Category Archives: Productivity

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How to Email Your Documents Directly to Evernote

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Since making the decision to go paperless, I have gained a lot of experience with Evernote. It has become my digital filing cabinet for literally everything. As a result, I am now working in a clutter-free environment.

Green Computer Key Reminiscent of Evernote - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Pgiam, Image #8866318

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Pgiam

Once you have organized Evernote for maximum efficiency, it is time to start filing your documents into Evernote’s digital repository. There are a number of tools for doing this. However, I find that I use the email-to-Evernote function more than almost any other method.

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How to Use Evernote with a Traditional Paper Notebook

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I live in Evernote. It has quickly become one of my most important software tools. I especially liked using it with my iPad. However, I gradually stopped using my iPad after buying a Macbook Air. I ultimately gave it away to a colleague.

Notebook to Evernote Example

So for now, I have returned to a traditional paper-based notepad for taking meeting notes. Previously I used a Moleskine notebook. I have written about this also. Honestly, I don’t think you can beat it for being unobtrusive. I also find real value in the physical act of writing.

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How to Better Control Your Time by Designing Your Ideal Week

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You have a choice in life. You can either live on-purpose, according to a plan you’ve set. Or you can live by accident, reacting to the demands of others. The first approach is proactive; the second reactive.

My Ideal Week

Sure, you can’t plan for everything. Things happen that you can’t anticipate. But it is a whole lot easier to accomplish what matters most when you are proactive and begin with the end in mind.

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24 Hacks for Getting Out of Your Funk

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Sometimes, you get stuck in a funk and can’t figure out why. Maybe it is something tangible and specific. Maybe it is nothing in particular.

Woman Jumping on a Green Meadow with a Green Cloth - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/erikreis, Image #12345727

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/erikreis

For example, a month ago, we had two gorgeous weeks of spring. The temperatures were in the 70s, the birds were singing, the daffodils began to bloom. I caught myself whistling as I was leaving for work.

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Five Consequences of a Life Out of Balance

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If you are working more than fifty-five hours a week, you are working too much and likely out of balance. You may be able to work more than this for a season, but it is not sustainable. If you persist in working this much—or more—something will eventually break.

A Business Person Trying to Maintain His Balance - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/bowie15, Image #13200637

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/bowie15

When I first began my publishing career, I was determined to succeed. Part of what drove me was fear. I didn’t have any experience, and I was scared to death I would be found out.

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Is That Task Important or Merely Urgent?

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I wrestle with this question everyday, if not several times a day. Most of the things pinging our brain for attention our merely urgent but often trivial.

In this brief, two-minute video clip, Behance founder and CEO Scott Belsky discusses how today often trumps tomorrow and what happens when it does. He then discusses how to distinguish between the urgent and the important.

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Three Questions You Should Ask Before You Buy an iPad 2

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The iPad 2 goes on sale at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11. If Apple’s other product launches are any indication, there will be long lines of eager consumers eager to snatch up Apple’s latest electronic candy. But do you really need one?

Apple iPad 2

I bought the original iPad. Admittedly, I am a sucker for new gadgets—especially those from Apple. While I initially took the iPad everywhere with me, I found myself leaving it behind more and more. Part of the problem was that I still needed my laptop to do the work I couldn’t easily do on my iPad.

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How I Use a Single Carry-On Bag to Travel Lighter

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Ever since I did a video blog of my laptop bag, I have wanted to do one on my current carry-on bag. However, after watching George Clooney in Up on the Air, I was inspired to see if I could ditch my laptop bag and get everything into one carry-on. I even found a web site called “One Bag” that is devoted to this concept. Thankfully, my MacBook Air has made this possible.

So six weeks ago, I stopped carrying my laptop bag—at least on overnight trips. In fact, I am only using a separate laptop bag when the trip is longer than two nights. This may sound trivial, but traveling with just one bag has made a big difference for me. I arrive at my destination more rested, without the stress of keeping up with two bags.

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How to Use Evernote If You Are a Speaker or Writer

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I have been using Evernote for a couple of years now. I use it to manage meeting notes, store blogging ideas, and file interesting articles I read on the Web. It has basically become my electronic brain. However, unlike my aging brain, Evernote provides near-instant recall.

Evernote Screenshot

Screenshot of Evernote

Recently, I started using it to manage the raw components of my speeches. I have seen a lot of different systems for this. One of my authors, who is also a popular public speaker, once showed me his system. It contained literally thousands of 4″ x 6″ cards, arranged alphabetically by topic.

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Who Else Needs More Mental Focus?

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I can’t imagine living in a more distracting time in human history. Hundreds of cable channels, millions of Web sites, and the constant pinging of email and social media all compete for our attention. It’s enough to make anyone A.D.D.

A Businessman Working in the Midst of a Crowd - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/urbancow, Image #4776338

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/urbancow

But if you are like me, you still have to get real work done.

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What Software Programs Do You Load at Startup?

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Yesterday, when I posted about buying the new Macbook Air, several people asked in the comments or via email what programs I use on a regular basis. I thought I’d post a list of mine in the hope that you will post a list of yours. Even if you are a Windows user, I’d also like to see your list.

Solutions Key in the Middle of a Computer Keyboard - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/rubenhi, Image #14255777

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/rubenhi

Here are the programs that I launch automatically when I turn on my MacBook Air.