Online Decision Tools & Analytics

When it rains it pours, Simonites–I am blogging two days in a row, and I hope you can handle it! I am thrilled to announce that my iPhone app has made the Top 100 list for free apps in its category, Productivity, in the app store. There are thousands of applications in this category, and ours is only three weeks old (the free version). Needless to say, I am floored, honored, proud, and more. So, if you haven’t done so, download my free app here: Let Simon Decide iPhone App.

Coming down off of a holiday weekend can sometimes be depressing, but thanks to FriedBeef.com, the Let Simon Decide team had even more to celebrate the morning after July 4th. Check out this incredibly flattering review: “3 Amazingly Intelligent Web Services That Help You Make Complex Decisions.” The author, James Yeang, seems to understand exactly what we are all about, describing, “In the end though, once you do your homework, this is the perfect way to tabulate and affirm any complex decision you make.” Thanks, man!

Hi Simonites! Sorry for the brief hiatus from the blog–I have been busy focusing on my decision making tools. But, never fear, I haven’t forgotten my community. Enough about me, though. Back to you and your decisions!

Summer is well on it’s way, so hopefully you are all making the choice to enjoy yourselves and to find time to relax. And for those of you who either have trouble deciding to slow down or just don’t have the choice, there is always the reliable three-day weekend and national holiday to come to the rescue. And what better summer holiday is there in the U.S. than the Fourth of July? Fireworks, barbecues, family, friends…my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

To get you in the spirit, here are a few articles to help you decide how to spend this July 4th.  Specifically, what to eat and drink, which fireworks to watch, and how to stay safe:

- America’s Best Fourth of July Fireworks Displays

- Fabulous July 4th Party: Simple, Stylish and Affordable

- KidsHealth.com Fireworks Safety

- Fourth of July Recipes, Menus, and Drinks from Epicurious.com

I will keep you posted on other helpful articles as I come across them.  More soon!

A year ago today, my online decision tools went live, making today my very first birthday. Too bad there’s that other May 5th holiday stealing my thunder… Oh well, I guess I will have to get used to it.

I am amazed at how quickly the past year has flown, and how much I have grown in the past year. I owe a big thank you to my team and user community for their continued support. Couldn’t have done it without all my wonderful decision makers!

Do you think you should get your finances straightened out, but are unsure where to start? In the spirit of spring cleaning (You all cleaned up your online profiles already, right?), here is a great resource for getting your finances back on track this spring. Decide to take a look at the seven tips listed in this CNN Money article:“7 Steps To Get Your Finances Back on Track.” The article goes into greater depth with specific tips and advice for how to square away your savings, your career path, etc. but most of all the author urges readers to adjust their expectations (of the economy, of themselves, of their careers, and so on) to ensure greater success in this reality, not the reality of the past. So, here’s to the present, Simonites–happy cleaning!

Worried about how current and/or future employers will react if they decide to Google your name? Then perhaps you should roll up your sleeves and decide to do some spring cleaning–of your “digital dirt”. Whether this means attempting to remove the bad or adding more good, this Monster.com blog post, “Clean Up Your Digital Dirt–Or At Least Sweep It Under the Rug,” offers advice for how to do so. Have any of you had your online image come back to haunt you? Anyone successfully clean it up?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, gang! I hope you are wearing green, because there is always that one twerp in the office who will decide to pinch you. The big question is: How will you decide to celebrate?

If you decide to get into the holiday spirit and want some good, clean family fun, you should take a look at the advice in this “Geek Dad” article from Wired.com, 10 (Mostly) Sober Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Another list of ideas comes from the Washington Post, geared specifically toward college kids: “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” (very original title, I might add). If you are feeling a little more wild–and don’t mind being tired at work tomorrow, look to your local newspaper or newstations’s website to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood tonight. But, please, be safe!

Ah, spring is in the air and more likely than not, if you’re single and looking for love, you’ve got a crush on someone. Merriam-Webster defines a crush as: “an intense and usually passing infatuation.” Whether it’s a coworker, friend, or neighbor, a crush is someone you have probably had your eye on for at least a little while. Depending on how discrete you have decided to be, your crush may or may not have any idea how you feel. And, let’s face it, they may or may not decide they like you in return. So, how to decide whether or not to tell your beloved how you feel? You’re in luck–I have a decision and advice for this: Should I tell him/her how I feel?

If you use the My Scores tool, as usual, you will get a chance to decide on your priorities. You can also get advice from my factors checklist. If you decide that your top priority is finding love, telling your crush may be worth the risk. Think of the possibilities! But if your top priority is avoiding rejection, you may decide that sharing your feelings is too risky for you. Imagine the humiliation! In addition to using the My Scores decision tool, I recommend that you try the Points of View tool, so that you can consider the best and worst case scenarios for each alternative. Assessing how you might feel if everything goes right or wrong will help you decide if you are ready to take a leap.

Good luck, Simonites! In my opinion, you are all very, very lovable!

For those of you lucky enough to still have a spring break (ah, the good old days), it’s not too late to decide to spend your spring break in a way that leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to take on the spring quarter/semester. Whether you decide to stay in town or get away, there are plenty of options to fit any budget and lifestyle.

If you decide you want to leave town this spring break (and haven’t already booked a trip), you should take a look at this Los Angeles Times article I found, Spring Break: Last-Minute Travel Deals For Students. The article lists lots of great spring break deals, as well as other websites you can decide to check out for more information and suggestions. SmarterTravel.com also has suggestions for Last-Minute Spring Break Getaways, although these aren’t necessarily targeted at student budgets.

If you decide to stay in town this spring break, either at school or in your hometown, there’s no reason you can’t still have a great time! Depending on where you live, you might want to decide to explore your town/city in ways you don’t get to during the busy semester. Visit TripAdvisor, Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, or another travel site to explore your area like a tourist. Or you may have a list of certain parks or museums you wish you had time to visit during the school year, but you are just too swamped to take advantage of them. Don’t forget to check your local paper for area festivals and events that go on during spring break, such as SXSW in Austin or Harvest of Hope in St. Augustine, Florida. For more music festivals in your area, check out Festival Outlook for a complete list of 2010 music festivals.

Whatever you decide to do, you should always make safety a top priority. Check out the CDC’s Spring Break Health and Safety Tips for information and resources that will help you stay safe, whether you are at home or away.

For those of you struggling to decide how to tackle your taxes, I took some time to research the latest articles that give advice to help you decide how prepare for April 15. From deciding to avoid common mistakes, advice about software and IRS protection, to deciding translating the lingo, here are some of the helpful articles that caught my eye:

- 10 Most Common Tax Mistakes, WalletPop.com

- Using Tax-Prep Software? Trust Results but Verify, NYTimes.com

- Don’t Pay For IRS Protection, CNNMoney.com

- 10 Tax Terms Translated Into English, msnbc.com

Let Simon Decide is our proprietary online decision innovation laboratory. Unlike conventional decision systems, Let Simon Decide provides real-life and anonymous individual data without intruding into people’s lives or creating artificial situations. Members log on in the privacy of their own home and use our popular tool to make up their minds on pressing decisions, both big and small. For example, should they accept a particular job? Is it time to buy a home?. Or what should they do with their free time. They can also tap into the Simonite community to get advice from other Simonites and view thousands of similar decisions, made publicly available by their authors.
Thus, in contrast to traditional research methods, Let Simon Decide helps both Ayax and our customers gain unparalleled knowledge about decision patterns. Users find clarity about their personal decisions, while Ayax and its customers get a better understanding on what drives decisions and how users interact with the system and its tools. And because everyone visiting Let Simon Decide engages in the process for their own personal benefit, the data they provide is genuine.