Succeeding in the Info Economy with the Right Cyber Toolbox for Desktop and Mobile Applications

In the evolving technological driven world. there is no golden ring or any perfect "kitchen sink" software that would maintain the image of 100% efficiency, especially in the cyber security realm.  Things change. Bad hackers abused the gaps. The mindfully and successful  strategists quietly adjust, evolve and stay ahead of the curve.

Regardless of this "flaw", it is better to have the tools and not use it than to need the tools and not have it.  ...  Staying ahead of the curve is about anticipating two events ahead while executing one move ahead.

The successful strategists sometimes prevail because of a combination of their willpower, their focus, their strategic framework, their operational team and their toolbox.  ... 

The List of Necessities not Accessories.
Following is an abridged list of software apps that one should have in their desktop pc toolbox and/or mobile phone toolbox:

• Chrome (free)
• Firefox Browser (free)
• Evernote (free)
• Foxit Reader (A free pdf reader)
• Open Source Suse (A free alternative operating system to MS Windows.)
• Opera Browser (free)
• Kindle reader for the Windows Desktop 
• Perl (This scripting language is the master toolbox of all programming languages. It has a super programming library.)
• C/C++ Programming Language (The "nuts and bolts" of all programming languages.)
• Microsoft Excel (The Excel spreadsheet is still the predominant digital swiss army knife for organizing specific data and composing math formulas and equations for small scale numerical analysis projects.)
• Mindjet (This mindmapping tool is great for conceptual "top to bottom" brainstorming)
• Password Safe (free but effective)
• Sublime text (A good GUI-based vi text editor for programmers. Their older versions are for free)
• Spinrite (This app is great for protecting the data integrity of the hard drive)
• True Encrypt   (Click here for their FAQ)
• Thunderbird  (Good for archiving one's email.)
• UltraEdit (A good text editor for programmers that allows customization.)
• Vim  (A good and free vi text editor for programmers.)
• VM Player 
• VM Virtual Box

Our Favorite Web Services

• CPAN
• Google's Documents
• Grammarly  
• Skype
• WebEx
• Sourceforge
• Feedly
• I Heart Radio
• The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Meta-CPAN
• WSJ
• NYT
• Jacquie Lawson (Greeting Cards)
• Mindjet

Most free products are usually good enough for massive usage.  In some scenarios, we preferred to utilize the tools that allowed the user to implement some levels of customization.

Non-Techie Tools for the Cyber Realm 
Here is our abridged list of above average non-cyber gear for unpredictable times

• CCrane (This is a great source for high performance radios. A good radio enables the user to be in touch with the real world without being entirely connected to the digital grid. During the spring to autumn season, it is always fun to listen to a baseball game or a radio talk show while writing code.) 
• Emerson Knives (It is nice to have a reliable bladed implement for the rare worst case  scenarios.)
• Saunders Clipboards (Their metal clipboards are just great for focusing one's attention in a non-techie setting. They are usually manufactured in the USA.)
• Bulletproof Clipboard
• Lamy Pens  and Tombo Pens (Both companies have been manufacturing durable and functional writing instruments for many decades)
• Red Blossom Tea (They sell great green tea)
• Standup Desks

Tools for Fools
Utilizing throw-away gimmicks that served the minimum purposes is the norm.  ...  Successful strategists that we have met, do not collect irrelevant tools. They are focused on having the best quality tools...  You would rather have a quality tool that performs to its highest standard 1,000 times than to purchase 1,000 of the same tools that barely work once or twice. 

Conclusively. some of us possessed a grand infatuation for superior utilitarian workhorse type of tools. ... 

Side Notes
While most people believed in the view of the pen is mightier than the sword in most instances.  Some of us preferred to position both items in accord. 

The successful strategists sometimes prevail because of a combination of their willpower, their focus, their strategic framework, their operational team and their toolbox.  It is rarely about one attribute.  They instinctively understand how to effectively balance those attributes. The usage of rules and simplifications are for novices and amateurs who are looking for stop gap solutions.

Comments From The Compass Desk 

Being mobile and having immediate and fastest access to the right data are two of the many keys to strategic success in our information economy. Knowing how to assess the Big Tangible Picture and comprehending what tools work for that unique moment are the prerequisites to positioning ahead with sound and solid planning  and preparation.  

Having the large toolbox is one thing. Utilizing it in an integrated mode and knowing when to carry certain tools for certain situations are some of the keys to tactical success.  

There is more to building a pragmatic but favorable setting than to reading the manual.  It is all about comprehending the configuration of the Big Tangible Picture (BTP) in terms of the Five Critical Strategic Factors (CSF) and building a defensive mechanism around it. 

You can read more about the basics of the Five Critical Strategic Factors in our future book project. 

More to Come