Karl Bushby was 29 when he left his home city of Hull, England and took off for the adventure of a lifetime. With $500 in his pocket and some survival gear, he went on a mission that no one else in history had ever completed: walking an unbroken path around the world.

Bushby’s journey, called the “Goliath Expedition,” began in 1998 in Punta Arenas, Chile, a city near the southern tip of South America. It’s brought him across continents including the Americas, Asia and Europe, and ultimately ends with the goal of arriving back in the United Kingdom.

“The objective was simply to get home unassisted by any form of transport,” Bushby told CNBC Make It.

Throughout the journey, Bushby has followed two rules: He can only walk or swim, unassisted by any form of transportation, and he cannot return home to Hull, England, until he arrives entirely on foot.

“These sounded like two simple rules from the early days, but you know, once those two rules meet the reality of the real world, things can get mighty complicated, especially [with] visas and difficult governments and regimes and some of the controversial borders that [I’ve] had to cross,” he said.

After walking about 30 kilometers a day, along with some unexpected setbacks, Bushby has now made his way into Europe and expects to complete his journey and return home to England next year, he told CNBC Make It.

Bushby has always been an adventurer. He says he used to go explore all day with his brother before returning home for dinner.

Growing up in a military family, he was inspired by his father who served in the British army. Bushby also joined the army at age 16 and served as a parachute regiment for about 12 years before taking off on his expedition.

At a certain point during his tenure in the British army, Bushby got bored.

“I spent my 12 years in the British army waiting to go somewhere we never really went, other than Northern Ireland,” he said. “We happened to be living through one of the most peaceful times in history,” he said.

“So we got bored and tired and became wondrous and mischievous,” he said. “At some point, I started drawing lines on maps and daydreaming about great distances and distant horizons, and one thing led to another.”

One day, Bushby drew a line from the United Kingdom over Europe and Asia, through Siberia, over the Bering Strait, into North America and through to the bottom of South America.

“Once I got that on a map, there was kind of no going back … The old hairs on the back of your neck stand up,” he said.

So, in 1998, Bushby left the British army to begin the long journey. He took a military flight from the United Kingdom to the Falkland Islands, then a civilian flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, which was the starting point of his expedition.

“That first day you step onto the road [is] a memorable one, because at that point, you’re a long way from home. You’ve burned all the bridges. You told everyone you’d rather die than come home,” said Bushby.

“You got like 500 U.S. dollars in your pocket, no support, no idea how it is going to work out, just absolute faith that you can somehow make it work. And you’re on a road that is about 36,000 miles long, with very little idea of what’s coming. I mean … you’re further than a man mission to Jupiter at that point,” he said.

Bushby’s journey over the last 27 years has brought him through many close encounters.

He has famously crossed the Darien Gap, been detained by Russian authorities, jailed in Panama, nearly frozen to death in Alaska and swam across the Caspian Sea over a 31-day-period.

On top of all of this, he’s gone days without food after walking for many miles, relied on strangers for medical help and ended many nights by himself in a tent he pitched on the side of the road.

“The psychology of hunger is interesting. It’s not something that most of us are really used to. When you have no idea where your next meal will come in, you just become obsessed with finding things to eat,” said Bushby.

“You’ll see food everywhere, every shadow, every rock, looks like something you can eat. You’ll end up running around, chasing hallucinations most of the time,” he said.

Despite all of the challenges he’s overcome, one of the biggest lessons he discovered throughout his journey didn’t have much to do with physical pain or endurance. Rather, it was about happiness and how it ultimately comes from your relationships.

“If you would ask me, what was the hardest thing you’ve done over the last 27 years – that is losing the women that you fall in love with hands down. That’s the toughest thing you will deal with… The physical stuff – pain is easy, suffering is different,” said Bushby.

On the other hand, he said: “The happiest of times was when I [was in] those relationships. When you’re with somebody.”

He’s also learned that people are generally very kind, across all cultures and regions in the world. Many times throughout his journey, he says he’s been taken in, fed and cared for by strangers who ask for nothing in return.

“You don’t even speak the same language, so it’s just about smiles and nods and then they send you on your way … It’s just one story after another, and it’s across every culture, across every country,” he said.

“This world is hell of a lot friendlier and nicer than it might appear.”

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Many U.S. workers are ringing in the new year with a raise as new minimum wage increases take effect in states and localities across the country on Thursday.

More than 8.3 million workers are expected to benefit from minimum wage hikes in 19 states, which will collectively add an estimated $5 billion in earnings nationwide, according to a December report by the Economic Policy Institute.

On top of changes to state minimum wages, many cities and municipalities with local wage standards increased their minimum wages Thursday as well. For example, Seattle’s minimum wage rose to $21.30 an hour, and the minimum wage in Minneapolis is now $16.37 an hour.

Minimum wage workers in Hawaii will see the largest jump in their hourly pay. The state’s minimum wage rose by $2 per hour, from $14 to $16. Other states with minimum wage increases include Arizona, California, Michigan, New Jersey and New York.

The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour, where it has stood since 2009. Minimum wage levels vary widely depending on where workers live, with state and local laws often setting significantly higher standards.

Arizona

• Increased to $15.15 (from $14.70)
• Tipped minimum wage: $12.15 (from $11.70)

California

• Increased to $16.90 (from $16.50)

Colorado

• Increased to $15.16 (from $14.81)
• Tipped minimum wage: $12.14 (from $11.79)

Connecticut

• Increased to $16.94 (from $16.35)
• Tipped minimum wage: $6.38 (no change)

Hawaii

• Increased to $16 (from $14)
• Tipped minimum wage: $14.75 (from $12.75)

Maine

• Increased to $15.10 (from $14.65)
• Tipped minimum wage: $7.55 (from $7.33)

Michigan

• Increased to $13.73 (from $12.48)
• Tipped minimum wage: $5.49 (from $4.74)

Minnesota

• Increased to $11.41 (from $11.13)

Missouri

• Increased to $15 (from $13.75)
• Tipped minimum wage: $7.50 (from $6.88)

Montana

• Increased to $10.85 (from $10.55)

Nebraska

• Increased to $15 (from $13.50)
• Tipped minimum wage: $2.13 (no change)

New Jersey

• Increased to $15.92 (from $15.49)
• Tipped minimum wage: $6.05 (from $5.62)

New York

• New York City, Long Island, and Westchester: $17 (from $16.50)
• Tipped minimum wage: $11.35 (from $11)

• Remainder of state: $16 (from $15.50)
• Tipped minimum wage: $10.65 (from $10.35)

Ohio

• Increased to $11 (from $10.70)
• Tipped minimum wage: $5.50 (from $5.35)

Rhode Island

• Increased to $16 (from $15)
• Tipped minimum wage: $3.89 (no change)

South Dakota

• Increased to $11.85 (from $11.50)
• Tipped minimum wage: $5.93 (from $5.75)

Vermont

• Increased to $14.42 (from $14.01)
• Tipped minimum wage: $7.21 (from $7.01)

Virginia

• Increased to $12.77 (from $12.41)
• Tipped minimum wage: $2.13 (no change)

Washington

• Increased to $17.13 (from $16.66) 

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Many people think that getting someone to say “yes” is about persuasion, making the perfect argument, choosing the right words, or asking nicely.

But decades of research suggest something counterintuitive: One of the most reliable ways to get to a “yes,” is to give the other person permission to say “no.”

Studies have shown that across all kinds of situations, from marketing to negotiations to everyday requests, simply adding a line like, “but you are free to accept or refuse,” makes people far more likely to comply.

It taps into one of our deepest psychological needs: autonomy. When people feel pressured, they resist. But when they feel they have a choice, they tend to engage more willingly and push back less.

I’ve spent the past decade advising Fortune 500 companies as an educator and behavioral researcher, and I’ve seen this principle outperform the hard-sell. Here are four simple phrases you can use to put this principle into practice.

When you explicitly tell someone they don’t have to agree, it immediately lowers defensiveness. Their nervous system relaxes, and the decision shifts from compliance under pressure to a choice made voluntarily.

When to use it at work:

• Asking for time from a busy senior leader
• Requesting help from a colleague
• Asking for participation

When to use it at home:

• Asking for emotional availability
• Raising a sensitive topic
• Making plans when the other person is stretched

Examples:

• “Would you be open to reviewing this for me today? You’re free to say no.”
• “You’re totally free to say no — would you be open to talking later tonight?”

This phrase reduces social pressure, which is a hidden driver of resentment and avoidance. Research shows that people push back when they feel expected or pressured to do something. Even cooperative people can resist when a request feels like an obligation.

When to use it at work:

• Asking for favors across teams
• Asking someone to do more than what’s in their job description 
• Following up on something that isn’t mandatory

When to use it at home:

• Asking for support
• Making requests that could inconvenience the other person
• Discussing emotional needs

Examples:

• “I’d really appreciate it if you could help with the report I need to prepare by tomorrow, but please don’t feel obliged.”
• “I could use your support this weekend, but please don’t feel obliged.”

This phrase is particularly effective in moments when you are on a clock, or a performance evaluation is a factor. 

When people feel they are being rushed into agreement, they make worse decisions, then regret them more afterwards. Removing that pressure improves satisfaction with the outcome.

When to use it at work:

• Setting deadlines that are flexible
• Making decisions that require some reflection
• Having sensitive career conversations

When to use it at home:

• Having relationship discussions
• Making parenting decisions
• Making big financial or life choices

Examples:

• “No pressure at all. Take your time thinking about it, and we can talk whenever you’re ready.”
• “If you’re open to it, I’d love your input this week, but no pressure.”

This phrase protects both the mental and emotional bandwidth of the recipient. Feeling obligated to respond, even to small messages, creates low-level stress. Removing that expectation reduces avoidance and increases genuine engagement.

When to use it at work:

• Sharing optional resources
• Sending reflections instead of action items
• Providing information without requiring feedback

When to use it at home:

• Checking in on someone going through a hard time 
• Sharing thoughts without requiring immediate dialogue
• Giving someone space

For example:

• “I wanted to share this just in case it’s useful. No need to reply!”
• “No need to reply. I was just thinking of you.”

These phrases all offer a sense of autonomy the exact moment it is most likely to feel threatened. In return, the people you engage with will follow through more reliably, feel more respected, and respond with more honesty.

Shadé Zahrai is an award-winning peak performance educator, behavioral researcher, and leadership strategist to Fortune 500 companies. She is the author of “Big Trust: Rewire Self-Doubt, Find Your Confidence, and Fuel Success.” She earned her doctorate from Monash University. Follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

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Beginning January 1, 2026, an estimated 6.1 million more Americans will be eligible to open and contribute to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts, according to National Disability Institute.

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged investment accounts designed for Americans with disabilities. Created by Congress in 2014, ABLE accounts allow beneficiaries to save for qualified expenses like education, housing, health care and more without affecting their Medicaid or Social Security income eligibility.

Previously, beneficiaries had to have a qualifying medical condition that began before their 26th birthday, but that cut-off rises to age 46 as of January 1 due to the ABLE Age Adjustment Act passed in 2022. The expanded age requirement brings the total number of Americans eligible to open ABLE accounts up to around 14 million, per NDI’s estimates.

ABLE accounts are “a powerful wealth planning, financial and tax planning vehicle,” Juliana Crist, head of ABLE programs at Vestwell, a financial technology company that manages 19 of the country’s ABLE plans, tells CNBC Make It. Crist describes it as “kind of a super-powered Roth” individual retirement account.

As with Roth IRAs, contributions to ABLE accounts are made with after-tax dollars. Beneficiaries can invest the money in a portfolio which grows tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are not subject to income taxes. But with ABLE accounts, beneficiaries can set aside more money per year and can use the funds whenever they want, rather than needing to wait until they hit a certain age.

ABLE account withdrawals for qualified expenses are not taxed as income. However, withdrawals for non-qualifying expenses are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty.

Account holders can have up to $100,000 saved in an ABLE account without losing access to Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid benefits. Individuals with savings exceeding $2,000 in regular savings or other investment accounts risk losing those benefits.

Here’s how ABLE accounts work and who can open one.

ABLE accounts are available to U.S. citizens in all 50 states who are either eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance or can self-certify that they have a qualifying medical condition.

“A lot more people can qualify for an ABLE account than realize it,” Crist says. “People hear that this is an account for people with disabilities, and that person might actually have a qualifying medical condition, but they don’t think of it as a disability … a lot of our eligible people just don’t realize that this could be a tool they could even use.”

To self-certify, individuals must have a written diagnosis of a qualifying condition signed by a licensed physician that also confirms the onset of the condition was before the individual’s 46th birthday.

Qualifying conditions include blindness, as defined by the Social Security Administration, along with a variety of other physical and mental conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Individuals do not have to provide proof of diagnosis when opening an ABLE account, but they need to certify that they have one, according to ABLE National Resource Center.

Beneficiaries can contribute up to $20,000 a year into an ABLE account in 2026. Individuals who work but do not contribute to a workplace retirement plan can contribute an additional amount equal to the individual poverty threshold — $15,650 in 2026 — or up to their employment earnings, whichever is less. That limit rises to $19,550 for Alaska residents and $17,990 for Hawaii residents in 2026. 

Virtually anyone can contribute to a beneficiary’s ABLE account including parents and other family members or employers. But total contributions may not exceed the annual limit.

Nearly every state and Washington, D.C. sponsor ABLE accounts and most allow out-of-state participation, according to ABLE NRC. Four states — Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin — don’t have their own plans. Depending on where you live and your personal financial situation, it may make sense to shop around between different states’ plans — a search which could benefit from the help of a financial professional.

If you’re looking to open an ABLE account, Crist suggests starting your search with your home state’s plan if one is available. That’s because some states offer state income tax deductions for ABLE account contributions.

Plus, “sometimes it’s easier and more familiar to be able to reach out to a person in your own backyard if you have questions or you need support,” she adds.

From there, you’ll want to compare investment options and costs for different ABLE accounts. Generally, ABLE accounts have management fees that can run around $30 a year, Crist says. The plans also may charge a fee equal to 0.1% to 0.3% of assets in your account she says. Some plans offer more investment options than others, which could be a deciding factor.

“Some states have much larger investment menus, like 15 options to choose from, as opposed to some states only offer four investment options to choose from — simple versus complex, so that can appeal to different types of savers and investors,” Crist says.

If you want a debit card attached to your account, some plans offer that as well, but not all, she adds.

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After 60 years at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett stepped down as the holding company’s CEO at the end of 2025.

Throughout his career, the business and investing icon routinely shared wisdom to help others build successful lives, from singing the praises of compound interest to offering a thought exercise for living without regrets.

At Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 annual shareholder meeting, Buffett gave advice to those at the opposite end of their career as him: “Don’t worry too much about starting salaries and be very careful who you work for because you will take on the habits of the people around you,” he told the audience in response to a question about lessons he learned early on. “There are certain jobs you shouldn’t take.”

Though it may be tempting for workers just starting out to accept whichever job offers the most competitive salary they can find, Buffett emphasized that other factors may be more important over the course of your career.

While a good starting salary can help set you up for financial success, your coworkers and managers may play an outsized role in your long-term career success, Buffett said.

“Who you associate with is enormously important,” he said. “Don’t expect that you’ll make every decision right on that, but you are going to have your life progress in the general direction of the people that you work with, that you admire, that become your friends.”

He drew on his own experience of finding mentors who bestowed their wisdom upon him as a young person learning the ins and outs of running a business, and encouraged young people to find people in their own lives who have careers they admire and go work with them.

“I’ve had five bosses in life and I liked every one of them — they were all interesting. I still decided that I’d rather work for myself than anybody else,” Buffett said. “But if you find people that are wonderful to work with, that’s the place to go.”

In addition to surrounding yourself with smart and interesting people, Buffett said it’s wise to look for a job you would do even if you didn’t need the money. “I’ve had that for a very long time,” he added.

Not only has the 95-year-old made a lot of money throughout his career, but he has often shared how much he’s enjoyed his work and colleagues. “I get to do what I like to do with people that I love,” Buffett said in a 2008 interview.

He encouraged young people to find a similarly meaningful career.

“It’s interesting to me that in the investment business, so many people get out of it after they’ve made a pile of money,” he said at Berkshire’s shareholder meeting in 2025. “You really want something that you’ll stick around for whether you need the money or not.”

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