Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro

Time for a Technology Audit

Are you leveraging technology to grow your business? Are you making the best use of the tools you have? Or, are you throwing money down the drain because you're failing to capitalize on your investment in technology?

Many entrepreneurs spend a lot of money on technology, but fail to get a return on their investment. Sometimes, they get drawn into the appeal of a certain technology. Sometimes, they know they need to implement technologies to grow their business. But for whatever reason, they don't follow through to actually make full use of the technology.

So, what can you do to make better use of the technologies that you have?

Take Time to Audit your Technology Tools

It's time to make a list of all of the technology hardware, software, websites and other services you have. Rate each tool on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is low and 10 is high. Then, look for duplication in the tools you have. Where do they overlap? What has the most potential?

Isn't it time you got a grip on the amount of money you're investing in technology tools for your business?  If you would like to audit your technology tools, I have a Free Technology Audit Template I can email you. Send me an email at Blog(at)ThePDApro.com to request the template. Ask for the Technology Audit Template.

Blogs.com a Great Source for Blogs

Looking for blogs that offer insights and information? Look no further. Blogs.com offers a human-edited view of the blogosphere. You can quickly and easily find blogs by category and topic or read daily blog roundups of some of the best blog content around the Web.

There's even a section for small business marketing. You'll find a list of recent blog posts on the topic. There are also top ten lists of blogs posted by experts. You're bound to find a blog that can teach you something new and valuable. Check it out!

4 Hour Workweek vs. GTD

One of my favorite books in recent years is the 4 Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss. Tim challenges readers to work less and play more, what he calls lifestyle design. Without getting into the details of the book here, I wanted to share a post from his blog.

Responding to a post on Entrepreneur Magazine's blog, Tim writes:

"Despite the disproportionate attention paid to them, personal outsourcing and selective ignorance are just two chapters out of 16 in 4HWW. There is a lot more to information management and intake control in 4HWW (interruption prevention, internal policies, scripts with superiors, etc.) than “batching” e-mail."

This was in response to a comment in the article:

“Timothy Ferriss is focused on outsourcing and not checking e-mail so often. The last time I checked, the amount of e-mail you get is not a function of how often you check e-mail,” [Mark] Hurst says. “David Allen’s approach is a bit of a throwback to a pre-internet age when having complex flowcharts, filing papers and creating tickler items was relevant…”

Eliminate Before You Optimize!

I thought his post was interesting and gives some insight into different methodologies to stay productive.

Amazon Launches a New Wireless Reading Device

Amazon has launched an intriguing new device called the Kindle. It's an ebook reader with wireless access. It not only allows you to read books though. You can also read newspapers and blogs. Given the huge trend toward going green, I think a device like this could catch on.

Free Wireless Access on a Mobile Device!

I'm curious to hear from anyone who has tried the device. What's amazing is that the wireless access seems to be free. They appear to be covering their costs through book sales. It will be interesting to see if this thing takes off. Could a device like this have the same kind of appeal as the iPod when it first came out? I suppose only time will tell!

How Do You Feel About Technology Right Now?

I'm just curious, how do you feel about using technology right now? Are you really connected with the technology you're using? Or are you so over it???

I constantly have a love/hate relationship with technology. I have way too many technology tools to support me in my personal life and in my business. Most of the time, things are humming along. But occasionally, I just feel out of sync with the technology tools I'm using. Do you ever feel like that?

Do you love technology or do you hate it?

Please post a comment and let me know what you love about the technology tools you're using, and what you hate!

Thanks.

Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro
http://www.ThePDApro.com

Leverage Technology Tools

2008 is finally here. What are you going to do this year that’s different from last year? How are you going to increase your productivity? If you are resisting or avoiding learning new technologies, it’s time to create momentum and get over the hump. The younger generation is nipping at your heels. They are internet savvy, social media conscious and are comfortable using mobile tools (PDAs and smartphones) on the go. So, what can you do to catch up with them before they eat your lunch?

The younger generation is nipping at your heels...
what can you do to catch up?

Learning a new technology takes time. Most people don’t give themselves enough credit for their efforts to learn new tools. Here are some tips that can help you move forward.

Tip #1: One Tool at a Time

Don’t resolve to learn five new tools at once. It won’t work. You have plenty of time. Depending on how busy you are, make it a priority to learn one new technology every quarter. If you have a little more time on your hands, you can try monthly. But, you want to build in time to evaluate your options and select a new tool. This will help you maximize the free trial period available for many software tools.

Tip #2: Create a Checklist with your Wishlist

You don’t need to learn every feature on a hardware device, software program or online service. Create a top ten checklist of what you want to learn and rank them one to ten. When you have a spare moment, pick the most important feature to learn.

Tip #3: Join an Online Group

There are millions of online groups out there. They can be a great source of information on how to learn and leverage a technology tool. The trick is to find the right one for you. Be sure to learn the rules of the group. Look for ways to help and keep promotion at a minimum. You get tips, tricks and insights on how to leverage a new tech tool.

That’s it. Just look for ways to make incremental, baby steps. You can do anything you set your mind to. Good luck!

Holiday Tips for Buying Technology

The holidays are here. And that means people are going to go hogwild on buying technology. For those of you who held off all year and saved your money, it's time to splurge. So what can you do to keep from overspending and regretting your purchases?

First, brainstorm a list of your needs. When considering what to buy, it's always important to think about what you need. Tech tools often overlap. For example, printers can scan, fax and copy in addition to printing. Think about what tools you already have and how much longer they may last.

Next, make a list of tech tools you want and need. This step involves some research because it's actually time to determine what's available in the marketplace.

At some point, you're going to have to start prioritizing. Most people can't afford everything they want. And it usually doesn't make sense to buy everything you want at the same time anyway. Technology tools become obsolete the minute you buy them.

One of the best strategies is to create a Technology Plan that includes all of the tools you want in the next year.

Now, it's finally time for the fun part. It's time to go shopping. This is where you actually get to touch and play with the various tech tools you are considering. Most people don't take time to try out the different options. But, it’s worth the extra effort.

It's usually a good idea to consider at least three alternatives. You should easily be able to weed out options that don't make sense for you. When you narrow down to three options, you can now begin to evaluate the pros and cons of each tool. You will appreciate the time you invested in this simple, but effective approach.

Now, there are a few other things to consider before making your final decision. First, shop for sales. Because technology does become obsolete so quickly, you will always be able to find a great deal on clearance merchandise.

Next, consider when new models are going to be released. Many new consumer electronics are released in January during the big Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Sites like Engadget.com will keep you informed on what's going to be released soon. As new models are introduced, prices on older models will drop.

One final strategy to consider is to buy one tool and then implement it. Then, go through the process with another tool. You will save money by stretching out your dollars. It takes time to learn how to use a new technology. If you buy too many tools at once, you will end up leaving them on the shelf. Keep it simple and buy one at a time. Then, take time to learn to use it effectively. Also, be sure to find out the return policy, which is often only 30 days. Make sure the product is right for you and return it if not.

Taking these simple and easy steps will allow you to leverage your time and increase your productivity. Happy Holidays!

Go Mobile with SCOTTEVEST

I saw a great new product last night while watching The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. The witty and irreverent host was interviewing Scott Jordan from SCOTTEVEST. Scott, an attorney turned entrepreneur,  created a vest to hold all of your mobile devices including PDAs and smartphones. What a great idea!

Scott has a great story. Here's a quick excerpt from his website.

"I’m Scott Jordan, and I created the SeV to solve a very basic problem: I needed an easy way to carry AND use all my gadgets and gear. All too often, juggling my gear was a losing battle. I wanted to carry all of my favorite gadgets, but had to leave most at home, or convince my wife to carry some for me. My favorite gear consists of: iPod®, PocketPC/Palm Pilot, a cell phone, the car/remote keys, a digital camera, water bottle, and a magazine.

Clothes simply weren’t designed to hold this much stuff. Before long, I needed a bag just to carry my gadgets, and that defeats the purpose of being mobile and the perfect “man-purse” just doesn’t exist. Believe me, I tried to find something on the market that addressed my needs, but there wasn’t anything available that was fashionable, functional and affordable. So, in 2001, I decided to solve the problem myself, and the idea of designing clothing as a Gear Management Solution™ came to me. I then quit my day job- practicing law at a mega-law firm, and SCOTTEVEST/SeV® and the Technology Enabled Clothing-TEC® system were born."

Wow! What a great story. It just goes to show what can happen when someone makes a decision to become an entrepreneur. And what a great product too!

Scott Jordan, Founder and CEO of SCOTTEVEST, Inc., is pictured here wearing the vest. Mobile devices are actually stored in the liner of the vest and not visible to onlookers. Very cool! And handy too!

Personal Development List

I have to give a big kudos to Life Coach Priscilla Palmer for starting her Personal Development List and a thanks for recognizing The PDA Pro Blog. I have decided to publish the list on my site as well for my readers to see and have added my own recommendations to the list (and will update this periodically). I think this a great example of organic social networking in the spirit of sharing resources.

Priscilla says that personal development is a large topic that includes but is not limited to (law of attraction, goals, time management, physical fitness, education, motivation, inspiration, and social skills). Some of my additions to the list feature technology bloggers who have a strong commitment toward personal development and cover at least one topic among the ones listed above.

If I have sent a trackback to your site, just know I'll be back to post a relevant comment at some point to add value to the discussions on your site. Feel free to do the same here. (Thank you.)

Personal Development List:

Aaron Potts at Today is That Day

Adam Kayce at Monk at Work

Alan Torres at Made to Be Great

Albert Foong at urbanmonk.net

Andrea J Lee at Money, Meaning and Beyond (Added by Rick Cooper)

Andy Wibbels at AndyWibbels.com (Added by Rick Cooper)

Ask Lucid at Ask Lucid Spiritual Development

Anita Pathik at Law at Power of four Way

Belle Wong at Abundance Journal

Brian Clark at Copyblogger

Brian Kim at briankim.net

Bob at everyeveryminute

Christine Kane at ChristineKane.com

Craig Harper at Motivational Speaker

Curt Rosengren at Occupational Adventure

Dave Schoof at Engaging the Disquiet

David Rogers at How to Have Great Self Confidence

Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com

Dean Lacono at Law of Attraction for Beginners

Debbie Call at Spirit In Gear

Des Walsh at Thinking Home Business (Added by Rick Cooper)

Dick Richards at Come Gather Round

Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer

Donna Karlin at Perspectives (Added by Rick Cooper)

Dr. Hal at Northstar Mental fitness blog

Edward Mills at Evolving Times

Frank Kanu at Frank Uncovers Excellence in Leadership (Added by Rick Cooper)

Guy Kawasaki at How to Change the World

Gleb Reys at Personal Development Ideas

Gretchen Rubin at Happiness Project

Gustav at Success-is-in-you.com

Henrik Edberg at The Positivity Blog

Itzy Sabo at Email Overloaded (Added by Rick Cooper)

Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives

Jason Ivers at A Miracle a Day

Jay White at dumb little man tips for life

Jean Browman at Transforming Stress Into Power and Cheerful Monk

Jeffrey Phillips at Think Faster

Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness

Jeremiah Owyang at Web Strategy by Jeremiah (Added by Rick Cooper)

Jerry Hart at Blueprint to eMarketing  (Added by Rick Cooper)

Jerry Lopper at Personal Growth

Joanna Young at Coaching Wizardry

John Place at John Place Online

John Wesley at Pick The Brain

Josh Bickford at Reach For Magnificence and Reach for Magnificence

Julia Rogers Hamrick at Julia’s Blog: Journal of the Journey Home to Eden

Kammie Kobyleski at Passion Meets Purpose

Karen at Journey with Water Learner

Karen Lynch at Live The Power

Kim George at Doing What You Can Do

Kirsten Harrell at Ipopin

K.L. Masina at Be Conscious Now

Leah Maclean at Working Solo (Added by Rick Cooper)

Lee Nutter at bmindful

Leo Baruta at Zen Habits

Life Reflection at Universe in a Single Atom

Lisa Gates at Design Your Writing Life

Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Lola Fayemi at Real World Spiritual and Personal Development

Lorraine Cohen at Powerfull Living

Lyman Reed at Creating a Better Life

Maria Palma at The Good Life

Mark at The Naked Soul

Mark Forster at Get Everything Done

Mark McManus at Build Your Life To Order

Mark W. Shead at Productivity 501 (Added by Rick Cooper)

Martin Avis at Kickstart Daily

Matthew Cornell at Matt’s Idea Blog

Merlin Mann at 43 Folders

Michelle Moore at Happiness Blog

Michael Port at The Think Big Revolution (Added by Rick Cooper)

My Everyday Planner at My Everyday Planner

Nancy Tierney at Unconditional Confidence

Neil Patel at Quick Sprout

Nneka at Balanced Life Center

Organize-It at Organize-It

Pamm Larry at My Spiritual Dance

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker

Paul at Paul’s Tips

Peter at I Will Change Your Life

Peter Aldin at Great Circle

Phil Gerbyshak at Make It Great

Priscilla Palmer at Personal Development Demands Success

Raymond Salas at Zenchill Powertools

Reg Adkins at ElementalTruths

Rick Cockrum at Shards of Consciousness

Rick Cooper at The PDA Pro

Robert at Compassionate Council

S.J. Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart

Sam at Aquire Wisdom and Live with Passion

Scott Adams at The Dilbert Blog

Scott Bernadot at Keeping The Secret

Scott Ginsberg at Hello, My Name is Blog (Added by Rick Cooper)

Scott H Young at Scott H Young

Self Pursuit at Self Pursuit

Shauna Arthurs at Breathing Prosperity and Follow Your Path

Sleeping Dude at How to Wake Up Early

Steve Olson at Steve-Olson.com

Steve Pavlina at stevepavlina.com

Susan Sabo at Productivity Cafe

Ted Demopoulos at Blogging For Business

Thom Quinn at Qlog

Tim Ferris at 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog

Tony D Clark at Success From The Nest

Torlink at You Create Reality

Trevor Gay at Simplicity is the Key

Troy Worman at Orbit Now!

Vickie at Contemplate This

WildBill at PassionateBlogger

and these collaborated sites:

Life Coaches Blog Strategies for a Greater Life

Last Updated by Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro on: 8-24-07

Top Ten Computer Flops

Miguel Carrasco's Real World lists the top ten computer flops of all time. If you're a techie, you might find this interesting. There's also a lesson here about perseverance.

Thanks to Andy Gray, CTO of Conselleo, for passing this along.