Journal

I’m a big fan of having the right tools for the job and I wanted to take a moment to share what I have in my toolbox. Like every tool we use, it has to be comfortable and it has to be used as intended. the tools I use may or may not work for you.

When I installed Windows 7 on my laptop a few weeks ago, I added a lot of my software back on and omitted the ones I thought were no longer needed. It was a fresh start not unlike cleaning out your closet. Keep what you use, discard what you won’t. The first thing I installed was my favorite browser, Firefox. I cannot stand Internet Explorer and it’s limitations. With Firefox, I can extend and add tools to make my browsing experience functional.

Other tools I added and use frequently:

1. Adobe Air
2. Adobe Lightroom
3. Adobe Photoshop
4. Auslogics Disk Defrag (much faster than Windows)
5. AVG Free 9 (no worries here when used w/ Firefox)
6. Camtasia Studio – a video capture tool
7. Carbonite – unlimited file backup for $50 a year
8. CCleaner – crap cleaner
9. DisplayFusion – great for multiple monitors
10.   Dropbox – great backup tool
11. Evernote – unbeatable note taker
12. FeedDemon – how I get my daily news feeds
13. Foxit Reader – Lighter, faster than Adobe’s .pdf reader
14.   ImgBurn – flawless, fast disc burner
15. iTunes – needed for the iPods
16. Microsoft Office 2007
17. Pidgin – all purpose IM chat client
18. Revo Uninstaller – use this instead of Windows’ own
19. Skype make calls/chat for free!
20. SnagIt – screen capture tool
21. Songbird – iTunes killer
22.   Soonr Desktop – access files away from home
23.   TweetDeck – Used for my Twitter/Facebook updates
24.   VLC Media Player – plays all file formats
25.   Xobni social tool for MS Outlook contacts

See something you’d like and use? You are more than welcome to borrow from my list and use for yourself. In fact, I insist. What tools do you use that you’d be willing to share with?

Will today’s release of Microsoft’s latest operating system make you think about upgrading from Vista or XP?

What features are you looking for or forward to?

I need to relax and de-stress myself. I miss the old me where I would not only laugh, but crack a joke too. I’m not myself but all that will change and here is how I want to do it. Join along if you’d like.

1. Workout more (obvious stress reliever)
2. meditation
3. yoga (might as well see what the hype is)
4. sleep
5. walk with my family
6. listen to music (with headphones on)
7. quit assuming and actually listen
8. healthier food choices
9. be myself

Ahhh… much better!

It has been too long since I’ve updated my Delicious link sharing…

Best Business Practices For Photographers

 

How to Set the Price for Your Photography

 

18 Essential Tools for Every Word-of-Mouth Marketer

 

Google Wave Notifier Alerts You to Unread Waves

 

Twitterfeed Floods Users Streams With Old Blog Posts

 

Keeping it Raw in Photoshop Part 2 of 3

 

+X-equals.com + Digest September 15th, 2009

 

YouMail for iPhone Gets Push Voicemail Transcriptions

 

Make Unlimited Free Calls on Your Cellphone with Google Voice

Hulu Desktop Integration Brings Hulu to Windows 7 Media Center

 

Windows 7 Recovery Discs Gets Your System Out of Tight Spots

Camera Raw Profiles in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

 

Flickr! Its made of people!

Yes, I just made that word up but I wanted to let you know that I am making myself more available to you. We’re on Facebook. Become a fan today!

There is a new “Mojo” hotline you can use to call/text me with. If you leave a message, I’ll be able to retrieve these as well as receive a text transcription of your voice. How cool is that? Thanks Google Voice!

Also available is Skype, where you can make free calls from your computer. Also adds video chat/text as well. Neat! Add me “mojodenbow”.

Call me with questions regarding Photo Mojo, photo consulting or even if you just want to reach out and touch someone.

(281) 769-2809

Who loves ya like I do?

photo is courtesy of B*Wag, another new Texan and neighbor. Thanks!

 

As our economy falters it never fails that the get-rich-quick hucksters come out of the woodwork. I know that sales people work hard and it is a talent, but when people are being taken advantage of, just don’t. okay? Greedy and immoral people are a huge reason why the economy sucks to begin with.

Infomercials, experts with their “proven systems”, diet book authors, gold buyers, pyramid schemers, payday loaners, investment opportunists, check cashers, department store credit card sales people, financial consultants and extended car warranty scammers are all guilty of this.

I’m sure you have noticed a trend where strangers approach you at the most unlikely locations and want to discuss their schemes um, business opportunities. They will attempt to humor you, find something out about yourself, flatter and then talk all about themselves and why they are doing this. for you. Not for them of course. I’ve been approached by these people, twice in bookstores and one at a restaurant. WonderWife was approached by a guy at the grocery store just this week.

My friends, please don’t give these people a way into your brain. Kindly rebuff their unwanted advances. Don’t make an excuse, give them a good reason. Not interested.

Hucksters: we don’t want any of what you are selling.

Do you have a similar experience with these people? Did you get taken in by a pro? Share them in our comments!

I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific- lily tomlin

Some people know exactly who they are and what they want to do with their lives. Then there is the rest of us who know who we are, but not what we are supposed to be doing. Is it true that what we do defines us as individuals? I need specifics.

In order to adjust my focus I need to determine what is ahead of me. Do I want to be a freelance photographer or do I want to be an entrepreneur and run my own business?

I’d like some insights from both parties to see how you’ve overcome the challenges of both.

Change is inevitable, right? It is how we respond to the changes that helps define us. When looking at myself lately, I don’t like the definition or the response. I’ve lost my focus and my path recently and I want it back. There are various reasons for this lack of application.

I identified some of the perpetual culprits such as neglecting my fitness and nutrition. My sleep schedule sucks and I’ve allowed too many outside distractions in. I’m well aware that these can be put back on track when I discipline myself. If I am honest with myself then I have to admit that there are other issues that are distracting my focus.

My sleep schedule as I mentioned earlier just plain sucks. I am mentally restless as I am constantly trying to find new stimulus. I’m not even looking for anything in particular. Sometimes I am trying to find a muse or new productivity workflows. Other occasions I am trying to find outside income. I look for these things until my brain catches up to my body and collapses.

Sometimes my plans need to go back to the drawing board because they were never fully thought out. The rest of them are stalled due to uncertainty. I can’t see clearly enough to execute. 

On the other side of this is the fact that when I do sit down to work on a plan I go blank. I cannot process what I have studied and apply it.

No, I do not have an attention disorder.

I simply must order my attention on the specific task at hand as opposed to multi-task. There has to be a distinction between work projects and personal projects. I am guilty of combining the two if it will help (apparently it isn’t).

Tomorrow I will focus my attention on what matters and how to prioritize this.

Because my focus is fuzzy, I may need another set of eyes and your opinions/solutions to rectify this. How have you resolved this issue? Are you struggling with maintaining your focus?

I just finished another book called the Alchemist. Now I am deprived of sleep. If you think sleep is overrated, go get the book and enjoy. Now I lay me down to sleep…