As a CEO, it is vital that I have information readily accessible at all times. For quite some time though, it meant carrying around a laptop, a cellphone, folders, USB flash drives, hard drives and more.  With the necessity to carry so many gadgets, I had to then remember to pack chargers, memory cards and more. Essentially, I needed an entire bag just for all of my gadgets! This seemed hardly convenient - more like inconvenient. The whole point of technology is to improve upon past technology by making it faster and smaller, not to add more gear.

In 2010 though, things finally changed. Cellphones became smartphones, convergence devices that could make calls but also take pictures and videos.  Laptops became tablets, and everyone seemed to want in, with Apple making a huge splash with the iPad,

Then in 2010, Research In Motion (RIMM), announced the Blackberry Playbook -- another tablet coming to market to compete with the Apple juggernaut.  While reviews made it sound surprisingly good (and who wouldn't want a Blackberry product, they make great devices for handling email), so far, I'm not sold. There are two main reasons why I'm not sold.

People constantly hear me talk about how my cyber office is everywhere. Let's face it though, in the digital age that we live in, we can virtually work from anywhere -- with the right tools.  We're talking digital devices like smartphones, relying on digital copies of files and documents instead of mountains of paper and so on.  Just by eliminating some of the clutter, it makes it easier for us to focus in on the tasks we have at hand.  Tasks like reading articles, responding to emails, sorting photos, etc...items that help keep things moving along.  Otherwise, it just piles up and we get nowhere, because we're 'treading paper.'

For the past month, I've spent a good deal of time away from home on the ma® Blitz Tour, yet I've been able to focus on not only staying in touch with the office, but also had the opportunity to spend time together with my family, business contacts, and potential business partners -- all without being chained down to a desk. You see, that's one thing I love so much about my digital office -- wherever I go, it goes -- not the other way around.  In-turn, even though I'm still working, I am enjoying it so much, that I'm being more productive.

For many of you that know me and understand how important it is to balance work with other responsibilities, it's that work smarter, not harder approach that has helped propel me along. By using the tools that we have available to us -- (smartphones, iPads, laptops, etc...) and by finding our true passion, work doesn't seem like work and we get more done because we're doing something we enjoy doing, so much so, that we put our hearts into whatever it is!

So when you're working -- here are a few things to think about. Can I be working smarter -- make a list of the things I currently do and any alternate ways to get them done.  Second, Do I have the most efficient tools? I'm not saying go get all of the tools, we often don't need them. Find the one's YOU NEED, and make sure they will work with how you operate. Last, think about where you want to be headed and if you are on that path. If you're not, readjust.

Like skiing, we all have an end goal in mind -- to make it to the top (in skiing -- to make it to the bottom). Arm yourself with the tools that will help get you there and continue to adjust along the way. Life is filled with obstacles, wind patterns and such that try to throw us off course. If you arm yourself with the right tools, you can take your business anywhere!

See you all in Lancaster.

Keep growing. I believe in you.

JR