Like many of you, I grew up watching Its a Wonderful Life on television every holiday season. Frank Capras beloved film was a comforting part of our holiday tradition, often playing in the background while my family wrapped presents, cooked, or otherwise made merry.
Although the film was made in 1946, its lessons about money, power, and community seem remarkably relevant (and more poignant than ever) in 2025. Despite the passage of nearly 80 years, Americans are still facing many of the same issues that the citizens of Bedford Falls dealt with.
Rewatching George Bailey regain his hope can offer us a modern blueprint for handling these timeless economic woes.
Invest in each other
As a small child, I was fascinated by the bank run scene that occurs just as George (Jimmy Stewart) and his wife Mary (Donna Reed) are leaving town for their honeymoon. The citizens of Bedford Falls get spooked that Georges Building & Loan may fail, and so they show up to withdraw their money.
This scene was how I learned what a bank run isand also how banks handle our money. Because George offers a masterclass description of how his business works. He tells the frightened customers the following:
You’re thinking of this place all wrong, as if I had the money back in a safe. The money’s not here. Well, your money’s in Joe’s housethat’s right next to yoursand in the Kennedy house and Mrs. Maitland’s house and 100 others. You’re lending them the money to build, and then they’re going to pay it back to you as best they can. Now, what are you going to do, foreclose on them?
This scene helped me understand that money deposited in a bank doesnt (all) stay there. The bank lends it out so the money can grow.
But theres more to this scene than just how banking works. Because George Bailey doesnt run a bankhe runs a Building & Loan. Building & loan associations were cooperative mutual aid organizations that gave members borrowing privileges and dividend rights. These associations made home ownership accessible when mortgages were more difficult to get. Because building & loan associations were cooperative, they had to rely on their members trust and investment in each other to stay afloat.
Thats why George ends this scene with this plea to his customers: Now, we can get through this thing all right. Weve got to stick together, though. Weve got to have faith in each other.
How to apply this lesson in 2025
Building & loan associations largely went defunct not long after Its a Wonderful Life came out, while savings & loan organizations, which work in a similar way, have been thin on the ground since the S&L crisis of the 1980s. This makes it a little more difficult to offer economic solidarity to our friends and neighbors the way the people of Bedford Falls can do through Bailey Brothers Building & Loan.
But there are many other ways to invest in each other and in our communities, George Bailey-style. Consider the following:
Shop locally
Consider opening an account with a local bank or credit union
Attend concerts, fairs, games, etc.
Sponsor local youth sports teams
Volunteer
Visit your library (maybe you’ll see alternate-universe Mary!)
Offer to help your neighbors
Set up a little free library in your yard
Join your neighborhood Buy Nothing group
Know your worth
At Georges lowest point, his Uncle Billy has misplaced the Building & Loans $8,000 cash bank deposit (approximately $133,000 in 2025 dollars). The loss of this money will destroy the business and could lead to Georges arrest.
In desperation, George appeals to the films villain, Henry Potter, for a loan, using his life insurance for collateral. Mr. Potter scoffs at Georges request and tells him this:
Look at you. A miserable little clerk crawling in here on your hands and knees and begging for help. No securities, no stocks, no bonds, nothin’ but a miserable little $500 equity in a life insurance policy. You’re worth more dead than alive!
This cruel comment prompts George to consider suicide. He stands on a bridge, thinking that his family would be better off if he jumped, because at least he would be worth more money.
It takes the intervention of Angel, Second Class, Clarence Odbody to convince George that there is far more to his life than money. While It’s a Wonderful Life makes it clear that George does know his worth is greater than money under normal circumstances, he cant quite recall that when he is so stressed, overwhelmed, and unhappy after his desperate interview with Mr. Potter.
How to apply this lesson in 2025
Considering the number of changes to benefits such as SNAP, Social Security disability insurance, and federal student loans, many modern viewers can probably relate to Georges feelings in Mr. Potters office. We, too, may feel as though we need to show that we are worthy by providing a balance sheet of all our securities, stocks, and bonds. Otherwise, we are being told were not worth feeding, supporting, or educating.
Unfortunately, the collective action necessary to ensure these benefits remain accessible is slow work. But knowing that you are worthwhile can be much faster. You dont have to wait around for your personal Clarence to tell you so.
Remember that the money that Mr. Potter and his ilk place so much emphasis on doesnt really exist. But your worth does. And just like George makes an enormous difference in his world, you make an enormous difference in yours. Whereas money is just an idea we all share.
Have patience
Although its a beautifully written, prfectly cast film, Its a Wonderful Life flopped at the box office in 1946, before slipping into obscurity. Then, in a clerical error worthy of Uncle Billy, someone neglected to renew its copyright protection in 1974, which meant the film lapsed into public domain.
No one expected what happened next.
Television stations began showing Capras film during the Christmas season throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was a free programming option when TV stations couldnt afford to put on expensive holiday shows. And the once-obscure story of one bankers life in a small town became the most beloved yuletide movie tradition of all time.
How to apply this lesson in 2025
Im a sucker for art that takes a long time to find its audience. Because sometimes works of genius simply arent appreciated until long after theyre released. Frank Capra created a masterpiece, even though it wasnt immediately recognized as such. He did everything in his power to create a fantastic movieand what happened next was out of his hands.
This is something I personally need to remind myself of. The work I do today may not bear fruit tomorrow or next week or 10 years from now. But that doesnt make my actions meaningless nor does it mean my work will never result in positive change. It just means I dont know what will happen, I should exercise some patience, and I should have faith in the process.
Do your best work today, whatever that work may be, and have the patience to accept that it will make its mark when the time is right. Its what George would do.
Helping angels get their wings
If youre a sobbing mess by the time George finds Zuzus petals in his pocket, youre not alone. And thats the entire point. Its a Wonderful Life reminds us that we are not alone.
We are stronger together, but we must invest in each other to ensure that we keep that power. We are all worthy, but have to reject any thinking that reduces our worth to our bank balance (or any other number). And what we do makes a difference, but we have to have patience that the change will come, but not necessarily when or how we expect.
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During the Pandemic Housing Boom, from summer 2020 to spring 2022, the number of active homes for sale in most housing markets plummeted as homebuyer demand quickly absorbed almost everything that came up for sale and sellers had ultimate power.
Fast-forward to the current housing market, and the places where active inventory has rebounded to 2019 levels (due to strained affordability suppressing buyer demand) are now the very places where homebuyers have gained the most power.
At the end of November 2025, national active housing inventory for sale was still -6% below November 2019 levels. However, more and more regional markets are surpassing that threshold.
This list is growing:
January 2025: 41 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
February 2025: 44 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
March 2025: 58 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
April 2025: 69 of the 200 largest metro area housing markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
May 2025: 75 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
June 2025: 78 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
July 2025: 80 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
August 2025: 80 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
September 2025: 81 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
October 2025: 84 of these 200 major markets were back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
Now, at the latest reading for the end of November 2025, 90 of the 200 markets are above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels.
While this list of housing markets back above pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels was growing through much of the year, it has stalled a little recently. The reason? Inventory growth has slowed in recent monthsmore than typical seasonality would suggestas some home sellers in soft and weak markets in the Sun Belt have thrown in the towel and delisted (more on that in another piece).
This next table helps you see what the inventory picture in these same 90 markets looks like now and what it looked like last year.
Among these 90 markets, youll find lots in Sun Belt markets like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Colorado.
Many of the softest housing markets, where homebuyers have gained leverage, are located in Gulf Coast and Mountain West regions. Some of these areas were among the nations top pandemic boomtowns, having experienced significant home price growth during the pandemic housing boom, which stretched housing fundamentals far beyond local income levels.
When pandemic-fueled domestic migration slowed and mortgage rates spiked, markets like Cape Coral, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, faced challenges as they had to rely on local incomes to sustain frothy home prices. The housing market softening in these areas was further accelerated by the abundance of new home supply in the pipeline across the Sun Belt.
Builders in these regions are often willing to reduce net effective prices or make other affordability adjustments to maintain sales. These adjustments in the new construction market also create a cooling effect on the resale market, as some buyers who might have opted for an existing home shift their focus to new homes where deals are still available.
In contrast, many Northeast and Midwest markets were less reliant on pandemic migration and have less new home construction in progress. With lower exposure to that demand shock, active inventory in these Midwest and Northeast regions has remained relatively tight, keeping the advantage in the hands of home sellers.
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Generally speaking, housing markets where inventory (i.e., active listings) has returned to pre-pandemic levels have experienced softer/weaker home price growth (or outright declines) over the past 36 months. Conversely, housing markets where inventory remains far below pre-pandemic levels have, generally speaking, experienced more resilient home price growth over the past 36 months.
ResiClub PRO members can find our latest inventory analysis for +800 metros and +3,000 counties here, and our latest analysis showing why the 2019 inventory comparison remains insightful here.
Your smartphone is only as good as the charge it holds. It doesn’t matter if you have the newest flagship iPhone or Androidwhen the devices battery dies, all the bells and whistles dont mean diddly. And manufacturers know it.
For years, Apple and Google have managed to pack increasingly larger-capacity batteries into the phones they make. The larger the battery, the longer your phone can stay charged. But in recent years, both companies have also been turning to software features on their phones operating systems to help maximize battery life.
Apple added several software-based battery maximization enhancements in iOS 26. Google has done the same with its popular line of Pixel phones , particularly those running Android 16. Heres how to use them.
Check your batterys health and remaining capacity
Android 16 brought a new feature to many Pixel phones called Battery health. Think of this as a one-stop dashboard that provides quick-glance access to critical information about your battery.
As noted by 9to5Google, Battery Health provides a quick overview of your batterys condition on select Pixel phones running Android 16. This overview includes a visual indicator to show whether your battery is running normally, the charging type you selected (more on that below), and how much capacity your battery has left.
This capacity information is perhaps the most vital, as it shows how much charge your battery can hold compared to when it was new (a new battery has 100% capacity). As batteries age, their capacity decreases, and as that capacity decreases, your battery needs more frequent charging.
As a rule of thumb, if your batterys capacity drops below 80%, its best to consider replacing your failing battery with a brand-new one, though some of the tips below may still help you extend battery life. The new battery health feature in Android 16 makes it easier than ever to determine if you should make that choice.
To access Android 16s new Battery Health feature:
Tap the Settings app.
Tap Battery.
Tap Battery Health.
Turn on Battery Health Assistance
One feature that can help extend your Pixels battery life is found under the new Battery Health dashboard in Android 16. That feature is called Battery Health Assistance. This feature is limited to the Pixel 6a and later, so if you bought a new Pixel phone in the last several years, you should be able to take advantage of it.
As batteries age, their maximum capacity decreases. But the rate of that natural decrease can be slowed by adjusting the batterys maximum voltage and the phone’s charging speed. Battery Health Assistance does just that, which is why its a good idea to keep the feature turned on. To do that:
Tap the Settings app.
Tap Battery.
Tap Battery Health.
Turn on Use battery health assistance.
Turn on Battery Saver
Battery Saver is another feature built into Android that can help you save valuable battery life each day. The feature doesnt target the battery itself. Instead, it works by adjusting power-hungry features on your phoneor turning them off completelywhich, in turn, helps preserve battery life.
According to Google, Battery Saver does this by limiting some common features and apps: dimming the homescreen wallpaper, refreshing app content only when you open the app (instead of refreshing it in the background when not in use), and pausing location services when the screen is off. Battery Saver also automatically turns on the Pixels dark theme, which helps conserve power.
Taken together, these limitations can help you save precious juice. And the best thing about Battery Saver is that you can turn it on manually or have it come on automatically.
If you know youre going to need all the battery you can get for a day, its best to just manually engage Battery Saver first thing in the morning when you wake up. You can do this by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping the Battery Saver icon.
Alternatively, you can set your Pixel to automatically enable Battery Saver when your battery level reaches a certain threshold (e.g., 30%). To set up automatic activation of Battery Saver:
Tap the Settings app.
Tap Battery.
Tap Schedule and reminders.
Set Turn on based on battery level to ON, then adjust the slider to your desired battery level, which, when reached, should trigger Battery Savers activation.
Turn on Adaptive Charging
If you want to prolong your battery’s lifespan so it continues to hold as much charge as possible as it ages, turn on the Adaptive Charging feature on your Pixel phone. This feature can prolong your Pixels overall battery lifespan by dynamically managing when it charges.
Manufacturers say that charging your phone to full only right before you need it reduces strain on the battery, which can help it last longer. Adaptive Charging manages this for you. Heres how to use it:
Tap the Settings app.
Tap Battery.
Tap Battery Health.
Tap Charging Optimization. Now select either Adaptive Charging.
Theres one caveat to all the battery tips above. They arent available for all Pixel phones. Whether you can use the tips depends on which Pixel model you have and which Android operating system it runs. Google says the Battery Health feature requires a Pixel 6a running Android 16 or later. Additionally, some Battery Saver features require a Pixel phone running Android 11 or later.
As a rule of thumb, to maximize your battery life and your phones battery-saving features, its best to upgrade to the latest version of Android your Pixel phone can run.
Can ChatGPT dethrone Gemini? Is Tim Cook capable of leading Apple into the next wave of AI? As 2025 winds down, journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher cuts through the noise and decodes whats really happening across OpenAI, Meta, Google, and more. Then, Swisher sizes up the state of Disney, Netflix, and the escalating bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery.
This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by former Fast Company editor-in-chief Robert Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with todays top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.
One of the twists in the AI wars has been Google sort of bouncing back, this surge by Gemini versus OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Sam Altman calling this code red. You’ve said before that it’s hard to know who a winner will be.
Interestingly, on Pivot, we thought Google was going to do this because they had all the pieces. If they didn’t, what a bunch of idiots, that kind of thing.
They were ahead. They just didn’t take the bet because they were afraid of it.
Yeah, of course. Well, Sundar [Pichai] is a much more riskhe’s more risk-averse. I think Sergey Brin has re-arrived there. I think you can feel his influence. He’s one of the founders. So I think that they had all the elements in place to do it and just had to make the . . . it’s very hard to jump from one thing to the next and do it.
The one company that does do it is Netflix. It’s like, “Now we’re this. We’re not doing advertising. Now we are. We’re mailing DVDs. Now we’re not.” I love these guys. Every time they’re, like, “Eh, today we’re not buying anything,” which was a head fake. “Oh, we’re going to buy the studio.” I love it. It’s like, great.
So Google just took advantage of its obvious assets, and the fact that it wasn’t ahead was the story. Not that it should be by every . . . they’ve got the technology, they’ve got the people, they’ve got the data, they’ve got the right businesses. They’re the most set up for this era. Now, look, ChatGPT has gotten really far.
OpenAI has gotten very far, but ultimately, what I kept asking myself, is it “Netscape” or is it “Google”? Is OpenAI “Netscape” or “Google”? It’s feeling a little Netscapey these days. Even though they’re way ahead, a lot of times in technology the plains are covered with the bodies of pioneers. There’s all kinds of that. You know that from being around. There are so many companies that were there and then weren’t, but were important.
Jony Ive, the iconic Apple designer working with Altman and OpenAI on some new device or interface or form factor or whatever. Big deal, differentiator.
I don’t care. I think these devices are stupid. I think the way I see it pulling out, it’s just going to be around you. It makes such a big deal about these devices you wear. I think probably what I would see more interestingthis is sort of an opportunity for Appleis your AirPods, which you wear now comfortably. Even though at the time, if you remember when it rolled out, everyone said how ugly they were.
I think if you put a camera in those and they could see as you go through the worldthe glasses format is probably the way it’s going to go. But does it have to be glasses on your face? Because not everybody wants to wear those. But if there was something in your ear that could see as you move through the worldwho’s the company who is most able to do that? There are two of them: Google and Apple, right? Because people are very comfortable in the Apple environment. So to me, they have a lot of opportunity in this area.
Apple is having a lot of trouble getting its AI action together. Although does it not need to because you carry it through . . .
I don’t know. I don’t know if they need it. I think they have to integrate it into its products, that’s for sure. So they don’t necessarily have to own the AI. They didn’t have to own Maps, did they? No. They tried, and they sort of half failed. And then they used Google, or they didn’t have to make a lot of stuff. They didn’t have to make all those apps. Everybody else did, and they took advantage of it.
To me, they’re a system. They can write up on things. I think the integration is what’s difficult here. And so how do you integrate AI into the things that already exist? To me, I keep obsessing on the AirPods. I’m, like, “What if they were just a little more functional?” I know it sounds crazy, but I still have my pair of Google glasseswhich I’m going to keep so I can sell them someday to send one of my kids to college.
It was directionally the correct idea; it just didn’t have enough functionality. Same thing with the Meta glasses. What do they do? They take a picture. That’s pretty much it. How much functionality is that? Not much. And so, where can you get more functionality out of the things you might do every day? Which is information you need. It sounds dumb, but directions, ordering food, getting places, appointment making, things like that. To me, that’s where they should focus on, honestly . . . the software rather than the hardware.
At Apple, do you feel like Tim Cook is doing a good job?
He did. He should leave now. That’s what I would do if I were him.
What about Disney? Bob Iger is another one who sort of declared victory and then had to come back, and now his contract is ending.
I think, personally, they need to merge with someone or sell. Ultimately, I think he’s done an amazing job with that brand, for sure. Again, another person, that probably shouldn’t have come back. I think he was bored. I think he retired a little too early, because he’s so vibrant and intelligent and he looks great.
At one point he was sending me a lot of texts from some boat in French Polynesia he was sailing or something. And I’m, like, “Oh, you’re coming back.” And I joke with him onstage about it. I’m, like, “You’re bored. You have more to give, essentially.” I think he probably should find the right person to take over.
They’ve got plenty of people. I’ve always maintained it’s the biggest of the small things. It’s too small in today’s environment. Andso they really have to hook up with a tech. I would think Apple would be a very good merger with them, or Comcast, or they’re just going to have to, given the size problems. I think they’re number two in streaming, but if this one passes, that’ll be a problem for them.
I’m just getting a note here that Paramount is potentially back in the action with the cash bid.
It’s a hostile cash bid. What a bunch of losers, honestly.
You don’t see it happening, huh?
Maybe. Maybe. I don’t know. I just think their only argument was “we’re friends with Donald Trump.” That seems noneconomic to me. I’m sorry, but Big Daddy and nepo baby really have to have a better argument than we’re friends with Donald. I mean, how ridiculous a way to conduct business is that? And so look, by the way, from an existential point of view, they’re f*cked if they don’t get this.
They’re going to have to merge with someone else. I don’t care how rich they are. There’s only so much money you’re throwing at the yacht. But one of the things that drove me crazy is they had a thing right when they did the deal, and they’re, like, “We’re going to take technology and make it better.” And I was, like, “Specifically what?” And they’re, like, “Technology and make it better.” And I was, like, “Yeah, I’d like a specific.” And they were, like, “Technology.”
It ultimately comes back to they’re rich. They can spend it. They can buy, I don’t know, all of France and give everyone a glass of wine. That’s not really economics.
They just want to own it.
It’s just a toy. Then it’s just a toy. And then, “Okay, all right, that’s what you’re doing.”
How much are you willing to pay for your toy is the question.
Exactly. But they need it. Let me just tell you from a business point of view, these things need to merge. I know everybody’s all upset in Hollywood . . . getting back to that . . . but there is no other direction, largely because Hollywood didn’t innovate for so long.
Imagine youve set the goal of running a marathon thats 90 days away. Youve hired a trainer who says this a less than optimal amount of time, but if you stick religiously to her fitness routine, nutrition plan, and sleep schedule, youll be ready come race day. Cheat in any of those three areas, she warns, and you wont be able to run 26.2 miles on three months notice.
Lets assume you feel pretty good about your odds of following through in each area. You believe theres a 70% chance youll stick with the fitness routine, a 70% chance youll stick with the nutrition plan, and a 70% chance youll stick with the sleep schedule. What are your odds of doing all three and showing up ready to run?
The answer, surprisingly, is only 34.3%. You have three prerequisites to success. Individually, each seems likely to happen. But you need all three to play out as planned. When we multiply your odds of completing each step in the process, the outlook isnt so rosy.
This is a relatively simple goal. You only need three things to go right. Now imagine your odds in a more complex and challenging situationlike starting a successful business or winning a coveted promotion. Suddenly, its not surprising that nine out of ten businesses supposedly fail or that most people make a tradition out of falling short on their New Years resolutions. We arent getting unlucky. Were experiencing the predicted failures associated with big goals and bad odds. But this isnt a reason to give up. Its a reason to probability hack. Here are three steps you can take to tilt the odds in your favor.
1. Think negative: do everything you can to identify and prevent bad outcomes
If you flip a coin and call heads, theres a 50% chance youll get the outcome you want and a 50% chance youll fail. Our real-life goals are more complex, but the same principle holds. The odds of all possible outcomes add up to 100%. That means, if we can make bad outcomes less likely, well automatically boost our chances of success.
Many people avoid wondering about things that could go wrong. After all, were supposed to think positive, right? Unfortunately, positive thinking wont prevent bad outcomes, which means it wont improve our odds. Preparation will. By identifying threats to our success, we can get creative and systematically de-risk our goals.
When I applied to become the product director of a growing health organization, shortly after graduating college, my odds of success werent great. I was competing against a lineup of more experienced candidates. But I didnt give up or resort to simply manifesting a good outcome. I took intentional steps to make it happen.
To keep the hiring squad from rejecting me for my youth, I grew a beard to look older. To demonstrate I was up to the task of leading a demanding team, I typed up a spiral-bound plan for improving the department and gave it to everyone I met. To fit in like an existing team member, I read books I knew the team was familiar with, which allowed me to speak their language. The day after an important interview, I woke up to find an email from the CEO. He said I was the most prepared candidate hed ever seen. Soon after, I was a twenty-one year old department head, on my way to a successful career.
2. Multiply your odds with the power of multiple attempts
An 80% chance of failure isnt necessarily bad. It means for every five attempts, you expect to succeed once. A door-to-door salesman would be absolutely thrilled with that success rate. Knocking on 200 doors per day would lead to 40 sales! For some goals, it isnt possible or practical to try multiple times. But for goals with a high degree of uncertainty, multiple attempts can actually be the most reliable way to break through. Sometimes you dont have to beat the odds, you only have to play them.
Apoorva Mehta estimates that he launched around 20 businesses before founding Instacart, including an ad network for gaming companies and a social media site for lawyers. When COVID hit, his grocery delivery service was in exactly the right place at the right time. Over a span of 10 months, Instacarts valuation increased by over $9 billion.
Thomas Edison outcompeted his peers and found a practical filament for the incandescent lamp by experimenting with 6,000 different plant materials. Through this inglorious process, he discovered an unlikely winnercarbonized bambooand won valuable patents.
Historys most famous creatives took a similar approach to produce enduring works of art. Mozart composed over 600 pieces of music. Beethoven wrote over 700. Van Gogh painted and sketched so prolifically, he averaged roughly one new work of art every 36 hours for 10 years.
And in the world of product development, Ben & Jerrys created over 300 discontinued flavors on the road to uncovering classics like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and becoming the top-selling ice cream brand in the United States.
Contrary to popular belief, quantity is not the sworn enemy of quality. Its a clever way to up your odds of producing great work.
3. Prioritize low probability steps
Your overall odds of success will never be higher than your most unlikely prerequisite step. For example, imagine you need four department managers approval to pursue a time-sensitive idea at work. You think the first three each have a 98% chance of saying yes. The fourth has a 10% chance of saying yes. Again, you need all four to approve. That puts your overall odds at 9.4% not good.
One proactive step you can take is first talking to the manager who will probably say no. Why? If he says yes, your odds will skyrocket. If he rejects the idea, you wont have to waste time talking to the other three managers. This is a clever way to fail fast and focus your energy on projects that are likely to succeed.
In a production mindset, we prioritize the longest pole in the tent. In a probability mindset, we prioritize the step with the longest odds. Doing so consistently is a reliable way to experience smaller setbacks and get more of what you want in life.
Every goal that youre pursuing has two hidden numbers attached to ita probability of success and a probability of failure. If we can make the first number bigger and the second number smaller, we can rewrite your future. In the context of a single goal, it could change your outcome. Over the course of several goals, it could shift the trajectory of your career. Multiplied across a lifetime of goals, it could redefine your legacy.
The fallout from the Trump administrations dramatic cuts to American public media is only just beginning.
The governing group that oversees public educational TV in Arkansas voted on Thursday to split with PBS, the national public broadcast network best known for Sesame Street. The network formerly known as Arkansas PBS will rebrand as Arkansas TV, making it the first state public broadcast network to part with the national network synonymous with public access TV.
The state network will officially sever its ties to PBS on July 1, 2026, at the beginning of Arkansas next fiscal year. Its commission framed the decision as a cost saving measure, citing a loss of the federal funds it relies on to pay annual dues of around $2.5 million to access PBS programming. The organizations commissioners, who voted six to two in favor of splitting from PBS, are appointed by the governor.
The Arkansas network, which has already rebranded its website as ArkansasTV, says it is developing a new lineup of shows, including two shows for children, two food shows and two new series focused on history.
Public television in Arkansas is not going away, ArkansasTV Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing said in the announcement. In fact, we invite you to join our vision for an increased focus on local programming, continuing to safeguard Arkansans in times of emergency and supporting our K-12 educators and students.
ArkansasTV paints an optimistic picture, but the states residents broadly support PBS according to recent surveying from YouGov. In a statement to Fast Company, PBS noted that 70% of Arkansas residents believe that PBS brings an excellent value to their community. The commissions decision to drop PBS membership is a blow to Arkansans who will lose free, over the air access to quality PBS programming they know and love, a PBS spokesperson said. It also goes against the will of Arkansas viewers.
Decades of public media undone
The decision to go it alone comes as the Trump administration targets public broadcasting with deep funding cuts, part of an aggressive campaign to defund agencies and initiatives it views as politically opposed to its priorities. Those cuts slashed $500 million in yearly funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit authorized by Congress in 1967 to manage funds for public media.
In light of a shortage of federal funding, the organization announced in August that it planned to end operations and shut its doors. Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country, CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said at the time.
The nonprofit historically doles out funds to PBS, NPR, and more than 1,000 local TV and radio stations. Sesame Street and Mister Rogers Neighborhood, two iconic public TV shows, were both made possible with funding from the CPB. On Truth Social, President Trump called PBS and NPR two horrible and completely biased platforms, urging Congress to defund what he characterized as a scam perpetrated by the Radical Left.
The cascade of effects from the CPBs collapse will continue, but they arent the only threat to public broadcasting under the second Trump administration. This week, the conservative nonprofit law firm the Center for American Rights called on the FCC to revoke PBS and NPRs broadcast licenses. Trump himself has also suggested revoking broadcast licenses as a political weapon, declaring that ABC affiliates should have theirs taken away after an ABC News reporter asked a question about Jeffrey Epstein in an Oval Office event last month.
Humans are a unique species, because of our collective knowledge of our own mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy for males in the United States is 75.8 years. That means entertainer extraordinaire Dick Van Dyke is defying statistics by turning 100 years old this Saturday, December 13.
As he reaches this milestone birthday, let’s take a look back at his impressive career, what he credits his longevity to, and how he plans to celebrate. Well also cover how you can get in on the action and celebrate the Mary Poppins actor.
A brief Dick Van Dyke biography
Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri on December 13, 1925. He was raised in Danville, Illinois. At one time, he considered being a minister because of his mothers religious influences, but a high school drama class would ignite a love of entertainment.
During his senior year of high school, Van Dyke enlisted in the Army to help the war efforts during World War II. He first served as a radio operator, before being transferred to Special Services to entertain the troops.After his army days, Van Dyke worked as a radio DJ. He hit the road touring the United States as part of comedy duo The Merry Mutes in 1947.
Broadway first called in 1959, for the production The Girls Against the Boys, although Van Dyke is better known for his following role, of Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie.
Many dont know Van Dyke also once anchored a CBS morning show with Walter Cronkite. But the CBS sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show would make him a household name, and 1964s classic film Mary Poppins would endear him to fans for years to come. (Who would forget that authentic cockney accent?)
Longevity is a word that describes not only Van Dykes life, but also his career. Thirty years after his first hit show, he did it again in 1993, with Diagnosis Murder.
Throughout his impressive career, he has been awarded six Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award. He has received a lifetime achievement award from SAG, and was declared a Disney Legend.
Beyond the stage, screen, or airwaves, Van Dyke is a father of four, with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dick Van Dyke’s tips for a long life
Van Dyke is also an author, and he’s literally written the book on a long-lasting life: 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life was published in November of this year.
If you havent gotten around to reading it yet, never fear. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor summarized some of the tips in an interview with the New York Times.He credits his long life to exercise. He moves his body in some way every day, and hits the gym at least three times a week.
Van Dyke also values connection with others and playfulness. Theres a sense of whimsy about how he views the world. He also isnt afraid to try new things such as directing a childrens theatre production, which could help keep him young.
How Dick Van Dyke plans to celebrate
Van Dyke doesnt want a lavish party on his actual birthday. His wife Arlene Silver told People how he wants to spend his big day, and it’s surprisingly simple.
He doesn’t want to do anything, she explained. He wants to be in his room watching Jeopardy! reruns with me.”This is not to say that Van Dyke has not been properly celebrated. The city of Malibu, where he resides, is hosting a whole festival for the man, called Vandy Days. From November 28 through December 14, the schedule is packed full of screenings, themed events, and costume contests.
How you can celebrate Dick Van Dyke
If geography doesnt allow you to attend Vandy Days, there are several ways you can get in on the action.
Fathom Events is hosting special screenings of the new documentary film Dick Van Dyke 100th Celebration on December 13 and 14.
The Catchy Comedy Network is doing a marathon of The Dick Van Dyke Show, playing 100 episodes to mark the occasion.
And a new special, Starring Dick Van Dyke, will air on PBS as a part of the American Masters programming on Friday, December 12 at 9 p.m. It will also be available to stream on pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS App.
If all else fails, you can also do your own screening or marathon at home. Throw on Mary Poppins, and watch your cares melt away. After all, it’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
This holiday season isnt quite so merry for American shoppers as large shares are dipping into savings, scouring for bargains, and feeling like the overall economy is stuck in a rut under President Donald Trump, a new AP-NORC poll finds.
The vast majority of U.S. adults say theyve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries, electricity, and holiday gifts in recent months, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Roughly half of Americans say its harder than usual to afford the things they want to give as holiday gifts, and similar numbers are delaying big purchases or cutting back on nonessential purchases more than they would normally.
It’s a sobering assessment for the Republican president, who returned to the White House in large part by promising to lower prices, only to find that inflation remains a threat to his popularity just as it did for Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency. The polls findings look very similar to an AP-NORC poll from December 2022, when Biden was president and the country was grappling with higher rates of inflation. Trump’s series of tariffs have added to inflationary pressures and generated anxiety about the stability of the U.S. economy, keeping prices at levels that many Americans find frustrating.
The president has insisted there is no inflation and the U.S. economy is booming, as he expressed frustration that the public feels differently.
When will people understand what is happening? Trump said Thursday on Truth Social. When will Polls reflect the Greatness of America at this point in time, and how bad it was just one year ago?
Most U.S. adults, 68%, continue to say the countrys economy is poor, which is unchanged from December 2024, before Trump returned to the presidency.
Americans are feeling strained as they continue to see high prices
White House officials plan to send Trump barnstorming across the country in hopes of bucking up people’s faith in the economy before next year’s midterm elections. But the president this week in Pennsylvania defended the price increases tied to his tariffs by suggesting that Americans should buy fewer dolls and pencils for children. His message is a jarring contrast with what respondents expressed in the poll, even among people who backed him in the 2024 election.
Sergio Ruiz, 44, of Tucson, Arizona, said he is using more buy now, pay later programs to spread out over time the expense of gifts for his children. He doesn’t put a huge emphasis on politics, but he voted for Trump last year and would like to see lower interest rates to help boost his real estate business. He believes that more Americans having higher incomes would help to manage any affordability issues.
Prices are up. What can you do? You need to make more money, Ruiz said.
The poll found that when they do shop, about half of Americans are finding the lowest price more than they would normally. About 4 in 10 are dipping into their savings more than at other times.
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say theyre cutting back on expenses or looking for low prices, but many Republicans are budgeting more than usual as well. About 4 in 10 Republicans are looking for low prices more than they usually would, while a similar share are shopping for nonessential items less than usual.
Views are largely similar to when Biden was president
People felt similarly dismal about holiday shopping and the economy when Biden was president in 2022. Inflation had spiked to a four-decade high that summer. Three years later, inflation has eased substantially, but it’s still running at 3%, a full percentage point above the Federal Reserve’s target as the job market appears to have entered a deep freeze.
The survey indicates that it’s the level of prices and not just the rate of inflation that is the point of pain for many families. Roughly 9 in 10 U.S. adults, 87%, say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries in the past few months, while about two-thirds say they’ve experienced higher prices than usual for electricity and holiday gifts. About half say they’ve seen higher than normal prices for gas recently.
The findings on groceries and holiday gifts are only slightly lower than in the 2022 poll, despite the slowdown from an inflation rate that hit a four-decade peak in the middle of that year.
Consumer spending has stayed resilient despite the negative sentiments about the economy, yet Trump’s tariffs have caused changes for shoppers such as Andrew Russell.
The 33-year-old adjunct professor in Arlington Heights, Illinois, said he used to shop for unique gifts from around the globe and buy online. But with the tariffs, he got his gifts locally and this year, I only bought things that I can pick up in person, he said.
Russell, who voted Democratic in last year’s election, said he worries about the economy for next year. He thinks the investment in artificial intelligence has become a bubble that could burst, taking down the stock market.
Little optimism about an economic rebound in 2026
Few people expect the situation to meaningfully improve next year a sign that Trump has done little to instill much confidence from his mix of tariffs, income tax cuts and foreign trips to attract investments. Trump has maintained that the benefits from his policies will begin to snowball in 2026.
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults expect next year will be economically worse for the country. Roughly 3 in 10 say condiions wont change much. Only about 2 in 10 think things will get better, with Republicans being more optimistic.
The belief that things will get better has slipped from last year, when about 4 in 10 said that 2025 would be better than 2024.
Millicent Simpson, 56, of Cleveland, Ohio, said she expects the economy to be worse for people like her who rely on Medicaid for health care and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Simpson voted Democratic last year and blames Trump for the greater economic pressures that she faces going into the winter.
Hes making it rough for us, she said. Hes messing with the government assistance for everybody, young and old.
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The AP-NORC poll of 1,146 adults was conducted Dec. 4-8 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-Deveaux, Associated Press
I personally can never bring myself to tell people that Id rather forgo their gift and just get cash insteador better yet, a Venmo. It feels almost too blunt, a cheap shot. So each year, when I unwrap another pair of socks, I smile through gritted teeth.
I feel a twinge of guilt in admitting it. But, to my relief, it appears Im not the only one.
A new Wells Fargo survey finds younger generations are driving a shift toward digital cash gifts, choosing convenience and flexibility over traditional wrapped presents. A staggering 45% of Gen Z and 42% of millennials say theyd rather receive digital payments, compared with 27% of Gen X and just 10% of baby boomers.
I feel like were influenced by older generations, Steve Selfridge, Wells Fargos product management director, said to USA Today. Were kind of taught its not OK to ask for money.
Physical gifts are still popularbut money is quickly catching up. About 48% of gift recipients prefer cash or checks, and 29% would like digital payments through Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or Cash App.
Gift-givers arent quite as enthusiastic about it: Only 34% enjoy giving cash or checks, and 18% digital payments. Among younger gift-givers, 32% of Gen Z and 28% of millennials are comfortable sending digital cash, compared to 11% of Gen X and 7% of baby boomers.
Its not just you, asking for money is awkward
Ive even tried practicing a polite, non-offensive script for requesting money from my family for Christmasbut when the moment comes, it just feels uncomfortably awkward.
Survey data backs this up: More than half of gift-givers say sending digital cash feels impersonal, and nearly half of recipients admit theyd appreciate it, but feel weird asking.
Still, the perks are hard to ignore: 65% of consumers agree that receiving digital cash gives them freedom to choose what they really want, and the same number cite gifting it as convenientno wrapping, postage, or shipping stress.
Roughly a third also say they appreciate digital gifts because they usually dont like most physical presents, and 32% would like to give money digitally but arent sure its socially acceptable.
So next time youre stuck on what to gift a Gen Zer, it might be simpler than you think: Just send them money.
If the holiday hustle and bustle is stressing you out, the night sky is providing a perfect moment to pause and wonder at some majesty this weekend, as the Geminid meteor shower (Geminids) is set to peak.
The Geminids are technically active annuallythis year, from around December 1 through 21, and the action peaks on the evenings of the 12th and 13th.
Lets take a look at the science and history behind this cosmic phenomenon, before we dive into how best to view it.
When was the Geminid meteor shower first discovered?
These days, the Geminid meteor shower is considered by NASA to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.
The event started much smaller. The meteors were first observed in the mid-1800s and only boasted 10-20 meteors an hour.
As time went on, Jupiter got in on the action. The planets gravity pulled the show closer to Earth.
What causes the Geminids?
It wasnt until the 1980s that scientists understood the cause of the meteor shower was asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
Typically, meteor showers are caused by a comet. Asteroid 3200 Phaethon acts like a comet, despite most asteroids taking 1.4 years to fully orbit the sun.
Scientists are still learning about this unique space object. A 2023 article, published in Planetary Science Journal by California Institute of Technology PhD student Qicheng Zhang, stated that when the asteroid approaches the sun, it forms a sodium-gas tail instead of dust.
This challenges earlier beliefs about the object. It is now hypothesized that the dense Geminid meteoroids are a result of a possible past mass loss, not an ongoing tail shedding around the sun.
Regardless, the average person will delight in the vivid burst of light as the meteoroids burn up in Earths atmosphere.
How best to see the Geminids
Scientists and night-sky enthusiasts can agree that whatever label you assign 3200 Phaethon, it puts on one heck of a show.
This years offerings are best seen in the northern hemisphere, although some meteors will be visible to the southern hemisphere as well.
The moon is also cooperating, as it will be in its waning crescent moon phase and not shining too brightly.
When nightfall comes on December 12 and 13, find the darkest place you can, away from city lights. Special viewing equipment such as binoculars or telescopes are not necessaryespecially since meteors move quickly.
The action originates around the Gemini constellation, but you should not just focus there. Look at the entire night sky.
If you do miss the peak viewing time, the days around the December 12 and 13 peak should still offer quite a show.
