Would you pay to land a job?

A software engineer went viral last month after promising to pay upwards of $10,000 to anyone who can help them find a relevant six-figure job. It worked — and now it’s becoming a trend.

Argenis De La Rosa, a computer science undergraduate at the Harvard Extension School, wrote in a LinkedIn post that he would give someone the five-figure sum if they helped him land a software developer role.

De La Rosa said that he would create a contract for both parties to sign, ensuring that whenever he started getting paid in his six-figure role, he would pay off the $10,000 debt in increments. The deal would only go through if he received an offer.

Related: ‘Pay Off My Debt’ TikToker Explains How Much Money He Made from His Viral Video and the Inspiration for the Trend

“When I get paid, you get paid,” De La Rosa wrote in a LinkedIn post with over 400 reactions. “It’s that simple.”

De La Rosa told Business Insider that he received “nonstop” messages from interested people in the first 24 hours after he posted. The messages included mentorship or referral offers from engineers at tech companies, though some were “very sketchy” sales pitches, he said.

He told the outlet that he quickly received three job interview offers in the month since the post went live, though he is still looking for full-time work.

Then, Ryan Prescott, a Maine-based engineer, saw De La Rosa’s post and made his own. The only difference between the posts is that Prescott asked more specifically for a software developer role paying at least $120,000, not just for a six-figure salary.

Prescott’s LinkedIn post went viral when an X user screenshotted it and posted it on X. The post gathered 1.6 million views on Elon Musk’s app.

i’ve never seen anything like this before—this takes “open to work” to an entirely new level. pic.twitter.com/nWNGcd2yMJ

— signüll (@signulll) February 24, 2025

After Prescott posted, a startup CEO contacted him about a senior front-end engineer role. Prescott went through multiple rounds of interviews and ultimately landed the role. Because his boss was the one who reached out, Prescott won’t be paying the $10,000. However, Prescott says that the post helped him get noticed in a crowded market.

“I would really just encourage more people to differentiate themselves in strange and remarkable ways,” Prescott told BI.

Other LinkedIn members wrote similar posts over the past month, and some even increased how much they were willing to pay for help getting a developer job.

Jean-Philippe Lebœuf, a senior product engineer looking for work, wrote that he was willing to pay $30,000 to anyone who helped him find a remote job paying at least $120,000. Ray Morrison, a software engineer, said he would pay $15,000 in increments of $500 per month for anyone who helped him land a role with a salary of at least $140,000.

Tech hiring has dropped by at least 20% in August 2024 compared to August 2018, per LinkedIn data. Software engineering roles are down by 26%, IT by 27%, and project management by 25% in that time frame.

Related: ‘Really Hard to Find a Job’: 1.7 Million Job Seekers Have Been Looking for Work for at Least 6 Months

Looking to start a side hustle? You’re in good company: 36% of U.S. adults work a gig outside of their 9-5 to make extra money for bills, groceries, rent and more.

You’re probably already familiar with some popular side hustles. Millions of Americans work as rideshare drivers, freelance writers, online tutors, virtual assistants and pet sitters. Some even create products to build their own brands.

Related: This 54-Year-Old’s Juicy Side Hustle — Which She Calls a ‘Literal ATM’ — Pulls Up to $50,000 a Month and Was Profitable Within 1 Week

But which side hustles are growing the fastest? And where can side hustlers see the most earning potential? SideHustles.com analyzed Google search data to find out.

The No. 1 growing side hustle is one you might not have heard much about: operating a mobile car wash service. However, interest in the gig is skyrocketing, seeing 276% search growth between 2023 and 2024, with the greatest spike in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the report.

“This growth reflects a shift toward convenience-driven services, where customers prefer professionals to come to them rather than visiting a traditional car wash,” Edward Huang, a career expert at SideHustles, says. “For entrepreneurs, mobile car washing presents a low-barrier, high-demand opportunity with flexible hours and minimal overhead costs.

Related: These Are the 10 Highest-Paying ‘Little-to-No-Experience-Required’ Side Hustles Right Now

Selling stock photos online (151%), crypto trading (122%), personal shopping (100%) and delivering food (87%) rounded out the top five fastest-growing side hustles nationwide, per the data.

In some of the U.S.’s most populated cities, pet sitting holds strong, taking the top trending side hustle spot in Boston, Massachusetts, Columbus, Ohio, San Francisco, California, and Seattle, Washington, SideHustles found.

Check out SideHustles’ list of top trending side hustles for 2025 across the most populated cities below to find inspiration for your next gig:

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of SideHustles.com}

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In today’s high-pressure business environment, leaders face unprecedented levels of stress that threaten their personal well-being and professional effectiveness. The mounting pressures of digital transformation, economic uncertainty and evolving workplace dynamics have created a perfect storm of leadership stress that demands immediate attention and strategic intervention.

The focus on leader well-being isn’t merely about individual health — it’s a critical business imperative that directly impacts organizational success and sustainability. When leaders struggle with stress and burnout, the ripple effects cascade throughout the entire organization, affecting everything from team morale to bottom-line results.

Leaders cast long shadows across their organizations, with their behaviors and emotional states reverberating through every level of the company. Their influence on organizational cultures is profound and far-reaching, as employees naturally look to their leaders as behavioral role models. This psychological mirroring effect means that leader stress can quickly become institutionalized, creating a cycle of tension that impacts collective performance and innovation capacity.

Related: How Leaders Can Deal With Getting Overwhelmed

The data tells the story

The statistics paint a sobering picture of leadership stress in today’s business landscape:

• More than half (54%) express serious concerns about burnout, indicating a potential leadership sustainability crisis

• Perhaps most alarming, 40% have contemplated leaving their leadership positions specifically to protect their well-being

• A striking 71% of leaders report experiencing increased stress levels, highlighting the growing intensity of leadership challenges

These findings emerge from a comprehensive survey of nearly 11,000 leaders by DDI, underscoring the widespread nature of this challenge.

The generational dimension adds another layer of complexity to this issue. Generation Z, in particular, demonstrates a heightened awareness of workplace well-being. According to additional DDI data, they are 1.7 times more likely than their generational counterparts to step back from leadership opportunities when they perceive threats to their personal well-being — a trend that could reshape the future leadership landscape.

The broader workforce perspective reveals equally concerning patterns. In a comprehensive study by Rand, spanning 27,000 individuals across 34 countries, a significant 39% expressed reluctance toward career advancement, while an overwhelming 57% would decline professional opportunities that might compromise their work-life equilibrium.

Related: 5 Ways to Let Go of Stress and Enjoy Your Work

How to deal with leadership stress

While there are numerous approaches to reduce your stress in general, the latest research points to three fundamental strategies that leaders can employ to effectively manage their stress levels.

1. Open discussions

The DDI survey reveals a compelling insight into leadership stress management: 71% of leaders actively engage in open discussions with their trusted network of colleagues, family members or friends. This widespread adoption of dialogue as a coping mechanism underscores its effectiveness in navigating leadership challenges.

This approach proves particularly valuable because it serves multiple purposes simultaneously. Beyond providing immediate stress relief, these conversations help leaders break free from potentially limiting thought patterns. By exposing their challenges to different perspectives, leaders can uncover innovative solutions and approaches they might have overlooked in isolation. The external viewpoint often acts as a catalyst for breakthrough thinking and creative problem-solving.

These meaningful exchanges contribute to building and strengthening vital relationship networks. Research consistently demonstrates that robust social connections are fundamental pillars of psychological well-being, mental resilience, professional satisfaction and overall life contentment. For leaders, these relationships can serve as both professional support systems and personal safety nets during challenging times.

2 . Continuous learning

The DDI research highlights that 46% of leaders actively leverage learning resources as a stress management strategy. This statistic reveals an important correlation between professional development and emotional resilience.

This approach exemplifies a fundamental truth about effective leadership: The most impactful leaders maintain an unwavering commitment to growth and development. They recognize that leadership excellence is not a destination but a continuous journey of discovery and refinement. This mindset shift from “knowing it all” to “learning it all” can significantly reduce the pressure leaders feel to have all the answers.

Fascinatingly, organizations with strong learning cultures consistently demonstrate superior performance metrics across multiple dimensions. These environments foster innovation, drive employee engagement and deliver enhanced value to all stakeholders — from team members to customers.

3 . Self-reflection

The DDI research reveals that 74% of leaders utilize self-reflection as their primary stress management tool, demonstrating the power of introspective practice in leadership development.

You can harness this powerful technique by establishing structured reflection practices. Whether it’s real-time processing of challenging situations, end-of-day reviews or weekly retrospectives, the key is to examine your experiences, decisions and their outcomes systematically. This can be accomplished through silent contemplation, journaling or engaging in meaningful dialogue with trusted colleagues or mentors. The goal is to transform experiences into insights and insights into improved leadership practices.

The key to maximizing the benefits of self-reflection lies in finding the optimal balance point. Leaders must engage in sufficient introspection to drive continuous improvement while avoiding the paralysis that can come from excessive rumination. Think of it as calibrating an internal compass — enough attention to stay on course, but not so much that you lose momentum analyzing every minor deviation.

Related: How to Manage Stress, Anxiety and Burnout

Reasons for leadership stress

The sources of leadership stress are multifaceted, ranging from intense market competition to the evolving demands of the future of work. However, time scarcity emerges as a particularly critical challenge.

The statistics are striking: 30% of leaders report insufficient time to deliver work at their desired quality standards. According to a comprehensive DDI analysis, this chronic time pressure correlates strongly with burnout symptoms, creating a vicious cycle that impairs leaders’ ability to perform optimally and inspire their teams effectively.

Another significant stressor stems from perceived resource inadequacy. Leaders who lack the necessary tools or information to fulfill their responsibilities are particularly vulnerable to burnout. The data is compelling: These leaders face double the risk of burnout compared to their better-equipped counterparts.

The complexities of modern organizational dynamics, coupled with rapidly evolving market demands, make leadership more demanding than ever. However, by implementing strategic stress management approaches, leaders can not only safeguard their own well-being but also create a positive ripple effect that enhances employee satisfaction and organizational success.

For the most part, business runs on connections. But tracking down the right email address shouldn’t take hours of digging. This is the mindset behind Reachfast, a streamlined B2B lead generation platform that helps you find direct business emails of more than 385 million professionals worldwide.

How, you ask? By simply using just their LinkedIn URLs. And the best part is you can now score lifetime access for only $49.99, a fraction of its regular price.

If you’re in sales, recruiting, or business development, this tool could seriously accelerate your workflow. Whether you’re targeting a CTO in Toronto or a CMO in Singapore, Reachfast works across 190+ countries and all major industries.

Simply paste a LinkedIn URL—or upload a CSV file—and get verified business email addresses in less than five minutes, the company says. The Chrome extension even lets you grab emails while browsing LinkedIn, no copy-pasting required.

Every email you get is triple-verified, so you’re not just throwing messages into the void, the company says. Plus, your subscription comes with 1,000 email credits per month, giving you a consistent pipeline of fresh contacts. It should be mentioned that there is no phone number search, but if you’re focused on email outreach, this tool has everything you need to scale.

Need to build lists quickly? Reachfast’s bulk upload feature lets you handle lead generation at scale. This feature can be ideal for growing businesses or solo pros who are juggling multiple clients.

Whether you’re working from a WeWork, your kitchen table, or a high-rise corner office, Reachfast gives you the edge to grow in the most efficient way. No bloat, no fluff—just fast, reliable results.

What makes this deal worth it

Lifetime access to Reachfast is a rare find at just $49.99. This platform simplifies one of the most time-consuming parts of B2B outreach—finding the right email. With triple verification, a Chrome extension for real-time results, and support for LinkedIn URLs and CSV uploads, it’s powerful, practical, and affordable. If your business depends on talking to the right people, Reachfast delivers—no subscription required, no recurring costs. Just pure lead-gen power for life.

Don’t miss out on getting a lifetime of Reachfast for just $49.99 (reg. $720) while you still can.

Reachfast – B2B Lead Generation: Lifetime Subscription – $49.99

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

Tech companies are rushing last-minute bids for TikTok as the April 5 deadline nears.

Amazon and app development company AppLovin both submitted bids for unspecified amounts to buy TikTok on Wednesday, days ahead of TikTok’s Saturday deadline to separate from its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.

Amazon sent an offer letter to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to buy all of TikTok, but The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump’s administration isn’t seriously considering the bid.

AppLovin, a mobile tech platform that helps developers market and monetize apps, also submitted a bid and spoke to real estate billionaire Steve Wynn about funding it, per The Wall Street Journal. The company, which is valued at around $100 billion, pitched its offer to the Trump administration as a way to create jobs and address national security issues.

Related: You Can Download TikTok Again Through U.S. App Stores

According to The Journal, President Trump was briefed on Wednesday about a proposal to keep TikTok live in the U.S. The proposal involves cloud computing giant Oracle allying with asset manager Blackstone and other potential investors to make a joint bid on TikTok to ByteDance. Beijing officials will have to sign off on the deal and have indicated that they are open to it, per The Journal.

Trump acknowledged last week that the U.S. needed China’s cooperation on any TikTok deal and said he would consider “a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done.”

TikTok has received more than just Amazon and AppLovin’s bids. Other groups have submitted formal offers to acquire the app, including billionaire and former L.A. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who teamed up with Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to submit a $20 billion bid in January. AI startup Perplexity also submitted a bid in the same month to merge its business with TikTok’s U.S. division for more than $50 billion.

Congress passed a law in April 2024 called the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Lawmakers, concerned about U.S. user data making its way to the Chinese government and TikTok spreading Chinese propaganda to the American public, gave TikTok until January 19 to separate from ByteDance and be sold to a non-Chinese company or face a ban in U.S. app stores.

After failing to find a buyer, TikTok went dark on January 18 for 170 million U.S. users. The app quickly came back online the following day when Trump pledged to save the app. He then signed an executive order on January 20, extending the app’s operations in the U.S. by 75 days and giving it more time to find a buyer.

Related: TikTok’s Wild Weekend, Explained: From a Ban to an Executive Order, Here’s What to Know.

Trump stated earlier this year in a post on Truth Social that he wants the U.S. to have a 50% ownership stake in a joint venture to own TikTok.

“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to stay up,” Trump wrote ahead of his inauguration. “Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.”

Investing in employee wellness can help increase productivity, profit and employee retention; however, when it comes to deciding where to spend wellness dollars, many companies simply take a shot in the dark.

My AI data analytics firm once partnered with a large hospital network that had spent millions of dollars on a subscription to a meditation app for nurses, assuming it would help reduce stress and improve retention. Their plan turned out to be a complete waste of money.

After analyzing the hospital’s workforce data, it became clear that the meditation app had no impact on nurse stress levels or turnover rates. The real issue was long, back-to-back shifts. Nurses were working excessive hours with minimal rest, leading to exhaustion and job dissatisfaction. We suggested adjusting nurse schedules to optimize rest time and align with nurse preferences. These changes led to decreased turnover and improved quality of life for nurses — and their patients.

The biggest lesson learned? A one-size-fits-all approach — such as simply providing gym memberships — may seem beneficial, but it will have minimal impact if it doesn’t tackle the root causes of workplace stress.

Make no mistake, wellness programs can be effective. The World Economic Forum found that for every dollar invested in mental health, there is a four-dollar return from improved health and productivity. These programs often lead to reduced absenteeism, and millennials and Gen Z employees are more likely to commit to companies that prioritize employee wellbeing. Harvard Business Review found that companies are 22% more profitable if employees are highly engaged.

However, a successful employee wellness program is not about offering trendy perks. It’s about addressing the real issues that affect employee well-being and making informed decisions that lead to measurable improvements. By taking an employee-centric and data-driven approach, companies can allocate wellness budgets effectively to improve employee satisfaction and create workplaces that support long-term wellbeing.

Where should you start? Before implementing any initiatives, you should first try to understand why employees are stressed in the first place.

Related: How Entrepreneurs Can Better Support Their Employees’ Mental, Physical and Financial Health

Step 1: Identify the root causes of employee dissatisfaction

Root causes often vary by industry, department, job level and individual circumstances. Some common workplace stressors include:

• Workload and scheduling: Employees working long hours, back-to-back shifts, or unpredictable schedules can experience burnout. Lack of flexibility can also create challenges for those with caregiving responsibilities.
• Job expectations and pressure: Unclear job roles, unrealistic expectations and high performance demands can lead to anxiety and decreased job satisfaction.
• Management and workplace culture: Poor leadership, lack of communication or toxic work environments can make employees feel undervalued or unsupported.
• Compensation and benefits: Financial stress from low wages or inadequate benefits can contribute to dissatisfaction and turnover.

Companies should gather direct employee feedback or analyze employee data to pinpoint the specific causes of workplace stress. A few ways to approach these topics are roundtable discussions, confidential one-on-ones with HR or anonymous surveys. For larger organizations that may not have the time to check in with employees individually, a data analytics company can analyze workforce data, including schedules, absentee rates, performance reviews, skill fit, etc., to pinpoint the main stressors by role.

Step 2: Implement tailored, employee-centered solutions

By understanding what employees actually need, companies can avoid implementing superficial wellness solutions that fail to make a difference.

Effective wellness strategies should be:

• Employee-driven – Base decisions on direct feedback rather than assumptions from management.
• Flexible – Adapt to the needs of different departments, job roles, and employee demographics.
• Practical – Provide real, actionable improvements to workplace conditions rather than surface-level perks.

As an example of this strategy in action, my company worked with a virtual tutoring nonprofit, whose volunteer tutors were often students in high school or college. Many tutors were repeatedly missing Friday afternoon sessions. Those who did show up were disengaged, leading to poor tutoring quality for underserved students.

Using data analysis, the tutoring nonprofit:

• Adjusted scheduling policies to optimize effective tutoring
• Improved tutor screening to ensure volunteers were committed
• Raised funds to pay tutors in the future
• Developed a data-driven approach to match students with tutors more effectively

Understanding workforce behavior and implementing data-backed changes can significantly improve outcomes for employees and the people they serve.

Related: Why Your Workplace Wellness Program Is Unhealthy

Step 3: Continuously track and measure effectiveness

Wellness programs should not be a “set it and forget it” initiative. Companies must continually assess whether their investments are making a real impact.

Key metrics to track include:

• Retention rates – Are employees staying at the company longer?
• Job performance – Has productivity improved since implementing wellness changes?
• Employee satisfaction – Are employees reporting higher morale and reduced stress?
• Absenteeism – Has the frequency of sick days or unplanned absences decreased?

Whether using AI-driven analytics or traditional feedback methods, tracking real-world results is essential to ensuring wellness initiatives are truly benefiting employees — and are worth the money spent.

By prioritizing employee input, targeted interventions and continuous measurement, companies can create workplace environments that genuinely support employee health, satisfaction and long-term success.

I rarely get sick. Maybe once a year, I’ll have a quick 24-hour bug, shake it off and get right back to business. But this time was different. What started as a simple head cold turned into a full-blown fever that lasted a full seven days. Seven days of feeling drained, foggy and unable to think clearly, let alone work.

I took my hat off in a Brooklyn subway station, thinking I’d be okay. Well, no, my shaved head of a few hours ago got really cold, and there it was — I got sick.

At first, I assumed I’d bounce back quickly, but as the days stretched on, I realized something unsettling: My business, my income and my financial preparedness were not as solid as I thought. This forced me to ask some hard questions about how I operate, and I want to share them with you.

To make things even worse, we’re a single-income family, and I don’t have a side-hustle business. What I do as a motivational keynote speaker and SMB brand influencer is full-time, 24/7.

Here are a few things that will help you think about changes you might need to make in your business, as I’m thinking about it too:

Related: 5 Ways You Can Become More Financially Stable

1. Can your business survive without you?

As entrepreneurs, we love to believe we’re invincible. We push through exhaustion, handle everything ourselves and convince ourselves that things will be fine. But what if we’re out of commission for a week? A month? Longer?

Ask yourself:

• Do you have systems in place that allow money to come in without you working every day?

• Can your team or assistants keep things moving if you’re unavailable?

• Do you have automated revenue streams, like courses, digital products or recurring memberships?

If the answer is no, your business might not be as secure as you think.

2. Do you have at least three months of savings?

A financial cushion isn’t just for personal emergencies — it’s also for business. Could you survive three months without income? If not, it might be time to start building that safety net.

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by setting aside a small percentage of your earnings each month. Over time, it will add up and provide peace of mind for unexpected situations, like getting sick for longer than you anticipated.

3. Who are the key people on your team?

If you’re a solo entrepreneur, your “team” might just be a virtual assistant or an offshore freelancer. But having someone who can step in, check emails, handle basic tasks and keep operations running is crucial.

• Do you have a trusted assistant who knows your business well?

• Have you trained anyone to handle urgent matters if you’re unavailable?

• Are there key contractors, partners or freelancers who can help fill the gaps?

The goal is to make sure your business doesn’t fall apart if you’re out for a few days or longer.

4. Do you have a list of warm leads?

When you return to work after being sick (or dealing with any emergency), having a warm list of leads ready to go makes a huge difference.

If your pipeline is constantly dry, it means every time you take a break, your income stops. Instead, focus on maintaining relationships and keeping a steady list of potential clients you can follow up with when you’re back in action.

Related: Learn How to Build a Business or Brand That Grows Without You

5. Do you have strong client relationships?

A transactional business is fragile. But a business built on relationships is resilient.

Think about it: If you have strong relationships with your clients, they’re more likely to:

• Be patient if you’re unavailable for a few days

• Trust you enough to wait for your return

• Continue working with you even after a brief absence

Take the time to nurture real connections with your clients — it pays off when life throws unexpected challenges your way.

6. Do you have access to emergency funds?

Even if you have savings, do you have additional ways to access money in an emergency?

Some options include:

• A line of credit for your business

• A solid relationship with your bank

• Trusted family or business connections who could offer support if needed

Having a plan in place ensures that if things get tight, you’re not scrambling for financial relief.

7. Are you living below your means?

One of the biggest financial mistakes entrepreneurs make is spending based on today’s success — without considering the unexpected.

Ask yourself:

• Are there any unnecessary expenses you could cut?

• Are you overspending on things that don’t truly bring value to your business?

• If income stopped for a few months, could you still afford your current lifestyle?

Simplicity and financial discipline create long-term stability, especially when business gets unpredictable.

8. Are you setting aside enough for taxes?

Let’s be real — taxes can be a financial trap if you’re not careful. I’ve personally been caught off guard multiple times by not setting aside enough.

If you’re self-employed, every dollar you make isn’t truly yours — a chunk of it belongs to the IRS. Make it a habit to:

• Set aside at least 25-30% of your earnings for taxes

• Pay quarterly estimates to avoid big surprises

• Work with an accountant to stay ahead of tax liabilities

This is one of the easiest ways to avoid financial stress, yet so many entrepreneurs (myself included) overlook it until it’s too late.

Related: 5 Tips for Running a Business While You Are on the Mend

Being sick for seven days was a wake-up call. It reminded me that my business needs to be stronger than just me.

We never know when life will throw us a curveball — whether it’s a health issue, a family emergency or something else unexpected. The best thing we can do is prepare now, before it’s too late.

Take a moment to assess your situation:

• Is your business set up to run without you?

• Do you have savings and financial backups?

• Are you keeping strong relationships with clients?

• Are you managing your expenses wisely?

If any of these are a weak point, now is the time to fix them. Because at some point, life will test your business — and you want to be ready when it does.

What’s your plan for income preparedness?

Sleep is important to thrive in life, but it is often disregarded as a vital component of any success journey. The energy you gain from a full night’s sleep can help you make sound decisions, manage stress and maintain emotional stability.

As a leader, this energy is your powerhouse, which is closely linked to the quality of your sleep and the effective stress release by your nervous system. Having a sound sleep isn’t only health advice; it’s tactical entrepreneurial advice, as you are more likely to make logical instead of impulsive decisions if you have had a good night’s sleep.

What is REM sleep, and how can it help?

REM sleep is important in developing emotional regulation and mental clarity. REM stands for rapid eye movement. During this stage of sleep, your eyes move rapidly as you dream. Increased blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and brain activity are its defining characteristics.

The brain processes unresolved emotions and trauma during this stage, so leaders who concentrate on getting enough REM sleep are more likely to remain composed and grounded, particularly under pressure. Additionally, this stage fosters creativity and problem-solving skills, enabling leaders to respond to obstacles rather than just react to them.

Leaders who don’t get enough REM sleep may be more likely to have emotional outbursts or make fast decisions, which can have a detrimental effect on team morale and decision-making. Getting enough REM sleep enhances brain clarity and emotional resilience, two qualities that are essential for good leadership.

Related: The No-Excuse Approach to Sleep and Work Performance for Entrepreneurs

What is deep sleep, and how can it help?

Deep sleep is a curative stage of sleep where the body goes through physical repair and recovery. This stage helps rebuild the muscles, strengthen the immune system and boost energy levels. Deep sleep may prove to be an anti-aging serum for the leaders, which can promote endurance and well-being. It makes them wake up refreshed and energized. They feel a boost in their stamina and focus needed to lead effectively for the whole day.

Solutions for better sleep

If you want to recharge your “leadership battery” by improving your sleep, especially REM and deep sleep, try developing these habits:

1. Maintain regular sleep schedules

A proper sleep-wake schedule can help regulate your circadian rhythm, hence ensuring REM and deep sleep. You have enhanced emotional regulation and sound decision-making power if you follow the same routine of going to bed and waking up in the morning, including on the weekends.

2. Exercise regularly (but time it right)

You can improve your sleep quality and increase your REM time with regular exercise or any other physical activity. However, it is important to avoid rigorous workouts near bedtime as they can delay sleep.

3. Create a comforting night routine

Setting up a relaxing, consistent pre-sleep routine will assist your brain in recognizing when it’s time to relax. At least half an hour before going to bed, stop engaging in stimulating activities like watching TV or using your phone. Rather, engage in mental relaxation techniques like journaling, reading a soothing book or meditation.

4. Improve your sleep environment

A soothing and comfortable sleep environment can improve your sleep quality. You can make use of blackout curtains, white noise machines or earplugs to create a cool, dark and quiet environment in your bedroom.

5. Practice stress reduction techniques

Anxiety and stress can be a great hindrance to REM and deep sleep. Stress-reduction techniques like breath work, meditation and gentle yoga before bedtime can help alleviate your nervous system and ensure a smooth transition to restorative sleep.

6. Journal to release mental clutter

Writing down your ideas or unresolved problems before bed helps you declutter your mind, which facilitates relaxation and sleep. Leaders can especially benefit from this technique, which helps them decompress from the day and prepare for a better night’s sleep.

Related: 8 Reasons Sleep Is Crucial for Entrepreneurs and Leaders

Find what works for you

Although the given strategies are supported by research, it is an important factor to consider that everyone has different sleep requirements. These suggestions can be a starting point toward sound sleep. You need to be your own scientist by experimenting with what works best for you. Everyone’s body and nervous system respond differently. Observe the impact of different habits on you and improvise them as per your body’s needs intended to enhance your focus, energy and emotional balance for effective leadership.

Conclusion

The quality of your sleep has an impact on your energy levels, emotional stability and cognitive performance, all of which are critical for effective leadership. Keeping an eye on your sleeping patterns and making necessary adjustments will position you for success as a leader. These habits will improve your health and your capacity to react intelligently and effectively at work, from maximizing the amount of time you spend sleeping to developing nightly routines that promote the vital stages of sleep (REM and deep sleep).

In January, Bank of America analysts noted that self-care services like salons and gyms were notable economic standouts that have been “solid” for the past two years. Boomers led beauty spending, while Gen Z and millennials aimed for more self-care and gyms, including wellness trends like red light therapy and cold plunges.

Now, Business Insider reports that analysts are noting that the “generational shift” in spending towards “healthy habits is driving growth in wellness-related stocks,” according to a Bank of America note on Tuesday.

Gen Z and millennials are prioritizing movement and fun, spending their money on leisure activities like pickleball and wellness-focused discretionary spending like anti-aging treatments.

Related: The Majority of Gen Z Is Streaming Movies and TV Shows at Work, According to a New Survey

Investing.com notes that credit and debit card data from the bank showed a year-over-year increase in fitness spending of 7% in February, which they said was the biggest growth in a year and a half.

“We believe there is an ongoing generational shift toward healthy habits, which is supportive of wellness stocks,” Bank of America wrote.

The bank wrote that younger generations are also shunning the bar and instead opting for the gym.

“Millennials and Gen Z are allocating a higher percent of their budget to fitness [that’s] surpassing bars/pubs,” Bank of America noted.

Related: The ‘Lipstick Effect’ Exposes a Surprising Truth About Our Priorities in a Recession. Here’s How Businesses Can Cash In.

In November 2024, a report from the Global Wellness Institute found that the industry reached a record-high worth of $6.32 trillion in 2023 — bigger than the pharmaceutical and sports categories.

All of this data could lead to what Business Insider is calling a “recession-resistant corner of the market.”

Still, spending on beauty, or what is known as the “lipstick effect,” is not unheard of in times of economic strife.

During the Great Recession in 2008-2009, cosmetics expenditures increased among women ages 18 to 40 (though they gravitated towards lower-cost brands), per the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics.

Thinking of asking for a raise? Shark Tank investor and multimillionaire Barbara Corcoran says the key to getting ahead is being prepared and being specific.

Corcoran, 76, posted an Instagram video explaining the elements to keep in mind when approaching a boss about a salary raise. The “Shak Tank” star and entrepreneur, who founded real estate brokerage, The Corcoran Group, and sold it in 2001 for an estimated $70 million, has experience overseeing a staff of up to 700 brokers.

Corcoran advised viewers to prepare by making a list of every responsibility they were hired to do. Then, they should write a separate list of everything they are really doing in their current roles. That way, the manager can clearly see where they are fulfilling their responsibilities and where they are going above and beyond — and they can communicate that to their boss.

Related: ‘Do You Know What a First Class Ticket Costs?’ Why Barbara Corcoran Flies Coach

The second tip Corcoran gave was to name a percentage or a specific monetary value for the raise. Instead of saying “I want a raise,” Corcoran said bosses would respond better to, “I want a 10% raise.”

“You’re in a much better negotiation position to maybe get 8%,” Corcoran said. “Name the number.”

Corcoran prides herself on being a good boss, stating last month in a separate Instagram post that her perspective is grounded in what she can do for her employees and how she can serve them.

Her professional efforts have been fruitful: Corcoran earns around $4.5 million a year from investments, factoring in profits from over 650 deals she’s made on “Shark Tank” as an original cast member for 16 years.

Related: Barbara Corcoran Needed to Make Job Cuts. Here’s Why She Fired Her Mom First.

No matter how good the pitch, raises can be rare or a common yearly occurrence, depending on the company.

According to Payscale’s 2025 Compensation Best Practices Report, engineering and science firms intend to offer 4.6% raises this year, while nonprofits and educational institutions are only planning on a median 3% pay increase for 2025. Some companies going through a difficult financial year may be unable to offer raises and are not legally obligated to, per Indeed.

Nonprofit think tank The Conference Board surveyed 300 compensation leaders across 11 industries and found that the average annual raise for U.S. employees is around 4%.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics backs up this figure, showing that salaries for civilian employees increased by an average of 3.8% for the 12-month time frame ending December 2024.