Working Girl's Guide #38: Spotify's earnings, Chick-fil-A's drones, and my weekend with Vick

Spotify reported earnings after their first profitable quarter, my 12th Tribe collab is serving VERSATILE AF, and I’m sharing some of my last mirror selfies in my basement bedroom before my upcoming move. Let’s get into it.

Spotify reported earnings after first profitable quarter

Spotify’s earnings report Tuesday morning was all good news for the streaming giant. They reported $4.53 billion in quarterly sales thanks to 35 million more monthly average users compared to in Q3, a an 11% increase in premium subscribers compared to in 2023. The stock soared almost 10% that morning. Hopefully this means they’ll invest in a non-AI wrapped this year!

Chick-fil-A hired a bunch of drones

Chick-fil-A’s drive-thru lane are getting even speedier thanks to drone pilots that provide aerial footage of backed up traffic. The company can thank drive-thrus for 60% of its revenue, so quicker ordering is super important. One location that made use of these drones to boost its drive-thru saw a whopping 50% increase in sales. Apparently these drones were originally used to help NFL players optimize their game. But, hey: sport is sport, and if nugs are yours, no judgment!

Side hustlers are getting taxed this year

Not great news for my side hustle queens: if you made $5,000 or more in 2024 on any platform that sells goods and services (think: Etsy, eBay, Poshmark, etc.), you should spect a 1099-K form this year. Prior to 2024, these platforms only had to report your income if you made $20,000 or more, but they’re buckling down now, and those who don’t report their internet income are allegedly going to be facing steep penalties. Pay your taxes, stay out of trouble!

I flew down to LA this past weekend to celebrate my friend Max's 30th birthday (he’s the husband of my bestie Victoria!). The party was Survivor-themed, and we took it seriously, including battling in teams of ten for a series of challenges. Highly recommend a competition-themed birthday party! I did get a bit too intense on the flip cup table, but that's a story for another time.

Hi to the ultimate work uniform (and one of my last selfies in this room!). This set (yes it’s from my collab with 12th Tribe) is the perfect purchase if you’re looking for an all-in-one outfit that doubles as super versatile pieces you can mix and match with all the other basics in your wardrobe. The trousers would go with pretty much any top I already own, and the adorable vest would be so good with jeans at a bar during the weekend. I'm wearing a size small in the pants and a medium in the vest vest (I like to size up on vests to give me a bit of ~breathing room~).

If you were participating in Dry January, then congrats on gettin’ ‘er done! If a month of no (or less) drinking has inspired you to go for more, then here’s a hack for you: instead of focusing on cutting out drinks, focus on adding new plans that don’t revolve around them. It’s way easier to swap than to subtract.

Try a fancy coffee date instead of happy hour, an art cafe or evening walk with a friend instead of bar hopping, or a weekend morning activity (pilates, a jog, Barry’s, farmer’s market) that makes late-night drinking way less appealing. The goal isn’t to “miss out” on anything — it’s just shifting the vibe.

This week on the pod, we’re talking about AI: is it funny? And if so, are we laughing with it, or at it? We explore integrating AI into both our work and personal lives, we roast each other at the hands of ChatGPT, and Ross shares a straightforward breakdown of where AI stands today. Stick around for a postmortem on a wild DC dining experience, an encounter with a persistent salesman, and the resurrection of Natalie’s childhood reptilian graveyard (please don’t ask). Listen here.

Thanks for reading!