MacGetIT: An Entrepreneur and his Mac

An entrepreneur with a Mac gets it.

Jun 17

iPhone 3.0: Syncing iPhone Notes with a Mac

Hardware, Mac, Tips, iPhone, software 3 Comments »

To synch your iPhone Notes with your Mac you’ll need follow these instructions:

Backup your iPhone first.
In iTunes > Info tab find the Notes area and click on the check box to activate your Notes syncing capability
In Mail > Preferences > Composing select “Create Notes & ToDo” and decide on the mailbox you want the Notes to be stored in.
Sync your iPhone and Mac, you should see under Mail > Reminders > Notes where all of your notes will be store.

Of course, Apple’s documentation lacks any clear instructions AGAIN!!

What have you found with this method?

Jun 16

Apple 2009 WWDC Developer Design Awards

Apple, Mac, Tools, iPhone, software No Comments »

Ok, for those that are interested Apple puts during it’s World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) a list of products that it feels embodies the “look and feel” of the simplicity of Apple’s focus of the user experience. Weldon Dodd of The Apple Blog has put together a nice blog about the 2009 Design Awards.

I like how he put the icons of the apps on there, nice touch Weldon.

Until next years WWDC, take a look at the apps.

Jun 11

Networking – Testing your broadband connection: Speedtest.net

Apple, Hardware, Mac, Planning, Tips, Tools No Comments »

If you want to know how fast your broadband connection is, check out Speedtest.net and see how fast your internet can download or upload files.

Remember that the speed of your internet connection is dependent on a number of factors, no different than driving on the highway or in city traffic. Think end-to-end when it comes to the internet, from your computer to the one you’re trying to connect with, such as that server that you are downloading from or checking your email.

Here are the factors that affect your speed:

Internet traffic – how many people are on the internet at the same time, similar to rush hour traffic. The more people, the more it gets slower, most of the time 5 – 10 PM M-F are probably the slowest because everyone is home at that hour, depending on your time zone.
Network – network speeds are either 10 MB, 100 MB, or 1000 GB speeds. Most are 10/100 connections, but the 1000 GB (or Gigabit) connections are becoming the standard. A mixed environment of 10 or 10/100 or 10/100/1000 speeds could affect your total network speed.
Wired versus wireless – wireless is slower than wired connections. Wireless 802.11a is 11MB, 802.11b is 11MB, 802.11g is about 54MB, and 802.11n is 100MB. Wired is 10/100/1000MB. There are other factors that play into these figures, the intent is not to be too technical here.
Wireless frequency – the frequency that you use for your Wireless Router can be affected by other routers nearby, which requires changing the wireless channel you use, or even sometimes by wireless telephones, 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz. Apple’s Airport Extreme has a selection under settings where it can automatically select an unused channel freeing you up to go about your business.
Wires – Cat 5, 5e or Cat 6 wires can slow things down if you have older wires, get Cat 6 if you want to be the fastest. If you have power wires running parallel with networking wires this can cause networking problems.
Router/Switch hardware – Apple’s Airport Extreme has a 3 port 10/100/1000 switch built in, older Airports have just 10/100. Most today are the faster speeds. Older routers may need to be updated.
Router Configurations – configuring your router can affect your speed, check with your network technician to discuss all of the ins and outs of this issue.
Network location – this is either a house, apartment, office building, or other location that the materials that are used hinder the distance and speed of your connection, especially older homes and office buildings.
Mac hardware – older Macs use the 10/100 ethernet connection while newer Macs use the 10/100/1000 MB connection. If you use USB to do your wireless you’ll only get 12MB out of it.

These are just some of the issues regarding your network connection. If you are having trouble, call an Apple Consultant Network consultant to come out and check things out. Be aware that networking is the most difficult part of any computer problems because of all of the potential issues that could cause problems troubleshooting them.

Jun 10

Laptops on granite counter tops

Tips No Comments »

The nice thing about having granite counter tops is the granite wicks away the heat from the bottom of my laptop. Expensive, but cools it down nicely!

Tagged with: laptops

Jun 09

Top 25+ business movies to watch and learn from

Business, Entrepreneur, Startups, Thoughts 1 Comment »

The purpose of this list is to find movies that show businesses in a positive light and follow good business practices, i.e. for encouraging others to follow their dreams.

Ok, there are more than 25 because I believe in giving “13″ for the price of a dozen, giving more than what is bought.

Here are a list of some of the best movies to watch that I have found if you are a small business person. Sorted by “best” to “worst” in terms of good things to learn from, but not completely or thoroughly “ranked” as I’m not a film buff. Just someone that likes a good, encouraging movie. Even some of the “worst” films you can learn from, as what NOT to do or how to handle in your future. Even working for bad companies or good companies that hire bad people you can learn what is bad to do and don’t do it in your business.

Grab the popcorn and your Netflix DVD and watch these shows.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – small town banker goes up against larger tycoon. It’s the relationships, not about the almighty dollars.
Door to Door (2002) – True life story about Watkins Incorporated door to door salesman Bill Porter who has cerebral palsy. Both his parents never let his disability limit him and HE would not let his disability keep him from being productive in business working.
12 O’Clock High (1949) – required viewing by military officers and corporate leaders for leadership as well as getting results.
Baby Boom (1987) – the story of a corporate marketing guru that left for the simple life in the Northeast US and selling organic baby food, and never returned even though an they offered her the chance. A good film following the book “Small Giants,” stay small to stay excellent.
The Kid (2000) – story about an image consultant (Bruce Willis) who makes tons of money but is not happy with his life, but then his childhood dreams and authentic self” comes back and he leaves his PR firm to follow his dream.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) – while not a totally business oriented film, it does show how customer service is handled by “Santa” and other business scenes.
Teacher’s Pet (1958) – discusses both the pros and cons of education versus real life “in the trenches” of business, especially in the newspaper world. Best scene is when Clark Gable writes a story in class for journalist professor Doris Day that does not follow all of her requirements, but gets the job done for business. Classic education versus business scene.
Citizen Cain – (1941) – classic “business” film, voted #1 film of all time by the American Film Institute.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – Story about Chris Gardner rise from being homeless to becoming a multimillionaire.
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) – based on the true story of Preston Tucker, the dreamer of building a car to beat the Big Three auto makers at their game with innovation, but was forced into bankruptcy stemming from legal battles and was found innocent of all charges.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – story about a fashion magazine editor and a new hire working for this demanding boss.
Stand and Deliver (1988) – taking high school kids in the inner city in math and making them whiz kids and they move on to college.
What Women Want (2000) – great film about a chavanistic marketer trying to understand what women want in products and the change that occurs with him.
Other People’s Money (1991) – struggle between love and money.
Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999) – film about Apple and Microsoft during the hayday of the beginning of the personal computer age.
Freedom Writers (2007) – how a promising writer becomes an inner city school teacher teaching them to write about themselves while learning that the world is full of people with similar experiences, so get over it and move on, quit being a victim.
Erin Brockovich (1988) – true story about how Brockovich takes down Energy Big Business in one of the largest court battles against a big company.
The Aviator (2004) – movie about Howard Hughes run for the money making airplanes ultimately leaving all of his estate to Howard Hughes Medical Institute rather than succumbing to political problems.
Barbershop (2002) – about a small barbershop and the ups and down between big business and small business and the “life” of a small business. It’s about the relationships.
Clerks (1994) – digging into customer psychology.
Hudsucker Proxy (1994) – inexperienced business graduate involved with a stock scam.
Rocky (1976) – about motivation overcoming big odds. Read about what Sylfestor Stalone did about the movie in “The One Minute Millionaire” page 122 for how it went down as a business transaction.
Patton (1970) – while the movie discusses war, business is really about “war” between multiple “enemies,” your competitors. The movie is also about leadership. What most people do not know is that both General Patton and Eisenhower were students of history and warfare, both had tens of thousands of volumes in their personal libraries. How many of today’s CEO can boast of this claim?
Big Night (1996) – two brothers that run a restaurant in the 1950′s and the issues surrounding them.
Mildred Pierce (1945) – using business success to gain a daughter’s love, and fails.
In Good Company (2004) – an older advertising exec with a younger boss.
Pretty Women (1990) – a liquidator finds breaking up businesses just for money is not all that it’s cracked up to be.
Jerry MacGuire (1996) – struggling sports agent able to finally get success being seen as a “loser” by those in his career field.
The Bucket List (2007) – a story about what you have not done in your life, the “shoulda” list, don’t leave this life without doing your bucket list.
Click (2006) – the approach is one where a TV remote allows you to “fast forward” over your boring periods of your life.
Working Girl (1988) – story about a secretary working for a boss that steals her ideas and sells them as her own.
You’ve Got Mail (1998) – about small book store gobbled up by Big Business.
Tin Men (1987) – story about door to door aluminum siding salesmen that will do anything to get a sale.
Office Space (1999) – about a software programmers that are fed up with their jobs.

Other films that show business life, but in a not so good light and watch for what is bad about businesses.

Boiler Room (2000) – story about a brokerage firm’s greed to make money, not inspiring at all, but shows what greed can do in a win for the business, lose for the customer, not a win/win ethical one that one should be strived for.
Wall Street (1987) – again, same as Boiler Room, “greed is good” is not the way to go, but watch to see a comparison with better business practices.
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) – “loser” versus “winners” attitudes, but shows predatory business practices.
The Insider (1999) – exposing tobacco company’s wrongs

On a more serious note, how about addressing other issues that affect businesses

Maxed Out
I.O.U.S.A.

There you have it, what I see as business movies to watch and learn from.

Anyone know of any independent films that are about businesses? Talk it up below.

Jun 07

Purple Cow: Jobs versus work. Fulfilling your potential

Entrepreneur, Small Business, Thoughts No Comments »

I’m just finishing up “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin and I’m impressed by what he is saying. When I read any book, and do I love to read, I’m always finding good stuff to add to my collection of ideas and principles, but I also find problems with some of their ideas, because as I say, …

There are three sides to every story!

While most people figure there are only two, you invariably find more, but three is enough in most cases.

On page 110 he talks about looking for a job. I totally agree with his point that you don’t send tons of your resumes out to the world expecting to get someone to notice you because fishing with a net won’t get you that ONE job that you need, you have to fish for a job with a fishing pole, looking for that one job that encompasses all of your talents, not just a few. The reason, you have listened to to what people are asking for and letting them know what they are asking for and have targeted what they need with what you have.

Besides, I don’t look for a JOB, I look for WORK! The difference in terms is that I’ll work for myself or for someone else depending on the circumstances. I look for as many opportunities to be productive with all of my talents, not just the few that most people see!!! Sometimes a job does not present itself to maximize all of my talents, but then that’s why I work outside a job, to get the most out of me.

If I’m only looking for a job, my opportunities are more limited in scope and I could miss opportunities that present themselves!

If I’m working for myself, I could fail at working for myself. If I fail, I pick myself back up and try again. If I have to work for someone else in between owning my own business, one that has failed and starting another up soon, they I’ll work for the business owner to do my best to learn from them.

Now if you want to know why you’re not getting where you want to in life, how about reading another blog “The Five Reasons Why You Are Not Fulfilling Your Potential” to see if one of those reasons is yours.

As it has been said by Chris Gardner of the movie “Pursuit of Happyness” he stated that it’s OK to fail, it’s not Ok to quit.

So, fail many times, just don’t quit!!!

Jun 06

Mac security, recent MacWorld comments

Apple, Mac, Tips, software No Comments »

Generally Macs are better at security than both Linux and Windows, depending on the versions that you are using. Having used all three it would require some definitions of what I mean by security, but without going into tons of detail I’ll let someone of better technical expertise help explain.

In the MacWorld’s June 2nd article “The truth about Apple, Mac security, and responsibility” about Mac’s security, Rich Mogull goes into more detail to what this means.

Just for your info, there are a number of areas of security that need to be understood before getting into the technical details:

Social security, and we’re not talking about the US government’s program, but one where the social aspects of the computer come into play, i.e. how human beings interact, such as some of the phishing scams that are on the internet.
Poor Mac user disciplines, such as failing to do a software update to your Mac OS, etc.
Software conflicts, where two software components have bugs which cause security issues.
Third Party issues, where software designed by other companies have security problems.
Apple software, both the OS and other software, produced by Apple, is not fixed.

If you are interested in knowing more about Macs security, check out “Leopard Security” for what each Mac comes with, or visit Apple Mac Security Guides to better secure your Mac.

While no OS is 100% secure, taking some responsibility for securing your Mac will prevent problems from occurring in the future.

Jun 05

Motivating others: “Caught Ya” or “Gotcha”? Who would you work for?

5 Marketing, 7 Sales, 8 Operations, 9 Finance, Business, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Small Business, Startups, Thoughts, Tips No Comments »

I’ve been reading how people, leaders, managers, parents and others motivate others to get what they need from those that they work with and there are two focuses that each entrepreneur needs to consider while embarking on building their business. Do you offer the “carrot or stick” motivation. How do they come across?

There are two areas that are most prominent in management.

“Gotcha” – is the negative and here the emphasis is on finding the person doing something wrong, and it can be done wrong procedurally, ethically, or legally. This is the stick point. Here you come across as “I found out you did something wrong and I’ve caught you at it.” This is also a position or title approach to interacting with others.
“Caught Ya” – is the positive and the emphasis is on catching someone doing something right, preferably right at the moment they have done it. This is the carrot point. It comes across as “I caught you doing something right so I’m going to tell what you did right.” This is also an encouraging motivation for others.

Having standards for work as well as for your customers are very important in today’s working environments, but it is HOW you get others motivated to do what you need to do that is important.

A key point here is, which one, “Gotcha” or “Caught Ya” would you work for? And how do you come across? Or, in other words…

Would you work for you?

Would you want to go to work for the way you treat others?

Good leaders recognize this and as act accordingly. Great leaders learn how to do it better all of the time.

Jun 04

Tony Hawk interview at Success Magazine

Small Business, Startups, Thoughts No Comments »

After listening to Tony Hawk’s interview by Darren Hardy at Success Magazine I have come away with a greater respect for Tony. But what is fascinating is that I leaned from a skateboarder, sweet!!

Here are a few of the lessons I learned from him that you can apply now. He states:

Your heart has to be into your business, be authentic!
If you start a business during a slow economy, it costs less to start up than if things are booming.
You know your industry, marketers don’t, so let them tell you how to influence your industry.
Multiple businesses off of your first one.

Listen to the entire interview, there’s tons more to learn.

Enjoy.

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