Incomia

Success is a relative term. For those who dare to strike out on their own and challenge the status quo as entrepreneurs and small business owners, the word takes on a whole new meaning, one that is often less about losing money and more about taking the time to take care of oneself. Many seasoned (and some new) entrepreneurs learn over time that balancing life and business is relative and often unattainable—unless they design their lives in a way that makes this balance a reality.  In 2024, business owner Adrienne Dorison learned firsthand the importance of building a business that thrives and makes space for life to happen—no matter if it’s good, bad or hideous. A business operations and efficiency expert and consultant for the last 15 years, Adrienne is the co-founder of Run Like Clockwork and developer of the Clockwork System, which helps small businesses operate on their own so CEOs can unplug for a four-week vacation. So when life threw Adrienne and her family a curveball ...

With the stage set for Trump’s second term and Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) all but a done deal, mass layoffs of federal employers seem to be on the horizon. But that’s just the first act—the sequel is a talent war in the private sector. It won’t be long before public sector talent starts finding opportunities in the private sector, bringing changes to hiring practices, wages and workforce dynamics in industries already feeling the strain. Here’s what federal downsizing could mean for industries and individuals alike—with insights from experts in the fields. Opportunities in a leaner workforce Everyone has a stake in the upcoming exodus—something to gain and something to reflect on. First up: the government. With his co-chief Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, Trump’s hand-picked leader for DOGE, has promised sweeping reforms: axing federal jobs and slashing inefficient spending. Musk claimed he could reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion , around one-third of the feder...

Whether you’re fresh out of school or have long been making the corporate rounds, honing your leadership skills can help you charter a quicker path to success. For those seeking inspiration, look to the example of the late former president Jimmy Carter. While he spent only one term in office (1977-1981), his legacy of thoughtful leadership and charitable endeavors post-presidency has helped position him as one of our most successful former presidents. Here’s how Jimmy Carter’s democratic leadership style made an impact from day one, and how you can take a page from his remarkable legacy. Emulate Jimmy Carter’s leadership style and be a breath of fresh air When Carter was elected the 39 th president of the United States, the Watergate scandal was still fresh on everyone’s minds. “In 1976, Jimmy Carter was the presidential candidate least like Nixon,” says Robert Strong, professor of politics at Washington and Lee University and a senior fellow at the University of Virginia’s Mil...

A famous quote by Will Rogers says “It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation, but you can lose it in a minute.”  Indeed, today’s 24-hour news cycle and often toxic social media climate can leave little room for missteps, miscues and lapses in judgment in business and social settings alike.  Nevertheless, scandals of all stripes, from criminal and personal misconduct to politically incorrect actions and inappropriate speech seem to dominate the headlines and social media platforms and compete for eyeballs, likes and comments like never before.  One recent scandal in New York City involved a woman who was fired from her job at a public relations firm because she was involved in a highly publicized incident where she pepper-sprayed a Muslim Uber driver after he began praying in Arabic. The woman was subsequently arrested and charged by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg with a hate crime, according to PR Week. Adding insult to injury, the incident was captured on the ridesh...

Your business could employ an amazing cohort of individually motivated and talented A-players. But, if they can’t take the steps necessary to come together and work as a team, they won’t be able to realize the highest levels of success. A Deloitte study found that employees work 15% faster and do 73% better when collaborating, while research conducted by Wiley shows that most teams suffer from and aren’t able to achieve due to a critical interpersonal skills gap, which leads to a lack of trust, commitment, and accountability.  If you’ve noticed a similar performance breakdown across your work unit, the DISC assessment can help propel you in the right direction. DISC is a tool that measures and assesses an individual’s personality, specifically as it pertains to their working environment. It organizes people into one of four personality buckets based on their behaviors, communication styles, motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.  Since building a well-oiled team starts w...

Where do you turn when life gets to be too much? For some men, therapy is a relief. For others, it’s not even an option. A November survey of 2,000 American men from Talker Research , on behalf of Talk Space, analyzed male friendship and mental health . Researchers found that 58% of men had never been to therapy, and 57% said they weren’t open to attending at any point in the future.  The survey also found that men frequently felt more comfortable talking to their male friends about their feelings, even if they had a partner. Of those surveyed, 61% said they often or sometimes were able to share more honestly with male friends than with their partner. The National Institute of Mental Health reported that only 41.6% of men received help for any mental illness in 2022, compared to 56.9% of women. Of those diagnosed with a serious mental health illness, only 59.3% of men received treatment, compared to 71.4% of women. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that...

Annual physicals help us catch physical health issues early—but what about your financial health? Just like physicals, reviewing your money habits before the new year can save you from bigger financial problems down the line. “The end of the year is the perfect time for a reset because you can step back, reflect on your current financial situation and start fresh with clear, achievable goals in the new year,” says Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K and host of the Financial Feminist podcast . “It’s sort of like Marie Kondo-ing your money: What serves you? What sparks joy? What can you let go of?” Understand your financial anxiety with a mental health check If the thought of a complete financial audit overwhelms you, that’s understandable. Money isn’t just about numbers—it’s also deeply tied to emotions and experiences. Wealth management consultant Christina Lynn, Ph.D., suggests starting with a mental health check to unpack your financial anxiety. “Unconscious money beliefs,...

For over 15 years, Mandy Tang gathered accolades. She worked in publishing, earned a master’s degree in business administration and dove into corporate America at American Express. She developed her professional skills at high-growth startups and even had a successful side gig as a career coach. Through it all, her career’s trajectory was predicated on achievement. Her career was her identity—but, secretly, she was emotionally fatigued and burnt out .  In 2021, Tang quit her corporate job, trading a steady nine-to-five for full-time career coaching. Now, she’s helping her more than 66,000 TikTok followers figure out if they should quit their own jobs. The “Should I Quit” journal: A record of truth Tang—who goes by “Career Coach Mandy” on TikTok —launched the “Should I Quit?” journal in May 2024. It’s a 28-page self-discovery workbook that confronts the emotional and logical tug-of-war that comes with prospective career shifts through 21 unique exercises. “So many times, what ...

Like many others, Romaine Seguin ’s perspective shifted during the height of the pandemic. As president of UPS Global Freight Forwarding, she was managing tens of thousands of frontline employees, working to deliver critical supplies like vaccines and personal protective equipment. “We all saw the stories… and [I realized] this is bigger than business; this is bigger than earnings per share. This is just unbelievable,” she says. Seguin wanted to give back. After spending 38 years with UPS, she joined Good360 and served as CEO from 2022 to 2024, when she decided to pursue other ventures. In 2023, due to her leadership, Good360 was named No. 2 on Forbes’ America’s Top 100 Charities list. Starting out When she began her first job at 23 years old, Seguin never imagined she would spend nearly four decades with the same company. “I was an athlete in college, and I wanted to stay in shape, so I started working at UPS, unloading trailers at 3:30 in the morning,” she recalls. Once Seguin’s...

Last month, I was prepared for challenges at the Seafire Wellness Festival in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. An ice bath was on the agenda and seemed like the ultimate test—a freezing plunge promising to push my physical and mental limits. But the real shock came during a financial wellness session. When the speaker asked who in the room had a will, I flushed with embarrassment. I pride myself on being financially responsible—I check my credit score regularly, keep a detailed budget and even have an emergency fund. Yet, here was a glaring blind spot I’d somehow overlooked. I scanned the room, feeling exposed. A will: such a fundamental piece of financial adulting, and somehow, it had completely slipped past me. As it turns out, I’m not alone in this oversight. Caring.com’s 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Survey reveals a startling truth: Only about one-third of U.S. adults have a will. Most people avoid it because it feels like navigating a legal minefield, but that doesn’t mak...