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☆ At Pixar, Steve Jobs hired a director who'd 'just made a big flop'—the result was an Oscar-winning success
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fresh off the career-threatening flop, Bird was hired by Jobs and Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull to write and direct a movie called "The Incredibles." "They were feeling like, 'We're in danger of falling into certain habits because we have the same group that are doing things ... but we want to shake things up.'" Jobs and Catmull told Bird they hired him because "The Iron Giant" showed a determination to find new ways to tell stories, Bird recalled. "I want people who are disgruntled because they have a better way of doing things and they're having trouble finding an avenue," Bird said. If you're doing it right, you are kind of an underdog," Bird said.

☆ 19-year-old who makes $10,000 a month from his video game side hustle: 'I never knew that writing could make me' so much money
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

During his senior year of high school, Arash Lahijani realized he could make money through an unusual side hustle: Writing backstories for video game characters. Arash Lahijani was a high school senior when he learned he could make money writing backstories for video game characters. Since then, he's earned $62,400 writing more than 400 character backstories for an online version of the video game Grand Theft Auto, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. Here's how Lahijani learned how to write video game character backstories and how he plans to grow his income through writing:How to write a video game backstoryLahijani says his writing skills aren't from English classes or extracurricular interests. Those same types of hooks now serve as the first and last sentences of his character backstories, he adds.

☆ Some TikTok users are receiving $167 checks over data privacy violations—and Google and Snapchat could be next
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This week, TikTok users across the country who created videos on the app before September 30, 2021, began receiving payments between $27.84 and $167.04 following a $92 million class-action data privacy settlement with the social media platform. The largest checks went to short- and long-term residents of Illinois, where TikTok was sued for violating the state's strict biometric data laws by collecting and implementing facial recognition data into its algorithms without user consent. On the surface, facial recognition features on social media seem harmless, if not beneficial to the user experience — but experts say there are underlying consequences. Matthew Kugler, a privacy law professor at Northwestern University told CNBC Make It in May that such businesses hold the potential to eliminate our anonymity. In 2019, a study Kugler authored found that 70% of its participants were uncomfortable with companies using facial recognition data to track individual's locations and serve target ads.

☆ How 'mental toughness' can backfire—and actually make you less successful
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

You might think mental toughness means never making mistakes. Mental toughness is more about your ability to recover from missteps. But obsessing over mental toughness can backfire, experts say: Instead of putting your mistakes in the rearview mirror, you might start fixating on them, internally berating yourself in an attempt at self-motivation. Balancing your mental toughness with self-compassion — or, convincing yourself that you're capable of improving — can help. "They say, 'You're too kind with yourself, you're not going to make it.'

☆ Mark Cuban says this is 'one of the worst traits' he's ever seen in a 'Shark Tank' contestant
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Friday's episode of ABC's "Shark Tank," the billionaire investor highlighted one startup founder as an example of the latter category. "One of the great traits of any good entrepreneur is resilience, and you've certainly shown that," Cuban told Amy Leinbach, the founder of children's tool company Big Bee, Little Bee. The Huntington Beach, California-based company is known for the ScrubBee, a handheld silicone scrubber that brought in 80% of Big Bee, Little Bee's sales last year. Leinbach asked the Sharks for $100,000, in exchange for a 20% stake in Big Bee, Little Bee. At the time of taping, she said she had already invested $100,000 of her own money to build "Marker Parker."

☆ This company wants to pay you $20,000 to make chili at a football game—here’s how to apply
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Calling all tailgate chefs: You could earn $20,000 and free tickets to the SEC Championship Game by mixing up the right batch of chili. Knoxville, Tennessee-based Bush's Beans is currently hiring its "first ever" chili commissioner. They'll also compete in the tailgate's chili cookoff, judged by a panel of recent World Championship Chili Cook-Off champions. The Bulldogs avenged that loss the following month in the College Football Playoff national championship game, defeating the Crimson Tide in a rematch. Both teams are early contenders again for this year's SEC Championship game, alongside the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers.

☆ MacKenzie Scott's latest $84.5 million donation could transform Girl Scouts as you know them
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

On Tuesday, the Girl Scouts of the USA announced a $84.5 million gift from the billionaire, the biggest donation from a single benefactor in the organization's history. The funds will also "future-proof its facilities," making the Girl Scouts' buildings more climate resilient and accessible to visitors, the announcement said. Girl Scouts of the USA didn't immediately respond to CNBC Make It's request for clarification. The donation will be divided between Girl Scouts of the USA and 29 local councils selected by Scott herself, the organization said. Philanthropic contributions are increasingly important, as many people incorrectly assume the Girl Scouts raise enough money to fund itself from cookie sales alone, Garcia-Hernandez said.

☆ This 31-year-old spent $2,300 on an acre of Arizona land—less than a decade later, it's worth $15,000
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Louis Herron, 31, spent $2,333 on an acre in Arizona in 2013. Now, the land hosts his two tiny homes and is worth up to $15,000When Louis Herron spent $2,333 on an acre of land in 2013, he knew was getting a good deal. But he never predicted the property in Flagstaff, Arizona, a 30-minute drive from the Grand Canyon, would become over six times more valuable in less than a decade. Now the acre, which currently hosts two tiny homes, is worth up to $15,000, according to an appraiser estimate reviewed by CNBC Make It. "I was 21 or 22 years old at the time, and I had no idea I could even buy property," Herron, 31, tells CNBC Make It.

☆ Mark Cuban could have retired early after becoming a millionaire at age 32—here's why he didn't
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

When Mark Cuban was in his 20s, he wanted to get rich and retire by age 35. He succeeded at the first part: At age 32, Cuban sold his first company, a computer consulting business called MicroSolutions, for $6 million. "I'm not retired because I'm too competitive," Cuban said. O'Leary promptly retired at age 36, and ultimately regretted it. "If I'm 25 and I'm doing this again, I'm probably [thinking], 'OK, what can I do to get acquired?'"

☆ This 45-year-old makes $39,000 a month selling vintage buttons as necklaces—and only works 20 hours a week
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nicole Tocci started flipping vintage Chanel buttons into necklaces in 2016. Their popularity eventually convinced her to build a standalone website for her side hustle, called One Vintage Button, at the end of 2020. This year, Tocci has already made $351,900 selling repurposed button necklaces, primarily sourcing her vintage finds from Chanel clothing. How to build a button businessTocci leveraged that trust to start One Vintage Button. Nicole Tocci

☆ Mark Cuban credits his first tech job to this interview strategy: I answered a trick question honestly
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Then, he landed his first job in tech as a PC software salesperson at a company called Your Business Software. But in an old blog post, which Cuban recently shared on Twitter, the billionaire revealed he almost didn't land the consequential role. The interviewers weren't impressed, Cuban wrote, until he answered one question: "What do you do if a customer has a question about a software package and you don't know the answer?" "Ding ding ding… [the interviewer] just loved the answer." Cuban didn't know it was a trick question, so he answered it honestly, stumbling into the correct answer.

☆ Kevin O'Leary says he's betting on Elon Musk amid Twitter drama: ‘I think this guy is Teflon’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin O'Leary just weighed in on Elon Musk's controversial Twitter deal — and he's siding with the world's richest person. "I happen to have watched [Musk] forever, and I think this guy is Teflon man," O'Leary said. O'Leary predicted that Musk will indeed assume ownership of Twitter once the dust settles, saying he thinks the Tesla CEO will improve the social media platform's user experience substantially once in charge. "I use the platform, too, and I look at the metrics versus all the other [social media companies] including Tiktok and LinkedIn and Instagram and Facebook. "He [advertised] it on the back of Twitter and other social media platforms.

☆ Billionaire Melinda French Gates wants to create an alternative to Silicon Valley: 'To change it would be incredibly hard'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Melinda French Gates wants to shake up the tech industry, starting in Silicon Valley. "To re-create Silicon Valley or to change it would be incredibly hard," French Gates said. The idea is that a broader and more equitable range of voices in a boardroom equals more ideas, which betters technology, French Gates added. French Gates committed $1 billion of her own money to Pivotal in 2019, four years after launching the firm. French Gates has been vocally persistent about the need for more female and diverse tech leaders for years.

☆ Tim Cook says there are 4 traits he looks for in Apple employees: ‘It’s been a very good formula for us’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-02 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

For instance, the company typically seeks out employees with four shared skills: the ability to collaborate, creativity, curiosity and expertise. "It's been a very good formula for us," he said, noting those traits also contribute to an ambitious, yet supportive workplace culture. This year, the company dropped off Comparably's annual list of global companies with the best workplace culture. At the Utah Tech Tour in October 2016, Cook said Apple looked for brilliance, determination, obsessive curiosity, team focus and agitated idealism in its employees. Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletterDon't miss:Tim Cook became CEO of Apple 10 years ago.

☆ This ex-pharmacist spent $22,000 on a startup—now she has a $600,000 'Shark Tank' deal and could make $1 million this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Now, she has two new business partners and a "Shark Tank" deal: During the episode, Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec gave Farzin a combined $600,000 for 10% of Oogiebear. The investors promised to give up half of that equity if the company doesn't hit $400 million in sales within two years. So she took $22,000 from her savings, quit her full-time pharmacist job and founded Potomac, Maryland-based Oogiebear. On Friday's episode of ABC's "Shark Tank," Farzin told investors how far she'd come: Since launching her booger-removal business, Oogiebear had made $15 million in revenue. But Farzin stayed focused on Corcoran and Herjavec, asking them for a combined $600,000 instead.

☆ Why Mark Cuban keeps working, even though he wanted to retire at 35: ‘I’m too competitive’
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Almost four decades ago, a 25-year-old Mark Cuban had a goal: He wanted to retire within 10 years. "I'm too competitive," Cuban said, adding that this mindset it exactly what's propelled him to a long and successful career. "I wanted to retire by the time I was 35, and so that drove the decisions that I made." Nearly two-thirds of people from ages 57 to 66 retire early, even though the average wealth for that age bracket is $144,000. "If I'm 25 and I'm doing this again, I'm probably [thinking], 'Okay, what can I do to get acquired?'"

☆ Mark Zuckerberg: The metaverse will unfold in 3 steps, and one is happening ‘sooner than I thought'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Whether you're strapping in for a Peloton ride or buying up virtual real estate, Mark Zuckerberg says you've joined the metaverse. "This was sort of my theory: 'Gaming is use case number one for VR [virtual reality],'" Zuckerberg said on the podcast. And Zuckerberg said exercise apps are helping make those experiences more immersive, nearly physical, reality. This isn't the first time Zuckerberg has drawn a link from virtual fitness platforms to Meta's work. On repeated occasions, the Meta co-founder said he wants media to become more immersive and less distinguishable from physical reality.

☆ 58-year-old whose side hustle renting out his pool made $195,000 in 2 years: Here's what you need to succeed
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Jim Battan, 58, has made nearly $200,000 renting out his backyard pool. But he says his lucrative side hustle requires a lot of time, money and the right mindset to succeed. Here are the three reasons why Battan's six-figure side hustle isn't for casual pool owners. He spent $110,000 on its construction, which includes a pool house and attached spa pool that he keeps at 130 degrees year-round. The pool is also near the family's rescue farm, where Battan's wife cares for animals like pigs, raccoons and llamas.

☆ GOP megadonor Peter Thiel to host fundraiser for Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Republican megadonor Peter Thiel is hosting a fundraiser at his Los Angeles home next week for Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters after GOP officials asked the tech mogul for more money heading into the final stretch of the November midterm elections. The move by Thiel to host Masters comes as donations from the tech mogul to separate super PACs supporting Masters and Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Republican leaders and campaign officials, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., have reportedly asked Thiel to help Vance and Masters in the general election. Vance and Masters both worked with Thiel before they launched their Senate campaigns. Vance once worked at investment firm Mithril Capital, which was co-founded by Thiel, while Masters was the chief operating officer at Thiel Capital.

☆ Mark Cuban fires business partners and NBA players for the same reason: 'A team can have 1 knucklehead, you can't have 2'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In boardrooms and on basketball courts, billionaire Mark Cuban says he's noticed one factor that consistently leads to success: team culture. He said he's fired business partners and traded basketball players because of their personalities — especially when the team has multiple self-centered or combative members. When he's hiring, Cuban specifically looks for people who can help make the workplace a better experience for others. "[They] may not have had the experience on the business side that we otherwise would have gone for," Cuban said. In basketball, Cuban said he doesn't necessarily screen new players for narcissism, but he has traded players to spark motivation within the team.

☆ This 31-year-old spent $15,000 setting up an Airbnb yurt near the Grand Canyon—now it earns him $28,000 per year
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In August 2020, tour guide Louis Herron spent about $15,000 setting up a yurt on his property outside the Grand Canyon. In 2011, Louis Herron dropped out of Ball State University, packed a backpack and moved west. After a couple of months, he nabbed a similar role at Glacier National Park before settling in Flagstaff, Arizona, right outside the Grand Canyon. There, Herron spent $2,400 for an acre of land that would eventually host two tiny homes, his Grand Canyon touring business and his side hustle: a 16-foot yurt listed on Airbnb. Louis Herron

☆ This 59-year-old’s lucrative side hustle: Earning $16,000 a month selling recycled fire pits on Etsy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-09 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Tim Riegel, 59, started making fire pits out of propane gas tank ends a year ago. With inflation on the rise, Tim Riegel wanted a side project for extra income — so in September 2021, he bought seven $90 propane tank ends off Facebook Marketplace. The fire pits proved popular: They sold out in just 10 days, and Riegel was inundated with requests for more. Riegel started his business with seven tank ends that he bought off Facebook Marketplace for $90 each. In June, his highest-earning month to date, he made $16,000 selling fire pits, most which are priced between $600 and $1,700.

☆ 31-year-old who quit her job and makes $15,000 a month recording voiceovers: I only work '3 to 5 hours per day'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-02 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Two and a half years ago, Alice Everdeen worked 50 hours per week and made $42,000 per year as a content manager for a supplement company. Now, she makes up to $15,000 per month, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. "I would say [I work] like 3 to 5 hours per day," Everdeen, 31, tells CNBC Make It. There's a reason Everdeen keeps short, strict hours: burnout. "Paying $4,000 a month for rent, and then working 60 hours a week is not what I want to do.

☆ This 57-year-old's lucrative side hustle: Earning $177,000 renting out his backyard pool to strangers
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-21 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"I built a man cave last year, and also credit that to my Swimply pool." Plus, Battan's pool is the gold standard: He is Swimply's top earner out of 25,000 pools in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The pool is also right next to the family's barn, where Battan's wife looks after rescued animals like horses, llamas, opossums and pigs. The pool is also near the family's rescue farm, where Battan's wife cares for animals like pigs, raccoons and llamas. Swimply takes a 15% cut from every booking, though Battan says the platform's ease of use is worth it.

☆ Economy passengers could soon lie down on airplanes—meet the airline that's doing it first
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-03 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

One airline wants to cure to these traveling ailments: Air New Zealand recently announced the world's first lie-flat "pods" for economy class airplanes, set to debut in 2024. "The airline did a fair bit of research around sleep cycles," an Air New Zealand spokesperson told CNN Travel last week. When Air New Zealand initially announced the concept in 2020, transportation analyst Seth Kaplan told CNBC he was skeptical that economy passengers would jump in line to try it. "Air New Zealand will have to ask itself if those beds will bring in more money than economy or premium seats in the same space." The race to put actual beds in economy class appears to have fewer participants.

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