Millennials and Gen Z workers now make up more than half of the labor force, and they’re re-writing the rules of the office.

Some of the biggest things on the corporate chopping block? Strict hours, stuffy dress codes and restrictive vacation policies. At least that’s the case for the small team at LA-based Socialista Queen, a social media marketing agency.

In May, 29-year-old Liat Aharon, the agency’s founder and CEO, posted a video about some of the office rules she has for her staff of four, some of which her peers say are considered “controversial” for a traditional work setting.

Among her company policies: Team members are permitted to start their workday whenever they want, whether it’s 6 a.m. or 10 a.m., as long as they complete an eight-hour workday.

Team members work a hybrid schedule and from an office Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless they’re on a photo shoot, during which they can work remotely.

Each person gets about 10 vacation days accrued throughout the year, but they’re also encouraged to take more unpaid days as needed like for a big trip, as long as they give enough notice.

Aharon tells CNBC Make It she publicized her office rules after seeing another creator post their own video as a Gen Z manager, “and it made me laugh, because I had no idea these things were controversial.”

“I love to live a good life,” Aharon says. “I think making life in the office fun should always be a priority.”

She says her policies are inspired by the flexibility she wishes she had throughout the jobs of her early 20s as a restaurant worker, phone salesperson and other gigs, plus hearing from friends who say they’re “miserable” in their jobs.

“I just don’t get the point, because it’s so easy, in my opinion, to make an environment fun if you have the right people,” Aharon says, adding that “hiring the right people is huge in these kind of situations.”

The CEO doesn’t typically look for an education requirement for her hires. “The first time I was hiring I even wrote, ‘I don’t care about your resumes,’” Aharon says. “I want to make sure that you know how to edit a video and have a good attitude. I don’t care if you’ve graduated college to be in social media management, personally.”

She conducts candidate interviews herself and asks situational questions, like how they’d handle a project with a client, to get a feel for their decision-making process and how they communicate.

Not everything Aharon does is so zillennial-coded. She says the best thing a candidate can do to set themselves apart is to follow-up with a thank-you email soon after meeting.

“If you follow up after three or four days, it shows me one thing, but if you follow up after an hour or in the same day, I’m like, ‘OK, this person really wants this,’” she says.

Aharon says some of her peers call her management style “lenient,” though she doesn’t see it that way.

“I also do have boundaries that none [of my staff] have ever stepped over,” like not abusing the time-off policy and making sure flexibility never results in missed deadlines, she adds. “I’ve just discussed with them that these are the fun rules until anyone makes me have to change that, which is how I think life should be, where you give people the benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise.”

Aharon says her flexible company policies have never led to issues their roughly dozen clients including a jewelry business, moving company and orthodontist office.

Ultimately, “I think the office should be a safe place where people have a good time, because you never know what people are going home to,” Aharon says.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Like countless others, Bill Phelps wanted to get rich when he was younger. Now, the 69-year-old CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken and former CEO and co-founder of Wetzel’s Pretzels says he gets fulfillment out of helping others find financial success.

In the last two weeks, 19 Dave’s employees became millionaires after private equity firm Roark Capital acquired a majority stake of the Pasadena, California-based chicken finger chain in deal worth “close to” $1 billion, Phelps said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on June 2.

Creating that many millionaires was intentional, Phelps tells CNBC Make It.

“I had some investors who were like, ‘you’re giving away too much money, this isn’t right,’” he says. “They were absolutely right as investors to stand up for other investors. They have a fiduciary duty, but I have a duty to the people that created this business and I was true to taking care of all of those stakeholders in this deal.”

As part of the deal, every Dave’s corporate employee, store manager and assistant manager received a bonus roughly equivalent to their yearly salary, president and COO of Dave’s Jim Bitticks told Nation’s Restaurant News.

Dave’s Hot Chicken got its start in 2017 when three childhood friends pooled $900 in savings to open a chicken finger stand in a Los Angeles parking lot.

Phelps, a franchise business veteran who founded Wetzel’s Pretzels in 1994 and sat on Blaze Pizza’s board of directors until 2020, became CEO of Dave’s in 2019 after an investor group Phelps was a member of acquired a stake in the company with plans to franchise the brand, the company told NRN in 2019.

In 2024, Dave’s co-founder Arman Oganesyan told the “How I Built This with Guy Raz” podcast that the friends were courted by many investors looking for a stake in the company in the early days of the business, but Phelps and his co-investors stood out because they were willing to give Oganesyan and his fellow founders credit for their work.

“A lot of people came in with this energy of, ‘you guys got really lucky and you don’t know what you’re going to do with this,’” Oganesyan said. Phelps and his co-investors seemed to understand that it wasn’t all luck, he said.

Nearly six years later, giving credit where credit’s due continues to be a driving factor in Phelps’ leadership style, Phelps says. As leader of Dave’s corporate operations, he doesn’t micromanage because he trusts his employees to do their jobs well, he says.

For the same reason, he also pays them “generously.”

“I was told by one of my investors that I had no concept of what management compensation should look like,” Phelps says with a chuckle. “And he’s right, because I don’t look at them as management. I look at them as my partners in this journey, and I compensate them as partners in the journey.”

Phelps isn’t the first CEO to turn his employees into millionaires through the acquisition of a company.

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban makes it a habit to give employees bonuses with every company he sells, he said on social media platform X last year. When he sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in stock in 1999, 300 of the company’s 330 employees became millionaires, he said.

When Jay Chaudhry, billionaire founder and CEO of cloud cybersecurity firm Zscaler, sold his first company, SecureIT, to VeriSign in an all-stock deal in 1998, at least 70 of his employees became millionaires after VeriSign’s stock price surged two years later, he told CNBC Make It last year.

“People were going crazy in the company, because they had never thought of so much money,” he said. “A lot of them were buying new houses. They were buying new cars. They could do what they wanted to do.”

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

Even the happiest couples encounter conflict. But what they fight about reveals a lot about what’s missing in the relationship.

As a psychologist who studies couples, I’ve found that there are a few similar topics that come up again and again. And the first step to resolving the conflicts is to know what those topics are.

According to a YouGov poll of 1,000 American adults, and based on my research, here are the most common reasons couples fight — and the psychology behind each one.

A sour tone or attitude — a slightly raised voice, a sarcastic comment, an eye-roll mid-conversation — is by far the most common reason couples fight. To the person exhibiting it, it might not seem like a big deal. But to the partner on the receiving end, it hits a direct nerve because it signals contempt.

In marital research, contempt is one of the most reliable predictors of divorce. Unlike overt criticism or stonewalling (shutting down emotionally), contempt disguises itself with non-verbal gestures and body language.

How to move past it: Resist the impulse to strike back. Fighting fire with fire never works, so try naming the effect instead: “That felt condescending. Can we try again?” This gives your partner the chance to course-correct, and it doesn’t instantly escalate things.

If you’re the one delivering the tone, check in with yourself before saying anything more. Are you feeling unheard? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Pinpointing what’s fueling the contempt is the first step to expressing yourself without hurting the relationship.

Arguments about family relations often reflect fundamental misalignments and unmet needs.

One partner might feel unsupported or sidelined, especially if their spouse seems to default to defending their side of the family. In situations involving children, arguments usually boil down to value clashes — where each partner feels like their core parenting beliefs are being dismissed.

Neither partner is “right” or “wrong” in these scenarios. In fact, they’re more than likely seeking the exact same thing: someone who’s on their side.

How to move past it: A good place to start is to reassure one another. For example: “I love my family, but you’re still my partner. How can we find a solution that meets both of our needs and values?”

Then talk about your limits as a team: what to do when a line is crossed, or how to show solidarity in front of others (even when you disagree privately).

People often assume that arguments about chores are about the chores themselves — the dishes left in the sink, the laundry piling up, the trash that never gets taken out. But if that were true, these issues would be quickly fixed with a simple chore chart.

Rather, the real problem is the uneven distribution of labor. According to research, one partner in a relationship usually shoulders the bulk of domestic work. But they aren’t just folding the clothes and cooking the meals, they’re also managing appointments, coordinating the bills and keeping mental tabs on everyone’s well-being but their own.

This “invisible load” goes largely unacknowledged, and that lack of recognition is usually where the fighting begins.

How to move past it: This dynamic can often be changed if the load is named out loud. Even just saying, “I didn’t realize how much you were holding, thank you,” gives your partner the acknowledgement they’ve been needing to hear. 

From there, work together to redistribute tasks in a way that feels sustainable. Fairness won’t look like a 50/50 split every day, but it should feel like something you both have a hand in.

This is one of the trickiest arguments to navigate. In many cases, by the time couples are arguing about how they talk to each other, the original issue has already been lost in translation.

For example, one partner is upset about an unfair distribution of chores, or they’re frustrated with how their in-laws treat them. But when these concerns are brought up, research shows they can quickly go off the rails when the other engages with them ineffectively — or with hostility. 

If the conversation is met with defensiveness, criticism or stonewalling, the fight will shift its focus from the initial issue. Instead, it becomes a matter of how poorly the conversation is going.

How to move past it: One simple strategy successful couples use is the “five second rule”: They have a designated word or phrase that signals: “We’re spiraling, let’s take a time-out.” This gives a much-needed pause, without the negative effects of storming out.

When you return to the conversation, try to see eye-to-eye before continuing to air out your grievances: “I want to understand why you’re upset, and I want you to understand the same for me. You share your side, then I’ll share mine.”

Mark Travers, PhD, is a psychologist who specializes in relationships. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides online psychotherapy, counseling and coaching. He is also the curator of the popular mental health and wellness website, Therapytips.org.

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It’s newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers.

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.

Want to boost your confidence, income and career success? Take one (or more!) of Smarter by CNBC Make It’s expert-led online courses, which aim to teach you the critical skills you need to succeed that you didn’t learn in school. Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth. Use coupon code MEMORIAL to purchase any course at a discount of 30% off the regular course price (plus tax). Offer valid from 12:00 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 19, 2025, through 11:59 pm ET on June 2, 2025. Terms and restrictions apply.

Couples often feel like they have the same arguments over and over again. 

As a therapist, I’ve heard many couples describe how a seemingly minor disagreement can spiral into an intense fight that goes unresolved, and eventually repeats without changing or improving. Even when they’re not fighting, these couples report an underlying tension between them that makes it difficult to enjoy their relationship. 

To break this pattern, I encourage them to start a “relationship bank account,” in which they make “deposits” when they’re not in conflict. These deposits are actions that make the other person feel like their happiness is being prioritized.

The current account balance reflects how safe and secure couples feel in their relationship. A positive balance means they know they have the emotional “funds” to handle any surprise “bills” with a minimum of conflict; a negative balance means any unexpected “charge” can send them into a “debt” spiral that causes a blowout fight.

Ultimately, the goal is to make more deposits than withdrawals, with arguments becoming less intense and, eventually, less frequent.

I start this process by asking each partner what makes them feel loved and appreciated. Then we can determine what kinds of actions they can each take to make deposits into their relationship bank account. 

Here are four common ways to bolster your account:

It’s easy for a relationship to fall into a familiar pattern of work, chores, kids, and screens. You might spend hours a day in close physical proximity to your partner, but you may not feel connected to them. If that’s the case, check in and find a few minutes of connection. 

This can be as simple as turning to your partner and giving them your undivided attention for a few minutes. How was their day? How is that issue they were dealing with at work going? Are they feeling okay physically? Is there anything you can do to help? 

A random hug as you pass your partner in the kitchen. A kissy face emoji sent from work. An inexpensive but thoughtful gift. An unexpected compliment. Random acts are small things that require little effort, yet their effect on your partner can be outsized. 

These small deposits let your partner know you’re thinking about them at times when they least expect it.

There’s often one partner who always makes plans, and it’s easy for them to start feeling underappreciated. Making an effort to switch up the roles can have a positive effect. 

Take on planning with something as simple as making dinner reservations at a favorite restaurant or as complicated as mapping out a weekend getaway. Even if the results aren’t perfect, it shows that you’re listening to your partner and addressing their needs.

Most people assume that intimacy means sex, but sex is simply a form of intimacy. Intimacy means having an emotional connection and a feeling of closeness.

The actions we’ve explored so far can make your partner feel seen and supported, which can lead to an emotional connection, which can lead to emotionally meaningful sex — all of which can add to the balance in your relationship bank account. 

The deposits above are often missing in unhappy relationships. In my experience, couples tend to overlook these small actions more and more over time. The longer you’ve been in a relationship, the more likely you are to encounter a low balance — or an overdraft — in your relationship bank account.  

The key is to break through any resistance you might feel, and remember how impactful the little things can be when they add up. By making small, regular deposits into your relationship bank account, you’re building up savings when times are good — and giving yourselves a cushion to withdraw from when they’re not. 

Phil Stark is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist seeing clients in person in Los Angeles, CA, and all over California and Florida via telehealth. In a previous career, Phil was a screenwriter and producer, with credits on films and TV shows like “South Park,” “That ’70s Show,” and “Dude, Where’s My Car?”

Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process—from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.