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The Productivity Zone

Productivity, Time Management, and Systems for Female Entrepreneurs

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I was once the GOLDILOCKS OF PLANNERS looking for I was once the GOLDILOCKS OF PLANNERS looking for the one that was juuuuuuuuussst right 💁🏼‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ They were either too big or too small, too cutesy or too business-y, too many lines to fill out or boxes to check, not enough writing space or too much extraneous space… the list goes on and on. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Needless to say, finding a planner that worked for me and my business/lifestyle was no easy feat. I’m not kidding when I say I’m the pickiest planner girl you will probably ever meet 😆 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But the @simplified planner is EVERYTHING I could EVER want in a planner and so much more. I’m actually getting ready to purchase my NINTH daily planner in just a few weeks!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 😱 but also 😍 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Over on the blog, I’m sharing why I LOVE this planner so much, why I call it my #1 productivity tool, and how it changed the way I manage my time and plan my days!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Want a quick link? Comment SP REVIEW and I’ll pop into your DMs with the direct link right now 💬💌 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ P.S. The behind-the-scenes making of this insta-worthy photo (swipe to see that) makes me LOL every time!! The coffee cup came into play because I couldn't hold anymore planners 😅 I’m gonna have to pump some iron 💪🏻 if I want to recreate this photo with 10 planners next year 🤣🤣 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Insta-worthy photo by @jamiebannon BTS photo by @lfboudoir ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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
Dang if my school-supply-loving-soul doesn't LOVE Dang if my school-supply-loving-soul doesn't LOVE this analogy to the moon and back!! 😍 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You see, in its most basic form, @Asana is made up of Teams, Projects, Sections, and Tasks. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Whereas a trapper keeper is a BINDER with dividers and sheets of paper with stuff (i.e. headings and bullets or notes) written on them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In this analogy: >> Asana is the binder >> Teams are the dividers >> Projects are the paper >> Sections are the headings >> Tasks are the bullet points ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ (If you're a current or former Trello user, Teams are to Workspaces as Projects are to Boards as Sections are to Lists as Tasks are to Cards.) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Make sense? Cool!! 😎 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now, if you want to see EXACTLY how I use Asana as my digital trapper keeper (aka how I organize my Asana, what systems I use inside my Asana, how I use Asana to keep me focused all day, every day), I’m taking you behind-the-screen of my Asana dashboard over on the blog!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👉🏻 Comment TRAPPER KEEPER and I’ll personally DM you the link!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ——— ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Who loved (and still loves) all the school supplies?! 🙋🏼‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #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
I used to be THE QUEEN of notebooks and sticky not I used to be THE QUEEN of notebooks and sticky notes ⤵️ (These are my actual content idea logs from my wedding blog days… I don’t know how my hand didn’t fall off 🤦🏼‍♀️) Two years into my first business, I was OVERWHELMED, EXHAUSTED, and majorly BURNT OUT. But the thought of paying a VA when I could BARELY pay myself STRESSED me the heck out!! 😵‍💫 That’s when I discovered the magical world of project management tools and chucked all those notebooks and sticky notes in the trash!! ⤵️ But it wasn’t until I started using SYSTEMS inside those project management tools that I was able to say, “SEE YA, BYE!” to those feelings of overwhelm, overwork, and burnout!! If those feelings are AT ALL familiar to you, let me paint you an epic picture… ✨ An Asana dashboard that ACTS like your assistant WITHOUT having to shell out thousands of dollars every single month!! ✨ If that gives you 😍, then you’re going to want to get on the waitlist for the BRAND NEW, FULLY LOADED version of Asana Assistant (Version 3.0) launching next week!! And because June is also The Productivity Zone’s birthday month, I’ve decided to celebrate in a BIG (LIKE HUGE) way!! 🥳 We’re talking about a special price AND a super special limited-time bonus!! I expect that bonus to go FAST and waitlisters get first dibs, so if you want in, comment the word WAITLIST and I’ll personally send you the link!! #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
I never in a million years thought I would leave T 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 would never leave it. But little by little, things about Trello REALLY started to annoy me. Like having to add a power-up every time I wanted access to a calendar on a different board. 🙄 Honestly, all of those years I was using Trello, I thought everything was fine, just fine. My business was organized. I knew what my goals were and what I had to work on each day. I could manage and keep track of all the moving (and non-moving) parts of my business as a one-woman show. Little did I know there was a better way... I’ve been using Asana for more than 3 years now and it is literally a night and day difference. Everything in Asana is rainbows and unicorns, literally!! 😉 Want to know the 7 things that pushed me toward @asana, including all the things (even the sneaky ones) that bugged me about Trello?! 👉🏻 Comment “TRELLO” and I’ll send you the link to read alllllllll about it!! #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
BRAIN DUMPING but make it MAGICAL!! ⤵️ I actu BRAIN DUMPING but make it MAGICAL!! ⤵️ I actually hate the term “brain dump” or “brain dumping”. It just sounds… I don’t know, icky, and not at all inspiring. But I’ve used it for years because a) everyone else uses it and b) I didn’t know what else to call it 🤷🏼‍♀️ But while listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on Audible (for the umpteenth time) a few weeks ago, it hit me… Dumbledore using THE PENSIEVE is essentially brain dumping, only ✨magically✨. I love how he describes the Pensieve to Harry: “I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind. At these times, I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one’s mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one’s leisure.” See? Brain dumping!! 🤩 And if *any* MUGGLE deserves a Pensieve, it’s female entrepreneurs!! Am I right or amiright?! So I created one in @Asana!! Not all work stuff has to be boring!! It can be FUN, too!! 🤗 —— Where do you stand with the whole brain dumping terminology?! Any other Potterheads in the house?! #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
Asana My Tasks is BETTER than Trello AND iced coff Asana My Tasks is BETTER than Trello AND iced coffee!! I said what I said ⤵️ Iced coffee is GREAT and all BUT it doesn’t tell you WHAT you have to do each day (it only gives you energy to do those things—which is also important)!! But here’s the thing 👉🏻 without a plan for the day, you’ll waste A LOT of time trying to figure out WHAT you should be doing (or doing busy work instead of productive work *gasp* the horror!!) That’s why I live (like actually LIVE) in the monthly calendar view of @Asana My Tasks because I can see EVERYTHING that’s happening in all of my projects all at once!! 🤩 Every single task I’ve given a due date to and assigned to myself shows up in My Tasks in the color I’ve assigned to the project from which that task comes. ‼️ Trello has NOTHING like this. Nothing!! In fact, I had to create a board that laid out my week and MANUALLY input all of the things happening every single week. I don’t have to do that in Asana!! And neither do you!! 😉 👉🏻 Want to read more about WHY I switched from Trello to Asana?! I know you do… Comment “Trello” below and I’ll personally DM you the link to the blog post!! #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
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
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