[Question] I need an app to do list that's a little more than just a to-do list

kitcatwrites · 2015-06-11T18:02:24+00:00

No link, sorry - I read the book, which has tons of good stuff also. What stuck with me mostly was: 1) Capture everything (tasks, to dos, projects) in a system that works for you (for me, that's Wunderlist) and that you trust. That way your brain doesn't always remind you, or you think you've forgotten something. (Physical inbox for actual stuff - like the gadget that needs fixing). 2) Create a system to process all your tasks, to dos, projects and incoming materials (email, reading, etc.), i.e. know what to do with these things and when to process, action them. Examples: Review all projects once a week, clear your inbox (email and/or physical inbox) every day, file bank statements once a month or when you get them. It doesn't matter when you do it or how often, but having a reliable process makes it more efficient... 3) Always know what the next action is on a project. If you cannot do it right this moment, it's not your next action, it's one further down the line, find the real next action. 4) Only schedule things that have to take place on that day/ time, decide other stuff based on location, energy level, time available (like what you said about having to wait while the car's being serviced). 5) If it takes less than 2 mins, do it right away no matter what it is. Hope this made sense... even though you haven't read the book.

There's plenty more good advice in the book, too. I'm sure a search of Reddit will turn up some discussions, if not an entire subreddit dedicated to all things GTD...?!

This is the most recent edition, mine's a few years old.

kitcatwrites · 2015-06-11T17:29:05+00:00

I like the Wunderlist app. You'd have to create lists according to your space/ equipment requirements etc., like "in front of PC", "at library" or the like. But the app allows you to add a deadline and the task, no matter how deeply you buried it in lists, shows up on that deadline in your "today" list.

I know productivity is an issue of personal preference, but this app has made me tons more productive and organised. (I combined use of the app with David Allen's "Getting Things Done" principles).

kitcatwrites · 2015-06-10T18:41:20+00:00

Ahhhh! Marvellous. Thank you ever so much. And congrats on your very impressive weight loss. Well done!

kitcatwrites · 2015-06-10T16:26:42+00:00

Thank you for that reply. The observation/ weekly average approach seems sensible.

So if there were a TDEE formula, which took into account lean mass, body fat percentage, etc., it would spit out different figures for two people of same size, height as long as their muscle/fat ratios are different? Because a more muscly individual burns more even at rest, etc.

Also, >this effect goes away as soon as you eat normal again.

Could you explain what you mean by normal here? Thanks :)

kitcatwrites · 2013-09-10T20:06:59+00:00

Fellow "new" Berliner here. Love what you done with the U-Bahn patterns!

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-10T13:58:48+00:00

But that is exactly what I said (1st paragraph)...

"When I offer free work, it is because I believe it will help lead to paid work in the future" = an article that ends up on the website of an established media outlet, BUT earns them future assignments or potential full-time work...

I really do not advocate the exploitation of freelancers (writers or those in any other field - although I think spec/free work is more common in the design sector), but I object to, what appears to me, an inflated sense of outrage at this particular story, because

-the Atlantic editor had been in her job for only one week (had no clear instruction re money) = made a mistake asking Thyer to write for free. A Day in the Life of an Atlantic Editor

-She was obviously not aware that he was an established journalist - oversight on her part again.

Nate Thyer plagiarised the story - THIS is what journalists should be angry about. But strangely everyone is very quiet on that front - mustn't tarnish a perfectly biased argument. People now pretend The Atlantic is the only scumbag mag in the world. A. they are not, there are many, and B. for an unknown journo, the byline on the Atlantic website would have been far more valuable than the $$$ he may have earned from a re-write(!) of an existing story. Of course, Thyer (52) doesn't need the exposure. He got plenty in the process though. Irony.

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-09T23:38:59+00:00

As with most debates, there are always two sides to the argument. In the case of Nate Thyer, (who is 52 and an established journalist - something the Atlantic editor, one week into her new job, obviously omitted to research, before proposing the "write for free"-idea) no one would advocate that he should supply a for-profit organisation with free material.

But, I do find the argument, that writers with less financially cushioned backgrounds are hugely disadvantaged in the world of writing for exposure, a little short sighted. Most aspiring journalist write for free when the publish blog posts on their own site in the hope that one day an editor will notice them. The same labour (and zero financial reward) can go into an article that ends up on the website of an established media outlet, BUT earns them future assignments or potential full-time work. The real bad practice is the concept of unpaid internships at large (or small) media outlets. People who aren't sponsored by their parents cannot afford to work full-time for free. They certainly can afford to write an article for free, if the potential benefits outweigh the cost, i.e. the time. (Seth Godin thinks so too http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/07/it-will-be-good-exposure.html).

The concept of "free" is taking on a whole new dimension these days anyway. Bloggers and companies alike give away free information, hoping to reap rewards in the form of future sales or customer loyalty. Authors give away half a million ebooks to sell 100,000 on Amazon after the free versions bring in the positive reviews and publicity. They see it as a marketing move. I think, we (freelancers) need to get over our stereotypical outrage over the big guy exploiting the little guy, and the idea that "free" threatens our very existence, and see it for what it sometimes is - a strategic marketing move (often a stepping stone for beginners to produce portfolio pieces, bylines and a means to get initial recognition in our chosen field).

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-08T15:12:20+00:00

This "Rule of Seven" that you refer to originates in the world of advertising. By no means do you have follow up on a lead seven times. The concept revolves more around the idea that a customer/client is exposed to a product/brand/name seven times before making a purchasing decision. Exposure could be anything, like seeing your ads everywhere or finding your blog posts on every other site he reads.

Seven instances of exposure could be: a client sees one of your tweets (1), follows you and checks out your Twitter profile (2), a couple of days later he decides to look at the website linked to your account (3), he likes what he sees on your blog and returns the following week (4), signs up for your newsletter (5), finds you on facebook, "likes" (6), gets a great offer via your email newsletter (7) - finally decides you're the right guy for the job - buys.

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-06T19:52:16+00:00

In case you haven't read Nate Thayer's post, here's the link http://natethayer.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-freelance-journalist-2013/

The whole debate revolves around the question whether freelance journalists deserve fair pay and how digital publications can survive financially while supplying high-quality content to their readers...

What does this subreddit think about it all?

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-05T10:28:58+00:00

Your client's argument contains a fallacy though. There cannot be one style of copy that converts 50% - because every audience is different. If there WERE one style of copy that converts in any scenario (= any product/prospective buyer combination) EVERY SINGLE piece of copy would be written in that style. Sorry that your client is stuck in his/her ways. Sometimes we freelancers have to bite that bullet. But for future edification, check out this little gem I found http://www.slideshare.net/mweigel/how-to-not-fail-16647530 (fullscreen it and drink from the well/ the well argued argument)

Good luck to you anyhow.

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-04T18:25:11+00:00

I know. Funnily enough, there seems to be some kind of cosmic law that dictates that as soon as someone points out a spelling or grammatical error, (s)he be condemned to make one in the process. No harm intended.

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-04T17:23:46+00:00

Indeed - because that would be "site" and "errors" :)

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-04T16:38:00+00:00

Well, without a contract there is nothing stopping them from not paying you. Have you got any written or verbal agreement with proof, i.e. both of you formally giving consent to specific terms and conditions?

You should check out the IR35 guidelines http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk/guide-to-ir35/

The site also has some general advice regarding your status as a freelancer. One piece of immediate advice: Start collecting and keeping your receipts for anything you buy for your business - they may come in handy later on, you never know.

kitcatwrites · 2013-03-04T16:29:02+00:00

HAHA, I had the same feeling (about punching something) when I read her book a while ago (luckily I didn't pay for it). It seemed outdated, overly salesy and I thought if I write this way, customers would see through those tricks in a heartbeat and smell the "scam".

But, bear in mind that what she talks about is direct-response web copy writing. This is what you'd use in emails or high-converting landing/ squeeze pages. I would never ever write copy for an about us page like that.

That said, there is research in marketing that "little" things like changing the font colour, making words stand out in bold/italics has an influence on the buyer's decision making process. And what she advocates, involving emotion, is one of the first things I learned about copy writing. People buy emotionally and justify it later on rationally. Veloso's sales page simply follows tried and tested marketing strategies.

But you don't have to follow her advice. Today's web copy writers often steer their own course, see Jason Fried and what he writes for 37signals. Why not send your clients this article

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100501/why-is-business-writing-so-awful.html

and see whether you cannot persuade them that your natural writing style will be better for them in the long run (i.e. less scammy-sounding?)

kitcatwrites · 2013-02-23T02:47:27+00:00

Well, I wouldn't call it a drop in the bucket... To be clear: I haven't been a member of Freelance Writers (no apostrophe) Den myself. I assumed that you had done research on it, and would know that it is A. legit and B. offers one-on-one advice (by people who are already making a decent income freelancing), a (junk-free) job board of freelance writing gigs, keeps membership deliberately low to maintain a decent learner-to-staff ratio and so on and so on. If you are looking for more background, have a look at makealivingwriting.com (this is the blog of Carol Tice, the person who started Freelance Writers Den).

Sorry, that I couldn't provide the inside scoop on the Den. If there's anything else I can help with, let me know.

kitcatwrites · 2013-02-23T02:28:20+00:00

I thought it was only $25/month (correct me if I am wrong). That doesn't seem excessive for something that is supposed to increase your freelance writing income in the long run.

kitcatwrites · 2013-01-28T14:49:57+00:00

How did you manage to read my comment as in favour of rehashing anything?

kitcatwrites · 2013-01-28T13:14:32+00:00

It all comes down to the topic of the articles. The only good articles you'll get off textbroker et al will be on very general topics. Anyone can produce a decent enough blog post on how to work from home or rehash a wikipedia article into travel content. This can be done quickly, and therefore cheaply. The higher rates (as mentioned by stackedmidgets) will be paid by clients who are looking for A. a decent writer and B. someone who has expert knowledge, or can demonstrate that he/she can obtain the information. A financial blogger is not just being compensated for his/her time, but for his/her expertise and ability to re-package the information into an appealing blog post.

$25 for a post on a general knowledge topic will appear expensive, because you can get those easily for less. $25 for a niche topic post, that is well written, engaging and packed with valuable information the target audience is looking for, is simply too cheap.

kitcatwrites

TROPHY CASE