Manage ALL the things with Asana
Manage all the things in your business and life with Asana App [Project Management Tool.]
Working for yourself can be a gift and a curse. There's no one telling you what to do and the deadlines are self-imposed.
You have all day to do what you want. ALL day can drastically vary from being very productive on Monday to watching YouTube and scrolling on ig after posting on Tuesday.
Oh it happens to the best of us. No need to feel shameful.
In order to manage ALL the things, you need Asana.
What is Asana you ask?
Asana is one of the most popular project management tools around. Asana helps you to plan, organize + manage your biz + your life. It’s $free.99 for up to 15 team members and has options to upgrade. [aaaaand more than likely you won’t need to upgrade...so back to zero]
Typically in Asana, you create a project with lists and tasks and subtasks to dominate the world!
Project's with lists and boards sounds like 234,897,676,898 other project managers. However, Asana is more than JUST an online to-do list.
Asana was created with teams in mind, so it makes collaborating with others a breeze. You can track progress on projects, have attachments all in one place [uploaded from Google Drive, Dropbox, or your computer].
Hate email? Then Asana is a dream, you can manage conversations regarding projects and just daily “hey girl hey’s” in Asana.
You can even reduce your email clutter by forwarding emails straight to Asana + create tasks.
Don’t have a team? It’s all good, you can use Asana with your biz bestie to brainstorm projects or use it to onboard clients.
Asana has the capability to link/sync to your calendar...there’s no reason to fall behind on your work when you assign due dates to your tasks. The founder says,
“If it’s not in Asana, it’s not going to happen.”
There’s an option to even follow up on tasks...just in case that brilliant mind of yours forgets.
Asana’s mobile app is perfect for the #girlboss on the go. It’s fully functional and has all of your projects and teams in one place. You can easily create tasks in between binging on Netflix on those not so productive days. Just as you can create tasks, you’re able to check them off as done.
Asana is how I manage my workflows, goals, and overall businesses.
Want to learn more tips on Mastering Asana? I have a webinar on Monday February 20th...Join in on the fun!
The Cat in the Hat can teach you a thing or two
Every night (okay let me be real only Sunday through Thursday) I read a story to my 3 years old. For the past two weeks he has only wanted to read The Cat in the Hat. So last night I ask him does he want to read another book. Of course he says no.
WHY?? I ask.
“Because I like the characters, they use funny timing [rhyming] words,” he replies.
Kids are simple.
He didn't care that he has an entire library of other books- to include many Dr. Seuss books. The Cat in the Hat makes him laugh and he appreciates that.
Simple.
It made me think how sometimes in business [& life] we complicate things.
Overthinking and just being the expert can definitely complicate things from time to time.
Creating systems from scratch can be beastly and overwhelming. They aren't sexy. You are, but your systems, not so much.
Keep it Simple.
When creating your systems keep them simple.
Systems are a bunch of moving parts. Systems aren't your business unless you're in the systems business.
You're in business to make money, systems simply support those efforts.
If you're a checklist person use checklists & asana or evernote.
If you're a visual person use post-it's, white boards and paper & pen. Check out Trello too.
We have a baby night time routine system based on my son's behaviors. (Refusal to go to bed because he's "hungry " aka he's learned that kids aren't sent to bed hungry or he hasn't finished a puzzle or he needs to call his mama or papa.)
Here's how it would look:
- Baby eats dinner
- Baby picks out book
- Baby gathers toys he wants in bath if different from the night before
- Baby says goodnight to everyone in house
- Ask baby does he want to call grandparents...
- If yes call grandparents
- Remind Baby that he is not allowed downstairs after he gets in bath.
- Baby has bath
- Baby gets in Pajamas
- Mommy reads to baby
- Mommy & Baby says prayers
- Mommy reminds baby that he is not allowed downstairs
- Mommy kisses baby & tells him God will protect him he's already said his prayers
- 15 minutes mommy or daddy checks to see if baby is sleep
3 Chic Tips to Mastery:
1. Vow to keep life & business simple.
2. Assess where you can add The Cat & The Hat tactics: simple, fun, & helpful.
3. Laugh more. Worry less. Laugh lines are acceptable, stress wrinkles aren't as cute.
Systems reduce the worry about money and day to day practices.
Systems vs. Tools
Every business needs systems and tools. With the new year, I see so many business owners throwing out the word systems but when I look closer they are only talking about tools.
Tools and systems are not synonymous.
Tools + productivity hack + strategy x repetition= system
Tools help to carry out systems and enhance a system in automating your business.
My favorite tools this week are asana and streak. The systems behind them are a bit strategic.
For example I use Asana to manage:
TDL
CRM
Podcast pitches
Project manager
So many things [working on a guide to share all the goodness]
In order to create a system look at what you do over and over. Make note of the steps that are needed and those that aren't. Assess where you can shave time, automate, and or outsource. Write it down and follow those steps from here on out. That is a system.
Here's an example of my Podcast system:
Research potential guest
Interact with potential guest casually and genuine
Send potential guest an email informing of the podcasts mission and invite them to be a guest.
Once the guest accepts the invitation, send guest an email explaining recording process and a link to podcast scheduler. [The scheduler is linked to my main calendars]
The scheduler sends the guest reminders before the interview date. If needed they are able to cancel and reschedule through the scheduler.
Edit the podcast
Record Intro
Upload Intro
Type up show notes [I use a template]
Create bit.ly links for the download url and show notes
Edit image [I use a template]
Create blog post for podcast show notes
The day before the podcast goes live I email the guest with the show notes, an image to share on their social media if they choose, pre written tweets about the show, and the download link.
This system is composed of a few moving parts and tools, but it's fool proof. There's a checklist to make sure everything gets done and in order.
The templates make it so I can easily pick up where I left off and not have to wonder if XYZ was completed. No time is wasted trying to figure out where to start, because I know it's done if the task below it is completed. The checklist also makes it possible to pass it off to my assistant if I don't have time to finish some tasks and the deadline is nearing. She knows exactly where to start and what to do.
Systems automate your business. Automation leads to more time which is freedom.