Curiosity isn’t just a valuable personality trait—it’s a leadership superpower. In a business environment where innovation dictates success, curiosity serves as the catalyst for breakthroughs and industry reinvention. Yet, despite its transformative potential, curiosity remains one of the most undervalued tools in leadership today. According to a Harvard Business Review study, curiosity fosters openness and collaboration while reducing decision-making errors. Yet only 24% of organizations actively encourage it, leaving a wealth of untapped potential on the table. The best leaders don’t just seek answers; they reframe problems. Instead of asking, “How do we fix this?” they ask, “What if we reimagine this entirely?” Leaders who embrace this mindset uncover opportunities for reinvention that others overlook because they only focus on immediate challenges.  Curiosity Begins with Observation  In the world of art and design, curiosity begins with observation. Georgia O’Keeffe once remarked, “Nobody sees a flower, really. It is so small we haven’t time, and to see takes time.” Her words offer a lesson for leaders: True insight comes from taking the time to observe and understand what others overlook. The design thinking process mirrors this ethos, emphasizing empathy, iteration, and a willingness to embrace failure. Leaders who adopt these principles uncover unmet needs and rethink stagnant paradigms.  For instance, I once worked with a biotech executive who revitalized their R&D team with a single question: “What are we missing in the data that could change the trajectory of our discovery?” This curiosity-fueled inquiry led to a cross-disciplinary exploration, resulting in a groundbreaking treatment that shifted the company’s competitive position.  Curiosity in Action  A CTO in the high-tech sector found their team stuck in a cycle of diminishing returns during a critical product launch. Instead of defaulting to conventional troubleshooting, they asked a provocative question: “What would this look like if we started from scratch?” Initially, the team hesitated, but once framed as a thought experiment, it sparked a creative dialogue that dismantled assumptions. The result? A novel approach that solved the immediate challenge and laid a foundation for long-term innovation.  In another instance, a CEO at a multinational organization embarked on a listening tour to understand their global workforce. They asked a simple yet profound question: “What inspires you to do your best work?” This inquiry revealed a blend of universal motivators and culturally specific insights, enabling the CEO to craft a new, inclusive company mission. The initiative boosted engagement, fostered a sense of belonging, and unified the workforce across continents.  A Framework for Leaders to Cultivate Curiosity  To harness curiosity as a leadership tool, leaders must commit to intentional practices that foster curiosity-driven innovation:  Ask Bigger Questions. Shift from tactical fixes to expansive, open-ended questions. Replace “How can we cut costs?” with “How can we create more value with fewer resources?” These questions inspire fresh perspectives and out-of-the-box thinking. Practice Empathetic Observation. Adopt an artist’s lens—taking the time to truly see your team, customers, and market dynamics. Listen deeply and observe without preconceived notions. Empathy is the foundation for uncovering unmet needs and fostering trust. Prototype Curiosity. Treat curiosity like a skill to be honed. Run curiosity workshops where no idea is too wild. Encourage iterative brainstorming and test small ideas before scaling them, creating a low-risk environment for experimentation. Embrace Failure as Discovery. Curiosity-driven leadership requires psychological safety. When teams see failure as a learning opportunity rather than a liability, they are more willing to take risks and innovate. Leaders must model this openness. Stay Open to Being Wrong. Curiosity isn’t about confirming what you already know—it’s about exploring the unknown. The best leaders I have worked with are those willing to challenge their own assumptions and learn from unexpected perspectives.  Curiosity doesn’t just spark innovation—it strengthens connections. By demonstrating a genuine interest in your team, their challenges, and their aspirations, you build a culture of trust and collaboration. Leaders who guide with curiosity create workplaces where people feel valued, heard, and inspired to contribute their best.  Curiosity allows leaders to navigate complexity with agility and vision in a fast-paced environment. It enables them to ask the questions others avoid, see patterns others miss, and find solutions others never imagine. In doing so, they transform their organizations and the lives of those they lead. One thing is clear: The leaders who thrive will be those who lead with curiosity. The future belongs to those who dare to be curious.

The cherry blossom, or sakura, is Japan’s national flower and a central symbol of ‘Hanami’- the tradition of appreciating its fleeting beauty. Blooming for just a few weeks each spring, these delicate flowers represent the impermanence of life, reminding us to value every moment. Their arrival signals the end of winter and the start of spring, ushering in renewal, hope, and optimism. However, rising spring temperatures, urbanization, and climate change have caused cherry trees to bloom earlier each year, a trend observed since the early 20th century. The fleeting yet ethereal beauty of cherry blossoms symbolizes the delicate balance between life and mortality, reminding us to cherish the present. This spring, bring that same sense of grace and renewal into your home. From soft pastel hues to vibrant, nature-inspired accents, here is how cherry blossom-inspired design elements can transform any space into a serene and uplifting retreat. Beautify with Wall Art Wall art is one of the simplest and most efficient ways to incorporate cherry blossoms into your home’s design. Cherry blossoms can instantly create a spring-inspired atmosphere in the form of bold statement pieces or minimalist designs. From your living room to your bedroom, framed prints or canvases of photographs, watercolor paintings, or black-and-white drawings can add style to any space. Cherry blossom murals or peel-and-stick decals provide a dramatic touch without requiring permanent commitment. As an alternative, abstract art that uses color and shape to represent cherry blossoms can be easily incorporated into modern décor for a fresh take. Add Flavor with Soft Furnishings Soft furnishings with cherry blossom designs can give your house a light, airy feel if you like subtle accents. Replace your winter throw pillows with ones featuring pastel or bolder-hued cherry blossom designs. For balance, mix them with pillows in solid colors. For a peaceful, springtime vibe, update your bedding with a cherry blossom duvet or bedspread in soothing hues like lavender or blush. Choose light, sheer curtains with cherry blossoms for a romantic, airy ambiance, or go for pastel curtains with floral accents for a more understated look. Your space will be instantly refreshed for spring with these minor additions. Place Floral Arrangements Cherry blossoms add tranquility and natural beauty to your home and make gorgeous centerpieces. For a touch of springtime elegance, place real or fake branches in tall vases on mantels, consoles, or dining tables. Combine cherry blossoms with flowers in pastel or vivid hues, such as lilies, daffodils, or peonies, to create a seasonal bouquet that suits your taste. Arrange them in old glass bottles or mason jars and scatter them throughout your house for a touch of rustic charm. Cherry blossoms add elegance, freshness, and a unified springtime aesthetic to any space, whether you’re hosting or decorating for yourself. While some people are naturally adept at gardening, others find it difficult to maintain even succulents. The LEGO Cherry Blossoms set is a creative, low-maintenance option for kids who are interested in flowers and floral design or who fall into the latter category. The set, which is intended for children aged 8 and up, comes with 438 pieces that can be used to construct two 14-inch-long mix-and-match twigs with pink and white blossoms. It complements sets like Roses or the Wildflower Bouquet and is ideal for spring décor or as part of an expanding LEGO botanical collection. It provides enduring beauty without requiring plant maintenance. Introduce Cherry Blossom-Inspired Furniture Use furniture with delicate cherry blossom patterns on cushions, upholstery, or carved details to create a fresh, nature-inspired atmosphere. These small details create a sophisticated connection to nature while adding charm and femininity to your room. Some of the deeper cherry blossom hues include deep purple, fuchsia, or rich red for a bolder look. To add depth and vibrancy without overpowering the space, use these tones sparingly as accent colors. A harmonious and visually appealing space is produced by striking a balance between delicate patterns and elegant pastel colors that mimic the cherry blossom hues. We often overlook how vital a great chair is, despite spending much of our day seated—working, dining, or relaxing. The Mt Curve Big Chair by BNF Studio is comfortable, ergonomic, and created by designer Ben Newman. This bold piece challenges the linear norms of hardwood furniture with its oversized, rounded form, tubular backrest, and sculptural base. Drawing inspiration from ’80s maximalism, the Memphis movement, and subtle Art Deco elegance, the chair blends whimsy with sophistication. Its plush silhouette and soft sheen make it a statement piece that instantly elevates any room. Available in a range of hardwoods, colors, and upholstery, including delicate cherry blossom hues like blush pink or soft lilac, the Big Chair is fully customizable to suit your aesthetic. More than just a seat, it’s a functional work of art that brings character, charm, and comfort to your home. Accessorize the Decor To create a unified, natural-inspired look, carry the cherry blossom theme into your accessories. To improve the atmosphere, choose pendant lights and lampshades with delicate floral patterns or whimsical light fixtures shaped like cherry blossom branches. Add ornamental bowls or trays with cherry blossom designs to coffee tables, foyers, or shelves for a touch of understated elegance. These hues, which are evocative of cherry blossoms in bloom, bring a softness and tranquility to your room, resulting in a serene and exquisitely harmonious home setting. The Sakura Petal Grater by Tsuboe is a limited-edition kitchen tool that blends contemporary accuracy with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Inspired by cherry blossoms and designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ōkōzu Diversion Canal, it has a sakura-shaped design that is both elegant and ergonomic, as well as individually raised blades for smooth, effective grating. It’s ideal for tabletop use and can be used to grate small amounts of ginger, citrus zest, or wasabi. Both the Silver (tin-plated copper) and Pink (aluminum alloy) varieties are aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting, and sharp. Cherry blossom-inspired décor can help create a new, lively atmosphere in your home, regardless of your preference for bold, or subtle, understated accents. You can easily celebrate the season and turn your living area into a springtime retreat by combining floral patterns, natural elements, and soft pastel tones.The post Cherry Blossom Decor Trends To Achieve Easy & Elegant Spring Interior Refresh first appeared on Yanko Design.

Master artist Donato Giancola reveals how he keeps his drawing process engaging with technical hints and real-life lessons

The Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact has truly intelligent presets, and a lot of functionality in a wee device. But I wonder about the airflow.

The fourth season of the workplace comedy "Mythic Quest" will be its last, with a revised version of the series' final episode to feature a new ending.Apple TV+ hit show Mythic Quest is coming to an end.The show originally debuted in February 2020, with the fourth season finale having aired on March 26, 2025. The cancellation was apparently revealed to the cast and crew sometime after the original season finale was completed."Endings are hard, but after four incredible seasons, Mythic Quest is coming to a close," the show's executive producers — including star Rob McElhenny - told industry paper Variety. "Because endings are hard, with Apple's blessing we made one final update to our last episode — so we could say goodbye, instead of just game over." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

In December 2024, actor and fashion icon Julia Fox stepped out on the street with a flip-phone buckle strapped across her chest, wires on her nails, and an old Discman-turned-compact mirror hanging from her wrist. Fox didn’t start the retro-tech fashion trend. Celebrities and internet fashionistas were already wearing iPod Shuffle Minis as hair clips and wired headphones as necklaces. But Fox did make waves online, showing off the Y2K-inspired collaboration from French Canadian artist Gab Bois and refurbished electronics marketplace Back Market — and plugging the Right to Repair movement — on her Instagram. Gab Bois x Back Market collaboration. Photo: Gab BoisMuch of this fashion channels nostalgia over the nascent days of the digital age — both aesthetically and philosophically. Bois previously designed fine jewelry using sim cards, a camcorder clutch, and a Nintendo DS Lite makeup palette. “[Tech] was clunkier, slower, but also more tactile and charming,” Bois says. “There was this sense of optimism, too. Everything felt like a glimpse into the future.” Younger millennials and Gen Z latching on — largely online — seem to be yearning for those simpler times. Digicams from mid-aughts have already made a surprising cultural comeback. It seems only appropriate that classic gadgets that cannot be revived for their original purpose are still being transformed into wearables. Hundreds of vendors on Etsy are, as Bois puts it, “subverting function for aesthetic purposes.” They’re selling Tamagotchi necklaces, turning circuit boards and microchips into earrings, and crocheting old floppy disks into purses. Photo: Nicole McLaughlinWhile old hardware might not be the easiest material to work with, New York-based designer Nicole McLaughlin finds that fashion is a medium that naturally lends itself to upcycling old tech. Avant-garde fashion, specifically, is about pushing boundaries and redefining what’s considered “wearable.” So why not transform a headset into a bra? Make a thong from an old keyboard? A chunky heel with a working mini PC monitor from eBay?“It’s fun. It’s lighthearted,” McLaughlin says of her work, adding that her audience is “not trying to take it too serious.”Photo: Gab BoisBecause her creations are usually one-of-one conceptual art pieces — photographed and published for display on the internet rather than an actual product to be scaled and sold — she’s not so much focused on their practical use so much as how they change people’s perceptions about waste and sustainable design. Designer Myra Magdalen shares these sentiments. Finding old keyboards, TV remotes, flip phones, game console controls, and robot toys at the thrift store — she was drawn mainly to the idea that these discarded objects still had creative potential and didn’t have to end up in a landfill. Photo: Myra Magdalen“Older tech just has more personality,” Magdalen says, who has previously gone viral for her particularly maximalist outfits. Unlike the smooth and streamlined look of today’s devices, back then there were big buttons, small screens, and switches.“To me, it’s just a fun challenge. It’s sort of a puzzle,” Magdalen explains. “It usually starts with one word, like ‘computer,’ and then it’s like, ‘How can we do head to toe in that vein, in a way that feels like the most me?’”Jake Olshan of streetwear label Drought. Photo: Jake Olshan / DroughtJake Olshan, founder of Los Angeles-based streetwear brand Drought, creates sentimental designs that reflect remnants of his childhood, things that he’s sure were also core memories for other people in his generation. But he doesn’t incorporate physical relics from the 2000s into clothes and accessories, he instead pays homage to them with items like a Limewire pendant necklace, a Napster handbag (made in official collaboration with the company), and a giant iPod Nano-shaped mirror. “The basis of the brand has to do with holding on to that part of yourself,” Olshan says. “As a lot of people my age are growing into adults and getting full-time jobs, apartments … It’s about holding on to your childhood and your youth.”Retro-tech fashion may not send you back through time, but it certainly tries to capture a specific era before tech and the internet became a serious business.See More:

The featherweight title is on the line tonight with the UFC 314 fight happening live down in Miami. Former champion Alexander Volkanovski is looking to reclaim his title by defeating up-and-comer Diego Lopes. The most recent featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria, left the title wide open by deciding to move up to the lightweight division. Will Volkanovski be able to take back the crown after getting KO'd in round two the last time this title was on the line? Or will Lopes surprise us with a KO?If you're wondering when and where you can watch tonight's main PPV event, we've gathered all of the details below. There's also the prelim rounds starting earlier in the day that you can watch without purchasing the PPV package.Where to Stream UFC 314 Live OnlineSaturday, April 12UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. LopesSee it at ESPN+UFC 314 kicks off today at 3pm PT with the early prelims, but the main card fights don't begin until around 7pm PT. While you can watch the preliminary fights on ESPN, ESPN News, or ESPN+, the main card fights can only be streamed online through pay-per-view. If you already have an ESPN+ subscription, you can purchase the event as an add-on for $79.99.According to the ESPN+ website, a subscription is required to purchase the UFC 313 PPV. If you're new to the service, you can bundle a monthly subscription and PPV for $91.98 (includes your first month of ESPN+), or bundle annual subscription and PPV together for $134.98 (includes your first year of ESPN+). If you're looking for a more substantial streaming bundle, there's also the option to include Hulu and Disney+ with your subscription.The Full UFC 314 ScheduleThe early prelims begin at 3:30pm PT, followed by the prelims, followed by the main card fights at 7pm PT. Below is a quick rundown of all of the fights taking place today and where to stream them live:Early Prelims - 3:00pm PT on UFC Fight PassNora Cornolle vs. Haley Cowan - Women's Bantamweight BoutTresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio - Middleweight BoutSumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo - Flyweight BoutSedriques Dumas vs. Mihal Oleksiejczuk - Middleweight BoutPrelims - 5pm PT on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN NewsDarren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa - Featherweight BoutJim Miller vs. Chase Hooper - Lightweight BoutYan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba - Women's Strawweight BoutDan Ige vs. Sean Woodson - Featherweight BoutMain Card - ESPN+ PPVNikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes - Light Heavyweight BoutBryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva - Featherweight BoutYair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull - Featherweight BoutMichael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett - Lightweight BoutAlexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes - Featherweight Title BoutWhere to See Live Results From UFC 314For live results of all of the fights in UFC 314, the UFC website is the best place to look. There you can find the winners of each fight shortly after it happens. The results pages will be published on the UFC news page today and will be split up between the prelims and the main card fights. We will add the links here as soon as they become available.

Some of you may not know this, but during a brief period from summer 2021 to fall 2023 – Apple made a battery bank. Of course, since it’s Apple, it was MagSafe. This MagSafe battery pack had a number of interesting features and quirks, and ultimately it only stuck around for two years. However, thanks to an interesting new Apple trend, I think it’s plausible that it comes back – but not as an Apple product. MagSafe battery history Apple’s MagSafe battery pack lived a short life. It was introduced in July 2021, nearly a year after the introduction of the iPhone 12 with MagSafe. It was available for $99, and had a number of unique Apple integrations, including the ability to be reverse wirelessly charged off your iPhone while its plugged in. The pack also kept its charge status up to date in the home screen battery widget, something that most can’t. Yes, you heard me right – Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack was capable of being recharged using reverse wireless charging. This isn’t a feature available for anything else, and there certainly aren’t third party batteries with this capability. Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack was the one and only product/accessory that could tap into the reverse wireless charging capabilities of the iPhone. The battery was by no means incredible. It had an 11.2Wh capacity, allowing you to recharge an iPhone 12 Pro (10.78Wh capacity) about once. If you wanted to use the battery on more modern iPhones, it would get you around 60-80% of a charge. iPhone 16 Pro offers a 13.8Wh battery, and iPhone 16e offers a 15.5Wh battery. Apple discontinued this accessory in September 2023, when the iPhone 15 lineup switched to USB-C. I suppose Apple didn’t want to bother with swapping the port from Lightning to USB-C. The company also discontinued its MagSafe Duo charger, which allowed you to charge an iPhone and Apple Watch side by side, with a travel-friendly design. It’s worth noting that this accessory still works perfectly fine if you own one. It’s just becoming increasingly dated. Beats comeback More recently, Apple has been releasing new iPhone accessories under the Beats brand. It started off with the interesting hard-plastic iPhone 16 case, and more recently they’re preparing to launch charging cables. When they launched the hard-plastic case, I assumed it was a one-off. Now that they’re also doing the charging cables, it left me wondering – will there be more? Clearly, Apple is warming up to the idea of positioning Beats as an accessory company, particularly with accessories that it wouldn’t want to launch themselves. For example, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable. While there’s nothing to base this on, a Beats MagSafe battery bank seems like a no brainer. It’d come in lots of fun colors, I’m sure. It’d also probably come in at a slightly lower starting price than Apple’s original $99. It might not be the most appealing product, but it’d be perfect for the Beats brand. Of course, there are a number of third party MagSafe battery bank options on the market – but none of them will have a deep level of iOS integration, nor unique reverse wireless charging capabilities. If you’re interested in a MagSafe battery bank that already exists, you can check out Anker’s MagGo battery – offering 5000mAh for only $40. It also comes with a charging cable at that price. Would you like to see Apple make a new MagSafe battery, finally? Let us know in the comments. My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Bad news for people who love good puppers: pet dogs seem, per an unsettling new study, to be astonishingly bad for the environment.In an interview with The Guardian, the lead author of a wide-ranging review of canine environmental effects suggested that pet dogs may be as harmful to their surroundings as their much-maligned brethren, housecats."To a certain extent, we give a free pass to dogs because they are so important to us," Bill Bateman of Australia's Curtin University told the newspaper, "not just as working dogs but also as companions."Though there has been far less research about pet dogs as environmental threats compared to similar research about cats, the studies that do exist paint a pretty stark picture. As Bateman and his colleagues found when compiling their literature review, which was published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology, dogs are not only one of the world's most ubiquitous predators, but also one of the deadliest."As the commonest large carnivore in the world, the environmental impacts of owned dogs are extensive and multifarious," Curtin University's press release reads. "They are implicated in direct killing and disturbance of multiple species, particularly shore birds."Beyond problematic hunting behaviors, the mere scent of dogs changes the behavior of animals that come into contact with their essence long after the canines depart — and that's not even counting their fetid waste that many owners just leave smeared all over public spaces."Studies have found that animals like deer, foxes, and bobcats in the US are less active or completely avoid areas where dogs are regularly walked, even in the absence of the dogs," Bateman said in Curtin's press release about the new research."Dog waste also contributes to pollution in waterways and inhibits plant growth," he continued, "while wash-off from chemical treatments used to clean and guard dogs from parasites can add toxic compounds to aquatic environments."It sucks to discover that man's best friend is also a big-time polluter — but as Bateman told The Guardian, he and his colleagues didn't undertake their research to be "censorious.""Although we’ve pointed out these issues with dogs in natural environments," he said, "there is that other balancing side, which is that people will probably go out and really enjoy the environment around them — and perhaps feel more protective about it — because they’re out there walking their dog in it."Training one's dogs not to hunt and using less toxic cleaning products, Bateman had a simple trick that can help dog owners feel better about their polluting pets."If nothing else," he noted, "pick up your own dog shit."More on pet projects: We Talked to the Inventors of the "Tamagotchi" Vape That Dies If You Stop PuffingShare This Article

All six of the Netflix series' installments are worth watching.