Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
The key to success is finding what you love to do and to making a career out of it. It’s definitely easier said than done. There are people who took years taking up medicine, law or a master’s degree, putting all of their efforts and time into honing their craft, only to get into a job outside those fields. Clearly, figuring out and going after one’s passion, plus making money out of it, is not as simple as ABC. It requires thorough assessment, honesty to one’s self and focus.
The Right Way
Even professionals or businessmen who already have a steady source of income still second-guess whether they have taken the right career track. When they discover that they have been pursuing a career opposite of their realized interests and skills, they go back to zero to start pursuing another which they guess is their true passion. If you want to waste your life in a series of trial-and-error, feel free to do so.
Meanwhile, if you want to make the best decision for your life while you still have plenty of time to start and rebuild your career, invest in self-assessment. There are several self-assessment tools available online for free. All you need to do is focus, contemplate and stay honest as you answer each of the guide questions. Self-assessment can either reinforce what you already believe your passion is or can also help discover more and new things about yourself. These will give you a clearer direction on the career you should pursue.
Zeal that Radiates
When you do what you love doing, people see it through you. Days of pretending to be busy at work or settling for mediocrity will be over because your passion drives you to give your best all the time. If you love making customers happy and satisfied, you find joy in attending to their requests and fixing their concerns immediately. If you find fulfillment in seeing your designs become reality, you’ll do everything to impress a client so they will agree to construct or fabricate your design. If you like the challenge of convincing either a crowd or a decision maker to purchase or invest, you won’t go wrong when it comes to sales, public speaking or presentations.
Essentially, going after your passion is tantamount to feeling without any doubt that you are on the right track. Such an assurance pushes you to do whatever it takes to achieve the goal. All your actions will revolve around it. Your engagement and drive will lead you to always go for the extra mile. In addition, as you better yourself, you also inspire other people to work passionately.
Genuine Happiness
More than being effective in your job or being able to maximize the potential of your business, being passionate makes you happy. If we all pursue our passion, no one will feel like they’re being bossed around. Why? Because there is no need for it, you feel driven to produce results simply because you want to. You need not be forced or pressured because you already feel rewarded just by enjoying what you do.
In addition, being passionate also means that you bank on your interests and constantly improve your skills. Driven by passion, you look for more efficient ways to fulfill your tasks. You look for opportunities to educate yourself because you want to be the best in the field you are passionate about. Should there be problems, you don’t feel burdened, but instead, challenged – and you know that the taste of success will be sweeter afterwards. Passion keeps the fire burning and no hurdle can ever bring that down.
As H. Jackson Browne said, “Find a job you like and add five days to every week”. Why settle for a job that only pays the bills? If you pursue your passion, not only will you find work enjoyable, monetary compensation should come easy. Clients always look for service providers (i.e. photographers, writers, managers, coordinators, assistants, etc.) who are passionate about what they do as shown in their work output. If you want to be compensated and regarded as an expert in your chosen field, there is only one thing to do – build a career that is close to your heart and use that to add value not just to yourself but most importantly to the people around you.
Posted in Life Management | 6 Comments »
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Work-Life balance - the phrase was first heard in the late 1970s, describing the balance between an individual’s work and personal life. Now, almost half a century has passed, and just when the world started believing that the conveniences of modern technology would mean an “easier” life, consumerism and fast-paced competition tipped the scale to the other end. Meaning, more time is needed to work, work, and work. The technological advances of today hasten everything that can possibly happen in 24 hours – e-mails, VoIP calls, SMS. When these breakthroughs were newly introduced, we were amazed and impressed by what fast-paced communication could do! Figuratively speaking, technology made the world smaller, and business opportunities greater. Alas! For many of us now, today’s breakneck speed can only mean tons of work that get piled on us faster and heavier. No wonder why weekend spas and exotic vacation resorts keep calling on us to take “that much-deserved,” or aptly, “that much-needed” break. And when the holiday ends, we all groan at the thought of going back to reality, going back to work. There is no clear-cut definition of what is good and balanced. What is ideal depends on the person’s age, marital status, or domestic situation. Whatever it is, we are all in search of that elusive work-life balance that we read and dream of. We all have our ways and systems in managing and coping. What else haven’t we tried and done?
1. Compartmentalize your day. Many career women have domestic obligations to attend to at the end of the day – husband and kids, ailing parents. Most days, these so-called superwomen find themselves with little superpowers left, even to take care of themselves. Break your 24-hour day into chunks and make sure you stick to the schedule: 8 hours – sleep; 8 hours – day job; 4 hours – for the hubby or the children; 4 hours – me time. Adhere to your time blocks and minimize mix-ups. It’s when we squeeze in work at home, or domestic chores during our personal time that the scales become unbalanced.
2. Be humble enough to know you can’t do it all. It’s when we try to do it ALL, and all at the SAME time, that we get overwhelmed and end up not accomplishing much. Granted, there are tasks that we would rather do ourselves, knowing that no one else can do them better. There are tasks too that we’re afraid to delegate to others, thinking, “If I want it done right, I better do it myself.” Alright, give yourself that. But at the same time, learn to accept and let go – some other tasks can be better done or faster accomplished by other people. Let them.
3. Get good help and delegate. At home, good help can mean an extra pair of hands. At work, good help is taken to mean another head on the shoulders with a working brain to help you think. For both the home and work front, don’t just make do with extra help that you’re unsure of. If you can’t leave your house without fear that it won’t catch fire once you’re gone, or if you can’t leave the office without constantly worrying if he’s doing things right, keep looking for the one that you can confidently bank on.
4. Set a “me” time, and keep it sacred. We all need our personal alone time to recharge our tired selves. Whatever it takes – having a good long nap, taking a road trip down to the valley, or getting lost in a book or a movie. Some people tend to feel guilty while enjoying brief moments of indulgence. Don’t! And some people, as they head on out for that massage appointment, opt to cancel and do more work (goodness gracious!) instead. A bigger don’t! Respect that 2-hour break you set aside for yourself. Put into perspective that in the many on-going things happening in your life, the 2 hours for yourself will not cause your big upcoming deal any harm or delay. Let the other things wait; your 2 hours are due.
5. Simplify your life. As attractive as it may seem to us to take on too many tasks and responsibilities, to try to do too much, and to own too much, find a way to simplify. Make a lifestyle change – say no to some requests, and decline some invitations. Declutter your space, organize your environment, and more importantly, get rid of all those baggage that weigh you down. Focus and prioritize. Keep things simple.
Tags: delegating tasks, productivity tips, time management, work-life balance
Posted in Life Management, Productivity Toolkit | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
QUIT THE MORNING RUSH
There was a time when my rush hour would start even before I hit the road – when all I had time for was a quick shower and two sips out of my coffee mug. For over a year, my mornings seemed like that of a tazmanian devil running in and out the bedroom, the bathroom, and the doorway. Most days, I would run back in to pick up something I forgot, then run back out to the car. Then I “floor it” like Michael Schumacher, aiming to keep a 30-minute drive down to 15.
A year of this and I realized how stressful I was making my life, by starting my day wrong. This crazy, rushed routine was bad, bad, bad for my health, body and mind. My stress barometers were way up so early in the morning that shutting them off during the day was close to impossible.
It took a bout of flu and some kind of respiratory infection to make me listen to my fatigued body. With no choice but to stay in bed for three days, I realized how mercilessly I abused myself. It was time for some lifestyle modification. I needed to learn how to start my day right.
MORNINGS SHOULD BE CALM
My idea of a “good morning” is this:
• a slow rise out of bed, with time to curl back a little and stretch, if I want to…
• waking up to the sights and sounds of the early morning: birds chirping, lawn mowers, slow engines…
• an alarm that goes off a good 5 minutes AFTER I have opened my eyes…
• listening to my ipod’s “good morning” playlist while brewing coffee, slicing bananas and pouring milk on my cereal…
• leisurely eating on the breakfast nook while I leaf through a magazine…
• switching to my “meditate” playlist and listening to it for a good 15 minutes as I quietly look out the window seat, even out my breathing, say my morning prayers and plan my day…
• time for an unrushed shower, getting dressed, blow drying my hair, putting on make-up and accessories…
• heading out of the door with an organized carry-all with everything I need…
• a pleasant drive to work that takes me to my office with a 15 minute head start before the rest of the office walks in…
There’s nothing like the calm of the morning to send us out into the day. Not everyone can enjoy the luxury of a peaceful morning.
Or so we think.
Think again. Here are some adjustments I made to my day, just so I could make the scenarios I listed above, into an everyday reality for me:
THE NIGHT BEFORE
• Plan your tomorrow. Make it a habit to check your calendar for the next day’s appointment. This gives you time to prepare for them. (I.e. The printed documents for tomorrow’s meeting, the birthday gift for your client, etc).
• Make your To-Do-List. Making them the night before saves you a lot of time the next day. You end the day with clear directions as to what you want to accomplish tomorrow.
• Pack your bag. Put everything you need together in your carry-all – your laptop, your document folder, the bills you have to pay, etc. Line up all the other things you’ll have to carry out with you in one place – your keys, your umbrella, your cellphone.
• Choose your outfit. This will save you a lot of time in the morning when you do the planning and choosing tonight. Complete down to the shoes and the accessories. Hang them out ready to wear for tomorrow.
• Know what you’ll have for breakfast. Make a mental choice of what you want to eat tomorrow. Set the coffee pot ready for brewing. This will save you “choosing” time as you open your refrigerator in the morning.
• Clear your mind. The last thing you have to do before hitting the sack is to clear your mind. You can do this by saying your night prayers, by meditating, or by simply thinking of “nothing” as you drift to sleep.
• Get an assistant. Work smarter, not harder. Having an assistant allows you to have more time for the more important tasks that only you can do. Your assistant can take care of the many other little things that eat up a lot of your time. A very able and competent assistant can help you sleep well at night, without having to fret about the little details. Your assistant can help you make each morning a good one, and allow you to have that work life balance that you’ve always wanted.
Tags: assistant, calm, Michael Shumacher, morning rush, mornings, pepper, pepper virtual assistant, plan, rush, stress, virtual assistant
Posted in Life Management | 10 Comments »
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010
This is the time during your mid-twenties to late thirties when you feel as if you are still waiting for your life to unfold despite having finished school for years. When you were younger, you have set your personal goals, and now, you begin to question if you have made the right decisions or chosen the right path towards self fulfillment in terms of identity, stability and even relationships. It is at this stage when you feel the pressure to find yourself, to be certain of what you will be doing from this day onwards which will make you established as an individual.
For most quarter-aged people, this quest of finding oneself is like a code that can never be deciphered. This article may not completely provide a solution but would help, at least, by suggesting small steps that you could take in dealing with this crisis.
Ask yourself and be Aggressive
It’s true that taking other people’s advice, especially those who know you well, may help you in knowing what you want out of life. But if you examine closely, the words your friends or family speak are mainly based on their own experiences and may only work for them—but not for you! You are the only person who would know the answer. Instead of conducting surveys, listen intently to yourself. Perhaps write down the things you enjoy doing and then think of ideas on how to make a career or business out of them. If you already have one, instead of thinking that there is no room for growth, find ways to expand. With the advent of technology, opportunities are limitless. Grab these prospects and work on it.
It’s more than the money
The main reason why most people end up not doing what they’re meant to do is because people usually define a person’s success by looking at the material possessions—car, house, lots of money. This does not mean that it is okay to keep doing what you want even if you earn nothing from it. This simply means that the steps you’ll take and your life should not entirely depend and be measured on the salary or the potential business returns you would get. Financial rewards would naturally flow if you continue doing your best on what you do best.
Bank on resources
Looking at your accessible resources does not necessarily pose unwanted enforcement or limitation in what you ought to be doing. In fact, this could actually help you to avoid being spoiled for choice. If you don’t necessarily want to follow your parents’ footsteps, why not try to make a career out of a business that complements your family’s company? Example, if your mom has a flower shop and your expertise is into networking and management, why not venture into wedding coordination? You can utilize your skills while helping your loved ones boost their own too. This also gives you business models that you could follow to avoid unnecessary mistakes and loss.
Set a deadline
Life is too short to be spent on thinking and rethinking. Give it a week or two—plot out your options and do a little research about each one. Ask experienced people for an in-depth understanding of your considerations. You can also spend some time on healthy conversations with people from different age groups so you can keep discovering new ideas. If you took time and weighed your options well and still are not sure whether you’re making the right decision, look at the most viable path and take it. Start your journey to being successful right away!
Beware of comfort zones
The trick with comfort zones is that you’re too comfortable that you don’t notice or simply ignore the fact that there is something wrong. You might be in a job where you are under-utilized but you stick to it because of the employee benefits. You want to pursue a business move but are afraid to take risks. If you don’t like what you’re doing, it’s unfair to you and your employer for they’re paying for mediocrity. Don’t get stuck! Maximize and even exceed your potential by trying out and doing something new.
At this stage, you might feel and think that it is a must to have found yourself in terms of career or business and that you should be on your way to settling down. Consider the fact that each one has his or her own pace to keep up with. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and repeat the whole process for this makes you more learned and experienced. If in the middle, you get wound up in a situation outside your expertise, find the right people to help you and stay focused on what you are superb at.
Tags: finding yourself, how to know what you want, personal assistant, Personal Assistants, quarter life crisis, virtual assistant
Posted in Life Management | 32 Comments »
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
If only all of us know how to maximize the hours that we have in a day, we would all be rich—in accomplishments! Being able to produce more output in a day will not only entitle you for a possible promotion (if an office employee) or extra revenue (if working from home or managing your own business). This also gives you an assurance that you made wise use of your time and a sense of pride that you could actually do more and be better every day.
Start with the Tough Ones
Procrastination is your biggest enemy. We tend to push the hard ones out and do the easy or clerical tasks first. When you’ve reached half of the day, you try picking out the hard tasks and finish nothing by the end of the day. Why not reverse this by getting the hardest and usually the most important job done? This works better because you have more focus and energy at the start of the day.
Get your Focus
This is the hardest and most important component. You may have already done a to-do list and you know exactly what to do to be able to deliver. The problem is no matter how hard you try to come up with ideas or compose your thoughts—the light bulb stays busted. To be able to beat this, do a little bit stretching and perhaps sip a cup of coffee. Get some help by browsing online specifically about the task or consulting your colleagues. Make sure to keep this soul-searching period short and particularly about the task at hand. Directing your mind and your actions ONLY to this task will point you towards getting it done fast.
Destruct Distractions
Keeping your IM and e-mail open, especially if notifications from your blogs and social networking accounts are flooding, will eat up your whole day. After all, it’s more fun and exciting to check these out than to continue working on a spreadsheet your boss needs after lunch. While quick peeks during breaks won’t hurt, getting used to these momentary amusements will make you want for more. So better to shut them off altogether or device a rewards system for yourself where you get to check ONLY when you have done such amount of work.
Time-Box
This simply means that you have a mental allocation of number of hours to be spent on a definite task. While you’re at it and you are tempted to daydream or check out the latest Hollywood buzz, check your time. How many more minutes do you have? Time-boxing gives you a positive pressure as you try to beat the self-imposed deadline. Time-boxing also applies to your quick breaks and chit-chat—keep these short so that you don’t lose your momentum.
Know When Your Plate is Full
It’s true that you want to be as effective as you can be but if you flood yourself with so many jobs, you won’t be able to focus and finish a thing. The more tasks you accept, the more people will be bugging you for follow up or feedback and it will be a never-ending cycle. Instead of taking up all these by yourself, why don’t you get someone to help you? Perhaps a sibling on vacation can help but there is also a big risk that this may double up the burden since you’ll have to check and redo if there are mistakes. Professional assistants are available for a cost but the productivity and relief that they provide is all worth it.
Always remember, time wasted is like money thrown to trash. Managing and spending your time well not only frees you from stress, it also works as your personal investment. You may not realize it but making wise use of your time also results to a constructive outlook in life as you continue to pursue and encourage yourself to achieve something all the time. Disciplining yourself to not waste time is the key to improving your work and your being as well.
Tags: how to be efficient, how to be productive, Personal Assistants, productivity, time management, virtual assistant
Posted in Life Management, Productivity Toolkit | 22 Comments »
Monday, December 14th, 2009
On the days before Christmas, my VA (Virtual Assistant) gave to me…
12 months of meetings
It’s never too early to get started on getting next year’s calendar filled up with your red letter days. Ask for your VA’s help to get your reminders set-up, whether it be for important meetings, birthdays, anniversaries and other important dates.
11 Jobs with Typing
For any transcription work or encoding that need to be done before the end of the year, seek your VA’s assistance in getting those important papers ready for you.
10 Sent e-greetings
Christmas greetings are a must for anyone so enlist help organizing and maintaining your email database, as well as sending out your Holiday wishes. Also consider having your VA reply to the greetings sent to you. You wouldn’t want your friends and family to think you’re a Scrooge.
9 Planned Parties
Find that perfect party venue, set up the caterers, send out the invites and mind those who have sent in their RSVPs. There is nothing more stressful than being a gracious host on top of planning and setting up an event that would make Martha Stewart proud. Cut yourself some slack and get a VA to do all that for you.
8 Lists for Shopping
Keep track of your Christmas gift lists – and more importantly, your budget – this Christmas season. Research the best online shopping deals, the hottest toys for your kids and even grab that much-coveted Hermes bag at a low price for your wife. Never mind who’s been naughty or nice, simply ask and your VA will even check for you twice!
7 Plans for Marketing
Get a head start on next year’s marketing campaigns before year end and impress your boss. Your VA can assist you in doing the necessary research and even do the preliminary set-ups to successfully implement it. Their know-how, equipment and creative flair may just be what you need to get you ahead in your field!
6 Year-End Reportings
There is no reason why you need to be stuck behind a desk doing your number-crunching, word processing and spreadsheets during the Holidays. Give your brain its much-deserved vacation and let your VA handle those mundane tasks for you.
5 Organizing
Most virtual assistants are experts in multi-tasking and organizing. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by the amount of paper work you have to catch-up on or bogged-down by daily tedious tasks, a VA might just be the answer to your prayers.
4 Calling Leads
Expand your market-reach by asking your VA to call prospective clients to inform them about your company. More importantly, let your existing clients know how special they are by getting a personal call to let them know about your special offers on your latest products and services exclusively for them.
3 Set Vacations
If you’re hard-pressed for time to book that special holiday vacation with your family or with that special someone, let your VA assist you in arranging your trip: get the best airline and hotel deals, book the best tour packages, or even get that rent-a-car to get home to your loved-ones.
2 Holiday Promotions
You have a Christmas sale to do? Get help getting your website ready for its Christmas promos, or sending out your brochures and flyers during the Holidays. Let your VA help you update your webpage, blog, or social networking sites to spread the word fast and easy!
And a whole lot more time for me… The best part of hiring a VA is that it maximizes your productivity while maintaining efficiency in your business processes. In the business world, time is money and freeing up your schedule to do more important things is the key to succeeding in your endeavors. This Christmas season, give yourself the gift of time and spend it on those that matter most to you.
Tags: how to delegate to your virtual assistant, making use of your personal assistant, virtual assistant, virtual assistant services, what to outsource
Posted in Life Management, Outsourcing | 3 Comments »
Monday, October 19th, 2009
You’ve probably been spending freely like me before the global economic crisis hit us. Compulsively shopping, frequently going out for dinner, regularly watching movies, getting hour-long massages at spas, drinking designer coffee…
 I used to do these things a lot before the recession happened, and I bet I’m not the only one.
Since then, I have managed to tighten my belt just enough so that I could still indulge once in a while but not as much as I used to. There was a big change with my spending habits. Instead of going to the movie theater once a week, I would just wait for the film in DVD. Instead of eating at a fancy restaurant, I would just settle for some fast food. And instead of shopping every weekend, I would just wait for the occasional sale. Even if the recession brought a drastic change to my lifestyle, I believe it has taught me to become more practical and more prudent with my finances.
Here are some tips on how to rethink your spending habits during the recession:
Cut Back on Luxuries
First, list down all your daily expenses so you can figure out what to cut back on. Of course you have to spend for your basic needs like food, clothing and your living expenses. But do you really have to buy designer duds? Or do you really, really need to go to Starbucks everyday? You could live without these luxuries, you just need to do some adjusting.
Buy Used or Refurbished Items
You don’t always have to buy brand new. It’s perfectly fine to get a second hand items as long as you check that they’re it’s in good condition. For instance, if you’re in the market for a car, instead of getting brand new wheels, you could get a used sedan for a fraction of the price. Aside from spending less, you’d also contribute less carbon footprint (Mother Earth would thank you for it.) The same goes for refurbished gadgets like computers and mp3 players.
Ask for Promos or Discounts
Internet, cell phone and cable providers usually offer promotions from time to time. All you have to do is ask about it. Even restaurants and stores sometimes have ongoing promos or discounts. Again, just ask – you’ll have nothing to lose if you do. I actually tried asking for a discount at a sports store once and they gave me an additional 10% off at the counter. I was pleasantly surprised when they granted my request. It could happen to you too.
Pay in Cash
When you’re buying something, I suggest that you pay in cash rather than charge it to your credit card so that it would be easier to keep track of your finances. You’ll know exactly how much money you have left and not be in any risk of credit card debt. Even if these cards are convenient to have around, it’s also risky to have one especially if you have a tendency to go wild with your spending. At least when you’re using cash, you’ll know when to stop – when there’s nothing left in your wallet anymore.
Since the world is still experiencing financial crisis, you can’t do away with spending freely anymore. You can’t just sit back and relax. You need to adjust to the circumstances and welcome change in your life. You need to re-think your spending habits so you can stay afloat of the situation. After all, you don’t know when the recession would end. That’s why you should physically and mentally prepare yourself for whatever may happen. In the meantime, why don’t you try out my suggestions above so you’ll be equipped to face the financial challenges ahead?
Tags: expense management, money management, recession, spending habits
Posted in Life Management | 3 Comments »
Friday, September 25th, 2009
Do you feel easily irritated or annoyed recently? Is there a significant change in your eating or sleeping habits? Are you feeling listless or having trouble concentrating? Hopefully, you haven’t answered “yes” to all of these questions or else you would be on the verge of being stressed out.
It’s easy to manage stress once you’ve identified it but the thing is, people experience it differently. Its signs and symptoms vary from one person to the next. You just have to be attuned to your body and know whether you’re acting normal or stressed out. But don’t worry, you can easily relieve stress by doing the following things:
1. Manage Your Time
Sometimes you may feel that you have so many things to do and so little time for it. Yes, it all might be overwhelming and stressful so it would be a good idea to be more organized and learn to prioritize your tasks. Make a to-do list if it helps. It would also give you a sense of accomplishment when you tick off each item on your list. And if you’re becoming too stressed with so much work, why don’t you try getting a virtual assistant instead of waiting for a nervous breakdown to happen? Delegating tasks to others is an effective way of reducing stress.
2. Have a Support System
Have you ever felt so tense or anxious that you just want to let it all out? Well, instead of hurling expletives at an innocent bystander, you would be better off talking about your concerns with a close friend or family member. Communicating with someone can help you calm down and take the pressure away.
3. Exercise Everyday
Bring out your sweat pants and go to the gym! Getting fit is a nice way to loosen up and alleviate stress – a 30-minute run on the treadmill or a boxing session might do the trick. When you do strenuous exercise, your body releases endorphins, which actually act as natural pain relievers and make you feel good as well.
4. Reflect and Unwind
When was the last time you did nothing at all? Sometimes it helps to just take a break for a while, think of nothing and do nothing. This would clear your mind and help you de-stress. Or you could choose to relax by getting a massage, listening to music, or even do some retail therapy. These would all uplift your mood.
5. Veer Away from Vices
Taking advantage of that “Happy Hour” won’t really do you much good. Although having a drink or two after a hard day’s work could temporarily reduce your stress, it would actually leave you feeling bad since alcohol has an effect of giving you a depressed feeling. So stay away from vices like alcohol and drugs to guarantee you a stress-free life.
Remember, once you notice that you’re getting somewhat stressed, just try out some of these stress busters to see which one works best for you.
Tags: how to handle stress, managing stress, stress, stress busters
Posted in Life Management | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
If you are a Windows Vista user, you’re probably enjoying all the fancy features that are designed for better security and easier use, not to mention the sleek interface, making computer use more enjoyable.
One of its best features is the Windows Sidebar. The Sidebar is a pane on the side of the Microsoft Windows Vista desktop. You can organize your favorite gadgets or applications here, so that they will all be easily available to you anytime.
There are so many gadgets to choose from. If you haven’t fixed up your sidebar, it might be too tasking for you to go through all of it and choose the ones you can benefit from.
To make it easy for you, we have chosen the most useful Vista Gadget Tools from the list.
Here you go…
1. RD Safely
The RD Safely gadget makes it possible to easily disconnect your usb, SATA, eSATA drives.
2. Minimize
This Vista Gadget allows you to minimize all the windows you’re working on quickly and show just the desktop.
3. Drag & Drop and Print
This vista gadget makes it very simple to print a document. You just have to drag and drop the documents that you wish to print.
4. Recent Items
This vista gadget shows a list of your recently accessed items grouped by location. The gadget was designed to maximize screen usage. You can also set the number of items it could show.
5. Password generator
Having trouble creating a secure password? This gadget can help generate random passwords and automatically copy it into the clipboard.
6. Clipboard Manager
Images that we copy or paste are usually stored on clipboards. Copy/Paste or image grabbing can be a tedious task. But with this gadget, you can easily manage your clipboard from the Windows Sidebar. The clipboard manager will allow you to see current clipboard content on the clipboard history.
7. Spell Checker gadget
If you normally get stumped in spelling, the Spell Checker gadget would be really handy for you.
8. µTorrent Stats
For those who usually download large files, this sidebar gadget is very helpful. You can start, pause or stop the torrent easily. Also, you can view stats for each torrent separately.
9. Screen Snaper
This Vista Gadget allows you to capture anything on screen. It can capture full screen, windows or selected objects. It can capture by region too. It can automatically copy images to clipboard and save it. In addition, it can save images in 7 formats: BMP/EMF/GIF/JPG/PNG/TIFF/WMF
10. NetGadget 64-bit
This windows vista gadget monitors your network connections and displays a real-time graph. Click on the graph and you can see your internal IP address, MAC IDs, current connections, and other network information. This is also available for the 32-bit machine.
11. Run
This one is a real timesaver. Just type in the name of a program, folder, document or Internet resource you wish to access and this little gadget will instantly open it for you.
12. Countdown to Anything
This can be both useful and fun. It’s so easy to use too. Just enter the date and the countdown event.
13. The Magic Folder
This is a great organizing tool. The gadget will help you categorize and move files in an organized manner. When you drag a file to the gadget, it will check the file extension and place it where it should fit. Most extension types come pre-registered.
14. CT Control
This sidebar gadget shows the current Time, Date & Uptime of your computer. You can also use it as a stopwatch, alarm or a countdown clock. Plus, you can put your computer on standby, shut it down, restart it or log off using this gadget.
15. Digital World Clock
If you need to constantly check for time on different timezones, this gadget is really practical.
16. Adsense
Monitoring your day’s earning has never been easier. You can quickly check clicks and impressions from your adsense campaigns using this gadget.
17. Twadget
With this vista gadget you can easily keep up with your friends’ status on Twitter and update your own status. No need to log in Twitter!
18. Windows Live Writer
The Windows live writer gadget is designed to make it easy for you to build your article throughout the day. You can open a new blog entry, open a previous blog entry or even have it floating and open from anywhere on your desktop.
19. FTP Access
This gadget will instantly connect you to the ftp server once you enter the required information.
20. App Launcher
This gadget enables you to launch your preferred applications from the Windows Vista Sidebar. Just add files or applications that you frequently use on the gadget and a simple click will automatically launch the program or files.
Hope this makes it easier for you to organize your sidebar. If you find any of the other Vista Gadget Tools useful too, please share it with us through the comments section. ☺
Tags: productivity tools, vista gadgets, Work at home tips
Posted in Business and Marketing, Life Management, Productivity Toolkit, Uncategorized | 16 Comments »
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