Lynne d Johnson

GTD: Things = Evernote + RTM ? Why Can't I Find the Perfect Tool?

Lately, I've been trying to find the best solution for task and project management. It's been no easy task (ahem). Remember the Milk (RTM) is the tried and true GTD (Getting Things Done) solution. You sign up on the Web, add tasks, and then sync them to your Gmail, Gcal, and even your iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry. But it's simple. It's a simple to-do list with tagging features. I need something more robust.

You can add notes, but that's not enough. I want to link to files, websites, emails, attachments. If there's a way to do this in RTM, I haven't found it. That I am able to access it on my phone though, is a plus. But still not sure it's enough to fully win me over.

So I also tried Things by CultureCode.

It's a little like RTM, but has some similarities to Evernote built in. Well, not exactly like Evenote, but enough to help me keep things (like files and emails) linked to my tasks.

Things screencast: linking to files from Arjan van der Gaag on Vimeo.

What doesn't work for me? It doesn't sync to my Android phone in any sort of way, other than via an iCal Task (right, the Things items sync with iCal) that's then synced to Gcal with SpanningSync on my machine. This enables me to view my tasks on my phone or in Gcal, but when I'm on another computer that doesn't have the linked file or email, I'm nearly shit out of luck. (BTW, I use Dropbox to have access to files I want to access on any computer I use.)

And though Evernote isn't really a task tool, it's part of the GTD family in that it helps you to keep track of things and information that you're going to need later. Sadly, it takes a paid account to be able to upload all types of files.

This isn't the first time I've been in this place looking for some sort of Swiss Army Knife to help me manage my life. Not long ago, I had settled on a virtual assistant named Sandy, who did enough of what I needed to be able to do at the time. But now as my project lists grow, and I need to do more things in less time, and be able to access everything related to those projects from any computer, and have some sort of access to the projects on my phone, I need something more robust.

I realize, there's probably not any one solution for what I'm looking for. And I'm in the habit of using multiple tools and figuring out how to make them talk with one another. The problem I face right now though, is I just don't know what that combination of tools should be.

Got any suggestions?

Here's my want list to help you help me out:

1. Project/Task Management
2. Project/Task Items sync to either iCal or Gcal
3. Ability to attach or link items to Projects/Tasks
4. Ability to access all the information from any computer I'm using
5. Android App capabilities (or at least soon coming)
5. Desktop App (Not necessary, but nice though online access can also serve the same purposes)

Social Media and Women in Tech Nominations Open

After receiving a nomination in Mashable's Open Web Awards via Twitter today, I realized that the nomination process for OWA was open. Go nominate your favorite whomever and whatever in social media. It'll be interesting to see the final outcomes.

And while I was checking out the OWA, I ran across a Tweet that lead me to Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology's Call for Nominations - Women of Vision 2010. If you know of any women in technology that fit the bill for these categories: Innovation, Social Impact, or Leadership -- you should nominate them to be recognized at the Women of Vision Awards Banquet.

October - November 2009 Speak Dates

I've got a few speaking engagements lined up the next couple of weeks that I'd like to share with you.

October 27, 2009
"Why It Pays To #Fail" Opening Speaker
SNAP Summit FailCon '09 | San Francisco, CA

October 29, 2009
"Social Media, Traditional Media, Paid Media, Unpaid Media ...How to measure and analyze results ... how best to achieve optimal integration ... how can your company improve ROI performance?" Moderator
ARF & VMS Social Media Breakfast | New York, NY

November 3, 2009
"The New Landscape of “Listening”" Moderator
Winning With Social Media – ARF Industry Leader Forum Program | New York, NY

November 18, 2009
"Emerge: Sessions on Augmented Reality" Panelist
Web 2.0 Expo Open | New York, NY

And until the blog becomes more regular again, I might forget to post any additions or changes to this calendar, so you can always check my speaking page for highlights.

The Personality Project: Women of Personality eBook 2nd Edition

How many visionary women have you been inspired by? Most of us have some story to tell of someone who did that for us and helped us to be what we are today. Some time ago I was invited to be a contributor to the second edition of a new eBook called The Personality Project: Women of Personality. It's a collection of stories from 40 women (including me!) that shares our stories and tips for up and coming female entrepreneurs and businesswomen.

The Personality Project: Women of Personality 2

View more documents from Rohit Bhargava.

Future of Web Apps

Here's one of my upcoming speak dates:

October 2, 2009
"The Future of Print" Presenter
Future of Web Apps | Kensington Town Hall, London

As usual you can check the speaking schedule here

And, hopefully, I'll be back to blogging again, here, with a new design in another month or two. Otherwise you can find me out there on the Web, it's just a Google search away.

High Tech Toss-Up: Media Convergence And Why Three Screens Are Better Than One

With Internet and Mobile usage on the rise viewers have much more sophisticated ways of obtaining their favorite video content and the most successful networks have found ways to embrace multi-platform campaigns that make the most of digital media. Learn how online, mobile and interactive gaming can hold positive lessons for your business and add value to your brand.

· Is Digital Media TV's "final frontier?"
· How are mobile phone applications adding value to on-air content?
· What kinds of mobile devices are being used by your viewership?
· What is the added value to exclusive webisodic material?
· What programs are casual and hardcore gamers watching and why should you care?

High Tech Toss-Up: Media Convergence And Why Three Screens Are Better Than One
Fordham University-Lincoln Center
113 West 60th Street
McMahon Hall, Room 109
New York, NY
June 23, 2009: NAMIC New York
6:30pm - 8:30pm

Lynne d Johnson - Senior Editor / Community Director, FastCompany.com (moderator)
Lisa Choi Owens - SVP, Online Partnerships and Distribution, Scripps Networks
Salil Dalvi - SVP, Mobile Platform Development, NBC Universal Digital Distribution
Troy Bigby - Regional Technical Manager, Research In Motion
Michael Thieling - Account Manager, Microsoft Advertising: Massive Inc

Where to Find Me

I know there's probably not a lot of people following this RSS feed anymore, but just in case you are, here's a few places on the Web where you can find me. (And for the record, I definitely plan to come back here sometime this summer.)

On Twitter: @lynneluvah
My Fast Company blog: Digital Media Diva
My speaking engagements calendar: Lynne d Johnson || Speaking
My Style blog: Change Clothes

Women Change the World with Technology

Women Who Tech Host 2nd Annual International TeleSummit on May 12, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC – Defying the stereotype that the tech world belongs to pocket-protector toting guys hooked on sci-fi and video games; hundreds of women are gearing up for the second annual “Women Who Tech” international telesummit on May 12 at http://www.womenwhotech.com. These are no ordinary women either. The participants are the cadre of women from around the globe who leverage their technology savvy to inspire change and transform the world.

Women Who Tech’s thought provoking panels (held by phone and web) offer the latest resources and tools for:

• Launching Your Own Startup
• Women and Open Source
• Breaking Through the Digital Ceiling
• Tech Marketing in a Recession
• Social Networks and Diversity Barriers
• ROI of Social Networking

Panelists include a “who’s who” of women on the forefront of social change and technological progress, among them: Joan Blades of MoveOn and Moms Rising, Allison Fine of Personal Democracy Forum, Shireen Mitchell of Digital Sistas, Lynne D Johnson of Fast Company, Amy Muller of Get Satisfaction, Charlene Li, Holly Ross of NTEN, Rashmi Sinha of SlideShare, Lisa Stone of BlogHer and more.

“Women have been at the forefront of developing technology before the days of floppy discs, CRT monitors and corded mice,” said Allyson Kapin, the organizer of Women Who Tech. “The Women Who Tech telesummit is for those of us who see computers as instruments of social change, not just hardware and software. It's for women who are committed to applying technology in ways that engage people and advance our common values.”

New for 2009: Women Who Tech is organizing fun after-parties after the TeleSummit on May 12 in Washington, DC, NYC, San Francisco, and London.

The Women Who Tech TeleSummit is made possible through the generous support of Rad Campaign, FreePress, Democracy In Action, Convio, Care2, Massey Media, NTEN and Network Solutions.

Conference on World Affairs -- Race: Brown is the New Black

[This Video Has Been Removed At The Copyright Holder's Request]

Conference on World Affairs
5515 Race: Brown Is the New Black

1:00-2:20 on Friday April 10, 2009
Macky Auditorium
Panelists:
o Sharon Y. Eubanks
o Maria Hinojosa
o Lynne d Johnson
o Isaiah (Ike) Wilson, III

o Moderator: Alphonse Keasley

Upcoming Speaking Engagements 2009

June 2-3, 2009
"Brandworks University" Speaker
Brandworks University | Monona Terrace, Madison, WI

June 1, 2009
"Urban/Multicultural Mashup" Chair
YPulse Youth Marketing Mashup | San Francisco, CA

April 6-10, 2009
"Brave New World of Journalism, If the Newspaper Dies, Who Will Print the Obituary, Party of Poets, Living Your Values in the Real World, Help! My Mom Friended Me on Facebook!, Youth Vote 2008: Now What?, Poetry: Can't Eat It, Can't Spend It, Race: Brown Is the New Black" Particiaplant
61st Annual Conference on World Affairs | University of Colorado at Boulder

SXSWi 2009: From the Front Lines

I didn't actually speak on any official SXSW panels this year, but I got an opportunity to do some speaking at the Blacks In Tech event as well as a few other places. Here's the rundown:

PepsiCo Digital Speak Easy
Fast Company’s Lynne D. Johnson discusses SXSW with BlogTalkRadio’s John C. Havens

Talk Social News

Lynne d Johnson at blacks in tech meetup on sxsw and the future of fastcompany

Lynne d Johnson at blacks in tech meetup on sxsw and the future of fastcompany from Wayne Sutton on Vimeo.

The 2009 Weblog Awards on Time.com

and...

Lynne D Johnson from FastCompany on What Comes Next (on ChrisBrogan.com)

Ogilvy Hosts First Blacks In Tech MeetUp @ SXSW

Ogilvy Hosts First Blacks In Tech MeetUp @ SXSW: Discussion to Look at Social Media's Role In Building Communities and Brands

NEW YORK, NY, March 5, 2009 -- Ogilvy North America will host and moderate the “Blacks In Tech (BIT) Meetup” on March 13th at the acclaimed South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) festival created to engage the black technology community in the festival itself and to share ideas on the growing role of social media in the marketing mix.

The session will be moderated by Jeffrey Bowman, a Partner within the Marketing Strategy practice at Ogilvy North America, and will feature such well known social media evangelizers as Baratunde Thurston, Denise Jacobs, Nichelle Stephens and Lynne d Johnson.

“Partnering with SXSWi to create the festival’s first diversity driven event builds awareness of the tremendous talent and thought leadership in the technology space strategist,” explained Jeffrey Bowman of Ogilvy. “The attendees and the event expand on both the festival and the agency’s efforts to foster greater diversity and inclusion within the industry.”

SXSW is seeking to promote diversity and inclusion as a cornerstone of the Festival and has created a series of panels that feature diverse thought leaders within the festival. The“Blacks in Technology Meet-Up” hosted by Ogilvy is from 6- 9 pm at the Carver Museum. The event is open to all new media professionals and those hoping to break into the industry. Details are available at www.sxsw.com/node/1082.

Speaker Backgrounds:

Jeffrey Bowman works within Ogilvy’s Consulting group where his combination of experiences with marketing strategy, technology and brand management provides clients with successful data-driven and fully integrated communication plans and programs.

Baratunde Thurston, is the MC for the 12 Annual Web Awards Ceremony at SXSWi. He is an editor for The Onion and a well-known comic and political pundit who has successfully merged his interests in technology, politics and comedy. He blogs at Jack & Jill Politics, The Huffington Post and his own site www.baratunde.com.

Denise Jacobs (www.denisejacobs.com), a web solutions consultant and social media enthusiast, is also hosting her own panel at the festival “Can the Afrosphere Survive the Age of Obama?

Nichelle Stephens (http://nichellestephens.com) is a blogger, social media strategist, pr consultant and accounting profession who will also participate in the “Finance 2.0: Money Management to Save this Generation panel at SXSW.

Lynne d Johnson is currently the Director, Social Media for Fastcompany.com where she oversees both content and community functionality, and writes the Digital Media Diva blog. Also a consultant, Lynne works with Web and media properties on content, brand, and social media development and strategy. She's also a sought after speaker, and has presented keynotes and moderated panels around the world about the future of media, web 2.0, women in tech, African-Americans in tech, hip-hop, and the intersection of music and technology.

About SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW, Inc.) is a private company based in Austin, Texas, with a year-round staff of professionals dedicated to building and delivering conference and festival events for entertainment and related media industry professionals. Since 1987, SXSW has produced the internationally recognized Music and Media Conference & Festival. In 1994 as the entertainment business adjusted to issues of future growth and development, SXSW added conferences and festivals for the film industry (SXSW Film) as well as for the blossoming interactive media (SXSW Interactive Festival). Now three industry events converge in Austin during a Texas-sized week, mirroring the ever increasing convergence of entertainment/media outlets. In addition to the SXSWeek events, SXSW is also involved in North by Northeast (NXNE), held in Toronto, Canada in late Spring, in association with NOW, an alternative newsweekly in Toronto.

ABOUT OGILVY NORTH AMERICA

Ogilvy North America (www.ogilvy.com), is the largest unit of The Ogilvy Group agency network, a subsidiary of WPP Group plc (NASDAQ: WPPGY). It has offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Durham, Minneapolis, Denver, and throughout Canada. Ogilvy North America brings together all the capabilities of the Ogilvy network to provide integrated marketing solutions to the agency’s clients. It encompasses Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, OgilvyEntertainment, OgilvyOne, OgilvyInteractive, Neo@Ogilvy, Ogilvy Healthworld, Ogilvy Public Relations and OgilvyAction.

Update: Until Further Notice

Until further notice, most of my real blogging will happen on my Fast Company blog. Here are two of my latest posts:

Sneaker Con 2009: Deep Inside Kicks Culture

Should Art Be Outlawed if It's Remixed, Mashed-Up, or Sampled?

Android Meetup With Jamie Wells, Omnicom Media and Bradley Horowitz, VP Products, Google [video]

My style blog: Change Clothes will still exist, but it will be very sporadic. The FC blog should be updated at least once per week, if not more frequently.

In other news, if you're interested in where I'm speaking, there's always my speaking page. Again, it doesn't have its own RSS feed, so I'll check back through here to make announcements when possible.

But, it's not the death of this blog completely, it's just that I'm having to re-focus a lot of things in my life. There will be a new design over here--still--soon. But I wouldn't count on my blogging here regularly any time soon.

More updates:

I'll be covering SXSWi March 13-17 (and speaking at the Blacks in Tech Meetup there);
I'm a judge in the Web Visions 2009 Awards;
I'll be participating in the 61st Conference on World Affairs in April;
I'm chairing the Ypulse Urban/Multicultural Mashup in June;
And, I'm a speaker at Brandworks University in Wisconsin in June.

My Style Blog

Though I'm spending a lot of time on Twitter, FaceBook, FriendFeed, and my Fast Company Blog, I've also been spending a lot of time updating this new style blog on Tumblr. Check out: Change Clothes: Lynne d Johnson's style log [ gadgets, gear, music, reads, eats, art ] .

Promise: Sometime in Q1 I'll be working on a way to bring together this blog (Music, Media, My Life,), Change Clothes, and BlackThoughtware, all under one umbrella.

Outtakes From Mediabistro Social Media Panel

(VIDEO)

(Photo Gallery)

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