The Edge for December 2020

We asked New Jersey executives to talk about the tools they use that make them more productive at the office or in their home office. They mentioned earbuds, standing desks, large computer monitors, good music, good lighting and even a service that reminds you when it’s time to make follow-up calls. Check out what they said below. You may pick up some work ideas – or holiday gift ideas.

Keep Your Scenery Fresh, and Walk Around with Earbuds for Phone Calls

The most important tool for me is a change of scenery. I move my workspace in the house every couple of weeks. It varies from my home office to the dining room to the backyard gazebo during the warmer months. I’ll also walk around with my earbuds for phone calls, whether it’s throughout the house, around the neighborhood, or in the car. And having my canine companion, Julia, with me also makes the work-from-home experience more enjoyable. I don’t think she finds my job that interesting, though, judging by how much she sleeps.

– John Pennett, Partner-in-Charge of Life Sciences and Technology Groups, EisnerAmper

A Standing Desk Does Wonders for Lower Back Pain

For Mother’s Day, my husband surprised me with a motorized standing desk and a large monitor to extend my laptop’s display so that I could work with two screens — my laptop screen and the desktop screen. These gifts were the equivalent of diamonds and pearls in my book and came at a time when my practice, now fully remote, was becoming extremely busy. Being able to intermittently raise my desk provided me an energy boost and eased lower back pain. My dual screens allowed me to view multiple documents or have Zoom on my laptop screen while viewing related documents on my second screen. While ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ may still be true, this working mother views her standing desk and dual monitor set up as her best friend!

– Shirley U. Emehelu, Member, Litigation Group | Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Committee | Co-Leader, Banking & Finance Practice, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

Don’t Overlook Good Lighting for Zoom Calls

For me, having a large monitor, a good HD camera, and quality speakers and microphone are essential. An overlooked essential is good lighting. For Zoom calls, lighting that is flexible means the difference between being seen clearly and looking like you exist in a fuzzy cloud.

– Randy Stodard, Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut

His Old Office Chair is Fine, His Grandkids are Loud, and He is Happy

I have tried other office chairs, but have found that using the same comfortable chair gets me through the day. In unprecedented times, we all have come to adapt, adjust and be flexible. Finding quiet at home is not always possible — I have grandkids that scream louder than my speaker volume — but finding balance is key. I’d rather be with my grandkids, than away from them.

– James Hardenberg, Chief Learning Officer, NJCPA

His Secret: A Web-Based Service that Reminds Him When to Make Follow-Up Calls

To stay more productive, here are two things that I recommend:

1) The website Followupthen.com will make sure you never forget to follow up on an email. By simply bcc'ing on outgoing email with a timeframe (i.e.: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), the service will automatically remind you if you haven't received a response. The average sale takes seven follow ups and the average person stops at one.

2) A good video setup, including a good rig light, a physical lift for my laptop - no one looks good from under the chin - a good pair of earbuds and a good mic. I like the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and a Blue Yeti mic, but you don't need to spend much to look and sound a lot better.

– Aaron Price, CEO, TechUnited:NJ (formerly NJ Tech Council); Founder, Propelify

Hey Alexa, Play Classical!

It's easier to play background music at home – classical in my case so I'm not distracted by vocals. It can make working a bit more pleasant. I just call out to Alexa!

– Tom Byrne, Managing Partner, Byrne Asset Management LLC

Turn on Spotify Music, Turn off Phone Alerts

I use the Spotify streaming music service for music to concentrate by. Spotify has pre-packaged music tracks under such titles as “focus” and “music for concentration” or “concentration maximum” and “intense studying.” Further when I write or think through a problem, I close my email and turn off my phone and computer notifications. There is nothing worse than getting sidetracked by a ringing phone, a dinging text, or a pinging email notice. Folks can wait a bit.

– Peter J. Woolley, Ph.D., Founding Director, School of Public and Global Affairs, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Can’t Get to the Gym? Put a Treadmill Next to Your Desk

In over 40 years of consulting with some of the best, brightest and most ambitious business people, what most of them have in common is a regular schedule of physical exercise. Some are runners. Some are bicyclists. I've noticed an increase in the number of treadmills at their desks since the pandemic reduced access to gyms.

– Aldonna R. Ambler, President, The Growth Strategist, Inc.

Microsoft Teams Keeps Everybody at the Office on the Same Page

Our most important tool has been Microsoft Teams, the software that helps groups to collaborate. We had already deployed it to a subset of the firm, but we knew it was imperative to roll it out firm-wide when the pandemic hit. Before the pandemic, we had the benefit of working through matters in person. Working from home obviously takes that away. But Microsoft Teams has enabled everyone to continue real-time collaboration with screen sharing, chat, and integration with other applications we use. Everyone needs to be on the same page when you’re working as a team, and Teams has allowed that to happen.

– Gurjit Singh, Chief Information Officer, Prager Metis

The Two Tools You Need are a Flexible Schedule and a Prepared Mind

Three things to keep in mind:

1.) Have a schedule and be flexible when needed.

2.) Chance favors the prepared mind.

3.) Some people can't handle the liberty of self-employment or working from home. They require the tyranny of an overseer.

– Bishop David G. Evans, Senior Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church