Balance of Power: Early Edition 7/01/2025
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Forbes
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- Forbes
7 Passive Income Ideas For Busy Professionals In 2025
What does it mean to be wealthy in America? The answer depends on where you live. Ask a professional in New York City, one of the nation's most expensive metros. I put the question to Janel Abrahami, a Glassdoor career expert, and she told me that even a salary of $150,000 in the New York Metropolitan area is fairly modest and just barely scratching the surface of paying the bills. 'It seems so shocking and wild to get to this place where that does not feel like nearly enough to achieve the American dream,' she expressed. (At the same time, salaries in NYC are generally higher than other locales, just like in California.) So how do you close the gap on the cost/salary discrepancy without quitting your job? The answer: passive income. 7 AI-Powered Passive Income Ideas For Busy Professionals And thanks to AI tools like ChatGPT, it's become faster and easier than ever to build, launch, and promote your passive income idea, and make money within days or weeks at most, without sacrificing too much time or needing to leave your job. Here are seven passive income ideas that are AI-powered and are perfect for busy professionals: How Do I Make Passive Income While Working Full-Time? Follow the advice in this article and try any of the ideas above. The initial legwork will be challenging, but once you begin to scale and see your income compound and even double your salary, it will be so worth it. Once you've begun to see success with one stream of passive income, diversify and consider branching out and building on this success by creating other, complementary, passive income sources. Even though a single paycheck is scarcely enough to keep up with the cost of living and supporting yourself and your family comfortably, the passive income ideas in this article prove that when you employ the right AI tools and think strategically, you can generate extra cash without quitting your job or taking up a second one. If you found this article incredibly helpful, you should check out 11 Must-Try AI Tools For Freelancers In 2025 next.
Forbes
a few seconds ago
- Forbes
The Community Experience: Brands That Give Back Connect On A Deeper Level
More than ever, local disasters such as floods, fire, tornadoes and more are making headlines. Last year, reported 27 weather disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each. This year, the Los Angeles area experienced wildfires causing billions of dollars in damage. In May, a tornado ripped through St. Louis, causing an estimated $1.6 billion in damage to homes and businesses. In addition to government support, companies and local citizens stepped up to support their communities in the wake of the devastation. Smart organizations are discovering that supporting disaster-affected communities is more than just good citizenship. It's an exceptional customer experience strategy. Brands that Give Back Earlier this year, I wrote an article about brands that give back and support social causes. Patagonia was the featured brand that has an incredible give-back program. Our customer experience research finds that 62% of U.S. consumers prefer doing business with companies that support important social causes, and 52% say a company's involvement with social causes increases their trust. These are just two reasons why brands give back. It connects them with their customers at a higher level, especially when the company's cause is important to the customer. The Local Connection Advantage Another finding in my research was just as compelling, if not more so. Sixty-nine percent of customers prefer companies and organizations that support local community causes over those that focus on global issues. Customers can often see the impact that the brand is making in the community. The Community Experience A local approach represents an angle of customer experience worthy of consideration. Traditionally, CX focuses on the quality of service, convenience, excellent customer support and personalization. Smart brands recognize the benefits of giving back, and many of them view the local community as a means to demonstrate visible support and show that it's not just about profit. Last year I wrote an article about the benefit that sports and entertainment can have on a community. One of the examples in the article featured the Evolution Festival, a two-day music festival in St. Louis. Steve Schankman, the man behind the festival, wanted to produce an event with the goal of bringing a diverse community together regardless of color, religion or sex. The Evolution Festival accomplished its goal, but this year, it is making a change. It transitioned from for-profit to non-profit status, dedicating net proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise and concessions to the United Way of Greater St. Louis for tornado relief, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000, regardless of ticket sales. 'We realized we weren't just in the entertainment business. We were in the community experience business,' says Schankman, Evolution Festival's CEO and executive producer. 'Our customers don't just want great music and a good experience. They also want to feel good about their decision to spend money with us. When someone buys a ticket knowing it directly helps their tornado-affected neighbors, that's not just a transaction. It's a transformation of how they see themselves in their community.' The Evolution Festival isn't alone in its approach. In January, The FireAid benefit concert raised millions for California wildfire relief. Last year, country music megastar Luke Combs organized Concert for Carolina and raised millions of dollars for Hurricane Helene victims. Final Words Whether it be a natural disaster or a local issue tied to causes like homelessness, education or community development, many customers want their spending to align with their values. Organizations that recognize this can gain trust and repeat business from their customers. They understand that the best experience isn't just about what you do for customers. It's about what you enable customers to do for their communities. Evolution Festival's transformation from a for-profit entertainment company to a community-focused organization demonstrates the power of this approach. In a marketplace where customers have endless choices, the brands that win don't just serve their customers. They also serve the communities their customers call home. That's not just good business. It's an important part of the next evolution (pun intended) of customer experience.
CBS News
a few seconds ago
- CBS News
Texas redistricting battle to start new phase with Democrats expected return to Capitol
For the second week, Republicans and Democrats have continued their showdown over new congressional maps in Texas, which will result in five new GOP-majority districts at the expense of Democrats. But the fight is about to enter a new phase on Monday, Aug. 18. Democrats who broke quorum and left Texas, killed the first special session, and didn't show up for the start of the second special session — many believe they will Monday. Speaker Dustin Burrows said House members must be at the Capitol at noon. Friday, Aug. 15, Burrows ended the first special session after the House once again fell short of a quorum, which requires 100 lawmakers to be present. The Senate ended its first special session, too, and then Governor Greg Abbott called for the start of the second special session, with the same agenda, to start a couple of hours later Friday, at noon. Democrats said they wanted to kill the first special session, which allowed them time to go to other states, such as California, where Governor Gavin Newsom said if Texas approves its new maps, California will do the same to neutralize any GOP gains. "We can't stand back and watch this democracy disappear district by district all across the country," Newsom said. "We are not bystanders in this world. We can shape the future." The difference there is that voters in California will have to approve it, something that won't happen in Texas. During an unrelated news conference on Friday, Aug. 15, CBS News Texas's Jack Fink asked Gov. Abbott about Newsom's plan. In an exclusive interview, Abbott spoke about his ongoing lawsuit to remove House Democratic Caucus Chairman Gene Wu from office and whether Republicans will try to increase the number of new GOP majority congressional seats to not just five, but as many as eight or more. Abbott said, " They are [Democrats] are required by the Texas Constitution to actually show up and cast votes on bills. That's what the Constitution requires. That's why I'm seeking to remove Gene Wu, because he's not fulfilling his constitutional duty." As for adding more seats, Abbott said, " In reference to the lawsuit, Wu shared his thoughts concerning Abbott and when Democrats will return. For the past couple of weeks, House Republicans have expressed frustration about Democrats breaking quorum. Representative Shelley Luther of Grayson County about the end of the first special session and what she wants to happen next with redistricting. For now, Republicans have proposed adding the same five GOP majority districts in Congress as they have before. Abbott has not added redistricting for State House seats, and he was asked about it. "Every strategy is at play... if we need to," said Abbott. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, of Dallas, said she's considering running in a different Congressional district in North Texas than the one she represents now. In North Texas now, there are three Democrats who serve in Congress, but under the new maps, there will only be two districts. That's because District 32, now represented by Democrat Julie Johnson, will become a Republican majority district and extend to East Texas. District 33, now represented by Democrat Marc Veasey, of Fort Worth, includes both Tarrant and Dallas Counties, but under the new maps, will only be in Dallas County. Crockett said she's considering running in the newly drawn 33rd Congressional District, because her home will be in that district, instead of the 30th District she represents now. Last week, Congressman Veasey and Congresswoman Johnson both said they are focused on the fight against the new maps first, and will then consider their options for re-election. A new poll shows mixed results about how Texans feel about the newly proposed Congressional maps. Regarding the five new GOP majority Congressional seats, the Emerson College poll of 1,000 registered voters in Texas found 36% support the new maps, while 38% oppose them, and 26% are unsure. But when asked if Republicans in Texas are entitled to five more seats, something President Trump said, 40% of those surveyed said they agreed, 38% disagreed, and 22% were neutral. Burrows signed civil arrest warrants against the Democrats who broke quorum. The new poll showed 41% agreed they should be arrested, 37% disagreed, and 22% were neutral. And in the bitter Republican primary for the Texas Senate race, the poll found 30% support for incumbent Senator John Cornyn, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton one point behind at 29%. Five percent said they want someone else, and 37% are undecided. Previous polls have shown Paxton leading Cornyn.
