Greetings, colleague

September 9, 2024

🫡 Greetings, colleague: Dreading writing an email for work? Open ChatGPT or your favorite AI chatbot. Give it a headstart by typing who you are, your recipient and what the email needs to communicate. If the first draft is awful, give feedback (e.g., “Make it sound more conversational” or “Be more confident”) until it’s ready for your edits.

Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), chatbot, email, feedback, sound, Typing, work, writing

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The $40K fake invoice scam we were too smart to fall for

Scams come with the territory when you own a business. Last week, we got one here at the Komando HQ that even I haven’t spotted before. Let’s just say I was equal parts impressed and annoyed. That’s why if you own a business or do anything with money at a company, you need to know this.

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Don’t look like a dunce: The right way to say tricky tech words

Tech has its own language and, with that, its own pronunciations for company names, products — you name it. I want you to look and sound smart, so read through the list below to make sure you aren’t making any big pronunciation mistakes.

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💄 All glammed up and no place to go: TikTok is loaded with people complaining that concealer, fake lashes and overlined lips in your passport photo can lead to big delays if you travel bare-faced (paywall link). You confuse both human and tech scanners. Btw, my passport photo is a publicity shot, and I’m happy to report I never get held up.

Google Lens shopping trick

See that suitcase in the image? Using Google Lens, you can get info about it right there in your tab. So handy!

Open the Chrome menu > Search with Google Lens.
Click and drag anywhere on the page to search for an image. Voila!

5 hidden fees costing your small business money

Starting your own business can be exciting, but it often comes with a rocky road ahead. Those rocks will cut into your wallet through several expenses. Miscalculating the daily costs of running a company can hurt you in the long run.

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Using free antivirus? Here's what it could cost you

The internet is dangerous and laden with hidden threats. Luckily, antivirus (AV) software can spot lurking dangers that want to take over your computer. Tap or click here to find out why you need antivirus software.

You may consider a free version if you’re looking for an antivirus tool. A few solutions won’t cost you a dime, which can be appealing. But, as with all things, you get what you pay for.

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Spotted at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car counter in Santa Barbara!

How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phone

We’ve all got a load of sensitive info on our phones — texts with loved ones, banking details, passwords and family photos.

You don’t want anyone snooping around, whether it’s an app maker on the other side of the world or the guy sitting behind you at the coffee shop. Take five minutes to run this privacy audit, and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

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Yup, that’s me in Tokyo a few months ago!

📧 Use Gmail on your Android? If you pay for the Google Workspace plan (or your work does), you can now chat with Google’s AI, Gemini, about your emails. The bot has access to your entire inbox, so it can summarize your emails (“What did Mary want?”) or find specific info for you (“When’s the app design deadline?”). To use it, tap the black star logo in the top-right corner of the app. Coming soon to iPhone, I hope!