Using Technology to Overcome Memory Loss

This is part of an ongoing series exploring various barriers and how to overcome them. Wonder how to overcome your barriers? Join us and find out!

Barrier:
I do not have short-term memory due to brain injury (I literally can't remember what I had for breakfast). Instead I think in concepts, which does not lend itself to details. As things with Corporate Hearts began really happening, the number of ideas, files, emails, and notes I had to keep track of was huge.

The challenge is two fold: not only do I have to "capture" or "place" each item, I have to be able to retrieve it as well. Here are the technology solutions I use, with a brief explanation as to how they help.

How do you overcome memory loss? We'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Mac or PC?

An Apple a day...

When I became disabled, I used a PC. I had tremendous difficulty doing anything because of the multiple, non-intuitive, non-integrated way everything had to be done. In desperation, I bought a Mac instead. Wow. What a world of difference. Not only is the hardware and operating system incredibly intuitive and simple and powerful to use (so I don't have to remember how to do anything, I simply re-figure it out), but software companies design Mac software the same way. I found all the cliches to be true. It just works. Now I can make videos, create websites, vision, and plan, and write. Thanks Apple!

Files, Files Everywhere!

Keep them Fresh and Leap to them when needed!

Everyone has difficulty with this one. How to organize and then find files. Everyone thinks differently, and a computer doesn't think like any of us!

Enter Fresh and Leap (Mac only). Files done in human, your way. Files arrive or change. When they do, they are fresh, so they appear on the "Fresh shelf". I only see this handy shelf when I activate the hotkey or app icon. Otherwise, it's out of the way.

What can I do with Fresh files? I can rapidly tag them with predefined or new tags (no need to file anymore), I can file them if I want, or, if I know I'll be working with them, I can add them to the Cooler. Yup. Just like a sandwich you want to save for later but not lose sight of. How cool is that?

Then there's Leap. It's like having a fried work your computer for you. You tell him it's a file for Corporate Hearts, website. He finds it. Boom. Done. That non-disclosure agreement someone sent me at some point? Boom. Right there. Lovely. Lovely. Lovely.

Notes, Papers, and Scratched-on-Napkins, Oh My!

EverNote is where you are.

This one works for Mac, PC, mobile phones, iPhones. Your notes, on your computer, synced to "the cloud" and available to sync on most any device. A beautiful thing. This is where I do some of my writing, log conversations, agendas, notes, web links, and more. They have a free level and a premium level. Both are great!

Visual, Conceptual thinking gets lost without a whiteboard!

Curio is like having an infinite, searchable whiteboard room

It does mindmaps, freeform drawings, text, photos, video, audio, tasks, and much, much more.

Keeping track of Getting Things Done?

Things makes task management a breeze!

It's based on David Allen's "Getting Things Done," which we highly recommend. But it works tasks in a very flexible way, so if you've modified it or use another system, no problem! This one's also Mac only.

Now, where did I leave my computer?

Grins and Blessings,

Patrick

Who do you know who "can't work" but would hire themselves?

There is someone you know, someone in your network, who needs to learn about Corporate Hearts' Expedition. Who do you know who "can't work" but would hire themselves? All you need is phone, internet, and a computer to get started!

Who needs to see this?

• A professional who has left their practice of medicine, law, nursing, engineering or other work because of illness or an injury
• A soldier who has returned from service to our country as a "wounded warrior" and now finds employment very difficult
• A college graduate who is now on SSDI or SSI because of an illness or injury
• Someone you know who had a business and has closed it because of an injury or illness
• A retired person who has decided to return to a more active business life
• A college senior with a disability who has an interest in starting a business or fears not finding a job

Startling Stats

Each year 700,000 people in the US have their first CVA or "stroke" and 20% of them, or 140,000 are between 30 and 65. Only half of these young adults with strokes ever return to work, meaning 70,000 drop out of the work force and only 10% of these receive SSDI or AFLAC! This leaves us with 63,000 who need to earn a living, and can earn a living, but, largely because of depression they simply drop out of the workforce; and often drop into poverty.

63,000 people a year! Can they work? Estimates are that 90-96% can carry out the same work they did before with work-flow modifications or could do other significant work with "Help getting started in the right direction" according to leading CVA researcher, Dr.Patrick O'Rourke, from England. His landmark study demonsrated that among people with CVA's who wanted to go back to work and were capable of working driving a car kept 63% fromworking (something self employment can fix) and competition for jobs kept 65% from trying and hindered 49% that did go to work.

Would you hire you?

The only boss that won't care about your work history or discriminate because of you limp or even try to make you compete for a job is you! For someone who has had a stroke starting a business makes a great deal of sense but not just any business will do. It necessary to discern the right business opportunity and to plan the work process very carefully, That's why Expedition exists.

What is Expedition?
Expedition is Corporate Hearts' three phase business incubation program that begins with a 12 week bootcamp called APPROACH. During these 3 months participants, aptly called CEOs-in-training, meet weekly by tele-session for a 2 hour formal business planning lecture and discussion. Led by faculty from SUMMIT Coaching Solutions these sessions include visits from some of the nations leading health-challenged business owners, attorneys, financial advisors and Certified Case Management Speicialists. But the real work happens off-line, as small groups of five participants meet together once or twice each week for work-sessions. Here they exchange their 'homework" which ranges from discernment tools for time scheduling and financial planing to the first draft and final version of their business plan and marketing plan. This roundtable aproach provides the critical support of a learning community; crucial to avoiding isolation. The members of each roundtable provide needed accountabilty as well. Finally, each particiapant in APPROACH receives 3 private sessions with a Certified Executive Coach and a complete review and critique of their business and marketing plan by a team of 3-5 Expedition Guides. These business men and women vollunteer for the duty of helping their brothers and sisters in business because they take the idea of corporate responsibility seriously. By the end of the 12 weeks the new CEO has a company ready for SBA funding, grant funding through the Community Action Council and, as importantly, they have a business ready to do business! The cost of APPROACH is underwritten by donations from the business and private sectors and has been maintained at just $127 a month.

How Can You Help?

Glad you asked!

Email this to people you know!

The most important thing you can do is look through your network and see who you know that meets the descriptions above, basically: college educated people challenged by any health-related issue who either want to start a business or are having difficulty with employment. Send those folks a note, or forward this one, and give them the link to the website at www.corporatehearts.org.

Make a Donation!
Next, consider making a tax deductible donation of $25 a month or more to sponsor a particiapant through APPROACH or simply making a single donation of what ever amount you can afford. Because of the opportunities available to Corporate Hearts for the matching of funds in 2009 your donation will double its dollar value. Please make you check payable to Corporate Hearts. Our 501C3 Letter of Determination is attached for you tax records and a receipt will be sent by email.

Mentor a new CEO!

And finally, if you are expereinced in any part of business or marketing consider partnering with Corporate Hearts as an Expedition Guide. This vollunteer action takes about 5 hours a months but the rewards last a lifetime!

The Big Inspirational Finish...

In these challenging economic times its good to know people who continue to give of their time, talent and treasure -- in short, love their neighbor.

Helping our neighbor start and sustain a solid business....rather like teaching someone to fish......

It's what we're called to do, to fully utilize these folk's talents it is what we must do, and together with you it's what we are doing.

May you be startled by God's abundant blessings,

Patrick Jones

CEO, Corporate Hearts