Want to make 2009 the year you really got organized? Well here are a few tips from Paul, with a modicum of gadgetry thrown in. I’m in the fortunate position to gain ideas from some really great clients as I go about my business and I’m going to pass the best of them on to you!
Hardback Folder
First things first, forget the gadgets, there is nothing like a pencil and paper to really get your ideas out and get productive! Keep that sharp pencil and hardback lined book close to hand at all times to collect all those loose ideas and to dos, what David Allen calls clean edges in his “Getting Things Done” book, otherwise known as GTD . Record meeting notes in the back of the book if this fits with your systems. If you really want to get into this GTD stuff you can look at David Allen’s site or Merlin’s site at 43Folders, there are more ideas than you can shake a sharp pencil at!
MDA Vario 3
OK, now let’s look at how IT can help us. You want to keep the emails, contacts and appointments all in a single unified system, whether in the office or out on the move, but what to use? My advice is to go with something that will synchronize effectively with MS Outlook (Version 2003 +).
Outlook proves its worth time and time again as a lightweight database, dealing with all the day to day information stuff you need to collect. When it comes to email marketing you will already have a great web ready database ready to work with. I would favour an iphone/pocket pc/blackberry teamed up with a hosted exchange server solution available for around £10 per month.
