Latest news with #hustle
BBC News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Meet di grandpa dem wey dey run car wash for Enugu Nigeria
Emeka Ede, now 70 years old bin enta car wash business wen e fin work many years ago but e no see and e decide to join di group of car wash for Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria. "I be 70 years now and 42 years for car wash and e make me to dey strong, if I no work for one day, two days, I no go get myself." Dis na true life tori of one old man wit im oda colleagues about how dem dey live dia life for many years. For dis car wash wey dey along Nkpokiti road for Enugu Nigeria, na old men dey work for dia and dem dey enjoy wetin dem dey do. BBC News Pidgin enta Enugu to meet and speak to dis men to know wetin dey build and fuel dia energy for di car wash business despite dia age. Dis group of older men wey dey ova 70 and 80 years come togeda to form Ochomma association of car wash. Dem say dem dey do di car wash business to keep fit and make money to fit feed dia families. I sidon for hours wit dis men to see how dem dey operate, how dem dey get customers and run dia jobs evri day. E dey surprising to find say dis men stand for long sake of say dem gatz hustle for customers wey dem go wash dia car. All thru our stay wit dem, dem no quarrel and nobodi abuse di oda - but dem gada dey work togeda and help each oda. Mr Emeka tok say im don spend 42 years for car wash business inside Enugu wia e join im oda mates to dey wash vehicles evriday. "We get law say if you see motor wey dey come, first to rush go be di one to wash di motor. And we no dey allow all dose small boys to come here," Mr Emeka tell me. E say di work dey make am fit and im dey take am as exercise for im bodi. Anoda memba of di carwash team na Mr Ferdinand Okoye wey be 81 years old. E surprise me to see pesin of im age to dey do di car wash business but e say im like am. "For this business ehn, pipo don tell me say how I like to dey wash car for dis age. I tell dem say well, I like am," Mr Okoye tok. For Mr Okoye, e fit wash up to three to four cars in one day and dat go fit put food for im table for di day. E dey sweet Mr Okoye for belle say di work dey make am fit and di only reason im no go come work any day na if e no well. "You know say na part of exercise wey we dey do. Na im make me like dis work." Dis car wash get about ova 20 old men wey dey work for dia, and according to dem, na means to make dia daily bread and also keep dia bodi fit.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: 6 Steps I Took To Become Rich on an Average Salary
It sounds like an unlikely story: a self-made millionaire gets rich from an average salary. In this day and age, how is this possible? Sometimes, it all comes down to being savvy with money — and major hustle. Read Next: Learn More: GOBankingRates spoke with Daniel Meursing, CEO and founder of Premier Staff, a luxury event staffing agency that's worked with everyone from Ferrari to the Oscars, to discuss the steps he took to achieve his millionaire status. 'Ever wondered how someone goes from eating $5 ramen dinners to rubbing elbows with Hollywood's elite? Buckle up, because I'm about to take you on a wild ride through my journey from average Joe to self-made millionaire.' Meursing said. 'But don't let the glitz and glamour fool you — my path to success was paved with instant noodles and a whole lot of hustle.' Read on to learn the steps he took to get there. 'Picture this: It's 2019, and I'm hunched over a laptop in a tiny apartment, fueled by instant noodles and big dreams. With just $4,000 in my pocket (less than the cost of one Louis Vuitton handbag at the events we now staff), I launched Premier Staff,' Meursing said. Just a few years before founding Premier Staff, he was a loan officer at EZ Fundings Home Loans, making a decent but decidedly average salary. 'But here's the kicker — it wasn't about how much I made, it was about how I used it.' He explained that the first step in his journey to millionaire status was embracing frugality like it was going out of style. 'I lived in a shoebox apartment, drove a car that was more rust than metal, and became a connoisseur of the dollar menu. Was it glamorous? About as glamorous as a pair of socks at a black-tie event. But it allowed me to save over 50% of my income.' He continued, ''But Daniel,' I hear you say, 'that sounds miserable!' And sure, there were moments when I questioned my sanity. Like the time I found myself dumpster diving for a slightly used office chair instead of buying a new one. But every dollar I saved was a dollar invested in my future.' Check Out: According to Meursing, investing is where the true magic really happens. He said, 'I treated my savings like they were the last lifeboat on the Titanic — precious and not to be wasted. I dove headfirst into learning about investing, treating it like a second job.' At first, he started with index funds, maxing out his 401(k) and IRA. 'But I didn't stop there. I researched individual stocks, studied market trends, and even dabbled in real estate. Remember that rust bucket of a car? Well, I used the money I saved from not having a car payment to buy my first rental property.' However, Meursing equally noted it wasn't all smooth sailing. 'I made mistakes. Like the time I invested in a 'can't miss' tech startup that turned out to be about as successful as a screen door on a submarine. But I learned from each setback, adjusting my strategy and pressing forward.' While working as a loan officer, Meursing also moonlighted as a server at high-end events to establish another income stream. 'This not only padded my savings account but also gave me the idea for Premier Staff. I saw a gap in the market for luxury event staffing and decided to fill it.' He added, 'But here's the real secret sauce — I didn't quit my day job right away. For months, I worked 9-5 as a loan officer, 6-10 building Premier Staff, and whatever hours were left planning my financial future. Sleep became a luxury I couldn't afford — kind of like those Gucci shoes I now help serve champagne around.' Meursing explained that the real turning point came when he landed his first big client. 'It was a small fashion event on Rodeo Drive — not exactly the Met Gala, but to me, it felt like I'd hit the jackpot. I poured every ounce of energy into making it a success, treating it like I was staffing the Oscars — little did I know that would come later.' He said that one event led to referrals, which led to bigger events. 'Before I knew it, Premier Staff was the go-to agency for luxury events in LA. We've staffed parties for Will Smith's family, kept things classy at Emmy Awards after-parties and even helped Justin Bieber celebrate a birthday. But here's the thing — even as the business grew, I kept living like I was on that loan officer's salary.' He added that every extra dollar went back into the business or into investments. 'It was like playing a real-life game of Monopoly, where every property I landed on, I bought.' The journey to millionaire status isn't a sprint, it's a marathon — and Meursing said the finish line keeps moving. 'I'm constantly learning, adapting, and looking for new opportunities. Whether it's exploring new markets — we're eyeing the security staffing industry — or finding more efficient ways to run the business, I never rest on my laurels.' he said. 'I still remember the day my net worth ticked over into seven figures. I was sitting in my office — a real one this time, not a corner of my studio apartment — looking over the books. There it was in black and white — I was officially a millionaire. Did I pop champagne and buy a sports car? Nope. I celebrated with a slightly fancier pack of ramen and got back to work.' More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth This article originally appeared on I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: 6 Steps I Took To Become Rich on an Average Salary
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oneil Cruz put in his place over lack of hustle
The post Oneil Cruz put in his place over lack of hustle appeared first on ClutchPoints. In late May, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz set a Statcast record with two home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. Advertisement One of those homers reached 122.9 miles per hour, the hardest hit ball in the Statcast era. Ironically, a month later, against the Brewers, he made a name for himself in a different way. However, it wasn't in a good way. On Tuesday, Cruz was removed from the game for not running out a double-play grounder, per ESPN. It came in the 7th inning with the Pirates trailing 7-3 with a runner on first. Cruz grounded out in a 6-4-3 double play, but slowly made his way to first after the force out at second. Cruz said he thought that was the third out. Ultimately, Pirates manager Don Kelly removed Cruz in the 8th inning for not hustling on that play. Advertisement In the end, the Pirates lost to the Brewers 9-3. Afterward, Cruz spoke of the decision and took accountability. 'DK had all the rights to do what he did, and I'll back him up on that,' he said. 'It was my fault because I thought there were two outs in that situation. That's why I let off running to first base.' Additionally, Kelly said he talked with Cruz and explained his decision. 'We talked,' Kelly said. 'He knows the expectation. Right there, I feel we fell a little short.' Furthermore, Kelly didn't say whether he would put Cruz in the lineup for Wednesday's game. 'We're going to sit down and talk, and we'll figure that out,' he said. Advertisement Oneil Cruz's place on the Pirates Cruz is a ubiquitous player who plays both shortstop and center field. He was drafted by the Pirates in 2021. This year, Cruz is batting .208 batting average with 13 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases (the most in the National League). Altogether, Cruz is a young promising player with quickness, agility, and power. He also holds the Pirates consecutive stolen base record with 34. Related: Livvy Dunne shows off 'rare' Paul Skenes rookie card purchase
News.com.au
02-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Two years in the making': 24-year-old real estate agent earning $300,000 reveals the hustle behind the success
A young and determined real estate agent has revealed the rigorous hustle he puts in to earn $300,000 a year. Ethan Forbes, 24, lives in Queensland. He starts his days at 5.30am and there's no limit to how long he'll work. He has completed sales as late as 10.30pm at night because he is committed to his clients and works purely on commission. If he doesn't make a sale, that means he doesn't earn any money, but he likes the setup as it drives him and keeps him accountable. The hustle is intense, but Mr Forbes has never been afraid of hard work. When he was 22 years old he started a lawn mowing business and, through that, he worked closely with real estate agents, getting lawns up to scratch. He met an agent with whom he really connected and also couldn't help admiring how he had a nice car, a nice watch, and a nice house while still being in his twenties. 'I got attracted to it for the wrong reasons, but as soon as I got into it, I realised how many hours you have to work to make it work,' he said. 'I've stayed in it for the right reasons.' Mr Forbes doesn't turn his phone off; he's available to clients 24/7, and he works at least six days a week, always hustling. He has made a name for himself in the area he sells in, but now he has gone viral. He was recently stopped in the street by Getahead, an app that matches people with jobs, and asked his salary, to which he revealed he was earning roughly $300,000 a year. Mr Forbes' salary admission spawned quite a bit of negativity, with people not impressed to learn that real estate agents can earn that much. 'You realise the industry is cooked when someone can walk into a job for $300k with a three day course,' one said. 'The hate in here is wild,' another remarked. 'He is absolutely not making that much,' someone else claimed. Mr Forbes remains unbothered, telling that he cleared $300,000, but made over $500,000 pre-tax. 'The income is insane and I'm extremely grateful for it but it isn't easy money. It is easy to get into the industry and not easy to stay,' he said. The 24-year-old explained currently trying to focus on working less, as he has been so committed to the grind for the last two years. He also wanted to make it clear that he loves what he does, he likes that his job involves him forming 'deep connections' with people and helping them achieve their goals. 'You're working with them so intensely. You list a house, then there's a settlement that can be 90 days, and you've got to sell it,' he said. 'I can work with clients for up to eight months and it is almost hard to say goodbye to them when the deal is done.' Mr Forbes pointed out that, when he works with clients, he can speak to them every day, sometimes for months on end. He is also attracted to the marketing side of the business. When he started it was a tough slog and he relied on self-promotion. 'I didn't earn anything for the first six months. When you are new no one has ever heard of you,' he said. 'No wants to give their house sale to a 22-year-old who doesn't even own a house himself.' Mr Forbes had to, quite literally, knock on doors to get ahead. His first client was an elderly man who had been struggling to sell his house for over six months. Business wasn't coming to him so the young real estate agent went to the man's house, knocked on his door and told him he could sell the house for him. He did that consistently for eight weeks until the man agreed to let him give it a crack because the house wasn't selling. 'It had been six months, and we sold it within three weeks. Obviously, I was bringing a lot of energy because I was brand new, and I was like, 'I'm going to make this work',' he said. Once Mr Forbes got that first sale done and dusted he was pretty much off to the races and hasn't looked back. Mr Forbes believes that part of his success is due to his honesty and being transparent with people. He reckons dodgy agents don't last anymore and he prides himself on always finding ways to be more open with people during the selling process. Recently, he decided not to list a house without a price guide because he feels it is misleading to both buyers and sellers. 'It is frustrating when there's no price on the listing and I made the decision about a month ago to list every property with a price,' he said. In the now rare cases where he hasn't listed a price for a property, it is purely because he is unsure of the market. For instance, Mr Forbes might be selling a luxury home in a suburb that doesn't typically have luxury homes, - so it can be tough to know the market value. He claimed that some other agents use it to lure buyers into properties they cannot afford, either to get them to fall in love with the home or to obtain their details so they can contact them about other properties. Mr Forbes said the other reason some agents use do this is because they're not honest with their sellers and aren't prepared to tell them they won't get the price they're asking for. 'They aren't honest with their sellers from the get go and it is disgusting,' he said. Mr Forbes said that, even though he had never used it for these tactics, he wants to make the change because he prides himself in clear communication. Despite all the success, hustle, 5.30am starts, 10.30pm calls, and staggering salary, he still hasn't bought a home. In some ways, he believes it makes him a better agent, as he feels for first home buyers and knows how tough the market is, having not yet cracked it himself. 'I resonate with everyone,' he said. 'I still don't own a home and I'm still saving for a deposit. It is so hard.' Mr Forbes has a fair chunk in savings, but it is difficult because he is a business owner, not an employee. 'I have $200,000 in savings, however, it is tricky one, I'm a contractor, and my company owns that money,' he said. Getting a loan is tough when you're not just working as an employee and your income is huge, but comes in waves. For example, in December 2024, Mr Forbes brought in over $250,000 in sales and, from that, he took home $125,000 after covering overheads and taxes. But then, he didn't earn a cent from January to March this year. The 24-year-old explained that it takes time to sell a house, especially when you factor in the average settlement period of around 90 days. You also have to consider the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes until you finally get paid. He recently sold a house for a woman after the first inspection, for a price that exceeded her expectations. However, he'd been in contact with her and exploring the possibility of her selling for over two years. 'That was a quick one, but when you look at how long I'd been talking to that client for, it was two years in the making,' he said.
Independent Singapore
02-07-2025
- Independent Singapore
‘I worked 10 jobs to see the world, and now I travel for free!' — 19 y/o Singaporean student shares how Gen Zs like her can solo travel too
SINGAPORE: From lugging wine trays to lugging backpacks, Jaedyn Choo's side hustle evolution is the Gen Z survival guide we didn't know we needed. While most 19-year-olds spend their holidays bingeing on Netflix or catching up on sleep, Jaedyn was backpacking across six countries and 18 cities—on a shoestring budget and her own dime. That's right, not with her parents' money. Not with some fancy scholarship. Just elbow grease, hustle, and a lot of time in 10-hour shifts. Her secret? Working odd jobs during her school breaks and then turning the whole experience into an income-generating content machine. From polytechnic to passport stamps It all began with a craving—not for food or fame—but for freedom. Jaedyn wanted to just leave everything behind and see the world, but as a full-time student in Singapore with no trust fund or well-padded allowance, the only way out was to earn her own way. 'My first solo backpacking trip was to Thailand when I had just turned 19,' she says, and then, it was Bangkok. Chiang Mai. Pai. The backpacker trifecta. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider Except… she didn't go alone at first. She eased in with three other fellow free-spirited female travellers from Sweden, Romania, and the UK. 'I liked it so much! I liked being around people who shared the same mindset—to leave everything and see the world!' Jaedyn expressed her excitement. And just like that, solo travel became her preferred lifestyle. Hustle now, wander later However, here's the twist: Jaedyn's parents didn't approve of her lifestyle choice. Not one bit! So rather than use the allowance they gave her—what many teens would call free money—Jaedyn took the high road, or in her case, the working-class grind. 'I felt it would be disrespectful for me to use the allowance they gave me (for something they didn't support),' she says. So, she took on ad hoc jobs. From being a wine server to taking on cleaning gigs and packing jobs, if it paid, she just took it. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider During the first half of her school holidays, Jaedyn would grind through 10-hour shifts, earning around S$12 to S$13 an hour. That's roughly S$100 to S$130 a day if she played it right—enough to save S$800 in two weeks. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider 'S$800 could give me two weeks in Thailand if I were really on a budget,' she says, with the nonchalance of someone who's cracked the backpacker math code. The budget backpacking blueprint If you want to copy Jaedyn's playbook? Here's her minimalist travel math: Flights: <S$300 (round trip) Hostels: S$10–S$15/night (shared with up to 20 strangers, but hey—adventure!) Meals: <S$5 per meal (hello, Thai street food!) Fun: S$10 a day Daily Spend: <S$50 (all in, including activities) Checked Baggage: Nope. Saves S$60–S$70 per flight She avoids restaurants as if they were tourist traps (which they usually are) and chooses hostels over hotels—even if it means sharing communal bathrooms and dealing with late-night snorers. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider All that budgeting paid off, literally. But what Jaedyn does when S$800 isn't enough… 'I usually spend all my money,' Jaedyn admits. 'In fact, on my first few trips, I didn't even have enough to book my return flight.' She then had to borrow money from her sister to fly home. Hustle again. Pay her back. And repeat the cycle. Between classes and coursework, Jaedyn squeezed in four trips in less than a year. That's more air miles than most office workers clock in a decade. From backpacker to content creator In late 2023, something shifted. A casual phone call with a TikTok influencer friend changed everything. 'He mentioned that he was making a few hundred dollars from one video,' Jaedyn shared, and compared that with how she was working 10 hours just to earn a hundred. It was her lightbulb moment. Here she was, filming her own backpacking adventures anyway. So, she thought, why not monetise them, right? 'It's something I could do while overseas. It will give me a solid income, and it requires less time, so I could do it while studying… and I had no boss telling me what to do. I could post whatever I wanted.' So she has now flipped the script. Instead of working to travel, she travels while working. And guess what happened? Her follower count exploded! Over 20,000 people tuned in to her raw, relatable takes on budget travel and solo backpacking—something most Singaporeans can only dream about. Turning views into value Soon, Jaedyn wasn't just inspiring wanderlust—she was inspiring action. 'So many people messaged me saying they went on their first solo trip because they saw my videos. It made me really happy. It was something Singaporeans didn't know much about,' she expressed her joy at how her lifestyle resonated with many. Brands started to notice, too. One video could now fetch her S$500 to S$700. She was putting in roughly 30 hours of creative work per month—and earning far more than she had ever done cleaning hotel rooms. 'Back then, I'd take like 80 hours to make $800. Now I'm spending 30 hours to earn about S$1,000–S$2,000,' she says. That's a six-time return on her time. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider And yes, she's still flying. Only now, her trips are longer, her experiences richer, and her wallet fuller. No regrets, just receipts With more cash flow, Jaedyn now travels for up to a month at a time, upgrades her adventures, and still has enough left over to save for a rainy day. 'I feel that when I work hard for my own money, I don't ever feel guilty spending it because I worked hard with the goal of spending it on myself,' she explained. And she doesn't sugarcoat her journey as well. Everyone around her—from relatives to friends—was against her going solo travelling, probably out of fear or concern for her safety. 'I had family members send me a chat (message) with paragraphs of prayers, thinking I was going to die there,' she laughs. 'But I knew that it was something I really wanted to do, so I did it anyway.' Side hustle, not full-time fantasy For now, content creation is the dream job that lets Jaedyn live her dream life, but she's not banking on it forever. 'It's a good side hustle to have, but I don't think I'll ever pursue it as a full-time thing,' she says, adding that 'It fluctuates too much to give me a sense of stability. Hopefully, within the next four or five years, it can sustain, but I also know that with something like this, there's always an expiry date.' In the meantime, she's doing what most people spend their entire lives waiting to do—travelling the world on her own terms, making money doing what she loves, and rewriting what it means to be young and financially independent in Singapore. Jaedyn's 3 golden travel rules: Work before you wander – Use school breaks strategically. Spend smart, not hard – Hostels over hotels. Street food over fine dining. Turn your story into content – If you're already living the journey, film it. Final boarding call In a city obsessed with degrees and high-paying jobs, Jaedyn's story is a passport out of the pressure cooker. It's proof that you don't need to be rich to travel—you just need to be resourceful. So the next time you scroll past a dreamy beach photo and think, 'That could never be me,' remember Jaedyn. It absolutely could be you—if you're willing, like Jaedyn, to work smart for it with a budget in your pocket, sleep in hostels, and chase your dreams with a camera in hand. If you want to see how Jaedyn turned odd jobs into global adventures and did it all, watch the full CNA Insider's Money Mind episode below and get inspired to plan your very own escape next! P.S. Like Jaedyn, Afiq Zayany, a Singaporean Grab rider, has also cracked the code to living large on a lean budget. From dodging Singapore's rental hikes to cruising across the Causeway into a golf villa with a buggy service, this Singaporean Grab rider shares how he earns six figures and lives in a RM1.4 million villa in Johor Bahru
