The Daily Explosion of the To-Do List: Try a Simpleassist LifeSync QuickTip

SimpleAssist LifeSync QuickTip:  Too much noise, not enough Hours in the day?  Try a 3rd Party, Cloud based Task Manager like Wunderlist with  your email to focus in on only shhhhstuff you need to do. 

RECEIVE A LOT LF CALLS AND EMAILS? SEE BOTTOM  FOR A SPECIAL 3 STEP ORGANIZATION GAME CHANGER 

As a long time Operations Executive turned consultant, I have had my share of setting up organizational task management systems using  a variety of different platforms such as CRM or mail clients.  However, without fail there was  the perpetual challenge of "ok, what if we're doing something outside of the system  and forget to put in a task reminder".  This would typically involve setting up a secondary workflow, writing custom synchronization and Yada Yada Yada as Sienfeld once said. 

Say Hello to my Little Friend 

Enter Wunderlist:  a feature rich, cloud-based  multi-platform/muti-device task management system which,  much like another favorite organizational tool of mine (Evernote) amazes with what can be done for "free" (where upgrading to the paid subscription is "Value Added" and not "Requirered for Value" like many other programs that wet the whistle only to make you fork over a subscription. In other words, it's great for personal use, but if you need more sophistication, as in a business setting for example, THEN you can CHOOSE to pay nominally   

I should preface with the fact that Evernote is capable of managing taks and is  always one way to go because of its similar cross applicability, flexibility, and it's ability to keep tasks and reminders.   However, I personally feel it is limited for tasks in several ways (depending on what you're doing) albeit the excellent scalability and  similar ubiquitous methods for adding content, as indicated below. 

Easy Task / Hard Task: Key Points

However, for as anyone who's ever used a CRM like Saleforce/Dynamics CRM, or Outlook / Exchange to manage tasks - there is typically a need for "middle ground" between flexibility and accountability - and in Evernote you cannot "assign tasks", easily create sub tasks, etc among other things.  

Suffice it to say, Task management  is not always so simple as clicking the "done" box - and this where #Wunderlist shines.  Here are some key points:

-Wunderlist can be used and synchronized concurrently on different device models, or accessed via mobile / standard web portals. 

-Uses mobile device "Push" Notification, Email Reminders, and other clever reminder options

-Allows for Task Sharing and Assignment (Requires user to setup Wunderlist Account

-Allows for Sub-tasks (e.g Task = Write Book, Subtask = Research, Design Covdr etc)

-Category Customization (which can be used can be set for individual or multi-user (requires free Wunderlist account per user) to maximize and simplify #organization. (E.g Team Task list vs My Tasks) 

-Simple Collaboration  - other users can comment on status etc if they are able to view the task list or are added to the task

Adding Tasks - Shine on

Wunderlist lets you add tasks through the following methods, and in similar fashion to Evernote, if done correctly this is a major "bonus" by comparison to some email or CRM based task management systems. 

-Add tasks to Task Systrm through mobile app on tablet or phone 

-Access and Add Task System through a mobile or standard web browser

-Directly from a website (Through a plugin or extension - Google Chrome and Chrome Web store - Wunderlist Extension personally recommended) -  see something on a site, click Add to Wunderlist Link in browser or on page 

Or one of my personal favorites, send EMAILS to auto create tasks -  forward an email to me@wunderlist.com.  It recognizes that the email is from you, used your subject for the task subject etc  -

Find additional information oh Wunderlist and the Send from Email here: http://support.wunderlist.com/customer/portal/articles/59709-mail-to-wunderlist

Try this SimpleAsssist Organization 3 Step "Game Changer" to streamline day to say productivity 

 

Step 1 -  Setup Wunderlist or Similiar Product and create list or categorization for "email "or "voicemail "follow up. 

Step 2 - Have  your voicemails transcribed and forwarded to the email associated with Wunderlist.  This is easily done with most cell providers who offer "visual voicemail" (smartphone users can also find other apps to do do) or through your voicemail providers like Vonage or Time Warner and  most VOIP providers. 

Step 3. Use your inbox to stay organized by forwarding your follow up emails and voicemails  to your Task List (see link above) -  all of your  tasks are now in one place - a great way for creating a  daily work plan if you get a zillion emails and voicemails per day  to follow up on 

Like this information?  SimplrAssisst offers contracted assistance for your individual and business needs. 

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SimpleAssist LifeSync Quick Tip - Consolidate (Automatically) Videos, Pictures, and Files between All Devices - Download Incentive

SimpleAssist LifeSync Tech-Tip

Dropbox® Cloud Storage - Overview and Ideas on Consolidating Pics Videos - Files on your Devices Together

Why Dropbox®?

When it comes to cloud storage, accept no substitute. When comparing all the cloud storage solutions, Dropbox® seems to be the clear leader of the pack when factoring functionality, pricing, platforms, etc.

 Recently, I had done a quick facebook post on OneDrive™ which has been gaining fast on Dropbox® and Google’s Drive™ in my opinion, especially in terms of the ability to earn free storage by doing a few simple things (setting your phone to backup up, etc.) which is double the amount of most if all free storage is gained correctly.

In fairness I am also an avid user of Google's® Drive and Microsoft's® One Drive/SkyDrive – I’ve sort of broken it up so I use Google Drive to go paperless at home, SkyDrive for my PC computer backup, Apple's® iCloud for everything except pix and videos, and DropBox for my business. However, Dropbox® has managed to stay on top for me due to the elegant yet robust interface and the platform functionality consistency across all versions of the app; MOBILE DEVICES, PC/MAC, WEB INTERFACE.

I have an iPhone and an Android Based Galaxy® Tablet. Here are two bonus tips with regard to cloud storage and consolidating your pictures and videos especially

IPhone Users: Bonus Tip: Not having removal storage on iPhone is a pain, and let’s be honest – you’re going to pay for iCloud! By using Dropbox® or some other cloud storage that has an iPhone App, backing up and centralizing your photos AND video (with Dropbox) on your phone easy for iPhone users who can't simply pop out a SIM Card, if you take advantage of the data incentives (See below) you could turn off PICTURES in iCloud if your backup ever fills up.


Android Users: Bonus Tip! When I first hooked up my Galaxy® Tab 3, I noticed that they had some sort of arrangement with Dropbox® if you set it up as your default Cloud Storage Backup. You receive a HUGE amount (at least with Samsung) of free space!   Email for more info...

PC Users: Bonus Tip! If you’ve install Dropbox® to your PC, not only do you get extra storage space for using it - anytime you plug in a new device (like an SD card or something with pictures on it) Dropbox will prompt you to add it. Also, selecting which folders are actually stored on the local hard-drive seems much more elegent vs. Google Drive and OneDrive. Since this is a quick tip, I wanted to include an unbiased review so I have included a charge and links to a few articles for more depth.

Comparison Chart and Article

See Complete Article Here - http://www.pcworld.com/article/254411/google_drive_vs_the_rest.html

Easy to Get Going / Easy to Keep Going

If you are looking for a hassle free way to enter the world of cloud storage, and easily sync files between all your devices, Dropbox® is easy, secure, and unmatched in certain areas of functionality.

You see, on my PC Dropbox® will ask if you want to backup pictures and videos from THERE (and give you additional storage space to do so) - so if you are like me and have your entire picture and video library everywhere, this and the additional space really put it over the top for me. Many folks may not know, but they also have a great web-portal developer options to customize and build cloud databases for your apps that is very user friendly. Dropbox® for Android - A must have - Android backs up your documents and data, and they give you a ton of space just for using it.

Without using the referral program indicated on the chart above was able to get over 50 Gigs by using an Android, an iPhone, and a Computer and setting it to automatically backup and consolidate my pictures (Win-Win). They also have a pretty decent referral program (earn up to 16GB by recommending to other user). As a user of iCloud, Google Drive, OneDrive - my second largest storage provider would be Google Drive at 30GB (which is much less than my free Dropbox® account). Dropbox® Pro or Dropbox® for business (paid subscriptions) START at 100GB for bucks a month or 100 bucks per year. It is this in particular (cloud space bang for buck) and the unique features and general ubiquity that makes Dropbox® a SimpleAssist "Top Pick" vs. its competition.

Referral Incentives - Download Links

I'd like to take a moment to explain my philosophy as relates to my recommendation of a technical product or service. Simply put, I only recommend products and services I have used extensively and believe in, and that the incentive must benefit the reader / whomever I am referring. Therefore i have included links to simply download or review from the Dropbox® Site or you (and I) can earn free space by clicking the link below: Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/
SimpleAssist Referral Incentive Download Link: https://db.tt/VUdYETx3   

 

Checkout PC Mag's "Best Cloud Storage" Article - http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413556,00.asp 

I welcome comments and emails on getting the most "free storage". I will be sure to update this accordingly!