2010 was the Year of Personal Organization. After all if you can’t keep your own tasks straight how can you manage others or run a business? I decided to take a moment and list the top 5.5 tools, software or services from 2010 that best served the small business owner trying to get organized. These tools didn’t necessarily debut this past year; only that I found their home in 2010.
1. Android (or iPhone or Blackberry)
I’m willing to accept any smart phone device here. The important thing is to have a device that’s always on your person. It allows you to keep in touch with employees and customers. Anything that allows you to offload your brain quickly and easily. Why did I pick Android? Apple’s iPhone is great and captures the mindshare of the market. Not to mention it’s a bit more polished and is easier to use. But Android tightly integrates with my next choice: Google Enterprise.
2. Google Enterprise
Cheap (or free) Google Enterprise is a great solution for any small business. Gmail is not the industry standard that is Outlook but Google Enterprise runs at a fraction of the cost. In addition you get a decent word processor, spreadsheet and calendars all of which can easily be shared across your organization. Google’s added too many features to name in this email with no signs of slowing down.
Since all your email and documents live in the Cloud (online) you don’t have to worry when your computer crashes. Of course, having everything remote isn’t the same as having it backed up. But that’s another article.
With more and more software and third party services integrating with Google Enterprise it’s no wonder Google Enterprise is the horse to beat for the small business.
3. RememberTheMilk.com
As simple as it is powerful, RememberTheMilk.com (RTM) is my favorite personal task manager. It’s browser based with clients for all the major phone operating systems (iPhone, Android, Blackberry). RememberTheMilk is infinitely configurable going from basic list manager to having a personal assistant reminding you of all your tasks as needed. Using a combination of Smart Lists, Tags and recurring tasks you can finally start to focus on the work instead of trying to remember tasks.
4. Reqall.com
A voice-to-text transcription service with both paid and free price points. It’s like having someone always at the ready to take dictation for short notes. Ideal when combined with Evernote or RememberTheMilk.com. Reqall.com is first in my phone’s speed dial for those short notes and to-do items that jump into my head; especially when driving.
5. Evernote
Saving the best for last. If I could only have one piece of software on my computer (other then a web browser) Evernote would be my hands down choice. Not only does it capture everything but it’s a great writing tool as well. I can clip web pages, parts of web pages, text, images, upload files, send it pictures from my phone’s camera. Just about anything. It not only captures everything, it does so everywhere. Desktop software for Mac and Windows. Mobile phone apps. The website. All synced all the time. It’s like offloading my brain and having it searchable anywhere, anytime. With notebooks, tags and saved searches I can keep all that information easily organized.
5.5 iPad
The iPad gets an honorable mention. It’s not at all practical for most small business owners. But it did usher in a market that, as it matures in terms of hardware and software, will become as indispensable as the smart phone or desktop computer.
There you have it. My five and half picks of 2010.
I’ll continue on the theme of organization throughout the year to include group collaboration. Or, tools to better manage projects and get more from your team. Hopefully, as you get more from your team you’ll get more from your customers.
All Things Dave 