First natural question...what the heck is a Maven? (Second natural question...why the heck is Danielle trying to be one?!) I first learned the term after reading Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" a few years ago. **Side note - He's hand's down one of my favorite authors simply because of the way he presents his theories with case studies and provokes thoughtful analysis of why certain things happen. He makes me think and I like it.** Anyway, a Maven is an "information specialist" who connects people to new information. According to Wikipedia, "...Mavens start 'word-of-mouth epidemics' due to their knowledge, social skills, and ability to communicate". While I recognize that I'm not truly a leading expert on any subject in particular (with the possible exception of organization), when I find something that I think is worth knowing about, I can't help but share it. Which is exactly what I intend to do with this week's blog entry.
Of course, being a Maven would imply that I'm one of the first to catch onto trends and spread the word before they become mainstream. Hence, why I added the qualifier of "trying to be" one, because I understand that by the time certain trends hit me here in the Midwest, they're already going out of style on the coasts. It's also entirely possible that I'm the last to know about this one, and you'll all smile at how naive I am and how I'm just catching onto something that everyone's been using for years. :-)
Anyway, this week I wanted to share a new tool that I learned about from my friend, Laura, who is going to be a part of July's Seattle (and San Diego) trips later this year. She started adding travel plans to an online trip organizer called Trip It. Tell the truth...have you heard of it?! Well, it didn't take me long after exploring the site before I started confessing my undying love for this free service. It's AWESOME! All you have to do (after you sign in with your Google account) is forward your airline and hotel confirmation emails to the website and it automatically organizes them into an itinerary. Want to add an activity? No problem. Need directions? It'll add those too. Curious about the weather forecast? It automatically adds the day by day Hi and Lo temperatures.
Coming from someone who was planning to do all of the above manually in a Microsoft Word document for each of my many trips this year, (...I'm groaning as I think of all the copying and pasting and reformatting the perfectionist in me would have done...) I feel like I've just saved hours of time from my busy schedule. Thank you, Tripit! And thank you, Laura. ;-) The Phoenix Rendezvous itinerary got a lot of attention on Tripit this week and at this point is a thing of beauty. Now to utilize this fantastic tool for my other upcoming trips!
Of course, being a Maven would imply that I'm one of the first to catch onto trends and spread the word before they become mainstream. Hence, why I added the qualifier of "trying to be" one, because I understand that by the time certain trends hit me here in the Midwest, they're already going out of style on the coasts. It's also entirely possible that I'm the last to know about this one, and you'll all smile at how naive I am and how I'm just catching onto something that everyone's been using for years. :-)
Anyway, this week I wanted to share a new tool that I learned about from my friend, Laura, who is going to be a part of July's Seattle (and San Diego) trips later this year. She started adding travel plans to an online trip organizer called Trip It. Tell the truth...have you heard of it?! Well, it didn't take me long after exploring the site before I started confessing my undying love for this free service. It's AWESOME! All you have to do (after you sign in with your Google account) is forward your airline and hotel confirmation emails to the website and it automatically organizes them into an itinerary. Want to add an activity? No problem. Need directions? It'll add those too. Curious about the weather forecast? It automatically adds the day by day Hi and Lo temperatures.
Coming from someone who was planning to do all of the above manually in a Microsoft Word document for each of my many trips this year, (...I'm groaning as I think of all the copying and pasting and reformatting the perfectionist in me would have done...) I feel like I've just saved hours of time from my busy schedule. Thank you, Tripit! And thank you, Laura. ;-) The Phoenix Rendezvous itinerary got a lot of attention on Tripit this week and at this point is a thing of beauty. Now to utilize this fantastic tool for my other upcoming trips! Timestamp:
I like your blog, it is very cool. Have fun getting it all done before 30. Just one piece of advice, 30 isn't the end of the world. 30's are way cooler than my 20's. I have more responsibility, but more money to do things that I love!
ReplyDelete