Do you have 500+ e-mails sitting in your inbox? If so, shame on you! Get your digital communications gear in tune and get that email mess count down to ZERO every single day! Trust me, it’s worth it! How you might ask; two options: 1) take an hour listen to Merlin Mann (43 Folders) lecture about “Inbox Zero” while at Google (his slides here), or 2) give Mark Hurst book “Bit Literacy” a read. (Marks run CreativeGood in nyc and also runs the incredible inspirational GEL Conference yearly which I’ve attended many times)
I’ve been using a hybrid of these systems for many years now, and I’m not sure where I’d be without it. Many ask me how I manage so many different email accounts, clients, web accounts, etc… and the simple answer is… I keep my inbox down to zero! In the most simple cliff-notes version on how to achieve this system:
- Answer emails asap.
- Do not let emails be your address book/calendar/to do lists.
- Trash the ones you don’t need to read.
- Answer and move emails to folders (this is a step Merlin says not to do, but archive it all).
- Make it a habit to get to zero daily.
You know how right before you leave for a vacation or something, you sit down and hammer out tons of overdue emails, activities, projects, etc…. we’ll basically be that productive every day… with an inbox of zero, your less stressed, can find things much faster, and you feel much cleaner!!!
A few weeks back, I was in need of an external hard drive, and like most geeks I cruised the internet for reviews, asked opinions from friends, and ventured off to store shelves to see what was hot. After pacing around for more than needed, I finally bought the FreeAgent by Seagate because it seemed clean, was understandable, and it just felt better.
I’ve been incredibly happy with the product and ran into this great post describing someones great experience in the packaging design, which I’ll admit made me buy over the other options because the packaging was so human and sweet. I’d say “simple”, but I don’t like using that word because everyone thinks it means reduction when it actually just means intuition.
I knew about this sometime ago but I finally had the opportunity to use Google Maps Draggable Routes (This is what I call it, not Google). If ya don’t like the route Google maps gives ya… no problem… just drag the route to another road and watch the route magically change! Here’s a over-dragged route from NYC to Boston which I plan to use today… drag it around a bit more if you want. Type in a route, drag it around, have some fun!
The highly anticipated carbon fiber Boeing 787 Dreamliner was unveiled while I was in Seattle, so I ventured over to Boeings headquarters to check it out. Besides the galley tour and an awesome visit to their 98+ acre hanger, I had VIP (accidental trespassing) access with one of the 787′s up close and personal! Man, these aircrafts are gigantic. Some interesting facts:
- Boeing has reserved parking near the hangers for employees that have been around for 25+ years… I’m not sure what newbies feel, but man, thats a long time to wait for that benefit.
- Under the hanger is a long 1/3 mile hallway that houses all the plumbing. When it’s raining outside, employees often run up and down this hallway for exercise if not ride their bikes.
- If you want to buy one of these 787′s it’ll cost you some $230 million just for the plane, not including interior… and the waiting list goes as far as 2015 currently for delivery.(3 payment system: to start the build, to paint it, and to fly it away)
- The new Boeing 787 is some 40,000 pounds lighter than similar airplanes, making it %20 more fuel efficient, and produces %20 fewer emissions.
- People were not allowed to bring anything into the gallery tour, even my freaking sketchbook was taken away. The reason: too many people in the past dropped things down the hanger.
Pictures after the jump w/video about the interior design team (Teague)
During my trip in Seattle I went to the new cascading Central Library designed by architect, and GSD professor, Rem Koolhaas. I missed out on the guided tours, but had a good hour walking up and down the spacious, colorful, and vibrant new construction. I don’t have much to say about the design, but the details were very nice… including the many sustainable elements within the design… and from what I know about Rem, the ideas are probably very theoretical though compelling. If you really want to read more about the design, dive over to Arcspace.
I just want one! Perhaps its my recent lacking skills in math or dumbifying tech, but I just want one of these one-handed mobile calculators to strap onto my bag. Whip it out after a group meal and figure out the split price in style. I’ll assume it’s only in Japan… I want one!
I’ve had little time to post anything this past week since my sisters Seattle wedding took up all of my time (whoohooo, she’s married!) but here are a few things that have been sitting in my bookmarks:
The highly anticipated iPhone stormed Apple stores nationwide yesterday evening relieving a frenzy of all night camping fanatics to their all mighty metal $600 phone. I’ve had my share of playing around with the mega sexy device, but thought I’d post a wonderful poster depicting Apples product evolution that perhaps gives insight to their next creations. Click on the picture above for the full matrix of products.
via tofslie (thanks gordon)
For all ya’ll designers out there that crop, chop, add, and retouch photos, please don’t make a huge mistake like this catalog (I think Victoria Secret) before it goes out for print, which it did. I’m thinking an extra (adams family) hand on a high end models shoulder is a bit creepy. Someones getting fired…. Click on thumbnail image for full size image.
