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 Hi everyone,Welcome to Productivity Plus, your weekly newsletter on how to get more done in less time. VALERIE'S TIP: Get more done by optimising your time  Life and work can get pretty busy and it often seems like you need more hours in a day in order to get everything done. Apart from your "to do" list, there is also your "would be great if I had time to do" list. Often, the items on that list stay there forever. So what can you do to maximise your productivity and get more done in less time?Batch your errands or actions It's useful to batch according to location. For example: • Cluster your external meetings according to geography • Run all errands in one outing - batch them so they all get done one morning per week. This is more time efficient that making separate trips. • Some people go so far as to colour code in Outlook what they need to do at their desk, at home, or at their computer so they can clearly identify which collection of tasks to tackle depending on where they are. What’s on your ipod? • Are you making the most of your commuting time. This is a great opportunity to listen to audiobooks. Sure, mix it with some music as well! But if you have a long commute, make the most of it. Do you have a "grab n go" file? • Ever sat in a doctor's office for way too much time without anything to amuse you but really old magazines? Or have you waited to pick up your kids from soccer when they were running late? • At times like this, you need a "grab n go" file - or large plastic envelope - which contains those magazines you never seem to have the time for, or the brochure you've always wanted to read carefully. The bottom line is: make the most of any "dead" time and you'll be surprised at how much more you can achieve in a day. WE RECOMMEND: The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube  This book by Michelle Goodman is "for young women who are ready to abandon their cubicles and carve out their own dreams". I love the idea because that’s exactly what I did in my late 20s. Although I had good jobs, I always hankered for something more, something beyond what I was doing at the time. I'm glad that I finally pursued my passions - and that’s what Goodman encourages you to figure out for yourself as well. It’s a practical guide to how to make it all happen.DID YOU KNOW: You can ... use Excel to find bank errors?  In this economic climate, it's important to ensure that your money is going to the right place. Sometimes, things can slip through the cracks. For example, your bank might over charge you with fees that often go unnoticed in the midst of a lengthy bank statement. (Yes, it can happen!) If you know what your standard account keeping fee should be, you can use a simple formula that finds the bank fees on your statement then it works out whether they are correct and then highlights any anomalies in red. This combination of Excel Functions can be used to "flag" all sorts of errors - so you can imagine how powerful it can be in lots of different scenarios. One-day workshop: Excel Intermediate to Advanced  You may know the basics of Excel but perhaps you're being asked to handle more complex spreadsheets or would like to present data in a more professional way. Becoming a more advanced user of Excel is not difficult. Our one-day workshop in Excel Intermediate to Advanced is enjoyable and interactive.Most importantly, you'll leave the workshop with new skills that will help you use Excel to produce clear graphs, combine spreadsheets and use new formatting techniques. You'll learn shortcuts that will help make your work life easier and more productive. This workshop is NOT about complex financial modelling, it's for the everyday user who wants to take their basic use of Excel to the next level. You'll also receive a comprehensive manual to take home for future reference. What past students say: "After attending the course I learnt how to apply solid formulas to my reports and budgets that will be easy to update with minimal errors." - Jessica Nowosad, Leo Burnett "Paul was able to bend and flex to the needs of the class - and to explain complex things really easily. I now know that Excel is very powerful." - Sue Liu, Zulu Communications Upcoming one-day workshop What: Excel Intermediate to Advanced When: Wednesday 1 April 2009 Time: 9am to 5pm (one day workshop) Where: Our state-of-the-art training rooms in Milsons Point, Sydney Cost: $325 (includes GST) Click here to receive a course outline. Or enrol here. LUNCH HOUR ESSENTIALS:  We were quite amused when our new media coordinator, Tracy, brought this into our office. She uses it every day to pack her banana so it doesn’t get squashed on the way to work. At first, we thought it was totally daggy. But, I suspect some of the team secretly want one. Anyhow, these banana guards are only $11 from Remo General Store.Check them out here. Upcoming courses:To find out more or to receive a comprehensive course outline, just click on the course you're interested in. Course: Excel - Basic to Intermediate Date: Wednesday 25 March 2009 - ENROL NOW Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Fee: $325 Course: Writing for the web Date: Monday 30 March 2009 - ENROL NOW Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Fee: $325 Course: Microsoft Excel - Intermediate to Advanced Date: Wednesday 1 April 2009 - ENROL NOW Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Fee: $325 Course: Outlook Date: Thursday 23 April 2009 - ENROL NOW Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Fee: $325 Course: Upgrading to Office 2007 Date: Thursday 16 April 2009 - ENROL NOW Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Fee: $325 Thanks for signing up to this newsletter. Remember, if you'd like to leave this list at any time just reply to this email letting us know. Wishing you much success, Valerie Khoo and Paul Neale Directors Business and Careers Institute Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061 (02) 9923 2882 courses@bcinstitute.com.au www.bcinstitute.com.au Paul Neale is a popular corporate trainer and IT expert. He is a tech-evangelist who has trained and consulted in and a wide range of organisations ranging from medium-sized firms to multinational corporations. Paul has spent his career mastering technology, productivity and learning. Valerie Khoo is an experienced trainer who also founded the successful Sydney Writers' Centre. She is a sought-after corporate writer and public speaker. Valerie also mentors business owners and professionals on how to use technology to grow their business, improve productivity and get more done - so they can have a life! Both Paul and Valerie are directors of the Business and Careers Institute in Sydney which holds one-day courses that help individuals and teams by equipping them with the skills they need to use Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint and more. |
