The Digital Whiteboard of My Mind

Remember Everything?

Have you got so many ideas in your head, and you can't quite get them all out?

I know we've all got our own ways of keeping notes or planning our goals, but if you haven't tried the remarkable (and free) app and web service called Evernote then... you have no idea what you are missing.  It is outstanding.  I think about it as the (digital) whiteboard of my mind.  Think about it like this:

You work in an office that is one room in a series of hallways in an office building.  In your line of work (as an entrepreneur think about all the different things you do everyday) you're always traveling in and out of your office as you not only complete all the task in your day, but plan, and expound, and create, and rabbit-trail, and return to the plan, and think of a new idea...  Some of these offices that you go into in your office building each day are simply required for you to complete your duties, others you go into because you are distracted about as you begin thinking of a new opportunity.  The offices that are necessary are the ones that are part of your daily work day.  The offices that aren't part of your normal routine you end up dropping into because you're interested in what they are doing.  You get distracted because you think it will create a new opportunity.

Now, I've driven the example a little far, but you get the point.  Well, think of all those "stop-ins" (when you drop by somebody's office that isn't exactly what you need to be doing, but you know there is something there), as mind detours.  Now, they are all valuable in there own regards, but they are nonetheless distracting.  And, because they are distracting you're having trouble working through your day, because you keep "entering other offices in your building" to work on something else.

So, here's my convoluted thesis:  Evernote is this in that scenario:  It is as if you painted a whiteboard on to every surface of the hallways in that office building that you work in.  You no longer have to walk into any office that isn't part of your normal work day and you can simply scribble notes on the whiteboard wall right next to that office.  Now, imagine that it is digital, and it keeps them all filed and compatibly reliable in an order all to your own, following you night and day.  Now imagine that it can take pictures, screen images, and record your voice.  You're getting the point...

With Evernote you can let go of everything big that you're working on in your mind and move forward with your daily tasks without loosing anything along the way.  www.evernote.com

Growth

Growth isn't measured by the things accomplished, but rather by the evaluation of those involved and affected by that growth (or failure, depending on how the whole is perceived).  Not just as an entrepreneur, but as an individual I am not doing any of this because this is the "end in itself."

Anytime you can't put your finger on it - you're working at whatever drives you.  

It's impossible to say that we aren't doing this because we aren't seeking the some tangible "ends to a means."  Of course we are.  And, we are working (at whatever we are working at) because we see something in the future.  All of us, are working towards something in all areas of our lives.  It may be "getting better at one thing or another."  It may be a particular deal.  It may be a golf game.  In the end, what I'm working toward isn't here, and as a Christian husband, father, churchman, and business man it is that I'm working toward the Kingdom.  It is full of its test and trials, and as this week draws to a close (in this fraction of reflection) - I welcome them.  I welcome them as growth in all the areas of life, because God is using them for His glory. So, I ask you, what is your "ends to a means?"  What is the intangible thing at the end of the day, or the year, or the career or the end of this life?

Retreat

I'm just now coming home from a retreat of sorts.  I'm getting the opportunity to pull back, to survey, and to focus on more than that which is just immediately in front of me and demanding my attention.  Take a moment, slow down.  Take the 3.5 minutes to watch this video, and think about how quickly life could be passing you by.


Timelapse - The City Limits from Dominic on Vimeo.

I've spent the last two days just evaluating my performance and setting goals for the future.  I recommend that you do the same.  We are all blinded by the can't see the forest for all the trees  mentality.  I encourage you - stop for a moment.  Think about where you want to go.  Think about how you want to grow.  Personally, I've found that I do this best by going out of town.  I'm forced to stop, to think and to look hard into the future of what I long to accomplish.  I recommend it - you will come back focused, driven and with needle-point vision.

Need a tool you don't have? Build it.

My new mobile site

Building tools in order to build a business is a remarkably fun thing.  It's so much fun to be freed to work on my business so that when I work at my business I've got the tools I need to do so more efficiently.  Since childhood I've been deeply interested in building things.  (Legos!)  I've loved to understand the way things work, because since youth  I've just needed to know.  

Somewhere back in my mind is a memory of my brother and I dismantling old VCR's and an old record player.  

As an entrepreneur, things aren't much different (probably more emphasized). I'm always trying to systematize whatever it is that I'm working on so that I can do that thing more efficiently.  I love working to build a system that takes some of the administrative "weight" of my business off of my plate and makes my day, week, year run smoother.  We've all heard it said about our businesses, "If you do it more than once, make a system."  And the principle is true.  If you find yourself wasting too much time every month scribbling numbers on scratch paper to figure our your insurance payments from your commercial policy - then it's time for a spreadsheet that does that math for you.  If you feel like you are wasting your time, and can't complete anything because you're always answering the phone then build yourself a phone system.  Tired of chasing applicants?  Make a system that makes them chase you.  I say all this because the more I surround myself with systems and procedures the more capable I become to build the tools necessary to keep me moving forward.  I'm constantly tripping up, and learning from it - but all in all, the systems make my life a little easier.

I'd encourage you to do the same thing.  Quit letting the administrative tasks eat up your day.  Take control of them and build a system for them to work within, freely and independently of you immediate conscience.  The more systems you build the more you can complete each day.  In fact, you're not alone.  Others need the same systems you do.  Those systems you are building may benefit someone else, and you can help them.  You also may be able to capitalize on your systems.  You may be able to help others implement your systems and make a profit at the same time.

So, with all that said...  It has it's glitches, and we're working through them, but I'm pleased to announce the launch of my mobile site for my Property Management company JXN Housing.  If you'd like to check it out go to www.jxnhousing.com on your Android, iPhone, iPad and you will be automatically redirected to www.jxnhousing.mobi.  It's the newest system I've been working on, and it's going to dramatically streamline the advertising process for my management system.  I say this because I've watched the analytics of visitors to JXN Housing's website and a strong portion of the visitor base is arriving via a mobile browser.  The integration of being able to meet a potential buyer/tenant at the door of the house via a mobile website is incredibly powerful.  You immediately loop them into using your site to find the house that you can provide them.  You become the strongest communicator in the field if you are communicating with that individual through the mobile phone.  You become their most reachable go to real estate answer-man.  So, check out the site, report any gliches, and let me know what you think.  Once I get the kinks worked out, and I see how advantageous it really is I may be able to build one for you and your real estate business.

So, I'd encourage you, go find yourself a system to build and have fun building it.