The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - MomGadget Style
Creator Ben Yoskovitz shares simple rules of this meme/group writing project. This meme gives us all a chance to share our own tip(s) that help us stay focused throughout our own workday so that we may inspire or enlighten others to become more productive and successful in their own workday.
To be honest, I couldn’t have been tagged on a better day. This meme forces me to gather my thoughts and regain my own footage after having been knocked off kilter a bit. Thanks to both Wendy Piersall and Ponn Sabra I have officially been double tagged. So I’ll personally give them credit for bringing me back to my reality 
My Personal Top Productivity Tip Is:
Excel Spreadsheets!
Simple huh?
Sometimes I feel like the spreadsheet Queen. I love, Love, LOVE spreadsheets! The only thing that would be better then the existing spreadsheets would be if they came in Post It style and if they were dipped in chocolate!
The spreadsheets I have developed and use most are:
Weekly Blog Schedule - As I progress through the day/week, I check off the blogs I as I complete them. As I near the weekend, I can easily see where my priorities need to be directed to balance all my blogs out.
Several weeks back, I displayed an example of my own form and I’ve made a blank form available (pdf file) for printing by those who would like to implement this tool in their own day-to-day blogging.
Digging deeper into my files, I have spreadsheets for:
Tracking affiliates and income monthly and yearly (wonderful for tax time) each year has their own tab tucked neatly at the bottom of my Excel. It’s a wonderful tool for doing year to year comparison too.
Tracking expenses throughout the year (also wonderful at tax time)
Keeping an alphabetized list of Affiliates AND my affiliate text link code for quick access if I find a need to place it in a post at some point.
For this meme, I’m curious to know the productivity tips of:
Aaron at Today is That Day - I’ve really got to know what keeps that guy so on track!
Char at Essential Keystrokes - This woman just keeps amazing me at how she keeps up with her kiddos and being so active in their lives, being a wife and being such an amazing professional through blogging and consulting. I HAVE to know what helps her to be so darned productive.
Dawud Miracle of Healthy Design (untagged) - I’ve spoken to this man live and I swear he sounds like he could be the poster boy for Starbucks, Red Bull and Rockstar (the drink). He’s so full of energy and without tell tale signs of ADHD, like ma’self - I’d really like to know how he stays on track yet maintains such a high level of energy. — After clicking through to his blog, I realized he’d already been tagged. BUT for the sake of this meme and so YOU can know his secret too, I’m leaving his name here. In an untagged version
Now I would like to tag a few newcomers to Gack Ink - The Bring Your Own Blog Network - Some are new, some are just spreading their wings and some are more vintage, like me. I LOVE that word Vintage! It sounds so much better then Old, Mature, Geriatric…
Ok, back on track here…
In wrapping up, I’m going to tag the following:
Oooh. This will be my first ever meme, can you believe that? I think the way it works is that I post about productivity and link to your site from whence I was tagged, then tag a few more folks, is that right?
Hey Gayla! First off, thanks for the tag and I’d be more than happy to participate. Second, it just might take me a couple days due to my recent self-imposed rules for playing in memes… I have to come up with 2 posts on topic before I can play, which means, it could be a day or two before I am able to post on this one.VERY interesting timing on this one too and I’ll be sure to fill you in as to why when I post. Thanks again, Tully.
Denise ~ That is exactly how this works.
Tully ~ I completely understand your position on memes. I don’t participate in all the ones I’m tagged into. If I did, my blog would be nothing but memes.
When I feel one has a strong substance that can benefit my particular sector of readers and the readers of those I tag, I will jump in.
Take your time. I don’t recall there ever being a time limit on when to participate. In fact, I would encourage everyone to write on a day they feel most productive or the day immediately following
Thanks, Gayla. And thanks for the tag, I look forward to writing this post, most likely this weekend, and I already have several people in mind to tag. Watch out Laura.:)
Gayla - this is on my docket for today. Thanks for the mention and the kind words - although I am not quite the superwoman you make me out to be - yet - I am working on it.
Denise ~ Welcome to Memeland
Char ~ another wonderful trait. You’re so darned modest too!
Dear Gayla, you’re too kind. My 1 & 3 year old kids keep me…tired, actually.
I just happen to love what I do - which is help small business owners and solopreneurs build their business through the internet. I love helping people. And I love to engage in conversation - which is why blogging fit me so well, I feel.
What’s interesting is that I don’t drink coffee. I just get up, make my spiritual practices, and move about my day being the best person, best consultant and coach, best dad and husband I can. I love life and I want to squeeze the marrow from its bones.
I’m rambling. Thank you, Gayla..for the link and the kinds words. When I’ve listened to you, I find you’re the remarkable one.
Wow…Spreadsheet Queen, eh?
Totally not my thang…I used to, as a researcher, biologist…but, once I became a mommy, post-it notes galore. That’s why hubby has to stay on top of me…I can manage ‘big-picture’, and keep my To-Do list to 2 critical things a day. Everything else, I need a coach to get me from morning to night.
But, 2 dear friends/colleagues/fellow homeschool mommies live and rule their lives with spreadsheets. To each her own.
Thanks for a great contribution Gayla
Thanks for your contribution.
Well I’ve posted my meager contribution to the productivity meme. Thanks for including me! I’ve already learned a lot from looking at what others have posted.
Spreadsheets! Why didn’t I think of that before! That is what I need to keep myself more organized. I’ll have a list of things I want to do, but then a couple days will go by and I’ll realize I forgot to do it on one of my blogs!
I’m off to set up my own spreadsheet!
Thanks!
Bev
I have been finding several of these productivity posts as I surf and I have started collecting tips that fit my work style. I see that you have several blogs running plus other writing gigs. I do, too. I will, therefore, try to include your spreadsheets in my daily routine. Thanks for sharing!
Gayla, I just want you to know I didn’t ignore you!
Just been a bit busy.Nah, no excuse.Although it doesn’t qualify as an answer, I’m posting something about productivity on May 9th.
I’ll add to the productivity meme when I figure out what it is I do that actually productive!
Hi Gayla,
I started a productivity blog in December. I don’t think anyone is reading it!
So how would I start to participate in this meme (being extremely new to this blogging business)?