Success doesn’t always smell sweet.

For Daniel Tom, the 31-year-old owner and operator of Bay Area Sanitation, success means nearly 2,000 portable toilets deployed at events and work sites across the San Francisco Bay Area. Tom’s company is responsible for renting out and maintaining those toilets, including weekly cleanings, restocking supplies and emptying up to 60 gallons of waste from each unit with one of Bay Area Sanitation’s 12 vacuum pumper trucks.

“When I tell people that I own a porta-potty business, I get a lot of disgusted looks,” Tom says. “But once I explain to them the business model and the revenue, most of the time they get interested.”

Tom launched Bay Area Sanitation in 2023 with one truck and just 100 toilets to rent. The company became profitable after its first year of business, and revenue has climbed alongside its fleet of rentable toilets. Bay Area Sanitation brought in $3.1 million in 2024 total income and $4.3 million in 2025, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

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Tom’s business operates pretty much anywhere a person might seek out a portable toilet, from short-term outdoor events like concerts to longer-term rentals at construction sites or public parks. Bay Area Sanitation’s standard-sized portable toilets start at $160 per month for long-term rentals, including weekly cleanings. Short-term pricing ranges from $239 to $399 per event.

The bulk of the company’s revenue comes from long-term rentals with recurring weekly cleaning charges that add up over weeks, months or multiple years, Tom says. “I like to focus on long-term rentals because it equals guaranteed recurring revenue for my business,” he says, adding that his business has a net profit margin of around 22%.

The irony that he’s built a successful business out of collecting human waste “right around the corner from some of the biggest tech companies in the world, like Google, Apple and Nvidia” certainly isn’t lost on Tom. At a time when many workers worry about being replaced by artificial intelligence, Tom sees a benefit in building his business around solving an inevitable human problem.

“We’ve managed to build what I think is a low-tech, AI-proof business,” he says.

Tom’s start in the industry came during his junior year of college at San Jose State University, where he studied to be a physical education teacher. He took on a part-time customer service job with a portable toilet rental company.

“I liked it so much that I decided to abandon teaching and dive in full-time after graduation,” says Tom, who worked for seven years as a sales manager with Hanson & Fitch before deciding to launch his own business, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Tom saw the business’ solid profit potential, and came to appreciate doing a necessary job that might cause others to shy away, he says: “The truth is, I take pride in what I do. I love coming to work every day and I provide a service that everybody needs. Everybody goes, right?”

Starting a porta-potty rental business typically requires enough upfront cash to buy equipment, which can cost around $800 per rentable toilet and $160,000 per vacuum truck, says Tom. He declined to share details about his own startup funds, but says that the average person might need roughly $250,000 to get started.

Labor costs for Tom’s 19 employees are his largest expense, he says, equal to roughly 30% of Bay Area Sanitation’s revenue. Other costs include fuel for the vacuum trucks and delivery trucks, and supplies like toilet paper and paper towels, he says. Tom takes home roughly $120,000 in personal annual salary — a number that could easily be higher, he says, if he didn’t reinvest the bulk of profits back into the business.

“We’re really prioritizing reinvesting in the business to continue growing,” says Tom. His goal is to amass 5,000 portable toilets and $10 million in annual revenue within the next five years, he says. In December, Bay Area Sanitation signed a lease for a warehouse yard space with room for “almost twice as many trucks as we have now,” he adds.

The portable toilet rental industry brought in an estimated $3.3 billion in the U.S. in 2025, up 1.7% from 2024, according to a September 2025 analysis from research firm IBISWorld. Tom projects plenty of market share for the taking in the Bay Area, he says, with myriad local outdoor events and a growing construction sector.

Tom’s business likely isn’t for everyone, though he says he’s gotten used to some of the less savory aspects. “I’ve cleaned so many porta-potties the smell doesn’t really bother me,” he says. “But every once in a while, I’ll come across [a unit] after somebody’s had some bad burritos, or something like that. And even for me, it’s hard to stomach.”

His typical day starts with a 4 a.m. wakeup. He drives to his company’s storage yard to meet his employees before they all head out to deliver fresh toilets to clients and clean long-term rentals. On less busy days, Tom stays in the office doing administrative work, making sales calls or working on the business’ long-term growth strategy.

One key to his success, Tom suggests: taking the sanitation aspect of the business as seriously as possible. Each unit’s weekly cleaning regimen includes completely emptying the waste with the vacuum truck’s suction wand, adding deodorizer that breaks down future waste and mitigates bad smells, scrubbing and disinfecting every surface inside the unit, and restocking paper goods.

Prioritizing the customer experience means trying to avoid users encountering nasty situations as much as possible, says Tom. And it means working with your hands, even when you’re the business owner, he adds: “What sets an owner apart in the porta-potty business is how involved they stay in the daily operations.”

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The child of parents who both served in the U.S. Navy, much of Mikayla McGhee’s early life was spent moving from military base to military base.

McGhee, 30, spent most of her time living abroad in Japan, which she says led her to realize she wanted to build a life for herself outside the United States.

“I was always working towards freedom, so I never knew exactly what I was going to do, but I knew I wanted the freedom to be able to live wherever I wanted to and travel whenever I wanted to,” McGhee tells CNBC Make It.

“Once you’ve experienced growing up abroad and you’re exposed to that, you continue to search for it. So moving back to the States after living in Japan, I always knew I wanted to live outside of the U.S. I just didn’t know how.”

In 2020, McGhee was living in Atlanta, Georgia, and went to visit her parents in Bahrain, where her dad was stationed at the time. The country is located in the Persian Gulf and is home to the Naval Support Activity, Bahrain, a U.S. military base.

McGhee stayed in the country for three months and says she fell in love with it. As soon as she got back to Atlanta, she started planning a permanent move to Bahrain.

“The culture shock was that, actually, things were better, not worse. Don’t just believe what you’re told or what you see in the media because it’s nothing like that at all,” she says.

“It’s so calm. It’s so peaceful. There was never a time where I didn’t feel like I fit in or I was standing out as an expat. Every culture shock was a positive one.”

In December 2022, McGhee moved to Bahrain and lived in her parents’ three-bedroom home for six months before moving out on her own.

After leaving her parents’ house, McGhee lived in a two-bedroom apartment in a luxury high-rise building. She lived there for over a year.

Now, McGhee lives near the capital of Bahrain, Manama, in a three-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom home with a pool and one-car garage that rents for $2,200 USD a month.

The house also has a laundry room and is fully fenced in. The cost of monthly rent includes what McGhee calls a “watchman,” or someone who comes by the house to clean the pool and take care of the landscaping.

As a licensed realtor in Bahrain, McGhee conducted the housing search on her own and says she chose this one because of its proximity to the city center.

She says she and her partner split expenses, though he pays the majority, while most of her money goes to savings and to the trips the couple take together. The couple signed a one-year lease last year and plan to renew another one-year lease this year too.

McGhee works remotely as a senior performance marketing manager at an IT company, and has a dedicated space to work from home. She earns $140,000 a year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

Since McGhee earns her salary in USD, she still pays U.S. taxes. McGhee also uses the health insurance offered by her company, which allows her access to Bahrain’s health-care system.

When McGhee has free time during the day, she says she likes to work out, shop for groceries and create content. She shares a lot of her life in Bahrain on TikTok to her more than 65,000 followers.

“It is my duty to make sure that Americans know how great this country is,” McGhee says.

Although McGhee isn’t sure if she will stay in Bahrain long-term, she says she knows she wants to buy property around the country as a real estate investment and have a permanent place for herself there, too.

“My life is 10 times better here. My happiness has skyrocketed. Even the weather alone has increased my mood,” she says.

“I will always want to have something that I can come back to, that I could call my home. Bahrain felt like home from the day I got here, so in order for me to leave, another place would need to do the same.”

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Many couples show up to therapy expecting to do “trust exercises” in the office. Some even ask where to find some type of “trust-building retreat.” But that’s not how it works. 

As a psychotherapist and the author of “13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don’t Do,” I’ve seen countless couples who want to establish deeper trust. Some of them have experienced broken trust, and others want to proactively grow closer.

Regardless, trust isn’t built through dramatic games or one-time events. It’s developed by showing up for each other in small but meaningful ways over and over again. And weekends are a prime opportunity to engage in activities that build deeper bonds.

Here’s what I see mentally strong couples do on the weekends to create rock-solid trust.

Healthy independence is one of the best ways to build trust. When you pursue your own interests — maybe you go for a solo run or your partner grabs coffee with a friend — you’re showing mutual trust. You both feel secure enough in your relationship to let each other grow individually.

Having space to recharge helps prevent resentment and boredom. You’re saying, “I trust you to be your own person, and I know you’ll come back.” When you reunite, you have more energy to share with your partner. 

Partners who respect each other’s “me time” are more likely to thrive together over the long haul.

Weekends can get busy, fast. That’s why couples who prioritize rituals — small, predictable things they can look forward to — tend to have stronger bonds. They provide stability and a sense of belonging.

A ritual doesn’t have to be fancy. Maybe it’s Saturday coffee on the porch, a Sunday evening walk, or a regular brunch at your favorite spot. Even a 15-minute morning crossword could help you stay connected. 

The key is consistency. Each time you show up, you remind each other: “We can count on this. We can count on each other.” Trust is built as you show over and over again that the relationship is a priority for you.

It can be hard to be honest and open, even with the person you love most. So often, we hide the tough stuff because we don’t want other people to worry or judge us. But mental strength in relationships means sharing your inner world, and making it safe for your partner to do the same.

Talking about uncomfortable feelings — stress over work, disappointment after an argument, or embarrassment after failure — builds real intimacy. Sharing the more pleasant emotions, like excitement and hope, means you’re trusting your partner won’t crush your good spirits.

Saying, “I trust you with my feelings,” often leads to, “I trust you with my dreams and hopes.” Vulnerability is risky, but with a trusting partner, it can help you grow stronger as individuals and as a couple.

There’s a big difference between being near each other and truly connecting. Quality time matters, even if it takes effort to carve it out. 

Mentally strong couples plan for it, even on busy weekends. Maybe it means having a tech-free meal, taking a walk in the park, or even working on a home improvement project. What matters is prioritizing and giving each other your undivided attention.

Over time, it’s easy to take even the best partners for granted. But mentally strong couples make a point to notice and voice the things they value about each other. 

Appreciation fuels goodwill and reminds both partners that their efforts are seen. It might sound like, “Thank you for refilling my coffee cup,” or, “I’m proud of how you handled that conversation.”

In my practice, I’ve watched couples transform their dynamic just by making gratitude a regular habit. When people feel valued, they want to give even more to the relationship. Little compliments and words of thanks build a sense of security that’s key to lasting trust.

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, clinical social worker, and host of the Mentally Stronger podcast. She is the author of several books including ”13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.″ Her TEDx talk “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong” is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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I spent the last three years of my life researching money and wealth.

During that time, I developed and battle-tested my own set of money principles, mindsets, tips, guardrails, and tools that helped me build a life that feels truly abundant.

Here are 25 money rules I’m following to live a wealthy life.

You can get pretty damn far by just avoiding errors: silly impulse purchases, avoidable debt, emotional investing, neglected responsibilities. Slow down, think clearly, and protect yourself from…yourself. 

Markets fluctuate. Seasons change. Businesses rise and fall. Your sense of worth must be anchored in something deeper: character, values, relationships, interests, service.

You can’t improve what you don’t track. Use a financial tracking and management tool to get a clear picture.

Manage financial expectations by keeping your lifestyle well below your means, creating slack in the system, and never matching an economic leap forward with a lifestyle one.

The people who do the best financially are usually the ones who obsess over solving real problems, creating real impact, or genuinely helping others. 

The return on improving your skills, expanding your scope, building new earning streams, or stepping into higher-impact roles dwarfs the difference between a 6% or 8% market return.

When purchasing products for their utility, always invest a bit more and opt for quality. They’ll last longer and create fewer headaches. 

The world is full of silent scripts about what you should buy, achieve, or own by certain ages. Most of them are complete nonsense. Your life is not a race with anyone else. There are no timelines. You get to create your own.

Never use debt to live a life you can’t truly afford. A simple rule I follow: Never finance a luxury material purchase if you can’t buy it twice over in cash. 

This reduces impulse purchases and improves saving and investing rates. If you still want to buy the thing after 24 hours, go for it.

There are some investments that require money and no time (index funds) and some that require money and a lot of time (active multi-family real estate). Make sure you consider both when evaluating returns on an opportunity.

Early in my career, I started making angel investments in early stage technology companies. On paper, it didn’t make a lot of sense: I didn’t have much excess capital and I knew that most of the startups would fail. But what they lacked in financial returns, they made up for in access, networks, and learning.

There are a lot of things that look like expenses but are better regarded as investments in yourself: fitness, quality food, books, personal development, mental health, etc. You’ll have more energy, feel better, and show up better in the world.

When you start making more money, an entire menu of options materializes to reduce life’s minor frictions. You can hire a personal chef, a full-time cleaner, a staff, or a driver. But sometimes that friction was what created meaning. Cherish the meaningful friction in your life.

Money trouble rarely comes from math. It comes from misalignment. A monthly financial check-in creates transparency, trust, and shared direction. Focus on values. What matters this month? What doesn’t? 

Even small percentage increases have an outsized long-term impact when you consider the magic of compounding.

It may seem excessive, but there’s value in peace of mind. Knowing you have that financial security allows you to see and capitalize on exciting opportunities when they come. 

Your willingness to imagine bad times during good times is what allows you to safely navigate them. What if you lost your job? What if you had a major healthcare expense? 

Bestselling financial author Ramit Sethi says people ask $3 questions (can I buy this coffee?) when what truly matters are $30,000 questions (how can I earn twice as much?). I see friends spending countless hours thinking about optimizing credit card points when they could be thinking about how to get promoted three times in the next year. Unless it brings you joy — some people love the game of credit card points — skip them.

A barbell has weights on the ends with nothing in between. A barbell investment approach would have the vast majority of your investments on the safe, simple, and steady side (e.g., index funds, bonds, cash) with the remainder having a high-risk, high-reward profile (e.g., startups, crypto). The goal is to get some exposure to the high rewards of the risky stuff, but without taking on too much risk because it’s a small portion of your overall financial pie.

Accounts everywhere, investments you don’t understand, obligations you can’t track. This is how people lose control. Automate, consolidate, and reduce unnecessary friction. The simpler the system, the more likely you are to stay the course.

Eliminate the cognitive burden to free up headspace for executing on bigger opportunities that can help you earn more.

I’ve found hundreds of dollars in monthly burn through random subscriptions I never use and didn’t know I had. Use your financial tracking tool to find and eliminate these.

Be frugal with yourself and generous with others. Generosity creates significantly more happiness than consumption. 

I believe the best uses of money are those that create one of four things in your life: time, experiences with people you love, purpose, or health.

Sahil Bloom is an entrepreneur, investor, and inspirational writer and content creator who writes the biweekly newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle. He is the author of ”The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life.” Follow him on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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This article has been excerpted and adapted from an installment of Sahil Bloom’s newsletter. It has been republished with permission.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra receives plenty of notes about her company from customers — and she responds “to every single letter that I get,” whether positive or negative, she said at the New York Times DealBook Summit on Dec. 3.

Barra’s habit can be seen as an example of direct and intentional communication, which some experts say is an effective way to build loyalty and trust. Handwritten cards can show other people that you put time and care into your interaction with them, and in face-to-face interactions, asking someone thoughtful, pointed questions can help you strengthen a relationship.

At DealBook, Barra recalled a letter she once received about “Tim the Tahoe,” a family’s Chevrolet SUV that she said carted the letter writer’s family everywhere, from her son’s lacrosse games to her cancer treatments. “They view [the car] as part of the family,” Barra said, adding: “This is not an easy industry, but it is a rewarding one.”

Barra has also personally responded to negative feedback — notably, for example, writing to schoolchildren in February 2019 following the announced closure of a General Motors manufacturing plant in Lordstown, Ohio — and even letters that have little to do with her company. Back in 2015, Carolyn Rodz, CEO of AI-powered entrepreneurship platform Hello Alice, recalled an exchange she had with Barra in an Entrepreneur article.

Rodz wrote that she had once cold-emailed Barra about her previous company and Barra quickly responded with a polite and personal note. She recalled at the time: “She not only acknowledged my request and respectfully declined, but she took the time to encourage my pursuit and commended me on my efforts.”

The value of building human connections with the people around you can extend to your co-workers, too. Even short interactions focused on personal connection often make the people around you feel more like they matter, leadership and workplace researcher Zach Mercurio told CNBC Make It in May.

Building relationships and camaraderie can be particularly valuable for managers, who need to keep their staff engaged and productive at work, Mercurio said.

“We’ve studied people for five years in numerous occupations, and we’ve asked them this question: When you feel that you matter, what’s happening at work?” said Mercurio. “Nobody yet has said, ‘When I got a promotion, when I got a pay raise, when I got employee of the month’ … They’ve all talked about small interactions in which someone truly sees them, hears them, is there for them, and reminds them that they’re needed.”

Watch General Motors CEO Mary Barra on CNBC’s ”Leaders Playbook″ on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. All new episodes Wednesdays.