In partnership with

Here’s Why Over 4 Million Professionals Read Morning Brew

• Business news explained in plain English

• Straight facts, zero fluff, & plenty of puns

• 100% free

See for yourself

Field Notes: The Corporate Escape Plan ✏️

I’ve had the same type of conversation many times over the past month. Different people, but the same topic. Maybe it’s because we’re in a new year and people are creating new goals for themselves, or maybe it’s just a collective unease about what it means to rise up through the ranks of corporate America nowadays.

The subject matter of these conversations has boiled down to one thing: more people than ever want to build something for themselves: a side hustle, freelance gig, or entrepreneurship of some kind. And this makes sense - an estimated one-third of the US workforce is now engaged in some sort of gig work. Obviously, there are more freelance and gig-work platforms available than ever before, and I feel like most people that I speak with now have an ambition to work for themselves in some capacity.

There’s never been a more important time to think about your online footprint and how you are portraying yourself online. Regardless of your industry, role or title, remember that the online version of yourself is a real version of yourself, and your online persona often acts as a resume or portfolio before people have even had a chance to connect with you IRL.

If you find yourself in the aspirational entrepreneurship camp, I have one actionable item for you. You really should start posting on LinkedIn. Of all social platforms out there, obviously LinkedIn is the most professional, but it’s also the platform that (in my opinion) has the most opportunity for current adopters. It’s actually easier for people to create a following on LinkedIn or even just connect with like-minded people in your industry than it is on other platforms. So if 2025 is the year that you want to start working for yourself in some way, consider this your push to becoming more active on LinkedIn.

If you feel cringe-y about it, email me and I’ll hype you up 🙂 -Sammi

Business, Economy & Culture🛍️📈💸

Carl’s Jr Returned to Racy Advertising After It Abandoned ‘Bikinis and Burgers’ Alix Earle stars in the latest Carl’s Jr ad ahead of the Super Bowl. The new campaign is intended to evoke nostalgia for its predecessors (remember the Paris Hilton campaign?) while adding humor to target a core audience of Gen Z. 🍔💫 (wsj)

American Kids Are Getting Even Worse at Reading New national test scores show a continuing slide in reading skills. The declines started before the pandemic, continued during it and have persisted since. While the lowest-achieving students fell further behind everyone else, the slides were broad, affecting students across different states, school types, races and economic backgrounds. (wsj)

How Old Prisons Are Being Converted Into Stylish Apartments Former prisons are getting luxury makeovers, transforming into trendy apartments and hotels. Developers are turning historic structures into sought-after living spaces—but not without controversy. 🏚️➡️🏡 (nyt)

DeepSeek and Ozempic Are Complicating Decarbonization Forecasts AI-driven energy explorations and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are complicating decarbonization efforts by creating unpredictable impacts on carbon reduction forecasts. While these innovations offer potential, their influence adds uncertainty to climate strategies, making it harder for businesses and policymakers to project future sustainability goals. 🌱🔮 🔋⚡ (bloomberg)

JCPenney Brand CEO on Focusing on Petite Sizes and the Value-Conscious Customer JCPenney is tapping into underrepresented petite shoppers while doubling down on affordability- launched in partnership with singer-songwriter Ally Brooke. With inflation reshaping spending habits, the retailer is positioning itself as a go-to for style and savings—without compromise. 🛒💰 (retail brew)

Fashion Brands are Balancing 'Returnuary' Losses with Resale Revenue Post-holiday returns are slamming retailers, but many are turning to resale programs to recover lost revenue. By reselling gently used items, brands are offsetting losses, embracing sustainability, and keeping customers engaged. ♻️👗(glossy)

Drones and ‘Game Film’: Inside Chick-fil-A’s Quest to Make Fast Food Faster Chick-fil-A is revolutionizing its drive-thru game 🚗🍗! Taking a page from NFL playbooks, the company uses drones and overhead cameras to analyze bottlenecks and streamline service. The result? Faster orders and better staff coordination⏩. While pricey to build, these innovations aim to slash wait times and boost efficiency—setting a new bar for fast food. 🍟🔥(wsj)

Micro-Trends are Dead. Long Live the Vibe Forget fleeting TikTok trends—it’s all about vibes now. Instead of chasing micro-trends, Gen Z is embracing aesthetic-driven, long-lasting personal styles. The future of fashion? More authenticity, less churn. ✨🌀 (vogue business)

Reformation CEO Hali Borenstein on Avoiding Fashion’s Groupthink While Developing Business Strategy Reformation is sticking to its unique vision while competitors follow fast-fashion cycles. CEO Hali Borenstein is betting on data-driven sustainability, smart expansion, and timeless designs to keep the brand ahead. 🌿👗 (wwd)

Elevated Chocolate Prices Could Push Consumers To Shift Candy-Buying Behaviors Rising cocoa costs are making chocolate a luxury, forcing brands to rethink pricing and consumers to reconsider purchases. Will we see a shift toward cheaper alternatives or smaller indulgences? 🍬📉(retail brew)

The Polka Dot’s Past Is Weirder Than You Think Once linked to disease, bad luck, and superstition, polka dots have evolved into a fashion staple. From Victorian fear to Yayoi Kusama’s obsession, the print’s history is as chaotic as its pattern. 🔵🔴🌀 (wsj)

What on Earth Is ‘Eusexua’? A new term for fluid attraction beyond traditional categories is making waves. A zoolanderian term coined by art-pop singer FKA Twigs- "Eusexua" challenges rigid labels and embraces a broader spectrum of human connection. It can be the feeling of dancing or making a very good cup of tea or coffee. 💡💞(the atlantic)

Orange Juice Makers Are Desperate for a Comeback OJ is in crisis, thanks to crop diseases, climate change, and shifting breakfast habits. Producers are hustling to reinvent the category before it’s too late. Will a premium, wellness-driven revival save it? 🍹😬 (bloomberg)

Anthropic Wants You to Use AI—Just Not to Apply for Its Jobs AI is revolutionizing hiring, but Anthropic won’t allow AI-written job applications. The AI firm insists on human-only resumes and cover letters, sparking debate over tech’s role in job hunting. They don’t want a taste of their own medicine! 🤯💼 (gizmodo)

Super Bowl Ads Will be High on AI, Low on Politics This year, we’ll see the first Super Bowl ad ever from OpenAI. The other star of the show may just be GLP-1s with an ad from Hims and Hers. (wsj)

Concept of the Week: Center-Stage Effect 🧠

The Center-Stage Effect is a cognitive bias that tends to favor items in the middle of a set and is based on a belief that items in the center are most popular and desirable.

When customers are presented with a range of choices, they perceive the middle option as the best value for money. In a technology use case, this strategy ensures that many customers upgrade from the cheapest model without feeling like they are overspending. This also works with menu pricing at restaurants; the most ordered items are usually fall around the middle of the pricing options.

Venture Capital, Innovation & Entrepreneurship💰🌍💼

The Simplest Way to Get More Girls to Become Entrepreneurs TLDR: Girls need to be exposed to entrepreneurship early on in their lives in order to become predisposed to become entrepreneurs. Makes sense, but this research is affirms this. Researchers tracked the life paths of 750,000 Danish teens over decades, the researchers asked what differences in girls’ teen years made them more likely to become entrepreneurs later on. One factor stood out: exposure to entrepreneurs, either in their own families or in the families of their friends. 👧 ✍️  (inc)

Hero's All-In-One, AI Productivity App Takes on Google's Calendar and Others 📱💼 Hero has launched an all-in-one AI productivity app designed to compete with established tools like Google Calendar. The app integrates advanced AI features to streamline scheduling and task management, aiming to enhance user productivity. 🚀(tech crunch) 

General Catalyst Reveals GC Wealth VC Firm General Catalyst is rolling out a new wealth management solution. They have $2.3 billion assets under management and claim to support clients at their “earliest stage.” 💰️ (general catalyst)

Soho House Drama: Dan Loeb Is Picking a Fight With Ron Burkle 💥 Investor Dan Loeb is reportedly in a dispute with businessman Ron Burkle over Soho House, the exclusive members' club. This is a battle of the billionaires, and we’ll see if Soho House ends up going private after this. 💼🔥 (wsj)

Climate Change Ignited LA’s Wildfire Risk — These Startups Want to Extinguish It 🌱🔥 In response to increasing wildfire risks in Los Angeles due to climate change, several startups like Burn Bot, Kodama, and Pano are developing innovative solutions to mitigate these dangers. These initiatives focus on advanced technologies and strategies to prevent and manage wildfires, aiming to protect communities and the environment. 🌍💡(tech crunch)

a16z Hires Acquitted Former Marine Daniel Penny as an Investor The new investor was acquitted in a homicide investigation that shook the nation. He’ll be working on the firm’s American Dynamism practice. (tech crunch)

Resources/Links 🌶️🧥

The Worthwhile Trend of Romanticizing Your Life.

This Two Tier Double Weekender Bag - people love this one.

These two nontoxic candle brands - here and here.

A great 10 minute well-written read: how to feel bad and be wrong.

These ‘state of’’ and trend reports.

These customizable life planners (I’ve been getting ones from this company since I graduated from college.)

The Arc’teryx Toque Is More Than Just a Beanie Arc'teryx's snug-knit beanies 🧢❄️ have gone from outdoor gear to a surprise streetwear sensation, attracting celebrities like Timothee Chalamet with their sleekness, combining style and functionality. 🧢❄️ (nyt)

Valve: Handbook for New Employees  Valve is an American gaming company. Their "Handbook for New Employees" is a unique and creative guide emphasizing self-direction and creativity. It encourages new hires to explore and innovate without traditional managerial oversight, deeming it a “flatland,” thereby fostering a culture of autonomy and collaboration. 📘🎮

These Boots Were Made to Get Us Talking  These aggressively high men’s Saint Laurent High fashion boots made quite the splash at fashion week. 👢🔥 (nyt)

Gaiatop Hand Warmers Rechargeable 2 Pack, Magnetic Fast Heating Avocados Shape The Gaiatop hand warmers are rechargeable, magnetic devices shaped like avocados, offering fast heating with three settings. 👐🔥 

Wix Studio Wix Studio is a powerful web design platform offering advanced customization, AI-driven tools, and seamless collaboration—perfect for creatives and businesses looking to build stunning, responsive websites effortlessly. 🚀✨

To Jumpstart Creativity, Try These 8 Prompts HBR shares 8 powerful prompts to spark innovation—challenge assumptions, mix ideas, shift perspectives, use analogies, think big, simplify, embrace limits, and collaborate for fresh insights! 💡✨ (hbr)

Call Me, Beep Me

If you liked this newsletter, it would be very cool if you shared it with your family, friends or even a random person that you know loves business & culture news! Link to share here 💌😄 

I seriously love chatting with you all; please feel free to send me a note on any of these platforms:

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram

• TikTok

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

P.S. - If you see any typos in this newsletter, know that I did it on purpose just to make you giggle.

Collaborate/Sponsor This Newsletter

I’m always looking for new companies, people and stories to highlight. If you have any ideas for a future newsletter, please feel free to drop me a note ✏️✍️ 🥰