Businessanalystblog's Weblog

Echo smartpen Livescribe Desktop with Connect

businessanalystblog — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:28:47 +0000

The Livescribe Desktop includes “Connect” and with the Echo 4GB or 8BG smartpen you get Connect Premium which includes email & Google Docs “connectors” that add to the list of other connectors like Facebook… send interactive PDF files with both audio & your notes to anyone (all they need is the latest Adobe Reader software). What an invaluable addition to the already great tool! Highly recommended for any Business Analyst, Project Manager, or anyone wanting to capture notes, drawings, and audio during class, meetings, events, or just personal note taking! I use it multiples during the week to capture tech design session notes & audio, and my own personal notes that I take while studying or working on other interests. Here’s a link to a short demo/training video on the Livescribe Desktop with Connect… http://bit.ly/mqlsJP

Software project management guides for the BA

businessanalystblog — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:07:33 +0000

For those business analyst assignments where the role includes taking on project management responsibility (one that I am presently involved in), I’ve found several good books that may be helpful to you as well. The first one is an older release but still appropriate for today’s projects – “Software Project Survival Guide” from Microsoft Press by Steve McConnell a highly recognized consultant, author, and software developer. It is available new, used, and in Kindle format.

The other guide I own is “Software Project Management For Dummies” authored by Teresa Luckey and Joseph Phillips. It too is available new, used, and in Kindle format.

Both books are easy reads and provide an excellent foundation for the BA with the added PM responsibility and for Project Managers who are looking for good resources to add to their collection.

Echo smartpen continues to be a valuable BA tool

businessanalystblog — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:28:27 +0000

Today I once again used my Echo smartpen in meeting. This time instead of the stereo earphone/microphones I simply used the built-in recording microphone. In the small area where the three of us met it picked up our conversations with ease. However, without the noise reducing earphone/microphone use it did pick up background conversations outside and around the large cubical we were in. It was a very minor distraction during listening to the audio. Also, the built-in microphone does slightly pick up the notes that you write, and again only a slight distraction.

Interestingly, any notes that you take while recording the audio will show in the Livescribe application as green text (any text added after you’ve stopped recording – at any time post recording the text will be shown as black text). And if you are following the notes via the Livescribe application while listening to the audio, it will turn the light gray text to green as you reach that part of the audio and text on the page!!

Hands-down a true win-win for any business analyst wanting to capture 100% of the meeting, and take notes as desired. Excellent investment – one of my best in my 9 plus years as a BA!

businessanalystblog — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:47:30 +0000

Along with my Business Analyst consulting work I have a technology business where I delve into Website creation, hosting and marketing (my own sites primarily), as well as domain buying and selling. One organization that I have the utmost respect for, and have been an affiliate of for years, is SiteSell and their SBI! (Site Build It) solution. Below is information on SBI! and a link to their affiliate program – I’d welcome your joining my team!

SBI! – Site Build It…

Website hosting, building, and marketing suite of tools provided by SiteSell! SBI! makes online business success doable with an all-in-one process, tools, and guidance. SBII! really does change lives.

SBI! includes all the tools and a proven process required to build a long-term, profitable e-business,.

You get more than just a “site builder.” SBI! removes the technical barriers allowing you to keep your attention on building your business… Many functions are completely automated; you don’t need to know anything upfront about building a Web site in order to succeed..

The process is simplified to such a degree that success (i.e. profits, not the mere presence of a Web site) is achievable even for a beginner, For the experienced person, achieving success is even smoother.

SBI! is the only product that takes the time to prepare you to build a profitable business, before you jump into building your site. For the beginner, your learning curve will be shorter and you will bypass show-stopping errors.

For those experienced in site-building, SBI! deepens your level of understanding; we can attest to this!

Following the SBI! Action Guide keeps you from getting sidetracked, or having to guess at what happens next. SBI!’s guided approach helps you reach your goals. Hands down the best available!

With the Action Guide (video or text version) you are carefully guided each step of the way which makes success that much more doable.

Along with the 90-day guaranteed satisfaction included is unlimited customer support throughout your SBI! experience and use. And, SBI! owners extend their help via the numerous SBI! forums – providing friendly help-and-be-helped resulting in a set of e- business forums and resources that are tops in the site building, business creation, web hosting, and marketing suite of tools.

Early in your Action Guide Day 1 through Day 10 plan you will be introduced to one of the (very) valuable tools that are provided with SBI! Brainstormer. You will truly see very quickly just what excellent site concepts building and creativity tools you now have. We use it ourselves frequently!

And, for those interested in an affiliate program that is rewarding, both through personal knowledge building and through profit building opportunities, the creators of SBI! at SiteSell have created one of the best affiliate programs in the industry, one that we’ve belonged to for a number of years. You owe it to yourself to check out the SiteSell 5 Pillar Club and join today for free and no obligations (except to take advantage of the wealth on sales and marketing tools that are included!

DomainCountryStore.com - register your domains here!

Echo smartpen from Livescribe – excellent tool for any BA

businessanalystblog — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:43:56 +0000

I have tweeted twice about the Echo smartpen (http://www.twitter.com/mikeconkey) and thought I’d mention my feedback here. This doesn’t have anything to do with affiliate opportunities and is simply a user perspective on an excellent device.

Recently I had the opportunity to use the pen to take notes on one of the special tablets (special micro-dot paper which you can print yourself via a color laser) and record the 2 hour meeting. The audio was amazing quality; I used the earphone microphone combination that came with the pen but I simply spread the earpieces out on the conference room table and not only did they pick up every conversation around the large room, and the folks on the conference call, it recorded the meeting in stereo.

The package I bought included MyScript software that provides OCR capabilities. It is only as good as your handwriting but it was worth the price to have it included.

I’d recommend the 8GB version of the Echo smartpen for anyone needing to capture meeting notes (or study notes), upload them to your computer via USB, and have the option to record the audio of the meeting. Excellent product!

SiteSell Affiliate Program and SBI!

businessanalystblog — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:18:11 +0000

As a long-time affiliate of SiteSell with a number team members participating in the excellent 5 Pillar affiliate club, I am proud to provide my blog visitors with information on a service (SBI!) that is truly none like any other. If you are interested in promoting a top qualify company and service, be sure to check out the information in this post – or simply click on the following link to learn more about the 5 Pillar club and join my team – no cost or obligation but I’m sure you’ll see the benefits immediately for you and for anyone else you introduce to SiteSell and SBI! (this isn’t anything to do with networking marketing – although you could learn more about that line of business and how SBI! would fit in to it along with hundreds of other business ideas).
http://tinyurl.com/sitesellcomaffiliates

For all of the SBI! topics below, click here for the full listing
http://bit.ly/ijT9r6

The SBI! Video Tour
Invest 30 minutes into your future (all in one sitting or save the URL and come back as time allows. It’s free, and by the end, you’ll understand exactly how Site Build It! can help build the business of your dreams!
http://bit.ly/fXjTjT

SBI! For Webmasters
“Take Your Clients Beyond Their Expectations…
Build Them a Web Site That Works

SBI! is so much more than just a “”sitebuilder.”" No other product in the world (ex., not Dreamweaver, not WordPress) comes close to providing everything you need to build a profitable online business… an e-business that has real equity (i.e., related businesses want to purchase your business).

Only SBI! ties it all together… “
http://bit.ly/g9xmGP

The SBI! Tools
“All the Tools, All in One Place, All for ONE Low Price!
SBI! is so much more than just a “”sitebuilder.”" No other product in the world (ex., not Dreamweaver, not WordPress) comes close to providing everything you need to build a profitable online business… an e-business that has real equity (i.e., related businesses want to purchase your business).

Only SBI! ties it all together…”
http://bit.ly/dQ1Sqq

The SBI! Quick Tour
“Imagine if…
…you could build a professional Web site and drive thousands of warm, targeted, open-to-buy visitors to it, every day!”
http://bit.ly/fkrVgA

Find Your Business
“Find Your Small Business (or Idea)
Now Build a Web Site That Works!

SBI!’s natural and powerful C T P M process-and-tools work for all kinds of small business. This page will point you to the right site, the one that shows you how to use the Net to build your business effectively and economically, no matter what kind of business it may be.”
http://bit.ly/hg9x54

Blog Or Build
“Blog or Website? With Site Build It!…
You Actually Do Both Automatically.

Beyond That, Is Full Blogging Right For You?”
http://bit.ly/erCyd2

Special Prize
“SBI! delivers success, yes and so much more!

Passion & Priorities, Joy of Freedom, Growth & Self-Reliance, Family, Recognition, Right Skills, Net Worth…”
http://bit.ly/hGRnEX

CTPM Process
“Build A Web Site That Works
Build An E-business
Act Upon The Fundamental Reality Of The Way People Use The Web”
http://bit.ly/gpIc6L

For Local Businesses
“”"How Can the World Wide Web
Help My Local Business
Which Has Local Clients?”"”
http://bit.ly/eqxDlF

For Network Marketers
“Put The “”Net”" Into Network Marketing

Become An InterNETwork Marketing Success

Rock And A Hard Place Catch-22…
The Internet And Network Marketing”
http://bit.ly/hqDsMc

Proof of Success
“It’s Not About “”Hosting,”" Not Anymore
It’s About the Only Outcome That Really Counts

It’s About Success. Here’s Unmatched, Certified Proof.”
http://bit.ly/dIYBF5

SBI! 2.0
“Imagine Visitors Building Your Business.
For Free. Why? Because They Want To.”
http://bit.ly/fhjfUD

For Infopreneurs
“Become An Infopreneur
What Do You Know That The Net WANTS?

Three Major Barriers Defeat 99% Of Most Would-Be Infopreneurs… “
http://bit.ly/gcOzvU

For all of the SBI! topics above, click here for the full listing
http://bit.ly/ijT9r6

To learn more
about Site-Sell! affiliate program click the Five Pillar Club
logo…

businessanalystblog — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:02:54 +0000

More places to find out more about SiteSell and SBI!

http://tinyurl.com/sbi-facebook

And while you are at it (after you’ve taken advantage of the 10K special ), check out SiteSell on Twitter & YouTube!

http://tinyurl.com/sbi-twitter

http://tinyurl.com/sbi-youtube

SiteSell hits 10k “LIKES” at Facebook 10k special!

businessanalystblog — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 02:31:16 +0000

For 3 days, EVERYONE who LIKES SiteSell Facebook (“SSFB”) gets 2 SBI!s for the price of one. It all started @ 10K! SiteSell is now at 10036 as of this post!

Take advantage of this once-only 2-4-1 SBI! Special! When you purchase SBI! at the annual price, you’ll receive a FREE SBI!! (Annual only, no monthly.)

Click on “Like” us, and then click through to the Special order page from Facebook.

http://tinyurl.com/sbi-facebook

Business Analyst tools & templates

businessanalystblog — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:48:56 +0000

An excellent source for Business Analyst tools (templates in particular) is KLARITI.com – free templates & very reasonably priced offerings. Along with templates for any/most areas that a BA will be involved in on a project, there are templates for project managers and various other businesses. Defintely worth a look – I’m a very happy, repeat customer!

Raven Cloud for business requirements and more

businessanalystblog — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:09:40 +0000

Just the other day I signed up for a free account at http://ravencloud.com – a tool that looks to be very handy in quickly creating business process or use case flow diagrams from written text! This is a ‘cloud’ version of their main product RAVEN 2010 (Ravenflow.com). I’ll post again after I’ve put RAVEN Cloud to some tests on a project coming up.