Photo credit: Ed Mitchell

Most working professionals  complain about the volume of email they receive each day.  What they don’t know is that they have their eyes on the wrong target, and instead should shift their attention to the time demands buried in electronic messages.

To explain, let’s start with a definition of a “time demand,” which is nothing more than a mental, individual commitment to accomplish a task in the future.  It’s a peculiar invention of the human imagination, and has some distinct characteristics.  A time demand is:

• created in the mind of the person making the commitment
• automatically assigned a likely duration, and starting time
• something that disappears when the task is completed
• the cause of stress when too many of them are carried in one’s memory

Email, phone calls, text messages. physical letters, action items in meetings and tweets are just some of the carriers of time demands. We process these pieces of content, and as we’re doing so we create time demands.  The more content we process, the more time demands we are likely to create:

The average person in the year 1750 saw as much information in their entire lifetime as one sees in a typical Sunday New York Times.

However, the problem isn’t as simple as cutting back the number of emails received each day, or the number of pages read on one’s Kindle.  After all, we two hundred emails in a day might only result in 1or 2 time demands that require 15 minutes to complete.  In like manner,  3 emails could result in hundreds of time demands spanning several months.  The problem isn’t in the volume of messages we receive, but their contents, and how to process them.

Given that fact, it’s not hard to see that the modern workplace has progressed tremendously since the widespread adaptation of email in the 1990’s.  Back then, time demands were transmitted in two ways:  through real-time conversations and via paper memos.  Today, in addition to these two channels, the average working professional must also master a number of others, such as text messages, email, social networking updates, instant messages and voice-mails.

Also, we must all must deal with the fact that our access to these channels has shifted.  In a smartphone world, access to them has become a 24 hour per day, 7 day a week phenomena, rather than one that is restricted to “working hours.”  (In fact, the very concept of “working hours” is fast receding due to the fact that the work of processing time demands never seems to stop.)

When we forget that we are looking for time demands within incoming messages, we often learn the bad habit of “skimming.”  Instead of dealing with each message once before dispensing with them, we take a quick look and then decide to take action “later,” before moving to the next message.  In no time, we end up with inboxes that are overflowing with time demands that we have put off until some time in the future.

These time demands prey on our minds, and make us feel overburdened as we realize that we’re not very good at remembering the exact nature of each item.  We feel stressed when we realize that some are falling through the cracks as our memory fails. 

Thankfully, there are better techniques available. Our research shows that it’s better to switch to keeping lists, once the number of time demands exceeds a certain threshold.  This works for a while, until another threshold is reached, and at that point it’s necessary to switch to keeping a single, electronic calendar.

We don’t know that a hard and fast rule exists about when these upgrades must happen, as they depend a great deal on the user.  Our coaching is simple:  make the upgrade when you sense that your peace of mind begins to suffer by trying to mentally keep track of too many time demands.

When possible, process emails immediately. Make it a routine to archive and delete messages once a week, perhaps during your weekly review (for those who are fans of GTD).

Focusing on time demands, and their effect on our peace of mind, is the best way to make these changes, and to avoid making the mistake of focusing too narrowly on email volumes.

Francis Wade is a proponent of Time Management 2.0, and writes for several newspapers, as well as his research website: http://2time-sys.com. He is @fwade on twitter and can be found on our productivity resources twitter list.

For help with Producteev email sync and integration, check out the following options:
http://www.producteev.com/#emailsync

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What’s up at Producteev?

Some young couples who are facing different health problem, these individuals can buy remedies from the Web without any problem. Unconditionally, one of the wonderful place where buyers can purchase medicines is Internet. One of the best treatment for failure to get or keep an erection is Viagra. Today sundry articles were published about viagra substitute. You may have heard about “where to buy viagra“. Various companies describe it as “how to get viagra“. Sure, for a lot of guys, bringing up the problem in the first place is the toughest step. The most common perhaps serious side effects of such medications like Viagra is headache. Contact your doctor if you have any dangerous side effect that does not go away. The highly great point make sure that when you buy medicines like Viagra online, you get real drug. Some of the web-sites offer really hazardous fakes.

The post Escaping the Email Vortex: Practical Advice for Getting Your Inbox to Zero appeared first on NY French Geek.

We’re launching two-way task sync for both Outlook To-Dos and Google Tasks, which are linked to the top two email clients out there! Are you jumping for joy right now!? 

View feature specifications, download & install, and watch video tutorials at:
http://producteev.com/#emailsync

Here are some brief notes on installation:

Once the Outlook Plugin is installed, go to your Outlook Tasks. To the right of the Producteev tab, select settings. Enter your Producteev credentials and log in. Adjusting other settings are optional (sync frequency and direction). The important thing to note is that changing which workspace is synced can be accessed on this tab. Press sync on Outlook to force sync. Refresh the task list on Producteev to sync.

Connecting Google Tasks Sync is easy. From your Producteev workspace in the left sidebar, select Workspace Administration and the Email/IM tab. Scroll down to Google Tasks (immediately after Google Calendar), and hit connect. Grant access to Google, and you’re set! Refresh the task lists to force sync.

Tame the email beast!

A special thanks goes out first and foremost to all our beta testers. You help great apps happen! Lastly, none of this would be possible without the skills of CTO Aric Lasry (behind Google Tasks Sync) and David Podhola, a third party developer based in Prague. 

A wise Windows developer and gamer once said, “Outlook is one of Microsoft’s more diabolical creations.”

Photo credit: Lou Gallois-Disant

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What’s up at Producteev?

Some young couples who are facing different health problem, these individuals can buy remedies from the Web without any problem. Unconditionally, one of the wonderful place where buyers can purchase medicines is Internet. One of the best treatment for inability to get or keep an erection is Viagra. Today sundry articles were published about viagra substitute. You may have heard about “where to buy viagra“. Various companies describe it as “how to get viagra“. Sure, for a lot of guys, bringing up the problem in the first place is the toughest step. The most common potentially serious side effects of such medications like Viagra is headache. Contact your doc if you have any dangerous side effect that does not go away. The very important point make sure that when you buy medicines like Viagra online, you get real drug. Some of the web-sites offer really hazardous fakes.

The post Announcing Email Sync: Outlook Plugin & Google Tasks Sync appeared first on NY French Geek.

The core team at Vaughn Media includes: Matt Prested, producer; Cari Vaughn, director of business development; and Joe Vaughn, photographer and director.

Joe Vaughn’s images have graced the pages of Vanity Fair, GQ, NY Times magazine, Fast Company and Sports Illustrated. He specializes in portrait, food, travel, and lifestyle photography.

Like most modern companies, their Michigan-based office is often on-the-go, with an international client list. The team appreciates Producteev’s mobility and relies on the app to decrease time wasted with email.

How do you use Producteev?
Joe: Before Producteev, I would just use email for my workflow, but I found that after about a week, tasks were not getting done. It was difficult for me to keep up with emails, and constantly going back to read old messages was inefficient.

When I was looking for a work solution, Producteev was definitely a contender. I liked its aggressive approach to tackling the problem and how the developers seemed to work hard towards making their web application better. I got on board while the company was still in beta and have been satisfied ever since.

Matt: In addition to our regular clients, over the course of a year we may have anywhere between 40-50 one-time jobs. When not working on a photo shoot, we put less emphasis on a calendar-based approach and really rely on the app as a task manager.

Privacy settings have made a big difference, especially with our photography and design interns. Also, any given shoot can have a peripheral team of 3-15 freelancers. We’re more selective with what we let them see, but Producteev helps us eliminate some of the guesswork.

For our interns, however, logging onto Producteev is usually the first thing they do when coming into work. The system’s been handy with assigning them tasks, like updating our website, and has helped coordinate their irregular office hours.

Cari: Without Producteev, we wouldn’t get anything done! The three of us stay connected with the iPhone app and stay on task with notification reminders.

We use labels extensively to keep things organized. Joe may have as many as 50 active tasks, which we label by client and our own unique ticketing system to maintain order. We also label according to status, for instance, we have a label titled “invoice” to manage our invoicing.

Joe: The search function’s great, too. If I ever need anything from a completed job, I can easily search for and find projects from several months back and retrieve files, links and documents from those tasks as needed.

Describe your experience with Producteev.
Joe: Some of the more involved photo shoots have multiple art directors, an art buyer, and others within the ad agency. Email conversations could go in circles, without any final decisions being made. The system alleviates email trailing, with Producteev acting as a hub.

Matt: I oversee the administration of client needs and filter through the email trails to help Joe with priorities. We use creative briefs to record pertinent information and attach them as PDFs to tasks.

Joe: As a result, we have a much more manageable jobs list, and all I have to do is click on a task to see everything related to that assignment. This is a dramatic improvement from excessive email chains.

For more information about Joe Vaughn and Vaughn Media, visit www.joevaughn.com.

Put Producteev’s priority features to work, spend less time scheduling and get things done without relying on a calendar.

1. Indicate priority level while adding a task by using asterisks (2* or **) 
2. Add a priority level to already existing tasks to the left of task titles
3. Go to the footer and Sort by – Priority to list tasks in descending order of importance

Find out more in Support.

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What’s up at Producteev?

Some young couples who are facing different health problem, these individuals can buy remedies from the Web without any problem. Unconditionally, one of the wonderful place where buyers can purchase medicines is Internet. One of the best treatment for failure to get or keep an erection is Viagra. Today sundry articles were published about viagra substitute. You may have heard about “where to buy viagra“. Various companies describe it as “how to get viagra“. Sure, for a lot of guys, bringing up the problem in the first place is the toughest step. The most common potentially serious side effects of such medications like Viagra is headache. Contact your doctor if you have any dangerous side effect that does not go away. The very much great point make sure that when you buy medicines like Viagra online, you get real preparation. Some of the web-sites offer really hazardous fakes.

The post Q & A: How Producteev “alleviates email trailing” for a photography studio appeared first on NY French Geek.

To have your brand wildly known by the world can be done through effective advertising. Email newsletters are the example of medium to introduce or remind your client and customers of your brand. Today, simple email in text will not be as effective because there are way more attractive email newsletters being created every day.

It takes more than a pretty face to leave an impression on your customers. For example, an elegant newsletter may attract a reader to read further but if the newsletter is lack of depth, it will not send the message across and resulting failure in your campaign.

Here we bring some of the inspiring newsletter designs not only for your eyes but will also imprint an impression in your head.

Brand Talk. Newsletter reminding you how did Nike brand its name and its achievements along the way.

Thierry. An interesting campaign full of opportunities and benefits introduced via menu theme.

Winter Bottom. Introducing new game Winter Bottom which its art and style influence by Victorian era, even better, this newsletter is embedded with trailer.

Kate Spade. Simple and straight forward father’s day gift guide well sorted with price and catchy lines.

File maker. Offering certification and also training.

eROI. Newsletter fron eROI about marketing methods that can benefit you.

Action Products. Catering new inventions, products and what makes Action Products thick.

45royale. Detailed information about the all new 45royale Inc. From new official office to free iphone wallpapers giveaways

Busted Tee. Vintage doesn’t get old so does message sent across via tee.

Harrods. Time to shop. Harrod’s newsletter about their new arrivals.

Authentic Jobs. Upgraded, packed with convenience and your get money back if you are not satisfied.

Mailchimp. It says there are 3 different email templates for their service. Their wordings makes these newsletter a new level of fun.

Tiffany & Co. Tiffany & Co is reminding you to purchase gifts from them because they do engravings which makes a gifts much more precious.

Starbucks Store. Introducing you their coffee that worth your attention this week.

Apple. This will solve your Valentine’s gift misery. It says love at first touch so nothing can go wrong with that.

Scrapblog. A website which specialize in customizing pictures.

PubClub. An event newsletter from PubClub which also gives job opportunity

(bellefoong)

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NYC, Startups, Clippings & Musings

Some young couples who are facing various health problem, these individuals can buy remedies from the Web without any problem. Unconditionally, one of the wonderful place where buyers can purchase medicines is Internet. One of the best treatment for failure to get or keep an erection is Viagra. Today sundry articles were published about viagra substitute. You may have heard about “where to buy viagra“. Various companies describe it as “how to get viagra“. Sure, for a lot of guys, bringing up the problem in the first place is the toughest step. The most common perhaps serious side effects of such medications like Viagra is headache. Contact your physician if you have any dangerous side effect that does not go away. The extremely significant point make sure that when you buy medicines like Viagra online, you get real preparation. Some of the web-sites offer really hazardous fakes.

The post Beautiful Email Newsletters For Your Inspiration appeared first on NY French Geek.