Category Archives: Tools of the Trade

Live & Learn Every Day!

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Need some low-cost education? Try Lynda! $25 a month to “Learn the latest tools and techniques in digital media, design, and development.”

The other day “FFF” mentioned a crashed computer… here are some things that may help you to keep in mind if this happens to you:

  • Some people assume that external drive backups are “safer” – not true – mine crashed well before my internal drive – so don’t rely on that – back up stuff to a hard disk AND a cd or dvd. 
  • Think about storing a backup off-site; you never know when tragedy could strike.
  • One time I wiped out my IPAQ (palm pilot), which contains my calendar – which helps me figure out my business/medical mileage. My solution? Look through my receipts and recreate my schedule for the past six months. Sure, I didn’t remember it all – but better than having nothing at all. Also, don’t forget to include your recurring appointments/meetings.
  • You can also store files by putting them on your server… say you have a website, you can upload non-site files there as well for another backup. I would suggest putting them in a password protected directory so that people cannot break into your directory and retrieve them.
  • There are other sites that store your files for free or for a fee. Here are a couple from Stumble users:

Have any other tips for computer issues? Feel free to let us know!

V-

Getting it all together…. tools to make it easier….

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Do you ever feel like you just can’t get organized? Like you’re missing opportunities, projects seem to be haphazardly coming together, you can’t find that cool website you saw last week? Are you trying to write a book, develop a new business, create a new training course? There’s a great software program that I’ve been telling people about that might help…

FreeMind is a “mind mapping” software that is FREE and easy to use. It’s great for many types of projects/info:

  • Keeping track of projects, including subtasks, state of subtasks and time recording
  • Project workplace, including links to necessary files, executables, source of information, and information itself
  • Workplace for internet research using Google and other sources
  • Keeping a collection of small or middle sized notes with links on some area which expands as needed. Such a collection of notes is sometimes called knowledge base.
  • Essay writing and brainstorming, using colors to show which essays are open, completed, not yet started etc, using size of nodes to indicate size of essays. 
  • Keeping a small database of something with structure that is either very dynamic or not known in advance. 
  • Commented internet favorites or bookmarks, with colors and fonts having the meaning you want.

    I have used it to keep track of client’s projects, info I have collected for them, and future ideas for marketing/promotion.

    • Here’s a website that can help you get it all together too.

    Google Alerts are a great way to get the latest info on just about anything; their site says it’s good for:

  • monitoring a developing news story
  • keeping current on a competitor or industry
  • getting the latest on a celebrity or event
  • keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

    You can even set one up for yourself or your company name and see when the search engines find you, or see if there’s anyone out there with a similar name…

    • Hope you find those two tools useful with project management and research…
    V-