I am in love with this app.

After you install Alfred and set up a keyboard shortcut that works for you by hitting those keys you get this little box.

By typing the name of an app or file you want and hitting enter it will open it.  It is that simple.  But it doesn’t stop there.  It will learn what you like when you type certain things, but if you want something else there are several other potential matches to choose from.  If you ever used Quicksilver this functionality is normal to you.

Then it gets cooler.

They also have several searches and sites integrated.  I have changed the shortcut but by typing tu then a users name it opens my browser to that persons twitter page.  If you type “bitly” then a link it will open the bit.ly site with a shortened link I can copy.  Google, flickr, and others have this kind of functionality.

All of this is free and available in the new App Store (or here if you don’t have the App Store).  But some people want even more.  There is a premium “powerpack” that includes iTunes commands and many other integrations.

Using this tool I have found I can do things significantly quicker.  No mousing around to find the icon or looking to find what folder I stuck something in.

If you use a Mac, you really should install this app (app store link).

Note: The images and preview picture are screen shots of the program or site, the Alfred team own the trademark over their designs.

Related posts:

1. Mac OSX App Starter Guide
2. Tools: Site Specific Browsers
3. Tools: OmmWriter

When you play Pac-Man you put in the quarter, get ready then you see this…

a second later there are little ghosts trying to get you and tons of little things to eat (here is a shot of the full game board).

Often I think I can hide from life.  I can do something awesome tomorrow, next week, or next month; fear holds me back.  Maybe life will start later?  Yet as I start 2011 I find that whether I wanted to or not the coin is in and now things are happening.

It is time to start playing or loose. Sounds harsh, but it is true.

I don’t want to look back on this phase in my life and wonder what I could have done. Wish I had pushed myself, or believed it was time to act.

It is time, let’s go!

No related posts.

First 5 Apps to Install

If all you do is install these 5 apps you will be very happy.  I use each of these on a daily basis.

• Alfred - This is a free, fast and pretty application launcher.  Using a keyboard shortcut you can easily type the name of the app you want and hit enter to launch the app.  There are several other cool features and they have a premium package with iTunes, email and file system tools.
• Dropbox (affiliate) – This app (with account) provides you with 2 GB free internet back up.  By saving documents and other important files to the Dropbox folder you will automatically be backing these files up while. Use my affiliate link and we will each get an extra 250 MB of free storage.
• Caffeine – Gives you a handy coffee cup icon on the top of your screen.  This allows you to easily keep your computer from going to sleep while watching movies or chatting on Skype.
• Little Snitch (about $30) – an excellent firewall for your Mac.  The Mac has a basic incoming traffic firewall but does not filter traffic leaving from your computer, this helps protect you in case you do manage to get malware.
• Burn – OSX does not include an easy CD burning tool.  This allows you to easily make data and other type disks.

Productivity

These apps will help get writing and other work done.

• OmmWriter – A cool free plain text writing environment.  Great for writing papers free of distraction or blog posts to be copied into the blog editor.
• Evernote – This app is a huge productivity tool.  It allows you to create notebooks filled with web clips, photos, text and more.  Each notebook can then be added to a notebook stack (a folder of notebooks).  This app is great for collecting data and information needed for various projects.  This app is free but has a monthly transfer limit (or premium upgrade) for backing up and sending to other computers or mobile devices.
• Focus Booster – An Adobe Air app that sets a timer to help you focus on one task for a specified period.
• NameChanger – This little app makes it easy to batch rename files.  I use it to rename the photos I take.  You do need to remember to add the file extensions back on at the end.
• Notational Velocity – This tool creates an excellent notepad that can be accessed with a keyboard shortcut.  Using with Simple Note these notes can be synced with your Android or iPhone.  Great for making lists you want to access on your phone or as an inbox for ideas and to do items to be sorted later.

Social/ Communication

• YoruFukurou – This app has a weird name but is a pretty cool little Twitter client.  One of the few that will let you view a users bio and such without having to hop over to your browser.
• Hootsuite Fluid App – Hootsuite is a great web-based Twitter client.  They have a Fluid App set up if you have installed Fluid on your system.
• Skype – This is a great tool for making free voice/ video calls from computer to computer or cheap calls to normal phones.
• Adium – This is a great instant messaging client.  It supports all the major networks and Facebook Chat (when Facebook feels like working).  You can be logged into multiple accounts at once.

Screen Shots

OSX does have a built in screen capture tool.  These tools add to that functionality or make it better.

• Skitch – This screen capture app allows you to annotate the screen shot before uploading it.  The image can be cropped, add text or arrows, then export as many image formats or uploaded to the internet.  This app has the ability to upload shots to their service or your own web server.
• TinyGrab – This tool simply uploads your photos to the internet for easy sharing, uploads instantly rather than having to choose to upload it like Skitch.  The free version has an upload limit, but the paid version (about $14) has unlimited uploads and the ability to use your own web server if you have one.
• Paparazzi! - This tool lets you take full length screen shots of websites. Great for capturing design ideas, sales copy and full articles.

Other Useful Apps

• f.lux – This app is a bit of an odd ball but I love it.  This app changes the color temperature of your screen after sunset.  The effect is less strain on your eyes and anecdotally helps minimize the effect blue light from monitors has on your sleep cycle.
• Camouflage – Allows you to hide all the icons on your desktop for a more clean look. All documents and shortcuts are still there and are accessible by toggling the app off or through Finder.
• Spirited Away - This app automatically minimizes all windows that are out of focus.  I use this to keep me from having 5+ windows all open and on the same screen.
• VLC Player - An excellent app if you watch video formats not supported by iTunes or QuickTime
• Handbrake – This is a great tool for taking a video file and re-encoding (for use in iTunes or QuickTime), along with other uses.
• Blast – This app creates a little explosion or dynamite box icon at the top of your screen.  From there you can access all your recently accessed documents and apps.  This is great if you forgot where you save a file. There is a premium version, but I personally do not need any of the additional features at this time.

Any apps I missed?  Let me know.  I am trying to keep this page simple with only the most immediately useful apps for new users. I might have already added far too much to this list.

I hope this list helps you get started with your new Mac!

Update: Fixed link to Spirited Away to Snow Leopard compatible version

Related posts:

1. Initial Thoughts on Android App Inventor
2. Tools: F.lux
3. Tools: Skitch

For most of my life I have had one goal, to graduate from college. Well, in May 2009 I did that… now what?

In February I left my first job and started experimenting with freelance work. I did a little writing, some photography (and videography) and a little advising on computer type topics. These activities we fun, I was getting paid for doing things that really did not feel like work. These activities also opened me up to meeting many people I respect and some I could refer work to.  All in all I did not make enough to supplement my income. I have been blessed to have enough money put away to continue feeding myself and paying all my bills throughout the year without needing to ask family or friends for help.

My lack of a real job also allowed me to serve my family in a huge way. There was an immediate need for surgery for one of my family members. This put a huge strain on my family’s work and school responsibilities. So for about a month I lived at home and took care of the recovering family member. Something I never could have done in a classic job, freeing my other family members from worry and allowing them to keep working.  Even though I did not achieve all I hoped for this year I have the odd sense I am on the right track.  It was a good year.

So here are the bulleted lists from 2010.

Accomplishments:

• Struck out on my own
• Did several paid photography gigs
• Set up my own website/ used it
• Served my Family
• Grew my network
• Learned to change my perspective on business from Dave Navarro
• Learned about networking and finding my true motivations from Johnny B Truant
• Created a basic vision for where I want to go [there is also a more comprehensive personal xls] (thx Chris Guillebeau)
• Began to learn who I am

Failures:

• Not earning enough to support myself
• Not choosing a product or service to offer
• Not marketing myself effectively
• Not believing in my ability
• Choosing to work when I should play and play when I should work
• Almost losing those closest to me by not making them a priority

This has been an interesting year. I did not meet my goal of having a business that was growing by the end of the year. On the other hand, I have begun to see myself more clearly. To see how I best work and how to maximize my productivity. And finally I am starting to see where I want to be and over come my fear to make it happen.

Thank you for reading my blog and getting to know me this year. Thank you to all of you who have taught me this year. 2011 is going to be awesome! I can’t wait to see what happens.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Related posts:

1. How do You Define a Vision?
2. Life Balance
3. The Mental State of Creativity

After having this desire on my mind for a few hours to a few weeks I finally give in.  I get those tacos and burritos.  They are so cheap I always get a small feast (3+ items) and they have Diet Mountain Dew in the soda fountain, YUM!

Then the regret sets in. I feel full, get a small bit of heart burn and just feel bloated.  Bleh… I regret it every. single. time.

I just had to have Ocean’s Thirteen (yeah, even after I saw it).  I also saw Layer Cake once and found the story interesting and ending exceptional.  I looked for a few weeks and finally found a deal.  I have watched both movies once, not sure I care to again.

In all cases I romanticized my past experience and wanted to relive the experience in my memory.  The great thinker Spock once said:

After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.
– Spock in ‘Amok Time’

I have found that this is often true.  A commercial on TV or the possession of a peer makes us look at what we have and we find it ordinary.  The thing we don’t have on the other hand looks amazing, like it would solve all our problems.

How much time and money could be saved if we could just take a moment to realize when something would actually benefit us versus the times we just want something? Excitement always fades with time. Every new car becomes just your normal car, every new game will be beaten and every few days something new makes everything you own ‘obsolete.’

So next time we just have to have something let’s ask if the having will actually be as pleasing as the wanting.

What do you think? Let me know below.

PS- Taco Bell I still love your food, please don’t hate me.

Photo Credit: in mouse over text and link for each, both from Flickr with CC license

Related posts:

1. The Tyranny of Stuff

Ok, what did you see? Was it a comforting and happy picture or an exciting and challenging vision?

I hope it was, but if you are like me that vision was filed with overwhelming obstacles and impending failures.  Questions and worry about what might happen next.  So often I define my life by what might destroy me, things I can’t do and places I can’t go. My initial view of my life is full of all the things I am not.

Relationships, accomplishments and gifts are all oddly missing from this initial view of my life.

Where are They?

They are there.  I just didn’t see them at first. If I take a second look they become more clear. Just beyond the fear and worry are many many things that I should be thankful for, that should give me confidence. Things that are easily obscured by worry and doubt.  It seems odd just how easy they are to miss.

If they are this easy to miss when I am feeling alright, how much harder will they be to see when I have a bad day? Writing is one of my strongest learning and thinking styles so I took the time to make a list.  A list that I can grab and read when I need to remember but cannot see all the things I have to be thankful for.

Just a few things from my list

• My mother is making a great recovery from her surgery
• I am debt free
• I am healthy
• My brothers and I talk and enjoy seeing each other
• My family will be together for Thanksgiving this year
• I have an awesome girlfriend
• I have friends that know me on a deep level

My personal list is a bit longer but you get the point.  When I look at this list my life looks amazing.  It is no longer defined by the things that are obstacles, but by the things I have accomplished and people I love.  This is why I started my bucket list, as a reminder of what I have done and where I want to go.

Neither list is magical, but they help move me to a new perspective. From one focused on the difficulties where the positives have to fight to be seen to seeing all the positives and putting the negatives in perspective. Compared to this new perspective all the obstacles that seemed overwhelming now seem smaller. It is no longer a question of if I can overcome but how.  Just look at all the things we have going for us!

Your Turn

Take some time (20 minutes or so) to think beyond the initial fears and tasks to see the things that are going right.  List them. List everything that is going well and brings you joy. Put this list someplace you can find it daily and take some time to remember.

Let this list help remove the blinders that we so often allow to be put over our eyes.  Without taking time to remember these things life easily seems bleak. I know I need constant reminders to keep my focus on those things that bring me joy and off of the things that overwhelm me.

Did you take some time to make that list?  Please share some of what you put on your list in the comments below.

Related posts:

1. How do You Define a Vision?
2. Commitment

For me creativity is less of a flash or magical state & more of a habit.

Every day that my mind is actively engaging and creating makes it that much easier to do the same the following day.  ‘When it rains it pours’ if you will. Last week I experienced the negative side of this rhythm, each non-creative day makes it easy to stay that way.

I am visiting my family after one of them had surgery,  the freedom I have at the moment means I can help out as they recover (quite a blessing).  There were some complications early on so I was driving back and forth between my parent’s house and the hospital.  Add to that one of my family members being slow to wake up and get on the road and my routine was completely ruined.

I got to the end of the week and only completed about one good days worth of work.  It is understandable given that I caring for a family member, but completely unacceptable when I consider the huge uphill battle I face trying to launch a business (more details later).

What I noticed looking back at this week and my past is that I hardly ever notice the ‘state’ I am in until later.  I remember feeling slower this week, like my usual flood of ideas and thoughts was more of a trickle, but it was not until I looked back and saw just how little I accomplished last week that I realized I was in a pattern of being stagnate and not creative.

Moving forward I am looking to maximize the activities that help me find and stay in my creative mindset.  Here is the start to my lists.

Creative:

• Writing
• Reading
• Thinking
• Drawing
• Laughing
• Waking up before 9

Complacent:

• Waking up after 9
• Watching most TV (my family has cable, while I do not)
• Lack of an opportunity to have ‘me time’
• Feeling perpetually off schedule
• Playing more video games than writing or reading

While a great start this list is by no means complete.  What would you add?

What inspires you to think and create? What makes you complacent? Leave a comment!

Related posts:

1. Question: Productive/ Creative Space Requirements?
2. ASAP
3. Why I don’t have Cable (or Satellite) TV

I don’t really cry (seriously 1 or 2 tears is huge for me) and I definitely teared up listening to this.  Not only was Scott’s story moving but it hit home really hard.

My Recent Story

I left my last job in February to pursue my dream of starting a business with a friend of mine while I am still young and have no dependents.  Ironically in some ways I did not gain time by doing this.  I made a hard schedule and was working long hours, even with one of my goals being a more flexible schedule!

The last few months of my last job I was tired and depressed most of the time.  Then I jumped into a life style that kept the distance between me and my loved ones.  People close to me were getting upset, my friends never saw me, and my family was worried.

But I had to push myself!

I had to have a normal schedule!

The feeling of hopelessness and depression returned.  I could not remember the last book I read for fun, the last time I had played a video game, or spent some time with a friend.  I felt trapped in my decision, the grass started to look greener and my goal less and less attainable.

With the help of some friends that I confided in I have started to change.  I have bent my schedule a few times.  I have started to spend my leisure time on things I actually enjoy, you would be amazed how much TV you can still watch even without cable.  I realized that if I do not make my stated priorities actual priorities when I have relatively few outside forces fighting for my time, how could I when they do?

In the past I have ran when things get hard, that is fear. The things that matter are worth fighting for. The last few weeks have been great; I have done more interesting things with my girlfriend (we went to a pumpkin patch and spent 4 hours this weekend making a Halloween costume), spent more time with my brother that lives just a few minutes away, and laughed more in general than I have in almost a year.  This video served to remind me why I was starting to make the change I am making.  I still value my routine, but is it really the most important thing?  There is still much more for me to learn and do to live my life in a way that makes the time for my priorities, but I think I am on the right path.

Thank you Scott, I hope that I can learn this lesson early.  I want to remember to stop before something I value stops without me.

What do you think of Scott’s talk?  Are you making time for the things you say are your priorities?
______

Preview Image was taken from the video.

Related posts:

1. Life Balance
2. A Quick Thought on Time
3. My Story: April 16, 2007 – Part 4

Gravatar has recently rolled out a new feature, Gravatar Hovercards.  Now when you hover over a gavatar a little box pops up that gives links to the persons websites and social media accounts.

Now if someone is interested in connecting with me after reading my comment they have several ways to meet me and learn more about me.  To take advantage of this new way to get your information out there you need a gravatar account.  Once you have one you can add whatever information you want to apear to your profile.  Then keep doing what you are doing.

This system is currently active on all WordPress.com sites and is available to self hosted sites via a plug-in (with indications it will be default functionality in later WordPress releases).

What do you think?  Are the new hovercards a cool innovation that will help people connect? Or is it superfluous?

Related posts:

1. AllenJFuller.com Mobile is Live

I can choose chocolate over vanilla, but to commit to chocolate over vanilla? While being completely absurd, the first example leaves the option open to make a different choice later.  Commitment does not.

Fact of the matter, until a commitment is made we all naturally investigate alternatives.

Take a moment to let this sink in.

Now think about these different situations.

• The successful business that you admire most.
• The couple celebrating their 50th or 75th anniversary.
• The cool start-up that failed.
• The marriage that failed.

What is the difference? Luck? Money?

Was the business just a cool idea; did the couple simply choose each other? Or was this THE idea, THE relationship? The one worth measuring all others against; worth rejecting others to obtain and maintain.

Each day we have opportunities, changes, and only a limited time. Many decisions to make. With each decision comes the opportunity to commit or ‘wait and see.’

If something is truly important are we willing to leave it up to ‘wait and see?’

If so, how important is it really?

Related posts:

1. The Tyranny of Stuff
2. How do You Define a Vision?
3. A Discussion about Economic Development in the New River Valley