Don’t focus on the negatives of how your going to achieve your dream, focus on the dream itself. Let those troubles go by the wayside and focus on the feeling of how good it’s going to feel to achieve your dream. Let that feeling be the gas to get you there, through the ups, downs, storms, and hurricanes along the way.
Have a great weekend!
If being in an office is too traditional for you and you like (or need) to be on the go for more out of office time then “in the office” time, staying connected is critical for staying on top of communication with your clients and business partners. Here are some ideas to keep you connected.
1) Hotspot. A hotspot gives you access to the internet by using the cell phone towers to get online and then creating a wireless signal, just like your wireless router at home. Yes you might be able to get wireless at Starbucks or Sola, but if the network is too slow because so many people are using it, you may not get too much done. Also on a gorgeous day it’s great to go to the park, sit in the sun or under some shade and do some work. You would be surprised how people will be able to tell the difference on the on the phone when you’re chatting on a beautiful day in the park about business. You have a few options on how to get a hotspot. First is purchase a separate device, such as a jetpack (specific device name) from one of the carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc). Purchasing something like the jetpack is a good option if you don’t have/want a smartphone and/or you don’t want to change your plan, which may be required with some carriers. This requires an extra piece of equipment so I opt for making my smartphone (currently android Razr) a hotspot instead.
OR 
I always carry my phone and its always nice not to have to carry more things in my bag/pockets. Now, as I eluded to before, depending on what plan you are on, you may have to change your plan depending on the carrier and phone that you use. Please check with you carrier on how they deal with hotspot usage. If you have an android like myself, I use FoxFi which is $8 (one time) for the full version, but the free version lets you try it to make sure it works on your device. It doesn’t work well on some HTC phones. You may also use the built in hotspot feature on the device that is typically installed by the carrier, but it will charge you. FoxFi allows me to use my unlimited data plan (I’m holding onto it for dear life) and not be charged more to use it as a hotspot. If you use an iPhone you have to use the hotspot feature built into the phone which requires carrier activation (and possible plan change). Hotspot feature should also work on blackberries and windows devices.
2) Some kind of tablet. There are 2 real reasons: It has a larger screen then your smartphone and it is smaller & easier to carry then a laptop. To make my own personal technology suite more diverse I’ve opted for an iPad. Many of the apps that I use cross over to both android and iOS (and windows), such as Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Voice. There are a few key apps that are only available on the iPad, such as keynote that I use often for presentations. Android tablets can work just as well depending on what you want to use them for. Make sure to list out all the key features you want and research the device you want to get. Many now come with a cellular feature, but it’s not to make calls (think how funny you would look with a large tablet on the side of your face talking) but to get online. This may be convenient, but if you have a hotspot mentioned in number one you won’t have to fork over more money for the cellular option. Just trying finding you a way to save money.
3) An ultrabook. What is an ultrabook? Think of it as an ultimate laptop. It is thin, light, fast, and is more durable than a traditional laptop. There are just some things you just can’t do on you tablet and you need your computer handy. These will be more of an investment due to the technology, but like all of technology it is going down in price as we speak. The reason for its price tag is the solid state drive in the device. Instead of the typical hard drive that is in your desktop or traditional laptop that uses a disk and needle that looks like a small metal record player, a solid state drive uses no moving parts. It is just a really big flash drive (that funny USB thumb drive you use all the time) in your computer. Since there are no moving parts if you drop the device you have less chance of scratch the disk and damaging you data compared to a typical hard drive. Another great advantage is quick turn on and boot up since it doesn’t have to wait for the disk to spin. MacBook airs and MacBook retinas are ultrabooks. You can also find ultrabooks by Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, and many of the other Windows makers.
BONUS: Don’t forget your chargers! Especially for the hotspot, whether its a standalone device or your phone. Creating a wireless signal drains the battery quickly (you would too if you had to make so many connections so seamlessly & continuously). Having a battery back up (or extended battery if available) isn’t a bad idea. When I can remember to charge it, I use the Zagg dual USB battery charger. You charge it and when you’re on the go you can charge your batteries fully for up to 2 devices.
Today it’s going to be simple. If you see something you really like, you more than likely don’t need it. Just say no. No might be one of the hardest things to say, but it will help you achieve your dreams much faster when you learn to consistently say it.
Have a great weekend and have the courage to say no.
I discovered Skyscanner app a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed playing with it. It’s great for business or pleasure for those that want or need to fly no matter how often.
May is upon us. New month, new thoughts on your goal. You’ve gotten this far and you’re stronger for it. Keep up the good work. You’re on the way to get seeing your dream.
Have a great weekend!
Top 5 Business Apps (Daily Use)
Besides the business essentials from previous post I use these for my business to help me run smoother and help me juggle everything I need to do to help my clients. Some of these apps have been explained in detail in other posts, but this is a great resource to refresh on what you may want to download yourself. Since I have different operating systems I have put which device I personally use in parenthesis ().
1) WordPress (iPad) – write posts, add pages, flag/delete/approve comments quickly. It won’t give you the full features like the website in adding plugins but its a great app for on the go use. If you write a blog you can preview what it would look like on your website before publishing. And yes, you can schedule posts.
2) WorldCard (iPad) – this helps me organize all the people I meet on the go and helps my back by freeing up my bag from all the business card books I usually carry. You can organize it by name or business and you can see the cards. I’m a visual person so many times I can see the card faster than I can remember how to spell someone’s name. CamCard is a good alternative as well.
3) TripLog (android Razr) – track my business mileage and how much gas I use. Love, love, love this app. Export mileage logs monthly to help with tax season (your CPA will love you for it)
4) Keynote (iPad) – you will only be able to get this on an apple device but IT.IS.AWESOME. If you want to look like a professional speaker with a professional presentation you must have this tool. The templates are crisp and on point. It helps you with lines and spacing. If you have a Mac with keynote you have more tools available for creating presentations. If you have an Apple TV you can wireless show your presentation on a tv like a pro. Keynote remote (different app, free) will allow you to have notes on the slide that only you see.
5) Google Voice (Android Razr & iPad) – all my voicemails funnel to google voice and it dictates the message to me. Since I have my phone on silent or vibrate most of the time (because I forget to turn the ringer on) it notifies me when I have voicemail and what it says. The voice recognition part is often funny to try to read, but many times you can get the gist without listening to the full message. Even if you need to listen to the message you can listen to it from your iPad or phone.
Take this weekend to keep dreaming and focusing on your dream. Look forward to your best days because they have yet to come.
Have a great weekend!
This one is for the n00bs of the smartphone world. No worries on the n00b title, we were all n00bs at one point or another.
For Business Noobs here are the essentials you should download:
1) Dropbox – access to files on most devices including your PC, Mac, android, apple devices where it is installed and files are saved in your Dropbox file.
If you don’t have one, sign up here (copy/paste into browser):
http://db.tt/DSjSFf9
2) Evernote – write notes on the go and have access to them online or from anywhere you are signed in.
3) Adobe Reader – open PDF attachments.
4) LinkedIn – you’re a business professional and you need to make sure you connect online with the business professionals that you meet.
5) Google Maps – google has been mapping for years now and I’m sure you’ve spotted one of their cars by now. Easy to use, reliable and always updating. Gives you traffic information in the form of green yellow or red lines over commonly used roads and highways. Use Apple maps when business isn’t on the line.
I’m sure you’ve had some downs in your plan at this point. What are you going to take from it? You’re stronger than letting it defeat you, so take the experience and learn from it.
Ask yourself: what was the speed bump? Why was it a speed bump? What could have I done differently to avoid or prepare for the speed bump?
Speed bumps make you stronger so have a strong weekend.
As another Tax season ends, another year of preparation begins. The best (I use this term loosely) tax seasons are ones with less headaches, heartaches, and possible heart attacks (the three H’s of tax season). How do you do that?! Well utilizing technology can help keep things in order so that when tax season comes around next year you are ready without worry.
Here are some great apps/sources to keep your daily life organized so you can send your CPA (always recommended) all your documents early and they won’t have to ask too many questions.
1) Calendar. I use google calendar, but you can also you outlook or iCal. This may seem a bit odd in regards to taxes. It can keep things in order about where you were with who; whether it was for business or pleasure. Make sure whichever calendar you use it is easy to get to no matter where you go or what you are doing.
2) TripLog. Best way I have found to track mileage. I’ve said it before in previous post but will say it again. It’s a great tool if you’re doing 1099 work and need to deduct mileage. The most expensive version is more than worth it (and you can claim it as a business expense). Make sure your GPS is turned on and the app will track how many miles you go when turned on. The full featured version can automatically turn on when you go more than 5mph. You can file away business, personal, and charity drives right from the app and then export them monthly. A good practice I like to have is print the report at the end of the month and staple it to my calendar so I know what I was doing when.
3) Expensify. For all those dinner and lunch meetings or just when you have to go out and get more stickies. This app helps you keep track of all the receipts by taking pictures of them and storing the reason for the expense. I know you have a separate credit card for business expenses because you’re a smart cookie so you can tie your business credit card account to Expensify and it will automatically import charges for you to adjust and delegate.
4) Genius Scan. When you need to quickly send a copy of a document to your CPA but a fax isn’t available, this is your app. The only caveat I would put to this is make sure you have a good camera on your device. Once you take a picture in genius scan (or equivalent app) you can crop it to just the document itself and send via email and/or save it as a PDF. This is also great if you don’t feel it’s a receipt but needs to be documented for tax purposes.
Great practices to keep you cool throughout the year (to prep for tax season)
– Make sure your calendar is up to date daily. Don’t forget to put in last minute meetings, even if its just for coffee.
– Talk with your CPA about common deductions. If you’ve had one for a while they should be able to give you a specific list. Many times its meals, mileage, and business supplies, but there can be more depending on what you are doing. Make sure to wait a week or so after April 15th so you can give your CPA a break.
– In case you haven’t already, get a business only credit card that will never be used for personal use. Your CPA will hug you (and maybe even me) when you do this if you haven’t already.
– At the end of the month (or start of the next), print off the updated calendar, Expensify reports, and TripLog reports and file away for the given month. Easy thing to do is put a reoccurring reminder in your calendar to set aside time to do this each month. First time it might take an hour, but it usually only takes 15min. If it only took you 3 hours the ENTIRE year to do your taxes I think you would be able to three H’s of tax season.
Don’t forget that each year tax laws change so there may be some things that your CPA will ask you because they know you and your business so well.
Make sure to check back for any updates and additional tips from local CPAs.
