Tips & Tricks from a (Wannabe)Productivity GeekSome thoughts and ideas for being productive and effective in today’s fast-paced industry

Scott Lowe, VCDX 39vExpert, Author, Blogger, Geek

http://blog.scottlowe.org / Twitter: @scott_lowe

Before we start

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Your name is familiar...

•Know the metrics•Reduce the friction•Find a trusted system•Process your e-mail•Know when to stop•Some tools I use•Demo time

Agenda

Knowing is half the battle!

What is the other half?

•Try to understand where improvements can be made•Ask yourself questions like these:•What tasks am I constantly performing?•What takes up most of my time during the workday?•What causes the most disruption to my focus?

•Once you know the answers, you can make progress on being more effective

Know the metrics

•Find ways to streamline and simplify common tasks•Use automation tools (macros, scripts)•Use text substitution applications (TextExpander, Breevy, AutoKey)

•Use keyboard-based application launchers or search tools (Quicksilver, Launchy, Gnome Do)

•Learn and use keyboard shortcuts

Reduce the friction

•Which system you use is less important than actually using it•David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) is one popular trusted system•Lots of applications designed to fit into GTD, if that’s your trusted system

•GTD isn’t for everyone, though—find what works for you!•Reduce the friction to make your trusted system easier to use

Find a trusted system

How many of you strugglewith e-mail?

•Don’t just manage e-mail, process e-mail!•Four rules for processing e-mail:•Rule #1: If you can do it in under 2 minutes, do it.•Rule #2: If it takes more than 2 minutes, put it in your trusted system.

•Rule #3: If you need the information, archive the message.•Rule #4: Otherwise, delete the message.

•Reduce the friction to make this process easier

Process your e-mail

•Pay it forward—help others process their e-mail•Useful subject lines help; consider these prefixes:•“Info:” for FYI-type messages•“Request:” when you’re asking them to do something•“Inquiry:” when you’re asking a question•“Confirmed:” to confirm the receipt of a request or task•“Delivered:” means you’re completing the request or task and delivering the item(s)

Process your e-mail

Know when to stop

•AppleScript•Quicksilver•FastScripts•OmniFocus•Typinator•TextSoap•Markdown

Some tools I use

Demo time!

Questions &answers

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