Elevate your lifestyle for success and happiness Your Trusted Guide to the Future of Work Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:27:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.success.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-success-32x32.png Elevate your lifestyle for success and happiness 32 32 Move Aside, Reddit: Here’s How Consumers Can Find Real Human Reviews Online https://www.success.com/in-my-expert-opinion-real-human-reviews/ https://www.success.com/in-my-expert-opinion-real-human-reviews/#respond Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:11:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=88896 So you need a vacuum. Or the best hair dryer. Or a rug, dishwasher or hiking boots. Where do you turn? A year ago, that answer may have been simple. You’d read “Top 5 Hiking Boots” from your favorite and most trusted digital publications or some reviews online and scan Amazon’s five-star ratings to determine […]

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So you need a vacuum. Or the best hair dryer. Or a rug, dishwasher or hiking boots. Where do you turn? A year ago, that answer may have been simple. You’d read “Top 5 Hiking Boots” from your favorite and most trusted digital publications or some reviews online and scan Amazon’s five-star ratings to determine your top choices. Then, you’d make a purchase. 

Today, there are a few more challenges to contend with. There’s a plethora of AI-generated content, which might leave you wondering, “Did a real person actually review these boots? Or did a bot just gather some random opinions and maybe hallucinate in the process?” In 2024, “Google broke product journalism,” publicist Michelle Songy wrote on LinkedIn. She’s referring to multiple steps Google took in 2024, including targeting certain websites that they claimed took advantage of site rankings despite being off topic.

Will Kenton, former editor at Investopedia and Taboola, started getting frustrated with Google’s decision to effectively “shut down the affiliate magazine business,” and with the rise of low-quality, user-generated and AI content. So, he set out to do something about it, along with colleagues Brie Dyas and Nick Leftley, who came from TIME Stamped, Associated Press Buyline, Maxim and other product review publications that fell victim to Google’s rules.

In June, In My Expert Opinion (IMEO) launched, with a different business model. Their mission was simple but complex in an ever-changing internet landscape where the rules shift as frequently as a toddler running a Candy Land game: Build a community-driven platform where writers are fairly compensated and readers can find reliable, engaging product reviews that go much more in depth than formulaic SEO-driven content or AI summaries.  

“Our journey began following a major shift in the online landscape—the Google algorithm update of 2024—which displaced credible publishers, leaving consumers overwhelmed by questionable sources and unreliable advice from platforms like Reddit and Quora,” IMEO’s website states. “Not only did Google punish legacy news sources, they replaced quality, human-made information with AI overviews and fake reviews.”

Kenton says that Google is “trying to suppress the kind of freely made information in order to be in the middle of the economic transactions.” That is, to make money. “We were all very upset when Google essentially turned off the traffic to our websites,” he says. “People want good information, and they’re finding it harder to get.” In response, IMEO is facilitating the conversation around single physical objects, like those hiking boots or a vacuum, with the goal of having 2,000 reviews.

Songy shares some key points about IMEO. According to her LinkedIn post:

  • “Writers retain ownership of their content and earn through affiliate revenue and ad-sharing.
  • [The] system [is] designed to respect the value of expertise while offering a sustainable business model.
  • Right now, they’ve got 57 expert contributors signed on, with plans to grow the community and launch interactive forums and a newsletter soon.” 

So, if you want to know whether a writer feels a travel pillow is actually helping her sleep on a plane or if a “power bra” for back pain is helpful or hype, the IMEO community can let you know. 

According to Kenton, 99% of IMEO’s writers are people they know personally, such as colleagues, or people they know through others, which “kind of goes with our ethic of trying to keep it local and make sure that you’ve got a truly trustworthy source—somebody you’ve seen face to face.”

Photo by Ground Picture/Shutterstock

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How to Start a Successful Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners https://www.success.com/how-to-start-a-successful-blog/ https://www.success.com/how-to-start-a-successful-blog/#respond Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/how-to-start-a-successful-blog/ Learn how to start a successful blog with this beginner-friendly guide. Discover tools, strategies and tips for writing posts to attract readers.

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What You’ll Learn: Gain actionable steps and practical insights to help you learn how to start a successful blog. Learn why they’re still relevant, what you need to get started, how and what to post and more inside tips to make it work. 

Starting a blog is still a fantastic way to share your voice or grow a brand. With the right niche, simple tools, and consistency, anyone can do it—no tech skills required. Learn the basics to help you start strong and stay on track.

Blogging has evolved, but its value hasn’t disappeared. Starting a blog today remains a meaningful way to build a personal brand. It lets you share your expertise, connect with a community, or grow a side hustle into something more substantial. Whether you want to turn your passion into a profession, or simply have a space for self-expression, blogging can help. When used wisely, it can become a rewarding outlet—both creatively and professionally. 

If you’re new to it all, the idea of beginning a blog can feel overwhelming. But the truth is, you don’t need to be a tech expert or a professional writer to get started. You just need a clear direction, a few foundational tools, and the patience to grow.  

This guide shows you how to start a successful blog, breaking down everything into simple steps, from choosing a topic to publishing your first post.

Why Should You Start a Blog? Key Reasons at a Glance 

A blog can serve many purposes, depending on what you’re looking for. For some, it can be a creative outlet to share experiences and ideas. For others, it becomes a way to build authority, grow a business, or create several opportunities. Here are some common reasons why people start blogging:

  • Express their perspective or document personal growth.
  • Share knowledge and build a professional presence.
  • Support business goals like lead generation or customer trust.
  • Create a long-term revenue stream through products, affiliate links or sponsorships.

There’s a difference between blogging casually and approaching it with a long-term plan. A hobby blog may be spontaneous or reflective. On the other hand, a more strategic blog follows a plan, targets a specific audience, and supports broader goals like making money or building a brand. 

Both approaches can be fulfilling. The direction you take depends on what you want from the experience. Overall, blogging can change your professional life in surprising ways, especially when built with purpose and dedication.

Related: Starting Your Own Blog? Blogger Crystal Paine Shares 5 Tips

How to Start a Successful Blog: 5 Steps to Build Your Foundation 

Before diving into writing posts, the best way to start a blog is to build a clear foundation. Learning how to start a successful blog means identifying your niche, having clear goals, and setting up the tools to support your blog as it grows. Starting with these basics will save you time and energy later.

1. Choose the Right Topic or Niche

Start with your strengths. Finding the right focus helps you attract the right audience and stay consistent in the long run. A successful blog topic or niche usually comes from a mix of three things:

  • What do you enjoy talking or writing about?
  • What do you know or can learn deeply about?
  • What are other people searching for or need help with?

Use tools like Google Trends or AnswerThePublic to explore questions people are already asking about your topic. When passion, skill, and relevance align, your niche becomes much easier to grow and stick with.

2. Define Your Audience and Goals

Core components of learning how to start a successful blog also include clarifying audience and objectives. Understanding your audience and goals early helps you build content that speaks to your readers and supports your long-term blog vision. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Who are you writing for?
  • What transformation or value do you want to offer them?
  • Do you want to educate, entertain, inspire or all of the above?

Clear audience goals help shape your blog tone, structure, and even design. When you understand what you’re offering and why it matters, everything from planning topics to writing posts becomes easier and more effective.

3. Create a Simple Content Plan

You don’t need a detailed roadmap upfront, but creating a short list of 10-15 post ideas can help avoid blank-page syndrome. Organize them by theme, and aim to solve a problem or share an insight in each one.

Later, you can use editorial calendars or try content batching, which means creating multiple posts in one sitting, to streamline production and stay consistent.

4. Picking a Blogging Platform

Choosing the right platform is one of the first practical steps in starting your blog. It will shape how your site looks, how easily you can manage content and how you grow over time. Some of the popular platforms include:

  • WordPress.org (self-hosted): Great for customization and growth
  • Squarespace or Wix: Excellent for visual creators or those wanting a quick setup
  • Ghost or Medium: Minimalist options for writing-focused creators

Choose a platform based on your comfort level with technology, the goals for your blog and how much design flexibility you require.

5. Setting Up Hosting and a Domain

Once you’ve selected your blogging platform, the next step is to get your blog live. This generally involves securing a domain name and choosing a reliable hosting provider to ensure your site runs smoothly and remains accessible. Some platforms, however, such as Weebly and Wix, offer options where purchasing a domain isn’t fully required to start your blog. In these cases when you are using a free version, the .weebly.com or .wix.com is included at the end of your website name.   

Choosing a self-hosted platform such as WordPress.org means you’ll need a few essentials to get started:

Avoid numbers or hyphens in your domain if possible. These are harder to remember and easier to mistype. Try choosing a domain that reflects your niche, is easy to remember, and isn’t overly long or hard to spell.

Related: Follow These 5 Steps to Get to Success 

How to Write a Good Blog Post

If you’re looking for tips for writing a successful blog, the following tips can help. Prioritize structure, clarity, and real value over just sharing your thoughts. Here’s what to focus on:

  • Headline clarity: Grab attention without sounding misleading. Use numbers, how-to phrasing, or questions to create clear, engaging titles.
  • Structure: Use headers, short paragraphs, and bullet points to break up content.
  • Voice: Write like a real person talking to a friend. Try to keep the tone clear, conversational, and purposeful.
  • Visuals: Add relevant images, screenshots, or infographics when possible to make your content engaging.
  • Calls to action: Encourage comments, shares, or newsletter signups—depending on your goals.
  • SEO basics: Use keywords naturally, write descriptive meta tags, and structure your post for Google (and humans).

Knowing how to start a successful blog also takes time and effort. Consistency also plays a key role in developing strong writing habits over time. Ultimately, what makes a good blog isn’t just great writing. It’s consistent value, a clear voice, and content that resonates with your audience. 

Tips on Starting a Blog and Staying Consistent

Starting a blog can feel exciting and full of possibilities, but staying consistent takes intention, planning, and the right mindset. If you’re looking for practical advice on starting a blog that lasts, focus on creating sustainable habits from day one. Here are some ways to avoid burnout or perfectionism:

  • Set a realistic posting schedule—once a week or biweekly works well when you’re starting.
  • Use batching to write multiple posts in one sitting so you can stay ahead.
  • Build a content calendar to plan what you’ll publish each month.
  • Track progress instead of chasing perfection. You will learn and grow along the way.

Remember that success takes time. Developing strong routines and staying consistent can help you build your blog over time. Understanding what it takes to create a sustainable blog can help you stay focused for the long haul.

How Do You Become a Successful Blogger?

A common question beginners ask is: “How do you become a successful blogger?” The answer lies in staying consistent, earning trust, and delivering real value to your readers. Here’s what works:

  • Grow your email list: Offer a free resource or newsletter sign-up to stay connected.
  • Understand basic SEO: Learn how Google finds and ranks your posts.
  • Promote through social media: Share work across platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Instagram.
  • Connect with your audience: Respond to comments, ask for feedback ,and create a space that feels welcoming.
  • Stay authentic: Readers trust bloggers who share honestly and show up as themselves.
  • Explore monetization: Once you’ve built traffic and trust, there are several ways to make money from a blog, like affiliate links, products, or sponsorships.

With time, consistency and a strong understanding of your audience, blogging can grow into something much bigger. A successful blog can open doors to professional opportunities, income streams, and long-term impact.

Final Thoughts: How Can I Start My Own Blog With Confidence?

Figuring out how to start a successful blog may seem like a big step, especially if you’re not sure where to begin. But you don’t have to have everything figured out right from the start. Taking the first step with some clarity and a willingness to learn can make a significant difference.

As you continue writing, things will start to fall into place. You will begin to understand what resonates with your readers and feel more comfortable sharing your voice, even if it takes time to find your rhythm.

If you’ve been wondering “how can I start my own blog?,” know that it’s okay to begin small. Focus on showing up, sharing your knowledge and growing along the way. There’s always room for your voice, and it might just be what someone else needs to hear. 

Photo by GaudiLab/Shutterstock

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53 October Quotes for All This Month’s Cool, Cozy, and Fun Vibes https://www.success.com/october-quotes/ https://www.success.com/october-quotes/#respond Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=90795 October quotes can range from short and sweet letter board phrases to fun captions to poignant reflections on the month. They can help you find motivation, bring a smile to a friend’s face, or just welcome the changes that cooler weather and October holidays bring. Find October sayings from historical figures, modern artists, and more […]

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October quotes can range from short and sweet letter board phrases to fun captions to poignant reflections on the month. They can help you find motivation, bring a smile to a friend’s face, or just welcome the changes that cooler weather and October holidays bring. Find October sayings from historical figures, modern artists, and more to inspire you this month. 

October arrives as a month of beautiful contradictions—a time when the world feels both vibrantly alive and peacefully reflective. It’s a gentle transition from the long, hot days of summer to the quiet anticipation of winter. We trade tank tops for sweaters and iced lattes for steaming mugs of spiced tea. 

Yet, as the days grow shorter and the year’s end draws closer, October can also bring challenges, like a drop in energy or the pressure of looming deadlines. These October month quotes are here to help you lean into every aspect of the month. Find joy in its celebrations, stay positive through its challenges, and embrace the beautiful, ever-changing spirit of the season.

‘Hello, October’ Quotes to Welcome This Beautiful Month  

October arrives carrying crisp air, vibrant colors, and a sense of new beginnings tucked between the falling leaves. It’s a month that invites reflection, cozy gathering, and a slowing down after the rush of summer. 

Sharing October motivational quotes with friends and family is a thoughtful way to capture the season’s magic. Whether it’s the joy of harvest, the excitement of Halloween, or the quiet beauty of autumn days, these positive October quotes can inspire. These words serve as gentle reminders of what the month ahead holds: gratitude, change, and the promise of fresh inspiration.

“October is the month that seems all woven with midsummer dreams. She brings for us the golden days that fill the air with smoky haze.” —Evalyn Callahan Shaw, “October”
  • “October is the month that seems all woven with midsummer dreams. She brings for us the golden days that fill the air with smoky haze.” —Evalyn Callahan Shaw, “October”
  • “October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace!” —Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
  • “I want the end of my life to be like the end of this day by the October sea, as pale yellow cumulus clouds spread toward the west reflecting the setting sun.” —Beverly Finney, “October Evening by the Sea”
  • “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” —L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
  • “And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves.” —Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse
  • “I wonder if leaves feel lonely when they see their neighbors falling.” —John Muir
  • “The sky grew orange and pink, a pale ghost of the full moon appeared above Salem, waiting to glow brilliant in the velvet black hiding just beyond twilight.” —Amber Newberry, One Night in Salem
  • “Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” —Lauren DeStefano, Wither
  • “It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.” ―Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost
  • “Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” —William Shakespeare, Macbeth

Related: 75 Fall Quotes to Embrace Change This Season

Motivational October Quotes for Work & Life

October is the perfect time to rekindle motivation, both at work and in life. As the year’s final stretch begins, many of us need an extra push to stay focused on professional goals, nurture personal relationships,and care for our own well-being. October reminds us that motivation can fuel progress in every area of life. Sharing these motivational quotes for October can inspire others to embrace the month with purpose.

“October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.” ―Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed
  • “October had tremendous possibility. The summer’s oppressive heat was a distant memory, and the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. They made me believe in miracles.” —Sarah Guillory, Reclaimed
  • “It’s October, and the shorter days have made us hungrier, depriving us of light and forcing us to look for it in other people.” —Billy-Ray Belcourt, Coexistence: Stories
  • “He loved October. Had always loved it. There was something sad and beautiful about it—the ending and beginning of things.” —Jacqueline Woodson, If You Come Softly
  • “I remember it as October days are always remembered, cloudless, maple-flavored, the air gold and so clean it quivers.” —Leif Enger, Peace Like a River
  • “All things are symbols: the external shows of nature have their image in the mind, as flowers and fruits and falling of the leaves.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Harvest Moon”
  • “October, crisp, misty, golden October, when the light is sweet and heavy.” —Angela Carter, The Magic Toyshop
  • “The October air filled with corn dust enough to make each sunset a postcard, with colors like a benign nuclear explosion.” —Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs
  • “You don’t waste October sunshine. Soon the old autumn sun would bed down in cloud blankets, and there would be weeks of gray rain before it finally decided to snow.” —Katherine Arden, Small Spaces

Related: Authenticity Quotes to Help Us Stay True to Who We Are

Short October Letter Board Quotes to Celebrate the Month

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, October arrives to wrap us in its warm, golden embrace. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of cozy sweaters, spiced lattes, and the crunch of leaves underfoot. This time of year invites us to slow down and find beauty in change. Whether you’re decorating your home or looking for a little daily inspiration, these original SUCCESS® quotes are perfect for your letter board, capturing the magic of autumn and the spirit of October.

“Sweater weather is better weather.” ―SUCCESS®
  • “Pumpkin spice and everything nice.”
  • “Sweater weather is better weather.”
  • “A little bit of magic every day.”
  • “Life is better in October.”
  • “Leaves are falling, opportunities are calling.”
  • “Keep your eyes on the pumpkins, not the goblins.”
  • “Golden hour is a state of mind.”
  • “Nature’s beautiful goodbye.”
  • “Fall is a lesson in letting go.”
  • “The world is a painting of amber and gold.”
  • “Crisp air and new beginnings.”
  • “Autumn’s whisper is a promise of rest.”
  • “Let your true colors shine.”
  • “A season of change is a season of growth.”

Song Lyric Quotes About October to Live Life to the Fullest

Music has a way of capturing the spirit of a season, and songs about October remind us to slow down, savor the moment and embrace life fully. Whether they celebrate autumn’s beauty or carry a nostalgic tone, these tracks can inspire you to live with more intention. Adding them to your playlist this month is a simple way to lift your mood, spark reflection,and encourage you to make the most of every day October has to offer.

“I should be over it, now I know. It doesn't matter much how old I grow. I hate to see October go.” —Barry Manilow, “When October Goes”
  • “I should be over it, now I know. It doesn’t matter much how old I grow. I hate to see October go.” —Barry Manilow, “When October Goes”
  • “Well, I’m-a going back down, maybe one more time. Deep down home, October road.” —James Taylor, “October Road”
  • “I once loved your grace and the innocence that fell from you like leaves spiral off October trees. You know I love you, what else do you want from me?” —Ron Pope, “October Trees”
  • “There’s a picture of us in a layer of dust on the mantle, right by my cigarettes that I smoke since you left. ‘Cause you said you had to fly in your October sky.” —Yebba, “October Sky”
  • “We fell in love in October. That’s why I love fall. Looking at the stars, admiring from afar.” —Girl in Red, “We Fell in Love in October”
  • “I’m blinded by the lights of October skies. These postcard memories evade my eyes.” —Mumford & Sons, “October Skies”
  • “I’m gonna miss it when it’s over, yeah, yeah. I hope we never see October, yeah, yeah.” —Alessia Cara, “October”
  • “When an early autumn walks the land and chills the breeze and touches with her hand the summer trees, perhaps you’ll understand what memories I own.” —Ella Fitzgerald, “Early Autumn”

Short October & Halloween Quotes From Movies That Make Great Captions

October and Halloween have inspired some of the most memorable lines in film, from cozy autumn favorites to spooky seasonal classics. These short October quotes capture the humor and magic of the season—making them perfect for sharing as captions on social media. Whether you’re posting pumpkin patch photos, a Halloween costume, or simply celebrating the beauty of fall, movie quotes add a touch of personality and whimsy to every moment.

“I am the pumpkin king!” —Jack Skellington, The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • “I am the pumpkin king!” —Jack Skellington, The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • “You can’t kill the boogeyman!” —Tommy Doyle, Halloween
  • “Oh look, another glorious morning. Makes me sick!” —Winifred Sanderson, Hocus Pocus
  • “Magic is really very simple. All you’ve got to do is want something and then let yourself have it.” —Aggie Cromwell, Halloweentown
  • “Be afraid. Be very afraid.” —Veronica Quaife, The Fly
  • “Halloween is cool.” —Marnie Piper, Halloweentown
  • “It’s Halloween. Everyone’s entitled to one good scare.” —Sheriff Leigh Brackett, Halloween
  • “It’s a full moon outside. The weirdos are out!” —Dani, Hocus Pocus
  • “Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.” —Nancy Thompson, A Nightmare on Elm Street
  • “There’s only 365 days left until next Halloween!” —Mayor, The Nightmare Before Christmas
  • “It’s all just a bunch of hocus pocus!” —Max Dennison, Hocus Pocus
  • “There’s a little witch in all of us.” —Aunt Jet Owens, Practical Magic
  • “I see dead people.” —Cole Sear, The Sixth Sense 

Goodbye September, Hello October

It’s clear that October is more than just a month—it’s a feeling. It’s the lesson of letting go, the comfort of a cozy sweater, and the thrill of a new adventure. We hope these inspirational October quotes, ranging from classic literature to modern song lyrics, have encouraged you to embrace the magic of the season. Let them be a reminder to seek out the beauty in change, to find your own golden hour and to make the most of every day this beautiful month has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Alliance Images/Shutterstock

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Beauty Consultant Golloria George on the Lack of Inclusive Makeup for POC https://www.success.com/golloria-george/ https://www.success.com/golloria-george/#respond Sun, 21 Sep 2025 13:27:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=90345 Beauty influencer, straight shooter and leader of the inclusive makeup movement are the defining traits of Golloria George. However, these qualities weren’t handed to her; they were hard-earned through voicing the issues surrounding the beauty industry for people of color.  With 1 million followers on Instagram, over 3 million on TikTok and ranking on the […]

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Beauty influencer, straight shooter and leader of the inclusive makeup movement are the defining traits of Golloria George. However, these qualities weren’t handed to her; they were hard-earned through voicing the issues surrounding the beauty industry for people of color. 

With 1 million followers on Instagram, over 3 million on TikTok and ranking on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, George is a consultant and a rising activist in the beauty industry space, working with major brands to develop products and increase visibility about the lack of inclusive makeup. 

Seeking representation

As a South Sudanese immigrant and refugee who was raised in the U.S., George noticed the lack of representation from a young age. 

“I grew up relatively… quiet,” George says. “I didn’t really say too much, just because the colorism, the racism, it was thick… [being] the only Black person in every room that you walk into. And conceptualizing that at a super young age was just really confusing for me.” 

Like many young girls her age, she was naturally curious about makeup, although most of the products she sampled as a child in the early 2000s didn’t match her complexion. On frequent grocery trips, she would try several different makeup products, and realized that makeup shades for very dark-skinned people were missing. 

“I started going to the grocery store with my mom… and I wandered off into the makeup section. And there wasn’t really a lot there for me in terms of complexion or anything,” George recalls. “Of course, there were the highlighters, but even that… still looked really ashy. But that’s kind of when I [thought]… ‘This stuff is cool, but it just doesn’t seem like anything’s made for me.’” 

Making beautiful changes

In her early college years, George began using makeup and documenting her experiences on camera and sharing them on social media to highlight the makeup inclusivity gap. She would post “darkest shade” videos, where she tested products like foundation in their darkest shades to confirm if they were really suitable for her. As a beginning makeup user, she knew her skills would improve over time and her content would make an impact. 

“I was also like, ‘OK, I’m kind of learning how to do this myself. It looks really bad right now, but there’s going to be a day where I get on camera and it looks fabulous.’ That’s kind of where the ‘darkest shade’ [idea] just sprouted. I was like… ‘If I’m struggling this bad, I know there are so many other women struggling this bad, too.’”

Now, as a principal tester of makeup for darker skin tones, George’s reviews are vital for others like her. She consults with beauty brands trying to expand their color ranges, helping them understand how to better formulate products for these skin tones. 

Beauty collaborations 

One of her latest collaborations is with Rhode, Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand. When George initially tried some of the products, they showed up poorly on her complexion. “When I first tried the Rhode blushes, there was just like an intense white base. And it just goes to show that a lot of makeup brands, they’re not considering things like adding white or adding mica and how it might look on dark skin. And further than that, they’re just not really doing the testing that they need to do on dark skin,” she says. 

Her video testing the Rhode blushes was not received without a little bit of recoil. “When I made that video, I of course got a ton of backlash because Hailey’s got a lot of fans… and it’s definitely an experience that’s not a lived-in experience for most.” George says. 

After that experience, she collaborated with Rhode to create products that worked better on darker skin. 

Voicing the bias

George says she often receives pushback from companies when she calls them out. “I feel like the No. 1 thing that a lot of brands do tell me whenever I do make a video is, ‘Oh, is that the right batch number? Are you sure it’s the right product? Are you sure you’re using the darkest shade?’”

In those moments, she knows speaking up is the only way to propel an inclusive future in beauty. “You might be like, ‘Oh, should I say this?’ The answer is always yes,” she says. “Say it, because you never know where it’s going to take you, and you also never know what you’re going to do to change an industry that is so rooted in anti-blackness, colorism and just very Eurocentric white features.”

And she’s just begun exploring new paths in makeup. She is considering entering entrepreneurship to launch her own makeup line after gaining more experience in consulting. 

“Navigating this world through the life of an immigrant and refugee… was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to do… always knowing that in every space that I walk into, I’m going to be different,” she says. “And with that link alone, I just knew that I wanted to be a change and a positive change that reflected the inner child in me that I wish I saw.”  

Photo of Golloria George by Grace Bukunmi

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Motivational Wealth Quotes to Inspire Your Journey to Getting Rich https://www.success.com/17-motivating-quotes-about-becoming-rich/ https://www.success.com/17-motivating-quotes-about-becoming-rich/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/17-motivating-quotes-about-becoming-rich/ Wealth quotes help you to develop a rich mindset. They can give you the motivation to gain control over your money and grow financially.

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We may dream of boundless amounts of cash, fancy things, and having the ability to jet off on holidays whenever we please. But wealth quotes help us to see there’s more to it than just rolling in the dough. 

Prosperity. Financial stability. Success. Freedom. These are other words that mean wealth, and they go beyond just the tangible idea of getting rich. 

Wealth is holistic. Yes, it’s rooted in earning money. Yet it’s also about what that money can provide. It can’t necessarily buy you happiness, as the old saying goes. However, it can help you attain peace of mind and more time to spend with family or doing what you love. It grants you the ability to be generous. It offers the freedom to go after your own dreams. 

Quotes about true wealth paint a picture of what it really means to grow rich. They offer us motivation in our own wealth journeys. Use these sayings as stepping stones to start creating a life of abundance. 

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Motivating Wealth Quotes to Inspire Financial Success  

Motivational quotes about wealth and success offer insight on where to begin. These are not generational wealth quotes. They remind us that people can grow wealthy with the right mindset, plenty of discipline, smart money management, and the courage to overcome obstacles. 

  • “Before you can become a millionaire, you must learn to think like one. You must learn how to motivate yourself constantly to counter fear with courage.” —Thomas J. Stanley, The Millionaire Mind
  • “Desires, greed, and fear, honestly, those are the three enemies of wealth.” —Suze Orman
  • “Today the greatest single source of wealth is between your ears.” —Brian Tracy
  • “Beware of little expences; ‘a small leak will sink a great ship.'” —Benjamin Franklin
  • “Wealth is the product of man’s capacity to think.” —Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
“Getting rich begins with the right mindset, the right words and the right plan.” —Robert Kiyosaki
  • “Getting rich begins with the right mindset, the right words and the right plan.” —Robert Kiyosaki
  • “The first step to getting rich, requires discipline. If you really want to be rich, you need to find the discipline. Can you?” —Mark Cuban
  • “Do you want to get rich? All you have got to do is plant that seed in your mind, care for it, work steadily toward your goal and it will become a reality.” —Earl Nightingale, The Strangest Secret
  • “You can become a millionaire — and it has nothing to do with your family’s money or your education. It has everything to do with you.” —Chris Hogan
  • “I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they will earn.” —Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad

Related: 66 Money Quotes to Help Motivate You & Maximize Wealth

‘Get Rich’ Quotes to Inspire You to Gain Wealth & Improve Your Life  

Your mind is a powerful tool when it comes to getting rich. You can lean towards a “rich mindset” rather than a “poverty mindset.” A poverty mindset can hold people back. A rich mindset, on the other hand, is fueled by optimism. It starts with the belief that wealth is attainable and something that you are both worthy of and capable of. It focuses on constant growth, problem-solving, and long-term goals over short-term gains. 

‘Becoming rich’ quotes help us to harness this can-do mentality so that we can grow wealth and, more importantly, keep it. 

  • ​​”All riches have their origin in Mind. Wealth is in ideas—not money. “  —Robert Collier, Secret of the Ages
  • “It takes a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to make a great fortune; and when you have got it, it requires ten times as much wit to keep it.” —Nathan Mayer Rothschild
  • “Making money is easy. It is. The difficult thing in life is not making it, it’s keeping it.” —John McAfee
  • “Becoming rich isn’t as much about getting rich financially as about whom you become, in character and mind, to get rich.” —T. Harv Eker
“You don’t get rich off your day job, you get rich off your homework.” —Daymond John, Display of Power
  • “You don’t get rich off your day job, you get rich off your homework.” —Daymond John, Display of Power
  • “Doing well with money has a little to do with how smart you are and a lot to do with how you behave.” —Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money
  • “Asset allocation is how you stay wealthy.” —Tony Robbins, Money Master the Game
  • “Rich people buy time. Poor people buy stuff. Ambitious people buy skills. Lazy people buy distraction.” —Alex Hormozi

Related: 40 Financial Freedom Quotes for Success

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Wealth Words & Phrases to Encourage Growth and Abundance    

Power words for wealth will keep your eyes on the prize and your mind set on positivity. Money affirmations can help you ward off self-doubt, rewrite subconscious beliefs, and gain control over your own financial well-being. Practice them daily in order to manifest abundance. You can start with these original wealth sayings written by SUCCESS® contributors: 

  • “Wealth is all around you. All you have to do is learn how to find it and know what to do with it when you do.” 
“I attract money. I attract opportunity. I attract wellness.”
  • “I attract money. I attract opportunity. I attract wellness.” 
  • “Riches flock to you when you let go of fear and move forward boldly.” 
  • “Small sacrifices today will compound to great riches in the future.” 
  • “You’re always just one decision away from a life of financial freedom.” 
  • “I am already rich in many ways and will transfer that richness into financial wealth.” 
  • “Money flows where confidence grows.” 

Wealth Sayings to Gain Control Over Money & Get Rich With Integrity 

Typically, there is no effective get-rich-quick scheme. Slow and steady wins the wealth race.  ‘Being rich’ quotes remind us that reaching a place of financial wellness means moving slowly in the right direction with intention and integrity. It means employing smart and consistent strategies like saving, working hard, and helping others along the way. These are the things that aren’t glamorous—but can help build lasting wealth. 

“Wealth building is a crockpot, not a microwave.” —Dave Ramsey
  • “Wealth building is a crockpot, not a microwave.” —Dave Ramsey
  • “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” —Jim Rohn
  • “The man who starts out simply with the idea of getting rich won’t succeed; you must have a larger ambition.” —John D. Rockefeller, Random Reminiscences of Men and Events
  • “When your time spent making money is significantly greater than your time spent spending money, you will be amazed at how much you can save without even really thinking about it.” —Sophia Amoruso
  •  “No man can get rich himself, unless he enriches others.” —Earl Nightingale
  • “Do not be in a hurry…This is not the way to get rich.” —Brigham Young
  • “We have always had innovators and entrepreneurs who built real companies and create real value, but we should not and we will not respect those who get rich by cheating everybody else.” —Hillary Clinton
  • “You can never get rich, or start the creative power into action, by sending out unformed longings and vague desires.” —Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich
  • “Truly wealthy people develop the habit of ‘getting rich slow’ rather than ‘getting rich quick.’ To assure this, they have two rules with regard to money. Rule number one: Don’t lose money. Rule number two: If ever you feel tempted, refer back to rule number one, ‘don’t lose money.’” —Brian Tracy
  • “Fortunes require leverage.” —Naval Ravikant

Think and Grow Rich Quotes From Napoleon Hill 

Napoleon Hill was a master of personal growth and development. He created several guides to gaining wealth, including his book Think and Grow Rich. It’s one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. The publication outlines 13 steps that are key to growing riches (financially, spiritually, and emotionally). It’s filled with judicious advice about shaping your thoughts, having faith, and taking persistent action to achieve success. A few of the book’s top quotes can be found below. 

  • “Riches do not respond to wishes. They respond only to definite plans, backed by definite desires, through constant PERSISTENCE.”
  • “Only those who become “money conscious” ever accumulate great riches. “Money consciousness” means that the mind has become so thoroughly saturated with the DESIRE for money, that one can see one’s self already in possession of it.”
  • “The way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge.”
“If you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.”
  • “If you do not see great riches in your imagination, you will never see them in your bank balance.”
  • “When riches begin to come they come so quickly, in such great abundance, that one wonders where they have been hiding during all those lean years.”
  • “Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.”
  • “There is but one dependable method of accumulating, and legally holding riches, and that is by rendering useful service.”

The Mindset Behind the Money

The wealthiest people in the world—think Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, or J.K. Rowling—didn’t get there by chance or blind luck. They attracted riches because they made a plan, persevered, and never stopped believing that they were capable of success. What could you do with a similar approach? 

Becoming wealthy and financially free is about more than just earning, saving, budgeting, and investing–though these are tools that will help you significantly on your journey. It starts with developing a mentality of optimism, gratitude, and worthiness. Wealth quotes can spark that shift in mindset, reminding you that building a prosperous life starts with having just a little bit of faith in yourself. 

This article was updated September 2025. Photo by oneinchpunch/Shutterstock

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‘Keep Pushing’ Quotes to Motivate You to Move Forward  https://www.success.com/keep-pushing-quotes/ https://www.success.com/keep-pushing-quotes/#respond Sat, 13 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/keep-pushing-quotes/ “Keep pushing” quotes teach us how to persist through hard times, push our limits and know when to pivot or push harder towards our goals.

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In the oceanic tale of Finding Nemo, Dory says it best. Despite setbacks and hardships, she encourages Marlin to “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.” 

We can learn a great deal from the little blue fish with memory loss. This isn’t just a catchy earworm that plays on an endless loop in our heads. It’s a mantra that speaks to perseverance and the power of unabating action. Along with many other famous “keep pushing” quotes, it gives us the strength to persist forward in a more positive direction, no matter what we’re facing. 

Developing this mindset of tenacity helps us to grow, gain confidence and build resilience. But it also allows us to push our perceived limits to continue going after our dreams. It additionally sharpens our self-awareness so we know when it’s time to pivot and redirect our energy toward a different path. 

“Push yourself” quotes give us that gentle nudge we need to keep going. They carry a profound truth: you never know what could be waiting for you on the other side. 

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Motivational ‘Keep Pushing Forward’ Quotes to Push Through Anything  

For those times you feel stuck or unmotivated, licensed psychotherapist Barton Goldsmith, PhD, offers several tips for pushing forward. He says to:

  • Take it one day at a time
  • Go at your own pace
  • Remember it’s not a race. 

He also notes that the mental aspect is half the battle. Reframe your thoughts towards positivity, learn to cope with disappointment and recognize that whatever you’re going through is only temporary. Above all else, Goldsmith urges you to never give up. He says, “Love and prosperity can come in a New York minute, so be ready.”

Motivational quotes to keep pushing provide even more inspiration. They can help you take the next step, whether that’s at work, in relationships or within yourself.

  • “Keep your head up. Move forward. Keep going.” —Alex Trebek, The Answer Is… Reflections on My Life
“If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
  • “If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
  • “Pushing oneself requires loud, strong self-talk, emphatic and enthusiastic.” —Karl Kuehl, Mental Toughness
  • “Whatever happens, I’ll just keep moving forward. Like an avalanche.” —Michelle Phan
  • “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” —Sam Levenson, You Don’t Have to Be in Who’s Who to Know What’s What
  • “If you’re walking down the right path, and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you will make progress.” —Barack Obama
  • “One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals. “ —Michael Korda, Success!
  • “When you hear that something can’t be done, ignore that advice and push forward.” —Robert Kiyosaki
  • “If I just keep putting one foot in front of the other, it stands to reason that I’m going to get there.” —Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
  • “Just keep going. One day, one breath at a time.” —Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Silver Flames

Related: 30 Inspiring Quotes About Never Giving Up

Quotes About Pushing Through Hard Times 

Research shows that up to 70% of people experience positive psychological growth as a result of difficult times. By the same token, this could mean fostering a greater sense of purpose, a greater appreciation for life or an increased capacity for altruism. 

Of course, the moral of the story is that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. After all, good can come from hard times. “Push through” quotes remind us of this truth and persuade us to never back down, even in the face of adversity. 

“ There’s a huge value in learning to keep moving forward, and that the next page will be better than the last.” —Charles Forsman
  • “​​There’s a huge value in learning to keep moving forward, and that the next page will be better than the last.” —Charles Forsman
  • “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” —Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
  • “When times are down, keep believing, keep working hard and things will pick up.” —Harry Kane 
  • “In times of great stress and adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” —Lee Iacocca, Iacocca
  • “You can’t reminisce too much. Because you’ve got to keep pushing forward, you know.” —Daniel Caesar
  • “If you’re going through hell keep on going, don’t slow down if you’re scared don’t show it.” —Rodney Atkins, “If You’re Going Through Hell”
  • “No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.” —Greg Kincaid, A Dog Named Christmas
  • “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”  —Japanese Proverb
  • “I’ll probably get knocked down a few more times before this life is through with me, but I can guarantee you I’ll never stay on the ground.” —Colleen Hoover, Hopeless

‘Push Your Limits’ Quotes to Follow Your Dreams 

Unfortunately, far too many people give up on their dreams (upwards of 92%, according to Psychology Today) because of factors like: 

  • Self-doubt
  • Lack of clear goals
  • Lack of persistence 
  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of the unknown 

But, you don’t have to allow yourself to become a statistic. Use the following “push yourself” quotes to drive forward relentlessly and get out of your comfort zone and grow. You may never reach your full potential—in your career, creative pursuits or in life—if you don’t break barriers and transcend your perceived limits.

  • “Having limits to push against is how you find out what you can do.” —Sylvie Guillem
  • “True masters know that a warrior will never stop learning, never stop pushing boundaries and never stop growing.” —Mark Divine, Unbeatable Mind
  • “If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing your limits and if you’re not pushing your limits, you’re not maximizing your potential.” —Ray Dalio
  • “Focus on what lights a fire inside of you and use that passion to fill a white space. Don’t be afraid of the challenges, the missteps and the setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep going.” —Kendra Scott
“Push yourself to the edge of your limits. That's how they expand.” —Robin Sharma
  • “Push yourself to the edge of your limits. That’s how they expand.” —Robin Sharma
  • “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.” —Michael Phelps
  • “How will I know who I can become if I don’t give myself the chance to try new things, to push myself beyond my normal boundaries? Who might I be if I am away from the things that I currently use to define myself?” —Eileen Cook, With Malice
  • “You got to push yourself beyond the edges of your confidence, fearlessness and bravery limits so that they can expand.” —Manoj Arora, Dream On
  • “If you are the best, you must go that extra mile.” —Conor McGregor
  • “When you push yourself, you push doors open to new perspectives, new options, new experiences and ultimately abundant life.” —LaRae Lodes

Related: 17 Motivational Quotes to Help You Achieve Your Dreams

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Sayings About Knowing When to Push Harder 

Today, it’s important to know when to push harder. Yet it’s also critical to know when to chart a new course. Being frustrated with your progress, constantly overcoming challenges and struggling with insecurities are all normal parts of the process. But feeling disconnected from your goals, no longer finding joy in the pursuit and causing damage to your own health or relationships could be signs that it’s time to rethink your approach. Sometimes it’s best to begin a fresh chapter with a new plan, new people, new ideas or even in a new place. 

Pivot or push harder quotes can help you to gain clarity and decide which path to take. Use these original sayings from the SUCCESS® team to give you new strength: 

  • “The mark of a true winner is that they decided to push harder when everyone around them decided to quit.” 
“Pivoting doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re moving one step closer to success.”
  • “Pivoting doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re moving one step closer to success.”
  • “Learn the difference between being tired from the grind and being burnt out from pursuing the wrong things.” 
  • “If it still ignites a fire in you, it’s worth pushing for.” 
  • “Are you truly stuck? Or have you reached the calm before the storm of success?” 
  • “All the pressures of life are no match for patience and persistence.” 
  • “Pushing harder on a locked door won’t get you anywhere. You need to find a different door or start looking for the key.”
  • “For those with a strong enough willpower to reach the summit, a steep and rocky path won’t be a deterrent.” 
  • “More often than not, when you feel like throwing in the towel, that’s the time to give it all you got.” 

Pushing Forward: The Path to Success

Don’t look back. Look to the future and continue going after your dreams. If you’re going through a rough patch, keep pushing. Unsure of what’s next? Keep pushing. If you’re doubting yourself, keep pushing. In need of a change? Pivot, then keep pushing. 

Remember, endurance and determination are what separate the weak from the strong and the stagnant from the successful. Gain motivation from “keep pushing” quotes and continue placing one foot in front of the other—no matter how slow your progress may seem. 

Photo by Dirima/Shutterstock

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These Nonprofits Help Kids With Disabilities Thrive https://www.success.com/nonprofits-help-kids-with-disabilities-thrive/ https://www.success.com/nonprofits-help-kids-with-disabilities-thrive/#respond Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:11:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=87963 From supporting early development to getting kids out in the world, these nonprofits make a big difference.

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Parents of kids with disabilities can face a lot of challenges, from caring for their child’s basic needs to carving out time to learn about their disability to navigating a complicated system of services.

This is why nonprofits that help kids with disabilities are so crucial. These organizations provide much-needed services for children so they get what they need for their development and also get exposure to activities that may be more challenging for families to figure out on their own.

As a parent of two children with disabilities, I’ve seen firsthand how families can benefit from some amazing nonprofits, including the two below.

Sound Start Babies

My younger son was born with hearing loss and fitted with hearing aids when he was a baby. He was the first person in our family to have hearing loss, something that is very common, since 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents.

We didn’t know the best way to support him and, luckily, we were referred to Sound Start Babies, a program that offers services for babies and toddlers with hearing loss and their families, from birth to age 3. The staff at Sound Start Babies consists of a group of professionals, including Teachers of the Deaf, speech language pathologists, an audiologist, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, classroom paraprofessionals, and Spanish language interpreters. 

“There is a critical window of brain development that exists from birth to 3 years of age,” says Kayley Mayer, program coordinator at Sound Start Babies, which is based in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. “If this opportunity is missed, it can have irreversible effects on global development…. Hearing loss impacts brain development, and if children are not given the tools they need to be successful, they will not be able to function like their hearing peers.”

How they help 

Photo by Sound Start Babies

After they provided my son with his first evaluation, both a speech and occupational therapist were assigned to come to our house each week. Then, when he was 18 months old, he began attending their nursery program, where he was supported with a great listening environment and staff that understood his needs.

Additionally, they taught my husband and I how best to support our son by allowing us to sit in on therapy sessions so we could carry over exercises during the week. They also explained different types of listening environments and how they might impact our son. “Families are their child’s first and best teacher and have the power to make the most of daily routines through parent coaching methods from Sound Start Babies,” Mayer says.

Making an impact

Carrying those lessons over at home made a big impact in my son’s development. He never missed a milestone and was a very chatty toddler.

When my son was preschool age, he was fully mainstreamed in our local school district and is now moving up to middle school. He plays the cello in the honors orchestra as well as in a regional orchestra, loves to sing and dance, excels in school and has a lot of friends. My family is thankful we found Sound Start Babies to help him get that early education.

Sound Start Babies recently began providing telehealth services to the mid and southern regions of New Jersey, where Mayer says there is a lack of specialized providers. They now proudly serve all 21 counties.

At their recent annual benefit, three students from the first nursery classroom, which opened in 2010, were in attendance. “The students are now 17 [years old] and getting ready to make decisions about their college education,” Mayer says. “It was really amazing to see them all grown up and to admire the people they’ve become.”

While the program is supported by the state of New Jersey, “about two-thirds of the cost to run the program relies on grants and philanthropic support,” Mayer says. And they’re always looking for more financial help.  

Best Day Foundation 

Best Day Foundation is a nonprofit that supports children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness, cancer, spinal cord injuries and other physical and developmental challenges by providing them with a buddy who guides them through a day of activities at the ocean, including surfing, bodyboarding, kayaking and snow sports.


How they got started

The program was initially created by Alexis and Lake Downham in 2008 when Lake, a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and avid surfer, tried to get his wife, Alexis, a special education teacher, to learn how to surf. Lake researched tandem surfing and was intrigued by an organization he liked in California called Ride a Wave, which supported kids with disabilities through ocean activities. He reached out to them, made a connection and, with their support, decided to recreate their model on the East Coast.

Photo by Best Day Foundation

“The reason we named it Best Day was because their participants, whenever they were out there, they would always say, ‘This is the best day ever!’” says Alexis Downham, Best Day Foundation founder and president.

Best Day Foundation’s first event was held in 2008, where they hosted 15 participants at a beach in New Jersey. Fifty volunteers came out that day, 20 of them helpers from California and 30 who were friends and family of the Downhams. The events quickly gained popularity and have continued to grow over the years.

Today, they host 10 events each year, six in New Jersey, one in Florida and three in Virginia, as well as two wave pool events.

There are no limitations to who can participate in their beach day events, and the beach buddies, who are volunteers of all ages, give parents the ability to step back and take a break with caring individuals handling their duties for a couple of hours.

Creating connections 

“These are the kinds of events that just bond people from all different backgrounds, all different ages,” Downham says. “We have volunteers that are as young as 11 and 12 and as old as 70 that are pairing with kids that are from 4 to 24.”

My middle son, who has cerebral palsy, participated in several Best Day events where he had a blast adaptive surfing in the ocean. The group was welcoming, inclusive and knew exactly how to accommodate kids with a variety of disabilities.

One year, I participated with my son and got to sit in the adaptive sit-ski with him on my lap. Around 20 volunteers helped us catch the current and ride the waves to the shore before turning us around to do it again. We both had a blast doing something that would have been difficult for us to figure out on our own, and I loved seeing my son so easily included.“The relationships [that develop] are so powerful,” Downham says. “Even though most of the [participants and volunteers] are only together for a day, it really shapes who they are after that event. It’s really a life-changing experience.”

Photo by Sound Start Babies

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How Cleaning Expert Nicole Jaques Makes Low-Tox Living Work https://www.success.com/nicole-jaques-low-tox-living/ https://www.success.com/nicole-jaques-low-tox-living/#respond Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:03:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=89108 When it comes to nontoxic education, many of us are in the dark. Enter Nicole Jaques—a wife, mother, home cook and advocate for “low-tox” living. With a growing Instagram community of over 870,000 followers, Jaques shares tutorials and DIY guides to help people reduce toxins in their homes. Jaques’ journey into low-tox living ramped up […]

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When it comes to nontoxic education, many of us are in the dark. Enter Nicole Jaques—a wife, mother, home cook and advocate for “low-tox” living. With a growing Instagram community of over 870,000 followers, Jaques shares tutorials and DIY guides to help people reduce toxins in their homes.

Jaques’ journey into low-tox living ramped up about four years ago, when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She shares how when she got sick, no one had any clear answers for why. “I had to start digging, and what I uncovered, I think kind of shifted my whole home life,” she says.

That turning point prompted her to delve deeper into nontoxic living and bring her audience along with her. Since then, her online community has continued to grow, attracting thousands of people looking for a healthier lifestyle

In particular, her e-book serves as a comprehensive guide for nontoxic living and includes simple recipes for home cleaning products that take 10 minutes or less to make. “If we can make that… tangible, people will then start to think, ‘Well, I can just do this myself. I don’t have to run to the store. I don’t have to pay tax on a larger ingredient. I don’t need to go somewhere else for someone else to help me. I can help myself,’” she says.

Misconceptions about nontoxic living

As a way to educate her community about nontoxic living, Jaques often clears up three common misconceptions about what it means to live a healthier, low-tox life. 

  1. A strong scent means something is clean

In fact, the opposite is often true. The biggest misconception she sees is the belief that clean smells like floral or synthetic fragrances mean clean. In reality, “clean, truly clean, smells like nothing,” she says. The same principle applies to bleach. While we often associate the scent of bleach with having disinfected something, it’s also possible for something to be disinfected and still smell like nothing.

  1. Making your own cleaners takes too much time and money

“If you just look at the simple ingredients that you need to actually make laundry detergent, which is about four ingredients, it comes down to about 25 cents a load if you just make it yourself, which is significantly cheaper and healthier in the long run,” she says.

  1. Something has to be disinfected to be really clean

This one gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic but is not true, Jaques says. “All of these microorganisms live together in harmony and kind of build up a good immunity for us in our bodies, but also in our homes, to make everything kind of work together.”

Small changes reap big rewards

On top of saving time and money, shifting to a low-tox life has also transformed Jaques’ health. She is no longer on medication for her autoimmune disease, and she also experiences little to no brain fog or inflammation, which she attributes to the changes she’s made. “Your lymph can drain cleaner, clearer,” she shares. 

As Jaques describes it, when toxins are removed from the air you breathe, your immune system starts to rev up. It’s able to focus on cleaning out its own cells, as well as regenerating everything it needs to, because it’s no longer busy eliminating synthetic fragrances and other toxins. “Instead of it having to take all the toxins you put into it or around it, it’s able to focus on just doing its job,” she adds. She says her brain feels younger and more alive, and she can feel her immune system keeping her healthy.

Beyond the physical benefits, overall happiness was another significant change Jaques noticed in her day-to-day life. “I think that there’s an element that when you really start to feel great, your vibration is higher, and so you’re just able to kind of shine a little bit brighter as a human being, because you feel like what you’ve done and all your hard work to make your health so abundant just feels really good. And that’s a success in itself,” she says.

Steps toward a low-tox home

A big part of Jaques’ mission is to show people that embracing a low-tox lifestyle is a lot easier than it seems. You don’t have to toss out every cleaning product and start from scratch. Small, gradual steps toward a less toxic home are just as impactful. Jaques explains that people can “view cleaning their home as less mess and less stress, and just find success in that journey.”

Here are a few simple ways to get started:

Prioritize everyday essentials. Before going to the extreme of throwing everything away, take stock of the things in your home that you use the most—things like coffee, toothpaste and water. Jaques suggests either replacing them with cleaner alternatives or enhancing them. For example, switching to a different brand or investing in a water filtration system. 

Replace one bottle at a time. Jaques encourages her community to see every empty bottle as an opportunity for improvement. For example, instead of buying the same shampoo you have for years, the next time you run out, replace it with a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option. 

Embrace online shopping. Jaques is an advocate for shopping over the internet, as she says brick-and-mortar grocery stores don’t carry as many clean products. She cites Thrive Market as a reliable resource, noting that it offers relatively clean options and undergoes a rigorous screening process.

Buy multi-purpose cleaning ingredients. Buying a few versatile base ingredients can go a long way when making your own cleaners.  For example, items like castile soap serve many different purposes. “You need very little of it,” Jaques shares. “Just add it to water, and you basically have a soap that can last you through a lot of things.”

Use the five-ingredient rule. If you do opt for in-store shopping, Jaques suggests reading through the list of ingredients. As a general rule of thumb, she notes, “If you can’t pronounce what’s on the back of the bottle… [or] the list is over five ingredients, walk away.”

Photo of Nicole Jaques courtesy of Andrea Lowry photography

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AI Travel Tools for Business Travelers: Plan Smarter, Stress Less https://www.success.com/ai-travel-tools-business-travelers/ https://www.success.com/ai-travel-tools-business-travelers/#respond Fri, 05 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=90223 Discover the best AI travel tools for business travelers. Streamline bookings, optimize layovers and save time with smarter planning.

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Remember when planning a work trip felt like a second job? Finding the right venue, plotting meetings and navigating new cities could take hours, if not days. Now, AI tools are making that grind redundant, allowing professionals to streamline schedules, find their way and execute trips with efficiency that once seemed impossible.

Why AI is becoming essential for modern travelers

More and more, travelers are leaning on AI to take the guesswork out of getting from point A to B. From finding the fastest route through a new city to suggesting the right restaurant for a client lunch, these tools are becoming indispensable. Business travelers, in particular, are embracing them like a secret weapon, letting AI handle scheduling, directions and even meeting arrangements so they can focus on more important tasks. 

Booking.com’s latest Global AI Sentiment Report paints a clear picture of a world increasingly reliant on AI for travel. Nearly 9 in 10 consumers say they want to use AI tools for planning their trips, while 24% trust AI assistants more than travel bloggers, who garner just 19% confidence. With AI capable of recommending activities, mapping routes and even managing bookings, travelers are embracing digital help at every step. 

The July report found that 67% have already used AI in some aspect of travel, with nearly all using it to plan or book trips (98%) or while on the go (96%). Most commonly, AI helps with researching destinations and best travel times (38%), finding local cultural activities (37%) and recommending restaurants (36%). 

Using AI to plan multicity business trips and smart layovers

There are various AI tools you can use to kickstart your plans. Hopper, for example, uses machine learning to analyze historical fare data and predict when ticket prices will rise or fall. Just enter your destination and travel dates and set alerts, and its AI will notify you of the best time to book—especially handy if you can be flexible, unlocking potential savings.

Skyscanner is another go-to. Enter your origin, destination and dates, and its AI scans thousands of airlines, routes and prices. Swap nearby airports, adjust your dates or explore multicity options to save even more. Its layover suggestions let you either reach your destination quickly or grab some productive work time midjourney. 

If you’ve ever wished for a personal travel assistant who can help with flights, layovers and hotel options, Skyscanner’s chatbots—available across platforms like Facebook Messenger, Skype and Amazon Alexa—are as close as it gets. 

Since launch, they’ve surpassed one million unique traveler interactions, offering AI-powered guidance on finding the best flights, alternative routes and nearby airports. While not a traditional chatbot on the Skyscanner website or mobile app, these bots let users interact via messaging or voice, helping them search and explore travel options in a more conversational way. Once the bot helps you identify your ideal flight, it always directs you to the Skyscanner website or app to complete the booking. This means you get the convenience of a conversational AI to narrow down options, but all final selections, price comparisons and bookings happen on Skyscanner’s main platform.

Midtrip, it doesn’t just sit there: It can give advice on layovers, shuttle options, airport services and even local tips to make the journey smoother. And when it’s time to share your experience, the chatbot can even help you draft reviews for flights or hotels.

Chatbots like ChatGPT and Copilot are other useful digital companions to consider on your travels. Ask them to compare airlines, check flexible dates or find faster, cheaper routes. Refine prompts with instructions like, “Show flights with layovers under three hours” or “Get me there in time for a morning meeting.” They can also handle the smaller details like finding airport workspaces, shuttles, baggage rules and perks. For busy executives, these tools make flying cheaper, faster and stress-free, so you can focus on work, not tabs.

Study: Over half of global travelers would let AI book their trips

A recent survey by Talker Research shows younger Americans in particular are increasingly turning to AI, including ChatGPT, to plan study getaways. Among 2,000 respondents evenly split by generation, only 29% of millennials and 33% of Gen Z reported never using AI for trip planning, compared with 70% of baby boomers who stick to traditional methods.

According to Accenture, AI is becoming an essential part of the travel toolkit not just in the U.S, but globally. Among 18,000 respondents across 14 countries, over half said they would let AI manage their bookings, while frequent generative AI users are increasingly turning to it first for discovering destinations. 

Using AI to optimize travel schedules around meetings

Why waste a layover in a boring terminal? AI mapping tools can plot your day so you crush your meetings and explore the city at the same time. It can identify shortcuts, suggest nearby attractions and even flag hidden gems, letting you make the most of every spare hour without stressing about travel logistics. 

Take MindTrip: Enter your destination, travel dates and priorities, and it instantly maps out a full itinerary from flights, hotels and restaurants to personalized cultural experiences. For busy executives, it’s a lifesaver: the platform can suggest the perfect nearby gallery or café to prep for a meeting, sneak in a bit of leisure, or simply stretch your legs. A tight schedule suddenly feels manageable.

What makes it even smarter? You can chat with MindTrip’s chatbot to refine your plans in real time so you can swap activities, adjust meeting times or explore hidden gems, all through a conversational interface. Teams can collaborate too, planning flights, hotels and meetings together, while the platform tracks bookings and divides expenses. 

The real advantage comes when you let these tools learn your habits. They start to anticipate your preferred airlines, optimal meeting times and even the best workspaces in unfamiliar cities. That means less time fretting over logistics and more time focusing on the purpose of your trip. Treat AI as your unseen travel assistant, and suddenly, business trips feel less like a grind and more like a well-oiled operation.

Photo by Ground Picture/Shutterstock

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Grandparents Quotes to Show Your Love and Appreciation https://www.success.com/grandparents-quotes/ https://www.success.com/grandparents-quotes/#respond Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:01:00 +0000 https://www.success.com/?p=89584 Share grandparents quotes on National Grandparents Day or other occasions to show how much you appreciate their love and support.

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Grandma and Grandpa. Nanny and Poppy. Mamaw and Papaw. Granny and Gramps. Nonna and Nonno. Grandparents take on many different names, depending on family traditions, culture and even a toddler’s pronunciation. Yet every one is a symbol of boundless love and support. Grandparents quotes put the beauty of the grandparent-grandkid relationship into words, plus, they provide us with a few ways to express our gratitude for everything they’ve given. 

From the long-distance grandma and grandpa who send you love from afar to those who act as everyday caregivers, grandparents wear many different hats. As kids, we often adore them thanks to the hugs, treats and gifts. However, their contributions often reach far beyond the tangible. These wise family members are some of our first role models. They offer a unique perspective our parents or people closer to our age can’t. They also pass down values and insight. 

Grandparents don’t just care for us when we’re sick or host us for holidays. They fill our lives with a sense of magic, as well as comfort and invaluable knowledge that we can continue to pass on for generations. These famous quotes about grandparents are a reminder of just how special grandmas and grandpas are. Love them dearly and be sure to tell them how much you appreciate them. 

Meaningful Grandparents Quotes to Express Your Love and Appreciation

No matter what role they play during our childhood, we often admire our grandparents and don’t want to take them for granted. “Thankful for grandparents” quotes remind us what a privilege it is to grow up in the presence of grandmothers and grandfathers. These sayings can put into words what these special relationships mean. Share these great quotes about grandparents on their birthdays, on National Grandparents Day or just because—no need to wait for a holiday or special occasion to show your love!

  • “The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.” —Sam Levenson, You Don’t Have to Be in Who’s Who to Know What’s What
  • “Grandparents are a treasure.” —Pope Francis
  • “I loved their home. Everything smelled older, worn but safe; the food aroma had baked itself into the furniture.” —Susan Strasberg, Bittersweet
  • “I feel like my grandparents and parents gave me a tremendous amount. And if I can pass some of that on, then I’ll be very happy.” —Caroline Kennedy
“Grandmas and grandpas are grand-angels.” —Terri Guillemets
  • “Grandmas and grandpas are grand-angels.” —Terri Guillemets
  • “No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.” —John Donne, “The Autumnal”
  • “Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being.” —Margaret Mead

Related: 60 Loving Quotes About Family

Perfect Quotes for National Grandparents Day

We celebrate National Grandparents Day every year on the first Sunday following Labor Day. That means in 2025, Sept. 7 is the big day. Grandparents shower their grandkids—plus plenty of others—with love, gifts and, sometimes, sugar-filled treats. This sweet holiday is a chance for us to flip the script and repay at least some of their kindness and generosity. 

Quality time is like gold to grandmothers and grandfathers, so plan to treat them to dinner or schedule a family game night. Gifts could include a personalized keepsake or photo album. A sweet handwritten letter or card can also go a long way, especially if you can’t see them in person. As you’re putting together your thoughtful message, make sure to include one of these original National Grandparents Day quotes, written by SUCCESS® team members, to express how much you cherish them.

  • “We can never thank our grandparents enough for all the goodies, gifts and, most importantly, the love they have given us.” 
“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and a grandparent plays one of the most important roles of all.”
  • “They say it takes a village to raise a child, and a grandparent plays one of the most important roles of all.”
  • “On National Grandparents Day, we thank all the grandmas and grandpas for sharing a piece of their heart with us.”
  • “Grandmothers fill our lives with warmth, and grandfathers fill our lives with wit—two things that will shape our lives forever.” 
  • “Grandparents don’t have to say a word. They show us how much they care through their actions.” 
  • “Thank you for caring for me when I’m sick, picking me up when I’m down and being my biggest cheerleader.” 
  • “Grandparents make everything better, including us.” 
  • “Grandparents are hugs and kisses in human form.” 
  • “You’ve always supported me, and maybe even spoiled me, and for that I will always be grateful.” 
  • “A trip to grandma and grandpa’s house can solve anything.” 

Related: 90 Uplifting Quotes About New Beginnings for Your Fresh Start

Heartfelt Grandfather and Grandmother Quotes

Of course, just like mothers and fathers, grandmas and grandpas enrich our lives in different ways. The following grandma and grandpa quotes help to distinguish and define these two precious relationships. They remind us that every grandmother and grandfather is one of a kind and there is something to learn from every single one. 

Quotes About Grandmas 

Grandmothers are often known for their nurturing side. Whether they are no-nonsense or gentle, they might bring the entire family together, keep everyone fed and offer comfort and support in their own special way. Use these grandma quotes to show her some appreciation.

“A grandmother is a safe haven.” —Suzette Haden Elgin, The Grandmother Principles
  • “A grandmother is a safe haven.” —Suzette Haden Elgin, The Grandmother Principles
  • “And so our mothers and grandmothers have, more often than not, anonymously handed on the creative spark, the seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see: or like a sealed letter they could not plainly read.” —Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens
  • “A grandmother is both a sword and a shield.” —Fredrik Backman, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
  • “Grandmothers are like snowflakes. No two are alike.” —Janet Lanese
  • “Uncles and aunts and cousins are all very well, and fathers and mothers are not to be despised; but a grandmother at holiday time is worth them all.” —Fanny Fern, Folly as it Flies

Quotes About Grandpas 

Grandfathers, on the other hand, range from those who are quiet and confident to those with a booming voice and a constant story to tell. On both ends of the spectrum, we can count on them to provide nuggets of wisdom, a strong hand to push us on the swing and a few cheesy jokes. 

“Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends with its grandfathers.” —Lewis Mumford, The Brown Decades
  • “Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends with its grandfathers.” —Lewis Mumford, The Brown Decades
  • “When I embrace my grandfather I experience a sense of richness as though I am a note in the heartbeat of the very universe.” —Tayeb Salih, Season of Migration to the North
  • “Don’t ever, ever underestimate the will of a grandfather. We’re madmen, we don’t give a damn; we got here before you and they will be here after you. We’ll make enemies, we’ll break laws, we’ll break bones, but you will not mess with the grandchildren.” —Josiah Bartlet, The West Wing
  • “Taking walks with my grandfather shaped my life.” —Joseph M. Marshall III, Walking With Grandfather
  • “A baby has a way of making a man out of his father and a boy out of his grandfather.” —Angie Papadakis

Short Grandparents Quotes to Make Them Smile

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren can be seen in the following quotes, which touch on the light and humorous side of this connection. Parents often take on more serious responsibilities, like discipline and day-to-day logistics. This means, in turn, grandma and grandpa’s house can be a place of fun and indulgence. It’s a place where you might get away with eating ice cream for breakfast, staying up late or being as loud as you want. 

But, in the midst of all this merriment, you are also learning a thing or two about unconditional love and picking up lessons that will stick with you for a lifetime. Share these unique quotes, written by SUCCESS® contributors, to bring on a few smiles.

  • “Grandparents know everything except how to say no to their grandkids!”
  • “Grandma’s house is a place where second helpings and lipstick kisses are mandatory.” 
  • “Graduating to grandparent status automatically makes you wiser but also more fun.” 
  • “‘Just don’t tell your parents’ is the phrase that creates the strongest ties between grandparents and their grandkids.” 
  • “Respect your elders but worship your grandparents.” 
  • “Your grandparents’ house: where the advice isn’t always sugar-coated, but the treats are.” 
  • “Grandparents’ stories are the only ones you will gladly listen to again and again, despite the long pauses, unnecessary details and inevitable tangents.”
“Jokester, baker, babysitter, caregiver, cheerleader, historian, comforter. Grandparents wear a lot of hats, and every single one fits them perfectly.”
  • “Jokester, baker, babysitter, caregiver, cheerleader, historian, comforter. Grandparents wear a lot of hats, and every single one fits them perfectly.” 

Phrases About Grandparents and Their Impact 

Some of the greatest gifts grandparents give us are their time and influence. No matter how long they stay in our lives, many times, they play a major role. They may have a part in forming our identities and lead by example to instill in us important morals and ideals. 

Sweet grandparent quotes show us just how impactful and powerful this relationship can be. Conversely, these words also offer new grandparents a glimpse into what the journey will look like and give insight into how to step into that role with confidence. 

  • “Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” —Alex Haley
  • “Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being.” —Margaret Mead, Blackberry Winter
“A grandparent is a person who loves you with all their heart, who remembers the child you were and cherishes the person you've become.” —Barbara Cage
  • “A grandparent is a person who loves you with all their heart, who remembers the child you were and cherishes the person you’ve become.” —Barbara Cage
  • “I was fortunate enough to grow up knowing well three grandparents and two great-grandparents. From them, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, I learned a great deal about the world, about life and about the little nuances that create lasting value.” —Jon Ward
  • “Telling stories to my children that I was, in my turn, told by my parents and grandparents makes me feel part of something special and odd, part of the continuous stream of life itself.” —Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things
  • “Grandparents can have a profound influence on their grandchildren. Their time is generally not as encumbered and busy as the parents’, so books can be opened and read, stories can be told and application of gospel principles can be taught.” —Ezra Taft Benson
  • “I’m made up of the memories of my parents and grandparents, all my ancestors. They’re in the way I look, in the color of my hair. And I’m made up of everyone I’ve ever met who’s changed the way I think.” —Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Meaningful Grandparents Quotes Remind Us About Love and Legacy

Grandparents are typically givers. After raising their own children, they often continue to share little pieces of themselves with their grandchildren. These might come in the form of food, recipes, heirlooms, stories or advice. But don’t forget to also give them something in return. 

See your grandma and grandpa whenever you can. Treat them for a change. Never stop listening to their tales. Share grandparents quotes with them to express your thanks and admiration. And give them an extra hug… or two or three. It’s a privilege to experience life with grandparents by your side and every moment with them will become a memory you’ll hold onto forever. 

Photo by pics five/Shutterstock

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