I have those moments when I look up and think, "Where the heck did all of my time ago? I know I've been working all day. What do I have to show for it?" And, I'm certain my clients have had the same thought from time to time. Is Above & Beyond personal information manager software the answer?
Corporate professionals everywhere are always searching for new and improved ways to keep track of all of their commitments. Work-at-home professionals are no different. In fact, our challenge often goes a step further. Because we work at home, our days are often quiet and uninterrupted, leading to greater productivity. But, how do we prove that?
Sure, there are those days when the phone doesn't stop ringing and the kids are running in and out. But, for the most part, I would take a focused, work-at-home professional over a corporate whiz in any type of race. I often say that I can accomplish more in one, eight-hour day than a corporate person can do in a week.
That's not my ego talking; it's simply a difference in environment. I don't have meetings to plan for another meeting and I don't have co-workers encouraging me to go to lunch or take a walk for a cup of ice tea. When I sit down at my desk, I simply work.
But, still, I have those moments when I look up and think, "Where the heck did all of my time ago? I know I've been working all day. What do I have to show for it?" And, I'm certain my clients have had the same thought from time to time.
The answer comes in a smart, easy to use personal information manager software - Above & Beyond®. Above and Beyond's website boasts a program anyone can use for "…planning, managing, and tracking your active business and personal life. Everything for time management."
Everything for time management?
That's a little bit of a stretch. But, the Above & Beyond personal information management software does provide a minute-by-minute accounting of how you spent your day (providing you remember to start the timer for each project). The best part of this program is the ability to color code your activities by project or client and later export that information for billing.
The best way to describe Above & Beyond is to say that it's a fancy To-Do List with timers. With this program, you can set reminders, enter recurring activities and store your contacts (albeit in a rudimentary format) -- all while tracking exactly how much time you spend on each activity.
The interface is fairly intuitive and simple to understand. The biggest challenge in using Above & Beyond (and, really, any organizational tool) is remembering to use it.
There are two available versions of Above & Beyond Personal Information Manager Software: Lite and Pro. The Lite version is available for $49.95 and offers the intuitive interface and basic organization features. The Pro version is available for $149.95 and includes Dynamic Scheduling and time accounting features.
But, before you pay anything, you can work with the personal information manager (PIM) software on a trial basis for 60 days. In this time, you can decide if this is a program you'll actually use to track how you're spending your time each day. While the Above & Beyond marketers boast, "It's the only day planner you need," only time will tell if this is the right organization tool for you and your home business.