MOMENTOUS NEWS 📲

Welcome to week 20/52 of 2023.

I’d like to welcome our hundreds of new subscribers again this week. Incredible to see how fast we are growing!

Side note: The Momentum Instagram and Facebook page posts daily updates as they occur so we can drip feed you valuable insights all week long. Should we launch a Twitter too? Reply and let me know if you’d like that.

Here’s this week’s launch: 🚀

🔘 Apple finally brings Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro to iPad 🤖

🔘 Google IO showed us they, as well as Microsoft, are committed to bringing AI enhancements to their existing tools to make you more efficient. Noted Gmail management, Google Maps, and Bard assistant improvements. Even more coming to Google workspace users which is a major win for small businesses. 🤖

🔘 Twitter announces encrypted dms and voice/video calls along with a new CEO, Linda Yaccarino, former Chair of Advertising Sales at NBCUniversal.

Optimize your Digital Environment 🚀

Your digital workspace is just as important as your physical one.

Here is my checklist that I run through monthly to make sure that my devices are working for me: 🌟

Monthly Digital Optimization Checklist ✅

1. Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Emails and Delete unused Apps: 

Newsletters (definitely not Momentum) and promotional emails can quickly clutter your inbox. I recommend manually unsubscribing over using a tool for security reasons (Giving a 3rd party tool permission to all of your emails is generally a bad idea). As emails come in, decide whether this is relevant to who you are now and your goals in the next month, if not, unsubscribe. Use a similar formula for apps. You can always re-download or re-subscribe.

2. Use a Password Manager: 

Password managers store and auto-fill your passwords, saving you the time and stress of remembering and typing in passwords. I use Keepass. I store the database file in my OneDrive (Google Drive would work too). Then I link the client to that. This ensures that the data was encrypted by me and only stored in the cloud by my provider. Recent issues like the LastPass breaches are why I haven’t been comfortable purely using a cloud provider (I do have some saved in iCloud’s keychain for convenience). Monthly I make sure that these are sorted, in order, and maintaining best practices.

3. Use Cloud-Based Storage: Services like Dropbox or Google Drive allow you to access your files from any device. They also serve as an automatic backup system. If your files are more confidential I recommend looking into a self-hosted solution through Synology who makes it incredibly easy to manage yourself. Monthly I ensure that files locally on my computer are copied or moved permanently to my storage.

4. Keep Your Software Updated: Regular updates keep your software running smoothly and securely, often adding new features or improving existing ones. I always recommend reading patch notes and providing 1-2 weeks before installing patches. This ensures that reviews for the updates are in and if there are any side effects they are reported and don’t effect your productivity.

5. Regular Digital Detox: Regular breaks from digital devices can help prevent burnout and improve mental health. Given the nature of many of our jobs these days, this is borderline impossible. I recommend planning a full day of activities at least once a month to ensure you keep your mind fresh. As discussed a few weeks ago, talking to new people and experiencing new things allows us to stay sharp and creative and therefore, more productive.

Do you have any must-do tasks for maintaining your digital workspace? Reply and share your best practices with the Momentum community.

Weekly Thought Leader 💭 

Scrimba and it’s creator, Bob Ziroll, are this week’s thought leader. In College I had some programming classes and I’ve tried some other self taught methods but nothing was working. Scrimba is a game changer as you can code in the browser, in the tutorial video you are learning from.

Give it a try here in their tutorial (no account needed): Scrimba Tutorial

Have you used Scrimba or another innovative learning platform? We'd love to hear about your experiences and any tips you have for making the most of these resources.

Momentum Insider 📩

Embracing Change in the Era of Rapid Digital Transformation

In the fast-paced world of tech, change is the only constant. While last week I delved into the habits of a $600M executive team, this week I'd like to share some insights from my recent interaction with some of my clients who have enlisted me in guiding them to a Smooth digital transformation.

Adaptability is the New Superpower

These clients understand the importance of adaptability in today's digital era. With technologies evolving at breakneck speed, the ability to learn quickly and pivot when necessary has become a critical success factor. However, many have issues just using their iPhones which is why I started Momentum and Smooth. Momentum allows me to talk about changes. Smooth allows me to implement and maintain them for people.

Continuous Learning and Upskilling

You should be motivated to continue your learning and upskilling to stay relevant in the market. Many of them dedicate a set amount of time each week to learn about new technologies and trends in their own industries, just like we do in ours.

Embracing Automation

I almost included this in the section above, but leveraging automation tools to streamline your operations and improve efficiency is a must today. My clients usually start saving 1 hour a day within their first week of implementation.

My Challenge to You

Build a Digital First Culture within your organization. You understand the importance. First, focus on your abilities, then your teams, then your organizations. Starting small allows the changes and culture to happen naturally.

Working with my clients continues to reinforce the fact that in today's digital age, it's not just about keeping up with the changes, but also about anticipating them and using them as stepping stones to success.

Are you ready to build a digital-first culture? Let us know how you're making progress or any challenges you're facing. We're here to support each other on this journey.