• Where’s Ann Michael? – Preparing for the preview call on a new 5- part GO System Webinar Series. Now you will be able to attend the GO System Workshop from the comfort of your office.
• Feature Article – That Nagging Feeling
• Ann Michael Recommends – Getting that E-mail Under Control - Finally!

There is something about the three day weekend that Columbus Day brings us in October that I really enjoy. The back to school frenzy has settled down and everyone, including Mom and Dad are into the new routine. It’s at this point that we have a 3-day break to pause and reflect on our accomplishments so far and to enjoy the successes of new classes, new teachers, and new friends. I took advantage of this three day reprieve by totally unplugging—no electronic interruptions, no beeps, tweets or buzzes, no distractions.

I love to cook (could that be why my business name is a cooking term?) and so I spent much of the weekend stocking my freezers. With the help of the children, pulled pork, penne with tomatoes, olives and two cheeses, pesto made from the basil in our garden, and of course extra spaghetti sauce were added to our supply. We had a great time cooking together and the house smelled wonderful.

On Monday, we were off to the Buffalo Zoo and had a riotous time watching various animals get fed. It was a beautiful, crisp Fall day and with hot cocoa warming our hands we wandered the zoo for hours. From there it was off to the Anchor Bar to sample the “original” chicken wings. As we returned home and passed through the toll booth at the Thruway our daughter exclaimed, "I feel like I’ve been on vacation."

Getting that E-mail Under Control – Finally!

Mise En Place is pleased to announce that our premier training course on managing e-mail is now available on demand. You can take this course in our Productivity E-Library at your convenience – no travel time, no webinar schedule to worry about, and no excuses! Here is what you will learn and see in the two parts – 75 minute video as we work with our e-mail and show you how to effectively manage this incredible productivity tool.

• The proven secrets of managing e-mail
• The 4 players in the e-mail game
• The 5 misuses of an in-box and strategies to prevent the misusesse
  The "golden rule" of managing e-mail
• 5 disadvantages of a full in-box
• 5 steps for clearing out an overloaded in-box
• More than 8 strategies for incoming e-mail management including 3 tips for significantly reducing spam
• Strategies for managing outgoing e-mails including 4 options for directing e-mail traffic
• 5 tips to improve overall performance, processing, and maintenance

  …and more!

Additionally, in the Productivity E-Library you will have access to the following course tools:

1. Course Notes
2. Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Managing E-mail
      A 20-page How-to Guide
      Step-by-step instructions and visuals for Managing E-mail
3. Next Steps Implementation Guide

When you have your e-mail under control, we would encourage you to view the bonus video that is included with this course. In this video we share a tool with you that you will find helpful for managing all of your to-dos!

Register Now!

That Nagging Feeling

Have you ever had that nagging feeling that you are forgetting something? You may have experienced it as you hopped in the car and drove off to run errands when suddenly half mile down the road you realize that your seatbelt isn't buckled. Or, you are dashing off to deliver dinner to a sick friend only to discover that you've forgotten the salad. Or, in my case, although the school year was off to a great start, something wasn't right and it wasn't until I opened the freezer and noticed that the freezer was in need of a refill that I realized what was "off". It was time to cook and restock.

How often do you get that feeling at work? Do you go through your day thinking "I’m forgetting something"? Does that nagging feeling haunt you more days than not? Here is a strategy to overcome that feeling:

• Capture: Establish a "command post" for all of the information that comes your way. Whether its e-mail, voice mail, paper, verbal requests, or your own thoughts, capture them all in one centralized location. Bottom line, know where everything is.
  
• Decide: Once you've integrated your multiple lists, sticky notes, and random thoughts into your command post, greet new incoming items with one of these five decisions:

1. Can this information be discarded?
2. Can I delegate this?
3. Can I take immediate action and move this item out quickly?
4. Does this information belong in a reference file?
5. If action on my part is required, what is the next action I need to take, and when will I take it?

• Prioritize: Put your to-dos, deliverables, and tasks in order of importance. Be brutally honest. This may mean that the most important item you have to do is something that you don't enjoy doing. However, getting that task completed is excellent forward progress. Imagine the feeling of completing it -- it will feel so good, you'll be ready to tackle the rest of your priorities!

The incredible calm that will result from this process will be worth your time and effort to implement it. Will you from time to time have that nagging feeling? Sure, it's human nature, we forget things. The difference is, now you have the awareness of how to manage that feeling. Enjoy the clarity!

Excel: Viewing Formula Relationships or Where Did That Formula Come From?

Add the Formula Auditing Toolbar as a resource:

1. Click on View > Toolbars > check Formula Auditing
2. Use the buttons for Tracing Precedents and Dependents.

With this tool you will be able to see colored arrows that start in one cell and point to related cells. You will even be able to tell which ones are dependent on another as well as which ones precede (contribute to) a formula.

Ann Michael Henry is the Founder and The Productivity Chef for Mise En Place -- an organization and productivity consulting firm devoted to working with clients to discover the right ingredients for managing e-mail, digital data, paper, and workload so that they can "get cooking" at work and still have time to satisfy their appetite for life.

Her personal philosophy...let's get the work done so that we can go out and play is what motivates Ann Michael. If you liked today's issue, you'll love Ann Michael’s productivity tools, products, and training designed to help you improve your focus, organization, and productivity at work so that you have time to experience all that life has to offer.

Having the right ingredients – tips, tools, and proven techniques – to accommodate an individual's work style is what makes the difference. This is where Ann Michael thrives! Her ultimate goal is to find the recipe that works for you!