6 Reasons You Should Step Away from Technology

My wife said to me about three months ago that she thought I was getting sucked in to what she called "too much technology".  Naturally, I shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes.  After all, I'm the techie husband that gets asked questions about computers when folks come over for dinner.

A few days later, a parent at school asked how I did it all, being a dad to four little kids and running a school during the day.  I smiled and gave a nice answer as if to convey that everything was in check.  Unfortunately it wasn't.

Cary was right- I was getting too heavy a dose of tech each week and it was getting the better of me.

I wasn't enjoying Twitter on most days. LinkedIn was feeling sterile.  My Tumblr blog at work was being ignored.  All of that led me to realize that I needed to step away for a while.  Last week I finally declared a technology fast and it did me wonders of good.  I don't think I'm still fully recharged but thought it was the right time to jump back in.  

My posts?  They'll be shorter, simpler and more to the point.  

Why step away temporarily from tech?  Here are six reasons why it will make sense for you:

1. You'll have more time for those you love.
2. You'll find joy in silence.
3. Simple things will matter more.
4. You'll physically feel better because you'll have more time to work out.  
5. You'll get more sleep at night and sleep better.
6. When you return to tech, you'll have new insights to share with others.

How is technology getting the best of you these days?

Photo courtesy of CLS

My Top Five Podcasts for Better Productivity

Podcasts have gone from a hobby made just for geeks to a mainstream aspect of social media. Granted, only one or two of my friends actually know what podcasts are but hey, the rest will see the light. (and yes, I do have more than two friends) Seriously though, podcasts are so big that even Apple recently released their own podcast app.

How do I use podcasts on a daily basis? Since I have a 35 minute commute, I listen to a variety of podcasts on the way to and from work. My "morning set" tends to be inspirational so that I can start the day off on the right foot while my "evening set" tends to be more technical, usually focusing on Mac-related news. My podcast app of choice is Instacast but there are a number of good alternatives that would do the job just as well.

Here are five that I listen to on a regular basis:

1. Home Work from 70 Decibels Network. Aaron Mahnke and Dave Caolo host this show for folks who work from home. I don't do that on a regular basis but the show applies to just about anyone who wants to work with purpose.

2. This is Your Life. Michael Hyatt hosts this show and it's first rate. He covers everything from productivity to leadership to social media.

3. Catalyst Podcast. Hosted by Ken Coleman and Brad Lomenick, this cast features content from the super-popular Catalyst series of leadership conferences. These have a more spiritual twist but since productivity is related to spirituality, I thought I would include it in the mix.

4. Manager Tools. Hosted by Mike Auzenne and Mark Horstman, Manager Tools is one of the most impressive (and largest inventory) podcast about all things related to work. Very practical and extremely useful for GTD enthusiasts. They have literally hundreds of casts to enjoy.

5. Mac Power Users. Katie Floyd and David Sparks host this show about working in a Mac environment. If you can put up with David's sometimes snarky comments, you'll love the show. I've learned a lot about security, work hacks and of course, getting more from your Mac computer.

What am I missing? Which podcast would you add to this list?

Oh and by the way, you can always listen to The Daily Saint podcast series here.

Photo courtesy of AMDG

How to Make a Comeback When Times are Tough

Tough economy, markets are down, folks are being laid off.  Time for a comeback right?

Palm, the company that made the original PDA famous, has been dying a slow death over the past few years.  With an aging product line and aggressive competition from Apple and RIM, Palm has struggled to produce new models and the ones it has introduced have seemed "blah" at best.

For today at least, Palm is the coolest kid in school.  At yesterday's CES conference, Palm put all of its eggs in one basket- a new operating system and a sexy new handheld.  So how did they do it and how can we learn from their example?

1. Palm kept the wraps on their prototype. If loose lips sink ships then Palm just became the torchbearer.  There were literally zero model pictures that were leaked on the internet in the weeks and months prior to yesterday's release of the Palm Pre.  When you're about to make a big decision, keep only your inner circle in the loop.


2. Palm broke the mold.  Palm could have just repackaged their old operating system but instead spent years retooling a version of Linux that is wowing even the most brazen of skeptics.  If you've been in a rut, reach for something different.  This might mean going back to school, moving or taking a sabbatical but it will be worth it.


3. Palm one-upped the competition. Even as a Mac fan, I have to say that the Palm Pre has features that the iPhone can't imagine.  Wireless battery charging, as an example, is a great new feature that hasn't been seen in smartphones.  Don't ask God for the same as the next guy.  Be creative in what you strive for and always seek the best, from yourself and from God.


4. Palm raised some eyebrows. By going with Sprint, Palm took tremendous risks.  Let's not forget however what we all thought of ATT when Apple announced that the iPhone would be exclusive to their network.  I don't think too many people will diss Sprint within a year once they start selling the Pre in droves.  Don't worry about what others will think.  As long as you're being ethical and working towards excellence, all will be well.

The New Language: Email

Email has become more than a means of communication.  It's a language unto itself.

Some people's emailese features a bad accent and others have trouble keeping up with the latest terms and phrases.  One thing that it does have in common with a spoken language is the need for participants to keep practicing it every day.

How often do you get down to a zero inbox?  Kelly from the David Allen Company shares here tips.