In this newsletter:
•   Getting the right support: you can’t do it all yourself
•Paul’s shortcuts: Speed researching
•Learn Advanced Word in just one day
•Exclusive only for subscribers of this newsletter
•Excel Basic to Intermediate
•Valerie's goofy gadget: foldable keyboard

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Productivity Plus, your weekly newsletter on how to get things done in less time.

In the many years that I’ve spent in the corporate world and in small business, one of the key elements to success and getting things done is knowing when to let go - and to delegate.

I hear excuses all the time from people on why they can’t do this. "I’m a perfectionist. I can’t get someone else to do it." ... "I'm a control freak. It’s too hard to let go."

Well, the reality is that if you don’t let go of administrative, clerical - or non-incoming producing - activities, you’ll always be shackled to this kind of work. Instead, you want to be freed up to do your "genius" work.

So make sure you identify tasks that can be done by your assistant or other support staff. This could be: emails, book-keeping, creating marketing documents, and more.

To ensure your staff are also operating efficiently, they need to be equipped with skills so they can get the most out of the software you use. Then you can both skyrocket your productivity.

You may be interested in sending your staff to our upcoming course:

This is ideal if you already have a basic understanding of Word but want the skills to make your use of Word even easier.

Would you like to unlock what Word can really do? Do you want advanced Word skills that can help you get more done, avoid repetitive tasks and automate functions easily.

In one day, you’ll learn key aspects such as creating a table of contents, indexing, creating cover pages and more. You’ll also learn time-saving techniques such as how to automate documents, using fields, forms and macros.

Course: Word 2007 Advanced
Date: Monday 24 November 2008
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Fee: $325

If you’d like to us to email you a comprehensive course outline, just click here.

I think it's about time we stop typing the "www" into the address bar. You don't dial 61 when calling a phone number within Australia, so why type the "w"s when every address belongs to the world wide web? Ok, there are some exceptions but they are very rare. When you are in Firefox or Internet Explorer, type the name of the company and simply press Ctrl + Enter. 

Try it now: type "apple", then hold the Ctrl key and press Enter. The rest of the syntax is automatically entered for you http://www.apple.com/.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with .com.au Australian sites, but many sites direct you to your region from their parent site.

Would you - or one of your staff - like to become a confident user of Excel? Our Excel 2007 Basic to Intermediate course is ideal to give you a firm foundation on what Excel can do. In one day, you’ll receive thorough training in most of the common features used in the workplace.

Do you hate numbers? If so, you’ll love Excel! That’s because you’ll learn how to make Excel do all the work for you. Paul’s classes are dynamic, interesting and - most of all - fun. That’s what sets our courses apart.

Here’s what other people say about Paul’s courses:
"I have personally found that training with Paul has been extremely effective for me."
- Norma Read

"As a student of Paul, I am someone who has had no specific training or background in IT. So I have found Paul's contribution invaluable. He has so much patience and is a great teacher. I strongly recommend Paul."
- Margaret Madden

Course: Excel 2007 Basic to Intermediate with Paul Neale
Date: Friday 5 December 2008
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Fee: $325

If you’d like to us to email you a comprehensive course outline, just click here.

Since you are a subscriber to Productivity Plus, you receive special offers that others don’t.

An EXCLUSIVE offer only to subscribers of this newsletter
Only available from now until November 2008
If you enrol in a course before 30 November 2008, you will receive 10 per cent off your enrolment fee if you:

I’m a gadget junkie. So when I walked past a store and saw a foldable keyboard, I had to have it. I’ll be honest, It doesn’t work that well - you have to press on the keys really hard for some of them to work. But it’s a quirky gadget that certainly starts conversations. And if I ever run it through the washing machine, I’ll let you know!