Balance
By Jenifer Gallagher of The Scarlet Robin
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If there’s one universal truth about artisans, it is that we love tools. I’ve never met a fellow maker who doesn’t feel a deep emotional attachment to their tools. While quite generous by nature, in elementary school it was hard for me to lend a favorite pair of scissors. Even now, I admit to a pang of possessiveness when I see another Scarlet Robin artisan using “my” Lindstrom pliers.
So in the never-ending quest for balance (whatever that is) that defines the life of a single-mom entrepreneur, of course I have a toolbox!
First and foremost are my running shoes. They propel me on my daily assault against the common enemies: stress, anxiety and exhaustion.
My other favorite tools are virtual. Without the Reminders feature on my iPhone, phone calls would be forgotten, sales tax not filed and perhaps even blog posts unfinished. Similarly, I am kept on track all day long by Google Calendar and the timer. I set a timer when putting a piece of metal in the pickle and more importantly, to remind me to pick up my children!
As a compulsive list-maker, ZipList and the app are a dream. This tool lets me add to my grocery list all day long from either my laptop or phone. At the store, I can check things off the list on my phone as I go through the aisles.
The website allows me to arrange the sections according to my grocery store’s layout, and to assign items to specific stores.
Another favorite organizer is MindMeister, and the app. With this, either from my computer or on the go, I corral my disorganized thoughts into webs, which can then be used in a million ways.
My business partner lives 2,641 miles away, but we share everything (did I mention I’m single? Just kidding, Jill!) and are in virtual constant contact. With a little help from Adobe, we can store and share every type of document, among 953 other uses. I use it to plan a month’s worth of menus and chores at a time!
Finally, in just the three years since we started our bi-coastal business, video chat capabilities have improved so dramatically, that our East-coast and West-coast teams feel that they know each other, even though most have never met. With FaceTime (iPhone) and Google video chat, Jill and I basically sit across from each other most days and our productivity has soared as a result.
Did I mention that all these tools have free versions? I want easy from my tech tools, and I need efficiency. Doing more with less stress is what balance is about, yes?
I’m currently considering Amazon Prime… any input?
i will be checking out mindmeister! I love Amazon Prime — pay the annual fee and free two day shipping is yours on a bevy of different items that are stocked in the Amazon warehouse. Pretty efficient — we’ve gotten Luna Bars, Blue Buffalo Cat Food, studio supplies and more in just the last couple weeks.
Thanks ThompsonGirl! I think I’m sold on Amazon. Hard to resist the shipping. . . 🙂 You will love Mindmeister.
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Really interesting, will be checking out all the options, except the running shoes, i have those already… well done!