Sadly it is true, but our calendars do rule our lives!
I know for me, our family would not survive if not for the calendar on the fridge. It is big and can take a lot of info in each block – but truly we would miss so many appointments if not for this simple tool. For my business appointments, my go-to system is my Google calendar.
Many people do not realize how important it is to keep a daily record of what they are doing. Having some type of calendar system keeps you on top of your schedule and not missing any appointments. It is a life saver tool that is a great help to a busy lifestyle.
To me a calendar system is one of the most important life and business tools you will use, one that may be crucial to your career or family life.
I know for me and many of my clients – a missed appointment with a prospect can be missed income. You cannot afford to be missing meetings like that!
Not if you are in business to sign on new clients, customers and increase your income based on those meetings! Being on time for meetings also shows the other person more of your personality and that you value their time.
Whether you use a paper system or a smartphone app or online calendar, there are some features to look for in a calendar system.
- Different types of appointments. The ability to differentiate your appointments may help better organize your schedule.
- Reminders. We are all ‘busy’, and it’s easy to forget an appointment. Have pop up and email reminders as needed.
- Accessibility. Being able to access your calendar in a variety of ways helps for people on the go.
- Syncing to all devices. This helps to allow you to make an appointment on the road and know your office computer will auto update.
- Connection to a to-do or task list is helpful for some people. (my to-do is on paper – after years of figuring it out, I realize that task lists online don’t work for me)
Any tool that helps you be a more efficient business owner or professional so you are on time and prepared for your meetings is a good tool to use.
I use Google calendar for my business and home appointment calendar and it is connected to my iPad and iPhone via an app called Sunrise. Sunrise syncs much better with my calendar than the native apps that came with the iPhone and iPad. They were not in sync at all and are now in a folder called – “Apple things I don’t Like.”
For me the online calendar is better for meetings but my to-do list is on paper. I need to be able to cross things out with my pen! But if I relied on a paper book for meetings – well, I would miss half of them – trust me … been there, done that.
The syncing is the most important feature for me, as I sometimes make the appointment when I’m out and use my phone to book it, sometimes it is on my PC in my office. Either way it all connects instantly! It’s the best Calendar App ever!
If your calendar tool is not working for you then it may be time to look for other options. I recommend trying a variety of ways to see what works best for you.
Figure the best plan of action to keep yourself organized on the go and on time, and if you have a favourite calendar tool, share it here, or on facebook.
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Stop Struggling and Start Thriving! My passion is helping to guide people just like you, private practice and service-based business owners, who are often frustrated with all their wasted time spent on marketing that gets you nowhere. You can learn strategies to attract a steady flow of clients and build a thriving and profitable practice. Get started with some of the free resources on my Pepper It Marketing website, especially this Guide to Streamline your Marketing. I also offer several self-study training programs to help you attract more clients so you can Build a rewarding and profitable private practice and still have time to LIVE your LIFE!