I originally wrote this list as a LinkedIn post, but it got so much engagement that I thought I would send it out as an email and keep it updated.
📱A list of software tools I use in my day-to-day business
Today, I want to share with you the digital arsenal that powers my day-to-day operations, a blend of efficiency, collaboration, and data tools.
🔹 Notion: My journey with Notion began as a simple shift from Evernote for note-taking and research. Now, it's the backbone of my meeting notes, project management, and even my CRM database. The learning curve was steep, involving numerous YouTube tutorials, but the payoff in terms of productivity has been immense. It’s a powerhouse for both personal and professional organization and becomes even more dynamic in a team setting, especially when integrated with tools like Slack.
🔹 Hubspot: Initially, Hubspot was my go-to CRM. While it's a robust tool, especially for those in intensive sales roles, I've found it to be more than I need but I still use the free version. I am trying to use Notion as a CRM but for my basic needs Hubspot still rules
🔹 Google Docs: The cloud accessibility and collaboration features of Google Docs have made it a staple for me, relegating Microsoft Word and Excel to the background except for specialist tasks like financial modelling.
🔹 Workona: This simple Google Chrome plugin has been a game changer in managing browser tabs, helping keep my digital workspace organized.
🔹 Reclaim.AI: This tool, which I'm yet to subscribe to, but just the free version is very powerful. It integrates my todo list with my calendar, optimises my meeting schedules and eliminates those unproductive 30-minute gaps. Highly recommend taking a look
🔹 Crunchbase: An invaluable resource for private company research, offering the most comprehensive data on U.S. companies.
🔹 Grammarly: An indispensable tool for ensuring my written communications are clear and error-free.
🔹 1Password & Authy: For cybersecurity, these tools are non-negotiable in managing passwords and two-factor authentication.
🔹 Atext: A simple text expander that has saved me countless hours. My system for this is to use “@” and then a 4-5 letter acronym that writes out commonly used words or sentences (emails, address, phone numbers, calendly links).
🔹 PDFX: A one-time investment in this powerful PDF reader and editor has paid off in spades.
🔹 Slack: A staple for team communication, keeping everyone in the loop seamlessly.
🔹TimePalLite: iOS App for aligning multiple time zones easily. Also creates an nicely formatted email for meeting times across time zones
🔹Notion Calendar: New Calendar app by Notion (the desktop app is good, the iphone app is horrible). The think I like the most about it is the Time Travel feature (look at the calendar in a different time zone) and the availabiliy feature as it writes the times in words as well as a link (something that Calendly frustratingly doesn’t do)
🔹ToDoist: The world’s best todo list. I tried using Google tasks but for the price, you can’t beat how versatile and comprehesive this is. ToDoist is the first app I open in the morning and the last one I close at night, essential to keeping me on track and timebox my day. I also love the ability to write in natural language for tasks
🔹Tripit: Essential travel companion. Forward all your flights and hotel bookings, it auto populates your itinerary and adds to your calendar. It even tells you when you to leave for the airport
🔹Expensify: the free app is good enough to keep track of all my expenses using OCR.
🔹Copilot: Not really a work app but a workout app. Real-time async coaching from a professional trainer. Its a an essential part of my weekly routine to keep healthy and fit.
🔹Pocket: Clipping websites, tweets and articles on the go for later viewing .
🔹Calendly - moving to Boomerang - I have been a long time user of Calendly. Its a funny app, I always felt like what they did was super simple but very expensive for what it was, but they didn’pt have much competition. That is until now. So many apps now include calendly style links as a feature, the best one I have found so far that I am considering moving to is Boomerang. Their calendar is “Live” insude an email vs having to click a link and includes the crucial availability feature. On top of which their most famous feature (nudge on no reply) comes with it. One app that I am curious about is Superhuman for its new AI replies feautre but I don’t want to give up my Gmail UI for it.
🔹Temp Mail: When you don’t want to give your email address out, create a temporary one here and you can see the emails come in without giving them your precious details.
🔹Loom: For creating async videos for your team or others. Not every chat needs to be a zoom call people!
🔹ChatGPT to Perplexity - This was a hard one. I have been a daily use of ChatGPT since launch but this week I have cancelled by subscription and moved to Perplexity. Its far better as a Google replacement. It has links for the things it states (very useful to stop mistakes) and you can use either Chat GPT or the latest Claude and Perplxity models so why would I pay for just ChatGPT?
🔹Airalo - e-Sim for iPhone so I can have cheap data on demand wherever I travel. Essential and easy to use.
Things I am trying out for video: Descript, Opus AI - AI social media clips , Speakflow - AI telemprompter, Capcut. Also usecontruct, AI, no -code app creator