This blog has moved!

This blog has moved!  The Cup of Joe blog's URL is now: www.mrc-productivity.com/blog. We’ve moved it off the blogspot platform and are now hosting it in house. From a reader perspective, this helps you in a number of ways:

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Top 15 free tools for every Windows desktop

If you work in an office, you probably spend most of your time using a computer. If that computer uses a Windows operating system and you enjoy saving time, I’d like to share something with you. Infoworld.com recently published a nice article listing 15 free tools for every Windows desktop. These tools "help Windows users work faster and free up time for more important things." Who doesn’t want that?

Of course, if you use a similar tool that didn’t make this list, I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to share in the comments.

The key to business dashboard integration

I’ve recently noticed more and more companies asking this question: “Can you integrate this dashboard with Sharepoint?” While it seems like a basic question, it highlights an underlying trend. I’ve noticed a shift in the business dashboard landscape. Business dashboards are no longer good enough. The question is not, “Do you have a dashboard?” Now, the question is, “Where can you integrate/access your dashboard?”

What do I mean? I’ve noticed that more and more companies want dashboards that:

• Integrate with other business software (like Sharepoint).
• Are accessible from any web browser.
• Are accessible from a smartphone.
• Integrate with other web services.

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Build-A-Web-App Workshop

Creating powerful enterprise-level Web (and mobile) applications doesn't have to be complicated.

Here, you can create a custom, live, lightning-fast, portable and flexible database-driven Web application in just a few minutes with your current skill set.  What's more, you can just as easily create mobile apps.

Enter our Build-A-Web-App Workshop.

The risks of application modernization

You probably know the benefits of application modernization - more capabilities, decreased maintenance cost, increased integration with web services, etc… All in all, most companies stand to gain more than they lose from modernization.

If that’s the case, why isn’t every company rushing to modernize? Well, as with any big undertaking, there are risks, and these risks hold many back. However, most of these risks come from a lack of experience…a fear of the unknown. I’d like to go over 3 of the most common modernization fears and then explain how to avoid them:

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12 amazing productivity boosters

I just read an interesting article on pcworld.com entitled, "12 amazing productivity boosters." While I think it lists some good productivity tools, it got me thinking: What makes you productive?

For example, does a good to-do list make you productive? What about a calendar? While those are most often associated with productivity, I think the productivity gains from a better to-do list or calendar are often minimal. In my opinion, productivity tools are those which help you work faster or easily accomplish difficult tasks.

For example, one of my favorite productivity tools is Dropbox, which lets me access files from any computer without emailing files around or using remote desktop. How about you? Do you have a favorite productivity tool? Feel free to share in the comments.

2010 Thanksgiving recipe: Pistachio Salad

I’d like to share a great Thanksgiving recipe with you. For those wondering why I’m sharing a recipe on a tech/business blog, it’s sort of become a tradition. A few years ago, I shared a recipe with my readers around the holidays, and your feedback was extremely positive. So, I’ve done it every year since. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good recipe around the holidays?

Now, this recipe isn’t mine—it’s a family recipe from a member of our team here at mrc. Word on the street is it’s very delicious, easy to make, and definitely not healthy. So, without further ado, here’s a great, yet simple recipe for pistachio salad.

Data transfers made easy

I’d like to highlight another great (and free) template over in the m-Power Project Exchange. In case you’re unfamiliar with the Project Exchange, check out this page. If you’re unfamiliar with m-Power’s template-based approach to development, check out our build-process page.

Today, I’d like to highlight a simple, yet useful template that you might find useful: The CSV Report Template. As the name implies, this template lets users export their data into a Comma Separated Value (CSV) file.

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IT’s 6 biggest money wasters

As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, technology offers plenty of money-saving potential for businesses. That being said, technology can also have the opposite effect if left unchecked.

In what ways might technology waste money? I just read a very interesting article on Infoworld.com entitled, "IT’s 6 biggest money wasters." While a couple of the items listed fall more into the “Ways IT can save money” category, I thought it offered some great overall insight. However, I do believe the first and second points should be expanded a bit further.

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How companies fail with their data

According to Eric Schmidt (CEO of Google), “We now create in two days as much information as humanity did from the beginning of recorded history until 2003.” This growing data trend applies to business too--Gartner predicts that enterprise data in all forms will grow 650% over the next 5 years.

I recently reviewed the results of a business data survey covering 543 executives in 17 countries. The results confirmed Schmidt’s statement and Gartner’s prediction: The majority of respondents feel overwhelmed by the influx of data and believe it will greatly impact their business.

The question is this: What are you doing with all of this data?

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5 tips for avoiding management mistakes

As a manager, do you sometimes have trouble with employee performance? Do you sense dips in motivation from time to time? Before confronting them, first analyze your management methods. Leaders have an enormous effect on employee productivity.

How can leaders negatively impact their employees? I recently read a great article in techrepublic.com that lists "5 tips for avoiding management mistakes." If you mistakenly participate in any items listed, you may be harming employee productivity.

How about you? Can you add any management mistakes that may harm productivity?

2011 IT Skills and Salary Guide

I recently read this interesting article on business lessons to take from Blockbuster’s demise. The article brought up a great point: This is a prime example of what happens when you stagnate. It doesn’t matter how great business is right now, how are you innovating for the future?

I think the lesson applies to both IT professionals and companies. If you’re an IT professional, how are you keeping your skills current? As a company, how are you keeping your business current? A great place to start: Staying on top of tech advancements. The best way to stay on top of tech advancements: Help your IT staff maintain current skills.

So, which skills are hot going into 2011? I recently ran across the 2011 IT Salary Guide, which not only lists estimated 2011 IT salaries, but also which skills command a higher salary. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an IT professional or a business, pay attention: Those are the skills that will keep you ahead.

Dashboards: Simplified and Interactive (with demo)

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned a few of our latest executive dashboard improvements within m-Power. Dashboard creation is easier, dashboards are more customizable, and last but not least, dashboards are interactive. Now, we even have a new dashboard demo which demonstrates a couple of these new upgrades.

When you check out the demo, try a couple things: First, try repositioning the dashboard widgets. It’s all drag and drop. Imagine it’s your dashboard and you want to format the dashboard for optimal readability.

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Unaffordable free software

A wise man once said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” When it comes to software, some might argue with that statement. After all, we have more free software options today than ever before.

But is it really free?

Yes and no. From a purely monetary standpoint, yes, some software is really free. But generally speaking, with free and open source software, what you save in money, you pay in other areas. Here are a couple of the most common ways we pay for free and open source software:

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Top 10 technologies for 2011

Want to save money, increase productivity, or gain a competitive advantage? Stay on top of the latest technology trends. When you keep your eye on the latest trends in the tech world, you’ll run across some new opportunities for your company.

But how do you know which trends will stick and which will fade? Gartner recently published the results of their research into the top technologies for 2011. Technologies on this list will most likely affect many aspects of the business world in the coming years.

I noticed a couple of items on the list which I believe are “can’t miss” trends. In other words, ignore them at your own peril. The first “can’t miss” technology on this list is mobile. There is no doubt that the world is going mobile. What is your company doing about it? If you want my advice, check out the blog post on mobile apps from last week.

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Mobile apps: Their time is NOW!

Over the last few years, smartphone adoption has steadily risen.  Right now one in five cell phone users has a smartphone.  Industry estimates say that by 2014, four in five cell phones in use will be smartphones. 

Mobile is the future, and offers businesses many soon-to-be-essential capabilities, such as: real-time data on the road, productivity from anywhere, and another way for customers to find your business or your products/services.

As a business, how do you take advantage of the mobile trend?

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Say goodbye to mail merges

I remember when printing labels for mailing required typewriters. It was quite a chore. Then, along came MS office and the mail merge, which simplified the job but still required a bit of work. You still had to get your list together, clean it up and format it in excel, and then mail merge it into a Word doc.

I’d like to highlight another project in our m-Power Project Exchange that simplifies your mailing label duties: The 3-Up Label Template. Basically, it pulls the addresses you need from your database and automatically puts them in a 3-Up Label format (PDF), all ready to print. No more finding, formatting, and setting up a mail merge. Just set up the template and print away!

You can find this and other free templates in the m-Power Project Exchange. If you want to learn more about m-Power, check out this demo video.

10 jobs wrecked by tech

I frequently write about tech trends, and the importance of keeping up with technology. Why? First, I believe tech holds some of the best ways to increase productivity and save money. Second, if you don’t keep up with tech and adapt as technology changes, your company will find itself at a huge disadvantage.

This article entitled "10 Jobs Wrecked by Tech," provides real-life examples of jobs/industries being eliminated by technology. It’s a good reminder of how quickly technology evolves and the importance of keeping current.

Also, this makes me think: What jobs might make this list in 5 years? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Building and using Pivot Tables (explained via video)

Pivot tables are great analytical tools—they sum up large amounts of data and let you view it in just about any way possible. More importantly, they help you quickly analyze business information, discover trends, and make better and more informed decisions.

Pivot tables are typically found in spreadsheet software, such as Excel. Spreadsheet-based pivot tables are great as single-user tools, but you run into problems if you want to distribute, share, or let multiple users alter or view one spreadsheet. Also, if security or data accuracy are necessities, spreadsheet-based pivot tables aren’t ideal.

If you’ve ever run into any of these issues with pivot tables, you should really check out our web-based pivot table. It combines the power of pivot tables with the advantages of database-driven web applications. Also, if you want to learn more about the web-based pivot table, this short video explains a few of the features.

This application was built with m-Power. If you want to build a couple of similar web applications in about a half hour, you should try our free m-Power Test Drive.

Software vendors and the maintenance scam

I have a great money-saving tip for you: Don’t fall for the maintenance scam. Let me explain: When you buy enterprise software, you pay a yearly maintenance fee. The vendor uses this fee to provide top-notch customer support and improve the product for their customers. When these fees are used correctly, it helps the customer: They receive great support and a constantly improving product.

But, not every vendor uses these funds appropriately. While they do provide customer support, many fail to improve the product. Instead, they take those maintenance fees from their customers and use them to build new products and upgrades.

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