Hmmmm....
I was writing the Serengeti post, and when I went to add it to Facebook, there was a post about going paperless. So, I investigated, and lo and behold, I had missed the challenge when placed. And that really was okay, because I've been paper-less for years.
But, WAIT!
Have I really?
If so, then why was it necessary to spend an entire day two weeks ago, going through PILES OF PAPER!
WHAT WAS ALL OF THAT PAPER???
Here's the thing about my transition to "paper-less"....
- More than ten years ago, I began using Efax (I now use MyFax.com), and I had an assistant fax all of my transaction paperwork & store it on Zip drives (of course, that's a whole other problem now; I do still own a plug and play zip drive, I wonder if it'll work with this laptop?) The point is, I've not had a physical customer folder in the past decade.
- I do all banking and bill paying online, have for a very long time. IN fact, if somebody sends me a paper bill, they often don't get paid on time unless I happen to remember that there's a bill coming from someone, lol. I've gotten so I PILE MAIL.
- I really thought last year, when I decided to start using my smart phone for everything (calender, database) that I would suffer significant withdrawal. Omg, I never opened my Daytimer once!
So, what was all of that stuff that I had to weigh through two weeks ago, and what will be my Paper-less Goals for 2011"?
- Copies of MLS listings. GOAL: after showing homes, scan whatever is still a prospect, save to client file, and shred the rest
- Mail... GOAL: Go through it once each week (pick a day), scan what's needed and file, then shred the rest
- Receipts and bank statements for my accountant. I have everything online, but I had printed out everything last year to take to the accountant. The accountant who then sends everything through his scanner and hands me back my paper. GOAL: Keep everything online and email data to accountant.
- A TON of materials from all of the educational and coaching seminars I attended last year. GOAL: Go through this mess immediately on return from said seminars, and scan/file. Toss or shred the rest.
- There were some things in the pile that I knew I needed to do something with, and though I could have scanned and filed them, I hadn't. I hadn't, because I felt it was necessary for me to see them, so I would act on them. Well, since they were in a PILE, they weren't getting seen and acted on anyway! GOAL: Use lists more efficiently. Scan/file, and add task to to-do list.
This has been an excellent challenge for me. I've had to stop and really consider the added steps I will need to make to be more efficient, as well as more "green". As I review my GOALS above, I realize two things:
1. I will need to have access to a second computer monitor, because working with documents solely online will require that I be able to read from one monitor while I compose on the other.
2. I need to win this contest, because being awarded the KODAK SCANMATE i1120 Scanner will allow me to begin doing all of the scanning that will allow me to meet my paper-less goals for 2011.
This post is written as a submission to the ActiveRain & Kodak Paper-less Challenge contest. I have the chance to win the high speed KODAK SCANMATE i1120 Scanner, great for helping real estate professionals reduce their stacks of paper by scanning contracts, photos and business cards in seconds."
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