Latest news with #freelance
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
5 AI prompts to put serious money in your pocket
So, you want to start making money using AI but you're not trying to build Skynet or learn 15 coding languages first? Good, because neither am I. You don't need to become the next Sam Altman or have a Ph.D. in machine learning to turn artificial intelligence into real income. What you do need is curiosity, a dash of creativity, and the right prompts. 💸 Enter to win $500 for you and $500 for your favorite person or charity in our Pay It Forward Sweepstakes. Hurry, ends soon! I've pulled together five powerful, practical prompts you can throw into ChatGPT (or your AI tool of choice) to help you start earning extra cash this week. These aren't pie-in-the-sky dreams or $10K-a-month YouTube ad schemes. They're doable, even if your calendar is already packed. Let's get to it. 1. Fast-Track Your Freelance Life Prompt to use:"Act as a freelance business coach. Suggest 3 services I can offer on Fiverr or Upwork using AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney or Canva. I have [insert skill: writing/design/admin/accounting/managerial] experience." Why this works:Freelance work is exploding right now. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are filled with small businesses and entrepreneurs who need help—but don't have the budget to hire full-time staff. If you've got any kind of professional background, you can use AI tools to turbocharge your services. Writing blog posts? ChatGPT can give you a draft. Creating logos or social media templates? Midjourney and Canva are your new best friends. You don't need a team. You don't need fancy software. You just need a good prompt and the confidence to say, "Yes, I can do that." AI helps you scale what you already know how to do. 2. Make Product Descriptions Sexy Again Prompt to use:"Rewrite this Etsy or Shopify product description to make it more compelling and SEO-friendly. Target audience: [insert group]. Here's the original: [paste description]." Why this works:Let's face it—most product descriptions online are a snooze. But good copy sells. Whether you're running your own shop or helping someone else with theirs, compelling product descriptions convert clicks into customers. Use ChatGPT to punch up the language, fine-tune for SEO, and speak directly to your ideal buyer. Remember: people don't just want to buy a weird mug. They want to buy what it says about them. That's where a smart rewrite can turn browsers into buyers. 3. Social Posts That Sell Prompt to use:"Create 5 attention-grabbing Instagram captions to promote this [product/service]. Keep the tone [fun, confident, expert] and include a strong call to action." Why this works:We live in a scroll-happy world. Your social captions need to grab attention in less than three seconds. But not everyone's a copywriter—and not everyone has time to be. AI can help you crank out engaging content in the tone and style that fits your brand. Add a great photo, post consistently, and you're suddenly a one-person content agency without the overhead (or endless Zoom meetings). If you're managing social for clients or your own biz, this prompt is gold. Use it to build content calendars, write reels scripts, or even draft ad copy. 4. Polite Emails That Save You Money Prompt to use:"Write a short, polite email to ask for a lower rate or discount on [tool/service/platform]. Mention that I'm a loyal customer comparing alternatives." Why this works:Negotiating discounts doesn't always feel comfortable but it absolutely works. Companies often have unpublished deals, especially for longtime users or small businesses. And customer service reps? They're human beings. A kind, well-written email might be all it takes to get a discount on that software you're using every month. I've personally saved hundreds of dollars just by sending quick, respectful emails like this. AI can help you strike the perfect tone confident but kind, assertive but not pushy. 5. Your Passive Income Kit Prompt to use:"Give me 3 high-demand, low-competition ideas for a short e-book or low-content book I can sell on Amazon. I have experience in [insert topic]." Why this works:You have knowledge people want. Package it. Sell it. Repeat. Whether it's a short guide on starting a backyard garden or a workbook for productivity hacks, e-books and low-content books (like journals or planners) sell surprisingly well. And AI can help you brainstorm ideas, outline chapters, even draft content to polish up. Upload it to Amazon KDP or Gumroad, and now you've got a digital product that can earn money in your sleep. People pay for convenience, and you have life experience worth sharing. Final Thought You don't need to master AI to start earning with it. You just need to start using it. These five prompts are a low-risk, high-potential way to get your feet wet. And if you need a hand turning these sparks into something bigger, I'm here. I built my multimillion-dollar business with no investors and no debt. I've done this without a big team or expensive consultants. And I'd love to help you do the same. Get tech-smarter on your schedule Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech. Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
10 Highest-Paying Side Hustles To Start From Home In 2025
The U.S. freelance market has reached a turning point. According to Upwork's Future Workforce Index, 28% of U.S. knowledge workers now freelance, generating $1.5 trillion in earnings in 2024. Much of this growth comes from professionals who've transformed their existing skills into profitable side hustles. A recent LendingTree survey found that 44% of Americans run a side hustle, with 61% saying they can't afford life without that extra income. Whether you're paying down debt, building savings or diversifying your income streams, side hustles have become financial lifelines for millions of Americans. This ranking draws from NetCredit's analysis of Fiverr day rates across 144 different gig types. While these side hustles are organized by earning potential, they are also very accessible. You likely already possess many core skills needed to start, and you can launch most of them from your living room with minimal upfront investment. Companies of all sizes need expert campaign planning and ROI advice but can't always hire full-time marketers. You'll help businesses develop comprehensive strategies that maximize their advertising spend and drive measurable results. Getting started: Build a Fiverr profile showcasing case studies and offer "24-hour audit" packages to attract clients looking for quick, professional insights. Essential skills include digital marketing analytics, campaign planning and client communication. Every business needs a website, and rapid design turnarounds command a premium. You'll create professional, functional websites that help companies to establish their online presence quickly and effectively. Getting started: Create before-and-after samples demonstrating your design skills, and list "express delivery" as a premium option for clients with urgent deadlines. Master WordPress, Squarespace, Figma/Sketch and UX/UI principles to succeed. High-converting landing pages boost sales, and founders pay for proven results fast. You'll design focused pages that turn visitors into customers through strategic layout, copy and conversion optimization. Getting started: Offer niche landing page packages tailored to specific industries like e-books, events or SaaS products to differentiate your services. Focus on conversion-focused copywriting, design skills and familiarity with A/B testing tools. Video content is booming as brands need fresh, quick-turn assets for social media and advertising. You'll produce engaging videos that help businesses connect with their audiences across multiple platforms. Getting started: Compile a portfolio of short, branded video samples that showcase your ability to create content for different industries and use cases. Proficiency in Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, Canva and Animoto is essential. Companies outsource Instagram and TikTok content for speed and creativity. You'll develop and execute social media strategies that build brand awareness and drive engagement. Getting started: Target niche markets like real estate, coaches or small businesses with bundled packages that include content creation and posting schedules. Develop content planning skills, platform analytics knowledge and Canva proficiency. Demand for explainer and avatar videos is soaring, especially in tech and e-learning. You'll create professional spokesperson videos using AI tools, delivering high-quality content without traditional video production costs. Getting started: Create a sample video reel using free AI tools and post "AI spokesperson" gigs demonstrating your ability to produce engaging professional content. Strong scriptwriting abilities and familiarity with Synthesia and Pictory are crucial. Businesses need new web copy, product descriptions and about pages, and they are often in a rush. You'll write compelling content that helps companies communicate their value proposition clearly and convert website visitors. Getting started: List specific content types like home pages, bios and product descriptions for quick delivery, emphasizing your ability to meet tight deadlines. Success requires SEO copywriting skills, strong grammar and familiarity with keyword tools. Artists, brands and YouTubers commission original music for jingles, intros and social content. You'll create custom songs and musical content that helps clients establish their unique audio identity. Getting started: Post samples of your work or offer to co-write with musicians on Fiverr or Upwork to build your portfolio and client base. Key abilities include lyric writing, melody creation and basic recording knowledge. High-converting email and ad copy can make or break campaigns, and it's often urgent. You'll write persuasive copy that drives sales and helps businesses maximize their marketing ROI through compelling messaging. Getting started: Share before-and-after examples showing how your copy increased conversions for previous clients or test projects. Master persuasive writing skills, digital marketing knowledge and understanding of A/B testing. Busy founders and solopreneurs hire help for job, grant and business applications, especially on tight deadlines. You'll handle the detailed paperwork and processes that entrepreneurs need completed accurately and quickly. Getting started: Offer "done-for-you" packages for specific applications like college admissions, job applications or grant submissions to attract clients with urgent needs. This work demands exceptional attention to detail, form completion experience and process navigation skills. Your side hustle experience can strengthen your professional profile when presented strategically: Side hustles have evolved from optional income to essential financial strategies for millions of Americans. With almost one-third of knowledge workers now freelancing and earning potential reaching up to $150 per day in these high-demand fields, the opportunity to build meaningful additional income from home has never been stronger. Choose a side hustle that aligns with your existing skills, commit to launching it and track your progress over the next three to six months. The key to transforming these opportunities from occasional income into sustainable wealth lies in treating your side hustle like a business. With consistency, dedication and a bit of luck, your side hustle may just become your main hustle.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
How do I explain break in employment after my freelance business slowed down?
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions. Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to get back into an in-house role after years of freelance work. Q) I've enjoyed my 20-year career in marketing, but I've always wanted to work for myself and decided a couple of years ago to leave the job I'd been in for a while and go freelance. At first, I had lots of work, but over the last year or so, things have slowed down and I'm not earning enough to pay all my bills. I've decided I need to look for a new permanent role again so I can have a guaranteed salary, but I don't know how to explain my break in employment and my reasons for wanting an in-house role. Any advice? Evie, via email A) Going freelance was a bold and admirable step – it shows initiative, confidence and a desire to challenge yourself. Many employers value that kind of entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to put yourself out there. When explaining your employment gap, focus on what you gained from the freelance experience – managing multiple clients, developing new skills in new settings, and navigating the realities of running a business. You've likely gained a deeper understanding of what businesses need and how important it is to collaborate effectively, and these experiences will make you a strong team player. Express that you're excited about being part of a team again, with the opportunity to collaborate more closely with different colleagues, while leveraging what you've learned and bringing all your strengths to help the team, and wider company, thrive. Karren Brady is an 'ice queen' who ignores The Apprentice candidates - even when the cameras aren't rolling, claims ex-star But don't be afraid to be honest about the challenges you encountered, too – you could explain that while freelancing started strong, the market shifted and sustaining a consistent income became increasingly difficult. Rather than seeing this as a setback, frame it as a valuable lesson in adaptability and resilience. Good luck!
ABC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
The burnt-out millennials who walked away from work
With burnout at unprecedented levels who doesn't dream of stepping away from it all and embracing a career break. But can it solve the problem? In early 2024, it looked like my career was in full flight. It had been one of my busiest years to date. As a freelance comedian I created and filmed a web series and sold out a season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. My life was even documented on Australian Story. But at the same time, the TV show I had worked on since 2020 had been axed. And I narrowly missed out on several jobs that would have sent me on my way to being a household name. I caught myself slowly becoming jaded about the entertainment industry. After all, I've been performing since I was a teenager and more than 15 years later, I'm still waiting for my "big break". I figured a change of scenery would do me good. I felt yearning to take control of my calendar, instead of waiting around for job prospects. I had always imagined myself living overseas at some point. I just couldn't figure out a suitable time to move, while working my butt off trying to get to the next level in my career. With Australia's cost-of-living crisis firmly taking hold, I narrowed down my options. 1. Stay put and pay a ridiculous amount for a kilo of capsicum, or 2. Pay a ridiculous amount for capsicum, but do it in an exciting, new location. There was an easy offer in front of me. Having already done long-distance with my boyfriend for about seven months, I decided to take the leap and join him where he lived: Hong Kong. And so I opted for option two. 'I felt a huge sense of relief' Anyone who has lived in the New York of Asia, knows this 24-hour city has a reputation for its excellent train system, great food and rude service. Hong Kong is often listed among the world's most expensive cities. A cup of coffee is consistently above $10. Not to mention the time I thought I'd bought the "cheaper" option, an iced tea, but ended up paying $14 instead. I counselled myself not to be concerned. The plan was to work as hard as I did back in Australia, earn a decent local wage and move towards unlimited coffee and iced tea. I packed two suitcases and held a farewell party for my friends, not knowing when I would be back. During my first few weeks in Hong Kong, something happened that took me by surprise. The notifications on my phone suddenly ceased to exist. There were no more messages to catch up with friends. Even the scammers stopped ringing. "The grind" completely stopped. Comedian Annie Louey in Hong Kong. ( Supplied: Annie Louey ) In the silence, without the pressure to be anyone or do anything, I realised how burnt out I was. The last thing I felt like doing was networking, "hustling", or trying to "scale up" my business. I didn't feel anxious, nor any sense of underachievement. Instead I felt a huge sense of relief. Even though Hong Kong has almost 7000 people crammed into every square kilometre (Australia has 3.4), the city somehow became a place I could hide out for a while. Aussies are more stressed and more tired I certainly displayed the three dimensions of burnout described by the World Health Organisation: "Exhaustion, cynicism and reduced professional efficacy" and felt sure I could not be alone. In 2023, researchers from the University of Melbourne went as far as labelling Australia the "great burnout" country and while burnout rates are trending downwards globally, in Australia burnout is at a record high. The study found people who are distracted at work are more likely to experience burnout and loneliness. As a result, they are less productive. Intersectional groups, such as people of colour and gender, age or socio-economically diverse individuals, felt even greater levels of burnout, lower wellbeing and a reduced sense of belonging. For instance, 65 per cent of women with a disability felt high levels of burnout. Professor Mark Wooden from University of Melbourne has spent two decades studying economic and personal well-being in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. "Every year we'll ask a question about how time-stressed people are — and if anything, that's come down and improved," he says. "But interestingly enough, when you ask people about anxiety and feeling tired, that's gotten worse. It's been particularly severe amongst young people under 30." According to Wooden, young workers are not necessarily working the hardest but they have greater fears and anxieties about housing and getting into the housing market. That anxiety is making them more tired than they should be. It was time to 'lean in' Six weeks after starting my new life in Hong Kong, I hadn't found any meaningful work. I thought I knew how to navigate lack of work routine having been a freelancer for seven years, and I was used to living pay cheque to pay cheque. As well as working in broadcasting, I am a qualified celebrant. But in Hong Kong, I couldn't land the same jobs I was qualified for back home. It dawned on me, that even though I had not planned for it, it was time to "lean in" to this period of non-activity and embrace it for what it really could be: a career break. After unlocking all this thinking time, I began to connect the dots and realised I was not the only one wanting a mini-retirement. I had noticed a few of my friends with stable, high-paying jobs were tapping out of work. They had taken time off, ranging from six months to a year or more, due to a lack of work-life balance. No doubt much of the current workforce would baulk at being able to afford this kind of privilege. But these individuals told me they had been driven to breaking point. Even though it seemed like the worst time to do it — their careers were peaking and cost of living had never been higher — my friends deemed it more important to preserve mental health and wellbeing. These career breaks were being treated differently to things like gap years, maternity leave and long service leave. Career breaks don't seem to have a set time frame or defined output, and do not necessarily focus on travelling but self-care instead. Traditional leave usually comes with the knowledge that one will return to their stable job. Or in the case of a gap year, like the one I took after university at 21, I knew I would be applying for jobs and having to become a real adult once I got home. It seems like even when we try to take time off these days, we can't help but think about work in one way or another. Long walks, learning Mum's recipes and family time One of my first friends to put the brakes on was Nhung, a 33-year-old project manager with a master's degree. She took five months off her well-paying construction job to tackle burnout from her work and personal life. In our catch-ups, Nhung would update me on how the break gave her time to reset and upgrade her daily habits, health and mindset, and allowed her to get in touch with her creative side. She came out with a renewed sense of resilience and said she no longer felt overwhelmed by issues that cropped up at work and home. Nhung's career break helped her feel less overwhelmed by issues that cropped up at work and home. ( Supplied: Annie Louey ) Nhung's experience made me think I could really do with some extra resilience, especially when working in the arts. I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at my partner's apartment in Hong Kong rent-free, and so gave myself permission to enjoy time off without guilt — something that is almost impossible for someone like me who was raised in a Chinese household. School holidays were for doing extra homework to get ahead of your peers, reading the dictionary and doing chores. Some of the things my dad did "for fun" included keeping handwritten records of all our household expenses and taking photographs of our groceries (he was in the food import/export industry but often didn't know when to leave work behind). You can imagine how jarring it was to allow myself to enjoy long walks along the waterfront in the middle of the day and do nothing but "stare at the dog", which became an in-joke for sitting around without doing anything productive. I suppose that makes me a few years late to the "lying flat" trend, which emerged amongst young people in China in 2021 and went viral around the world. People were rejecting societal pressures and the "996" life (working 9am to 9pm, six days a week) and replacing it with minimalism and self-fulfilment. While "doing nothing", I discovered ingredients for Asian cooking were much easier to find in Asia (who would have guessed?) and learning recipes from my mum was, in fact, a far more pleasant experience when you place 7000km of distance between us. Instead of my mum taking over in the kitchen whenever I asked her to show me how to make something, she sent me voice messages on WeChat along with detailed photos of the cooking methods. Recipes like her delicious, aromatically spiced lamb stew. Her quick and filling chicken, tofu and corn soup. And my most requested dish back home: poached chicken with ginger and shallot dipping sauce. This whole time I thought of myself as a terrible cook in comparison to my mother but now I realise, like anything, it was just a skill that required time to perfect. Without work commitments, I was able to make trips to Guangzhou to put in some face time with my extended family. On one occasion, I had to share a bunk bed with my cousin's eight-year-old kid, but it was worth it to spend all day speaking in my dialect (Taishanese) and to just hang out. One night I was waiting to fall asleep in my top bunk and I thought, "Wow. Let's be honest. When was I really going to make time for this?" Career break hobbies. ( ABC News: Emma Machan ) Wooden from the University of Melbourne says there are no reliable statistics on how many people take career breaks. But job mobility rates are an indicator of how people feel about their work. In August 2021, during COVID which sparked a Great Resignation, the monthly rate of US workers quitting their jobs reached 2.9 per cent. This was the highest rate since recording began in 2001, and equivalent to 47.8 million workers leaving or changing jobs In Australia, the job mobility rate has fallen to pre-pandemic levels. The Australian Bureau of Statistics found 8 per cent (or 1.1 million people) changed their employer or business between February 2023 and February 2024. Australia's job mobility rate peaked in 2022 with 9.5 per cent (or 1.3 million people) changing jobs. Wooden says even if people are keen to change jobs, they probably cannot afford the financial risk. Redefining what a sense of achievement feels like David Lescai, 40, is taking that risk. The senior professional is nine months into a career break. After working as a public servant for nearly a decade, the pandemic was Lescai's first experience without a stable job. After eight years of back-to-back fixed-date government contracts, Lescai lost his job. With nothing to replace it he took casual jobs: one at a friend's winery and another delivering chocolates and desserts to people's doorsteps, to "make their day". The change of pace made him re-evaluate his priorities. David Lescai says his younger self would have been judgemental of anyone taking an extended work break. ( Supplied: Annie Louey ) "It proved I didn't need much to live or thrive," Lescai says. After missing out on two full-time roles Lescai says he was forced to reflect on exactly what he was working towards. "When you're young, it's great to gather experience but it comes to a point where you ask, 'Where is this experience leading to?'" he says. Lescai began to wonder: "So why am I doing this?" "If there's no [permanent] contract, they'll just replace you really quickly," he says. "They're not going to miss you." But leaving work has also left Lescai with a few dilemmas he has yet to resolve. He has had to re-evaluate where he gets his sense of achievement, if not from work. His active lifestyle has been his biggest source of happiness. He has picked up padel and plays twice a week ("it's like tennis had a baby with squash"). He goes running with a couple of different groups and has completed two marathons. Lescai found his energy levels improved from not working nine or more hours each day. His family and friends get to enjoy him at his best. Having the ultimate flexibility in his social schedule does have limits. Lescai admits: "there are only so many brunches you can have." Lescai's goal for his career hiatus is to emerge having found the perfect role for him. He calls it his "unicorn job", where passion meets profitability. Trying everything and 'failing at everything' Unlike generations before them, many millennials and Gen Zs are searching for jobs and hobbies that align with their "Ikigai" — the oft-referenced Japanese concept about finding purpose in life, combining passions, talent and a feeling of fulfilment. Wooden says completing higher education plays a big part in people's expectations from work. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, 33 per cent of people aged 15-74 held a bachelor's degree or above. "[Higher education] teaches us not to settle for less but not everyone can have jobs that fulfil our expectations if so many people are highly educated. Some will, no doubt, be left disappointed," Wooden says. For Rachel Madin, 27, a career break was unpredictable and put her in some truly mind-boggling situations in Australia and overseas. Rachel Madin started an Instagram account about crocheting. ( Supplied: Rachel Madin ) Her first job out of high school in 2016 was as a medical receptionist. She continued working part-time, while completing her bachelor's degree in Mandarin Chinese and film studies. After graduation, Madin found it extremely difficult to find work in the fields she had studied, so she kept her receptionist job. "I found it started to become really draining. I started questioning all my life choices,'" she says. At the time, Madin was learning to play in the gamelan, a traditional Indonesian percussion orchestra. She left her job and took up an arts and culture scholarship to study music in West Sumatra. "I made so many friends. I was learning Bahasa Indonesian, so I engaged with my passion again The eruption of Mount Marapi cut the exchange short, leaving Madin with a "mental breakdown". Not ready to jump back into work, Madin started an Instagram account about crocheting, to fulfil her artistic side. In a matter of days she gained 10,000 followers, and then 35,000. "I made it, I'm an artist. I can be a full-time crochet influencer!" she rejoiced. The high was short-lived, as the pressure to post caused her to burn out, yet again. Looking back Madin says the career break taught her to stop beating herself up about "failing". "I've decided in life, I need to stop saying, 'I should be doing this or that'. I'm just going to explore whatever I'm curious about next," she says. Career 'break-ers' likely to face criticism Lescai knows his younger self would have been judgemental of anyone taking an extended work break. Recently, one of his friends reacted in complete disbelief at his rejection of the nine-to-five life. Madeleine Dore, podcast host and author of I Didn't Do the Thing Today says we can be quick to recognise when someone else might need a break, but rarely give ourselves the same permission. "Allowing ourselves to just 'be' can provide the space for important things like clarity, desire, and insight to emerge," she believes. After trying so many alternatives, Madin returned to medical reception work at a separate clinic, where she continues to work today. But her parents often ask what she is doing with her life. "I think what keeps pulling me back to medical reception is it's the only job where I feel like I'm making a difference, she says. "I get to interact with people and help them solve problems. It gives you a sense of purpose." Madin learnt a valuable lesson from her time overseas. "In Indonesia," she says, "people rarely ask, 'What do you do for work?' whereas here, it's usually the first thing people ask. They want to scope out how successful you are. I didn't find a healthy balance until I stepped away from work." Daizy Maan is a high achiever who describes herself as "a victim of ambition". Daizy Maan has decided not to buy a house to avoid the "self-fulfilling cycle of mortgage, job and work". ( Supplied: Daizy Maan ) She first entered the workforce at 14 and became financially independent at 16 and moved out of home. Now 30, Maan has worked 17 different jobs, ranging from hospitality to call centres. She was working at an unsustainable pace, which led to take two years off work at the age of 28. "Every year I would burnout around November. I'd get mildly depressed, and I'd take six weeks to go meditate in the Himalayas. There's no internet there," she says. The Himalayan trips were a temporary solution, as Maan would return refreshed but about three months later, she would repeat the cycle of descending into burnout once again. The money question While taking a career break sounds like a fantastic idea, letting go of a steady income is understandably daunting for many. Maan says she had saved so much from her job and was "strategic" by living in an affordable area. She calculated she could even take four years off work before her money ran out. She made a deliberate choice not to buy a house, believing "a house is the biggest stress and a self-fulfilling cycle of mortgage, job and work." Lescai believes one of the main reasons he has been able to afford so much time off is because he makes sure to spend within his capacity. "I cut down on areas where I splurge, like social drinks and buying rounds," he says. When he goes out these days, he aims to spend a maximum of $50. Lescai still has plans to buy a house one day and has no intention of wiping out his bank balance completely. Looking back on her year off, Madin says she was lucky. "I was in such a privileged position to take a career break. I had savings from all my years in medical reception and the scholarship program was paid for," she says. Another advantage was not having to pay rent or a mortgage, as she lives with family. Her boyfriend has also been incredibly supportive, she says. For me, not paying rent was certainly a benefit. My only expenses were groceries, occasional takeaway meals and perhaps one ludicrously expensive coffee per week. Things I would normally splurge on back home like clothes, make-up and some forms of entertainment were just too unaffordable for me to even consider. Yet despite being thrifty, I still did a fair bit of damage to my bank account. After spending six months overseas, my accounting program tells me my income is down over 80 per cent compared to this time last year. While I lost income, I gained wisdom. The magic of bathing pigeons If you are taking a career break Madeleine Dore advises giving yourself space to experiment, to make mistakes, and to redefine what a day well spent truly means. Pay attention to personal growth and wellbeing — like sleeping well, learning something new, spending time with people you love and practising kindness — rather than external measures of success. I found it most satisfying to do the things I hoped I would get around to doing "some day", such as reconnecting with my culture, learning languages through immersion and shaking off my impostor syndrome around cooking. My dad had spent almost a decade living in Hong Kong from the age of eight, and walking through the same streets as he once did made me understand my family on a deeper level. My career break ended up being one of the most chaotic and uncertain years of my life. I learned to ground myself through daily routines — no matter how small and insignificant they may appear. Enjoying coffee at home in the morning and taking a walk to the shops. Doing the dishes while watching pigeons take a bath in the neighbour's gutters. Making a meal and not having to eat it at my desk. I was able to enjoy stand-up comedy again. When I did get on stage it was purely for the love of the game rather than striving for financial gain or commercial success. A message from the universe: it's time As more job enquiries from Australia started coming through, and incompatibilities began showing up in my relationship, it became harder to justify staying in a place where I was not working. The universe was sending me a clear message: it was time to go home. I could not have imagined I would come away from this period of my life appreciating the underrated power of "doing nothing". I say that half-jokingly because I do believe humans cannot help but find meaning and purpose within "the nothing". To quote from the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life: "Life is not a problem to be solved. Just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by the people who love you." Since Madin returned to work, she has found new hobbies like stained glassmaking and she recently started a masters in primary school teaching. "I still crochet a lot," she says. "I walk the dog. I kind of do nothing. It's nice." On a Monday, when her boss at the medical centre asks what she did over the weekend, Madin is constantly baffled. "I don't know. I couldn't tell you," she says. Instead, she radiates a quiet contentment — even if she claims to have ended up exactly where she started. Credits Words: Annie Louey Illustrations: Emma Machan Editor: Catherine Taylor
Vogue
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Harron Walker's New Essay Collection, ‘Aggregated Discontent,' Makes Reading About Media Fun Again
There's a lot to dislike about the current state of social media, but Harron Walker's singular voice has always made one good case for staying online. Now, Walker is reexamining her career as a digital media writer (and so much more) in Aggregated Discontent: Confessions of the Last Normal Woman (Penguin Random House), an essay collection that covers everything from the freelance hustle to the state of trans healthcare in the US with a dryly confessional, comedic voice guaranteed to make you burst out laughing at your desk. Vogue recently spoke to Walker about letting Tom Wolfe guide her expectations of present-day digital media, her favorite blog she's ever written, the ghostly specter of the girlboss, and attempting to resist universalizing in her writing. Read the interview here. Vogue: Do you have a favorite media book or memoir? Harron Walker: There's this anthology of New Journalism from the late '60s to the '70s or so that Tom Wolfe edited, and it has work by Hunter S. Thompson and Joan Didion and a bunch of other people. The introduction is my favorite; it's three stitched-together pieces of writing by Tom Wolfe that he wrote and sort of reworked into one long, 75-page essay that I always return to because it's helped clarify so much about present-day media, and how all these things that I thought were contemporary are actually deeply rooted within history. He describes this thing where every good reporter in media spends a year proving himself, and his reward for being the best reporter at the paper is to get promoted. He leaves the paper, he goes out of the building, he reports all the news, he gets all the scoops, he talks to everyone, and his reward for all that is to get promoted to being a columnist, and then he never leaves the office again. He spends his first year as a columnist geting all his thoughts out and writing all these brilliant pieces and op-eds and columns, and after a year of that, he has nothing left, so he'll write about things he read in other newspapers or things he saw on TV. So many columnists who I find horrible are just like, 'Here's something I saw a 19-year-old say on Twitter, and their neopronouns made me confused and angry.' Like, why are you here? You two should never be in the same room, and one of you needs to leave. The essay just clarifies that this thing has always been an issue, it's just a matter of changing technology.
