One of the reasons I love the work that I do is that it helps me be closer to my family.
As with most people who run their own business, there are pressures and challenges involved that can work against family life, especially if you are not careful, but over all when talking to other parents I feel blessed that I can now work in a way that allows me all the family benefits that we enjoy.
I have gone from a job that I found frustrating, working for a marketing agency, a traditional commuting and office job, to having my own consulting business, running online courses, writing, running sites for income such as http://creditcardmatcher.com and blogging with friends on sites like http://promotions.co.uk/blog or for companies like http://cogniview.com – the transition was not easy but well worth the effort and I now love my work.
The best part is as well as being happier in myself, which is always a key ingredient in the recipe for better family life, I now get to see my family more often, in more quality ways.
Some of the ways technology helps me …
1) Time – my time is more productively spent.
The biggest example is sales, or rather the removal of a need to do any sales. Where before I would have to write proposals, travel down to London to pitch, present my pitch, then travel back, now I do not need to do any of that. Customers come to me via the internet, and 99% of them I have never met in person. This is a massive time saving. Just the train journey to London is over two hours one way, when it is on time. By car it is nearly four.
Of course I still travel, but I choose when and how, and it is never to pitch or sell. More… »
Hey, do your digital photos tend to come out looking pale and washed-out?
Mine sure do!
Are the colors not quite as vivid as you remembered?
Yep; that’s me, all right!
The Free, Fast, & Easy Software
When it comes to capturing those great moments with today’s cameras, well, I must admit to being something of a dweeb. I’ll tell ya; I can never figure out how to get the best out of ‘em.
The good news is, help is available! For instance, there’s a great photo-editing tool available that’s easy, fast and – best of all – free! (Don’cha just love that word?)
Trust me; it’s easier than you think.
Edit It & Store It
With just a couple of clicks I will show you how to use a free web-based photo-editing tool called Picnik to make even ordinary-seeming photos come alive. But here’s the best news: Picnik has partnered with Flickr in such a way that they’re practically joined at the hip!
My iPhone is honestly the next best resource when I don’t have my computer with an internet connection and this interview pretty much lays out my thoughts as to why.
Of course, this is my personal opinion, but there seem to be other iPhoneSpaz’s out there… and I have found them!
I’m Not The Only iPhoneSpaz!
I also got some input from fellow geeks on twitter so let’s get this started.
“I love my iPhone because it’s unrequited love from afar. No one loves me enough to buy me one. It’s imaginary, fantasy, and folly.” — Scott Merrick
“Loves her iPhone because it’s so empowering! I can get information about anything and everything and respond in realtime!“ — Gail Mari
“Easy to learn, slick, easy-to-use interface, nice comfortable size, killer potential with addition of multitude of apps.” — Robert Hruzek
“I can personalize it to exactly what I need and want. As simple or complex as I choose” — Scott Nelson
“My iphone can do just as much as my computer: find places to eat, gives pollen count, play games, give directions & it loves me back.” — Christine K
iPhoneSpaz Interview
Recently, I had a conversation and then an interview with Jamie Grove Mr. iPhoneSpaz himself about my beloved iPhone.
Jamie:First thing’s first… How many apps do you have and what got you hooked?
Vicky:38 added (non standard icons/applications).
The main thing that got me hooked was flexibility and convenience.
I want to have both the flexibility and convenience of doing many of the same things on my phone that I can do on my computer. When I’m away from my computer, it is very important that I can do some of the same basic tasks that I’m able to complete on my computer. Many times it’s not that I actually ‘want’ to accomplish something, but it is also the piece of mind knowing that there is not something important that I should be attending to that I am missing, which is many times as simple as being able to see my email account.
The other thing that is really convenient is to be able to use time that is many times unuseful (ie.. waiting in the waiting room for a dr.’s appt) to either complete or start small tasks.
This time is no longer unuseful, I can make use of this time to get something done.
Jamie:How has the iPhone changed your life?
Vicky: Owning an iPhone has given me both basic functionality and many additional application options.
Basic functionality like contacts, calendar, Google maps, notes, camera, iPod (music), email, text messaging, web browser combined with add-on’s like WordPress, Facebook, Jott, Linked-In, Twitterfon, Skype, and Evernote.
With the additional applications that are so available on the iPhone, I could offset the additional price of purchasing an iPhone because of the additional functionality. I didn’t by an iPod or a Blackberry, instead I used the funds for these purchases to be able to purchase the iPhone. I also felt confident with the popularity of this particular phone and the number of applications being created that this technology and the appliations would continue to be a platform that developers would continue to both develop new applications and support/update existing applications.
I think we all struggle with how can give something back?
Some of us struggle with the inability to donate financially, some of us cannot find the time, while others don’t because they lack information that clearly outlines what they can do and where help is needed. Well, if you fall into the last category, this is your lucky day!
Helping People Find Jobs
“Job Angels mission is to help bring people together in a community setting where each person commits to a single goal: to help just one person find gainful employment.” -- Job Angels mission statement
We will be discussing a new non-profit, called Job Angels, who are not only helping those out of work find jobs, but has also devised a way for people to help each other, one person at a time. I love the way Job Angels covers both sides of the spectrum with a strategy that allows anyone to help.Job Angels is a using social media in a new way, to help people find jobs!
In The Press
Fortunately, Job Angels has been able to get some great press lately which has drawn even more job seekers and angels to the cause.
In this article, we want to familiarize you with how people seeking jobs can use this service effectively and how people who are employed can become an Angel for someone else (usually someone they don’t know).
How Can You Connect With Job Angels?
There are many ways you can help with the cause; list your mini-resume for help finding a job, post an available job, become an angel for someone out of work, become a volunteer w/ job angels, or help us spread the word.
Steps for each of these subcategories has been listed below.
Get Help Finding a Job
Twitter
1. Create a Twitter id (Takes less than 2 minutes)
2. Follow @JobAngels on Twitter (type: follow jobangels)
3. Send @JobAngels a mini-resume tweet (ie. @JobAngels Boston MA 15 years exper. in pr and marketing seeks management pos. @JohnDoe #jobangels)include the hashtag #jobangels
4. Use twitter search to search through jobs already posted (ie. criteria: boston pr jobangels)
5. Connect on twitter with others in the same city, twitter local application
6. Connect on twitter with others in your same area of expertiseusing twitter search(ie. criteria: pr)
7. Put your mini-resume in your twitter bio
I would recommend joining all three social media areas, but the two must have’s would be Linked-In and Twitter. They don’t have as large of an overlap of the same people as Facebook and Twitter has.
Post A Job
Twitter
1. Create a Twitter id (Takes less than 2 minutes)
2. Follow @JobAngels on Twitter (type: follow jobangels)
3. Send @JobAngels a mini-job posting tweet (ie. @JobAngels Milwaukee WI Retail sales person needed for southeastern wi location , contact @JohnDoe #jobangels)include the hashtag #jobangels or email Job Angels
Linked-In
1. Join the group JobAngels
2. Start a new discussion, add job posting to the “Discussions” or the “Jobs” board
Each job seeker will have different needs from their Angel.
The following areas are a few where you may be asked for help; preparing their resume, job relocation, interview skills, possible contacts you may have in the area of expertise, or just someone helpful to listen to them.
Twitter
1. Create a Twitter id (Takes less than 2 minutes)
2. Follow @JobAngels on Twitter (type: follow jobangels)
3. Use twitter search to search through the job seekers in your area of expertise, possibly your own city or state. (ie. criteria: ny marketing jobangels)
Linked-In
1. Join the group JobAngels
2. Look for a job seeker to help in your area of expertise
Facebook
1. Join the group JobAngels
2. Look for a job seeker to help in your area of expertise
Become A Volunteer
Job Angels is currently looking for volunteers. Help is needed on twitter/social media, the web site, answering email, and other areas. Contact Job Angels via email.
Get The Word Out
Another way you can help with Job Angels is to write a blog post, an article, tweet, or otherwise tell others about Job Angels.
The more people that get involved, the more people that can be helped.
Word 2007 enables users to create professional-quality documents, such as letters, brochures, newsletters and web pages. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of using Word 2007, and then move on to customizing the Word environment.
You’ll also learn how to create and edit documents, work with graphics, use editing and proofing functions and more.
What you’ll learn
Learn the Word 2007 environment and become comfortable manipulating that environment to make workflow more efficient for individual style
Create documents and edit documents
Use formatting and page-layout functions
Use editing and proofing functions
Create graphics using SmartArt
Create basic tables and use Quick Tables
Lessons
Lesson 1: Getting comfortable with the Microsoft Word 2007 environment
Learn to navigate the Microsoft Word 2007 environment using the new Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar. You’ll also learn how to customize the program so that it fits in with your natural work habits.
Lesson 2: Microsoft Word tutorial: formatting your work
Discover how to work with text by formatting individual characters, blocks of text and even entire documents. As part of the process, you’ll also explore bulleted and numbered lists along with paragraph spacing.
Lesson 3: Microsoft Word tutorial: editing and correcting your work
Text is a vital part of any document. You’ll learn about basic editing and correction features in Word 2007. You’ll also get more tips for working with text, as well as learn how to preview and print your work.
Lesson 4: Microsoft Word tutorial: graphics and tables
Graphics can help strengthen your message. In this final lesson, you’ll discover how to use the SmartArt Gallery, work with clip art and photos and create tables both from scratch and using the Quick Tables feature.
