Displaying All Posts by Mike Vardy

Productivity Web Apps Bundle on the Cheap

Mike Vardy 17th June Productivity Leave a Comment

    The popular lifehacking site, the aptly-named Lifehacker, delivered some fantastic news today that we just had to share!

    The website AppSumo is offering a bundle of the professional level of web-based productivity apps such as Evernote, Remember The Milk and RescueTime (the last of which was used to calculate the lost time during Google’s Pac-Man logo day)  The package is just $55, which is pretty much the most awesome savings I’ve ever seen on a bundle of pure productivity apps.  The best part: they’re not platform-dependent so they’ll work on any OS of your choosing.  The not-so-best part: they’re only available at this price for a limited time and also for a limited duration (ranging from 2 months to 1 year before you have to pony up more dough).

    Even with that caveat, the value of this package is well over $300 – a great deal no matter how you look at it.  So if you’re wanting to upgrade to the premium version from the “freemium” version of any of these apps –  or just want to give something new a try, this bundle is the perfect excuse/reason to do so.

    Grab Premium Versions of Your Favorite Productivity Webapps for Cheap with AppSumo (via Lifehacker) Click Here to Read Article …

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    What Browser Are You Using?

    Mike Vardy 16th June Productivity Leave a Comment

      How you surf the web can directly impact how productive you are at work – or in general.  We talked about Safari’s latest iteration recently, but there are plenty of options out there to choose from.

      An example of this would be the latest release of Flock, which went into beta testing this past Tuesday.  One of the great aspects of Flock is that you can integrate your social networking profiles from Facebook and Twitter into your browser rather than go to each website or external application.  It now becomes your “one stop shop” to make status updates or check out your latest “tweets” – among other nifty little features.  Its newest version (now built on the open-source Chromium code than previous versions) is only available for Windows right now, but you can sign up at their beta site to find out when it’s going be ready for Mac users.

      While Flock may not be everyone’s cup of tea, everyone does have a browser (or browsers) they prefer to use.  What do you use?  Why?  Let us know in the comments. Click Here to Read Article …

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      Are Traditional Offices Dead?

      Mike Vardy 16th June Office Life Leave a Comment

        Today Seth Godin posted his thoughts on the state of the “traditional office.”

        I hold the man in pretty high regard (he was listed as one of my examples of “really productive people”), and I even took part in this Monday’s Worldwide Linchpin Meetup Day. While not everyone will agree with his ideas, he puts them out there no matter what.

        He raises some really great points, including how one can be more productive if they work from wherever they choose.

        So, do you think the traditional office is dead?  Do you think there’s a place for it in today’s society? Click Here to Read Article …

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        Which OS Do You Use?

        Mike Vardy 16th June Productivity Leave a Comment

          With Microsoft closing in on its Windows XP support end date (and the fallout from the recent Help Centre flaw being broadcast all over the web), PC users are either looking to Windows 7 or sticking with XP “support free” as this transition takes place.  Because we know no one is using Vista, right?

          Macintosh OS (also known as OS X and OS 10) users have been “treated” to a new operating system approximately every two years now.  Linux users are having new “distros” developed at a breakneck pace as it gains popularity – but it is still has the smallest market share out there.  (I’m unaware of any standalone productivity applications developed for the OS – web applications seem to be the only option.  If any of our readers know of any, please enlighten me!)

          With support ending for what was likely the most widely-used operating system, it brings to the forefront the following:

          What OS do you use and why?

          Let us know in the comments. Click Here to Read Article …

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          Musical Motivation

          Mike Vardy 15th June Productivity Leave a Comment

            “I love rock ‘n roll” – Joan Jett

            I hear you, Joan.

            Not everyone loves rock ‘n roll, but I do.  Actually, my musical tastes range from jazz to rock to classical and several genres in between.  It all depends on the mood.  If I’m driving down the highway, I’ll pull out a great rock tune and if I’m curled up with a good book I’ll throw on some light jazz or classical.  My tastes seem to have me covered.

            When I’m trying to get stuff done, I need the same kind of motivational kickstart.  Rock will do it sometimes, classical another.  Sometimes silence is my muse’s best friend.  Music can play an integral part in how my day goes.

            What about you?  Does music get you moving? What kind of music?  What artists?  Let us know in the comments. Click Here to Read Article …

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            Some Great Dropbox Tips and Tricks

            Mike Vardy 14th June Productivity Leave a Comment

              We recently touched on how Dropbox could be (and, for yours truly, is) an effiicient and effective means to share files across multiple platforms.  Seems as if we’re not alone in this.

              Sister site AppStorm expands upon how the service can be used to share files by offering 15 tips and tricks…plus there’s a chance to win a $100 credit giveaway if you leave your very own tip in the comments at AppStorm!

              15 Awesome Dropbox Tips and Tricks with $100 Credit Giveaway Click Here to Read Article …

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              3 Ways To Get Unstuck

              Mike Vardy 14th June Productivity Leave a Comment

                Sometimes you just get stuck.

                Whether you’re a writer and you…just…can’t…find…the next thought or you catch a glimpse of the sunny skies outside your office window and you start to daydream, it happens.  The biggest step to moving ahead is to get “unstuck.”  Here are a few quick tips on how to get your mind on track and get back to the task at hand:

                1. Indulge

                Just go with it.  If you can’t stop thinking about next weekend, then don’t.  If you can’t get that next sentence on that report, then don’t.  Distract yourself, but do it productively.  Pick up the phone and make plans for the weekend.  If that next sentence won’t come out, then start to write about something else – make plans for what’s to come, perhaps.  Sometimes you have to indulge in what’s got you stuck before you can get out of it.  It’s like quicksand: the more you fight it, the quicker you’ll sink.

                2. Insist

                You can go the opposite way of indulging and insist you push through what’s on your plate.  It’s not the most pleasant way to go, but the short-term pain leads to long-term gain.  Think about what’s beyond the task at hand; that’ll help you get done what you need to now so that you can get to where you need to be next.

                3. Inquire

                Start asking yourself questions.  Does this “getting stuck” happen often?  Does it happen with just this type of work, or with a lot of what you do?  Sometimes searching for the answers to these initial questions will give you a lot of scope as to what really lies beneath.  Sometimes it’ll just get you moving again.  Sometimes it’ll get you moving on.

                Do you have strategies that you put into practice when you get stuck?  What do you do to get unstuck?  Let us know in the comments. Click Here to Read Article …

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                Awesome Links #1

                Mike Vardy 13th June Productivity Leave a Comment

                  Freebie: FreelanceSwitch Business Card Template

                  Nothing says “I’m a professional” more than a good business card.  And while we discussed business card design here this week, our sister site FreelanceSwitch gives you a free template to download so that you can get started showing people how awesome your work is – and you’re being awesomely productive because most of the work’s already done for you!

                  7 Tips for a Fabulous Outdoor Movie Night

                  A movie is the perfect escape from the daily rigors of work and gives you a chance to recharge your batteries so you can maintain a high level of productivity.  Outdoor movie nights are becoming more and more popular these days, so here’s a few tips to make sure you put together one that goes off without a hitch!

                  A Great Starting Point for Productive Trip Planning

                  Kayak’s got an awesome feature that allows you to narrow down vacation spots by price, location and even temperature range.  It’ called “Explore” and you should do just that!

                  30+ Things You Have to Know about being a Freelancer

                  New strategies such as telecommuting and flex hours are being used for those who want to stay with their current employer and work from home.  But what if you want to strike out on your own and – gasp – freelance?  Here’s 30-odd things that will you need to know before striking off into (or running away from) the realm of self-employment.

                  Sleep and Your Productivity

                  If you’re tired, you’re not as energetic.  If you’re not as energetic, you’re not as productive.  How can you get the much-needed sleep you deserve?  Michael Hyatt has some thoughts on this… Click Here to Read Article …

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