When the time past, I asked myself "What'd I done?": 10 Things for Consultants to Stay Organised

Consultant job:

Travel around many clients.
Overlooking different jobs at the same time.
New jobs come in sudden.
Situation always go unexpected.

Therefore keep things(and the working lifestyle) organized is crucial to keep us survived in this job. I came across with this article from TechRepublic, hope you can learn something from there too.

1: Structure your day

When you arrive at work, you should have a schedule ready for you. Often times, that schedule is flexible. When that’s the case, structure your day so that you have time to decompress after more challenging jobs. Don’t set up your schedule so that you have one daunting task after another. Switch it up. Pad those difficult jobs with simple jobs. And make sure you schedule your day so that you have enough time for a good lunch. Never underestimate the revitalizing power of a good lunch.

2: Keep the driving to a minimum

Unfortunately, consultants drive a lot. It’s part of our job — going from client to client. But you still want to reduce the driving as much as possible. If you have four jobs one day that are taking you to different parts of the city, try to schedule them so that your driving is minimized. Don’t go west and then east, only to go west again. Group as many appointments by location as you can.

3: Don’t let the inside of your car look like it was hit by a tornado

One thing I have realized over the years is that chaos begets more chaos. If your car is a battle zone, your work habits will reflect that. So don’t continue tossing those Mountain Dew cans and McDonald’s sacks on the floorboard of your passenger seat. You spend a good deal of time in your car (although perhaps lessened with the help of #2). Don’t let that time be spent in chaos.

4: Keep pen and paper handy

I understand that we’re all geeks here and we want to project an air of geekery. We want tablet PCs to take our notes on so that people will be thinking, “Gosh that consultant is lookin’ intelligent AND hot with that gadget.” Well guess what: They aren’t thinking that. Having an iPad doesn’t make you look sexy any more than those jeans make you look fat. But without the means to take good and copious notes, you will look stupid.

5: Use a password manager

I have a long list of passwords for clients’ machines. I can’t just keep those passwords on a spreadsheet or text document. They must remain safe. To that end, I employ a solid tool to protect those passwords. Not only am I assured of the security of my clients’ passwords, I don’t have to remember all of them. Just make sure the encryption you use to safeguard the passwords is strong.

6: Organize your notes in files and folders

If you’re like me, you carry around paperwork for clients — even if only in the form of notes. If you have that paperwork stuffed loosely in a backpack, you’re going to look like a fool. Have a folder ready for each client. Even better, take your notes and then, when you’re back at the office, transfer them to digital format. Doctors do it, why can’t we?

7: Buy a smartphone

At our consultancy, everyone has a smartphone that can access the Exchange server as well as help keep us all from getting lost. Some of us use Android phones, while others use iPhones. The brand and OS you use don’t matter as much as their ability to keep you organized and in touch. And because most smartphones are all-in-one devices, you won’t be carrying around multiple tools that only add to your lovely chaos.

8: Use a Bluetooth headset

Using a phone handset in the car is a special brand of chaos — and it could lead you to an untimely death. Most likely you have a smartphone (see #7) that can connect to a Bluetooth headset. This is a must-have for a couple of obvious reasons. First — driving. You do not want to drive with a phone up to your ear, leaving one hand on the wheel. You also don’t want to be holding a handset up to your ear while you’re frantically trying to type commands (or point and click) your way to another successful repair and restore. Buy a Bluetooth. Your family and your neck will thank you for it.

9: Don’t forget your kit

Make sure you have a kit in your vehicle that includes any physical tools you need (pliers, screwdrivers, etc.) as well as spare cables you might need, tape (duct tape never fails), extra flash drives/external hard drive, and a flashlight.

10: Develop good habits fast

The sooner you develop good working habits, the faster they will stick. When you start that new job (or even after you make that resolution), don’t put off getting organized. Do it now. Don’t just say, “I’m going to get better organized.” and then drive 20 miles out of your way for another paper sack and aluminum can to toss onto the floor of your car. Commit to those good habits and make them stick.