Workaday Superstar

WORKADAY TIP #158: I-Phone As A Flashlight

So I-Phones clearly have a ton of different features.  You can send email, manage your contacts, update Facebook, take pictures, surf the web, check the weather and the list goes on.

But have you ever used your I-Phone as a flashlight?  The background light can be particularly handy when you are walking down a dark alley, in an garage or getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.  My favorite use is when I get up at 6am to head to the gym.  It is still dark so I use it as a flashlight to get dressed, find my gym bag, brush my teeth and so on.  This way I don't have to disturb anyone by turning on the light (which is everyone else who is sleeping comfortably in their warm bed while I get my a** kicked at boot camp).   

I suppose I am also saving energy too by not turning on the light - an added benefit!

Now if I can only get AT&T to fix the cell coverage so my actual phone worked somewhere beyond just my closet...

WORKADAY TIP #154: Clean Up i-Tunes

When I am working on projects at the office I often times listen to my ipod on shuffle.  Problem is I have a nano and I am running out of space to add new music. 

So now when I am listening to my ipod, I pull my i-Tunes library up on my computer screen.  When it shuffles to a song I don't like, I delete it.  This gives me a chance to add new music and make my music library better!

WORKADAY TIP #146: Airplane Wi-Fi

I may have had the most productive 4 hours on a plane in my life yesterday.  As I mentioned in my last blog post , I flew from Chicago back to San Francisco yesterday.  I had taken a few days off to visit friends and had a ton of email and other work to catch up on before I got into the office. 

So I got on the plane and much to my surprise, the flight had Wi-Fi.  I paid $12.95 and I was able to work online for the entire flight!  I got through my email, answered some questions via IM and even had a little time left over to check Facebook and a few blogs.  It was fabulous.  $12.95 well spent!

I was flying American Airlines which doesn't have Wi-Fi on all flights but they do on some.  Additionally, Virgin America has it as well.  This is a huge time saver and a good supplemental money maker for airlines.  This is the one thing I am happy to pay extra for on a plane. 

Yeah American Airlines! I was disappointed that I had to pay $15 for my bag but you made up for it by offering me a service that made my flying experience far better and saved me a ton of time.

WORKADAY TIP #145: Electronic Boarding Passes

Just hopped on a flight home from Chicago this morning and was reminded how slick it is to have an electronic boarding passes for my flight. 

A couple of benefits to note:

1. Save Environment:  you save paper
2. Save Money:  you save cash on ink cartridges
3. Save Time:  you don't have to hook up to a printer or find one if you aren't home

Plus, you don't have to worry about trying to find it in that black hole you call a purse!  American Airlines and Northwest/Delta both have electronic boarding passes, I am sure others do as well.  If they have the option, you'll be able to request that you get your boarding pass via your mobile device when you are checking in online.  It will appear on your smartphone and then you just scan your phone at the "check-in" points when you go through security and then again when you are at your gate. 

After that - you are on your way to your next big adventure!

WORKADAY TIP #135: Appreciate The Moment

What would you want to tell your 16 year old self if you could?
Submitted by Bea.

TypePad posed this question to its bloggers and I couldn't resist answering.  If I could talk to my 16 year old self I would tell her to appreciate every moment.  I spent the evening with some good friends from high school last night and we kept reminding each of all of these great memories.  At the time, we were rushing through life, not really taking in the moment.  I am happy I have my friends to fill in the blanks but I sure wish I would have really appreciated and taken in every amazing moment of being young and without a care in the world. 

It's hard to even remember what that time was like!