Essentials for the Traveling Entrepreneur

Travel is oftentimes a staple for entrepreneurs, and getting where you are going and making sure you are packed is only half the battle. These essentials can make travel easier, more comfortable and even more fun.

Audio splitter

Whether you’re listening to music or watching a movie, an audio splitter is an affordable travel necessity that makes it possible to share audio with your travel companions without any trouble.

Portable power bank

Don’t lose power on your phone while you’re on the go again. Having a portable power bank or a phone case that has an extra battery pack keeps your phone going when you’re away from your hotel room.

Wikivoyage: Kiwix

Wikipedia travel guides are a great tool for traveling, but if you don’t have internet they may be inaccessible. With the Wikivoyage download from the Kiwix app, you can access the entire TravelGuide database for information about your travel location, restaurants, things to see or do and more for free.

Neck pillow

Sleeping on any flight can be uncomfortable, but a neck pillow can keep your neck in one comfortable position and help you get to and stay asleep.

Smart suitcase

From motorized cases to expandable packing space to portable charging enabled, having a smart suitcase can make your trip much smoother. Travel and Leisure has a list of many great options to update your luggage.

Waterproof phone case

If you will be traveling near water, a waterproof phone case is the way to go, as you can ensure that whatever happens, your phone is protected. Amazon has many different waterproof options, but be sure to read the reviews so you don’t end up waterlogged.

Noise-canceling headphones

There’s nothing worse than needing to get work done or trying to sleep on a plane with a chatty seatmate. Noise-canceling headphones are a great way to block out the sounds that you want to avoid while playing the audio you want or even just acting as an over the ear earplug/ conversation repellent.

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Tech Radar: Self-Driving Cars

Just like home automation, cars are getting smarter as well.  From Google to Tesla, Uber to Nissan, self-driving cars are becoming autonomous with the future as much as anything else. In fact, CES 2017 was full of companies showcasing their autonomous driving plans, with BMW announcing their plan for a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles to hit roads for testing before the end of the year.

But despite the excitement, the advent of these vehicles is marked by legal trouble, public distaste and distrust, and even location based prohibitions. This is what you need to know about self-driving cars and the future of transportation.

Tesla

Tesla is perhaps the self-driving technology with the most public knowledge due to some less than desirable past driving results. Tesla’s automation combined with the electric cars they create makes them a huge player in both the environmental and driverless car future. Run by an incredibly powerful computer, and enabling cameras, radars, sensors, and ultrasonics to provide the driverless experience, this car is equipped with a huge amount of groundbreaking technology. However their proclivity to bend traffic rules (mostly speed limits) has been the cause of headlines recently, and the fatal accident last June involving a self-driving Tesla and a semi truck was news for many weeks as the safety of driverless cars and the technology behind them was scrutinized.

Google’s WAYMO

Google has been working on automated driving for years, and now in its current inception, the internet giant’s movement is called Waymo. Google’s software and built-in-house hardware allow a completely driverless experience, with sensors that detect any possible obstacles and predict behavior, allowing the vehicle to execute the best navigation and defensive driving possible.  Road tests have put the Waymo enabled vehicles to the test going through complex situations and real driving conditions, even giving the cars the ability to react to any unexpected situations. Many experts have speculated that if Tesla’s cars utilized the same technology as Google’s cars, June’s accident between the semi and the autonomous car would not have happened.

Nissan

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan has announced that its autonomous vehicles should be out testing the roads in England come February. The cars are manufactured in Sunderland, so it is easy to see why the location is set as it is. Government clearance is still awaiting approval, but once the plan is approved, testing will begin. Equipped with radar, laser and camera systems the Nissan Intelligent Mobility Suite is aboard the company’s electric car (Nissan Leaf), putting this manufacturer in direct competition with Tesla.

The driverless car is still relatively new, but you can expect to see more of them as the year progresses and more companies jump on board. Rules and regulations will change, as will technology and the sheer amount of options open to those that are interested in automated driving technology. There’s no doubt that these cars could change the face of transportation for just about everybody, whether these advancements are good or bad remains to be seen.

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Coworking Spaces: The Future of Global Business?

Coworking spaces are starting to become more common throughout major cities, especially in places that are considered tech hubs, or that are home to many small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs.

COCO (Minneapolis/St Paul)

COCO has five locations throughout the twin cities, and is part of LexC, a network of coworking spaces throughout the US. Offering spaces for individuals, small groups or larger meetings, the amenities that are available make these spaces comfortable, workable and great for networking.

WeWork (Worldwide)

WeWork has spaces all over the US, Europe, South America as well as in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Australia, and Israel. Started in 2010, community was the focus behind WeWork. The company hosts camps, parties and on location amenities dedicated to creating connections with others in the space.

Betahaus (Berlin, Barcelona, Hamburg, Sofia)

These European coworking spaces were founded in 2009. Many of the members of the coworking spaces are freelancers. Betahaus hopes to bring the social aspect to people that work in jobs that are usually isolated. Different types of memberships are available depending on the amenities that you need to access.

Punspace (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

With locations in Nimman and Tha Phae Gate, Punspace offers 24/7 access for members, with business focused amenities. For Thailand’s growing tourist market, Punspace’s coworking in Chiang Mai offers a beautiful and functional way to work.

KoHub (Koh Lanta, Thailand)

A coworking hub on a tropical island, KoHub allows for work and play in a productive and welcoming community. Just minutes from the beach, this getaway lets you enjoy island life while getting everything you need done.  KoHub even offers on location room and board packages for those looking to take a vacation even if work has to come along.

Hubud (Bali)

Hubud, named for being a Hub in Ubud promotes what they call “location independence” for people looking to work and live how they want. Partnering with global activist groups you can work, live and volunteer all from one central location. The founders of Hubud showcase four main values: community, connectivity, creativity and conversation.

Impact Hub (Worldwide)

Creating a global network of members attempting to change the face of the work space was Impact Hub’s goal from their beginning in 2005. With over 15,000 members and more than 80 locations in the US, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, South America and the Caribbean, Impact Hub offers inspiration, flexibility and community to their members. Events and programs to help members build their businesses are all offered to increase the collectivity within the environment.

What do you think of trend of coworking spaces? Do you or would you use them? Let me know in the comment section.

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Instant Translation Technology

Have you ever wished you could translate something you’re reading immediately as you are reading it without having to type or copy and paste a phrase into Google Translate?

Now you can, by simply pointing your phone at the page and using the Google Translate app.  The app can translate over 103 languages, and most recently added Japanese translation to the list.

The full 103 languages are available for text translation. You can translate about half of the languages offline (no internet needed), you can use your camera for instant text translation or upload photos for translations. With the handwriting feature you can draw characters instead of typing, and with 32 languages you are able to have instant two-way speech translation.

The app is available for iOS and Android, and is free to use.

If you are unconcerned with text translations, and conversational translations are what you need help with, Waverly Labs’ Pilot Earpiece is going to be a game changer. These in-ear devices come in pairs so you can speak to anyone regardless of whether or not they have their own. You will hear what the other speaker is saying in your own language, and they will hear what you are saying in theirs. The devices are available for pre-order now for $249 USD. They are expected to ship in the summer of 2017.

Another wearable option is the ili translator. With instant offline spoken translations, a helpful library of travel phrases and an easy to understand interface, ili is being offered exclusively for businesses in the US starting in June 2017, with general consumer products becoming available later in 2017.

World travel just got a whole lot easier!

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How to Successfully Prepare for a Business Trip

Traveling to in-person meetings is a great way to build relationships and inspire big ideas for your client. But, they can be intimidating—especially if it’s your first one. So how can you ensure you are properly prepared and ready to take on your first big trip? I recently went on a long-distance business trip and wanted to share a few vital tips that can help set you up for success, while also having fun along the way!

1. Meet with your team

Organization is key to ensure your business trip goes off without a hitch. Before you jet set off to your destination, sit down with your team members to discuss specifics, such as:

• Logistics (e.g. departure and arrival time, meeting place, etc.)
• Lodging
• Travel details
• What to pack
• Technology and apps to make your trip easier (e.g. Uber, Google Maps, OpenTable)
• Chances are one of your other team members will have been on a business trip before; so use them as a resource. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as, “What type of outfits should I pack?” or “What does a typical day look like during business trips?”

2. Properly prepare

Collaborate with your team to deliver maximum value while you’re visiting. When preparing for your in-person meeting, plan ahead with the following action items:

• Create an agenda to help stay on-task. Send a sample agenda to your client a week in advance to better understand expectations. Consider asking your client what they hope to get out of the in-person meeting so you can be prepared for any and all questions.
• Compile a strategic and well-thought out deck to deliver big ideas. This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your skillsets to your client.
• Delegate specific roles and responsibilities. Determine who will be in charge of what, such as making reservations, presenting information to the client, etc.
• Practice, practice, practice. Run-through all meeting materials and information prior to your trip to ensure you are knowledgeable about various items that will be discussed.
• Proper preparation can ensure your in-person meeting runs smoothly.

3. Make use of travel time

Travel time, especially when traveling long distances, can be boring. So why not make the most of your time? When traveling, whether by car or plane, prioritize projects that don’t require internet connection. Being disconnected from the Internet may also give you the chance to really buckle down and tackle to-dos you haven’t gotten to in the office.

Traveling also gives you ample face-time with company leaders or senior level coworkers. Think of specific topics or ideas you have been wanting to discuss, or pick their brain to fuel intelligent (and fun) conversation. Also, consider asking more experienced coworkers how they stay productive and make the most out of travel time, like catching up on emails to avoid being overwhelmed upon your return.

4. Nurture in-person relationships

Business trips can be a great way to nurture client relationships and build trust, especially if you’re in a long-distance working relationship. If you and your client are still getting to know each other, consider prepping fun icebreakers to drive early conversation. Although it’s important to infuse intelligent and expertise into conversation, it’s also okay to keep it causal. Remember that people want to work with people, not robots.

As a nice touch point, don’t forget to write down your client’s life milestones (e.g. having a baby or getting married). These gems will allow you to continue to have meaningful conversations even after you’re gone. After meetings are complete or even if you’re looking for a break, consider taking your clients out for coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks. Bottom line: get to know each other as people, and not just professionals.

5. Set personal goals

Embrace your first business trip as a time to shine. Sit down and think about what you would like to accomplish on your first trip, and set some personal goals for yourself. For example, challenge yourself to present valuable information or share ideas during brainstorm sessions. Not only setting goals, but also achieving them, will help you grow as a professional and help your client gain trust in you along the way.

How do you ensure your business trips are successful?

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Earbuds that Can Translate Foreign Languages in Real-time

A new startup called Waverly Labs, an innovative consumer electronics company created in 2014, claims a “smart” earpiece will reportedly be the world’s first gadget to translate between two users speaking different languages in real-time. The creators say it’s “intended for the Traveller, International Professional and Digital Nomad.”

The earpiece, dubbed the Pilot, is shaped similar to regular earbuds, but comes without any wires or cables. Pretty handy if you find yourself lost in a city without WiFi connection, or frantically trying to figure out which subway to take.

Using the latest technologies in speech recognition, machine translation and the advances of wearable technology, our smart earpiece allows wearers to speak different languages but still clearly understand each other. Simply put, when one person speaks, the other hears it in their language. Science fiction has called it many things, but we call it Pilot.”

The Pilot has so far raised over 3 million dollars via Indiegogo (launched May 15^th, 2016, funded June 25^th, 2016) and is estimated to ship worldwide May 2017. For now, the product comes with English, Spanish, French, and Italian, but other languages are on the way, including Arabic, Hindi, East Asian, and Slavic. Here are a few other cool features included:

• The Pilot is designed to hug the curves of the ear without being obtrusive, snug yet fashionable, and comes in three colors: red, black and white.

• The Pilot comes with a secondary earpiece for wireless streaming music, or to hare with the person you are speaking with.

• It’s accompanying smartphone app toggles between languages and uploads them to the earpiece when in use offline and overseas. For basic translation, the app can also be sued as a phrasebook.

• In conference mode, multiple people can wear the earpiece and join in on the same conversation, even if they’re all speaking different languages.

• In addition, the smartphone’s speakerphone can be used as a loudspeaker to transmit what you’re saying to everyone in the room.

The full package includes the Pilot and secondary earpiece (2 earpieces total), 1 portable charger, 3 different sized eartips for the perfect fit, and an accompanying app. The app is where the languages are downloaded for the earpiece.

The first generation of the device only works when speaking to another person who also has a Pilot earbud, but the company says that future versions will be able to translate from any surrounding spoken source.

The full retail price for the Pilot is expected to be $299, but the early bird special on Indiegogo starts at $199. The purchase will come with two earpieces in each pack, and additional languages will be available via downloadable language packs.

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