Every business needs a few tools to rely on daily. Here are my top 10 favorites and why:
- Smart Recorder (app for android) – When the moment hits me and it normally does when I am not near pen and paper. I record my blogs, blog ideas and a few other items in my recording app.
- Focus At Will (desktop & app) – A musical distraction that makes you productive. I tried this when it first came out and liked it but thought I could get the same effect on Pandora’s Focus station. None of the other things I tried worked. I like to work with music playing but having songs that I know the words to would distract me. With this program, I am not distracted and it keeps me focused. Sign up with this link to get $5 credit towards your first bill.
- Gmail (G Suite) – I switched to Gmail a few years ago when my spam was getting out of control. I have no problems with spam and I have more control over my inbox. (see blog for more, 4 Steps to Stop Wasting Your Time on Email) Sign up with this link to get 20% off your first year.
- Project management systems – Trello is a simple system that I use with many of my clients, here is a quick blog on how to use it. I use Asana in my business daily to stay on track with all of my tasks.
- Planner/Calendar– Whether you use a google calendar or a paper one, staying on top of your schedule is a must. I use my google calendar and also have a paper planner to write down daily tasks, I like to see it and write it. My favorite planners: The Day Designer, Passion Planner, Happy Planner and Erin Condren ($10 off when you sign up for the mailing list). (Look out for a future post explaining each.)
- Journal – Write it down and get the mess out of your head!! Doing braindumps on a consistent basis helps. And if you don’t like to write things down, then try www.750words.com
- Customer (or contact) Relationship Management (CRM) – Keep all of your contacts, prospects, and clients in order with a system, such as Zoho, Base, and Insightly. There are tons of these programs and you may be able to find one in your niche.
- Reminders– The app I use the most on my phone is Any.Do because I can set it to notify me and then I can snooze the reminder for 15 mins, 1 or 3 hours and to tomorrow. This way I can remember just about anything at anything. This app is actually a To-do list app and it can integrate with your calendar or you can download its sister app, Cal.
- Dropbox– Automatically backup your photos on your phone and have access to all of your files across devices. And share folders and files easily with your team.
- Amazon Prime– Yes it is business related! You get free shipping for the many business-related items to purchase, such as erasable color pens, post-it notes, and anything for your cell phone. Plus you get free streaming music and shows/movies which help you relax after a long day of work. I also highly recommend getting the Fire Stick, which I use for my workout videos, Beachbody on Demand.
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means that if you click and purchase I get paid a very small percentage. All opinions are 100% my own and I feel you may benefit from using these products as well.
This list is really only scratching the surface of the tools that I use every single day. Tell me in the comments below what is your #1 tool that you use every day.