One of the distinct drawbacks to running a lean operation is that there are less people to whom you can delegate tasks. I was blessed for the better part of the last eight years to have a top-notch administrative assistant who could nearly read my mind. For the last few months, however, I’ve had to fend for myself more and figure out ways to get the same amount of work done with less human capital at my disposal. Hiring a remote assistant from India crossed my mind more than a few times, but what I have come to discover is that there are some incredible low-cost (or free) technologies available that can dramatically increase personal productivity by putting information at my fingertips, allowing me to collaborate more effectively, and automating some of my more mundane tasks. The following are some of my favorite mobil tools for use while I’m away from the office:

1. Google Maps for Mobile – This is by far the coolest mobile application I’ve found. Using the integrated GPS on my Blackberry, it helps me find my way on a daily basis. Maps, aerial photos, street views, directions, searches – you name it! I have used it in client meetings to view photos of a potential project site. Want to find the nearest fish taco joint? No problemo – Just do a quick search and the application will show you the closest spots and then tell you how to get there. Becuase of its Internet connectivity, I actually prefer Google Maps for Mobile over a conventional GPS navigation system. It’s also a lot cheaper – free!
2. Jott – After about my third near miss traffic collision, I concluded that there must be a safer alternative to texting and emailing while driving. That’s when I discovered Jott. I simply dial a toll free number (speed dial ‘J’ on my Blackberry) and a voice comes on asking, “Who do you want to Jott?” I can then say a name from my address list followed by a spoken message that is transcribed into an email that gets delived within a few minutes. It’s free but for an extra 12 bucks a month I can also say things like ‘Outlook Calendar’ and ‘Outlook Drafts’ which adds appointments and draft emails to Outlook while I’m away from my computer – very cool. Jott is not just another stupid attempt at voice recognition for your cell phone (Did you say, “Angry Toothbrush?”). Supposedly, there is a live person that reviews and makes any needed corrections to each entry. I have tested this out by verbally spelling names and adding funky punctuation to my messages. Results vary, but it usually works like a charm.
3. Plantronics 510 Bluetooth Headset – Last summer, I spent around $120 for a fancy Motorolla bluetooth device that the AT&T guy said was one of the latest and best on the market. What a crock! Except in very quiet environments, I found myself pressing the device into my ear canal with one hand while plugging my ear with the other just to hear the stupid thing… all of which defeats the purpose of a “hands free” device. So, I finally went to Google and searched for “loud bluetooth” which lead me to the Plantronics 510, a noise cancelling headset that’s been on the market for about four years. I picked one up on newegg.com for around $40. It’s ugly, clunky, has a lousy range, and sounds great! It’s the only bluetooth device I’ve come accross that I don’t need to keep at max volume – it’s plenty loud and I love it!

So there you have my top recommendations for mobile productivity. Next week, I’ll share some awesome tools that are guaranteed to make you more effective in the office.