Organizing Your Business Education

I got an interesting note today via Facebook. A client is finding it difficult to keep track of all the teleseminars he's registering for. To the point that he's no longer sure if he has registered. With the proliferation of teleseminars, webinars, etc., I can see why it could be difficult to keep track.

There is so much amazing training being offered by amazing experts that it's tempting to sign up for everything.  I know I register for A LOT of programs.  Like my client, I can't attend them all live, but I want to get the replays so I can listen and learn at my convenience.

Another element contributing to the confusion is the amount of email related to all these programs. Announcements go out; confirmations go out; reminders go out.  It's a lot and we, The Blog Squad do it too.  If you don't send multiple emails, then your results aren't as good as they can be. It's the nature of the beast. People sign up at the last minute so you have to send multiple announcements and then reminders so they actually show up!

Back to the dilemma of keeping track. I confess, I couldn't relate to this person's problem. I have no problem keeping track. I thought about it and here's how I manage my virtual business education...

First, I have a folder in my email account (I use gmail) where I file registration confirmations. Doing this allows me to more easily track what I register for. Plus, gmail's search feature makes it super easy to find emails.

Second, after I register and get the confirmation email (which gets filed in the registration folder), I put the class on an online calendar. Again, I use Google's calendar. I include the dial-in or log in info when I add the class to the calendar.  We use Google calendar for all our appointments so we color-code teleclasses we attend vs. those we present.

Now I know if the class is on the calendar, I'm registered and I can ignore and delete all the subsequent email reminders I get.

I don't "wait until later" to take care of these tasks. When I sign up and get the info (usually immediately), it goes on the calendar. Otherwise the confirmation emails would get buried in the hundreds of emails I receive everyday and I'd probably be in the same boat as our client!

I know there are a lot of professional organizers out there. How do you advise your clients to organize their online learning schedule?

Comments

[Mike Bowler Sr.]

Denise, You make some great points, however, FeedBlitz, should be able to tell who has registered, so the emails are eliminated, with the exception of a confirmation & one reminder. Just a thought. Thanks for our last 4 week seminar, you guys were great. Mike

[Mari Smith]

Very timely topic, Denise. I recommend to my students and clients to stay focused and on track in the first place... because we simply cannot sign up for all the interesting and enticing events out there.

So, though I could RSVP for about 5-10 events a week, I only make time for max 1 a week that's directly aligned with my business goals. I use Outlook calendar shared with my VA using ShareO.com and Google calendar for my own public events. I love your color coding idea. ;)

Cheers,
Mari
@marismith

[Denise aka The Blog Squad]

@marismith - excellent point about staying focused and very much a part of my strategy. And I still have a back log of mp3s of training programs on my iPod!

@Mike Bowler - not sure what you mean about Feedblitz keeping track of registrations. Feedblitz is not a registration system. We use KickStartCart to manage our email broadcasts and yes, it's possible to segment your list, but many, many of the people in our database on are on multiple lists so even tho they may have registered for new class, they'll still get follow up announcements because they are on other lists as well. Can't be helped.

[Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad]

Thanks, Denise, for mentioning this situation since I'm sure others are experiencing a bit of this as well. I use the same systems as you, except I don't create a folder for confirmations and move them to that folder in Gmail. Google Calendar is excellent.

But I'm still old fashioned and maybe over cautious: I write everything down in pen in my FiloFax day planner including the phone numbers so I don't have to scamper at the last minute. This is a great back up in case a computer connection is down.

The problem is when I leave the computer to go read in another room and forget a scheduled call or even a client call...as you know! Nothing replaces a good memory or a good partner to remind me!

[Iyabo Asani]

Excellent information! I thought I was the only one with this problem. I use my outlook calender and a manual calender.

Thanks

Iyabo Asani
www.Blog.AuthenticChangeAgent.com
www.AuthenticChangeAgent.com

[Michele Connolly]

Thanks for raising this, Denise.

I've become so overwhelmed with all the great info available I've put myself on an 'information diet' until I start to get 'hungry' again.

There's so much I have yet to action, so I figure I'm better off putting my time and energy into the stuff I already have.

When I feel I've made headway with that, I can start 'filling up' on new info again.

So far, it's really helped my productivity - so I recommend it to other info bingers looking for some respite!

Ciao for now,
Michele

[John Trosko]

Wow-- this is a great post. My only two things to add to this conversation is to 1.) Create a flow of paper (or emails) for the classes you want to attend. Do what Denise and others have done by filing different receipts in special folders so you know there the information is located. This "system" you create will walk you through each class you rsvp and make your habits steamlined. Presumably, when you are more steamlined in your approach, you can take more on because you'll have more time to NOT worry about the boring details. The second thing I'd suggest is to possibly just COPY the whole email, phone numbers, everything you find necessary, into your datebook entry in the "additional" information tab (like in Outlook.) That way, you won't have to scatter looking for something. And what Denise does is great-- RSVP for a class, and enter it asap-- you'll get it done and out of the way without procrastinating. The cool thing about RSVP'ing for a lot of these online classes is that if you do miss the class, you can still hear the podcast/recording later... even if you don't/can't attend the actual live recording.

John

[Stephanie Bell the Spirit Coach]

This is a GREAT topic and it's fun to see how many of us have similar issues. My system is pretty similar to Denise's -- but not quite as streamlined perhaps. Most of my email comes into GMAIL now so I do archive it but I use a folder called CALENDAR ITEMS. I also forward a copy of the REGISTRATION with the CALL-IN details to my OUTLOOK email and drag the whole thing into a calendar item so I can set reminders AND have all the details at the time of the call. And I can synch my Outlook with my Dash PDA/phone so I have the info even if I'm not home!

Thanks for the post! Another good on as always!

Blessings,
Stephanie Bell the SpiritCoach
http://twitter.com/SpiritCoach

[Fabulously40]

This is the age of information. We can try fighting it, but at the end of the day we have to keep up with the times.

This system that never fails me is writing it down, entering in my computer, and if that's not enough telling my kids to remind me.

Great post.

[Barbara]

you make great point