BY RANDI KILLIAN

Pick up almost any magazine these days and you will find, somewhere between the front and back covers, some person (famous or almost so) extolling the virtues of “stuff they can’t live without.” As I read them over, I can hear Julie Andrews singing “My Favorite Things” in my head. But, even though the items on these lists are so far removed from raindrops on roses and whispers on kittens, the lists interest me for a variety of reasons. Although there usually are quite a few items with which I’m not familiar, it’s fascinating knowing what someone else treasures as “critical to one’s existence.” Naturally, this reading started me thinking about what I would put on my own list, and I’ve actually been keeping track of my ideas for about a year now. So, without further ado (and in no particular order), I present to you my list of “What I Can’t Live Without.”

• Palm Pilot. I started using my first Palm in 1998. It was smart technology. Most importantly, it was lightweight, allowing me to walk around with a “calendar/contact system” that didn’t weigh more than five pounds. The expense program continues to be a lifesaver for capturing my daily out-of-pocket expenses. Overall, the PDA represents a kind of poetry in the simplicity of its functionality. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I should note here that my Palm III lived the good life until last May. A regular V that was lying around the house was pressed into service until I can decide what to buy next. Who knows? There may be a Tungsten in my future.)
• Kitchen cabinet. I’m not talking about a kitchen cabinet of the cupboard variety, but my group of trusted advisors and friends who are there to counsel and comfort when the need arises. They endure reading copy for typos, offer suggestions when I’m stuck, keep me from going over the edge, and lead me to soar as the occasion warrants. I cannot imagine my business or my life without them.
• Paris. Paris is one of the cities in the world that truly has my heart. I can spend hours just roaming around, sitting in cafes and trolling the aisles of my favorite department store, Le Bon Marche. I can’t speak a word of French, but that never gets in my way. The pulse, the vibrancy of color, the design, and the presentation of everything really energize me.
• A really good mystery. My passion for the “whodunit” started with Nancy Drew. Today, I can spend hours reading good mysteries. I never tire of finding new authors or of settling in for a good read with old favorites. One day, when the time is right, I’ll begin the process of setting down words for the series that has been rolling around my head for several years now. Until that time, though, I’m content to read Parents, George, Muller, Evanovich, et al.
• Digital pen. An inveterate note taker, I have filled thousands of notebooks with client meetings, creative thoughts, and action items throughout my career. The problem used to be getting that information into the computer for further use and manipulation — without hours of retyping. Having tried every (and I mean every) available tool with no success, I was surprised to run across an ad for the Logitech io Personal Digital Pen. An ink pen with a computer chip, the pen captures an image of your handwriting on special paper as you write. This information then “jumps into the computer” when you put the pen in a special cradle (like a hot synch operation). You can have a real image of your writing or convert your notations to Word, e-mail, or an Outlook action item. What a timesaver! Plus, I feel very futuristic when I’m using it.
• My car. I drive a 1999 BMW M Coupe, a two-seater sports car that looks like a miniature station wagon on steroids. It goes like stink, and it gives me great joy as I drive around. There were only 2,700 produced, and I really like having a car that not many other people do.
• Seth Godin. Credited with creating the concept of permission marketing, Seth Godin continues to be my marketing guru. His current book, Free Prize Inside, offers limited edition cereal box packaging. (Visit www.800ceoread.com/fc to order.) He’s an example of what walking your talk means. His ideas always get me thinking better thoughts.
• TV du jour. As a writer and creative type, I’m always looking for some creative ways to procrastinate. My current sanctioned break time is to watch “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The guests don’t matter to me as much as the individual segments. They appeal to my sense of humor, and there’s nothing wrong with a laugh or two to get you through the day.
• Computer Jan. It’s become a necessity for all of us to have reliable IT support. My computer wizardess keeps my systems humming along, integrates all my tech toys (the pens and the like), and keeps me from going bald in the fight against the worms, parasites, viruses, and spam we all battle each day. Through her efforts, I can do my business — without fighting with the technology. It’s a very “freeing” feeling.

So, there you have it — the top nine items on my list of “Stuff I Can’t Live Without.” While there may be a few others that rotate off and on (that’s the nature of the beast), these always make the cut. So what about you? What are some of the objects, the stuff, the people, and the ideas that seem so important that you’re not sure you could live without them? What inspires you? What keeps you going or gets you unstuck? I’d love to hear. Send me your list (e-mail: randi@randib.com), and we’ll print a sampling of the most interesting responses in a future issue of Enterprising Women.

Randi Killian helps companies change, enhance and protect their brands through speaking, coaching and consulting with a strategic approach to marketing, issues management, crisis communications, branding, and media relations . Contact her at randi@randib.com or visit www.randib.com.

(This article is reprinted from the 2004 Enterprising Women of the Year edition of Enterprising Women magazine. Copyright 2004 Enterprising Women Inc.  Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited, except by express permission of the publisher.)