• I spent most of my life measuring success in grades.
• After graduating from college, it was hard to adjust to a more arbitrary scale of achievement.
• Now, I know that regularly redefining success is a necessary part of a fulfilling life.

When I was 7, I was identified as a "gifted kid." That label of promised potential followed me from elementary school enrichment programs to high school AP classes, eventually earning me a degree from a top university.

It's no surprise that I measured my worth in numbers and letters as (mostly) objective indicators of success. Everyone knows what a 4.0 GPA or an A+ means. From an early age, I knew that I wanted those high marks more than anything.

My constant focus on getting the grade, earning the leadership title, and landing the job didn't come without sacrifice. I said no to social engagements. I treated sleep like it was optional. The gym? Forget it. I figured that when I landed my dream job postgrad, it would all feel worth it. Finally, I would have achieved the ultimate goal.

But when I started my first "real" job, I found myself wondering, "Now what?" For the first time in my life, the next step wasn't obvious— talk about a quarter-life crisis. I knew I had to learn how to measure success in this new environment.

I let go of the metrics of the past

Starting my postgrad job meant accepting feedback on an arbitrary scale—one that I quickly learned is often affected by relationships, tenures, and titles.

My GPA didn't matter anymore, and neither did my obnoxious, eight-line-long college email signature. All of those club memberships and academic affiliations disappeared from relevance. I felt bitter at first. After all, I had worked so hard, and none of it seemed to matter.

But then I reframed my stance: None of it mattered — none of the little things, at least. My not-so-stellar neuroscience grade? Sleeping through three of my 8 a.m. poetry classes in a semester? Submitting a late Spanish essay? None of it prevented me from pursuing my goals.

This realization was incredibly freeing. Now, I know that small mistakes don't outweigh consistency. I don't have to measure my self-worth in the number of corrections on a paper or how many extracurriculars I participate in. I get to decide what success means to me. I can choose what to pursue and when to switch paths. Letting go of the numbers that once defined me meant that I was no longer held to someone else's idea of "good enough."

I learned to part ways with my ego

My first professional projects came with a harsh learning curve. What would have earned me an "A" in my college classes was met with a flurry of edits and comments.

At first, I was upset with my performance. I felt like I had failed. I mentioned my frustrations in passing to a much more experienced colleague, and he gave me some wonderful advice: "Separate your ego from your work," he said, "and you will be amazed at how quickly you improve."

As a creative working in tech, I had to get used to receiving feedback from all kinds of stakeholders. I don't just write essays for a professor anymore. I write blogs and social media posts that are read by customers, partners, and employees. Sometimes, this means my work is reviewed by 20 people or more before it's approved. That doesn't leave a lot of room for an unearned ego.

My current definition of success won't stay the same — and that's a good thing

Success might mean getting promoted — or it might not. Maybe it means discovering a new passion outside work. It might look like a commitment to health, exploring new places, or visiting friends and family. Achieving these goals might not make me better at my job, but I know they will make me a better person, friend, and partner.

My new goals might look hazy compared to old ones, and they will most likely shift as I progress in my career. I wish I had known that life is less structured after school and less linear, too.

Still, in the modern world of social media highlight reels, it can be difficult not to compare myself to my peers. Some days, I feel left out for not pursuing graduate school, and sometimes, I wonder if I picked the right college or even the right city.

Despite all this uncertainty, I'm grateful for one thing I do know: Leading a satisfying life requires redefining success at different stages. Shifting my goals doesn't make me a failure; it makes me human.

After serving an eight-game suspension, the Rangers enforcer was recalled ahead of a rivalry game.

Richard Hammond and his wife Mindy have announced their decision to divorce after 23 years of marriage.

Chrissy Teigen detailed the harrowing evacuation from her Los Angeles home that she shares with husband John Legend and their fourth children.

"I have lived in California all my life and never seen that size of fire erupt so quickly," one TikToker told Newsweek.

"As we become older, we often feel that childhood friendships are bound to us as an extended family," an expert told Newsweek.

A transgender activist in Florida has had their driving licence cancelled after they got their gender switched from male to female.

Carter died at the age of 100 in his home in Georgia, making him the longest living president.

Former first lady Michelle Obama is the only presidential spouse not present at the former president's funeral on Thursday.

The New York Yankees could use another big reliever even after trading for Devin Williams. Could they also grab a former closer from their biggest rival?

Mom Tina Yazdani told Newsweek she "laughed out loud" when she first saw the video of her son's "mischievous smile."

"Finding that perfect person is difficult," Jenna Carr told Newsweek. "If you do, don't let something as silly as distance ruin it."

As wildfires blaze across California, here is how inhaling smoke could affect your health, from itchy eyes to dementia risk.

Hannah's dog appeared eager to please her human companion, but some of those watching the video had another theory.

"There's so much going on," one TikTok user commented.

As California ramps up production of its high-speed rail system, Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a map of the end result.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Thursday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to deny President-elect Trump's latest bid to halt his sentencing in his New York hush money case.

Why it matters: The 11th-hour back-and-forth comes as Trump is scheduled to be sentenced for his historic felony conviction on Friday, mere days before his inauguration.

---

• The N.Y. judge overseeing the case has already indicated that Trump won't face jail time.
• After a New York appeals court rejected yet another last-ditch effort by Trump to get out of the sentencing, Trump asked the Supreme Court Wednesday to intervene on his behalf.

The big picture: The "defendant makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office," Bragg wrote of Trump's stay request.

• Bragg dismissed the argument, noting that presidential immunity only applies to the time a president is serving their term in office.
• In regards to Trump's claims that the trial had included "erroneous admission of official-acts evidence at trial," Bragg argued that Trump could appeal these aspects once sentenced in due course, but that there is "no basis" for asking the Supreme Court to intervene before a final judgement had been handed down.

Context: Trump has seized on the Supreme Court's ruling last summer that president's enjoy immunity for "official acts" to lodge several requests to halt the case's legal proceedings or throw out his conviction altogether.

• A jury convicted Trump last May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged sexual encounter.
• The ruling made him the first-ever former U.S. president to be a convicted felon.

Zoom out: Trump asks Supreme Court to block hush money sentencing

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• I got the Discover it® Cash Back credit card this summer to earn up to 5% on everyday expenses.
• I wanted a no-annual-fee credit card that earned cash-back rewards on every dollar I spent.
• Some credit cards earn a fixed amount per dollar spent, while others earn more on certain expenses.

I got a new cash-back credit card this August and have earned more than $100 from it so far.

I specifically chose the Discover it® Cash Back card because it earns 5% cash back on bonus categories that change every three months (from January 1 to March 31, 2025, earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).

With dozens of cash back credit card options on the market, I suffered serious analysis paralysis when evaluating the pros and cons of cash-back credit cards. Fortunately, I have reviewed credit cards for more than nine years, so I knew what benefits I was looking for (and what I was willing to forego).

These are the factors I considered in case you're also looking for a new card.

Cash back credit card types

There are two main types of cash back cards: those that earn a fixed rate no matter what you buy, and those that earn extra points on specific expenses.

Flat-rate cash back

If you value the KISS rule of Keeping It Simple, Stupid, you may want to pick a flat-rate credit card to use for all of your purchases.

Good examples of flat-rate cash back credit cards include the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card and the Citi Double Cash Card, both of which appear on our list of the best 2% cash back credit cards.

These cards earn a respectable return on every dollar you spend whether you're paying for daycare, buying dinner, or shopping for a flight.

I personally wanted a higher rate of return, and I was willing to work harder to earn it.

Bonus points on specific categories

If you enjoy urban sports like extreme couponing, you may find yourself more drawn to credit cards that earn bonus rewards on specific spend categories. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best credit cards for buying groceries because it earns up to 6% on your first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1% back) — but it only earns 1% on most other expenses except for on U.S. gas stations and transit purchases which earn 3% cash back. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Most cards in this category earn extra points on common household expenses such as streaming services, drugstores, utilities, and dining out.

Avoid cards that reward purchases you don't often make, since you'll get more value from a credit card that better fits your habits. If you don't eat out very often, for example, you probably shouldn't get a cash back credit card that primarily rewards restaurant expenses.

5% rotating-bonus categories

Rotating-bonus credit cards are a specific subset of cash back cards, where cardholders earn 5% cash back on select expenses that change every three months.

The best-known rotating-bonus credit cards are my new Discover it Cash Back and the Chase Freedom Flex®, which I also have in my wallet. Each of these cards earn 5% back on up to $1,500 on eligible expenses each quarter, so I can earn up to $75 per card, four times a year, on bonus categories (with the Discover it Cash Back I earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services, January 1 to March 31, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).

In case you were wondering: I keep both cards because they earn 5% back on different categories each quarter (then 1%), doubling my chances to earn extra rewards on everyday expenses. Since they don't have annual fees, it doesn't cost me anything to keep these cards open.

You can find the Discover cash back calendar here, and the Chase Freedom card quarterly bonus categories calendar here.

What I needed from my cash-back credit card

When researching my latest acquisition, I evaluated my primary expenses to see where I needed my card to do the most heavy lifting. Like most people, my biggest living expenses include:

1. Housing such as rent or a mortgage
2. Groceries
3. Transportation such as public transit or gas/EV charging
4. Utilities such as electricity, water, gas, trash, and more
5. Healthcare such as medical copays, prescriptions, drugstore expenses, and more
6. Dining out including restaurants, takeout, food delivery, and more
7. Travel including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more
8. Entertainment such as concerts, sports games, streaming services, and movies

Don't settle for less than 1.5% cash back

No matter which cash-back card you choose, make sure it earns more than 1% back per dollar spent. There are too many valuable cards on the market — even without annual fees — that offer great returns for you to settle on a credit card that doesn't generously reward you for spending with it.

My most important cash-back card benefits

Cash back credit cards can be much more versatile than travel rewards credit cards because they're so straightforward to use.

These common traits that were available on all of the cash-back credit cards I considered:

• No annual fee
• Easy reward redemptions
• 0% intro APR
• Purchase protection and extended warranty benefits

No annual fees

I'm not opposed to paying for credit cards that earn their keep. I have The Business Platinum Card® from American Express which has a whopping $695 annual fee (), but that cost is worth it to me for the benefits I get out of the card.

However, I knew I didn't want a cash back card with annual fees because its core value lies in paying me back a small portion of the money I spend. Therefore, there's no point in paying for a card that's designed to pay me — and that's why most of the best cash-back credit cards do not charge annual fees.

You'll generally find annual fees on good credit cards that offer benefits you'd otherwise pay good money to enjoy. (You'll also find annual fees on mediocre cards that aren't worth their keep.)

Credit cards with airport lounge access, for example, can save you hundreds of dollars on food and drink each year, while the best credit cards with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck statement credits can save you time and hassle when going through airport security.

Pro tip: If you do consider a cash-back credit card with an annual fee, make sure the overall value you'll get from that card greatly exceeds the amount you pay for it.

Easy reward redemptions

I chose the Discover it Cash Back because I liked how easy it is to redeem my rewards. Since each point is worth 1 cent, I can use my cash-back rewards to pay down some of my card's statement balance and know exactly how much value I'm getting from my rewards.

While I'm a fan of the Discover mobile app, this benefit isn't exclusive to my card: Most cash-back credit cards offer the ability to redeem rewards as statement credits. Cash [back] is king, and you shouldn't consider any card that doesn't allow you to pay off what you owe with what you've earned.

Some credit cards also allow you to redeem rewards for gift cards, or use them to pay off Amazon shopping balances. As long as your points are worth at least 1 cent apiece, this isn't a terrible idea as long as the retailers you choose are companies you'd shop from regardless.

Pro tip: Some issuers only allow cardholders to redeem rewards on Amazon at a discounted rate, sometimes for as little as 0.7 cents per point. If you find yourself in this situation, you're better off paying for your Amazon purchase outright and then using your rewards to pay off the charge on your statement at a redemption value of 1 cent per point.

0% interest period

The Discover it Cash Back also stood out to me for its 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.49% - 27.49% variable APR (rates as of 12/12/2024). I generally pay off all of my credit card balances in full, but occasionally take advantage of promotions like this one to let my cash earn some interest in a high-yield savings account for a year before paying off what I owe when my 0% intro APR expires.

Some cash back credit cards offer new cardholders this benefit, which can be really helpful if you have large expenses like furniture, medical bills, or property taxes on the horizon. Whether you need a little extra breathing room to save enough money or just want to invest your spare cash, having a few months of no interest can be really helpful for anyone.

Purchase protection benefits

My Discover it Cash Back credit card actually doesn't offer purchase protection or extended warranty benefits, so I pay for tech gadgets and higher-value products with some of my other credit cards.

My other cash back credit card, the Chase Freedom Flex, does offer generous Chase purchase protection and an extended warranty. When I buy an eligible product with this card, Chase covers my purchase if it gets damaged or stolen within the first 120 days after purchase, for up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

The Chase Freedom Flex even comes with trip insurance: If I pay for a flight or a hotel room using this card but have to cancel or shorten my trip because of illness or severe weather, I can file a claim for reimbursement on nonrefundable prepaid expenses: up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

Other cash back credit card benefits to look for

Instant approval and virtual card number

You can begin using some credit cards within seconds of being approved.

My Discover it Cash Back credit card offered instant approval and a virtual credit card number for immediate use while I waited for the physical card to arrive in the mail.

I didn't need to use the card right away, but this feature can be particularly useful if you have a big expense coming up right away and want to take advantage of a 0% intro APR period (then 18.49% - 27.49% variable APR (rates as of 12/12/2024)) or start earning your welcome bonus a little bit sooner.

Welcome bonus

Speaking of welcome bonuses, these are incentives offered by credit card issuers that make it a little more enjoyable to open a new credit card. Credit card welcome bonuses are offers that typically come in the form of cash back or points earned after spending a certain amount within a number of days or months after opening the new card.

There are a few variations to this formula: With some cards, you can earn the bonus after just a single purchase. And on my new Discover it Cash Back, I'll get the famous Discover Cashback Match™, which effectively doubles the total amount of cash back I earn in my first year of card ownership.

Cashback Match™ is an unlimited benefit for new card members like me in their first year only, where Discover automatically matches all the cash back earned after I reach my one-year card anniversary. Even if I don't earn another dime from today forward, I'll end up with $215.68 next year: my current $107.84 ×2. Not bad at all for a no-annual-fee credit card.

Maximizing rewards with other bank products

We've already discussed the bonus rewards offered on cards like the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card, which rewards cardholders who also invest their money with Bank of America. But there are many other ways to maximize your cash-back credit card rewards.

Cash back credit cards from large issuers often earn rewards that can be combined with premium travel rewards credit cards for even more value.

For example, my Chase Freedom Flex earns cash back in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can only be redeemed for gift cards or cash back on their own. But if I also get a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, I can transfer my cash back rewards to one of these cards, then use my points to book luxury flights or hotel stays with Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer partners.

Chase isn't the only major bank that offers credit cards with reciprocal rewards — American Express, Citi, Capital One, and Wells Fargo all offer multiple credit cards that work well together for additional value.

The cash-back credit cards I considered before choosing the Discover it Cash Back

I consulted our guide to the best cash back credit cards to find an option that worked well with my spending habits and lifestyle. I don't mind doing a little extra legwork for bigger rewards, which is probably why I could earn more than $100 in a few short months.

The other two cash back cards I considered in addition to the Discover it Cash Back are the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card and the Citi® Double Cash Card.

Wells Fargo Attune

The Attune℠ Card earns 4% on many bonus categories including gyms, pet supplies, and environmentally friendly transit, and 1% on everything else. Like the Discover it Cash Back, the Attune℠ Card also offers new cardholders a 0% interest period. The Attune℠ Card offers 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases followed by a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR.

I ultimately decided against this card because I don't spend enough across the bonus categories to maximize my cash rewards. If I ever get a dog again, however, this card will likely be one of my first post-pet acquisitions.

Citi Double Cash

The Citi Double Cash Card is a classic cash back card that earns exactly what the name suggests. You'll earn 1% back per dollar when you make a purchase, and 1% back per dollar when you pay it off, for a total of 2% cash back on everything. It also comes with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR.

While this no-annual-fee credit card has been popular with millions of people through the years, the Citi Double Cash Card just wasn't what I wanted this time around.

Since I already have a different card I use to earn 2% back on non-bonus purchases, I'm willing to do a little extra legwork to earn a better rate of cash back. That's why I turned down this fan favorite for the Discover it Cash Back.

My Discover it Cash Back's limitations

My new cash back credit card is pretty flexible. Like many of the best credit card issuers, Discover doesn't require me to earn a certain amount of rewards before allowing me to redeem them for statement credits. But some banks do, so make sure your card of choice doesn't limit you to only using your rewards once you've earned a lot of points.

My cash back credit card also isn't great for travel protection. As I mentioned earlier, the Discover it Cash Back doesn't offer travel benefits, so I can't file for reimbursement if my flight gets delayed and I have to buy last-minute toiletries to get me through an unexpected night in the airport. Even my Chase Freedom Flex, which offers generous reimbursement for interrupted travel, doesn't pay me back if my luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged by an airline.

Instead, I rely on my Sapphire Preferred Card for travel protection. While I never want to lose my bags, I feel much better knowing that I might be reimbursed if that happens to me for a covered reason.

The reasons I choose my cash back credit card will differ from why you choose yours. But hopefully my reasoning helps you better understand what you want out of your next card.

• Firefighters in LA have limited options against blazes so huge.
• Common tactics like firebreaks, controlled burns, and dousing vital buildings face big hurdles.
• A wildfire expert told BI that the fire is unlikely to be put out until LA's winds change.

Firefighters confronting the Los Angeles wildfires face hurdles to many tactics in their arsenal as they try to tame some 27,000 burning acres.

As of Thursday, more than 1,400 firefighters were battling several blazes with both ground crews and airdrops.

The firefighters of California "are amongst the best-trained and best-equipped wildfire fighters anywhere in the world," said Stefan Doerr, a professor of wildland fire science at the UK's Swansea University.

But, he told Business Insider, "they are really challenged by the fact that the winds are so extreme, as well as having several large fires burning at the same time."

His conclusion: Until the winds fanning the blazes die down, "putting out a fire like this is essentially impossible."

Numerous California officials gave a similar assessment, saying there was no immediate prospect of containing the fires.

'Not prepared'

Anthony Marrone, the fire chief of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, told local outlet 6ABC: "LA County and all 29 fire departments in our county are not prepared for this type of widespread disaster."

They could handle one or two major fires, he said, "but not four."

Doerr, who did not have direct information about the LA fire services' plans, walked BI through some tactics generally used for major wildfires, and their limitations in combatting these fires.

1) Attack from the side

"This fire is very complex," said Doerr, pointing to the number of distinct blazes, some expanding in several directions at once.

Most of the fires were being pushed toward the sea by powerful inland air currents known as Santa Ana winds.

Doerr said there it is too dangerous to approach so huge a fire from the front, where it burns most intensely.

"It's usually attacked on the side to basically shrink the overall fire front," he said.

2) Use — or make — firebreaks

Common tactics include removing flammable material with bulldozers, he said. "Removing the vegetation is much more effective than trying to fight a fire like this with water."

The problem is that LA's topography is complex, making it hard to remove vegetation, he said.

"That leaves the firefighting forces with limited opportunities," he said. One option is to take advantage of natural firebreaks, such as roads and rivers, or other spots with no flammable vegetation, he said.

There, firefighters could wet the area or use a fire retardant to slow the fire, he said.

Even that, Doerr said, is "very, very challenging" in this instance.

"Even if they are able to basically stop the flames from moving over, say, a road or something directly, the strong winds often mean that you have embers flying over large distances," he said, adding that in some fires, these can travel miles.

That could, in turn, spark more fires, leapfrogging the barriers.

3) Soak important buildings

"When we see firefighters using water, it's often to protect properties — to stop them burning, rather than stopping the entire fire," Doerr said.

As well as ground crews, Chinook helicopters have been dropping thousands of gallons of water on the fire. "It's like having six fire trucks show up to your house every 10 minutes," Wayne Coulson, CEO of the Coulson Group, told Global News.

The fires have put immense strain on LA's water supply.

Three huge tanks of a million gallons each serving the Pacific Palisades ran dry within hours under "tremendous demand," said Janisse Quiñones, chief engineer and CEO of the LA department of water and power, according to The Guardian.

"We're fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging," Quiñones said, per the paper.

4) Accept losses and prioritize

So many structures are under threat that it is impossible to protect all of them with water. Here, tough decisions have to be made, with important buildings like hospitals likely to receive priority, Doerr said.

More than 1,000 buildings have been destroyed, including the homes of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal.

Another extreme option would be to bulldoze whole streets to create a firebreak, Doerr said.

It would be a desperate measure against some of the most costly properties in the world — but "it's still cheaper than having it burn down, and burning the next building along the road," he said.

"Whether they take these extreme measures at the moment, I don't know, but they have done this in the past in extreme fires," he added.

Some tactics are likely out of bounds

One option that is likely out of reach is what Doerr called a "tactical burn."

When tackling some seasonal wildfires, firefighters light a smaller, controlled fire in the path of the main flames to burn away the available fuel, he said.

This can be really effective — but with the strong winds in LA, it risks making things even worse, Doerr said.

"Otherwise you're just going to generate a new fire that's going to burn further on," he said.

Waiting for the wind to change

Observers are anxiously keeping tabs on a key metric — the percentage of containment of the fire.

But it's often misunderstood. "'Contained' means that you basically stopped the edges of the fire from moving further," said Doerr. 100% containment means authorities are reasonably sure the fire can no longer spread, he said. From there, it can burn itself out.

According to the fire service, two smaller fires were partially contained as of early Thursday, at 10% and 40% each. The larger ones were at 0%.

For all their efforts, LA's firefighters are largely "at the mercy of the weather," Doerr said.

"In reality, most fires of such extremity tend to be stopped by a change in weather," he added.

Winds, which on Thursday were gusting up to 25 mph, are forecast by the National Weather Service to slow down to a maximum of 15 mph by Friday evening, offering the best opportunity yet to stop the blaze.

Until then, Doerr said, "putting out a fire like this is essentially impossible."

• Melania Trump grew up in Sevnica, Slovenia, a small town of 17,611 people.
• Her father was a car salesman and her mother worked in a local textile factory.
• Sevnica's tourism doubled the year before she became first lady.

Before Melania Trump became a fashion model and first lady of the United States, she was Melanija Knavs, the Slovenian daughter of a car salesman and a textile factory worker.

But Trump's hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, has become a tourist destination as people have traveled to see where she spent her early years.

Here are some Sevnica landmarks from Trump's childhood.