End of the Year Goals

Four Simple Goals ... Before 2014

I discovered the Four Simple Goals ... Before 2014 on Positively Present blog. There's some really good stuff there - all of it inspirational.

Stuff like this:

So I quickly came up w/my four little goals:

1. eat two pieces of fresh fruit each day
2. no email before 11a on non-teaching days
3. 15-minute weight workout daily 
4. go to bed by 10:45 p.m. Good luck to me

For me these are simple and doable. I'll try to keep the blog updated with my progress.

If I can form these habits, then that will alter my outlook on some things and rev up the positivity all around, right?

Good luck to me. Very excited!

My Current State of Mind

I like this idea from "She Learns as She Goes."

So I'm borrowing the idea as a way to get a quick post going. Here are my thoughts at this moment.

Dreading

I was dreading some portions of today, but I managed and the day went by much more swiftly than I'd imagined.

Anticipating

A busy and productive week.

Watching

Something on the Food Network, but it's really just background noise.

Choosing

To be excited about an upcoming opportunity. It will be life changing.

Thankful

As always, for my family and my current work situation which has allowed me to travel extensively including my recent trip to Ethiopia.

So here's a quick pic from the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia with the Gelada Baboons.

The 5 Apps I'd Rather Die Than Live Without

The 5 Apps I'd Rather Die Than Live Without

I'm basing this post on a post I recently viewed: The 8 Apps Robert Scoble Would Rather Die Than Live Without (don't forget to read the comments there).

More and more I'm using my iPad and iPhone consistently throughout the day. Though I don't have the exact same apps on each device, there's a lot of overlap.

The following apps are the ones that are definitely on both devices (the first three are also web-based and I use them on the web-platform daily as well). Although I think I could live w/o them,   they help to keep me organized and informed.

Gmail/Google (this link is to the Google search app which allows you access to all of your Google related services)

Pros: Gmail is my default email account for professional and personal. My university is using a Gmail platform for email and my primary personal account is Gmail. So having consistent access is important. And via the app, it's easy enough. And once I'm signed in to this, I can also utilize other Google services like Google+.

Con: Having two accounts can be a pain if you don't set it up properly in the mail settings. And remember, if you change your password on the desktop application, then you'll need to do the same for the app.

Evernote

Pros: I'm using Evernote for just about everything right now:

I have a few ifttt recipes that dump stuff into folders in Evernote.

• For example, when I post images to Instagram, a copy is automatically sent to Evernote.

I definitely host my 'to do' lists on Evernote.

I organize my conference presentations using Evernote
I take notes at meetings using Evernote.

I love the cross platform appeal: I use it on my desktop Mac in my office, on my Macbook Pro laptop as well as on the iPad and iPhone. Seamless.

Cons: My account's getting a bit messy in terms of organization. Also, there have been too many occasions when material/information did not sync in a timely fashion to the devices; that means I'm without some information that I thought I'd have available. Finally, when you overwrite information in Evernote, you can't retrieve the previous version unless you have a paid account.

Looking forward to incorporating on new Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskin journal too (though the journal costs the same in store as online, but the in store version had a pen; #justsayin).

Twitter

I love Twitter and I use it a lot.

Pros: Easy access to my accounts via the official platform; easy toggling between accounts.

Cons: Seems often that not all of the tweets load in when I'm searching a hashtag; that's annoying.

iMessage

I like iMessage for the ability to quickly contact my family. Since there's a 7 hour time difference, the message will be there when they wake up or whenever they check their devices. Great for sending quick pics too. Love the group messaging too (but make sure you don't reply all when you really just want to reply to one person in the group, otherwise, oopsy).

Con: There's no con here. Most of them have Apple devices and it works for us.

Zite

This used to be my all time fav app. Now, it's still at the top, but I've waned on my excessive love for it.

Pros: I like Zite for the ability to discover new information and sources of information that I find interesting and useful. The Zite algorithm is awesome. I like the 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' feature to help improve the source material. I like selecting the categories that are of interest to me. And most importantly, I used to like the many options for sharing material: Evernote, Instapaper, Twitter. They used to also have Delicious and they recently removed it in one of the upgrades. I've asked them about that. They responded, but mostly recommended that I reinstall the previous version from my backup. Fair enough; I'm working on that.

Cons: They changed too much in recent months/upgrades (seems since they were purchased by CNN). I don't like the recently updated app. The interface is too busy and not intuitive. Sometimes I liked giving a 'thumbs up' to a source or to 'block' a source. Not sure if you can still do that and if so, it's not intuitive b/c I haven't figured it out yet. I'm very unhappy about the lack of share options - or that I can't share on Delicious. I'd even like to see an option for sharing via Buffer, but no luck on that just yet. 

I don't like the new 'owl' as the logo for Zite. First of all, Hootsuite has an owl. Not that there's an exclusive rights on owls, but ... whatever. The previous clean font with the word Zite was just fine. Leave well enough along. You don't see Flipboard changing their image with every upgrade.

Apparently, I'm not the only one with strong feelings about Zite's recent changes: see this article in TechCrunch and just check the app reviews on iTunes.

I say all that to say, I'm still using Zite on a regular basis, but definitely not as much.

(click the image for image source information)

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program

If you're not writing a book, then what are doing with your life? Oh, you're thinking about writing a book ... then, yes, you're right on task.

Speaking of tasks, that's what you'll find here; some simple tips for helping you complete your writing tasks.

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program
Via ZENHABITS
http://pulse.me/s/bCKRO

Post written by Leo Babauta. I’m often asked about writing (something I’ve done professionally for 22 years) ...

Reverb10 :: Action

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year. I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

Day 13 :: December 13, 2010 :: Action

• When it comes to aspirations, it's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen. What's your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

Well, duh, the next step is to make it happen.

To make it happen I need a plan. To make a plan, I need to take the time to make a plan. To make the time to make the plan, I have to make a conscious decision that the plan is important enough to make the time to do it.

Once I have a plan, I think I can easily execute. I see you 20-11 ...

Reverb10 :: One Word

Sunset on a felucca on the Nile during Iftar. (Sept, 2010)

I've decided to be a part of Reverb10. It's a 31-day blogging challenge where you reply to the daily writing prompts that are designed to get you to reflect on this past year as well as provide some insight for the upcoming year.

I'm going to give myself 5-7 minutes for each post.

I wasn't crazy about today's prompt: Let Go, so I'm going back to Day 1 :: December 1, 2010 :: One Word

• Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word.

The one word that will encapsulate 2010 for me is challenging.

As I look back on how mentally challenging the past year has been, I'm trying to figure out ways to make sure the upcoming year is not a duplicate (it certainly has the potential to be the same). This year has been challenging for me at work or the environment at work: my students are constant whiners, my colleagues are not always collegial. Add to that living in the Middle East city that never sleeps: Cairo. I do like living in Cairo because it's inexpensive, it has character and there is always something to do. But it's a hard city to live in. There's pollution, filth, traffic, noise and lots of people. I still haven't purchased my bike to bring some calm to my life. Soon.

The one word that I hope 2011 will be is productive. I have to get to the business of doing something for me. I do a lot for work and as a result I postpone the things the I like to do and that could further my career. Things like producing audio projects and writing. That's what 2011 will be for me and earmarking time to work on my projects.

My Resolve in '10

I'm reflecting on reaching some of my recent goals. I managed to tackle the travel component on last year's list even with my move to Cairo from the U.S. Probably because of my move to Cairo. As for the language, well, let's just say I swapped learning Spanish for learning Arabic instead.

Now, we're six months into 2010 and I'm just now getting around to posting my goals for the year. I'd made the list, but life got in the way and I never posted it. I was hopeful that when I went back to check it out that I'd have already accomplished at least one thing on this list. That doesn't seem to be the case. But there's still time, right?

Seems most of these are sort of work related:

1. Produce an audio documentary. I've been working toward this one. I have all of my interviews and I just need to put it together.

2. Produce a feature for World Vision Report. I need a good, strong story for this one. And although Cairo is full of interesting stories, many of the stories have already been told. I'll need to think on this one a bit longer, but it is going to happen.

3. Workout for 20-30 minutes at least four times each week. I haven't yet achieved this goal consistently. Though I can say that I often work out for 40 minutes, two days a week. Not the same ... I've discovered Motion Traxx for motivating, uptempo music (with some narration).

4. Publish an article in a journal. This is work related and on my goals list for work too. But I've partially completed some interesting research on "30 Rock". Looking to add a bit more to what I have and find a publishing platform.

5. Publish an eBook. I was reading Chris Brogan and Julien Smith's "Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust". There was a suggestion about give back what you learn by creating an eBook. That's what I'm gonna do.

That's all for now. Actually, that's plenty. Happy belated 2010 to me. Living my life and loving it.

Getting Ready for My Move to Cairo, Egypt

There has been so much to do as I prepare to my move to Cairo to teach at The American University in Cairo (AUC).

Mostly, I'm ready to go. I have most of the important stuff done like I have my passport and I have my shots: Hep A and B, Typhoid and Tetanus. Oh, I have two new pairs of glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses - yay.

I don't have my mailing address yet, so I can't change my address. Except for magazines and journals related to teaching. I have a forwarding address for those.

My shipment was picked up on Friday. That was a most tedious task, but it really helped me decide what to take and what not to take. Here's hoping that my shipment arrives in Cairo before I do.

Things that I still need to do:

• renew my driver's license (it expires on my birthday: August 6)
• review my license plates
• get official birth certificates
• get additional passport photos (AUC recommended this, but I don't know why)

I also need to get a Magic Jack. I plan to use that for making phone calls to the U.S. I will use Skype and Oovoo too, but I'm getting the Magic Jack to have as an additional option. Several folks in Cairo have confirmed that it will work there. Magic Jack is basically a voice-over IP, but w/o any bulky equipment. It's just a little USB drive. Very nice.

There's a lot more to do, but I'll spare you the details since I need to actually get things done and not just write blog posts.

Hang in there w/me.

GTD - Get Things Done

So I've been merrily working on my to do list. It changes w/frequency, as it should. Here's what I've gotten done in the recent past:

• package and mail packages and letters
• return items to the store for a refund
• wash clothes
• apply for jobs (don't ask)
• grade a student's project
• pick up dry cleaning
• pick up altered jeans
• complete an in class assignment for students
• begin working on the CleveEvents list
• call ComCast re: establishing a wireless network
• review answering machine messages and return calls
• pay bills online
  

They are just little errands, but these things add up.

But I'd like to introduce you to the Getting Things Done (GTD) system. It's not something that I employ, but I'm doing my research and considering implementing this into my daily planning.

How'd the GTD info get on my radar? Listening to a segment on NPR's "All Things Considered".