The Daybook™ - your day in a book |
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhy not just use a diary, or a
time manager, or an electronic organiser? Why not just use a diary, or a time manager, or an electronic organiser? Diaries are great for scheduling appointments. But if you write your information in your diary you will probably run out of space on those days when you have a lot to write down, you probably won't refer back to something once you pass a page, you won't be able to quickly retrieve information when you need it, and you won't have any system for cross-checking your work. Diaries just don't have the functionality of Daybooks and they were never meant to. Electronic organisers are great as information storehouses, but they are still impractical in many ways: you can't just quickly scribble a note to yourself in one; you can't see at a glance where you stand with your work in general or on a particular project; they are not easy to use in meetings without distracting others; and you still don't have any system to cross check that everything you set out to do gets done. It is also not financially viable to give an electronic organiser to everyone in an organisation. Time managers can certainly be valuable to senior staff. However, some of our customers who used to use time managers say that even after the seminars to learn how to use them, many people end up using them mainly as a diary. And if you do use them as they are intended, they can take up valuable time filling them in and transferring information between sections and from notepads. Basically, they are not simple to use and they are not a cost-effective way to get everyone in your business working better. When is a good time to start using a Daybook? You can start using The Daybook at any time during the year. Simply start to write everything in your Daybook and date the pages as you go. Clear your desk of notepads, scrap paper and anything else you might be tempted to scribble a note on. Remember, you might want to refer to that note later and the only way you will be sure you still have it is if you write it in your Daybook. All you need is your Daybook for writing things down in. Do I have to wait until the new year to start using a Daybook? You can start a Daybook at any time of the year - you date the pages as you go. How many Daybooks are required per person each year? One Daybook will last between 6 and 18 months. This depends on how many pages you use each day. Some jobs require more information to be written down than others, so the number of Daybooks required per person each year will vary. For some jobs it may be better to use a few Daybooks at the same time. For instance, architects who are working on a number of projects at the same time often have one Daybook per project. Most situations, however, would require one Daybook to be used at a time, especially as people usually have files for information specific to a particular project. Do I still need a diary? Probably yes. You will need a diary if you have to schedule appointments. This is what diaries are meant for and is what they do best. Diaries and Daybooks work well with each other - use your diary for your appointments and your Daybook for all your information. Who uses The Daybook? The Daybook is used all over the world, by people in small businesses, in large companies, and in government departments. We have customers who are architects, designers, publishers, editors, project managers, people in insurance, IT, education, manufacturing of various types, and many more. Basically, if you have to write down information in your job, then a Daybook would probably suit you. We have customers who have been using Daybooks for over 10 years and claim their businesses would not be able to function without them! Some of our customers include QBE Mercantile Mutual, TAFE - Australia-wide, Dept. of Education and Training, Nationwide Insurance Brokers, OAMPS, Rubber Technologies, Riga Rubber, Firth Doreen Architects, Rice + Ewald Architects, Hi-Torque Truck Spares, Integral Energy, National Grazing Services, Young & Associates. How do I get everyone in my department or organisation to use a Daybook? If you're a manager, you can direct people to use a Daybook, explaining how it will help the person to organise their own work. Point people to the How to Use page at the front of the book and explain the basic concept of "when you go to write something down, write it in your Daybook". You can print the Welcome to The Daybook page from this web site and give it to each staff member. This runs people through the concept of using The Daybook in an easy-to-understand way. If you have to present the concept to your manager, you can print out this web site and give the information to them, along with a Daybook for them to peruse. Order The Daybook here and try one for yourself!
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