Everyone has their own best practices and tools for getting the job done. Some include holding onto their iPhone for dear life or learning how to stay organized even during the chaotic times. Our recurring segment “It Works for Me” features business professionals sharing their secrets on how they get the job done. Next up is our own Brian Shilling, Marketing Consultant at Clarity Quest.
Company Name: Clarity Quest Marketing
Job Title: Marketing Consultant
Where do you live? Michigan
Where do you work? Usually from my home office.
What is your office environment like? My new home office is cozy and private, with a nice country view out the window. I like to keep the windows open in the warmer months (which we don’t have many of here in Michigan) for a nice breeze.
What technology do you use at work? I do the bulk of my work on my MacBook Pro, but also use my iPhone and iPad Mini from time to time.
What technology do you use at home? I rely more heavily on the iPad at home for streaming TV shows and movies and pulling up recipes in the kitchen. We have an Apple TV in one room and a Chromecast in the other for super easy streaming.
On a scale of 1 (never) to 10 (always), how often are you connected to your smartphone? I would say a solid 8. It’s hard to leave the phone behind when you rely on it for so many things at work, at home and on the go. I recently took a family vacation and basically ignored my phone for an entire week. It was very refreshing and I highly recommend an extended “unplugging” period if you can swing it!
What is your favorite organizational tool? It’s basic, but Google Calendar is my favorite organizational tool. I block time for important things on my calendar so I remember to leave enough time in the day for them. I also love the Tasks feature for prioritizing daily to-dos. It’s so easy to share calendars with your coworkers and family so you can easily schedule meetings when everyone is available.
What website/app/tool are you obsessed with at the moment? It’s not new, but Google Wallet is so convenient. It’s so much quicker and easier than writing/cashing checks. I take the convenience of electronic money transfer for granted until someone doesn’t have it. Then it’s back to the checkbook or ATM.
Can you recommend a book? Joe Pulizzi’s Epic Content Marketing. It’s a few years old now, but is full of great marketing ideas, examples, and lessons learned from one of the biggest names in the industry. Keep paper and pen handy while reading, because you will have a constant flow of ideas.
What’s your best time management tip? My best time management tip is to learn how to prioritize and how to delegate. I love this quote from Dwight Eisenhower: “What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.” Make time for the important things, and get help when you need it. Chris Slocumb shared some great tips in this post.
What’s the strangest thing in your office? My 20-year-old solid oak desk. It sticks out like a sore thumb in my newly built home office with white trim and dark wood floors, but my grandfather built it for me when I was young, so it’s here to stay.