[Image via puresolitude]
I have been working from home for several months due to my relocation to Columbus, OH. Despite a few minor drawbacks, I am really enjoying the change from the traditional office work environment. Sure, there are some things that I do miss . . .
Many people worry that they are not disciplined enough to work from home. Fortunately I have not had a major issue with staying focused. Here are some of the ways that I stay on track throughout the week:
Try to maintain a consistent schedule. It is easy to get distracted if you decide to work early one day and late the next. Of course there are things like doctor’s appointments that will occasionally disrupt your schedule, but always strive to work during approximately the same hours each day. This also applies to household chores, eating, exercising, running errands, etc.
Keep the TV off, or at a very low volume. I recently discovered the program Sunrise Earth. I wish I could just continuously play this program throughout the day – it is excellent for focus! Other than Sunrise Earth though, I try to keep the TV off while working.
Ban your (fun) electronics from your work area. This means you, iPad and iPhone. Blackberry, you may stay. It is far too tempting to have the iPad within reach while working. I use my working hours as time to charge these items.
The lure of surfing the web, or your Google Reader, is not as easy to dismiss. After all, you are probably already on the web for work! My best advice is to reward yourself for staying on task and working hard by only allowing yourself to surf your favorite sites during the lunch hour, or after you have completed your to-do list.
De-clutter. Clutter doesn’t bother everyone, but is definitely bothers me. My Dad used to always say something along the lines of “cluttered room, cluttered head.” Turns out he was right. I try to keep our home, and especially my immediate work space, as tidy as possible. Out of sight, out of mind!
Keep short and simple to-do lists. I keep two or three separate to-do lists nearby: one for work, one for home, and one (as needed) for other projects that may pop up. Each list contains anywhere from two to five items, which keeps it manageable.
Enable Gmail’s Priority Inbox. Simply put, I love this new feature from Gmail – the perfect tool for a productivity ninja!
So, whether you work from home or in an office – how do you stay focused? Please feel free to share any tips in the comments.
It’s free – and at first glance it looks to be pretty sweet. Sleek and intuitive interface. User-friendly, etc. You can check it out here: http://hootsuite.com/ipad
Being that I use Hootsuite for work, I’m thrilled that the long-awaited iPad app is *finally* here.
However, I’m also conflicted because I am not too thrilled about Hootsuite’s new pricing structure. Which I was reminded of first thing this morning by the e-mail I received letting me know that I am about to lose the option to have ‘team’ members in a few days — unless I pay at least $5.99/month, that is.
I know that $5.99 a month is a pretty nominal fee for the base tier. I understand that we have been spoiled with the free app for a while now. I also understand that business is business and companies need to make money to continue to exist.
But I must say, with the upcoming release of tools like Twitter’s official analytics product — which is rumored to be free — amongst other worthy competitors . . . is there truly a compelling enough reason to pay for a product like Hootsuite? Even if it is a nominal fee?
Personally, I like Hootsuite a lot. But with a nonexistent budget and a myriad of comparable options . . . it is certainly worth exploring comparable options.
Either way – I’m glad the iPad app is finally here! And at first glance it looks to be worth the wait.
Thoughts?
I’m in Helen (located in the North Georgia mountains) right now for a family reunion. While there is not much to do, it is beautiful and full of gorgeous autumn scenery. It also offers a welcome break from the real world – and thus some free time to write a blog post (something I am trying to do more regularly).
I always enjoy reading other bloggers’ and tech geeks’ top app lists. So, in the spirit of celebrating free time and my escape from the hustle and bustle of the real world – this post celebrates a few of my favorite productivity apps for the iPad and iPhone.
Without further adieu – here are my top mobile resources to get you on your way to becoming a productivity ninja.
FeedlerRSS – Just a simple and straightforward way to access your RSS on the go. Always a plus when you have a free moment to quickly get through your updated feeds. (I hate when I don’t have time to check Google Reader for a few days and I have over 1,000 unread items. I tend to just deleted by the dozen and potentially miss some great items.)
Instapaper – Instapaper is a Godsend. Gone are the days of e-mailing yourself a list of interesting links to check out when you have more time. With Instapaper you can simply click a button on your browser’s toolbar and the item is saved to the web app and the app on your iPad and/or iPhone to revisit at your convenience.
One of my favorite features of Instapaper are the editor’s picks. I almost always learn something new and find at least one article that is so interesting I cannot help but read it in entirety. I’ve used entire lunch breaks doing just that.
Dropbox – I love Dropbox so much that I recently dedicated an exclusive blog post to it. You can read it here.
iAnnotate PDF – Their website says it best: “Use iAnnotate to read your PDFs, take your business paperless, and simplify your workflow. Anyone who works with PDFs will love it!”
iAnnotate PDF recently came in handy for at least one attendee (and respected productivity ninja) during our annual meeting – see his pro-tip here.
OmniFocus – Warning: This app is pricey. (Perhaps a bit too pricey, in my honest opinion) However, if you *love* to-do lists, I think you will like this app a lot. The interface is easy to navigate and allows you to quickly make very organized to-do lists. My only wish would be that there would be a way to see and/or export a list of completed tasks. (I love the satisfaction of crossing items off of a to-do list and this isn’t quite replicated with OmniFocus)
What are your favorite and/or most valuable productivity apps for the iPhone and/or iPad? We’d love to hear! Feel free to share in the comments. 
If you have an iPad, Blackberry and/or iPhone – Dropbox is a must-have app. Seamless integration among multiple devices, instant sync, and eliminating the fears associated with unpredictable USB drives are among my top reasons that I count Dropbox as one of my favorite resources.
This article highlights a myriad of other neat features of this free(mium) app. It is a worthwhile read – even if you are already familiar with Dropbox. I learned a few useful tricks myself.
What more can I say? July has shaped up to be a fantastic month and I couldn’t be more grateful. This post will be brief — but I am so excited that I just had to share!
1. At work, we have been moving full steam ahead on our social media initiatives, well, that is full steam ahead with the resources that we currently have. And although I may be biased, I feel like we are off to a promising start and I am excited to see what the future, and specifically our annual meeting, bring. The social media work has truly been fun and rewarding, and has really given me the opportunity to challenge myself. One of the most rewarding things has been the opportunity to write a couple articles on social media for one of our monthly publications. Seeing the final copy of my second submission with very few edits was the greatest feeling ever.
2. During my annual review I was asked to review the ASAE 2010 preregistration brochure and highlight any sessions of interest, and was told that I *may* have the opportunity to go across the country to attend the event. One highlighter and several weeks later — I was told that I would, in fact, get the opportunity to attend and I just booked my hotel room this afternoon. The lineup of ASAE sessions looks extremely interesting and valuable, and I couldn’t be more excited or appreciative of this opportunity!
3. Which brings us to number three. Upon hearing that I would ‘most likely’ be able to attend ASAE, my mild, but persistent, longing for an iPad transformed into a full-on need. I attribute the fuel to the fire to two things: (1) my annoyance at traveling with my laptop, e.g. lugging it through security (or anywhere outside of home for that matter), and (2) the realization that I will probably encounter many ASAE attendees proudly toting their own iPads and effortlessly pulling off multitasking feats of strength. Translation: I knew I would fly into a quiet, but undeniable, fit of envy if I didn’t have my own. So, after saving my ‘fun money’ for a bit, I picked up my very own iPad on Friday, and so far, I love it!
With that being said, I’ve got a can of soup to prepare for dinner and some App Store surfing ahead of me. Looking forward to hopefully seeing some of my #eventprofs buddies at ASAE!
If you have a moment (just a moment – I promise!), I am calling for professionals tasked with managing social media for your organization and/or organization’s event to complete a brief survey (just six questions!). I’m hoping to gather some industry standards to learn more about the dedicated time needed to manage primarily Twitter-driven social media initiatives.
I will post the final results here in about a week. Thank you in advance for your valuable input!
You can complete the survey here: http://twtsurvey.com/3ejwg5
I almost unexpectedly scored an iPad this morning. Talk about a pump fake.
I was a hairdresser in a former life and I still occasionally do hair on the side to make some extra money. I was doing a cut and color for one of my favorite clients this morning when I found out that her husband recently (accidently) bought two iPads (credit card mistake). About 45 minutes later, I remembered back when I was just a wee little nerd-in-the-making, one of my Dad’s friends ‘sold’ me a laptop which I worked off over several months of free babysitting. (a deal I am not so sure I’d be so eager to agree to accept in retrospect)
I mentioned this to my client and you could literally see the wheels turning in both of our heads as we realized this could be a potentially beneficial deal for everyone involved.
Unfortunately, by the time we realized this and made plans to ask her husband if he would be interested in the trade, he had already told his daughter that he had a surprise for her. So, it was too late. Oh well.
While I was a bit disappointed, I wasn’t heartbroken. As a tech geek, I’ve been interested in the iPad since the rumors started a while back, but had not planned on purchasing one anytime soon. Why?
1. I was one of the early purchasers of the first generation iPhone and got screwed like everyone else when Apple drastically dropped the price shortly after its release. (Sorry Apple, but a gift card to the Apple Store didn’t quite smooth things over with this customer.)
2. I anticipate that a better version, or several, will follow and at a lower price point in the not too distant future.
3. I’ve been much more excited about the release of the iPhone 4G as I still have the first generation phone, and it seems downright clunky and painfully slow compared with the 3G. I’ve been waiting for a long time to justify upgrading and I will be purchasing the newest iPhone sometime this summer.
I digress.
What I did score today was the unexpected opportunity to play around with the iPad as my client’s color was processing. Once I got home I did some minor Google research and asked my Twitter network for their opinions to see if I should be more serious about the iPad, and possibly consider putting fun money towards the iPad over the iPhone.
I think at this point in time, I am about 60/40, with the new iPhone winning first dibs on my fun money. Here’s why the iPad isn’t winning (yet):
Some people complain about the weight of the iPad (just over a pound), especially when using it as an e-reader, but I don’t foresee that being an issue for me. (I have a Kindle, which I adore, and due to the glare of the iPad’s screen, Kindle would remain my preferred e-reader either way.) Compared with my laptop, the iPad would be an awesome way to take notes at a conference, and would be so much easier to tote around in general.
From the few minutes that I played around with the iPad, I loved how sleek the interface looked and how fast it responded to prompts. (However, this is a primary reason I want the new iPhone, so this reason doesn’t hold a lot of weight with me).
The nerd in me REALLY wants the iPad and NOW because it is the newest geeky gadget and everyone would be envious.
I have been fortunate enough to recently gain some responsiblity for my organization’s social media initiatives, which are currently mostly driven around our annual meeting. As one of my Twitter friends mentioned, the iPad would be a far better on-site tool for me to use than an iPhone or BlackBerry. It would provide for more robust monitoring of social networks, efficiency, and 3G would solve potential WiFi connectivity issues that are often a problem in convention centers.
I won’t bother to list out my con’s in as detailed of a format, because they are mostly just features that many people agree they would like to see added to the second version of the iPad.
USB port
Screen without serious glare
Lower price
Zero issues with WiFi (saw this complaint a lot in my Google search)
Zero issues with e-mail (same note as above)
Camera/phone
Not sure that my IT department would allow me to get my work e-mail on the iPad (they’re very . . . conservative)
YouTube videos look terrible on it
I’m sure both lists could go on and on, and I’m also sure that those of you out there that already have an iPad, or have been considering getting one, have plenty to add. So, as always, please feel free to share in the comments!
If you follow this blog, you know that I am really into all things tech, social media, and geek.
My older brother is in sales and has been fortunate enough to be pretty successful. He is a smart guy, hard worker and also into all things geeky like me. But to be honest, he’s just not as good as me when it comes to the latest tech trends and tools.
Usually, that is. Until today, when he caught me off guard.
I just had a conversation with my brother and he enlightened me to another new (to me) and efficient use of RSS (really simple syndication).
Background
Several months back I explained the magic that is Google Reader to my brother, and how it has decluttered my inbox, alerted me to other interesting and relevant blogs based on the trends I currently follow, and allowed me to peruse through 200 and 500 blog posts daily.
My brother was intrigued and gave it a try with an unsurprisingly positive outcome. However, he explained that he is using it in a different way than I currently do – for prospect research and relationship management.
My brother has subscribed to the websites/blogs of all of his current clients and prospects. He checks his Google Reader daily and if any of the subscribed pages shows a news release or other type of significant announcement, he makes a note to give them a call.
Essentially, he is using his Google Reader to perform basic (but important) industry/client/prospect research. Google Reader sort of acts like an administrative assistant to him in that it notifies him when the perfect opportunity pops up for him to give the client a call, opening with a comment about the recent news he saw on their site while easily transitioning to engaging conversation.
For current clients, this demonstrates a heightened level of customer service. For prospective clients, it breaks the ice, and allows for him to more quickly get to the point in the conversation where he can directly show a correlation between his product and their company, and how his product can help them achieve their goals.
Well done, Bro!
Sidebar:
I maintained my status as the family geeky gadget guru by sharing another tool with him, DropBox. He has a Netbook on the way since he is starting to take classes for an MBA and I explained how he could sync his Netbook and home PC, eliminating the need (and likelihood of saving over the wrong file) for a USB drive.
Boo-yah.
Many professionals in the tradeshow, event planning or fundraising industries deal with essentially some of the same basic frustrations with our day-to-day responsibilities.
One of the more important tasks that I deal with on a regular basis and falls under this category is tracking sponsor benefits to ensure that they are fulfilled exactly as laid out in the contract and at the appropriate time. Seems easy enough, right?
Throw in multiple tiers of support, add sponsor benefits differing in subtle or major ways, add several sponsors to some levels, exclusive sponsor to the top tier and multiple sponsors on the same level and this task quickly becomes overwhelming.
Oh, don’t forget to add print deadlines, desperate calls to the printer to make a last-minute change and having to work with multiple contacts within your organization for each sponsorship package.
oof.
These frustrations demonstrate a need for a document where you can keep all of the information straight and up-to-date for each sponsorship ,and ensure that sponsors are recognized appropriately. Hence, this post from about a week ago and this template.
I asked readers to provide feedback and suggestions and Rebecca Brandt came through with some very helpful insight and suggestions.
Rebecca liked the document for its simplicity and that it is easy to read. She expressed concern there may not be enough room to keep important notes which could potentially lead to needing to create a second document and defeating the purpose. She also wanted to be sure that the document would allow you to track multiple sponsors on the same tier. Most importantly, she wanted to track payment history on the same document too. All are important and helpful observations, especially the last one.
As I was implementing Rebecca’s suggestions, I also decided to add a date/time stamp to clearly show when the document was last revised.
Note: This event, companies, tiers and entire sponsorship package are fictional. Everything on the document is fictional and provided simply as an example.
If you have further suggestions or feedback, let me know in the comments! I hope this template is helpful for those of you that work with sponsor/sponsorships.
And thank you to Rebecca for her thoughtful insight, I greatly appreciate it!
