Ahh, the laptop lifestyle; do you long for it? Wearing your comfy clothes at home on the sofa, or maybe your togs on a beach, from a hammock – or on a boat! Yes, we are talking about being able to sit down in any location and work just as well as when you are at your desk. Being location independent is a dream many entrepreneurs and small business owners hold. We have compiled a list of tools that our team use every day that might just help you to achieve that lifestyle. Check out our favourite resources below and start planning to be location independent!
Good Technology First things first, you actually need a laptop! (Not much of a laptop lifestyle without one – In saying that, I did lug a huge HP around in its box from place to place for over a year…) There are so many options on the market so be sure to choose a device that suits your needs. Make a checklist of what your requirements are to ensure it has all the capabilities you need, is easily transported, and has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities.
If you are on the go a lot then it might pay to invest in a great phone or tablet too. That way you can stay connected while travelling, on the road, or in between client meetings.
GSuite We could not make a list of the ultimate location independent business tools and not mention Google’s panel of business apps. It has everything you need to run your business from your laptop or mobile device. With email, word processing, spreadsheets, cloud storage, file sharing, video tools, a calendar that syncs with everything, and so much more! You can’t go wrong. Especially for such a teeny tiny price tag!
Note: If you want to read more about G-suite and its incredible functionality, then check out our recent blog on Google For Business. We can also offer a discount code to you when you (or us) set up G-suite!
Slack You don’t need to be in the same office, the same city, or even the same country to communicate efficiently with your team when you have Slack. Keep all of your communications, conversations and related documents in this app so that you can stay in touch at any time. It also has great capabilities to integrate with programs like Trello.
Trello Oh hello, Trello! Well, we couldn’t mention it and then not include it on our list. Trello is a collaboration tool that allows you to organise your projects and workload into boards and share it with your team. At a glance, you can see who is working on what, and at what stage the project is at. It is a great way for everyone in your team to know what they are meant to be doing, and ensure that deadlines don’t get missed regardless of everyone’s location.
LastPass ONE PIN TO RULE THEM ALL! You will never have to worry about the security of your passwords again with LastPass. Nor will you have to carry them around in a secret notebook anymore. LastPass centralises all your passwords in the cloud and you access them with one super password. You just have to remember one password then you can access your entire business wherever you are.
Zoom There is no need to meet face to face when you have Zoom in your back pocket. Organise catch-ups with your team members, clients, or even your Mumma! With excellent call quality, screen sharing and webinar hosting functions, it has everything you need to connect for free. All you need is a good internet connection, headset and webcam – then you are good to go.
An Email Marketing Programme There are so many on the market, so choose the one that suits your business style. The ability to send regular newsletters and run automated email sequences will keep you connected with your tribe even if you are away from your office. If you are having trouble choosing an email-marketing platform then we can recommend Mailchimp or Convertkit.
Before I had the ability to work from anywhere, I used to look at those crazy reverse auctions on the Air New Zealand website and wonder who on earth had the flexibility to bid on a flight to Tokyo leaving next week? Now I know. So what are you waiting for? Implement these tools in your business, launch into a laptop lifestyle and your next stop might just be… Well, wherever you fancy!