by Mark Smiley | Mar 27, 2015 | Feature Story Middle Left
Colorado Athletic Club Fitness Tips
by Amy Boone Thompson
BSED – Certified Health Coach, ACE
National Director of Personal Training Wellbridge
We all know we need to exercise more and eat healthier. The benefits are irreplaceable and the consequences of not doing so are irrefutable. Despite good intentions, many people simply feel overwhelmed with taking the first step. What every great Personal Trainer will tell you is that committing to a healthier lifestyle is a lot easier than you may think.
First, consider the reasons you want to make this positive change in your life. Do it for yourself, not others, and do it with a true intention of being healthier; not simply looking better but also feeling better and living longer. How will your life change once you have accomplished this goal of including daily exercise and good eating habits? How will you feel?
Consider the obstacles that could get in the way of achieving this transformation. Now begin eliminating and/or removing them in order to pave a successful path. For example, if your day gets filled with appointments and miscellaneous activities, you need to schedule your workout before your day officially starts.
When you have completed both of the above, turn your attention to small and lasting changes. One change per week is a strategy that has worked with our clients. You can build upon this success by adding on just one healthier habit per week. An example, this week try sleeping more. Get at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep. Next week, continue the sleep habit and try drinking more water.
The reason many people fail to achieve their goals is because they try to accomplish too much at once. These are easy ways to generate positive results that you can incorporate with little discomfort and begin creating a lifelong habit. When you are ready to join an athletic club or locate a Certified Personal Trainer, look for the most reputable in your community. Until then, start simple and start small, but start something. One positive habit will lead to another and another.
by Mark Smiley | Feb 26, 2015 | Feature Story Middle Left
I committed to Mrs. App and our CPA to have our financial documents ready before April 15. I’ll share a secret. I absolutely loathe gathering our financial information each year. I maintain meticulous records with financial software, however the corresponding documentation is a mess. There’s one weekend a year that my office looks as though I left a window open on a windy day and blew a stack of paper across my office. We’ll need to alert a search party if anyone ventures into my office. Come on. I’m not the only one. Right? I say the same thing when I start to compile my tax records each year as I do on each January 1, “This is THE year!” Well, maybe 2016 will be the year. So far, 2015 has been better than last in regard to document organization. It has been better because I deployed a few tools.
Mrs. App always asks what takes so long to finish taxes. Candidly, estimating and completing the taxes is not the hard, time consuming part. I find that looking for supporting documentation is the biggest time consumption. Business mileage is always a fun exercise. It feels as though I’m playing Where’s Waldo while looking for a brightly colored post-it note with my mileage from January 1, 2014. Or worse, I track down my oil change receipts to estimate my January 1 mileage. This year, I used MileIQ (MileBug for Android or Windows) to track mileage. There isn’t a need to turn it on or off. It runs in the background. Enter the taxable rate and it’ll generate the necessary reports for your tax return. It’ll report on the meeting details, as well.
My uncle, a CPA, handles our taxes. I don’t pay him enough for us to be his client. He says that at least once a year, he’ll have a client come into his office with a shoebox of receipts. And I thought, who keeps shoeboxes? There’s a business for everything nowadays! Shoeboxed is a fee-based service that will organize documents, receipts and process into a cloud storage application, such as Evernote. For free, an iPhone app called OneReceipt can provide a similar service as Shoeboxed. I am a OneNote believer. If you are a PC (not Mac) user, most likely you have OneNote on your PC. Using the OneDrive (Microsoft’s cloud storage), OneNote can be viewed and accessed from your device or PC. I scan invoices, medical statements, and receipts into OneNote. Rather than finger through a file cabinet, I’ll search for the scanned image from my phone. This has made tax prep more organized and less time consuming. Think of OneNote as a large writing pad or journal. Create sections, just as you would in a journal, and then add documents to pages. For example, I have a section named Taxes – Auto. Within the pages of this section, I have scanned receipts for gas, oil changes, plate registration and maintenance. Rather than search through a physical folder, I have the documents in hand or on my PC.
We love deductions, right? Easily track deductions with a few tools: ItsDeductible, iDonatedIt and deductr. ItsDeductible and iDonatedIt track non-cash deductions (i.e. Goodwill), while deductr is a fee-based app with a larger offering. It’ll track mileage, expenses and time management. If you’re looking for free tax assistance, check out IRS2Go. After talking about taxes, we should start a Have You Hugged a CPA Today? Day.
Speaking of office messes, it’s entirely possible the tiny USB plug in for my wireless mouse is lost in the abyss, or maybe Baby App ate it. OK, don’t fret, Baby App is safe. He didn’t eat it. I did lose the plug-in, though. I’ve never been a fan of the keyboard mouse pad so I use Remote Mouse, which turns your phone into a mouse. The app needs to run on the laptop and mouse, as well as both devices need to be on the same wifi network. The mouse app is extremely smooth and easy to use. I’ll eventually find the USB plug-in.
For the LinkedIn users, try LinkedIn Connected. Each morning, the app sends an alert with that day’s updates, such as your contacts’ work anniversaries, birthdays and new jobs. This is a great way to view updates in a timely manner as you build and engage with your LinkedIn network.
Do you have a teenager at home? I would ask if you are a teenager, however I’m not certain a teenager knows what a newspaper is. The Glendale Sports Center at Infinity Park managed by the YMCA is hosting a Teen Entrepreneur Program. The program starts April 7 and runs for five consecutive Tuesday evenings. The two hour sessions will be taught by an entrepreneur that specializes in teaching teens how to create a business. At the conclusion of the program, the teens will present their businesses to a “Shark Tank” on May 21.
The cost of the program is $75. We’re looking for teens to be part of the program. Teens can sign up here: http://goo.gl/ c5ScFa. Unable to afford the $75? Please contact me at the email below to learn about available grants. We’re looking for local businesses to sponsor a teen (or two). Please contact me via email below. This is an amazing opportunity to give our local teens the knowledge they need to start their careers. Technology businesses have been a common theme according to the program instructor. What business will you create?
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly 20 years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses often have the same concerns: How do I increase my revenue and profit? How do I attract great talent? Am I easy to do business with? Is it simple to access my business information? If you’re a business that would like to learn how Box, GoPro, Groupon and FitBit have used NetSuite to answer these questions, then please contact Brian.
by Mark Smiley | Feb 2, 2015 | Feature Story Middle Left
A recent football game presented an interesting technology challenge. I could either attend a birthday party and watch the game there or stay home to watch the game. Prior to leaving for the party, I called ahead to double check they were going to have the game on during the party. Now, I’m not a complete football nut, but I really wanted to watch this game. It was on national television, NBC to be precise. The host surprised me by telling me they did not have cable. My heart stopped. Who doesn’t have cable in 2014 (doesn’t it seem so long ago already)? I stayed home and Mrs. App took Toddler and Baby App to the party. Yes, I did eventually arrive at the party, albeit after the end of the game. It turns out, they canceled their cable a number of months back. They have Apple TV and download shows, which has cut their cost (excluding the Apple TV investment) by 75 percent.
For the longest time, I’ve threatened to cancel DirecTV. The amount of money we spend for cable is insane. For pete’s sake, we rarely watch live television. I would estimate that 90 percent of our viewing is from the DVR. So, I’m making baby steps. Sorry if this is the first you’ve heard of this happening, Mrs. App! Santa delivered an Amazon Fire TV. The cost is $100, which is in the same ballpark as Roku and Apple TV. There are a few alternatives, such as the Amazon Fire Stick and Google Chromecast, both are in the $35 range. I am slowly using Amazon Prime ($99 per year) via the Amazon Fire TV to stream and download movies, shows and music. My goal is to reduce my DirecTV account and eventually turn it off. Another solution may be SlingBox, which streams to multiple devices.
Comcast had a decline in cable subscribers in Q3 of 2014, yet their Internet subscribers grew by 315,000. So what are the cable providers doing? Nothing in the short term, because the subscriber cancelations have not been significant enough. They’ll continue to fleece us until the subscriber base declines at a greater volume. Here’s the interesting news: Cable cutters are not saving as much money as they projected. Take my friend without cable. They are realizing a savings monthly, but their download fees from Apple are increasing and reducing the savings. The cable providers recognize that consumers are willing to pay for downloadable content. They are watching consumers turn toward online television sources, such as Hulu Plus and YouTube. We’re in the beginning stages of how the cable companies are adjusting their offerings. HBO is planning to release their streaming only option in a couple of months.
What does this mean for you? I believe we’ll have more options as consumers. Our providers will not corner us into a package, as they often do today. They’ll begin offering a la carte channels and streaming options. They’ll offer Internet packages. Your bill may not decrease, however I believe we’ll receive more value for our monthly expense. In fact, in a conversation with a cable provider, they are beginning to position: You pick the channels package. The issue they’ve expressed is the fees the cable companies charge isn’t aligned with offering online streaming. I like this option. I’m not shy to spend a few dollars on entertainment, just allow me to pay for what I use.
There are some challenges with the streaming options today. Most of the streaming tools offer the same applications, which means you may need more than one device if you are looking for certain applications. Check out http://goo.gl/mpFbaH for a comparison of streaming devices. Some devices are not Wi-Fi, so you’ll need an Internet cable. The controllers are fairly basic unlike the space command controller the cable providers offer. Some of the online channels require an actual cable subscription to view.
How can you reduce your bill today? Ask your provider to consider adjusting your monthly fee. Select the cancellation option when calling in. Seriously, are you that married to one provider? Leave! You’re not changing football allegiances from the Broncos to the Patriots! Consider an HD antenna and an over the air DVR. Don’t go cheap on the antenna! Keep the receipt and check the return policy. Make sure NBC comes in clear. An antenna is roughly $100, DVR $50 (TiVo) plus a $15 per month fee. This will provide you with the local stations. Any of the streaming options I mentioned earlier will work. Most have access to a number of streaming, often overlapping applications. I went with Amazon Fire because we are Amazon Prime members. With some patience and homework, I am confident your monthly cable expenses can be reduced. Buyer beware though! Be careful what we wish for. Don’t be surprised that you soon find yourself at a friend’s house wondering why the big game isn’t on.
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly 20 years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses use NetSuite software to run and manage all of their business applications. It’s web-based, so businesses can access their information from anywhere; It’s flexible, which allows the software to be customized for their business; and, it is built on a single platform, which businesses appreciate since they can often eliminate multiple software solutions. Trending companies, such as Box, GoPro, FitBit and Dropbox use this software to run their business. Reach out to Brian to learn how your business can benefit with this software.
by Mark Smiley | Dec 22, 2014 | Feature Story Middle Left
by Brian Zabroski
I joined an interesting conversation over the holidays. Grandpa App was at his favorite watering hole talking about his new iPhone. The others in the conversation had upgraded their phones to smartphones recently. There were the pictures of grandkids, jokes about typing errors and dropped calls. They generally were enjoying their new found technology, with one exception — they didn’t have a clue what they’re doing! The group is in their 60s. They are smart and personable.
I only added one topic to the conversation. When they didn’t understand how to perform a task at their jobs, what did they do? They asked for help. Listen, Toddler App (now four) can move through a mobile device with ease. I don’t expect Grandpa App, who has never owned a computer or anything technical short of a television remote, to “get it.”
I suggested they all meet at the Apple Store with a cup of Dunkins and participate in a free training. Learn and use. Candidly, I really enjoy having a better communication tool with my Dad than anything else he has used in the past. We talk, text and see each other nearly every day. I just don’t want he nor his watering hole buddies to get discouraged with the technology and stop using it.
If you’re new to technology, take a class. Most of these classes are free. Check out: https://www.apple.com/retail/learn/ or Best Buy for Android users: http://goo.gl/ LsOZsL.
This conversation really raised an eyebrow. How many times do we purchase technology with the mindset of using all of the features, but only use a few? A Gartner Study stated 42 percent of features in software (i.e. CRM) are not deployed. Think about that for a moment. You pay 100 percent of the price, but only use 58 percent of the product you buy. There are a few tools that measure the usage and adoption of technology and software: GoodData, Birst, iDashboards and QlikView. They are not free, but will give you an idea of how to improve your technology adoption rates.
The same is true for your house. Are you using all of your television and cable provider’s features? Your phone’s features? I get it. We will not be at 100 percent of utilization, but there are so many neat things we’re missing. Use this time of year to reinvest in your existing investments:
- Download your TV and other technology manuals
- Review your remote control features
- Freshen up on your cable provider’s offerings
- Renegotiate your provider’s contracts
- Clean your technology
- Donate what you’re not using
From cookies to crunches, it’s that time of year that we decide, “This is the year I’m going to be in shape instead of a shape!” For all of ambitious folks, here are a few ideas: Runtastic Six Pack Abs, what a pipe dream, but check it out | Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout, isn’t this the same thing that the Harlan Williams character promoted in There’s Something About Mary? | JEFIT, lots of workout ideas | Argus, activity tracker | Fitocracy, an exercise routine, which can be posted to social media. Not sure why anyone would ever want to post to Facebook, “Completed 3 pullups,” but then again it’ll be better than most of the junk posts I see on Facebook.
A few thoughts about technology for 2015:
- Mobile apps are becoming the norm for nearly any business. Consumers want to consume info via an application. If your business is not planning to build an app then you have a concern. Your competitors are building apps. The means to build an app are easier today than ever. Check out biznessapps.com, which charges a nominal monthly fee to build and manage an app.
- Push notifications and push marketing via mobile devices will become more commonplace. This is the very reason you’ll want your business to build an app. This provides another touch point to connect with your customers and potential customers.
- Mobile site creation for your business will become an important strategy. Are you positioned to handle mobile traffic? Is your website optimized for mobility? Between the ages of 18 to 29, 45 percent of those within this category use their mobile device for Internet searches. Your business website needs to be optimized to handle this traffic.
Being able to handle mobile traffic to your business, as well as to create traffic via mobile technology is yesterday’s news. Redesigning your website should begin with mobility in mind. Consumers expect to consume information via their handheld device. This is your challenge for 2015. Ready for it? We, the consumer, are!
Happy New Year!
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly 20 years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses use NetSuite software to run and manage all of their business applications. It’s web-based, so businesses can access their information from anywhere; It’s flexible, which allows the software to be customized for their business; and, it is built on a single platform, which businesses appreciate since they can often eliminate multiple software solutions. Trending companies, such as Box, GoPro, FitBit and Dropbox use this software to run their business. Reach out to Brian to learn how your business can benefit with this software.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 21, 2014 | Feature Story Middle Left
Dear Santa,
I am writing my annual letter to you asking for a few things. I know I’ll be lucky and grateful to receive even one item on this list. There are those who are less fortunate, so please take care of those in need first. Regardless, in case you’re struggling with what to give me this year, here are a few ideas:
An iPhone6 without a power button on the side of the phone. How can Apple let this happen? Do they expect us to hold the phone with two fingers to avoid pressing the button during a conversation thus ending said conversation? Do they expect us to use the uncomfortable provided earbuds? Move back to the top of the phone, please.
iPhone training classes for Grandpa App. My Dad, recently retired after mis-delivering mail for the past 35 years with the USPS, now has an iPhone. He doesn’t own a computer and thought wifi on the door of a restaurant was a food special. I’m now teaching him how to use the phone. It’s as if I added a third kiddo to the house. Oh, and FaceTime. He loves it. Uses it all the time and gets mad if I cannot communicate in like fashion. Welcome to the 2000s Dad!
Giving our readers some neat apps and tech gifts, such as: Venmo | Mobile payment. Now your friends can’t duck out of repaying you. Think of it. You buy lunch (again) because your friend forgot their wallet. I bet they didn’t forget their phone. Send them a link to Venmo for payment on the spot. MapQuest Roadside Assistance | Using the Denver-based MapQuest app, roadside assistance can be requested without the need of a traditional, expensive membership. Refuel Smart Propane Tank Gauge | Device attaches to your propane tank to deliver on demand propane levels via wifi or by pressing a button on the gauge. App shows the level of propane in the tank. The button gives a green or red indicator light. JBL Clip | Wearable Bluetooth speaker. Flux Capacitor USB Car Charger | Yes. The flux capacitor theme from Back to the Future. Worth the Google to check out the image.
Ask our stores to honor one holiday at a time. I believe I witnessed a first, but definitely not last (unfortunate) trend in October. Target had an aisle for Christmas next to the Halloween aisle. In fact, on November 1, the Halloween decorations were down, Christmas decorations were up, and above the soda machine was a sad little sign that said, “Happy Thanksgiving.” The Pilgrims must be so disappointed.
Michael Buble’s voice. You can ask, right?
Touchscreen Gloves. November was frigid! Touchscreen gloves allow you to interact with your device’s screen without removing your gloves. Check out Amazon.
A free year of Amazon Prime. Streaming videos, free two day shipping and now unlimited cloud photo storage. Did you hear that? Unlimited photo storage. When your device is connected to wifi (no Dad, not the restaurant lunch special), photos sync automatically. You had me at hello!
Lots of gift cards. I never know what I want so gift cards are always the gift that keeps on giving. Try cashcard.com to buy or sell gift cards. The site lists cards from 1-35% off face value at most major retailers. A $75 card will cost only $52.50. They’ll also buy your gift cards up to 92% of face value. Gyft is an app that will manage all of the gift cards for you. No need to haul the cards back to the mall.
A parking spot in Cherry Creek. With a purchase from a restaurant or store in Cherry Creek North, you can use the complimentary valet. Check out cherrycreek north.com for valet locations. If you are lucky enough to find a parking spot at the mall, use FindMyCar to set the location, add a note and take a picture.
Less time in line to see you. We need to take the annual, awkward family Santa Claus photo, but I dread the thought of waiting in line. Can someone tell me why there is not one Santa location in Denver with an app allowing us to sign up for the line in advance? The Santa photo business must be profitable based on the absurd amount of money I’ll pay for a goofy photo. Let’s see, 500 families in line at $50 per family. You get the picture. Bass Pro Shops offer a Bass Pass, which gives you a 30 minute window for the line. If you’re looking for a listing of Santas, check out milehigh onthecheap.com/see-santa/. This site is fabulous. Each Thursday, they list things to do for that weekend for free or at a nominal cost. The YMCA at Infinity Park will have Santa visit on December 11.
In all honesty Santa, I’m blessed with a great App Family. You can pass along our gifts to others in need. Cheers to you and yours!
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly 20 years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses use NetSuite software to run and manage all of their business applications. It’s web-based, so businesses can access their information from anywhere. It’s flexible, which allows the software to be customized for their business; and, it is built on a single platform, which businesses appreciate since they can often eliminate multiple software solutions. Trending companies, such as Box, GoPro, FitBit and Dropbox use this software to run their business. Reach out to Brian to learn how your business can benefit with this software.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 24, 2014 | Feature Story Middle Left
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
— Ferris Bueller
I was channeling my inner Ferris during a recent trip through Denver International. It was early as in even earlier than Toddler App wakes up. To put the earliness of the morning in some perspective, Toddler App wakes the roosters up. Maybe all of the people I observed were on East Coast time. I just wasn’t interested in anything except getting to the gate on time and drinking my Dunkin Donuts coffee. For once, I was looking around rather than staring at my phone. Have you tried this? Did you know there are other people in the same vicinity as you? I counted 15 people that walked by without picking their heads up. Do they have sonar? How are they all not crashing into each other?
My favorite moment was the grandmother giving an Academy Award performance of voice to text. Beep Beep. A pause as she reads the text. Then, beep beep, followed by yelling the text into the phone. Beep Beep. Another pause. More yelling. This continued for five minutes or at least long enough for the first group to board the plane. I openly laughed while watching and sipping some caffeine. Of course, the Frontier flight proceeded to run into an owl on an aborted take-off and a return trip to the gate. Once at the gate, everyone took out their phones. From the back of the plane, beep beep, the same woman yelling “We’re delayed. Send.” Serenity now! Be cognizant of your surroundings for the love of others!
iOS8 — The Ocho is a disappointment. Maybe I was expecting the interface to change like previous upgrades. It feels like the same software as iOS7. Maybe I just haven’t played around with it enough. Maybe I’m getting cranky as I approach 40. Not sure what it is, but the best feature with the new software is that my battery doesn’t drain. Do you have a favorite iOS8 or iPhone6 feature?
More apps were built around the Notification Center with iOS8. What is the Notification Center? From the locked screen, drag the dash straight down to open “today’s” notes and reminders, and notifications. The dash is replaced with the current time when the phone is unlocked. Drag straight down from the time to open the Notification Center. This area has the ability to display active information from your apps. Interested in trying some apps? Try App in the Air, which lists flight info. Vidgets, displays the battery meter and available storage. The battery meter may be redundant, however the storage is helpful. Waiting for the storage availability to load through the settings takes a few minutes. And we can’t possibility wait a few minutes for anything now-a-days, right? For the sports junkie, use this area for ESPN SportsCenter, which shows sports scores and a button to listen to live ESPN radio. Quick-Tap allows shortcuts for activities, such as Text Wife, Call Mom, and Directions to Home. Think of Quick-Tap as the iPhone’s version of adding an icon to your desktop on your PC.
Cool Apps
BlackFriday… It’s that time of year again. This is still the app leader for the best deals. Can you believe stores are open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving? Is it really necessary to stand in line to grab a $100 flat screen or duke it out over a Teddy Ruxpin? | Trello… it’s a whiteboard. Wait. It’s a to-do list. Wait. It’s both!| MailDeck… an email app that merges multiple accounts in one, which is handy. It allows for sorting by sender, which is better than the Apple version. Better yet? It’s a Denver-based startup. | Litely… Edit your photos to look professional | Fleksy… customize your iPhone keyboard. | For the person two cubes down from my cube, Post-it Plus. Take a picture of your Post-it note and the app turns the written note into an interactive board allowing you to move the notes around and brainstorm. Free up that poor monitor that has 34 post-it notes taped along the screen edges. | Swype… swipe your finger across the keyboard to type rather than pressing the keys. Now iPhone users can be like Samsung users. | PopKey… send a GIF (picture) with your text.
Beep Beep. Happy Turkey Day. Send.
How are you, and or your business using mobile technology? Are you using this technology to entice new hires to join your company? Are you eliminating hardware and going cloud? Has it allowed you to hire employees from outside your area? I’d like to hear your story for a future column.
Do you have a favorite app you’d like to share? Contact Brian at brian@brianzabro ski.com, on Twitter @BrianZab or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brianzab.
Brian, a Corporate Account Executive with NetSuite, has spent nearly twenty years in the telecommunications and software industry. Businesses use NetSuite software to run and manage all of their business applications. It’s web-based, so businesses can access their information from anywhere; It’s flexible, which allows the software to be customized for their business; and, it is built on a single platform, which businesses appreciate since they can often eliminate multiple software solutions. Trending companies, such as Box, GoPro, FitBit and Dropbox use this software to run their business. Reach out to Brian to learn how your business can benefit with this software.
