Six years ago, Desiree Hill spent her days diagnosing patients. Now, she diagnoses cars.

As an oncology nurse at Northside Hospital Duluth, in Duluth, Georgia, Hill made around $40,000 per year. “I wasn’t happy in my career at that time. I wasn’t happy in my personal life,” says Hill, 39. “It was three hours of commuting in Atlanta traffic every day. And [as a single mom at the time] I never saw my children. So it really was taking a toll.”

Today, Hill is the owner of Crown’s Corner Mechanic — an auto repair shop in Conyers, Georgia, just a 15-minute drive from her home in Covington. Her company brought in nearly $440,000 in net revenue last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

This year, Crown’s Corner Mechanic has brought in about $70,000 in monthly revenue — roughly double last year’s monthly average — and is profitable, says Hill.

Hill started fixing cars in 2019 with no prior mechanic or entrepreneurship experience, teaching herself through YouTube videos and involving her family. Her 10-year-old daughter recently built a motor, and her son is a mechanic in the U.S. Army.

“We learned together,” says Hill, adding, “I not only have a family at home, I have a family here [with my employees] and I have a family with my customers.”

Hill got a Registered Medical Assistant diploma from Florida Metropolitan University, a now-defunct for-profit school, in 2011, she says. (By the time she graduated, the school was known as Everest University.)

Over roughly a decade of nursing, she worked her way up to a high-demand, high-stress oncology unit at Northside Hospital Duluth. But she was unhappy, she says: long hours and commutes for a unit where patients often succumbed to their illnesses.

In 2019, Hill sought to increase her income by starting a side hustle. She began buying and renovating run-down vehicles to sell for profit, despite not knowing how to change her own car’s oil, she says.

“Everybody needs transportation. That’s never going to stop no matter what. And I knew it was something that I could spend a very small amount on and maybe potentially make a lot of profit,” says Hill. “It was the fastest way to make money.”

Hill watched tutorials on YouTube about how to fix or change certain car parts, or diagnose various vehicle problems. Her first purchase was a truck, for about $1,200. After spending $60 and putting in only an hour of work to fix it, she sold the truck for around $4,000 two days later.

“I bought three more cars the next day,” says Hill. “It was almost like a high. I swear, it was beautiful.”

Hill stayed up until 3 a.m. nightly fixing cars, waking up at 6 a.m. to get back to the hospital. After 15 months of minimal sleep and time with her kids, she quit nursing around January 2020. Over the next year, she bought, fixed and sold 38 cars, which made her around $100,000 she says.

In June 2021, Hill decided to additionally work on other people’s vehicles as a mobile mechanic, traveling to customers to fix their vehicles. She spent a “couple thousand dollars” on her business license, auto tools, website, advertising and billing software, she says.

Hill brought in about $13,000 as a mechanic in six months, she says. She documented her repair jobs on TikTok, which brought a wave of new clients her way. In Spring 2022, she stopped flipping cars and rented a garage at a local repair shop to keep up with demand, and quickly outgrew that space, too.

A four-month RV repair job led to a stroke of luck: The RV owner saw her struggle, and offered her a $10,000 loan — without interest — to pay for her own auto body shop. Hill insisted on paying 10% interest, she says, and the pair drew up a three-year contract.

In September 2023, Hill began renting Crown’s Corner Mechanic’s 9,000-square-foot space, initially receiving two months prorated before paying $6,375 monthly. She brought on a mechanic, a welder and a towing professional, each renting space in her shop, covering about half of the now $6,566 monthly rent. “It was the smartest thing I could have ever done.”

Hill paid back the RV owner’s loan in 18 months, documents show.

Many of Hill’s customers find her through her TikTok account, where she has over 120,000 followers. Others walk into the shop, see a 4-foot-11-inch woman, and do a double take, she says.

“There’s people that walk in here that don’t know [I’m the owner] … and they’re just baffled. Just because of how I look,” says Hill. “And then, when they tell me what the issue is, I take them 20 steps further and break it down for them before they can even get to the next question. I have to wow them with my knowledge. Every time, I have to prove myself. Every time I open my mouth.”

Hill projects that Crown’s Corner Mechanic will bring in $1 million in revenue this year — roughly double last year’s figure, though still less than the national average, according to a 2023 report from auto parts supplier PartsTech. Hill’s shop has eight bays, and the average gross revenue per bay for auto shops in the U.S. is $203,000, the report says.

She hopes to soon switch from renting to owning a space, she says, but she’d need about $4 million to buy her current building — which has her exploring mortgage loan options. Owning would help her put more money back into both the business and her five workers’ pockets, she adds.

In the meantime, she plans to keep growing her clientele through social media — if TikTok disappeared overnight, it’d be “devastating to my business,” she says — and one day get a mechanical engineering degree, preferably through a flexible, online program.

“We don’t stop,” says Hill, adding: “If you don’t know about us yet, you’re going to know about us real soon.”

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As a leadership consultant who studies workplace psychology, I’ve spent 30 years working with high performers across all industries. Again and again, one truth keeps proving itself: Being artistic in some way can transform you.

Even Steve Jobs agreed when he was interviewed for the PBS documentary “Triumph of the Nerds” in 1995: “I think part of what made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it were musicians and poets and artists and zoologists and historians, who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world.”

Of all the artistic fields, I’ve found that mastering a musical instrument is the most powerful for rewiring the brain for greatness. Playing an instrument — whether it’s the piano, trumpet or guitar — activates nearly every part of your brain: motor control, pattern recognition, emotional regulation, creativity and stamina.

That’s why I believe parents should encourage their kids to learn an instrument as early as possible. Studies have consistently found that children who learn music are more likely to have increased IQ scores and better language development.

Plus, it encourages their brain to operate at full capacity, building the neural foundation for mastery in pretty much everything. Here’s why:

1. You make visualizing success second nature

Musicians don’t just practice, they fantasize. They see the stage, hear the notes and feel the outcome long before it happens. Hence, musicians build skill while just visualizing playing. That ability to rehearse and mentally simulate outcomes is a superpower: You learn not just react to reality, but to create it.

2. You develop a sacred relationship with time

When you practice an instrument, time stops being abstract. You feel in real-time the cost of distraction and the miracle of being fully focused.

Over time, you become fiercely time-conscious — not in a stressed way, but in a sacred one. You don’t want to rush, you want to make it count. This discipline shapes everything, from how you run meetings to how you build relationships.

3. You stop running from discomfort

Every musician has to face the parts of the music they hate and struggle with. There’s no shortcut. You can’t outsource it, nor avoid it. You have to lean in until the failure becomes fluency.

While most people avoid uncomfortable moments in life, playing an instrument teaches you to seek those moments. You no longer panic at pain; you see it as a sign of growth.

4. You learn that emotions are designable

Music isn’t just output. It’s a way of regulating your inner world by changing your emotional state with sound, breath, rhythm and in how you prepare.

It becomes an invaluable skill you carry into everything, like before a stressful conversation or during a conflict. You don’t just express emotions anymore — you direct them.

5. You realize boredom is just feedback

Musicians don’t just play scales mindlessly. They know what they’re aiming to improve: precision, control, phrasing. Without that goal, their attention drifts, and practice becomes boring.

We often think stuff we do is boring, but boredom is feedback. It’s your brain telling you: “Show me what this is building toward.” The insight that boredom is the absence of a goal changes everything. Instead of labeling tasks as boring or dull, you ask, “What’s my goal here?”

This makes you sharper, more engaged and harder to distract in any setting.

6. You turn being stuck into invention

Sometimes you can’t play it right. Your hand won’t stretch. Your fingers trip. So, you try it a different way. You improvise, rearrange, compose. Suddenly, the failure becomes fuel. This teaches you a profound lesson: When you can’t follow the map, draw a new one. Innovation isn’t a gift; it’s a response to friction.

7. Your standards rise and stay high

Once you’ve heard the difference between “okay” and “exceptional,” you can’t unhear it. Once you’ve experienced how moments of excellence feels, mediocrity becomes unbearable. Music teaches you to expect more from yourself and others, not out of perfectionism but out of respect for what’s possible.

8. You learn to create for others, not just yourself

When you’re playing an instrument, you can’t help imagining an audience, maybe to impress but mostly to move someone, to say something without words. That habit reshapes how you approach everything.

Your work becomes an expression of your standards, your values, your imagination. It forces you to ask: Is this good enough to matter to someone else? Will this make them think, feel, grow?

Your brain’s plasticity and ability to learn allows you to pick up a new instrument at almost any age, so it’s never too late if you didn’t learn to play music as a kid.

1. Pick the one that sparks emotion. You don’t need logic here. What’s an instrument that moves you? That makes you feel something? Piano, guitar, trumpet — follow the spark.

2. Practice for at least 20 minutes a day. Studies show that 20 to 30 minutes of focused practice can induce measurable brain changes, particularly in areas tied to motor skills and attention.

3. Celebrate improvement, not performance. Don’t worry about being good. Track what you can do today that you couldn’t do yesterday. Mastery is just small progress, compounded with love.

Stefan Falk is an internationally-recognized executive coach, workplace psychology expert, and author of “Intrinsic Motivation: Learn to Love Your Work and Succeed as Never Before.” A McKinsey & Company alumnus, he has trained over 4,000 leaders across more than 60 organizations and helped drive transformations valued in excess of $2 billion. Follow him on LinkedIn.

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As a pediatrician, I spend a lot of time engaging with families about nutrition. My philosophy is simple: If you empower a child to embrace healthy eating habits early on, they are more likely to carry these positive behaviors into adulthood. 

Early intervention can be transformative and help substantially reduce their long-term risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancer.

Many parents already know the importance of feeding kids vegetables and limiting added sugar. We often discuss “eating the rainbow,” emphasizing the need for a diverse range of colorful fruits and vegetables. Parents frequently prioritize dark leafy greens, antioxidant-rich blueberries and healthy-fat-packed avocados. 

However, there’s one nutritional powerhouse that often gets overlooked: beans. Here’s why I wish more parents fed this underrated superfood to their kids. 

Beans, in all their varied forms, are an exceptional source of plant-based protein. Many bean varieties contain all the essential amino acids that are vital for supporting a child’s energy, growth and active lifestyle. 

Beans are also loaded with both soluble and insoluble fiber, a duo that’s a game-changer for digestive health. Insoluble fiber promotes regular bowel movements, preventing constipation and keeping things moving smoothly. Soluble fiber contributes to that feeling of fullness and satiety after a meal, which can be helpful in managing appetite and preventing overeating. 

Soluble fiber also plays a role in lowering LDL, or “bad” cholesterol levels, and helps to stabilize blood sugar fluctuations after meals, preventing those dreaded energy crashes.

Beans are naturally fortified with an impressive array of essential vitamins and minerals. 

They are also a fantastic source of folate, which is vital for cell growth and development, as well as iron, which is crucial for carrying oxygen throughout the body. 

Plus, they’re packed with magnesium for nerve and muscle function, and a range of B vitamins that support energy production and brain health.

Soybeans in particular have a good amount of healthy fats in them, like omega 3 and omega 6 fats that support heart and brain health. 

Beyond their nutritional profile, beans offer practical advantages. They are very affordable, making them accessible to families on any budget. Their long shelf life means you can stock up and always have a healthy meal option on hand. 

Additionally, incorporating beans into our diets is an environmentally-friendly choice. They have a lower carbon footprint compared to many animal protein sources, contributing to a more sustainable food system.

Of course, all the nutritional knowledge in the world won’t make a difference if kids refuse to eat what’s offered. This is where the magic of beans truly shines. 

I’ve found that many children genuinely enjoy the taste and texture of beans, and they are remarkably easy to prepare in various kid-friendly ways.

For younger children or more picky eaters, start with something simple and approachable, like steaming edamame (young soybeans) or adding black beans to a cheesy quesadilla. I’ve even found success with black bean-based brownies, a surprisingly delicious and nutritious treat. 

For more adventurous eaters, consider introducing lentil soups, flavorful bean chili or stews. The versatility of beans makes them easy to incorporate into a wide range of dishes, ensuring there’s a bean recipe out there for everyone.

Dr. Kelly Fradin is the Chair of Pediatrics at the Atria Health and Research Institute and the mother of two children. She is the author of “Advanced Parenting: Advice for Helping Kids through Diagnoses, Differences and Mental Health Challenges.” To learn more, you can find Dr. Fradin on Instagram @adviceigivemyfriends.

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Parents want their kids to trust them. They want to be the first person their child turns to with the big stuff, the hard stuff, and the exciting stuff. They want their kids to feel safe enough to ask questions and share emotions.

But none of that happens automatically, and trust doesn’t come from simply saying, “You can talk to me.”

Instead, you go first. Be open and honest. Show them how to navigate uncomfortable emotions and difficult situations. Model it.

This sounds simple, but parents don’t always know how to put it into practice. Here are six things you can do every day to build trust with your child:

As a dual-certified child life specialist and therapist, I support families through some of the most difficult conversations imaginable — including illness, hospitalization, trauma, and loss. I’ve learned that these moments are easier when kids are exposed to open communication every day, not just when life gets hard.

When kids see adults naming and sharing their own feelings, they learn it’s okay to do the same. It gives them quiet, unwritten permission to open up, too.

This might sound like: “I’m feeling a little worried that we’re going to be late for school and work. Let’s work together.”

It’s about modeling. When we name emotions out loud — both the good and the uncomfortable — we teach our kids that feelings aren’t something to hide.

When kids watch their adults avoid certain topics, they quickly learn what’s “off limits,” and might worry about them even more.

This could look like skipping over the fact that a bug has died or dodging a question about someone who uses a wheelchair. But these are missed opportunities. When we avoid the uncomfortable or the unfamiliar, we teach kids that those conversations don’t belong in our home.

Instead, aim to create a space where all questions are welcome, curiosity is met with calm, and honesty is part of everyday life. 

Try using these phrases to navigate difficult talks with your child. 

For many parents, emotional openness doesn’t come naturally. Maybe you didn’t grow up in a home where people showed or shared their feelings freely. That’s okay.

You can still give your child something different. You can even start by sharing what’s hard about opening up: “I didn’t grow up talking about my feelings, but I want to do that with you — because I know it’s important and helpful.”

That level of honesty builds connection. It shows your child that emotional openness isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being present and willing.

We’ve all asked, “How was your day?” and gotten a shrug or a one-word answer.

Try flipping it. Instead of asking your child to open up first, share something from your own day: “Today was kind of a rollercoaster. I was excited about something in the morning, but then something didn’t go how I expected, and I felt frustrated. I took a walk and felt better by the end of the day. And now, I’m excited to see you and hear about your day.”

This models reflection and emotional awareness, and teaches kids how to do the same.

One simple but powerful way to keep communication flowing is to build it into family routines.

In my home, we do “high-low-high“ at dinner. Each person shares a highlight from their day, something that was hard, and another positive moment.

Even my youngest — just two years old — asks for it nightly. It’s become a rhythm that creates space for both joy and struggle, woven into the everyday.

When you talk about feelings, you also open the door to talk about coping skills that can help you handle them.

For example, after naming your frustration out loud, you might follow it with: “When I feel that way, I try to take deep breaths to help my body calm down.”

You can even practice a few calming breaths together before bed. It’s a simple, powerful way to show that regulating emotions is normal and doable.

Kids are always watching. They don’t just hear what you say — they notice how you say it, when you say it, and what you avoid.

If you want your child to trust you with the big stuff, show them they can trust you with the small stuff. Validate their feelings and show them that what’s on their mind matters. Model honesty. Normalize emotions. And create space for real conversations — even when they’re messy or hard.

When you go first, your child can see how it’s done and follow your lead. 

Kelsey Mora is Certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who provides custom support, guidance, and resources to parents, families, and communities impacted by medical conditions, trauma, grief, and everyday life stress. She is a private practice owner, mom of two, the creator and author of The Method Workbooks, and the Chief Clinical Officer of the nonprofit organization Pickles Group.

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In the coming weeks, the U.S. Senate is expected to consider, amend and eventually vote on President Donald Trump’s budget agenda, called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The House passed the bill on May 22 by a single vote. 

The massive bill includes a variety of provisions aiming to cut government spending and raise revenue to address the federal deficit. Major provisions include making Trump’s 2017 tax policy permanent where it would otherwise expire at the end of the year and cutting Medicaid benefits.

Efforts to reform the federal student loan program are also included within the bill’s 1,000-plus pages. The section addressing the nation’s student debt would create a new income-based repayment plan, change eligibility rules for Pell Grants, aim to hold schools accountable for students’ debt loads and more.

The bill has an uncertain future in the Senate, but as it stands, here are four of the impacts current and future federal student loan borrowers could see.

Critics of the current federal student loan system often contend that borrowers have too many repayment options, which are both confusing and overwhelming. 

If enacted as currently written, future federal borrowers will have just two repayment plan options: an updated version of the standard repayment plan and a new income-based plan known as the Repayment Assistance Plan. Borrowers with loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 will have the option of keeping their current plan, with the exception of the income-contingent repayment plan.

Currently, the standard repayment plan sets borrowers’ monthly payment at a fixed number, paying off their loans in 10 years. The new standard plan would offer a fixed payment with loan terms spanning from 10 to 25 years, based on the amount borrowed, according to a House committee fact sheet.

The Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP, will replace the currently available income-driven plans except for the Income-Based Repayment plan. On RAP, borrowers’ monthly bill would be between 1% and 10% of their income, depending on how much they earn. Borrowers would pay a minimum of $10 a month and any interest exceeding their minimum monthly payment would be waived. 

Monthly payments for each income bracket are set as 1% of adjusted gross income for borrowers earning between $10,000 and $20,000 a year, 2% of income for those earning between $20,000 and $30,000 a year and so forth. Borrowers earning $100,000 or more will pay a maximum of 10% of their income on RAP.

The plan also offers a matching principal payment of up to $50, so borrowers whose monthly payment is less than that or only covers interest can still see their balance shrink. Borrowers can have any remaining debt forgiven after 30 years of on-time monthly payments. Payments on RAP will qualify toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Undergraduates will have a borrowing cap of $50,000 over the course of their studies beginning with loans disbursed on July 1, 2026, up from the current $31,000 aggregate limit. Annually, students will have a cap on federal loans equal to the national median cost for their program or similar fields of study, and schools will have the ability to set lower limits.

Graduate borrowers will have a cap of $100,000 or $150,000 for professional programs, including medicine. Parents will also have a $50,000 total limit on federal loans. Parents and grad students currently have no borrowing limit.

The proposal also eliminates subsidized loans, which currently allow borrowers to avoid accruing interest on their debt during certain periods, such as while they are in school.

Under the proposal, borrowers will lose the ability to have their loan payments paused when they are facing economic hardship, including unemployment.

For loans disbursed after July 1, 2026, the proposal eliminates the option current borrowers have to request an economic hardship deferment for up to three years. Additionally, the limit on discretionary forbearances would drop to nine months over a 24-month period, from the current 12-month limit and three-year cumulative maximum.

The proposal limits future administrations’ ability to alter repayment plans or enact related policies.

The bill would, going forward, require the Secretary of Education to demonstrate that any new regulations or executive actions would not increase costs for the federal government and prevents the Secretary from enacting any policies that do not meet that requirement.

Additionally, the bill would repeal regulations for schools like the gainful employment rule, which requires institutions to demonstrate their educational offerings are sufficient to help students land well-paying jobs. Schools that do not meet gainful employment expectations risk losing access to federal funding.

The gainful employment rule is intended to help students avoid low-value programs that leave them with too much debt and minimal earning potential. 

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