August 2018 Summaries

Asana can be a suitable collaborative tool for implementing the Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity method, especially for those who collaborate regularly and are willing to pay for a subscription. Asana offers flexibility in managing different types of work, multiple options for viewing and organizing tasks, and is well-suited for collaboration. To apply the GTD method to Asana, users can create projects, invite collaborators, populate them with tasks, subtasks, and ideas, use tags to filter tasks by context, become followers on delegated tasks, triage from the inbox, review tasks in My Tasks, and utilize collaboration features. While Asana may feel ordinary if used solo, its flexibility and collaboration features make it a good choice for those who collaborate with others.

As different problems arise, Ian Leadbetter found that Zapier provided a solution to the issues he faced with direct integrations between his tools. Data matters in marketing, but when it's scattered across multiple systems, importing and exporting information can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Ruler Analytics, a tool for marketers to track ROI, uses Zapier to connect its data to other tools like CRMs, email marketing platforms, and customer relationship managers, allowing clients to make informed decisions about their campaigns. The team at Ruler Analytics encourages clients to use Zapier to send data from the app to their preferred CRMs, which improves retention rates. Internally, Zapier is used to automate lead generation processes, reducing manual tasks and increasing productivity. By democratizing data through Zaps, Ruler Analytics enables its customers to connect their marketing data with all the tools they need to succeed.

As a full-time student, managing expenses can be challenging. Fortunately, many software companies offer discounts to students, which not only save money but also provide valuable skills and experience that can boost career prospects. The 16 best student software discounts include Office 365 for productivity, Evernote for note-taking, Prezi for presentations, Norton Antivirus for computer security, Wolfram|Alpha Pro for math help, Rosetta Stone for language learning, Scrivener for writing, Asana for project management, OmniFocus for task organization, Ulysses for writing, TextExpander for productivity, Adobe Creative Cloud for multimedia skills, Apple Pro Apps Bundle for design and video production, Autodesk for engineering and architecture, GitHub Student Developer Pack for coding, and Squarespace for website building. Additionally, students can also take advantage of non-software discounts on Amazon Prime, entertainment services like Spotify and Apple Music, computer hardware from manufacturers like Apple, Microsoft, Lenovo, Dell, and AT&T, and exclusive deals through universities and student bookstores.

Total CSR, a lean team with just three people, was overwhelmed by daily tasks and saw an opportunity to automate using Zapier, an app automator that helps businesses replace menial work with automation. The company's CTO, Trenton Berry, used Zapier to automate administrative tasks such as managing payments and accounting, client appointment scheduling, and customer relationship management, freeing up his schedule for critical work like sales. With the help of Zapier, Trenton was able to cut out over 10 hours of work each week, and with growth, the time savings will continue to grow too.

When first learning to code, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, but with persistence and the right mindset, anyone can become a proficient programmer. The key is to start thinking like a problem solver, breaking down challenges into manageable steps, and being persistent in the face of obstacles. It's essential to remember that every expert started at ground zero and felt like a beginner once. Developing this problem-solving mentality can aid not only in programming but also in approaching new challenges in life. By analyzing problems, researching solutions, and asking for help when needed, individuals can overcome stumps and make progress towards their goals. With hard work and persistence, anyone can learn to program and develop valuable skills that can benefit them in various aspects of life.

Zapier, a platform that connects to over 1,000 APIs, shares insights and tips for API providers based on their extensive experience with API downtime, anti-patterns, and deprecations. They advocate for real-time updates through webhooks instead of relying solely on traditional GET and POST requests, emphasizing the value of allowing API consumers to customize the data they receive through flexible response options. The importance of comprehensive and accessible documentation is highlighted, as it ensures that both functional and understandable APIs are effectively utilized. For planned API downtime, Zapier suggests having a clear strategy in place, and for inevitable API deprecation, they recommend providing ample support to help developers transition smoothly to updated versions. By implementing these best practices, API providers can enhance their integration with platforms like Zapier, benefiting from its large user base and automation capabilities.

The 2017 State of Engagement report found that 82% of marketers have a deep understanding of their customers, yet over half of consumers believe brands could do better in engaging with them. Interactive marketing is key to delivering the desired experiences, as it encourages two-way communication and creates customer feedback loops. This medium uses interactive elements like quizzes, polls, surveys, infographics, and videos to engage customers and gather valuable insights. Successful interactive marketing campaigns use best practices such as market research, identifying pain points, and creating personalized content. Businesses can create interactive marketing using various tools, including Outgrow for quizzes, YesInsights for polls and surveys, Visme for infographics, Wirewax for interactive videos, and Adventr for video storytelling. Automating the process of capturing data from interactive mediums is crucial to streamline workflows and focus on creating new experiences. By leveraging interactive marketing, businesses can build meaningful connections with customers, gather valuable insights, and drive engagement and loyalty.

The Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology is a productivity system that emphasizes focusing on the right tasks at the right time. An app designed for GTD can help users follow this unique system and increase productivity. To find the best apps for GTD, it's essential to have features specific to GTD, such as adding context to tasks, being accessible on multiple platforms, and being intuitive to use. The top 10 best apps for GTD include 2do, FacileThings, Firetask, Focuster, NirvanaHQ, Nozbe, OmniFocus 3, Things 3, Todo by Appigo, and Zendone. These apps offer various features such as scheduling tasks, managing project-style work, forecasting availability in a calendar view, visualizing progress, and organizing information into Tickler folders. GTD has a lot to offer, but it may not be suitable for everyone, so users can explore other productivity methodologies or find a more flexible tool that allows them to carry out the system in their own style.

Motivation is not a resource that can be scraped together, but rather a response to stimuli, triggered by different parts of the brain and motivating us toward productivity in various ways. There are four common types of professional motivation: creative expression, financial incentive, curiosity/learning, and fear. Each type has its own unique neurochemical processes and effects on the brain, and understanding these can help identify how we work best and what kind of motivation produces the best results. By recognizing why we are motivated toward productivity, we can better manage our motivation and achieve more effective outcomes.

Zapier helped Swapnil Wale, founder of Techno-PM, automate his digital product delivery process, saving him at least 40 hours a month. With the help of Zapier's automated workflows called Zaps, Swapnil was able to quickly and automatically deliver his products to customers, cutting down on manual tasks and improving his overall workflow. By connecting payment gateways with email marketing tools like Gmail and MailChimp, Swapnil created efficient Zaps that ensured instant delivery of digital products after successful payments were complete. This allowed him to focus on strategic goals for the business rather than day-to-day operations, giving him more time to work on creating new templates, marketing, and expanding his business. With Zapier's automation capabilities, Swapnil was able to streamline his process, reduce manual tasks, and increase productivity.

Screenshots are a crucial tool for capturing and sharing visual content in today's digital age. They're used for various purposes, including bug reports, tutorials, and social media posts. However, screenshots can also expose private information if not taken carefully. To avoid this, users should consider what the screenshot is for, never share private info, be careful with auto-upload features, and don't show too much or too little of the screen. Additionally, users can use various tools to take high-quality screenshots on different devices, including Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, Chrome OS, iOS, Android, and more. Some popular screenshot apps include Lightscreen, Skitch, CloudApp, Droplr, Jing, Snagit, PicPick, Tailor, Blipshot, Pinpoint, Napkin, Licecap, Jumpshare, and many others. These tools offer various features such as annotation, sharing, and video recording capabilities. Users can also edit their screenshots using photo editing apps to crop, blur, or annotate the image. Finally, screenshots can be put to work by using them in team chats, notes apps, blog posts, documentation, and even books, making them a valuable tool for communication and collaboration.

Understanding your chronotype, or internal clock, is crucial to optimizing productivity. Research by Daniel H. Pink reveals that everyone experiences three phases over the course of the day: peak, trough, and rebound, with most people experiencing their lowest energy levels after lunch. However, this doesn't mean that work during the trough is impossible; instead, it's ideal for creative tasks. By identifying your chronotype through methods such as answering questions or using a quiz, you can schedule your daily tasks according to your unique productivity rhythms. This involves separating tasks into analytical and creative buckets and creating a schedule based on when each type of task is most productive. Even if your schedule isn't flexible, taking breaks and giving your mind time to relax can help improve focus and productivity during the trough phase.

The crowdfunding landscape has evolved significantly over the past decade, with platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Crowdfunder offering unique twists on the concept. While starting a campaign is easier than ever, running a successful one requires a well-crafted "hook" that communicates why a project or cause is worth someone's attention. A hook encompasses both the product's Unique Selling Point (USP) and how it's framed, with personal stories being particularly effective. Successful campaigns on various platforms, such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Crowdfunder, Fundable, Seed & Spark, Patreon, Fundly, and CrowdRise, have used a range of strategies to create hooks that resonate with their target audiences, from highlighting product utility and convenience to emphasizing social impact and growth potential. To succeed in crowdfunding, creators must choose the right platform for their project and craft a hook that will earn them backers.

Zapier undertook the challenge of upgrading its Graylog cluster without downtime by creating a parallel cluster to accumulate historical data over a week before decommissioning the old one. To achieve this, they needed to index every log message, sent as UDP datagrams in the GELF format, in both the old and new clusters. To avoid the overhead and complexity of having the logging client send messages to both clusters or using an unreliable UDP proxy, Zapier opted to use iptables on the old Graylog cluster. This approach involved using the TEE target of the mangle table to clone incoming UDP packets and forward them to the new cluster's hosts based on a statistical distribution. The method required enabling IP forwarding and adjusting settings for AWS, but ultimately succeeded without impacting performance or increasing load on the nodes, offering a seamless transition to the updated infrastructure.