<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Bryan Bedder/Getty</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most successful athletes-turned-investors working today.</strong></li><li><strong>His interest in business was sparked by a piece of advice he received from the great Magic Johnson.</strong></li><li><strong>O'Neal now has stakes in many different businesses, including Google and 24 Hour Fitness.</strong></li></ul><p> </p><p>Shaquille O'Neal is in the Basketball Hall of Fame for his enviable skills in the paint and impressive run of championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his career as an investor has been almost as prolific as his career on the court.</p><p>O'Neal, 45, has interests in a number of well-known companies, including Google, Krispy Kreme, and 24 Hour Fitness. He once owned over 150 Five Guys franchises, as well as 17 Auntie Anne's locations, <a href="https://thehustle.co/shaq-is-a-heck-of-an-investor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to The Hustle</a>.</p><p>But while O'Neal has made many successful investments, a transition to the business world wasn't always part of his plan. The 15-time All-Star was recently promoting his partnership with American Express and explained how his life was changed by a piece of advice he got from another NBA legend: Magic Johnson.</p><p>"At first I was just happy-go-lucky to be a basketball player," O'Neal told Business Insider of his early days in the league in the 1990s. "Then I met Magic Johnson for the first time. His quote to me was, it was ok to be famous, but at some point I want to start owning things."</p><p>Johnson, a successful investor himself, founded Magic Johnson Enterprises in 1987. Some of his best-known ventures include Magic Johnson Theaters, <a href="http://www.laweekly.com/news/a-magic-johnson-theatre-era-ends-2167969" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">purchased by Loews Theatres</a> in 2004, as well as significant interests in the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Sparks.</p><p>At first, O'Neal wasn't sure of what to make of Johnson's advice, but after watching the Hall of Fame point guard operate up close and observing the financial struggles of many of his NBA peers, he knew he had to start investing his money.</p><p>"I had no idea what he was talking about," O'Neal said. "Then when I moved to L.A., I kind of watched how he was doing business closely. And then what scared me is that 70% of all athletes when they're done playing have no income or nothing coming in."</p><p>O'Neal earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2005. Now he offers his own financial advice, cautioning athletes to save their money and be ever skeptical of offers that sound too good to be true.</p><p>This year, O'Neal is using his business talents to promote American Express' <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/about?linknav=us-open-shopsmall-home-nationallanding-sbshistory" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Small Business Saturday</a>, a nationwide movement to encourage more holiday shopping at small businesses. Owners brought in an estimated $15.4 billion on Small Business Saturday last year.</p><p>"Before I became Shaq, I didn't have the luxury to go to all the big-time malls and the big-time stores, so the mom-and-pop shops have always had a special place in my heart," said O'Neal. "I think Small Business Saturday is a day people should really take advantage of."</p><p>Small Business Saturday is set for November 25, two days after Thanksgiving.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/texas-longhorns-amazing-7-million-college-football-locker-room-sports-athletic-department-2017-11">Inside the Texas Longhorns' amazing $7 million locker room</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Shaq told us how a piece of advice from Magic Johnson helped him transform from a 'happy-go-lucky' basketball star into a successful investor

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>In its present state, New York City's Penn Station - the transportation hub that's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-penn-station-redesign-2016-9">scheduled to get a $1.6 billion makeover</a> by 2019 - looks a little nightmarish.&#xa0;<span>It's crowded, </span><a href="http://jasongibbs.com/pennstation/">confusing to navigate</a><span>, and often smells like a mix of Auntie Anne's pretzels and body odor.</span><p><span>Commuters don't usually consider it a place for amusement, but&#xa0;<span>one Brooklyn development company believes&#xa0;otherwise.&#xa0;</span></span><span><span>In June,&#xa0;<span>Brooklyn Capital Partners <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/a-brooklyn-developer-is-designing-an-insane-1200-foot-ride-atop-penn-station-2016-6">revealed</a>&#xa0;a proposal for a&#xa0;</span><a href="http://thehalony.com/" target="_blank">1,200-foot free-fall ride</a>, called Halo,<span>&#xa0;to be constructed on&#xa0;top of the station. Though there are no plans to actually build it yet, it would be the tallest ride of its kind in the world, rivaling the height of the Empire State Building.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>Now, its designers, AE Superlab, released <a href="https://vimeo.com/171687556">a video</a>, <a href="https://www.6sqft.com/proposed-penn-station-topping-free-fall-ride-gets-new-video-details/">spotted</a> by 6sqft, that shows what the ride would look like in motion.</span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"></div></div><p><span><span><span><span>The plan would&#xa0;</span><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-builders-pitch-free-fall-ride-atop-penn-station-article-1.2673775">cost an estimated $637 million</a>, according to the New York Daily News<span>.&#xa0;</span><span>Brooklyn Capital Partners</span><span> estimates the ride could bring in $130 million in yearly revenue, with tickets&#xa0;costing $35 each.&#xa0;</span></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><span>Partnering with&#xa0;S&amp;S Worldwide (a company that's designs thrill rides) and AE Superlab, the developers hope to build the Halo on top of&#xa0;<span>the Farley Post Office building to the west of&#xa0;the station. It&#xa0;<span>would&#xa0;carry 11 gondolas in loops around its circumference. Riders&#xa0;</span><a href="https://thehalony.com/the-ride/">would choose</a><span>&#xa0;the speeds of the cars (the gondolas could reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour after reaching the top).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p>If it's built, tourists, rather than locals, would likely make up most of its ridership.</p><p>"<span>The Big Apple to get the best cityscape view you've ever had, there are gondolas designed just for you. If you are feeling like you could use a little natural stimulation and want to feel a little speed and g-force, we've got that as well," the&#xa0;designers&#xa0;<a href="http://www.aesuperlab.com/halo/">wrote</a>. "If, however, you are a complete adrenaline junky and want to experience the most thrilling sensation of your life - complete weightlessness for several seconds, it is all here at the HALO!"</span></p><p><span>In the wake of the election, it might be&#xa0;the lighthearted distraction New York City needs.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-world-robot-conference-beijing-artificial-intelligence-human-like-2016-10">China just showcased the world's most human-like robots, and they show how close we're coming to Westworld reality</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="QyNHh4NjE6wJdeMjoxiebeI-_J_qGCV2" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

A NYC developer wants to spend $637 million to build the world's largest free-fall ride

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/mcdonalds">McDonald's</a> released their first <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-to-debut-donut-sticks-at-breakfast-2019-1">breakfast-only</a> McCafé bakery item on Wednesday, February 20: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-new-breakfast-donut-sticks-reveal-strategy-2019-2">Donut Sticks</a>.</li><li>Donut Sticks are served until 10:30 a.m. and will only be available for a limited time.</li><li>McDonald's says they are "deep-fried sticks of dough, coated with cinnamon sugar," and have an average national price of about $1.69 for half a dozen.</li><li>We spoke with Business Insider's <keyword id="6354851" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retail">retail</keyword> correspondent, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/kate-taylor">Kate Taylor</a>, for her take on the fast-food giant's latest limited-release item and to see if they are comparable to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vkYX93zo6U">competitors like Dunkin'</a>. </li></ul><p><em>Following is a transcript of the video:</em></p><p><strong>Kate Taylor, Retail Correspondent:</strong> A big part of the reason why McDonald's is doing this is because they're trying to kind of fix their breakfast strategy. A limited release, both kind of makes it a lesser risk for McDonald's. It also drives interest where, it's not gonna be around forever, so people have to come get it now. It's a little bit of a trick for McDonald's to get people to establish their breakfast routine. Where they come by every day, they're getting their coffee, they're getting their donut sticks and hopefully, it sticks. There was a lot of drama when I first reported that McDonald's was going to have donut sticks in January where people were saying, oh this is just like Dunkin' Donuts. And they had Donut Fries that they debuted last year. McDonald's people were a little bit offended by the comparisons. McDonald's actually tested their own donut sticks before ' rolled out their Donut Fries, so, there's a little bit of competition there.</p><p><em>[The Taste Test]</em></p><p><strong>Medha Imam:</strong> It smells very cinnamon-y... Just from here and like it smells like a bakery.</p><p><strong>Stephen Parkhurst:</strong> Smells like a doughnut. Doesn't really feel like a doughnut. It feels a little too flabby.</p><p><strong>Nick Fernandez:</strong> A really nice scent coming out, nice and sweet. Not overpowering though. It's like a nice, caressive nostrils. I was kind of expecting it to be more like a french fry. And not like, so lumpy.</p><p><strong>Kate Taylor:</strong> This is more irregular than I expected. It kind of, like it almost looks like a little fried chicken drumstick.</p><p><strong>Irene Kim:</strong> I think this one's misshapen. I need to take out another one. Oh, this one's more misshapen.</p><p><strong>Imam:</strong> Okay. I'm gonna go for it. Wait, that's surprisingly good. That's good.</p><p><strong>Kim:</strong> A little weird. It's just cinnamon-y, which is good. But it doesn't really taste like anything.</p><p><strong>Parkhurst:</strong> Honestly the problem with these is I think they need a bit more flavor. They need a bit more sugar.</p><p><strong>Taylor:</strong> They taste pretty much exactly how you would expect it to taste. It's fried dough.</p><p><strong>Fernandez:</strong> Mm, that crunch. That's a good crunch. It's not super overwhelming, as far as flavors. It's very simple, it's also not too sugary which is nice.</p><p><strong>Jackie Adell:</strong> After you're done chewing it, it goes away really fast. It doesn't really linger in your mouth.</p><p><strong>Kim:</strong> I don't know, this feels wrong. It's like they robbed Auntie Anne's or something. I think maybe eating this with a cup of coffee could be good.</p><p><strong>Parkhurst:</strong> McDonald's doughnut would be fine in a pinch. I can't see this ever being the thing I would go to first.</p><p><strong>Taylor:</strong> I would like of like some dipping sauce with it. Like maybe a little bit of chocolate dipping sauce would be nice.</p><p><em>[Final Thoughts]</em></p><p><strong>Fernandez:</strong> So I actually was able to <a href="https://www.thisisinsider.com/dunkin-donuts-donut-fries-taste-test-reactions-2018-8">try the Dunkin' Donut Fries</a> when they came out in the summer of 2018. And they were good. I just didn't feel like they were much of a pastry. They were just kind of like a really sugary snack. But this has more of a croissant with some sugar on it. I like the texturing better. And the flakiness of it. It just tastes more like a traditional little baked good.</p><p><strong>Parkhurst:</strong> I would need never seek these out specifically. I would never go to McDonald's just for these. But I could see myself if I just wanted coffee and was like, oh what the hell. What's an extra dollar?</p><p><strong>Imam:</strong> I've been really getting into McDonald's espresso lately. And I'm always eyeing the chocolate chip cookie. But now I can eye the doughnuts, so that's exciting.</p><p><strong>Taylor:</strong> I would not turn this away if someone brought it in the office. I would definitely go and like, grab some. But, I don't know if I would go out of my way to have some.</p><p><strong>Adell:</strong> But I don't know if I would go out of my way to buy them.</p><p><strong>Kim:</strong> So I've had <a href="https://www.thisisinsider.com/dunkin-donuts-donut-fries-taste-test-reactions-2018-8">Dunkin' Donuts Donut Fries</a> which I think are kinda superior to this. It was really light. It was make really well. They tasted super fresh. These are super chewy. But the Dunkin' Donuts Donut Fries were kind of like croissant dough and it just felt like they had shaped them, and those were coated in cinnamon and sugar. Whereas these feel kind of flaky but not in a good way. Somethin's missing, I don't like it. Also, where'd the lumps come from? </p>

McDonald's just added 'Donut Sticks' to its breakfast menu - here's our verdict

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Nearly 20 years ago, Kat Cole was working as a Hooters waitress to put herself through college.</p><p>Today, she's the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cinnabon-president-kat-coles-biography-2013-9">group president of Focus Brands</a>, which operates eateries Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, and Moe's Southwest Grill. Cinnabon alone is a $1 billion brand, reports <a href="http://www.today.com/food/kat-cole-force-behind-billion-dollar-cinnabon-brand-shares-3-t100545">Today</a>.</p><p>Despite Hooters' tacky and low-brow reputation, Cole never took her job lightly, she told Business Insider at Cosmopolitan and SoFi's <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a62401/fun-fearless-money-event-details/">Fun Fearless Money</a> event last month.</p><p>She took on responsibilities beyond her job description and was actively curious about the way the business operated, she said, which landed her a corporate position traveling the world to open franchises by age 20, and a vice president title at 26. In 2011, she left Hooters to become president of Cinnabon.</p><p>Through her years ascending the corporate ladder, the now 38-year-old said there's an invaluable lesson she drew from her time at Hooters that's informed the way she runs Focus Brands today.</p><p>"I have learned it's just as important, if not more so, to question success more than failure," she said. <strong>"So many people have a win, and they're like, 'Everything I did was clearly a contributor to the win.' But not necessarily."</strong></p><p>Cole recalled an experience working at Hooters in her home state of Florida:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;" dir="ltr">"I remember working for a manager at a Hooter's restaurant in Jacksonville. The manager was a complete jerk, he was a terrible manager. But the restaurant sales were increasing because there were all these buildings being built around the corner, so you had a constant inflow of construction workers and corporate people from these businesses. The minute that construction stopped, the sales plummeted 20%. And it was a different manager in at that time, and they got crucified.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;" dir="ltr">"Be careful what you reward and be careful what you crucify. And question success more than failure. Maybe a restaurant is successful because of the manager, but maybe not. Maybe it's successful because of the location, time of year, a particular set of employees."</p><p dir="ltr">Cole said it's often easy to identify the reasons that something failed, but people tend not to think earnestly about why something succeeded - they just accept the win and move on to the next task, she said.</p><p dir="ltr">"Rarely do people question success, and then that leads to mass failures, because they're duplicating behaviors with bigger and bigger bets," she said.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-you-should-ask-for-promotion-jetblue-chairman-2016-9">JetBlue Chairman: This is how you should ask for a promotion</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="JkbDQyNjE6vrGR8A8C6puwa6rPzFjNMw" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The president of a $1 billion brand says working at Hooters taught her the importance of questioning a business' success

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>At 38 years old, Kat Cole has already held positions as an executive vice president at Hooters, president of Cinnabon, and, currently, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cinnabon-president-kat-coles-biography-2013-9">group president at Focus Brands</a>, which operates eateries Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, and Moe's Southwest Grill. Cinnabon alone is a $1 billion brand, reports <a href="http://www.today.com/food/kat-cole-force-behind-billion-dollar-cinnabon-brand-shares-3-t100545">Today</a>.</p><p>Over the past decade, Cole has learned what it takes to be an effective leader, and now she's coaching others as a mentor and investor at Boulder, Colorado-based startup accelerator<span id="docs-internal-guid-a8013203-e7f5-f334-cc71-0c1010859452"> <a href="http://mergelane.com/">Merge Lane</a>, which supports women-founded companies.</span></p><p>When Cole chooses her investments, she takes a good look at the founder's leadership potential. "<span id="docs-internal-guid-a8013203-e806-334b-38d0-140545c4dd40">I have to believe they have what one of my mentors called 'the candle power' - that when the wind blows, they shine brighter," she told Business Insider at Cosmopolitan and SoFi's <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a62401/fun-fearless-money-event-details/">Fun Fearless Money</a> event last month.</span></p><p>She also looks to see that the founders exhibit the four qualities she believes every entrepreneur or leader must learn to balance early in their <keyword id="6354910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Careers">careers</keyword> to be successful.</p><p>On one side, she said, <strong>be curious and humble.</strong> "Be curious, be a student of your investors - what do they want, what do they need, what are they investing in today? Be a student of your customers. Be a student of your competitors," Cole said.</p><p dir="ltr">"Be humble about the things you might need to fix. Because people will stick to you like glue if they know their advice matters and they can help shape the future of you or your initiative," she said.</p><p dir="ltr">In contrast, leaders also need to <strong>be courageous and confident</strong>, she said. "[Have] the courage and confidence to make the tough calls or to take the risk."</p><p dir="ltr">"At some point you do need to push back on an investor, at some point you do need to tell a customer 'no,'" she said. "People ask, 'Why would you ever say that? The customer is always right.' Not if they're an inefficient customer, not if they're a customer that takes so many resources you can't serve all the others," Cole said, noting that it's also OK to push back on business partners and employees when appropriate.</p><p dir="ltr">She went on to explain why it's important to cultivate both sets of qualities equally:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;" dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a8013203-e80a-40fc-e99c-2add71ebda2b">"If you're just curious and humble, and not the other part, you're just a student. And if you're just courageous and confident, you're an a--hole. A--holes actually get things done in the short term, but they usually don't build sustainable teams over time. So I look for a balance of those things. </span></p><p style="padding-left: 30px;" dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a8013203-e80a-40fc-e99c-2add71ebda2b">"And that's my advice, to constantly say, in any given week, 'Am I demonstrating as much hustle and courage and confidence as I can? But am I also remembering to bring forward curiosity and humility?'"</span></p><p dir="ltr">Cole said that most importantly, she advises entrepreneurs to "Make sure you have a business plan that makes sense and that works. Ideas don't make money. Businesses do."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wash-hair-wrong-right-way-shampoo-condition-2016-10">You've been washing your hair all wrong - here's the right way to do it</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="8wbmdkNjE6L-e463xMBd_k87nHKxGJnF" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The 38-year-old president of a $1 billion brand says every great leader must learn to balance 4 qualities 

<p dir="ltr"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Getting bumped off a flight sucks, despite the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-youre-entitled-to-if-you-get-bumped-off-a-flight-2015-6">increased compensation you're entitled to</a>. And while you can't predict when it'll happen, you can take some precautions to avoid it happening to you.</p><p>Here are 11 ways to avoid getting bumped off a flight.</p><h3>1. Check in early</h3><p dir="ltr">Some airlines bump those who paid the least for their tickets, but many simply go with those who checked in last, or showed up to the gate last. Don't let that be you.</p><h3 dir="ltr">2. Board when your row is called</h3><p dir="ltr">Don't wait around or get in line for an Auntie Anne pretzel. If you're not there when your row is being called, they might think you're a no-show and give away your seat.</p><h3 dir="ltr">3. Be a member of the airline's frequent flyer programs</h3><p dir="ltr">If it was a hierarchy, those who paid the least for their tickets would be at the bottom, effectively being the airline's lowest priority. Those who paid the most and those who have some sort of elite status are much less likely to get bumped, as airlines are reluctant to bump their loyal customers/cash cows.</p><h3 dir="ltr">4. Avoid peak <keyword id="6354692" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> times</h3><p dir="ltr">Obviously, the busier the season - think national holiday - the more likely it is that a flight will be overbooked.</p><h3 dir="ltr">5. Also avoid peak travel days</h3><p dir="ltr">The least busy days to fly, and thus your best bet for not getting bumped, are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you fly on a Friday or Sunday - the busiest days - there's a much higher chance of your flight being full.</p><h3>6. Don't take the last flight out</h3><p dir="ltr">Even if your flight isn't overbooked, earlier overbooked flights can cause a backlog that ends up making your flight to be too full. Plus, fewer people will volunteer their seats when it's the last flight of the day, as they'd have to spend an extra night where they are.</p><h3 dir="ltr">7. Get a seat assignment when you book</h3><p dir="ltr">Passengers without one are easier to bump than those with assigned seats, though this is by no <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">means a guarantee. If the airline won't assign you a seat as you're booking, take it as a warning sign that the flight will probably be overbooked, and that your chances of getting bumped are high.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr">8. Fly JetBlue</h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">JetBlue </span><a href="http://www.jetblue.com/legal/passenger-service-plan/">has a policy against overbooking</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, and thus one of the best </span><a href="http://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/2015MayATCR.pdf">bumping track records</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> in the US.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr">9. Avoid airlines that are notorious for overbooking</h3><p dir="ltr"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">You can check The Department of <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation">Transportation</keyword>'s latest Air Travel Consumer Report </span><a href="http://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/2015MayATCR.pdf">here</a> to see which airlines bump people on the regular.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></span></p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">10. Avoid connections if you can</span></h3><p dir="ltr">This is a no brainer: the more layovers and connections you have, the higher your chances of getting bumped on one of them.</p><h3><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">11. Pay for first or business class - if you can afford it</span></h3><p dir="ltr">First and Business Class passengers rarely get bumped, and, like we mentioned, those paying the lowest fares are also often the first to get axed.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/british-food-challenge-9000-calories-2015-5">Watch this guy attempt to eat 9,000 calories in one sitting for this over-the-top British food challenge</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="F3OG83dTqLutNI3b9A3J2tLeZVPmFal-" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

How to avoid getting bumped off a flight

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Kat Cole</span></p><p class="caption">Kat Cole.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Kat Cole, president of FOCUS Brands, the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, and Cinnabon, wakes up a 5 a.m. every morning and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-president-of-cinnabon-shares-why-breakfast-meetings-are-a-crucial-part-of-her-morning-routine-2015-4">drinks 24 ounces of water</a>.</p><p>Huffington Post founder <a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/advice/a3229/arianna-huffington-beauty-diary-0914/">Arianna Huffington</a> and Birchbox Man chief <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/brad-landes-morning-routine-2015-3">Brad Lande</a> both start their days with a glass of hot water with lemon.</p><p>Why are these execs reaching for water instead of coffee?</p><p>We asked <a href="http://www.essentialnutritionforyou.com/">Rania Batayneh, MPH</a><span>, a nutritionist and the author of "</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/the-one-diet-formula-sustained/dp/1623360323?tag=bisafetynet-20">The One One One Diet</a><span>," about the potential benefits. Here's why she recommends that everyone start their days with a glass of water:</span></p><h3>1. Drinking water first thing in the morning immediately helps rehydrate the body.</h3><p>The six to eight hours of recommended nightly sleep is a long period to go without any water consumption. Drinking a glass or two of water right when you wake up, however, is a good way to quickly rehydrate your body, Batayneh says. </p><p>"Most people have their coffee first thing in the morning," she says. "Although it is a good source of antioxidants, it is also dehydrating. You can offset this with water."</p><h3>2. Drinking water first thing in the morning increases your level of alertness.</h3><p>"One of the biggest indicators of lethargy or low energy is that you are dehydrated," Batayneh says. "Because water aids in both body regulation and brain function, it is also closely related to balancing out our moods."</p><p>After a long period without anything to eat or drink, the first thing you consume in the morning can be a shock to the body. If that first thing is ice water, it will get the body working and "can boost your alertness and low energy levels," she says. </p><h3>3. <span>Drinking water first thing in the morning helps fuel your brain.</span></h3><p><span>When it comes to daily productivity, hydration is crucial. The human brain is made up of 73% water, Batayneh says, </span><span>so staying hydrated is especially essential for maintaining optimal brain activity. It is, of course, a day-long process, but starting with a glass of water right away is a step in the right direction, she says.</span></p><p><span>"The mornings set the tone for the rest of your day," Batayneh says. "If you feel sluggish, it will reflect in your activity (morning workout), productivity at work, and even your routine with the kids."</span></p><h3>4. <span>Drinking water first thing in the morning can help you fight sicknesses.</span></h3><p><span>When you're sleeping, your body is in repair and recovery mode, Batayneh says. During this time, your immune system is hard at work ridding your body of toxins. By drinking enough water, you can speed up the process in which your body <a href="http://www.menprovement.com/drinking-water-after-waking-up/">flushes those toxins</a>.</span></p><p><span>Aside from the brain, many of the body's other major parts, like the heart, kidneys, and lungs, are made up of a majority of water, she says. Simply put, staying hydrated is a key ingredient in staying healthy. </span></p><h3>5. <span>Drinking water first thing in the morning jump-starts your metabolism.</span></h3><p><span>The essential carbohydrates and proteins that you consume on a daily basis are <a href="http://water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html">metabolized and transported</a>, by way of water, throughout the body. Having a sufficient amount of water in your body will help fire up your metabolism, Batayneh says, and it can also help with your diet.</span></p><p><span>"When we are not adequately hydrated, we can mistake thirst with hunger, which leads us to eat more," she says. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/t-boone-pickens-strict-morning-routine-2015-8">T. Boone Pickens' strict morning routine will inspire you to plan your days better</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="EyaHJkcTq9EFkUtxf3vKemwUx9Cvo-PU" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Why top executives swear by this 30-second morning habit

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Kate Taylor</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>If you want to know the real story behind your favorite fast-food items, ask the workers. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A recent Reddit thread asked fast-food workers <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/">"what should we never order from you?"</a></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thousands of people responded. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some had info on what items are over-priced, while others named fast-food favorites that they think are gross.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the thread was anonymous and Business Insider can't verify the identity of the workers, many of the points they made were interesting.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are some of the items that people said they refuse to order.</span></p><h2>Subway's Oven Roasted Chicken</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1etc7y"><span style="font-weight: 400;">"oven roasted" chicken</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was actually boiled in a microwave," says Reddit user <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Hotpotabo" class="author may-blank id-t2_6ws6b">Hotpotabo</a>.</span></p><h2><span>Starbucks' "secret menu"</span></h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>"Don't order something from the '</span><span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1ewj33">secret menu</a>,</span><span>'" writes <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/justine7179" class="author may-blank id-t2_ekafs">justine7179</a>. "We sure as s--- don't know what a Snickerdoodle frappuccino is, as it is not a menu item. Employees would be more than happy to make you a drink if you just explain the recipe rather than the name of it. I'll make you diabetes in a goddamn cup if you just tell me what you want in there."</span></p><h2>Chipotle's tacos</h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Flickr/Janet Hudson</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>"I used to work at Chipotle, and </span><span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1erb0h">never ever ever order the Tacos</a>," says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/KourageWolf" class="author may-blank id-t2_dhq3f">KourageWolf</a>. "</span><span>You get less than half the regular portions. Instead, order a bowl with whatever you want in it, then ask for the taco shells, hard or soft, on the side."</span></p><h2>Any hot Starbucks food</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Starbucks/photos_stream">Starbucks Facebook</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"All </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1eusac"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Starbucks</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> food is reheated frozen food," says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/likeabaker" class="author may-blank id-t2_7rw7z">likeabaker</a>. "Ridiculous how little people realize that. Doesn't mean it doesn't taste good, it's just not fresh at all and incredibly overpriced."</span></p><h2>Dairy Queen's salads</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Salads from DQ are a</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1et72c"> rip-off</a>," writes <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/obeyyourbrain" class="author may-blank id-t2_5pw5s">obeyyourbrain</a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> "They just recently down-sized them while changing the bowl to make it </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">look</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> like the same amount. Over $5 for 3 oz. of old lettuce, cabbage, carrots and even older grilled chicken."</span></p><h2>Anything but wings at Buffalo Wild Wings</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloWildWings/photos/pb.9418270899.-2207520000.1414441839./10152765958380900/?type=3&amp;theater">Buffalo Wild Wings on Facebook</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I work at a Buffalo Wild Wings. Don't get anything </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1err7x"><span style="font-weight: 400;">other than the wings</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. That's the only </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">quality</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> thing there. Everything else is frozen s---," says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/HunterOfTheSky" class="author may-blank id-t2_npm8k">HunterOfTheSky</a>. <span class="userattrs"></span><span></span></span></p><h2>Auntie Anne's Pretzel Dogs</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rusty_clark/15506348647/in/photolist-5JgSrE-6hzgxF-6hDr2u-6hzgB4-6hDqXJ-bphgp-dLbPzC-5kWMzw-6kaSEo-5ckzt2-9DqJrL-tnaWW8-3Bxf3M-7f7d1m-8rTdsh-nX9x4C-oeAnFE-48JVv-C3DgX-6k6DiX-9ytsvM-XXF2j-nML3wx-nMA8XQ-6k6CDZ-5MfsDF-ofUmCw-5A8qgT-9A8p7U-6ymR9V-6ymQNt-oqweKz-3G6ct-5kWKLj-eookWf-9Y9Z15-61nmQK-pCf6dK-5kSuYZ-5y1qro-XNroV-7Jfx4-cdqgwU-kAPBn-cdqgDq-319JPy-7oRDNU-4TFFph-9rUDB-5sqAF6">Flickr/Rusty Clark - hottnfunkyradio.com</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The only thing I can say is that sometimes the </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1etp5x"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pretzel dogs (hotdogs)</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can be icky when you don't order one fresh. When they sit in the warmer, they shrivel up and get all chewy," says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/blamethecranes" class="author may-blank id-t2_wg1zs">blamethecranes</a>. </span></p><h2>Carl's Jr./Hardee's chicken tenders</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/carlsjr/photos/br.AbqhXXcHe18pRYjxD_IXJ5fUmoot1lhSTznJdJ_yrizTMJCCuMPoB4FBLgry_Hinm1PYnHN9t91Mzjb32dizrqnUdX2jz_JZKssnp0bTmA-DinQgR-ZkEbKiWrHm34LcI16gtQOpBFgqOBxO-BcIQqsgI9J2FSUkgSHRBVgSJwS8qA/10153736668145456/?type=1&amp;opaqueCursor=AboGbDNE0-HyZrP-KI9UcGJCfbPRryubQ4CiJcerWAtUB3L-6E8In4BLLMphY1xRXsqHw-kOuTyen3yB-jyOebgSf4xrNACjA2T7VN2LPp6un2kXoe7GH8euDWodKcj_bTt-2gqTczDwhQb7mKl_Z5Ws8j13zsjaieuH6mq2Nn9xPlDbTJC2VclDwGqcqFPHZu0LSS-0pYOXnGFcVZ2uJDaTWi3h3HRBzBjpz_U7_A1vf21PVKA1GEzPKi_6doqjLNRy7yImdnEaki33HFEZtCS2J-JryIhkeotZiULKljC2pwpZIY5HzOjWjp_7EHMVx9Cl7I8sCi3mfQsyC0juUm8R&amp;theater">Carl's Jr</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We were supposed to throw them out after 20 minutes," says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/i_Ryan" class="author may-blank id-t2_u1gpn">i_Ryan</a>. "We were told not to do that. We would sometimes serve </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1eqful"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1-2 hour old tenders</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Now when they are fresh they are f------ great as we would hand bread them. You can always ask to make them fresh but expect to wait 5-10 minutes."</span></p><h2>Wendy's fries</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wendys/photos/pb.113385204488.-2207520000.1455029519./10153925132749489/?type=3&amp;theater">Facebook/Wendy's</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"My brother's girlfriend used to work at Wendy's and a saying there was (about </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1eowey"><span style="font-weight: 400;">fries</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) 'They aren't old until they're sold,'" says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Wrinklestiltskin" class="author may-blank id-t2_7sch8">Wrinklestiltskin</a>. </span></p><h2><span>Jimmy John's Gourmet Veggie Club</span></h2><p><span>"If you're trying to order a healthy option, don't order the Gourmet Veggie Club," says <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/lolutah" class="author may-blank id-t2_5iyer">lolutah</a>. "It's the </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1es45a"><span>second most caloric sandwich</span></a><span> behind something called the 'Gargantuan.' 8 slices of provolone cheese will do that."</span></p><h2>Unsalted fries from McDonald's</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Biz Carson/Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Don't be one of those people that orders fries from McDonalds with </span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c2hat/fast_food_workerswhat_should_we_never_order_from/d1etvfl"><span style="font-weight: 400;">no salt</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> then ask us for salt packets right after we give you your food," says anti-food hack Reddit user <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/StrawberryMarmalade" class="author may-blank id-t2_s8s2x">StrawberryMarmalade</a>. "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">I understand people can't have salt for medical reasons, but 90% of the time it's people in their mid-20s, who 100% of the time ask for salt afterwards. I don't care what you read up on <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/caitlinjinks/get-in-my-belly#.rb9x3o4ye">Buzzfeed</a>. If you want fresh fries, ASK US."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>NOTE: Reddit sources are anonymous, and can't be independently verified by Business Insider. Additionally, many employees' experiences apply to individual locations, as opposed to national policies. </em></span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-restaurant-is-in-spain-2016-3">The food looks like art at the best restaurant in the world</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Rxb2U4eDqWFmDni3dXGVMeHFNBTH90Le" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Fast-food workers reveal the items you should never order

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source"><a href="http://www.yepokayeebo.com/">Yepoka Yeebo / Business Insider</a></p></div>Starting a business is hard enough, but bringing a franchise to a foreign land — where languages, customs, laws and standard practices are completely different — poses a whole new set of problems.</p>
<p>Wen-Szu Lin, the former the m<span>aster franchisee for Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>, experienced a whole host of problems when he and his partner started out. His latest book, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AP8YUPS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=shanghabookst-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00AP8YUPS" target="_blank" title="Opens in a new window">The China Twist: An entrepreneur's cautious tales of franchising in China</a>,</em> is a cautionary tale for anyone attempting to bring their business to east Asia.</span></p>
<p>A telling example is the problem of corruption. Corruption, by an American standard, is rampant in Chinese business and goes unchecked. Payoffs and bribes can be factored into the cost of business in a country where it is endemic, but China it is difficult to predict who is going to require a payment — or if what's perceived as a 'bribe' by western standards is actually a display of respect in China. </p>
<p>Here's an excerpt <a href="http://shanghaiist.com/2013/01/11/10_things_i_learned_about_being_an.php">an article Lin wrote for Shanghaiist</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">How does that translate to an <keyword id="6359301" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Entrepreneur">entrepreneur</keyword> getting shaken down by local government employees, all wanting some “favors?” How do you work with the local “government” if you are standing in a long line waiting to chat with the government employees who is sitting behind thick bullet proof windows and will only give you a few seconds before turning you away?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Certain markets are open about corruption, where officials come right out and ask for payment for approvals. These markets are actually easy to navigate as it is simply a matter of costs built into all interactions with officials. For markets like China where only certain officials want something yet do not ask or accept directly, the onus is on the businessman to find common friends or relatives to the official to make the deal happen. <strong>Add in a layer of cultural sensitivity where a gift is often seen as show of respect rather than the underlying value itself, each case becomes circumstantial on the situation. It is definitely not black and white and must be treated as individual cases.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Read More: <a href="http://shanghaiist.com/2013/01/11/10_things_i_learned_about_being_an.php">10 things I learned about being an entrepreneur in China that I wasn't taught in business school &gt;</a><a href="http://shanghaiist.com/2013/01/11/10_things_i_learned_about_being_an.php"></a><em><a href="http://shanghaiist.com/2013/01/11/10_things_i_learned_about_being_an.php"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></span></a></em></strong></p>

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