A book is no good if it just collects dust.

Too many times, people get organizing books and have great intentions of getting through them.  It’s not that these books aren’t good books (many are brilliantly written!), but because if you’re trying to get organized, you’re probably overwhelmed already.  Then, you read a book that is incredibly detailed and you slow down and eventually may put the book down altogether.  A simple book that tailors organizing to your style is a great book to read, and Organizing For Your Brain Type is one of those books.

What I like best: This book breaks down organizing into 4 different brain types and two learning styles.  You take a quiz (and let’s face it, who doesn’t like taking those to learn something) and find out what your “brain type” is.   Then, you read the chapter on your brain type.  Yes, if you’re looking for a quick read, just read your “brain type” chapter.  How cool is that?

How you can make even more of this book: Once you’ve read your chapter, you can also figure out what your learning style is.  This, combined with your “brain type” is a great way of figuring out what systems and products will work best for you.  To go a step farther, figure out what the brain types of your partner, children or co-workers are.

So, if you’re up for an organizing book, check this one out.  Betcha it won’t become a dust collector.

Where to get it:

Organizing For Your Brain Type

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Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is:
Spark an Idea About Goal Setting
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Do you have goals you are working toward?

How the heck do you set them?

How do you get them done?

I’ve been a member of several professional mastermind groups.  One of the most valuable things I learned was how to set clear goals.  Goals are dreams with an action plan.  There are many ways to go about setting them up, but here’s the simplest explanation I know.  When setting a goal, make sure it is “SMART”:

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

I set goals for 5 years out, and then break them down into yearly goals and then 6 month goals.  During the summer, I look at my overall business, and take some time to reflect on how the year is going.  Come fall time, I plan out the coming year.  A simple spreadsheet will do, so don’t make it all complicated.

The trick is to check in and see how it’s going.

Look at your goals every so often (I like to do this every couple weeks).  How are you doing?  This is why measurable goals is important.  Are you 40% there?  Watching that number go up and up is motivating!  Even if it’s 2.7%?, because at least it’s not 0%!

I’d encourage you to set some goals in your business.  Make then attainable for this season of your life and business.  Stretch, but also make sure you are able to believe in them.  Then, get moving and put them into action!

I must admit I’m a bit of a gadget queen, and I love playing with new electronics;  especially the useful ones.  I’ve also been thinking about the pros and cons of Netbooks and Notebooks.  Here’s a few articles I ran across as I was looking around at some upcoming products, a great article on Netbooks compared to Ultraportable laptops and a few “top” lists to complete the roundup.

10 Most Anticipated Ultraportables and Netbooks in 2009

Netbook or Ultraportable: Which Is Best for the Job?

Best Laptops Under $1000

Top Ten Laptops For Geeky Girls (Yes, I am one!)

Best 5 Laptops

This new machine is a power tool for those who do some heavy duty, high speed scanning.  The Neat Desk sits on a desktop, and is not meant to be carried about, like it’s other cousin scanner.

What I liked:

Scan & PDF buttons.  See those two buttons on the front of the machine?  One is for scanning, and the other is for PDF.  So, load your docs into the top, and press one of those, and you are on your way.  Pretty cool stuff.

Three sizes of paper, no problem.  Invoices, receipts and business cards all get their own bay.  They are all lined up separately, making scanning simple.  Once they are scanned, they are deposited in a tray on the bottom.

The layout of the new software.   I was a fan of the older version, and I have to say I was pretty taken with the visual of this new version.  Here’s a few screen shots so you can see what I mean:

I love this new layout, it’s easy to see where things are.  Once you scan in your document, it goes into this “inbox”.  From there, you process them, categorize or whatever else.  And that’s, well, neat.

This screen is how you shore up your receipts.  The list on the lower right shows your other receipts, complete with all the details of each.  The best part is Neatworks (the software that comes with the scanner) stores a visual image of your documents.  Why is that cool?  You can ditch your paper.  LOVE that.

Related to that, a quote from their website:

“Does the IRS accept digital receipts?

Yes. According to ruling Rev. Proc. 97-22, the IRS allows one to prepare, record, transfer, index, store, preserve, retrieve, and reproduce books and records by either electronically imaging hard copy documents to an electronic storage media, or transferring computerized books and records to an electronic storage media that allows them to be viewed or reproduced without using the original program.”

What could be improved:

Slow software install. I had to uninstall my old Neat Co. software, and reinstall the new.  It took, well, it took a loooooong time.  Now, a short disclaimer: my laptop is old…. like dinosaur in laptop years.  So, it could very well have been a hardware issue.  However, once the software was (finally) loaded, it worked like a dream.  It locked up a couple times (ok, crashed, but again, may have been a hardware issue).

Overall Rating:

This machine is would be a great for an accountant, or one who does some heavy-duty scanning (for expense reports, etc.).   The speed of scanning lends itself to higher volume usage.  It’s also great if you need to scan directly to PDF on a pretty regular basis, or need to share a scanner in a small to medium sized office.

Where to get it:

NeatDesk Desktop Scanner

For more information on Neat Co., go to their website.

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(Disclosure:  The NeatCo provided me with a review model of this machine, which was loaned to me on a temporary basis.  No compensation was received to write this review.)

A while back, I started using Google Grand Central for my business line.  To say that I love it is an understatement!  Then, this morning I read that they were upgrading the service, and it will be called “Google Voice”.  That’s the good news.  The bad news?  Yeah, if you don’t already have a number, you’re kinda out of luck.

Get your name in the hat.

Don’t have a Google Voice Number?  That’s ok, because you can get one… eventually.  Here’s where you can do that.

Here’s why you want a number.

I’ve been using this product for about two years-ish.  There are many reasons I like it.  A few of my favorite things:

Multiple ring locations. I can tell my Google Voice number to ring me wherever I am.  I can also choose different numbers to ring through to different places.  So, say you have a very important contact that you want to be able to reach you at all hours.  You give that number an all-access pass to all numbers listed in your account.  This also works great for emergency situations, if you give your number to your child’s school or caregiver.  There’s infinite possibilities!

One number. My Google Voice number is my main business line, with lots of flexibility.  I have one number I can give out, and it’s not tied to a physical location.  I’ve also been able to check voicemail when I am traveling overseas.
(One word of caution:  there have been a couple times the system has gone down, so make sure you list an alternate number on your business card and/or marketing materials.)

Call recording. I have a colleague I mastermind with on a regular basis.  We use Google Voice to record particularly important sections of our conversations, so we can remember them later.
(Another word of caution: DO NOT record any call without the other person’s permission.  It’s inconsiderate at best, and illegal at worst.)

Alright, so I’ve droned on enough.  Sold yet?  Go check it out!

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How do you keep track of your passwords?  Do you have an index card?  Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, unless you’re like me, and you are so glad your head is attached because, well… you know.  SplashID is a fabulous little program that keeps all your passwords handy.  I recommend this product every chance I get!  One thing I love about this program is its password protection.  It will shut down if there are a number of incorrect attempts to login.  Also, SplashID is portable (and password protected) on your PDA, like a Blackberry or iPhone.  Here’s some things you can keep track of with SplashID:

• Passwords for multiple websites, like shopping or membership sites
• Frequent Flyer numbers (um, why yes I DO have my number handy!)
• Identification numbers
• Calling Card numbers
• Membership numbers

The possibilities are endless with SplashID!  What could you use it for?

*Disclosure:  I am a user of this product, purchased by me.  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

Active Words:

Active Words is a small software which resides in the background, and is activated when you type in your “Active Word”.  You can do many things with it: substitute text, navigate to a website or open specific folders.  You simply tell Active Words what to recognize, and in a few keystrokes, it does all the work for you.  Here’s what I use it for frequently:

• Navigating to my Wordpress Admin or “Add Post” page so I can quickly and easily accomplish tasks
• Open a folder I use almost all day
• Email signatures: I use Gmail (& Google Apps) for email, and I can’t get the email signature to work the way I want it to (I have three, so it’s a little tricky).  So, I have an Active Word for each signature.
• Launching programs I use over and over

There’s so many uses for this little program, but I think what’s best about it is I get some time back!

For more information or to get your hands on ActiveWords:

Click HERE

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*Disclosure:   I paid full price for ActiveWords.  Some links containted in this post are affiliate links, and will result in a small commission. I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

Dymo LabelWriter Twin Turbo Review Highlights:

• Small size, sits on desktop
• Comes with two rolls of labels & Quick Start Guide
• Simple to set up (took me about 15-20 minutes total)
• Lots of label choices, 40 +
• NO INK!  Love that
• Prints postage: buy it online, print, put in mailbox.  Bonus!
• USB plugin, simple to install

Here’s another quick review:

“I’ve used the Dymo Twin Turbo for several years for mailing and file folder labels and I find it to be really handy.   It’s easy to set up and use, and I’ve printed hundreds of labels for my small business over the time I’ve owned it.   You can add your business logo to any of the labels very easily and are able to store addresses using the included software for any address you might use often.   You can also print postage stamps with it using their online postage feature.   I think it’s a handy and useful printer and I recommend it.”

- Beth Cozzi, Invitation Lane

Overall Review:

Recommended!

Want one?  Check it out here:

DYMO LabelWriter Twin Turbo

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*Disclosure:  This printer was provided to me by Dymo, free of charge (which I then donated to a drawing).  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

I started using Quicken Home & Business this year, however I’ve just had a look at QuickBooks 2009.  I have to say I’m intrigued!  QuickBooks is quite a step up from Quicken.  If you’re considering using QuickBooks 2009, here’s some highlights:

Company Snapshot:  Know where you are everyday.  As a friend of mine said recently, “What you focus on will grow.”  So, see where you are with your financials everyday!

Online Banking Center: I use this feature, and it’s so handy!  You can download your banking information and make sure everything is up to date.

Live community:  Don’t you hate when you’re stuck and need help?  The community has lots of other users who can help.  You could help them too

Multiple Currencies: Have international customers or clients?  Quickbooks can handle other currencies.  Very cool!

The Pro Edition is a great option for service providers if you are moving from Quicken.  At around $200 (USD), it’s pretty affordable too!

Want more info?
Review posted by PC World

Where to get it:

Quickbooks Pro

An overview video about QuickBooks 2009:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0MLFl4YIt4[/youtube]

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Disclosure:  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

The Butler Bag Hybrid

Ok ladies (and guys looking for a great gift) !  Ok, normally we talk about paper, time management and all that great stuff here on the Home Office Organizer Blog.  But, today I’m talking about this most fabulous bag.  Why?  Because a girl needs a good bag to keep it all together when she’s on the run, and and organized one that looks this great doesn’t hurt either!

Have you seen the Butler Bag? Ok, not only is it easy on the eyes, but here is what makes it really special.  Take a look inside:

Butler Bag (Inside)

How gorgeous is that?  See all those little compartments?  Yeah, that keeps your stuff in place.  So, when you (or your loved one) leave your home office to go see a client, you know just where your keys, cell phone and wallet are.  No more digging.

How smart is this: Cool part of this story…  The creator, Jen Groover, got this idea by looking at her dishwasher’s silverware basket.  Uh, brilliant!

Wanna be able to find your stuff?  Check out the Butler Bag and a variety of other cool accessories and products here.  Tell them I sent ya. 

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*Disclosure:  I do not own a Butler Bag.  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

I had an opportunity to look over a really great online project management solution called Wrike.  It’s simple and easy to use, and is loaded with features.  Here’s my take on Wrike:

Some highlights:

• Online Project Management: No downloads or updates to manage, it’s subscription-based.  (If you don’t have your own IT department this is a big bonus!)
• Intelligent Email Engine™: This is the coolest feature!  Wrike will use your emails to plan out and interact with your project.  Check out how it works by clicking HERE:
• Great pricing: Rather than forking out a couple hundred for project management software, you can subscribe to Wrike for less than coffee for two.

Wrike might be for you if:

• You have projects that need to be managed without resorting to Jedi mind tricks
• You work on group projects with members of the team in another location
• You currently use Microsoft Project, and would like an alternative to Microsoft Project Server
• You want a low-cost, high quality project management solution

Overall I think this is a great solution for anyone who wants to get their project on the fast track with useful, innovative features and a great price .  Project management software isn’t just for Project Managers, and can make you look like a superstar!

Where to get it:

Wrike’s Website

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*Disclosure:  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

Ok, I use Outlook, and I am so excited by what I today. Peggy Duncan posted about linking Google and Outlook here. Google calendar and Outlook now sync! It’s possible I’m dense or just plain not paying attention, but I was literally jumping up and down when I found this little gem. I was eager to try it out, so about a week ago I set it up. If you’d like to try it out, here’s how you can do that.

I had used Plaxo to sync the two in the past, but this feature is new. I now have an icon in my desktop tray that looks like this:

During the sync, I did have a little trouble with some duplicate entries, because I didn’t delete the calendar before I started (oops). So, my husband was giggling when I was going thru and deleting all those on wonderful dupes (sigh). Anyway, other than that it was pretty seamless.

So why is this helpful?

I use Outlook, and there are times when I’m not at home (travelling), don’t have my laptop (gasp) and even worse I don’t have email access on my Blackberry (I want to be reachable, but not THAT reachable if you catch my drift). So, this provides me access to my calendar anywhere in the world that I can find an internet connection. The other cool thing is the ability to share my calendar (full details or just shaded blocks of time) with whomever I choose. Being that I have a radio show in the works, this was handy for my co-host, Krista, and I. And, I can see the two calendars overlapping at the click of a button. Cool, eh?

Another backup.

Most of us have been there, total crash, lose everything. *Cringe* NOT fun. In addition to regular backups to an external hard drive, online backup service (I like Carbonite) or PDA, this additional backup helps me with another place that my calendar is saved. That’s some serious piece of mind, and as Sparkpluggers, losing a business calendar to a crash can be a business, income and credibility killer. Yikes!

So, should you sync your Outlook and Google Calendar? That’s a question only you can answer. For me, I’m lovin’ it.

Neat Receipts is a document scanner. It is so portable, kinda like the size of a long burrito (it will fit in a laptop bag). The description from their website:

“Organize life’s paper trail with NEAT Receipts.

From receipts and expense reports to business documents and business cards, you can now manage your paperwork with ease. You can keep organized, digital files in a database on your PC. Simply send documents through the scanner and our software will automatically handle the rest, ensuring you have ideal image scans.

NEAT Receipts will even read and manage information scanned from receipts including vendor purchases, allowing you to keep track of your expenses.”

If you’ve never heard of this product before, you’re in for a treat! Here’s my experience.

The Delivery & Install

Mine arrived at my door, and I felt like a 5 year old on Christmas morning. Too bad my week was a little out of control, so it sat in my office for five excruciating days before I pulled it out of the box. Once I did, I was pleasantly greeted with a slogan on the side of the box encouraging customers to recycle (*happy dance*).

The packaging was, uh, neatly arranged and it was very simple to get out. Neat Receipts comes with a Quick Start Guide that makes it a snap to get things going. I popped in the installation CD, and was advised that there was a new version of the software. It took about 25 minutes to download (I have DSL). I was then prompted to plug in the scanner and set things up. All of this unpacking and installation took about 40 minutes total, with about 5 minutes of active time from me (the rest was allowing for the download time).

Using Neat Receipts

After installation, I was ready to rock and roll. I decided to hit it hard with one business card after another. Neat Receipts handled them like a dream. I checked each one quickly for accuracy, and a few things needed a little tweaking but overall it was really pretty accurate. Some more “artsy” cards were a bit of a challenge to read for the software, but honestly I had one that was a little challenging for me to read.

Scanning each document was very simple, just put it in the front face down, press “Scan”. The software stores an image of the card, both front and back (you have to scan them separately, which just takes a few seconds). That way, I don’t have to have a hard copy clogging up my desktop and filing cabinet (Yippee!). Less paper to manage, more time for me. This feature is also great for visual people. (I like to look at cards for various reasons, so this was a bonus for me too.)

So Many Options

There are so many ways to use Neat Receipts, and I am just figuring it all out. I know I’m going to have fun with all the things it can do! Here’s a few:

• business cards
• receipts (for bookkeeping, taxes, expense tracking, etc.)
• documents
• articles & resources you want/need to keep
• tax forms
• your idea here _____________________

Neat Receipts might be for you if:

• You have mountains of business cards you aren’t sure what to do with
• You carry a ball of receipts in your pocket
• You hate data entry and procrastinate doing “bookwork”
• You want a solution to will help you downsize your paper
• You want a simple, easy solution for around $200

Where To Get It

Neat Receipts has two versions, PC and the new MAC version. Check them out here:

NEAT Receipts for PC

Neat Receipts for MAC

Visit the Neat Receipts Website

Overall rating (1-5): 5

*Update: Check out the video of the Neat Receipts MAC version HERE. I love the design!

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Additional Resources:

IRS Publication 583: Starting a Business And Keeping Records (pdf)

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*Disclosure:  I own a Neat Receipts scanner, which I paid for.  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.