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I don’t know about you, but I love a good sticky note! Big notes, little notes, lined notes and plain notes- I love them all! And our office certainly reflects this unhealthy obsession with “stickies”.
The fact is, sticky notes are just so much fun to use! Their vibrant colors add a little burst of color to my desk while also keeping my thoughts and tasks organized. They are like little beacons, drawing me in to accomplish whatever is written on them.
But…these colorful little pops of fun also cause me to feel overwhelmed.
Often, they accumulate on my desk, creating a colorful reminder of the ideas and tasks I have not yet accomplished. And, while I take notice of them, others do too.
The truth is, the stickies make me appear unorganized and scattered, which is the last thing I want my clients to think!
When customers sit down to visit about their order, I want the area surrounding us to exude feelings of confidence. Not disorganization and chaos!
But how is a business owner/manager supposed to stay on task without those funky little memos sticking all over their desk?
Well, with technology, of course!
As a child of the 1980s and 90s, I am part of that sandwich generation that learned to do everything manually but also learned to grow with technology. Occasionally I have to remind myself to look for a time-saving technology solution. And finding an alternative to sticky notes was one of those occasions.
However, with these two little-known hacks, I have been able to clear off my desk and stay on track.
Chrome Extensions
Chrome Extensions are touted as a way to “supercharge your browser”. It sounds amazing, right? But you can’t truly understand how amazing these tools are until you try them out!
I use Chrome and recently tried the “Todo Tab” extension, and it has changed my reminder-loving world!
I followed this link, installed the free Todo Tab extension and that was it! Now when I open my browser a to-do list is the very first thing I see. Marking things off my list is such a great feeling! And, even better, it isn’t displayed for everyone who walks in the door to see!
After you install the free extension, Todo Tab will be the first page you see when you open your browser. It looks like this.
To enter a Todo simply type the task in the bar and hit “enter”. Your list will populate.
Outlook Notes
Who knew that Microsoft Outlook does way more than just send emails? I didn’t! In fact, I have been using Outlook for years and never knew it could do so much! Simply put, Microsoft Outlook is a powerful business tool I have, admittedly, under-utilized.
I recently discovered the power of the Notes feature and am hooked! To create a sticky note in Outlook, simply go to the left hand toolbar and select the icon with all the squares on it (apps). This will pop up.
Then select “Notes” and a yellow sticky note will appear. Simply write what you want on the note and then “x” out of it. That’s it!
After you have completed the task, simply “x” out of the sticky note and you are done!
Unstick the Stickies
Can’t get “unstuck” and want to keep using sticky notes? No big deal! But remember that using them can create an unintended image of disorganization. The last thing you want is for a client to think you are unorganized. After all, you know exactly what needs to be done and where everything is!
Try one of the free tech options mentioned here and see if it works for you. Using them will help you minimize sticky note use and elevate your customers’ first impressions. It’s a win-win situation!
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