Richard

As the inflation-triggered competition for value between big brands heats up, nostalgia for fast-food restaurants — and their affordable prices — is high. One X account takes us back to a simpler time of extreme color schemes, flamboyant designs and low prices.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

X account Time Capsule Tales is publishing photos of fast food icons like Taco Bell, Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s and others in their 1970s, ’80s and ’90s glory.

The nostalgic pics include a Burger King that was found “fully intact” behind a wall at a long-closed shopping mall in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2022.

A fully intact vintage Burger King was found behind a wall at the Concord Mall in Wilmington, DE. This photo was snapped by Jonathon Pruitt April of 2022. pic.twitter.com/pzfMnpjo4h

— Jack-of-all-trades (@Upliftingvision) July 11, 2024

One highlight is the circa 1970s-’80s Taco Bell menu, which explains in great detail what a taco and a burrito are, complete with a sound-it-out, phonetic pronunciation of each food — “Tah-co” and “Buh-ree-toh.”

The menu is from when the brand called its Pintos and Cheese refried beans by a different name — Frijoles (Fre-ho-les) and still served the now-extinct Enchirito, which made a brief comeback last year.

Enchirito, tostada, and the combo burrito were all fire and all are gone now. I rarely go to TB anymore but when they brought back the enchirito in ’22 for a limited time, I bought an enchirito (or two, lol) at least twice a week. It wasn’t the same but it was still good! pic.twitter.com/OFabl2YuuR

— ??? ?????? ?????? ? (@YouFlthyAnimal) July 11, 2024

Then, there are the prices. One retro Taco Bell menu from 1984 shows how inexpensive it used to be to eat fast food. The prices for drinks — $.45 for a small Pepsi compared to $2.29 today for the same beverage — are immediately noticeable. But it’s the Combo Burrito Meal for $1.19 that really stands out. Taco Bell’s least expensive combo is the value-inspired temporary $5.99 combo, with prices for combo meals rising from there to the $11.29 price point for the 2 Chicken Chalupa Supreme Combo.

Read More on X: Time Capsule Tales

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Entrepreneur caught up with Chris Cocks, CEO of 101-year-old toy company Hasbro at Collision conference in Toronto. The conference brings together business and tech leaders to discuss industry trends and innovation. It was a wide-ranging conversation addressing everything from the company’s nimble approach to change to some of Cocks’ most cherished toys. Below is a Q&A with the business leader, which has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Entrepreneur: Hasbro has a long and storied history. How does the company stay innovative in an evolving toy industry?
Cocks: Fundamentally, it’s about understanding the consumer and then putting super creative people who are passionate about the consumer in charge. That’s what we did at Wizards of the Coast when I was there for six years, and that’s what we’re doing at Hasbro.

In that vein, how do you balance tradition and innovation at Hasbro?
It’s not so much balancing tradition and innovation; it’s understanding where you’ve been so you can understand where you’re going. One of the most surprising things about becoming CEO of an [over] 100-year-old company is that I’ve really become a student of our history. While history doesn’t repeat, it definitely rhymes — so major technology innovations and major changes in entertainment are something Hasbro has faced many, many times. Probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned from it is to embrace the change and not fight it. When we embrace [change], we win, and we come out on top.

Related: How One Mom’s Mission To Rebuild Her Daughter’s Confidence Sparked a Revolution for The Doll Industry

What’s the most exciting project you’re currently working on?
The challenge with that question is the first seven I can’t tell you about because they’re still secret, but two are launching this year that I think are really cool: Beyblade X, which is the fourth generation of that product — it’s the best version ever and is already flying off the shelves. The second one is the refresh of Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition this year. DnD fifth edition has been out for 10 years, and this is probably the most comprehensive rules update ever. We’re pairing it with a really cool virtual tabletop to accelerate what digital play looks like as well.

What’s your favorite toy that Hasbro has ever produced?
Oh, that’s an easy one. It’s from my childhood — the USS Flagg. It was a six-foot-long G.I. Joe aircraft carrier that was my sole aspiration as a 10-year-old. I never got it, but I have one in my office now.

What is the most rewarding part of being CEO of Hasbro?
At the end of the day, knowing that the core of what you do is about making kids smile — that’s just amazing. Ever since I became CEO of Hasbro, I can’t walk through an airport, restaurant or especially a toy aisle and not notice little faces that just light up with the wonder of a toy and the wonder of childhood. That’s really cool to be a part of.

What do your own kids think about your role as CEO of a leading toy company?
Of course, my kids are very proud. My son’s a nerd, just like I am, so he and I play games together all the time. My daughter isn’t really a nerd — she’s kind of rebelled against nerd-dom. But of course, she loves it when her dad lights up, and that’s true of my whole family. I was at Xbox back when it was founded and left a couple of years after it launched. At the time, my nephews were like, “Why the hell would you leave the best job in history?” They might have had a point, but things have worked out well.

Related: This Mom Started a Side Hustle After a ‘Shocking’ Realization in the Toy Aisle. Her Product Was in Macy’s Within the Year — Seeing Nearly $350,000 in Sales.

What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the toy industry?
Follow your passion. When you go into the toy and games industry, you can make a great living; you can do a lot of good in the world. You’re basically working in an industry that generates smiles, laughter and companionship for people. But it’s not the industry where you’ll make the most money — if you want to do that, I know a couple of investment banks I can throw your way.

This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a young business owner.

Noah Kagan shared how he started AppSumo, a “Groupon for software,” in one weekend in a new podcast episode. The startup cost was $60; AppSumo earned $80 million last year and Kagan is still its CEO.

In 2010, Kagan was 28 years old and had already experienced what it was like to be the 30th employee at Facebook and the fourth employee at personal finance app Mint.

“I think I just felt insecure at some of these places,” Kagan told fellow entrepreneur Jeff Berman in a June episode of the “Masters of Scale” podcast.

Kagan was fired after nine months at Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg and later fired from Mint, too. He realized that dedicating his time to his day job carried a risk — another person could decide to let him go at any time.

Related: The Author of ‘Million Dollar Weekend’ Says This Is the Only Difference Between You and the Many ‘Very, Very Dumb People’ Making a Lot of Money

“I think I wanted to prove that I’m smart or prove that I’m successful or prove that Facebook when they fired me, and then when Mint fired me, [that] I can do it,” Kagan said.

The idea for AppSumo, a marketplace of software deals for small business owners or solopreneurs, was born when Kagan thought there was a way to promote software tools and also get paid for it. He saw that the site MacHeist gave Apple users discounts on software bundles and wanted to try making the same type of discounts available to a broader audience.

“My interest was letting the geniuses create software, and my skill and my excitement is promotion,” Kagain said.

The business came together in about 60 hours. First, Kagan found software he wanted to sell: the image-sharing service Imgur. He cold-emailed Imgur’s founder on Reddit and got approval to sell a discounted version in exchange for a cut of sales.

Related: Here’s Why Reddit Turned Down an Acquisition Offer From Google in Its Early Days, According to Cofounder Alexis Ohanian

The next piece was meeting with Reddit’s founding engineer to ask for free advertising. He got that too.

The final part was paying a developer to create a website with a PayPal button and purchasing the AppSumo.com domain name.

What was the total cost to launch the business? $60 and one weekend of his time.

AppSumo made $300,000 in the first year, and $3 million in the second, Kagan said in the podcast. It brought in $80 million in revenue last year.

Kagan now has a net worth of $36 million.

Kagan said that the crucial part of business was being invested in the problem and getting excited about it.

Related: This Flexible Side Hustle Is Helping Millions Earn Extra Cash — and Might Be ‘More Attractive’ Than an Office Job

“I think that’s the thing in business people are kind of missing out,” Kagan said. “They’re chasing AI now or chasing being an influencer. I think find areas [where] you’re like, I don’t know if I’m going to ever get tired of this.”

Starting a side hustle or finding an extra source of income has an upside — according to Kagan, you have more control over your future.

“If you can just give up 30 minutes a week, if you can just give up one Netflix show a week, if you can give up one thing a week, and you keep doing it weekly, eventually you can have that business,” he said.

Related: This Is the Winning Formula for Starting a Successful Podcast, According to a New Analysis

The famed Las Vegas Mirage Hotel and Casino is set to close for good on July 17, but gambling fans have one last chance to score big before the shiny doors shutter forever.

Since July 9, the Mirage has been giving out over $1.6 million in cash through a giveaway called the “Progressive Finale Cash Giveaway” for the casino to pay out its jackpots before closing as required by Nevada gambling regulations.

Related: An Iconic Las Vegas Casino Is Shuttering This Summer After 34 Years

Patrons can win up to $1.2 million through slot machine prizes and $400,000 in table games through July 16.

But videos across social media show that the giveaway is going about as well as you’d expect. Excited gamers have flocked to the casino to score a slice of the pie, leading to chaos and several fights on the casino floor.

Chaos at Mirage Casino right now pic.twitter.com/GEysoOHGaJ

— Jacob Orth (@JacobsVegasLife) July 12, 2024

@vegasstarfish Chaos and fights break out at Mirage Hotel & Resort Prepares to close permanently. All progressive jackpots must be paid prior to July 17th and random cash drawings are being given to any guest playing. This has caused huge lines, unhappy patrons, physical fights & exhausted employees. All animals at Mirage have been rehomed in anticipation of the Hard Rock renovation, Beatles Love by Cirque Du Soleil has shuttered and now all that remains are some additional funds to distribute. Add this to your list of places to avoid when visiting Las Vegas. #vegas #lasvegas #vegasstarfish #jackpot #giveawayalert #vegasnews #miragelasvegas #vegashotels #vegaslocal #vegasexperience #thingstodoinvegas #creatorsearchinsights #vegasonabudget #vegasvacation #vegasplanning #vegaswins ♬ Epic News – DM Production

It’s absolute pandemonium at the Mirage. $1.6 million in unclaimed progressive jackpots must be paid out before the casino ceases operations, due to Nevada gaming regulations. pic.twitter.com/ctOKRFO1wI

— Las Vegas Locally ? (@LasVegasLocally) July 10, 2024

According to Vital Vegas, the Mirage was only operating 400 machines as of Friday afternoon and shut all other machines to “end the progressive meters calculating and audit the numbers in order to properly give all the money away.”

The Mirage, part of the Wynn brand, opened in 1989 and was one of the first luxury resorts to open on the Strip. It was also the original home of the Siegfried & Roy show.

Related: Lisa Vanderpump Is Not Leaving Las Vegas, Opening New Venues

The hotel announced in May that it would be shuttering this summer. It’s set to rebrand to the Hard Rock Las Vegas, and the company will pay $80 million in severance packages to laid-off Mirage employees.

“Over the next two months we will bid farewell to this iconic and historic property and then we will commence an incredible transformation,” a notice posted to the Mirage’s official Facebook page read at the time. “We would like to thank all team members at The Mirage for their incredible commitment and helping us provide memorable experiences for our guests.”

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon appeared on “This is Working” with LinkedIn Editor-in-Chief Dan Roth on Thursday to discuss the future of the financial workplace, including his opinion on how AI will alter work as we know it.

Though business leaders and CEOs differ in their sentiments regarding the technology, Dimon is all in.

Related: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Worried About ‘Stagflation’

“I think people should stop talking about it. It’s huge, and what we do is we’ve embedded all of our businesses,” the CEO said, estimating that JPMorgan would be increasing its number of AI projects by 400 each year. “It is unbelievable for marketing, risk, fraud. It’ll help you do your job better, so, huge productivity tool.”

Dimon said he believed AI would eliminate jobs at JPMorgan, especially in customer service, but also noted it should add jobs too, making it a “net net” investment.

Dimon made similar comments in April in JPMorgan’s Annual Shareholder letter.

Dimon told investors then that the technology was “increasingly driving real business value” across a slew of projects that spanned areas of marketing, fraud, and risk and that though the usage of such technology might lead to a reduction in “certain job categories or roles”, JPMorgan plans to “aggressively retrain and redeploy” employees if affected by incoming changes to their field or positions by AI.

Related: JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon Says AI Leads to 3.5-Day Work Week

“While we do not know the full effect or the precise rate at which AI will change our business — or how it will affect society at large — we are completely convinced the consequences will be extraordinary,” he wrote.

JPMorgan Chase had a strong Q2 2024, with earnings reaching $18.15 billion at a 25% year-over-year increase and revenue that jumped 20% to $50.99 billion.

Dimon’s net worth as of Friday afternoon was an estimated $2.3 billion.

Billed as catering “to Gen Z‘s culture that values a slower, more relaxed pace of life,” Taco Bell is launching The Cantinas, a Taco Bell-themed “early retirement community” in San Diego accessible only to its Rewards Members.

“Guests can embrace the laid-back lifestyle of retirees through activities such as morning aerobics, afternoon pickleball matches and early bird dinners, allowing fans to experience cross-generational leisure and senior-inspired recreation,” a Taco Bell spokesperson told Entrepreneur in a statement.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Taco Bell

Promising a “next level culinary experience” and “active living staples” such as Baja Blast and pickleball, The Cantinas is open August 17-18, 2024. The Weekend Membership is priced at $150 and includes shared overnight accommodations for the ticket holder and a guest. This membership offers complete access to amenities, recreation, dining, entertainment and more, with “afternoon naps encouraged.“

Alternatively, the Day Pass is $50 per day and grants the ticket holder and a guest full access to the grounds, recreation, dining and more from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Related: 50 Cent Once Sued Taco Bell for $4 Million. Here’s How the Fast-Food Giant Got on the Rapper’s Bad Side.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Taco Bell

Related: 10 Little-Known Facts About Taco Bell and its Journey to the Top of the Franchise 500

A Taco Bell Rewards Membership is free, and only Taco Bell Rewards Members can purchase tickets for The Cantinas. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on July 16 at noon ET via the Taco Bell app.

This isn’t the first time the chain — the top franchise in Entrepreneur‘s 2024 Franchise 500 Ranking — has created a fully immersive experience for fans. In 2019, Taco Bell took over a hotel in exclusive Palm Springs and turned it into The Bell: A Taco Bell Hotel and Resort. Described as a “Tacoasis,” the weekend experience featured everything from Taco Bell-embroidered waffle robes to taco-shaped sugar cookies left on the hotel pillows to an exclusive sampling of Taco Bell’s then-unreleased Toasted Cheddar Chalupa.

Read More: KTLA Los Angeles

Even the most prominent business figures have felt imposter syndrome.

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates sat down with Jay Shetty on the “On Purpose” podcast this week to talk about her career and personal life, namely moments where she’s had to find grace and embrace a sense of imperfections while on her journey.

Related: Melinda French Gates Resigns as Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

French Gates recalled her time running the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and admitted that she “felt like an imposter for the first 10 years” and never felt qualified to “speak credibly” about the foundation’s work because she wasn’t professionally trained in global health policy or medicine.

However, one specific incident brought her to an epiphany that changed the way she approached her work and her role.

“Someone actually inside the Foundation who was working for me at the time came to me and wanted me to speak out on something and I said ‘No, no, I don’t feel like I know enough,'” French Gates explained. “And this woman said to me ‘Are you kidding? Just look at all the traveling you have done … all the knowledge you’ve amassed?'”

She said that the employee gave her a multitude of examples of how she was qualified — from the different communities she’s visited to the doctors and scientists she’s worked with, all the while amassing years of direct experience in the field.

Related: Melinda French Gates Reveals Her Next Move After Leaving Gates Foundation

“I could speak on behalf of so many of these women that I’d met and who’d invited me into their homes or shown me the tough circumstances of their lives,” French Gates explained. “If they’ve spoken to me, I need to speak their truths into the world … I do know enough. I’ll never know everything, no one will ever know everything on the history of the Earth, but I know enough to know what I know deeply at a core level and to speak those truths.”

French Gates formally resigned as Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in May, noting that under the terms of her departure, she would still have an additional $12.5 billion to spend on philanthropic work moving forward.

“This is not a decision I came to lightly,” she wrote in a statement on X at the time. “The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy.”

Days later, she announced that she would be donating $1 billion over the next two years to organizations advocating for women.

Melinda French Gates’ net worth as of Thursday afternoon was an estimated $13.4 billion.

Side hustles are soaring as Americans take on second jobs to be able to afford the normal stuff.

According to a new survey, one group in particular is feeling the crunch of rising inflation and home prices, and taking on extra work in response.

Bankrate released its side hustle survey on Wednesday and found that more than one in three U.S. adults make extra money with a side gig, like a weekend job or freelance work.

The survey noted that parents of children ages 18 and under are turning to side hustles more often than those without children or those with older kids.

Related: This Mom Started a Side Hustle on Facebook — Now It Averages $14,000 a Month and She Can ‘Work From a Resort in the Maldives’

“Many Americans are still finding that one job isn’t enough,” Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman stated. “The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years.”

Nearly half (45%) of parents with kids younger than 18 have a side hustle compared to 36% of childless adults and 28% of parents with adult children.

The average monthly side hustle income is $891 per month and the majority of Americans with side hustles (52%) have only been at it for less than two years. They’re likely using the money to pay bills, build their savings, or for discretionary spending.

Related: This 26-Year-Old’s Side Hustle That ‘Anybody Can Do’ Grew to Earn $170,000 a Month. Here’s What Happened When I Tested It.

“My schedule is mayhem,” 41-year-old Jordan Chussler, parent to a 5-year-old daughter and editor of a financial publication, told Marketwatch.

His daughter’s private school bill is $10,600; inflation has brought household expenses up for his family across the board. Chussler works during his lunch break and at night, as a freelancer and at restaurants, to make ends meet.

Chussler and his wife make about $165,000 combined at their main jobs; Chussler takes on extra jobs throughout the year to bring their combined income closer to $200,000 for more financial security.

He puts the extra money from side hustles into a Roth IRA and his daughter’s education fund.

Related: He Turned His High School Science Fair Project Into a Product That Solves a $390 Billion Problem: ‘This Has Not Been Done Before’

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Heather Freeman. Her Facebook page Coffee. Mom. Repeat. boasts 850,000 followers and brings in six figures a year. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Heather Freeman}

What was your day job (or other sources of income) when you started your side hustle?
Before becoming an influencer, I was a part-time licensed insurance agent and a stay-at-home mom.

When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
I started my “Coffee. Mom. Repeat.” Facebook page in 2013, then named “Mom’s Time Out.” I began posting affiliate links there in 2016. It wasn’t until 2018 that it went viral after I posted a ridiculous video of an 80s facial exercise. That same year, I officially changed the Facebook page name to Coffee. Mom. Repeat. after I surpassed 100,000 followers. I found the name to be more fun and relatable.

Related: This 26-Year-Old’s Side Hustle That ‘Anybody Can Do’ Grew to Earn $170,000 a Month. Here’s What Happened When I Tested It.

I started monetizing my content as an influencer because I knew I wanted more out of life for my family — from having the ability to travel to living in a better house — and I wanted more time at home with my daughter. My then-husband worked very hard to provide financially for the family, and I wanted to alleviate some of that burden for him.

What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground?
My cousin told me how her husband made money through affiliate marketing — sharing links to online retailers and earning commission from the sales. I found it to be very interesting and picked his brain. He explained how it worked, and I decided to apply to the Amazon Associates program, as that was the only one I was aware of at the time.

I started posting on my small meme page and made $100 in my first month. From there, I started researching everything I could on Pinterest and Google. Affiliate marketing and influencing was still very new, so it was a lot of trial and error.

Related: This 27-Year-Old Started a Side Hustle on Facebook Marketplace — Now the Gig Earns Over $500,000 a Month

I have built a reputation with my followers, so they know that what I’m promoting to them is a good product. I share real-life reviews of products I love, and I post consistently.

In 2023, I started using the influencer marketing platform Mavely to create shoppable affiliate links to share with my followers. Mavely has played a huge role in my success because it’s expanded my ability to earn commissions from different online retailers that my followers love, with hundreds of brand partners to choose from.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while building your side hustle, and how did you navigate them?
Online algorithms, most definitely! It’s challenging to see that one post will reach 500,000 people while another will only reach 2,500. That’s been a challenge to work through, so my followers still see what I post.

In addition to posting on Facebook, I have an email list where I will highlight a few amazing steals of the day. I also sometimes link in my Instagram stories.

Related: This Former Stay-at-Home Mom Started a ‘Zero Experience’ Side Hustle That’s Earned Over $500,000 — and She Doesn’t Work More Than 1 Hour a Day

How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
In the beginning, I was consistently making $100-150 a month. It wasn’t until 2019 that it started getting into four and five figures. To date, I average $14,000 a month. My biggest month, I earned almost $30,000, and my lowest (recently) was $8,900.

What do you enjoy most about this business?
The flexibility! I can leave on vacation tomorrow if I want to, and I only have to make sure my laptop is with me so I can still work. I have been able to work in the middle of the ocean, from a resort in the Maldives and flying high in the air as I travel.

Related: This Mom Started a Side Hustle After a ‘Shocking’ Realization in the Toy Aisle. Her Product Was in Macy’s Within the Year — Seeing Nearly $350,000 in Sales.

What’s your advice for others hoping to start successful side hustles or businesses of their own?
Just start, and don’t be afraid to reassess your game plan regularly. You will have days when you succeed and others where you absolutely fail, but as long as you keep trying, you will find what works for you. Success also does not happen overnight. You need patience — and a lot of it!