GOAL ZERO SWITCH 10 MULTI-TOOL KIT

I won't take something on my kayak or pack it for a camping trip unless it serves multiple purposes. For a long time, my solar panel kit was the only exception to that rule, because what else can you do with solar chargers than charge things, right? Not anymore. GOAL ZERO SWITCH 10 MULTI-TOOL KIT  opens the multi-use doorway and gives you both power and function.

Once the Switch 10 arrived, I stuck it in my truck and it was amazing how often I used it, even often the water. Nearly everyday I'd charge things with the Switch 10, either for a quick recharge of my phone in the afternoon, or a between-locations charge of my action cameras. The solar-capable power source isn't the only reason why the Switch 10 is so cool though, it's way more than that.

The entire kit includes a solar panel for endless charging off the sun, a lightweight fan attachment, usb charging cables and best of all, a crazy useful flashlight attachment. All of that and it's still small enough to fit into a PFD pocket (sans panel, which can hang on the back of your seat). Fish all day and store enough power to charge up your device at night, either on your way home or back at camp.

The flashlight attachment is so handy, I can't imagine life without it anymore. There are two settings to the light's beam, capable of putting out 110 Lumens. The wide angle setting let me light up the trail and see what I was about to step on, while the tighter beam let me look deeper into the night, piercing the darkness. There is also a high power mode for maximum light, or a low power mode to extend the battery life.

The fan attachment is going to be great for those hot days or long portages between fishing spots. It's easy to use and runs quietly, instead of buzzing in your face. This is a powerul little fan that you'll be relieved to have in your pocket or PFD for fast heat relief.

Powerful Specs:

Replaceable Lithium Ion Battery Replaceable (3,000mAh/11Wh) lightweight, high power density battery. Instant-on technology for easy, plug-and-play power. LED battery level indicator and pass-through capability.
Quick Charge USB Port Intelligent Charging for any USB-powered device. (1.5A Output) Delivers smart power without overcharging or discharging.
Device Specific Cables USB & Micro USB tangle-free charging for phones and tablets. Certified cables for efficient charging.
Solar Ready Built-in charging tip. No extra cable to lose. Charge up in 4 hours from any USB port - in 4 hours of full sun from the Nomad 7 Solar Panel
Switch Flashlight (110 Lumens) Wide angle for lighting up the trail or piercing the darkness. High power for maximum light, low power for extended runtimes.

5 Valuable Business Tips from Celebrity Entrepreneurs

Every entrepreneur has their own journey, story and words of wisdom. In honor of Global Entrepreneurs Week, we’re sharing our favorite pieces of advice from the celebrity entrepreneurs who spoke at QuickBooks Connect. Take them, use them and grow your business!

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Magic shared his view on how to best engage with potential customers if you want to take your business to new heights. And we’re talking heights well beyond Magic’s 6'9" frame.
“In the marketplace, it’s not enough to just deliver, it’s about over-delivering. Your business will grow if you over-deliver to your customers”

Martha Stewart

Martha listed the ingredients needed to be successful as an entrepreneur. Trust us, if anyone knows ingredients, it’s Martha.
“If you continue to utilize your passion, curiosity and strong work ethic, it will lead to long-lived business success.”

Marketing Bites: The Business Card

One might think that in this technologically obsessed world in which we live that the Business Card is now defunct.

One might even assume that people aren’t interested in collecting business cards at all. They’ll just bump phones with you and get your contacts that way. Alternatively they might connect with you on LinkedIn before you even meet and collect your details that way.

It’s Me, Business Card selected as one of the Best Business Card Designs from Paste Magazine
Best Business Card Designs from Paste Magazine

In her article titled ‘Business Cards are Dead and Here’s Why‘ J Maureen Henderson discusses how the working world has changed. She states that

‘Business cards don’t reflect the increasingly transient nature of employment and the iterative nature of our career identities. Tenure at a given job is decreasing, especially for Millennials, who have already earned a rep as notorious job hoppers. The card someone hands you today could lead to a disconnected phone line or a dead email address tomorrow.

Have business cards from startups in your rolodex that are more than six months old? If that company is still in business (and that’s a big if), it’s likely pivoted three times and changed its name at least twice.’

Design smarts, relationship smarts: Same/same

IDEO is a pretty great place to work if you like a bit of variety in your day. Over the past ten years, I’ve been lucky enough to tackle challenges in just about every industry under the sun — health care, hospitality, food and beverage, retail, government, wellness, technology, media, apparel…the list goes on.

You’d think design solutions across these categories would be radically different. But the funny thing is, they’re not.

Sure, the products or services we design are different for each industry. Hotel-y stuff for hotels, retail-y stuff for retail. But the design principles behind the solutions are often shockingly similar.

Turns out, one of the most important things we offer our clients is a crash course in interpersonal relationships. Because succeeding in business is a lot like succeeding in life: People tend to like you more when you’re kind and thoughtful.