If you know me, you may know that focus is not my strong point. And think about the implications of a person who is easily distracted using the internet as a tool for their business. SQUIRREL!!
The work that I’m committed to involves keeping up with a number of profiles in various streams of social media. I promote businesses. I re-share what they have shared on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ … I’m constantly searching local news with Google and hanging on ever word that my local paper, The Pantagraph, prints. And the possibilities, therefore, of getting sidetracked are virtually limitless!
I have a couple of tools to help me focus … and stay focused. One is a mixture of Peppermint and Wild Orange essential oils. I mix them in a roll-on bottle and apply to the back of my neck and it smells divine!
The second tool is called Producteev and is one of many “To Do List” programs you can find scattered all over the internet. To be honest, I just watched the intro video and realized that there are many aspects of Producteev that I’m not even using, I’d better get on that!
On-screen reminders
Producteev is a very cool take on the task list. And what gets me motivated is that when a deadline comes up, and you haven’t already taken care of that task, a note pops up on your window. And it doesn’t go away until you click on it. So you have to deal with it one way or another! Now, if it’s a task you haven’t completed, of course you can change the deadline, but you’re still dealing with it. You’re still doing something about it and now it’s fresh in your mind again.
The program also sends you an email summary of how your week went, how many tasks were added, how many were completed and how many escaped your attention.
You can use it personally, or you an use it for a team. [Note to self: try this with my doTERRA team!]
There is an iPhone app (useless to me as I have a ‘droid), and there is a Mac desktop app in the works. It syncs with a number of programs – email, Twitter, even ICQ (wow, it’s been a long time since I used my ICQ account!) I have not yet attempted to sync it with my Google calendar, as my calendar is so “busy” already I’m not sure I could stand another color on there!
Proudcteev workspaces
I love that I can categorize my tasks into workspaces, and then I can view my tasks in each workspace, or I can view all my tasks, along with due dates. I can also set up recurring tasks for those things that happen over and over. There is one small item that has been overlooked here, it does not allow you to pic, for instance, the 2nd Tuesday of the month. The reminders are set in “days” – so I can set a task to repeat every 1 day (for daily), every 7 days, or every 30 days. I cannot set a task to repeat every week day, so I have to set that task up on a Monday and set it to repeat in 7 days, and then set it up for Tuesday and set to repeat in 7 days, and so on until I get to Friday. Or I can just ignore the reminders on the weekend. Either way, for a free program that works so well in other areas, I can ignore that!
There are four different pricing plans, if you count “free”! Right now, free works for me in my one-person shop. I think you should take it for a test run and see how you like it. Be sure to let me know!
This commitment to staying on task helps me stay focused on my goals. One of my most important key words for 2012 is definitely commitment - I’m committed to achieving my daily, monthly and annual goals in a way that I have never been before. Now, watch me soar.
