shawnw.orgfaith – technology – culture

Often I have people ask me, "Shawn, what tools do you use to do what you do?" I’ve been asked enough that, starting now, I’m going to publish a quarterly article that highlights the tools that make up my toolbox.

Of course, we’re talking a virtual toolbox but, again, I need them to do what I do. So, let’s go!

• Gmail – I live and die by my Gmail. While I especially love the threaded conversation view, it’s really the search function that makes it for me. I keep every email I get and with the handy search function, I can find just about anything I’ve ever sent or received. Being able to send and receive 20 megabyte attachments isn’t bad either.
• Todoist – My todo list. Friends, family and coworkers probably get sick of hearing me say, "I’ll add that to my todo," but it’s true; it’s what I do. The brain is meant for doing, not remembering (thanks David Allen!) so I try to record everything I need to do at Todoist and let my brain turn its gears to get things done.
• Launchy – I’ve already gushed about Launchy. Read about it here. Then, do yourself a favor and go get it. The less you have to take your hands off your keyboard, the more work you can get done.
• Evernote – My note taking application. Its constantly getting new features added and syncs up automatically to the web so I can get my notes anywhere from any computer.
• Firefox – My web browser of choice. It’s far more secure than Internet Explorer and with handy add-ons such as Read It Later and Screengrab, you just can’t go wrong.
• I Want Sandy – Makes setting reminders a snap. With easy to learn and easy to use commands, Sandy integrates with your life just like a real personal assistant.
• Google Reader – Used to keep up with my RSS feeds. I read. A lot. And Google Reader helps me keep my articles organized and at my fingertips.
• iTunes – To get my brain into that creative groove I need music. I keep and organize my music with iTunes. Don’t leave home without it (read: get an iPod).

There you go. A brief glimpse into how I keep things organized and get things done. I’d love to hear about the tools you use to do what you do, so hit up the comments and give us a shout.