The Best Way To Set Up A Tickler File

By Dojo Kuhn

As part of my ongoing GTD Thirty Day Challenge, I wanted to talk about how you should set up a tickler file.

David Allen seems to be big on using 43 folders for his tickler file. These folders would be made up of 12 monthly folders and 31 daily folders. Let's say it is now January and I'd have all my daily folders behind the January folder. When a day ends, that day's folder goes behind the next month or February's folder. Looking at the 19th, I'd have the folders 1-18 behind the February folder at this point.

What happens when I use my tickler file? If I get a bill that is due on February 3rd, and I want to remember to pay it on that day, I would stick the bill in my February 3rd folder. On February 3rd when I look at my tickler, I'd see the bill and remember to pay it.

If you asked me, I think using 43 folders for my tickler file is not the best way to set up a tickler file. First, it's hard to remember to check the tickler each day. You'll be asking yourself, "how do I remind myself to check the tickler file?" Secondly, it's very bulky and not very portable. Third, when you move the folders for each day to the next month you have to take items in that months folder and put them in the right day.

If you use GTD though, a tickler file is essential to set up because there are things in the future that you need to remember. The folder type of tickler is perfect if you have a lot of physical type items you use as reminders. For most people, their work doesn't create the kind of physical items that really justify a folder tickler file and I suggest setting up a tickler file differently to address the problems above.

How To Set Up A Tickler File

First, I put a plastic folder in my briefcase called "Waiting For" that holds all of the stuff I might need to remember to check on a future date.

After that, I would create a folder in my email setup called "Yahoo Reminders". If you look at my folder setup in my other article called How To Set Up Your GTD email, you can see how I have this set up. I then filter all of my Yahoo reminders into this folder and they bypass my inbox.

The last component is Yahoo calendar. I put any item I need to remember and enter it as an all day event. I attach and email reminder to it that sends me a reminder 2 days ahead of the day I need to remember it. As a second reminder, a text is sent too.

Using the example above, the bill that's due on the third of February gets entered onto my calendar as an all day event like "pay this bill" and an email reminder gets sent to me 2 days before that date. Then I slip the bill in my "Waiting For" folder in my briefcase.

On the 1st day of February, I get a Yahoo reminder that reminds me about the bill that needs to be paid on the third and it goes directly into my Yahoo reminder folder in my email account. In addition, a text goes out as well giving me a backup on my blackberry in case I can't get to my Yahoo reminder's folder in my email account. I review my blackberry text messages every day and review my reminders folder too as well if I have access to it.

This system works fantastic for me. It's extremely portable, it reminds me automatically and I don't have to rethink the items in my tickler when I move the tabs. If you are not using email reminders to help you remember stuff, you have no idea how this can effect your productivity. Even if you use 43 folders, I recommend email reminders 100% to be a part of your GTD system.

That is my version of how to set up a tickler file for maximum effectiveness.

About the Author:

Dojo Kuhn has been doing GTD since 2005. To assist you set up their Getting Things Done system, he wrote a free GTD Thirty Day Challenge that you can use to assist you set up your system. You can also find a walkthrough of how to set up a tickler file that shows you how he uses a tickler file.

Things You Can Do to Repair Your Credit

By Ricardo Mendiola

There are many things you can do to repair your credit. It may take a little time but it is the best thing that you can do. Good credit means a lot. You can repair your credit by consolidation or on your own.

Credit is everything in the world today. Bad credit looks like you don't pay your bills on time. It makes you look like you are not responsible and you don't take care of your debts also. You have to have good credit if you want to buy a home, a car, and obtain credit cards. Some employers will not hire you if you do not have good credit also. Credit affects people in many ways and it is important to repair your credit if it is in bad shape. Credit is never irreparable.

The first step you need to take in repairing your credit is obtaining all three credit reports from the major credit bureaus. The major credit bureaus are Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian. Everyone is entitled to a free credit report every year. This will give you the opportunity to see what your score is, who your creditors are, and more. The three reports will not be identical. It is common to see a debtor on one agency report but not on another. Your scores may also be different too. This is common.

If you have a lot of debt that you owe you can still repair your credit yourself. You should pay off the smaller debts first that you can afford to pay in full, all at once. Some of the collection agencies will take a percentage of what you owe. Find out if anyone will accept a partial payoff for the balances. The larger debts you will need to work out a payment plan with these debtors. This is important. Remember that once you make a deal with these collectors you need to stick to paying off the debt as you promise.

You will also need to pay on the debts listed as collection items. Anything you owe on your credit reports that has gone into collections needs to be paid off. The phone numbers for each debtor will be listed on your credit report. You can call each debtor and pay them off one at a time. Keep in mind that most debtors will be willing to take a partial payoff. This means that you should ask them how much they will accept for a partial payoff. You may be able to pay 50% of each of the debts to have them listed as paid off on your credit report.

Repairing your credit is the best thing you can do if you are hoping for financial freedom or if your bad credit is negatively affecting you. By taking a few simple steps you can repair your credit.

About the Author:

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A Great Way to Boost Your Business to New Heights

By Jeff Dedrick

The internet has revolutionized the way we do business. In the past our methods of marketing directly to customers was through direct mail pieces and telemarketing. Even though those methods still exist today and are still solid ways of marketing, the real gem of all marketing has been email marketing. Being able to acquire email leads have taken online marketing to a new level. This form of marketing has literally changed the way most companies do business.

As with anything there are some rules to follow when you acquire email leads. Of course, you never email anyone who has not specifically opted in to receive information regarding your product or service. Do not randomly harvest email addresses from the internet as those are not real email leads. The ways you can acquire leads is true co-registration, lead purchase, lead leasing, and your own lead generation.

The best way to setup an email marketing campaign is to have the campaign setup based on categories. It's best to have your email leads divided into individual categories based on their interest.

For example, you may have leads who are interested in information regarding health related products. You'll then also have leads who are interested in starting a home based business. These leads should never be intertwined unless in rare cases the lead is actually interested in both categories.

Remember, research is the key aspect to your success. Do thorough evaluation regarding how to market online using email. You'll find that there are many sites that offer great tips and strategies. No matter what option you go with for generating email leads, always follow all the rules regulations as you can be shut down pretty quickly if you are accused of spamming. By following the rules and building a category specific list, you are increasing the odds for having a successful email marketing campaign.

About the Author:

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