Virtual Work Has Big Advantages for Solo-Professionals and Entrepreneurs
May 21, 2010 by Phil Montero · 6 Comments
There is no shortage of stories about people being laid-off from corporate jobs and having to try and make it on their own. Maybe you are one of them. Well sometimes things that on the surface appear to be hardships turn out to be a blessing in disquise – it’s all a matter of time and perspective. I was reading a great article today about two women who wound up starting their own PR firm in Detroit – Entrepreneurs find community, networking and refuge, not to mention free workspaces
They have embraced their mobility and found it has not only saved them lots of money but also provided many networking opportunities with other similar entrepreneurs and solo-professionals.
Now, Ferraro and Marsik Friess, partners in their newly minted public relations firm Volare, have no formal office and no equipment other than their laptops and smart phones. They network like crazy, bartering for a new business logo, say, and taking advantage of coffee shops, a tearoom and other public spaces for meetings instead of renting traditional real estate. They even used Ferraro’s Bluetooth-enabled SUV for their first conference call with a client.
Conscious Communication – Voice Mail Etiquette
April 30, 2010 by Phil Montero · 2 Comments
One of the things we often talk about when making the shift to mobile work is the importance of clear communication. It’s essential to be a “conscious communicator” and think about what tools to use for what type of message and how you use them.
One tool we all use constantly is voicemail. It makes me crazy when someone leaves me a voicemail and doesn’t tell me what they want or rushes through their phone number so I have to replay the message several times just to write it down. When I leave a message I am always sure to speak slowly and repeat my name and number at the beginning and the end of the message. I also make sure to let the person I’m calling know what I need or why I’m calling. Something as small as this can cut down on a lot of wasted time and unecessary phone tag.
Today I discovered Jason Seiden’s blog and an excellent video he posted on voice mail etiquette.
Jason hit the nail right on the head here and I’m looking forward to exploring his blog further!
What do you do to be a more conscious communicator? Post a comment below and share your personal guidelines.
4G Wireless: 20 Questions Asked & Answered – CIO.com – Business Technology Leadership
April 28, 2010 by Jason Montero · Leave a Comment
4G Wireless: 20 Questions Asked & Answered – CIO.com – Business Technology Leadership.
I’ve been seeing the ads for 4G and wondering what it’s all about. So I thought I would share this article I saw today that tackles a little Q&A.
The Mystery of Multitasking: Productivity Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs
March 10, 2010 by Phil Montero · 30 Comments
Today I’m psyched to share a guest video post by my friend and colleague Chris Ducker. I met Chris through Twitter and it was immediately obvious we shared a passion for working virtually and living a flexible lifestyle.
Chris is the CEO of the Live2Sell Group of Companies, a thriving Total Business Outsourcing corporation based in the Philippines where he lives.
Chris has developed systems and ideas to manage his time and make his business life easier and more productive. Watch this short video where he explains why multitasking actually makes you less productive and shares tips for staying focused and growing your business:
3 Tech Tools to Help You Travel Lighter
January 15, 2010 by Phil Montero · 13 Comments
During this past holiday season I spent about 18 days in Syracuse NY visiting family and friends. I decided for the first time ever to travel for an extended holiday vacation without my laptop – having to walk through several airports lugging heave luggage I figured the less tech gear I had to take with me the better! Thanks to two small pieces of technology (that fit in my pocket) and one service I use I was able to stay connected, entertained, and when needed – productive.
Watch this short video to learn more about how I took The Anywhere Office with me and was able to work from anywhere while traveling lighter than ever before!
Two things I forgot to mention in the video . . . The reason I have an iPod Touch and not an iPhone is because I refuse to switch from Verizon to AT&T as my cellphone provider. I have been a loyal Verizon customer for years for two main reasons – excellent signal (I can make and receive calls from just about anywhere and almost never have a dropped call) and great customer service (sadly almost unheard of today). The minute Apple gets smart and moves away from their exclusive deal with AT&T and brings the iPhone (or some variation of it) to Verizon I will be the first one in line to get one!
Also one additional app I use on my iPod Touch that really helped me stay in touch was Yahoo Messenger. Yahoo is the main IM service I use and I was able to seamlessly stay connected using my iPod Touch so I didn’t miss any messages from my family, friends, and colleagues – simply awesome.
BTW – I shot this video using my new Flip UltraHD camcorder and the Gorilla Tripod – 2 more great portable pieces of technology I have!
Comment below and let me know what is the key technology you use to stay connected when on the road.
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