The 3 most important pieces of business technology…

If you're familiar with my blogs you'll know that I'm passionate about helping business leaders and finance professionals to plan and budget more effectively. My recent blogs have largely focused on helping you with Microsoft Excel (I am a spreadsheet nerd!) but there is much more to get our heads around…

There are other pieces of technology that are much more useful in both a work and personal context.

You will be surprised that I guarantee that you already have the three most important pieces in your possession. And they are probably within reach as you read this.

You might think that I'm referring to your mobile devices - your smartphone or tablet. As useful as they are, that's not the case.

Your smartphone camera can help you to find this.

Open up the camera app , flip it into selfie mode and tell me what you see…

Yup - it’s you!

Your brain, coupled with your experience and knowledge, is still the most powerful computer you have at your disposal. When properly combined with the other two items in my list, you have the potential to create plans that will change the world, transform the performance of your organisation, and make your life outside of work more focused and productive.

You've probably invested a lot in having a powerful laptop computer and the latest smartphone. When the batteries get low you recharge them. When there are too many apps running you close those you don't need to make space for what you really need.

Today, how about giving yourself that kind of self-diagnostic? Can you really say you’re running at the manufacturing spec of performance?

Before you can be effective in coming up with plans for your organisation (and putting them in spreadsheets…!) you'll need that #1 piece of tech to be firing on all cylinders.

Are you getting enough sleep? Do you feel rested?
Are you eating well enough so that you feel energised for the day, or do you have to keep going on coffee and sugary snacks?

There's plenty of resources out there to help you and I don't want to 'preach' on this subject. I have however found, through my own (sometimes bitter) experience that when my mind is fatigued and I'm over-stressed, I make poor decisions and waste a lot of time at work. I'm not saying I'm perfect but I'm now prioritising sleep, nutrition and exercise much more than I used to. I couldn’t be running InfoSuperstar without doing that.

A budget and planning process can take half the time if you’re sharp enough to make the calls on what is important to consider and what is not.

What one small thing can you do this week to get more rest, eat better, or get exercise?

Now that you've got #1 sorted (or at least have committed to make a start!) is the next tech your spreadsheet app?

Nope.

Before we ever touch a computer keyboard there are better ways to create our plans, harnessing the creative power of our brains.

There was a time (before COVID) when I planned to go on holiday with my family. These plans always involved discussing where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. How we got there was always a secondary detail.

When you plan a holiday you are not primarily focused on the mode of transport - it's all about the destination.
You want that mode of transport to be fast, low-cost (and maybe also environmentally sound!), but you have to know where you’re going!

I'm convinced that for business planning you need spreadsheets and other technology tools. At InfoSuperstar I want to help with that.

Before we use Excel, we have to be clear on the bigger picture. Where are we going? What does success look like? What are our key measures? - across the areas that matter to us - People, Profit and Planet!

So the final two tech devices are ideal to unlock the power of your #1 Brainpower app.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the other tools of my trade…

Yup - you're seeing this correct. It's a pencil and a blank sheet of paper.

Whenever I have to look ahead to define something that I want to achieve, it's normally best to write it down in summary form on a piece of paper. A pencil works well, because it’s possible to erase and rewrite (okay… so # 4 is a pencil eraser…!)

Given that I start at 'Point A', I need to write down what my 'Point B' destination looks like. And only then I can start to plan how to get there.

I find the 'mind-mapping' process very useful. I write the topic in the centre of a piece of paper and then write/connect my thoughts around that, until I have a complete visual description of my vision and desired outcomes/objectives.

Once I'm clear that my brainpower has been distilled into a pencil and paper output, then it’s time to start to use computer-based technology and some helpful planning methodologies. More blogs to come on those subjects methinks!

If you want more help with mind mapping, then Google "Mind Mapping" and "Tony Buzan". There is software designed to help, but I’d recommend starting low-tech so you can maximise your brain focus, without having to learn how to use software.

If you want practice, and to have some post-pandemic hope. Why not write a mind map to decide upon the holidays you want to take when travel and lockdown restrictions are lifted ?

Here's mine in 60 seconds…

Did you notice how I used shapes and line to connect thoughts, before writing out an objective plan?

Imagine what could be done with coloured pencils!

Until next time…Adios Amigos!
Andy Biggs