Lifehacks

LIFEHACKS
F I N D A N E A S I E R W A Y T O G E T T H I N G S D O N E !

WHAT IS A LIFEHACK?
A strategy or technique adopted in order to
manage one's time and daily activities in a more
efficient way.

WHAT IS A LIFEHACK?
• It’s a business!
• IKEA is considering
launching hacks for
their products right
in their stores
• This after trying sue

WHO IS A LIFEHACKER?
• Everybody!
• To be the best you need a can do mentality and
creativity
• There has to be better way to do this!

WHY ARE WE ALL LIFEHACKERS?
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
Stuff that needs done Capacity

EXPECTATIONS FOR TODAY
• Learn a couple things to make life easier
• Instill a mentality of continual improvement
• Have fun!

WHAT WILL WE COVER?
• To Do Lists
• Microsoft Tips / Tricks
• Be your own I.T. Person / Use the internet to answer
computer issues
• Life is easier with a camera
• Augment your memory
• Brainstorm better

WHAT WILL WE COVER?
• Learn about people / customers
• Get together easier
• Expense reports
• Protect my electronic stuff
• Face to face, but in different time zones
• Beyond Excel

#36
Live in a gang neighborhood? To avoid
getting shot, wear rainbow colored clothes.
No one will think you are from a rival gang.
@StupidLifeHax / StupidLifeHacks.com

TO DO LISTSK E E P T R A C K O F A L L T H E L I T T L E A N D B I G
T H I N G S

TO DO LIST USES
• Anything with more than 2 items you are likely to
forget
• Shopping lists (groceries, gifts, etc.)
• Cyclical / repetitive tasks
• Projects with lots of little tasks

TO DO LIST OPTIONS
• Paper
• Post its
• White Board

TO DO LIST OPTIONS
Web / Mobile
–Remember The Milk (basic)
–Toodledo (tracks time to do things)
–Wunderlist (looks nice / easy to share with others)
–Google Tasks (great if you are a Googler)
–Any.DO (great if you look at your phone 1st thing in the
morning)

HABITICA (ROLE PLAYING GAME)
•Turns habits and to-do list into a game
•https://habitica.com

GAMIFICATION
•Take a task make it a game
•Lifehack because it makes you want to do
something you might not want to do

#3
Save money on gas by always being where
you want to be.

MICROSOFTS O M E I C O N S Y O U M A Y N O T H A V E E V E R
C L I C K E D

PDF TO WORD TO PDF TO WORD…
•New versions of Word allow you to open PDF
files as Word documents!
•Easily correct mistakes
•Copy information from a PDF without Adobe
software!

EXCEL / DATA / FLASH FILL
• Format data (SSN / Names / Address)
• Convert dates to normal date format (19610222 to
2/22/1961)
• Combine columns
• Separate data from a column
• NOT perfect / check the results!
• If having trouble copy and paste data to a clean
sheet

EXCEL PROCESSES
•When working with data Excel is great
•If you do too much you can forget what you
have
–Title tabs
–Use a tab to keep track of what you have done

OUTLOOK / INSERT / QUICK PARTS
• Adds the same text from a drop down box.
• Example: Betty constantly forgets to
include the GL when she submits an
invoice. You always reply asking for the GL.
• Instead of typing “Betty, Please send me
the GL for this invoice. Thanks, me.” (11
words)
• Click Insert / Quick Parts / Text (3 clicks)

OUTLOOK MULTIPLE SIGNATURES
•Add different signatures for different groups
•Right click on signature to change to other
saved signatures

OUTLOOK / DRAG DRAFT TO DESKTOP
• Need to send the same message to multiple people without
CC’ing or BCC’ing them?
• Save a Draft
• Open Drafts
• Click and Drag file to Desktop
• You can now open enter email addresses and send over and
over and over and over and over!

EMAIL IN GENERAL THE IN-BOX
• Use folders to manage your message
– Action (things you need to do)
– Archive (things you might need)
– Waiting (things holding up a process)
• Read and act
• Limit Inbox to 10 messages
• Schedule times to manage your inbox
• Turn off push notification on cell phone!
10

• Snooze emails – They leave your inbox then come
back when you tell them to come back
• Follow-up reminders – Will remind you if someone
does NOT reply to a message

#18
Is your computer running slower than
normal? Try installing toolbars. They have
been scientifically proven to speed up your
computer and increase functionality.

BINDER CLIP = DESK CORD
ORGANIZER

DO YOU REALLY
NEED I.T.
PEOPLE?H O W T O F I N D A N S W E R S T O Y O U R M O S T
V E X I N G Q U E S T I O N S

LET ME GOOGLE THAT FOR YOU
• http://lmgtfy.com/
• Type a search and get a link to send to someone.
• They open the link and it takes them to the Google
page.
• If you received one of these people were probably
messing with you!!

GROUPS / MESSAGE BOARDS
• Use the power of the herd!
• People on the outer edge can
see things differently.
• If you want to know what they
see ask them.
• If you want to ask them you
have to find them.

#41
Old phone directories make brilliant address
books! Just cross out everybody that you
don’t know.

LEVERAGE YOUR
PHONE’S
CAMERAA P I C T U R E I S W O R T H 1 , 0 0 0 W O R D S

FIND YOUR CAR
Take a picture with the
row and floor

REMEMBER YOUR HOTEL ROOM
NUMBER

CAR CRASH
1. Document Damage
2. Exchange Insurance
3. Identify the other person
4. Call your insurance
5. Use an app (if you crash a
lot)

SCAN DOCUMENTS
• Google Drive / Scannable
• Take a picture and save it to your favorite
organizational tool
–Google or Evernote

#142
Need to mark your page in a book but don’t
have a bookmark? Just use ketchup instead!

NOTE TAKING
AND ARCHIVINGH O W T O K E E P T R A C K O F A L L T H E L I T T L E
T H I N G S Y O U S E E

NOTE TAKING BASIC IDEA
• Gather information
• Allow users to organize and share the information

NOTE TAKING USES
• Collaborative research (allow a group to find details
about a topic)
• Expenses / receipts
• Make a reading list

NOTE TAKING USES
• Save all kinds of information in one group
–Emails
–Webpages
–Notes
–Etc.

NOTE TAKING SKILLS
• Dedication
–Create a system and trust it!
• Tagging
–How will I look for this in the future?
• Sharing

#161
Want to sound smart? Say “According to my
calculations” In front of everything you say.

PANCAKE BATTER + KETCHUP BOTTLE

MIND MAPPINGA N E W W A Y T O O R G A N I Z E I D E A S A N D
B R A I N S T O R M

MIND MAPPING BASICS
Ideas connected to each other

MIND MAPPING USES
•Brainstorming
•Org Chart
•Explain relationships
•Map GL

#86
Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by
getting someone else to hold them while
you chop away.

SURVEY TOOLSA S K P E O P L E Q U E S T I O N S T O G E T B E T T E R
I N F O R M A T I O N

USES
•Ask people questions!
•Make decisions based on data not gut feeling.

#19
Always being 5-10 minutes late to parties
and events? Leave 5-10 minutes earlier and
you will always be on time!

TIME PICKERSF I N D O U T W H E N P E O P L E A R E A V A I L A B L E

• http://www.timetrade.com/
• Allows you to share your calendar and schedule meetings with people.

#9
When you’re downloading a file, flip your
screen sideways so gravity helps the file
download faster.

EXPENSE
REPORTSE A S I E R T H A N T H R O W I N G R E C E I P T S A T
P E O P L E

BEST PROVIDERS
• Allow you to scan or take pictures
• Mileage Log+
• Your bank, many have business apps

#50
Stop your dog from pulling on its leash by
simply walking a bit faster.

PASSWORD
MANAGERSD I D I U S E A “ $ ” I N S T E A D O F “ S ” I N M Y
S I S T E R ’ S N A M E F O R T H A T P A S S W O R D ?

BASIC IDEA
• Upper case, lower case, special characters, numbers,
when will it all end???
• Passwords protect everything we know.
• There is a better way than writing them down in a
book.

• Security (they suspected they were being hacked
and they went to lockdown)
• Free version, Premium is $12 per year
• Works on everything / Is the default choice

•Can be used locally without syncing to the web
•Share passwords and provide emergency
contacts
•One time cost $50 or $70 for Mac & Windows

JACOB VIDEO
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSBl8MiYqD4&list=PLmjVNrH2Kgt3zv_4kBgoAzO
bScqoRshnp&index=4

#35
Having trouble meeting people or making
new friends? Wear your headphones and
everyone will start talking to you.

MULTIPLE KIDS? ADD DOTS TO
KNOW WHO WEARS WHAT!

VIDEO
CONFERENCINGY O U A R E H E R E B O B I S T H E R E H O W C A N W E
H A V E A G O O D C O N V E R S A T I O N ?

CAMERAS AND INTERNET
EVERYWHERE LETS USE THEM!
• Technology allows us to see and hear people from anywhere
• Busy people don’t have to be a mystery
• Family can stay connected, even during the busy time of
month / year
• FaceTime can be a lifesaver when you don’t know which
frozen pizza your spouse wants

NOT JUST YOUR SMILING FACE
• Skype for business (Microsoft’s solution)
–Share screen
–Give presentations
–Share files

LOTUS 1,2,3
THEN EXCEL
THEN???W H E R E D O W E G O F R O M H E R E , T H E F U T U R E
O F S P R E A D S H E E T S

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH EXCEL?
• People do NOT read numbers very well
• Traditional charts and graphs just invite questions
• As people get better at consuming data they need
more powerful tools

WHO WILL TAKE EXCEL’ S PLACE?

#8
To avoid getting costly parking tickets, just
take the windshield wipers off of your car.
The police won’t be able to give you a
ticket, so you can park anywhere for as long
as you like.

A L L E N L L O Y D
M A N A G E R O F M E M B E R S E R V I C E S
T H E O H I O S O C I E T Y O F C P A S
A L L O Y D @ O H I O C P A . C O M
( 8 0 0 ) 6 8 6 - 2 7 2 7

AN APP FOR YOUR APPS?
• IFTTT
• If This Then This
• It acts based on what you do

IFTTT DO
• Make a button to track time

IFTTT
• Create a digest of articles
• If I go to NYT and open article
• Then add it to my reading list

LIST FROM MARK AT SPARKSPACE
1. Quit your job.
2. Do what you love, and release expectations (your own and others) about "should" and "the way it is
done".
3. Stop caring about the past...and future.
4. Stop watching the news.
5. Prep your meals.
6. Turn off notifications and badges on your phone apps.
7. Cut your wardrobe down to one load of laundry.
8. Move from your big home to a small rental near the beach.
9. Move from your expensive state/city to a more affordable one.
10. House sit for others instead of owning one.
11. Get rid of your television.
12. Stop arguing with people.
13. Use online appointment scheduling software.
14. Pay bills online.
15. Pay as many bills as you can automatically.
16. Hire a housekeeper (MANY SAID THIS!)
17. Work from home.
18. Have one set of sheets per bed so you never have to fold sheets or store all that extra linen.
19. Workout at home instead a a gym to save time.
20. Let go of grudges.
21. Get a Roku or Apple TV and get rid of cable.
22. Use Google Alerts to bring interesting news to you instead of surfing endlessly to find it.
23. Stop watching the news.
24. Stop reading the newspaper.
25. Learn how to say no.
26. Work closer to home.
27. Move closer to work.
28. Sell everything and live out of a backpack.
29. Distance yourself from negative people (even family).
30. Accept that not everyone loves you.
31. Stop trying to please everyone.
32. Upgrade physical products to digital products.
33. Clear out weeks', months', or years' worth of accumulation.
34. Follow this rule: If you haven't used it in a year, give it away.
35. Throw away all your socks and buy ones that are all the same.
36. Donate everything you can to a worth charity.
37. Put away all the dishes you really don't need and stop using your dishwasher.
38. Stop caring what other people thing.
39. Cut boring people out of your life.
40. Stop worrying about matching socks.
41. Keep only 20 items of clothing.
42. Follow the "1 in 1 out" rule: for every piece of new clothing that enters your closet, one must leave.
43. Only have things in your house that are useful or aesthetically pleasing. Get rid of everything else.
44. Stop taking action that isn't working for you.
45. Fix or get rid of broken stuff and stuff that doesn't work well.
46. Reduce your overhead.
47. Follow Timothy Ferris' DEAL philosophy: Define, Eliminate, Automate, Liberate.
48. Live life. Work to make it possible, not the other way around.
49. Make mindful decisions.
50. Move within biking distance of work.
51. Remove people who do nothing but waste time on nonsense.
52. Use Basecamp (the app).
53. Make a list of things that make you happy. Make a list of things you do every day. Compare the lists.
Adjust accordingly.
54. De-clutter.
55. Put a carabineer on your keys and hook them to your purse or belt loop to keep from losing them.
56. Take Fridays off, but keep the kids in daycare so you can get stuff done or simply breathe.
57. Turn off Facebook notifications on your devices.
58. Get off Facebook.
59. Become your own boss.
60. Make an effort to be with positive people.
61. Unsubscribe from newsletters you don't want to receive anymore.
62. Hire a virtual assistant.
63. Take one day at a time.
64. Use a service like www.GetMagicNow.com to get things done.
65. Get the kids out of the house ASAP.
66. Always be organized.
67. Exercise more so you have more energy.
68. Move outside of the US.
69. Take all school holidays off with your kids.
70. Get rid of your smart phone and get a pre-paid phone for emergencies.
71. Prep for your morning routine the night before.
72. Wear your workout clothes to bed.
73. Use Amazon Subscribe (a relatively new feature that allows you to automatically get shipments of stuff
you by regularly, like laundry detergent).
74. Shop online.
75. Grocery shop at ALDI instead of giant grocery stores.
76. Become debt-free.
77. Stop buying lots of presents for kids' birthdays and create memories instead.
78. Fire everything that isn't working in your life.
79. Quit groups that you get no value from (or that get no value from you).
80. Clean out your bookshelves.
81. Stop making plans that fill up your weekends.
82. Give back (or turn down) a promotion or position if it is not the right fit for you.
83. When you're in over your head, ask for help. Preferably sooner.

SCRUM PROCESS
• Break a large project down into small pieces
• Start with a meeting where you identify needs
• Assign small tasks which are completed and tested
–Sprint
• Stop doing a whole project then testing, test along
the way

SCRUM TASK
• I as a _______ need __________ so that I can ________.
• I as a member of staff need to know how many members we have so I can determine
how aggressive to be with the renewal process.
• I as a client need to know how much I will be billed so I can make sure we can afford
your services.
• I as a payables person need to know the address of the payee so I can send the check
to the correct location.

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