Is Siri Really a Personal Assistant?

We've all seen the commercials and become familiar with the robotic, yet friendly voice of "Siri" on the latest version of the iPhone 4S.  Like many Apple products, this has been something of a breakthrough in this field of technology: A mobile phone that can actually talk back.  The commercials show some great advantages of what Siri can help with.  She can provide a weather forecast, check your calendar, find a location, and more.  These are all indeed accurate depictions of what Siri can do, but in reality It is not so effortless as their commercials suggest. 
What the commercials do not show is Siri Saying "I don't know what you mean by _______" or "How about a Web Search for _______?"  This is what happens most often when I have found myself using Siri.  In these situations, I find myself wondering why I wasted the time over enunciating my words to this little toy and didn't just Google it.  After a little research, I can see that I'm not alone.  In a recent article for Fast Company, Anjali Mullany expresses her frustration with the well-intentioned iPhone feature and provides several tweets from others expressing a similar frustration. 
As Mullany points out, these miscommunications with Siri are only funny when you aren't in a hurry.  However, when you take a look at some of her examples, it can be as entertaining as DamnYouAutoCorrect.com   This is not to mention all the times that I accidentally turn Siri on without meaning to.
I must say in respect to Apple, that Siri has been a fun addition to the iPhone, and for the first of it's kind, it is pretty remarkable.  But I am compelled to mention that as a personal assistant, this device does indeed fall short.  Siri has very defined parameters in order to function properly, and when you really get down to it the list of the things Siri can do is rather short.  It integrates beautifully for the standard apps that the iPhone comes loaded with already: like your calendar, contact list, weather app, etc; but most of us have a much larger amount of Apps that we run on a daily basis that are not integrated with Siri. 

If you would like to take advantage of another type of personal assistant, you should try Inspherio. 
Inspherio is the All-In-One Tool for Event Professionals to manage their business from start to finish.
Check it out now.  There is no credit card required to try it out!

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Your Desk is a Double-Edged Sword

As a business owner, you must spend a great deal of time at your desk in order to build your business.  In this modern era, everything is moving online.  Your business prospects and colleagues are all on Facebook, your banking can be done remotely, and if you are ahead of the curve, you also use a web-based program to manage your business entirely.  

Although there are obvious reasons that it is very necessary to spend a considerable amount of time at your desk in order to run your business more efficiently, a recent article on Inc.com by Jessica Stillman cites several recent scientific findings that spending extended periods of time at a desk contributes to poor health and also poor memory.  
The idea that sitting at a desk all day is bad for your health is old news, but the fact that it can actually decrease your working memory is a little frightening.  The British Psychological Society's Research Digest explains that in a series of findings, working memory was much more accurate for all age groups while walking at their chosen speed.  

What does this mean for your business?  Obviously, you want to be in the best physical and mental condition in order to run your business appropriately.  Depending on your personality and preferences, you may be able to incorporate more activity to your typical business day through several different ways.  Not everyone can just go out and buy a Bicycle Desk and others may not be cut out for a Donald Rumsfeld style Standing Desk.  

It is important to take short breaks to walk around in order to boost your mental health and recharge your batteries so to speak.  Studies suggest that it can especially help to take a stroll outdoors for as little as 5 minutes to boost your mood for the day.  These simple activities throughout your day can help boost your overall performance in a similar way that taking a shower helps give you good ideas.  Sometimes when you step back and separate yourself from what you are focusing on, you can see the big picture more clearly.

Of course, when you do come back to your desk it also helps to use efficient programs to run your business.  If you are not already using the all-in-one solution to manage your business, you can try Inspherio for Free.
Inspherio is an All-in-One business management tool for event industry professionals.

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Tips for Young Entrepreneurs

Starting your own business is not for the faint of heart.  You must be willing and able to put in long hours, and fully devote yourself to your new venture.  Because of the nature of this, there are more and more young people creating their own businesses.  Today's stagnant economy may also contribute to this increase in young entrepreneurs.  Many college graduates may find it easier to create a job than to find one.  


Here are a few tips for First-Time Business Owners:

Stay Focused

When you are getting started, it is very tempting to go for any opportunity that comes your way, even if it is outside your field.  When you begin working outside your area of expertise, you can get side tracked very easily.  It is much better to be great at one thing, than to be mediocre in several areas.  Remember the 10,000 hour rule that Malcolm Gladwell wrote about in "Outliers."  When referring to the success of many individuals like Bill Gates for example, Gladwell claims that the key to success is a matter of extensive practice in that field for a total of about 10,000 hours.

Frugal Beginnings

When you are first getting your business started, there is no need to worry about a fancy office, or top-of-the-line equipment.  Of course there are necessary investments to be made depending on your exact business, but it is incredibly important to keep your costs low in the beginning.  Operating efficiently on a shoestring budget gives you a strong understanding of how your business operates so that when your business becomes successful, you will understand where to make any necessary investments.

Surround Yourself with the Right People
It is becoming increasingly important to surround yourself with smart, creative people to keep your business innovative within your industry.  As Ashley Lutz writes in a recent article for BusinessInsider.com: "Being different is more prized than fitting in and black-and-white thinkers are being left behind."  

Depending on your business, this can advice can be applied in several different ways.  If you can afford to hire new people, this is precisely for you.  However, if you are still getting started and cannot add new people yet, it would be beneficial to make contacts with other businesses in your industry that you respect and admire.  Meet with them to discuss new ideas and get inspiration for new methods and innovations.  

To manage your business more efficiently, you can use Inspherio.
Inspherio is an All-in-One business management tool for event industry professionals.  

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How to Organize Your Home Office

Is your business growing? 

But is it still not big enough to rent a space in an office building? Then you are, probably, working from home. 
As a part of our “Improve yourself –Improve your Business Friday” we have researched these tips for Event Professionals that work from home.

Just like in any other office, you must plan your day. Your day must not include house tasks; working hours should be for work only.

Dress for the job, just as if you were going to work at a traditional office. Get up at a certain time, shower, and get dressed. You have to feel professional to be professional.

Create a work space that is used for work exclusively. Preferably, isolated from other areas of the house, such as a separate room or a part of the room sectioned off with a divider of some sort.  As a self-employed individual, you are entitled to a tax write-off for a home office as long as it is exclusively used for your business.  Working near a stove in the kitchen, is usually not a good idea, you will have hard time concentrating.

Know your business budget and arrange your office accordingly. To save money, it’s better to buy used furniture or re-purpose items that are already in the house. Buy supplies at warehouse stores in bulk to always have plenty at hand. Decide how much time you spend in the office. If you spend very little time in the office, pay less money for office equipment, such as desktop computer and office chair, invest, instead, into mobile assistance: cloud-based software such as Inspherio, a tablet, and car office organizer.

Not having a traditional office space does not mean that you would not have traditional business etiquette. Keep in touch with your clients just like you would in a regular office; return their calls and e-mails promptly.  To stay on top of your clientele needs and to schedule your appointments on the go more efficiently, click here.

Structure your family and personal time; get a baby sitter, house help, etc. if needed to concentrate on working during working hours. On the same note, devote ample family time during non-working hours, since working from home can sometime erase the boundaries of a work day there is a risk of working from home around the clock.

Just as we mentioned in our Efficiency blog plan ahead and set your goals, challenge yourself to achieve and surpass them.

Reward yourself for the job well done. You have to remember if you do not have a conventional boss to pat you in a back and give you a bonus at the end of the month, you have to do it for yourself. Well…, bonus, depends on your direct earnings, but reward yourself with a purchase, new fancy camera lens, for example, trip with your family or other things that inspire you to do more.

Remember to network, find vendors and clients and keep in touch. The unique "Marketplace" feature within Inspherio can make this process very easy for you.

To network, get tasks done, and stay on top of your business with ease, get Inspherio now! See what great features we have to offer, click here.

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