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I love multi-tools.  I have half a dozen around the house, in the truck, etc.  They are great to carry because they can help with so many situations.  Knife, screwdriver, saw, bottle opener, pliers and file… all right there on my belt.  I even have a mini multi-tool that has a flashlight on it.  It isn’t bright, but great when I need to step out of a tent in the middle of the night…

I have another multi-tool that is with me even more, though.  No knife, saw, bottle opener or even a screwdriver.  It does have a flashlight, though.

It is my phone.

I keep running into more things it can do… and do well.  It has a 5 megapixel camera, 480p video recorder and everything else one would expect from an Android smartphone.  The apps are amazing.

Today… in just one day… I have used my phone to shoot a video blog, reply to emails, coordinate a client meeting with a closing firm to get some questions answered, texting a few friends to keep in touch, update my calendar to stay on top of upcoming events, taking notes about ideas for blog posts and helping me lose weight.  Seriously, on that last front, I have dropped 16 pounds in less than 6 weeks.  (the app is called MyFitnessPal).

But, like any multi-tool, it doesn’t do any good if you don’t use it.  And using it to its full capability turns it from a trinket into a productivity enhancing tool.

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Rob Hahn, the Notorious R O B, had an interesting blog post about where the rebarcamp experience has gone… from where it started.

I was lucky enough to make it to the first real estate bar camp (rebc), in San Francisco, in 2008.  It was a really cool experience.  The thing that most struck me about the event was that it was built on and based in sharing.  It was completely peer-to-peer. There were no PowerPoint presentations, no scheduled presenters, no vendor alleys.

Since then, I have been to a few rebc events in different markets.  I’ve even been involved in organizing one.  And I have seen a variety of events, from the fairly heavily commercialized, to the zero presentation model.

The issue that Rob pointed out was that many rebc events had morphed into a “Social Media 101” or “Tech 101” class format.  One presenter (likely with a PowerPoint presentation) would lecture the rest of the attendees on the subject du jour.  It wasn’t about peer-to-peer interaction, but rather, it became about a more traditional class experience… with a free lunch and free T-shirt.

What is the solution? So many real estate professionals (real estate agents and mortgage brokers) seem to need that entry level instruction from folks that aren’t necessarily product vendors.  At the same time, those of us that have been involved in social media and technology for a while now REALLY need to get feedback and interaction at a different level.  We are actually pretty left out…

Advanced technology and social media discussion and training is pretty tough to find… or an arm and a leg… or completely “vendor targeted” (use our system, blah, blah, blah).

So, what’s next?

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Remember from the intro post, these are the primary requirements I have for a To Do app for my phone/computer/the cloud…

Among the requirements I have for a to do list are:

• Repeating Tasks… I write on 4 blogs and maintain a couple of dynamic websites that always need fresh content.  So, I need to remember where I need to write posts each day.  My repeating tasks include:
  • Same day each month (gathering statistics in my local MLS)
  • Same day each week (weekly posts like my 53 Cool Concept series each Sunday)
  • Every X number of days (for places I post every four, eight or ten days, etc)
• Ability to tag or note which tasks are for which purpose
• Prioritization (so I don’t get caught up in stuff that doesn’t matter… missing things that are more important)

Ability to sync between my mobile device and other devices (laptop, cloud, etc.)

That seems pretty simple…

Second up is GOALS ToDo Free.

Repeating Tasks

This is the one that kicks out most of the To Do Lists for me.  There are several options, which may make this a great opportunity for some folks, but I felt a little limited.

• Daily – You can set tasks to repeat daily, as well as set them to repeat after a certain number of days…  In the free version, there doesn’t seem to be an option to have a task repeat each weekday.
• Weekly – Tasks can be set to repeat on a weekly basis, as well.  So, if you have a task that needs to be done every Tuesday, or one that needs to be dome every three weeks, this is the option you would use.  I don’t see an option to do a task each Monday and Wednesday, for example.
• Monthly – The next option would be a monthly task.  This can be set a specific day (November 20th for example) but not on a trigger (like the 3rd Saturday of the month).
• Yearly – This option allows longer range tasks (like birthdays) to be set up.  It can even be set up to remind about the task after a period of years.  To do this, it has to be set up to repeat in 12 months… or 24 months… or whatever.

Tags

I don’t see a Tag capability, but there is a Context that can be applied to tasks to help group them.

Prioritization

We HAVE to be able to focus on the things that are most important.  GOALS ToDo Free has three priority levels: Immediately, Soon and Next.  There is an interesting option to be able to “refocus” tasks.

I haven’t seen an option to sync with Google Calendar.  I’m also not aware of a Website or a way to deal with the tasks from my computer.

Overall, I from my limited exposure, GOALS ToDo seems like an excellent option for project managing, or many other situations.  In fact, I can see it being very useful to track real estate contract and closing dates… but as an overall tasking calendar, it doesn’t seem to work for me.

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I have it on shaky authority that there will be an real estate technology event on May 18th, 2011 in the Atlanta area.  It is rumored to be a collaboration between rebarcamp Atlanta (#rebcATL) and REtechSouth (#retso).  The rumors are that it will be a hands on workshop focusing on implementing technology and social marketing plans like those developed during #retso and #rebcATL.

Like I said, this is an early stage rumor…  There is no word yet on cost, venue, presenters or any other details… but keep an eye peeled here and at rebcAtlanta.com for the latest details and rumors.

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It is always SO cool to open up a new toy tool… I mean tool.

But, one of the parts of being self-employed is not only getting the cool tools to help expand or streamline the business, but learning how to really leverage them to the max… getting your money’s worth from them.  It doesn’t matter if you got a cool new Android phone, iPad or All-in-One Multi-Function Printer.

And one thing I have found seem to bind many self-employed people together is that we often have the contradiction of not wanting to call for tech help (we can handle almost anything, right?  That is what pulled us into entrepreneurialism) and not really having the time to sit down and read the manual from cover to cover. In fact, a lot of us might even admit to being willing to take a class on using a piece of technology… but we can’t find the time to take the class.

I’m here to tell you, make the time.

The tools can make you more efficient (saving time) and more productive (more business/profit/money).  But the ONLY way they work is if they are used fully.  And the best way to get that type of use from the tools is to get someone experienced to teach you the tips, tricks and best practices.

I have a pretty deep stable of friends that are WAY tech savvy.  They teach me constantly how to better utilize the tools that I have.  They also help me filter WAY down the tools that I want.

Taking advantage of opportunities like rebarcamps and events like REtechSouth are also great options.  In addition to the sessions, networking with experienced technology users (like my stable of friends) and even talking directly with the manufacturers and marketers of niche specific technology.

Play with your new technology.  Get used to it.  Enjoy it.  But also think about getting a little deeper into it.  At the very least, look for something a little more complete than the average user manual.

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I was at a real estate conference last week, and one of the things the presenter said REALLY struck a chord with me.

Ten years ago, WE used to tell our clients which houses we were going to look at that day.  Now, THEY come in and tell us which houses we are going to see.

Obviously, this is a giant change in the way real estate agents do business.  Since my entry into the real estate business, it has always been the way I’ve done business.

In the “Old School” world of real estate, agents were the gatekeepers.  We controlled the access to the information.  We had the listing information, and it wasn’t available to the public.  Some agents still wish that the old order ruled the day.

Technology has turned the tables… and it is for the better.  Buyers have never had as many choices, nor as much access to information.  That is something to be applauded.

Feel free to tell me which houses interest YOU…  I’ll be happy to make suggestions, but they are just that, suggestions.

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