Are you a coach that’s looking to get organized and in the loop with technology? Coach Dan Kreiness \took the time to link his best calendars, organization, reflection, and collaboration tools. Some of his favorite include Google Drive, Dropbox, Voxer, Slack, and Pear Deck. What digital tools do you use online?

https://padlet.com/dankreiness/tools4coaches

It’s amazing how much your priorities change once you become a parent. A new father who once swore he’d never give up his vintage, high-performance Camaro suddenly finds himself shuttling a precious new life around to doctor’s appointments and play dates. Before you know it, high-performance driving quickly gives way to safety features, good gas mileage and a conservative attitude behind the wheel.

Remember, no matter how careful you are, a car is still a dangerous thing, and never more so than when a little one is in the back seat. Here are a few safety tips to consider the next time you fasten your pride-and-joy into that child safety seat and head into traffic.

Err on the side of caution

This may seem an obvious point, but there’s more to it than not hitting the gas when the light turns yellow. When your child is crying, your impulse may be to turn and check on her, but if the car’s in motion, you’re asking for trouble. Wait until the next exit or pull-in before devoting your attention to your little passenger; when you’re behind the wheel, all your attention should be on driving and what’s going on around you.

Remember how short your reaction time is, and how quickly a bad decision can lead to a crash. Put the smartphone down until the car’s in park and the engine’s off, and do the smart thing if you start to get the head-bobs – pull off and rest your eyes with a short nap before resuming. One smart decision can make the difference between life and death.

Brake safety

Few parts of a car are more important than the brakes, especially when there’s a little one on board. Pay attention to how your brakes feel and perform in traffic. If they feel mushy or they’re making a high-pitched squealing, clicking or crunching sound, you definitely need a brake job. If you need new brake pads, opt for a quality brand so everyone stays safe when you do have to hit the brakes hard.

Don’t neglect upkeep

Are you the kind of driver who laughs when the “check engine” light comes on? Performing regular maintenance and responding when your car’s computer says something’s not right is part of being a responsible driver and a good car owner, especially if your family has recently expanded. Take a careful look through the manual to find out when you’re due for oil changes, when filters should be changed, and what to do when a brake light or turn signal is out.

If your windshield wipers are leaving the wind shield streaky, get the blades changed as soon as possible. Impaired vision when you’re going through an intersection or changing lanes at high speed is extremely dangerous. Set up regular appointments at the local garage to have every component that keeps your car running safely checked.

Be nice to your car

Your car will take care of you if you return the favor, so avoid slamming on the brakes at the last instant. Get an oil change at least every 5,000 miles (using the oil that’s recommended for your vehicle), and pay close attention to the wear and tear on those tires. If the tread’s looking like a flat surface with little or nothing left to grip the road, it’s time to head for the nearest tire dealership. Of course, you can control this by having your tires rotated regularly, at least each time you go in for an oil change. This will ensure that all four tires wear evenly and reduce the likelihood of a blowout.  

Being a safe driver means making wise decisions on the road and when it’s maintenance time. Your vehicle is a very important investment, not just as a means of conveyance, but as a safe place for your child. Go the extra mile to make sure that it is safe.

Picture Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Want to know something that happened back on a particular date? I stumbled about this site that allows you to type in a date and find if there was something significant that happened. What date is matters to you?

https://takemeback.to/

How to Freelance Your Way to Financial Freedom

If you haven’t heard of the gig economy yet, you soon will. The so-called “gig economy” refers to the current rise of popularity and success in short-term, contract, or freelance work. This is in stark contrast to the traditional economy, which primarily depends upon salaried workers and employees with steady jobs. With the job market so uncertain lately, many Americans are finding creative ways to make money and pay the bills. Many people are seeing success with freelancing, taking short-term jobs and contract work, or even starting their own businesses.

Whether you’re working from your bed or the beach, these jobs provide freedom from the corporate world while also paying well and allowing people to make ends meet. Best of all, it is possible to work multiple freelance contracts or “gigs” while also continuing to search for a full-time job, if desired.

If you’re looking to break into freelancing, take the leap away from corporate America, or simply pick up a side job for additional income, keep reading for some tips on how to get started in the gig economy.

Start With Your Talents

When it comes to picking up freelance work, there are limitless possibilities. You may consider starting with what you’re already naturally good at. Do you enjoy art and design? You might consider picking up some freelance design work, which is always in demand. If you enjoy photography, see if you know anyone who would be willing to pay you for headshots or family photographs.

Know What’s in Demand

In addition to considering what you’re good at, you should also consider the demand for the services you’re trying to offer. What services would benefit people in your local area? Is there a shortage of Uber or Lyft drivers, for instance? Do you have a room in your home that you could put up for rent on Airbnb? Ideas for stepping into the gig economy are all around you, if you’re willing to look for them.

Set up a Workspace

Working from home has its advantages and disadvantages. While it’s great to work from a place where you feel the most comfortable, it can easily disrupt productivity if you don’t get organized — and stay that way. With this in mind, it’s important to set up a workspace somewhere in your home that’s dedicated to your job. Consider it your personal office, even if it’s just a corner of an existing room. Invest in some quality equipment, get your supplies in order, and treat it with respect. Keep distractions to a bare minimum and make sure you remain on top of clutter. After all, this is where you’ll be earning your money.

Learn a New Skill

When it comes to finding new work, why limit yourself to skills that you already possess? Whether you’re looking to leave the corporate world and start your own business or test the waters for an entirely new career direction, treat this as an opportunity to learn something new. There are many high-paying freelance or contract jobs that do not require degrees. Why not use this as an opportunity to learn a new skill? You never know; this might open up the doors for you to embark upon an entirely new career path.

Ask Your Friends

When you’re just starting out, it can be difficult to find clients. One way to start making some money is to ask your friends and family if they’d be interested in any of the services you are offering. We live in a world where we’re always connected thanks to social media, mobile devices, and the internet, and social channels are a great way to get the word out about the products or services you offer. Facebook is a great place to start, since it’s free to use and you can connect right away with people you know; check out this ultimate Facebook advertising guide to get started. However you decide to do it, go ahead and put the message out there that you’re offering a service and/or looking for new clients. Perhaps even offer an introductory discount just to get the ball rolling.

Get Advice from Experts

One final note about the gig economy: it’s not for everyone. Running your own business can be hard, and you’ll want to talk to a business lawyer about setting up your business and an accountant to learn about any tax implications. An accountant may also be able to help you decide if you need a small business loan to get the ball rolling, and explain the difference between the options, including startup, short-term, and SBA loans. You’ll also want a mentor and maybe even a consultant to help you streamline your processes. More importantly, the real experts are your customers. Once you get established, reach out to your client base for advice to steer you in the right direction.

That being said, working when you want, where you want, and for whom you want can be deeply rewarding. By following the tips listed above, you can start building your own successful gig-based business.

I saw an article in USA Today by Ashley Wong recently that explained Spotify shares all of its users’ activity with followers and the public. Most other social networks like Twitter and Facebook allow you block your activity history from the public.Spotify accounts are setup to show your listening history.

So what can you do if you love Spotify? The music service has a private session button you can use. You can also setup secret playlists where only you can see them. Finally you could create an anonymous account.

Have you done an inventory of the technology you need in your apartment? Recently we stumbled upon a great article that breaks down the top 100 plus items you need.

Top 10 items you need in your apartment:
1. August Smart Lock
Reliable, affordable keyless door locks are here! It’s activated by your smartphone so you can be anywhere and unlock the door for your mom, your dog walker or a trusted delivery service.

2. Blink Camera
It gives you peace of mind knowing you can have a 24-hour live feed of your apartment streaming into your smartphone.

3. Sonos One
It’s sort of like an Amazon Echo, but with top-shelf sound quality.

4. Echo Dot
The Echo Dot is another compact speaker system which works with Alexa voice control, but it also makes and takes calls, and it’s compatible with all of the other smart devices in your apartment.

5. Nest Learning Thermostat
This thermostat will actually save you money after a while. It also creates a cooling and heating algorithm for your apartment based on your movements.

6. Belkin Wemo Switch
Turn any switch on in your apartment through an app on your tablet or phone.

7. Furbo Full HD WiFi Dog Camera
Speaking of pets, the Furbo dog camera is the next best thing to hanging out with your dog all day. It also sends your phone alerts of what your dog is doing, and it even allows you to throw them actual treats.

8. Netgear Orbi
It is a super-charged router that speeds up your connectivity and eliminates your apartment’s dead spots.

9. Smarter Fridgecam
It pops on your fridge door and sends you photos from the inside. It also learns what you like and sends you reminders.

10. Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19
This lighting system allows you to control the color and brightness of multiple light bulbs at once through Alexa or your phone.

Check out the full list here
ttps://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/technology-you-must-have-in-your-apartment/

Which iPhone do you have? I found this handy list on Apple’s website if you are deciding what phone you have or need.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201296

Did you know that Google offers an abundance of classes for tech & business professionals? Localization Essentials class is one of my favorites. The free class on localization essentials is about making products work for users worldwide. If you want to expand your horizons, check out Udacity. It offers classes from the top big technology companies.

https://www.udacity.com/

Al Wasco is a teacher and a philosopher. If you are looking for inspiration once a month, you should sign up for his newsletter. I always walk away with something insightful and thought provoking.

https://theviewfrom32.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe

Are you a musician? Do you need help selling your music online? Then you should check out Link Fire. They help create intelligent links that route fans to the music they love, in the apps they love. They do it automatically. I recently received a link to check out new tunes from an artist and I landed on a page that redirected me to many music services.

If you are a musical artist, discover Linkfire to promote your music.
https://linkfire.com/