5 Productivity Applications That Rock:

1. MindMeister

MindMeister acts like an online whiteboard. Ever find yourself knee-deep in a project to only forget the big picture? MindMeister solves this all-too-common dilemma.

As described by Mindmeister, “MindMeister brings the concept of mind mapping to the web, using its facilities for real-time collaboration to allow truly global brainstorming sessions. Users can create, manage and share mind maps online and access them anytime, from anywhere. In brainstorming mode, fellow MindMeisters from around the world (or just in different rooms) can simultaneously work on the same mind map and see each other’s changes as they happen.”

Click here to check out MindMeister

2. GoalScape

GoalScape allows users to set goals in a way that doesn’t intimidate you. How? Through cutting edge visualizations and innovative ways to display goals, the user is less likely to feel overwhelmed, and more likely to actually crank out his or her goals. This is a wonderful supplement to the goal setting tactics that we talk about in the book.

Not only is this application useful for goal-setting, it’s useful for project management, and anything required to get things done.

According to GoalScape, “Goalscape is the revolutionary new way to set goals and motivate, prioritize and progress to achieve whatever you are passionate about. Unlike other program and project management software and task tracking tools, Goalscape is so easy and fun to use that goal setting becomes a quick everyday process and your goals themselves evolve as your personal goal setting skills improve. So you will be better organized, more focused and less stressed! And it works equally well for business and personal goal setting.”

Click here to try out GoalScape

3. Rescuetime

Rescuetime runs in the background and analyzes your browsing activity. It shows you where you’re spending time and where you’re wasting time. In essence, it rescues your time.

On average, Rescuetime recovers 3 hours and 54 minutes of time that you’d otherwise get distracted by.

In their words, RescueTime is a web-based time management and analytics tool for knowledge workers who want to be more efficient and productive. The best way to get a sense of how it works for you or your team is to sign up (for free!). You’ll be up and running in a minute or two. Not yet ready to give it a try? View one of the tour videos or scroll down for some feature screen shots.

4. Concentrate Application

With the Concentrate application, you can literally block out distractions by limiting what you can and can’t do while undertaking a specific action. For instance, if you need to write a paper, you tick it off on the Concentrate Application, and it will virtually bar you from doing anything but writing a paper.

In their words: To start, create an activity (design, study, write, etc) and choose actions (shown below) to run every time you concentrate. When ready, just click “concentrate.” All your distractions will disappear and a timer will appear to help you stay focused.

Check out Concentrate here.

5. FocusList

If you’re tired of complex to-do lists, then check out Faction3′s first productivity application, FocusList.

Faction3 represents a movement towards common sense, simplicity and effectiveness. This movement is embodied in our applications that help you get things done.

The simple to-do list application “FocusList” is a downloadable desktop to-do list that keeps you focused on important items.

You can check out FocusList by clicking here.

5 That Don’t Rock:

1. SugarCRM

SugarCRM is an open source customer relationship management tool (“CRM”). While it’s a novel idea, the features are way too robust to actually be useful. Most companies end up moving to Salesforce, or if they’re smart, they’ll move to a less feature-rich tool such as HighRise.

2. Jott

Jott is a to do list that has some cool features; specifically, text-to-speech. The only problem with that centers on the fact that getting things done does not revolve around how many features are present within one’s to do list. Jott’s competitive edge centers on text-to-speech to do items; if you actually use the service, it could be quite useful; however, most people end up distracting themselves with features instead of concerning themselves with getting things done.

3. Evernote

Evernote is an application that allows you to take pictures of objects that you wish to remember, and then search for that object later. Guess what else does this? A camera. Evernote’s greatest competitive edge is their marketing, as there’s nothing revolutionary about their product (in terms of productivity).

4. Remember the Milk

Remember the Milk is a to list on steroids. This to do list is the exact opposite of minimalism and productivity. RSS to do items, Google Maps mashup to do items, twitter to do items–you name it, they’ve got it. Good luck getting anything done.

Bottom line: If you’re into web-based to do lists, go with Google Tasks (within Gmail).

5. Twitter

Twitter and productivity do not go together.

5 That are Underrated:

1. Moleskine

We live in a digital age. One that’s concerned with how to sync to do lists across RSS, iPads, iPhones and Android Tablets. Yet, when it comes time to actually getting things done, nothing beats Moleskine’s weekly to do planner.

In their words, Moleskine is a brand that identifies a family of notebooks, diaries, and city guides: flexible and brilliantly simple tools for use both in everyday and extraordinary circumstances, ultimately becoming an integral part of one’s personality.

Moleskine was created as a brand in 1997, bringing back to life the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers over the past two century: among them Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Bruce Chatwin. A trusted and handy travel companion, the nameless black notebook held invaluable sketches, notes, stories, and ideas that would one day become famous paintings or the pages of beloved books.

2. Google Docs

Google Docs offers users a minimalistic, web-based set of office applications (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Forms).

Many still overlook the power of collaborating with these tools–specifically Google Docs version of excel. It works great for not only calculating and organizing data, but also for project management. When managing a project, try using a Google Docs workbook with the following columns: Name, To-Do Item, Note. That’s it. You don’t have to even set a date next to each item if you hold the people that you work with accountable.

3. Tungle.Me

Tired of going back and forth between email in order to set up a call? Tungle.me solves this issue eloquently.

In their words, you can use Tungle.Me to Eliminate double-bookings, time zone mishaps and the back-and-forth of finding a time to meet. Easily schedule meetings, inside or outside your organization, and invite others to schedule with you, without having to sign up.

It even integrates with Google Calendar, Google Apps and more.

4. Calculator

So often we lose sight of what’s really important in business: money.

You can take that any way you want. Bottom line, the game of business centers on one principle: Revenue – Cost = Cash

If you’re not in business for that reason, then you’re not in business–you’re in a hobby, dream or venture-backed startup

On every device I own, I use the standard calculator. It keeps me in check and allows me to do simple math that calculates whether or not a specific opportunity is worth the time or investment. If you want to get productive, start using the calculator more.

5. Kindle

“What you will become in five years depends on the people you meet and the books you read.”

You really don’t understand how great the Kindle is until you purchase one. It’s hard to explain the value until you’ve owned one. It’s a device that, much like a book, is easy to get lost in. The value of reading seems to be underrated. You can check out the Kindle here.

The year 2009 was both phenomenal and challenging for me personally.

Most importantly, I learned how different life is from college. It’s been almost two years since I’ve graduated. I’m beginning to come to the conclusion that universities excel in providing context for life; but do not teach one how to succeed in life. And that shouldn’t be an expectation. Nothing but actually living life can teach one how to excel in life. Specifically, items like handling interruption, reacting to life’s curveball and keeping focus in a land of constant distraction.

During my college days, I was the only one involved in the daily agenda. I could hit the books on my own schedule. When you’re in the real-world and married, you have to hit the books on your family’s schedule–whether you want to, or not.

Distraction:

The year 2009 will be remembered for distraction. The year of Twitter, Michael Jackson’s death, Tiger Woods, gadgets and Facebook. For me, I was distracted, as well.

How? I got an iPhone.

Good news: My iPhone was destroyed when I jumped in a pool to save my pug, Winston.

The iPhone was great for distracting me. Waiting in line was wasted reading news stories on the iPhone, instead of observing my surroundings. The iPhone did help me find the latest tech stories via my google reader. However, what I’ve found is that blogs and books are different beasts.

Broadly speaking, the purpose of tech/news blogs are to glitter up interesting story titles so that more eyeballs will observe advertisements.

The purpose of books are to communicate stories, wisdom and lessons. They’re not a substitute good.

My Forecast: Those who succeed in 2010 will be the ones who succeed in battling constant distraction. The distraction of twitter, facebook, myspace and the TMZ’s of the world.

My 2010 Plan to Battle Distraction:

In 2009, my device for getting email, phone calls, book reading and blog reading:

iPhone

In 2010, I plan on breaking these up into different functions so that I won’t end up surfing football scores when I intend to read:

• email and blog reading: laptop
• phone calls: a phone
• book reading: Amazon Kindle