Two years.  That’s right, for two years I have lived in the cloud.  No, not “clouds” like “head in the clouds!”  I mean “cloud computing.”  For those of you new to the newsletter, you may not be aware that I have been working toward a PC-software-free existence.

In other words, instead of buying a shrink-wrapped box of software, I have chosen to “subscribe” to online versions of the same.  That way, I can access it from any Internet connected computer on the planet.  No longer am I tied to PC-based licenses and questions of “What version are you on?”

These days, I just fire up my Internet browser (Chrome, of course), and log in.  Even if my computer died a painful death right now, all of my data (and programs) are safe and sound in the cloud.

I can work at home just as easily as at the office.  I can access all of my programs and data on my iPhone from anywhere on the planet.  It’s great!

But, I have gotten a little spoiled on it.  For instance, the other day, my office lost its Internet connection.  I was dead in the water…for a bit.  Then, I just took my laptop to a coffee shop and was back up!

Google has pioneered this exciting field with the Premiere Apps system.  My company is one of the few Authorized Google Apps Resellers in the country.  If you would like to know more about the cost-savings of moving your company to the “cloud,” just reply to this newsletter!

Most small business owners know they could do everything they needed to do…if they just had a little more time.  While we can’t build time machines, we can manage the time we have much better – and the Internet can help.
But before I start listing my favorite tools, you must promise me something. No tool will manage your time for you.  It will simply assist in the process.  To maximize the effectiveness of any time management program, you must incorporate it into your life…every day.

My favorite online helper is Google Calendar.  Its simplicity and ease of use make it one of the first sites I check every day.  With its handy sharing capabilities, my receptionist can update my calendar instantly, enabling me to see the update on my iPhone without having to sync!

Another great site is Remember the Milk.  Ironically, the strange name makes it easier to “remember.”  This site will organize your tasks and remind you until you do them!  They have a great iPhone and Android app so you can see your list while on-the-go. You can organize your tasks any way you want and even set repeating tasks.

Finally, if you are a gmail user, turn on Priority Inbox. See the video. It sorts your most “important” e-mail messages to the top of the list.  You can train it over time.  Trust me on this one.  It saves me a ton of time.  I tell people that their job is to make good decisions on what’s important, rather than what just arrived three minutes ago!