Every entrepreneur needs their very own bag of tricks! Today I’m dumping my “bag” upside down and sharing a few of my must-have, may-die-without resources.
The New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I may, in fact, be responsible for opening your world up today. The NY Mag Matrix is hysterical, informative, accurate, trendy and convenient. It gives you the rundown of what’s hot and what’s not in this crazy world. Click here to see the light.
The Week Magazine/Twitter Account
For people with multi-tasking deficiencies, such as myself, The Week is a one-stop shop for all my current events. You can learn what’s going on around the world in just two pages, find the newest music to download, or see who had a really bad week! It’s fun, educational and an excellent way for the busy business owner to stay abreast to what’s happening. Follow them!
Daily Dose’s Facebook Page
Daily Dose is my “time out”page. They have countless pictures that inspire, encourage and relax me. I’ve done quite a bit of editing on my Facebook timeline so only positive posts, people and images show up. Daily Dose is all over it and I’m happy to take five to give my eyes, head and soul a break from life’s stressors. Follow them to prevent stress and feelings of overwhelmingness.
Square Payment System
Do you want to give your customers zero excuses to pay on the spot? Square allows you to accept credit cards right from your iPhone or iPad. You can even turn your iPad into a register. My favorite feature is their “email receipt” option. Less filing! Each transaction takes under 40 seconds and the money is dropped into your bank account within 24 to 48 hours. Genius!
Spotify Music
Surely any busy body has a soundtrack to their life. Mine is generated off of Spotify. I pay $10 a month to be able to stream, literally, every track ever recorded off my computer or my iPhone. It’s easy to create playlists, share your favorite tracks and discover what’s new. I use it during client sessions, when I need inspiration to write, or to keep me sane during traffic jams.
ZocDoc
As an independent business owner, finding a doctor can take a long minute. I also have a tendency to move apartments often, so with that being said, ZocDoc makes finding a doctor a breeze. I’m able to see which doctors have the best reviews, what appointment times they have available, and enter in all of my insurance information to save time in the waiting room. I also receive two confirmation emails and a day-of text reminder. It really couldn’t be easier, so no more excuses on why you can’t get that yearly check-up. Ahem.
PowHow
So, most start-ups need to A) save money, b) travel; and c) work from home. Right? Powhow is a virtual marketplace that offers any class imaginable right in front of your computer. The only requirement is that you have a computer camera. You could be sitting on the beaches of South France and be taught yoga, or in your living room learning how to play the guitar, speak Italian, or belly dance—all for a nominal fee. This is an absolute must-have in every entrepreneurs savvy hand bag.
