Online Baby Photo Contest

One Time Use

One Time Use

Plan Your Projects and Save Time Using Basecamp

If you are a developer, then you should really consider why you need to plan your projects and save time using base camp application as your main tool. For many developers it is difficult sometimes to find the right management tool to run their projects with. This article is meant to be an honest review of one such software called basecamp, and the writer's recommendations why you should use it to save your self a lot of time on your next set of projects. Below you will find my recommendations, and reasons for using it.

First of all, basecamp is very simple to use. In fact, it is so simple that it has been often criticized by others in the industry for its simplicity. For the average project management needs however, base camp is more than capable of handling the entire project.

Basecamp has several good features such as the ever helpful "to do list" manager. I know personally I can get side tracked on exactly what it is I am supposed to be doing. The to do list in it keeps me on track with the items I need to get completed in the order of priority in which they should be finished. This one tools is very helpful, but base camp has much more to offer as a project management application. This software offers wiki style web based text documents and milestone management as well. Base camp also comes with built in file sharing capabilities for you to share your work with other developers and or clients for feedback. In addition, basecamp offers time tracking on each project to keep your billable hours tabbed, and it even has as built in messaging system to help with your communication needs. So while some will criticize base camp for its simplicity, I for one am of the opinion that good project management software needs to have everything it absolutely has to have, and then the rest should be left out. Simplicity is a good thing.

Using software to manage your project keeps you more organized as well. Now that you have read one positive review for the base camp software, I would advise you to go to Google and do a search on base camp reviews. You can better get a feeling for what other users have to say. Next, search for some of its competitors. You won't find many, which is another reason you have just got to love base camp. It fills a need. So before buying, consider your options.

I will say however, that you need to purchase something to save yourself a lot of time. Having project management software is like having a partner help you with your work. Keeping your self organized, and having the tools you need to make your job go smoother, is hard to find in a good piece of software. You will find all of that in base camp, and more. So check it out!

About the Author

Terry Fitzroy is a professional writer specializing in Manage Projects and Project Managing To learn more about Project Management Tools visit ProjectManagementNow.com

Down Times? Use Them To Clarify Your Company'S Brand Message!

So perhaps these aren't the best economic times. Business is off and you're feeling a bit frantic. You wonder if you should slash prices across the board, make new offers, lay off staff, or just hibernate until next spring. First of all, realize you are not alone. A great number of business owners nationwide are facing these same questions and challenges. But what to do?    <P>
My advice would be to get clear.    <P>
"Get clear?" you ask incredulously. "That's it?"    <P>
Yes. Get really, really clear.    <P>
It's at these times of duress that we tend to get reactive. It's like the old saying about the politician, who having lost his objective, redoubles his efforts. If we are not clear, and if we've lost our sense of direction, how does going faster help? What typically happens is that we take on the wrong type of work, from the wrong type of clients, all at a deep discount, stay busy for the sake of busy work, make little to no profit and go nowhere. Not much of a plan eh?    <P>
What if you took slower times in business as an opportunity to get focused? Here's another way to look at it. If you were a lumber jack and your axe blade had become dull, you could either decide to keep swinging harder, or you could take time out to sharpen your axe. For many business owners this seems threatening. They feel they don't have time to sharpen their axe, they have to pay the bills, make calls, stay busy. But in the end they swing with a dull axe and get nowhere, working harder and harder with less and less to show for it. And they also get exhausted. Sound familiar?    <P>
On the other hand, what if you took time to hone your message. Perhaps you have a confusing business name that communicates one thing, a tag line that doesn't match, an outdated web site, three versions of your logo, a blog that sits idle and a newsletter that's still on the "to do" list. You've been so busy the past few years reacting to business, you haven't had the time or the need to keep your brand message clear, concise and compelling. In fact, it's gotten down right fuzzy. Now is the perfect time to go through a brand audit... a review of just where you are now in the market, and where you want to be. Does your current image, message, and product offerings all line up? Are they speaking with one voice? Or are you pushing quality products here, low prices there, touting your service extraordinaire, and introducing a baffling array of new ideas and goods in hopes that something, anything, will "stick."    <P>
Here's one simple test. Can you communicate your basic brand message in a matter of three to four words?    <P>
What if you took one day out of your schedule to simply relax and observe. Don't try to figure things out, or reason, or solve, or react, - just observe what's going on. Don't think... feel. A walk in nature is a great place for this type of exercise. Smell the earth, watch the leaves, hear the sound of water. Then ask yourself, "Why am I in business?" What is your real motivation? Does it reflect your vision, passion and direction? If you walked into this business today, and it wasn't yours, how would you feel about it? Does it convey a sense of purpose, mission and direction? What seems to fit and what doesn't belong? Now might be the time to streamline and unify your business, your passion and your message into one cohesive brand. A brand that stands for something singular. And if that were so, what would that one thing be? Can you get it down to three words? One word?    <P>
You can take time to get clear. Or blindly redouble your efforts.    <P>
You can take time to sharpen your axe. Or just keep swinging a dull one harder.    <P>
When it comes to moving forward, clarity can be a real confidence booster. Your decisions will be then based on insight, and will energize you. You'll recognize what builds your message and avoid what scatters it. You'll act with focus and purpose. And in times like these, that's not just smart... it's brilliant. <P>

About the Author

Phillip Davis is president and founder of Tungsten Branding, company naming consultants located near Asheville, NC. Phil and his team have assisted over 200 regional, national and international corporations with business and product branding strategies. To view his company naming portfolio, visit http://www.PureTungsten.com

Fabulous Fabric One-yard Wonders (Mixed media product) $19.57 The best-selling authors of One-Yard Wonders are back with an all-new collection of 101 sewing projects that each require just one yard of fabric!This time, the projects are organized by fabric type. From home dec to knits, wool to flannels, co...

Wilton Bake-even Cake Strips (Pack of 4) $16.51 Decorating is a breeze when you create level cakes every time. Use these Wilton Bake-even strips for perfect, level cakes.

Tim Holtz 'Time' Cling Rubber Stamp $5.51 These red rubber stamps come mounted on cling foam so you can use them with any acrylic block (sold separately). This package contains one cling rubber stamp.

---

Tags: article one, del.icio.us, mage, one time use credit card, one time use credit card paypal, one time use digital camera, one time use email, one time use video camera, productivity, source article, technology, Time, Todays Best Buys, tools, Use, web2.0