Organization/Filing Assistance Please?

[sheriesmith]

I'm getting a bit overwhelmed by all this paper! You know...this report, that ebook, his training, her webinar notes, their best IM tip book... I think you get the idea. Would like some organizational ideas please for my quickly overflowing mountain(s) of IM 'research'. I have a currently feeble mode of operation, but I'm smart enough to learn from those who walk the path ahead of me. What works best for you?

Do you find it better to file under the topic (such as, affiliate training) and lump everyones' teaching together in the same affiliate training file? Or do you think it works better to file by author; i. e. any training I have received from let's say Lynn Terry, regardless on what the specific topic might be.

As great as you all are on this forum, I know you'll have me neat, tidy and functioning well in no time at all.

Thanks,
Sherie Smith

[Clay Franklin]

I totally understand your situation exactly.
Originally I was filing by topic. It was a a mess. I would have two topics on the same note paper.
I like to print off everything and file it.

My solution:
1) Get a electric hole punch. http://budurl.com/42dv
2) Get a small battery operated electic stapler http://budurl.com/xb79
3) Lots of Avery Heavy Duty PVC Free one touch EZD binders. http://budurl.com/zh5k
I use 1", 1.5" and 2". The 3" one get too heavy.
4) File by Class or Person.
5) Use Roboform for passwords http://budurl.com/rrj4 and also an telephone address for critical ones. http://bit.ly/2ZsiIp
6) Use one binder for affiliate programs. I print off he acceptance emails.
7) Use one binder for Log on emails from classes and all non affiliate lof ons.
8) I have a binder with tabs for Lynn Terry and a few other things like keyword research.
9) I have a big section for SEO.
10) I have another few binders for clients some with individual binders and others in a tab all in one binder.
11) I just started to use gotrythis http://bit.ly/47m5Az to keep all my affiliate links in one place.
12) I have folders behind desk or in a file cabinet for:
PLR, some class material that is not in binders, Domain Names, promotions I am doing and current web sites I am working on.
13) I use google docs spreadsheets to copy cool URLs by topic like Twitter and also keep an workbook of affiliate links. I also keep some cool sites on delicious that I want to reference later. Favorites is ok yet I have too many to be efficient.

The system works great because I know what material is from what person. I switched from composition books for notes to binder paper on a clipboard so it is easier to file by person.

I file notes by people or in a general binder by date. I have 4" of notes under general.
I also keep the original boxes of some big classes like Mass Control so it is all together and others I keep the DVD's separate and the binders on the shelf. I am up to about 13 feet of binder shelf space.

[jkgourmet]

Kirk, what was #11 again? The link is broken.

[Lynn Terry]

I feel your pain, Sherie - paper absolutely overwhelms me. You'll find that we all use different systems to organize, and the trick is to figure out (or create) a system that will work best for you.

I am out-of-sight-out-of-mind, for example, so once it's filed or put away neatly I tend to forget it entirely. The exception is ebooks & reports. I print those and put them in a binder, though now I'm emailing the PDF files to my local printer and she does that for me - and all of those go neatly on my office bookshelf for easy reference.

I use Outlook so I try to use all the features it offers to keep things in one place - tasks, calendar, etc. I file emails for easy reference in organized directories so I can easily search them later for anything I need or want to refer back to.

I use Whiteboards for priority tasks and current notes (keeps the paper & post-its off my desk).

As for the how-to stuff, I tend to study it when I get it - which means I only buy/download what I need right now to accomplish what I am trying to do right now. I read it and implement as I go, then file those in binders on my bookshelf after. If I am not ready to implement something, it's a waste of time for me to study it - it takes up time I could be working on something to grow my business or income.

[WAHumor]

As for the how-to stuff, I tend to study it when I get it - which means I only buy/download what I need right now to accomplish what I am trying to do right now. I read it and implement as I go, then file those in binders on my bookshelf after. If I am not ready to implement something, it's a waste of time for me to study it - it takes up time I could be working on something to grow my business or income.

My feeling exactly. Now to actually do so...

Excellent blog post inspiration!



Dan

[sheriesmith]

Great way to start my day with two replies already! Thank you Clay and Lynn for your ideas/suggestions.

Lynn, I have to print how-to material right then because I'll never think to go back to it. Probably couldn't find it again if I remembered to go back. (lol) I try to be discriminative and not just print willy-nilly. I do so admire your determination for immediate print/study/implementation! Wish I could do that. I'm still in the 'trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing' mode. Love your printer, Outlook and Whiteboard ideas, thank you.

Clay, you blew me away, man! This is a great topic for an ebook product, if you do them. We newbies need IM organization help as we are learning. Otherwise all the IM paper building up just adds to our learning frustration. You've already got an outline, just a touch more research, then fill in the blanks a bit and Voila!! Thank you for your great suggestions!

Sherie

[robert adams]

I thought the point of computers was to eleminate all that paper!

My printer died a horrible death over a year ago and I haven't missed it at all.

I have lots and lots of hard drive space and that is where I keep everything. Why print it out when you can simply read it on the computer.

Save a tree or two!


robert

I seriously doubt anyone could possibly have more ebooks, reports etc. on thier computer than I do.

[Kayla Fay]

When you do print, however, consider using www.fineprint.com. It will reduce the page size so that it fits two pages to a sheet of paper - and is, in most instances - very readable even for aging eyes. : )

[Clay Franklin]

Sherie, Thank you so much for the great idea to create an ebook about organization.
I also use white boards for brainstorming or mapping out an idea as well as flip charts. I love the flip charts because the material is there and does not need to be moved off to another document. I also use mind map software for some project organization.

Jeanette, I fixed the link on #11

Robert, I have trouble to read ebooks on the computer. I also usually go to a comfortable place and read them and use a highlighter as I go through it for quick reference when I go back.

Lynn has a very good idea about outlook to file messages. I love Gmail, yet is is always a search to find something. Eventually I will set up my local Kinkos to print my PDF's for me. What a great idea.

Kayla has a good idea about two pages per sheet. For one class we received a 40 page powerpoint with lots of pictures every day for 6 weeks. I set up the PDF print file to print two up on top of each other so they read like a book in the binder.

[jkgourmet]

Thanks, Clay. Looks like a good product. Let us know what you think of it as you use it, will you?

J.