6 CEOs and execs share the productivity apps they can't live without

apple productivity apps

Productivity apps can be extremely helpful tools for managing your daily responsibilities.
With so many apps designed to help with productivity, forming habits, and organization, there are almost too many to choose from.
However, some entrepreneurs, like founder of UGG boots Brian Smith, credit some of their success to their favorite productivity apps.
Here are six apps successful CEOs and execs can't live without.

So many apps help with productivity, forming habits, and organization, there are almost too many to choose from. These CEOs, business presidents, and Advisors in The Oracles name the apps that help them maintain peak performance on a day-to-day basis.

1. Pandora

Brian Smith, founder of UGG boots, corporate speaker, and author of "The Birth of a Brand," now available in audio for its 40th anniversary:

I listen to music in the background all the time when I'm working. The Dark Side of the Moon album actually changed my life, and in a way, it inspired UGG.

I was deciding what to do with my life after I quit my job as an accountant in Australia. I got goosebumps listening to "Time," and realized I'd been running in place for 10 years.

I left for California the next week, looking for "the next big thing" to bring back with me. I pulled on my sheepskin boots one day after surfing in Malibu and got those goosebumps again. I realized America didn't have sheepskin boots — and that was the genesis of UGG.

Music has the power to bring you goosebumps, which are a physical sign that you're on the right track. Whenever you get them, stop and ask yourself why.

2. Google Drive and WhatsApp

Cole Hatter, full-time dad and husband, part-time owner of five businesses, investor, and founder of Thrive: Make Money Matter; follow Cole on Instagram:

Google Drive and WhatsApp enable me to run five companies simultaneously. I know these apps aren't super sexy or the "newest hottest things out," but I literally couldn't run my companies without them.

I use Google Drive to keep track of everything. It's really easy for communicating, and I get real-time updates on documents and progress across each company, which are color-coordinated in different spreadsheets.

I use WhatsApp for communication threads and audio messages. Each company and division has its own thread. There are threads for my live event productions; my marketing, real estate business, and digital marketing companies.

I have threads for just my executives and threads for entire company-wide broadcasts. I hate texting, so I love that I can make a company-wide audio broadcast so easily or send individual voice memos in the app. This allows me to be anywhere in the world, and as long as I have an internet connection, I am getting real-time updates organized by each company, and within each division (marketing, sales, accounting, etc.).

I'm always in the driver seat, even if I'm on the other side of the world.

3. Evernote

Danielle Canty, speaker, chiropractor, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of BossBabe, the world's largest online community of ambitious women; follow Danielle on Instagram:

As a busy entrepreneur, it's easy to get sidetracked during the day. So, every Sunday evening, I use Evernote to reflect on the week and plan the next.

First, I ask myself three questions: What went well last week? What did I find challenging? Where can I do better? This is a cathartic exercise that ensures I apply learnings from the previous week, which is important when you're growing a business.

Next, I write a list of everything I need to do during the upcoming week and ruthlessly analyze it. I decide what I can delegate and which tasks don't move the needle, ensuring they get relegated to the "to-DON'T" list. Whatever is left, I allocate to specific days; that way, I know exactly what I need to do each day to progress my business forward.

It's helpful to have this in an app because I can access it easily and it keeps me on track every day. It also brings closure to my day because I can switch off when I know I've completed everything.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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