RECEIVE FAXES WITHOUT A FAX MACHINE

RECEIVE FAXES WITHOUT A FAX MACHINE

For $3.95 per month you can have a fax number that allows you to receive faxes in PDF as e-mail through www.innoport.com. A similar service is available free through www.efax.com. I've tried the latter and it works well, although I understand they may try to charge you if the volume of faxes is high.

PRIORITIZE AGENDA ITEMS

Schedule agenda items in reducing order of importance in the event that you run out of time before all the items have been discussed.

SCREEN THOSE MESSAGES

E-mail is costing companies millions of dollars in lost productivity, according to Christina Cavanaugh, author of Managing Your E-Mail: Thinking Outside the Box. At least one hour per day is being wasted on useless e-mail.

MAINTAINING BALANCE

Schedule personal and family activities in your planner as well as your work-related activities to insure balance.

PERSONALIZE YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

There is no one best system. Some people work more effectively with paper planners, others with PDAs, some with personal organizers, others with steno pads. Use what works best for you.

 

MESSAGE OVERLOAD

According to Debra Black, writing in the Toronto Star (You've Got Too Much Mail, November 17, 2003) some people are so overwhelmed, they routinely delete everything rather than cope with the growing pile of e-mail and scores of messages left on their voice mail. One thing is certain; you had better capture the reader's interest quickly when you send e-mail.

REDUCE STAFF INTERRUPTIONS

Holding brief stand-up meetings with your staff each morning may reduce the number of interruptions experienced during the day.

MAKE WISE CHOICES

Have your goals recorded at the front of your planner so you can reference them quickly when asked to take on another activity. If the activity does nothing to further your goals you should probably say no.