Huh? Did I just move backwards in terms of technology, or is there a counter-intuitive reason that actually makes this a practical way of moving forwards?With the wonderfully advanced smart phone it consumed more time in configuring, and having a large feature set meant it wasn’t specifically designed to be the best at any of those features. It could do them, but when an emergency arose and it needed to do them quickly and perfectly it often disappointed.

High technology doesn’t always equate with being highly useful.

After some research I set upon acquiring an old 8300 series Blackberry. The keyboard and usability of the device is fantastic, even better than the later models. For example, putting on number lock by pressing the shift and alt key together is almost impossible to do when typing with one hand on the newer models. It focusses on the core activities of being a phone with good personal digital assistant (PDA) support.

What if you could carry such a value adding employee in your pocket? What if they are always available to assist you as and when you need them?

Consider the product as your life, and the employee as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The electronic device helps you to get more out of life by efficiently managing your resources, especially time, for you.

Some essential criteria I look for in my PDA employee:

Ease of input.

It is of no use having a system that takes a long time to record simple information. In a busy environment your natural tendency is to drop it and use something quicker. I prefer a PDA with a physical keypad for this reason. No waiting, as on touch screen devices. Plus it’s much easier to enter information on bumpy bus journey, for example.

Ability to reorder inputs

On first entry the information is usually a draft. The system must allow for easy reordering as your plans take more structure. All systems allow reordering, though some more easily than others. So the chosen PDA would have simple context sensitive menus, possibly with shortcuts.
Ability to edit inputs

Again, all systems allow the editing of input as the information is further refined, but there are differences between how easy it is to do this. The ability to use shortcuts can make the difference between a simple quick edit, or no edit made as the large required effort is not worth it.

Calendar management

How easy is it to manage your schedule? Can you view your schedule in monthly, weekly, summary formats? How quick and intuitive is it to use? My selected PDA must answer positively to each of these questions in its interview.
Task management

Again managing tasks is a major functional requirement of the chosen PDA. Sometimes specialist software may be added on to the PDAs natural abilities to cope better with task management.

Be pocket sized

If the PDA doesn’t fit in a pocket or handbag easily it’s unlikely you’ll have it to hand when you need it most. Small and compact are the key elements here. An additional element is having a good battery life. A small and compact PDA with a flat battery is just a paperweight.

After having tried a few PDAs, the system I’ve evolved to using at the time of writing this is an old Blackberry. I may say more of this at a later date.

Ultimately you decide whether it's raining debt, or raining credit.

“You don’t need a job to survive the recession?…Yeah, right!” some may serve up as a retort – along with a generous side portion of sarcasm. Others may envisage that I’m about to expunge the joys of financial prudence like a nan.

“You don’t need a job to survive the recession”. Honestly I really mean it, and truly believe it. Here’s why…

A job, unless you’re self-employed, means someone else giving you a ‘handout’ (salary) according to the value your services have to them.

Think about why you supposedly need such a job?

To make ends meet. To keep the baliffs out. To put bread on the table. To keep a roof over your head. It’s all about making money.

You don’t really need a job, what you need is to make money. A job just provides you with one way of doing that.

Freeing up your thought process to see the wider picture allows you to be more creative in the solutions to making money that you come up with.

For example,  de-clutter the house by selling unused possessions. (Many people are currently looking to buy cheap goods to ‘make do’ and help them through a financial rough spot).

Or perhaps, start a local leaflet around your neighbourhood with money saving tips. See if local businesses would be interested in offering a modest discount to customers holding your leaflet, which has an advert for their business on it.

Or even, join ailing businesses together into a ‘service chain’. Help an accessories store to cross-advertise with a hairdresser and nail bar – helping ladies to get glammed up for a night-out without breaking the bank to do so.

You don’t really need a job, what you need is to make money. So if the Recession, like Life, doesn’t give you an opportunity – then feel free to make one!