What Are Your Weapons Of Choice?

In 2010, I wrote a post about what tools I use to run my various companies. Several friends said they enjoyed seeing and understanding what tools I use.

Furthermore, I realized recently that a lot of the tools I used then are different now. I thought it would be interesting to do this once a year to see the progression and evolution over time.

Here is where I stand currently, Summer 2011…

1. WordPress - I have been using WordPress since 2008. And I wouldn’t use anything else for my main business blogging. And if you are new to WordPress, or thinking about switching, the new 3.2 version of WordPress is OUTSTANDING, and so worth the transfer.

2. Tumblr - Now that said, I do love Tumblr. In fact, on my crazier days, I’ve even contemplated switching all my blogging over to Tumblr. But, for the time being, I will maintain my business interests on WordPress. But I use Tumblr for several projects, and recommend Tumblr to those just figuring out if blogging is right for them. Lastly, if you are one member of a large sales force, and you think maintaining a little blog for yourself if a good idea (it is…), you can’t go wrong with either WordPress or Tumblr.

3. Evernote – Evernote has been around a while, but I’ve only recently jumped on board. And now, I can’t help wondering how I’ve lived without it. For me, this is where I store blog posts and articles that I want to read later, and keep permanently for reference. I snap photographs of things that give me blogging or marketing ideas, and keep them here. I photograph business cards, and store them here. I scan documents that I need to keep, shred them, and store the digital image here. I’ve only begun to fully tap into all the great things Evernote can do for me.

4. iPad 2 – I’ve had the iPad 2 for a month and a half, and I love it. The big question for me was, will I retire my MacBook and principally use the iPad for business. The answer is no. I still use the MacBook far more often. But I love the iPad for four main reasons: One, I do most of my RSS reading on the iPad. Two, I’ve switched and now read books via the iPad Kindle app or iBooks. Three, I use the iPad when I go to my studio and/or attend meetings with people in coffee shops, instead of bringing my laptop with me. Fourth, I am using Skype more and more on the iPad. And I will soon test Google+ Hangouts on the iPad as well.

5. Moleskine Notebooks - Save for being seen reading a worn copy of Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye or Kerouac’s On The Road in a coffee shop, there is nothing cooler than be seen jotting notes in a Moleskine notebook. Well, I ain’t cool. But I sure love my Moleskine. I’ve finally settled on the perfect one for me: soft cover, squared notebook, 5 x 8.25. [You can see it in the image above] I bought extras, like five of them, just to have enough. But seriously, I still jot most original TO DOs to myself here first, and then transfer them into Google Docs project matrix later. And still use the Moleskine during business meetings to notate actions items and such.

6. Blackberry – Yeah, I still use a damn Blackberry, you know, since my Sprint contract ends in Spring, 2026. With the iPad, I am using the BB less and less. In fact, I’ve even started removing apps from it that never worked that well in the first place. The BB is my only phone, since I don’t have a home land line. But methinks I will switch to Verizon (when I can) and Bluetooth my phone calls from my future iPad 3. That said, my most important use of the BB, other than phone calls? Using the voice recording app to record ideas, blog post ideas, client meeting follow-up recollections, etc. Now, I merely email that little audio file to Evernote, and I have a nice way to follow-up on ideas and meetings.

7. Swiss Army SwissGear Airflow Backpack – I recently retired my old Tumi briefcase. I have to admit, I loved that thing. My Tumi had seen a lot of miles though, and as mobile as I am, I needed a better solution. I am loving my new backpack, and to this day, still finding new pouches where I can store stuff.

8. Macbook Pro – In early Fall, 2010, I finally made the switch to Apple. And like many before me, I will NEVER go back. Being a long-time PC user, waking up to the MacBook still is a novelty that hasn’t worn off. As you probably know, I do a ton of audio and video editing, and I really enjoy doing it on the Mac. IMovie is an amazing tool, and for me, worth the price of admission for making the switch. And the sleek design just makes you look hip (and I need help there) when sitting in coffee shops.

9. FlipCam HD Camera – To say I am disappointed that Cisco will stop producing Flipcams is an understatement. Because I still love and use this thing. In fact, shot a bunch of client video on one just yesterday. The ease of use is what still blows my mind, whilst producing good video. But methinks my tools review circa 2012 will let you know what new camera I will be using, and this one will have better sound recording functionality. Stay tuned. [Note: I am using the camera on the iPad 2 more and more as well...]

10. Google Docs – I have moved to the cloud. I manage all my finances, admin, and invoicing thru Google Docs. I draft all my proposals on Google Docs. I maintain client project notes on Google Docs, even sharing those with my clients so we can collaborate on the cloud. I used to use Google Wave for a lot of this online collaboration, but Google Docs works just fine. And every day, the functionality of the tools here improve, and every day they sync better and better with Gmail and other Google apps. And with the advent of Google+, I assume this will only get better.

11. Notational Velocity – I wrote the first draft of this post using Notational Velocity. Sometimes I need to [or want to] write notes and article drafts without an internet connection. Notational Velocity allows me to do that on my Macbook Pro. It is a very simple, minimalist program that makes it easy to organize and write. I don’t even have to hit the save button – it does that automatically.

12. Pandora - My Pandora account is what keeps me sane when I am working. And too be honest, I rarely listen to my catalog on my iTunes account. I have several channels ranging from Mile Davis to Fleetwood Mac to Sevendust…depending on my mood. For the coffee shop-based entrepreneur, Pandora is a must.

13. Kindle / iBooks - When I got the iPad, I promised myself to attempt to read a book via iBooks or the Kindle app, thinking I would be one of those who always would read hard covers. I was wrong. Reading books on the iPad rocks. And quite honestly, I don’t really intend on buying a hard cover again. Having all my books stored on the iPad also enables quick reference to my notes and highlights, which facilitates all the writing I do.

14. Google RSS Reader - Without my RSS reader, I would be lost. This is where I review all the blogs I review daily. This is where I feed all the news I read. This is where I feed all the Twitter Search queries I monitor, as well as Google News Alerts. It all goes to my Google RSS reader. If you asked me to keep only three things on this entire list, I would tell you my RSS reader would be one of them.

15. Skype - It is safe to say a majority of my client conversations, and certainly with my business partner, occur on Skype. And now that I have the iPad, these Skype conversations can be even more mobile. [it will be interesting in one year's time to see if the "Hangout" function on Google+ will replace Skype...] As of this writing, I have ten clients. And at this time, seven of them interact with me on Skype.

16. Vokle – For SalesChaosTV, my collaborator and I use Vokle to host our internet-based TV show. A relatively new platform, Vokle is perfect for our purposes, except it currently does not allow us to record, but we understand that functionality is coming soon. This is a great tool to use to host live online video, enabling the audience to be able to watch, share on the social web, build community, and feed us questions via chat. I am excited to see how this product develops.

17. Gmail - Yeah, almost forgot Gmail. It is the only email service I use. Having started six businesses over the last several years, I have accumulated too many email addresses. I stopped doing that. Feeding them ALL into my one gmail account. Gmail continues to get better and better.

So, that’s it for now. What other tools, apps, and platforms are you using with great success? Please share!

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The MacBook Pro (from store.apple.com)

Well, I have finally made the decision. The decision I have NOT made with the last two computer purchases. I am finally switching to a Mac.

A MacBook Pro, in fact. Will probably happen sometime in the next month or two. And I can’t wait.

So I stopped by an Apple store at a crazy-silly-busy-suburban Atlanta mall yesterday with a friend. Not to make the purchase, but to ask some questions and learn as much as we could.

So, we walk into the store, only to see about 1,200 people in there. I almost turned around and left. But we headed in anyway and started looking at machines. And we were overwhelmed, to be honest.

[btw, the last Apple computer I had was an Apple IIc. It did enable graduation from college.]

Eventually we make contact with a gentleman named Matt. Young fellow. Just what you’d expect from an Apple employee (earrings, headset, cool hip Apple clothes, graphic designer by trade).

And if I had my wallet, I would have bought on the spot. He was the most engaging fellow, and man oh man did he know his stuff. Spent an hour with us. Answered every question. Answered every. stoopid. question.

I will just cut to the chase, so allow me to simply list the reasons our interaction with Matt solidified my conversion to a Mac. Pay close attention and apply his tactics to your situation:

1. He cared. He genuinely cared about our (my) stoopid questions. Never once losing patience with the inane crap coming out of my mouth.
2. He actually said “Hey no worries. I have nowhere to be. Let’s take our time!”
3. Being long-time PC users, we are burdened with PC thinking. He spent time explaining that the transitions would be easy ones…
4. But he also walked us through ways to keep as much of the PC experience, in case we needed to.
5. He really knew his stuff. I suppose Apple does a solid job training their people, but I don’t know this for sure. In any event, he knew a lot.
6. He was prepared for – and anticipated – all our (my) stoopid questions, with easy to understand answers and good metaphors to help goofs like me understand.
7. He didn’t upsell. Yeah, he could have sold us on higher priced equipment, but after carefully listening to how we use our machines, made it clear we would do well with less potent machines.
8. He. was. for. real. There was no “fake” in this guy. He sincerely came across as if he would rather be nowhere else.
9. He was passionate about Apple. I asked him about the iPad, curious to see how he’d respond, and wondering if he’d come across lukewarm. And frankly, after his passionate response, I now want one.
10. Apple salesmen do not work on commission. Which was glorious. Whoever decided on that policy ought to be commended. When I asked for Matt’s card, he said “Hey, I don’t work on commission. So remember, anyone here can serve you well.”

But the critical lesson here? He cared about us. He cared that all our questions were answered. And he cared enough to spend an hour of his day helping us learn, KNOWING we were not going to buy that day.

The point is, if you sincerely care about your customers and prospects, you will market yourself well. However that manifests itself…