5 Organizational Apps To Make Your Days That Much More Effective
Apps these days are a dime a dozen, so we wanted to assemble some of our favorite apps for organization. From file storage to organizing trip details to content management, these apps have the power to make your work life that much easier, and more effective.
- Evernote
Take notes in meetings, and attach documents, articles, and presentations to these notes. You can also record meetings as a part of the note so that you can stay focused on what a client is saying, or doing your best in a presentation. Evernote is available on Android and iOS, and also has a desktop version to sync to a tablet.
- Dropbox
Dropbox is great for file storage, especially files that are too large to attach to an email. Keep both business and personal information in your Dropbox account. The great thing about this app is that it offers a free 30-day trial for a relatively inexpensive cost of $12.50 per month. It also has a snazzy camera upload feature where your pictures automatically upload to your account.
- TripIt
Keep your flight confirmations, restaurant reservations, and hotel information in this app. For many business owners, travel is a given whether for business or in your personal life. Keep photos and information about cherished destinations—where to dine again, for example, or an article about a particular workspace. The premium version also gives access to frequent flyer miles.
- HabitList
If you are a person who wakes up at 5am, you likely understand the benefit of forming good habits. And HabitList is one way to form even more habits. It allows you to proactively decide which things in your life you’d like to be more consistent so that they, in fact, become habits. Do you want to schedule small meals throughout the day? Or do your most difficult tasks first? HabitList tracks progress and offers positive reinforcement along the way to make forming habits more achievable.
- CoSchedule
This app is available via desktop, not smartphone or tablet yet. However, it is excellent with content management. Schedule your blog posts and other social media posts through this program which offers more organization. CoSchedule also integrates seamlessly with Google Docs and Evernote.
These apps will make your work life more efficient. And of course, chances are you already have a great organizational app that you already use that isn’t on this list. Don’t hesitate to try something new to make the most out of each day.
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6 Podcasts for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
We’re going to switch it up a bit today and explore a topic we think is simultaneously fun and informative. We know that you’ve probably heard of podcasts. The question is, which ones are you listening to? These podcasts are a few among many that we want to recommend for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Let’s start with the short list.
- The Business of Story
Learn about the power of story and how you can use it to connect with your customers. The shows, hosted by Park Howell, include guests who are leading storytellers across industries. Each episode also has at least one actionable tip to make your content stronger.
Click to visit The Business of Story podcast.
- Restaurant Unstoppable
Independent restaurant owners can find motivation on how to run a restaurant, which we all know if no easy feat, but if you scale the mountain, well worth it. Hosted by Eric Cacciatore (yes, like the chicken as the website states), listen to restaurant owners who have been through the trenches and come out alive, and profitable, on the other side.
Click here to visit the Restaurant Unstoppable podcast.
- Entrepreneur on Fire
Entrepreneur On Fire is one of the hottest podcasts streaming right now. It was also recognized as the Best of iTunes in 2013. Its strength lies in the fact that it hosts a guest each and every day, seven days a week, a successful entrepreneur.
Click here to visit the Entrepreneur on Fire podcast.
- The B Cast
Hosted by Jonathan Michael and Peter Thorsson, learn what’s trending in marketing, sales and entrepreneurship, and tips for running your business. Get the education without the cost of an MBA to learn how to grow your business.
Click here to visit The B Cast podcast.
- Small Business Advocate Radio
Small Business Advocate Radio has aired for more than two decades, since 1997, and runs everyday. Host Jim Blasingame interviews experts and thought leaders in small business and offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs today.
Click here to visit the Small Business Advocate Radio podcast.
- Startup
Summary: Startup approaches starting from a business from a real point of view. The podcast began as a day-in-the-life of entrepreneur Alex Bloomberg as he started Gimlet Media. Now the podcast shares information about the stories of different entrepreneurs as they build their businesses. Startup is unique in its ability to follow a business owner from just the idea to its inception.
Click here to visit the Startup podcast.
These are only six, but you can find even more here. What are your favorite podcasts at the moment? If you don’t have one, we hope one of these can be the start.
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4 Productivity Hacks to Accomplish More In Your Day
There’s nothing worse than being busy and getting nothing done. If you ever find yourself in this predicament—actively standing still—we’d like to share four hacks to make your days more productive.
- Make a priority list. Maybe you have a To Do List already, which is great. We applaud you for taking the time to plot out everything you need to do. Yet, we’d like to introduce you to listing only priorities—that which you must complete. A priority list will focus your energy on the most important tasks, while a To Do List has the potential to deflate self-esteem if you don’t check off every item. How good will you feel to know you’ve checked off your most important tasks for the day, even if a few items still remain on the list?
- Start with the smallest task, or toughest task first. Like an alarm clock whose ring slowly increases in sound to wake you from your (plus or minus) 6am slumber, so too is the smallest item on your To Do, or as we would suggest, Priority List. Start small, and work your way up to most difficult task. Or skip dipping your toes, and dive into the most difficult item on the list, tackling it headfirst. Everybody loves the start of a productive day.
- Check email at certain times. Maybe you want to check your email at 7am, noon, and 4:30pm, or at 9am and 4pm. Scheduling a time to check email keeps you from randomly checking email, just to see who emailed you, or if you received that all-important message. Exceptions, of course, will be time-sensitive messages. Checking and answering emails are a part of the work day, too, but scheduling them for certain times in the day allows you to focus without this sometimes distraction.
- Turn off phone notifications. Did someone message you on LinkedIn? Or like a tweet? As exciting as being liked can be, constant notifications can interrupt your day. So try turning them off to, at the very least, avoid distraction from sound. Also, try checking your phone only once per hour or every other hour.
These tips will help you to get more done during the day. And you don’t have to try all four. Just try one, and see how it changes the course of your day. For more productivity hacks, see this article here from Inc. Magazine.
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Does Your Business Need Capital?
As a business owner, nothing is more rewarding than seeing your company grow and thrive. After all, you are the one putting it all on the line, calling the shots and making important decisions that will lead to your future success. Because business trends change there are times, you may have an abundance of income; others, you may be low on capital. If you find yourself short of cash and need to purchase key equipment like a new point of sale system, make necessary repairs or have a lucrative opportunity, you may want to explore funding options. One option – a merchant cash advance – offers rapid access to cash with minimal qualifications and formalities. Interested, contact our office today and let’s talk about what you need to keep your business growing in 2018!
1-800-317-1819 Ext 4360 and talk to one of our cash advance specialist
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What POS System is Best for MY Store??
Have you looked into buying a new POS System and thought to yourself “I wonder what system is best for my business”? If so, you are not alone. Nearly all of the business owners I talk 
to want to buy a system that is going to have the right features to support the business. Unfortunately tons of businesses either over-buy or under-buy when it comes to their POS Technology.
Before making a decision, talk to an expert – call me or email me for a free consultation/discussion about the Point of Sale market and the best solution for your business!
Don’t make a mistake and get a system that won’t work for you and your business.
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Preparing Your Business for an Emergency
Small business is the life-blood of our country and we want to help you prepare your business in the event of an emergency. Of course your safety and the safety of your family and employees is the highest priority in an emergency however, if you have time to prepare your business here are a few tips:
- First and foremost, close all open batches.
- Write down the phone number of your processor so that you can call for any assistance you might need processing transactions or closing batches
- Power down and unplug your processing system be it a counter top terminal or point of sale system.
- If possible move your processing unit to a safe location along with cables and accessories.
Keep safe and please let our office know if we can assist in any way
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