A planner that's working for me

[legacypc46]

About three weeks ago I met with an SD in the area. While talking about how to manage multiple roles and balance everything, she showed me the day planner she uses. I ordered one the next day and am really pleased with it. You can check it out at www.plannerpads.com. Just wanted to share.

Feel free to post or PM with any questions.

[DebbieJ]

Oh yes, I've been using one all this year and LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!

[chefkugler]

So do you use only this planner for everything and not use the consultant planner??

[chefmeg]

I really like having a whole month to look at at one time....do you guys find that having a week at a time is more helpful?

[legacypc46]

I use just one planner for everything.

The planner has a page for each month, followed by the weeks for that month.

If you get it, I recommend buying the month tabs. They make it much easier to find key pages. I also purchased two of the "today markers". I place one on the current week page and the other one where I keep my team's contact info.

[legacypc46]

What's nice about this planner, is how it puts your priorities, daily to-do lists, and schedule all one page (actually, each week is spread out over two open pages).

Along the top, you can list up to seven activities or roles and what you want to accomplish in each category that week.
For example, I currently break out my life this way:
Cluster Related (includes recruiting)
Show Management
Marketing and Networking
Admin (includes Customer Care)
Family and Friends
Personal
Current Projects (i.e. prepping for my move)


Along the middle of the page, you take the weekly goals from your categories and make your to-do lists by each day of the week. It definitely helps to 'eat the elephant.' I'm finding it's helping me avoid the trap of creating unrealistically long to-do lists that include good ideas not tied to priorities.

Lastly, the bottom third is where you allot your actual time.

Probably more description than you wanted, but wanted to share [I]why I love this planner.

[PamperedK]

This looks really interesting! Did it take you long to get the system down?

[DebbieJ]

I use the Planner Pad to manage my day to day and use the Consultant Planner as my booking calendar (what I show people at shows). I don't need everyone seeing what is going on in my personal life and how crazy PC can get sometimes. :D

[PamperedK]

I use the Planner Pad to manage my day to day and use the Consultant Planner as my booking calendar (what I show people at shows). I don't need everyone seeing what is going on in my personal life and how crazy PC can get sometimes. :D

That's my concern too. What I actually end up doing is writing or typing out my open dates for the next 6 months and just showing that at my parties. I like it a lot - I go through it once a month and cross of open dates that I no longer want to book, add new dates, etc...I like doing that instead of having a calendar because I don't like when people point to say, a Friday and say "what about that day?" because I don't write anything on there if nothing's going on, but I don't do shows on Friday evenings - that's date night. I suppose I could write SO's name on every Friday, but..>I'd rather just use my controlled piece of paper.

I really like this planner idea though...I'm really picky about my planners and I'm always searching for something better than what I have. I love the consultant one but it's too large for me.

[DebbieJ]

I don't really show people the Consultant Planner and ask them to pick a date. I actually hold it on my lap while I have a conversation about what day of the week works for them, try to get them to book closer in, etc. But I find using a "clean" calendar helps me identify my open dates and keep my show schedule looking good (at least for me! LOL!)

[PamperedK]

I don't really show people the Consultant Planner and ask them to pick a date. I actually hold it on my lap while I have a conversation about what day of the week works for them, try to get them to book closer in, etc. But I find using a "clean" calendar helps me identify my open dates and keep my show schedule looking good (at least for me! LOL!)

Oh good to know! I'm still trying to figure out what works best for me...I'm hoping I can keep my new planner looking nice so I can use it at shows - it will be a lot easier than printing a bunch of papers every month.

[wdpmap]

I use my consultant planner only as a booking tool. I have smiley face stickers on the dates that I can't do a show or I already have one scheduled. The dates without a sticker are available. It works great for me, I don't have people trying to talk me into dates that I don't want to hold shows and they don't know the personal stuff I have going on.

Michelle

[chefmeg]

two things here:

I too use the Consultant Planner for shows only~I have a tendency to live on too many calendars, so I make sure that this one only has PC stuff on it.

I have discovered that my AD (who holds up to 12 shows in a month) passes around at her shows an index card with her available dates on them. The guests put their name next to the date they want! How easy is that????!!! I think I am going to try it at my show tomorrow night!

[baychef]

Does this planner have three ring binder holes? I need one calendar for my day job and personnal schedule (I am confused enough as it is!!)

I find that I love the calendar that PC puts out and as much as I loved the Franklin Covey, I just couldn't keep up with the daily planner. The Covey system was too heavy for me to carry around. I use a 2 inch binder with a clear cover. I always have a catalog in the front cover and have passed out many a catalog this way. In the back of the binder, I have calendars of meetings, etc. for my day job. And I have my cluster roster and other checklists that I like to work with.

Just wondering if this system is big and bulky like the Covey system and if there are 3 ring binder holes? I do take the wire binding off of the PC calendar and 3 hole punch it, however, the pages rip out and I am constantly putting in the reinforcement stickers around the holes.

[DebbieJ]

The one I have does not have 3 ring holes, but you might be able to buy it that way. Not sure. Check it out www.plannerpad.com

[DebbieJ]

hey look, it comes it looseleaf for you Ann!

https://plannerpads.com/splanners_toc.asp

[baychef]

Thanks so much, Deb! Is it bulky like the Covey system? I have looked at this planning system before, but possibly not hard enough to answer my own darn questions!!!

[DebbieJ]

No, not bulky AT ALL! SOOOOOO much thinner than Covey.

[quiverfull7]

This is SO COOL!!!!!! Thanks for posting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is just perfect and I've been searching for a solution and have just not been
thrilled with what I've been finding!

[legacypc46]

Yep, what Deb said...much thinner than my FC binders (which I used for years and years).

[chefmeg]

I noticed that they have a 6 month "try it" money back guarantee!! I like that!

[Debi]

I have a question about NOT showing your personal appts on your Show Calendar. My Director has always said to HAVE your personal stuff on there to show that we have a life outside of PC and that we are able to make THAT our priority by owning our own business. I understand the concept but have never felt quite comfortable. Do you think it matters to customers/potential recruits? Please share your opinions.

[chefmeg]

I was told 2 different approaches to this~if you show your "regular" calendar, people could think
1) she is too busy to give me her time
OR
2) wow, look at all she does and runs a business

[legacypc46]

I was told 2 different approaches to this~if you show your "regular" calendar, people could think
1) she is too busy to give me her time
OR
2) wow, look at all she does and runs a business

I think the reaction depends, in large part, on how we present it.

[PamperedK]

I've always struggled with this as well. Honestly - my problem is I don't write down a lot of my stuff because it's usually impromptu but it always is on the same days. So for example, I don't do shows Mondays, Fridays or Saturday evenings. I will do the odd Saturday afternoon if I need more dates, but that's it. I don't often write things in those days because it's just my 'free' day. People will see it with nothing written and then ask about that day.

I would say if your calendar is neat and tidy and you have personal things on there that you don't mind other people seeing, go ahead and show it. If it looks chaotic and messy, that's when people will worry...and maybe have a code for certain things...put your Doctor's name instead of what type of doctor they are or specialist, etc... if that makes sense.

[wdpmap]

That is why I like using stickers for my unavailable dates. I used to show my entire calendar. If I had a week with three shows already, they would focus on the blank dates and I would have to explain that I already had three shows that week. :rolleyes:

If I have three shows I put stickers on the rest of the week. I look really busy and people schedule right away. I only hold shows on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so before I have any shows booked I already look busy because Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday all have stickers!:D:)

Michelle

[PamperedK]

That is why I like using stickers for my unavailable dates. I used to show my entire calendar. If I had a week with three shows already, they would focus on the blank dates and I would have to explain that I already had three shows that week. :rolleyes:

If I have three shows I put stickers on the rest of the week. I look really busy and people schedule right away. I only hold shows on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so before I have any shows booked I already look busy because Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday all have stickers!:D:)

Michelle

That's a really great idea - I may have to do that.

[legacypc46]

I put a little red dot sticker on the days I'm absolutely not avialable/willing to do shows. I then put a little green sticker on the days I have a show actually scheduled.
I start the month with 8 little green dots at the top of the calendar page and move them down as I schedule shows.

Like Michelle, I find it helps my bookings more than hinders them.

[baychef]

I came one click away from ordering the system but decided to hold back right now. I am going to try to come up with a similar system and try it for a short time and if it works, then I will order it.

I just bought a printer for my business so I have to cool my "purchasing" jets!!

I usually will let the person know when I am available and then when I write them in, I put a star sticker on that date. I need to work off from one calendar and if I didn't have the sticker there, I would miss my parties completely!! (Scarey isn't it???)