You’re about to send an email. Maybe it’s to a client, a hiring manager, or a colleague you haven’t spoken to in a while. Reflexively, you start typing, “Hope you’re well.”

While you may genuinely mean it, it doesn’t give the recipient a reason to keep reading — and in some cases, it might even prompt them to skip your message entirely.

As a keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and bestselling author of “Unforgettable Presence,” I help professionals improve how they communicate in high-stakes moments. If your opener doesn’t stand out, the rest of your message might never get read.

Your opening isn’t filler, it’s the first impression, so you should give it as much thought as the rest of your email.

The problem isn’t that this phrase is rude — it’s just forgettable.

“Hope you’re well” has become the email equivalent of boring, autopilot small talk. It’s so common that most people are probably skimming over that line. In some cases, it can even feel impersonal or lazy, especially if you’re emailing someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

In addition to “hope you’re well,” you should also avoid:

• Autopilot language: If your opener could be copied and pasted into 100 other emails without changing anything, it’s probably too generic.
• Abrupt asks: Jumping straight into a request — especially without a relationship — can feel transactional.
• Empty enthusiasm: “Happy Monday!” or “Hope your week is off to a great start!” often feels like filler, unless there’s a real tie-in. If you do want to use one of these, add something personal to give it weight, like: “Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. I tried [X activity] for the first time and had so much fun.”

A strong opener feels human, specific, and intentional. Because whether you’re following up, making an introduction, or kicking off a project, how you start will influence what comes next.

Here are a few simple but powerful ways to move beyond “hope you’re well” and craft a message that actually gets attention and builds relationships:

1. Reference a shared touchpoint

If you’ve connected before — even briefly — use that. Reminding someone where you left off gives your message instant context.

Try this:

• “Great chatting a few months back at the [X conference or event].”
• “I appreciated your insights during yesterday’s strategy meeting.”

2. Show energy

When you can prime people to think positively using positive words and phrases, it’s a win-win for everyone. This kind of opener is especially effective when you want to feel warm and action-oriented.

Try this:

• “Looking forward to collaborating on this project, and wanted to share a quick update.”
• “I’ve been thinking a lot about our conversation and am excited to share an idea with you.”

3. Acknowledge timing (when it’s relevant)

You don’t have to ignore the fact that you’re reaching out during a busy stretch or after some time has passed. But skip the default pleasantries and be more intentional.

Try this:

• “I know it’s a busy season for you; I wanted to make sure this opportunity didn’t get missed.”
• “Reaching out ahead of next month’s deadlines to make sure we’re aligned.”

4. Make it about them

This works especially well in networking or outreach emails.

Try this:

• “Congrats on the recent launch! If it’s helpful, I’d be happy to share what I thought worked really well so you can replicate it for future launches.”
• “I saw your post on [X topic] and it really stuck with me, so I wanted to say thank you.”

Lorraine K. Lee is an award-winning keynote speaker and CEO of RISE Learning Solutions. She’s also the best-selling author of “Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career,” which was named a must-read by the Next Big Idea Club. She teaches popular courses with LinkedIn Learning and Stanford Continuing Studies. Past clients include Zoom, Cisco, LinkedIn, ASICS, McKinsey & Company, and many others.

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Five years ago, I quit my unfulfilling 9-to-5 job as a higher education administrator and began selling digital products on Etsy. 

Today, I make an average of $14,000 per month in passive income from seven income streams, including my Etsy store, my blog, real estate investments and stock appreciation. I also recently became a self-made millionaire.

It wasn’t an easy road, and I definitely had a few missteps along the way. But I learned how to find my niche, run a business and build the life I want doing what I love.

Here’s my best advice for starting a successful side hustle:

One common mistake people make is trying to juggle so many income streams that they start to lose focus. But most people I know who’ve built a profitable business didn’t start out creating their income streams all at the same time.

I’ve met many new side hustlers who start dabbling in stocks, launch a Shopify store and then look at real estate — all at the same time. This usually results in burnout, overwhelm and even debt. 

Instead, build one solid stream, master it, then move to the next. 

When I first started my side hustle, I made a few bucks here and there, but nothing to write home about.

It wasn’t until nine months after my launch that my Etsy store started making thousands of dollars a month and eventually allowed me to quit my full-time job. 

Success doesn’t happen in a single viral post or overnight launch. It comes from showing up, adjusting and staying in the game long enough to see your knowledge and efforts compound.

When I started learning about business, I tried to DIY everything myself. I would watch free content on YouTube and Instagram, and read books from the library. But after I bought a course about how to sell on Etsy, things started to shift. 

Looking back and knowing myself more, I think “learning the hard way” took too long. I would try to learn, struggle alone, not see any progress, then lose motivation. I didn’t want to keep learning because I wasn’t seeing any results. 

But when I invested a small amount of money into a course and a community of people working on the same thing, I was able to learn, struggle, get help and achieve small wins. My motivation would go up, and I would want to repeat the cycle. 

I’ve met many business owners who have a lot of money, but they don’t have time. It’s important to be strategic in creating the life you want. 

For example, you can sell goods at local farmers’ markets on the weekends. But before setting up that side hustle, it’s important to figure out when those markets are open and ask yourself if you’re willing to give up weekends to sell your products. 

Of course, you can hire employees to help you eventually. But that will also cut into your profits, and might not be possible in the beginning.

The most successful people I know have a growth mindset. They believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. 

Because of this foundational belief, they aren’t afraid to step into unknown territories and learn. On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset don’t believe in their ability to grow and learn, so they never try, which leaves them feeling stuck. 

Building multiple income streams and becoming a millionaire isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about staying focused, learning as you go, and not giving up. 

You’ll make mistakes (I’ve made plenty), but with the right mindset, each mistake teaches you something that gets you closer to your goals. Keep going, tweak what’s not working, celebrate the wins, even the small ones, and remember: Progress beats perfection every time.

Rachel Jimenez is an entrepreneur, professor and mom of two. She has a passion for helping others achieve their personal, professional and passive income goals. She runs an Etsy store and a blog, Money Hacking Mama, where she shares financial wisdom and practical advice for women navigating their careers, businesses and life.

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.

Jason Isaacs has played major roles across film and television, from Lucius Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” movie series to troubled patriarch Timothy Ratliff in season three of “The White Lotus.”

Despite his industry success, the 62-year-old actor’s financial situation looks a bit different than most might imagine.

“People will think I have huge stockpiles of money,” Isaacs said in a recent interview with Vulture. “But sadly, what I’ve done rather immaturely is expand my outgoings to match my incomings and pretty much spent everything I’ve earned over the years.”

Financial experts have a term for this phenomenon: lifestyle creep. 

“Many feel as though they have to spend more as they progress through career milestones,” says Matt Saneholtz, a certified financial planner in Plantation, Florida. Isaacs’ habits go “against the grain of everything” he teaches, he says.

Lifestyle creep is the tendency to spend more money as your income increases — a habit many people fall into without realizing it.

While it may start as a few upgraded purchases and subscriptions, it can escalate into a pattern of constant spending that sinks your savings. Even for high earners, it can derail long-term financial goals over time, Saneholtz says. 

“You have to balance today’s needs with tomorrow’s,” he says. “I’m not saying don’t treat yourself when you get a raise or promotion, or when you get that next big job … but also treat your future self correctly as well, by setting aside some of that money for the longer term.” 

Isaacs’ limited financial cushion, despite his Hollywood success, illustrates a common trap: letting short-term wants and needs overshadow long-term wealth building.

A “tried and true approach” to help address lifestyle creep is to take a raise, or a significant portion of one, and put it directly into an investment account — you “won’t miss what you don’t see,” Saneholtz says.

In other words, a bump in your income should come with a commensurate increase in how much you’re saving for long-term goals.

Automating that process through your bank can also help reduce the temptation to use that money elsewhere, Saneholtz added. And when your money is in an investment account, it is “working for you” — meaning it has the potential to grow over time through compounding interest, he says.

Saneholtz also recommends reviewing your finances regularly and documenting what’s coming in versus going out, regardless of your income or assets. By documenting your overall financial picture, you can look for outgoing costs like luxuries or recurring subscriptions that might not actually bring value to you.

When you begin earning enough money to comfortably meet your wants and needs, managing lifestyle creep is ultimately about reminding yourself that “it’s all relative,” Saneholtz says.

“Once you have attained that level of wealth,” he added, “then it’s about saving enough for future retirement to maintain yourself at that level that makes you happy, not what the commercials tell you [that] you need to be happy.” 

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.

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Rude people are, sadly, all around us. We deal with them at work, in stores and restaurants, on airplanes and public transit, even at home. They get in our faces and yell. They blame us for things they’ve done. They make everything unpleasant.

Luckily, handling rudeness is not hard as you might think. There are several tactics: addressing the rudeness; setting clear boundaries of what you will and won’t put up with; shifting the conversation away from the negative; and, probably most important, staying calm and cool.

As language and communication experts, here are the phrases that calmly demand respect and put rude people in their place.

This is a classic redirection tactic. You’re centering the conversation on the other person, not you.

Sometimes people just need a little reminder that they’re actually acting out about something completely different than the matter at hand. And often, getting the opportunity to reflect upon this or talk about it changes the entire situation.

Similar phrases: 

• “Are you going through something right now that’s affecting you like this?”
• “Are you having a problem? Do you want to talk about it?”
• “Have I done something to upset you?”

Addressing someone’s rudeness head on is a key component to dealing effectively with incivility. By using this phrase, you’re telling the speaker that what they’re saying is unacceptable, and that perhaps they need to reassess their words. 

Research studies discovered that reminding someone that they’re being rude can make them realize they need to correct their behavior.

Similar phrases:

• “Are you listening to yourself here?”
• “Do you realize what you’re saying, and how you’re saying it?”
• “Are you aware that you’re coming across as harsh and abrasive?”

This is similar to the previous phrase, except you’re not saying it straight out — you’re implying that you don’t like what they just said.

Phrases like this stop the conversation in its tracks and force the speaker to rethink what they’re saying, while also making it clear that you won’t allow it to continue.

Similar phrases:

• “Why are you using those words [or that tone] with me?”
• “How you’re talking [or what you’re saying] isn’t very helpful.”
• “Can you lower your voice [or change your attitude]?”

This is an example of setting boundaries, a main aspect of coping with rudeness. You’re calmly letting the person know you refuse to continue with the current situation, and you’re redirecting the negative energy onto a positive path.

Similar phrases:

• “Can we address this more productively?”
• “Let’s stop with the negativity and focus on finding a solution.”
• “Why don’t we continue this when we can be respectful of one another?”

Saying that you understand what someone is saying in spite of the manner in which they’re saying it defuses the situation by acknowledging them.

Often a big cause of rudeness, especially in the workplace, is the fear of not being noticed or paid attention to. The simple “I see your point” gets past that obstacle.

Similar phrases:

• “I’m glad you’re sharing your perspective with me.”
• “That’s definitely a way of looking at it.”
• “I hear you.”

Here’s another “I acknowledge you” statement, with an added “stay cool.” You’re inviting the person to continue speaking, but (and this is important) stressing that the conversation can’t continue the way it began. It’s boundary-setting and defusing at the same time.

Similar phrases:

• “Let’s reset the tone a bit so I can really focus on what you’re saying, not on how you’re saying it.”
• “I know you’re frustrated, but we can work through this if you dial it down a notch.”
• “It’s clear this is important to you, but let’s step back and take it slowly.”

This very simple request can stop rude behavior or conversation in its tracks. The key, though, is saying it quietly and politely. Matching rudeness with rudeness only escalates things.

Similar phrases:

• “Don’t say [or do] that, please.”
• “Could you quiet down?”
• “Please give me a chance to speak.”

That’s right. Saying nothing at all, and just looking at the other person in silence, can sometimes be the most effective method of shutting down aggressiveness or rudeness. It’s difficult for someone to amp up the situation when there’s nothing to fight back against. 

Finally, if you feel your anger rising and can tell that you’re about to fight fire with fire, it’s best to physically remove yourself. This way, instead of escalating the situation, you’re giving yourself — and possibly the other person — the time and space to cool down.

Kathy and Ross Petras are the brother-and-sister co-authors of the New York Times bestseller You’re Saying It Wrong, along with other popular language books, and co-hosts of the award-winning NPR syndicated radio show and podcast ”You’re Saying It Wrong.” They’ve also been featured in media outlets including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post and Harvard Business Review. Follow them on Bluesky.

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.

How old should a child be before getting their first cell phone? There’s only one correct answer if you want them to lead happier, more successful lives, says Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos: “Wait as long as possible.”

“I think the more we can hold off on giving kids technology — the longer, the better,” Santos, the professor behind Yale’s most popular course and host of the podcast “The Happiness Lab,” tells CNBC Make It.

Children ages eight to 12 who have phones spend just under five hours a day glued to their phones, and teenagers rack up nearly eight hours of screen time per day, a 2019 report from nonprofit Common Sense Media found.

That screen time is seldom used for creative activities like coding or making digital art. Rather, young people spend most of their phone time on social media or watching videos, Common Sense head of research Michael Robb wrote in an analysis of the report.

This is likely to encourage poor mental health — in ways that affect kids differently than adults — and distractions in the classroom, Santos says.

Social media use exposes many kids to cyberbullying, hate speech and discrimination, Make It reported in May. Even YouTube videos meant for children can contain malicious, disturbing or inappropriate content, as CNBC noted in 2018.

Just the sheer number of notifications a child might get from social media — probably more than than their parents do — can be overwhelming, says Santos.

“Teenagers are getting on the order of 200 notifications from their phones today,” she says. “These are brains that are forming and trying to pay attention in school [while their phones are going] ding, ding, ding.”

Halting smartphone use for children and young people until they’re in 8th grade comes with benefits, according to advocacy group Wait Until 8th, including:

• Less risk of anxiety and depression
• Increased quantity and quality of sleep
• More time for physical activity and the outdoors

Parents should also lead by example, Santos adds: If you’re constantly on your cell phone, it’ll be harder to justify why your child can’t have one.

“They’re not going to want to do as you say, they’re going to want to do as you do,” Santos says.

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