5 Things You Need to Know Before You Launch Your Own Business

You have your idea. You have your dedication. You have the decision before you: Are you going to go for it? Are you going to take your idea and figure out how to turn your passion into a business? Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a one-day conference for non-techy wannabe-founders called HustleCon. The conference featured 15 already-founders talking candidly about what has and what hasn’t worked for them to a room of 500 people, who traveled from all over the world (we’re talking five of the seven continents). If you’re someone who is trying to pursue your dreams and start your own business, here are tips from aspirational entrepreneurs who are out there in the trenches, hustling with the rest of them.

Finding your core community starts before you have a website, an app or a brick and mortar. Your core community is filled with the people who believe so deeply in your mission that they will eventually become evangelists for your idea. But these people aren’t just going to fall into your lap. Matthew Brimer, founding partner of General Assembly, built such a strong core community that they took his idea of creating a collaborative space for entrepreneurs and startups and helped him create the successful business that he runs today — success being 19 locations in six different countries.

How did he do it? The answer is surprisingly obvious: When you find someone who is excited about your idea, build that relationship. It’s a matter of 1:1 coffees, group dinners, giving insider space tours or previews to whatever it is you’re working on, manually building your email list with every email you come across and letting these people be the first to try your product, whether that’s through pre-sales or advance memberships. If you’re thinking, “I have way too much to do; I can’t be off having coffees and going to dinners with people,” rethink that. Your core community is going to offer you thoughtful and invaluable feedback and the personal endorsement and word of mouth advertising that is so essential to the success of your business. Take the time. Get a drink. Get a dinner. It’s really not that bad.

Know That It Takes Time to Do Something Right

If you think you’re going to build something in six months and it’s going to have a million users the day after you launch it, prepare to have your bubble burst. Every speaker at Hustlecon spent years building their product before they even pushed it to market. When they did push it out, the backend was often akin to looking behind the curtain and seeing the not-so-great and not-so-powerful OZ. Read — they were doing things very manually. This doesn’t mean that you’ll build continuously for a year or two in the void. Your job is to do rapid prototyping, show it to as many people as possible, collect feedback and reiterate. If something is taking you longer than a week to build with no feedback, it’s taking too long. Jank something together, show it, get feedback, make it better, make it right —- do you see how this process could take time?

Since the idea is to not invest a lot of time or money building something that is just a prototype, rather than bringing a top-notch programmer in at $150 per hour, Arum Kang, founder of Coffee Meets Bagel, suggests contracting someone overseas for around $15 per hour. The code might not be beautiful, but it will let you test and validate your idea before you invest in higher-level development after you know your idea is a success.

Be Irrational

Leaving the security of a steady paycheck and health insurance for an idea you have — whether that’s making a necklace, opening up a tea shop or developing an app — is going to sound crazy to most people — and that’s because it is. And if you’re crazy enough to still go forward with it no matter how many people tell you you’re nuts, then you, my friend, are an entrepreneur. Stubbornness is a trait that innovators the world over posess.

If you’re wondering just how irrational you should be, let Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora, be your guide. In 2001, Westergren was in need of some Series B funding. But the market had just crashed, and there was no funding to be had. Rather than throwing in the towel when everyone told him it was over, Westergren racked up $500,000 in credit card debt and convinced his 50 loyal employees to continue working for him… unpaid… for two years. Westergren said he just felt so certain that he had something that could really change the world and the way we listen to music.

In 2005, he got $9 million in funding, paid his employees the $2 mil he owed them in back wages, (yes, he owed them TWO MILLION DOLLARS) and built the behometh that Pandora is today. That’s what being irrational (and maybe a little crazy) can get you. But let’s not confuse irrational and stubborn for pigheadedness. Westergren remained flexible when it came to what the application of his idea would be. At the time of the company’s crisis, Pandora didn’t even have a product, Westergren didn’t know what to do with The Music Genome that he had built and he and his team tried lots of things before they figured out the right application. So be flexible with that wild, yet genius, idea of yours.

Pitch Your Story to Everyone. Continually Refine It.

No matter if you’re trying to get funding or not, refining and developing your story is part of starting a business. People have to understand what your mission is, and to do that, there needs to be a real human connection — something that makes you want to get involved with that company or product. The first time you tell your story, it’s not going to be your real story. The second time you tell it, nope, still not there. The 100th time? You’re getting closer, but you still might be missing the emotional element.

Finding the story that sticks, connecting people with you and your brand and making them want to be a part of it is hard to refine. Adam Draper, founder Boost VC, says that if you’re not willing to tell your story to your friends and family, just assume that your business is dead in the water. And while not everyone needs to get funding, if you do end up throwing that into the equation, you need to get your story down pat before you even think about talking to investors. You should be excited about your idea and want to talk about it nonstop. Eventually, you’re going to find the right mix of words and hit a chord with people.

Grow Some Thick Skin and Embrace the Rollercoaster Ride

It goes without saying that if starting something new was easy, everyone would do it. As Elon Musk quoted, “Starting a company is like staring into the abyss and eating glass.” So saying your next few years might be rough (but oh-so worth it) is putting it lightly. And while you’re venturing into those uncharted waters and trying to figure out what the heck you’re doing, there’s a chance you might need funding.

Before Adam Draper started Boost VC, he too was in the market for funding. Just to paint a picture of what that might look like, he told the crowd that he sent out over 3,000 emails, got over 300 in-person interviews and heard back from just a little over 30 of those people. So expect to hear “NO” a lot, potentially over 3,000 times in one year. But you’ve got a good idea that you’re determined to make work, so you can handle it. Show the passion you have for your project, get your story down, tell it to everyone you can and eventually someone is going to give you that golden yes.

What tactics have worked for you before you launched a business or project? Let us know in the comments below!

Audiences loved the way Greta Gerwig's Little Women brought all four March sisters to life, and Netflix's Anne with an E became so popular that when the show was canceled after season 3, 1.7 million fans signed a petition to revive the series. It all just proves that classic adaptations can make the original story even more powerful.

And the newest movie based on a book is going to be one we think about forever — and not just because of its cast. Emerald Fennell (who you'll recognize from The Crown and her work as writer & director on Satburn) is adapting Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are leading the cast!

The book, published in 1847, continues to grip readers, and it's become the blueprint for moody complexity — just like Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman, which won the Oscar for Best Screenplay thanks to its scathing look at sexual assault. Well, the Em's are coming together for this new adaptation.

Here's everything we know about Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights — and your first look at the movie.

Here's Your First Look At 'Wuthering Heights'

The first look at Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights is getting some seriously mixed reactions. The photo features a close-up image of someone (maybe Margot Robbie's) with their fingers and a few blades of grass in their mouth.

"CAN NOT WAIT," one Instagram user said, along with a couple fire emojis. But the intimate (and somewhat shocking) image also has some users asking, "what in the saltburn?"

Is Wuthering Heights going to be in theaters?

Focus Features

It appears director Emerald Fennell and producer Margot Robbie are pushing for a theatrical release, which is why they've reportedly turned down a Netflix offer of $150 million.

Despite the fact Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said theatrical releases are "just not our business," and the company has stuck to at-home streaming instead, they did break that pattern for Knives Out: Glass Onion in 2022. The movie appeared in around 600 theaters the day before Thanksgiving, but left a week later ahead of its December 23 debut on the streamer.

Co-CEO Reed Hastings told The Hollywood Reporter that keeping the movie in theaters could have made Netflix more money, but later said they just wanted to "break through the noise" and get movie lovers excited for the film to come to Netflix.

All that to be said, Margot Robbie (whose Barbie made over $1 billion worldwide) and Emerald Fennell (whose Promising Young Woman nabbed her an Oscar win and two other nominations) know how to capture the imaginations of movie lovers everywhere. And it could definitely be in their favor to stick to a theatrical release. Stay tuned for official news on where you can watch Wuthering Heights!

Who's in the new Wuthering Heights movie?

Frazer Harrison/Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Wuthering Heights Cast

The Wuthering Heights movie will be led by Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie as Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, respectively. Margot will also produce with her production company LuckyChap, which worked behind the scenes on Emerald Fennell's Saltburn and Promising Young Woman.

While some fans were initially excited about the casting, others were concerned about the fact that in the book, Heathcliff is described as "dark skinned." He also tells Nelly that, "I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed, and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!" Um, it looks like Jacob Elordi definitely has fair skin to me.

"Heathcliff is described as a dark-skinned brown man in the book and a major plot point is that he was subjected to racist abuse by his adopted family," one tweet (which has over 8 million views) says. "But yeah sure Jacob Elordi is perfect!"

Another says, "Film studios will say 'We are committed to diverse casting' and then cast Jacob Elordi to play Heathcliff, one of the more famous people of color in literature, whose race is crucial to both his character and the story."

Check back here to see who will play characters like Edgar Linton, Nelly Dean, Isabella Linton, and Lockwood.

When is Wuthering Heights coming out?

Warner Bros. Pictures

Wuthering Heights Release Date

Wuthering Heights will premiere on February 14, 2026. Happy Valentine's Day!

What is Wuthering Heights about?

Amazon

Wuthering Heights Plot

Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights follows the Earnshaws and the Lintons, who are living in the Yorkshire Moors in the 1880s. Their lives change forever when the Earnshaws take in Heathcliff. Like any good dramatic novel, passion lies beneath proper connections, marriages, and societal expectations — and despite Catherine and Heathcliffe's feelings for each other, they have to choose between security and love.

Check out 16 New Movies Based On Books To Add To Your Watchlist to inspire your next movie night!

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This post has been updated.

Hair trends come and go, but some of them should remain frozen in time forever. It's not that we think you'll be making a major faux pas, but we want to see you look your best! There are so many cute hairstyles that will suit your face much better than a mullet would, but that's not the only trend you should bury in the sands of time! Here are the outdated hairstyles what you should avoid at home, at the salon, and really anywhere right now.

Scroll to see the 8 outdated hairstyles it's officially time to retire for good!

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1. Deep Side Parts

Coming in at #1 on our "outdated" list are deep side parts. They used to something we admired on everyone from Amy Winehouse to Katy Perry, but now they remind us of the questionable choices we made in our early 20s.

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2. Space Buns

Princess Leia may look great wearing her space buns in the Star Wars franchise, but we think you shouldn't bring them into 2025. The last time someone on our team wore them was between 2018 or 2019, so that should say a lot.

We don't say this often, but let's wear hairstyles that don't revert us back to our grade school days.

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3. Side Braid

Unless you're trying to relive your childhood days or want to mimic Blake Lively's character in It Ends With Us, this outdated hairstyle shouldn't be on your list of favorite looks to wear. There's other braided styles you can wear that are way more stylish anyway!

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4. Super Visible Highlights

Whether you're getting microlinks or a sew-in, wearing super visible highlights in 2025 is truly outdated. It's one thing to switch up your style, but it's another to let the world know how much you love a good contrast by letting your hair scream it from the mountaintops.

Keep your color of choice seamless this year if you decide to get a color service.

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5. '60s Up-Do

There's a time and place for everything, including updos that resemble what was popular during the '60s. If you must wear this style, go for a more modern take that doesn't feel as stiff. You might want to update your bangs too.

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6. Wand Curls

When's the last time you heard someone mention this once popular style? Chances are you haven't because it's a reminder of how long it took to achieve overly done curls. Depending on the size you wanted, you could spend anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour on this style. Oh, and it was mandatory to wear the accompanying glove that came with the 'wand' or else you risked burning your fingers!

No thank you!

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7. Barbie Bleach

Remember when it was a cardinal sin to show up to the beach without "effortlessly wavy" hair? It seems more people are moving away from that and embracing 'messy' buns and the beauty of textured hair. It's one thing if you hair naturally looks like this, but it's another if you try to make your hair conform to this style just because it's "on trend."

Newsflash: you don't have to force your hair to do something it doesn't want to! (And not everyone has to look like Serena van der Woodsen!)

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8. Millennial Pouf

Oof, how can we forget the millennial pouf? This was one of our go-to hairstyles that we swore we'd always wear. Little did we know how much we'd avoid it once we graduated from college.

It's not the most annoying style, but we're throwing this one in the "outdated" bag so we can't even pretend we're going to start wearing it again.

Want to know what else is "outdated?" Revisit the nail trends you shouldn't be wearing in 2025!

Any Hunger Games fan will agree that one of the best parts about Catching Fire is that it offers a whole new look at Haymitch Abernathy's character. The mentor (played by Woody Harrelson in the film franchise) won the 2nd Quarter Quell, and the brief mention of his Games totally captured fans' attention, leading to fan art, fanfiction, and even some viral short films. Well, we're finally getting the full story thanks to a brand new Haymitch Hunger Games book, just in time for spring 2025!

Here's everything we know about Sunrise On The Reaping, coming March 2025.

Who's narrating the audiobook?

Cam McLeod/Paramount

It was confirmed on February 3 that Yellowstone actor Jefferson White will narrate the Sunrise on the Reaping audiobook.

“It's an honor to be a small part of a world I’ve loved for so long — Suzanne Collins is a genius and it's equal parts exhilarating and terrifying to be back in Panem," he told People.

See The Official 'Sunrise On The Reaping' Cover

Amazon

The Sunrise on the Reaping cover was unveiled the morning of October 16 and it's just as beautiful as we hoped! It continues the tradition from the other books of a bold background color with gold and white accents, and I'll admit I was surprised when I first saw the snake and the mockingjay. The snake is obviously a nod to President Snow, and we know that both Lucy Gray Baird and Katniss Everdeen are two songbirds the President was never able to shake. Will Haymitch Abernathy become one as well?

In the original books, Haymitch starts out as an angry man with no friends or family who always has a drink in his hand, but by the end of Mockingjay, he's a wise, caring father figure for Katniss — and I'm betting Sunrise on the Reaping will show us plenty of those character traits as he has to make his way through the Hunger Games.

One detail on the cover that concerns me is the fact the snake and the songbird are connected, and that a sun sits between them. David Levithan, Scholastic's vice president, publisher, and editorial director told TODAY that just like the other covers, this one features "one of the central themes of the series: how conflicting forces can be connected by their common nature, the songbird and the snake springing from the same source."

When is Sunrise on the Reaping coming out?

Lionsgate

Sunrise on the Reaping will hit stores on March 18, 2025.

What is the Sunrise on the Reaping going to be about?

Scholastic/Instagram

The new Hunger Games book is called Sunrise on the Reaping. According to the official announcement, the story will take place 24 years before The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the 50th Games' reaping. While fans had hoped the story would chronicle Haymitch's victory, it wasn't confirmed until October 16. Read the full synopsis below:

"As the day dawns on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight ... and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena."

Can you preorder Sunrise on the Reaping?

Murray Close/Lionsgate

Yes, you can pre-order the book now!

What happened in Haymitch's Hunger Games?

Lionsgate

As a Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games had a twist. Just like the 75th Hunger Games pulled the tributes from the existing victors, the 50th required double the tributes, meaning Haymitch (who was 16 years old at the time) was one of 48 tributes, not 24.

The arena was a breathtaking landscape with a forest, snow-capped mountains, and beautiful flowers. But Haymitch quickly realized the beauty was a trap, and that everything in the arena was poisonous. He was able to outsmart the rest of the competitors, but after he used the forcefield against the other remaining tribute to secure his victory (a move that offended the Capitol), President Snow retaliated by killing his family and his girlfriend.

Is Sunrise on the Reaping about Haymitch?

Murray Close/Lionsgate

Yes, Sunrise on the Reaping is about Haymitch Abernathy and his win during the 50th Hunger Games.

Check out The 27 Most-Anticipated New Books Debuting In 2024 for more titles coming soon!

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This post has been updated.

During my time as a Starbucks barista, I thought I had seen it all – snarky customers, massive spills – but this one truly takes the cake. In a recent Reddit thread, a barista shared an absolutely diabolical coffee order their cafe received, and the most accurate way I can describe the drink is, well, undrinkable.

Many Starbucks customers request customizations to their beverages, but this insane sip was customized to the point of chaos – and it sent the worker into a (pretty hilarious) spiral.

Scroll on for the Starbucks drink that’s going viral for all the wrong reasons.

Starbucks

Nothing quite prepares you for the mayhem that unfolds before 7 a.m. as a Starbucks barista, no matter what customers order. But when a drink with 13 customizations comes through, it’s downright frustrating.

Reddit

This barista’s morning task was to make a single Caramel Crunch Frappuccino made in a venti size with (big breath) a caramel-lined cup, a double shot of espresso, 5 pumps of vanilla syrup, 3 pumps of caramel syrup, 3 pumps of dark caramel syrup, 5 pumps of white mocha sauce, 5 scoops of vanilla bean powder, almond milk, double-blended, light whip, extra caramel drizzle, extra cookie crumble toppings, and extra caramel crunch toppings. Whew, that’s a mouthful.

Starbucks

They shared the monstrous drink on r/Starbucks and vented with frustration:

“...She must have a stomach of steel bc she orders this every morning. I sigh every time I pull this sticker there is no reason that a sticker should be taking up [a] majority of the cup, and MINUTES of my time on bar. I can't help but judge people when they drink nasty stuff like this every day but hey you’re here for a good time not a long time right? 😅”

Starbucks

Many more baristas and Starbucks fans hopped in on the discourse, sharing the same annoyance.

“My teeth hurt just looking at that,” one person wrote.

“How is that even orderable like that? That’s crazy!” another person commented. “That should not be allowed.”

“This would instantly obliterate a Victorian child,” one more person said.

Starbucks

There are so many things wrong with this drink order. From a barista perspective, making a beverage with that many customizations takes up a lot of precious time behind the coffee bar, especially during a morning “rush” period – which typically starts at 7 a.m. Not to mention, it can disturb the drink-making process when there are other customers to take care of.

Starbucks

Secondly, it cannot be healthy at all. In fact, one Redditor did their own research and concluded that the Frappuccino measured up to have around 1040 to 1100 calories, 26 grams of fat, and 208 grams of sugar. Knowing the customer orders this drink every morning is just crazy. Yikes!

Next time you request a customization to your Starbucks drink, just know your request for extra cold foam or a sprinkle of cinnamon doesn't get worse than this.

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A24 just stopped internet traffic with their latest announcement: they're adaptating Holly Brickley's new book, Deep Cuts! It's one of the new books that made it to the top of our must-read list, so we're basically hyperventilating after learning Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butlerare starring in it! We'd watch anything they're in even if they don't have any lines because the brevity of their acting skills would speak for themselves. Though we'd love to focus on how much we admire these two actors, there's much more to learn about the Deep Cuts movie — and why it's such a big deal it's coming to theaters.

Scroll to learn everything about the Deep Cuts movie — and why we're fangirling over it!

What is 'Deep Cuts' about?

Jasmine Williams

Deep Cuts cleverly depicts how love can be beautiful and chaotic when two people are as passionate about their goals as they are each other. With each page, readers are able to see how Percy Marks and Joe Morrow lose sight of each other as well as themselves the deeper they pursue careers in music. By the end of their story it's apparent they both longed for their voices to be in spotlight, for better or worse.

Has the full cast for 'Deep Cut's been announced?

Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

No other cast information has been shared besides Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler's involvement. However, we're confident we'll see more A-listers attached to the project! Personally, we'd love to see Florence Pugh or Jacob Elordi make an appearance! Hopefully someone sees this so our dreams can come true.

Who's directing the and producing the movie?

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

According to Deadline, Sean Durkin (The Iron Claw and The Nest) will be directing Deep Cuts. He's got an eye for storytelling that pulls viewers in so we're excited he's a part of this movie.

Who's producing 'Deep Cuts?'

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Saoirse Ronan will be producing the movie alongside Ronal Bronstein, Eli Bush and Josh Safdie. But we'll have to wait for a release date because it doesn't look like production's started yet! Our fingers are crossed for a late 2026 release though.

Read 'Deep Cuts'

Amazon

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

We've reviewed a lot of new books debuting in 2025, but we stand by our initial assessment that Deep Cuts earned the #1 spot. You'll smile giddily as you read about Percy Marks and Jack Morrow falling in love, but you'll also understand the anguish both characters feel at different points.

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