by Sean Devlin, Front Rush
So I know this guy – he’s a real character. He makes a living teaching people how to “get rich”…seriously. This weekend there were pictures of him all over Facebook and the Lamborghini he bought himself for Hanukkah. It’s outrageous and ridiculous really but, it fits the image he is trying to get across. Since it is the holidays I was thinking of making a list of the best technology gifts for you to get yourself…even if it is not a Lamborghini.
There are plenty of great technology gifts that can be extremely useful to you as a coach or recruiter. So, add some of these items to your own list for Santa or shop for yourself while you have the Christmas spirit and are buying gifts for others.
Apple MacBook Air ($1199)
It’s an ultra thin, portable, high performance, awesome laptop. Our head of training has one and it’s the only device left that people still take a double take when you are at the coffee shop.
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/
Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones ($299.95)
When you are on the plane and need to tune out the background noise so you can concentrate and get in the zone. There literally is nothing better on the market. The new version even comes in blue.
Google Chrome (FREE)
Its time to move away from Internet Explorer. I can’t stress this enough. Unless you are on Windows 8, the most recent version of the browser that you are using is outdated. Not using the latest web technologies put you at a disadvantage.
https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/
iPad mini ($329)
It’s the latest greatest iPad. The big negative is that it does not have a retina display, but everything else about it is amazing. Feels great to carry, very portable…it’s essentially thinner then the iPhone 5.
http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/overview/
Getting Things Done Kindle Edition ($12.99)
This is the book that “they” all talk about. It’s THE book on productivity. Seriously, read this, it will kickstart a life (lifestyle really) of making things happen.
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Productivity-ebook/dp/B000WH7PKY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0
Athletic Recruiting Software (prices vary)
Obviously our bias is toward Front Rush but we recommend moving away from Excel/Outlook, Pen/Paper, etc. and looking into a product that is built to help you manage your recruiting. The upside just keeps increasing.
Acorn Image Editor for Humans ($49.99 for Mac users)
Do you ever have to do any image manipulation but are scared off by the technical nature of Photoshop? Acorn is like a scaled back Photoshop (but not so scaled back that it lacks key functions) and it’s a bit more friendly than its much more expensive counterpart.
Dell UltraSharp U2311H-23″ Monitor ($249)
If you are using a laptop as your primary computer, it’s time to invest in an external monitor. Once you try two screens, the single screen lifestyle is almost unimaginable.
Apple TV ($99)
Yes – this is the 3rd Apple item but for $99 bucks it’s amazing. At the very least, it can replace your projector which can be a nightmare to get started. With Apple TV, you can project whatever is on your iPhone, iPad, MacBook directly onto your TV. It streams directly.
Makerbot 3D Printer ($2199)
So this is really what I want. It’s a printer that sits on your desk and prints in 3D. It’s the next wave of technology. If you get one, please let me know, I would love to see it.