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It’s wildfire season in SoCal again, and although fortunately this year I haven’t been affected, the haze of smoke in the air is a constant reminder. Air quality in the region has sharply fallen as a result of the blazes, and since we like breathable air in this household I invested in an indoor purifier. This 3-in-1 model I found on Amazon removes smoke, dust, and pet dander, operated with the touch of a single button and looking pretty sharp while doing it.
 

Pocket Aces

I was chatting with some of the younger members of Team Archway recently and it seems to be a consensus: if you’re in the wall: the haberdashery business is set to take another hard hit in the coming years. This time the victim is the physical wallet, and it makes sense given that less people carry cash than ever before and a lot of folks just use their iPhone to pay for things.

On this one I’m actually ahead of the curve, ditching the old-school Costanza Classic a while back for this sleek carbon-fiber job known as the Ridge Wallet. It holds up to 12 cards in its replaceable elastic securing structure as well as blocking RFID signals that can be used to skim your card data. It also has a lifetime warranty, so it just might be “the last wallet you’ll ever use.”
 

I Need My Space

With the ever increasing specs of today’s smartphones, it seems like storage space would never be a problem…if you’re like most people, you’ve learned from experience that that’s almost never the case. This piece on Lifehacker sheds some light on effective management techniques so you never to do something barbaric like deleting your rideshare so you can check your email.

One of the things that can quickly eat up any spare memory you have is photos, and since it is now standard human protocol to take pictures of absolutely everything it’s only a matter of time until you get that dreaded “nope” warning. Fortunately, Google Photos is a convenient (and free!) resource that allows you to save your photos online so you have more space for other apps.
 

A Carefully Curated Waste of Time

Listen, not everything has to be ultra-productive…some days it’s just fine to lounge around on your couch (or at your desk) consuming content, and if you’re ever truly interested in wasting some time, here are the top viral videos of the past 10 years or so according to CNET. Sure, it’s a bit early in the year to finalize the listings–we still have a couple of months to go in this decade–but I think it serves as a pretty good Hall of Fame for Internet nonsense.
 

The Last Word

Well, I’ve got a full schedule ahead of me today so that’s about it for this edifying edition of “Brad’s Blog.” As always I appreciate you giving me your valuable time, and so I’m giving something back this month: your last chance to enter and win an iPhone 11! Just click the link to get a free entry into the drawing…or hey, if you’ll be in Vegas over the next couple days, why not swing by the Aria for an extra entry? I promise I’ll give you a turn to talk in person.

The post Live From AppliedNet Vegas! first appeared on Archway Computer.

If you’ll be strolling the streets of Sin City when AppliedNet comes to town, odds are you’ll be leaving the event fairly loaded down with business cards…which, if you’re anything like me, you will promptly misplace. That’s why I love using the ClusterCards app…just scan the card (or cards, it can do multiple simultaneously) and watch the magic of technology as all the data is transcribed and saved, no typing required. It’s essential for conventions.
 

Scheduled Check-In

While I’m on the subject of apps, another resource I regularly rely on is called Checklist. Full disclosure, the non-free version is a little annoying–sometimes less is more–but for creating and keeping track of all those little daily details that would otherwise just slip through the cracks, it’s easy to use and very helpful.
 

Winter Weight Gain Is Coming

The Halloween decorations are starting to pop up, so that means Thanksgiving is like, next week and all the big winter holidays are just a few days after that. Every holiday season it seems like I go into the new year sporting a couple extra pounds, but this time around I’m aiming to get ahead of the game by dropping a few before the festivities. 

If you’re also joining a gym to counteract seasonal weight gain in the coming months and don’t mind the finer things in fitness life, I’d suggest you give this a click…with Equinox locations in NYC, Texas, and across Northern Cali, there’s a good chance there’s somewhere swanky to sweat near you.

I totally get that going to the gym can take more effort than most can muster after a long day of adult life, so a little extra boost can go a long way in helping you power through your routine. I get mine from Metagenics, a carefully balanced multivitamin formulated to offer increased energy and overall vitality, which doesn’t make running any more fun but can make it possible in theory.
 
If motivation is more your issue, weight loss contests are an excellent way to give yourself something to strive for…I’m trying to organize a few folks at Team Archway into a pool, but if anyone out there in the world of inboxes wants to get in on this action it could certainly be arranged. Just email me.
 
Of course, anyone devoted to a healthy lifestyle knows that the numbers on the scale almost never tell the whole story. I believe the key to a life well lived is one lived in balance, and that’s why my favorite book on diet, exercise, and overall self-improvement is Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength. 

The book speaks so clearly to me because it talks about the small everyday tweaks that make a healthier you without having to turn your life upside down, which is perfect because it would be a tragedy for me to have to live 100 years without the occasional trip to the steakhouse or extra helping of gluten-free mac and cheese.
 

Bose is Back on Top

As someone who works from practically anywhere, headphones are as essential an office supply for me as a calculator is for an engineer. 

I’ve come and gone from Bose products over the years as competition has brought the best out of all manufacturers, but they’ve claimed the crown again with their SoundSport Free Wireless Earphones. Bringing together water resistance and an improved Bluetooth antenna together with that renowned Bose sound delivers something close to perfection, and in this business they’re worth every penny.
 

The Last Word

All right then, that’ll just about do it for this week! Thanks as always for making time for this inspired installment of “Brad’s Blog”…I appreciate it so much that I’m giving my readers a chance to enter the iPhone 11 giveaway we’re running to celebrate AppliedNet Las Vegas! Just click here to throw your hat in the ring…you’ll certainly know if you’ve won by the time you’re reading this next week.

The post AppliedNet Vegas and Getting In Shape for The Season first appeared on Archway Computer.

I gotta say, just being back in your inbox at last feels great, but when you throw in the fact that it’s AppliedNet season too….well, it’s an especially magical Tuesday morning. 

Look, I understand that not every organization even uses Applied products, but it’s always an entertaining affair with lots of interesting people in attendance…including myself and Team Archway, which is reason enough to attend. AppliedNet is consistently one of my favorite industry events, and we always like to mark the occasion by giving away something cool for one lucky person to remember us by: this time around it’s a brand new iPhone 11.

We’d love to catch you at the convention, but if you can’t make it out to Sin City from the 14th to the 18th we’re also giving you a chance to win by entering here because I really appreciate you not sending me to the spam folder after all this time.

Jump-Starting Inspiration

Just about everybody gets writers’ block from time to time…it can definitely be frustrating, but it’s not impossible to work through.

A lot of the time it’s caused by the classic “paralysis by analysis,” i.e. overthinking it, and this timeless Dale Carnegie book has retained its well-deserved popularity over the years with actionable strategies for helping the creative juices flow…a useful skill in practically every facet of life. 
 

Submitted for Your Approval

One of the things I’ve been doing during my hiatus is making time for documentaries I’ve been pushing off for a while, so while I have you I’m going to share a couple that really stood out. 
 
It’s been nearly 20 years since that infamous morning in 2001, and like many other Americans I still find myself thinking about 9/11 on a pretty regular basis. That’s why I was really captured by “You Are Here,”a documentary detailing the aftermath of the attacks during which all planes incoming to the US were diverted to the nearest airport. 
 
35 of them landed at tiny Gander Newfoundland, a town of well under 10,000 people who experienced an influx of shellshocked newcomers. Without giving too much away the good folks of Gander responded more than admirably to the unexpected call to service, and it spoke to me on a personal level because it’s always encouraging to see people at their best.
 
On a more positive note,“Inside Bill’s Mind” is a four-part docuseries that highlights the philanthropic initiatives of Bill Gates, someone who apparently knows how to be a billionaire correctly. 
 
I thought I had a good idea about his charity work, but the series takes a deep dive into his process for finding new solutions for problems with the assistance of some of the world’s most capable thinkers, and it’s really satisfying to see his efforts to make the world a better place unfold.
 

The Last Word

Well, as good as it is to be back in the saddle I’ve got a lot on the agenda this week, so this feels like an ideal place to put a bookmark in this.

Thanks as always for making time in your busy weekly schedule for this edifying edition of “Brad’s Blog!” I’m looking to get right back on the regular schedule, but if you have something you feel deserves some shine in the next installment or just want to tell me how much you’ve missed me, be sure  drop me a line!

The post Brad’s Blog Returns first appeared on Archway Computer.

Oh yes it’s that time of year again…in this business, the spring season is all about the NetVU! Well, I guess after the conference’s name change it’s “all about Accelerate,” but by whatever name the 3-day event kicking off May 21 represents one of the year’s biggest conferences.

This year the festivities come to Cincinnati, and although I don’t know much about “The Queen City”–including if anyone actually calls it that–I’m looking forward to meeting all my friends from Vertafore as well as putting faces to names I’ve heard and read so many times in the course of everyday communiques.

Actually, speaking of the folks over at Vertafore, I just remembered I did a little video for them after being named one of their 50 All-Stars in recognition of their 50th anniversary…always nice to do something a little special for my fans.

Okay fine, I’ll stop, but in any event you know whenever Team Archway hits the scene of a big conference we always do so with surprises in tow, and this time is no different. We’re giving away some pretty sweet tech gifts to celebrate another year being featured at the event, and if you want to get your hands on one all you have to do is enter at this link.

You don’t even have to attend the event itself to win one of these special prizes, although it would be great to catch you there…if you will find yourself in Cincinnati later this month, here’s where our booth will be located.

Love Your Local Library

Practically everyone could stand to read a little more, but if you’re thinking about buying that book, maybe don’t. This essential extension for studious Chrome users will automatically identify nearby libraries that stock the book you’re interested in, which is important because I feel libraries should remain relevant in the world of today…after all, they are one of the few public spaces where people can gather for fun without buying anything.

The Suite Life

Traveling with family is a way to get to know more about the people you’ve been close to your entire life…some topics come up on a visit to Berlin or Bangkok that just don’t pop up when you’re hanging around the house. If you’re planning a family vacation this summer, be sure to check out Suiteness, which catalogs and displays connecting rooms in hotels so you can be close in your travels without being too close in your travels.

Layover Logic

While we’re on the topic of travel, I want to share one of my secrets to getting the best rates on airfare: Skiplagged. Skiplagged is a clever little tool that not only shows the flight information the airlines put on their websites, but every stop in between so you can take advantage of the cheapest routes in ways they really don’t want you to.

Say you’re traveling from Chicago to Denver, which is a pretty popular route so the airlines can charge premium rates. What Skiplagged does is show you other options for reaching your destination, like taking advantage of a cheaper flight plan going from Chicago to Denver to Sacramento then just getting off the plane one airport early.  

It’s perfectly legal, but the airlines hate it because they want to charge you what they want to charge you so there. In fact, they’re currently being sued by United Airlines, which is one of my least favorite carriers so they have to be doing something right.

Kicking Ads on Chrome

It seems like ads are getting more prevalent with Chrome…not only is it annoying to arrive on a website and be greeted by an autoplay video, but they’ve really gotten bad about sucking up your computer’s processing resources. A buddy of mine suggested this adblocker and it’s worked wonders…my browsing speed is way up AND I don’t have to sit through 5-7 seconds of a Japanese shampoo commercial.

The Last Word

All right, that should just about do it for this week in geek! Thanks as always for not sending me to the spam folder, and because you’ve been such a great sport about me having your email address if you have any suggestions on future topics or just want to shoot the breeze a bit, my good inbox is open to you as well.

The post NetVU Accelerates, Google Makes Libraries Matter first appeared on Archway Computer.

If you didn’t make it to AppliedNet in Nashville, I’m sorry to tell you you missed one heck of a show–and I’m not just talking about seeing Darius Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry.

Over 4,000 attendees were onsite for the big news about a new investment from a high profile company known only as “Capital G.” As an insider, I can tell you that rumor has it the big G is for Google and the deal is for 9 figures. That’s what we in this business call “real money.”

You’re probably going to hear a lot in the near future about what this means for the industry, but here’s my take on it: the fact is that Google has tried the insurance game before and failed…who knew insurance could be so complicated?

Well, independent agents like us know that as a matter of survival, and reading the tea leaves in their partnership with Applied tells me that they believe there is a place for the little guy long-term. Very insightful, and honestly refreshing.

Overshadowed by the big reveal were several significant announcements about updates to the Applied system itself, and you can get the SportsCenter version in this press release. Exciting times in insurance, no doubt about it.

And Now, A Word From God

While we’re on topic in Nashville, I want to discuss a little divine intervention that took place on the flight there. Just before takeoff, the pilot came onto the intercom to deliver some good news and some bad news.

The good news was that our flight would be leaving half an hour early, which was nice. The bad news is that the Internet and TV we were promised on our tickets wouldn’t be coming with us due to technical difficulties. That wasn’t so great.At least, it might not have been if I hadn’t recently downloaded Dennis Prager’s commentary on the Bible–starting, fittingly, with Exodus. Regardless of your religious bent, it’s a worthy read that offers poignant insights on the Bible’s enduring cultural impact.

Siri Gets Smarter

Siri is pretty useful right out of the box, but some of the shortcuts people have figured out for use with the digital assistant are pretty dang slick. Want to set Siri to automatically play your workout playlist when you get to the gym or send a text to members of a meeting if you’re running late? This feature from CNET shows you how.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about it for this week! Thanks just ever so much for taking time out of your busy early week schedule for another engrossing edition of “Brad’s Blog!” I’ll be back in your inbox next week, be sure to set a reminder with Siri.

The post Big News from AppliedNet – Siri Upgrade and a word from God first appeared on Archway Computer.

Between the event itself and getting a taste of the host city, AppliedNet is usually one of the better weeks on my yearly calendar.  Did I mention we are giving away an iPhone X at the conference? And you can enter here even if you won’t be at the show.

Since this year the event is set to emanate from Nashville a big chunk of my off-the-clock time will be spent licking my fingers…oh yes, I am going to eat a LOT of BBQ during my stay in Music City, and Thrillist was kind enough to assist me in this endeavour with this “best of” feature.

Wearable Wares Awareness

I’ve been wearing the new Apple Watch for a while now and while I was pretty much sold immediately on the new screen size and upgrades for everything from speakers to sensors, the possibilities with this iPhone XS I recently got my hands on are even more exciting.

Check out this piece from The Verge detailing why now is such an exciting time to be wearing a watch.

A Signature Touch

Email signatures are a big deal in this business…all of the most critical contact information delivered directly to the connecting client along with key tracking information that can help you tailor your message to your audience. Perfect.

Whether you want to present a cohesive company-wide brand or put your personal stamp on every outgoing message, the shiny digital future in which we live makes it easier than ever (and often free!) to do.

The Last Word

Well, I have a flight into Nashville International to catch, but before I pack up my BBQ bib I want to thank everyone for not sending me to the spam folder for another week!

The next inspired installment should arrive right on schedule, but before then I’d love to see your friendly face at AppliedNet Nashville (or in the slick new signature of any email you want to send me in the meantime)!

The post AppliedNet Nashville: Come Hungry win an iPhone X first appeared on Archway Computer.