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☆ I pivoted into venture capital at 23 and my life has never been so exciting. Here's my advice for breaking into the industry.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementKatie Vasquez landed her first venture capital job at 23 years old. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Katie Vasquez, a 26-year-old investor at Calibrate Ventures based in Santa Monica, California, on her experience working in venture capital. I'm an investor at Calibrate Ventures, an early-stage deep-tech venture capital firm. My advice for other people hoping to get into VC is to leverage your network and stay up to date on the industry. This experience provided a great foundation for thinking more about technical due diligence, tech architecture, and strategy, but moving into investing and venture capital felt like the most exciting path.

Persons: Katie Vasquez, I've, I'm, I'd Organizations: Brown University, Goldman, LA Tech, Synergist, Investor, Business Locations: Santa Monica , California, EY, fintech, Los Angeles, LA

☆ I've owned over 60 restaurants — KFC, Chili's, PF Chang's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and more. Here's how I got my start and scaled.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementGeorge Tinsley,77, opened his first KFC restaurant when he was 30 years old. I've owned and operated over 60 restaurants in locations across Kentucky and Florida, including KFC, Chili's, PF Chang's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and more. Tinsley's first restaurant opened in Auburndale, Florida. Franchise owners have to expand quickly, or they'll miss outAbout a year and a half after that location opened, we decided to start looking at a second location. My business continued to grow, and about five years in I started looking at other opportunities.

Persons: George Tinsley, Tinsley, Harland David Sanders, Sanders, George Tinsley Still, it's, George Tinsley KFC, didn't, They're, It's, George Tinsley's, Tinsleycatering, I've, Manseen Logan Organizations: KFC, GWTinsley, Chili's, Tampa International, Tampa International Airport, George Tinsley's KFC, Chamber of Commerce, Boys, Girls Locations: Florida, Kentucky, Burger, Auburndale , Florida, Hawaii, Tampa, mlogan

☆ I'm the Kardashians' private chef of nearly a decade. I like to stay out of the spotlight.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Khristianne Uy, known as Chef K, a 42-year-old private chef for celebrities based in Los Angeles. I was introduced to working as a private chef through someone I met at work. Related storiesIn 2003, I did a one-year unpaid internship with a seasoned private chef to advance my career. Being a private chef is different because there's no egoYou have to get curious about what your clients want and ask them how you can improve. There's so much on the horizon, I'm working on a cookbook and some docuseries — maybe even my own reality show.

Persons: Khristianne, K, Kardashian, —, Khristianne Uy, It's, I'd, Simon Fuller, James Cameron's, Susan Cameron, There's, I've, Charlie Sheen, Jonas Brothers, Ryan Seacrest, there's, Ryan, Kris Jenner, it's, I'm, James Charles, Lauryn Haas Organizations: Service, lhaas Locations: Philippines, LA, Los Angeles, New York, California, Hulu, Japan

☆ Target isn't rewarding its biggest spenders like it should — and shoppers aren't happy about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But in reality, many avid Target shoppers like myself were left confused, frustrated, and searching for their beloved 1% cash back. Target did confirm that the majority of the Target Circle deals are automatically applied at checkout. It is worth noting that the program sometimes offers Target Circle rewards, which shoppers can apply toward future purchases. However, unlike the previous cash-back earnings, Target Circle rewards are only given after select Target Circle bonuses are activated and redeemed. In my opinion, the solution could be as simple as restoring the beloved cash-back reward for Target Circle members.

Persons: —, Roxy Couse, Couse, Target's, they'll, wasn't, I'd, that's, Sephora, Diane von Furstenberg, Stanley Organizations: Service, Business, Target, Circle, Starbucks Locations: Target

☆ I hired a stylist to help me show up as my best self at work. It's an investment in my career that's 100% worth it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I wanted to feel empowered in those situations, and I fully believe that if you look like a mess, you feel like a mess. I hired a stylist for about $100 when I got professional headshots, but I returned to just being me right after. I'm speaking more, I'm on TV more, and I'm going to more events. AdvertisementIt's become hard to deny the ripple effect of having a stylist on my business. He was hesitant when I first hired a stylist, but he was fully supportive when he saw how I looked and felt.

Persons: Sabina Hitchen, I'd, they'd, Julie Kraus, She's, I've, lacy, Tuckernuck, Julie, It's Organizations: Service, Press, Business, Morning America, Google Locations: New York

☆ I swear by Costco now that I have a nutritionist. Here are 10 things I buy there to meet my health goals.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-21 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I work with a functional nutritionist and love shopping at Costco for healthier options. I focus on foods that help me balance my blood sugar with carbs, healthy fats, and protein. AdvertisementAfter working with a functional nutritionist to improve my overall health, I've learned about the importance of keeping my blood sugar balanced by eating a healthy mix of protein, carbs, and fat. According to the CDC, one in three Americans (that's 98 million) have prediabetes because their blood sugar is higher than normal. I don't want to fall down that path, and luckily, my nutritionist helped me find some great Costco products that help me meet my health goals.

Persons: —, I've Organizations: Costco, Service, CDC, Business

☆ I dropped out of college with $25,000 in loans and did a tech apprenticeship instead. I have a great job now, but I wish I left sooner.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. I decided to try community collegeI started working 40 hours a week at Chick-fil-A, and a few months later, I enrolled in a community college as a political science major again because I still wanted to make college work. I went back and forth for eight years in that cycle and ultimately took out $25,000 in student loans but didn't graduate. College is not the only optionI wish I had known when I graduated from high school that apprenticeships were an option. I don't think I retained much of the classroom knowledge I learned in college, and I wish I had pursued an apprenticeship earlier.

Persons: —, Janika Cook, I'm, It's, I've, you've, it's, could've Organizations: Service, Ohio University, Business, Intermountain Locations: Cleveland, Athens

☆ I had nightmares and started drinking heavily because I was so burned out at work. Quitting was the only way out.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Harley Davidson was my first opportunity to work on the client side of marketing, not the agency side. AdvertisementThis pattern became more unhealthy at Harley Davidson. He was telling me, "You're going to be the president of Harley Davidson. Shortly after, I started drinking heavily to cope with the stress and help myself fall asleep. AdvertisementI quit Harley Davidson in September 2016, and I stopped having nightmares.

Persons: —, Shelley Paxton, Hagen Dazs, I'd, Harley Davidson, wouldn't, You've, Harley, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Boston College, AOL, Visa, Global Integrated Marketing, Omnicom Media Locations: Minneapolis, East, Boston, Chicago, Europe, Istanbul, United States, Shanghai, France, New Zealand, Canada, Italy

☆ I tried Target's new paid membership program. I see how some shoppers could save hundreds of dollars using it, but I thought it was a waste.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Target Circle 360 combines the benefits of the Circle membership and Circle cardTarget offers other benefits like the Target Circle membership and Circle card. Related storiesTarget Circle 360 combines all the benefits of the Circle membership and a Circle card. AdvertisementI thought the Target Circle 360 membership left much to be desiredUnfortunately, I haven't used the Target Circle 360 membership as often as I expected to. Overall, the Target Circle 360 membership wasn't for meAt the end of the day, I didn't think the Target Circle 360 membership was worth the money. AdvertisementHowever, I'm a firm believer that the free Target Circle membership is a must, even for casual Target shoppers.

Persons: —, I'm, Jeff Greenberg, Paul, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Target

☆ I worked remotely from a cruise ship for almost a month and it was hard but I'm doing it again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tony Fernandes, CEO of UEGroup, managed his company from a cruise ship for 21 days. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tony Fernandes, a 60-year-old founder and CEO of UEGroup based in San Francisco, about his experience working remotely on a cruise ship. In November, I embarked on a trip where I spent several weeks leading my company from a cruise ship with my wife. Expect very slow internet serviceOne thing I didn't realize prior to the trip was that the cruise ship had only one satellite connection shared by thousands of people. If you live or work on a cruise ship and would like to share your story, please email mlogan@businessinsider.com.

Persons: Tony Fernandes, Fernandes, —, It's, We're, You've Organizations: Service Locations: San Francisco, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Portugal, California

☆ I worked at SpaceX. It was the most ruthlessly efficient company I've ever worked for.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This is an as-told-to essay based on a transcribed conversation with Vincent Peters, founder of Inheritance AI and former SpaceX employee discussing his career path and experience at SpaceX. I was introduced to people on the SpaceX Mission team, and ultimately, they asked me to interview with them for a job at SpaceX. What it's like working at SpaceXSpaceX is the most efficient company I've ever worked for. AdvertisementThat mentality is how I started working on Starlink. In 2020, I asked to help and was allowed to work on their projects in addition to my work at SpaceX.

Persons: Vincent Peters, couldn't, Freddie Mac, I'd, Gwynne Shotwell, I've, it's, It's, We're Organizations: Service, SpaceX, Business, Federal Aviation Administration, US Government, SpaceX Mission, International, NASA, Department of Defense, SpaceX SpaceX, Elon Locations: West, cubicles, Elon

☆ I worked at SpaceX where Elon Musk was a cubicle away. At Elon's companies, it's add value or leave.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Vincent Peters worked in military compliance when he was poached to work at SpaceX. So I graduated on medical leave, couldn't be deployed, and continued on medical leave for another six months before being discharged. I was introduced to people on the SpaceX Mission team, and ultimately, they asked me to interview with them for a job at SpaceX. AdvertisementThat mentality is how I started working on Starlink. In 2020, I asked to help and was allowed to work on their projects in addition to my work at SpaceX.

Persons: Vincent Peters, —, couldn't, Freddie Mac, I'd, Gwynne Shotwell, I've, it's, It's, We're Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Federal Aviation Administration, US Government, SpaceX Mission, International, NASA, Department of Defense, SpaceX SpaceX, Elon Locations: West, cubicles, Elon

☆ I'm a HENRY financial planner who makes $125,000. Here's how I manage my money — and the mistakes I see others making.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Georgia Lord, a 27-year-old certified financial planner and HENRY in New York City. I have a few financial goalsOne of my financial goals is to save up for the professional designations available in my field since they can be expensive. To reach my savings goals, I automate at least 20% of my paycheck every two weeks and deposit it in a high-yield savings account. For example, some stock market returns might've been 3% last year, but some high-yield savings accounts have a return of 4.5%. That's just as important as putting $100 into the stock market every week.

Persons: HENRY, Georgia Lord, I've, That's, Ally, CapitalOne360, There's, might've, Roth, We're Organizations: Morningstar, Business, Roth IRA, — Locations: Georgia, New York City, Brisbane, Australia, New York

☆ 5 airlines worth splurging on for the best first-class experience
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jaclyn Sienna India travels often to scout airlines and locations for her luxury travel company. Air France, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are among the airlines that give her the best experience. Courtesy of Jaclyn Sienna IndiaAfter working there for five years, I wanted to bring that level of service to travel. EQRoy/ ShutterstockAir France’s first-class cabin, La Première, only has four seats per flight, and it feels like you're flying private. Like many of my other favorites, Singapore Airlines planes have room for double suites for couples and private suites with sliding doors.

Persons: Jaclyn Sienna India, —, Sienna Charles, I’ve, Le, I’m, we’ve, you’re, Jordan Tan, Shutterstock, There’s, Shutterstock I’ve Organizations: Air, Qatar Airways, Service, Air France Air France, France’s, Air France, . Emirates Emirates, Emirates, Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines, I’m, Etihad Airways Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways Qatar Airways, Shutterstock Qatar Airways Locations: Air France, Emirates, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia, Europe, Paris, New York, Milan, Dubai, India, Asia, Etihad’s

☆ I moved to Portugal after falling in love with my tour guide. It was a lonely and humbling experience.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Jermaine Amado started living part time in Lisbon after meeting his girlfriend there in 2017. He was lonely in Portugal when his girlfriend was at work, and photography gear was more expensive. In 2017, I started traveling around the world because I wanted to find a place to move outside Denver after my divorce. I had a great time there, and while I was exploring, I went on a free walking tour and saw this tour guide. AdvertisementMy time living partly in Portugal ended in 2020My relationship and my time in Portugal ended after three years, but I have no regrets.

Persons: Jermaine Amado, —, Jermaine Amado I'm, I'd, I'm, There's, — it's, Venmo Organizations: Service, Denver Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Denver, Taiwan, Holi, India, Colorado, Mexico

☆ I bought a Tesla Model 3 to drive long distances. It's easier and more affordable than I expected, but there's one downside.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Wally Nowinski bought a Tesla Model 3 in 2020 to drive from California to his parents in Michigan. It was so easy to buyEven if Tesla was selling a gas car, I would probably buy it. Most people go to their neighborhood gas station once a week, but with an electric car you'll never have to do that again. AdvertisementAdvertisementFor most of the time I've owned the car, I've lived in apartments. I'd even consider another electric car.

Persons: Wally Nowinski, Elon Musk, —, it's, Tesla, I've, It's Organizations: Tesla, Service Locations: California, Michigan, El Cerrito , California, San Francisco, Seattle

☆ Best Budgeting Tips for a Big Family With Lots of Kids
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

She says having a big family is like a birthday party where the guests never leave. People always compare large families to reality-TV stereotypesWhen people hear we're a large family, they immediately compare us to the Duggars, but that's a negative stereotype of big families. Moms of large families are often seen as supermoms, but we have hard days just like everybody else and need help sometimes. Having a big family is like hosting a birthday party every dayHaving a large family is like hosting a birthday party every day. We'd owned our home in Virginia for 16 years, so we hadn't thought about the bias we would face as a large family trying to rent.

Persons: Jane Brosseau, Brosseau, I'm, It's, I've, it's, We're, Fred Meyer, We've, we've Organizations: Service, Walmart, Costco, Facebook Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington, Northern Virginia, Virginia, East

☆ I'm a Dallas mom who left Uber and Lyft to drive for Alto where I can get health insurance and a 401(k) — here's why it's a much better side gig
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I tried driving for Uber and Lyft from 2015 until 2020 off and on. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf I work one 10-hour shift a week, I can remain an Alto driver, and as a driver you're paid by the hour — not by how many trips you book. I recently had a schedule change at my full-time job to mornings, so now I work evenings as an Alto driver. Driving with Alto has the structure and certainty of a full-time jobWith Alto, we have set shifts, like regular employees going into an office. As an Alto driver, you also have the option to get health benefits and a 401(k) because all drivers are W2 employees.

Persons: Tamara Smith, Uber, I've, It's, Lyft, overnights —, isn't, Tamara Smith's Organizations: Service, Alto, Foods, FAA Locations: Dallas, Wall, Silicon, Dallas , Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Washington, San Francisco, Alto, New Orleans, RideCheck

☆ I was put on a PIP in my director-level job and fantasized about quitting. So I quiet quit for 3 months before actually walking out.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After being placed on a PIP, he 'quiet quit' for 3 months before leaving in January. Within a couple of weeks I was assigned another project, which turned out to be the worst project I've ever worked on. I started warning leadership and my peers that it wasn't going to get doneI told them we needed way more resources if we were going to do it right. That harmed me as a director — I essentially became a really expensive business analyst who wasn't making any money for the firm. After being placed on my PIP, I realized this wasn't the job for me, but I needed to ride it out to make ends meet.

Persons: John Garvens, I've, —, Michael Phelps, — I'd, I'd, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Freeport , Illinois, Revenue, —

☆ I moved to Japan to teach on a US military base. The whole experience cost me thousands when the job didn't work out.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Brianna Stultz got an offer to teach on a military base in Okinawa, Japan, and moved in December. Despite making a friend and loving Japan, she regrets taking the job and has moved back to Arizona. I got an initial offer for a teaching job on a military base in Okinawa, Japan, in July 2022 — and I returned home to Arizona almost exactly one year later. I also met a friend through work who I'm absolutely devastated that I'm not going be able to see all the time now. I did love living in Japan, but I'm happy to be home so I can do all the things I missed here.

Persons: Brianna Stultz, —, I'd, I'm, they'd, could've Organizations: Service, Opportunity Commission, Junior League Locations: Okinawa, Japan, Arizona, Wall, Silicon, Phoenix , Arizona, Phoenix, United States

☆ I own a village of tiny homes in the Arizona desert that were built to feel like treehouses — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Urban planner Darin Dinsmore created a camp in Sedona, Arizona, with four tiny homes. My background in urban planning was one of the things that led me to start the TinyCamp project in Sedona and Cottonwood, Arizona. They're all permanent tiny houses with foundations and fire sprinklers, and they each have their own hot tubs and fireplaces. It shocks people, but tiny houses are expensiveA ladder leading up to the loft bed area of the TinyCamp home. The Achilles heel of the tiny house movement is that it's $10,000 for a sewer hookup.

Persons: Darin Dinsmore, I'm, Danielle Holman, We've, we've, It's, Jane Ferrell, Clarkdale Organizations: Service, Sedona, Google, TinyCamp Sedona Locations: Sedona , Arizona, Wall, Silicon, Sedona, Cottonwood , Arizona, California, Coconino County, Cottonwood, Sausalito , California, Sausalito, Arizona, Los Angeles, Northern Arizona, Clarkdale , Arizona

☆ I run a 'Barbie-ish' Airbnb in Arizona that caters to bachelorette parties — and my girly decor keeps it booked despite a challenging market.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Bre Fleschner hosts bachelorette party groups in her "Barbie-ish" Airbnb in Tempe, Arizona. The desert dream house includes a heated pool in the backyard. It's since turned into my desert dream house. A lot of people are now doing what I'm doing, so I want to find ways to stay on top. bachelorette desert dream house couch Courtesy of Bre FleschnerHowever, the Airbnb landscape is changingThis time last year I had approximately twice as many bookings as I do this year.

Persons: Bre, —, Bre Fleschner, It's, I've, Fleschner, they'd, Louis, It's Barbie, haven't, I'm, What's, hasn't Organizations: Service, HGTV Locations: Tempe , Arizona, Nashville, Orlando, Miami, Arizona, St, Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Florida

☆ Two friends bought a rundown Joshua Tree property for $15,000 and turned it into an Airbnb complete with an open-air stargazing deck. See Inside.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Folly Joshua Tree is an off-grid, two structure space designed by Malek Alqadi. Alqadi and business partner Hillary Flur had prior success renting their Los Angeles apartments on Airbnb. Then in 2016, Alqadi and Flur finally landed on 2.5 acres in Joshua Tree after one of Flur's colleagues told her they were buying property there. Alqadi and Flur purchased the off-grid, rundown homestead for $15,000 and got to work on renovating the property. This one-of-a-kind property took approximately a year to complete.

Persons: Joshua Tree, Malek Alqadi, Hillary Flur, —, Flur Organizations: Service, Home Locations: Angeles, Airbnb, LA

☆ I rent out my car on Turo and now it pays for itself. Here's how I got started and stay booked.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Nate Matos is a Turo host based in Miami. He started by renting his own car on the platform, then bought a second vehicle just for renting. I decided to become a Turo host after listening to Earn Your Leisure, a financial education podcast, about two years ago. The podcast brings on a lot of guests to speak about different aspects of business, finance, and entrepreneurship, and I saw an episode with someone who was sharing his experience with Turo car rentals. I did make some mistakes on Turo initiallyFor example, at first, I had both of my cars on Turo.

☆ See inside an arctic Airbnb village that costs $190 per night and lets guests sleep under the Northern Lights
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Arctic Hideaway, located in northern Norway, was created by composer Håvard Lund. The village has all the functions of a normal home but is split into multiple structures. Guests at the Airbnb can see wildlife like birds and otters, and a view of the Northern Lights. "Despite my in-depth description on Airbnb, I still have bookings from people who don't read one word and just see the pictures and come. "People breathe differently and see natural phenomena that they won't see if they're indoors," like birds, sea otters, and the Northern Lights, Lund said.

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