Symmetrical or Asymmetrical? Who are you?

Day 11 - Feb 21, 2012

Admin day in the office and now that I've have 23 accounts to cover, I've discovered that I need some tools to help me organize.  I am not naturally organized.  In fact my office has been described as Asymmetrical Sh__ Stacking.  Organized for me is Symmetrical Sh__ Stacking.  I can work in this environment but, I need to get the stacks into a place where I can use them.

For those of you not on Evernote, you're missing something special.  I can put notes, URL's, pictures and all manner of things into one place and then organize them into the way my brain works.  It's beautiful.  The part that I had to work around, because of my job, is how to keep the data confidential.  I've worked out a system so if the data is compromised my customers won't be at risk.  It's not that I have a bunch of customer sensitive data but I always worry about this stuff.  Six years of Air Force Intelligence has made me paranoid.

Another tool I'm using is Netsuite.  I've always been a proponent of using a forecasting tool to keep you organized and focused.  Salesforce, Act or any other CRM will work.  The key is to put all of your contact data, notes and opportunities in them.  Crap in - Crap out.  It takes as many data points as possible.  Don't leave out anything.

I also went on a short fishing expedition.  Using my targets from last week I sent some Linkedin messages, cold called, left messages and invited all of them to an event I am putting on next month.  I'm thinking about drafting an email to blast out but, if they're like me, they won't read them.  I doubt half of them even listen to the voice mail.  Stay persistent, right.  So far my most successful account penetration technique has been blasting my account list out to every partner that will read it.  As always, personal relationships trump everything.  I've managed to get 4 Fortune 500 accounts this month to at least talk to me and three of them have opportunities.  It's far easier working off of a personal recommendation.

Last but, not least is an interesting article I read.  This gives me a lot of homework.  It is a pretty good list to start with given the title of the article.  Business Insider Article.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-top-10-thinkers-that-executives-actually-listen-to-2012-2#

That is some useful information.  I don't like reading business stuff but I must hone my craft.  So, read I shall.

If you're reading this, let me know what tools you use.  How do you organize your business life?  What books are you reading?

Forgot one thing:  HUNGER GAMES TICKETS GO ON SALE TONIGHT!!!!!  My youngest daughter (15 yrs) has reminded me at least 200 times.  So parents or fans or both, don't forget to buy them starting at 0001 hours tonight (tomorrow).  Maybe I'll see you at opening night, around midnight at a theater in Dallas.