More Tech Tips for Helping Your Computer Become Friendly and Your to Become More Productive Part 2

Take these essential steps make your computer more friendly:
However, to keep it friendly, you have to be a friend to it. You have to consistently take the steps to keep it running fast and efficiently, keep it free for us from viruses and spyware, and then use shortcuts in your frequently used programs to enhance your personal productivity and efficiency.
 
Here are some more steps to keeping your computer running fast and efficiently.
a. If you are using Windows Vista, disable the Welcome Center that always pops up when Windows opens.
b. At least once a month, run the built-in Windows disk cleanup utility.
c. Upgrade your drivers. Check the web site of your PC, motherboard, or graphic card manufacturer to see if a newer driver exists.

To keep your computer free from viruses and spyware make sure you do the following:
a. Perform a virus scan on your computer regularly. Use one of the free online virus scanners if you don't want to install virus protection on your computer.
b. Spyware must be removed from your computer before it causes damage to your operating system and applications, and as a result brings your system to a complete halt. Use one of the spyware/adware removal tools that are freely available.
e. Turn off Windows Defender, if you have anti-spyware installed.

Since you are now keeping your computer working fast, efficiently and free from viruses and spyware, apply this mindset to your most frequently used application, Microsoft Word.
 
The menus in Microsoft Word 7 can be wonderful.
But all that clicking might not be the best way of getting something done. Here are some useful shortcuts for Microsoft Word 7:
CTRL + C Copy

CTRL + X Cut

CTRL + V Paste

CTRL + Z Undo

CTRL + Home To top of document

CTRL + End To bottom of document

CTRL + B Bold

CTRL + I Italic

CTRL + S Save

CTRL + U Underline

These are just a few of the shortcuts Microsoft Word 7 has to help you get things done faster and more efficiently.

I am certain that you will find each one of these strategies to be helpful.


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More Tech Tips for Helping You Become More Productive, Part 1

Here are some more tech tips broken down into Part 1 and Part 2.

Take these essential steps to take to make your computer more friendly:

For your operating system, here are three keyboard shortcuts for the Windows key:

Winkey + F - To search for a file

Winkey + R - To open the Run window

Winkey + D - Brings the Desktop to the top of other windows

Keeping your computer fast and clean is also a necessity. Here are five strategies for doing so:

Uninstall Unneeded Software. RevoUninstall is one of the best programs for doing so. I highly recommend it.

Declutter and organize your desktop. 
Set up an Icon labeled "Extra Icons" on your Desktop and sweep all your little used icons into it.

Reduce the number of Auto Starting Programs. Go to "Run" type in msconfig, go to Startup and uncheck all the program you don't want to be loaded during Startup.

Update your Programs regularly. Go to Control Panel. Look for Update and click to see what programs need to be updated.

Clean up your Registry. CCleaner is one of the best programs for cleaning up your registry and is another one I highly recommend.

Both RevoUninstall and CCleaner are free programs.

If you use Gmail (and if you don't, you should consider doing so), here are some Gmail shortcuts:

Shortcut Key, /, search - puts your cursor in the search box

Shortcut Key, g then c, - lets you go to "Contacts"

Shortcut Key, g then d, lets you go to "Drafts"

Shortcut Key, g then i, lets you go the "Inbox" or returns you to the "Inbox"

And finally, here are five tips for saving time when using Vista:

CTRL + ESC - Opens the Start menu

CTRL + Shift + ESC - Opens Windows Task Manager`.

ALT + TAB - Switch between open windows

ALT + SPACEBAR - Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.

These are just a few of the keyboard shortcuts and strategies that allow your computer to be friendlier and help you to get more done during your busy day.

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Become an Independent Consultant - Here’s What It Takes.

A consultant can be best defined as one who chooses not to be an employee; one who is willing to depend upon his or her own talents, abilities, and expertise for continued existence; one who is a risk taker -- knowing that there is no weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly pay checks; one who may seem to be a little crazy and weird to his peers, but one is willing to try to make a difference in the world.

Being a consultant means willing to accept extended periods of working alone while balancing that need with time to have fun with others. It also means dealing with the challenge of finding those times and making those times meaningful.

In that you work for yourself, you have to organize your own day. I suggest that you break your day into one hour segments or thirty minute segments depending on the task and how much time may be needed to complete that particular task. Some consulting work might require more time to be spent on the phone. Therefore, you may allow an hour for phone calls and follow-up to phone calls, while you may allow just thirty minutes for reviewing reports, and an hour for billing.

And, of course, until you become well established, you have to consistently obtain work which includes prospecting, asking for referrals, dealing with no answers, and marketing. Getting paid for your work includes billing, following up on billings, and negotiating rates

Over time you want to develop the reputation as one who puts the client first; one is willing to take the extra step; one whose sincerely committed to the idea of adding value to what you do; and one is willing to make a commitment to becoming an expert in your chosen field.


 
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