If you don’t need me to talk you into it - just go to 1Password and check out their plans. Or keep reading for an explanation and a link to a 14 day free trial.

If you have a login to more than one site or platform - you need a secure way to manage credentials. Full stop.

If you have a team of people who all need access to different resources, managing these credentials in a manner that is secure and does not expose your business to unnecessary risk becomes exponentially more critical.

For years I have been using a tool that allows me to have the access I need when I need it on any device. But as importantly as my access, 1Password safeguards team passwords and other sensitive information for those I work with.

During on-boarding and separation of employees and contractors, you need a good way to get the appropriate level of access into the right hands quickly (and to shut it off quickly).

I have a lot more to say about that - but want to keep this from turning into a seminar on the principle of least privilege.

Suffice it to say - you need a tool for this. No more spreadsheets and sticky notes. No more employees storing company credentials in their iPhone keychain and making your life miserable when it’s time to part ways.

No.

There are some other popular tools that have some of the same functionality - I recommend 1Password because it has exceptional functionality, but more importantly has never been hacked.

Back in the day, LastPass was the leading credential manager - but now it has been hacked several times and for that reason can no longer maintain the coveted top spot in recommendation lists.

There are a few great options for plans on 1Password - this link will give you a 14 day free trial for your business subscription. Pricing on the website is generally much better than on the App/Play stores.

In short - with 1Password you can streamline access, enhance security, and ensure peace of mind for all your business-related credentials.

ClickUp is hailed as the "One App to Replace Them All" - the utopia of seamless collaboration.

There are plenty of good tools out there - and I've used some of the others, but found that for my working style, and multifaceted life, ClickUp is just the best.

I use ClickUp as a CRM, customer project planner, IT Maintenance tracker, service delivery method, and content manager for my blogs and social posts, as well as my family and personal responsibilities.

There are literally hundreds of free templates already out there - this does not require a high level of technical ability to get started like some. Because it integrates with everything under the sun, I use ClickUp as my primary workspace throughout the day and let other services deliver information into my dashboard in ClickUp.

I always feel prepared and equipped for meetings with staff, customers, etc. - and the automations have saved me countless time and energy. I'll plan to make a post showing some of the most helpful features, like dashboards one of these days.

ClickUp has a "Free Forever" version that does not require a credit card - it is perfect for startups and teams that provide every type of service.

The extra features for the paid version are well worth it in my opinion - and recently ClickUp has added an AI capability as well, which is typically paid but has a 3 month free trial right now.

From task management to project tracking, empower your team to stay organized and productive with this all-in-one tool.

(Runs on: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)

If you’re saying “I am not an international spy, therefore I do not need a VPN” - allow me to help you.

If you already know I’m right - you can use this link to get 30 days free on ExpressVPN which has never failed me around the world.

Back to the need for a VPN - I get it - 10 years ago nobody was talking about this as a non-negotiable. But the past 10 years has seen significant change come to the landscape of all kinds of knowledge work.

These days it is normal to work from home, or be a digital nomad and work from anywhere with an internet connection. With this level of freedom there can be tradeoffs.

For example, many types of websites require you to be in a specific region to access (including several bank websites, many work resources). By using ExpressVPN I've always been able to access regional sites for my customers from anywhere in the world.

If you're working from coffee shops - or other public wifi, you definitely need to be running a VPN for the safety of yourself and your customers.

You probably don't want to find out if your business can withstand a breach.

If you are going to travel away from your home region you will eventually need a VPN to access the sites you were using at home.

This link gives you 30 days free for ExpressVPN which consistently ranks at the top of recommendation lists worldwide. Actually - one of the review sites that is most reputable will only rank ExpressVPN as #2 because Express will not publicize its staff and identity of its developers. That was enough for me. Sold.

I've been using it flawlessly for 5 years.

(Runs on: Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidExpressVPN)

How many more video calls can you handle?

Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to eliminate some of the endless video calls without sacrificing that "face to face" and tone of voice experience?

Loom revolutionizes team communication with simple yet powerful interactive video messages.

Share insights, provide feedback, and enhance collaboration with this visual communication tool.

Loom offers a free forever version as well as valuable professional subscription options.

I’ve been using Loom for a couple of years for everything from creating training videos for customers to showing my bookkeeper what I did to break QuickBooks.

Runs on: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android)

Drip is a user-friendly, reasonably priced solution for automating your marketing tasks.

I am not a marketing professional by any stretch of the imagination - and I find it simple to use (probably not taking full advantage of everything it can do).

Drip has templates and workflows to support you in nurturing leads, engaging customers, and personalizing communications to drive business growth.

With integrations supporting all types of other platforms, Drip will ensure all of your communications are consistent and properly analyzed.

(Runs on: Web)

It's possible I originally chose Cyberduck because I like the duck.

But I have to say - it has always done everything I needed, and the interface is more user-friendly than some of the other tools I've used in the past.

Cyberduck is a solid solution for efficient and secure file transfers with support for various protocols and is capable of handling most if not all file management tasks to ensure smooth workflows every time.

Plus - the icon is a duck. Which is great.

(Runs on: Windows, macOS)

SquareSpace is known for being a user-friendly platform that allows anyone to create create professional websites without needing to be a graphic designer (look at me go!).

SquareSpace is great for all types of websites, including eCommerce, professional services, blogs, etc.

SquareSpace integrates with many popular tools (including Drip, mentioned above), but does have a more restrictive environment than something like WordPress, which is what I use for my personal blog.

Ultimately I like Squarespace because the things I care about are easy, and the things I cannot have (like my preferred payment processor) are not deal-breakers for me.

(Runs on: Web, has mobile apps for making small changes and managing analytics)

For scripting of all kinds I have been having a great experience with UltraEdit.

I first discovered it when I started using a Mac and no longer had access to Notepad++.

There are tons of great text editing tools available for MacOS - and while I tried a few, I decided on UltraEdit (and its companion UltraCompare) because I can use it in Windows or MacOS and the licensing was reasonable.

Runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux