not product management, engineering, or product design — it seems like we're much better balanced.

Persons: Anita Patwardhan Butler, Butler, —, Strava's, she's, we're, we've, you've, Sephora, It's, Zipporah Allen, Brian Bell, I've, Linh Le Organizations: Service, Meta, Twitter, Strava, Facebook, Walmart, Hotwire, Sephora Locations: Big Tech, America, Sephora, Taiwanese, Strava, Mumbai, India, Nairobi

☆ A day in the life of a millennial freelancer who says the UK's corporate drinking culture pushed her to work for herself and prioritize work-life balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Her first experience with an office job gave her the impression that British work culture wasn't for her. Here's how she navigates British work life and personal development as a freelancer. Loading Something is loading. But with her first internship, she began to realize her impression of British work culture wasn't for her. Here's a day in her life as a millennial living in London:

Persons: Leonie Annor, wasn't, —, Owiredu, she'd, Here's Organizations: Service, Russell Group, Ivy League, — Locations: London, England

So I quickly found a W-2 job and qualified, then quit the job months later and went back to freelancing. Why mortgage lenders get skittish around 1099 contractorsIf W-2 employees fit neatly inside the box occupied by typical, salaried employees, 1099 contractors present a bit like wild cards. While the former have signed a contract and work regular hours according to their employer's needs and schedule, the latter function as independent contractors (often called gig workers) who work job to job. The boxy conventions don't stop there: W-2 employees are paid via their employer's payroll, participate in employee benefit programs, and have payroll taxes withheld throughout the year. Rather than strike out, I balked and applied for and took a W-2 job just to qualify to buy my ex out of his half of equity in our family home.

☆ I was a freelancer and hated every moment of it. Here's what my experience was like and why I went back to a full-time job.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Elizabeth Blackstock | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

For her, full-time freelance writing was a torturous cycle of overwork and underpayment. I left a previous full-time job on February 28, 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic took America — and my job prospects — by surprise. I learned a lot from it, though, and I'd hope that my experience can help a different freelancer or potential freelancer on their journey. My pay rate remained dismal. It was a valuable experience that taught me a lot — but I won't miss it for a second.

☆ 3 Gen Zers on deciding to become full-time freelancers: ‘I wouldn't go back’ to a corporate job
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A majority, 70% of Gen Zers consider freelancing to be as viable a career option as a typical office job, according to a February 2023 Fiverr survey of 7,121 Gen Zers from around the world. Gigi Robinson, 24, influencerGigi Robinson, 24, had long struggled with chronic illnesses like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis. When he moved to Boca Raton, Florida, at 15, he started making videos about what it was like for a Brazilian to live in the U.S. And those gained some traction. But though he'd hoped YouTube would become his full-time gig, the channel wasn't making much. He'd also started hiring freelancers to take on some of the work from his clients.

☆ 5 Gen Zers share their revamped American dream: Fewer white picket fences, more flexibility
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

courtesy of AlvarezAge: 24Location: Elmwood Park, New JerseyOccupation: Corporate strategic partnerships managerDo you believe in the American dream? The American dream, in the way my parents and their generation saw it, does not exist, in my opinion. But they just didn't have the resources — the social mobility — to become wealthy owners of a house with a white picket fence. So, if you ask me what the "American dream" is today, it's more about creating my dream: What is "Jorge's dream?" Of course, I'm excited about the income, but I'm actually more excited about the possibilities outside of the job.

☆ 5 in-demand freelance gigs new graduates can pick up ‘pretty quickly’—some pay more than $100/hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Freelance work can also provide a stream of income and help you develop some skills even before you start a nine-to-five. Here are five freelance gigs for recent grads to consider, why they could be a good fit and how much experienced freelancers are charging for them. can put together a portfolio of their work pretty quickly and then immediately compete for jobs," she says. Social media marketing"Businesses are always looking for help keeping up to date and promoting their brand via social media," says Lilani. Social media specialists charge as much as $90 per hour on Upwork.

☆ Smart money moves for new grads
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Know what your means areFigure out how much money you bring in, how much you spend and how much you save. Don’t count on money you don’t have yetYou’ve heard you’ll be paid a bonus. But until it does, don’t spend it in advance because you have no control over when it will come or how much you’ll get. Clements recommends having just two credit cards: One with a low credit limit (e.g., $1,000 to $2,000) that you use as your “walking around” card for purchases. Plus it helps your credit score because you will never charge too high a percentage of your total credit limit.

☆ I left Miami for a remote village in Pakistan. I have no running hot water and limited electricity — but my quality of life here is infinitely better.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Samantha Shea | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

She moved to Hunza Valley in Northern Pakistan in 2021, where she's lived ever since. I live in Hunza Valley, 8,500 feet above sea level on the border with Western China, where I work as a digital nomad. A drone shot of Hunza Valley in early May. A Hunza Valley local drying apricots. Though my solo journey to Pakistan started as a trip, Hunza Valley is now my home.

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