What software do you use for this on your computer? What features does it have and what do you find the most convenient? Do you track time management on it? What type of alarms do you find are most convenient for you? Are you faithful using it, or hit and miss?
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
I use Pagemaker. I keep it simple, just list the days/dates and I fill in what is happening for this and that day and apply a DONE when completed. If not completed, that listing goes into another day. I include jobs, bill paying, personal things to do, orders to make, etc.
I print the entire week out as I did it, at the end of that week. It's saved me several times on certain issues to be able to backtrack what I did when.
Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
I am starting to use an Excel spreadsheet. The only problem is is that I have to keep it updated for it to work.
Posted by Tony McDonald (Member # 1158) on :
I'm still small enough to use a small spiral notebook. As work comes in, their name, phone number, date, and job type goes in this book, along with any quotes given.
I have filled 3 or 4 of them over the last few years. Seems easier for me to keep track of where I'm at, and it's easy to look back at past work. I just write "done" next to each job as completed.
As far as my week goes. When it gets real busy, on Friday afternoon or Monday morning I will make a list of things and jobs to do for the week. Next to each of those is "materials ordered" or whatever the status is, and they get scratched off as completed, and marked as "done" in my spiral.
It seems you can be so organized...that it takes up too much time, so this works for me...at least for now.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
As much as I hate to admit it, Outlook is fine for most everything I do. You can set one time or reoccuring appointments, tasks, reminders, etc., and color code them in any order you choose. It's simple and straignt forward and it could do a whole lot more if you want it to.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Outlook here too... looked at and tested lots of others but always come back to Outlook. Having calendar, tasks, notes, email & contacts all in one program, plus having it easily sync with my PDA is worth a lot to me...
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
Oddly enough, we don't use the computer for that.
Anything that comes in or if a client wants me to come out, a new file folder is pulled out of the box, notes are stored in the folder and it goes in the verticle acrylic brochure tray that hangs on the wall. It has 3 dividers.
Each morning, I pull out all the folders I want to work with and put them in the front divider. One folder by one folder I do whatever it takes to move the job along. Then I put the completed folder to the middle section of the tray. Files that are in limbo are placed in the 3rd compartment furthest back. Completed files are moved to the billing tray...which is another acrylic 3 compartment brochure holder that hangs on the wall. (same thing: up front need billed, second compartment back is for those files billed and ready to be put in the file cabinate.
This way I stay flexible.
The problem some of us "LEFT BRAINERS" have is not being able to stick to a schedule....and that's me.
If I used the computer to stay organized, I be opening up the program every 10 minutes making changes to the planner....too much wasted time.
Its much easier to pull a folder out of the tray, and if I get distracted, I just put it back and pull it out the next chance I have.
AS FAR AS APPOINTMENTS go, I have a dry erase maker board on the wall in back and above the computer....I simply make a note of a haircut or doctor visit or client to see.
If I delt with 20 clients a day, and was just strickly suit and tie office manager, I might consider a planner, either paper or computer. Right now it just doesn't work for me. Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i use palm desktop...can sync the computer and pda and that comes in handy! i print out my to do list and then i update it at night.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Wife uses Outlook to Schedule the Shop for long term then a Dry Erae board for daily work lists for employes scheduling.
Me Any post-it I can find laying on my desk
Posted by J & N Signs (Member # 901) on :
Calendarscope along with outlook works out fine for me.
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Microsoft Works Task Launcher- although some of the tasks that were Launched must be still flying all over the place up there someplace!
Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on :
I'm a pencil guy. I still use a Franklin day planner. It goes where I go, I can sketch in it, and it doesn't need batteries.
Posted by Rene Giroux (Member # 4980) on :
Little yellow sticky notes...
...gotta go, lost my keys !
Posted by Randy W. Robarge (Member # 2022) on :
I use ACT! contact management software on my laptop combined with my PDA. My PDA is an old Treo 90 but it still does what I need.
ACT! - keeps ALL of my contacts in an organized fashion. I have clients, prospects, suppliers, vendors, etc., and do many mail merges to email.
PDA - syncs with ACT so all of my contacts are on there as well. But I also have "Documents To Go" where I keep a set of forms. I have an Estimate/Order form that allows me to print estimates on my portable printer, and I have an "Order Tracker" form that contains all of the steps involved with every order. It's a checklist that I just go down the list and check off. That way nothing is missed or not recorded. Of course, my PDA also has the datebook for scheduling appointments, etc.
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