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Laptops and the internet have changed not only the way we work, but where we work. On glorious summer days, I take my work outdoors.

A few products launched this summer would make it easier to keep the creative juices going while enjoying the sunshine.

If given the chance, where would you do most of your reading? in bed? at a bar or cafe? on a train or airplane, at the beach house? The Amazon Kindle DX is a reading device that lets you read wherever you roam.

Everything from annual reports with graphs to flight manuals with maps to musical scores can be viewed on a single, crisp screen. Kindle reads like printed words on paper because the screen works using real ink and doesn’t use a backlight, eliminating the eyestrain and glare associated with other electronic displays.

You can download or receive new content in less than 60 seconds from the Kindle store without a Mac, PC, or WiFi hot spot. More than 275,000 books are now available in the Kindle Store, including New York Times best sellers, U.S. and international magazines and newspapers, and 1,500 blogs. Carry all your documents and your whole library out to the beach house in one slender device. The DX is thinner than most magazines. Cost: $489

At the top of my wish list is the Apple iPhone 3GS. It’s a phone, video camera, internet device with some dazzling new features thrown in. You can make calls using the sound of your voice with hands-free voice control. You speak into the iPhone saying, “Call Chris Waters” or “dial 800-275-2273” and your iPhone begins dialing. You can also tell iPhone to play your favorite audiobook or podcast.

You can send audio recordings that you make with Voice Memos using the multimedia messaging service. Let’s say Kathy, back at the office, wants you to see a presentation she’s rehearsing for a client, she can upload the video to MMS so you can watch it. You can then record your comments and suggestions and send them back to her. Cost: $199.

The next thing I crave for working outdoors is the Shuttle, a laptop bag from Higher Ground, a company that provides gear for the laptop lifestyle. The shuttle is a carrying case that converts into a portable computer workstation. Side pockets hold cables, power adapter, iPods, and DVDs and other accessories. A handy cooldeck flips down, and your laptop rests on non-slip riser pads under which air flows, keeping things cool. Think of it as a desk that follows you everywhere. The hip design and vibrant colors (royal blue, wasabi green, tangerine) add an element of fun. Cost: $39.95

Not to knock cocktail napkins, but the GTD Trifold Notetaker Wallet is a classier alternative. Capture random thoughts that occur at unexpected times by slipping this black leather accessory from a jeans pocket or bag.

This essential GTD tool has two compartments with slots for five cards plus a window slot for your drivers license. There’s also a full size pocket for cash. When you instantly record your creative ideas your mind is free to let go of the low-level task of remembering. Who needs stress: this is a partial vacation, right? Nothing beats pen and paper when you are strolling along the beach, jotting down thoughts related to what you’re working on.

What would help you keep your projects on track when sunshine and blue skies beckon? What’s on your wish list?

This article outlines the skills and attributes that need to be developed to be a good corporate Personal Assistant. Use this article as a checklist to highlight areas that need development. The best corporate Personal Assistant positions command a good salary but getting to the top of the PA profession requires a number of skills and competencies. Professionalism and confidentiality are the trademarks of a good Personal Assistant. Top end PA recruitment agencies expect PA’s to be organised, efficient, self-motivated, and IT literate..

Steps

1. Develop Good Interpersonal Skills - A good PA is unflappable under pressure. They are calm and able to think on their feet. The ability to work well with others, particularly difficult personalities is essential as top level PA’s work with CEO’s, in very pressurized environments.
2. Develop Good Communication Skills - They are the first point of contact for customers and clients, therefore PA’s need to be good verbal communicators, with a pleasant, yet professional manner.
3. The ability to influence people is also essential, as PA’s need to negotiate with others for time and resources. Good written communication skills are necessary because PA’s often respond to communications on the boss’s behalf, and sometimes write reports and executive summaries.
4. Develop Good IT Skills - A good corporate Personal Assistant is expected to have the following IT skills: Microsoft Word (Advanced); Microsoft Excel (Intermediate); Microsoft PowerPoint (Advanced); It is also advantageous to have a good grasp of a database software like Microsoft Access, and some knowledge of Microsoft Project.
5. A good working knowledge of an email package like Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, or Eudora.
6. Develop Good Internet Skills - PA’s should also be internet savvy, as they may be required to do research or perform tasks which require a good knowledge of the internet environment.
7. A good knowledge of e-commerce is a definite plus. An understanding of internet marketing and search engine behaviour will allow PA’s to add value to their role and provide the best possible assistance to their boss.
8. Develop an Interest in Office Technology - In today’s technologically advanced society, it is essential that PA’s have a good understanding of new technology.
9. PA’s should keep abreast of the latest office gadgets, and technology as they are expected to know how to fix the office photocopier and understand the features on the boss’s Blackberry. A good PA will recommend changes in office technology to improve efficiency. They will do the necessary research to understand how implementing new technology will be cost effective for the company.
10. Develop The Necessary Skills to: monitor the boss’s email and respond on his behalf; delegate work on the boss’s behalf; manage the boss’s electronic diary;
11. You should also be able to take dictation; prepare papers for meetings; book, manage, and minute meetings; organise and manage events; make complicated travel arrangements; prepare complex itineraries; manage a budget; attend events/meetings as the boss’s representative;
12. Other useful skills include the ability to conduct internet research; prepare presentations; write correspondence, reports, newsletters and executive summaries; update intranets and websites; maintain effective office filing systems; quickly and accurately type documents; source office equipment and stationery; manage projects; supervise staff.

The following steps explain how to find IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of your computer if you are running windows. This process uses the Microsoft Windows Command prompt which is available on all PC’s running Windows 98, XP, Vista or Windows 7.

Steps

1. Click on Start in the bottom left hand corner of your screen.
2. Click on Run. An input box will appear with a flashing cursor.
3. Type “cmd” or “Command” in the Run box and press the enter key on your keyboard.
4. You can also click on start. Go to programs.Go to Accessories and click on Comand Prompt.

An MS DOS command prompt window will open, you are now ready to send a command to your computer.

1. Type “netstat -n” including the space then press Enter
2. You will see a list of all your active connections and IP numbers.
3. You will see four fields with four columns.
   The Local Address field identifies your IP number.
   The Foreign Address field shows the IP numbers of the sites or people to whom you are connected.
4. You can also see what programs are being used to connect to those IP addresses by typing “netstat -nab”. That way, if you are connected to more than one foreign IP address, you can more easily pick out the address you are interested in.

Tips

• Also another way you can do it is Start>Run>Cmd>Ipconfig This should show you: your masked IP and IP.
• An easy alternative way to determine your IP is to use an online IP checker like Get My IP Address or www.whatismyip.com

Let’s face it; the business world can be tough, stressful, and hectic - and even more so when you are running your own company. Here are some tips to help make your business life a little easier and a little less stressful.

Steps

1. Perform background checks on your potential employees before you hire them. It will save you a great deal of stress later on than by just hiring the first people that come into your office.
2. Check their references. Chances are that you asked for them, so actually check them. You can weed out many that won’t be a good fit before you waste any more of their or your own time.
3. Look into getting some kind of compliance software. This will help you avoid lawsuits and things like that.
4. Get organized. Organization is key to having a successfully operating business. And this means less stress for you in the long-run.
5. Make sure your employees are happy and working hard. These usually go hand in hand; they are more apt to work hard if they are happy with the work environment. The easiest way to do this is through survey software. It will allow you to customize questions to find out about little issues before they turn into large problems that will disrupt the work ambiance.
6. Help them de-stress. Employees can be considered the lifeblood of a company, therefore helping them not be overburdened by stress is a necessity. Offer things like a monthly discount towards a health club. This way, they will be able to work out their tension and be ready for another day of work.
7. Keep your customers coming back. Easier said than done, right? But by having great customer service and offering the occasional giveaway or incentive, you will retain those customers for years to come.
8. Update your business as technology improves. This will keep you in the competition. For the most case, you have to be modern to get new clientele.

The two computers can only be connected over their USB ports by using a special USB cable, containing a chip inside called host-to-host, or USB  networking cable. This is a fast and easy way to copy files between two computers, and can be very useful if you need to keep, for example, a laptop from work synced with a PC at home.

Steps

1. Go to a reputable computer supplies store or online retailer and buy a USB data transfer cable.Explain that you need a USB cable to connect the two computers and ask for recommendations.
2. USB transfer cables usually come with their own data transfer software and auto configuration software built in so they should be plug and play
3. Once you have the cable and the two PC’s you wish to connect, plug the cable in and install the drivers on both PC  (be sure to follow the instructions)
4. If necessary, follow the steps to configure the USB settings on both computers so that they can communicate with each other.
5. Run the file transfer software if it came with the cable.
6. Transfer your files

Tips

• Note that this type of connection can be more difficult to set up and manage with older cables or without the relevant software; where possible, connecting via ethernet is probably a better option.

Warnings

• Never try to connect two computers with the so-called A/A cable that has no converting electronics inside (just a plain cable with matching connectors). It connects input to input and output to output, so can easily damage the hardware.

Things You’ll Need

• USB Data Transfer Cable (available from your local electronic store)
• Heres one from IOgear http://www.iogear.com/product/GUN262WV/

Do you have a flash drive, but aren’t quite sure how to use it? They are the technology of the day and it would a benefit for you to learn. Flash drives are great tools for backing up important data, as well for moving large files around the office.

Steps

 This Is in case you have a Windows computer

1. Plug it in to a usb port.
2. Look in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
3. Wait till the new hardware balloon is done.
   • At this point, the folder should open up showing the contents of your drive.
   • If it doesn’t, go to ‘My Computer’ and click on your thumb drive. It will usually have the name of its creator on it.
4. Go to the file you want on it.
5. Click edit.
6. On the edit menu, click the copy to folder.
7. Click ‘my computer’ go to removable disk name the file click save

If you Have a macintosh computer

1. Plug the drive in any available USB port
2. Wait about 5 Seconds
3. The drive should mount , after that the drive will be in the desktop
4. Double click it to open it

The majority of people at work prefer to get along well with their colleagues, as this makes for a more productive and enjoyable atmosphere in the workplace. However, sometimes, workers with an over competitive attitude can make this difficult.

If you suspect you’re on the receiving end of regular negative treatment from an over-competitive co-worker, read the following suggested steps for dealing with them.

Steps

1. Try not to take it personally. It can be only too easy to assume that a person’s negative reaction to us is a sign that there is either something wrong with us as a person or that we’ve somehow done something wrong. However, if a co-worker has suddenly started behaving towards you in hostile and aggressive ways for no apparent reason this is much more likely to be to do with them than you. This is often because they feel strongly threatened by your abilities - rather than you as a person - and their way of dealing with their feelings is to create drama - don’t allow yourself to be sucked into it.
2. Maintain a polite and civil manner. Try to also be friendly - if you feel you can. Tempting as it can be to react in the heat of the moment when somebody is deliberately trying to make your life difficult, this can often backfire - encouraging the offender to react to you in worse ways than before. On the other hand, chances are if you don’t give them the emotional reaction they’re seeking they’ll conclude it’s a waste of time trying to get a rise out of you and start leaving you alone. It can also happen that when an over-competitive co-worker notices that you don’t intend them harm in any way that they’ll feel more motivated to treat you nicely in return.
3. If necessary minimise contact. This doesn’t have to mean avoiding them altogether. But if the hostile behaviour is continuing by this stage, yet you still have to deal with them on a regular basis, stick to communicating with them only when you have to without going out of your way to interact with them. However, if this colleague happens to be somebody who you don’t directly work alongside - but you just happen to see around the building every now and then then then avoiding them is probably a good idea.
4. Take protective measures. It’s a good idea to have some in place, as while it’s not true that in every single case a competitive co-worker goes out of the way to sabotage somebody else’s effort - it does often happen. Consider the following suggestions:

   o Use secure PC passwords to protect any electronic files you use at work.

   o Keep back-up copies of everything you do, in the event a co-worker tries to place blame on you or show you up in a negative light for anything.

   o Keep your desk contents locked with a key.

   o Avoid sharing personal information about yourself with the co-worker. Keep all conversations professional.

Tips

• When attempting step one, try to also emphasize with the person. He/she wouldn’t be doing this in the first place if in some way they weren’t feeling deeply insecure or threatened. Try to appreciate how this feels to them, as this will help with step two.
• When trying step two, incorporate assertive behaviour techniques into your communications. See the related articles below to find out more on this.
• If the situation still gets worse after attempting all the above steps, it may be worth either directly confronting the co-worker about their behaviour or reporting it.

Internet fax services are a great way to save time and money on fax communications. Your company can save hundreds or thousands of dollars with an Internet fax service because the costs and labor associated with fax infrastructure, software, and telephony are completely eliminated. Here are a few steps to help you choose the right faxing service for your business.

Steps

1. Determine your usage. How many faxes do you send and receive or anticipate sending and receiving? How many people in your organization will be using the fax service?
2. Decide what kind of faxing solution you need. For example, are you looking for a fax solution to support user environments or a service to integrate with your own application or web site?
3. Evaluate different services and find out what they offer in terms of reliability and costs. Important things to ask about are the level of fax security, reliability of their infrastructure, and pricing.
4. Find a provider that will offer you personal, proactive customer support and service to ensure fast and easy implementation and ongoing support.
5. Start faxing. You’ll quickly discover the ease and convenience of online faxing.

Tips

• Numerous companies provide Internet fax services. A few of the providers include Data On Call, Innoport, MyFax, and eFax.

Developing a good work ethic begins during the educational process. As you go to school for an education to further your career, you can build a good work ethic through your study habits.

If you are working while you attend school, this is another way to develop a good work ethic and learn multi-tasking before you enter your career of choice. Distance learning opportunities give you the chance to develop your own work ethic because they are self-motivated and flexible.

Steps

1. Resolve yourself that work is exactly what the name implies. Although you may enjoy your work and even find it fun, it is still work and you need to approach it with a positive attitude and have outstanding ethics.
2. To practice developing your own work ethic, explore distance learning opportunities. Distance learning requires you to develop your own curriculum and be self-motivated which help you to learn great work habits you can take into the professional arena.
3. Get a part-time job while you are attending distance learning courses. Juggling your education and a part-time job will prepare you for a busy work world that insists on multi-tasking.
4. Having a part-time job and paying toward your distance learning expenses also give you valuable experience with budgeting and handling money, which is essential in the working world.
5. Write down your most successful approaches to distance learning school assignments and your job. By writing down little techniques that helped you juggle your academic life, you can refer to this journal when you are employed in your career of choice to see what worked for you during stressful times in the past.

Tips

• Talk to your professors to get honest feedback about your work ethic and approach.
• Discuss your work performance with your employer to gain greater insight about yourself as an employee.
• If you become overwhelmed, learn how to let certain tasks go. For example, if your coursework is more than you can handle, take less classes the following semester. If your job is demanding more hours than you can give, discuss it with your boss. This is great practice for the real world because it is inevitable you will face these same challenges in your chosen career.
• Distance learning is a dynamic situation that enables you to develop your own schedule. Keep track of the times of day you are most productive and take advantage of them. These are also likely to be the best times to handle major tasks when you enter your career of choice.
• Be honest with yourself. If you know there are certain times of the day you are less productive, schedule simpler tasks for that time. Using time wisely is the essence of a good work ethic.
• Strive to do your best in all circumstances. Whether cleaning tables or preparing a homework assignment, always do your very best. This attitude will follow you into your chosen career.

Warnings

• Working full-time and going to college full-time, even through distance learning, can be a huge challenge. If you become overwhelmed, you can take fewer classes to relieve yourself. It is impossible to do your best work when you are overburdened.
• Be careful to avoid “degree mills” when you enroll in a distance learning opportunity - some schools issue degrees that are worth little more than the paper they are printed on.

In the last few years, Instant Messaging (IM) has turned into a popular method for coworkers and clients to communicate. Small wonder: using the Internet to “chat” or hold meetings in real time is easy, saves valuable time, and reduces expenses. Instant messaging also lets you to “talk” quietly and privately, which is useful in a wide variety of situations. And, since easily-downloadable Instant Messaging software is free, there are no startup costs.

In case you don’t know, Instant Messaging is a method of real-time communication based on typed text, known familiarly as “chat,” exchanged over the Internet between two or more people. In many cases, web-cams and voice can also be used. Communication is immediate, which means that you can get questions answered and solve problems almost instantaneously. Conversations—which tend to be short, covering only one topic—can be saved for future reference.

Most IM programs today provide these features:

• Instant messages: Exchange notes back and forth with a co-worker/client
• Meeting Room: Hold group meetings with co-workers and clients
• Video: Send/view videos; exchange messages face-to-face
• Images: View images stored on another person’s computer
• Sounds: Play sounds for others
• Files: Send files directly to others
• Web links: Send/receive links to Web sites
• Talk: Use the Internet instead of a phone to talk with co-workers (if using web cams,  you’ll be able to see each other)
• Streaming content: Real-time or near-real-time news, stock quotes, or other relevant data
• Mobile capabilities: Send/receive Instant Messages via your cell phone

Getting Started with IM:

1. Create an account with an Instant Messaging service like Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, or one of the other IM organizations. Think carefully about the service you want to use.

• If  IM is already being used in your company, go with the service everyone else is using. The reason? Most IM services don’t allow chat with other IM services. In other words, if you’re using Windows Live Messenger, you can’t chat with someone using Skype’s IM service.

• If you’re a freelancer or home-based worker, the decision about which service to use is more difficult—each of your clients may be using a different IM service. Many people in this position get around the problem by maintaining two or more IM services on their computer. Others join one of the alternative services that allow users connect to multiple IM networks from one client, eliminating the need to run multiple IM clients on the same machine. These services include Trillian and Jabber (recently acquired by Cisco Systems).

2. Once you’ve determined the service you want to use, get started. Go the website and follow the instructions. You may have to download software to your computer. Setup is easy, takes about 5 minutes, and involves choosing a screen name to use when communicating with others.

3. Once you are set up, create a contact list (sometimes called a “buddy” list). This list contains screen names of your co-workers, friends, and anyone else you want to exchange IMs with.

4. Leave your IM program open while working at your computer. That way people can reach you for quick questions (and you can quickly ask questions of others). You’ll find that you exchange info this way much quicker than if you were using email.

A few tips for using IM:

• Contact Lists: Whenever you’re logged onto the Internet, people on your list will be informed that you’re online and can receive an Instant Message (you’ll also know which people on your list are available to chat).

• Online Status: You can easily change your online status, informing contacts that you’re away from your desk, don’t want to be disturbed, gone for the day, offline, etc. Most IM programs allow you to include an “invisible” status which is helpful when you’re busy and don’t want to chat (even though you’re not visible to others, you can still receive and send messages).

Later this week I’ll post tips for using IM productively in the workplace.