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Sure, this is a digital newsletter, but sometimes analog business takes precedence, and this is one of those times…so, I´d like all of you to meet Taco!

That´s what I´ve decided to call the new pup my son rescued from Tijuana…his more commonly recognized name is Hudson, but he´ll always be Taco in my heart. 

Taco Hudson-Ruben was in pretty bad shape when he came into our lives, but luckily he came to the home of a smart and caring kid–one of mine, made him myself–now he´s all patched up and even has pet insurance through Embrace…a happy ending if I´ve ever seen one, and a great start to this week´s episode.

PS- He´s single, ladies! (Wait, are we still talking about Taco?)
 

Score One for Small Business?

Running a small business is a Herculean task in the best of times, but when things get as unpredictable as they are at the moment, it can seem downright impossible. 

One of the more frequent conversations I´ve had this year with my entrepreneur buddies is how they´re actually going to pay back those Paycheck Protection Program loans they got earlier this year with cashflow so hard to pin down from month to month…hard to pay back a federal loan when you had to take out a federal loan just to repay your employees for their time, yeah?

Fortunately, help appears to be on the way…a bipartisan contingent of Senate members has introduced legislation aimed at forgiving PPP loans made to the little guy…if you borrowed $150,000 or less through the program, there´s a good chance all you have to do is wait it out.

There, that should fill my quota of political content for the month.
 

LinkedIn Levels Up
The rich resource of online education formerly known as Lynda.com is under new management as LinkedIn Learning, but it still retains all the mind-expanding greatness that made it a favored utility at organizations around the world.

Whether you want to hone your photography technique to make your products jump out at legions of online shoppers or gain a new skill like graphic design or app development in your downtime, it all lives at LinkedIn now…there´s never been a better time to be better, what are you waiting for?

Coachable Brad

I´m a big believer in the power of motivation, but I have to be honest: I always thought the whole life coaching concept was a bit…lame. I certainly respect the benefit of lived experience, but at the end of the day who could possibly know my goals and vision better than the guy in the mirror?

Well, The Great Pause gave all of us time to reconsider our perspectives, and what I´ve discovered in these less than ideal times is that what these professionals offer is a sense of accountability. Knowing I have a call with Coach Gail every week at a certain time helps me build a framework in my mind, a process that leads to consistently successful results…sounds like something your elementary school principal would say, but a little structure goes a long way.
 

The Last Word 

All right, I think that seems like a pretty good place to wrap up this engaging edition of ¨Brad´s Blog!¨ Thanks as always for taking the time, I appreciate you for it. I should be back in a week´s time with more geeky goodness, but if you have something you have to share before then (or just want more pictures of Taco), drop me an email!

The post Appreciating Accountability + Introducing Taco! first appeared on Archway Computer.

Despite about a decades worth of plot twists, we have made it through the first half of 2020 and that means it´s summer time!  Summer has long been my favorite season…from travel and event season to something as simple as a backyard barbecue, for me the months between May and September are the best part of our yearly ride around the Sun.Like pretty much everyone else on Earth I’ve spent a lot of time staring at the walls of my home recently, so I plan to make up for lost time by spending my fair share of time outside over the coming weeks.

For easily seared individuals such as myself, that means sunscreen is an absolute must…but what I only found out a few summers ago is that I´ve been applying it wrong my entire life…essential knowledge to have for anyone else who tans like a basted game bird.

Accentuate the Positive

While I´m here at my work desk, however, it’s easy to appreciate that not much has changed at the offices of Team Archway since The Great Reset. 

We’ve been working from our various homes full time for at least 8 years, so it was a painless transition from choice to necessity. Where many organizations are having trouble finding their footing in the changing times, we´re lucky enough to be thriving. This piece from Gartner spells out so many of our everyday experiences with the new normal…there are far more pros than cons, if you know how to look for them.
 

1 Percent Inspiration
It was my youth that my passion for theoretical inventions first formed…I have always considered pointing out what kind of things should exist is very important work.

Indeed, I was just 12 years old when I mentally designed the ¨microwave fridge¨…just imagine taking a tepid beverage and turning it into frosty refreshment in about a minute.

Well, now that a company has seized upon my boyhood genius in this Amazon listing, you don’t have to! Just pop your drink into the Cooper Cooler, and you´ll have a cold can of your favorite fizz or a chilled bottle of wine in no time at all….truly it is my vision of the future brought to life.

Now someone just has to get on that automatic bed-maker I thought of.

It´s Almost That Time…

iOS 14 is right around the corner, so if you were thinking about starting off the summer with a new Apple device, my advice would be to hold off until the fall.

This piece from MacRumors goes into detail about what we can expect from the latest generation of devices, including picture-in-picture functionality for a range of apps including FaceTime and improvements to the security suite…unless you need a slightly better camera that badly, I´d wait for the updates.
 

The Last Word 

Well, that´s about all for this week…if you have any more free time to spare in the next few days, check out my YouTube channel full of interesting interviews and my signature brand of brilliance. Thanks as always for joining me for another incredible installment of ¨Brad´s Blog,¨ here’s to a strong second half of 2020!

The post Seizing Summer + The Imaginarium of Dr. Brad first appeared on Archway Computer.

Are you one of those people who´s constantly losing things? Your house keys seemingly  migrate to a new location every night as you sleep, your phone likes to cruise around town in an Uber long after you’ve gotten out, your wallet occasionally hides in your home with all your cash and cards…it´s a constant struggle. 
At least, that´s what I hear…Chipolo addresses that issue for me quite neatly. With the Chipolo system, you can tag your items with these delightfully multicolored location tracking chips and get an alert on your phone through the app when you leave something behind…or, if it´s your phone that´s made a break for it this time, you can just give the chip a double tap and your phone will ring at max volume…perfect for cutting that daily game of ¨Where´s My Stuff¨ short.

Infinite Possibilities with iPad

There is no shortage of uses for an iPad…from digital artist’s easel to futuristic restaurant menu, the little slab of possibilities does it all in our modern world…but did you know you can also use it as a second display for your computer? It´s one of those neat tech tricks you only find out about when you spend enough time at the terminal to necessitate a second monitor, like the good folks at PCMag.
 

Fitness is a Team Sport
Everyone knows that committing to fitness is always better in a group. It´s the only reason I can imagine marathon running became a hobby…running precisely 26.2 miles by yourself for no reason seems like borderline insanity. 

That´s why I was so excited to recently learn that you can share your fitness regimen with people or groups through Apple FItness…now we can be workout buddies! If you want to stay in shape together (separately) and maybe hear some of my signature smack talk on the occasions I do get a good workout in, just email me here.
 

The Last Word 

I typically try to avoid ending things on a down note in this space, but sitting here with the cursor blinking it comes to mind that I would be remiss in closing out this week without acknowledging the loss of someone special in my life.

My brother-in-law Pat suddenly passed away last month, and I’ve been thinking about him every day since then. 

Pat was a great man, a loving father and caring friend who also made the best Key Lime pie you ever tasted. At just 64 years old, Pat definitely passed before his time…my sister and his two children are devastated by his loss as well. 

Charley in particular is suffering with the loss of his father, as his special needs mean that he will lose out on a lifetime of support from a core caretaker at a critical time in his life. It´s a little overwhelming to think about the ways in which this will change his life.

I try not to dwell on the negative things in life here with you…it´s not that I don´t notice these are strange and difficult days on Planet Earth, i’ts just that there are plenty of other sources of bad news. Still, in some cases, challenging times can prove poignant as well…making the drive down to comfort my sister gave me plenty of time to consider what I have, to appreciate the bounty of life and to make a conscious effort to enjoy every moment. I think you should too.

Thanks for being with me this week…here´s to an ever-brighter future.

The post Finding Appreciation (and your stuff) first appeared on Archway Computer.

The design is pretty polarizing, but count me as a big fan of the Cybertruck.

It just screams ¨future!¨…from the shatterproof* windows to the angular design, it not only announces itself as a departure from everything we know about cars, it actively makes you question how we´ve gone so long with the vast majority of vehicles having one of a few basic shapes. Remember how the Concorde stood out at an airport?

As someone who has been waiting for the future to come my entire life, I´m fully enamored with the thing…I went over to the Petersen Museum here in LA to see the public debut of Tesla´s latest and greatest sensation the other day, and of course, you know I have a down payment on it. I want my Cybertruck yesterday…but I can accept that it only comes in tomorrow. That’s the whole appeal of it.

*shatterproof-ish

Unfollowed

They say ¨if you´re not paying for the product, you are the product,¨ and although I feel that´s an especially cynical take, when it comes to the Internet and data security there´s more truth to the famous phrase than most people are comfortable with. 

The fact is businesses make a fortune selling your information to anyone with cash and a computer, so if you–like me–are committed to keeping the details of your life out of the hands of Internet randos, SafeShepherd is an outstanding resource. SafeShepherd can show you where your information may be exposed and help you take control of your Internet footprint for good…one of those ¨ounce of prevention, pound of cure¨ things.
 

Appreciation Made Easy

There´s never a wrong time to show a little gratitude, but I do notice that there’s a little deeper of an appreciation for the concept these days. 

I´ve always been a big believer in thank-you cards–¨every sweater gets a letter,¨ goes the longstanding family gift-reception protocol I just made up–and Postable is an easy way to return the favor to someone who has recently put a smile on your face…check out our latest creation of appreciation, inspired by viewers like you!

With Postable, you too can customize cards for any occasion, graphic design skills totally optional. I even love how the name works both in a social media and snail-mail sense…when you put thought into things, people really appreciate it.
 

The Last Word 

That should just about do it for this week´s engaging edition for ¨Brad´s Blog!¨ I´m going to go hit the refresh button on the Tesla website for no reason now, but I´ll be back in your inbox in about a week´s time…if you have anything to share, you know my email address, right?

The post Cybertruck: Built for 2020 first appeared on Archway Computer.

All of a sudden, agencies throughout North America are going remote. But as team members adapt to this new work environment, gaps in security become exposed – and the consequences of a breach could hurt you and your clients. 

Brad Ruben, President of Archway Computer, Inc.—an insurance IT firm that specializes in insurance agency security and remote access—shares critical tips that every agency principal and manager must attend to quickly:

• How to setup remote employees without causing damage
• Which scams agencies need to be aware of
• Security updates to keep your data safe

As working remotely becomes a necessity, the information Brad shares in this discussion has become a priority. Take note as Brad shares security tips for remote log-in access, which operating systems are most vulnerable, and more advice that will keep your data secure and your community protected. 

Presented by Agency Revolution, the Connected Insurance Podcast provides weekly opportunities for listeners to dive deep into the trends affecting insurance agents and brokers today and to gain proven strategies and tactics for agency growth. Our hosts facilitate thoughtful panels and 1:1 conversations with a variety of prominent thought leaders, with a focus on how to streamline and drive operational efficiency for your independent agency through the intelligent use of technology.

Episode Link

The post Protecting Your Data When Moving to a Remote Work Environment – Brad on The Connected Insurance Podcast first appeared on Archway Computer.

A perfect connection is important in many facets of life, both business and personal, and one place I find it to be key is whenTeam Archway is in contact with our clients.

We’re a pretty outreach-oriented operation, so we end up checking in from a wide range of environments–busy coworking spaces, dog parks, chicken farms, even the occasional beach bar for those who get an especially lucky draw on business trips.

That’s why a good pair of noise-canceling headphones is as essential for us as an unthrottled Internet connection (here are a few ways you might get around that when the airport hotel does not adequately appreciate your need for speed, by the way). My personal favorites are Sony’s WH1000mx3 model, but when I brought them up to a couple of colleagues they complained background noise during use…it was one of those things you just can’t un-hear.

Fortunately, an amazing app called Krisp entered the equation…one free download later, noise is no problem on both the speaking or listening end…I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what a game-changer that is.

Further Listening

While I have your ear today, if you’re looking for an outstanding pair of over the ear headphones on the cheap, one of the kids swears by these…I took a listen, they’re actually pretty potent.. They’re not dedicated noise-cancelers, but you really can’t beat a 60 hour playtime plus fast USB charging for 30 bucks shipped through Amazon Prime.

Clippy’s Redemption Arc

They say you learn something new every day, and today I learned that Windows 10 has a clipboard history….everything you’ve copied and pasted during your current session is still available to you…seems Clippy is much more effective in a non public-facing role. I suspect I’m not the only person who failed to realize this, and this handy YouTube video goes into detail about how to access the archives.
 

Home Gym Goals

Takes a bit of doing to get back to the grind after a long lapse, but I actually enjoy what going to the gym has to offer, physically and mentally.

I especially enjoy the excellent balance of entertainment and engagement that a spin class provides, but if you’re like me you’ve sometimes wondered if you can achieve the same effect while also getting a little more use out of that stationary bike waiting patiently in the corner for the last couple of Christmases.

Well, I’m happy to tell you that there is! This Lifehacker piece highlights the group classes you can take part in from the comfort of your own home wearing your favorite performance nighties.

The Last Word 

All right,  I’ve got a flight to catch for the Nationwide Roadmap to Independence conference in Vegas. 

Hope to see some of you down in Las Vegas on the 20th, but if you can’t make it to Sin City , the Friday edition will be coming your way before you know it….thanks as always for making time in your weekly routine for another imaginative installment of “Brad’s Blog,” here’s to a productive and fulfilling few days ahead!

The post Now Hear This: Sound Audio Choices and Clippy’s Quasi-Comeback first appeared on Archway Computer.

As I log in for the last day of the week, I can’t help but think about how doing what we do is so much easier than it was in the Dark Ages of the Early Aughts (isn’t it nice to finally be in a decade with a clearly defined name again, 2020s?) thanks to the versatility of modern management tools. 

One of my most frequently fielded questions is about what sales CRM an insurance agency should use, and right now I’m really liking what HubSpot has to offer. Integrated outreach tools, call recording, and email tracking, all in an easy to use product…if you want access to some of the same tools the big guys use, HubSpot is your answer. 

Another slick little utility we get a lot of mileage out of around the Archway offices is Threads. WIth Threads, you can easily import all your correspondence from your agency management system directly into a CRM like HubSpot, so you can tailor your outreach to each prospect and client based on your most successful sales strategies…sometimes it’s best to just play the hits.

Office Origami

It was pretty nifty when George Jetson would get to work and his car would neatly fold up into a briefcase light enough to casually tote into the workplace.

We’re not quite there yet, but I’m totally into the portable office thing, especially since in this travel-heavy business “working from home” more often means “setting up shop anywhere with a table.” 

That’s why I love stuff like this foldable full size keyboard I found on Amazon. Just connect it with your device–yep, tablets and smartphones too–via Bluetooth and start pecking out emails during a Tuesday morning layover in Phoenix…that’s living the dream.

Surface Observations
Remember the Samsung Galaxy Fold? Upon release it was almost universally seen as something of a beta test for a new form factor we’d be seeing a lot more of, and the wave is picking up speed with the upcoming release of the Microsoft Surface Duo. 

According to this demo video (which had to be fixed in post, lol) the device promises a range of dual screen integration features…bloggers are also abuzz about the front-facing camera caught in this shot of a developer’s Duo…the form factor always had potential, but Samsung’s old Fold left a lot to be desired…the Microsoft Surface Duo hopes to fill the promise of the dual-screen device for “Holiday 2020.”

Apple, you’re on the clock.

The Last Word 

All right, I’ve got a big show in Orlando to get set for soon so that’s a wrap for Friday, but if you need a little more geek in your week check out my YouTube channel, we’re cranking out the compelling content with new videos posted regularly, including the critically acclaimed “Brad’s Vlog!.”

Thanks for spending a bit of your Friday morning with me, have a great weekend…you deserve it.

The post Brad’s Fast Fridays: Reshaping Tech (Literally!) first appeared on Archway Computer.

If you caught the weekend edition of “Brad’s Blog,” you might recall that I was reading a book called “Indistractible” during my travels.

In the midst of dropping a loyal and curious reader of this fine newsletter further info on the book over the weekend (a service I am always happy to provide), I browsed the website a bit and found the Tools section, where author Nir Eyal broke down some of the techniques and concepts discussed in the book into helpful little appetizers…like Mastering Internal Triggers, or quieting that little voice in your mind that desperately wants you to check reddit again right now.

You just refreshed the page, there’s nothing new there. Close the window. 

Click the X. 

Click it.

If you feel personally targeted by that last riff, it’s because you’re not alone. The shiny digital future in which we live is so packed with distractions it’s a wonder anyone ever gets anything done at all…Eyal’s website (cleverly dubbed nirandfar.com) is all about making more out of the same 24 hours that both you and the highest achiever you know get to work with each day.

Listen and Learn

A popular teaching (and presentation) theory states that there are four basic types of learners, I fall firmly in the “auditory” category…for some reason I just retain the most possible information through hearing.

Everyone knows about Audible, but another app I really like for educating my ear holes is VoiceDream, which can convert any text to voice.  Yes, we all want an option for having our documents narrated by James Earl Jones, but I’ve already sent the company an email request and I’m sure another one from you can’t hurt.

Intercontinental Conference Room

One of the great things about 2020 is how easy it can be to collaborate across great distances…on a good day, getting people on multiple continents in the same room takes just a few clicks. 

Zoom is great for running conferences and share screens with the team…I can schedule the meeting, send invites, and start the session all inside the app. Available for Android and iOS, I even hear Zoom makes a more than serviceable primary phone system for those crazy startup kids with their shared coworking spaces and their helicopter rentals.  

The Last Word 

That about wraps things up here, at this weekly meeting of tech and text, but before I go I do want to invite you to check out my growing archive of audiovisual geekery: another entry of Brad’s Vlog is set for the ‘Net today! Can you tell I love doing this?

Thanks as always for making time for another enthusiastic episode, fire away at my email inbox with comments, concerns, and contributions!

The post Adding Hours to the Day and Brad’s New Vlog first appeared on Archway Computer.

Being able to work from wherever is great, but one of the best things about being back at my home office after touching down from Orlando this weekend is being able to use my standing desk again. The dangers of overseatedness are well documented, and I do a surprising amount of sitting when I’m on the road…a little weird to be standing there pecking out emails in the dining room of an airport Saladworks.

That’s why I’ve been swearing by the standing desk for a while now, and this slick little apparatus from Amazon allows you to turn your standard-height desk into a standing desk so you can try it for yourself. The way I see it, using a standing workstation is one of those little everyday efforts like stretching regularly or cutting back a bit on salt that allow one to make less prudent choices from time to time, but until I manage to convert you too here are some tips to make working while sitting less of a pain in the neck (and back and forearm muscles and.

Beyond Basic Bodyweight 

Connected apps have made it so much easier to appreciate all the results of a commitment to fitness, especially since the numbers on an old-school scale rarely tell the whole story.

Enter the modern smart scale: just climb aboard (with or without your phone) to get everything short of a full physical, including BMI calculation and skeletal muscle analysis, there’s bound to be a piece of good news somewhere in there.

This model I saw the other day should do the job nicely, and will even arrive to you in a smiling box because you’re looking great these days.
 

The Neverending Story

Annoyed by advertising on webpages? Join the club, it’s called “Pretty Much Everyone,” we’re having a chili cook-off this month.

All jokes aside, if you’ve had your fill of autoplay ads–always at maximum volume for who knows what reason–and those pop-up page fillers that have somehow evolved to move their closure [X] button as a defensive technique, there’s an aptly named app for Chrome that represents the next step in the seemingly eternal dance between ad and blocker.

The Last Word 

Well now, that’ll do for this week, won’t it? Thanks as always for making space in your schedule for my weekly ramblings, to stay out of your Spam folder after all this time is an ongoing honor. I’ll be back with more “Brad’s Blog” before you know it, but if you can’t wait for the weekend edition (and especially if you have something you think I should spotlight soon) don’t be shy about sending me an email…this doesn’t have to be such a one sided chat, ya know.

The post A new challenger for ad-block supremacy – plus better computer posture for free. first appeared on Archway Computer.

I’m traveling this weekend and between you and me, I hate paying for Wi-Fi on an airplane. Not only can it it dicey in terms of speed, it’s also way too expensive…imagine paying $16.99 to check your email once and hit the paywall on a news site over the course of half an hour.

That’s why the Pocket app is a lifesaver when I’m in one of the modern world’s few limited-connection areas. With Pocket, I can clip out an article that looks interesting for later reading…you folks that keep 46 tabs open in your browser should appreciate that.Oh, and if you need to get by those aggressive new adblocker-blockers everyone seems to have put up lately, this handy batch of data might be able to point you in the right direction.

Defeating Distraction

Got a 5-hour layover during my journey–some cities just do not connect directly, quelle horreur–and I also like to have a good read at the ready when I’m sitting across from some Cinnabon in central Nebraska. 

Right now I’m taking in “Indistractable,” a guide to maintaining focus in a world increasingly filled with diversions…especially for us techies, who have actually made a career of chasing shiny things around the world all day long. It’s fun, of course….but if I’m being honest with myself, I could definitely be more productive some days. Alexander Graham Bell had it right: “…the Sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” Good call, Alex.

The Last Word 

Well, I’ve got some packing yet to do before this weekend’s travels, but in case you’re still feeling dutiful this beautiful Saturday, it’s my job to inform you that cybercrooks do not take weekends off…your passwords and data could be floating around out there on the dark web.

That’s why I’m doing my readers a solid and running a free dark web scan for anyone who asks to see if their data has been exposed…just shoot me an email and I’ll drop a report in your inbox over the weekend…we don’t take days off either.

Have a great weekend everybody, hope to talk to you Tuesday!

The post Brad’s Blog Weekend Edition: Pre-Flight Tech Checklist first appeared on Archway Computer.

You’ve probably noticed “Brad’s Blog” has gotten some upgrades in recent weeks–you didn’t miss the new Friday edition did you?–and I’m just ever so pleased to announce the latest addition to my international multimedia empire, “Brad’s Vlog!”

That’s right, we’re rolling out a new video series starring yours truly, and the first video is here..in fact, it’s at the end of this sentence. If you’ve ever wanted a look behind the curtain, including my computer setup and preferred tools of the trade, check it out!

It’s all very exciting, especially because I’m pretty sure according to the sanctioning bodies of the Internet possessing an active live streaming account makes me an “influencer.” That’s just one under being a celebrity, and I look forward to taking that step alongside Angela Adams at this month’s Customer Connect conference from sunny Orlando…bring a good pair of shades, the future is bright from here.

Microsoft Makes Good

I joked around a couple weeks back about having a total change of heart on Microsoft, but in all seriousness they’re having a great 2020 in my personal head canon. Not only is my new laptop exceeding expectations, my recent experience with the Microsoft helpdesk was worth writing home about, and so I will.

After having some issues with Cortana interrupting me on phone calls (what’s the most frustrated you’ve been with a disembodied electronic voice?) using the headphones I had only purchased days ago, I consulted with the techies and a firmware update later, all was well.

Now, I could also talk about how getting the most out of Windows 10 without the assistance of Cortana is needlessly complicated, but that’s at least an issue I have some immediate insight on how to address…assuming your headset is functioning properly, we can discuss it anytime.

Pocket Full of Miracles

I’m a dedicated wallet minimalist, and I’ve mentioned once or twice in this space that my personal pick is the Ridge…the sleek profile is a winner and I’m sure that RFID blocking will come in more and more handy as the years go by…I definitely expect to have mine around for a while, after all. Still, just because the Ridge is my favorite doesn’t mean it’s the only worthwhile product on the market…this CNET piece spotlights the best minimalist wallets of 2020.

Part of the reason it’s so easy to slim it down these days is that wallet stuffings such as physical cash are firmly on the decline…the time is quickly approaching where the phrase “antique velcro billfold” can be used to non-comedic effect. However, that time is not necessarily now…a Times reporter who is apparently still clinging on to analog monies went a week using just an Apple Wallet...it wasn’t always easy, but it is definitely possible…as long as you charge your phone.

The Last Word 

All right, that should just about do it! Thanks as always for allowing my weekly ramblings to reach your active inbox one more time, I count every week you don’t send me to the spam folder as a success. Thanks as always for making time in your grind for another enthusiastic edition of “Brad’s Blog,” now if you’ll excuse me I have to be in makeup in 5…I’m only fit to appear in a newsletter as-is.

The post Brad’s Blog In Video! first appeared on Archway Computer.

I complain about getting old from time to time, but some aspects of the passing years are honestly worth treasuring. 

I recently became a step-grandpa–online language teacher Drops says you can just call me “abuelo”–and seeing the next generation of our family introduce themselves to the world around them has already become a memorable experience…and the memories will last a lifetime thanks to an app called 1 Second Everyday.

1 Second Everyday (or 1SE for short) is a video diary program that allow you to take slices of your life and combine them into a meaningful movie that can tell a story spanning years. Remember when your uncle would pull out the projector and gather everyone around for slides of the family vacation? It’s kind of like that, but the SportsCenter version…it’ll even keep the kid’s attention in a few years, you know how short attention spans are getting thanks to the Internet.
 

Angela Adams Customer Connect

Well, that’s about it for today, but before I go…have you seized your opportunity to be in the building for what rumor has it will be the InsureTech event of the century? You can visit my video appeal here.

If not, now’s your chance…but I suggest you take action ASAP.

Customer Connect is coming to sunny Orlando, Florida this February 17th and 18th, and it’s going to make some serious waves in the industry when it splashes down. Customer Connect is a forum for the future of the business, where education and collaboration are reimagined by Archway Computer, Vertafore, Angela Adams Consulting and Agency Revolution! 

At this compelling conference, nine of the top experts in the insurance game–including yours truly!–will be sharing their executive perspective through training workshops and personal insight. The festivities kick off as we imbibe and inspire during an evening spotlight on the industry’s latest developments in our world before the main event, a full business day jam-packed with with 14 educational sessions in agency management, AMS360, and QQ Catalyst. 

If all of that sounds good to you, we certainly hope you can join us in Orlando…book your trip and reserve your spot today by visiting www.AngelaAdamsConsulting.com/Customer-Connect!

The post Introducing Brad’s Blog Friday Edition! first appeared on Archway Computer.

We all love how quick and easy it is to communicate and compose with our digital devices–can you imagine being a writer in the days of the big honking scribble feather?–but if we’re honest with ourselves, there’s just something missing from the experience. 

For instance, do you actually retain the information from a googling session or do you forget all you have seen the moment the screen goes dark, like checking the time on your phone?

The science is out there, just ask the ever-reliable PBS…writing things manually, the way your kindergarten teacher taught you along dotted lines all those years ago, helps you remember them more effectively and so along with all of my 2020 gadgetry there’s something of a nod to the scribes of the ancient world…my handy dandy Rocketbook.

Rocketbook kinda sounds like I’m making it up at a pitch meeting, bringing the conventional feel of a paper-like surface and analog writing utensil with the nigh-unlimited power of the Internet. Using a free app that can be downloaded to your smartphone, Rocketbook allows you to take notes just like you did (or did not) in high school, scan it through the app to your preferred online destination, then wipe the pages clean with a few drops of water and a cloth and reuse them. 

Combined with the ability to manage these notes through utilities like Google Docs, physically writing things down has done wonders for my everyday memory. That’s right, no more mindlessly jotting something down in a Notes app or email draft and forgetting about it for 6 months for me, because correcting for our human frailties is what the future is all about.

Destinations on Demand

Most people I know who travel regularly use Airbnb fairly often…ever try to get a hotel room in a city where there also happens to be a major event? It can be a real lifesaver. 

If you’re also into the unique experiences and irreplaceable immersion that comes with a stay in a local luxury home during your travels, a subscription service that allows you to book them whenever you want for a flat monthly fee might sound pretty appealing…and fortunately for you, that’s totally A Thing!

Meet Inspirato, the service that essentially ensures you’ll never be without accommodations again. Inspirato offers two membership levels, but even the basic Pass allows you to book any destination 7 to 365 days in advance for a base subscription rate…you can even add more than one simultaneous reservation to your account so you can hold bookings on both coasts to facilitate back-to-back business trips or even just to say you did.  
 

Productive Play

My long struggle to aprender español continues into 2020, but there’s lately been a new hope in the form of a new app called Drops. They say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, and where learning a language can be difficult mental labor, Drops makes it much more like playing video games…ah, excuse me, videojuegos.
 

The Last Word 

All right, that’s about all I have from the world of tech, but before I go I have to take a few moments to acknowledge someone who was not only an important figure in Los Angeles, but an inspiration to individuals around the world.

The LA Times’ Bill Plaschke wrote a heartfelt article on the impact Kobe Bryant made on our fair city and the world around him during his 41 short years, and it seems everyone who has so much as watched a full NBA game in the last 20 years has a Kobe memory…mine was being in the building for Game 7 of the Lakers-Celtics championship series back in 2010. 

That night, it wasn’t so much his stat line that stood out as his will to win. In a game between the two best teams on the planet, one player often makes the difference in tipping the scales and in Game 7 it was Kobe Bryant. It wasn’t Kobe’s best game by a long shot, but he still managed to put up 23 points and lead all scorers on the way to bringing home the big trophy for all us Angelenos.

It was a shining example of the unstoppable drive to succeed for which he was famous, and that we can all gain some inspiration from in our daily lives…this is a guy who would stay and shoot for hours after a long practice…if the best player on the team is doing it, who shouldn’t be? 

By all accounts he was a great father to his children as well, which makes the fact that his 13-year-old daughter lost her young life in the helicopter accident that claimed 9 human beings even more tragic. It’s just a sad story all around, but what has been uplifting is the great respect shown to his legacy on and off the court, with even heated rivals like the Dallas Mavericks have permanently retiring his number 24 immediately in the wake of the news.

For me personally, the biggest takeaway is the importance of enjoying each day…tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us.

That is a well-worn sentiment, no doubt, but events like these underscore why we say these things to ourselves and others over and over…because they are true. With that in mind, thanks for making time for me this week, I truly appreciate it…and remember to reach out to someone you care about today.

The post Kobe, Doodling and Language Gamification first appeared on Archway Computer.

Man, what happened to the year? The decade is almost at an end as 2020 quickly approaches, and that means you should make your New Years’ resolutions count this time around. We all know the usual suspects:–read more, lose 15 pounds, finally take those Spanish lessons seriously–but what about some New Years’ resolutions for your business…say, your insurance agency?

Well, I’ve looked into ways to help Team Archway hit the ground running after the holiday haze finally wears off, and this piece from Forbes gave me a few useful ideas. 

For example, even powerhouses like Houzz and CapitalOne found out this year, you can never invest too much in cybersecurity. If you have time this morningto check out the article (who am I kidding, no one is going to be productive today) and want to put some of these plans into action, we’re happy to help…shoot me an email to find out more.
 

What Year is It?!

Speaking of moving forward, if you’re still with an IT company that keeps your stuff in a data center, you might need to check the calendar…that day is dead. Whether hosted through your service provider or maintained onsite, data center hosting is just a clunky, outdated, and inefficient way to manage your resources. 

The future is in the cloud, and around the office we’re big fans of Amazon Web Service and Office-365…instant access to anything anywhere is a pretty neat trick for companies with national or global reach. Microsoft put out an informative PDF on the advantages of cloud hosting, a report from Gartner agrees, and since those people are paid handsomely specifically to think about it, I do too.
 

Law of Unintended Conseqences

The employment environment is one of the innumerable aspects of life that has been impacted by the Internet. Remote and freelance work is becoming more popular than ever for a long list of reasons, and the fact is that if you’re a business that employs independent contractors, what’s going on right now in California might end up being of interest to you.

You see, we use a service called Upwork to get help with marketing projects and priority work that pops up, and we’ve actually gotten some really good stuff out of the folks we hire there, but the site (and my favorite UCLA Bruins basketball blog!) could be no more after the new AB5 bill has its’ say in today’s workplace. 

Written as legislation to tame the Wild West that is the current gig economy, the bill has had some surprising effects on freelancers and the companies that employ them…it’s a tricky situation, but these are the questions we will have to answer as the way we work evolves.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about all for this week, but thanks as always for making time in your routine for my ramblings…especially since we’re all kind of winding down for the year.

I might be back in your inbox to mark the end of 2019, but in any event I want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas (or Happy Hanukkah, even though I’m a day late for the party)!

The post A Happy New Year at the Office first appeared on Archway Computer.

Championship Mentality

Mental health is finally starting to get the attention it deserves, and we’re a slightly better society for it. Whether you’re aware of it or not, odds are you know someone who struggles regularly with difficulties such as depression and anxiety that can make everyday life into an overwhelming experience. I recently had some loved ones come clean to me. 

We might think of celebrities and others who got relatively good draws in the Birth Circumstances Lottery as being immune to these conditions, but it’s important to remember they’re people just like any others.

That’s why I really appreciated this article by Kevin Love, NBA superstar and lifetime UCLA Bruin (Go Bruins!). Playing basketball with LeBron for a living is a great job, no doubt, but your career is far from the only part of your life–or at least, it should be.

In this thoughtful piece, the All-Star reflects on some of the very human experiences that don’t make SportsCenter…an outstanding reminder that maintaining a positive mindset is a concern for people in all walks of life.

Protect this House

If you’ve seen those compilation videos of ne’er-do-wells pilfering packages from the doorsteps of unsuspecting homeowners, you might be tempted to do what one PO’d Prime subscriber did and rig up an exploding booby trap box.

However, if you’re not an explosives specialist or fear possible legal reprisal, a good cheap security camera might be a good compromise. WyzeCam gives you a 1080p remote controlled smart camera that integrates with Alexa for just $30, so you can put one in just about every room of your home and watch them all.

Best case scenario, your cat does something amazing and it quickly pays for itself in endorsements.

The Next and Best from iOS

I haven’t shared an updated list of the best iPhone apps in a few months, which is approximately six years in iOS time. This fresh Lifehacker piece talks about some of 2018’s most essential apps for the original lifestyle device. One of the standouts for me so far is Fantastical 2, a calendar app that does a much better job with managing appointments and meetings than the native option.

The Last Word

RIght then, that’s a sufficient serving of geeky goodness for one week! Thanks as always for letting me slip by your spam filter with another exhilarating edition of “Brad’s Blog!” I’ll be back around once again in about a week’s time, but until then try to find one thing to be appreciative about each day…gratitude is an essential part of a healthy outlook.

The post Maintaining the Human OS first appeared on Archway Computer.

I want to start off by paying the proper respect to a true American in John McCain. The late senator of Arizona has both his share of supporters and detractors when it comes to his politics, but regardless of whether you ever voted for him he was a noteworthy individual.

Following both his father and grandfather into a distinguished Navy career, John McCain showed more toughness than most of us will ever have to when he endured years of torture to protect state intelligence as a prisoner of war after being captured by Vietnamese forces.

His long and influential career in the public sector will be analyzed in much more appropriate spaces than this, but as a man working toward his best idea of a better world he is certainly worthy of regard. In fact, I picked up his autobiography earlier this year and it’s a revealing read, I enthusiastically recommend it. 

Resource Pooling

I have to say, I find the possibilities of the sharing economy to be fascinating. You can find a place to stay abroad uber quickly with couch surfing sites or even catch a lyft on a charter flight through flight sharing utilities…now, you can even rent a luxurious outdoor oasis for your next backyard party or music video shoot.Swimply is a service that connects pool owners with aspiring leisure swimmers, allowing hosts to make a little extra income to cover costs–have you priced chlorine lately?–and giving partiers without a pool an easy way to make a splash, do you see what I did there.

Sunrise Soundtrack

When I was a youngster we only had one kind of alarm clock, the one designed by some sick individual to rapidly jangle a tiny hammer against two metal bells and rip you out of your dream world like a nefarious hand clawing from the mouth of Hades. Fortunately those days are long past, and this feature from PC Mag shows you how to wake up to your favorite music instead of the sound of a hurricane made entirely of nickels.

Upgrade Your Game

Can you take a few strokes off your game with tech? Don’t be ridiculous, of course you can! I’m liking this Arccos app…with features like automatic shot tracking and a digital caddie that factors distance, hole type, and environmental factors into finding the shortest route to the cup, I at least feel like more of a professional. It’s a growing industry as more and more people realize that almost no one is good at golf, and this WSJ article goes into a little more depth.

The Last Word

All right, that should be sufficient for this edition! Thanks as always for making time in your routine for another inspired installmment of “Brad’s Blog!” I’ll try to be back on schedule next week, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for more pics and updates from our big adventure!

The post Links to the Future and Pools on Demand first appeared on Archway Computer.

Thank You, Nashville!

NetVU was amazing as expected and it wouldn’t be right to start out in any other way than by sincerely thanking everyone who took the time to come out and pay Team Archway a visit during the event.

It was a treat to meet some readers of the weekly newsletter as well as reconnecting with all of our clients who attended and making our friendly introduction to anyone in earshot. Hope we made a good impression!

Sueann was a delight to have along for the ride, as were Steve Anderson and Angela Adams, head of Angela Adams Consulting. Also want to highlight Nashville as a great host city, it’s really a unique atmosphere with music everywhere you go from the convention center floor to the hotel lobby…even many bathrooms were set pumped out a steady supply of choice tunes, which is good because it makes more people stay long enough to wash their hands.

I had a blast when I wasn’t on the clock as well…the city’s Country Music Hall of Fame is a  must visit site for fans of music and history, as the two obviously are inseparable in the story of Nashville.

There was plenty of good eating in town as well,  with repeat visits to Martin’s BBQ joint threatening the viability of my new, healthier lifestyle. I rationalized it to myself my remembering I purchased a fancy new spin bike for just such occasions, so at least I’m getting my money’s worth on both counts.

Next-Level Service from Archway

The big news from our side was the launch of our DaaS (Desktop as a Service), which I’m really excited about.

We make use of Amazon Web Services just like many of the big guys, but the difference is we manage ALL of your equipment 24/7 with a dedicated task force and can make personalized suggestions to optimize the way your network works for you.

That’s something many of them can’t claim…it’s not their fault, they just have so many clients to process. They’re still very much our friends!

Like Printing Money

I know, I know…in a world of email and VOIP, fax machines are all but dead outside the medical industry, right?

Well, if you happen to still have one around, I’m sure you get the occasional unsolicited fax offering cheap vacations or prepaid legal assistance. Minor everyday irritant, sure…but what you probably don’t know is that that small waste of ink and incidence of noise pollution could be a gold mine thanks to consumer protection laws that have been in place for a surprisingly long time.

That’s right, the federal Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005 (which is A Real Thing, promise) allows everyday folks like you and I to file suit on any party that sends unsolicited content to our machines, with violations subject to penalties of $500 per fax or more if intent to spam can be proven. You don’t have to be very mathletic to realize that could add up in a hurry.

Sound like an obscure thing? Well, a single attorney who spoke to Fortune.com for an  article highlighting the vast surge in litigation against tangible spam indicated that he has pursued over 1,000 fax spam cases in the last decade or so. It’s certainly worth a shot if spam faxes are an issue for you…you just have to love when the consumer can get a win.

Heck, might be worth it to buy one and wait.

The IoT is Coming

The ACT conference took  place alongside NetVU at the same time in the same location, which would have been a crazy coincidence except that it wasn’t at all because the whole thing was planned months in advance. It was really fortunate for me that I got to attend as a result, because I found the Internet of Things discussion absolutely riveting.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s the idea that most if not all devices will be connected to the Internet to deliver added functionality, giving them the ability to be monitored online. This has a range of interesting implications for the insurance industry, and one of the topics of discussion was whether we were going to switch from insurance to assurance as the technology develops.

What does that mean? Well, basically everything being connected is going to go a long way in minimizing the role of human error in mishaps that trigger involvement with an insurance provider as well as limiting the damage that results when things occasionally do go sideways.

It’s a fascinating discussion that could fundamentally change the way we live, as this article from TechWorld makes abundantly clear.

The Last Word

Well, that’ll do it for this week, I have a lot to catch up on after catching up with all the wonderful people that make Archway go at NetVU Nashville. Thanks as always for starting your week out with “Brad’s Blog,” even if you couldn’t make it this time I’m sure we’ll be coming to a town near you soon enough.

Oh, and congratulations to all the winner of the tech goodies raffle, I know you’ll enjoy your prizes…I sure do!

The post NetVU, Daas, Money Making Fax Machine first appeared on Archway Computer.