Second Cup: A video is worth 1000 words

Share important information more accurately and efficiently

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is to use videos to share information that you
can't explain in person, to update the familiar saying a

(00:24):
video is worth a thousand words. Let videos save you
time and effort so that you don't have to write
something long winded or lose something in translation. I know
we have all had the experience of struggling to explain
a problem to a repair person. Maybe there was a
geyser in your sink midway through the dishwasher's wash cycle,

(00:48):
but of course when the plumber shows up, you are
not in the middle of doing dishes, so it's kind
of hard to describe. Or maybe you saw the dishwasher issue,
but you have to be at work when the plumber
can come, so you have to explain the issue to
your roommate who works from home, and then she has
to explain it to the plumber on your behalf. I know,

(01:12):
in my house, my husband is the one who gets
really into stuff like the nature of HVAC problems or
potential future HVAC maintenance. But I am more usually home
when the HVAC technician arrives, so I am trying to
remember exactly what he said, and I am probably using
the wrong names for various parts. Here's where video can help.

(01:37):
Use your phone to take a video of the issue
while it is occurring. If you know that ten minutes
after you start your dishwasher, the guyser is going to
go off, set a timer so you can be there
and film it when it happens. Then when the plumber comes,
you or your roommate or whoever is there can just
play the video. Or if your partner is the one

(02:01):
who knows all about the electrical system, he or she
can just take a video documenting the problem and asking
all the pertinent questions. Then the other party with no
electrical expertise can share the video without missing anything. This
is much more efficient. Videos can work in the opposite

(02:23):
circumstances too. The person with expertise can make a video
for use by novices. If your grandma struggles to turn
on her new TV, find the channels for her favorite
programs and play shows that she has recorded, you can
make a video of yourself navigating the new interface. Then

(02:44):
when she wants to watch the Great British bakeoff. She
can just play your how to video and follow the
steps you demonstrated. In a similar vein, you can make
videos for your future self. Maybe there is a tricky
to navigate online database that you use once a year.

(03:05):
You can take a video of the steps you need
to follow, so that next year you don't have to
figure out, yet again through trial and error, how to
use it. You can just watch your video and follow
the steps. I know. I have been amazed at the
variety of helpful YouTube videos out there. There are lots

(03:27):
of things, from winning video games to tying neckties to
folding a fitted sheet that are really hard to explain
in words or even step by step pictures. A video,
on the other hand, is truly worth a thousand words
and maybe even a hundred pictures or so. You don't

(03:48):
have to tell people to look for the big yellow button.
You just show yourself clicking the big yellow button, and
all is good in the meantime. This is Laura. Thanks
for listening, and here's to making the most of our time.

(04:13):
Thanks for listening to before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas,
or feedback, you can reach me at Laura at Laura
vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia.
For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app,

(04:35):
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.