Get Organized!

Frank Buck is an education consultant to schools and businesses. He has served as a central office administrator, principal, assistant principal, and band director during a career in education spanning almost 30 years. Dr. Buck writes a weekly newspaper column, maintains an active blog, and regularly presents at national conferences, including ASCD, Learning Forward, AMLE, NAESP, and Staff Development for Educators.

"From organizing your tasks to managing your inbox, Get Organized! is filled with practical tips you can implement today. Now that I’ve read the book, I'm more organized, relaxed, and focused because I know how to have everything in place. If you are overwhelmed by all you have to do, this book is for you."--Barbara R. Blackburn, author of 15 books, including Motivating Struggling Learners: 10 Ways to Build Student Success"Is it time to get your life back? In the ten minutes it takes to read (and the one hour it takes to implement) even the first chapter of Get Organized!, you’ll gain a sense of ease and control over your workload. As a former high school teacher, I wish I had been given this book the week before I started my teaching career. Read it today, and regain time—and your life— tomorrow."--Jason W. Womack, Author, Your Best Just Got Better"This book is like having a private consultation with an amazing organization guru. Anyone can get organized, simply by reading Dr. Buck's book, thanks to the easy concise instructions that will quickly change your life for the better!"--Pattie Thomas, Principal of Raymond. L. Young Elementary School, AL"While Get Organized! Time Management for School Leaders is a relatively quick read, it will instantly become your go-to manual as you look to increase your most valuable resource in education: Time."--Michael Janatovich, Middleweb"Buck is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable writer, and I hope that Get Organized! soon becomes required reading in education and administrative classes. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to begin a new career or assignment well organized? Time is of the essence."--Dr. Mary Langer Thompson, Middleweb

• About the AuthorDedicationPrefaceChapter 1 Clear Your DeskIs His Day Like Your Day?Are You a School Leader?Time: Friend or Foe?A Simple SolutionCreating a Tickler FileThe Tickler File in ActionOther ExamplesForgetting is a Good ThingThe Paper WorkflowLet’s Tackle the Rest of the DeskLet’s Tackle the Rest of the Office (or Classroom)An "L-Shaped" DeskPrepare Tomorrow TodayMy First-Year Secret WeaponSummary: Your Desk is Clear and So Is Your ThinkingChapter 2 Your Signature ToolWhat is a "Signature Tool"?Why You Should Use a Digital ToolAn Organized Task ListA Task List That Gets DoneThe CalendarA Very Complete Contacts ListA Wealth of Reference MaterialOur Love/Hate Relationship with EmailSummary: You Only Have One Place to LookChapter 3 Handling Repeating TasksSetting Up a Repeating Task SystemWho Can Help? The Art of DelegationExpanding the Repeating Task List Throughout the OrganizationSummary: Do the Thinking One Time and Let the System Handle the RestChapter 4 Managing the Flood of Incoming InformationDocumentationEmailLet’s Begin Getting In to EmptyVoice InputSummary: Surf the Wave Instead of Drowning in the FloodChapter 5 Handling Multiple ProjectsProjects are DifferentProject Execution: The GPS of LifeDefine the GoalBreak the Project into Small StepsPut the Next Steps and the Related Goal on the Task ListKeep Related Information with the ProjectStick With a Project as Long as You CanPut a Bookmark in the ProjectOrganize the Supporting MaterialSummary: Build a Reputation for "Staying on Top of Things"Chapter 6 Where Do I Put It?...It’s PaperFingertip FilesCurrent ProjectsReference FilesOff-Site StorageFile It the Way You Find ItSummary: Paper is Not the Enemy—Lack of a System IsChapter 7 Where Do I Put It?...It’s DigitalThe Computer DesktopDocumentsFingertip FilesCurrent Projects"Cloud" StorageUsing Multiple Cloud ServicesBacking-Up Your FilesSummary: It’s Only of Value if You Can Find It QuicklyChapter 8 Evernote Made EasyA Day in the Life of the Evernote UserThe Case for EvernoteGetting StartedWhat Notebooks Do You Need?Stacks, Notebooks, and TagsReturning to Linda’s Day: Lesson Plans in EvernoteDesigning Your Own SystemDigital Documents versus Digital NotesSummary: Your Notes Just Became More Valuable Chapter 9 Putting it All Together: Mindy’s Math DilemmaThe Goal and the Next StepThe Initial MeetingProject PlanningWhen the Dance is OverTotal Control and Peace of MindChapter 10 Time is My FriendReferences