I recently presented a keynote speech entitled:
Keeping Your Head Above Water in a Sea of Information

Here’s the description: Drowning in a sea of information? Having difficulty keeping up with wave after wave of tools and resources? In this session, Tammy will provide a 6-step strategy that will help you to stay afloat.

For my Tip of the Week for the next 6 weeks, I will present my 6-step plan. Here’s Step 6:

Idea 1 - Use / Evaluate Time-Saving Tools:

1. 1.Try some of the resources / ideas we’ve already covered to save you valuable time: delicious bookmarks, organizing and consolidating email; iGoogle, RSS Readers, etc.
   

2. 2.After giving the tool a fair shot, evaluate it. If it is taking more time than it is saving, give it up.
   
   

Idea 2 - Take Advantage of Google Tips & Tricks:
www.google.com

Google Searches:
In regular search window:

1. Calculator
   Type a calculation (2 + 3 * 4 - 1 / 3) and press Enter
   
   

2. Conversion Tool
   Be sure to use the word “in”
   1 mile in feet
   1 cup in tablespoons
   100 dollars in euros
   180 c in f
   
   

3. Dictionary
   Define: your word
   
   

4. Weather
   weather Wichita
   
   

Google Advanced Search:
Click the Advanced Search Link

1. Search for PowerPoint Presentations
   

   

   
   
   
2. Search for Jeopardy Games
   

   

   
   

Google Maps:
www.maps.google.com

1. Satellite View
   

2. Find Business
   

3. Get Directions
   

Idea 3 - Learn and Use Shortcuts
Here are some of Tammy’s favorites:

Microsoft Office Shortcuts
www.google.com

1. Complete list:
   http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011407361033.aspx
   

1. Tammy’s favorites:           
   - Control (Option) drag to duplicate
   - Control (Command) + Shift + > to increase text size
   - Control (Command) + Shift + < to decrease text size
   - Control (Command) + E to center text
   - Control (Command) + R to right-align text
   - Control (Command) + L to left-align text
   

Firefox Shortcuts
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

1. Complete list:
   http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/keyboard
   
   

2. Tammy’s favorites:           
   - Control (Command) + + to increase text size
   - Control (Command) + - to decrease text size
   - Control (Command) + T for new tab
   - Double click in blank area for new tab
   - Control (Command) +  L to select location bar
   - Control (Command) + Click on link to open in new tab
   
   

3. Bookmark keyword shortcuts
   1. View bookmarks
   2. Right click bookmark - choose properties
   3. Enter keyword
   Now you can use the keyword instead of typing the address in the location window.
   
   Smart Keywords
   
   

Mac OSX Shortcuts

1. Complete list:
   http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459
   

1. Tammy’s favorites:
   - Two fingers on track pad to scroll
   - Control + Click = Right Click
   - Two finger click = Right Click
   - Control + two fingers to zoom