"In much of what I do, information, good, accurate and timely information can make or break you so I have to be on top of my game."

About The Mobilized Series of Posts:

As smartphones, PDAs, and mobile devices of all flavors become more powerful and versatile, more and more of us rely on them heavily in our everyday professional lives. Most of us are also always on the lookout for insight on how others work with mobile solutions, and how to get more out of our mobile experience.

This series of articles will feature a question and answer session with some mobile power users from various walks of life, to learn more about how they view and use mobile devices and mobile applications.

Sean Adams – Sportswriter, TV & Radio Sports Personaility, Trainer of Elite Athletes, and Author of ‘Sports for Life’  

For this second post in the series, I’m very happy to say that we have Sean Adams as our ‘guest’ to talk mobile solutions with. I’m lucky enough to catch Sean regularly on local sports radio and hear his great insight on personal fitness and training for elite athletes, as well as his latest take on all the major sports stories of the moment.  Read on for more on Sean, how mobile devices help him manage a very hectic life, some quick fitness tips for even mobile geeks, and maybe even some hints on who will be the second best college football team in the nation this year (behind the Longhorns of course)  …

About Sean Adams

Sean Adams was an NCAA All American athlete and now spends much of the summer and professional off-seasons training college and professional athletes.  He has been a sports writer for the last 8 years covering football in the Atlantic Coast Conference, covering University of Texas football, covering Baylor University sports and has had articles published for readership around the country.  He has and continues to be a television and sports radio personality on all sports, but in particular college football, college football recruiting, high school sports and social-athletic issues.  He has spoken around the country to athletes, parents and school support groups regarding performance training, the recruiting process and the NCAA regulations in regard to recruiting.  He is the author of the book, Sports for Life:  Daily Sports Themes for Life Success that can be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or through his website at www.seanadams.net.

Q&A: 

Q: Sean – you’re a sports guy, a sports guru even, so not the typical stereotype of a ‘gadgets geek’. What sort of mobile devices do you use or carry with you regularly in your professional life (laptop, Blackberry or other handhelds, Ipods or similar)?

A: I have a pretty souped up laptop with a wireless card and an EDGE card that will allow me to be internet ready any and everywhere.  I carry a Blackberry 8700 C and the big key with that is the ability to send and return e-mails on the fly.  I’m ashamed to say that I get between 80 and 100 e-mails per day.  For my work and entertainment pleasure, I have a Creative Vision:M mp3 and video player.  I keep everything on it from the backup to my important documents, the video that shows before I speak and all of my music that I use in my car.  I stopped using the CD changer a while back.

Q: You’re a Blackberry user – is that your main phone?  Is the real-time email feature critical to you in your work, are you constantly checking /sending mail on it?  What other programs do you use regularly on it?

A: The real-time e-mail feature was the reason that I went with the Blackberry.  Like I said, I get 80 to 100 e-mails a day.  Many of those are for information purposes and I can respond on my own time when I am back at my pc but many are real time and I need to trade information and news real-time.  In much of what I do, information, good, accurate and timely information can make or break you so I have to be on top of my game.  I join my Blackberry with my Microsoft Outlook everyday so I can see my schedule, order my day, list my task and so on.  

Q: Seems like the world of Recruiting gets crazier and more frantically-paced each year now – high school stars with their own web-sites and announcements of commitment on the web and so on.  Do you do a lot of web-browsing and interacting with web sites on the Blackberry or other mobile gear?

A: In the last six months I have really spent more time on the web on my Blackberry on message boards that I help manage and updating information on the websites that I work with. I have been caught in traffic and listened to the streaming audio of a press conference from the car on the laptop so the EDGE card surely helps.

Q: Are most people involved in the recruiting and sports media industries getting all ‘geared up’ now with mobile devices?

A: If they are not, I’m betting that they are not very good at their job.  I remember a few years ago when I would hear news and would have to drive home to get to my pc and hope nobody scooped me on the news.  We would make someone stay home so we could call in and have the information post somewhat real in time.  Some people still have not made the investment though but I think we are moving more towards that as newspapers and conventional media are slipping in their ability to be first to bare the news.  As media and news turns more and more to the internet, mobile devices will become more important.

Q: This is due to change soon, but for now, Blackberries are not very multimedia oriented, compared to other smartphone-type devices with cameras and media players and so on. Are you looking towards any of these devices with some of those features and applications built in?

A: I think it might be good have a Blackberry that would allow me to take a quality photo.  I really don’t use my Blackberry and an entertainment device.  I have 30 GB’s of Creative Vision:M for that.  I need my Blackberry to be easy to navigate, durable and not getting the battery drained because I’m having fun.  I can say that my Blackberry is a business tool for me.  I also would mind if I could watch a video attachment to an e-mail.  I get video sent to me all the time, and it’s a case where I have to wait until I get home.

Q: Have you owned, or used, other smartphones or mobile devices, of the Palm or Windows Mobile flavors? (if so, which ones, any opinions on how they compare to using the Blackberry)

A: I almost think it would be unfair to compare because I owned a cell phone and a Palm Pilot but that was some years ago.  I have been with Blackberry for a number of years now and have just upgraded when I felt the need to or needed a new gadget.

Q: Do you use any mobile applications with your own fitness / training / nutrition routines? Anything to help track and record workouts and diet etc.?

A: Blackberry’s actually come with everything that I need to really manage my crazy life.  I use the notes a lot.  I open them on Outlook and cut and past my flight and hotel reservations. I have my workout for the week.  I have my favorite quotes, stocks I need to look at, bible verses, even my latest favorite poem, Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson.   

Q: For those of us who are a little less athletically gifted than yourself, a little closer to the ‘gadget geek’ caricature, any quick fitness tips you can offer us?  Any specialist training routines that involve using mobile devices in place of weights for working out with?

A: Drink more water and less carbonation, exercise for 20 minutes a day and get plenty of sleep. You will be shocked at how your body feels and how much better shape you’ll be in no time.

Q: Can you give us the scoop on who will be the second best college football team in the nation next year, behind the Longhorns?

A: West Virginia based on their schedule and California is my surprise team to win the Pac 10 and be in the mix for the BCS Championship game.

Thanks very much to Sean for taking the time to do this with us. For more on Sean, or to read excerpts of his book and pick up a copy, go check out:

Seanadams.net 

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