Image by MegBarberVA via Flickr

Do you Poken? That question brings up the subject of my latest techno-gadget-geek obsession… the Poken. It was introduced to me at a recent DVVAA networking lunch by fellow Virtual Assistant, Kyna Baker, and I think it is just the coolest thing ever. As usual, I’m always looking for things to make the business life of real estate agents easier, and this fun little gadget can do just that.

What is a Poken, you ask? To put it simply, the Poken is a digital business card device. It provides you an easy way to share your contact info as well as all your online social network profiles with others you meet who have a Poken too. The exchange works by simply touching the palms together with another Poken user, or “high 4″ as they call it. And viola, the green glow means the information has transferred.

Later, you just plug your poken into your computer’s USB port and transfer the contacts of the new people you just met into your Poken hub(it’s web based). You then can easily download those contacts and put into your Outlook or other contact manager. And if you make changes your contact info, it updates your connections in their hubs and vice versa. There’s no more scribbling down your social network links, or new email addresses.  There’s no scanning business cards, no typing into a database.  How cool is that? (Scroll down for info on where to get one)

They have 2 products currently, the Poken Spark and the Poken Pulse, and I ordered both just to test them all out. So far I am liking them a lot for different reasons. Here is a video I made showing them off and talking about the differences between the two products.

The Poken Spark is the original incarnation, and come in all sorts of eye-catching designs. I think they live up to their name as they can really spark up a conversation when people see them. They are small and can easily clip to your key key chain. The Spark holds about 50 contacts (before you download them), but does not have additional storage.

The Poken Pulse is their newer product that works in the same way, but also has 2GB of flash memory. It’s plainer looking than the Spark. It looks almost like a standard USB memory stick, but it does have the little hand on it and can be ordered with designs on the inside. It interacts with all other Pokens just the same, and has the ability to hold more contacts. Again is is the size of a USB memory stick and like the Spark, can be hooked on to a key chain.

So where can you get a Poken? The easiest way is to purchase your Poken online, and here are a number of places that sell Pokens on US soil:

• Start Poken
• Poken Zoo
• Poken Girl
• findapoken

Some of these vendors also allow you to by them in bulk orders, and you can even get them with your own logo printed right on them. Great to hand out for networking events, REALTOR conferences and expos, or even Thank You gifts for referrals.

Hope you find the Pokens as cool as I do. I see lots of possibilities with them as they gain popularity around the globe. And if you ever run into me in person (it can happen folks), be sure to Poken with me.

When searching for new plugins and widgets for my own blog, I stumbled upon this nifty little gem that I thought would be great for the “green conscious” Realtor and their blog.

Check out this Green Living Tips widget. It’s a cool little box that randomly cycles some tips for living a little greener and I think would be great little addition to a real estate blog. Right now it is only available for WordPress or Joomla sites, but it installs easily and looks great.

I’m always on the lookout for fun things to make your RE blog better. And if you need help setting your blog up, it’s a great job for your Real Estate Virtual Assistant to help with. Just sayin’.

Today is day 12, the final day of my 12 Days of Thanks leading up to Thanksgiving. I’ve enjoyed putting out my statements of gratitude these 12 days. Ad as I bring this one series to a close, I won’t necessarily be stopping here. But thank you for letting me give you a glimpse of my real life and the real things that make me happy and thankful. See, I’m not all business all the time. Gratitude is the Attitude!

Today I am thankful for:

• My God.
• The togetherness and happiness we feel when we gather together on this day with our friends, family and dear loved ones.
• For my husband, son, and entire family who bring me so much happiness. I could have no possessions at all and still be happy with just their mere presence in my life.

“He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.”
-J.A. Shedd

Thanksgiving!

Image by Martha★ via Flickr

Here we are on lucky day number 11 of my 12 Days of Thanks. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I very much looking forward to it. In doing this, I am finding gratitude in new ways from the every day happening  to the greatest achievement and I love it. Gratitude is the Attitude!

Today I am thankful for:

• The quiet times I get to spend with my son when it is just him and I, staring and smiling at each other. I am trying to enjoy these days that he is so little while I can (he’s 6 months now). I am finding that the statement that they grow so fast, is totally true.
• My wonderful husband. He works so hard to provide for our family every day and he is an amazing father. I am so very fortunate to have him in my live. Love you honey!
• For always having what we need. Food, clothes, shelter, anything. Though we work hard for it, we are fortunate to never have to go without the necessities of life and to be able to provide that for our growing family.

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom” – Marcel Proust.

On this day 10 of my 12 Days of Thanks, I see that we’re knocking on the door of Thanksgiving. But I certainly don’t want to stop there. So I plan on doing a regular gratitude posting in the future. I’ll have a name for it soon. But for now, here we go for today. Gratitude is the Attitude!

Today I am thankful for:

• I got my holiday mailing assistance packages worked out and up on my website. Yay!
• I’m feeling calm and non-stressed about the upcoming holidays. Very Zen.
• A good hair day. (I’m a girl. And good hair days warrant some gratitude now and then)
• Some great ideas I am putting down for 2010 and will be putting into action.

“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” – Brian Tracy

Image by kirikiri via Flickr

So yesterday ended up being a very busy Sunday, so my Days of Thanks slipped to the back of my mind. But I am making up for it today with extra. The sun may not be shining, but I am feeling extra sunny today. So on to my 12 Days of Thanks leading up to Thanksgiving, Days 8 and 9. Gratitude is the Attitude!

Today I am thankful for:

• Waking up with a very sunny and happy attitude the last few days. I’m feelin’ good.
• Sense of accomplishment while I am ticking off my to-dos right and left.
• My awesome clients, many of which have been with me since I started 5 years ago. They help me love what I do.
• Technology. Hardly know what I would do without it, but sure appreciate all the tech tools I have at my fingertips and make my life and my business easier. Especially my trusty laptop.
• The ability to be able to travel and visit my family who live very far away from me when I want to. Some who have loved ones many miles away cant afford that opportunity and hardly get to see their family members.
• Our people in congress who know what the right thing to do is and will stand up for it no matter the cost to their “power” or re-election.
• Quiet nights at bedtime the baby has afforded us these last few nights.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ” -John F. Kennedy

I’m a little late today getting to day 7 of my 12 Days of Thanks today. But it isn’t tomorrow yet, and I had a good reason.

Today I am thankful for:

• Date night. Tonight my husband and I managed to get out for a nice dinner, minus the babe. Thanks to his grandparents. Mommy and Daddy need to get out now and then
• Pumpkin’tini. A whole lot of pumpkin deliciousness, the inventor of which should be congratulated.
• A bright outlook for 2010. I am aiming high and am determined to meet my goals.

“Real life isn’t always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgement of what is working in our lives can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach

It may be a cloudy and slightly gloomy day out today, but that won’t keep me from posting Day 5 of my 12 Days of Thanks. It has been lots of fun so far and I’ve even inspired a few others to put their statements of gratitude out there. I’d love for anyone to leave me a comment and let me see your days of thanks. Gratitude is the Attitude!

Today I am thankful for:

• Our awesome family. They are so supportive and helpful whenever we need them. You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family. We are so fortunate that they are all great people, on both sides.
• Grandma came down to watch the babe while mommy could get some uninterrupted work in. She rocks!
• Only one week until Thanksgiving, and I am so looking forward to gathering with our family to visit, eat, and be merry.
• The peace I feel when I just let go and look forward. Dwelling on past hurts does not make a happy life.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. -Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Image by SnoShuu via Flickr

Today is Day 4 of my 12 Days of Thanks leading up to Thanksgiving. Yesterday I struggled a bit as I wasn’t feeling the greatest and it was a jam-packed busy day. But getting out my statements of gratitude made me feel much better. So here goes my thankfulness today.

Today I am thankful for:

• The fact that I have a business I can run from home that affords me the flexibility to work around my family
• The nap fairy, who granted my baby some great naps yesterday that allowed me to get lots done
• The excellent pediatrician we have
• That we have remained healthy in this household during this flu season so far

“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” – Rabbi Harold Kushner

Image via Wikipedia

Today is Day 3 of my 12 Days of Thanks leading up to Thanksgiving. And though today has been a somewhat stressful, not-so-great day, I’m making an attitude adjustment. These things brighten my day so why not reflect on them. Gratitude is the Attitude!

Today I am thankful for:

• My lovely and warm home. We are so fortunate to have a roof over our heads without worry.
• Sirius satellite radio and their has started their holiday music stations which just started. And I am listening of course! A sure way to cheer me up.
• My healthy baby boy who at the doctor today got a gold star for growth and everything. His parents know what they are doing I guess.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward