The Art of the Hustle: 5 Sites You Need to Know!

When I first sat down and began working on this site, my intention was to pay homage to the Urban Hustler, the part of the black community that produced the Mike Barber’s,Kwame Jacksons , Diddy’s, and Swisha House’s of the world with a site that revealed the who, what, why, and how behind the hustle. When I use the word hustle, there are a few standouts that come to mind. The producers of these sites are real life examples that walk the talk and give great advice to the rest of us in the process. If you havent heard of these sites or their creators, Im sure you will very soon.

---

Dedicated to the aspiring mogul, maker, and doer of things, 21st Century Hustle provides us like minded individuals with a community to exchange ideas, hear from those of us who have made it to “street level success” (financial independence attained by hand producing, self-hustling, and urban-marketing ones own products or services). One of the things I love about this site is they give you a daily dose of motivational quotes with well placed images to match (one of my favorite quotes found on the site is from Will Smith – “I  will not be outworked PERIOD.”)

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. -Conrad Hilton

I have featured this site several times recently in my Daily Kick in the Ass posts on Twitter, because these “Go-Getters” do just that on the daily.

Dezmon Landers has done an outstanding job with Startup Hustle, a site dedicated to the art of the business startup. What caught me about this site was his pure practicality with posts like Patience Is A Virtue But Impatience Pays The Bills…, and the way he easily breaks down complex concepts (like Angel Funding, or Pay Per Lead Affiliate Marketing…I didnt know what the hell any of this was prior to stumbling across SH!)

…the next time someone tells you to “Slow Down”, look at them and evaluate where they’re coming from. Do they have your best interest in mind, or is your pace just faster than theirs?

If you find out the latter, keep it moving and be successful!

Educated and street smart, Dezmon is the true embodiment of a corporate hustler.

Two words: College swagger. For those people still fumbling around trying to figure out the “ebay thing”, Michael Booker has been “finding electronics (laptops, cell phones, accesories, etc) that are either partly damaged or all out broken and selling them online.” If every college kid was as resourceful and net savvy as Mike (ahem, excuse me, Mr. Booker), parents would have no worries! With his clean and intelligent writing style, and great advice (as well as “What Im Up To” posts that you will actually want to read) you will forget that TGT (Time Greater than Money) is the brainchild of a 22 year old (some stuff I read and Im still like “Where does he learn all this?!”)

Mind of a Hustler caught my eye with his post titled Start that $20 Hustle and make a million dollars. I also like his down to Earth money making ideas (becoming a tow yard broker, genious!) that just go to show you that with the right perspective, you can really increase your income. The downside of this site is the author has been MIA since January, but I will give him a pass, since apparently he has been in the process of opening a bar/restaurant.

OK, This site isnt so much a how-to (but it seems thats gonna be the direction LeGo is going in) as it is a motivational site. Alot of the time, those of us in less than magnificent living conditions find it hard to envision life beyond poverty, but doing so is essential to your success (thats why your homework for Success Model Part 1 was to collect images of your future success, remember??). Hustle Strategy gives us good, clean design, well written rants, and some aspirations to work with…

I had heard about the guy on Craigslist trying to hustle a paper clip. His goal was to trade up to a house. The idea was to see if he could start with a paper clip and trade with enough people, until he ended up with a house. This is a crazy hustle that he was actually able to pull off. If you hustle with a strategy there is not much you can’t do…- LeGo, Creator of Hustle Strategy

---

With these top shelf sites, there is no excuse for you to not put your hustle into overdrive. Check out these sites, let me know what you all think, and go get your hustle on!

Productivity Tools: Online To Do Lists

by Arthur Pledger

With so many things vying for your attention online, its hard to stay focused on getting meaningful work done (especially if you have ADD like me!) Its very easy to get started on one thing, check your email, respond to some messages, click on a few links, read a few blogs, and then realize that two hours have gone by and you havent made any progress whatsoever. One of the ways I stay productive online is the use of To Do Lists. By keeping a running list, youre able to quickly identify what you should be doing and keep track of the appropriate actions that’ll help you finish projects. Here are four great tools to get you started:

Todoist.com

Todoist is perhaps the best task management tool on the web, offering plugins for both Firefox and Gmail, Mac compatible widgets, all essential net-phone synchronization, and the ability to edit and reprioritize tasks.

What I like about Todoist

• Its simple to use
• With a Premium subscription (only $3/month), you can have access to reminders sent to your cellphone or sent to you via twitter!
• Todoist operates according to a philosophy that encapsules the mindset of a “to-do ist”:

The Zen of Todoist

Now is better than later.
Later is better than never.
Organized is better than messy.
Big things are composed by smaller things.
Smaller things are done by action.
Think like a person of action.
Act like a person of thought.
The beginning is half of every action.
The longest journey starts with the first step.
Everything should be made as simple as possible.
But not simpler.
Celebrate any progress.
Don’t wait to get perfect.
Deadlines and stress are a part of life.

With so many features, a clear vision, and an evolutionary approach to developing their site, theres little to not like about Todoist. I definitely reccomend that you try it out!

Remember the Milk

A million registered users can’t be wrong! With RTM, you are able to receive task reminders via email, instant messenger, and SMS. RTM also syncs up with your Google Calendar and adds a small task icon to the top of each day: From your calendar, you are able to check your tasks, check off tasks that you have already completed, and you pretty much get all the task management capabilities that you would on the RTM site itself. There are so many services and third-party applications associated with RTM, that no matter what browser, mobile device, or platform you use, you will be able to quickly and easily manage all your to-dos.

Things I like about Remember the Milk

• You can use it offline! When registering, you are given the option of adding an icon to your desktop, or by clicking the  button on the menu at the top of the page, RTM syncs all your tasks and makes all the features of the site available offline! That means you are still able to be productive regardless of if you’re able to steal your neighbors wi-fi!
• RTM offers all the task management tools that you’d need to make sure youre able to get tasks finished according to priority and before their due dates
• iPhone applications software is available for download either through iTunes, or the Remember The Milk website, so you are able to add and manage your tasks from your phone!

Things I don’t like about Remember The Milk

• Customization: users lack the ability to customize the task category tabs, so that they could label specific projects rather than have them clumped under the “work” or “personal” tabs

RTM is the one and only site that I have used since starting this post, and I am more pleased every day by its functionality, and Im sure you will be to. Give it a try, click here!

The Online CEO

The Online CEO is not only a to do list, but a way to “keep score” of whether or not the tasks you are busying yourself with actually matter. The Online CEO is an offshoot of David Seah’s The Printable CEO, a fun to use resource that allows you to create and print off project level task tracking, goal setting specifically for small business owners and a great task progress tracker.

Things I like about The Online CEO

• Prioritization: Youre very easily able to see what you should be working on over what you would like to be working on
• Printable Resources: The Online CEO is an offspring of The Printable CEO, a site whose tools were designed specifically to be used offline.

Things I dont like about The Online CEO

• Minimalism: Again, this is a great resource to use if all you need is a prioritized list, but as far as complete task management, this site falls short
• I would like to be able to customize the priority list on my own

I would recommend this tool only in conjunction with tools from its parent site, located here

Tadalist.com

Ta-da List is a really easy to use list maker. No bells and whistles, no alerts or flags on past due tasks, no due dates period. If all you need is an online checklist, be it for an upcoming trip of for tasks to finish today, then Ta-da List is your spot.

Things I like about Ta-da List

• Simplicity. The site has a bare minimum layout, meaning there’s nothing that’ll activate your Attention Deficit Disorder!

• If you’re accessing this site using your iPhone, this site is easy to load. Then again, what site isnt easy to load on an iPhone or Blackberry.

Things I don’t like about Ta-da List

• This site is good for creating lists without the clutter, but as far as task management goes, there is none. No function that allows you to set deadlines or prioritize tasks, or do anything else aside from creating create a list.

• You gotta be logged on to access your list. Without access to the web, you will be printing your list off at the public library.

Regardless of your tastes, one of these sites should suit your task management style and need. Whichever tool appeals to you most, use it! The point here is to Git-R-Dun!

Do you have another task management website that you use? Start or join the conversation below!

Achieving Your Fitness Goals Using the Web

There is a plethora of information available online about fitness – so much that it can be overwhelming. So where to start? That depends on what you’re looking for. Here are a few tips, broken down by category.

Workout Tips

Sites such as Bodybuilding.com and others have staff writers who can help you with the ins and outs of fitness, whether your are a beginner, expert, or anywhere in between. Articles can help you learn how to use equipment, perform exercises, learn new techniques, or design workout regimens of your own.

Research

Whether it’s on the effectiveness of certain supplements or which type of cardio will be most beneficial for you, there is a lot of research available online. Scientific journals such as the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research have articles and abstracts posted online for your perusal. However, some of this can be difficult to understand, so you can look for other places where this information is broken down and explained, such as the Studies and Research Blog here on Bodybuilding.com.

Buying Supplements

With the fast pace of most people’s lives today, diets can’t always be perfect, so supplements are a big help. Additionally, being busy often means that you don’t have time to hit the store during normal business hours, and even if you do, the employees at your local retailer may not be the most informed individuals. Luckily, you can go online and learn about supplements and read reviews before you buy. And most of the time, you can find supplements cheaper online than you can in stores, so it’s really a win-win situation.

Camaraderie

Unless you know a lot of people at your gym, training can be a lonely road. And for those who train at home, the problem is exacerbated. However, the online community is massive, and you can exchange ideas with others in the forums, start a workout journal to log progress and elicit opinions on your routine, or follow along on someone else’s BodyBlog or journal for motivation. The possibilities are endless.

Finding a Trainer or Gym near you

You probably don’t have time to drive up and down every street in your town and check out where all the local businesses are, and the internet makes it incredibly easy to find trainers and gyms near you, as most have websites that list hours, rates and locations. But if you don’t know the name of any trainers or gyms in your area, head over to Google Maps and in the search box, type “personal trainer loc: [your area]” and you’ll be able to see where trainers are and how to contact them, and even get driving directions! How easy is that?

Diet Help

Nutrition is a HUGE part of reaching your goals, whether you’re trying to lean out or add mountains of mass. The internet is incredibly useful for this, offering calorie counts and nutrition information for every food imaginable, as well as programs to track your daily calories. In addition, there are a multitude of sites to find tasty recipes and learn how to make healthier versions of your favorites.

Finding Cheap Equipment

Probably the most expensive part of leading a fit lifestyle is the equipment and/or gym membership. And unlike cars, there aren’t a lot of stores that sell used equipment. Thankfully, sites such as eBay and Craigslist can help you find cheap equipment in your area.

How did bodybuilders of the past become so informed and successful with no access of the internet?

While having a massive online community is a very cool concept, there is something to be said for the tight-knit community among bodybuilders of the past. Without access to the internet, ideas had to be spread through word of mouth and contact with others at the gym. This allowed for a lot of camaraderie and a lot of anecdotal information – you knew a method or training technique worked because you saw it in action. Of course, someone just a few miles away could have come up with a breakthrough technique that you wouldn’t know about if it wasn’t publicized, so that could be an issue. However, I think the lack of the internet made more bodybuilders “do it yourself” kind of guys who were extremely driven, dedicated and intense, because that was a sure-fire way to produce results. Most of these hardcore bodybuilders would probably laugh at ‘fad’ workouts of today. The main difference though, comes down to community – while it wasn’t as widespread, the old-school community was more involved, as bodybuilders saw each other in person instead of anonymously over the internet. This meant they could trust each other more and they probably had more meaningful relationships, which helped make up for the lack of breadth in the community.

What kind of impact has the internet had on your fitness/bodybuilding lifestyle, knowledge, goals, etc? How do you think your bodybuilding lifestyle would be different without the internet?

The internet has had an incredibly large influence on my fitness lifestyle and knowledge. Without the internet, I wouldn’t have nearly the knowledge that I have now. While there are a lot of books on the subject, the amount of free resources on the internet has been great in expanding my understanding of exercise science, muscular anatomy, supplements and nutrition. Also, books can be a great tool, but if you have a question or need clarification, you can’t exactly call up the author and ask for a more thorough explanation. However, with message boards and chat rooms, it’s very easy to get more information any time that you need it. Additionally, when I’m not at school, I’m training at home, which can be a lonely pursuit. Luckily, I can interact with friends on the message boards, share my progress, get new ideas and meet new people with similar interests and goals. This makes things a lot more interesting and provides some motivation to work harder. I’m not sure I’d be working out as hard or as often if I didn’t have the internet as a resource for communication and knowledge. Lastly, I do all of my supplement shopping online, as not a lot of products are available in my area, and the stores that do have a decent selection are very expensive. Shopping online is very convenient, and I can easily compare prices and get the best deal, no matter what time I’m doing my shopping – often at odd times after I’m done with class and work. It’s very hard to imagine how things would have been for me without the internet, but I’m sure they would not be as successful. Before searching around online, I didn’t know how to create an effective split, or what to eat, or even when to eat to make the most progress. Through emulating and adapting others’ routines, I have developed routines of my own and have applied others’ ideas about fitting exercise into my busy schedule. And because new ideas are coming out all the time, the learning never stops.

Written bysoundcheck129 for Bodybuilding.com. Check out his thread Here!

Wolfram|Alpha : The End of Google?

Since twitter has become such a great source of current event information, I have made checking trending topics part of my morning routine. I stumbled upon #Wolfram|Alpha, and initially passed it off as another group of twiggs trying to promote some incoherent word, but after entering a Google search, I was astounded. In it’s own words, “Wolfram|Alpha is the first step in an ambitious, long-term project to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable by anyone.” You enter your question or calculation, and Wolfram|Alpha uses its built-in algorithms and growing collection of data to compute the answer.

• Wolfram|Alpha can tell you that there are 66,000 people in India who speak a language called Korwa
• Can tell you whether you are over or underweight, how many quarts of water you have in your body, and what your heart volume is in pints (although, I dont know why you would want to know this!)
  
• Can calculate how many days you have been alive, or any other mathematical formula you input

Fifty years ago, when computers were young, people assumed that they’d quickly be able to handle all these kinds of things.

And that one would be able to ask a computer any factual question, and have it compute the answer.

But it didn’t work out that way. Computers have been able to do many remarkable and unexpected things. But not that.

I’d always thought, though, that eventually it should be possible. And a few years ago, I realized that I was finally in a position to try to do it.

– Stephen Wolfram

Okay, I know youre thinking:

1. Why would I need this useless knowledge?
2. Cant I just use Google to find the answer to practically eveything? How is Wolfram|Alpha competitive?
3. Isnt this just like Cuil, or Cyc?

Answer:

Wolfram|Alpha is a resource that students will find invaluable for its ability to interpret and solve nearly any mathematical equation, as well as its ability to compile and deliver all information as it relates to a particular date. Enter  your birthdate, for example, and not only will Wolfram|Alpha tell you about significant events that happened on that date, but also the time of sunrise and sunset on that particular day, and even what phase the moon was in! Enter a future date, and the search engine will tell you what anniversaries and significant events are scheduled for that date! Lets see Google do that! In defense of Google, W|A doesnt handle as wide a range of queries, but it handles far more than Cyc or Cuil. Also, W|A lacks deductive reasoning powers, unlike Google, meaning queries where

“those where the query requires logically reasoning out a way to combine (logically or arithmetically combine) two or more pieces of information which the system can individually fetch for you.  One example of this is: “How old was Obama when Mitterrand was elected president of France?”  It can tell you demographic information about Obama, if you ask, and it can tell you information about Mitterrand (including his ruleStartDate), but doesn’t make or execute the plan to calculate a person’s age on a certain date given his birth date”

–Doug Lenat

Granted, W|A cant tell you what a gibbous moon is as soon as you enter it into the search engine like Google can, but the implications for this project could mean a paradigm shift in the way we access and use information. I have already started using it as my Google in absentia. Try it  out and you will quickly be able to see its potential!

How To: Extract SmartArt Images From a Microsoft Document

If you blog, then you know the importance of using visuals like images and diagrams to better illustrate your ideas, or just to liven up an otherwise boring batch of black and white texts. The best feature that I have found on my desktop for designing diagrams is Microsoft SmartArt (Windows XP), however, I ran into issues when copying my blog postings from Microsoft Office Word Documents (.docx) into my WordPress text box. All texts transfer, but SmartArt images arent supported by WordPress’ platform, and didnt transfer.

If youve ran into the same problem, heres a step-by-step process for transferring SmartArt images (or any other imbedded images) from your document to the web!

Step 1: Select the graphic that you wish to use. This graphic must be saved as a .gif, .jpg, or .png, so on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Copy.

Step 2: Now, you should see the SmartArt Graphic on your clipboard. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow under Paste, and then click Paste Special.

Step 3:In the Paste Special dialog box, in the As list, click Picture (GIF), Picture (PNG), or Picture (JPEG)

Step 4: Using jzip (or whatever zip/unzip program that you use), open the document that has the images on them

Step 5: In the file directory, open the folder labeled media, and you should see your converted image. Save that image to your desktop, and upload it onto your blog or photobucket account

THATS IT, YOURE DONE!

Hopefully this post will save you alot of headache!