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A reader writes: Do you have any guidance on asking for feedback on a job application when you weren’t selected for an interview? I’m aware that I’m unlikely to get a candid answer and perhaps some of my frustration is borne out of feeling like I’m continually applying for jobs where I meet all of the criteria, and can provide examples, but not really getting anywhere. You can try, but you’re unlikely to get substantive feedback. You’re more likely to get someone willing to give you feedback after an interview because at that point they’ve talked with you one-on-one and there’s more of a connection. Even then, a lot of managers won’t give you any truly meaningful feedback (and sometimes understandably so). Getting it when you haven’t been interviewed is much harder. Partly that’s because so often the decision came down to “your application was fine but we had a ton of applicants and others were just stronger.” And partly it’s because if the issue was a weakness in your resume or cover letter, most hiring managers won’t want to get into that kind of feedback with someone they don’t even know. You’re most likely to get it if the answer is something very straightforward like “we’re looking for five years of experience with X and you only have one” — but that’s also the kind of thing you don’t generally need them to tell you if their job posting was detailed enough. And even then, they still might not take the time to say it because replying to rejected candidates isn’t usually a high priority relative to other things the hiring manager is juggling. You’re better off asking for feedback from people in your network who work in your field at a more senior level. Ask if they’d be willing to look over your application materials and see if they spot ways you can strengthen them. Those are people who already have a connection with you, so they’re more likely to offer something helpful. Also — if this doesn’t apply to you I apologize, but more than 95% of the time when someone tells me they’re having trouble getting interviews and I ask to see their resume and cover letter, they haven’t done the stuff I’ve listed here (even when they tell me they’ve read it). So that’s one place you could start. The post can I ask for feedback on why I was rejected without an interview? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Brad Stulberg on being patient: “Remember that doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff isn’t progress. It’s just doing stuff. Be patient, you’ll get there faster.” Source: The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds—Not Crushes—Your Soul II. Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar on ruminating: “When a big change occurs, our negative thoughts can take on a life of their own, nestling into our psyches and stoking our biggest fears. This is known as rumination, and it can involve obsessively rehashing something in the past, grappling with perceived problems in the present, or catastrophizing an imagined future. When we ruminate, we keep going over and over the same negative thoughts, and we get stuck in a loop. Our brain trick us into believing we’re making progress on our problem when we’re often just making things worse.” Source: The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

For many local businesses, performance looks healthier than it is. Rank trackers still show top-three positions. Visibility reports appear steady. Yet calls and website visits from Google Business Profiles are falling — sometimes fast. This gap is becoming a defining feature of local search today. Rankings are holding. Visibility and performance aren’t. The alligator has arrived in local SEO. The visibility crisis behind stable rankings Across multiple U.S. industries, traditional local 3-packs are being replaced — or at least supplemented — by AI-powered local packs. These layouts behave differently from the map results we’ve optimized in the past. Analysis from Sterling Sky, based on 179 Google Business Profiles, reveals a pattern that’s hard to ignore. Clicks-to-call are dropping sharply for Jepto-managed law firms. When AI-powered packs replace traditional listings, the landscape shifts in four critical ways: Shrinking real estate: AI packs often surface only two businesses instead of three. Missing call buttons: Many AI-generated summaries remove instant click-to-call options, adding friction to the customer journey. Different businesses appear: The businesses shown in AI packs often don’t match those in the traditional 3-pack. Accelerated monetization of local search: When paid ads are present, traditional 3-packs increasingly lose direct call and website buttons, reducing organic conversion opportunities. A fifth issue compounds the problem: Measurement blind spots: Most rank trackers don’t yet report on AI local packs. A business may rank first in a 3-pack that many users never see. AI local packs surfaced only 32% as many unique businesses as traditional map packs in 2026, according to Sterling Sky. In 88% of the 322 markets analyzed, the total number of visible businesses declined. At the same time, paid ads continue to take over space once reserved for organic results, signaling a clear shift toward a pay-to-play local landscape. What Google Business Profile data shows The same pattern appears, especially in the U.S., where Google is aggressively testing new local formats, according to GMBapi.com data. Traditional local 3-pack impressions are increasingly displaced by: AI-powered local packs. Paid placements inside traditional map packs: Sponsored listings now appear alongside or within the map pack, pushing organic results lower and stripping listings of call and website buttons. This breaks organic customer journeys. Expanded Google Ads units: Including Local Services Ads that consume space once reserved for organic visibility. Impression trends still fluctuate due to seasonality, market differences, and occasional API anomalies. But a much clearer signal emerges when you look at GBP actions rather than impressions. Mentions inside AI-generated results are still counted as impressions — even when they no longer drive calls, clicks, or visits. Some fluctuations are driven by external factors. For example, the June drop ties back to a known Google API issue. Mobile Maps impressions also appear heavily influenced by large advertisers ramping up Google Ads later in the year. There’s no way to segment these impressions by Google Ads, organic results, or AI Mode. Even there, however, user behaviour is changing. Interaction rates are declining, with fewer direct actions taken from local listings. Year-on-year comparisons in the US suggest that while impression losses remain moderate and partially seasonal, GBP actions are disproportionately impacted. As a counterfactual, data from the Dutch market — where SERP experimentation remains limited — shows far more stable action trends. The pattern is clear. AI-driven SERP changes, expanding Google Ads, and the removal of call and website buttons from the Map Pack are shrinking organic real estate. Even when visibility looks intact, businesses have fewer chances to earn real user actions. Local SEO is becoming an eligibility problem Historically, local optimization centered on familiar ranking factors: proximity, relevance, prominence, reviews, citations, and engagement. Today, another layer sits above all of them: eligibility. Many businesses fail to appear in AI-powered local results not because they lack authority, but because Google’s systems decide they aren’t an appropriate match for the specific query context. Research from Yext and insights from practitioners like Claudia Tomina highlight the importance of alignment across three core signals: Business name Primary category Real-world services and positioning When these fundamentals are misaligned, businesses can be excluded from entire result types — no matter how well optimized the Google Business Profile itself may be. How to future-proof local visibility Surviving today’s zero-click reality means moving beyond reliance on a single, perfectly optimized Google Business Profile. Here’s your new local SEO playbook. The eligibility gatekeeper Failure to appear in local packs is now driven more by perceived relevance and classification than by links or review volume. Hyper-local entity authority AI systems cross-reference Reddit, social platforms, forums, and local directories to judge whether a business is legitimate and active. Inconsistent signals across these ecosystems quietly erode visibility. Visual trust signals High-quality, frequently updated photos, and increasingly video, are no longer optional. Google’s AI analyzes visual content to infer services, intent, and categorization. Embrace the pay-to-play reality It’s a hard truth, but Google Ads — especially Local Services Ads — are now critical to retaining prominent call buttons that organic listings are losing. A hybrid strategy that blends local SEO with paid search isn’t optional. It’s the baseline. What this means for local search now Local SEO is no longer a static directory exercise. Google Business Profiles still anchor local discoverability, but they now operate inside a much broader ecosystem shaped by AI validation, constant SERP experimentation, and Google’s accelerating push to monetize local search. Discovery no longer hinges on where your GBP ranks against nearby competitors. Search systems — including Google’s AI-driven SERP features and large language models like ChatGPT and Gemini — are increasingly trying to understand what a business actually does, not just where it’s listed. Success is no longer about being the most “optimized” profile. It’s about being widely verified, consistently active, and contextually relevant across the AI-visible ecosystem. Our observations show little correlation between businesses that rank well in the traditional Map Pack and those favored by Google’s AI-generated local answers that are beginning to replace it. That gap creates a real opportunity for businesses willing to adapt. In practice, this means pairing local input with central oversight. Authentic engagement across multiple platforms, locally differentiated content, and real community signals must coexist with brand governance, data consistency, and operational scale. For single-location businesses with deep community roots, this is an advantage. Being genuinely discussed, recommended, and referenced in your local area — online and offline — gets you halfway there. For agencies and multi-location brands, the challenge is to balance control with local nuance and ensure trusted signals extend beyond Google (e.g., Apple Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, Reddit, and other relevant review ecosystems). The real test is producing locally relevant content and citations at scale without losing authenticity. Rankings may look stable. But performance increasingly lives somewhere else. The full data. Local SEO in 2026: Why Your Rankings are Steady but Your Calls are Vanishing View the full article

In terms of maximizing engagement on social media, choosing the right planner can greatly impact your strategy. Social media planners offer various features, such as content curation, scheduling, and analytics, that help streamline your efforts. By comprehending the key features and comparing top tools like SocialBee, Pallyy, and Agorapulse, you can identify which planner best suits your needs. Let’s explore the options available in 2025 and how they can improve your social media presence. Key Takeaways Choose planners like SocialBee for robust content curation and AI-driven strategy to enhance audience engagement. Utilize Pallyy’s user-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling to streamline post planning and maximize reach. Agorapulse offers advanced analytics and collaboration tools to effectively monitor audience sentiment and improve interactions. Leverage Buffer’s AI Assistant for generating engaging content ideas and maximizing post effectiveness across multiple platforms. Consider affordable options like Publer for essential features that still support engagement growth within budget constraints. Overview of Social Media Planners Social media planners are essential tools that help you efficiently manage your content across various platforms, ensuring a consistent brand presence and promoting audience engagement. By consolidating all social media in one place app, these planners streamline social media publishing, allowing you to schedule posts effectively. They often include features like analytics, content calendars, and collaboration tools, which help you track performance metrics and engage with your audience more meaningfully. Many of the best social media planners integrate with popular design tools like Canva and Unsplash, enabling you to create visually appealing content on the same platform. With pricing options ranging from free plans to premium subscriptions, there’s a solution that fits various business needs and budgets. Key Features to Look For When selecting a social media planner, several key features can greatly improve your experience and effectiveness. First, look for scheduling capabilities that automate posting across multiple platforms, guaranteeing consistent engagement without manual effort. You should likewise choose planners that offer robust analytics and reporting features, helping you track engagement metrics and optimize your content strategy based on performance data. Furthermore, verify the tool supports team collaboration with content approval workflows and multi-user access to streamline communication. Seek planners that include content curation tools, like RSS feeds and design platform integration, for easier content discovery. Finally, consider planners with a unified inbox to manage interactions across different networks, simplifying engagement and response management. Top Social Media Planners in 2025 As of 2025, several top social media planners stand out for their unique features and capabilities, making them valuable tools for individuals and businesses alike. Here are some significant options: SocialBee: Offers robust content curation and publishing, with plans starting at $29/month and a 14-day free trial. Pallyy: Features a user-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling workflow, ideal for visual content on Instagram and TikTok, with a free plan for 15 scheduled posts. Sendible: The most scalable choice for agencies, integrating with tools like Canva, starting at $29/month with a 14-day trial. Metricool: Supports multiple platforms with a drag-and-drop planner and batch scheduling, starting at $22/month with a free plan. Agorapulse: Perfect for collaboration and reporting, used by over 3,000 agencies, beginning at $69/month. SocialBee: Pros and Cons When considering SocialBee, you’ll find a mix of impressive features and some limitations. It offers robust content curation tools and a unique AI copilot that can help shape your social media strategies, but it’s essential to highlight that it lacks certain functionalities like social listening. With pricing starting at $29 per month and a free 14-day trial, it presents a viable option for businesses looking to improve their social media management. Key Features Overview SocialBee stands out in the crowded field of social media management tools owing to its robust features designed to streamline content planning and execution. Its extensive content curation tools, including RSS feeds and post categorization, allow you to manage and organize your social media content efficiently. The platform furthermore integrates with popular design tools like Canva, Unsplash, and GIPHY, enhancing the visual appeal of your posts. Significantly, the AI copilot generates customized social media strategies to suit your needs. Here are some key features: Strong post variant feature Hashtag collections to boost engagement Extensive content curation tools Integration with design platforms Unique AI copilot for strategy generation However, it lacks thorough social listening features. Pricing and Plans Finding the right pricing plan for your social media management needs can be crucial, especially if you’re looking for a balance between features and budget. SocialBee’s plans start at $29/month, with a 14-day free trial allowing you to explore its capabilities. For long-term users, there’s a 16% discount on annual sign-ups, making it more economical. The platform offers extensive content curation and publishing features, enhancing engagement on major social networks. Nevertheless, although it includes valuable tools like post categorization and content approval workflows, it lacks certain social listening functionalities. Users appreciate the unique AI copilot for generating strategies, but keep in mind that it mightn’t meet all your requirements as a fully inclusive tool. Pallyy: Pros and Cons Pallyy offers a range of features that make it a compelling choice for social media scheduling, particularly for users focused on visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Here are some pros and cons to evaluate: Pros: User-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling workflow. Feed Planner tool for maintaining aesthetic cohesion on Instagram. Generous free plan with 15 scheduled posts per month. Unified social inbox for managing interactions across different networks. Affordable Premium plan starting at $25 per month. Cons: Limited features on the free plan may restrict growth. May not be as robust for text-heavy platforms like Twitter or Facebook. When weighing your options, Pallyy’s features cater especially well to visual content creators. Sendible: Pros and Cons When considering a social media scheduling tool, Sendible stands out for agencies and individuals alike, as it offers a scalable platform that integrates seamlessly with popular resources like Canva and Pexels. Its priority inbox helps you focus on important conversations, allowing efficient management of multiple client dashboards. You’ll appreciate the customizable posts and visual campaign overview, which simplify tracking your social media strategies. Furthermore, Sendible supports content curation through Google News alerts and RSS feeds, enhancing your ability to source relevant content. Conversely, pricing starts at $29 per month, which may be a consideration for some. Pros Cons Scalable for various needs Starting price may be high Integrates with popular tools Limited free features Priority inbox for efficiency Learning curve for new users Customizable post options Could overwhelm beginners Content curation capabilities Some features require upgrades Agorapulse: Pros and Cons When considering Agorapulse, you’ll find a range of features customized for social media management, such as a unified inbox and advanced analytics. The pricing starts at $69 per month, positioning it as a premium option among its competitors. In this discussion, we’ll explore both its key features and pricing structure to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs. Key Features Overview Agorapulse offers a range of features intended to boost social media management, making it a solid choice for businesses looking to streamline their online presence. Here are some key features that stand out: Unified Inbox: Consolidates messages from various channels for easier engagement management. Advanced Reporting: Tracks social media performance and analyzes audience interactions effectively. Automated Tasks: Improves workflow with features for labeling and assigning messages to team members. Social Media Monitoring: Provides insights into audience sentiments and brand health. Collaboration Tools: Supports teamwork but may lack advanced social listening features compared to competitors like Sprout Social. These functionalities collectively improve your ability to manage social media effectively as well as enhancing engagement with your audience. Pricing Structure Analysis Evaluating the pricing structure of Agorapulse reveals a mix of benefits and drawbacks that can impact your decision-making process. Although Agorapulse offers a limited free version, its paid plans start at $69 per month, catering to agencies and larger teams. Each plan varies in the number of allowed social profiles and users, providing flexibility to meet your specific needs. Furthermore, opting for annual billing can lead to significant savings. Agorapulse justifies its higher price point with advanced features like social media monitoring and AI writing assistance. Users often find that the robust analytics and collaboration capabilities deliver substantial value, making the investment worthwhile for serious social media management. Nonetheless, it’s vital to evaluate your budget and requirements before committing. Buffer: Pros and Cons Buffer stands out as a popular choice for social media management, particularly because it offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the scheduling of posts across various accounts. Here are some pros and cons to reflect on: Pros: Free plan available for basic needs. Robust analytics to track engagement and performance. AI Assistant for generating posts and content ideas. Unlimited scheduled posts with paid plans. Ability to manage multiple social accounts simultaneously. Cons: May lack advanced features found in extensive tools. Deeper analytics may not be as robust. Paid plans start at $15 per month. Some users may find the interface too simplistic. Limited customization options for analytics reports. Choosing the Right Planner for Your Needs How do you determine the right social media planner for your specific needs? Start by identifying your primary platforms; for example, if you focus on Instagram and TikTok, tools like Pallyy and Later are ideal since they excel in visual content scheduling. Next, evaluate the features you require—content curation, analytics, or team collaboration—where SocialBee offers robust content curation and approval workflows. Don’t forget to assess your budget; Publer, starting at $12/month, is an affordable choice. Look for planners with trial periods, like Sendible or Hootsuite, to test their effectiveness before committing. Finally, prioritize user-friendly interfaces; tools like Buffer and Metricool streamline your social media management, helping you save time and improve efficiency. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 5 3 2 Rule for Social Media? The 5 3 2 Rule for social media suggests that in a set of ten posts, you should share five valuable pieces of content from others, three personal insights or updates, and two promotional posts about your own products or services. This strategy balances engagement with promotional efforts, encouraging community interaction. What Is the 5 5 5 Rule on Social Media? The 5 5 5 rule on social media recommends that you create a balanced content strategy by posting five engaging or entertaining posts, followed by five informative or educational posts, and then five promotional posts. This approach prevents overwhelming your audience with sales pitches, as well as providing value. By alternating content types, you can maintain interest, promote community interaction, and improve engagement metrics, ultimately resulting in a more holistic brand presence on social media. What Is the Best Social Media Platform for Engagement? When considering the best social media platform for engagement, Instagram stands out with its average engagement rate of 1.22% for brands. TikTok follows closely, leveraging its algorithm to keep users engaged through short videos. Pinterest users engage more with brands, whereas LinkedIn has gained traction for B2B interactions, generating notably higher engagement than Facebook. Twitter’s engagement is driven by trending topics and hashtags, making content relevance essential for maximizing interaction. What Gets the Most Engagement on Social Media? To get the most engagement on social media, focus on using visuals like images and videos, as they generate considerably more interaction than text alone. Interactive content, such as polls and quizzes, invites participation, enhancing engagement rates. Furthermore, sharing personal stories can make your posts more relatable, leading to increased shares. Timing likewise matters; posting during peak hours, especially from 9 AM to 12 PM on weekdays, can boost visibility and interaction. Conclusion In summary, selecting the right social media planner can greatly improve your engagement strategies. Each tool, from SocialBee to Buffer, offers unique features customized to different needs, whether it’s scheduling, analytics, or content creation. By evaluating the pros and cons of each option, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your brand’s goals. Prioritizing the features that matter most to you will help guarantee a consistent and effective online presence, cultivating stronger connections with your audience. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Best Social Media Planners to Maximize Engagement" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Files show former prince tried to encourage Emirati foreign minister to do business with disgraced financierView the full article

Before a project can be priced, scheduled or even approved, someone must translate drawings into measurable reality. That moment is the construction takeoff, where plans stop being abstract and start driving decisions about cost, scope and risk across the entire job from bidding through execution and final closeout phases nationwide. What Is a Construction Takeoff? A construction takeoff is the systematic process of reviewing project drawings and specifications to identify, measure and quantify all work required to build a project. It converts visual information into numeric quantities for materials, labor and equipment. These quantities become the foundation for estimating costs, planning procurement, forecasting labor hours and supporting bid preparation, scope coordination and cost control throughout preconstruction and execution by aligning design intent with measurable scope before construction begins and informing changes, revisions and decisions later. ProjectManager allows construction project management teams to visualize the scope of work for their projects, allocate resources and estimate costs as they go through the construction takeoff process. Features such as Gantt charts, workload charts, timesheets, task lists and sheet views are ideal for planning what resources will be needed, when they will be used and how much they will cost. Get started for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Assign-people-resource-allocation-CTA-1600x794.pngLearn more Why Is It Important to Do a Construction Takeoff? Accurate planning depends on knowing what must be built, in what quantity and at what effort. A construction takeoff anchors decisions in measurable scope, reducing guesswork, aligning teams and preventing downstream surprises that inflate costs, compress schedules and undermine confidence before work even begins across complex construction projects nationwide today. By quantifying every work component early, construction takeoff establishes realistic cost baselines, supports unit pricing and prevents overlooked scope from distorting construction budgets, contingencies and funding decisions during preconstruction and approvals. Because quantities define expected consumption, construction takeoff enables cost tracking by comparing planned versus actual usage, revealing overruns early and allowing corrective action before small deviations escalate into financial issues. Measured quantities translate directly into labor hours, crew sizes and task durations, allowing construction takeoff to support realistic construction schedules, logical sequencing and timelines that reflect actual workload rather than assumptions. Variance analysis relies on a baseline, and construction takeoff provides it by defining planned quantities, costs and effort, making deviations measurable, explainable and traceable throughout project execution and reporting cycles. Procurement planning depends on knowing what materials are required, when they are needed and in what quantities, which construction takeoff clarifies to reduce shortages, delays, waste and last purchasing risks. When to Do a Construction Takeoff Timing matters because construction takeoff is not a one-time task performed in isolation. It typically begins during preconstruction once schematic or design development drawings are available, providing early insight for feasibility and budgeting. As plans advance into construction documents, the takeoff is refined to support bidding, subcontractor pricing and permitting. Revisions often continue through addenda, value engineering efforts and scope clarifications. Even after construction starts, takeoff quantities may be revisited when change orders, design updates or unforeseen site conditions alter the original scope. In terms of the project management life cycle, construction takeoff aligns with the planning phase, after objectives and scope are defined but before execution begins. It supports estimating, scheduling and resource planning, then serves as a reference baseline during execution and monitoring, enabling performance measurement, change evaluation and informed decision-making as the project progresses. /wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026_construction_ebook_banner-ad.jpg Who Participates in the Construction Takeoff Although one person may lead it, construction takeoff is rarely a solo exercise. Accurate quantities depend on shared interpretation of drawings, specs and assumptions. Estimators, project managers, engineers and field leaders contribute expertise, review risks and validate scope so measurements reflect how the work will actually be built onsite today. Estimator: Leads the takeoff by reviewing drawings and specifications, measuring quantities and organizing scope by trade or cost code. Estimators apply standards, assumptions and waste factors, document clarifications and ensure quantities remain consistent, traceable and suitable for pricing, bidding and internal reviews across revisions. Preconstruction manager: Oversees the takeoff effort by defining methodology, schedules and quality controls. This role aligns estimators, designers and stakeholders, resolves scope gaps, validates assumptions and ensures quantities support budgeting, risk analysis and bid strategy before contractual commitments are made. Project manager: Uses takeoff outputs to plan execution and validate constructability. Project managers review quantities for sequencing, labor loading and procurement timing, flag risks tied to assumptions and confirm the takeoff supports realistic schedules, cash flow forecasts and change management during construction. Design engineer or architect: Supports the takeoff by clarifying design intent and resolving ambiguities. They answer RFIs, confirm measurement standards and ensure quantities reflect technical requirements, tolerances and system coordination, reducing rework, disputes and downstream changes caused by misinterpretation. Field superintendent: Contributes practical insight by validating quantities against real means and methods. Superintendents assess access, sequencing and productivity impacts, identify constructability risks and confirm measured scope aligns with how crews, equipment and materials will actually be deployed onsite. How to Do a Construction Takeoff Rather than a single action, a construction takeoff unfolds through a sequence of interconnected subprocesses, often called takeoffs themselves. Each focuses on a specific dimension of scope, such as quantities or materials. Together, they build a complete, structured view of what must be built, purchased, installed and managed, allowing planning decisions to remain consistent, traceable and aligned across estimating, scheduling and execution. 1. Quantity Takeoff (QTO) A quantity takeoff is the process of systematically measuring and counting all physical components of a construction project directly from drawings and specifications. It identifies measurable units such as lengths, areas, volumes and counts for every scope item. The output is a detailed list of quantified work elements that represents the full construction scope in numerical form. Within the broader construction takeoff process, quantity takeoff acts as the structural foundation. It establishes the baseline measurements from which material requirements, labor hours, equipment needs and costs are derived. Without accurate quantities, downstream planning activities lack consistency and become vulnerable to compounding errors. 2. Material Takeoff (MTO) A material takeoff is the process of translating measured quantities into specific materials required to complete the work. It identifies material types, sizes, specifications and counts needed for procurement, fabrication and delivery. This process often incorporates waste factors, packaging constraints and constructability considerations to reflect real purchasing requirements accurately. As part of the larger construction takeoff, material takeoff builds directly on quantity data. It bridges measurement and procurement by converting abstract quantities into buyable items, supporting purchasing schedules, supplier coordination and inventory control while ensuring material availability aligns with planned construction sequencing. 3. Labor Takeoff A labor takeoff is the process of converting measured construction quantities into required labor effort. It applies productivity rates, crew compositions and installation assumptions to determine labor hours by task or scope. Outputs define workforce needs, support duration calculations and reflect how work will be executed under expected conditions, constraints and sequencing across projects and trades during planning phases activities. Within the overall construction takeoff, labor takeoff links quantities to time and staffing. It transforms scope into executable effort, enabling schedules, cash flow forecasts and resource plans to align with measured work rather than assumptions used for baseline planning and performance control throughout preconstruction and active project delivery phases nationwide. 4. Equipment Takeoff An equipment takeoff identifies the machinery, tools and temporary systems required to perform construction activities. It defines equipment types, capacities and durations of use based on quantities, methods and site conditions. The process accounts for mobilization, utilization and rental periods, supporting decisions on ownership, leasing, logistics and coordination with labor and schedule requirements across complex projects and phases nationwide today. Within the construction takeoff process, equipment takeoff complements labor and material planning. It ensures the right resources are available when work is scheduled, prevents bottlenecks and allows costs and durations tied to equipment usage to be integrated into estimates and schedules consistently across phases, trades and delivery methods nationwide today. 5. Cost Takeoff A cost takeoff applies unit prices, rates and markups to quantified labor, material and equipment requirements. It converts takeoff data into detailed cost line items, reflecting direct and indirect expenses. This process incorporates subcontractor pricing, overhead, contingencies and allowances to produce a structured estimate that supports budgeting, bidding and financial decision-making for construction projects across sectors and delivery environments nationwide. As the final layer of construction takeoff, cost takeoff synthesizes all preceding outputs. It ties quantities, labor and equipment together in monetary terms, enabling comparisons, approvals and ongoing cost control once execution begins based on consistent assumptions and documented scope baselines used for reporting, forecasting, audits and change evaluation processes. 6. Scope-Specific Takeoffs Scope-specific takeoffs organize quantities and measurements by construction discipline or trade, such as architectural, structural, civil or MEP. This process isolates work by scope boundaries, drawing sets and specification sections. It ensures each trade’s requirements are measured independently, reducing overlap, omissions and coordination issues while aligning quantities with contractual scopes, bid packages and responsibility assignments. Within the broader construction takeoff process, scope-specific takeoffs provide structure and clarity. They allow quantities, materials and costs to be grouped logically, supporting subcontractor bidding, trade coordination and scope buyout. This organization improves accountability, simplifies reviews and ensures downstream planning aligns with how work is procured and executed. 7. Waste, Allowances & Contingencies Waste, allowances and contingencies account for uncertainty, inefficiency and variability inherent in construction work. This process applies percentage factors or specific adjustments to quantities and costs to reflect material loss, breakage, rework, design development gaps and unforeseen conditions. These adjustments prevent overly optimistic planning and help produce more resilient, realistic takeoff outputs. As part of the construction takeoff process, waste and allowances refine measured quantities to better match real-world execution. They protect budgets and schedules from predictable deviations, support risk management and ensure estimates remain credible when designs evolve, site conditions change or execution introduces inefficiencies beyond idealized assumptions. Free Related Construction Project Management Templates We’ve created dozens of free construction project management templates for Word, Excel and Google Sheets. Here are some that can help during the construction takeoff process. Construction Scope of Work Template This template helps document and organize measured scope from the construction takeoff, clarifying responsibilities, assumptions and boundaries so all parties share a consistent understanding of what work is included. Construction Budget Template Built from takeoff outputs, this template organizes quantified costs into a structured budget, supporting approvals, forecasting and financial control while maintaining alignment between scope, quantities and funding. Construction Estimate Template This template converts takeoff data into a formal estimate, presenting quantities, labor, materials and costs in a clear format suitable for bidding, review and decision-making. ProjectManager Has Robust Construction Resource & Cost Management Features ProjectManager is an award-winning project management software packed with construction project planning, scheduling and tracking features, making it ideal for managing every phase of a construction project. Watch the video below to learn more and get started for free today! Related Construction Project Management Content We’ve created over 100 construction blogs, templates, ebooks and other types of content to help construction project managers better understand the many moving parts that must be managed to deliver successful construction projects. Here are some of them. Making a Construction Schedule How to Manage a Construction Project Step by Step The Ultimate Guide to Construction Project Management Material Takeoff (MTO) in Construction: A Quick How-to Guide Quantity Takeoff in Construction: Process, Benefits and More The post How to Do a Construction Takeoff Step by Step appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

In 2024, the clean energy sector saw a job boom: The industry added nearly 100,000 new jobs throughout that year, meaning clean energy jobs grew more than three times faster than the rest of the workforce. Last year was a different story, however. It was a year of losses for the clean energy industry, in terms of projects, investments, and employment. Existing factories closed, like Natron Energy’s sodium-ion battery facilities in Michigan and California. Planned facilities were canceled, including a $3.2 billion Stellantis battery factory in Illinois. And multiple kinds of projects were scrapped, blocked, or downsized, from EV plants to wind farms. In total, the turbulent year meant that 38,000 jobs—a mix of current and future positions—were erased from the clean energy industry, according to a new analysis by E2, a nonpartisan organization that tracks U.S. clean energy projects. A net loss of clean energy jobs The vast majority of those 38,000 lost jobs were in manufacturing (though some may have been counted in multiple categories, like energy generation or maintenance). For comparison, by the end of 2024, there were about 577,000 manufacturing jobs in the clean energy industry. These job losses are especially significant because they’re happening amid a general decline in manufacturing employment. In 2024, clean energy manufacturing had been a “bright spot,” says Michael Timberlake, E2 director of research and publications, helping bring back U.S. production. “When those projects are canceled, we’re not just losing jobs on paper; we’re losing a pathway that had been driving a new manufacturing resurgence,” he says. “And the investment doesn’t disappear. It moves to other countries and U.S. competitors that are aggressively building clean energy supply chains and hiring the workers we can’t afford to lose.” Even amid cancellations, some new clean energy projects and jobs were announced in 2025, like a $42 million Anthro Energy battery factory in Louisville, Kentucky, which will create 110 jobs. But the number of jobs eliminated outweighs those potential additions. Just 22,905 jobs were announced in 2025, meaning a net loss of more than 15,000 expected clean energy positions. “No previous year tracked by E2 saw job losses on this scale, underscoring how quickly employment gains can evaporate when projects are abandoned,” the analysis reads. New clean energy investments were also overshadowed by cancellations. Companies canceled, closed, or downsized $34.8 billion in clean energy projects, nearly three times the $12.3 billion in new investment announced throughout the year, a 3-to-1 imbalance. Republican-held districts hit harder Though the entire country was affected by these losses, Republican-held districts felt their impact a bit more than others. Republican districts lost $19.9 billion in investments that would have brought 24,500 jobs to those regions, compared to $10.6 billion and 12,600 jobs lost in Democratic-held districts. That makes sense because the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed by then-President Joe Biden in 2022—which spurred clean energy jobs and projects—benefited many Republican-led districts, even though not a single Republican voted for the legislation and in fact House Republicans voted 42 times to repeal it. Nearly 200,000 of the 334,000 clean energy jobs that the IRA created in its first two years were in congressional districts represented by Republican House members. Still, clean energy is growing Despite attacks on clean energy by the current The President administration, the sector is still growing in the United States. In 2025, nearly all of the new power added to the country’s grid came from solar, wind, and batteries. Even the U.S. Energy Information Administration has said that all net new generating capacity the country sees in 2026 will come from renewables. And clean energy experts say the industry will continue to grow—even as the president tries to prop up coal, oil, and gas—because electricity generated from renewables is cheaper than fossil fuels, and the projects are often faster to build than fossil fuel power plants. Still, economic losses that the clean energy sector saw in 2025 are devastating, and may not be fully recovered. And if clean energy job growth is at risk, that affects our entire economy. Clean energy jobs are present in every single state, and, as the World Resources Institute put it in November, “movement toward clean energy will create opportunity for millions of Americans.” E2’s data also doesn’t capture the “tens of thousands of additional jobs and projects” that likely would have been announced if the country’s policy and market certainty continued, Timberlake says. “Likely hundreds of projects that would have been announced, and hundreds more that could’ve been announced this year, cannot be recovered,” he adds, “and will instead benefiting workers and communities in other countries.” View the full article

US president adds that he retains right to ‘militarily secure’ American base on Diego GarciaView the full article

U.S. job openings fell to the lowest level in more than five years, another sign that the American labor market remains sluggish. The Labor Department reported Thursday that vacancies fell to 6.5 million in December — from 6.9 million in November and the fewest since September 2020. Layoffs rose slightly. The number of people quitting their jobs — which shows confidence in their prospects — was basically unchanged at 3.2 million. December openings came in lower than economists had forecast. The economy is in a puzzling place. Growth is strong: Gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — advanced from July through September at the fastest pace in two years. But the job market is lackluster: Employers have added just 28,000 jobs a month since March. In the 2021-2023 hiring boom that followed COVID-19 lockdowns, by contrast, they were creating 400,000 jobs a month. When the Labor Department releases hiring and unemployment numbers for January next Wednesday, they are expected to show the companies, government agencies and nonprofits added about 70,000 jobs last month — modest but up from 50,000 in December. On Wednesday, payroll processor ADP reported that private employers added just 22,000 jobs last month, far fewer than forecasters had expected. And the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday that companies slashed more than 108,000 jobs last month, the most since October and the worst January for job cuts since 2009. “The hiring recession isn’t going to end anytime soon,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, wrote in a commentary. “Job openings in December just fell to their lowest level since September 2020. It’s yet another sign of how little hiring – or interest in hiring – is happening in this economy.” Economists are trying to figure out if hiring will accelerate to catch up to strong growth or if growth will slow to reflect a weak labor market or if advances in artificial intelligence and automation mean that the economy can roar ahead without creating many jobs. —Paul Wiseman, AP economics writer View the full article

Novo Nordisk’s stock dove 7% on Thursday just after an announcement from a key competitor. The drop came just after telehealth company Hims & Hers announced it will offer a new version of the treatment, made from the same active ingredient, semaglutide, for a fraction of Novo Nordisk’s price. The telehealth site will offer the treatment at an introductory price of $49, the announcement said. After the introductory offer ends, patients with a 5-month subscription will pay $99 monthly for the treatment. Novo Nordisk sells the weight-loss drug for $149. Hims & Hers had already been offering the treatment in an injectable form, but the oral version is new for the brand. “We’re excited to find ways to continue bringing branded treatments to the platform across specialties. More choice on the platform is the best thing for customers everywhere,” said Hims CEO Andrew Dudum in a statement. While the announcement spurred Novo Nordisk’s stock to reach its lowest level since July 2021, it wasn’t the only company that saw its stock slip on Thursday. Eli Lilly’s fell by up to 6.1% on the announcement. Meanwhile, Hims and Hers Health stock surged 19% on Thursday. On Wednesday, Novo CFO Karsten Munk Knudsen told Reuters that the company is “frustrated” with “mass marketing” of knock-off versions of the drug which was “unapproved by the FDA”. The CFO warned that unprecedented pricing pressure as competition grows in the weight-loss drug market, added that it’s a challenge to predict “if and when the tide turns” for the brand. Per Hims & Hers announcement, the company said that safety is the brand’s “top priority.” It continued, “The Compounded Semaglutide Pill joins a wide range of other weight loss treatments accessible through our platform, all of which meet rigorous clinical standards.” Fast Company reached out to Novo Nordisk but did not hear back by the time of publication. In November, when the company dropped its prices to fend off competition, Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, said, “As pioneers of the GLP-1 class, we are committed to ensuring that real, FDA-approved Wegovy and Ozempic are affordable and accessible to those who need them.” Moore continued: “The U.S. healthcare system is complex, with different types of insurance and various ways for patients to obtain their medicines. Our new savings offers provide immediate impact, bringing forward greater cost savings for those who are currently without coverage or choose to self-pay.” View the full article

In certain corners of corporate America, a generous parental leave policy has become a crucial tool for recruiting and retention. Many of the biggest tech employers have been leaders on this front, offering 16 to 20 weeks of leave, or even close to six months at companies like Google. But even as companies have expanded their parental leave benefits, few of them have sought to address the unique challenges many parents—and especially mothers—face when they actually return to work. A handful of companies, among them Apple and Amazon, offer a grace period that enables employees to ease back into work part-time or work flexible hours for a few weeks. Despite all these advances, clinical psychologist and author Angele Close argues that many leaders still don’t fully comprehend how pregnancy and motherhood fundamentally changes people—a phenomenon that is now better understood. Over the last decade, researchers have studied how going through pregnancy and motherhood alters cognition and changes the brain in a manner that lasts at least two years. There’s a term for this experience: matrescence, which Close defines as a “profound identity transformation that women go through becoming mothers, [which] affects all areas of their life—physiologically, neurologically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually.” In her book Matrescence: On Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood, journalist and science writer Lucy Jones describes it as a transition akin to adolescence, with comparable changes to the brain. The modern workplace, however, is not really designed to accommodate matrescence. It’s not just that women are uniquely impacted by pregnancy and childbirth; in many cases, they also disproportionately shoulder the burden of caregiving responsibilities. Even now, with so many companies offering more generous leave policies, men still take less leave. Most workplaces are simply not equipped to adequately support working mothers when they return—and concerns over showing bias or making shaky assumptions about their ambitions can put employers in a tricky position. Setting up support Close believes the first step is just increasing awareness of how working mothers are changed by the experience of matrescence. “People don’t understand matrescence yet, so we have to get that language in our culture to really appreciate it,” she says. “There is this idea [that] you get your leave, and then you’re going to just bounce right back . . . Of course, it’s unique and individual to everybody. But even just having that language and the lens of it—she’s not coming back the same woman she was when she left. And can we give space for that? Can we be curious about that?” For some employees, matrescence might precipitate a more radical shift. “Many women do start wanting different things,” Close says. “What lights you up before might light you up differently. Sometimes that might mean they are going to just leave the company and go and try something new.” Of course, despite common assumptions that a woman’s ambitions recede after having a baby, everyone responds to motherhood differently. But Close says companies should be more open to the idea that something may have shifted. Or at least give employees an opening to have a conversation about their priorities upon their return: both what they might need as they reacclimate, and how they hope to balance their ambitions alongside their caregiving responsibilities. That might also include having a follow-up conversation a few months down the road, to check in and reevaluate. “Most women that I talk to want that,” says Close, who works with clients both as a therapist and motherhood coach. “They are fulfilled in work. They don’t want to stay at home. They want to find a way to integrate this and make it work. But because it’s not understood in the workforce and in their organizations, they aren’t fully supported.” Navigating a transformation While parental leave policies and other caregiver benefits can amount to lip service at certain companies, it remains a crucial offering for many employees, as well as an opportunity for companies to talk about issues that might impact working parents. A company that wants to highlight the challenges faced by mothers returning to the workplace could, for example, bring in people to speak on the subject for a “lunch and learn” event. When employers don’t leave room for much dialogue about their career ambitions, it also makes it that much more difficult for working mothers to raise concerns. “If I’m not feeling supported, now I have to vocalize it,” Close says. “So the more that people understand, the safer it’s going to be for a mom to have the confidence to say: ‘I know it’s not me and I’m not failing. This is what I need.’” In fact, companies should see this as an opportunity to cultivate loyalty and strong leadership skills. The experience of matrescence can be a “real positive transformation for women,” Close says, one that gives them greater clarity on their values and priorities. The juggling act of early motherhood enhances their ability to manage competing priorities in a way that can prove exceptionally useful in the workplace. “She’s now juggling many, many things, and her whole body—her physiology—is managing that, and developing it, and getting good at it,” she says. “We’re missing out on potential great leaders if they just feel unsupported and end up leaning out.” The costs of failing to support There are long-term consequences when companies fail to develop those employees, well beyond the acute transformation of early motherhood. In their initial years of child-rearing, working mothers may need more flexibility in their schedules and seek out greater work-life balance. But the motherhood penalty can affect how companies perceive those women further along in their careers, as their children grow older and they want to pour themselves into their work. “There are a lot of women who are kind of at the later stages of motherhood, where they have a lot to offer,” Close says. “They have more energy, they have more space, and they have gained those skills.” After all, there’s a real cost when companies are unable to retain these workers. In the years since the pandemic—which drove many working mothers out of their jobs—the number of women in the workforce had surpassed pre-pandemic levels. But last year, that trend started to reverse: In the first half of 2025, about 212,000 women exited the workforce, and a Washington Post analysis found that the share of working mothers between the ages of 25 and 44 had dipped by nearly three percentage points. The December jobs report cemented this shift as 81,000 workers left the labor force—all of whom were women, according to the National Women’s Law Center. “When moms come to see me, they’re cracking, or they’re burnt out,” Close says. “A big part of what I do is to just say: What you’re going through is normal, and it’s expected, and it’s not a personal, individual failure. What a world it would be if we all understood that, and companies and bosses and CEOs could make space for that and be supportive. We’d have a lot more moms [who] are thriving.” View the full article

Bob Iger doesn’t understand generative AI. He thinks it is good for the quarterly bottom line. He believes a corporation can control it, and that lawyers and agreements can bind it. He is clueless. Generative AI is here to kill Hollywood—including the company he’s now leaving to Josh D’Amaro, the new heir to Disney’s throne. This became painfully clear to me during Disney’s recent first-quarter financial call. Taking a victory lap for his “modernization” efforts, he briefly laid out the roadmap for the company’s partnership with OpenAI, announced in December 2025. Under the agreement, Disney would invest $1 billion in the AI company and let it tap Disney’s IP crown jewels so Sora users can make clips of Donald The President wearing an Iron Man suit battling Jafar dressed as an Iranian Ayatollah. Here’s Iger’s plan as stated: Step one—flood Disney+ with Sora 2 generated “vertical videos” capped at 30 seconds. Iger views this as a “positive step” that will “jump-start” the platform’s ability to compete with the dopamine-loop short-form content of TikTok and YouTube. There is no Step 2. At least not yet. For the last 15 years, Iger has been on a quest to find the silver bullet that keeps Disney relevant deep into the 21st century. He bought Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Fox. Now, as he leaves Cinderella’s castle behind, he clearly views this Sora partnership as the final move that allows him to leave the company “future-proofed.” During the call, Iger all but carved this philosophy in stone for D’Amaro. “I believe that in the world that changes as much as it does that in some form or another, trying to preserve the status quo is a mistake, and I’m certain that my successor will not do that,” Iger said. “They’ll be handed, I think, a good hand in terms of the strength of the company, [and a] number of opportunities to grow.” But to say curated AI slop provides “a number of opportunities to grow” is an Epcot-sized ball of naiveté. Iger’s intention to evolve Disney is correct; stagnation is indeed death, as any Harvard Business School freshman will recite. But his strategy fails to understand the nature of the beast he has invited into the Magic Kingdom. Iger is talking about generative AI like a new distribution channel or a camera lens—a tool that can be kept in a walled garden to serve a corporate master. But AI is not a tool; it is a solvent. It dissolves the barriers between creator and consumer, between professional and amateur, and ultimately, between value and noise. A new plan for Disney D’Amaro is walking into a wall of noise that is going to get increasingly harder to break through as generative content continues to take over our feeds. Disney’s saving grace could be that D’Amaro, a man who built his career overseeing the company’s theme parks and experiences, likely understands the value of true physical, human-driven innovation. Expanding those experiences, as Iger said on the call, will be Disney’s focus in the years to come. It makes perfect sense. Disney’s Experiences segment outperformed the Entertainment segment in Q1 2026 by a factor of almost three. While entertainment revenue reached $11.61 billion, high content production and marketing costs for major releases caused its operating income to plunge 35% to $1.1 billion. In contrast, the Experiences segment posted record revenue of $10.01 billion with an operating income of $3.31 billion, accounting for roughly 71% of Disney’s total segment operating profit for the quarter. It’s telling that the physical experience and its human factor, beat the cumulus of film and TV re-fried franchise releases. D’Amaro has the opportunity to set a strategy that could make Disney thrive. He has the track record to do it. D’Amaro’s experience isn’t limited to running a theme park. He secured the throne partly because he championed Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games and Fortnite. He seemingly understands the digital generation. Now the question is, will he see the Sora deal for what it is? Disney’s agreement with OpenAI is a three-year deal, with a one-year exclusivity clause that opens Disney to close deals with, say, Kuaishou Technology, the Chinese makers of Kling. In corporate time, three years is a blink. But for Generative AI—where time is measured in yellow dog’s years—it is an epoch. By the time this contract expires, the havoc AI will have wreaked on the entertainment industry won’t be something you can negotiate away. This is a pivotal moment that D’Amaro needs to address now, even if it goes against the stock market algorithms and the vision of a Wall Street-revered old man now sailing into the sunset on his gilded version of the Black Pearl. Iger’s AI strategy Iger outlined three pillars for this AI strategy at his call: Creativity (assisting the process) Productivity (efficiency, read: cost-cutting) Connectivity (a “more intimate relationship” with the consumer). His vision is a Disney+ where you don’t just watch Frozen; you generate a 30-second clip of Olaf dancing in your living room. Exciting. The financial sector, predictable as ever, applauded at the mere thought of Disney embracing AI. When the Sora deal was announced, many analysts like Citi Research Media Analyst Jason Bazinet called this a masterful move: A “strategic defense,” and a way to monetize IP that would otherwise be scrapped for free. Bazinet believes “this agreement codifies what specific IP can be used (animated characters) and what form the output can take (i.e. short-form video). This will both protect actors/actresses in Hollywood and prevent cannibalization of Disney’s long-form Film and TV output.” Outside the boardroom, things aren’t so La La Land. The unions that work in the “Creativity” pillar view Iger’s AI strategy as a betrayal, framing it as a Trojan Horse that normalizes the technology that is intended to replace them. The Writers Guild of America said that “[the partnership] seems to endorse the platform’s appropriation of their work while diminishing the value of their creations for the benefit of a tech corporation.” Iger’s idea of “Productivity” is just corporate speak for employing fewer humans. “Jobs are going to be lost,” as filmmaker Tyler Perry said after the news. Perry saw the writing on the wall a long time ago, halting an $800 million studio expansion after seeing the first version of Sora. If you can generate a location, you don’t need to build it. If you can generate a performance, you don’t need to film it. Disney has been cutting jobs in the film, television, and finance department, but none related yet to its AI initiatives, mainly in post-production.. And as for “Connectivity,” consumers are all well served, thank you very much. Anyone who has surfed YouTube, TikTok, Discord, Instagram, X, or Reddit, knows they are overflowing with AI-generated videos. There are not enough Avengers, Baby Yodas, and Mickey Mice in the world to win this war of content. And the more time that passes, the less chance Disney has at winning that war with the same tools as the “enemy” is using. Disney is adopting Sora to fight a battle in its own walled garden, limited to its famous-but-limited IP. By definition, it can’t compete against the entire planet creating universes of infinitely-expanding generated content. Horizon events Iger seems to believe that by partnering with OpenAI, Disney has bought safety. Somehow, he thinks this buys Disney control over the beast. But OpenAI does not control generative AI. Altman is a chump compared to the combined power of the companies cooking generative AI video technology in China. Generative AI is, right now, an all-powerful being who doesn’t care about corporate deals. Iger’s remarks remind me of that viral 1999 Newsnight interview with David Bowie, where he laughed at the interviewer who thought the Internet was “just a tool.” No Bob, Bowie would have told Iger today, AI is not a tool. It’s an alien lifeform. Experts warned me of this moment in 2023. Tom Graham—CEO of Metaphysic, a firm dedicated to protecting actors and regular people against AI clones— told me that we were approaching a “horizon of events” where reality would evaporate. Gil Perry—CEO of AI avatar firm D-ID—predicted that within “one or two years,” we wouldn’t be able to distinguish truth from lies. Emad Mostaque—co-founder of Stability AI—told me that within a decade, we’d create anything in real-time with “visual perfection.” They were all correct, but far too conservative. We didn’t need a decade. We barely needed three years. Which, in itself, is a testimony of the true power of AI and its ability to change reality and content as we know it. Today, early 2026, we have crossed that horizon. The “uncanny valley,” which allowed us to instinctively distinguish fake AI from real, is permanently closed. Models like Sora 2 and Google’s Veo 3 more than often produce video indistinguishable from reality for short clips. But the real threat to Disney isn’t the partner they paid $1 billion to; it’s the technology they didn’t buy. Open-source platforms like Wan 2.6—made by Chinese company Alibaba—are already running on consumer hardware, offering “multi-shot storytelling” and character consistency that rivals the closed systems of Silicon Valley. The technology is wild, uncensored, and free. It doesn’t care about Disney’s copyright. It doesn’t care about walled gardens. It is creating a Big Bang of content where a teenager in a basement can generate a film that looks as expensive as a Marvel blockbuster. The dilution of magic And this is where Iger’s gamble truly falls apart. He assumes that in this world of infinite, picture-perfect content, Disney’s IP will remain king. And why? Disney has spent the last decade systematically exhausting its brand equity. We are drowning in the umpteenth Star Wars spinoff and the 50th Marvel phase. The brand fatigue is palpable. Why would people, except the hard-core fanboys, choose to consume frozen-TV-dinner clips of the same old stuff again and again? How can the acceleration of this IPs’ exhaustion, allowing users to churn out “AI-slopped” versions of these characters, help Disney? Iger thinks adding “curated” user-generated noise to Disney+ is a value-add, failing to see it for what it is: the final commoditization of its former magic. Why would the current and future generations care about a sanitized, 30-second Mickey Mouse clip on Disney+ when they can go to an open platform and generate their own universe, tailored specifically to their own desires, with characters that feel just as real but are completely new? Change course or sink If there’s anything I can be sure of is that the history of the internet—from YouTube to TikTok—teaches us one thing: The audience craves the new, the raw, and the personal. They are moving away from the polished, corporate monoliths. By integrating Sora 2, Iger isn’t saving Disney; he is training his audience to accept synthetic media, accelerating the very shift that renders legacy studios obsolete. Bob Iger is right that you have to change or die. But by betting that he can ride the tiger of generative AI without being eaten, he may have just opened the cage door for good. Perhaps D’Amaro, the man of the physical Disney, can save the House of Mouse from the digital trap Iger has set for him. If the future of content is infinite, cheap, and synthetic, the only true luxury left is the human touch. D’Amaro has the chance to zag where the rest of the industry is zigging. He can double down on the one thing AI cannot simulate—the spark of human genius that birthed this company in the first place. Instead of competing with teenagers in garages on AI speed, hire them to do what Walt Disney himself did: Invent new mythologies. Create your own technologies. Craft truly new, bold stories born from the messiness of the human spirit, not the probability curves of a model trained on the past. Reclaim the “experience” not just as a theme park ride, but as the act of witnessing something undeniably, beautifully human. That is the only magic trick left that an algorithm can’t replicate. View the full article

Mortgage rates edged higher after the Fed held rates steady, with markets weighing political shifts, Treasury moves and mixed signals on where borrowing costs head next. View the full article

Announcement made despite lack of progress in Ukraine-Russia peace dialogue View the full article

Start-up describes Opus 4.6 as its ‘most capable’ model for businesses and knowledge workView the full article

Google has started a Discover core update. The rollout may take up to two weeks, with expansion to more countries and languages later. The post Google Releases Discover-Focused Core Update appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Google has released its first core update of 2026, which is focused on just Google Discover. Google named it the February 2026 Discover core update. This one is rolling over the next two weeks or so just English language users in the US and at some point will roll out beyond that to all countries and languages.View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. When Owala water bottles started appearing in every influencer's "daily essentials" video and cluttering my Instagram feed, I rolled my eyes. I assumed this was another overhyped product that people would forget about in three months, just the latest in a long line of Stanley Cup successors. One of my biggest personality quirks (or "flaws," according to some) is that I'm a major spiller. The Stanley Cup's open straw is a non-starter for me. In fact, no water bottle technology has been stronger than my ability to spill its contents. After watching my latest bottle create yet another puddle in my bag, I caved and bought an Owala. And now, I have to admit this water bottle is officially an upgrade in my life. Why the Owala water bottle is the bestI'm a huge fan of the FreeSip lid—yes, that's what they call it, and yes, it lives up to the name—is genuinely brilliant in its simplicity. There's a built-in straw for when you want to sip without tilting (perfect for walking, driving, or my personal use case: lying horizontally on the couch). Flip it open a bit more, and there's a wide-mouth spout for when you want to chug. One lid, two drinking options, and crucially, a push-button lock that has saved my laptop, my physical planner, and my dignity. Seriously, I cannot emphasize this enough: I am a world-class spiller. The Owala's lock mechanism is the only thing standing between me and constant catastrophe. At 24 ounces, it's the perfect size—big enough that I'm not refilling it every hour, small enough that it actually fits in my bag's side pocket and doesn't make me look like I'm headed out for a weekend camping trip when I'm just going to run errands. It's become my constant companion without feeling like I'm lugging around gym equipment. Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Straw for Sports and Travel, BPA-Free, 24-oz, Blue/Teal (Denim) $29.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $29.99 at Amazon Sometimes the influencers are onto something. And now I'm part of the problem, becoming the exact person who won't shut up about their water bottle. But when you find something that solves multiple persistent problems at once, when a product actually delivers on its promises instead of just looking good in photos, it's hard not to evangelize a little. The Owala works. I'm staying hydrated, my bag is staying dry, and I'm sipping with ease wherever I go. View the full article

Here are three recent success stories submitted by readers. 1. A successful raise request I wanted to share that I used your advice for asking for a raise to successfully increase my salary. I presented salary surveys from nonprofit industry groups and local job postings for similar positions that showed my old salary was low compared to current listings in my metro area. In the end, I received a 9% raise, which I feel pretty good about. It isn’t as much as I hoped, but my supervisor did acknowledge it was the most they could give me at this time and that at first the proposed raise from HR was 6%. 2. A successful salary negotiation This is not me but my Gen Z daughter. She works in a field that is renown for contract work — and she just recently was able to secure a full-time, benefitted position in a field she loves. They offered her $X, which she was over the moon for, having been considerably underpaid in a prior teaching job. Figuring she might be able to eke out a bit more, she called her cousin (who worked in the field) and a career coach who has been wonderful at providing some pro bono assistance, and then called the hiring manager. She asked if there was any wiggle room in the salary. The hiring manager asked her what she was thinking and so she provided a range. The hiring manager replied with, “How about $Y?” This was higher than the range she had named and 12% higher than what she was initially offered. Now she’s really over the moon. It makes one wonder if there was even more wiggle room in that number, but that’s okay. She is going to be doing something she loves and is also now not afraid of asking for what she wants. It confirms the saying that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. 3. A successful skip-level meeting I changed roles in my organization in October. In December, the CIO sent a divisional all-hands email inviting all new joiners to a morning tea for welcome and networking. I wasn’t able to attend due to a preexisting health appointment. I emailed the CIO’s PA to apologize for missing it, and I channelled my inner-AAM hard: “I’d hoped to introduce myself to [CIO] as I know they were tracking a major incident two weeks ago that I was the technical lead for resolving.” The PA replied that the CIO would like to meet with me and offered a 15-minute slot in January. Because I’m in a large international organization, the CIO is my skip-level’s skip-level. In preparation, I read everything you’ve ever advised your readers about making the most of a skip-level meeting. I had a good — and fast! 90 seconds! — answer ready to “Tell me about what you do here and what you did before.” I asked them if they were curious about a ground-level view of the incident. They said no, in a friendly way, so I instantly pivoted to, “What’s front of mind for you for this quarter and this year?” They spent 10 minutes on five major initiatives and paused each time to invite comment. I correctly read the room and gave one or at most two sentences for each. I hit the jackpot with one, where the CIO paused and said, “Interesting that you saw that right away. Most of my team didn’t.” We finished in 13 minutes, and they congratulated me for “knowing how to speak with a CIO”. :) They also gave me two names of people who report to them that they wanted me to meet. Will anything come of it? Who knows? I don’t even really care — it was great practice, and I couldn’t have done it without your excellent advice. Thank you! The post 3 recent success stories from readers appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

For many women in the U.S. and around the world, motherhood comes with career costs. Raising children tends to lead to lower wages and fewer work hours for mothers—but not fathers—in the United States and around the world. As a sociologist, I study how family relationships can shape your economic circumstances. In the past, I’ve studied how motherhood tends to depress women’s wages, something social scientists call the “motherhood penalty.” I wondered: Can government programs that provide financial support to parents offset the motherhood penalty in earnings? A ‘motherhood penalty’ I set out with Therese Christensen, a Danish sociologist, to answer this question for moms in Denmark—a Scandinavian country with one of the world’s strongest safety nets. Several Danish policies are intended to help mothers stay employed. For example, subsidized child care is available for all children from 6 months of age until they can attend elementary school. Parents pay no more than 25% of its cost. But even Danish moms see their earnings fall precipitously, partly because they work fewer hours. Losing $9,000 in the first year In an article to be published in an upcoming issue of European Sociological Review, Christensen and I showed that mothers’ increased income from the state—such as from child benefits and paid parental leave—offset about 80% of Danish moms’ average earnings losses. Using administrative data from Statistics Denmark, a government agency that collects and compiles national statistics, we studied the long-term effects of motherhood on income for 104,361 Danish women. They were born in the early 1960s and became mothers for the first time when they were 20-35 years old. They all became mothers by 2000, making it possible to observe how their earnings unfolded for decades after their first child was born. While the Danish government’s policies changed over those years, paid parental leave and child allowances and other benefits were in place throughout. The women were, on average, age 26 when they became mothers for the first time, and 85% had more than one child. We estimated that motherhood led to a loss of about the equivalent of US$9,000 in women’s earnings—which we measured in inflation-adjusted 2022 U.S. dollars—in the year they gave birth to or adopted their first child, compared with what we would expect if they had remained childless. While the motherhood penalty got smaller as their children got older, it was long-lasting. The penalty only fully disappeared 19 years after the women became moms. Motherhood also led to a long-term decrease in the number of the hours they worked. Studying whether government can fix it These annual penalties add up. We estimated that motherhood cost the average Danish woman a total of about $120,000 in earnings over the first 20 years after they first had children—about 12% of the money they would have earned over those two decades had they remained childless. Most of the mothers in our study who were employed before giving birth were eligible for four weeks of paid leave before giving birth and 24 weeks afterward. They could share up to 10 weeks of their paid leave with the baby’s father. The length and size of this benefit has changed over the years. The Danish government also offers child benefits—payments made to parents of children under 18. These benefits are sometimes called a “child allowance.” Denmark has other policies, like housing allowances, that are available to all Danes, but are more generous for parents with children living at home. Using the same data, Christensen and I next estimated how motherhood affects how much money Danish moms receive from the government. We wanted to know whether they get enough income from the government to compensate for their loss of income from their paid work. We found that motherhood leads to immediate increases in Danish moms’ government benefits. In the year they first gave birth to or adopted a child, women received over $7,000 more from the government than if they had remained childless. That money didn’t fully offset their lost earnings, but it made a substantial dent. The gap between the money that mothers received from the government, compared with what they would have received if they remained childless, faded in the years following their first birth or adoption. But we detected a long-term bump in income from government benefits for mothers—even 20 years after they first become mothers. Cumulatively, we determined that the Danish government offset about 80% of the motherhood earnings penalty for the women we studied. While mothers lost about $120,000 in earnings compared with childless women over the two decades after becoming a mother, they gained about $100,000 in government benefits, so their total income loss was only about $20,000. Benefits for parents of older kids Our findings show that government benefits do not fully offset earnings losses for Danish moms. But they help a lot. Because most countries provide less generous parental benefits, Denmark is not a representative case. It is instead a test case that shows what’s possible when governments make financially supporting parents a high priority. That is, strong financial support for mothers from the government can make motherhood more affordable and promote gender equality in economic resources. Because the motherhood penalty is largest at the beginning, government benefits targeted to moms with infants, such as paid parental leave, may be especially valuable. Child care subsidies can also help mothers return to work faster. The motherhood penalty’s long-term nature, however, indicates that these short-term benefits are not enough to get rid of it altogether. Benefits that are available to all mothers of children under 18, such as child allowances, can help offset the long-term motherhood penalty for mothers of older children. Alexandra Killewald is a professor of sociology at the University of Michigan. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

The lender isn't accusing United Wholesale Mortgage of wrongdoing, but says a broker secured loans for the same customers from both companies weeks apart. View the full article

Intel Corporation has taken a significant step to support the financial futures of its employees’ children by announcing its participation in the U.S. government’s 530A “The President Accounts” program. The tech giant plans to match the federal government’s $1,000 contribution to eligible children, providing an additional layer of financial security for families. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for small business owners to evaluate how similar benefits could enhance employee satisfaction and retention in their own organizations. Under the “The President Accounts” program, children born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for this tax-deferred savings vehicle, designed to help families lay down a solid financial foundation for the next generation. As the CEO of Intel, Lip-Bu Tan stated, “America’s future technologists will define the next era of innovation, and the The President Accounts program helps give them an early financial foundation.” This sentiment underscores a larger trend where organizations invest in long-term benefits that not only support their workforce but also build relationships that encourage employee loyalty. The implications for small businesses are profound. By offering similar financial support mechanisms, businesses can create an attractive benefits package that not only appeals to prospective employees but also retains current team members. In an increasingly competitive job market, small businesses can differentiate themselves by demonstrating a commitment to both their employees and their families. Benefits that extend beyond traditional health plans cultivate a more engaged workforce and a sense of community. Intel’s move aligns with its historic commitment to enhancing opportunities for the next generation through various programs, notably in STEM education and digital readiness. By matching contributions to 530A accounts, the company not only reinforces its corporate philosophy but also sets a precedent for other employers. For small business owners, this could mean rethinking their benefits strategy to include educational savings plans, childcare assistance, or special programs that align with the values and needs of their employees. In addition to its match on the The President’s account contributions, Intel has a robust benefits landscape that includes fertility benefits, adoption support, and scholarship assistance. By taking these steps, Intel showcases how comprehensive benefits can serve as a powerful recruitment tool. Small business owners looking to attract top talent might find inspiration in Intel’s approach. Incorporating diverse financial wellness initiatives can yield higher employee morale and satisfaction, ultimately resulting in a more productive work environment. However, small business owners should also consider potential challenges when crafting benefits packages that could resemble Intel’s offerings. First, budget constraints may pose limitations on what benefits can realistically be provided. Implementing a robust financial savings program requires careful planning, a clear understanding of costs, and a commitment to seeing it through. Moreover, maintaining a competitive edge while ensuring economic stability can sometimes be a balancing act for smaller companies that rely on tighter profit margins. Another crucial element for small businesses to contemplate is the communication of such benefits. Employees may be unaware of the full scope of available offerings unless they are clearly articulated. Crafting campaigns to inform employees about beneficial programs can make a significant difference in their utilization rates. Small business owners must ensure that their teams are informed and educated about any financial wellness initiatives, including the eligibility requirements and benefits. Intel’s announcement not only opens a dialogue around innovative employee benefits but also positions them as a leader in corporate responsibility. Small business owners can certainly glean insights from Intel’s approach as they navigate the complexities of workforce management and employee engagement. Investing in employees’ families as Intel has done with the 530A program could very well serve as a roadmap for small businesses looking to enhance their value proposition in the eyes of current and prospective employees. For further details on the 530A accounts and Intel’s involvement, readers may refer to the original press release at Intel Newsroom. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Intel Matches Government Contribution for Kids’ Savings Accounts" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Some of these you may want to keep year round. By Sandi Leyva Go PRO for members-only access to more Sandi Smith Leyva. View the full article

Some of these you may want to keep year round. By Sandi Leyva Go PRO for members-only access to more Sandi Smith Leyva. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. There's a certain level of performance you expect from active noise-cancelling earbuds (ANC) or headphones—even if they are "budget" priced. If you're looking for a great pair of ANC earbuds for a price that won't make you cry if you lose them, consider the Anker Space A40, currently $44.98 (originally $99.99 at launch). I've been using these earbuds for over a year and cannot recommend them enough for the price. Soundcore by Anker Space A40 Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds, Reduce Noise by Up to 98%, Ultra Long 50H Playtime, 10H Single Playtime, Hi-Res Sound, Comfortable Fit, Wireless Charge $44.98 at Amazon $79.99 Save $35.01 Get Deal Get Deal $44.98 at Amazon $79.99 Save $35.01 The Soundcore by Anker Space A40 gives you as many features and even better ANC than some higher-end pairs for a budget-friendly price tag. I've had my pair for over a year now, and I can compare the ANC performance to some high-end earbuds I've sampled. For the price, the ANC is surprisingly good and also rivals earbuds that go over the $200 price mark. The earbuds have microphones that pick up the sound around you to adjust the ANC accordingly. You can read the full review from PCMag here if you want to go more in-depth about its features. Another impressive quality about these earbuds is their long battery life, with 10 hours of playtime and an additional 50 hours from the charging case. The Soundcore app lets you customize your EQ controls to your liking, but the default audio setting right from the box is already great, so there's no need to adjust it unless you want to. The earbuds fit well and don't come out easily, which is a must for any ANC. It is water-resistant with an IPX4 rating. The main place where these earbuds fall short is the audio if you're an Apple user because it relies on the AAC codec. But for the price, the Anker Space A40 does a great job at everything else and is my favorite ANC earbud under $100 dollars. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $139.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.99 (List Price $349.00) Blink Mini 2 1080p Security Camera (White) — $23.99 (List Price $39.99) Ring Outdoor Cam Pro Plug-In With Outdoor Cam Plus Battery (White) — $189.99 (List Price $259.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article