Shoot Smooth Video From Your Phone With the Syringe Slider | Amznusa.com

We love the idea [Btoretsukuru] shared that uses a simple setup called the Syringe Slider to take smoothly-tracked video footage of small scenes like model trains in action. The post is in Japanese, but the video is very much โ€œshow, donโ€™t tellโ€ and itโ€™s perfectly clear how it all works. The results look fantastic!

Suited to filming small subjects.

The device consists of a frame that forms a sort of enclosed track in which oneโ€™s mobile phone can slide horizontally. The phone butts up against the plunger of an ordinary syringe built into the frame. As the phone is pushed along, it depresses the plunger which puts up enough resistance to turn the phoneโ€™s slide into a slow, even, and smooth glide. Want to fine-tune the resistance and therefore the performance? Simply attach different diameter tips to the syringe.

The results speak for themselves, and itโ€™s a fantastically clever bit of work. There are plenty of DIY slider designs (some of which get amazingly complex) but they are rarely small things that can be easily gotten up close and personal with small subjects like mini train terrain.

ใ€Œๆณจๅฐ„ๅ™จใ‚นใƒฉใ‚คใƒ€ใƒผใ€ใ‚’ไฝฟใฃใŸๆป‘ใ‚‰ใ‹ๆ’ฎๅฝฑใƒ†ใ‚ฏใŒ้€ฒๅŒ–ใ—ใพใ—ใŸ๏ผ๏ผ
ๆž ใ‚’ไฝœใฃใฆๆณจๅฐ„ๅ™จใจใ‚นใƒžใƒ›ใ‚’ๅŽใ‚ใ€ใ„ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ‚ขใƒณใ‚ฐใƒซใงใ‚นใƒฉใ‚คใƒ‰ๅ‹•ไฝœใงใใ‚‹ใ‚ˆใ†ใซใ—ใพใ—ใŸ๏ผ
ๅ‹•็”ป10็ง’็›ฎใ‹ใ‚‰ใฎไฝœไพ‹ใ‚‚ใœใฒ่ฆ‹ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„๏ผ#้‰„้“ๆจกๅž‹ #Nใ‚ฒใƒผใ‚ธ #Bใƒˆใƒฌ #ใ‚ธใ‚ชใƒฉใƒž pic.twitter.com/57uVTeHOxq

โ€” Bไฝœ (@Btoretsukuru) September 24, 2024

ย We love the idea [Btoretsukuru] shared that uses a simple setup called the Syringe Slider to take smoothly-tracked video footage of small scenes like model trains in action. The post โ€ฆread moreย 

Amazon’s Leadership and Corporate Culture: Lessons from Jeff Bezos

Amazon, one of the most influential and innovative companies in the world, has a corporate culture and leadership philosophy shaped largely by its founder, Jeff Bezos. Bezosโ€™s approach to leadership and his vision for Amazon have set the company apart in the highly competitive tech and retail sectors. This article explores the key elements of Amazon’s leadership and corporate culture, and the lessons that can be drawn from Bezosโ€™s unconventional methods.

The Bezos Leadership Philosophy

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, and his leadership philosophy has been instrumental in driving the companyโ€™s success. Central to Bezos’s approach is a relentless focus on the customer. He famously emphasized, โ€œWeโ€™re not competitor obsessed, weโ€™re customer obsessed. We start with the customer and we work backwards.โ€ This mantra has guided Amazonโ€™s product development, customer service, and innovation strategies.

Bezosโ€™s customer-centric philosophy manifests in various ways. For instance, Amazonโ€™s customer service policies are designed to maximize customer satisfaction, often going above and beyond industry standards. This includes offering easy returns, fast shipping, and a broad range of products. The commitment to customer experience is not merely a slogan but a guiding principle that influences every aspect of Amazonโ€™s operations.

Innovation and Risk-Taking

Another hallmark of Bezosโ€™s leadership is a strong emphasis on innovation and risk-taking. Bezos has been known for his willingness to experiment and embrace failure as part of the innovation process. His approach is encapsulated in the principle that โ€œfailure and invention are inseparable twins.โ€ This mindset has led to the creation of groundbreaking products and services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Kindle, and Alexa.

Bezos encourages employees to think big and explore unconventional ideas. Amazonโ€™s โ€œDay 1โ€ mentality, as described by Bezos, means treating every day as if it were the first day of the companyโ€™s existence. This approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement and creativity, where employees are motivated to push boundaries and explore new possibilities.

The Two-Pizza Rule

Bezosโ€™s leadership style also emphasizes the importance of small, agile teams. The โ€œTwo-Pizza Ruleโ€ is a notable example of this principle. According to this rule, teams should be small enough to be fed with two pizzas. The rationale behind this is that smaller teams are more effective at communicating and collaborating, which leads to faster decision-making and more innovative solutions.

The Two-Pizza Rule has influenced Amazonโ€™s organizational structure, promoting a decentralized and flexible approach to management. It encourages teams to be autonomous and take ownership of their projects, leading to a more dynamic and responsive organization.

Long-Term Thinking

One of the defining features of Bezosโ€™s leadership is his long-term thinking. Bezos has consistently prioritized long-term goals over short-term gains, a strategy that has often led to criticism from investors focused on quarterly results. However, Bezos believes that focusing on the long term is essential for building a sustainable and successful business.

This long-term perspective is reflected in Amazonโ€™s investments in infrastructure, technology, and talent. For example, Amazonโ€™s substantial investments in its fulfillment network and cloud computing services were made with the expectation of significant long-term returns. Bezosโ€™s willingness to forgo immediate profits in favor of future growth has been a key driver of Amazonโ€™s success.

Leadership Principles

Amazonโ€™s leadership principles are a cornerstone of its corporate culture and reflect Bezosโ€™s values and vision. These principles guide decision-making, employee behavior, and company policies. Some of the most notable principles include:

Customer Obsession: Always start with the customer and work backwards. Work to earn and keep customer trust.

Invent and Simplify: Seek out new solutions and simplify processes to make things easier for customers.

Hire and Develop the Best: Raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion. Recognize exceptional talent and help them grow.

Deliver Results: Focus on the key inputs for your business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion.

These principles help create a unified company culture where employees are aligned with Amazonโ€™s mission and values. They also serve as a framework for evaluating performance and making strategic decisions.

A Culture of High Standards

Bezos is known for his insistence on high standards, which is reflected in Amazonโ€™s corporate culture. He believes that maintaining high standards is crucial for driving excellence and innovation. This approach has led to a demanding work environment where employees are expected to deliver exceptional results and continuously improve.

While this culture of high standards has contributed to Amazonโ€™s success, it has also been a point of contention. Critics have pointed to the intense pressure and high expectations placed on employees, leading to concerns about work-life balance and employee well-being. Bezos and Amazon have addressed these concerns in various ways, including investing in employee benefits and programs aimed at improving workplace conditions.

Lessons for Other Organizations

Amazonโ€™s leadership and corporate culture offer several valuable lessons for other organizations:

Customer Focus: Prioritizing the customer can drive innovation and create a competitive edge. Companies should continually seek to understand and meet customer needs.

Embrace Failure: Viewing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a setback can foster innovation and resilience. Encouraging experimentation and risk-taking can lead to breakthroughs.

Small Teams, Big Impact: Smaller, autonomous teams can be more agile and effective. Empowering teams to make decisions and take ownership can drive productivity and creativity.

Long-Term Vision: Balancing short-term pressures with a focus on long-term goals can lead to sustainable growth and success. Investing in future-oriented projects can pay off over time.

High Standards: Setting high standards and striving for excellence can drive performance and improvement. However, it is important to balance this with consideration for employee well-being.

Conclusion

Jeff Bezosโ€™s leadership and Amazonโ€™s corporate culture have been instrumental in shaping the companyโ€™s success and influence. Bezosโ€™s focus on the customer, innovation, long-term thinking, and high standards has created a unique and powerful organizational environment. While there are challenges associated with this approach, the lessons from Amazonโ€™s leadership can provide valuable insights for other organizations striving for excellence and growth.