It’s no secret that technology continues to change the face of how we do business. Love it or hate it, we all have to use it or risk being left behind by competitors that are using the newest tech to add value to their clients in new and innovative ways. As there are more choices than ever literally at our fingertips, it can be difficult to know which ones to adopt and which ones to leave in the app store. As a consultant, busy mom, and business owner, I’ve developed a few favorites that help me do more in less time and with less hassle and keep my mindset in check.
Here are my top five I can't live without (I know some are so outdated I am old haha)
Trello
At its core Trello is an online corkboard. You use it to organize “cards” into lists — those cards can be tasks, notes, projects, shared files, or anything else that helps your team work together.
Allows you to easily identify which tasks are done, not started, or in process,
Great visual for your basic workflow
Do, Doing, Done Columns
Highlights which tasks you should focus on - blog post, video, podcast, etc.
o Can easily create a detailed workflow for each task
Google Drive
Keeps documents organized. Almost EVERYONE knows how to use it.
Asana
The work management platform that teams use to stay focused on the goals, projects, and daily tasks that grow business.
Great for teams working on the same tasks/projects
Can assign tasks and specify a deadline
System of checks and balances for training
Allows a team member to mark a task “done” and notifies other team members that the task has been completed
Everybody can see what needs to be done and where the project is progressing
Your team can see what your expectations are and what your vision is
Evernote
Get organized and productive with a note-taking application
Great place to have notes for those endless to-do’s
Can easily organize your notes in categories — a huge time saver
The Secret to Money
An app designed to change the way you think about money.
Features a personal development program of daily activities
Guides you through powerful practices that will help you develop a wealth mindset
When you’re implementing a new piece of technology, it’s important to give it time and not give up. There’s always a learning curve whenever we step into something new. Realize that the benefits you’ll experience from using the new app or program will be worth any frustration you have getting started.
Here are some quick and dirty tips that I use when guiding my team through the adoption of new tech:
Push through the tough phase (implementation)
Block your time to avoid being overwhelmed by the learning phase
Batch or time block and assign a day for each workflow.
The more structure you put in the more freedom you will have, so add structure!
Manage your business, don’t let it manage you
Create specific and targeted goals for each week
*Remember that you can do this. Tech is a tool and it doesn’t have to be a scary one. Take it at your own pace and give yourself time to learn the ins and outs of the app or program. Technology can sometimes get a bad rap because of the implementation phase nuances, but you will thank yourself and so will your team for saving time and money.