If all you have is a hammer...

I'm sure I'm not telling you anything new when I say that there's been a literal explosion of "stuff" on the world-wide web.  Some of it is good, some of it is bad, and some of it is ugly.  What's useful and what's not?  I'm hoping that this post provides you with a practical answer that you can use TODAY.

To put it in perspective, those of us who have been around for a while remember a world without computers -- I remember my first hard drive (which I installed myself).  20 Mega-Bytes!  "There's no way I can fill this up!"  Big and heavy as a brick.  Yeah.  I also remember what it was like to write a training manual before all of these tools existed.  Took lots of time and lots of people.  Today it's possible for one person to do the same thing that just 15 years ago required a TEAM, some expensive hardware, and many many hours.

So let's get practical.  I'm going to list and describe some tools that can help you communicate with suspects, prospective customers (aka prospects), customers, your sales team, trainees, you name it!  These tools are simple, powerful, and FREE (yeah, that's right, F-R-E-E).  Some of them have more powerful cousins that you'll have to pay for.  Think of it as getting a free sample and taking it for a test drive before you buy (a good example for the rest of us).

THESE ARE TOOLS THAT WILL HELP YOU TO HELP OTHERS.

For each of the tools I'm sharing, I'm giving you a link, but you should also be able to find a good link at the left hand side of my blog (see Links Of Interest).  I've clearly identified them as TOOLS to make them easier to identify.

Oh, and a disclaimer, because pobody's nerfect -- this information was accurate to the best of my knowledge at the time I created the post.  If there is new info, a change, or if you discover a detail that I omitted, please feel free to respond to this post.

And now for the Meat and 'Taters!

A List Of Tools:

1. Lecturescribe -- This is a powerful tool for creating multiple whiteboard screens and capturing live onscreen video & audio for the purpose of training or presenting.  Outputs the file as a *.swf (flash) file, so you need to know what to do with the file once you have it.  I play it in a web browser, no problem once you have the flash player plugins installed.  The developer of this tool corresponded with me recently - there seems to be a lag problem when using it with Windows 7, but it works great on earlier versions (previously used it on Windows XP).  You'll probably want a pen tablet, I'm using a "Bamboo-Fun" from Wacom.
2. Box.net -- This is a file-sharing utility.  I first saw it in use on Linked In and have added it to my profile.  I've also created a private collaboration folder (controlled access) for use by me and a couple of project team members (think file sharing).  Very powerful and easy to use.
3. Jing -- I've just started using this tool, which was created by the same folks who created Snagit and Camtasia (powerful screen capture tools).  Jing works with screencast.com so you can create files and save them for use and reference online.  COOL.  I also recommend Snagit and Camtasia, but note that they are NOT free.
4. Classic Whiteboard -- This little tool is most useful when used with some type of pen tablet (again, I'm using a Bamboo tablet by Wacom).  It's literally a whiteboard!  You'll develop good hand-eye coordination with practice.
5. Big Time -- Wonderful little "break" or "exercise" timer.  I also used it to keep track of how long the oven was on the other day...
6. Tiny URL's --You know those humongous URL's you get sometimes?  Well, this shortens 'em up.
7. Open Office -- It's just what it sounds like.  An open alternative (think complement) to microsoft office.
8. Audacity --  A simple audio creation and editing tool.  I've used it for editing podcasts.  A couple of people have asked me to record coaching discussions so they can listen to them on their mp3 player of choice.  Files can be exported in a variety of formats.

There are a lot of tools out there, and this is only a small sampling.  I recommend these because they work.  Period.  Speaking of tools, I highly recommend you take a look at Tom Kuhlmann's excellent blog on rapid e-learning.  His newsletters are full of useful stuff -- great way to learn more about how to use tools like powerpoint and Articulate in a more effective way!

Because I'd like to give you a Free Sample of what it would be like to work with me, and also to show you how you might use these tools yourself, I've created and imbedded the html code for a video that I created using two of the above tools -- Jing and Classic Whiteboard.  Enjoy -- and yes, your feedback is appreciated and welcome.



Here's another sample made with Lecturescribe.  Notice the diffferent look and feel.



Different tools are appropriate for different jobs.  Some tools are most effective when they are combined with others.  When you add tools to your toolbox over time, learn how and why to use 'em, and Practice until you are proficient, you become more effective.  Over time, your deliberate practice will help you become efficient.

Effectiveness first, Efficiency second -- it does not serve you (or anyone else) to be efficient at ineffective things, and you can't be efficient if you don't practice.  Period.

If you want to learn more about this concept, read some of Stephen R. Covey's stuff on "the 7 habits" and/or "the clock and the compass".  Or talk to your coach.  Got one?  Get one.  Period.

P.S.  If you have another tool that you think is worth mention, please also describe why & how you have personally used it, as well as a brief explanation of how it benefited the person you were working with or for.  Thanks for helping to keep this post focused on USE-ABLE.