3 years of productivity tech in 1 email

Read Time: 4m 33s | Words: 1,137

Author

Saul Zenkevicius
October 20, 2024

The Fed Pulse

  • Latest Industrial Data: U.S. industrial production fell by 0.5%, with mining taking the hardest hit, down 2.2%.

    Manufacturing? Flat.

    It's a mixed bag—nothing groundbreaking, but nothing to panic about either.

  • Retail Sales Slump: Retail numbers dipped into the negative, reminding of 2012-2013.

    Slow growth, but no recession.

    We’ve seen this movie before—expect sluggish sales, but no crash.

  • Interest Rates Watch: Markets are betting on the Fed cutting rates in November by 25 or 50 basis points.

    A November cut during an election cycle?

    Don’t hold your breath—it’s happened only 5-10% of the time since 1950.

  • Big Picture: The economy isn’t great, but it’s not falling apart either. Keep an eye on interest rates, and when they drop, it’ll be time to lock in.

Deep Dive

3 years of productivity tech in 1 email

Of the 5 million apps out there, only a rare few will take your productivity to the next level.

After years of trial and error, I hunted them down the same way I hunt for the right avocado at the grocery store.

Here’s my personal lineup of apps—some might be familiar, some could be completely new.

Together, they’re basically a productivity superpower.

This is hands-down my favorite email app ever.

It’s so fast and efficient; it almost feels like you're flying through your inbox.

True story: I hit inbox zero at least once or twice a week.

My secret?

AI that corrects your emails. Smooth swipe gestures to archive or snooze messages.

And a built-in reminder and send-later feature.

Also, you can collaborate with your team on an comments thread.

It avoids hundreds of back-and-forth emails. It’s a game-changer.

Ever been in three conversations at once while on the move?

Yeah, same here. Superwhisperer is my go-to.

It turns voice dumps into coherent texts and emails that sound like me.

It’s a lifesaver.

By now, I hope most of you are already using ChatGPT.

I find myself using it more than Google lately.

It’s a Swiss Army knife for tasks.

It can research, polish emails, refine content, and scrape data.

I've started building bots for specific tasks.

I have a weekly coaching session with an AI guru dedicated to catching up on what is possible with this tool.

I’m betting many of you are already using Google Apps, and for good reason.

GDrive’s collaboration features are unmatched, especially for mobile.

While we have Salesforce, Google Apps is our command center.

The key?

Universal folder hierarchies and naming conventions across the team.

Got a remote team? Maybe some VAs?

Voxer is the ultimate high-touch, fast-response communication tool.

Think of it as a group walkie-talkie for text and voice.

It's perfect for sub-teams like leasing or project teams that need quick replies.

Even if your team scatters across 3 continents, it makes communication instantaneous.

I’ve tried dozens of note-taking apps, but Apple Notes, with its recent updates, has become my second brain.

From daily planning to collaborative checklists with my team, it’s my go-to.

I wrote about it in due diligence checklist newsletter.

Plus, it’s the fastest way to send files—like OMs or marketing materials—while on the go.

No need to download them first; share straight from Notes.

Notion is where all my marketing magic happens.

I’m writing this newsletter on Notion right now.

Its collaborative features are next-level, especially when managing content projects.

Instead of emailing drafts back and forth like a lease redline, we can work together in one space.

Also, public sharing is a killer feature—you can create a web flyer or website on the fly.

This app is my secret weapon for editing.

My writing process is simple. I sprint through a draft, then let it sit.

After that, I fine-tune it with Hemingway.

It’s the final touch that makes your content shine.

Losing 15 minutes a day to password chaos?

Multiply that by 5 days a week, and you will lose 60 hours a year.

For us, 1Password solved that entire problem.

It syncs passwords across mobile and desktop. It updates for the whole team. It lets you store everything from logins to credit cards.

Melio is my go-to for payments and approvals.

It works with QuickBooks, is super easy to use, and—best of all—you can send payments via ACH or automatic paper checks.

I haven't found a better way to streamline approvals across many payment types.

This one’s a gem for iPad users.

It’s the most user-friendly app I’ve found for sketching plans while on-site.

I sketch rough designs and send them to architects and engineers. They turn my "chicken scratch" into something legit.

For those of you on-site construction inspections, this app is a lifesaver.

Site Audit Pro helps you generate instant reports that include photos and comments, so you've got everything covered.

If you're negotiating seller financing, running cash flow scenarios, or just figuring out debt payments, this app is your best friend.

I’ve literally calculated numbers on the fly while negotiating on the phone.

This app gives you plat maps at your fingertips, a must-have for any property you're looking to buy.

It’s the first thing I check before I step out of the car.

Need to calculate distances or square footage for parking or roofs?

Does the seller own anything next door? Who are the neighbors?

This is your go-to.

Consider Canva your $13/month graphic designer.

Whether it's flyers, presentations, or social media posts, it lets you design like a pro in minutes.

Graphic designers might not like it.

But, it's a no-brainer for us needing quick, high-quality visuals.

So, there you have it—my ultimate toolkit.

Use them, abuse them, and watch your productivity soar.

If you found this helpful, please share it with your friends.

Be Well,

Saul

News & Moves

Blackrock’s Chief thoughts on economy. (Podcast, click here)

  • No "Landing" Here: Larry Fink’s take?

    The U.S. economy isn’t heading for a hard or soft landing—it’s growing steadily at 2-3%.

    Ignore the Fed-watchers obsessing over short-term rate cuts.

  • Rate Cut Expectations Overblown: Fink calls out the forward curve as "crazy."

    A 200-basis-point drop? Unlikely.

    Expect gradual easing, but not the drastic cuts people are betting on.

  • Strong Corporate Earnings: Despite worries, corporate earnings remain solid.

    Some sectors may be struggling (commercial real estate), but overall the economy is holding strong.

  • Infrastructure Boom: Private capital is driving the next wave of infrastructure projects, especially in tech-heavy areas like AI-driven data centers.

    This could be a long-term growth driver.

  • Capital Markets Resilient: Risks are more diffused across sectors, with private credit stepping up as traditional banking pulls back.

    This diversification reduces systemic risks.

  • Bottom Line: Don’t get lost in the noise about rate cuts and short-term moves.

    The U.S. is well-positioned for steady growth over the next 5-10 years.

    Stay the course and look for smart opportunities.