Time Saving Techniques Using Microsoft® Outlook®
Increase Your Productivity Using Microsoft® Outlook®
10 Tactics for Improving Follow Up and Closing a Sale Using Microsoft® Outlook®

Program Description:

Imagine getting MORE accomplished in LESS time, with LESS stress.

Email is a helpful and necessary tool in today’s workplace; however it can be time-consuming to manage. When you don’t have a good system in place to process and maintain it, your inbox can quickly grow out of control.

Same with Outlook. You use Outlook daily to communicate with your customers and manage your day – but are you using the program’s features as effectively as you could be?

Laura’s techniques are here to save the day (and your headspace!). They’ll make you more productive and help you save time, guaranteed.

With a few small tweaks, you could save an extra hour a week or more. Just think of what you could do with that time!

This program will leave you inspired to go back to your office and implement Laura’s realistic, time-saving techniques. You just might find yourself saying, “Wow, I didn’t know I could do that!”

These programs are based on Laura’s book:
Time Saving Techniques Using Microsoft® Outlook®

You'll learn:*

• How to create an organized inbox filing structure to quickly retrieve information
• A process for the four actions you can apply to any e-mail
• Making time to manage e-mail
• Configuring your inbox to easily read and process e-mail by adding and removing columns of data
• Maintaining a follow-up system for e-mail
• When to pick up the phone instead of writing one more e-mail
• Composing a compelling and descriptive subject line
• Composing a well-organized e-mail to boost response rates
• How to create and use email templates (guaranteed to save you hours each month!)
• How to use e-mail Quick Parts (guaranteed to save time each day)
• How to "mark your comments" automatically with your name in an email response – a little known feature you can turn on and customize in under 2 minutes
• How to flag e-mail for follow up so you never miss an important deadline
• How to use Quick Steps for repeatable actions used multiple times a day on e-mail
• How to use the “Save Sent Item To” feature to automatically organize and save e-mails about a particular client or sale – so it doesn’t all live in the “Sent” folder
• How to delay the delivery of an e-mail once it’s written
• How to insert a hyperlink, instead of the long, ugly URL
• How to change the subject line for an e-mail you file into a folder
• How to direct replies to an e-mail you send to someone else
• Configuring “Automatic Replies” to automatically respond to incoming e-mail
• Methods for sorting e-mails for cleanup and organization
• How to e-mail contacts as part of a “category” rather than creating a distribution list
• Creating, editing and removing e-mail signatures that include graphics and hyperlinks to websites
• Using e-mail delivery options such as voting options, requesting a delivery and/or read receipt
• Recalling an e-mail you didn’t intend to send
• When to save attachments to a server, computer, public folder, or leave in your inbox
• Marking e-mail “read” or “unread,” and why you want to do this
• When to use “reply” vs. “reply all”
• Proper use of the “TO” “CC” and “BCC” fields and how to move an e-mail address from one field to another
• Creating rules to filter e-mail
• Several little known -calendar techniques for organizing and planning your day
• How to display your calendar in a different view based on specific appointments or meetings
• How to display more than one time zone on your calendar when you have clients in different parts of the country or world

* Outcomes based on the program you select.

“Laura's knowledge and expertise on the function and use of Outlook far exceed any book or workshop I have attended. Laura presents the material in a usable manner and shows patience to all in the room. She is a top notch trainer. I highly recommend anyone using Outlook to take her course and find out all of the hidden treasures of the program.”

Michele Catoire - The Legacy Group

OneNote: Data at Your Fingertips - Anytime, Anywhere & From Any Device

Program Description:

When it comes to working efficiently, we all need easy access to pertinent information every day, all day. Using OneNote, you have the power to access project and client information anytime, anywhere – and from any of your devices. But...are you taking full advantage of its power?

• Does information get lost in the shuffle because you lack the organized systems and structure to retrieve it when you need it?
• Do you keep multiple paper pads with information from various meetings – only to realize you left without it?
• Or worse, totally lose it because you don’t have it in digital format? Sticky notes and old-school paper notebooks can’t be backed up and you certainly can’t keyword search for the info you need in seconds.
• Do you put asterisks next to things you need to “do” or “remember” – yet forget to look back at your notes?
• By creating custom tags for things you need to do or remember, you can instantly move action items to your Outlook Task list or drill down into the data you tagged for a specific project or client.

You'll learn how to:

• Create notebooks to capture your important data
• Share OneNote notebooks for group project collaboration
• Insert web links, Word documents, Excel files, graphics, photos, tables and charts
• Tag notes
• Create custom tags and filter data based on tags
• Use a OneNote notebook to track your notes from conferences you attend, save the handouts to the notes you take, and tag your action items for follow up
• Use a OneNote notebook to track notes regarding client engagements so they can be easily e-mailed directly to the client
• Structure the data in the notebook using sections, pages, sub-pages and more so you can quickly locate information and be able to add to it.

“Laura was able to teach on all levels in that some were a bit familiar with OneNote and many were not. She was able to reach everyone with no problems!”

Debi Rogers, HighGrove Partners, LLC

5 Techniques to Increase Your Productivity

10 Techniques to Increase Your Productivity

Program Description:

Imagine getting MORE accomplished in LESS time, with LESS stress.

If your organizational systems aren’t translating to greater profitability, it’s time to make a change. You need to be more than just organized to be profitable, you need to be productive. This requires you to establish systems you and others can use on a daily basis to make every minute count, otherwise you’ll miss out on opportunities to increase your earning potential.

• Would you like to be more productive and organized at work?
• What if you could quickly put your hands on information when it's needed?
• What would you do if you had 20 extra minutes a day?

This program is based on Laura’s book:
Eliminate the Chaos at Work: 25 Techniques to Increase Productivity

You'll learn:

• The difference between “visible” and “invisible” forms of clutter, and why you need to work on reducing both to increase your profitability
• The four components of an organized office
• The biggest time wasters at work and how to eliminate them
• File “naming conventions” for digital files and how using them consistently will save you and others in your organization time and money
• The four things you can do with any piece of e-mail and a system for processing, follow-up, and organization to empty your inbox and ensure no important deadlines ever slip past
• Three simple, time-saving Outlook e-mail techniques you’ll wish you knew years ago
• The PAPERS™ method and why you need more than one paper management system for your business,
• How to create a Daily Action Center™
• High-level overview of an online password management system and why you need to start using one
• The difference between several computer and cloud-based task management systems and which one is right for you
• How to prepare for a digital disaster: which backup systems do you have and what will you put in place?

Program Note: If some of these techniques do not apply, Laura may substitute another technique.

“As a one-woman office and small business, Laura’s information is relatable and there is always a meaningful take-away. You will have a light bulb come on, I guarantee it.”

April Bettinger, Nip Tuck Remodeling

“Laura provides easy tools and solutions that can improve your productivity so you can focus on growing your business. Her techniques are smart and simple to put into action straight away!”

Kelli, Shindig Events

“Laura was very organized and concise in addressing the topics presented. The accessory sheets provided along with the presentation were vital in being able to take and implement the concepts passed along. Great program hitting on issues we all face daily in a busy workday.”

Lance

Program Description:

What if you own a small business and something happens to you?

• How will your employees keep the company running without the important business information and passwords only you know?
• How are you currently sharing passwords with employees and what do you do when that employee leaves the organization?
• Do you have to reset passwords?

There is a better, faster, and more secure way to handle this.

This applies to families too. What if you suddenly lost a parent, spouse, or child and had to access their important information in order to manage their estate? Would you even know where to begin? How much time would it take you to try to figure this all out and then fight to get access to certain accounts?

Laura has first-hand knowledge handling both of these situations from two major life events she faced - at work and at home. The LastPass tool saved her from even more stress than she was already under given the circumstances, because she knew everything was at her fingertips.

She and her husband Robert (an IT Security Specialist) work with their clients to ensure they can get ahold of the important, necessary information - anytime, anywhere, and from any device.

A password and information management tool is a must for everyone. At some point, you'll be glad you made time to put this in place for your family and/or business.

You'll learn:

• An overview of LastPass, a digital password and information manager.
• How to import passwords you previously stored in other browsers and why they should NEVER be saved there.
• About “the security challenge” which evaluates your password strengths and what logins are vulnerable to hackers.
• About the “vault” and what types of information you can store in it.
• How to add a site to your vault, and when you should update a site.
• How to create “secure notes” and attach images to them – so they are always at your fingertips even if your wallet or purse is stolen.
• How to create “form fills” in your vault to use when shopping online or filling out information online. (You won’t believe what a time-saver this is!)
• How to create folders and sub-folders to organize groups of passwords.
• How to “share” passwords with family, friends, co-workers, or employees – so they remain secure and don’t need to be constantly reset. You can even share a password without giving access to it.
• Learn how to set up “emergency” access for family members – should anything happen to you.
• How to stop resetting passwords every time you can't remember one.
• Always know exactly where to look when your IT professional needs a password to fix something on your computer, saving YOU time and money.
• How to increase your cyber security as a result of better password management.

You will sleep better at night knowing all of your important information is in one location, secure, organized, and always at your fingertips!

“Laura’s LastPass presentation was phenomenal! There are 4 things that I loved about her presentation:

1. It was very easy to follow and understand. Sometimes learning new technology is intimidating; she made it approachable and straightforward.
2. I have used LastPass for a few years and I so appreciate that Laura taught me new things about it that I never knew. Right after her presentation, I implemented those things and now feel so much better knowing that those things are taken care of.
3. It seems a given that all Professional Organizers would be organized in their presentations. Not so! Laura, however, was and she also used stories to keep my attention and drive a point home.
4. I now have the confidence and know-how to help clients set up LastPass, thanks to Laura.

I absolutely recommend that NAPO chapters give their members the gift of Laura’s presentation!”

Ruth Hadlock, CPO®, Owner, Streamlined Space, LLC

“I learned so much from your Last Pass presentation. Even though I have used Last Pass for years, you taught me so much more! I am excited to finally be using Last Pass to its full potential and it is all because of you, your wealth of knowledge and amazing teaching style! Thank you so much.”

Terina Bainter, CPO©, COC©, ACC

Eliminate Chaos at Work: Simple Strategies for Organizing Your Office

Program Description:

The level of organization in your office directly impacts your bottom line.

Do you have difficulties retrieving information stored electronically or on paper?
Is your workspace disorganized and distracting?
The more systems you have in place to manage information – electronic or on paper, the more productive you will be. Learn simple strategies you can implement immediately to take control of your office and make your workplace work for you.

This program is based on Laura’s book:
Eliminate the Chaos at Work: 25 Techniques to Increase Productivity

You'll learn:

• The four components of an organized office
• The three biggest organizing mistakes and how to avoid them
• The “Eliminate Chaos 10-Step Process” to organize your office
• Simple strategies to organize the “stuff” in your office
• Various file “naming conventions” for digital files and how using them consistently will save you and others in your organization time and money
• Learn the PAPERS™ method and realize why you need more than one paper management system in your office
• What a “Daily Action Center” is and how you can create and incorporate one into your office
• Highly effective ways to create a paper system based on the way you process information
• The benefits of straight-line filing
• Overview of an online password management system and why you need to start using one

“I wanted to let you know what a fabulous job you did speaking and how much of a pleasure it was to listen to your presentation. I think that office organization is an often overlooked topic, yet poor organization can affect every aspect of your business. Luckily, I was able to pick up some really great tips last night.”

Melissa Mellroth, Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home & Life

Program Description:

Do you:

• Have too much chaos at home and in your life?
• Have trouble finding things when you need them?
• Buy duplicate items because you can’t find what you’re looking for?
• Tell yourself...”I’ll get organized… someday.”

If so, you’re not alone.
Getting Organized is the third most common New Year’s resolution, yet people generally spend more time adding to the disorganization rather than making any significant steps towards eliminating it.
If you can answer 'YES' to any of these questions, then this program with real-life examples, will inspire you to take action and teach you the secrets of how you can "Take control of your time, space and stuff.”™

This program is based on Laura’s book:
Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home and Life

This program consists primarily of images from actual client projects in order to demonstrate the 10 Steps. No client names or identifying information is revealed, unless permission was granted.

You'll Learn:

• The three biggest organizing mistakes and how to avoid them
• Why “It’s Not About The Stuff®”
• Laura’s 10-Steps and how to use them to organize any room in your home
• Simple changes that make a powerful impact on daily activities

“Great example of how to keep a home organized. Organizing takes time. If you put that time in, it’s worth it. I expected to get it done quickly and have it stick but now I know to put some time into it and time to maintain it.”

Cynthia, Attorney

Right-Sizing: Less Stuff = Less Stress

Program Description:

Has your lifestyle changed?
Are you preparing to downsize and begin another chapter in your life?
This program teaches you why “It’s Not About The Stuff®.”

Downsizing, also known as “right-sizing,” is a process we will all experience at some point in our lives with our stuff, and possibly our parents’ too.
Today, people of all ages are realizing the benefits of right-sizing and living a more simple and peaceful life. For some, the right-sizing process starts at a younger age as people prepare for an urban condo experience. Others may wait until they become empty nesters to right-size decades of treasures.
Laura experienced a crash-course in right-sizing at 16 when her mom passed away. Because she helped her grandparents downsize her mom’s home in order to prepare for an estate sale, Laura knows firsthand how difficult it is to part with the treasures you’ve cherished over the years.

You can read about this experience in Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home and Life in the “Laura’s Story” chapter.

You'll learn:

• Laura’s proven 10-Step Process to help you right-size in an organized fashion based on her best-selling book Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process to Organize Your Home and Life
• Simple strategies to keep you from becoming overwhelmed
• Why there is more to right-sizing than just getting rid of stuff
• How to ask yourself the right questions to determine what to keep and what to release from your life
• How to plan your project and new space
• Recommended resources you can use and where to find help

“Laura's presentation was excellent and provided our guests with a lot of information. Many of our guests shared that this was one of the best presentations they had attended! We gave each guest one of Laura's books. I highly recommend Laura from Eliminate Chaos to host a seminar - it is time well spent for your guests and I learned a lot of new things myself! Well done!”

Jackie Claessens, Emerald Heights