November 2016 Summaries

When composing an email, hit Enter a couple of times after signing off and write down all the relevant hashtags in white text to make them invisible. This allows easy searching for key words across Gmail or other email programs. Using invisible hashtags can also streamline team workflows by automatically sending emails to specific channels when certain conditions are met.

Mornings can significantly impact our productivity, with research showing that a good morning mood can lead to higher quality work and improved overall well-being. Studies have found that employees who started the day in a positive or calm mood were more articulate and provided better service, while those who started out grumpy often ended up grumpier. To boost happiness in the morning, simple actions like talking to a barista, journaling, listening to your own happy voice, eating fruit and vegetables for breakfast, and taking a walk in nature can make a significant difference. By incorporating one or more of these habits into our daily routine, we can set ourselves up for success and improve our overall mood and productivity throughout the day.

People love to share content they think others will find useful or make themselves look cool and smart, but are often lazy and busy, making it hard for them to share. To overcome this, you need to make sharing easy by providing a simple link that your readers can click on to send an email or tweet with the desired content pre-written. This technique involves adding a "mailto:" link to your emails and using a URL encoder to create a pre-formatted message that can be easily shared with others.

Fluent Forever' by Gabriel Wyner suggests that to learn vocabulary efficiently, one needs to create memorable and interesting experiences with words through quick games. Two such games are "Spot the Differences" using Google Images to find context for new words and making them more meaningful, and "Memory Game" where personal connections are made to boost meaning. These games aim to make learning a language fun and engaging, leading to better retention of knowledge.

Des Traynor, co-founder of Intercom, argues that humanity has reached peak to-do list apps and is overwhelmed by the numerous options available, making it difficult to find a suitable one. He suggests that users consider their task management preferences, such as grouping tasks in a certain way or preferring minimalist apps with features, when choosing a to-do app. Various categories of to-do list apps are mentioned, including Grocery List apps, Getting Things Done (GTD) apps, Kanban Board apps, and Plain Text and note-taking apps. Ultimately, the key to finding a successful to-do method is to choose one that users will actually use.

GTD is a productivity system created by David Allen that involves capturing everything, organizing tasks into projects and context, breaking down tasks into actionable steps, and having a regular review process. However, it can be overwhelming for those who don't need all the bells and whistles. Alternative systems include Autofocus, Strikethru, Getting Sh-t Done (GSD), Day, Week, Month (DWM), and Final Version, which offer simpler approaches to task management. These systems can help individuals prioritize tasks, manage their time, and increase productivity without feeling overwhelmed. They are designed to be adaptable and can be applied digitally using various apps and tools.

Managing multiple tabs in a browser can be overwhelming, but there are several strategies to make it easier. Grouping related tabs into separate windows or using read-it-later services like Pocket or Instapaper can help declutter the browser and reduce memory usage. Using desktop apps, mobile apps, or extensions like Zapier's Push extension can also simplify tasks by automatically sending links to task management apps or saving web pages for later reading. Additionally, tools like OneTab, Tabli, and The Great Suspender can help manage tabs more efficiently, while Tab Wrangler offers a more extreme solution by automatically closing inactive tabs. Practicing tab mindfulness by being more deliberate with each tab opened can also be beneficial in reducing the number of open tabs. By implementing these strategies, individuals can regain control over their browser and stay productive.

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Basecamp is an all-in-one project-management software that provides a wide toolset to help teams track and complete small and big projects within one workspace, called a Project. Each Project has six main tools: Campfire for quick chats, Message Board for asynchronous discussions, To-dos for task management, Schedule for tracking events and milestones, Automatic Check-ins for recurring questions, and Docs & Files for storing and sharing documents. The tool helps foster team connections with its chat tool Campfire and Automatic Check-ins tool, which regularly queries teammates for responses to common questions. Basecamp 3 facilitates transparency within companies by making all information accessible, while also providing a controlled way of sharing information with third parties through features like Clientside. The software is used in personal lives as well, such as organizing family stuff, and can be integrated with other tools via workflow automation tool Zapier to automate tasks and workflows. The Basecamp team uses the software to manage their own work, including producing a podcast, tracking tasks and progress, sharing progress without mental overhead, and improving product strategy. They use Basecamp 3 to maintain cross-company transparency, run their personal lives, and improve customer feedback collection.

Zapier is a company that values writing as an essential skill for its fully remote team, with many team members also writing blogs and creative content in their free time. To help writers improve their craft, Zapier shares various writing apps and tips, including choosing the right app for collaboration, note-taking, distraction-free writing, and research management. The company also offers suggestions on overcoming writer's block, such as joining a writing challenge or giving oneself permission to write nonsense. Additionally, Zapier provides resources on automating writing improvements with free apps like Grammarly and Hemingway App, as well as articles and books on writing from reputable sources.