Student gets Qatar Airways CEO's gift of business class flight, plus know a rewarding weight loss challenge

In today's newsletter, we bring you the story of an American student who received a special gift from the Qatar Airways CEO—a luxurious business class flight. But that's not all; we'll also dive into a rewarding weight loss challenge that offers enticing incentives.

> During a layover in Doha, 20-year-old Julia Jaroslawski found herself stranded at Hamad International Airport after being denied a standby flight home. Feeling overwhelmed, she encountered Qatar Airways' CEO, who generously offered her a business-class ticket to New York. Her story, shared on TikTok, drew mixed reactions, with some praising the CEO's kindness and others criticizing the risks associated with flying standby. The encounter highlighted a rare act of generosity in the airline industry, contrasting with Qatar Airways' controversial past.

> Microsoft is scaling back its HoloLens mixed-reality project after losing billions, leading to doubts about its military contract with the US Army. The company halted production of the HoloLens 2 and reduced its investment in the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program, shifting focus to minor updates requested by the military. The HoloLens project faced setbacks, including limited sales, financial losses, and criticism of the IVAS device's performance and safety. As Microsoft pivots toward AI investments, the Army is considering other companies, like Anduril, for future iterations of the IVAS program.

> The strike by over 30,000 Boeing machinists, ongoing for more than a month, has cost the company over $1 billion a month and stalled airplane production, intensifying pressures on new CEO Kelly Ortberg. Tensions remain high as the union and Boeing are deadlocked, with Boeing pulling a recent contract offer and filing an unfair labor practice charge against the union. Workers overwhelmingly rejected a tentative labor deal, and the strike is expected to last another two to five weeks as demands, such as pension restoration, remain unresolved. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su has intervened to encourage negotiations, while striking machinists face financial strain, including lost wages and health insurance, though some are finding temporary work in the Seattle area.

Local grocery delivery services offer convenient access to fresh groceries, addressing the need for quick delivery of perishable items like meats and produce. The local nature of these services presents growth opportunities for niche businesses in communities around the world. Retirement communities, college campuses, and densely populated areas are ideal markets for starting a grocery delivery business. An example is Yummy.com, which delivers fresh produce, baked goods, and other groceries across Los Angeles.

Tutoring and personal instruction in academic subjects, music, fine arts, or sports offer flexible side hustle opportunities with consistent demand. Services can be marketed to both children and adults, with adults often having the flexibility to schedule sessions during school hours. Startup costs are generally low, and platforms like Wyzant, Skooli, and TakeLessons.com can help manage bookings and payments. Alternatively, you can handle payments and scheduling independently using tools like Square.

> Doctor Ahmed, known as dra_says on TikTok, shared weight-loss advice, highlighting a low-calorie, high-protein snack called Nestle Kvarg. He praised the snack's thick, creamy texture, which satisfies hunger while containing only 80 calories and 15 grams of protein. Ahmed suggested it could be a helpful alternative to protein bars for weight management without compromising on taste. The video garnered positive reactions, with many viewers expressing their fondness for Kvarg, especially the white chocolate and raspberry flavors. Take on a weight loss challenge and earn - check here. 

> Wealthy individuals utilize common banking and investment accounts to grow their wealth while minimizing tax liabilities, favoring accounts with high liquidity and tax advantages such as 401(k), Roth IRAs, and brokerage accounts. They often employ strategies like the backdoor Roth IRA, which allows them to convert traditional IRAs into Roth IRAs, ensuring tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Many also leverage 401(k) accounts due to benefits like high contribution limits and employer matching, which provide "free money" for retirement. To maintain flexibility and access to funds, they invest in brokerage accounts that offer diverse investment options and avoid high fees, despite lacking tax benefits.

> Yvonne Lee-Hawkins, a burnout coach, shared her decade-long experience at Amazon, where she rose from a senior launch manager to a managerial role overseeing 21 employees across different time zones. Managing such a large team taught her valuable skills in communication, leadership, and efficiency, but it also led to burnout due to the overwhelming workload and reduced time for individual employee development. Despite her strong managerial background, the sheer volume of responsibilities and inadequate training resources made it challenging to maintain boundaries and enjoy her work. Ultimately, the stress and inability to effectively support her team prompted her to leave Amazon in April, though she still believes in the company's innovative potential.