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    My Favorite Planning Hack: Using DUE Dates and DO Dates in Asana

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    • by Alexandra
    Laptop mockup showing due dates and do dates in Asana on a hot pink background with the words how to use due dates & "do" dates in Asana in bold white letters

    Are you using DUE dates and DO dates in the planning and scheduling of your business? No?!? 😱 You should be!! Because this planning hack is seriously going to change your life and the way you tackle your work (especially projects)!! But first, let’s make sure you know the difference between the two: A “DUE” […]

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  • Systems

    Trello vs. Asana: Why I Finally Switched from Trello to Asana

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    • by Alexandra
    stock photo of an open laptop sitting on a white tabletop between a yellow mug and yellow hard cover notebook with glasses lying on top; Asana My Tasks is on the laptop screen

    I never in a million years thought I would leave Trello for Asana… but I did!! 🤯 For 5+ years, Trello was my right-hand when it came to organizing, planning, and keeping track of all the moving (and non-moving) parts of my business. I used it. I loved it. I recommended it. I said I […]

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  • Systems

    Do You REALLY Need a Project Management Tool?!

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    • by Alexandra
    Laptop mockup showing the Asana My Tasks view on a hot pink background with the words "do you really need a project management tool" in bold white letters

    Do you REALLY need a project management tool as a female entrepreneur and online business owner? The short answer is YES. The long answer can be found in this blog post (so keep scrolling 😉). If you want the cliff notes version, here it is: You need a project management tool even if you use […]

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  • Systems

    The Difference Between Systems, Tools & Templates You Need to Know

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    • by Alexandra
    Text graphic featuring white text on a hot pink background with a girl in a yellow shirt giving the text a sassy look. The text reads: The Difference Between Systems, Tools & Templates"

    It has come to my attention that there is a big (like HUGE) misconception about systems and tools in the online business world. It’s cropped up so many times in recent weeks that I felt the need to drop EVERYTHING I was doing to set the record straight. Are you ready for this?! Hold on […]

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Meet Alexandra
Meet Alexandra

Hello, and welcome to my little corner of the internet where everything is color coded, coffee always comes in cute coffee cups, and office supplies are never in short supply!! 😍 I'm Alexandra, your productivity coach and systems strategist. Hang with me long enough and I'll have you believing that productivity is possible anytime, anywhere, and for anyone. New here? Start here!

 
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The Productivity Zone is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. If you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms, I may make a commission. I only share about brands and products I personally use and love most, and think you will, too!!

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BECOME A SYSTEMS SHOP VIB (VERY IMPORTANT BOSS)

Be the first to know when new systems drop in the shop and get special discounts you can’t get anywhere else!!

Bursting bubbles left and right over here ⤵️ Bursting bubbles left and right over here ⤵️

I’ve had many a female entrepreneur tell me (quite emphatically, I might add) that they don’t NEED a project management tool because they ALREADY USE a client management software (like 17Hats, Honeybook, or Dubsado).

I hate to burst their bubble (and yours, if you were also thinking that), but client management software is NOT a project management tool!!

Client management software is for CLIENTS 👉🏻 It wasn’t meant to be a Jack of all trades. Which means you STILL need something like Asana to help you do *everything else* in your business!!

Even if you think you have your ISH together without one. What you’re doing ISN’T working!!

Running your business out of notebooks and sticky notes only perpetuates feelings of overwhelm… which leads to burnout 😔

I don’t want that for you. 
I know YOU don’t want that for you either.

So, will you do me a favor, and head to the blog to read more about WHY you need a project management tool?!

Comment “PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOL” and I’ll personally DM you the link to read more!! 💖

#entrepreneurlife #creativebusinessowner #smallbusinesslife #thegramgang #momsinbusiness #momboss #mompreneur #womenindigital #smallbizsquad #shehustles #wifiwealth #wifiandadream #smallbizowner #femalebusinessowner #virtualbusiness #onlinebizlife #workingremotely #ownyourownbusiness #businessgrowthtips #businesstipsforwomen #businesstipsforsuccess #businessdevelopment #newentrepreneurs #startingbusiness #onlinebiz #mycreativecommunity #growingmybusiness #freelancetofreedom #designalifeyoulove #womensupportwomeninbusiness
But they’re NOT the same thing!! And NOT knowing But they’re NOT the same thing!! And NOT knowing the difference is hurting your business ⤵️

These companies, biz coaches, and experts have been blurring the lines and I need to set the record straight once and for all…

👉🏻 A SYSTEM is a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done.

👉🏻 A TOOL is a device, software, or implement used to carry out a particular function.

In other words, the TOOL *needs* a system (or set of steps) to take action, function, and accomplish something. Otherwise, it just sits there. You have to TELL the tool what to do!!

On the flip side, the SYSTEM also *relies* on the tool to function. Without a tool, you just have a bunch of steps with no real way of following through and DOING something.

✨ Systems and tools are actually a dynamic duo that NEED EACH OTHER!! And YOU need BOTH to see long-term success in your business!!

Drop a 🤯 if you learned something today!!

Will you help me stop the madness and set the record straight about the difference between systems and tools? Share this post with your business-owning friends!! 💌

#onlineserviceprovider #onlinebusinessowner #womanceo #virtualbusiness #workfromwifi #freedombasedbusiness #freelancelife #ceomindest #smallandmightybusiness #createalifeyoulove #empowerher #takecontrolofyourlife #womenwithaplan #ambitiouswomen #womenlead #womeninbusiness #careercontessa #createcultivate #girlsonfire #solopreneursociety #elevatecultivate #hustlewithease #smallbizsquad #workfromhomejob #solopreneurlife #savvybusinessowner #dreamersanddoers #beyourownboss #selfemployedlife #theimperfectboss
Yes I DID place a second @simplified order!! 😍 Yes I DID place a second @simplified order!! 😍 Wanna see what’s inside?! 👇🏻

🌈 If you know me, you know I have a serious love affair with the OG color coding dot stickers, so OF COURSE I had to get the pastel version (because purple is now included) 💜

🩵 The new Desk Jotter is the most beautiful shade of Carolina blue and the gold foil details are next level!! It’s a super stylish piece for your workspace!!

📝 The Lists Are My Love Language tall notepad and Grocery List notepad will be perfect for the new command center I’m creating!! (They both have big sturdy magnets on the back so they won’t go sliding down your refrigerator!! 🙌🏻)

💙 I have coveted the new Navy Leatherette Folio for a while now and I’m SO GLAD I finally got it!! If you work in an office building or other professional setting, this piece is PERFECT for you!!

🤩 And I HAD to get my hands on the new weekly Dapperdesk!! I missed French Blue, but Fawn is *so pretty* in person!! (The Signature Weekly Simplified Planners never really worked for me, but I am VERY INTRIGUED by this new vertical weekly format and can’t wait to try it!! I’ll report back when I do 🤗)

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I can’t pick a favorite from this unboxing, so I’ll ask you to tell me YOURS instead!! 🙃

(Not sponsored. I’m just a @simplified super fan with an affiliate link. Let me know if you want to go shopping 💖)

#simplifiedplanner #thesimplifiedplanner #emilyleyplanner #emilyleysimplifiedplanner #simplified #planner #planners #dailyplanner #dailyplanning #planwithme #planning #planningtime #plannerobsessed #plannerlife #plannerlove #plannernerd #plannercommunity #planneraddict #plannergirl #plannersgonnaplan #plannergoodies #planneraccessories #simplifiedsisterhood #plannerinspiration #gracenotperfection #womenwithaplan #ownyoureveryday #planningcommunity
It’s honestly not YOUR fault if you’ve thought It’s honestly not YOUR fault if you’ve thought systems and tools were the same thing before ⤵️
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HUUUUGE companies, biz coaches, and experts are referring to tools as systems and vice versa every. single. day!! 🤯
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The biggest and most painful example I can think of is project management tools like Asana, ClickUp, Monday, Notion, and Trello. These are, in fact, project management TOOLS, but they’re often referred to as project management SYSTEMS.
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But you swiped through and know that that’s not the case, riiiiiight?!
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The biggest mistake people make with project management TOOLS when they *first* get started with them is that they just start plugging in tasks with no real rhyme, reason, strategy, organization or 🥁 drumroll please 🥁 SYSTEM.
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And that's honestly the number 1️⃣ reason business owners say project management tools DON'T work for them... because they don't know HOW to use them to their fullest extent!!
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>>> They either don't HAVE any systems to put into them or don't know that they have to PUT systems into them to see how much better off their business will be!! <<<
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Moreover, the BEST PART of project management tools is that you can house A WHOLE BUNCH of systems!! 🤩
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I use Asana to manage people, projects, and everything in between for BOTH my business AND personal life. In just ONE tool, I have almost TWO DOZEN systems that I use to run my ENTIRE business (and personal life) on a daily basis!!
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👉🏻 Believe it or not, I have MORE to say on this subject!! I've put the link to read more in my profile!!
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(Did I blow your mind with this revelation?!)
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#onlineserviceprovider #onlinebusinessowner #womanceo #virtualbusiness #workfromwifi #freedombasedbusiness #freelancelife #ceomindest #smallandmightybusiness #empowerher #womenwithaplan #ambitiouswomen #womenlead #womeninbusiness #careercontessa #bossladystatus #girlsonfire #solopreneursociety #smallbiztips #hustlewithease #smallbizsquad #workfromhomejob #solopreneurlife #savvybusinessowner #dreamersanddoers #beyourownboss #selfemployedlife #femaleentrepreneur #mombusinessowner #womenownedbusinesses
My 2023 @Simplified Spring Launch Order Unboxing + My 2023 @Simplified Spring Launch Order Unboxing + First Impressions!! 🤭

Spoiler Alert: I’M OBSESSED!!!!! 😍

Team @Simplified REALLY outdid themselves this year!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am a calendar year planner girl so I don’t actually order my PLANNER until September, but I obviously COULD NOT WAIT to get my hands on the new accessories!! 🤗

✍🏻 The twist pens are perfection!!
💗 The pen clips are DARLING!!
✨ The gold details *especially* those pineapple zipper pills are my favorite things EVER!!
📒 The new mid-size notebooks are
THE BEST size!!
🌸 As predicted, Blush Magnolia is even prettier in person!! I mean, who could pass up that laptop case?! (Not me, clearly 💁🏼‍♀️)

And even though I told myself I would NOT order anymore planner or pencil pouches… that was a big fat lie!! Because I TOTALLY did!! 😂 They’re just so well made and I use them for everything, especially when I travel!!

Needless to say, I’m smitten!!!!! 🥰

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💫 Have you ordered anything or have your eye on something?! Tell me in the comments!!

(This is not sponsored. I’m just a mega fan with an affiliate link 🙃)

#simplifiedplanner #thesimplifiedplanner #emilyleyplanner #emilyleysimplifiedplanner #simplified #planner #planners #dailyplanner #dailyplanning #planwithme #planning #planningtime #plannerobsessed #plannerlife #plannerlove #plannernerd #plannercommunity #planneraddict #plannergirl #plannersgonnaplan #plannergoodies #planneraccessories #simplifiedsisterhood #plannerinspiration #gracenotperfection #womenwithaplan #ownyoureveryday #planningcommunity
Reminder: The power of a ✨ new day ✨ is FAR GR Reminder: The power of a ✨ new day ✨ is FAR GREATER than the power of a new year!!

You only get ONE new year, but you get 365 NEW DAYS!! (You don’t have to be great at math to know that’s A HECKUVA LOT more!!!!!)l 🤗)

No matter how this year started, how the first quarter of the year went, how this month is going… you don’t have to feel behind!!

You can have a ✨ FRESH START ✨ whenever you want!!

Put a ☀️ in the comments if you’re leaning into that fresh start feeling today!!

#onlineserviceprovider #onlinebusinessowner #womanceo #virtualbusiness #workfromwifi #freedombasedbusiness #freelancelife #ceomindest #smallandmightybusiness #createalifeyoulove #empowerher #takecontrolofyourlife #womenwithaplan #ambitiouswomen #womenlead #womeninbusiness #careercontessa #createcultivate #girlsonfire #solopreneursociety #elevatecultivate #hustlewithease #smallbizsquad #workfromhomejob #solopreneurlife #savvybusinessowner #dreamersanddoers #beyourownboss #selfemployedlife #theimperfectboss
Change is a scary thing. When you run on routines Change is a scary thing. When you run on routines you LOVE (like me 🙋🏼‍♀️) it’s even scarier. But when change happens suddenly and you were completely unprepared… it can really send you into a tailspin. 😔
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That is EXACTLY what happened to me when my dad’s health took a sudden nose dive last July; and again when he had a massive heart attack on Christmas Eve 💔
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My business took a backseat while I jumped in to help my parents any way I could. EVERYTHING was thrown out of whack. My anxiety went through the roof and seasonal depression hit me like a ton of bricks 🥺
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And I’ll be honest, it was extremely hard for me to navigate. But I kept reminding myself that *this* was A SEASON OF SURVIVAL and things would get better if I just kept putting one foot in front of the other 👣
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I actually went back to what I did when I was in the middle of MY health crisis: I lowered my expectations ⤵️
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I said if I can just do this ONE thing, I’ll feel like I accomplished something today. And if all I did was that ONE thing, great!! If I finished the thing and said I can do one MORE thing, awesome!! But I didn’t push myself in any way, shape, or form. 🙅🏼‍♀️
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As a doer who likes to DO, that was hard for me. But I was also so mentally, emotionally, and physically EXHAUSTED that I knew this was what I needed to do. ❤️‍🩹
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You never know what someone is going through behind-the-scenes. If you’re struggling with ANYTHING, know that you are not alone. And that seasons of survival do come to a close. 🫶🏻
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#workfromwifi #freedombasedbusiness #ceomindest #smallandmightybusiness #createalifeyoulove #empowerher #takecontrolofyourlife #womenwithaplan #createcultivate #girlsonfire #solopreneursociety #elevatecultivate #hustlewithease #smallbizsquad #solopreneurlife #savvybusinessowner #dreamersanddoers #beyourownboss #selfemployedlife #wifiandadream
The results are in ⤵️ Adding passive income t The results are in ⤵️

Adding passive income to your business is a VERY productive use of your time!!

In fact, it’s a PERFECT example of working smarter, not harder in your business!!

I know that *passive income* seems like the buzziest of buzz phrases lately, but there’s a reason for that. Who DOESN’T want to make sales in their sleep?! 😴

When you create an online course, you can sell it FOREVER, and make sales when you’re doing other things, even when you’re sleeping!! 😍

Here’s the deal, if creating an online course has been on your to-do list for a while and seems more like a PIPE DREAM instead of a dream come true, you need to sign up for @louisehenry’s Passive Profit Challenge!!

During this FREE, 4-day event, Louise is going to show you the *quickest and easiest way* to package up your brilliance into an online course and add a passive income stream to your business!! 🤩

I’ve signed up for SO MANY challenges over the years, and hers are hands down THE BEST!! Nobody does a challenge like Louise!!

If you’re ready to turn your passive income dreams into goals and actually make them happen, you need to sign up for this challenge!! Raise your hand in the comments 🙋🏼‍♀️ and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!

✨ Challenge starts Monday (February 20th) ✨

#entrepreneurlife #creativebusinessowner #smallbusinesslife #thegramgang #momsinbusiness #momboss #mompreneur #womenindigital #smallbizsquad #shehustles #wifiwealth #wifiandadream #smallbizowner #femalebusinessowner #virtualbusiness #onlinebizlife #workingremotely #ownyourownbusiness #businessgrowthtips #businesstipsforwomen #businesstipsforsuccess #businessdevelopment #newentrepreneurs #startingbusiness #onlinebiz #mycreativecommunity #growingmybusiness #freelancetofreedom #designalifeyoulove #womensupportwomeninbusiness
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