Note: I have a HUGE post coming out tomorrow, so instead of posting my silly post on Friday, we’ll do it today! 
There are several things each of us consider sacred to our life and living well. The same goes for being a freelance web developer. What kind of things are necessary for your business and sanity while working? Here are my favorite 10 things I couldn’t live or work without.
There would be no work, if there wasn’t something to work on. My handy Macbook can handle opening every memory-leaking program at the same time and still have juice to run that newest Tudor’s show from iTunes.
Another life savor from Apple, I’d be out of business if it wasn’t my for Time Capsule. Automatic wireless backups multiple times an hour, restore from 1 button, wireless printing, super fast wireless N/G internet, and moving an entire computer all the way down to the desktop picture to a new one, you can’t lose with this guy. I once lost about 5 years worth of client emails. I got them back in 2 seconds.
What business would be productive without a secretary to answer the phones? He even offers free kisses every time I kick the desk and throw the computer in anger. Plus he’s free. Gold.
No developer can ever have too many monitors, computers or laptops. Ever.
A few times a week (unless it’s this week when I’m sick and swamped) I have to go to my local Books-a-Million and work for a few hours. It gets me out of the house, keeps me sane, plus I can sip their awesome Blueberry Pomegranate slushies and check out new books when the laptop’s battery dies (normally takes about 5 minutes…)
None of my major projects would get done without this guy, who happens to be the best programmer in the whole world. Luckily, I can normally get by paying him only with dinner and cookies.
For working when you’re supposed to be done working, the iPhone is perfect for answering client emails at 2 a.m., writing blog posts when you’re supposed to be sleeping, even editing HTML and CSS in WordPress. Time off? There’s no such thing!
Most freelancers never leave the office and are pale and stinky. Luckily I can get my share of socialization done through Twitter and can pretend I have a real life. Plus it’s great for keeping up with the newest coolest coding trends. Just don’t tweet what you’re eating, m’kay?
Another essential, I wouldn’t get anything done without lightning speed internet. And luckily for me, it’s never gone down since we’ve lived here. +1 for Charter.
Who would have a business without them? Although they can sometimes be a point of frustration, we all have a love/hate relationship with these guys, but we must make sure we’re thankful because hey, they’re paying for my new Porsche. (I wish)
So what can you not live without? Please share!
About the authorI have over 10 years of experience in coding valid and semantic XHTML, CSS and WordPress that is both clean and SEO-friendly. Also a lover of books, interior design and cheesecake! More »
Copyright © 2010 Amber Weinberg. All rights Reserved. Please don't steal, it's really not cool! But if you'd love to work with me (you do don't you?), please contact me :)
Apart from what you’ve listed already… for me it would be music playing while working and Red Bull to fuel late nights (and wake me up after a late night/early morning).
Out of interest, I see you have your local backup covered but (paranoia mode) what about if your house burns down? I’m semi-serious here and have myself a local USB HDD that backups all my data plus I have a 36Gb Pen drive (a 64 soon) that has critical business backups on it and it *never* leaves my side, plus a dropbox online backup (call me paranoid, but better to be safe).
I have probably 4/8
1. Vaio Computer not Apple although probably upgrading the computer has been reliable.
2. Iphone (and agree with everything said.
3. Secretary (probably post at some time)
4. Twitter
I can’t even add more its that simple. Iphone so very important.
Love your list
Although I’m not a developer:
My Top 10
1. Caffeine- 5 Hr Energy, Coffee, Soda, etc.
2. PC Hardware/Software Obviously
3. We have a secretary too!
4. San Diego Chamber of Commerce
5. Rhapsody
6. P90X- stress relief
7. Vonage- VoIP, we can take out numbers anywhere
8. Small Business Server/ Remote
9. Business Cards- I give alot out
10. Social Media Accounts
How cool! I am SO glad we made the list…that ROCKS!!!
I would echo that portion of the list. Here are my 10:
1) Awesome customers!
Dual Widescreen Monitors
2) My team, they are AMAZING!!!
3) The support of an awesome leadership that believes in the power of Social Media
4) SEESMIC/TweetDeck both have saved me
5) UberTwitter, working off the BB is essential
6) Pandora, good music makes everyday better
7) Google Alerts
9) Charter Connection
10) Tweet-Ups!
Eric Ketzer
Social Media Communications Manager
Charter Communications