Kennedy-Spaien, Dot Com

Replacing my lost cellphone made me rethink productivity

Kevin — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:26:35 +0000

I lost my cellphone at the hospital the last time I went in for a procedure. I hadn’t had it that long, so I was really reluctant to spend the bucks to replace it. Man, am I a tightwad!

After a very short while, I realized that it was ridiculous to risk missing client calls (though I could still check voicemail over the web) AND continue paying for a service I was not really able to use in any worthwhile way.

When I walked into T-Mobile to replace my phone, I had made some resolutions and decisions about how I would maximize the value my new phone would give me.

Resolutions:
1. Don’t spend extra for a phone that does what I don’t need.
2. Get Google Grand Central service
3. Use Jott and/or Utterz to increase productivity while away from my desk.

So, Kevin… How’s that working out for you?

The phone:
I had only one requirement in a phone - a clamshell design. I hate trying to unlock a locked phone when a call comes in, and since I usually keep my phone in my pocket I need some way to avoid accidentally calling my clients at 5:00 AM on a Sunday.

I’m not a big user of texting, and while I used to have an expensive cameraphone, I would always leave my pics on the phone because I wouldn’t otherwise pay for internet on my phone plan. For me, mobile internet connectivity is a distraction and an expense I can easily do without. Now I have an economical “good enough, last-year’s-model” digital camera with a lovely USB cable.

I ended up getting a “free” Samsung clamshell phone by extending my contract one additional year. It’s ugly and has zero bells and whistles, but certainly gets the job done.

Grand Central:
I first heard about Grand Central’s unified phone numbers about a year ago at either Mashable or Lifehacker (or maybe both!). I promptly signed up for a spot on their waiting list and got accepted more or less immediately. I then proceeded to forget all about it before I even claimed the invitation!

Fast forward to now. I knew I wanted in, but read that since Google bought Grand Central the invitations had become much harder to secure. I assumed that a year-old invitation would have expired, but much to my delight, I clicked the “Activate” link in the old email (thanks to Gmail, I can keep everything forever!) and voila! I was in!

After spamming all my friends and associates with a “Here’s my new number” email, I no longer worry about missed calls.

For additional savings, I understand T-Mobile users can pair their My Fave Fives with Grand Central by making your Grand Central one of your faves. This makes all calls coming in via that number unlimited and free! I am not paying for the My Fave Five plan as I have never exceeded my alloted minutes, so I don’t get to enjoy the benefits of this.

I also understand that T-Mobile has a plan that will automatically switch your calls over to Wi-Fi VOIP, but that calls for a high end phone and an internet plan. Again, no love for me.

A note on how I chose T-Mobile: Previously my wife and I were on Cingular, until AT&T bought them. AT&T kept screwing up our account every month - we’d call and get it fixed, then next month… rinse and repeat.

We knew we needed a new provider. I did a little research and found an interview with Consumerist editor Ben Popkin where he was asked “Who is the best cell phone service provider?” Ben said that he didn’t have a firm opinion, but that he saw the least complaints coming from T-Mobile users. Well, that was as good as a recommendation for me! Billing and service have been fine since we signed up over a year ago.

Jott and Utterz:

I have just this week started using Jott in earnest, although I’ve had an account with them and Utterz for a while. I have Jott set up for exactly two uses, emailing myself memos and reminders, and sending Tweets on Twitter.

I love sending myself messages while driving or shopping, but ultimately I don’t enjoy Tweeting this way because I don’t check Twitter via SMS or TXT or IM or whatever protocol people use for that (gosh, I’m such a Luddite!) and Tweeting in a vacuum is useless unless you enjoy being essentially a bot.

I have one issue that mostly kills the potential usefulness of Utterz for mobile micro-podcasting (its intended purpose). Namely, I stink at extemporizing. I’m working on that.

I am enjoying much improved productivity from these adjustments to my phone use, but I bet you have some great ideas that never occurred to me. How do you maximize your phone productivity? Share your thoughts with the world in the comments section below!

For the visually impaired, here is a TTS version of this article,
courtesy of Talkr:

Opt-In Gets Scummy (Updated)

Kevin — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:57:05 +0000

As I’ve been working on launching my new newsletter for my clients and close associates, I’ve been thinking about opt-in mailing lists. As my cherished acquaintance Christopher Penn says, “You live or die by your list.”

In reviewing material for my newsletter marketing push I came across a website run by marketing “guru” Justin Michie. He belongs to a certain segment of the marketing industry that I think of as the “Internet Warriors Forum Disciples”. Now, I don’t know if Justin is an actual member of that forum, but the style of marketing they practice is usually typified by things like free (but recycled) giveaway “reports” and ebooks, a heavy concentration on affiliates, the patented Really Long Sales Page™. You may recognize some of the more prominent practitioners such as Mike Filsaime , Cody Moya, Willie Crawford, etc.

These guys are all about their opt-in lists, but make no mistake, it’s not because they’ve gotten the Seth Godin religion, it’s because they fear the U.S. CAN-Spam Act.

Anyway, at Justin’s blog I found the post “What’s The Best Way To Build Your List?” where he’s plugging a product for which he is an affiliate (and invites you to become one as well). In describing how he uses the product, “the $7 Script,” he states this:

After completing payment through Paypal, they’re sent to an opt-in page where they need to opt-in before they can download the product (you get a new subscriber).

In other words, he sells you a download of a product, then AFTER you pay via paypal, he requires you to join his Opt-In list to actually receive the product you’ve paid for. This kind of hubris disgusts me at a very primal level.

UPDATE:
I haven’t actually been to the Warriors Forum in over a year, so I was heartened when, in the flood of visits to this post from there I found this: Wso Sellers: Stop forcing buyers to opt-in.

I guess there are responsible types there nowadays. My respect for some of those folks (the ones who “get it”) has just gone up a notch.

This post is also getting some traction from The Internet Marketing Inner Circle forum (members include Mike Filsaime and Willie Crawford), but it’s closed to non-members, so I have no idea what their take on the topic is.

Also, in the comments section, Justin Michie has responded that he is considering editing the offending blog post. Unfortunately he also is asserting that mandatory opt-in is “usual”. If that is true, it is sad. CAN-Span, anyone?

Oh, one more thing. I don’t actually want to diss Willie Crawford because he once gave me an awesome BBQ recipe (for opting in)!

What do you think- does this cross the line? Speak your peace in the comments section below!

Creative Commons photo by gynti_46

Productivity: Know Can Do

Kevin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:34:57 +0000

I am constantly driving. so to make use of my time, I spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks. I happened to pick up a copy of Know Can Do from my local Talking Book World (I rent from them all the time - check ‘em out if you go through Salem, NH) and found it reasonably useful.

The main theme of this productivity tool is putting to use what you have learned, why we often don’t, and how to overcome these tendencies. The authors correctly point out that we tend to enjoy learning a lot more than doing, so aim to teach the best way to overcome that resistance.

The major themes are:

Repetition - By covering a subject up to six times you will not only learn and “own” a skill or approach, you will also overcome resistance to implementing it.
Non-critical mindset - Not that you study materials without using judgement, but rather that you approach them from the perspective of looking for what is useful within them, rather than poking holes in it as you are trying to assimilate it. Use of this will reduce the number of repetitions needed to master the material.
Sharing - By sharing what you have learned, you complete your mastery of the material.

It isn’t anything groundbreaking, but is useful as an entry point or refresher; it is blessedly brief, coming in at a mere 2 CDs.

Link: Know Can Do [Amazon.com]

Creative Commons photo by Lady-bug

Have you read this? Do you have a favorite book on this topic? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Checking in with the social web

Kevin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:35:35 +0000

I’m really pleased with the current batch of projects I’m working on, and thought you might be interested in some of these yourself.

First, as always, I’m neck-deep in producing The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show With Jimmy Moore. This has gained a lot of prestige in the last few years. The show airs on Mondays and Thursdays and is currently featuring interviews with various low-carb celebrities and physicians. [I also did the theme customization for this site.]

Also, I’m producing the Twin Peas Blog and Podcast for host Kelly Damron. Kelly shares knowledge and experience dealing with issues of infertility, premature birth and parenting twins. I’m very proud of this one- it has tons of original music (by me) and the overall effect is similar to “This American Life”. [Another customized theme, here.]

Recently I completed a blog setup for the amazing Phoenix Gilman, author of Diet Failure: The Naked Truth.

Hmm, a common theme - everyone I’ve worked with lately is a published author!

Anyway, please check these out and, as always, please consider giving the shows a review in the iTunes store!

Links:

Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show Site and iTunes
The Twin Peas Pod site and iTunes
Diet Failure: The Naked Truth Blog
My company, Disc of Light Media and Consulting

Whaddaya think of them apples? Let me know in the comment section below!

New Health-Hack Podcast: Interview of fertility author Kelly Damron

Kevin — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:00:40 +0000

Recently I’ve been thinking about the fact that since I’m billing myself as “The Podcast Doctor™” why don’t I currently have an active podcast of my own?

I’ve been so busy helping my Disc of Light Media clients with their shows that I kind of let that slip through the cracks! Oops!

So I’ve decided to test the waters by re-launching the Health Hacks Podcast — with a few changes.

First, it’s now “The Health-Hack Podcast” to match the domain I own. Second, It is no longer in a “magazine” format (ie: one host, many contributors). The old way was exciting and fun, but WAY too much work for yours truly. I would do it again, but only for wads of cash!

The premiere episode of the relaunch can be listened to at Health-Hack.com (coming soon to an iTunes near you!) or by subscribing to the RSS feed.

In this relaunch premiere, I’m interviewing blogger and author Kelly Damron. Kelly recently wrote Tiny Toes: A Couple’s Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity, and Depression and writes the Twin Peas blog as well.

Please check out the show and Kelly’s blog to learn about the great work she’s doing to educate people about the practicalities and stigmas of issues like IVF, lactation difficulty, prematurity and post-partum depression!

Useful Tweets #1

Kevin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:31:55 +0000

Filtering through new followers on Twitter often turns up some great websites and articles. Here’s a few I found today:

Noah Everett (creator of TwitPic.com) has a post at his FindMotive blog where he calls out ~~EchoPic~~ a company for their seriously obtuse registration page. Simplicity, people!

Chris Kieff at 1GoodReason.com has a great case study of how Esurance has dropped the ball by not extending their “Erin Esurance” ad campaign into the world of social media. Epic fail, Esurance.

Last, if not for being followed by MarketingProfs, I would not likely have found and subscribed to their newsletter. Check it out at MarketingProfs.com.

So thanks for all the Tweets, folks!

Podcasts are like sausages…

Kevin — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:56:12 +0000

…If you love either, you should never watch them being made.

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!

Pic found at 10 Creepiest Old Ads.

Top 7 places and tools to get your media snacks

Kevin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:01:40 +0000

While there are many different places to grab online media content, I tend to focus my attention on a few select outlets. Here’s a brief list:

Video Blogs and Viral Video - Miro (formerly the Democracy Player)

Miro is a great desktop aggregator and player of any video you can snag from RSS (including torrents!) or any search term for YouTube or Google Video.
Current favorite use: watching Alton Brown videos from YouTube and Healthy Helpings TV - a client of mine.

Network TV - Hulu.com

Yes, occasionally I heed the siren call of old-media, but no TIVO for me! No JOOST, either. Hulu has a big, legal archive of ad supported episodes and clips of everything from Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere up to House and Pushing Daisies. While the ads aren’t easily skipped, they are blessedly MUCH shorter than on broadcast TV, usually half a minute or so, with only one ad per break.
Current favorite use: Kitchen Nightmares, US season 1.

Movies - Netflix Streaming (paid subscription), Internet Archive (free Public Domain)

Netflix Streaming isn’t quite the cornucopia of content that Netflix DVD users are used to, but it is an awesome way of filling in those Date Nights with your significant other while you wait for your next mailing. Not only are there many major and lesser-known films, but many TV series as well.
Current favorite use: Xena Warrior Princess, The New Adventures of Hercules, Jeremiah

The Internet Archive is a large repository of Creative Commons and Public Domain content. Being a former Film Scoring major, I have a deep affection for obscure old movies (including silent and foreign films). The Internet Archive is a great source for these.
Current favorite use: Nosferatu, M, Un Chien Andalou, Any older Kurosawa film.

Audio Podcasts - Itunes, Bloglines

I have never found the perfect way to consume audio podcasts. I suspect that is because there is no single PERFECT way. I try to limit my use of iTunes, but podcast subscriptions is one way I do use it. Whenever possible, I prefer to subscribe to my favorite podcast’s RSS feed and listen in my browser.
Current favorite use: The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show With Jimmy Moore - a client, natch!

Audio Books - Librivox

While my son, wife and I listen to contemporary fiction when we’re all commuting together (Terry Pratchett is a particular favorite) when the boy and I ride without mommy, we listen exclusively to the classics. Then we discuss them like a book club might.

All the classics we get from Librivox whose volunteers narrate and record these public domain text, then release the recordings to the public domain as well.
Current favorite use: Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger Jr, The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville.

Apropos of nothing in particular, I leave you with a clip of my 8-year-old son’s current favorite artist from the Podsafe Music Network, Lord Weatherby:

NPR’s John Ridley Just Doesn’t Get It.

Kevin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:08:26 +0000

I just got in from a drive. I was listening to NPR (which I always do unless listening to a Librivox Audiobook), and I tuned in to a truly ridiculous statement by John Ridley.

Ridley said –and I paraphrase– “In the future TV networks will earn money online, not from the content, but from owning web sites.” (around 4:23 of this clip)

I could not believe my ears! I wanted to rush home to blog this right away, but kept listening in hopes of gleaning some context for this really daft assertion. In actuality I had no idea who Ridley is, or why he would hold such a position.

As it turns out he has formerly been a screenwriter and director, but is currently a contributor of Morning Edition. He was guesting as a commentator on Talk of the Nation during this interview, where he came out against the Writers Guild’s leadership.

I’m glad I listened through to the end because a caller (Chuck) near the segment’s end (11:30) did challenge him on the statement. Ridley’s response was very muddle-headed, but seemed to be essentially:

“Yes, ads pay money. Yes advertisers are paying because people come to the site. Yes people come to the site because of the content. Still no money can be said to be made from the content because people are not paying dollars to view it. Therefore the striking writers are making a mountain out of a molehill.”

Hmm. And I thought NPR really grokked online content delivery.

Doing the To Do Paralysis Tango

Kevin — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 04:36:24 +0000

About 2 1/2 months ago, I was in a car accident. I’m largely alright at this point, but my right hand and foot, as well as my back were fairly messed up.

2 weeks ago I started getting “back in the game” so to speak, but I had to completely re-invent my ‘to do’ structure. For whatever reason, the system I had been using was now alien and obtuse to me.

So I started scouring Lifehacker, Lifehack.org and the holy testaments of Merlin Mann, Steve Pavlina, David Allen and Steven Covey. As a result, I quickly became overwhelmed by “process”. Particularly bad were the software based solutions which became a large time sink and source of “analysis paralysis.”

Finally, one day I realized that my productivity had actually sunk to ZERO! I was actually spending 100% of my non-family time trying to find a productivity system I could live with. That way, of course, lies madness.

I had become Ahab, and my white whale was named “To Do“.

Ultimately, the pressure of time slipping away got to me and I simply grabbed a blank sheet of printer paper. I made 7 columns corresponding to the days of the week, and filled in my recurring tasks. I left non-recurring tasks in my mind for the short-term, and quickly became productive again! Yay!

Now this clearly won’t do for the long-term, but I’ve developed a taste of pen and ink, and I’ve been eyeing that fugly, oversized calendar we got free from the local Chinese delivery restaurant…