Recommended Resources + Tools

Mastering management and organization makes everyone’s life easier, but is essential for leaders. Luckily for us, we live in a time where there is an abundance of incredible tools, systems & resources available to make it easier to get work and life done. The only challenge is knowing which tools to use! Below are my favorites.

Note: Some of these are affiliate links, which means that if you click on the link and end up using a paid version of a tool, I may get a small payment. It’s no additional cost to you, so would be kind of silly if I didn’t use affiliate links. If you prefer not to use an affiliate link, please type the resource name into your browser search bar and skip my link. Sound good? Good.  

General Business Management

YouExec: If you’re like me, and building the actual presentation feels like way more work than sharing your knowledge, YouExec is a game-changer with pre-built templates that save you hours of work and help you thrive. Their business resources make you look like a superstar. Bonus: They’ve also got detailed, actionable book summaries of many of the top business books on the market. Limited access to all tools is free, and all-access paid subscriptions are very reasonable.

Google Workspace: You’ve probably got this already, but hey, worth a mention since I 💕 it so much. Includes email, Google Drive, and a whole host of other Google-based tools for $5/month. Deal: Email me for a $10 off coupon code. 

Honeybook: Honeybook an integrated “all-in-one” solution to manage projects, book clients, send invoices and get paid. If that’s something you may need, use this link to get 20% off your first year of service.

Project Management

Smartsheet: Rated by industry-leading research firm Forrester as a “Leader” in the collaborative work management space, Smartsheet is an incredibly powerful project management solution for teams of any size. I’ve implemented Smartsheet for large, multi-functional teams, and highly recommend it for any organization with more than a few distinct teams working together. Smartsheet has quite a few pre-built templates, including dashboards and automation, that are easy to customize for your specific needs. (Side note: We do custom Smartsheet implementation. Contact us for more info).

Asana: Asana is rated by Forrester as a “Strong Performer” and I fully agree. It’s an incredible tool that works well for many small to mid-sized businesses and teams. If you have nothing in place besides chicken-scratch on a notepad, Asana is an easy entry place to start – especially since they have a very robust free version.

Career

FlexJobs: Flexjobs is the leading job search board for flexible and remote jobs. I’ve found their service well worth it over the years, as I’ve explored various career opportunities for myself and clients.

Finance

Profit First: I can’t say it any better than the subtitle: “Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine.” Whether you own your own business, have P+L responsibility in your company, or simply manage budgets of any size, this easy read is

YNAB (You Need A Budget): Hands-down, the best personal budgeting software I’ve used. Emphasis on proactively managing your money and giving every dollar a place to work. Try it for 34 days for free. Incredible forums for questions, free training and the founder has literally written the book on it.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card: The best bonus credit card we’ve found. Use this link to get up to 50,000 bonus points.

Digital Organization

Dropbox: Cloud-based file storage keeps any and all files safe and secure. Also backs up all my digital photos. Can’t live without it. I’ve paid cold hard cash for Dropbox Pro since I started freelancing, and it’s worth every penny of the $99 annual fee.

LastPass: Never lose a password again! I don’t know what I’d do without LastPass. I’m pretty sure I save at least an hour a week not hunting for passwords. I recommend the Premium version for the ability to access passwords on a smartphone as well as online.

Tailwind App: For scheduling Pinterest Pins. I LOVE Tailwind. The ability to batch pin when I’ve got time to be online, and have pins show up at regular intervals is amazing.

Siteground: Website hosting.

Namecheap: Domain names.

Work-Life Balance

Amazon Prime: For just about everything. Free two-day shipping. Check. Free two-hour shipping with PrimeNow in many metro areas (This is my current favorite. We get groceries delivered and I’ve sent gifts to my sister 800 miles away). Check. Unlimited photo storage (fantastic as a backup!). Check.

Wal-Mart Grocery Pickup: The ability to order groceries during the day between meetings and pick them up on the way home is life-changing. (Use this link to get $10 off your first order.)

Plan to Eat: The easiest meal-planning software that saves me much time (and money!) by having both a plan and a ready-to-go shopping list.

KiwiCrate: I will never be a crafty mom, and that’s just fine with me. With KiwiCrate, my kids get to do cool, crafty activities and I don’t have to do anything except get the mail and show up. (Use this link to get $10 off your first order.)