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Recently, the IRS realized that it owes $2.4 billion total in COVID stimulus payments to about one million taxpayers, with a maximum payment of $1,400. If youre eligible for a stimulus check, you dont have to do anything to receive it: The IRS is sending out honest-to-goodness windfalls to a million Americans. Unlike your tax refundwhich is a portion of your salary being returned to youno one is likely to wag a finger at you for getting a stimulus check. But that doesnt necessarily make it easy to figure out what to spend your stimulus money on. If youre looking for good uses for your stimulus money, here are several strategies that can help you make the most of your money. Put it someplace safe while you decide Getting an unexpected $1,400 is the kind of financial boon that is both smaller and larger than it seems. Its a small enough windfall that you can easily spend it all without even noticing until its gone. But its a large enough amount of money that you will kick yourself when you accidentally spend it without thinking. Thats why your first order of businessif you dont already know exactly what you plan to do with that IRS stimulus check moneyis to put it somewhere you cant fritter it away by accident. The taxpayers receiving a paper check may want to deposit that bad boy directly into a savings account, while anyone getting their stimulus via direct deposit may want to transfer the money to a savings account as soon as it clears their checking account. The longer it stays in your checking account, the more likely it is that it will be spent accidentally. And the whole point of an unexpected windfall is to enjoy itor at least let it make your life better. Be kind to your future self This is the point in the article where every financial writer is duty bound to advise you to pay down high-interest debt with your IRS stimulus check. And that is excellent, if boring, advice. If you are struggling with high-interest credit cards, student loans, or any other debt that makes you feel like youre drowning, using stimulus money to help dig yourself out of that debt hole is a fantastic idea. This kind of debt paydown advice is about improving things for your future self. Sending a big payment to your credit card will make it easier and less stressful for future you to get that thing paid off. Thats a great reason to use your stimulus money for debt payoff. But that is not the only way this money can show kindness to your future self: you can also set the money aside for retirement. (This, by the way, is another suggestion every financial writer feels obligated to include in articles of this kind.) These suggestions are common because so many Americans are overwhelmed by debt and have underfunded retirement plans. If that describes your situation, please do consider using at least part of your stimulus money to ease your future financial stress. A simple thought exercise But one of the best ways to figure out how to treat your future self kindly is to just ask. Consider this thought exercise: Imagine your future self enjoying an easy, low-stress day. Think through what you would need to make such a relaxing future a reality. For instance, someone with chronic back pain might schedule several massage sessions for their busiest work season, making it easier to handle work stress. Another individual might upgrade the elderly laptop they use every day, which would improve their daily stress levels. Remember, youre checking in with your future self, rather than telling yourself that future you happens to want exactly the same unnecessary gadget that current you is craving. You want to figure out what your future self will be glad you did today. You may still decide to send the money to your credit card or 401(k), since thats what will most relieve your future selfs anxiety, but going through the thought exercise can give future you a chance to weigh in. Treat yourself There is nothing wrong with using your stimulus money to buy yourself something flashywith the caveat that paying down debt or investing for retirement might be the smarter choice. This is, in some ways, an easy decision, since everyone can easily come up with ways to treat themselves with unexpected money. But you might want to consider some of the less common ways you might treat yourself with this money, including: Buy yourself some budgeting slack Many monthly services offer discounts to customers who pay annually instead of monthly. You might be able to use your stimulus to make an annual payment for auto insurance, streaming services, gym memberships, or tuition. If you use your IRS check to make an annual payment to one of your service providers, you will free up the monthly amount youve been paying. While youre at it, set up an automatic transfer of a portion of your monthly savings into a savings accountand build up the reserves to prepay again next year. Youll get the benefit of a roomier budgetthat doesnt constrict again once the year comes to an end. Be a kid again One of the quotidian tragedies of adulthood is losing touch with the things we loved as a child. Not only does no one ask grownups what their favorite dinosaur is, but we often put aside the activities that we used to spend hours on. Since youve already had a conversation with your future self, sit down with 8-year-old you and ask them what they want to do. Consider spending some of your stimulus money on whatever activities the child version of you misses most. Donate Making charitable donations and treating yourself may seem mutually exclusive. But some of the headiest emotional highs come from being generous to others. Giving some of your stimulus money to a cause you care deeply about will be something that sticks with you, which is the best kind of treat. Spending with intention Its not often that we get to enjoy a gift of money with no strings attached. With some strtegic thinking, the 1 million Americans receiving a stimulus check from the IRS this month have an opportunity to really enjoy the money. To start, taxpayers should put the money somewhere where they cant easily spend it while they decide what to do with the dough. These stimulus payments are a decent windfall, but not so big that you cant accidentally spend it all without thinking. To figure out what to spend the money on, be kind to your future self. In many cases, that might mean paying down debt or investing for retirement. But thinking through what your future self would want can help you identify the best way to spend the money to relieve your future stress. Of course, treating yourself is always an option with unexpected money. But instead of buying the thingamabob youve had your eye on, consider some less common treats, like prepaying for a serviceand gaining some slack in your monthly budget, indulging in your inner childs favorite, neglected activities, or donating money to a cause close to your heart. Spending your stimulus intentionally is the best way to get the most out of the money.
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E-Commerce
Branded is a weekly column devoted to the intersection of marketing, business, design, and culture. Multiple companies, from Walmart to Meta and McDonalds to John Deere, have announced they are scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in recent months. But Targets recent news that it, too, is rolling back such efforts is attracting more attention than most, much of it critical of the retailers apparent retreat. If theres a backlash to the DEI backlash, its main target may be Target. While reiterating a commitment to inclusion, the company nonetheless announced it is concluding certain goals and initiatives tied to racial equity in hiring, and that it will no longer participate in external surveys from the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, the Human Rights Campaign, and other groups. It also said it would rename its supplier diversity program, apparently shifting its focus away from explicitly courting brands with diverse ownership. The moves even raised questions about the Minneapolis companys philanthropic commitments made in the wake of George Floyds killing in 2020. Calls for a boycott were nearly immediate, and the Twin Cities Pride parade announced it would no longer accept Target as a sponsor (and swiftly received donations that topped what Target had previously pledged). This reaction has puzzled some on social media, given how many companies also seem to be distancing themselves from DEI. Why is there so much outrage and dialogue about Target specifically? asked content creator Kiandria Demone on Threads. Are people not aware that they are one of many? Part of the answer is Targets prior reputation. People are angrier at Target because, for the most part, theyve been on the right side of history on a lot of issues, as one post put it. The big-box retailerwhile definitely not an overtly ideological brand in the vein of Ben & Jerrys or Patagoniahas over the years established a fairly progressive image. A 2018 Morning Consult study of brand polarization found Target did better than Walmart with Democratic-leaning voters, that Target shoppers were more likely to support gay marriage and trans rights and to oppose a border wall. The 2024 Axios Harris Poll ranking the reputations of 100 of the most visible brands in America counted Target among those viewed as skewed to the left. A Target Pride display, ca. 2016 [Photo: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg/Getty Images] Some of this may be attributed to the chain having more urban locations and focusing on a younger potential clientele. But in particular, Targets high-profile Pride Month promotions and merchandising sent a message about its read on the cultureand where it wanted its brand to be. While hardly strident, it telegraphed inclusive values as good for business. In 2022, one brand research agency named Target among the top 10 brands for LGBTQ+ consumers. I know that focus on diversity and inclusion and equity has fueled much of our growth over the last nine years, Target CEO Brian Cornell said in 2023. Im really proud of the work weve done in the DE&I space. That said, at least some of Targets progressive reputation arguably comes from a counterintuitive source: its conservative critics. In 2023, the company’s Pride merch inspired fervent calls for a boycott from the anti-woke mob, looking to make Target into the new Bud Light. Some hostile shoppers knocked over merchandise displays in stores and harassed Target workers, and in some cases the retailer moved or reduced displays and even removed some items. City of Miami police officers keep an eye on protesters outside of a local Target store on June 1, 2023. [Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images] Along the way, coverage from Fox News and other conservative media treated Target as a kind of culture-war punching bag, blurring its long-cultivated image as a contemporary and forward-looking mass retailer into a vaguely elite and out-of-touch brand. That narrative seems even harder to escape with the new Trump administration bent on making DEI the most demonized acronym in public life. And Target, which last year scaled back Pride promotions, has seen actual sales and its share price struggle, even as rival Walmart thrives. The upshot is that Targets seeming capitulation to the anti-DEI wave may seem like a bellwetherwhich may be particularly disappointing to some because it feels like such a thorough reversal. But if that feeling of betrayal is fueling a backlash to the DEI backlash, there is one moretwist to consider: a growing call from Black-owned brands sold at Target, thanks to past diversity efforts, asking their customers to show support with a Target “buycott.” In other words, those brands don’t want Target shoppers to boycott the retailer over its end of diversity efforts, but instead to shop Targetand specifically products from Black-owned brands sold at the retailer where shelf space is hard won. Target is not going to remove any of our products if they’re performing well, April Showers, founder of Afro Unicorn, told USA Today. So, we’re saying, be strategic with your dollar.” After all, maybe the best way to prove diversity is good for business is by showing what consumers will buy, and by the bundle, not what they wont.
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E-Commerce
Over 15 years of working with leaders, Ive noticed a clear pattern: Burnout often stems from what I call the Superman leadership style. Many cultures hold tightly to this image of a leader as strong, confident, and capable of fixing anything. This ideal isnt just a societal expectationits one that leaders impose on themselves. But striving to be a “Superman” leader is a recipe for burnout, because it’s both unrealistic and unattainable. Burnout, as highlighted by the World Health Organization, is an occupational phenomenon. Its marked by exhaustion, reduced professional effectiveness, and a sense of detachment from ones work. And leaders that fit the Superman mold are more prone to these symptoms because of the unrelenting pressure they face on a daily basis. Through my work with burned-out leaders, Ive identified three internal taboos that often define this Superman style of leadership. These operate beneath the surface but have a significant impact. Recognizing and challenging them could be the first step toward a more sustainable approach to leadership. 1. The taboo against not knowing Superman rules dictate that leaders must always have the answers. A senior executive I worked with felt overwhelmed when her team, going through challenges, experienced significant anxiety and looked to her for guarantees that everything would turn out fine. Adding to the burden, higher-ups also placed similar expectations on her. Over time, she realized that much of her burnout stemmed from trying to project certainty in situations where there was none, especially in a fast-changing environment. She reflected, I thought I was being paid to know the answers. I felt I had to act like I knew because thats how I understood my role. Another leader shared: I feel like I have to know what to do in every situation. Admitting I dont know feels like failing. This taboo pressures leaders to constantly appear in control, but false certainty in such an unpredictable world is dangerous. As award-winning author Maggie Jackson noted in her book Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, that you need to embrace uncertainty during times of flux and a remarkable antidote to narrow-mindedness. 2. The taboo against losing control Imagine a doctor claiming they could cure every patient, no matter the circumstances. Absurd, right? Yet many leaders take on a similar mindset, believing they need to control every outcome to prove their worth. One executive I worked with shared: When two key team members left in one month, I couldnt stop blaming myself. If something goes wrong, its always my fault. The Superman mindset requires leaders to maintain tight control over their teams, their processes, and their outcomes. It creates an illusion that youre responsible for everything, even if circumstances are beyond your control. These kinds of leaders see mistakes, failures, and setbacks as personal flaws. Another leader I coached described how he felt after a product launch failed due to market conditions: I couldnt shake the feeling that it was my fault, even though our data showed the market just wasnt ready. When leaders cling to the illusion of control, their teams become less proactive, waiting for orders rather than taking initiative. A simple exercise of distinguishing whats within their control and what isnt can help leaders release unnecessary pressure and empower their teams. 3. The taboo against vulnerability One leader put it bluntly: If you want to climb the ladder, you keep your problems to yourself. Superman leaders believe they need to appear fine at all times, they need to be confident, energized, and unshakable. Vulnerability and mental health remain taboo topics for many leaders, despite growing awareness of their importance. But keeping up appearances comes at a cost. Leaders who bottle up their struggles often miss out on the trust and connection that come from being open and authentic. Melissa Doman, in her book Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work, pushes back against the outdated belief that mental health issues are purely personal and dont belong at work. She argues that mental health should be treated just like physical health, and its crucial to break the stigma surrounding mental health discussions at the office. A VP I worked with struggled to connect with her team until she shared a personal story about navigating a difficult divorce and the emotional toll it took on her. Her openness transformed her teams perception of her. One team member later told her, It was the first time I saw you as a real person. The impact of Superman leadership Heres the reality: Superman leaders thrive on the outside but struggle on the inside. They operate at maximum energy output, depleting their resources quickly. And its not just about their personal well-being. Superman leaders often stifle their teams without realizing it. By taking on all the responsibility and keeping everything tightly controlled, they create an environment where others are afraid to take risks, propose new ideas, or admit mistakes. Another perspective on leadership Burnout doesnt have to be the cost of leadership. Leaders who let go of these taboosadmitting when they dont know everything, accepting that not everything is within their control, and embracing vulnerabilityoften find themselves leading with more energy, clarity, and effectiveness. If youve been operating as a Superman leader, consider reflecting on the following questions: Is all this pressure really necessary? Chances are, some of it is self-imposed and entirely avoidable. What would happen if you let go of whats no longer serving you? After all, leadership isnt about being Superman. Its about creating a sustainable approach that empowers both you and your team to thrive.
Category:
E-Commerce
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