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☆ I skipped college and became a boatbuilder. My friends who aren't in trade jobs envy me.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

When I returned to France at 26, I enrolled in a yearlong boatbuilding course. I enrolled in a yearlong boatbuilding course, which was free because the government subsidized it. AdvertisementI'm very happy in my career and can see myself progressing, especially in the job I'm in now. I'm more suited to my trade job than a corporate settingNone of my close friends do a trade job. I don't tend to compare myself to others, but I think I'm just as happy and fulfilled as my friends.

Persons: —, Clémentine Mollier, I'd, I've, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, —, Portsmouth, National Museum of, Royal Navy, HMS Locations: Portsmouth, England, France, Australia, Asia, Canada, Costa Rica

☆ My wife and I both work from home. I have a ton of fears about how remote work will impact my kids as they grow up.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Remote work has had a positive impact on my relationship with my kidsI'm an engineering manager for an advertising company, and my wife works for a medical devices company. The flexibility of remote work has positively impacted my relationship with my kids overall. AdvertisementOur generation is the first to raise kids in a remote work environment en-masse. AdvertisementI worry that watching me work remotely will make my kids less resilientI hope that the flexibility of remote work gives my kids a sense of work-life balance. But I also have fears about how remote work will impact my children and their generation.

Persons: —, Jeffery Smith, I'm, Jeff, Jeff I, I've, couldn't, they'll, they're Organizations: Service, Technologies, Business

☆ I went on a secret holiday for a month without telling my boss, using a mouse jiggler to avoid suspicion. I'd do it again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

I've also started "quiet vacationing," which is when your employer is under the impression you're working but you're secretly taking time off. Although I've considered leaving my job, I'm in a golden cage. Because I spend a lot of time doing nothing, I started quietly taking time off for travel without taking PTO over the past two years. Why are we having regulations about the hours that I'm online or where I'm working from? The world can't function if no one has a job, but your job doesn't need to be your entire life.

Persons: —, I'm, I've, I'd, it's, It's Organizations: Service, Business, San Locations: San Francisco, Europe, Italy

☆ I'm a software engineer stranded in the IT outage airport chaos. CrowdStrike broke a cardinal rule of software development and I can't believe the fallout.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

CrowdStrike is well-known in the cybersecurity industry, but until today, I don't think anyone was aware of its dominance as a platform on Windows. However, CrowdStrike might have evidence to suggest that this is a freak accident, so I don't think it's fair to point fingers too much. I don't think that's realistic. I don't think anyone really understood the true scope and presence of CrowdStrike before today. I don't think technology is intrinsically good or evil; it depends on how it's used and regulated.

Persons: —, Ahmed Al Sharif, Al Sharif, I've, Al Sharif's, I'm, It's, You'll, CrowdStrike, it's Organizations: Service, EA, Meta, Business, Barcelona International, London Heathrow, El, Airport Locations: Barcelona, London

☆ I was naïve when I moved to London for a better life. It's been difficult and lonely, but I'm not giving up.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Jerry Chiemeke, a writer from London, about moving to the UK from Nigeria. AdvertisementI wanted to be known as a writer, but I was unsure whether I should continue developing my career in Nigeria. I wanted to continue building my career as a creative, but I've since found it difficult to find permanent work. Before arriving in the UK, I'd lined up part-time editing work. I've been able to freelance but haven't secured permanent creative work.

Persons: —, Jerry Chiemeke, Muhammadu Buhari, I've, I'm, I'd, It's, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, Nigerian, Global, Visa, Commonwealth, The Arts Council England, Arts Council, London Locations: London, Nigeria, Canada, Lagos, England

☆ I quit my day job at 29 by investing in real estate. I'm now a stay-at-home dad building generational wealth for my kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Matt Krueger, 30, about building income from rental properties in Des Moines, Iowa. Related storiesBetween 2017 and 2021, our rental income averaged $1,200 to $1,500 monthly, taking into account money set aside for mortgage payments. I was inspired to try short-term rentals and quit my day job in 2022One day, I listened to a podcast about short-term rentals and Airbnb. AdvertisementOne downside of short-term rentals is the increased adminIn 2023, we made around $97,000 in revenue from long-term rentals and around $143,000 from two short-term rentals. In May this year, we opened our third short-term rental, hoping to increase our revenue even further.

Persons: —, Matt Krueger, who's, I'd, We've, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Facebook Locations: Des Moines , Iowa, Des Moines, Airbnb, Texas

☆ I lost my dream job in the US because I couldn't get a work visa. In Canada, the pathway has been much smoother.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I worked with major US news outlets during and after college and wanted to keep working in America, but couldn't secure an H-1B work visa. I spent the next five years in India, working in journalism before pivoting into a brand and communications position. AdvertisementI couldn't get a work visa in the US, but there was a clearer and more stable path to getting one in Canada. My understanding is that it's become harder to get a work visa in the US since. My work visa expires in October 2024, and I'm open to options for settling in Canada beyond that.

Persons: —, Vaishali Gauba, Stephen Colbert, I've, isn't, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Business, Rutgers University, CNBC, NBC, CBS, Toronto Metropolitan University Locations: Gurugram, India, New Jersey, America, Canada

☆ Meet Bill and Melinda Gates' Gen Z daughter Phoebe, a Stanford graduate and activist who's dating Paul McCartney's grandson
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Phoebe Gates is the youngest daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates. Bill and Melinda Gates. Getty/Scott OlsonBill Gates and Melinda French Gates, who married in 1994 and divorced in 2021, have three children: Jennifer, 28, Rory, 25, and Phoebe, 21. The three Gates children will inherit at least some of their parents' wealth: Bill Gates has said he plans to leave them "only" $10 million each. Today, nearly five decades after cofounding Microsoft, Bill Gates has a fortune of about $134 billion, according to Forbes.

Persons: Phoebe Gates, Bill, Melinda Gates, Getty, Scott Olson Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, Jennifer, Rory, Phoebe, Puck, Bill Gates, Gates, Warren Buffett, Fortune Organizations: Lakeside School, Microsoft, Forbes, Gates Foundation

☆ My parents struggled in blue-collar jobs. Paying off their mortgage and retiring them is my proudest achievement.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Simmy Dhillon, from London, about financially supporting his parents. They stayed in their blue-collar jobs for so long because they couldn't afford to take risks. It's been my proudest achievement, and I don't think anything can top it. AdvertisementIn June, we paid a lump sum of around £51,000 using dividends from the business to pay off my parents' mortgage. If I had a salaried job, even if it paid well, I don't think I'd be able to support my family in the same way.

Persons: —, Simmy Dhillon, Jhai, Rice, It's, we've, We're, I've, couldn't, they've, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, Tesco Locations: London, India

☆ I left the US for Australia. Here are the differences I've spotted in the culture and job market.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementIn Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi. AdvertisementI also think that this culture has allowed me to feel less pressure to go out and I've performed better academically. I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that.

Persons: —, Aolin Xu, I've, I, they're, Australia doesn't, Ernst & Young Organizations: Service, Business, University of New, UNSW, Australian, US, Ernst & Locations: Australia, Washington, Canada, America, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Bali, Malaysia, EY

☆ The US job market is fiercely competitive and student debt is a huge problem. I'm glad I left for Australia.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

My parents, who still live in the US, always talked about how much we could save if I went to university in Australia. AdvertisementIn Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi. I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that.

☆ I'm a surgeon, and my husband's a stay-at-home dad. I knew we couldn't do things the traditional way, but I still have mom guilt.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I'm also a mom of two: My son is 9, and my daughter is 6. I usually use this time to reply to emails, do chores, and work on content, as I'm also a content creator. We try to spend quality time with our kids and go on family vacations at least a couple of times a year. When I'm on call for my job, I'm not required to be at the hospital, but I have to be prepared to respond and go there if need be. I'm learning to accept that I can't do it all — and I want to continue to strive for growth and balance.

Persons: —, Betsy Grunch, I'm, I've, he'd, Ray, it's, I'd Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Georgia, North Carolina

☆ I was burned out as a business owner, so I set really strict boundaries around work. I'm much happier as a 'cozy entrepreneur'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I launched my own business, "Digital Business Manager Bootcamp," in April 2020. I slowly transitioned into a "cozy entrepreneur," where I set boundaries with work and am kinder to myself. I stopped shaming myself and set boundaries around workI started using "soft entrepreneur" and "cozy entrepreneur" around a year ago. One step I took toward becoming a "soft entrepreneur" was implementing a "no-shame policy." I see myself sticking with "soft entrepreneurship" for the foreseeable future.

Persons: —, Deya Aliaga, wasn't, Aliaga, Max Schallwig, I'd, I've, It's Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, Revenue, Research Locations: Berlin

☆ I tried a popular budgeting method but felt I was running out of money every month — until I made one small change
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I read some personal finance books, which is how I came across the 50/30/20 rule. I tweaked the rule to pay off my debt fasterI realized that the 50/30/20 rule didn't really account for my financial goals of paying off debt. I got engaged in February 2023, so I decided to use the 10% financial goals bucket on saving for my wedding instead of paying off debt. Now I've increased my savings budget and decreased my unnecessary spending, I feel more confident in my finances. Because I was factoring this into my 50/30/20 budget, I could afford it.

Persons: —, Libby Brooks, hadn't, COVID, I've, Brooks, didn't Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Wisconsin

☆ Posting about my low-paid job on TikTok helped me earn big. Now I can do what I love without worrying about money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

During my sophomore year at Duke University, I decided to move to France for a sixth-month pastry school. Since studying at pastry school, I've worked as a pastry chef and have been building a baking TikTok account alongside my degree. While at pastry school, I started making baking content on TikTokI downloaded the TikTok app a month before going to pastry school. I think it's cool I've been able to supplement my pastry work with money from content creation. Content creation has helped me to pay for more of my expenses.

Persons: —, Allison Chen, I've, Ducasse, I'd, It's, I'm, doesn't Organizations: Service, Duke University, Business, Duke, I'd, YouTube Locations: New York, France, France France, Paris, TikTok

☆ Getting an inheritance can change people. As an estate lawyer, I've seen it tear families apart.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I'm an attorney who practices exclusively in estate planning, elder law, and estate administration fields. AdvertisementWhen I've dealt with inheritance at my job, I've noticed that putting money on the table changes people. Grief impacts the way people handle inheritance issuesIt breaks my heart to see families fighting over inheritance. I've also seen that inheritance has the power to do goodI think a lot of people assume that inheritances can impact families for the worse. I've seen beneficiaries who didn't expect to inherit anything from someone receive a surprise check, or money being given to charitable organizations.

Persons: Jennifer Rozelle, who's, I've, —, it's, I'd Organizations: Service, Estate & Elder, Business Locations: Indiana

☆ I used a fake name on my résumé to land a job. It might have helped, but it felt like I lost a core part of myself.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 2007, I added an English-sounding name to my résumé in the hopes that it could help me land a job. AdvertisementToward the end of my college experience, I started preparing to get a job in petroleum engineering. AdvertisementOver time, I began to transition back to using Mukhtar. A Nigerian colleague who was like a mentor to me started using my real name. Since Arabic is widely spoken in the Middle East, I would introduce myself to new people as Mukhtar, not Mark.

Persons: —, Mukhtar Kadiri, Mukhtar, I've, Mark, Mukhtar —, I'd, Mark —, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Texas Tech University, Employers Locations: Toronto, Edo State, Nigeria, Oman, UAE, US, Canada

☆ I deleted Gmail and Slack from my phone. I wanted to do better as a parent — but it's also been surprisingly great for my work.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Rebecca Cafiero, 44, from Palo Alto, California, about deleting work-related communication apps from her phone. I was on my phone, and my son, who was six then, wanted me to play a game with him. I started by setting screen limits and eventually deleted work-related communication apps from my phone. AdvertisementI used to wake up and check my emails immediately, but I no longer let communication apps control my day. I've since deleted about a third of the apps I used to have on my phone, as I felt I wasn't even using them.

Persons: —, Rebecca Cafiero, Slack, It's, I'd, I'm, it's, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Google Locations: Palo Alto , California, Silicon Valley

☆ I moved to NYC from Ukraine for a tech job. Here are 3 main differences in America's work culture.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 2016, I was offered a role as a director of product design at a New York tech startup called UpTop. How I got a job at a New York tech startupI studied business law at college in Ukraine but decided I wanted to follow my passion and become a designer. I worked at three other companies in Ukraine before moving to the US, doing UX and product design. In the US, I feel that big companies are developing original ideas and patents, while in Ukraine, the biggest tech companies provide consultancy services. As a product design director at UpTop, I could choose which features to research and test and decide how a certain feature would be implemented.

Persons: —, Yaroslav Zubko, I'd, hadn't, I've, UpTop, it's, Tinder Organizations: Service, Business, Zubko, Deloitte Locations: New York, Ukraine, America, UpTop, Tinder, SoftServe, Ukrainian

☆ I was a tech DINK earning over $100k a year. Our double income helped me quit my 9-to-5 — but now the glory days are over.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I even quit my 9-to-5 to pursue my passion for content creation. I made $40,000 in revenue from content creation in 2022 and $107,000 in 2023 before expenses. AdvertisementSince I'm not earning a stable income, we've decided to limit our spending more this year. I decided to give myself a salary of $35,000 for 2024 from my content creation business. As content creation doesn't require me to go into an office, I'm hoping to build a flexible career that I can continue around raising a kid.

Persons: —, Natalie Fischer, Keldon, now's, we've, There's, Roth, I'm, DINK, We've, He's, we're, haven't Organizations: Service, Business, UGC Locations: Washington, Seattle, pomeranian, Rome, Mexico, Finland

☆ I'm a Palestinian startup founder. I wanted to do my part for my home country, but now we have to leave.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Palestinian startup sceneOur business is based in Ramallah, where Raya lives. If starting a company in Ramallah could benefit the community by creating jobs and further building on the small startup scene there, we wanted to try. When "The Middle Frame" goes through a hard time in the future, we can look back at that screenshot. In the future, when our business is stable in a different market, we could maybe have a smaller operation in the Palestinian market. The Palestinian startup ecosystem needs more examples of successful startups in the wider region to support the startups in Palestine and more investment bodies to support the early-stage startups.

Persons: Mohammad Alnobani, Alnobani, —, We'd, Raya, creatives, We're, I'd, I've, We've, Raya's, we've, it's Organizations: West Bank, Hamas, Service, Young, Palestine, Israel, Getty, UAE Locations: Gaza, Alnobani, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories, Amman, Jordan, Jerusalem, Belfast, Palestinian, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Nablus, Qatar, London, Boston, East, North Africa, it's, Egypt, Europe, Ramallah —, Dubai, Jordanian, Iran, UAE, Palestine

☆ I quit medicine for an entry-level corporate job. I felt behind but didn't have the passion to become a low-paid doctor.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Salaha Ashraf spent her last few years of medical school feeling stressed and anxious. Ashraf went to medical school in 2014 but pivoted into a corporate career after deciding she didn't want to be a doctor. I felt more passionate about business management after one year compared to four years of medical school. I don't wish I was a doctorI try to look back at medical school in a positive light. If I felt empowered to follow my passion, maybe I would have studied psychology, which I found interesting at school.

Persons: Salaha Ashraf, —, Ashraf, I've, I'd Organizations: Service, NHS, Business Locations: Bolton, England

☆ Gen Zers can't always afford to have fun. Here's how I budget my $80,000 salary to save for a house and still enjoy my 20s.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's not necessarily that I'm spending less money, but I'm way more intentional about how I spend it. But my generation has to choose between these things; having fun in your 20s is harder now. Sandke said she wants to enjoy her 20s and she builds fun activities into her budget. My savings also go toward fun things I'm looking forward to in the near future. I want to look back on my 20s and feel I was responsible with my money and had fun.

Persons: —, Emma Sandke, I've, It's, Sandke, Roth, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Boston Locations: Boston

☆ I left Silicon Valley for a dream job in Chicago. I wasn't prepared for how crushing the loneliness could be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I interned for a company called Bridge Money during my MBA at Stanford. I wanted to work at a fintech company, and this opportunity with Bridge Money was the exact type of role I wanted. AdvertisementI'd heard that Chicago was becoming more of a startup hub but not on the same level as Silicon Valley. Bridge Money offered me the possibility of an equity grant — if all went well at the company, my equity would increase in value. At Bridge Money, I was one of the first 10 full-time hires.

Persons: Jaime Muñoz, —, I'd, Stanford, Muñoz, Jaime Muñoz I'd, I've, I'm, Everyone's, It's Organizations: Stanford, Service, Chicago, Accenture, San Locations: Chicago, California, Bay, Silicon, San Francisco

☆ I'm a Gen Zer who lived without a smartphone for 9 months. Here's what I learned from having a clunky flip phone.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

AdvertisementHaving a flip phone removed the impulse to do things on my phone without thinkingThe flip phone I got was clunky and slow. I had to get a smartphone again for workI stopped using the flip phone after nine months. AdvertisementI also felt that having a flip phone hindered me from meeting people and being easy to communicate with. If I were getting to a point where I felt I was using my phone too much, I'd know I could go back to using a flip phone. AdvertisementBefore having a flip phone, I would spend five hours or more a day on my smartphone, but now I think it's more like one or two.

Persons: —, Ella Jones, Jones, she'd, StudentCrowd, I've, I'd, you'll, I'm Organizations: Service, Samsung Galaxy Young, YouTube, Business, Google, Nokia, Facebook Locations: Belfast, Northern Ireland

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