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Former roofer and Roof Maxx CEO Mike Feazel explains how he ended up in a position to provide the support for other contractors that he once wished for.

Tech layoff announcements follow a predictable script. A company memo goes out. The number of jobs cut makes the headlines. Executives talk about realigning for the future. Then the story moves on, and the people who just lost their income are left sorting through the details on their own.Microsoft published those details this week. On July 6, the company cut roughly 4,800 jobs across Xbox and its commercial sales division. Alongside the announcement came the specifics of what laid-off U.S. employees are being offered, and the package is more generous than what several of Microsoft’s peers have provided in their own recent cuts.Microsoft severance package: Up to 39 weeks of base paySeverance documents reviewed by Fast Company show that affected U.S. Microsoft employees stay on payroll for at least 60 days after notification. On top of that, additional weeks of base pay come based on tenure and seniority.Junior and mid-level staff earn one week of pay for every six months worked. Principal and director-level employees earn two weeks per six months, with the total capped at 39 weeks. Executives fall under a separate arrangement.Salesforce’s recent severance ran between nine and 30 weeks. Oracle capped at 26. Meta offered 16 weeks plus two per year of service, according to Technobezz. Microsoft’s cap of 39 weeks is higher than any of those.Stock vesting and health coverage: What else is in Microsoft’s exit packageBeyond the cash, Microsoft is keeping stock vesting active for six to 12 months after employees leave, depending on how long they’ve been at the company. At a place like Microsoft, equity is a big part of how people get paid. Letting vesting continue after the exit means employees keep collecting on shares they already earned rather than losing them mid-cycle.Related: Microsoft cuts thousands as Xbox faces rude awakeningHealth coverage is the other piece. Microsoft is covering six months of employer-paid insurance, with the option to continue for another year through COBRA. For anyone who has been through a job loss in the U.S., health coverage is usually one of the first things that gets expensive fast. Six months paid takes some of that pressure off.What Microsoft told employees about the cutsAmy Coleman, Microsoft’s Chief People Officer, sent the internal memo on July 6. “Our business is changing because the world around it is changing,” Coleman wrote, according to TechCrunch. “Companies don’t get to choose whether their industry changes; they only get to choose whether they change with it.”She also addressed the AI question. “The roles eliminated today are not being replaced by AI. What is true is that AI is changing how work gets done.”More Microsoft:Microsoft may be done making Xbox cheapMicrosoft has bad news for a key AI partnerMicrosoft reveals strange new plan for usersAs TheStreet has reported, workers across Big Tech have been pushing back on that framing for months. Microsoft is spending heavily on AI infrastructure this year. The layoffs and the AI buildout are happening on the same balance sheet.Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s memo to the gaming team was more direct. “Our business today is not healthy,” she wrote. She cited margins running several times below comparable platform businesses and described the Xbox restructuring as the biggest in the division’s history. About 1,600 roles were eliminated on July 6 with more planned through the fiscal year.

Beyond the cash, Microsoft is keeping stock vesting active for six to twelve months after employees leaveMichael/Getty Images

Microsoft layoffs and what’s happening across the tech industry in 2026This is the third significant round of cuts at Microsoft in under two years. The company eliminated more than 15,000 jobs in 2025 and offered voluntary buyouts to roughly 9,000 employees earlier this year. Amazon, Meta, and Oracle have all made large cuts in 2026, too, each while ramping up AI spending at the same time.Microsoft’s stock has been one of the weakest performers among large tech companies this year, falling sharply in the first half. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president and vice chair, told GeekWire it comes down to basic business reality. “Microsoft can only be a strong employer if it has a successful business,” Smith said. “We have to adapt to change.”As TheStreet reported in June, Microsoft has repeatedly cut in divisions where the work doesn’t fit cleanly into its AI roadmap. The China Azure layoffs, the LinkedIn reductions, Xbox now. The thread running through all of it points in the same direction.What laid-off Microsoft employees should know about the severance offerThe 60-day payroll period is the most immediately useful part. It keeps a paycheck coming while the job search starts, which is a different situation than receiving a lump sum on the last day.An employee in India shared on the anonymous workplace app Blind that they were offered active employment through mid-October followed by several months of severance. “It’s a decent cushion, but I’m still stressed,” they wrote, according to Fast Company.The U.S. package runs more generous, but the stress piece doesn’t really change based on what the offer letter says.One more thing worth knowing: Severance agreements come with strings. Non-disparagement clauses are standard. Some roles carry non-compete language depending on state and job level. The payout is real. So is what gets signed away to collect it.Related: Microsoft CEO sends another shocking message to employees

Consumers are no longer just looking for the lowest price. They’re demanding proof of value as AI changes how products are discovered and compared.

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealWhen making healthy lifestyle changes, whether it’s getting in extra steps each day or exercising at the gym regularly, having facts and figures about your ongoing performance can make all the difference. Tracking your health and fitness levels provides tangible proof that your efforts are paying off, giving you additional motivation to keep the hard work going. One of the simplest ways to monitor this progress is with a smartwatch, and Walmart has a weekly Flash deal on one, making it more affordable to invest in.Normally retailing for $160, the Hwagol Smartwatch is now discounted to just $24 — that’s savings of 85% back into your pocket. We appreciate this tech selection because it has a massive markdown and comes packed with handy features, like exercise tracking and message alerts. This deal is exclusive to the smartwatches with soft silicone wristbands in black or pink. There are also two options with steel mesh straps, giving the smartwatch more of a classic wristwatch look, but they’re a little more expensive, on sale for $30 apiece currently.  Hwagol Smartwatch, $24 (was $160) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?Equipped with a 1.85-inch touchscreen display, this smartwatch has a stylish appearance that’s comparable to the Apple Watch. It has many overlapping features as well, like the ability to take calls directly from your wrist and get notification alerts from your favorite applications, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat. When it comes to battery life, it even outperforms the iconic brand, lasting three to five days on a single charge — and that’s with regular use. When this smartwatch is in standby mode, it can run even longer, lasting up to 10 days.With 80% of shoppers giving this smartwatch a perfect five-star rating, you can feel confident in its performance. “I love how easy it is to track my steps and monitor my health,” raved one shopper. They continued to praise the device, writing, “Overall, it’s a great balance of function and style, and I’m so impressed that I’ve already decided to get another one for my husband.”Related: Amazon has active noise-canceling Bluetooth earbuds for just $28 that have over 26,000 5-star ratingsYou’ll want to wear this smartwatch next time you hit the gym. It tracks over 120 different exercises with its plethora of sports modes, including options for running, yoga, cycling, or basketball. After your workout, you can see the metrics on the duration, calories burned, average heart rate, and distance covered. Additionally, the smartwatch has an IP68 waterproof rating, so if you get a little sweaty or jump in the shower while wearing it, it won’t get damaged.Details to know Battery life: Three to five days with regular use, up to 10 days in standby mode.Color options: Four colorways are available for $30 or less.Compatibility: Most Apple and Android smartphones.Is it waterproof?: Yes. It has an IP68 waterproof rating.As long as you keep your smartphone up to date, this smartwatch should be compatible with your current tech. The smartwatch is compatible with smartphones running on Android 8.0 and above and iPhones running on IOS 9.0 and above.Shop more dealsIkt Smartwatch, $27 (was $170) at WalmartMingdaln Smartwatch, $30 (was $200) at WalmartTikland Smartwatch, $27 (was $190) at WalmartThe Hwagol Smartwatch is a steal at only $24 with Walmart’s weekly Flash deals. Flash deals only last through the week, and the best ones tend to sell out, so don’t wait to snag this one for yourself.

Tame Impala and Jennie’s “Dracula” tops Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, becoming only the third track by a K-pop artist to hit No. 1 on the competitive roster.

Redemption requests in the $2 trillion private credit market surged to $15.6 billion in the second quarter, dwarfing bitcoin ETF outflows.

Compass Point analysts Michael Donovan and Ed Engel said markets are giving little credit to future AI data center pipelines despite billions of dollars in signed leases.

How to Stop the Scroll on Instagram and Grow Your Audience
When you’re mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, you’re probably taking in hundreds of posts in a matter of minutes. So, what makes your content stand out from the rest? The answer is creating posts that grab attention right off the bat, deliver value, and get people to engage, save and share. Whether you’re a creator, a business owner, or a marketer, having a solid Instagram content strategy in place is a must for long-term growth – and we’re talking about more than just posting some pretty pictures.
Coming up with content that stops the scroll isn’t just about throwing up a few pretty pictures and calling it a day – it’s about knowing your audience inside out, being consistent, and putting out content that makes people actually want to interact. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some practical techniques to boost your Instagram engagement, share some effective content ideas and help you build a profile that attracts loyal followers who stick around.
What Makes Great Instagram Content?
Let’s face it, people decide in the blink of an eye whether to keep scrolling or check out a post. So, what does it take to make your content stand out? Well, for starters a lot of successful creators combine eye-catching visuals with a clear message that grabs people straight away.
Key elements of top-performing content:

Eye-catching images and videos: The good stuff to make people want to stop scrolling.
A strong hook that grabs attention: Right off the bat get people to sit up and take notice.
Captions that really pop: Keep them short, snappy and engaging.
Branding that looks consistent: From one post to the next make sure your branding is consistent and gets people to recognize you instantly.
Useful or entertaining info: Share something you know people will want to engage with.
Encourage people to interact: Get people talking, sharing your posts and maybe even saving them.
Build a connection with your audience: Get real with people, be authentic and show them you care.

Create content people will remember and share over time, rather than just hoping for a magic bullet.
Building a Strong Instagram Content Strategy
Throwing up random posts isn’t going to grow your audience. You need to develop a content plan that’s aligned with your goals and what your audience actually wants to see.
A solid Instagram content strategy should include:

Get to know your target audience: Know exactly who you’re talking to and what they’re interested in.
Plan your content with a publishing calendar: Stay on track and keep your content flowing.
Keep a consistent look and feel: Same colours, same fonts, same style – keep it consistent.
Mix things up a bit: Switch between educational, inspirational, promotional and entertaining posts to keep things interesting – nobody likes a one trick pony.
Keep an eye on analytics: Keep track of what’s working and what’s not and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Consistency is key, and it builds trust – and trust gets people to follow you over time.
What Types of Instagram Posts Perform Best?
Different types of content do different things. A mix of formats keeps your feed fresh and appealing to a wider audience.

Content Type

Engagement Potential

Best For

Reels

Super high

Discovery potential and reach

Carousel Posts

High

Tutorials and educational content

Stories

High

Community engagement and staying in touch

Single Images

Medium

Branding and announcements

Behind-the-Scenes

High

Authenticity and building trust

Reels
Short-form videos get amazing reach – so get creative with hooks and trending audio if it makes sense for your brand
Carousel Posts
Carousels get people swiping through multiple slides – spending more time with your content and getting educated at the same time
Stories
Stories let you stay in touch with your audience – through polls, questions, quizzes and updates
Educational Content
Sharing tips, tutorials and industry insights makes you look like a total boss in your field
Behind-the-Scenes Content
Showing your creative process helps humanize your brand and build a connection with your audience
Mix and match your Instagram posts to keep your audience interested and expand your reach.
Tips to Boost Instagram Engagement
You can’t just post some pretty pictures and expect to grow your account. Successful creators actively encourage people to interact.
Here are some proven strategies to increase engagement:

Write captions that invite conversation: Ask people to share their thoughts, get them talking.
End posts with a clear call to action: Tell people what you want them to do next and actually encourage them to do it.
Post consistently, rather than all at once: Keep your audience coming back for more.
Use hashtags thoughtfully: Don’t go crazy, but don’t neglect them either.
Post at the right time to reach your audience: When do your people hang out on Instagram?
Reply to comments and direct messages: Show people you’re actually listening and care about what they’re saying.
Encourage people to save and share your content: Make it super easy for them to spread the word.
Keep an eye on your performance data: Use what you learn to make your future content even better.Want to grow your Instagram followers ? Deliver value before you start promoting your products or services. When you create content that really adds to people’s lives, you’ll naturally attract engagement and build a loyal following that sticks around for the long haul.

Streamlining Your Instagram Workflow with Inflact IG Managing
To be honest managing an active Instagram presence is a lot easier with Inflact IG managing. That’s because the platform is essentially a one-stop-shop for social media management – all the tools you need to simplify your workflow, organize your posts, track performance and optimize your Instagram profile for sustainable growth.
Whether you’ve just started out or are managing thousands of followers, having all your resources in the same place can save you a ton of time. And if you’re a creator looking for visual inspiration, combining workflow tools with the best Instagram photo downloader can make content planning way more efficient and keep your creative process on track.
Saving High-Quality Visual References for Inspiration
Studying what works for other people can be a great way to level up your own creative game
The Instagram photo downloader lets you save publicly available images for inspiration, mood boards and design research – and what’s more, it preserves Instagram photo downloader high quality so you can use them without any issues. As a top-notch Instagram photo downloader , it’s a no-brainer for creators looking to collect references that spark their creativity and inspire future projects.

Just make sure to always respect copyright and only use an Instagram photo downloader link for inspiration or other lawful purposes.
Common Mistakes That Limit Your Audience Growth
Even the best content can fall flat if you’re making one too many mistakes. Take a look at the following things to watch out for:

Posting inconsistently: Leave your audience hanging and you could lose them for good.
Ignoring what your audience wants: Know who you’re talking to and what gets them excited.
Using low-resolution visuals: Give your content the best possible look.
Posting without a clear objective: What do you want to achieve with your content?
Overloading posts with hashtags: Less is often more.
Failing to respond to comments: Show your audience you care about what they have to say.

Avoiding these common mistakes is key to creating content that stops people in their tracks and builds your audience.

Letting your branding look messy and unpolished.
Forgetting to keep track of how well a post is doing.

A Reality Check Before You Hit Publish
Before you hit post, take a moment to ask yourself:

Does this image grab me right from the start?
Are your captions worth reading?
Are you asking people to do something with this post?
Is it on brand?
Will people actually care about what you’re sharing?

Making a few tweaks here and there can make all the difference in seeing some real growth over time.
Content Creation Checklist – Is Everything Okay?
Before you publish, just check the following:

Grab attention from the start – does it?

✓

Write a caption worth reading – yeah?

✓

Make people want to do something with this – got it?

✓

Use relevant hashtags that actually matter – yep

✓

Is your branding consistent so people know it’s you?

✓

Is it easy to read on a phone?

✓

Give it a good proof-read?

✓

Use top-notch visuals – nice!

✓

Having a checklist that you can come back to time and time again helps you ensure every post is up to par and you don’t waste time on little mistakes.
The Bottom Line
Creating Instagram content that people actually care about is all about being creative, putting some thought into what you’re doing, and following through. Having a great image is a start – but it’s a lot more than that to get people to actually care about what you’re saying and share it with their friends.
Rather than jumping on the latest trend bandwagon, why not create a solid plan that builds on what’s already working for you and makes sense for your brand? Try out different formats and see what actually works, and then use all that data to make your next post even better.
With regular effort, some thought and careful planning – and maybe even a few tools to help make life a bit easier – you can start to see real engagement, get more followers and build a loyal following that just keeps growing naturally.
The post How to Create Scroll-Stopping Instagram Content That Grows Your Audience appeared first on Addicted 2 Success.

Redemption requests in the $2 trillion private credit market surged to $15.6 billion in the second quarter, dwarfing bitcoin ETF outflows.

In the phone business, the most dangerous competitor is the one that doesn’t need your towers.For decades, the U.S. wireless market has operated like a private club. Three companies own the national networks, and everybody else, from Mint Mobile to your cable company’s phone plan, pays rent to get on them.That rent flows through a mobile virtual network operator agreement, known in the industry as an MVNO. It is a quiet, profitable arrangement. The host carrier collects wholesale fees, and the renter gets nationwide coverage without spending tens of billions of dollars on spectrum and cell towers.The unwritten rule of the club is simple. You rent to partners, never to predators.That rule is now being stress-tested by the most talked-about would-be renter in America, a company with its own rockets, its own satellites, and, as of last month, its own ticker symbol.Wall Street has started handicapping which of the three landlords blinks first. On July 8, Wells Fargo gave its answer, and it was rough news for one of them.The bank initiated coverage of AT&T (T) with an underweight rating and an $18 price target, calling the carrier the least likely of the big three to cut a deal with SpaceX’s (SPCX) Starlink, and the most exposed if the satellite giant decides to compete head-on instead.

Wells Fargo puts AT&T last in the race for a Starlink wireless dealLucia Gajdosikova / Getty Images

Why every carrier is watching Starlink’s next moveSpaceX went public on June 12 in the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history, pricing shares at $135 and finishing its first day with a market value north of $2 trillion, according to CNBC. Starlink, the satellite internet arm, is the only profitable piece of the whole operation.More Telecommunications:Comcast targets frustrated T-Mobile customers with free offerT-Mobile stands to benefit as rival files Chapter 11 bankruptcyAmazon is finally taking the fight to StarlinkThat profit engine needs somewhere to grow, and the U.S. wireless market is the obvious target. SpaceX has already committed about $17 billion to buy wireless spectrum from EchoStar (SATS), the raw material for a real mobile service. Starlink’s mobile offering recently passed 10 million subscribers, with a stated target of 25 million by the end of 2026, TheStreet highlighted.The carriers have noticed. In May, AT&T, Verizon (VZ), and T-Mobile (TMUS) announced a joint venture to pool satellite spectrum, a defensive alliance among three companies that agree on almost nothing else. All three have also said, on the record, that they are not interested in renting Starlink their networks.Related: Starlink just notched a win U.S. investors should watchMVNOs “make sense for us when it’s a TAM expansion,” T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan said on his company’s April earnings call, referring to growth in total addressable market, as reported by Fierce Network. Verizon and AT&T have offered versions of the same argument, and AT&T CEO John Stankey has consistently framed satellite as a complement to cell networks rather than a replacement.Wells Fargo puts AT&T last in line for a Starlink dealWells Fargo analyst Steven Cahall launched coverage of all three carriers on July 8 with a cautious view of the whole sector, casting Starlink as a near-term winner in home broadband and a longer-term threat to the wireless business itself. Within that picture, AT&T is “least likely to strike a Starlink Mobile MVNO,” according to Investing.com.Cahall attached hard numbers to the question everyone in telecom keeps dancing around. His estimated odds that each carrier eventually signs a Starlink MVNO:Verizon, 40%, the highest of the three, according to Investing.comT-Mobile, 30%, per the same Wells Fargo noteAT&T, just 20%, the lowest odds in the group, the note saidI lined those probabilities up against what each CEO has said publicly this year, and the ranking makes uncomfortable sense for AT&T. Verizon has a new chief executive, Dan Schulman, who may look at a Starlink partnership differently than his predecessor did, the Wells Fargo note argued, per Investing.com. T-Mobile already runs a satellite texting service with Starlink. AT&T bet on rival satellite firm AST SpaceMobile and has the least obvious path to a handshake.No deal means no wholesale revenue and no truce. “Outside of T’s fiber footprint we think competition will be fierce,” Cahall wrote in a note to clients, according to CNBC.The $18 target implies nearly 15% downside from the stock’s July 7 close, on top of a roughly 15% slide already booked in 2026. The call also breaks from the pack, since more than half of the 29 analysts covering AT&T still rate the stock a hold or better, based on LSEG data cited by CNBC.AT&T’s fiber bet now has to carry the full loadStrip away the satellite drama and Wells Fargo’s argument comes down to one sentence. Without a Starlink deal in its back pocket, AT&T “needs fiber to outperform,” per Seeking Alpha.Related: AT&T leaves rivals flat-footed as bankrupt carrier foldsThe company has certainly spent like it believes that. AT&T expects to reach about 40 million fiber locations by the end of this year and more than 60 million by 2030, closed its purchase of Lumen’s consumer fiber business in February, and agreed to pay $23 billion for its own slice of EchoStar spectrum.Inside AT&T’s fiber footprint, that bundle of home internet plus wireless is a genuine moat. Outside it, which is still most of the country, the company is left selling a phone plan against a rival that launches its own rockets.My read is that the market is quietly repricing what used to be AT&T’s safest quality, its predictability. This is a stock millions of retirees hold for the dividend, and that dividend rests on wireless cash flow Wells Fargo now calls the most exposed in the industry.There is a consolation prize in all of this, and it lands in your pocket rather than your portfolio. A fourth network competitor with its own satellites and deep pockets is exactly the kind of pressure that, historically, shows up as lower phone bills.For AT&T shareholders, the watch list is short. If Verizon’s new boss warms to Starlink first, the club’s unwritten rule dies, and the carrier with the lowest odds of a deal is left defending its turf with fiber alone.The most dangerous competitor doesn’t need your towers. Wells Fargo just told investors it may not need AT&T’s signature, either.Related: Oppenheimer downgrades AT&T stock on SpaceX threat