There are two types of technology people – those who love it and those who hate it. I absolutely love it, but I’m not so far gone that I must have the “latest greatest” as soon as it comes out. I make myself go two to five years minimum before upgrading a product, which will likely work well for you in your business and personal tech use as well as long as you stay on top of the updates, back up your devices, and browse for new and improved apps now and again.
Below, I share some of my favorite apps and uses of technology for my racing business and personal life:
1. Reading
From self-help to business-builders to juicy fiction, my reading addiction is met by an app called Overdrive. My local public library supplies me with unlimited checkouts by using my library card to access the hundreds of thousands of titles in every genre.
I can’t imagine purchasing books one by one and having them take up my device storage space when I can access these great books for free. Every night my iPad (aka my Teddy Bear) and I fall asleep reading. Tonight, I was out with a friend and all I could think about was getting home to finish a juicy chapter in my latest book.
2. Planning
I have been a Franklin Covey girl for more than 20 years. I am finally trying to break my paper-planner addiction with my latest purchases, the iPad Pro with Pencil and an app called Planner Pro, to keep track of my schedule. I can also create tasks and notes and can glance at my calendar in daily, weekly and monthly views.
3. Presentations
Every time I walk into a business meeting, I love knowing I have a plethora of videos, Powerpoint or Keynote presentations, and photos ready on the fly as the meeting progresses. People are, for the most part, visual, so having a device that can assist effortlessly in making your point, be it personal or professional, is invaluable.
4. Personal Relationships
It can be a pleasant surprise to a client if you recall some personal details about their lives. I use the Notes feature in Contacts to record things like children, spouse’s name, or even if I learn something personal about that person’s likes or dislikes.
It’s just a simple way to go above and beyond and maybe make you seem a little smarter than you really are (at least, this is my theory).
Just Remember Who is Working for Whom
The key to using technology effectively is to make it work for you rather than spending all your time “working” for your tech. When that phone rings, you must remember that you are not obligated to answer it. A text message can wait. A phone call can wait. A voicemail can be heard tomorrow. Don’t let these devices run your life. Rather, utilize these genius little tools to maximize your productivity and enjoyment to live the life you’ve always dreamed.
You, personally, must weigh the costs, decide for yourself, and then accept the consequences of your decision, whatever it may be.
For me, the convenience is everything. Just tonight, I returned home from dinner and went outside with the dog. I sat my new, beloved iPad Pro on the BBQ grill while I Snapchatted the dog making laps around the pool. When I went to bed I couldn’t remember where I put the iPad Pro. A quick look at “Find my iPhone” told me it was indeed on property and I could make it emit a noise, which led me out to the grill… in the rain… just in time to rescue it.
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