Hello. Starting last month, I'm now offering classes in Sacramento through two alliance partners, Contactivity and Transcend Technologies Group. I'm offerring an ACT! for Palm OS Workshop with Chris Pumphrey, ACT! Coach and founder of Contactivity. I'm offering classes in Outlook and one in PDAs and Smartphones through Transcend Technologies Group. I'm also launching a brand new R & D Team this month. I will send out a separate notice that will explain more details. It's an opportunity to get a sneak peek at products and services I'm developing and a chance to offer your feedback. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends. There is a "Forward email" link at the end of this newsletter. Please send me your questions or suggestions for future articles. I will be making a few changes to the format of the newsletter next month. Stay tuned. Thank you.
Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro
Celebrate and Never Forget!
Enter birthdays and anniversaries on your PDA's Calendar and set them as recurring annual events. This way, you'll always remember birthdays and other important dates. Check ahead each week to see what events are coming up.
Source: 101 Tips from the PDA Pro, Tip #51
It's All in the Thumbs
The PDA is recognized from a distance by its wide shape, flat screen and, of course, the stylus. Early PDAs relied heavily on the stylus for data entry. In a former job, my employees and I created a giant PDA with a six foot stylus for an employee recognition event. OK, so we were PDA geeks. What's wrong with that?
Early Palms used the Graffiti application for handwriting recognition and an onscreen keyboard for those who wanted to hunt and peck. Now, more PDAs have a small built-in keyboard. I use a Treo 600, which is smaller than its predecessors. It has a smaller keyboard than other models. But, I find it works perfectly for me. It comes without handwriting recognition, which can be installed separately. So, I've had an opportunity to use the keyboard extensively. Frankly, I like it better than the stylus for most functions.
For most people, the challenge is using both the keyboard and stylus in unison. After typing information, you may need to pull out the stylus, make a selection on the screen and put it back. Then resume typing. But, is that the only way? No. It's all in the thumbs. The easiest way to use a PDA keyboard is with two thumbs. This gives you the most control in holding the unit and accuracy in pressing the buttons on the keyboard. Instead of using the stylus, simply reach up with your thumbnail and press the appropriate buttons on the screen. Mind you, this takes a little practice. Some of the onscreen dialog buttons are small. Buttons or menu options toward the top of the screen can be difficult to reach.
The advantage is that you don't lose time pulling out the stylus and returning it. You might be saying, Rick, is that really going to save that much time? Hey, doubling your productivity means eliminating wasted time wherever you can. In general, this is easier for men than it is for women. Many women have longer fingernails than men. It's easier to use the keyboard if you have short fingernails. It's also easier to use your thumb on the screen with a short nail rather than no nail at all. Bare skin on the PDA screen will leave smudges. Fingernails leave no residue. So, what do people with long fingernails do? Get good at writing onscreen; you'll always use the stylus.
"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war." Thumbing around can be hard work. Give your thumbs and fingers a good stretch from time to time. The joints in your fingers can get tight and your hand muscles can get sore. Everyone is familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive motion must be offset with periods of exercise and stretching to avoid injury. Happy thumbing!
Using Tasks to Track Customer Commitments
Focus on the customer. That is true for any business. Without your customers, there is no business. So delivering on your promises is critical. Most people don't realize their ability to follow through on commitments is a measure of their integrity. The simplest definition of integrity is doing what you say you're going to do, according to BusinessCoach.com Founder Gary Henson.
Amazingly, many people don't make a list of tasks they need to accomplish. They may have a blizzard of yellow sticky notes papering their desk. But, what kind of organization system is that? Instead, let your PDA assist you. A PDA is great for entering stray tidbits of information, tasks and notes. It allows you to capture life as it happens and then make sense of it. Turning conversations and commitments into actionable tasks is a skill. It improves with practice.
Get started by learning the basics for the task list on your PDA. It's simple to begin. Just enter a new task. Assign a deadline, prioritize it and enter any additional notes. Then, check it off when you're done. That's all. You can control which fields are displayed. You can filter which records appear. You can prioritize tasks as high, medium or low. Set most tasks as medium in priority and then adjust other tasks higher or lower as necessary.
Assign a deadline for every task. This date can be changed as needed. Be sure to review your tasks periodically. Reassign deadlines to make sure you're always focusing on your top priorities. You may find it easier to modify deadlines on your computer rather than your PDA. Remember that priorities constantly change, just as your deadlines do. Also, periodically review your notes from customer meetings. Identify any tasks that need to be completed. If something takes longer than expected, be sure to notify your customer or prospect and renegotiate the deadline if necessary.
The task list on your PDA can be synchronized with the contact management program on your computer, giving you even more capability to prioritize and manage tasks. For example, ACT! lets you assign tasks related to your contacts. So, if you're preparing for an appointment, you can easily see what action items are due for that contact. This allows you to follow through and maintain your integrity. You can also archive completed tasks for reference. Review this history periodically to see all that you've accomplished. It can also lead to some interesting insights.
If your desk is snowed in by a blizzard of sticky notes, consider that you may be busy but not focusing on your top priorities. Track tasks with your PDA and then prioritize the list periodically based on what's important. It can make an amazing difference in your productivity and success.
Keep your focus on the customer. Keep track of your customer commitments and then deliver on them. While working with Smart Tech, we developed a motto, "Keep the promise and over deliver." That pretty much sums it up.
Events
Mar. 22 ACT! for Palm OS Workshop at California Career College from 3:00 - 4:30pm. Rick will present a workshop on how to use the ACT! for Palm OS software. Only $49 Location: 5330 Primrose Drive, Ste. 240, Fair Oaks, CA.
Mar. 23 PDAs and Smartphones class at Transcend Technologies Group from 1:00 - 5:00pm. This class will cover the basics of using a PDA or smartphone and offer powerful contact management strategies. Only $95 Location: 9475 East Stockton Blvd., Suite 240, Elk Grove, CA 95624.
Apr. 26-27 33rd Annual Northern California Financial Planning Regional Conference in San Francisco, CA at The Palace Hotel. Rick will host a breakout session on how to "Build Beneficial Relationships by Leveraging Your PDA".
May 13 IMC USA Management Consultants of Sacramento in Sacramento, CA at the Hilton Hotel from 7:15-9:00am. Rick will deliver a presentation offering "6 Strategies to Build Lasting Relationships: Prospect with Your PDA". Guests are welcome. Minimal charge to attend.
May 21 IMC USA Management Consultants of Sacramento in Sacramento, CA. Rick will offer a workshop on "How to Use a PDA Effectively".
Announcements
Much like corporations do, coaches are now launching R & D Teams to help them develop intellectual property for information products. Team members review materials from concept to completion, make suggestions and provide testimonials when they have success using the products.
Watch for an invitation to join my R & D Team. It's a unique opportunity to see products in development and offer your feedback.
The PDA Pro Blog: Top Ten - Benefits to PDA Productivity
There are many benefits to increasing your productivity. You don't necessarily have to just work more. You have choices. You can determine what to do with that free time.
Here is my top ten list of benefits to increasing your productivity with your PDA. Or, what would you do with your free time if you were more productive?
10. Volunteer your time
9. Listen to music
8. Read a book
For the rest of the list, click More to visit The PDA Pro blog.
Mar. 22 ACT! for Palm OS Workshop at California Career College from 3:00 - 4:30pm. Rick will present a workshop on how to use the ACT! for Palm OS software. Only $49 Location: 5330 Primrose Drive, Ste. 240, Fair Oaks, CA.
This workshop in Sacramento offers valuable information for anyone using the ACT! for Palm OS software application on a Palm PDA.
The information and resources provided by The PDA Pro website and email newsletter, Tips from the PDA Pro!, are intended to help you leverage your time to increase your productivity using a PDA. We hope you enjoy the information provided and gain value from implementing any suggestions you read. We do not specifically recommend or endorse any product or service mentioned in the newsletter or on the website. If you want to share this newsletter with a friend, click "Forward email" below and enter their email address.
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Rick Cooper is The PDA Pro, your PDA Coach for productivity anytime, anywhere. He teaches people to leverage their time and increase their productivity by using a PDA. He offers sales coaching and training to help sales teams achieve their revenue and margin goals. Rick is author of the book, 101 Tips from The PDA Pro, which offers tips, hints and shortcuts on using a PDA to increase productivity. His book, Marketing Magic, offers innovative tips on marketing, sales and public relations. He is a national speaker on business productivity and sales.
