Set the table

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 Ryan: Why this? Everyone has some experience with calendars and contacts

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Leslie: True, but not always good experience. Easy at first, then things get unruly, so new apps come out to fix, which may or may not work or only work for a while. Regardless, gets complicated. So we are gonna talk streamlining and getting the very basics right. (Story: Discovery doc tagging or more common, the wedding invite list.)​

 

Segment 1: Calendars

 

Ryan: What goes on it?

Leslie: Almost all of your appointments. 

 

• Don’t get too complicated. Home for family. Work for work. I also have weeklies for the cadence stuff we’ve talked about. I can hide it/show it.

• Breaking down by people is usually over complicating, esp since it can’t be on two and if it were, you’d have double entries. 

• Use tags in the notes or initials in the event line. 

• Share with the relevant people. So for instance, I have a family calendar but also a Jim and Leslie one for things the kids or my mom don’t need to know, doc appointments, stuff that would worry them or clutter their calendars, or that is a surprise, like Advent and 12 Days of Christmas 

 

Question:

 

Ryan: Here as been my problem in the past.  I take it overboard.  Then I don’t update it and then it changes and I feel like I have to do the whole thing over again.  Is that a thing?

 

Leslie:  Yes. Discuss.

 

Ryan: So How many calendars should I have?

 

Leslie: 2 main ones. Work and family. 

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Segment 2: Contacts

 

Ryan: Sarcasm Here (I mean how tough is this really.). Is this something we need to concern ourselves with?

 

Leslie: Yes.

 

Ryan: What info do you want in your contact?

 

Leslie: 

 

• Name, how you know them, one number, one email, address if needed. Relationship for family

• Put hashtags in the group section for groups (at least for apple address book) Otherwise at the mercy of programmers for group functionality. Take control. 

 

Ryan: Talk to me about management.  What kind of rhythms to we need?

 

Leslie: 

 

• Cull at least twice a year. Again, set a reminder. Mine are Jan, right after holiday correspondence, and July, well before holiday corr and when I have time.

• Remove people you don’t talk to and save an archive address book on your laptop or desktop. Surprising when you need Aunt Petunia’s address (funerals, weddings, holiday greetings) but when you need it you don’t want to chase it. The rest of the time don’t need it cluttering up your daily data. 

 

Closing Thoughts

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