Derek Franklin's Blog

'A Whole Lot Of Awesome' Digest: February 2013

Well, January was the first month of my push to share more ideas and content with my readers, subscribers, and customers. Below, you'll find a digest of everything that included for the month.

So far, this whole process seems to be sustainable in my schedule, so my intention is keep things going!

In addition, I'm looking into using Google+ Hangouts to hold some live training sessions/discussions, right here on this blog!

Some Quick Updates...

• The Action Machine Reseller Offer - If you'd like to sell the Action Machine as a reseller, there are still a number of slots still open
• The Copywriter's Brain - I'm selling the Copywriter's Brain in the coming week or two, so if you're interested in owning the whole thing (product, site, etc.) check out the site to see what it's all about, and keep your eyes open for that.
• What am I working on these days? In response to what I've learned over the past few years about human potential and how to unlock it, as well as my desire to deliver unique, practical, and valuable tools for tapping into it (systems, software, graphics/posters) I'm in the process of developing a simple system that encompasses everything - something that will allow me to share my systems and tools in a complete, unified way... the ultimate system, if you will. Look for more info in the months ahead

Awesome Ideas From derekfranklinonline.com

Here's a handly list of posts for the month of January. 

When you find something useful, or that you like, please share it with others (using the Share buttons below each post) and leave a comment as well. I appreciate it! :)

• Eliminate One Of The Biggest Obstacles To Taking Action! - If you don't have _____, you're going to have a major challenge with taking action.
• Creating A Super-System For Getting Things Done - Learn about a new way that I manage some of the systems I use in my life and business
• The 3-Step Guide To Keeping Your Resolutions - Making long-term change isn't that hard, you just have to give your mind and body what it needs to make it happen!
• The Secret To Better Sleep [Infographic] - This infographic on sleeping better is so cool, it might keep you awake just thinking about it! :)
• Pay Attention To What Results-Getters DO! - Discover how to learn from people who are getting results 
• The Success Indicator - Where Do YOU Stand? - Here's a nice visual comparison between the character traits of those who tend to be successful, and those who aren't

Useful Discoveries

Here's a list of other interesting articles, how-to's, videos, and resources I discovered throughout the month:

• When You Can't Get Anything Done... Do One Thing: http://wp.me/pOGsr-47b
• The Amazing Power of I Don’t (Rather Than I Can’t) | Psychology Today: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-success/201301/the-amazing-power-i-don-t-rather-i-can-t
• 5 Desk Exercises: http://kodjoworkout.com/2013/01/5-workplace-exercises-you-can-do-from-your-desk/
• How To Use Google Drive: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-use-google-drive/
• Sketching: the Visual Thinking Power Tool: http://alistapart.com/article/sketching-the-visual-thinking-power-tool
• Top 10 Good Tech Habits Everyone Should Have: http://zite.to/11ZqYdz 
• Good article: The 5 Biggest Productivity Boosts I Implemented in 2012: https://managewp.com/productivity-boosts
• Brings awesomeness to your presentations: http://www.powtoon.com/
• 50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World: http://twistedsifter.com/2013/01/50-life-hacks-to-simplify-your-world/
• Visual thinkers, this is a fantastic book: http://rohdesign.com/book/
• Write things down that drain you: http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/01/write-down-the-things-that-drain-you-to-identify-patterns
• Reset your focus; Do nothing for 2-10 minutes: http://calm.com
• Lots of great insights: http://99u.com/videos/7268/Rilla-Alexander-Without-the-Doing-Dreaming-Is-Useless
• The Key To Goal Success: Setting Implementation Intentions: http://daringtolivefully.com/implementation-intentions

Let me know what you think of this digest, and the format (share any ideas you may have for improving it).

Thanks, and look forward to more 

 

Own A BRANDED Version Of The Action Machine

As you may know, I'm the creator of a software product known as The Action Machine. It's a productivity tool that I have been improving and upgrading for over 2 years.

It's effective, refined, and enjoyed by people all over the world.

And now, it's available to you as a private label product, which you can brand, then sell, or do whatever you want to with!

How cool is that?

So here's the scoop...

I'm making 16 private label copies of The Action Machine available on a first-come-first-served basis.

If you'd love to have your branded software product with a proven track record of success, then click this link to read all about it and grab yours:

http://www.theactionmachine.com/privatelabels/index.htm

The Action Machine 3 Is Now Available - Finally...Get Things Done!

I'm excited to announce that the new version of The Action Machine (version 3) is now available! :)

The new version included dozens of new features and enhancements, including:

Updated Interface

• More depth and pop due to shadows and transparencies
• Interface width increased by 24 pixels to allow for a set of new tools
• New Add An Action Design
• New Notes Design
• Add An Action Time Bar Redesigned
• New Total Time Bar Design (fixed a bug that made it jumpy)
• New icons for Timer buttons
• New icons and location for Help and various options buttons
• Start Button Fire
• Complete Timer Explosion
• Dozens Of New Backgrounds (press spacebar for preview)
• 12/24 Hour Option
• Action Reminders - Displays thought-provoking questions and statements to you

Actions

• Add An Action Panel - This pop-up panel helps you quickly create new actions
• Action Priorities - Assign automatic priorities to actions in the Action List
• Built-In Daily Success Routine Action - Schedule a daily success routine with automatic HIGH priority and special background

Timers

• Timer Groups - New location, new default groups, and quick scroll buttons
• Visual Priorities - Visual prioritize your timers with yellow, orange, or red flags
• +5 - Quickly add 5 minutes to a timer by clicking the timer display
• Break Timer - A simple timer for helping you create and manage your time in-between your work time
• Interactively Add Custom Time - As you move your mouse over the slider bar, it  reveals to you the time you would set if you clicked the mouse

Sounds & Notifications

• Ticking - When a timer is started, it ticks, a simple enhancements that reminds you that you're on the clock, working against a deadline
• Notifications - Allow you to get notified of the time that has passed (every 10, 15, 30, 60 minutes) since a timer was started, as well as when a timer is about to finish - so they can speed things up if you need to
• Sound Options - These have been moved to their own panel, where you can choose alarm, ticking, and notification options
• Quick Universal Volume/Mute - Allows you to quickly control the volume, or mute, audio elements of the application

Tracking Your Progress

• Reports with Notes - Reports can now include Action notes
• Scoreboard - Allows you to set a time goal for how much action they want to take each week (for example, 40 hours), and shows them a visual indicator of their current progress 

To grab your copy of The Action Machine 3, or to take a look at the new site that goes with it, click here.

If you're a current owner of The Action Machine, expect an email from me shortly that contains your download link. :)

Of course, as you use the new version, I'd love to hear your feedback, so please leave your comments below this post.

BTW, in case you're curious, here's a screenshot of the new site:

The Action Machine 3 Preview - Tracking Your Progress

 

* Be sure to click the Fullscreen button on the YouTube video player *

Take getting things done to a whole new level with The Action Machine 3.

In this video, you get an overall look at the new version's progress-tracking tools, enhancements, and new features:

• Reports with Notes - Reports can now include Action notes
• Scoreboard - Allows you to set a time goal for how much action they want to take each week (for example, 40 hours), and shows them a visual indicator of their current progress 

This will be a FREE upgrade for all current owners (you'll get an email from me soon). If you're not an Action Machine user yet, grab your copy here, and you'll get the new version when it's available (very soon).

The Action Machine 3 Preview - Sounds and Notifications

 

* Be sure to click the Fullscreen button on the YouTube video player *

Take getting things done to a whole new level with The Action Machine 3.

In this video, you get an overall look at the new version's sound-related enhancements and new features:

• Ticking - When a timer is started, it ticks, a simple enhancements that reminds you that you're on the clock, working against a deadline
• Notifications - Allow you to get notified of the time that has passed (every 10, 15, 30, 60 minutes) since a timer was started, as well as when a timer is about to finish - so they can speed things up if you need to
• Sound Options - These have been moved to their own panel, where you can choose alarm, ticking, and notification options
• Quick Universal Volume/Mute - Allows you to quickly control the volume, or mute, audio elements of the application

This will be a FREE upgrade for all current owners (you'll get an email from me soon). If you're not an Action Machine user yet, grab your copy here, and you'll get the new version when it's available (very soon).

The Action Machine 3 Preview - Actions and Timers

 

* Be sure to click the Fullscreen button on the YouTube video player *

Take getting things done to a whole new level with The Action Machine 3.

In this video, you get an overall look at the new version's enhancements and new features:

Actions

• Add An Action Panel - This pop-up panel helps you quickly create new actions
• Action Priorities - Assign automatic priorities to actions in the Action List
• Built-In Daily Success Routine Action - Schedule a daily success routine with automatic HIGH priority and special background

Timers

• Timer Groups - New location, new default groups, and quick scroll buttons
• Visual Priorities - Visual prioritize your timers with yellow, orange, or red flags
• +5 - Quickly add 5 minutes to a timer by clicking the timer display
• Break Timer - A simple timer for helping you create and manage your time in-between your work time
• Interactively Add Custom Time - As you move your mouse over the slider bar, it  reveals to you the time you would set if you clicked the mouse
• More...

This will be a FREE upgrade for all current owners (you'll get an email from me soon). If you're not an Action Machine user yet, grab your copy here, and you'll get the new version when it's available (very soon).

The Action Machine 3 Preview - An Overview

 

* Be sure to click the Fullscreen button on the YouTube video player *

Take getting things done to a whole new level with The Action Machine 3.

In this video, you get an overall look at the new interface:

• More depth and pop due to shadows and transparencies
• Interface width increased by 24 pixels to allow for a set of new tools
• New Add An Action Design
• New Notes Design
• Add An Action Time Bar Redesigned
• New Total Time Bar Design (fixed a bug that made it jumpy)
• New icons for Timer buttons
• New icons and location for Help and various options buttons
• Start Button Fire
• Complete Timer Explosion
• Dozens Of New Backgrounds (press spacebar for preview)
• 12/24 Hour Option* Action Reminders - Displays thought-provoking questions and statements to you

This will be a FREE upgrade for all current owners (you'll get an email from me soon). If you're not an Action Machine user yet, grab your copy here, and you'll get the new version when it's available.

 

5 Ways Google Chrome Helps Me/You Be More Productive

In this video I share with you 5 ways Google Chrome helps me get things done and be more productive - stuff that could be useful to you! :)