Podcasting
Apple created a revolution in more ways than one when it opened its app store in 2003. But not just songs and movies can be bought, podcasts covering almost every subject imaginable are available for free download straight to your device.
Podcasts are a perfect way to make the most of your dead time while sitting in a traffic jam for two hours.
They are spread across a wide range of subjects, within which are literally thousands of different "channels", some with millions of fans.
Want to sound knowledgeable in front of your colleagues? Download the latest Economist or Harvard Business Review podcast and share cutting-edge business ideas from some of the world's great thinkers.
Want to be up to date with futuristic ideas and technology? Listen to IT specialists "TechStuff" or a recent international TED conference. Want to laugh all your way to work? Get the latest sessions from comedy greats such as Ricky Gervais.
iTunesU
While impressing your friends with great jokes and your excellent knowledge of complex derivative products is all well and good, the learning experience goes even deeper. iTunesU features lectures and additional learning material from such leading universities as Stanford, Yale, Oxford and Otago. Subjects are again incredibly broad and there is almost a limitless amount of academic content available free.
'Oui Monsieur'
Another major podcast feature is the education/languages section. Going to Europe for a holiday? Great - download the "French for beginners" podcast and you can practise 10 hours a day going to and from work.
Overdrive
A great tool to take the edge off your commuting boredom is the Overdrive app (www.overdrive.com).
Overdrive allows you to log into your existing account with your local library and download thousands of audio and e-books free of charge.
Again the choice is huge, including talking books from business leaders such as Zig Ziglar, Malcolm Gladwell, Michael Gerber, John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard and Seth Godin.
Networking at sea
If you are lucky enough to live on a gulf island and commute to the city on weekdays, you can also develop new friendships and networks that could assist you in your day-to-day business and your career.
Businessman Matthew Sollis travels daily from Waiheke Island to his office in central Auckland. His half-hour ferry trip, sipping coffee and discussing business with friends, far outstrips his previous one-hour commute from the North Shore. He sees it as a very important time to bounce round concepts, helping him see ideas from other perspectives.
"In my group on the boat there is a lawyer and a banker who are happy to give their takes on any issues at hand. We help each other out with fresh thinking, and we can give real, unbiased advice to each other."
In a recent troublesome property transaction, Matthew's legal friend helped him to navigate a range of tricky issues over a couple of weeks that ensured a successful outcome.
Tom O'Neil is an international author, award-winning speaker and MD of CV.CO.NZ. His new book The 1 per cent Principle is in stores early June. Contact tom at tom@cv.co.nz.
