Online tools

• www.Audible.com – no time to read? Listen to audiobooks (or newspapers, interviews, etc.) in your car, while walking, or whenever it is best for you.

Software - productivity

• Microsoft Outlook – the most essential piece of software on my system. Besides my email, I use it to manage my contacts, calendar and tasks. I also use it for all those tidbits of information I don't know where else to put.

• Paper Tiger – "a powerful filing system that uses the power of your computer to help you get organized and stay organized." Barbara Hemphill calls it a "finding" system. And, it really works! Try it for free and see how well it helps you find your stuff (paper or otherwise).

• AddressGrabber – capture address information from a variety of sources (Outlook, ACT!, websites, email, etc.) with just a couple of clicks. Then, paste it into a variety of applications.

• SyncBack – I know you're backing up your data, right?! I use this to automatically copy files to my backup drive.

• Microsoft OneNote – I keep all kinds of business and personal information in here. Check out the ideas on Microsoft's website. It comes with Office.

• Goal Pro – a goal-setting system that helps you set your goals, manage your time, and track your progress.

• CDex – free CD ripper, converts WAV to MP3 (better than the one I actually bought). Find it on your favorite download site (mine is www.download.com).

• ColorSpy – a free tool that magnifies parts of the screen and shows you the color values in RGB and BGR format (HTML). I use it to match colors exactly. Find it on your favorite download site.

• Bookkeeping software – make doing your taxes much less painful and stressful. And, know what your financial status is at any point in time. It should also save you on accounting costs (most people are actually paying their accountant to do bookkeeping). Intuit QuickBooks seems to rule the market. I use it at work but I've never been a fan. It just seems to be the only game in town for small businesses.

• Franklin Covey PlanPlus for Outlook – if you like the paper version of the Franklin Covey system, try the Outlook version.

• Getting Things Done – if you prefer this system, they have a guide on how to use Outlook and there's an add-on from Netcentrics for Outlook that adds buttons, custom forms, and more.

• MindManager – my preferred tool for mind maps. I'm very visual so I like this to help me think out projects. I also use it for my overall to-do list (specific items go in Outlook when I need a reminder).

• Microsoft Visio – while I think of it as a drawing program for those of us who can't draw (I can't draw a straight line with a ruler!), Microsoft considers it a drawing program for creating diagrams. It has a bunch of pre-defined templates with all kinds of shapes. Create flow charts, mind maps, and a whole lot of other stuff.

• Camtasia – "record your screen, PowerPoint presentations, voice, and Web camera video to create compelling video tutorials, training presentations, and rich sales demonstrations for Web and CD-ROM delivery."

• Picasa – a free program that "helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize."

• Word Splash Pro – ever want to make word search puzzles? This program will let you do it.

• The Brain - yet one more way to organize yourself. There's a personal version as well that "helps you organize all your Web pages, contacts, documents, e-mails and files in one place so that you can always find them—just like you think of them."

Software - Internet

• Mozilla Firefox browser – I like all the add-ons that make web surfing easier and more secure.

• www.surfsaver.com/ – "Download Web pages into searchable folders. SurfSaver lets you save, organize, and search the information you gather on the Internet."

Software - security

• Microsoft Security Essentials – a highly rated free program that monitors for adware and spyware.

  • Make sure the anti-spyware or anti-adware software you buy is valid  – a lot of the free ones actually install adware or spyware on your computer instead of removing it. The ones I've mentioned above are valid.
     

• Asterisk Key Password Revealer – can't remember a password? It's right there hidden behind those asterisks. This program will show you what it is. Find them on your favorite download site.

Software - fun

• Dazzling Blossoms Screensaver – or some other screensaver that you enjoy (a second one for me is a very realistic aquarium).

• Games – find something that is fun and stimulates your brain. A personal favorite is a crossword puzzle (BrainsBreaker).

Hardware

• Portable hard drive – I've used several which I use as a portable backup drive. My current model is a LaCie.

• Olympus Digital Recorder – want a way to capture those random thoughts when you don't have a way to write them down (I still find it easier than my iPhone)? Or, do you do speaking or training? Record yourself with a digital recorder. Then, simply drag the file to your computer and you can start creating a product. Make sure it uses a USB cable to connect to your computer.

• CardScan – do you get lot of business cards? This is a combination of a small scanner and software that converts the scanned card into a contact file. A great timesaver. Be sure to get the scanner too as it's well worth the cost.

• UPS - Uninterrupted Power Supply – don't lose your data or fry your computer when you lose power. Depending on the model, you'll have at least a few minutes to save your work and shut down.

• A little $4 cable (male to male) from Radio Shack – you can use this to plug anything that has a headphone jack into the microphone jack on your soundcard. You can then record from analog devices (like a tape recorder) and create a digital file.

• Color laser printer – choose your favorite brand. Although the initial investment is more than an inkjet, the long term costs (and per page) are much lower. And, they're a whole lot less finicky (at least in my experience). The quality should be higher as well.

• Electronic label maker – if you make a lot of labels, this device can be another great timesaver. Dymo is the most popular brand and has been making them a long time.

• An electronic toy you can call a business expense!

• Shredder – minimize your risk of identity theft. While the Internet has made this a greater threat than ever, it still often starts offline in people's garbage. Make sure you shred anything with personal information, especially financial papers (like all those offers for credit cards, equity loans, etc.).