LEGENDmag issue 23: Transparency is the new Democracy

LEGENDmag

Daily Features

Don’t let your overhead weigh down your independence!

Independence has this will of it’s own and like an 19 year old freshmen in college it hates to be tied down. You see what comes along with your every bill that you accumulate is more freedom or less freedom and you have to make sure you’re accumulating the right kinds of bills.

I mean don’t take this to extreams, most people aren’t looking to be a nomad with no mortgage, no phone to communicate, and no material things to call their own, as Americans these things come natural to us. I the trick is to get these things on your own terms and ALWAYS remember for a happy life having a good amount of independence is key.

Here’s a great example. There are alot of people and companies alike with real estate and what almost inexorably becomes a huge electricity bill. Even with all of your cfl’s, turning off appliances and work stations when possible just the cost of opporations or living (overhead) can be painful. In come solar panels. No this isn’t a commercial for Solar City but you have to remember that the key is to create freedom from obligation and when you can profit while you’re doing it. So if you can save your pennies to get solar panels and then sale energy back to your utility each month, you’ve just created a situation where you’re not beholden to someone else.

Another example would be using complex servers and software to run your business or your life. I mean for years tons of people knew (myself included) where using outlook, the palm desktop, and any other computer based software we could get our hands on to run our life, business, or job better. You spend money of software so that all the info you need can sit on your computer or sync it to another machine you had to buy to keep up with the first machine. If your business with multiple people then you pay even more money for a surver to sync up everyones date books and information. These services are invaluable tools but they cost alot less, can be just as secure, and free up time and resources by sourcing them to the internet.

With tools like Basecamp, online storage sites, even Google and Microsoft have tons of tools you can use online that were once the sole domain of your internal hardware.

Independence is a tricky thing but worth is every step of the way! In todays world is pays to make sure you’re doing things the way that fits for your business, your wallet size, and your since of freedom. It’s your life, live it independent!

Comments (1) — Posted by Rai-mon Barnes

Less is more!

If you haven’t checked out 37signals and their Basecamp (online project management)  software you should definitely give it a shot.  The best thing about what they do is how simple it is.  We’ve been working on our database of indie people, places, and things and I found inspiration in their words.

“We’ll cover the concept of less throughout this book, but for starters, less means:

  • Less features
  • Less options/preferences
  • Less people and corporate structure
  • Less meetings and abstractions
  • Less promises”

Taken from their book Getting Real.  These things hit home with me as we begin to think of ways to sale and tell people about why LEGENDmag is the way to go.  So to all of you business owners that read the blog, maybe this will help you a little bit.  Check out the rest of the book for free online. 

Comments (0) — Posted by Rai-mon Barnes

Jott Your Thought

How many times have you been driving, thought of an idea, and scrambled to type it into your phone in bumper-to-bumper traffic without crashing? Well… dangerous driving be gone! Enter Jott.com. You dial a number, and say what you want. Jott converts it into text and sends it to the appropriate place. Check out the video:

Granted, they need to get a little better with the acting–and the blatant jawbone headset plug is a bit awkward–but you get the idea.

However, especially exciting for me is that it communicates with other services like Twitter, Wordpress, Blogger, Google Calendar, Toodledo, Backpack, among others! And best of all is that FREE word! So go check it out and tell ‘em LEGENDmag sent you!

Comments (0) — Posted by kc! Bradshaw

Getting things done!

Everyone can use some productivity in their life.  Our folks over at Behance.com have come up with some great practicle solutions for creative types and anyone who can use the info.  Read more about what they do and get your learn on.

Comments (0) — Posted by Rai-mon Barnes