If you have a business or big career ambitions, you’ll likely desire a coach or mentor at some point throughout the journey. These individuals help you navigate setbacks, challenges, opportunities and even successes. They also become instrumental when that next level of success requires additional support. However, not all coaches are the same. You want someone who’s qualified, but you also need a coach who will be the right mentor for your individual needs. Hiring a career coach is an investment and a commitment, which means that due diligence is paramount. Jon Cheplak, coach, consultant and ..read more

New York Times bestselling author Matt Kepnes first started his travel blog Nomadic Matt in 2008 to help other travelers explore the world in a more affordable manner. Since then, he has built a robust community for like-minded travelers to meet and learn, and he’s published two books: How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad. We sat down with Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt, to get the scoop on how to maximize time and money as a digital nomad. Becoming a digital nomad SUCCESS: Can you share a bit about your journey in becoming Nomadic Matt and what inspired you to start traveling ..read more

My son wanted me to buy him something. I said no. As preteens do, he said something bratty like, “Why would it matter to you? It’s dad’s money, anyway.” Instead of allowing my boiling blood pressure to show, I used my skills as a successful small business owner to ask a few clarifying questions first: Why do you think it’s dad’s money? “Because he goes to work.” You know I work on my computer, right? “But you don’t go to work.” It quickly occurred to me that we didn’t just have a disrespect issue—rather, this is a modern age misunderstanding that extends far beyond my son’s understanding of wo ..read more

When you read discussions about dating online, there seems to be one consensus: it’s an exhausting endeavor. On a thread on r/AskMen, Reddit user CampusBoulderer put it this way: “Dating apps turn something that should be fun and exciting into a grind. Do your 50 swipes, get onto the next app, copy paste your intro phrase which ‘guarantees responses,’ follow the guide to convert matches into meetups. I get the same feeling I used to applying for jobs after 2008, just throwing my profile at everyone and hoping for the best. Technology has really failed us on this front.” So, what if you co ..read more

Hannah Williams wants you to share your salary information with strangers. She was just 24, earning $90,000 a year (“More money than I had ever seen in my life!”) as a government contractor in Washington, D.C. when she realized that she was making almost $25,000 less than the average salary for her position. Williams had taken on more responsibilities at her job a few months prior. A colleague left the company, doubling her workload, and the company had no plans to replace him. Burned out and buried under work, she knew it was time to take action. She researched the market to discover what a j ..read more

A recent travel trend circulating on social media is the “destination dupe.” The concept is similar to makeup dupes—more affordable alternatives to expensive makeup products. Instead of seeking out popular (and potentially overcrowded) destinations, people are opting for less expensive and less crowded locations that can offer a similar ambiance. What is a destination dupe? Before heading to a destination, it’s important to understand that destination dupes aren’t meant to be a better version of their more famous counterparts. Instead, they offer an alternative destination that might have a si ..read more

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, companies constantly seek innovative ways to foster collaboration, boost employee morale and enhance productivity. Since some companies are fully remote in a post-pandemic era, it is even more essential to maintain the feeling of unity and cohesiveness. One approach that has been around for many years is to host a company off-site retreat. These retreats not only provide a break from the office, but also act as strategic tools that, when executed effectively, have a significant impact on the organization.  “They help with social bonding, cre ..read more

A recent Instagram post of Peter Rabbit by the account Beach4Art received over 2.3 million views. When you first look at the picture it looks like a painting, but when you zoom in, you realize that it’s composed of seashells, rocks and other organic beach materials similar to an optical illusion. The creators of the beach artwork, leva Slare and her husband Dzintars, along with their two teenage children, have been designing impressive beach art for the past four years on the North Devon, UK beaches. Twelve years ago, they moved to the UK from Latvia.  The beginnings of Beach4Ar ..read more

Most of my audience knows me as a journalist, but my alter ego is a digital marketer. Recently, someone I work with told me that you can’t measure the return on investment in marketing. I called BS.  Marketing is a long game with many touches. While you may not be able to assign a specific dollar amount, you can certainly identify the key performance indicators that gauge the success of your campaign. . Ad conversion rates. SEO metrics like traffic and position on the search engine response page. Each of these indicators can help you determine your overall digital marketing ROI.  But ..read more

Today, 62% of Americans own a pet; and of those pet owners, 97% of them consider their pet to be a part of their family. Pets have become a huge part of American culture and bring joy to many homes, but are there benefits of having a pet that contribute to our overall success? That depends on how you define success. Success is often linked to good health, self-confidence and positive social skills. With 33 out of 45 (73%) past U.S. presidents having owned a dog, pet ownership seems like a positive component for people in high-powered positions. A 2018 survey by Banfield Pet Hospital agrees, wi ..read more