Tools I Use: Fiverr and Upwork

November 1, 2017May 24, 2020Leave a comment

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When I need creative or design work done such as book covers or logos, I rely on Fiverr.

When I need technical work done such as podcast editing or copyediting, I rely on Upwork.

I have used these services for a few years now because they provide great value and great results.

The quality of the results is based on the individuals you find and task.

Both resources have a lot of talented people you can find with reviews, ratings, and skills you are looking for. I often filter to the most experienced people in their field who are very actively doing their craft really well.

The rates are very reasonable and you can even pay per task completed.

Keep in mind the remote workers need some context to complete the task you assign to them. Most will iterate the work they produce if you present feedback on what needs enhancement and how.

Have you tried Fiverr or Upwork? If so, how did you like it?

Questions?

Tools I Use: Docusign

October 17, 2017March 7, 2020Leave a comment

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I stopped using an archaic FAX machine a while back because I don’t believe in using paper for anything.

I no longer run to an office supply store to get signed documents scanned into PDF format, emailed to the other parties and archived for my records.

I do not own a scanning printer because I am often traveling when I need access to it.

Instead, I use DocuSign. The best business investment I made for signing and sending documents in less than a minute. Someone emails you the document.

Here is what happens. Someone emails you the document to be signed. Text to speech reads me the document aloud to understand the terms and conditions at any hour. If I accept, I login into DocuSign, upload the document, e-sign the document as needed and email it back to whoever needs it.

E-signatures are more accepted in a court of law than some scrolly non-sense signature done with an ink pen. E-signatures are often geolocation stamped, time-stamped, date-stamped and IP address stamped. Not so much with a pen.

How long does it take you to sign a document and send it to the respective party in another office? When do you get the countersignature? Have you tried DocuSign?

Questions?

Tools I Use: Text to Speech

July 31, 2017March 7, 2020Leave a comment

text to speech

Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Previously, I wrote about dictation and transcription services I use for speech-to-text.

Now imagine getting anything on your computer read back to you.

There is a little-known tool available on most computers called text to speech.

Why do I use this little-known tool meant for accessibility? I am not illiterate nor blind, but I do use this often because my ears are available more than my eyes are.

This is the same reason I listen to audiobooks and podcasts. Ears can take constant input. Eyes are needed for many things to see around you, guide you and also read.

If I need to “read” an online article, email or document (like an ‘exciting’ contract), this will read aloud all text as-is. Your computer may have multiple voices to choose from to read this text Verbatim.

Find ‘text to speech’ in your system preferences.
Select a voice you want to read the text and the rate of speed for the machine to read it to you.
Memorize the hot keys to hit to activate this function
Select some text on your internet browser or within a document.
Hit the hot keys.

It will read just about any text to you so you don’t miss it.

Yes, you can control the rate of how fast or slow you want text read to you.

I use this text to speech to do the first passes of editing and proofreading of my eBooks.

Audio is faster than typing or reading (I speak fast too). This is the same reason why I recently adopted and use an Amazon Echo Dot. I can ask Alexa any of its 15,000+ different ‘skills’ which includes continuing an audio book from Audible.

Some apps call it ‘read aloud’ feature. Adobe Acrobat has this feature to read PDFs back to you as well.

Have you tried using text to speech to save yourself time?

Questions?

Tools I Use: Competitive Intelligence and Analysis

July 12, 2017March 4, 2024Leave a comment

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As a startup advisor, I speak to dozens of startups per month. Competitive Intelligence and Analysis is one of the biggest gaps in knowledge for many entrepreneurs. They do not understand who their competitors are, how to find them, plot them, track them and understand how they differ until it is too late (and eat their lunch in front of them).

The competition did not just go away even if you think you don’t have any because you are in a new market or pushing new product/service. It should not be ignored before starting any venture or project. In fact, before I start any project I look at the competition so I can understand it, find their strategy, strengths, weakness, opportunities, and tactics (SWOT).

Rather than going on a 2000 word rant like I have in the past about how I do this and why you should too, I thought I leave it up to you by simply sharing a few books which can help you research this yourself since you have to do your own homework for your projects and ventures.

While many of the books on this topic out are amazingly out of date, there are a few books about this in the modern business world:

Questions?