The first question should probably be: Do I need a project management tool? The answer is yes, no matter what type of business you do. No matter what kind of business you run, you’ve got things you need to get done. You may even have a team that you need to keep track of and assign tasks to. You may need files kept in a central place or reminders set on deadlines so you don’t forget to do things. All around, they’re great to use and getting in the habit of using one is a HUGE lifesaver. In fact, I’ve set mine up to open automatically when I open up my laptop. It goes straight to my daily tasks so I stay on top of my sh*t. (This link will show you how to do it too).

I’ve broken down different Project Management Tool options:

No. 1: Asana

Asana is AWESOME. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend it. I use it for all things Rebel Office including sharing task lists with our clients so they don’t forget what their homework is PLUS for administrative things such as Business Development initiatives, keeping track of what needs to get done for a new Rebel Office online course, and marketing! The best part? It’s FREE.

There are other options that have similar capabilities such as Wrike, Basecamp, and Trello. Explore all of them and find the best one for you! The software company Cloudwards also has a great article that breaks down these options too: click here.

No. 2: Google Drive

Google Drive is my jam. With Rebel Office’s history in graphic design, we learned pretty quickly that we needed a platform to share those sometimes HUGE files. Google Suite included our email addresses, Drive, Calendar, and more, so it was the obvious choice for us. Not only has it been great for sharing files with clients, but it’s been great for sharing files and collaborating on documents with the Rebel Office team and subcontractors.

From having one place for all our blog posts & associated graphics, to our working content calendar and upcoming networking events… it’s great for constantly updating information and working together.

Another solution is Dropbox!

No. 3: The classic paper & pen

Now hear me out. Visualization is SO important, and sometimes having something on your wall is really the best way to go. I’ve already mentioned that Rebel Office LOVES Asana, because it has all of these features – from boards to calendars to lists – that help with the visualization of what needs to get done. So if you want to save paper, check it out. But you can also do the following:

1. Go out and buy a whiteboard and draw on a weekly or monthly template that marks your milestones.
2. Map out your customer acquisition and sales process with sticky notes. Then, whenever you get a new customer or client, give them their own sticky note and move them along your wall as they go through your sales funnel.

Go on and give it a try. I know you have a ton of stuff to do, and things keep adding up and you simply don’t have the time to get yourself organized today. But TRUST ME and I say that putting an autoresponder on your email saying you’re away today, shutting off your phone and taking the time to set yourself up for success will not only help your business run better in the future but will make you feel INSANELY better about your business and your life.

Have other ideas or tools that you’ve come across that you think people need to know about? Share in the comments section below!