In my last post, I discussed how I stayed organized. I rely on a number of programs and apps to keep me organized and focused. In this second installment, I’ll share my technological old reliables.

Evernote
Like many of the apps and programs mentioned here, I use Evernote every single day and on every device I have. I consider it a very easy-to-use, accessible, unlimited notebook with a good search feature. I’m a premium user, which comes with a whole host of benefits. Here are just a few ways I use it:

• Blog drafts
• Forwarded emails that I want to save (and get out of my inbox)
• Clips of web pages
• Documenting my thinking on anything from songs for my band to play, to the marketing strategy and plan for RSL Media, as well as my upcoming Scotch club.

Highrise
Highrise is a very easy to use contact management system. I use it to do two things: track communications with people I do business with and to remind me (via its task feature) when and how to communicate with someone again. I don’t track every email or put in notes from every call, but I do put in notes for things that I will have to remember later, such as what I learned during a discovery meeting with a prospect.

While I use it largely for business development, it really doesn’t have a way to easily view and track your pipeline (but then again, that is not its purpose).

Dropbox
Dropbox is essentially the server for all of my business documents. I have an account for RSL Media (which my team can access) and a personal (paid) account. I keep certain files on my computers and of course have the app on my phone. Like Evernote, it is pretty easy to use, accessible, and is essentially my file cabinet. I scan most of the paper that comes into my office and it goes up on Dropbox. Also, I can very easily share documents within seconds.

Pocket
As someone who is always looking for a better way to do things, I love to read good business articles. But they often pop up in an email or on social media at a time when I can’t read them. With the Pocket Chrome extension on computers and functionality on mobile browsers, I can save any article with 1–2 clicks and then read it at my leisure. I use Pocket for non-business reading too.

Chrome
I use Chrome on all of my devices and I stay logged in. This makes my bookmarks and my browsing history accessible on any device. Same for Google Maps.

x1
x1 is another program that I use every day. It’s a desktop search and while it is far from perfect, it has been the best one for me. In addition to indexing all of my files for search, it indexes all of my Outlook emails, including archives that go back 15 years. Among other things, this has been very useful for figuring out things like, “Why does that name sound familiar?”

What are your indispensable technology companions?
Next up: Digitizing, Delegating and Staying Sane