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November 2010

15 posts

Q & A: How a church team gets things done with Producteev

Northland, A Church Distributed (www.northlandchurch.net) is a pioneering congregation focused on building an international community of worshipers. The church connects thousands of believers worldwide, bringing live, interactive streaming of its weekly services to the Web, Facebook, iPhone and Android mobile devices, Roku and other environments. Northland has several sites throughout Central Florida, as well many house churches and partner ministries around the globe. Northland’s worship services are a blend of foundational and modern worship and incorporate the latest in lighting, audio and video technology.

Rob Andrescik is the director of public relations.

Q: How do you use Producteev?
Rob: Northland’s media design team [with around 20 people] plays a key role in helping to create an environment where congregants connect. We never suffer from a lack of ideas, but we have often struggled with how to capture the best ideas and take action on them. As the creative team that serves all of the other departments in the church, we also needed a way to keep track of the many requests that we receive and the progress of those requests.

At any given time, there are about 75-100 active projects going on. Everything goes on a team calendar, which we review in a weekly meeting.

Over the years, we researched many different types of project management and tasking tools. We ultimately opted for Producteev because it helps our team to get things done and makes project management simple and convenient. It allows us to quickly make and receive assignments and helps us stay accountable to one another throughout the creative process.

The ability to add attachments to our tasks has provided a much-needed centralized system for our creative collateral.

The creative process doesn’t work on a schedule—inspiration comes at any and all times of the day. Producteev provides us with many ways to capture these ideas and assign them to people who can help make them happen—via iPhone, the Web, email…even instant messaging. It’s a great tool.

Describe your experience with Producteev.
Rob:Our team loves Producteev. I tell everyone about it.

The ability to turn emails into tasks has miraculously transformed the way we work. Most of our team members have iPhones, and the free Producteev app is great. The dashboard online is really helpful, too—showing you what other team members are working on, without getting in the way of your own tasks.

Personally, I am also a fan of the notes feature, google calendar sync, and natural language processing. I noticed that you are adding reports to Producteev, I’m eager to see how that works!

All in all, Producteev has been an extremely valuable tool for our team collaboration. I thoroughly recommend Producteev to anyone, because it’s easy and accessible.

 

Nov 24, 2010
#Get Real: real-life example of Producteev #interactive media #online collaboration
Performance Optimization Complete: Now You Can Get Things Done Like a Real Super Hero!

Here at headquarters, we’ve worked hard to improve the general speed of the website, as well as the load time for workspaces. You should see those changes now and be able to get things done in a flash!

Where there’s a will, there’s a way! We’ll work on yet another performance update in the near future. In the meantime, get more productive with a super speed website today.

Photo credit [Flash super hero]: Jason Adams

Nov 23, 2010
#features & product
Conquer Fears of Public Speaking with These Simple Steps

Simple Steps to Make Speaking in Public a Cinch

Published on November 18, 2010 - 6 Comments
Categories: self improvement

We’ve all been there…that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach when you’re about to give a big presentation, fearful that you may blow it.  The hesitation that grips your chest when you step into a party and you don’t know a soul, dreading the moment you have to introduce yourself.  Most of the time, when we’re out of our comfort zone…it’s uncomfortable!

For some people, those same situations seem effortless…enjoyable, in fact.

Ah…yes, the gift of the gab.  Some people are born with it, others come to it by practice.  But the gift is not the ABILITY to gab, it is the ACTION of communicating.  Every person on this planet has a gift to give and when we learn to communicate effectively, we are able to share our gift with the world.

So, how can it be easier to stand up and start talking? 

1.  Give yourself permission to be fabulous.

That’s right, you are the star of your own life and the sooner you start regarding yourself that way, the better.  Forget peering at limp People magazines lying around your dentist’s office.  The fascination with stardom has left our society crippled.  Judging yourself against a photo-shopped lay-out of famous people walking their dogs, simply drains your personal energy.  YOU are fabulous, in your own unique way.  When you embrace that notion, you create a magnetic presence.  TIP: Write down ten things you love and admire about yourself.  Read that list everyday. When you focus on your fabulousness, others will too!

2. “I am an incredible public speaker.”

This is your new mantra.  If you change your story, you change your life.  When you think about a public speaking opportunity, this needs to be the first thought popping into your mind.  Write this statement on post-its and place it all over your house, your car, anywhere you can see it, as many times a day as possible.  You are creating a new imprint in your mind and even if you don’t believe it at first, you will in time.  TIP: If you have a negative thought arise, stop yourself and repeat “I am an incredible public speaker.”  You are training your mind, and it will take at least two weeks to make the switch.  Practice pays off, so stick to it!

3.  Tune In.

There are opportunities to speak up all the time.  When you remove your hesitation about public speaking, you can begin to look for chances to speak at every turn.  Why?  Because who knows what will come of it?!  A new job, a promotion, a new contact…perhaps a new love interest?  The possibilities are endless, but you need to regard the effort with JOY, not FEAR.  Now that you have trained your mind to think positively about public speaking, you can begin searching for your chance to seize the limelight.  TIP: Find at least one opportunity a week (unplanned) to speak your mind.  Start with a no pressure situation, like chatting with a stranger, and gradually raise the stakes…a work meeting, an important toast.  Make it a game.  Trust me, you are already the winner.

4.  Open yourself up to the world.

Head up, shoulders back, and eyes forward.  Simple directions that create wonderful results.  When your body is open, you silently communicate that you are READY to tackle life’s challenges.  You are available to take people in.   If your arms are crossed, shoulders slouched over, eyes withdrawn, you are cut off from the world, hiding behind your own uncertainty.  Now is the time to check in with yourself and choose to change.  TIP: Notice how you hold your body in different situations.  If you find that you are closing yourself off physically, subtly change your posture.  Feel the difference.  How does the world respond?

5.  Now, settle down and listen.

Yes, you will taste the thrill of speaking soon enough and when you do, you will likely want to go on and on in front on everyone you meet, but remember, the art of effective communication involves LISTENING.  People love it when you pay attention to them.  Take in your surroundings and give someone the gift of your UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.  This one act alone will make people love and appreciate your presence. TIP: Go to a meeting and purposely do not take your cell phone.  Focus your attention entirely on the conversation, removing any possibility of personal distraction.  You may think you do that already, but c’mon… aren’t you in the car next to mine making the phone call?

You already have the gift of the gab, so go and give your gift to everyone on your list!

Alexa Fischer is the creator of Lessons for the Limelight.  Inspired by her work as a professional film and television actress, Alexa translates advanced performance skills into step-by-step guidelines for anyone desiring to maximize their personal presence.  She teaches how to command the attention of a room, how to deliver powerful, engaging messages and how to look effortless doing so!  Alexa believes that when you stay connected to your true passion and project your message effectively, your light illuminates and inspires everyone around you.

via pickthebrain.com

 

Nov 23, 2010
#productivity
We're in German! Hervorragend! Großartig! Fantastisch!

There are 8,673 English words in Producteev! A big thanks to our volunteer translators for translating both the web and iPhone app into German! This would not have been possible without you. Great job, team! And great job Portuguese team, as well, for just having finished your translations!

To enable, select the German flag from the drop down in the far right corner.

 

Coming up next: several multi-language releases. Our other teams of volunteer translators are diligently at work. Write to support at producteev.com if you’d like to help out! 

Nov 18, 2010
#features & product #German #multi-language
Producteev followers & fans tell why they made the switch from Remember the Milk

Nov 17, 2010
#active community #remember the milk #RTM
Strategies to Make Selling Your Ideas More Successful

A frequent question from people in all career phases is what a person can do to better sell a new idea, whether to a customer or inside an organization. As much as it would be nice to have a standard formula that always works, success really depends on the particulars of your situation.

There are, however, a number of common strategies you can consider. Your best course of action is to be adept at using a variety of approaches to make your ideas more powerful and compelling. These nine strategies are a strong start to include in your idea-selling toolkit:

1. Get the Facts in Place behind Your Idea

Make sure you build fact-based, logical support as the underpinning for your idea. If the facts aren’t readily available, look for new or nontraditional information sources. Assemble the information you need to develop a fact-based case for why your idea will deliver results the organization needs.

2. Link Emotions to the Facts Supporting Your Idea

Think about the world’s great stories. Very few are made up solely of facts. They all are strongly rooted in characters and emotions. Develop the most compelling storyline which makes sense with your idea and creates emotional connections to it among potential supporters.

3. Depict Your Idea

Based on whatever is appropriate, create an early mock up of what you’re trying to accomplish. It could be a picture, a storyboard, a video, or an actual prototype, among other things. Help others buy-in to your idea by making it easy to interact with an early version of the end result you’re attempting to deliver.

4. Create a Clear Implementation Roadmap

If there aren’t obvious steps for how an idea can become reality, it may be dead on arrival in an organization. Break down the “how-to’s” behind your idea so key stakeholders can clearly see the effort and investment necessary to bring an idea to fruition.

5. Make Your Idea Easier to Support

Do the groundwork to make choosing your idea easy for decision makers by removing as many obstacles as possible. Think about whether it makes sense to break your idea up into easier to digest (i.e., support, fund, implement) pieces. Maybe you can better sell your idea by going the Goldilocks route, with “too much” and “too little” versions surrounding the option you want. Push for the BIG idea, but be happy to settle for the “just right” option in between.

6. Quietly Build Your Support One-by-One

Rather than waiting for a big meeting to introduce your idea and see how things go, build your support person-by-person ahead of time. Talk to individuals in advance, share where you’re headed, and solicit both input and support. If someone is supportive individually but becomes antagonistic or noncommittal in a later “big meeting,” you can always tactfully refresh their memory about an earlier favorable position.

7. Be Ready for the Right Moment

Some ideas will be ahead of their time when you’re working on them. Keep going. Perform all the preparation, get your assumptions and ideas challenged by others, and make refinements. Then read the organizational or market tea leaves as best you can so you’re ready to introduce the idea when it’s really the right time.

8. Secure Visible Third-Party Validation for Your Idea

It always helps to have an influential spokesperson backing your idea. Inside an organization, your third-party validation may not be from a TV star; it’s likely to come from senior leaders willing to expend their political capital to support good things for the organization. Identify who the key influencers are and start building their interest and support for your idea.

9. Pick a Different Salesperson

It could be someone else can run with your idea more effectively than you. If you think that’s the case, consider recruiting THAT person to be the salesperson. Or maybe even give the idea away to someone who can nurture and develop it better than you can. If you’re really interested in bettering the organization first and foremost, seeing the idea pushed forward and implemented by someone else should be more important than retaining ownership of a great idea which never sees the light of day.

Summary

These strategies are a starting point. Adapt, combine, or pull them apart so they’ll work most effectively in your organization to take full advantage of successful new ideas.

via lifehack.org

Nov 16, 2010
#productivity
Welcome back, iPhone app! We missed you!

The Producteev iPhone app is back on iTunes. Download your free version today!

Photo credit: 37prime

Nov 16, 2010
#features & product
Q & A: How Producteev helps a consulting company come together across departments

Nuezra is a privately held, self-funded company that provides IT support and consulting for businesses. Founded in 2004, it works with companies of all sizes and specializes in meeting the needs of its customers through end-to-end solution services. Nuezra prides itself on implementing a mix of creativity, innovation, and technology in its consulting.

Neha Lodha is a marketing manager.

How do you use Producteev?

Neha: A team member heard about Producteev through one of the social networks and started using it for personal use. It was soon brought to the attention of the company that it could be utilized as a task manager across all departments. It has completely changed the way our office works. We are a rapidly growing company, and we use Producteev to optimize team collaboration and communication.

We belong to various groups, and Producteev helps us view and complete tasks simultaneously. For example, our sales coordinator sometimes has to work directly with our accounting department. It makes it more efficient for them to join the same workspace and interact with each other’s tasks. Seeing as to how our roles sometimes overlap, it makes more sense for our us to work together on different tasks between related departments.


Also, Producteev allows us to be more efficient by attaching documents straight into the program SalesForce. By doing this we are able to not only save time, but utilize and document multiple needs of different programs. We love its flexibility of integration!

Describe your experience with Producteev.

Neha: As a manager, Producteev is a great resource and helps me keep track of where people are on certain assignments, without the need to follow up personally. The team can quickly indicate the steps they’ve achieved towards a project’s completion. Not to mention, Producteev’s design makes it very user friendly. It has easy to read labels and straight forward tabs.

Viewing due dates on tasks and their level of importance are easily accessible. The overall layout makes it convenient to find important information and locate assignments, whether they’re assigned to the individual searching for them or to other team members. Producteev’s intuitive navigation makes it simple for new team members to rapidly learn how to use the program. Again, as an expanding company, this is very useful!

Everyone has different forms of managing a task, how they balance taks lists and calendars. Producteev conforms to an individual’s work style. For instance, sone of us complete tasks using the Getting Things Done (GTD)methodology. We define what needs to be accomplished, make it tangible by inputing it into Producteev, delegate it, assign the time required for completion, and provide the resources needed.

When team members are out to meetings and receive important emails, they take advantage of the mail2task feature and easily transfer assignments just by emailing them.Producteev has truly been a great asset for our company because of its many features. It has really helped our business, and we are now able to stay organized and on top, like never before. It offers our entire office one central place where we are all able to check in and make noticeable progress, both inter-departmentally and on the go.

 

Nov 15, 2010
#consulting #Get Real: real-life example of Producteev #online collaboration
Keys to Productive Networking

The purpose of professional networking is to gain information, increase your visibility in your field, and establish personal connections that will help you advance in your career.  No matter how much you love your job, you should always be looking for ways to expand your networks because, ideally, your contacts will follow you from position to position.  A strong network allows you to get advice from trusted sources, to keep your professional knowledge current, to find career opportunities, and to support the careers of others.

Look for Contacts Everywhere

Your network should have lots of variety; individuals from different companies, career levels, and professions can add a range of perspectives.  Keeping in touch with your college friends who might be in different companies and industries is a great way to populate your network.  Joining a professional association in your field and regularly attending its events is also a smart idea.  Finally, investigate your company’s sponsored programs; many organizations provide opportunities for individuals to network within the company.  Training events, visits from management, guest speakers, or various types of interest-based events can yield the same type of contacts as an external event.

Take One Step at a Time

Know that it takes time to authentically populate your network.  But also know that each new contact is a step in the right direction.  When I first got into educating people on twentysomething workplace issues, it was startling how helpful I found just one meeting of the Chicago chapter of the American Society for Training and Development.  I walked out of the event with business cards for several potential clients and mentors.  My network increased after only one event.

Be Strategic

Before going to such an event, think about what you hope to get out of attending.  Is it general knowledge?  Is it a new contact in your field?  Or perhaps you are looking for someone to provide input on one of your projects?  Understand who the speakers will be at the event and how you might contact them or access their materials in advance of or after the event.  Also, learn what other companies and individuals might be at the event.  Prepare a few questions that you want to explore, and set a goal to answer them at the event. For example, if you want to do an informational interview—a thirty-minute conversation with an expert on a new development in your field—your goal may be to find someone at the event with that type of expertise.

Be Personable

Many experts are willing to speak and share their knowledge, but some may not be as willing.  Don’t become discouraged.  It may take a few attempts at building your network to make a personal connection. Once you have received an initial response and are moving forward with an interaction—whether it’s in person or via e-mail or phone—be friendly, respectful, and conscious of the contact’s time constraints.  Confirm your contact’s available time and the topic you want to cover.  If you have the opportunity to sit down with a contact in person, remember to make eye contact, smile, shake hands firmly, and exchange business cards.  Ask thoughtful questions and listen carefully to the answers.

Follow Up and Return the Favor

If you are meeting over coffee or a meal, when the check comes, simply say to your contact,  “I invited you here today, so this is my treat.”  This, combined with a handwritten thank-you note, will make the best possible impression and leave the door open for future follow-up—which you should do, of course!  If your contact gave you any advice or suggested a course of action, touch base every few months with an update on your progress.  And since effective networking always involves give and take, think about ways you can help your contact in return.

by Alexandra Levit

via lifehack.org

Nov 10, 2010
#productivity
Q & A: How Producteev helps a team of scientists juggle multiple research projects

The BennettLab is an obesity research lab based at Duke University in the Department of Psychology and in the Duke Global Health Institute. Its research is funded primarily by various government grants.

The BennettLab is run by Dr. Gary Bennett and is comprised of faculty, staff, undergraduate, as well as graduate students. 

Perry is the Project Director and managers all of the lab’s research projects. Erica is the Project Coordinator for Intervention and is responsible for development and implementation of intervention studies.

The lab works closely with community partners and a variety of external vendors in order to operationalize interventions.

How do you use Producteev?

Erica: We focus on developing strategies to help contend with the obesity epidemic by uncovering social and behavioral determinants of obesity in high risk populations and developing innovative obesity intervention strategies. 

At any given time, we are juggling 6 or 7 research projects. We really needed a system to help us make progress with our huge workload. Producteev helps us stay in touch with the bigger picture while managing and prioritizing our day-to-day tasks. 

Perry: As Project Director, I’ll often glance at the workspace tasks and use it to help the team prioritize and manage their responsibilities. It’s helpful for us to be able to check in with each other by creating new assignments and seeing if anyone needs help. I love that Producteev makes it easier for us to track and follow up on simple tasks, like “make a phone call” — both our tasks and those assigned to team members.

Erica: In addition to the web app, we’re fans of mail2task and IM2task. We use IM quite frequently and find it really convenient, especially coupled with natural language. 

Perry: We’re also admirers of the notes feature and use it regularly.

Describe your experience with it:

Perry: Producteev just fit with our team. It very quickly and very easily accommodated a wide range of technical comfort. Producteev was adaptable for those with higher technical inclination, and it allows them to activate some of the more advanced features. Yet, it was also a program that the members of our team who are not really gadget-savvy can use with ease. 

Erica: To get everyone on board, we did a short 15-minute training on how to use the software, and since then it’s been adapted by everyone.

We’re really excited to bring our work to another level and collaborate with scientists in other states and other countries! Soon, we’ll work with a research team in China, and we know that Producteev is going to continue to be a reliable productivity tool for our research.

Note from Producteev: Multi-language support, including Chinese, is in development! Thanks, BennettLab team, and best of luck!

 

Nov 9, 2010
#Get Real: real-life example of Producteev #online collaboration #science
New downloads of iPhone app momentarily unavailable

If you’re trying to download the free iPhone app, you won’t be able to because it had to be pulled from the store for a few days.

We submitted and received approval for an iPhone version that’s not going to be released. Apple’s policy requires that all approved app versions are released. After approval, you’re not allowed to resubmit another app unless you release the version already approved.

The only choice we had was to remove the app for a few days. When the new version is approved in a few days, you’ll be able to download it.

This does not affect existing app users, it only affects first-time downloads. Thanks for understanding!

Nov 4, 2010
Now Live: Improved Invitation System

Ever send an invitation, and lose it like a sock in the dryer? Now, you don’t have to! We’re glad to announce we’ve improved the invitations process. 

The new People tab allows for easier organization with your invitations and collaborators. Access it from the gear icon near your workspace members, or click “Add a person” (in the left sidebar).

New users will have to create a free account, and existing users can log right in to start collaborating! That’s with the workspace admin’s approval, of course. ;)

Just for admins: Getting anxious? Re-send an invitation or share the invitation URL with your invitee, getting them to accept instantly.

Conversely, you can remove pending invitations with one click to help manage your number of workspace users.

Adding new collaborators has never been more convenient or secure. Now go get those missing socks!

Nov 4, 2010
#features & product
Manage your Biz Dev and Sales dealflow with @Producteev

Like some of you out there, I’m concerned about the way I am managing my dealflow at Producteev. SalesForce is really complicated, and expensive. And there are not a lot of alternatives out there.

You get in touch with potential clients and partners all the time, and there are no simple ways to keep track of them, or just follow-up after a couple of days / weeks / months.

I’ve always said to myself that most of it is what a task management app should be able to do : tag deals, set deadlines and reminders for follow up, set priorities, potentially assign leads to co-workers, and that would be pretty much it.

Wrong. A big part of it is the way you integrate those leads into your workflow. Most of the time, you get in touch with potential clients/partners by email, so you basically need a top email integration. Thanks to the email to task feature on Producteev, you can do just that.

Here’s the flow I am using, that worked tremendously well for me in the past weeks.

1. Bcc task@producteev.com to your first (or even second…) email to your potential client or partner

Like I said, you need to be able to collect the task without leaving your email client so it’s not creating any friction in your workflow, for this, just bcc task@producteev.com to that first email

If you feel like it, you can add tags to the email subject, Producteev will understand them and automatically process the task, example :

Email subject : Producteev Applications for LeWeb (next month ##biz dev 5*)

It will set a deadline for next month, assign the ‘Biz Dev’ label (that will let you look through your leads / deals when you need to), and 5 stars of priority

2. Find and manage your new lead on Producteev

 

Click to view large

As expected, Producteev will automatically process your email as a new ‘task’, and you’re good to go! 

You will get an automatic reminder a month from now to follow up, and even have the full content of this email as a note

3. Track and Follow up

If you click on a label, from the left side panel, you’ll have access to all of your tasks labeled ‘Biz Dev’ or ‘Sales’ or whatever name you picked!

Easy to keep track of things.

 

Click to view large

4. BONUS for Google Apps Users

 

Turn your email into tasks in one click by installing our Gmail Contextual Gadget for Google Apps here. Amazingly simple, and exactly what you need, to fuel those biz dev emails automatically to Producteev.

 

To sum it up : Bcc task@producteev.com to your sales emails, tag them with a deadline, a label, a priority, etc. And you’re done. You won’t forget about any follow-up anymore.


PS1: Producteev is free for individuals and pairs, so go try it out now!

PS2: More info on our Natural Language Processing feature : http://support.producteev.com/entries/245069-natural-language-capabilities

 

 

via startupzz.com

Business Development and Sales use case written by Ilan. Fire up your questions if you have any!

Nov 3, 2010
Finish Strong in the Home Stretch

….  Can you believe it?

2010 is almost over.  It’s the home stretch.

Only 2 months left until 2011.

For many businesses, the year is already over.  (Of course, for retail it’s just getting started.)

What do you have left to get done this year?  Are you still on track to reach your goals?

It’s too late for a negative split.  It’s time for an all out sprint to the finish. 

Where Are You Going to Finish?

Progress check: Are you where you wanted to be on your goals?

The year is 83.3% done.  Are your goals?

Even if you are not on track, the last two months of the year can be a great time to get ahead.  Often, November and December are lost to holidays, travel, and more.

However, it can also be a great time to dedicate (or re-dedicate) yourself to reaching your goals.

Sprinting to the Finish

With 2 months left in the year, you are not going to make up ground that you did not cover in the first 10.  However, there are many ways that you can still make significant progress.

Here are just a few ways to sprint towards your goals in the final months of the year:

  1. Work When Others Are Not – Many people, (and even businesses), slack off during the final two months of the year.  Some essentially shutdown.  Use this to your advantage.  When others are slacking, increase your output.  I find that I get more done during this time, when others are not working.
  2. Do a Power Surge – The final two months of the year are a great time to do a productivity surge.  No reason to coast to the finish.  Set an aggressive goal to be completed in this short time frame.  I am actually starting a new (secret) project today that is to be completed by January 1st.  The short time window helps drive my productivity.
  3. Sprint to the Finish – No matter what the status of your current goals, do not let up during the home stretch.  Sprint to the finish even if you are falling short of where you wanted to be.  You will still be that much closer to your goals.
  4. Ask For Help – Many times when we are not reaching our goals, we let up.  We give up our progress and momentum.  This is the time to tell your pride to “suck it up” and ask for help.  You are probably closer than you think to success and maybe you need some assistance to push across that finish line.
  5. Do Not Wait to Set New Goals – Start goals now.  You don’t have to wait to start new goals.  New Year’s is an artificial date.  You can start goals anytime.  If you are not where you want to be, now is the time to set a path.  Start today!
Finish Strong

The year is not over yet.  But, 2011 will be here before you blink.

There are two full months left.  Where will your goals be when the year ends?

Dedicate yourself do driving hard in the final two months.

Let’s finish strong in the home stretch.

What do you want to finish this year?  Where do your goals stand?

Image credit by BotheredByBees


via timemanagementninja.com

Nov 3, 2010
#productivity
Q & A: How a team of 6 designers tracks hundreds of tasks a week with Producteev

Matthew Wheatley works at Luvkins Graphica, an ideas driven digital design agency based in Sydney, Australia. They recommend Producteev to any design team and thank our developers for lowering  their blood pressure dramatically.

Q: How do you use Producteev?
Matthew:
 As prisoners of a tiny office with no windows, our team of 6 spend endless hours collaborating and working on graphic design and web design for clients such as Pizza Hut, KFC, clubs and pubs throughout Australia. While our clients and work always come first, our team and culture is a close second. We do what we do because we love it, hence we make our work what we love. This includes playing xBox, watching cable and eating absolute rubbish while on lockdown. In a nutshell, Luvkins Graphica services companies large or small, focusing heavily on providing smaller businesses the opportunity to access a creative agency for their marketing needs.

We use Producteev all day every day from client tasks to personal tasks using a single workspace rather than multiple workspaces since our jobs are often short in duration. We simply label each task in Producteev with a job number and name that references to the job folder on our server. (Our job number is also referenced to its own notebook in Evernote which enables us to look up artwork thumbnails quickly especially with archived jobs.)

We simplify and breakdown each task [similar to the GTD method] such as “send invoice” or “confirm artwork is ok” and maintain tasks by the hour, re-assigning dates and times where necessary. While on the road or visiting clients, we add tasks via iPhone or iPad and have most recently applauded the Google Apps plugin for creating a task directly from email, which saves enormous amounts of time when clients send feedback.

Q: Describe your experience with Producteev.
Matthew:
  With my brain starting to go crazy with tracking jobs, we needed a task manager that was:

  1. Simple and convenient to use especially when adding tasks (other task managers took just as long to create the task as it would to complete it)
  2. Web / iPhone / iPad compatible for accessibility
  3. Cool looking, or at least half cool!
  4. Able to work with our workflow and not the other way around
  5. Keeping all users tasks synced automatically
  6. Accepted by our programming team as “Good Enough”
*The sixth was the most important.

After sifting through dozens and dozens of Task Management tools and then some, we were very fortunate enough to come across Producteev. Not only has Producteev ticked all the boxes, our grumpiest programmer Nathan actually uses it. We couldn’t even get him to register to the others! Producteev has freed our brains from tracking hundreds of tasks a week and is our most valued tool (apart from the xBox controller).

Overall, Producteev is the engine of our office, and we are amazed at how productive and efficient it has made Luvkins Graphica. No pun intended! To the Producteev Team, we thank you. 

Nov 1, 2010
#art & design #Get Real: real-life example of Producteev #online collaboration
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