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Some Helpful Productivity Tools
Life is busy (or 'full', as I prefer to say nowadays). There are lots of people to see, places to go, and things to do – more than we seem to have time for. In many ways, there is enough to do to fill multiple life times. But we only have one … so we must make choices between one thing and another. We have to determine priorities, discerning at times between what is urgent and what is really important.
I have always enjoyed thinking about life management and how best we can live fruitful yet enjoyable lives that please God. Check out the posts on this BLOG about Personal Development and you'll be able to access some of the ideas and concepts that have been a help to me.
David Allen's book Getting Things Done is an excellent guide to managing the many details of our lives. One of the keys to productivity is to have a good system to store all of your projects and tasks, along with the material related to them. Here are a few technological tools I have found helpful:
1. Evernote. This is an outstanding free program, that works on all computer operating system platforms. It enables you to set up 'notebooks' where you can store items such as ideas, photos, files, web pages links, audio recording and pretty much anything you imagine. I have a notebook for all the areas or roles of my life, with sub-folders for various categories. Everything is stored in the cloud and can be accessed from all of your devices.
2. Wunderlist. This is an excellent free task management system that also resides in the cloud, and can therefore be accessed from all of your devices (computer and mobile phone), with changes made on one device able to be synchronised across other devices. I try to get tasks or ideas out of my head as soon as possible so I have them stored in a place where I can remember and/or find them when I need to.
3. Dropbox. This is another great free program that enables you to store any kind of documents in the cloud. They can then be accessed from any device, as long as you have internet access. Of course, files can also be worked on or edited while offline. I keep my Journal, Bible devotional notes and other documents I am regularly accessing in my Dropbox folder. Sign up for free!
These powerful software tools, in addition to Outlook for email, my Contacts and my Calendars, help me keep my life relatively organised so I am in the right place at the right time and have the work and preparation required of me done on time.
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." [Moses - Ps.90:12. NIV]
"Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (redeeming the time – KJV], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." [The Apostle Paul – Eph.5:15-17]
10 Ways Your Phone is Changing the World
In this week’s special wireless issue titled, “THE WIRELESS ISSUE. 10 Ways Your Phone is Changing the World,” TIME explores how mobile phones have become a super-extension of ourselves, altering in fundamental ways how we approach everything from education to politics, from medicine to romance.
The issue includes an exclusive TIME Mobility Poll, conducted in cooperation with Qualcomm, that highlights the increasing significance of mobile technology in our lives. TIME‘s Nancy Gibbs writes, “It is hard to think of any tool, any instrument, any object in history with which so many developed so close a relationship so quickly as we have with our phones.” Read more here.
When it comes to people and their devices, 61% worldwide plan to replace their phone in less than two years; 84% worldwide said they couldn’t go a single day without their mobile devices in hand; 44% would leave their wallets at home in favor of their device; 50% of Americans say they sleep with their mobile next to the bed — as do more than 80% of 18-24 year olds; an 30% said that being without their mobile for even short periods leaves them feeling anxious.
This week’s cover image features more than 200 photographs chosen from 31,429 Instagram photos submitted by TIME readers in more than 120 countries and on all seven continents. Plus, every photograph within the wireless section was originally shot on a mobile phone camera.
Exclusive TIME Mobility Poll:
- 84% Say They Couldn’t Go a Single Day Without Their Mobile Devices in Hand
- 20% said they check their mobile device every ten minutes
- 43% have used texting to ask someone out on a date
- 30% said that being without their mobile for even short periods leaves them feeling anxious
- If forced to choose, 65% worldwide opted to take their wireless mobile device with them in the morning instead of their lunch
- 66% of people feel that their wireless devices have made them better parents
Separating Fact from Fiction – on the Internet
Every day or so I receive one of those "pass it on" emails explaining some horrible thing that has happened or some latest conspiracy theory. It's hard to know what to believe. How do you separate fact from fiction?
There is a web site dedicated to helping us in this area, called Snopes. Their mission is "to be the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation." You can use the search box on the web site to locate an item of interest or browse the site by category.
A recent example (actually, it's been around since 2004) is an email announcing the supposed crushing of a small boy is an Islamic country for stealing a loaf of bread. The full true story shows how this information has been twisted to give a false message.
Their 25 Hottest Urban Legends is worth a read, just for your awareness.
A few important quotes:
- "The first to speak in court sounds right — until the cross-examination begins." Prov.18:17. NLT
- "The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word." Prov.14:15. MB
- The apostle Paul commended people who not only received his messages with enthusiasm but also "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11)."
- "Slander is telling the truth in such a way as to give a lying impression." Charles Finney
There are always two sides to every story and it is better to wait before passing judgment. That is why no matter or issue in Israel could be settled without the evidence of two or three witnesses (Deut.1:6-19).
Some good wisdom for us there! Don't believe everything you hear … check it out first.
Finally, it can be a bit embarrassing when you discover that you have been told an incomplete story or believed a lie. I followed up on one of those "You've been left millions of dollars in an inheritance" emails for a while many years ago before discovering, just in time, that it was nothing but a fraud. As annoying as it is, let's never forget, "The truth sets you free!"
Techonology Tools for Effectiveness
Technology, love it or hate it, it's part of our lives. For me, it can either be a great servant or a cruel task-master. The key is whether you are serving it or it is serving you. It's a matter of control and setting boundaries (something I'm stilling working on!). I love certain types of technology that makes life easier and enables me to organise the many spinning plates in my world so they don't all crash.
On my BLOG, I have written a number of posts about technology that I find helpful, with topics such as: computer software, phone apps, social media, BLOGs, eBooks and my favourite web sites.
Click here to begin reading.
Enjoy!
Highly Recommended – Evernote Software
Pretty much everyone I know has used a notebook of some sort at sometime in their life. A notebook is a great place to take notes, to write down ideas, to make yourself a task list, to write down things you want to remember or just to doodle. Paper notebooks are good but they have their limitations.
A number of computer-based and/or on-line notebooks have recently been created. The best I have seen and which I now use extensively is Evernote.
Here are some of the best features of Evernote:
1. It is FREE! Yes, there is a Premium version, but the free version has extensive features.
2. It works on multiple platforms (Windows and MAC) and devices (laptops, mobile phones, iPad, iPhone, etc), which can all be synchronised effortlessly.
3. You can create a system of notebook folders for every area of your life, work or ministry, including sub-folders.
4. You can capture pretty much anything in a note – text, graphics, screen shots, web pages, documents, photos, audio files, etc, etc.
5. You can organise all your data extremely easily. Everything is indexed and there is an extensive search feature, helping you find pretty much anything that you have stored within your notebooks. You can also tag your notes.
6. You can record yourself or a meeting and store the audio file within a notebook. This is a great feature for listening to lectures or speakers in any environment.
7. You can encrypt confidential data within a note so that it is accessible only via a password.
8. All of your data is stored and backup via a cloud, although you can also have copies locally on your computer.
Click here to watch a brief video profile of Evernote. Click here to download the program. After that, create your own free account. Click here to read the Getting Started Guide. If you become a serious user, it's worth purchasing the extensive Evernote Essentials document ($25 US).
Michael Hyatt has written many BLOG posts about the benefits and uses of Evernote. Click here to access these helpful posts.
Happy note-taking!
Scrivener: Great Software for Writers, Speakers and Composers
For anyone who writes or speaks, the task of preparation is part science and part art … with lots of prayer and perspiration mixed in. Some people think more intuitively. I know one speaker who prepares all of their messages in their head – never writing anything down. Others write out their ideas, sometimes word for word – on paper or by typing into a word processor.
I have always used a note pad to scribble down ideas for messages, often creating a bit of a pathway or 'story board' to outline my flow of thoughts and the direction of a message. Then I will type in all the details of my thoughts and research into a WORD document – often cutting and pasting back and forth. This can be quite a challenge, especially with a long document where you can't see everything in front of you at once.
Enter … some new software … Scrivener.
Scrivener was designed by a writer … for writers. Take the time to watch the 9 minute demo here.
This is a terrific piece of software … and it works on a MAC or within Windows (beta version currently available). You can have everything in one place, including your research and other bits of information you may not need for your final message, whether spoken or in writing. I have just started using this program and I love it already. I can't wait to watch all of the video tutorials and use this software to its fullest potential.
For a more in-depth review click here and here.
Scrivener … I highly recommend it!
P.S. A 'scrivener' is a scribe who can read and write.
My Favourite iPhone Apps
I recently changed my mobile phone from a Nokia E71 to an iPhone 3GS. I really liked the Nokia, especially the keyboard, which was so easy to use. The iPhone is pretty cool but I am taking a while to get used to the touch screen … and the automatic word correction. I can't tell you how many times I have finished a text message with 'Nark' instead of 'Mark!'
Anyway, change takes time. The iPhone application store has over 200,000 programs and sometimes its hard to know what is any good (all accessed via iTunes). I purchased a book recently that rates and reviews almost 1,000 Apps and found it very helpful.
Here are some of my favourite apps.
1. BibleReader. This free program from Olive Tree is excellent, although you will have to pay for various translations and books.
2. Daily Deeds. Want to change your habits? Create a simple check list of the things you want to do each day and simply tick them off when you are done. You can compare your progress over time.
3. iThoughts. This is a clever little mind-mapping tool for outlining ideas or relationships between thoughts/topics.
4. Pocket Weather. Nothing like knowing what the weather is going to be like to you can choose what to wear or plan when to do that outdoor job. Of course, with Melbourne, things are sure to change.
5. Brain Toot Lite. A creative way to keep your brain active.
6. MyNetDiary. Want to lose some weight? Here is a terrific program for setting some goals and keeping track daily. It's like having your own personal trainer right with you.
7. AroundMe. Want to find anything nearby? This program locates where you are and gives you all the details of everything from petrol stations to ATMs. Very handy.
8. VicTraffic. Want to know how the freeway traffic is today? This free app from VicRoads might just save you some time travelling to where you need to be.
9. ShopSavvy. Hold your phone up to the bar code on any item and wait until it reads it. In an instant you can compare prices of the item in other stores and online, and even access reviews to read other people's feedback before you purchase. A very smart shopping tool.
10. Paper Toss. A mindless but addictive game … just for killing a bit of time … but not for too long.
If you have a different phone, you might find something similar for your operating system.
Will Social Media Lead a Revolution?
You probably noticed that Facebook and Twitter are all the rage nowadays. Social media seems to be changing how we relate to one another and could possibly affect the future of society. Many are saying it is a revolution.
Or it is all a bit over-rated? Malcolm Gladwell, popular speaker, blogger and author of the best-selling book The Tipping Point, seems to think so. He recently wrote an insightful article in The New Yorker called "Small Change: Why the Revolution will not be Tweeted." Click here to read it.
Learning on the Web with iTunes U
The world wide web provides a wealth of information for learning and growing in any area of life. One place I have recently discovered is iTunes U. It contains over 350,000 free lectures, videos, films and other resources from some of the leading universities and educational institutions in the world. Read all about it here.
Once you have downloaded iTunes (a free program that works in either a MAC or Windows software environment, as well as on most mobile phones) you are ready to go. Most people who have used iTunes are aware of the availability of music, podcasts, movies, TV programs and even audiobooks via the iTunes Store, but many have not noticed the iTunes U section (on the far right).
Check it out!
Are iPad Users Selfish?
Speaking of technology … the uptake on the newly released iPad has been quite phenomenal. Apple is struggling to keep up with orders for its latest cool toy, now taking the marketplace by storm. What do those without iPads think of those who have one? What iPad users really like?
One consumer research group believes that iPad users are 'selfish elites' (read the full article here). Others question the basis of the research. I think it's most important that we keep our priorities in place. After all, live is about 'loving people and using things' not the other way around.
My Favorite MAC Programs
I have been a PC computer user most of my adult life. I started with a desktop and eventually moving to a laptop then a netbook. I have managed to find my way around a host of Microsoft Windows based software programs. They have been tremendously helpful to all sorts of tasks and aspects of work and personal life. [Click here to read about my current technology]
Of course, our young adult children and heaps of our other friends (mostly the creative types) are into MACs. What is it about PC and MAC users – they don't really like each other and you have to be in one camp OR the other, for some reason. It's a bit like FORD and Holden, AFL and Rugby League, and Collingwood and whoever (after all you can't 'like' Collingwood – you have to 'love' them or 'hate' them; nothing in between seems appropriate). There is no neutral ground.
Well, I have to confess, I am a bit of a two-timer with my computers. The family has an iMAC desktop at home and I use it from time to time … and it really is amazing. Software programs such as iPhoto, Logic (for music) and iMovie are so intuitive and simple to use. In fact, I recently created a photo montage movie for a friend's 21st birthday party and people thought I was the next Spielberg! I even had job offers 🙂
I now have an iPad and our recent new work phone deal offered me an iPhone, so I really am flirting with both sides … PCs and MACs … and enjoying it (much to the disgust of either side). There are so many cool Apps for these gadgets. A few of my favorites are Things (I changed across to Wunderlist in February 2012, which is an excellent free program that works on all platforms), Bento, and the OliveTree Bible Reader. I can also use my Logos 4 Bible program via an iPad App, which enables me to access all of my Bible software and books.
For a more technical article, see the August edition of Australian PC Authority for an article entitled "Is the Best PC a MAC?" Click here for something similar.
I wonder if the two will ever meet … PCs and MACs … some day in cyber heaven!?
The iPad
Okay, confession time … I have an iPad … and it is really cool. It hasn't replaced my phone or my laptop … yet … but it does a lot of things really well. It is brilliant for browsing the internet, doing email and checking your calendar. The eBook reader on it is much better than the Kindle. It is colour and turning pages is much more intuitive and you can load all your Kindle books on to it, plus 1000s of other eBooks (one application alone gives you access to over 23,000 free public domain classic books). The touch screen is like a big iPod and is a pleasure to work with. There are over 100,000 applications that can be used on the iPad – most of them free or very inexpensive – from calculators to encyclopedias.
It has a full size keyboard that pops up any time you want to type – either in Notes or in Apple's suite of applications such as Pages (similar to Word) and Numbers (similar to Xcel). Viewing photos and video is a cinch. Battery life is around 10 hours of continuous use.
Watch the full profile here.
I think they'll really take off, especially as more variations are released and prices come down (hopefully).
A New Online Bible
LifeChurch.tv has launched a free online Bible called YouVersion. YouVersion has been growing by hundreds of thousands of users each month. Almost 7 million people are reading the Bible through one of their mobile apps, including the iPhone and the newly released iPad. Check out their BLOG here.
In addition to multiple translations being available, you can put together your own personal reading plan, create journal notes, and interact with other people about their learnings.
Worth checking out!
This month, the number of people using Facebook will pass the 500 million mark. This is astounding when you consider that it was only six ago that years after Harvard graduate Mark Zuckerberg helped found Facebook in his dorm room as a way for students to keep tabs on one another. If Facebook was a country it would be the third largest country in the world (even bigger than the USA). It could be nothing short of a social media revolution.
Facebook enables you to connect with your friends wherever they live anywhere in the world. You can let them know what you are doing and find out what they are up to. Upload photos or videos and link to your favourite web sites.
Discussions about security and privacy have emerged recently. Click here for a recent Time magazine article called ‘friends without borders.’ Facebook has responded with some new privacy features. Click here to read some insightful comments from Michael Hyatt in developing a Facebook strategy.
Personally, I am a Facebook user (not Twitter though). I browse at it briefly in the morning and again at night most days. It helps me keep up with friends birthdays and other activity in my social network. However, there is nothing like face to face time with people … and I try not to forget that God wants me to be his friend. I’ve accepted his offer but I need to make sure I connect with him every day so I don’t get distracted by all the other noise in the world.