The Startup Essentials
For anyone considering a startup, organization is key. These prospective entrepreneurs are likely very social, outgoing people who aren’t shy to voice their ideas and passions or to put forth their dreams and risk a lot to change the world in their own way.
The number of apps you can find that promise quality news, organizational functionalities, social connections, and overall exposure is quite frankly immeasurable, as they are essential. The dilemma is choosing the right ones. We tend to gravitate towards the apps that aesthetically appeal to us to begin with, which is important because you need to enjoy interacting with what you’re using daily, and if we don’t find ourselves satisfied with those apps, we start from scratch. We tend to see that as a step forward, but you’re wasting time, and no matter how you look at it, that will always be a step backwards.
As the tech giant that will never cease to produce their renown devices in their iconic simplicity, Apple listed these apps as startup essentials. Here are the four that I find the most intriguing and worth your time:
Asana is an organizational app that allows for individuals to collaborate as a team and for specific groups to work independently and track the team’s overall progress. Many apps exist to help manage deadlines, but with our own experience with Asana within Bocconi’s Entrepreneurship Club, it’s simple, easy to use, and aesthetically allows you to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the tasks to be done. Additionally, it’s not just limited to what a business has to do. Naturally, an individual can get his or her own to-do list and list of reminders that allow for personal productivity, which in turn paves the way for more productivity in the workplace. From my own experience with the app, it’s straightforward, concise and fulfills its purpose. Best of all, your phone vibrates when you mark tasks as “done,” and it makes you feel really accomplished. Remember, interacting with your phone regarding work needs to be a positive, satisfying experience to maximize what you can finish in a day. Your phone is a physically small, but important, component to your life; dreading it makes the job worse.
TechCrunch is an excellent way to keep up with the most modern developments in the world of entrepreneurship. The news source focus on what is being done in technology, social media, and startups that aim to alter the world dynamics with technology in general, be it robots, new e-commerce ideas, or another one of the many relevant topics. Information is key when you want to enter a new industry — or even create your own — and you need a source that can give you exactly what you need. Of course, sources like Apple’s news app can be geared to show you exactly what you want, but sources like TechCrunch exist for the purpose of giving a specific kind of information. It’s pretty simple to naturally see where the trust in information would fall depending on what you want to find. Go with the platform that was created for a reason concurrent with what you aim to do.
When I first joined LinkedIn, I thought it was one of the stupidest things created. It was just a business Facebook, and I hated the idea of having a profile with all of your accomplishments, credentials, and “network” on display for the whole world to see (because, as a very young person, I’ve lost interest in Facebook). I found it superficial. But it’s important nevertheless. Everyone is on LinkedIn, and there are countless work opportunities available. The exposure LinkedIn provides is a vital component to any aspiring entrepreneur considering that the world is now based on social media. Moreover, being able to interact and communicate online is a skill every single person needs to master. Your online presence can be a make or break decision in recruiting and hiring. You need to prove that you are fluent with the internet. Don’t forget to make it personal, never refer to yourself in the third person (remind the world and yourself that you’re still human and personable), and link anything you have (blogs and other important profiles that represent you well). That is the place to showcase the achievements and experience that make you proud.
On another note, keep in mind that linking your Instagram account, or any expressive platform for that matter, could be a great idea, too. I linked mine because I express myself well through photos and colors (considering my artistic background). No words on any cover letter, resume, or CV could ever convey what my posted experiences can display. In my opinion, the best employers want to see who they’re potentially hiring, not what. In a world where people can just Google you, you might as well put everything on LinkedIn; if you do have a Twitter feed that’s a bit vulgar or a Facebook profile with embarrassing posts from when you were a teenager, at least you can redirect the people viewing your LinkedIn profile to the accounts of your choice. They won’t have the curiosity to look elsewhere, nor the time. It represents you well and makes it easy to access who you are.
This one may be a puzzling addition to the list, and I’d like to mention that Apple’s Keynote and Pages are both incredible products that should be taken advantage of by anyone who can use them. You can’t forget about the purchasable content that Apple provides, from templates to whatever components to a document or presentation you can think of. They’re all incredible and look extremely professional. Yes, Microsoft Office has been the leader for some time now, but I find that Keynote and Pages have refreshing appearances — utilizing them is easy, straightforward and simple. I find formatting easier on Keynote and Pages than on Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. It’s more dynamic and natural. For me, Apple’s Pages and Keynote can make great statements, specifically sophisticated, modern and refreshing ones that are essential in a world that leans towards minimalism ad simplicity in aesthetics. Never underestimate the power of what people like to see. Attention to detail with documents and presentations is crucial. It only takes seconds for someone to lose interest, which can cost you the job, investment, or exposure.
Of course, there are plenty of other apps to choose from, and everyone’s preferences are different, but make LinkedIn your number one if it isn’t already. The most important thing is to read the reviews and see if the app fits you. If we kept track of how much time we waste experimenting with trial and errors with apps, it would make us think twice before downloading.
