My side hustle made $10,000 in a month. It convinced me to leave my law career.

Tech Insider : Business
Greg Smith headshot

Courtesy of Greg Smith

I have 18 years of experience in PR. My job applications still go unanswered.

Tech Insider : Business
Candice N. Mackel headshot

Courtesy of Kendra Knight

As a real estate agent, making money off Airbnbs was a safe bet. I decided to franchise my favorite coffee shop instead.

Tech Insider : Business
A professional headshot of a man outdoors.
Real estate agent Jordan Hooten decided to franchise his favorite coffee shop as an investment.

Courtesy of Jordan Hooten

I burned out as a manager at Microsoft — then got laid off. Nearly 3 years later, I'm still looking for work.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Karena Plepel
Karena Plepel

Karena Plepel

My AI startup pays people to film themselves taking out the trash. It's now valued at $150 million.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Kled AI founder Avi Patel.
Kled AI founder Avi Patel.

Kled AI

I started my restaurant business with $5,000 I earned from online gambling. It's now a $20 million national chain.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Sports
Tom Armenti, president and CEO of Fat Shack Inc., appears on Shark Tank.
Tom Armenti, president and CEO of Fat Shack Inc., started his restaurant company using online gambling winnings.

Eric McCandless/ABC

Going viral saved my bakery, but it's never been about the money for me

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Jatee Kearsley sitting at a bench
Jatee Kearsley is the owner and pastry chef of Je T'aime Patisserie.

Courtesy of Jatee Kearsley

I started a cancer nonprofit at 14 after losing my grandfather and teacher. Now it has 40,000 youth volunteers.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Olivia Zhang headshot
Olivia Zhang started her nonprofit at 14.

Courtesy of Olivia Zhang

I'm an engineer who hasn't touched code in months. I'm excited about AI, but sometimes I worry about my future.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Person looking at computer from behind
Rohan Gore said he hasn't coded since December.

Nimito/Getty Images

I'm a former magazine editor who wakes up every day at 5:17 a.m. for good luck. Here's a day in my new flexible life as a mom of 3.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
Liz Plosser
Liz Plosser, the former editor-in-chief of Women's Health, now runs a Substack and YouTube channel in addition to her freelance consulting work.

Liz Plosser

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Liz Plosser, the former editor-in-chief of Women's Health.

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