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UK regulator says building society lacked effective systems in monitoring customers’ transactionsView the full article

Electronic gifts are very popular, and in recent years, retailers have been offering significant discounts on smartphones, e-readers, and other electronics labeled as “pre-owned.” Research I have co-led finds that these pre-owned options are becoming increasingly viable, thanks in part to laws and policies that encourage recycling and reuse of devices that might previously have been thrown away. Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy have dedicated pages on their websites for pre-owned devices. Manufacturers like Apple and Dell, as well as mobile service providers like AT&T and Verizon, offer their own options for customers to buy used items. Their sales rely on the availability of a large volume of used products, which are supplied by the emergence of an entire line of businesses that process used, discarded, or returned electronics. Those developments are some of the results of widespread innovations across the electronics industry that supply chain researcher Suresh Muthulingam and I have linked to California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act, passed in 2003. Recycling innovation Originally intended to reduce the amount of electronic waste flowing into the state’s landfills, California’s law did far more, unleashing a wave of innovation, our analysis found. We analyzed the patent-filing activity of hundreds of electronics firms over a 17-year time span from 1996 to 2012. We found that the passage of California’s law not only prompted electronics manufacturers to engage in sustainability-focused innovation, but it also sparked a surge in general innovation around products, processes, and techniques. Faced with new regulations, electronics manufacturers and suppliers didn’t just make small adjustments, such as tweaking their packaging to ensure compliance. They fundamentally rethought their design and manufacturing processes to create products that use recycled materials and that are easily recyclable themselves. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 smartphone is a new product that, when released in May 2025, was made of eight different recycled materials, including aluminum, neodymium, steel, plastics, and fiber. Combined with advanced recycling technologies and processes, these materials can be recovered and reused several times in new devices and products. For example, Apple invented the Daisy Robot, which disassembles old iPhones in a matter of seconds and recovers a variety of precious metals, including copper and gold. These materials, which would otherwise have to be mined from rock, are reused in Apple’s manufacturing process for new iPhones and iPads. How do consumers benefit? In the past two decades, 25 U.S. states and Washington D.C. have passed laws requiring electronics recycling and refurbishing, the process of restoring a pre-owned electronic device so that it can function like new. The establishment of industry guidelines and standards also means that all pre-owned devices are thoroughly tested for functionality and cosmetic appearance before resale. Companies’ deeper engagement with innovation appears to have created organizational momentum that carried over into other areas of product development. For example, in our study, we found that the passage of California’s law directly resulted in a flurry of patents related to semiconductor materials, data storage, and battery technology, among others. These scientific advances have made devices more durable, repairable, and recyclable. For the average consumer, the recycling laws and the resulting industry responses mean used electronics are available with similar reliability, warranties, and return policies as new devices—and at prices as much as 50% lower. Suvrat Dhanorkar is an associate professor of operations management at Georgia Institute of Technology. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Organizations often describe change as a technical exercise: Adjust a workflow, update a reporting line, reorganize a process or two. On paper, it all looks relatively contained. But the lived experience of change rarely aligns with the tidy logic of a project plan. Recently, I worked with a team in the midst of what leadership kept referring to as a “small restructuring.” And technically, it was. The core work wasn’t shifting, no one’s job was threatened, and the strategy made sense. Yet the emotional climate thickened almost immediately. One manager became more reserved than usual, answering questions with careful brevity. Another grew unusually fixated on minor details. A third found herself more irritable, though she couldn’t articulate why. Nothing dramatic—just a low hum of unease moving through a group of otherwise steady professionals. What struck me was how quickly this supposedly minor adjustment stirred up deeper questions for people. That’s the part of change we tend not to acknowledge. Even modest shifts can unsettle the psychological architecture we rely on to feel competent, grounded, and connected. The disruption isn’t about the logistics of the change; it’s about the quiet, internal recalibration that follows. The Psychology Beneath Transition In both coaching and clinical work, clients often describe this experience in vague terms: “I don’t hate the change. Something just feels . . . off.” That feeling isn’t superficial. It’s a signal that the change is brushing against something important—identity, capability, belonging, autonomy, the sense of who we are in relation to the work and the people around us. Most reactions to change are not reactions to the actual change. They are reactions to what the change is interpreted to mean. A new workflow can raise doubts about whether one’s skills remain relevant. A shift in reporting lines can evoke questions about trust or status. A more efficient structure may unexpectedly trigger fears of being left behind. Even when the change is welcome or long overdue, it can still destabilize the sense of continuity that makes daily work feel predictable. When these emotions aren’t acknowledged, they tend to surface indirectly—as tension, withdrawal, hypervigilance, or that familiar sense that the team is slightly out of sync without being sure why. A Leader’s Turning Point I saw this play out with a director who couldn’t quite understand why her team seemed anxious. “We’re not changing their jobs,” she said. “Why is this causing so much stress?” She was looking at the content of the change rather than its psychological implications. So I asked her, “If you were sitting in their chair what might this change symbolize?” She thought for a long moment. “Probably that I’m losing control,” she said quietly. “Or that leadership thinks our judgment isn’t strong enough.” Once she recognized that meaning-making—not mechanics—was driving the reaction, she changed her approach. Instead of doubling down on explanations of the strategy, she met individually with team members to ask how the transition was landing for them. These weren’t troubleshooting conversations; they were opportunities for people to articulate the emotional subtext of the change. Over the next two weeks, the atmosphere settled. People began to reengage. The same plan, once met with tension, now felt workable. The difference wasn’t procedural. It was psychological. What Effective Leaders Actually Do Leaders often assume that smooth change management depends on clear plans and well-communicated timelines. Those matter, of course, but they’re not what ultimately determines whether people adapt. The leaders who navigate transition well understand that the emotional environment carries more weight than any formal framework. 1. They acknowledge the wobble Effective leaders don’t pretend everyone is fine, nor do they treat every raised eyebrow as a crisis. They simply name what’s happening in a way that feels matter-of-fact and compassionate: “This kind of shift can throw people a bit. If you’re feeling unsettled, you’re not alone.” The acknowledgment isn’t performative; it’s grounding. It signals that disorientation is expected—not a personal failing or a sign that someone is “resistant.” When the leader names the wobble, the team doesn’t have to expend additional energy hiding it. 2. They offer predictable touchpoints In times of transition, people instinctively look for something steady to hold onto. Leaders who understand this create simple, reliable anchors: a weekly check-in that doesn’t get rescheduled, updates that arrive when they’re promised, a shared understanding of what will happen next—even if “what happens next” is simply another conversation. Predictability doesn’t remove uncertainty, but it gives people a rhythm they can orient themselves around. It restores a sense of temporality—I know where we are, and I know when I’ll hear something again—which has a surprising regulating effect on the nervous system. 3. They reinforce continuity One of the most destabilizing parts of change is the fear that everything is up for grabs. Leaders who navigate change well remind people of what isn’t shifting: the team’s shared values, their collective purpose, the norms that shape how they work together, the relationships that predate the change. This isn’t about offering false reassurance; it’s about locating the throughline. People need to know what they can still rely on so they can make sense of what is genuinely new. Continuity is the psychological counterweight to upheaval. 4. They return a sense of agency Change often creates a feeling of being acted upon, which is why even small choices can make a disproportionate difference. Leaders who understand this invite their team to help in decision-making in thoughtful, bounded ways: How should we sequence this work? What would make the new process feel more workable? Which aspects should we test first? It’s not about democratizing every call; it’s about restoring a sense of authorship. When people have a hand in shaping even a small part of the transition, the experience shifts from something happening to me to something I’m participating in. 5. They make room for emotion without absorbing it Every change process brings emotion along for the ride—frustration, anticipation, grief, relief, confusion. Strong leaders don’t pathologize those reactions, nor do they try to rescue people from them. They stay steady enough to listen without absorbing the emotional charge, and curious enough to understand what the emotion is pointing to. When they respond, they don’t personalize the feelings or interpret them as pushback. They treat emotional reactions as data—information about needs, fears, assumptions, or blind spots in the transition. That stance alone often lowers the temperature. Final Thought Change will always involve more than new workflows or org charts. It touches people’s sense of competence, identity, and place in the system—and that’s where the real work of leadership happens. When managers pay attention to the emotional experience of change—not just the operational rollout—teams stay steadier and transitions land more cleanly. The leaders who succeed aren’t the ones with the perfect plan; they’re the ones who help people find their footing as the ground shifts. 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Growth has slowed throughout the yearView the full article

Retailer has been hit by accounting errors that led to resignation of chief executive last monthView the full article

“Happy Friday” is ranked as one of the worst ways to begin an email and it is also one of the worst ways to end a piece of correspondence. While “Happy Friday” may seem like a friendly send-off to colleagues as they approach the weekend, it can easily offend for many reasons. Here are three excellent reasons never to use this expression. #1: IT CAN BE ANNOYING This expression may be used by people who are trying to lift the spirits of a colleague or make the recipient feel relieved that the workweek is coming to an end. But your colleague may be involved in working hard to complete an assignment, or be involved in a project that needs to get done. If so, your “Happy Friday” will be irritating. His or her reaction might be to feel this writer knows little about the pressures of work or completing assignments. According to a study a full 69% of employees say their mental health has worsened over the past year, so there’s a good chance your colleague is not having a happy Friday. #2 IT CAN BE INSENSITIVE Beginning or ending your email with “Happy Friday” presumes that everyone is having a great day. But how do you know? I get emails from people I don’t even know wishing me a “Happy Friday.” I was in the hospital when a few of these came, and I was not having a happy time. It is presumptuous to wish someone a happy day when she could be sick, tired, or overworked. In such cases, the words “Happy Friday” will only deepen the recipient’s misery. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, half of adults in the United States reported feelings of emotional disconnection, isolation from others (54%), left out (50%), or lacking companionship (50%). So wishing someone “Happy ‘Friday” may elicit a deeper sense of loneliness, with the recipient feeling bad to be left out of the happiness circle. #3 IT IS A CLICHÉ If you are still tempted to use this expression, don’t succumb to that temptation because it is a cliché that gives rise to other clichés. In some of the emails I get “Happy Friday” is followed by “wishing you a lovely weekend” and “hoping you had a great week,” and “hoping you are well.” “Happy Friday” also gives rise to “Happy Monday,” “Happy Tuesday,” or Happy [any day of the week, or any season]. I am much more likely to read and respond to emails that don’t begin or end with this awful expression. Give it up! Instead, you might begin your correspondence by mentioning your last communication with that person. For example say “thank you for following up with me” or “I loved your thoughts about . . . .” And conclude with action, such as “I’ll look forward to hearing from you regarding next steps. In short, use your opening and closing to frame the subject matter of the correspondence. View the full article

AI coaches are everywhere. They’re training marathoners and coaching leaders, and even billionaires Ray Dalio created an AI clone to serve as a digital mentor. In the past few months, searches for “AI coaching” have gone through the roof. And it’s easy to see why. AI coaches are available 24/7, cost less than a gym membership, and can recall every word you’ve ever said. Research even shows they can match human coaches in helping people reach their goals. Ironically, people often tell AI things they’d never tell another person. Studies show chatbots reduce our fear of judgment, making them surprisingly effective at uncovering what’s really going on. And with 94% of employees saying they’d stay longer at a company that invests in their growth, AI coaching seems like the perfect solution, at least on paper. I’m a coach and I use AI. But after a decade of coaching more than 4,000 people, here’s what I’ve learned: AI moves the needle 90%, sure. But for the life-changing 10%, you still need a human. Why AI coaching falls short Last month, a client told me she wanted to “readjust her focus.” If she’d asked an AI coach, she would’ve gotten a list of productivity hacks. But when I heard her say it, I noticed something felt off. “Did you notice how your energy dropped when you said that?” I asked. That question opened the real issue. She wasn’t struggling with priorities; she was afraid of leaving her comfort zone. Changing her focus was a protective strategy that would’ve kept her stuck. That’s the 10% AI can’t identify. Science backs this up. Our brains sync through mirror neurons, a process called emotional contagion. It’s how a coach can sense when your energy dips, even before you speak. Humans also co-regulate each other’s stress responses, a process that’s essential for change. That’s why, in psychotherapy, the relationship itself predicts outcomes as much as any treatment method. The same holds true for coaching. Finally, clients often tell me they chose to work with me because of my story. I’m the child of immigrants who became a Princeton-trained engineer before walking away from corporate life. I’m also an introvert who’d rather watch Netflix than network. That shared humanity—seeing someone who’s been where they are—builds trust and makes them realize: “If she can do it, maybe I can too.” The smarter way forward: 3 ways to use hybrid coaching Still, I’m not saying AI coaching doesn’t work, because it does. But the smartest coaches and clients won’t choose between humans and AI. They’ll use both. Here’s how to combine them for the best results: 1. Be consistent Use an AI tool like ChatGPT to stay accountable every day. Prompts like “Based on my reflections this week, what patterns or habits keep showing up?” or “Highlight one recurring theme in my journaling that might be holding me back” help you track growth between sessions. 2. Dig deeper AI can help you surface patterns faster. One of my clients uses AI to journal every morning. By the time she shows up to our call, she has already identified her blocks, so we can focus on getting results faster. Try prompts like: “How would an executive or business coach advise me on this?” 3. Define actions After each session, use an AI transcription tool like Otter.ai to turn coaching insights into concrete steps. Use prompts like: “Based on this call, what actions do I need to take in the next week/month?” and “Turn this call into a simple weekly action plan.” That’s how AI helps you move faster—while your human coach makes sure you move in the right direction. View the full article

Creating a video clip requires a structured approach that begins with clear goals and a comprehension of your audience. You’ll want to plan your content scrupulously, including storyboarding and scripting, to guarantee your message is concise and engaging. With the right equipment and attention to detail in filming and editing, you can produce a polished final product. Next, consider how you’ll publish and promote your video to reach your intended viewers effectively. What strategies will you implement to measure its success? Key Takeaways Define your video’s goal and target audience to ensure relevance and engagement with your content. Create a storyboard and detailed script to visualize the sequence and outline key points for clarity. Gather necessary visuals, use quality equipment, and prioritize sound and lighting for a professional look. Film a variety of shots and angles, applying techniques like the rule of thirds for better composition. Edit your footage by trimming unnecessary clips and adding overlays, then export in the desired resolution for publishing. Video Creation Essentials When you commence on the voyage of video creation, it’s essential to understand the fundamental components that contribute to a successful project. First, define your video’s goal and target audience to guarantee content relevance. You can achieve high-quality video creation using smartphones, but don’t underestimate the importance of external microphones for superior audio clarity. While basic editing can be done on your phone, advanced video production often requires more sophisticated hardware and software. A structured approach, like storyboarding, can help you visualize your project. If you’re wondering how to create a video clip with music, consider adding audio tracks during editing. Finally, if you need to know how to save specific parts of a YouTube video, utilize screen capture tools for efficiency. Planning Your Video Planning your video is crucial, as it sets the foundation for your entire project. To effectively guide your content creation, consider these key steps: Define the clear purpose of your video: educate, entertain, or promote. Identify your target audience to tailor your topic, script, and tone. Create a storyboard to visualize the sequence of scenes and guarantee coherence. Develop a detailed script with key points and shifts, including a call-to-action. Outline necessary steps and gather all required visuals and resources before filming. Defining Goals After establishing a solid plan for your video, it’s time to focus on defining your goals. Start by clearly identifying your primary objective, whether it’s educating the audience, promoting a product, or increasing brand awareness. Then, set measurable goals to evaluate your video’s effectiveness, like increasing website traffic by 20% or gaining 500 new subscribers. Consider the desired actions you want viewers to take after watching, such as visiting a website or sharing the video on social media. Verify these goals align with your overall marketing strategy for consistency across platforms. Regularly review and adjust your goals based on performance metrics to improve future video projects. Goal Type Example Primary Objective Educate the audience Measurable Goal Increase traffic by 20% Desired Action Share on social media Target Audience Identifying your target audience is essential for creating video content that truly resonates with viewers. By comprehending who you’re speaking to, you can tailor your videos for better engagement. Here are some strategies to refine your approach: Conduct audience research to uncover demographics and preferences. Analyze viewer behavior from previous videos to inform your content strategy. Segment your audience based on age, profession, or interests for personalized messaging. Engage with your audience through surveys or feedback for deeper insights. Address their pain points and needs to improve relevance. Storyboarding When you’re storyboarding, you’re fundamentally planning out each scene visually to map the narrative flow of your video. This process includes creating sketches or images alongside notes on dialogue, actions, and camera angles, making sure everything aligns with your project’s goals. A well-structured storyboard not just saves time during filming but likewise helps you anticipate challenges, ensuring a smoother production process. Visual Scene Planning Storyboarding plays a crucial role in visual scene planning, as it provides a structured framework for organizing your video’s narrative. By mapping out each scene, you can effectively communicate your vision to the production team. A well-developed storyboard not only saves time during filming but likewise minimizes the need for costly re-shoots. Consider these key aspects when creating your storyboard: Visual representation of scenes through sketches or images Notes on action, dialogue, and camera angles for clarity Highlighting key shifts to maintain pacing and tone Planning resources like props and locations in advance Enhancing creativity by visualizing complex scenes clearly With a solid storyboard, you’re better equipped to bring your video concept to life. Script and Flow Creating a cohesive script is essential for ensuring your video flows seamlessly from one scene to the next. Storyboarding helps you visualize the structure, making sure each scene shifts logically and conveys your intended message effectively. Start with a clear hook to grab attention, followed by an introduction that provides context. Include detailed content that delivers value, ensuring smooth shifts for coherence. By outlining key visuals and dialogue, a storyboard can save time during filming and editing, leading to efficient resource use. Moreover, incorporating feedback from peers during the scripting phase can improve the narrative flow and overall impact, resulting in a more engaging final product. Clear and concise scripting aligned with the storyboard keeps your viewers interested and informed. Equipment Setup When setting up your equipment for video recording, you’ll want to prioritize sound quality, lighting techniques, and crucial recording gear. Using a high-quality external microphone can greatly improve your audio, whereas a tripod stabilizes your camera for smoother shots. Furthermore, implementing the three-point lighting method will guarantee your scene is well-lit and visually appealing, making your video more professional overall. Essential Recording Gear To achieve professional-quality video clips, having the right recording gear is crucial, as it directly impacts the overall production value. Here’s a list of key equipment you should consider: High-quality external microphone: Improves audio clarity beyond built-in smartphone microphones. Stable tripod: Prevents shaky footage, ensuring steady shots for better viewer engagement. External camera: Provides better image quality than a smartphone, raising your visuals. Headphones: Allow you to monitor audio quality in real-time, ensuring sound levels are appropriate. Backup storage: Always have extra memory cards to avoid losing footage during recording. Investing in this gear sets the foundation for a successful video project, making your clips more professional and engaging for viewers. Lighting Techniques Overview Effective lighting is essential for enhancing the visual quality of your video clips, as it influences how your subject is perceived on screen. To achieve professional results, use the three-point lighting method. Start with a key light positioned at a 45-degree angle from your subject to illuminate the face while minimizing harsh shadows. Place a fill light opposite the key light to soften any remaining shadows, ideally at a lower intensity. Finally, incorporate a back light to separate the subject from the background, adding depth and avoiding a flat appearance. Make sure all lights are balanced to around 5600K for consistent color temperature. Light Type Positioning Purpose Key Light 45-degree angle Main illumination Fill Light Opposite key light Softens shadows Back Light Behind the subject Creates depth and separation Sound Quality Importance As lighting sets the visual stage for your video, sound quality plays an equally vital role in delivering a polished final product. Clear audio is critical; poor sound can detract more from your video than low visual quality. Here’s how you can improve your audio: Invest in an external microphone for clearer sound capture. Choose a high-quality microphone to boost audio fidelity. Record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise. Use headphones during recording to monitor audio levels. Regularly check your audio settings to catch issues in real-time. Filming Techniques When you’re filming a video clip, employing effective techniques can greatly improve the quality of your content. Start by using the three-point lighting method to illuminate your subject, enhancing visual appeal. Incorporate the rule of thirds in your composition; position key elements along the gridlines for balance. Record a variety of shots and angles to maintain viewer interest and minimize monotony. Technique Description Purpose Three-Point Lighting Use key, fill, and back lights for clarity Guarantees your subject is well-lit Rule of Thirds Position elements along gridlines Creates balance and engagement Sound Monitoring Use headphones to check audio quality Avoids distractions from background noise These techniques will guarantee a polished and professional result. Editing Process The editing process is crucial for transforming your raw footage into a polished final product, as it allows you to refine your video and improve its narrative. Start by importing your recorded footage into your editing software, organizing your files for easy access. Use the scissor tool to trim unnecessary clips and mistakes, ensuring a clean and concise final video. Enhance storytelling by overlaying B-roll footage that complements the primary A-roll content. Furthermore, consider adding text overlays, music, and sound effects to enrich the viewing experience and maintain audience engagement. Finally, export your video in the desired resolution, such as 1080p, to optimize it for the platform where it will be shared. Import and organize your footage Trim clips for clarity Overlay B-roll footage Add text and sound effects Export in desired resolution Publishing Options How do you effectively share your video with the world? Start by uploading it to reliable hosting platforms like YouTube or Wistia, which guarantee secure storage and wide accessibility for your audience. Next, consider embedding your video on your website; this not only boosts user engagement but likewise improves your SEO by increasing organic traffic. To generate excitement, share teaser clips on social media platforms before the full video release, helping you attract more viewers. Improve your search engine optimization by utilizing video transcripts, making it easier for audiences to discover your content. Finally, optimize your video’s title, description, and tags for better visibility in search results, and create eye-catching thumbnails to draw in potential viewers. Promotion Strategies To effectively promote your video, start by optimizing its title, description, and tags with relevant keywords that align with your target audience’s search behavior. This improves your video’s visibility on platforms like YouTube and social media. Furthermore, consider these strategies: Create eye-catching thumbnails that reflect your content. Share teaser clips on social media to build anticipation. Utilize Instagram Stories and TikTok for maximum engagement. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and encouraging discussions. Monitor engagement metrics to refine future promotional strategies. Performance Analysis Performance analysis is vital for comprehending the impact of your video clip. To gauge effectiveness, evaluate key metrics like view count, engagement rate, and watch time. Monitoring audience retention data helps you pinpoint which sections engage viewers and where drop-offs occur. Furthermore, analyzing click-through rates (CTR) on your video thumbnails and titles provides insights into how well your video attracts initial interest. Utilizing social media insights reveals how viewers interact with your content across various platforms, enabling targeted improvements. Regularly reviewing and comparing performance metrics against previous videos is critical. This practice helps refine your content strategies and improves future video production efforts, ensuring that each new clip resonates better with your audience. Additional Resources To improve your video creation skills, it’s vital to tap into various resources available online. You can find helpful tutorials, FAQs, and guides that cover fundamental video editing tools and techniques, making the learning process smoother. Furthermore, consider exploring platforms that offer free software for recording and editing, in addition to attending webinars to gain insights into effective content production and branding strategies. Video Editing Tools When you plunge into video editing, you’ll find that a wide range of tools is available, each catering to different skill levels and project requirements. Here are some popular options: Adobe Premiere Pro: Ideal for advanced users seeking professional-grade features. Final Cut Pro: A strong choice for Mac users with advanced editing needs. iMovie: User-friendly, perfect for beginners. Animoto: Great for quick, template-based video creation. DaVinci Resolve: Free software that offers robust features for budget-conscious creators. Many tools support drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to add media and trim clips. Built-in templates and effects improve your projects, as cloud-based platforms enable collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit simultaneously. Resources for Learning Numerous resources are available to help you improve your video editing skills and learn about various aspects of video production. Start by exploring online platforms like Riverside, which offer free recording and editing software for high-quality video production. YouTube is another valuable resource, filled with tutorials on best practices, including how to optimize titles and descriptions for better visibility. Attend webinars and workshops to gain insights into content creation, editing techniques, and branding strategies. Moreover, access thorough guides focused on video editing basics to boost your efficiency with different software. Finally, keep yourself updated by following curated content from industry experts, ensuring you continuously expand your knowledge and skills in creating engaging video clips. Frequently Asked Questions How to Create a Video Step by Step? To create a video step by step, start by defining its purpose and identifying your target audience. Next, outline a structured script that includes a hook and main content. Set up quality recording equipment, ensuring proper lighting and sound. After filming, use editing software to refine your footage, enhancing audio and adding graphics. Finally, publish the video on suitable platforms and promote it through social media, optimizing your titles and descriptions for visibility. How to Create a Clip of a Video? To create a clip of a video, you’ll first need to import the full video into editing software that supports precise cutting. Next, use the timeline to find the section you want, marking the start and end points with the cut tool. Trim any unnecessary parts around your selection for a clean clip. Finally, export the segment in your preferred resolution, and save it with a relevant filename for easy access later. How to Make Short Video Clips for Free? To make short video clips for free, start by using tools like Animoto or Canva, which offer templates and features without any cost. Record your footage with a smartphone or webcam, ensuring good lighting and clear audio. Edit your clips using free software like iMovie or Shotcut, where you can trim, add text, and include music. Finally, optimize your video for social media by keeping it under 60 seconds for better engagement. How to Make a Step by Step Instruction Video? To create a step-by-step instruction video, start by defining your video’s purpose and identifying your target audience. Then, draft a structured script with a clear introduction, detailed instructions, and a conclusion. Use high-quality recording equipment to guarantee good audio and video clarity. After filming, edit with software that integrates visuals and sound effectively. Finally, optimize your title and description with relevant keywords, and promote your video across various platforms for maximum engagement. Conclusion In summary, creating a video clip involves careful planning and execution. By defining your goals, comprehending your target audience, and developing a storyboard, you lay a solid foundation. Filming with quality equipment and various angles boosts visual interest, whereas thoughtful editing improves clarity and engagement. Finally, publishing and promoting your video effectively guarantees it reaches your audience, and analyzing its performance helps refine future projects. Following these steps will lead to successful video creation and audience connection. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Video Clip" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating a video clip requires a structured approach that begins with clear goals and a comprehension of your audience. You’ll want to plan your content scrupulously, including storyboarding and scripting, to guarantee your message is concise and engaging. With the right equipment and attention to detail in filming and editing, you can produce a polished final product. Next, consider how you’ll publish and promote your video to reach your intended viewers effectively. What strategies will you implement to measure its success? Key Takeaways Define your video’s goal and target audience to ensure relevance and engagement with your content. Create a storyboard and detailed script to visualize the sequence and outline key points for clarity. Gather necessary visuals, use quality equipment, and prioritize sound and lighting for a professional look. Film a variety of shots and angles, applying techniques like the rule of thirds for better composition. Edit your footage by trimming unnecessary clips and adding overlays, then export in the desired resolution for publishing. Video Creation Essentials When you commence on the voyage of video creation, it’s essential to understand the fundamental components that contribute to a successful project. First, define your video’s goal and target audience to guarantee content relevance. You can achieve high-quality video creation using smartphones, but don’t underestimate the importance of external microphones for superior audio clarity. While basic editing can be done on your phone, advanced video production often requires more sophisticated hardware and software. A structured approach, like storyboarding, can help you visualize your project. If you’re wondering how to create a video clip with music, consider adding audio tracks during editing. Finally, if you need to know how to save specific parts of a YouTube video, utilize screen capture tools for efficiency. Planning Your Video Planning your video is crucial, as it sets the foundation for your entire project. To effectively guide your content creation, consider these key steps: Define the clear purpose of your video: educate, entertain, or promote. Identify your target audience to tailor your topic, script, and tone. Create a storyboard to visualize the sequence of scenes and guarantee coherence. Develop a detailed script with key points and shifts, including a call-to-action. Outline necessary steps and gather all required visuals and resources before filming. Defining Goals After establishing a solid plan for your video, it’s time to focus on defining your goals. Start by clearly identifying your primary objective, whether it’s educating the audience, promoting a product, or increasing brand awareness. Then, set measurable goals to evaluate your video’s effectiveness, like increasing website traffic by 20% or gaining 500 new subscribers. Consider the desired actions you want viewers to take after watching, such as visiting a website or sharing the video on social media. Verify these goals align with your overall marketing strategy for consistency across platforms. Regularly review and adjust your goals based on performance metrics to improve future video projects. Goal Type Example Primary Objective Educate the audience Measurable Goal Increase traffic by 20% Desired Action Share on social media Target Audience Identifying your target audience is essential for creating video content that truly resonates with viewers. By comprehending who you’re speaking to, you can tailor your videos for better engagement. Here are some strategies to refine your approach: Conduct audience research to uncover demographics and preferences. Analyze viewer behavior from previous videos to inform your content strategy. Segment your audience based on age, profession, or interests for personalized messaging. Engage with your audience through surveys or feedback for deeper insights. Address their pain points and needs to improve relevance. Storyboarding When you’re storyboarding, you’re fundamentally planning out each scene visually to map the narrative flow of your video. This process includes creating sketches or images alongside notes on dialogue, actions, and camera angles, making sure everything aligns with your project’s goals. A well-structured storyboard not just saves time during filming but likewise helps you anticipate challenges, ensuring a smoother production process. Visual Scene Planning Storyboarding plays a crucial role in visual scene planning, as it provides a structured framework for organizing your video’s narrative. By mapping out each scene, you can effectively communicate your vision to the production team. A well-developed storyboard not only saves time during filming but likewise minimizes the need for costly re-shoots. Consider these key aspects when creating your storyboard: Visual representation of scenes through sketches or images Notes on action, dialogue, and camera angles for clarity Highlighting key shifts to maintain pacing and tone Planning resources like props and locations in advance Enhancing creativity by visualizing complex scenes clearly With a solid storyboard, you’re better equipped to bring your video concept to life. Script and Flow Creating a cohesive script is essential for ensuring your video flows seamlessly from one scene to the next. Storyboarding helps you visualize the structure, making sure each scene shifts logically and conveys your intended message effectively. Start with a clear hook to grab attention, followed by an introduction that provides context. Include detailed content that delivers value, ensuring smooth shifts for coherence. By outlining key visuals and dialogue, a storyboard can save time during filming and editing, leading to efficient resource use. Moreover, incorporating feedback from peers during the scripting phase can improve the narrative flow and overall impact, resulting in a more engaging final product. Clear and concise scripting aligned with the storyboard keeps your viewers interested and informed. Equipment Setup When setting up your equipment for video recording, you’ll want to prioritize sound quality, lighting techniques, and crucial recording gear. Using a high-quality external microphone can greatly improve your audio, whereas a tripod stabilizes your camera for smoother shots. Furthermore, implementing the three-point lighting method will guarantee your scene is well-lit and visually appealing, making your video more professional overall. Essential Recording Gear To achieve professional-quality video clips, having the right recording gear is crucial, as it directly impacts the overall production value. Here’s a list of key equipment you should consider: High-quality external microphone: Improves audio clarity beyond built-in smartphone microphones. Stable tripod: Prevents shaky footage, ensuring steady shots for better viewer engagement. External camera: Provides better image quality than a smartphone, raising your visuals. Headphones: Allow you to monitor audio quality in real-time, ensuring sound levels are appropriate. Backup storage: Always have extra memory cards to avoid losing footage during recording. Investing in this gear sets the foundation for a successful video project, making your clips more professional and engaging for viewers. Lighting Techniques Overview Effective lighting is essential for enhancing the visual quality of your video clips, as it influences how your subject is perceived on screen. To achieve professional results, use the three-point lighting method. Start with a key light positioned at a 45-degree angle from your subject to illuminate the face while minimizing harsh shadows. Place a fill light opposite the key light to soften any remaining shadows, ideally at a lower intensity. Finally, incorporate a back light to separate the subject from the background, adding depth and avoiding a flat appearance. Make sure all lights are balanced to around 5600K for consistent color temperature. Light Type Positioning Purpose Key Light 45-degree angle Main illumination Fill Light Opposite key light Softens shadows Back Light Behind the subject Creates depth and separation Sound Quality Importance As lighting sets the visual stage for your video, sound quality plays an equally vital role in delivering a polished final product. Clear audio is critical; poor sound can detract more from your video than low visual quality. Here’s how you can improve your audio: Invest in an external microphone for clearer sound capture. Choose a high-quality microphone to boost audio fidelity. Record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise. Use headphones during recording to monitor audio levels. Regularly check your audio settings to catch issues in real-time. Filming Techniques When you’re filming a video clip, employing effective techniques can greatly improve the quality of your content. Start by using the three-point lighting method to illuminate your subject, enhancing visual appeal. Incorporate the rule of thirds in your composition; position key elements along the gridlines for balance. Record a variety of shots and angles to maintain viewer interest and minimize monotony. Technique Description Purpose Three-Point Lighting Use key, fill, and back lights for clarity Guarantees your subject is well-lit Rule of Thirds Position elements along gridlines Creates balance and engagement Sound Monitoring Use headphones to check audio quality Avoids distractions from background noise These techniques will guarantee a polished and professional result. Editing Process The editing process is crucial for transforming your raw footage into a polished final product, as it allows you to refine your video and improve its narrative. Start by importing your recorded footage into your editing software, organizing your files for easy access. Use the scissor tool to trim unnecessary clips and mistakes, ensuring a clean and concise final video. Enhance storytelling by overlaying B-roll footage that complements the primary A-roll content. Furthermore, consider adding text overlays, music, and sound effects to enrich the viewing experience and maintain audience engagement. Finally, export your video in the desired resolution, such as 1080p, to optimize it for the platform where it will be shared. Import and organize your footage Trim clips for clarity Overlay B-roll footage Add text and sound effects Export in desired resolution Publishing Options How do you effectively share your video with the world? Start by uploading it to reliable hosting platforms like YouTube or Wistia, which guarantee secure storage and wide accessibility for your audience. Next, consider embedding your video on your website; this not only boosts user engagement but likewise improves your SEO by increasing organic traffic. To generate excitement, share teaser clips on social media platforms before the full video release, helping you attract more viewers. Improve your search engine optimization by utilizing video transcripts, making it easier for audiences to discover your content. Finally, optimize your video’s title, description, and tags for better visibility in search results, and create eye-catching thumbnails to draw in potential viewers. Promotion Strategies To effectively promote your video, start by optimizing its title, description, and tags with relevant keywords that align with your target audience’s search behavior. This improves your video’s visibility on platforms like YouTube and social media. Furthermore, consider these strategies: Create eye-catching thumbnails that reflect your content. Share teaser clips on social media to build anticipation. Utilize Instagram Stories and TikTok for maximum engagement. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and encouraging discussions. Monitor engagement metrics to refine future promotional strategies. Performance Analysis Performance analysis is vital for comprehending the impact of your video clip. To gauge effectiveness, evaluate key metrics like view count, engagement rate, and watch time. Monitoring audience retention data helps you pinpoint which sections engage viewers and where drop-offs occur. Furthermore, analyzing click-through rates (CTR) on your video thumbnails and titles provides insights into how well your video attracts initial interest. Utilizing social media insights reveals how viewers interact with your content across various platforms, enabling targeted improvements. Regularly reviewing and comparing performance metrics against previous videos is critical. This practice helps refine your content strategies and improves future video production efforts, ensuring that each new clip resonates better with your audience. Additional Resources To improve your video creation skills, it’s vital to tap into various resources available online. You can find helpful tutorials, FAQs, and guides that cover fundamental video editing tools and techniques, making the learning process smoother. Furthermore, consider exploring platforms that offer free software for recording and editing, in addition to attending webinars to gain insights into effective content production and branding strategies. Video Editing Tools When you plunge into video editing, you’ll find that a wide range of tools is available, each catering to different skill levels and project requirements. Here are some popular options: Adobe Premiere Pro: Ideal for advanced users seeking professional-grade features. Final Cut Pro: A strong choice for Mac users with advanced editing needs. iMovie: User-friendly, perfect for beginners. Animoto: Great for quick, template-based video creation. DaVinci Resolve: Free software that offers robust features for budget-conscious creators. Many tools support drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to add media and trim clips. Built-in templates and effects improve your projects, as cloud-based platforms enable collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit simultaneously. Resources for Learning Numerous resources are available to help you improve your video editing skills and learn about various aspects of video production. Start by exploring online platforms like Riverside, which offer free recording and editing software for high-quality video production. YouTube is another valuable resource, filled with tutorials on best practices, including how to optimize titles and descriptions for better visibility. Attend webinars and workshops to gain insights into content creation, editing techniques, and branding strategies. Moreover, access thorough guides focused on video editing basics to boost your efficiency with different software. Finally, keep yourself updated by following curated content from industry experts, ensuring you continuously expand your knowledge and skills in creating engaging video clips. Frequently Asked Questions How to Create a Video Step by Step? To create a video step by step, start by defining its purpose and identifying your target audience. Next, outline a structured script that includes a hook and main content. Set up quality recording equipment, ensuring proper lighting and sound. After filming, use editing software to refine your footage, enhancing audio and adding graphics. Finally, publish the video on suitable platforms and promote it through social media, optimizing your titles and descriptions for visibility. How to Create a Clip of a Video? To create a clip of a video, you’ll first need to import the full video into editing software that supports precise cutting. Next, use the timeline to find the section you want, marking the start and end points with the cut tool. Trim any unnecessary parts around your selection for a clean clip. Finally, export the segment in your preferred resolution, and save it with a relevant filename for easy access later. How to Make Short Video Clips for Free? To make short video clips for free, start by using tools like Animoto or Canva, which offer templates and features without any cost. Record your footage with a smartphone or webcam, ensuring good lighting and clear audio. Edit your clips using free software like iMovie or Shotcut, where you can trim, add text, and include music. Finally, optimize your video for social media by keeping it under 60 seconds for better engagement. How to Make a Step by Step Instruction Video? To create a step-by-step instruction video, start by defining your video’s purpose and identifying your target audience. Then, draft a structured script with a clear introduction, detailed instructions, and a conclusion. Use high-quality recording equipment to guarantee good audio and video clarity. After filming, edit with software that integrates visuals and sound effectively. Finally, optimize your title and description with relevant keywords, and promote your video across various platforms for maximum engagement. Conclusion In summary, creating a video clip involves careful planning and execution. By defining your goals, comprehending your target audience, and developing a storyboard, you lay a solid foundation. Filming with quality equipment and various angles boosts visual interest, whereas thoughtful editing improves clarity and engagement. Finally, publishing and promoting your video effectively guarantees it reaches your audience, and analyzing its performance helps refine future projects. Following these steps will lead to successful video creation and audience connection. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Video Clip" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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The Nvidia chief executive has been the driving force behind the massive AI boom which has the capacity to reshape the global economyView the full article

In many countries, financial knowledge is poor and savings are held in low-return products, slowing the continent’s economyView the full article

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Treasury Secretary Bessent said FSOC is readjusting its approach to avoid stifling growth in moves with implications for capital, technology and mortgages. View the full article

Year-end giving can be a moment of reflection, but for businesses and philanthropy alike, it should also include looking forward and asking the question, what’s next? One throughline from this past year is uncertainty. Uncertainty has rewritten how we work, live, and lead. Yet, one thing that still holds true is we share a responsibility to keep systems strong so no one is left behind, especially children. I’ve seen firsthand how instability isn’t just economic, it’s deeply human. I’ve seen it in a mother whose baby’s survival depended on something as small as a packet of therapeutic food. In that moment, you understand that systems created as large scale solutions change lives. GO DEEPER ON PURPOSE Purpose has become one of the most overused words in business, but the leaders who will define what’s next are treating it differently. They’re going deeper. The smartest changemakers are cutting through tokenistic giving and refocusing on what’s core to their mission. They’re aligning personal and corporate philanthropy not around optics, but around outcomes that truly matter like health, equity, sustainability, and opportunity. STRENGTHEN WHAT’S STABLE, TO WITHSTAND WHAT’S NOT If recent years have taught us anything, it’s that the systems we depend on are only as strong as the most vulnerable people within them. Business leaders understand this intuitively. A 2024 survey showed that 45% of global CEOs expect significant business model disruption within three years. Social trust and resilience are key to future competitiveness. Trusted companies can be worth up to four times more than their competitors and 89% of business leaders identified resilience as a major priority in their organizational strategy. Put simply, future-proofing your business means building stronger systems that will support future generations. Your future workforce, customers, and investors are today’s children and adolescents. When children thrive, societies stabilize and markets follow. NOT JUST A NUMBER When global supply chains break down, it’s not just balance sheets that suffer; the livelihoods of entire communities feel the impact. Too often, those disruptions get reduced to numbers on a page like drops in GDP and productivity losses, but what’s really at stake is livelihoods. And sometimes the clearest illustration of why stability matters comes down to a single moment. When I was a new mom, I met a Sudanese mother in a refugee camp in Ethiopia near the Sudan border. The woman was holding her baby, who was severely underweight but just beginning to show signs of alertness. She was feeding her child a small packet of ready-to-use therapeutic food, a peanut-based paste that treats severe acute malnutrition. It’s a simple, scalable solution with life-changing impact. Malnutrition remains one of the most pressing yet solvable challenges in global health. Addressing it requires the kind of smart, forward-leaning, systems-level innovation UNICEF and its partners are scaling across the world. MAKE GENEROSITY A YEAR-ROUND STRATEGY Uncertainty shouldn’t stop you from leading or giving. Support from the private sector can be pivotal for nonprofits, but the greatest impact requires relationships, not just transactions. It requires companies that cocreate with nonprofits, sharing expertise, networks, and long-term commitment to help unlock lasting and innovative solutions. WHAT’S NEXT The future will be shaped by those who act now. Here’s how to do that. Invest in stability. Give toward systems that protect children and strengthen communities. These are the same systems your business relies on for a stable workforce, market, and future. Collaborate with intention. Align your business and your values. Strategic giving builds trust, reinforces brand purpose, and connects you with the partners and consumers who share it. Give forward. Treat generosity as leadership strategy. It’s how you future-proof impact for your company, your community, and the world your business depends on. As you take a moment of gratitude during this holiday season, give to what’s urgent now and what will define what’s next. Michele Walsh is executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer of UNICEF USA. View the full article

Decision eases concerns that central bankers aligned with the US president would block them remaining in their rolesView the full article

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OpenAI on Thursday released its answer to Google’s impressive Gemini 3 Pro model–GPT-5.2—and by the looks of some head-to-head benchmark test scores, it looks like a winner. The new model took the highest score on a number of benchmark tests covering coding, math, science, tool use, and vision. (Benchmarks should, of course, be combined with real-world use to tell the whole story. But still . . .) OpenAI says GPT-5.2, which is a reasoning model, achieved expert-level performance scores on its own GDPval benchmark, which evaluates performance on 44 real professional tasks including things like spreadsheet creation, document drafting, presentation building, and more. GPT-5.2 topped Gemini 3 Pro on the SWE-Bench Pro benchmark (software engineering tasks) with a score of 55.6% (versus Gemini 3 Pro’s 43.3%). It achieved an 86.2% on the ARC-AGI-1 abstract reasoning benchmark, compared to Gemini 3 Pro’s 75% score. It scored a 92.4% on the GPQA Diamond benchmark (science questions), compared with Gemini 3 Pro’s 91.9% score. The new model comes in three variants. GPT-5.2 Instant is good for seeking information and how-tos, skill-building and study, and career guidance. GPT-5.2 Thinking is good for harder professional tasks like spreadsheet formatting and slideshow creation. GPT-5.2 Pro, the company says, takes longer to generate answers but is its “smartest and most trustworthy” model for generating accurate answers in complex domains like programming. For the many developers that are now developing agents, OpenAI says GPT-5.2 with reasoning is its strongest offering yet, bringing “significant improvements across general intelligence, long-context understanding, agentic tool-calling, and vision.” OpenAI reportedly pushed to release GPT-5.2 before the end of the year so that it could counter the release of Google’s Gemini 3. The company released GPT-5 in August, heralding it as the next major leap forward in its AI research. GPT-5 was a “system” of models, using a “router” to direct the right queries to specialized models. It’s referring to GPT-5.2 as a “unified system that automatically chooses how to respond based on task complexity.” The GPT-5.2 model’s increased capacity for processing and reasoning about multi-modal input (audio, video, images, text, etc.) is significant, because Google Gemini 3 does this very well. For example, the new model was asked to analyze the features of an image of a circuit board and then identify and label all the small components. OpenAI says GPT-5.2 did this with far more detail and accuracy than its earlier GPT-5.1 model could. When reasoning is introduced, the model may be able to diagnose problems in mechanical systems by recognizing the visual signs. All three variants of GPT-5.2 are available in ChatGPT today, starting with paid subscribers and available to developers through the API. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, says it’s bringing GPT-5.2 to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio users worldwide today. In related news, OpenAI also announced that it had struck a licensing deal with Disney that will allow Sora 2 users to use Disney characters in images they generate and share using the app. In addition, Disney will make a $1-billion equity investment in OpenAI, with an option to purchase more equity in the future. View the full article

ETHZilla partnered with Zippy to bring manufactured home chattel loans on-chain as tokenized real-world assets. View the full article

The pace of AI technology is so rapid, it's tough to keep up with everything. At Google I/O back in May, Google rolled out an AI-powered shopping feature that let you virtually try on clothes you find online. All you needed to do was upload a full-length photo of yourself, and Google's AI would be to dress you up in whatever article of clothing you liked. I still can't decide whether the feature sounds useful, creepy, or a little bit of both. Google's virtual try on feature only needs a selfie to workWhat I can say, however, is that the feature is getting a little creepier. On Thursday, Google announced an update to its virtual try on feature, that takes advantage of the company's new AI image model, Nano Banana. Now, you don't need a full-length photo of yourself: just a selfie. With solely a photo of your face, Nano Banana will generate a full-length avatar in your likeness, which you can use to virtually try on your clothes. I'm not exactly sure who this particular update is for: Maybe there are some of us out there who want to use this virtual try-on feature, but don't have a full-length photo of ourselves to share. Personally, I wouldn't really want to send Google my photo—selfie or otherwise—but I don't think I'd prefer to have Google infer what I look like from a photo of my face alone. I'd rather just send it the full photo, and give it something to actually work off of. Here's the other issue: While Google asks you to only upload images of yourself, it doesn't stop you if you upload an image of someone else. Talk about creepy: You can upload someone else's selfie and see how they look in various clothes. There is a system in place to stop you from uploading certain selfies, like celebrities, children, or otherwise "unsafe" items, but if the system fails, this feature could be used maliciously. I feel like Google could get around this by verifying the selfie against your Google Account, since you need to be signed in to use the feature anyway. How to upload a selfie to Google's virtual try on featureIf you are interested in trying the feature out—and, subsequently, trying on virtual clothes with your AI-generated avatar—you can head over to Google's try on feature, sign into your Google Account, and upload your selfie. When it processes, you choose one of four avatars, each dressed in a different fit, to proceed. Once through, you can virtually try on any clothes you see in the feed. Again, I see the potential usefulness of a feature that lets you see what you might look like in a certain piece of clothing before buying it. But, at the same time, I think I'd rather just order the item and try it on in the comfort (and privacy) of my own home. View the full article

Approximately 70% of home purchasers do not get more than one quote in the mortgage process, doing so could reduce their rate by 50 basis points, Zillow said. View the full article