This week, Shaq made a personal revelation that he is a “tech geek” who spends up to $1,000 a week on apps. That made me think a couple things including, “WTF?” and “Oh. Shaquille O’Neal is way better at managing his iCloud than I am.” Even if you don’t have a Kazaam-sized appetite for smartphone add-ons, we have recommendations for a few you have to DL ASAP that won’t break your bank or your cloud.
Rooster: Hey busy person, if you don’t think you could ever find enough time to read, this app is going to help you locate it in those 15 minutes you’re in line at the DMV or on your morning commute. Even those ten (okay, five) in bed before you drift off at night. Rooster serves up installments of shorter reads, recommending what you skim next from current, best-selling authors to curated classics.
Cost: The service is $4.99 a month, but you can request an invite now for a two-week free trial
Couples Counseling & Chatting: Skip the silent treatment next time you’re mad at your boo and download this instead. The relationship app brings couples therapy to you and your mate, putting a therapist with actual advice in your pocket. Get relationship tips and chat with your partner using predefined messages to help you get your point across when you’re having a difficult time doing it the old-fashioned way. The success of an app like this will come down to user experience and the reviews so far are glowing.
Cost: Free for Android, but there are in-app purchases
Heyday: Aw, that journal looked so darn pretty. Too bad you didn’t fill more than the first page. With doodles. And don’t get us started about all those forgotten blogs. What a waste of good domain names! Well, TGF Heyday, which does the journaling for you and puts the APP in ScrAPPbooking (lol) keeping track of the places you go and the pictures you take. Even arranging them into beautiful collages for you to flip through later and add captions IF you want. Aw, thanks, Heyday!
Wonder: What are you in the mood for? Not for dinner tonight, we’re talking the type of virtual, viral soup for your soul or at least your funny bone. Wonder curates videos for you, using a “mood-minder” that asks you what you feel like watching.
Cost: Free for iOS
BucketListly: This brings a social network of bucket lists to your phone so you can share major life achievements you’ve crossed off in real time. Get inspired (or, um, a little jealous) by scoping out what others have on theirs. And like Yelp for true adventurers, you can leave a tip once you make it to the top of Mount Everest or wherever your list leads you.
What is your favorite recent app download? Share below or Tweet it to us @BritandCo & @Brit why don’t ya!
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.