By Matt Heinz, President of Heinz Marketing
“How I Work” is one of my favorite recurring features in Inc Magazine as well as via Lifehacker’s This Is How I Work Series, and recently several sales experts (including Anthony Iannarino, Dave Brock and Trish Bertuzzi) participated as well.
Periodically moving forward we will feature a new B2B sales, marketing or business leader here answering what have become the standard “How I Work” questions. You can catch up on everyone we’ve featured thus far in the “How I Work” series here.
This week I’m excited to feature Barbara Weaver Smith, founder of The Whale Hunters. Let’s see what hasn’t Barbara done? She has as PhD in English from Ball State University, later served as Dean of the University College there for three years, and has been helping entrepreneurs, business and sales leaders grow ever since!
Barbara, suffice it to say, gets stuff done. Here in her own words is how she does it.
Location: Phoenix, AZ area
Current computers: Surface Pro 3 with docking station and big-screen monitor
Current mobile devices: iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, — Surface Pro for business travel
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without? Nimble, Freeconferencing.com, rev.com, Dropbox, WordPress, Audacity, Evernote, Quickbooks Pro
What’s your workspace like? I have a lovely, just-for-me home office with all black and chrome and glass furniture, a curvy two-level glass desk, lots of art, col and memorabilia, a little collection of whale-tails and Inuit art, “Edgy” boxing gloves from Dan Waldschmidt hanging out next to a signed bowling pin from my Brunswick clients. I sit in front of a big window looking out over pink and red hibiscus plants and the always-blue Arizona sky!
What’s your best time-saving shortcut or lifehack? Using gMail instead of Outlook! I know people who will cringe, but I have more than 12,000 emails in my inbox
What everyday thing are you better at than anybody else? I’m really good at making all kinds of homemade soup and freezing it for quick suppers.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager? I keep trying them and trying them, but I’m best with a Black n’ Red hardcover spiral-bound notebook with 24-lb paper and a good fountain pen. I like to write things down and cross them off.
What do you listen to while at work? Nope, I don’t listen at all. Most of the time in my office I am writing, and I need quiet to concentrate.
What are you currently reading? Right now The House at Tyneford (Natasha Solomons). Recent favorites include The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake (Erik Larson), The Kennedy Brothers (Richard Mahoney), The Lady in Gold (Anne Marie O’Connor)
What’s your sleep routine like? Pretty boring. I’m in bed by 9 or 10 (some nights even earlier) and up by 6 (or so).
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? I was kind of intimidated when it was time to write my dissertation. A professor on my committee told me, “Don’t think of it as your first book; think of it as your last research paper.” Since then, all my new scary projects have been “the last something familiar.”
Anything else you want to add? Thanks for inviting me!
Fill in the Blank: I’d love to see BLANK answer these questions. Laura Posey
