• McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski shared his top career tip that might "hurt your feelings."
• The fast food chain executive said young workers should look out for their own careers.
• His comments come amid a broader shift away from loyalty between employees and employers.

As winter temps drop, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski is sharing some cold, hard facts.

The 57-year-old fast-food executive recently shared his top career tip in a viral Instagram video, warning that it might "hurt your feelings."

"Remember, nobody cares about your career as much as you do," Kempczinski said.

"This idea that there's somebody out there who's looking out for you, who's going to make sure that you get that opportunity, who puts you in the right thing — great if it happens," he said. "You've got to make things happen for yourself."

Kempczinski is, of course, not the first corporate leader to make this observation.

Several, including Business Insider founder Henry Blodget, have for years recommended that workers "be the CEO of your career."

"When people enter the workforce, they often imagine that their job and career success and satisfaction is someone else's responsibility," Blodget wrote in 2023.

Blodget said that some school and early-career situations involve predictable requirements and progressions, often with a mentor whose job it is to help you succeed. However, that model often stops working sooner or later, leaving the individual solely responsible for their own direction.

Kempczinski's comments also come amid a broader shift away from loyalty between employees and employers, a shift that was probably best summarized earlier this year in a memo from AT&T CEO John Stankey.

"I understand that some of you may have started your tour with this company expecting an 'employment deal' rooted in loyalty, tenure, and conformance with the associated compensation, work structure, and benefits," Stankey said. "We have consciously shifted away from some of these elements and towards a more market-based culture — focused on rewarding capability, contribution, and commitment."

In an earlier video, Kempczinski shared a key tip to help workers get control over their time, energy, and attention: "Be organized."

Kempczinski said he keeps a tidy email inbox, computer, and workspace.

"Staying organized is a way to make me stay focused," he said.

Taken together, it's safe to say that you should keep track of what you need to do for your own life and career because nobody else is going to do it for you.

• Google cofounder Sergey Brin said he asks Gemini Live about data center costs while driving.
• Brin said he's been using an unreleased version as the current Gemini Live AI is backed by an "ancient model."
• "Give me a few weeks to actually ship what I have access to," he said during a recent Stanford panel interview.

Sergey Brin has been dogfooding Google's AI on his commute.

The Google cofounder has been back in the thick of the company's AI development after stepping down as president of Alphabet in 2019, returning in recent years to work on Gemini.

At a Stanford University panel last week, an audience member asked Brin how he stayed sharp. What podcasts did Brin listen to in the car?

"I do talk to Gemini Live in the car often," Brin said. "I just talk to it about stuff on my drive."

Brin gave an example of what he asked Gemini Live while driving: "I want to develop a data center, I need how many hundreds of megawatts of this kind of power, that kind of power, how much it's going to cost."

Gemini Live is Google's voice-enabled AI chatbot. The company first demoed the product in May 2024 at Google I/O and made it freely available in September 2024.

For car-chatting enthusiasts, Brin recommended drivers "shouldn't do it now, because we have a way better version coming."

"The publicly available version right now is not the good version," he said. "Give me a few weeks to actually ship what I have access to."

Brin said that the current available version of Gemini Live is backed by an "ancient model."

Google's recent model updates have made waves in the AI world. In November, the company debuted Gemini 3. The model is more visual, Google said, and its "most factual" model to date.

Gemini 3 was also the first model Google added directly to search on day one. Users could immediately access it by clicking "AI Mode," rather than having to visit a separate app or website.

The other LLM makers took note. Meta employees now have access to Gemini 3 Pro.

On the panel, Brin acknowledged that his answer to the driving question seemed "kind of self-advertising." He does listen to some podcasts, he said.

"The 'All In' guys are actually one of my favorites," he said. Brin has appeared on the podcast multiple times.

• Netflix will exclusively host over a dozen iHeartMedia video podcasts starting in 2026.
• The deal includes shows like "The Breakfast Club" but excludes some of iHeart's other top podcasts.
• The deal is part of Netflix's effort to capitalize on the growing popularity of video podcasts.

Netflix just made its second big podcast move, announcing a deal with iHeartMedia to exclusively host the video versions of more than a dozen of its shows.

Those shows include "The Breakfast Club," cohosted by popular radio personality Charlamagne tha God; true crime show "My Favorite Murder"; and "Dear Chelsea" with Chelsea Handler.

Netflix said the shows will launch on its platform in early 2026 in the US, with other markets to follow.

Netflix stressed the variety of the shows available through the deal. Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia's CEO, said it let his company complement its audio foundation with a leading video-first service. The video versions of the shows will only be available on Netflix — and crucially won't be on YouTube — while iHeartMedia retains the audio-only rights and distribution.

The deal is Netflix's second big foray into video podcasts after announcing a similar deal with Spotify in October for shows including "The Bill Simmons Podcast," "The Rewatchables," and "Conspiracy Theories."

Netflix's move into video podcasts is part of a broader effort to expand its content offerings beyond its core of TV series and movies. The streamer has added content from YouTubers like Ms. Rachel, sports programming, and even games as its engagement time has flattened. Netflix is also seeking to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming and studios business.

Besides its Spotify and iHeartMedia deals, Netflix has explored potential pacts with individual podcasters, including Alex Cooper of "Call Her Daddy" fame, two people familiar with the talks previously told Business Insider. Netflix has also been looking to hire a video podcast executive.

The streamer told potential partners it wants to have 50 to 75 shows when its video podcasts launch in early 2026, two dealmakers previously told Business Insider, with one hearing the platform was looking to build that number to as many as 200 over time.

The iHeartMedia deal checks a few boxes for Netflix, which, in keeping with its stated goal of serving everyone, has been seeking shows across various genres, including pop culture, true crime, sports, and comedy. "The Breakfast Club" is the 15th most listened to podcast, according to Edison Research, and its daily format could help Netflix establish itself as a routine destination. The deal notably doesn't include iHeartMedia's other podcasts in the top 50, including the flagship "Stuff You Should Know," "Club Shay Shay," and "On Purpose with Jay Shetty."

Netflix's podcast negotiations have, in general, been complicated by the fact that video distribution rights are often controlled by a mix of the host and the network.

For some podcasters, being on Netflix offers a potential new audience and the prestige of being part of a curated offering. However, for others, Netflix's demand for video exclusivity would mean giving up the important ad revenue and reach they gain on YouTube, and potentially alienating their fans who find them there.

There are also questions about how much Netflix will promote the shows and what viewer data it'll share with hosts, who are accustomed to receiving robust data on their shows from YouTube.

Podcasts are mostly an audio experience, but people are increasingly watching them in video form. An Edison Research report in July found that over half (51%) of people in the US 12 and up said they had watched a video podcast, with 37% having watched one in the previous month.

• Instagram launched Instagram for TV, bringing Reels to Amazon Fire TV devices in the US.
• The app groups Reels into channels like trending comedy, sports, and travel gems.
• Instagram's VP of product said users were already finding ways to cast Reels to their TV.

If you miss the days of gathering around the TV surfing channels, you're in luck.

Instagram launched Instagram for TV on Tuesday, bringing its popular Reels content to the big screen via Amazon Fire TV devices.

The app, which is first being rolled out in the US, groups Reels into channels, including trending comedy, sports, or hidden travel gems. Users can choose a channel and start watching, with the Reels playing automatically.

Instagram for TV is part of the platform's ongoing effort to adapt to the ways users are connecting via the app. The company said in a press release that it has heard from its community that "watching Reels together is more fun," so the product was designed with that social aspect in mind.

Tessa Lyons, VP of product at Instagram, told Business Insider that the team heard from users who were finding ways to cast their Reels to the TV so they could watch them with friends.

"People already want to get together and connect with each other over Reels on the TV," she said, adding that this allows them to actually share with friends. "Not just DMing them, but actually be together enjoying them."

Lyons said she personally felt the need for this feature when she realized, while on the couch watching TV with her husband, she was often actually watching Reels on her phone instead.

Instagram for TV is in a testing phase, with plans to eventually expand to more devices and countries. Instagram said this early test is designed to learn which features are best for shared viewing on a TV screen.

Future features could include using your phone as a remote, more intuitive ways to surf channels, and channels that combine your and your friends' interests into one shared feed, like Instagram's Blend feature.

Up to five Instagram accounts can be connected to the Amazon Fire TV device. Once you click into your account, Instagram will automatically group Reels into a channel based on your interests.

Lyons said Instagram's North Star has always been "helping people connect with their friends over creativity," adding that the goal has remained even as the platform and the way people use it have changed.

"The way in which people share evolves," she said. "I think that's natural."

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at kvlamis@businessinsider.com or Signal at @kelseyv.21. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Donald Trump Jr. is engaged to Bettina Anderson, a Palm Beach model and socialite.
• Trump Jr. was previously engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle and married to Vanessa Trump.
• Anderson and Trump Jr. were first linked in September and attended Trump's inauguration together.

President Donald Trump announced the engagement of his son, Donald Trump Jr., to model and socialite Bettina Anderson at a White House holiday party on Monday.

Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson made their public debut as a couple at Trump's inauguration following months of speculation about the nature of their relationship.

Since going public in January 2025, Trump Jr. and Anderson have appeared together at numerous White House events and Palm Beach galas.

Trump Jr., who is Trump's oldest son, was previously engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and campaign advisor whom Trump chose to serve as his administration's ambassador to Greece.

Anderson, a Palm Beach socialite, model, and the founder and executive director of the wildlife conservation nonprofit Project Paradise, was first spotted in the Trump family's orbit at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.

Representatives for the White House, Trump Jr., Guilfoyle, and Anderson did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Here's a timeline of their relationship.

July 2024: Bettina Anderson was seated behind Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at the Republican National Convention.

Anderson was photographed sitting behind Trump Jr., Guilfoyle, and other members of the Trump family on the third and fourth days of the Republican National Convention.

Guilfoyle was still wearing her engagement ring.

September 2024: The Daily Mail reported that Anderson and Trump Jr. were seen kissing and eating brunch together in Palm Beach.

Anderson and Trump Jr. were photographed dining together at the Honor Bar, a restaurant located about 4 miles from Mar-a-Lago, The Daily Mail reported.

Neither responded to a request for comment in September about the nature of their relationship.

October 2024: Anderson cohosted a Trump campaign fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago featuring Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Tickets to the fundraising dinner cost $100,000 a couple and admission to a fireside chat cost $30,000 a couple, the Palm Beach Daily News reported. Serving on the host committee of the event required a $250,000 contribution.

December 2024: Anderson and Trump Jr. were photographed holding hands in Palm Beach.

Anderson and Trump Jr. were photographed holding hands as they left Buccan, a restaurant in Palm Beach, on Anderson's 38th birthday, The Daily Mail reported.

Anderson also shared a photo on her Instagram story of a bouquet of flowers and a card reading, "Many have said you're aging out but I think you're perfect…happy birthday!" She tagged Trump Jr. in the post, appearing to indicate that he was the sender.

Later that month, Anderson joined Trump Jr. at the Trump family's New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.

December 2024: Trump Jr. told Page Six that he and Guilfoyle "will never stop caring for each other."

While Trump Jr. did not officially confirm that he and Guilfoyle had broken off their engagement, he said in a statement to Page Six that they "will always keep a special bond" and that he "could not be more proud of her and the important role she'll continue to play in my father's administration" as ambassador to Greece.

January 2025: Anderson and Trump Jr. attended inauguration events together, marking their public debut as a couple.

Anderson and Trump Jr. attended an inaugural reception at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, DC, on January 18. On January 19, they held hands and danced to "YMCA" by The Village People at the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball.

Anderson and Trump Jr. traveled to the Capitol Rotunda together on Inauguration Day but sat separately for the ceremony. Trump Jr. sat with his family members on the inaugural platform, while Anderson took her seat in the crowd.

Guilfoyle was also seated in the audience for the inauguration, but not with the Trump family as she had been at the RNC.

February 2025: They attended the Super Bowl together.

President Trump was the first sitting president to ever attend the Super Bowl. He was joined by Trump Jr., Anderson, and other family members and associates to watch the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

March 2025: Trump Jr. and Anderson engaged in public displays of affection at Trump's address to a joint session of Congress.

Trump Jr. and Anderson were photographed cuddling in their seats in the House chamber before Trump's speech began.

March 2025: The couple walked the red carpet together at a gala in Palm Beach.

Trump Jr. and Anderson attended the mfAR Palm Beach Gala in support of the organization's AIDS research and global HIV prevention.

Other celebrities in attendance included Martha Stewart, who received mfAR's Award of Inspiration, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ricky Martin.

The gala was held days after People magazine reported that Trump Jr.'s ex-wife, Vanessa Trump, is dating Tiger Woods.

April 2025: Anderson and Trump Jr. attended the White House Easter Egg Roll.

That same month, they also attended a golf event at Trump National Doral, Trump's golf resort in Doral, Florida.

June 2025: They appeared together at another official White House event, the US Army's 250th anniversary military parade.

Trump Jr. and Anderson were seated in front of Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos for the military parade in Washington, DC, which featured 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft.

July 2025: Anderson joined Trump Jr. and two of his children on Trump's visit to Scotland.

Trump Jr. and Anderson joined Eric and Lara Trump at Trump Turnberry, one of Trump's golf clubs in Scotland, for the announcement of a new trade deal between the US and the European Union.

They were then joined by two of Trump Jr.'s children, Spencer and Chloe, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new golf course at Trump International Golf Links.

December 2025: Trump announced the couple's engagement at a White House holiday party.

Around the same time that Page Six broke the news of Trump Jr. and Anderson's engagement on Monday evening, Trump announced that the two were engaged and called them up to the White House podium to say a few words.

In a video from the event shared by far-right activist Laura Loomer, Trump Jr. thanked Anderson "for that one word, yes."

Anderson could be seen in the video wearing a diamond ring.

"This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life, and I get to marry the love of my life, and I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world," Anderson said at the holiday party, according to the video.

• I read that many children lack real-world independence despite having online freedom.
• I decided to give my 8-year-old more independence, which has boosted his confidence and happiness.
• I believe that encouraging independence in kids helps them develop responsibility and life skills.

"Mom, I have to go to the bathroom right now," my 8-year-old son frantically informed me from the backseat.

We were stuck in the middle of a crowded Starbucks drive-thru after school one day, and his 3-year-old brother was asleep in his car seat. So, desperately, I offered a solution: "Alright, you can go inside by yourself, and I'll meet you at the front patio."

His 6-year-old brother immediately volunteered to go with him — "I have to go, too!" — so I unlocked the door and watched them as they crossed in front of my car and disappeared around the corner to find the public restrooms. It was the first time I'd ever let them do something like that on their own, and I was surprised at how nervous it made me feel. Surely, our parents in the 90s let us run around playgrounds, libraries, and other places by ourselves, so why was I so worried about letting them do this simple thing? Because they could get hit by a car or kidnapped or make a nuisance, my anxious brain not-so-helpfully reminded me.

It turns out, I didn't need to worry at all. By the time I made it to the front of the store to pick them up, they were beaming with their accomplishment. It made me realize it was time to start creating small moments of independence for my eldest son (and his younger brothers when appropriate).

Parents are anxious, and it's hurting our kids

Social psychologist and author of " The Anxious Generation," Jonathan Haidt, conducted a study with the Harris Poll, alongside co-authors Lenore Skenazy and Zach Rausch, which surveyed more than 500 children ages 8 to 12 in the U.S. The results, published in The Atlantic, found that despite many children having access to online worlds like Roblox (about 75% regularly play the game), fewer than half of the 8- and 9-year-olds studied have ever gone down a grocery-store aisle by themselves.

Reading this stuck with me. At first, I thought I couldn't believe the metaphorical leash these kids are on. They're parents aren't letting them go even one aisle down? But then I realized that even though my kids are confident walking around stores, I usually don't let them out of my sight anywhere else.

"Without real-world freedom, children don't get the chance to develop competence, confidence, and the ability to solve everyday problems," the authors said about the survey results.

And without giving kids the skills to practice, it won't become natural. Haidt encourages parents to start giving kids more independence beginning at age 8, and I immediately decided to try it with my son.

I pushed myself to let him go further

We started this experiment at Target, where I typically didn't mind my kids looking at the video games or toys while I browsed the nearby book section.

This time, I wanted to take it one step further, so I asked my 8-year-old to go a few aisles down to grab a loaf of bread while I picked up some yogurt and cheese. He left and came back in less than a minute, proud of his find — and much happier having a task to focus on than just following me down each aisle, complaining of boredom. I loved it, and the trip didn't take nearly as long.

Another time, my 6-year-old needed to use the restroom, and his older brother offered to take him on his own — at the front of the store. After a few minutes, I got nervous with many thoughts running through my mind. What if they lost me because I wasn't on the same aisle as when they left? What if they couldn't find the bathroom and they were wandering around scared? Am I a terrible mother for letting them do this?

I ended up leaving mid-aisle to speedwalk to the restrooms, where I found them exactly where they said they would be, with one in the bathroom and the other patiently waiting on the bench outside the door. I felt something in my own brain click into place: my eldest son knows what to do, he is responsible enough to do it, and he loves that I trust him to go off on his own.

I just had to get over myself long enough to let him.

The look on his face is something I'll never forget

"So, what do I say, again?" my son asked. We had just pulled up outside our favorite pizza joint, and he was going inside to pick up our order.

"Say, 'I'm picking up an order for Sydni Ellis,'" I repeated. He jumped out of the van to grab our pizza, but first, he whispered his line a few times like an actor in a play (or like an anxious kid learning how to be brave). It was emotional watching him pace in front of the restaurant for a few seconds, building up the courage to go in and talk to an employee. I didn't intervene, and when he was ready, he went in by himself.

When he opened the van door with pizza in hand, he was beaming. His face was glowing with the brightest smile of happiness, accomplishment, and relief I had ever seen, and it was seared into my memory.

This is why independence is important. He did it. He built up confidence, tackled tasks he wouldn't have been responsible enough to do when he was younger, and felt like the smart, capable kid I know he is. By encouraging him to do things on his own, I'm helping set him up for the future and giving him a priceless feeling of autonomy.

• I'm trying to let my kid drive the college application process, while I help as little as possible.
• We only chat about college during scheduled times.
• They missed a scholarship deadline, but I'm trying to let go.

My fifth and final kid is a senior in high school, which means it's time for graduation, award nights, and most importantly, the college application process.

At a recent college night presentation, I met with a high school counselor. They gave all parents a startling message: You're not in the driver's seat during the application process. You're not even in the passenger seat. You're in the back seat.

I took the counselor's advice and decided to step back, letting my teen take the lead as they apply to colleges. At times, this has been tough, but I keep reminding myself that this is their journey.

I'm not telling my teen what schools to apply to

The post-secondary counselor talked with my child about their academic profile, major, and what they were looking for in a college. They discussed that even though my child has the background to get into highly selective (and very expensive) schools, they want to be a high school teacher, so it's not really necessary.

Talking about money with kids is never fun. College is the most fraught money conversation we've had with our kids.

It was helpful to have another trusted adult discuss my child's preferences with them and help them figure out what matters most when selecting schools. Thankfully, I didn't have to be the one who directed them away from prestigious schools.

I only stepped in to tell my kid how much I could afford on tuition.

I schedule times to focus on college applications together

Rather than continually nagging my kid about applications and to-do lists, I send out meeting invites to complete specific tasks, such as the FAFSA, campus visits, and scholarships.

During these scheduled times, we sit at the kitchen table while my kid does the work. I'm available if they need me to complete forms or determine a suitable time for a campus visit.

I then don't bring up college unless they do outside these scheduled times. This is hard. I'm curious to know what they're thinking and if everything is getting done. However, since we started scheduling times, my child is now proactively chatting instead of us having to ask.

My teen missed a deadline

The college application process teaches, sometimes the hard way, the importance of deadlines. Colleges have limits — a limited amount of scholarship money, a max on people admitted, a finite number of rooms in the best dorm — and waiting until or missing the deadline means you miss out.

My child lost out on presidential scholarships for one of their top schools because they were working to a deadline. The scholarship application process required a two-day in-person interview, and they discovered this the day before the application was due.

We couldn't make the in-person interview time, so they were unable to apply. It was frustrating, but, it was a lesson learned.

When this presidential scholarship mishap happened, I realized how I could be helpful. I created a spreadsheet to compare schools and provide a quick view of deadlines for applications and scholarships.

I'm not going into the Common App or looking over my kids' shoulders as they fill out applications. We review the spreadsheet during our college task meetings, and they get to work.

I then do my best not to look at it, ask them questions, or nag them the rest of the week.

I'm still celebrating the wins

I realized the best way I can stay involved is by celebrating my kids' wins.

I take pictures on tours, read the brochures, and check out the acceptance packet swag. It's an exciting time for both of us, and this helps me feel more involved.

Every scholarship, every acceptance, regardless of amount or whether they choose that school, is a win and a testament to all we've both done to get to that point.

• Valerie Health raised $30 million from Redpoint Ventures to automate healthcare front office tasks.
• The startup uses AI to automate referrals and scheduling for independent provider groups.
• We got an exclusive look at the 13-slide pitch deck Valerie Health used to raise its Series A.

When Valerie Health CEO Peter Shalek demos his product to clinicians, he has an unusual pitch: "This is a weird demo, because you'll never have to use this software."

Valerie Health, which Shalek cofounded alongside Uber Health founder Nitin Joshi, aims to fully automate time-consuming front-office tasks in healthcare, such as referrals and patient scheduling.

It's taking over those tasks for independent provider groups, a focus that's helping the startup rack up new revenue — and new venture funding.

Valerie Health just raised $30 million in Series A funding led by Redpoint Ventures, the company said Tuesday. The raise brings Valerie Health's total funding to $39 million since its 2024 founding.

Shalek said Valerie Health is already working with several of the nation's largest independent provider groups, in areas ranging from urology and podiatry to cardiology.

Across specialties, the front-office challenges for provider groups are often the same, Shalek said: juggling patient intakes and follow-ups against a backlog of referrals.

Those administrative burdens and related financial pressures can lead provider groups to be acquired by hospitals or consolidated by private equity firms. But those deals can mean higher costs for patients and lower satisfaction for the clinicians impacted. Shalek wants Valerie Health to help providers thrive independently.

"I think that there's an opportunity to make it so that independent practice is the easiest, the highest quality, the most profitable place to deliver care, which is really the core mission we have," he said.

Valerie Health takes over tasks for healthcare front offices with its own employees in the loop to review the software's autonomous actions.

Shalek said Valerie Health helps practices grow, too, by processing new and existing patients faster to increase the volume of patients coming in by 5% to 7% on average.

The startup has plenty of competition. More companies are setting out to automate administrative tasks for hospitals and healthcare practices, such as the Andreessen Horowitz-backed startup Tennr, which raised $101 million in Series C funding in June at a $605 million valuation to focus on automating patient referrals.

Shalek said Valerie Health is bringing in business through its singular focus on independent provider groups and its ability to automate tasks without healthcare practices lifting a finger.

"It takes a lot of work from our side, but it allows us to just solve these problems for our customers without saying, here's another piece of software for you to train your staff on. That's the last thing these practices want. They just want us to do the work," he said.

Valerie Health wants to move fast as the market fills. Shalek said the startup is focused on grabbing more customers next year while continuing to build front-office solutions, such as voice AI agents for patient follow-ups. Valerie Health started selling its tech earlier this year; its revenue tripled last quarter from the previous quarter alone, and given the customers already in its pipeline plus the demand it's seeing in the market, Shalek said he expects revenue to grow six to seven times next year.

The startup is also hiring across its teams, including engineering, product, and sales. Joshi also spent two years as an engineering manager at fintech startup Stripe, so Shalek said Valerie Health has been able to bring over talent from both Stripe and Uber as it expands.

Here's the pitch deck Valerie Health used to raise $30 million from Redpoint Ventures.

• I recently spent a little over a week in Tokyo and some of the surrounding Japanese cities.
• I adored my trip, but I wish I'd packed less so I had more space for purchases in my bag.
• My week in Japan could've been better if I'd gotten cash sooner and hadn't been quite so frugal.

This year, I finally fulfilled my dream of visiting Japan, spending a week in the country with two friends.

About a month before, I purchased a round-trip ticket from New York City to Tokyo for $1,000.

We chose to visit in early December — the month isn't as popular with tourists, and we hoped to catch the tail end of the area's peak fall foliage.

I loved my trip, as I got to explore much of the sprawling city, the area around Mount Fuji, and easily accessible cities such as Yokohama and Kamakura.

I was constantly impressed by the architecture, historic and religious sites, transportation, and food — and it was a plus that the exchange rate was heavily in our favor when we traveled.

However, I wish I had done six things differently during my trip — most of which involved money. (Yes, even economy reporters make money mistakes.)

I should've gotten cash at the airport.

My friends who had traveled to Japan before had warned me that many businesses in Tokyo only accept cash, so I had planned to visit an ATM at a convenience store after checking into my hotel.

However, I wasn't expecting to need cash before that.

My trip to the hotel required two transfers. At the airport, I bought a ticket on the Keikyu Airport Line train with my credit card.

However, when I needed to transfer to the line that took me to my hotel, I couldn't pay with my credit card, nor buy a rechargeable contactless card called a PASMO, because the station only accepted cash.

I also wasn't able to load a public transportation card on my Android phone, so I had to visit the help desk for assistance with charging a credit card. This worked once, but the next station's help desk wouldn't process credit cards.

Instead of taking an easy ride to my hotel, which would have cost about $5, I lugged my suitcase out of the station and went to an ATM.

At this point, though, my friend and I were so tired from the 14-hour flight that we took a $30 Uber to the hotel.

Looking back, I should've just converted my dollars to yen at the airport.

By trying to be frugal, I missed out on special local dishes and experiences.

I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that most of the food options near my hotel, located in a quieter neighborhood north of the Imperial Palace, offered many dishes that'd cost me under $10.

After conversions, I paid between $5 and $15 for most of my meals.

However, I became so accustomed to the low prices from the favorable exchange rate that I felt as though anything more expensive was either a scam or not worth it.

At various restaurants, I opted not to try the premium pork katsu, the expensive sushi cuts, or wagyu because I deemed them too expensive — even though they would've been the price of an average dinner back home in NYC.

By having a tight wallet, I missed out on tasting fresh local specialties I'd hoped to try for years. This also applied to experiences.

I really wanted to take the scenic, direct train route to the town of Fujikawaguchiko, one of the most popular destinations for viewing Mount Fuji. Instead, I booked a cheaper bus ride that had views of a few small towns.

I also missed out the Ghibli Museum and the Yayoi Kusama Museum. The entrance fees would've cost me less than $15, but I opted instead to walk around the city for free.

Though in the end, I felt good about saving the extra few dollars on things I didn't absolutely need, I felt like I was being overly cautious and, in some ways, blinded by the pursuit of affordability.

That same mindset — and my poor packing skills — also stopped me from buying as much as I wanted.

I made the rookie mistake of overpacking and not leaving enough room for clothes or other bigger souvenirs in my suitcase, as I only brought a backpack and a carry-on.

Since I had hardly any extra space, I prioritized purchasing gifts for loved ones and friends, which were mostly limited to postcards or small trinkets.

Though I bought two shirts and a few clothing items for Uniqlo (for much cheaper than what I'd have spent on them in the US), I wish I'd taken more advantage of shopping in Japan.

After all, the exchange rate was favorable, and some stores are tax-free. I'm still annoyed I didn't buy a special locally made shirt from Mount Fuji, which would've only cost $15.

I could barely zip my suitcase on the way home, and I had to rely on my friend to stuff some of my purchases in their bag.

Looking back, I wish I'd just packed half the number of clothes and done a load of laundry mid-trip. I would've had way more room in my suitcase for new purchases.

I wish I'd prioritized seeing more of Japan.

I chose to stay in Tokyo for the duration of the trip, as I felt it would have been overwhelming to spend two or three days in a handful of cities.

It would've been great to see Osaka or Kyoto, the two other cities my friends encouraged me to visit. However, I intend to return to Japan in the next few years, so I guess this is more of a note for later.

At the very least, I'm glad I made sure to visit the Tokyo suburbs and Mount Fuji, which satisfied my desire to leave the urban core.

My bigger regret was not diversifying where I stayed within Tokyo.

We stayed in a district of Chiyoda called Iidabashi, which is north of the Imperial Palace. We then switched to a hotel in Akasaka, further west.

It was great to get accustomed to one or two areas, but I would've loved to feel like a local by staying in a few sections of the city instead of just passing through them.

I knew Tokyo was large, but I wasn't expecting there to be so much to do in each area. For example, I would have liked to have stayed close to Shinjuku or the eastern side of the city.

I also wish I'd stayed in a wider variety of accommodations.

I spent the first seven nights at an apartment-style hotel, and the last night at a much nicer traditional hotel.

Looking back, it would've been nice to splurge on an even nicer hotel with more amenities, like a sauna or gym, or even rent a home outside the city for more diversity.

It also could've been a good experience to try a capsule hotel, a popular pod-style accommodation in Japan.

I should've prepared more for the cultural shift

I expected to experience cultural differences in Japan, but a few changes threw me off quite a bit. At times, I definitely failed to follow some politeness standards.

For example, in certain public spaces, such as trains, it's frowned upon to talk on the phone or to others. Throughout several rides on the trip, I started conversations with friends, then stopped myself.

I also learned the hard way that eating and drinking in public can be viewed as impolite. At one point, I received some hard stares for eating an ice cream on a subway platform.

Though I knew Tokyo's reputation for being an extremely clean city, I also wasn't expecting it to be quite so spotless.

I rarely saw trash cans on the streets, which meant I was often carrying wrappers or bottles for over an hour before I could toss them in a convenience store or back at my hotel. Next time, I'd bring a small bag for trash that I can stuff in my backpack.

It also surprised me how many restaurants I visited didn't have waiter service or even many opportunities for customers and staff to interact.

I often used screens or ticket machines to order food, and the only exchange I had with any worker was to say "thank you" or ask for more of something.

The degree of quiet was, in some ways, deafening. I wish I'd been more prepared for it — in part by knowing more essential Japanese phrases.

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People are used to fighting for seats when commuting to work. It just usually doesn't continue at the office.

That's becoming the norm as companies realize their RTO mandates are bigger than their office spaces, writes BI's Emily Stewart.

From Instagram to AT&T to Amazon, companies have called workers back to the office only to find out they don't have enough desks for everyone.

The desk shortage could be due to a lack of foresight, a sneaky layoff technique, or something in between. But one thing is for sure: It's not a problem set to disappear anytime soon.

Even if companies do expand their footprint, it won't be so that workers can get their own slice of cubicle heaven. The most common ratio between desks and employees is 1-1.49, and most companies want even more workers for every seat they have.

Companies' RTO woes aren't an easy fix.

I understand executives' reluctance to snap up more office space. The post-pandemic scars from carrying expensive leases for desks that remained empty still run deep.

But hot desking doesn't feel like a silver bullet.

Sure, you can bet there will always be enough seats because some workers will be sick, on vacation, or taking meetings on a random day. And that'll likely pay off during certain parts of the year. (You'll have your pick of the litter at the office starting next week.)

But for other chunks of the year, it could become a constant game of musical chairs. And if bringing people back to the office is all about productivity, does it really make sense to have them spend their morning looking for a spot to set up their laptops?

A hybrid setup affords you more flexibility. But most people might gravitate toward coming into the office on the same day, which could create a similar desk availability issue. (Fridays aren't really a crowd favorite.)

You could mandate certain days for employees to spread things out, but that's likely to ruffle feathers. And isn't the whole point of coming into the office about everyone working together in person?

That raises a larger question about what a company's real RTO motive is. Because if it's about getting people back to the office to work together, giving them a desk to do it feels like it should be high on the to-do list.