SUCCESS

Throughout my 20s, people warned me to wait to buy a home until I was certain I would live there for at least five years.

The idea was that the financial benefits of owning would finally outweigh the costs of buying, including the down payment, closing costs, and other expenses I wouldn’t have faced as a renter.

After reaching that break-even point, my home could become a tool for building wealth.

Jean Chatzky, a personal finance author and founder and CEO of HerMoney Media, has long advocated the “five-year rule,” saying it may be better to rent if you don’t want to stay somewhere for at least five years.

Chatzky didn’t invent the concept, but she has promoted the idea since publishing her book “Operation Money” in 2014.

Buying and owning a home has become much more expensive since 2014, though. Home prices and mortgage rates are higher. This means the math for the five-year rule might not add up anymore.

Chatzky recently revisited the five-year rule idea in a podcast interview.

Chatzky suggests 6 or 7 years may be a better home-buying timeline

While Chatzky has not formally disavowed the five-year rule, she did mention expanding the timeline in an Aug. 28 episode of Hala Taha’s podcast Young and Profiting (YAP).

“If you’re not going to be someplace for five years, I don’t think you should buy,” Chatzky told Taha. “The cost of buying is just too steep.”

Mortgage rates in particular are making potential homebuyers nervous. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 7.28% on Oct. 1, according to Freddie Mac data, its highest point in almost three years.

Read more: Jean Chatzky has strong new warning on 401(k), IRA danger

“I don’t think that mortgage rates at this level should stop people who want to be in a place for six, seven years and more,” she continued. “You’ll eventually, hopefully, get an opportunity to refi that loan.”

Chatzky’s saying that if you stay in a home for several years, mortgage rates will likely decrease during that time, and you can refinance into a more affordable rate.

Chatzky isn’t abandoning the five-year rule, but her comments suggest that today’s buyers may want to think beyond five years when evaluating whether buying makes financial sense.

Jean Chatzky acknowledges potential homebuyers may want to think beyond five years when deciding whether to purchase.NBC / Getty Images

Zillow puts the typical break-even point at 6.2 years

Zillow research supports Chatzky’s claim that buying a house could take six years or longer to break even financially.

An August analysis from the real-estate technology company found that the typical American household needs 6.2 years to break even after buying a single-family home compared to renting. And that’s assuming they can make a 20% down payment — which many buyers cannot afford.

“The common wisdom is that saving early to buy a home is the smart financial move, but the reality is more nuanced,” wrote Zillow senior economist Kara Ng. “Buyers should think about not just when they can afford to buy, but how long they’d need to stay before owning makes more financial sense than renting.”

More Housing Market:

Zillow reports surprising housing market shift

Redfin says October could be the best time to buy a house

Lennar delivers harsh reality check for housing market

The break-even timeline depends on where you live, though. According to Zillow’s August research, after buying a single-family home, the typical homeowner took 5.3 years to break even in Las Vegas, 9.5 years in Dallas, and 18.4 years in Seattle.

The timeline shortens if you buy a starter home, which Zillow defines as “the average home in the lowest third of home values in a given region.”

By opting for a starter home, the nationwide break-even timeline shortened to 2.6 years after purchase.

The typical homeowner had to stay in their home for 3.7 years in Nevada, 5.9 years in Dallas, and 13.2 years in Seattle.

Homeownership is a lifestyle choice, not an investment

Some personal finance personalities preach that homeownership is essential for building wealth. Chatzky doesn’t have that mindset, though. She’s open that buying isn’t for everyone, especially if you don’t plan to stay in one place for very long.

“There are some cases where renting is just better,” she told Taha.

But if you do plan to stay in the home for a long time, buying a house and building equity can be a great way to build the kind of life you want. Your home equity becomes a financial cushion.

“And you can use that cushion to supplement your standard of living,” Chatzky said. “You can use it to pay for long-term care. You can use it to keep a roof over your head. You can use it to sell and move to Costa Rica. You have choices because you have this additional cushion.”

The bottom line? If you’re buying a primary residence, try not to think of it as an investment. Think of it as a lifestyle choice. If buying fits your timeline and life goals, then it could be the right move.

That doesn’t mean a home can’t help you build wealth. It means your primary residence doesn’t have to be evaluated like a stock or other investment.

Related: Chase now offers up to 1% off mortgage rates to more customers

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You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on cookware to whip up a delicious meal, but occasionally more expensive items can be worth the investment. Not only can those top-shelf bowls, mixers, and machines last you far longer than their more affordable counterparts, but what your cookware is made out of can actually affect how your food turns out in the end. For shoppers who’ve been searching for the right set of bowls to mix, beat, whip, and puree food with, Macy’s has the perfect sale going on right now that can help you score the Art & Cook Nesting Bowl Set to help make that happen.

The multi-piece set includes a variety of bowl sizes made of heavy-duty stainless steel, and although it’s typically a $100 set, it’s on sale for 70% off for only a limited time at the popular retailer right now. 

Art & Cook Nesting Bowl Set, $30 (was $100) at Macy’s

Courtesy of Macy’s

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Why do shoppers love it?

Dubbed “the ultimate kitchen companion,” this set of five mixing bowls can help you bake, mix, whisk, and combine delicious ingredients to your heart’s content. Because the bowls are made from stainless steel, they have a whole host of great qualities. Not only are they exceptionally durable, so you won’t have to worry about replacing them anytime soon, but they won’t shatter, crack, or melt the way glass bowls can with hot temperatures; they make food prep far easier because of steel’s non-sticking quality, and because steel is non-reactive, acidic foods won’t change the taste of the food or cause weird chemical reactions. Another plus? For such a heavy-duty material, it’s an added bonus that the bowls themselves are very easy to move around with. 

The five bowls in this set come in various sizes, which allows them to nest inside one another for easy storage. The biggest bowl can hold up to 3,000 milliliters, so you can really customize and choose the one that works for you and what you’re cooking. The smallest bowl measures about 6.7 inches in diameter and 2.8 inches high, perfect for mixing marinades, sauces, and dips, whereas the largest in the set measures 11.2 inches in diameter and 4.7 inches high, perfect for salads, batters, and marinating beef and chicken. They even have built-in measuring lines so that you don’t have to dirty up extra cups and bowls when putting together a dish.

Related: Walmart’s $300 40-piece nonstick cookware set with pots, pans, bakeware, and utensils is 47% off 

The dishwasher-safe bowls have slip-resistant bottoms to prevent counter accidents, and when nested together only weigh about 3.5 pounds. 

Details to know

Material: Stainless steel. 

Weight: 3.5 pounds. 

Care: Dishwasher safe. 

Shoppers love the high-quality look and feel of this set, and the nesting capabilities make them easy to store. They are sturdy but lightweight, and hold up well over time with lots of use. “Measuring and mixing all in one bowl — just wonderful,” a shopper wrote. “Different sizes for all your needs,” another chimed in.

Shop more deals 

Sedona Kitchen 18-Piece Ceramic Baking Set, $67 (was $212) at Macy’s

Staub Ceramic 3-Piece Rectangular Baking Dish Set, $100 (was $271) at Macy’s

Add some high-quality cookware to your kitchen with the Art & Cook Nesting Bowl Set, on sale for only a limited time for just $30. 

On Tuesday, Musk claimed that “certain oligarchs” were blocking the launch of his Starlink satellite internet services in India, without naming any person in particular.

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Why we love this deal

As we head into fall, you’re likely spending most of your free time outdoors while you can. For some, that includes working on their home’s curb appeal while the weather is nice. Not only does it give your front door an inviting feel, but it can also increase the value of your home. Plus, when you add accessories like walkway lights, they double as decor and safety measures. You can prevent tripping on steps, struggling to find the lock with your key, or just create a warm ambience.

If you’re looking for some solar lights to guide your path in the evening or at night, the Incx Waterproof Pathway Ground Solar Lights 12-Pack at Amazon is a quick and easy choice. These waterproof lights stick right in the ground, soaking up the sun during the day and lighting your path at night. This 12-pack is just $31 with this deal, pricing each light at less than $3 a piece. 

Incx Waterproof Pathway Ground Solar Lights 12-Pack, $31 (was $38) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

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Why do shoppers love it?

Each light has eight energy-saving LEDs that can run for up to 10 hours at a time on a full solar charge, typically taking about eight hours to charge in full sun. The light sensor automatically turns the lights on once it gets dark and turns them back off when the sun comes up, allowing you to focus on other things besides turning the lights on and off at the right time. They’re super easy to install. They include a ground spike that connects to the light and makes it easy to push into the ground. There are no wires or batteries, creating a simple, no-fuss setup. 

Related: Amazon’s $25 smart solar spotlights offer color-changing customization for the holidays

These lights measure 4.6 inches wide and feature a waterproof, snowproof, and sunproof design. The aluminum Chrome topper ring offers durability, and the improved plastic tips make it stable and easy to press into the ground. They’re great for lining the patio to prevent injuries, placing them around your garden to create a fairy garden vibe, or lining the driveway with them to more easily see your area when pulling the car in. They’re available in cool and warm lighting, both on sale. 

The pros and cons of these in-ground solar lights

Pros

They are easy to install: They feature an easy two-step installation. Connect the ground spike to the light, and stick them in the ground wherever you want them.

Brightness: Each light has eight bright, energy-saving LEDs to light your path.

Versatility: These lights would be great in the garden, lining the driveway or the walkway to the door, around the fenced perimeter, around the pool, and more. 

Cons 

In-ground only: These lights are designed to be in-ground lights and don’t provide other ways of installation.

Contingent on the sun: Just like any solar light, these rely on sunny days to work and don’t have backup power; however, reviewers have said they’ve worked every night since installation.

One reviewer said, “These lights are top-tier! I cannot begin to explain the amount of money I’ve spent on bad solar lights, but these are the best. They actually work, they’re easy to install, and a great price. They’re super bright. Not a day goes by without them turning on, which is a major issue I’ve had with other lights. These are worth it.”Another shopper said, “They also seem to be sealed very well; the sprinklers don’t seem to affect them. After a few months, they are still as bright as the first day.”

Shop more deals

Wenaty Solar Spot Lights 12-Pack, $70 (was $80) at Amazon

Gigalumi Hanging Solar Lights 12-Pack, $24 (was $30) at Amazon

Solpex Mini Solar Ground Lights, $19 at Amazon

The Incx Waterproof Solar Lights 12-Pack offers a bright and simple solution for dark corners and hard-to-see driveways. They’re durable, waterproof, and offer up to 10 hours of light off one sunny day’s worth of charge.

The crypto company’s $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road has opened a corner of Wall Street where funds pay to amplify daily moves in stocks such as Nvidia and Sandisk.

Bitcoin-backed lending is evolving into a mainstream source of credit, with borrowers using BTC to access liquidity without selling.

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Why we love this deal

Storing small items can be a hassle; even if you neatly set them on the counter or an open shelf, they can still be an eyesore. Hair care bottles can fall over and roll off the counter easily, and they’re easy to knock over if you’re trying to grab one. Having a spot to store smaller items more easily, like bathroom essentials, electronics, jewelry, or art supplies, while also having a bit of extra room for larger items like toilet paper or towels, can offer a much easier way to hide the clutter while still being able to find what you need. 

The Ktaxon Bathroom Storage Cabinet is a versatile storage option that can be used in the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, bedroom, and more. The four drawers offer storage space to keep smaller items together, while the cabinet side offers shelves for larger items, and it’s only $64 at Walmart. Shoppers can save with this $64 deal. 

Ktaxon Bathroom Storage Cabinet, $64 at Walmart

Courtesy of

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Why do shoppers love it?

The four small drawers are great to hold pet treats and accessories by the doorway, while the cabinet side can fit your everyday walking shoes and an umbrella. Or, you can set down your purse, keys, and mail when you get home from work, instead of throwing them on the counter. The drawers are also great for children’s toys, TV, and gaming accessories like chargers, controllers, and remotes, or small kitchen appliances and utensils, while the cabinet is a great option for the TV box or the air fryer.

With the waterproof laminate material, this would also be a great option for a small coffee station. Tea and coffee bags, coffee filters, and stirring utensils can fit inside the drawers, while mugs can be stacked in the cabinet section. It’s a perfect way to keep all your items dust-free.

Related: Amazon is selling a 6-shelf farmhouse storage cabinet for just $95

The cabinet offers two shelves, with the top shelf featuring an adjustable design, or it can be taken out completely to fit even larger items. The drawers have a curved cutout design to easily pull them out without having knobs that can catch on clothing, and they feature high-quality gliding rails that open and close smoothly. The whole unit measures 32.28 inches tall, 22.04 inches wide, and 11.81 inches deep, with the cabinet half measuring 9.65 inches wide and the drawers measuring 8.66 inches wide. It includes an anti-tip kit that can secure it to the wall, preventing it from falling while opening the drawers. 

Details to know

Storage: This cabinet has four drawers and a cupboard with two shelves.

Color: It’s offered in white, green, gray, black, Washed Gray, and Navy Blue.

Size: The cabinet measures 21.7 inches wide, 11.8 inches deep, and 31.9 inches tall. 

One shopper said, “The value for the price I paid is excellent. The final assembled piece looks great in my bathroom and holds quite a bit for its size.” Another reviewer said, “This is well-made and sturdy. We would recommend it.”

Shop more deals

Zimtown Bathroom Storage Cabinet, $60 at Walmart

Ktaxon Bathroom Drawer Stand, $49 (was $75) at Walmart

The Ktaxon Bathroom Storage Cabinet is a versatile storage option for any space. The laundry room, bedroom, bathroom; anywhere you need a bit of extra storage, this cabinet has you covered. The waterproof outer material protects from bathroom or kitchen spills, and the gentle sliding drawers don’t displace items as you open them. Shoppers can score with this great deal at Walmart, paying just $64.

As an entrepreneur, landing big clients or expanding your customer base is always the goal, and it certainly feels exciting when you know you’re about to achieve it. But beyond the thrill of future expectations is the reality that handling a sudden influx of contracts or orders means buying more stock, upgrading your tools, paying for new suppliers, or hiring some help before payment hits your account. Without a clear plan, growth could paradoxically mean a depleted bank account.
Fortunately, a loan for business of any size can help you bridge the gap. You get immediate access to working capital, so you can grab time-sensitive opportunities without draining your savings. Instead of turning down big deals due to upfront costs, a loan keeps your daily operations running smoothly while you wait for those larger invoices to clear.
Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, a business loan can help you face these key growth expenses without running on empty.
1. Taxes, Registration, and Compliance
The amount you collect from customers isn’t entirely yours to spend. A portion may need to cover income tax, VAT, and other obligations based on your registration and revenue. Plus, you may need to pay for BIR and DTI registration, books of accounts, invoices, barangay clearance, a mayor’s permit, and annual renewals. Your actual percentage may be different, so consult a Philippine accountant or your BIR Revenue District Office.
Ultimately, even though you will pay tax weeks or months after the transaction, it’s better to set the money aside immediately to prevent a quarterly deadline from disrupting your regular operations. Suppose you earn PHP 120,000 during a strong month and use the whole amount to fund extra inventory. If you later discover that PHP 20,000 should have been reserved for taxes and compliance, your next month begins with a cash shortage. This example shows that treating those obligations as planned costs gives you a more accurate picture of your profit.
2. Costs That Rise with Every Sale
Selling 500 units may generate impressive revenue, but remember that every additional sale carries a cost. A product-based business, for instance, pays for inventory, packaging, marketplace charges, and delivery. Meanwhile, a service provider may need contractors, licensed software, transportation, or specialized materials to complete client work.
To prepare your cash flow, estimate how much cash each new batch or major project requires, how long the money remains tied up, and how quickly customer payments arrive. For example, if an item sells for PHP 1,000 but costs PHP 450 to produce, PHP 80 to package and ship, and PHP 70 in platform and payment fees, only PHP 400 remains for overhead, taxes, owner compensation, and profit.
3. Marketing and Sales
A growing business needs a dependable way to attract customers. You might need a website, professional product photography, social media content, online advertising, email software, and events. Consider a home-based food business spending PHP 15,000 on product photos, improved packaging, and targeted local advertising to introduce the brand to a wider market. The expense becomes reasonable if the campaign generates enough repeat customers and gross profit to recover the investment.
Of course, you need to measure marketing ROI according to business results. Instead of looking at just likes or views, track the amount spent, the number of qualified inquiries received, the conversion rate, and the gross profit those customers produced.
4. Systems and Equipment
Manual processes can become more expensive as order volume grows. You may lose hours creating invoices, following up on payments, scheduling appointments, or copying customer information between spreadsheets. Fortunately, an all-in-one payment, invoicing, and billing solution can help you transition into a digital workflow and power your growth.
Equipment deserves similar attention. A freelance video editor may need a faster computer to accept larger projects, while an online seller may need a label printer to process orders accurately. These purchases can increase capacity, shorten delivery times, and improve the customer experience.
5. Help and Eventual Employees
Once administrative tasks prevent you from serving customers or developing new offers, outside help may become financially sensible. Your first hire doesn’t have to be a full-time employee. A virtual assistant could manage customer inquiries for four hours each day, a freelance bookkeeper could organize your records each month, or a production assistant could help with packing.
However, it’s wise to budget beyond the person’s quoted fee to accommodate additional needs, such as additional equipment or software access. If you eventually hire permanent employees, prepare for SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, payroll administration, leave, and other labor requirements as well.
6. Your Own Protection
As a solopreneur, your health and ability to work directly affect revenue. Yet many owners consistently postpone their own financial protection. A better practice is to budget for your own SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, health coverage, insurance, and retirement savings. If a week of illness would prevent you from paying your bills, establish both a personal emergency fund and a business continuity plan.
Also, taking random withdrawals from the business account makes it difficult to determine your company’s profitability. So, withdraw a regular owner’s salary to create clearer boundaries between business money and personal money.
7. Emergency and Opportunity Reserves
Unexpected costs are unavoidable. A piece of equipment can break, clients might pay late, suppliers can increase prices at any time, and seasonal demand could fall below projections. An operating reserve covering three to six months of essential business costs can give you room to respond without sacrificing important investments.
Meanwhile, an opportunity fund allows you to act on a discounted inventory purchase, a promising marketing campaign, or equipment that could expand production. In this case, financing may support a well-defined opportunity, provided the expected return comfortably exceeds the total borrowing cost and repayments fit your cash flow forecast.
Prepare for What Comes Next
When you need additional working capital to cover business growth expenses, Maya Flexi Loan can provide up to Php 350,000, payable in 30 to 90 days. This can help cover expenses such as inventory, equipment, marketing, or other business needs while you wait for customer payments to come in. You can apply through the Maya Business app, using only 1 valid ID to register—easy, simple, and hassle-free.
Growth expenses are easier to manage once you identify them before they become urgent, which is the same discipline as getting the money right before a strong month gets spent twice.
The real question isn’t simply how large your business can become, but whether its financial foundation can support the size you’re working toward. A lot of the signs people read as failure start as a cash habit, not a talent problem.
The post 7 Business Growth Expenses Solo Entrepreneurs Should Prepare For appeared first on Addicted 2 Success.

Life often feels finished. That is usually when it starts costing you.
Last week I spoke with a man who seems to have it figured out. A nice business, a team that does not need him in every meeting, the house sorted, a wife who still likes him, which is more than a lot of the men I talk to can say. Halfway through he went quiet and admitted he feels like he is managing a life he signed up for ten years ago. Not miserable. Done growing. A little embarrassed to say it, because what is he supposed to complain about.
The scoreboard does not notice
I knew the feeling before he finished the sentence. Addicted2Success started as a blog in Perth when I was young enough to think the answer to everything was more output. It worked. The site grew, the audience grew, the coaching grew, and for a long time the scoreboard was kind enough to tell me I was on the right track. What it never does is send a note when you have started hiding. You can be posting, closing, travelling, and saying true things on the internet while becoming a slightly smaller man than you were two years ago. Nobody around you is going to flag it. They are responding to the results, and results only show what you already pulled off, not what the last year has been doing to you.
The men in these conversations are not stuck at the starting line. They have the income, the title, the reputation. Under it, a low-grade sense that they have been repeating themselves. The advice they grew up on does not touch that. Wake up earlier. Want it more. Outwork the room. I gave a version of that advice for years, and some of it was fair when someone had not started. It is useless once the room already knows your name. Past a certain point, more effort just maintains the life you have already outgrown.
It looks like leadership
When they are honest, it is ordinary. They are carrying the whole thing alone, not because nobody would help, but because letting someone close enough to challenge them would mean admitting a few decisions have gone soft. So they stay the smartest person in their own week. That feels like leadership. It functions like a closed loop. I did a long stretch of this. If someone disagreed with me I could usually out-talk them, and I mistook that for being right. The business did not collapse, which is what makes it hard to catch. Things can be working while you remain basically unaccountable. A lot of the signs people read as failure are the early version of this.
Home gets what is left
Work got the sharp hours. My wife got the man who had already spent the best of himself on a laptop. You can narrate that as provision for a long time. Tell yourself you are building something for them. Some days that is even true. It still does not change what they receive, which is a tired person who needs the room to be quiet. It holds until you have a kid who does not care what you shipped, or until you lose someone and realise the hours were never coming back. After Harper I stopped being able to treat time like something I could earn more of. Fatherhood finished whatever argument I had left. My son does not experience my ambition. He experiences whether I was in the room. He cannot tell the difference between a father who is building a legacy and a father who is on his phone. Neither can yours.
Reasonable is how it gets boring
Then there is the comfort, which everyone dresses up as wisdom. You postpone the move. You keep the offer that is fine. You say you are being strategic when you are mostly avoiding the feeling of being a beginner again. The edge does not vanish in a week. It goes over a year of reasonable decisions, and reasonable is how a lot of good lives get boring. I have watched men research a change for a year and a half. A new model, a new city, a new standard at home. The research becomes the thing they do instead of the change. It feels responsible. It has notes.
I used to have a clean system for this. It looked good in a carousel. What actually changed things was smaller and more annoying, and it only worked when I got specific.
Write the sentence you would not post
Not “I need better balance.” That is a sentence you can hide in. One line, the way you would say it if nobody was going to screenshot it. I am building in public and going missing at home. I have known this offer is done and I keep running it because the cash is easy. I have not let anyone challenge me since the last person who did, and I pushed them out. Put it where you will see it. The point is to stop negotiating with a foggy version of the problem. You cannot fix a foggy version. You will just buy another course about it.
Look at that sentence when you are not already fried. I wasted years making big calls late, after a full day of other people’s needs, then wondering why I always chose the option that protected the current setup. You are not wise when you are depleted. You are conservative. Pick a pocket of time this week when you still have a brain, phone in another room, and ask what you are protecting by leaving it as it is, and what it costs the people who do not get a vote in your calendar. If you catch yourself performing the answer, like you are drafting a caption, delete it and start again.
Take back one hour that has a name
Not a new morning routine. Men at this stage love a routine, because a routine feels like progress and does not threaten the life. Pick a repeatable hour that is already losing and give it a job. Dinner with the phone in a drawer. A walk with your wife where you do not steer it back to the business. Time with your kid before the laptop opens. The tactic is the boundary, not the activity. Tell one person what the hour is. If you miss it, you tell them the same day, without a story. The story is how it dies. A client emergency three weeks in a row is the old life collecting its rent. Being the person who agrees is how that hour gets given away before you notice.
Have the conversation, then date the move
There is almost always a conversation you have been drafting. A spouse you have been managing instead of talking to. A partner you have been working around. A number you have not said out loud, because saying it makes the next move real. Do not workshop it into a speech. Two sentences of what you have been avoiding, then stop talking long enough for them to answer. The men who stay stuck are usually eloquent about the problem and silent in the room where it could change. Eloquence is a delay tactic I have used plenty.
Then date the move that makes the current income nervous, and put it sooner than feels comfortable. One move. Kill the offer, raise the price, hire the person, have the hard no, book the conversation you have been waiting on the right week for. If it needs more than a couple of weeks of preparation, you are probably preparing past the point of usefulness. Let it be clumsy. The old identity will have a very reasonable case for why this stretch is not the one. It always does. It has been getting paid to keep things as they are.
You need one person who is not impressed
None of that works alone, which is inconvenient, since alone is the setup that got you here. You need one person who is not impressed by you. Not a mastermind. Not an audience. Not a coach you are performing progress for. Someone who can ask whether the phone actually stayed in the drawer, and who will not clap if the answer is no. Most of the men I know have plenty of people who benefit from them staying impressive. Employees, followers, friends who like the version that has it together. Almost nobody who is allowed to interrupt it. Ask someone specific if you can send them one sentence about whether you did the thing. If you do not send it, they chase you. That is the whole agreement. If you cannot think of a person, that is not a small detail. That is the closed loop, and finding the person is the first move.
I am not interested in telling you to burn the life down. A lot of what you built is worth keeping. The business can stay. The standard has to change, or you will spend the next ten years maintaining a life you already know you are done growing inside. What I care about is whether the man who benefits from it can still sit at the table with the people who paid for it. Your wife. Your kids. Whatever you say you believe when the content needs a spine. If those do not survive the win, the win was just a very well-paid way of leaving.
You already know which of these you have been talking yourself out of. Start with the sentence. The rest gets easier to see once you stop describing the problem in a way that lets you keep it.
In this video I speak about how you may be keeping yourself stuck in high achiever patterns and what you can do to change it:

 
The post What to do when you have already made it and feel stuck appeared first on Addicted 2 Success.

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Why we love this deal

Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but we have an affinity for colored gemstones when it comes time to add a new piece of jewelry to our collection. Although popular for a reason, diamonds don’t always pop as much as a sapphire, ruby, or emerald would, and when you like to make a statement with your jewelry, a gemstone in a bright, fun hue does far more than a colorless diamond stone. These days, you can get the high-quality look of real gems without the ethical or environmental implications with lab-grown stones, seen in pieces like the Macy’s Sapphire Cushion Stud Earrings, and what’s even better, you can add that sought-after pop of color for an even more affordable price with a great sale.

Macy’s is selling the Macy’s Sapphire Cushion Stud Earrings, which originally retail for $200 for 65% off. The incredible sale means you can save $130 and get the large, cushion cut lab-grown sapphire stud earrings for only $70 for a limited time. 

Macy’s Sapphire Cushion Stud Earrings, $70 (was $200) at Macy’s

Courtesy of Macy’s

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Why do shoppers love it?

With lab-grown gems, luxury is more available, and affordable, than ever. There are a lot of misconceptions about the lab-grown creations, but contrary to popular belief, chemically-created gemstones are still just as “real” as the ones mined out of the ground. Not only are they made from the same minerals with the same crystal structures, but they are just as sturdy and hard, with that same sparkle and glimmer — so much so that only specialized equipment in high tech labs would be able to tell the two apart. It’s a win-win when you consider the alternative is more expensive natural stones that come at an environmental cost. Lab-grown gems like the lab-grown sapphires in these earrings are worth every penny.

In total, there are six carats worth of sapphire stones in the two earrings, with each stud having three. The cushion-cut gemstones have a vivid, deep indigo hue that looks particularly stunning when exposed to light. The stones are set in a rectangular, four-pronged sterling silver backing. Together, the lab-grown sapphires and sterling silver metal give you a super durable, long-lasting piece of jewelry with hypoallergenic qualities and a bright, lustrous aesthetic. 

Related: Macy’s has $375 lab-grown sapphire earrings for 60% off

The earrings have a classic post back closure, which allows for quick, easy insertion and lightweight security that won’t weigh your earlobe down. They slip on and off in seconds, are small, and sit flush against the ear. 

Details to know

Material: Lab-grown sapphires and sterling silver.

Carats: 6 carats total.

Backing: Post back closures.  

Shoppers love the larger size of these studs, especially when there’s so many smaller, more delicate styles on the market that don’t make as much of an impact when you wear them. “Large brilliant shine, eye-catching, and excellent quality,” one shopper said. They have a luxurious, elevated look and design to them, and are truly different from other stud earrings on the market these days. The color pops and they have a great shimmer.

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Jewelry might not be a necessity, but when something like the Macy’s semi-annual jewelry sale is going on, where you can get jewelry, rings, necklaces, and other styles similar to the Macy’s Sapphire Cushion Stud Earrings for up to 70% off, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to add a few new things to the accessories case?