Frank Buck: Productivity for Total Control & Peace of Mind

Evernote voice journaling is an easy way to document your life as it unfolds. Text yourself. Let Evernote handle the rest.

Gmail and Google Calendar have free features that simulate Calendly and other autoschedulers. Set up a time to meet with ease.

In this episode, we explore the world of punctuality through two contrasting stories. Buford, always late for school, presents yet another excuse for his tardiness. On the other hand, Penelope is a master of morning preparation, sharing her secrets to a smooth start.

We empathize with perpetual latecomers and highlight the benefits of being punctual, from feeling relaxed and confident to attracting new opportunities. Say goodbye to the "Why are you late?" glances by embracing Penelope's wisdom and creating a routine for streamlined mornings.

Join us for a hilarious and enlightening discussion on the magic of being on time.

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In this episode, we explore an efficient solution to the chaotic email and calendar management faced by organizations during meetings. By using calendar invitations, the host adds guests, and attendees can simply click "Yes" to have the event automatically appear on their calendars. Any changes made by the host are automatically updated for all participants.

Attachments and meeting links can be seamlessly added to the event, ensuring easy access for everyone. This smarter approach eliminates the need for repetitive emails and manual calendar updates, making meeting organization a breeze. Embrace the new way of handling meetings and bid farewell to the madness! 📅📧🚀

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In this episode, we discuss the backlash against student cell phone use in schools. We also introduce the effective "Index Card Method" to stay productive without having the productivity tools the cell phone offers. The episode emphasizes responsible phone usage in schools and encourages listeners to view phones as tools, not toys, for better productivity. 📱🚫🏫🎒

🗨️ Join the Discussion: Join our community discussion about communication and technology on our website or social media platforms.

In this episode, we explore the significance of maintaining effective voicemail systems in schools and businesses. The episode recounts amusing and frustrating experiences with neglected voicemail systems, highlighting the need for better communication practices. It emphasizes the importance of understanding what callers experience when they contact an organization and provides practical tips for ensuring a professional and up-to-date voicemail system.

Listeners will learn about the impact of poor communication on an organization's image and be encouraged to take proactive steps to improve their voicemail systems. Overall, it's a lighthearted yet insightful discussion on the importance of efficient communication technology.

📢 Share your experiences: Have you encountered any hilarious or exasperating voicemail encounters? Share your stories in the comments!

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In this episode, Fran Buck explains how to split your screen on Windows 11 to view multiple windows simultaneously. He shows how to turn on the "Snap windows" setting and then hover over the "maximize" box to choose from six different screen-splitting options. He demonstrates how to select which window appears in each part of the split screen and how to rearrange the whole thing by mouse over the square icon. With a little practice, you can easily split your screen into two, three, or four parts, making multitasking much more efficient.

Show notes:

• Introduction to the benefits of using dual monitors for multitasking
• Explanation of the improved real estate available with larger monitors and the opportunity to view multiple windows on one screen
• Step-by-step guide to splitting your screen on Windows 11:
• Conclusion and invitation to visit FrankBuck.org to join his email list, subscribe to his podcast or YouTube channel, and access more productivity and organization content.

If you create long-form content and want to create short-form social media snips to drive traffic, here's my review of LiveLink.ai.

Want to give LiveLink.ai a try? Here's the URL to use: https://bit.ly/frankbucklivelinkFor more, visit the companion blog post: https://frankbuck.org/livelink

In this episode, we delve into the remarkable story of Florence Chadwick, an unsung hero whose determination and resilience continue to inspire us today.

Join us as we explore her historic attempt to swim the Catalina Channel, the challenges she faced, and the lessons we can learn from her experience.

On this Independence Day, let's declare our own independence and overcome the fog that hinders our path to success.

In this episode, we emphasize the importance of having a system to follow up on tasks delegated to others, items loaned out, and orders placed with companies. I share my own experience of using a Tickler File and a memo pad to keep track of these things, eventually shortening the phrase "Expect to receive" to "ETR."I explain how they now use a digital task list and attach an "ETR" tag to any task where they are expecting someone else to come through. They also provide a pro tip for sorting the ETR items by due date.

We all have a need for a system like this, especially as our careers advance and our success depends more on getting work done through other people. The habit of making an entry on the to-do list with an expected completion date can provide peace of mind and help develop a reputation as someone who follows up. We conclude with the reminder that relying on memory for all responsibilities and expectations is a recipe for disaster, and simple systems are necessary for our complex lives.

Description: In this episode, the concept of the "Temporary Trash Can" is introduced as a system for managing temporary files both in paper and digital formats. The video explains how to designate a specific drawer or folder for storing temporary files, and how to regularly purge these files once they have served their purpose. The video also provides tips on setting reminders to ensure that the temporary files are regularly purged, and how to apply the system to digital files using platforms like OneDrive, iCloud, and Google Drive. Show Notes: Introduction (0:00) The challenge of managing temporary files (0:32) The concept of the "Temporary Trash Can" (0:57) Applying the concept to paper files (1:25) Example of using the "Temporary Trash Can" for assembly instructions (2:00) How to purge the "Temporary Trash Can" (2:46) Applying the concept to digital files (3:18) Using platforms like OneDrive, iCloud, and Google Drive for digital "Temporary Trash Can" (3:54) Tips for setting reminders to purge temporary files (4:40) Logistics and examples of use (This is the good part!) (5:10)

Learn about the latest enhancement to Evernote, which now allows for real-time editing, enabling users to collaborate on notes and notebooks simultaneously. This feature has implications for business meetings, group projects, and even college classes. Check if you have the feature and experiment with its capabilities.

Outline:

• Introduction to Evernote real-time editing
• How it works: two friends taking notes in the same notebook, editing simultaneously
• Implications for business: sharing meeting agendas and adding ideas and next steps in real-time
• How to check if you have the feature
• Experimenting with the feature: typing in the same note on two different devices and seeing the text appear in real-time, knowing who is making edits

Keywords: Evernote, real-time editing, collaboration, notes, notebooks, business, meetings, agenda, ideas, knowledge worker.

Want to be treated well? You have more control than you may think. Decide how you want to be treated and set the expectation.

Your time management system used to work. Now it doesn't. Here's what to do to get your system hitting on all cylinders again. 

When you get two productivity guys together, you never know what you'll get. It's living proof that "1+1" sometimes equals "3."   Francis Wade had me as a guest on his podcast. A pretty significant concept came out of it, and I talked about that concept in a post called "How to Make Your Old System Handle Your New Responsibilities."  

This week, we bring you that entire podcast in this space. Topics are as follows:  

0:00 Intro 

3:20 Peter's Problem 

6:15 What worked before isn't working now 

10:55 Comparing software 

17:15 When our roles change... 

25:45 My first system 

26:55 Eternal principles 

28:00 New system or clean the system? 

36:05 A system that handles the volume. 

49:30 How systems differ with age and role 

54:00 The Nick Saban secret 

60:50 Where to learn more

Riddle: What takes 30 seconds one time and saves you time every single day? 

Answer: Reconfiguring the Windows 11 snipping tool.

How often do we hear this statement? But how can we do "one thing at a time" in a world that throws so much at us at once?

The words we use empower us or diminish us. It's our choice. Today, we explore getting rid of "just" and learn about follow-through.

Do you type the same things over and over and over again? Use a text expander, such as Text Blaze, and make "Groundhog Day" a friend.

Does the length of your to-do list make you cringe? It's time for a makeover. Make your digital task list a friend again.

Here's a great Evernote use case to help you collect and share great recipes. This was a fun activity you can replicate.

Most people are terrible when it comes to gift card organization. This simple system lets you enjoy those gift cards to the fullest.

This Lou Holtz quote serves as motivation to say "thank goodness" when we've moved past the worst and the best is yet to be.

Each day, you're dealt a hand of 24 hours. Do you spend it on "big" things or"small" things? Or is there something else?

Do you keep changing from one productivity system to another? Here's the secret to why each one succeeds for a little while and then fails.

Halloween is the one day of the year we have fun with "scary things." What if your desk was a scary thing all year long? Here's the secret to a clean desk.

Are you leaving other people in limbo because you don't respond to emails? This one is an easy fix. Hit "reply."