How I #GetItDone

Disclosure: I’m a Microsoft Office Champion. Also: I’m your Get It Done mentor (bet ya didn’t know that!)

I sometimes hear the following statement “I don’t know how you do it all!” I normally respond with one of the following:  “I cry a lot”, “fetal position”, “wine”. Truth is, I can’t do it all. Even on my best day. Yes, I’ve had to come to terms with that and it’s not easy. Once you get past the understanding that you can’t do it ALL, you still got crap to do, right? My lists usually look like this:

1. Create a proposal with client xyz
2. Request images be shared from client abc for social posts
3. Write blog post for school
4. Case study review for corp resp class DUE SUNDAY!
5. Write Get It Done Post
6. Schedule holiday posts/reviews on editorial calendar
7. Tally up book fair revenue & fill out financial forms
8. Send out thank you notes

You get the drift, right? On that list what you don’t see is downtime OR hanging out with my frog princess. But it’s there. Along with grocery shopping and making dinner. For me the FIRST thing that must happen in order to “Get It Done” is I have to be organized.

So, this list lives in my OneNote notebook appropriately titled “Get It Done” (hint: we all have a ton of stuff to do, don’t forget to bring a little humor into doing it). That sets the tone. I can access that list from my laptop, my Surface, my Samsung with the OneNote app and even from the mamiPad. While I shop, while I am in the carpool line (I get lots of things done in this line, folks) and every once in a while, while I’m consulting the hammock.

The Tools

All of my proposals are written in Word documents and I have a pretty awesome editorial calendar in Excel thanks to Momcomm aka fabuawesomegirlfriend Mel.

Of course, I don’t always work at home. Last week, I found myself manning the book fair and having some downtime in between crowds. Thankfully, I got this handy dandy hotspot cleverly named Karma that came to my rescue. Not only was I able to use it in a pinch when the existing WiFi signal faded in the area I was in, but I was able to get one thing off my list while I waited around. I wasn’t a Girl Scout but even I know you have to be prepared. This is how I earned the line name MacGyver. My line sisters could ask for just about anything and I was guaranteed to have either the item or a way to get it.

Effective use of time is key but so is having the right tools and thinking ahead. The lists are great but if you don’t have a plan to get it done, it will be difficult and frustrating (learn from me, people!).

Fun Facts

According to a recent study conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Microsoft found that:

• More than half of office workers (53%) would be willing to work more hours
• One in five would be willing to take a pay cut to have more flexibility in where and when they got work done
• Not only that, but nearly one in five office workers (19%) admit that they have worked while going to the bathroom (note: I am sure this number is higher. Don’t tell me I’m the only one Tweeting from the toilet!)

Which Leads To…

Microsoft Office 365 is declaring Nov. 7th “Get It Done Day” and starting a movement for all the unbound accomplishers out there – kinda like me & maybe you! To bring the day to life, they’re hosting installations throughout New York City today that will highlight places where amazing accomplishments are changing the world. They’ll also showcase how people can collaborate in real-time and be productive anywhere with Office 365. It’s a chance to break away from the grind, expand the mind, and have fun all while getting it done from anywhere. All people have to do is post a photo via Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #GetItDone and tell us what they get done in the caption!

For those who are living under a rock not on Instagram or Twitter, visit Office.com/GetItDone to submit a photo.

Not in New York? I got the same problem. Well, it’s not really a problem.You and a friend could win a trip to some of the most happening events anywhere. Get it done alongside the most accomplished athletes, filmmakers and musicians around—on a trip to NYC, a journey to Park City, Utah, or a musical voyage to Austin, Texas. Visit www.office.com/getitdone to share a photo and enter to win.

Be sure to head over to the Office 365 Facebook and Twitter profiles for features on business and thought leaders who are changing the world through technology, images from Get It Done Day, and much more.

These are some of my hints as to how I get it done. I want to hear/see yours!