Organizing for Change

Editors Note: As mentioned in the introduction, this was written as part of the creation of a video on the same topic. Additionally, the bulk of the writing was done completely on the Supernote, as mentioned. Unfortunately, it did take more time for this initial use than I feel it would as you continued to work with the process. I am also aware that my conclusion section may seem overly long, but at the same time, I really got into the flow of writing with the keyboard in that section. I do really appreciate the approach of the Supernote team regarding writing in Word. This entire blog is going to be written in the Supernote with native word document format. While this may seem like a crazy workflow, you will notice that it does take on different characteristics and the advantage over reMarkable and other platforms is that whatever I do on my A5X is immediately available in Word on my PC. We will discuss all three ways to write on the Supernote, clean it up in Word by opening from the...

Just recently, I achieved a milestone that was not even initially a goal when starting my YouTube Channel . After all, I was not a professional video editor. I had no background in YouTube or video production, other than working in the educational space with recorded lectures, instructional design, and educational technologies. Beyond wanting to develop my skill set and as a hobby, I thought YouTube and blogging might be a good way to share some useful information for professionals looking to better organize their time and work lives. Again, I had no idea that this might be something people would really subscribe to. I was really inspired to try this by several people in the e-ink space when I was researching my eventual purchase of the Supernote . Right before turning 50 in December of last year, I decided to jump in and try to create something. Admittedly, my first few videos were rough, and not something I feel was my best work. I started with a 4K document camera that doubled as my...

Welcome to our second article in the series examining my first 3 years with the Supernote A5X. After making the decision to purchase the device, I was very impatient and tracked it through DHL multiple times a day. Luckily, it arrived earlier than expected. Now that I had the A5X, it was time to get started. Below are some things to consider and how I incorporated the device into my workflow.  Don't Let it Sit Probably one of the best pieces of advice I can give after buying a new piece of technology is to  use it!  I know this may seem obvious, but think about it. How many times have we gotten a new gadget and been all excited, only to end up getting frustrated and putting it on a shelf or in a drawer? That would be the biggest mistake you can make if you feel like you made the purchase for the right reasons .  When I first got the Supernote, I started writing with it right away. Luckily, it arrived over a weekend and I was able to play around with the features, get...

In this article, we are going to explore the importance of some software and devices in organizing. What do you use? What are the tools that make you most effective in your daily work and life? As you know, I am a huge fan of finding the right devices and products to maximize your productivity and personal organization. Now, let us look at my ecosystem. Microsoft Family ( Click for Link ) This is the most underrated software package currently on the market. Google is still slightly ahead in the ease of collaboration. However, for only $99.99 per year, Microsoft you get access to the entire Microsoft ecosystem with a tremendous number of features, enhanced security, and less data mining for public use. Here are just few features that come with the package according to Microsoft: For one to six people to share Each person can use up to 5 devices simultaneously. Works on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets Up to 6 TB of secure cloud storage (...

I have a thing for organization, which is more than evident by the title of my blog. However, one thing that is a little disconcerting for me is when someone says that I need to not get distracted by what Steven Covey would have referred to as “the whirlwind.”  I have been around a while (half a century now) and enjoy the whirlwind almost as much as getting things done. This is not to be dismissive of the fact that things need to get accomplished, and that organization is a key to this. However, completing projects does not always mean doing things in order. Let me take you on a little journey. Imagine you walk into an organization that is predominantly server-based with no real “cloud” presence (don’t worry, I am not going to bog you down with nerdy details….although I could). You come in and you are tasked with modernizing the technology infrastructure. Your plan includes the following:   Office 365 Trial – 60 days, including SharePoint and Microsoft Teams Managed Service ...

  How many times have we been told, or told someone else, to get organized? What exactly does that mean? Is it extensive to-do lists, calendars (digital or print), or an endless sea of notebooks and post-it notes? Unfortunately, the answer is “maybe.” For some, the need for a paper calendar that contains a snapshot of hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly activities is essential, and they cannot function without it. For others, they may live in a digital world with notifications pinging them every minute, a deluge of alarms, tasks, reminders, and events. Finally, some may live in both worlds simultaneously. When I started brainstorming about how to approach this topic, I must admit that I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Do I start with my own process and fall immediately into the trap that everyone else does? Also, in full transparency, my method and process tend to vary in many cases from one project or topic to another. For example, I don’t start writing a budge...