Staying organised with Rules
Do you need assistance to keep your Inbox organised?
Outlook and Gmail offer you a feature called Rules / Filters respectively. Rules and Filters can help you by:
To assist you in Outlook, I have created a video which will show you how I file incoming messages from Tim Ferriss (author of “The 4-hour Workweek”) to a folder called Tim. To do this, I’m going to create the folder first and then create the Rule. If you already have a folder to place your messages into, then skip the “creating a folder” step. |
 Staying organised to have fun |
Step 1: To create my new folder
- Position your cursor. For example, I’m selecting the Inbox as I want the new folder to be placed below the Inbox;
- Then from the Ribbon, select Folder tab > New Folder icon;
- You will now be prompted for the folder name (Tip: keep your folder names succinct); then
- Click on [OK].
Step 2: To create the Rule:
- Working from where these messages will be located (in this example, my Inbox), I’m going to click on one of Tim’s messages.
- To have the Rule generator do all of the work, [Right Mouse] button on the message then select Rules.
- There are several options here and I’m going to select “Always move messages from …”
- Outlook will now ask you to “choose a folder” to where these message will be moved. So I’m going to select “Tim”.
- Now click on [OK].
Outlook will now run through your Inbox to pick up and move any other messages that match this Rule. This may take a few minutes if you have a large inbox.
I hope you find this feature helpful and that it assists you to organise your inbox a little better.
PS: Let me know if you would like a video to assist with filters in Gmail.
Technology – your travel partner
The Balance team, led by cruise director Deborah Hutton, is about to take off on an exciting river cruise through France. To help you get organised for this or any overseas trip, here are a couple of technology tips to help you travel safely.
- On a note app (I recommend Evernote) create a separate note (or photo) for each of these items:
a. Your passport
b. Your travel insurance
c. Emergency numbers
d. List of your travel items – clothes, shoes, hats (I also recommend taking a photo of these items arranged on your bed before you pack them).
e. Your travel itinerary/tickets
I recommend Evernote as it will synchronise these notes with your tablet and your computer. If an unfortunate event happens you will have a copy at your finger tips (also available via the internet) as well as on your home computer so family and friends can help you if necessary. - Record a “missed called message” on all devices that doesn’t quite tell the world you are on holidays but says something like “I will be in and out of range for the next couple of weeks. If urgent please send an email message to me@playtime.aaa or call nnn nnn nnn”. It’s important not to advertise that you are way from your home if no-one is there to protect it.
- When you arrive at your departure airport, turn all your devices (phone and tablet) to airplane mode. This will save battery and ensure you aren’t hit with roaming charges when you land.
- Calling home – don’t even consider it from your mobile phone unless you have:
a. visited your mobile phone provider and purchased an overseas travel package;
b. gone to Australia Post to get one of their mobile travel cards;
c. purchased a SIM card when you land in France/Europe; or
d. set-up a chatting app (such as FaceTime, Skype) when in WiFi range.
For options (b) and (c) check before you leave that your phone is unlocked (this means you can place another SIM card in it). If it is not you will need to pay your phone provider to unlock it.
Lastly, place all your cables and a power adapter in a pencil case. I also suggest putting a tag on the zip with a number clearly marked on it so you know how many cables you have to collect when packing each time.
What do you do?
At a business women’s lunch yesterday both key speakers opened with the comment “it is important to know your customers’ needs and wants”. After the presentation someone asked me “What do you do?”.
Now, I’m in a reflective period at the moment, so my answer to the question was not as polished as my usual 10 second elevator response that starts “I…”. Instead, I talked about technology and training, and stumbled my way through to a reasonable reply.
So here is the thing: I’ve always been in technology. My initial university study was in technology. I graduated and worked with punch cards and mainframes, then moved into Personal Computers (yes, I was around when the first PC was introduced!), and my focus has always been helping customers to learn how to get the best out of their technology investment.
So I have always, and still answer with “I …”, as in “I’m a technology trainer”. But when people hear this now, they look at me and walk away. Thus I have to question – is it my deodorant? Bad breath? Or, is the potential customer not interested in what I do? But the realisation suddenly came to me that people may not understand what I am saying, or what I do.
So here is the tip: a colleague (Tim Eldridge) suggested that I go to Pinterest and type in what I think I am and see what the audience thinks of this.
This was an eye opener:
| Search on “Technology” | Search on “Productivity” |
 Lexus Hover Board |
 Productivity Excel |
| I don’t think so! | More like it! |
What I learnt was that I’m about productivity. So here is my new elevator pitch (thanks to Pinterest) “I do productivity training with apps”.
Let me know what you think!
They have an app for everything
It is interesting to see how nifty apps are changing how we interact at events.
Last evening I went to our local “Give me 5 for Kids” annual art auction which hosted both live and silent auctions.
Give Me 5 for Kids
When this event started about 8 years ago, we would wander around writing our names and dollar amount bids on sheets of paper. Then it moved to gadgets that you inserted your credit card into and entered your bid. This time, I needed my phone, an internet connection and yes, my credit card.
When we arrived, I asked how to make a bid as I had four favourites and I wanted to be in with a chance.
The lady asked me for my phone, from which she sent a text message to GM5ART (which was registered to the auction team). I then received a response with a website link and my password and I was in business!
What app did they use? Galabid. Check out their website at www.galabid.com. It was easy to use and made bidding fun (which is half of the game).
PS. I did buy 2 pieces and here is one of them.