Posts Tagged ‘document management software’

Digital Tiger for a Paper and Digital Filing System

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Since 1998, Paper Tiger has been helping tens of thousands of businesses, professionals and individuals simplify their organizational and hanging file systems. Prior to Paper Tiger, there were only five possible solutions to dealing with the world of paper management. First, let’s take a quick look at those.

  1. The Trash or Recycling Bin – Most people would still like to be able to eliminate paper from their life and be able to let it all go by tossing it somewhere and making it simply go away. That might be fine, as long as all that data could be tracked down later somewhere online.
  2. Stacking Paper – This keeps everything close at hand but fills up those “in” and “out” boxes so quickly. Then you divide the in-box into stacks, and the stacks begin to build on your desk and other surfaces in your office. Also, how can you ever really find what you are looking for? Time-consuming searches through piles of paper everyday and sometimes several times a day, is just not productive. This is more of a temporary solution than an actual filing system. And one that simply cannot be a viable solution if the paper files need to be accessed by others in the office.
  3. Alphabetizing – This one can work, but certainly has flaws. For one thing, how will everyone know what exactly you filed something under? Honestly, you may not even recall if you put something under “car insurance” or “auto insurance.” Plus, if you run out of space in a drawer for one letter, it means physically moving everything to another drawer to adapt. And, that’s just to name a few of the downfalls with alphabetizing.
  4. Scanning – Finally, a more modern, streamlined way to deal with your paper. There are, of course, still imperfections with this system, too. Consider the time it takes or that dealing with papers that have sticky notes or are bound. Depending on your digital file storage location — on your hard-drive or CDs or external hard-drive, data could be wiped out. Then do you have a way to search for your digital files?
  5. Indexing – Using Paper Tiger Filing System software, you keep your originals, but have a better system to help find where everything is located and filed away. Basically, if it can be numbered, it can be documented in Paper Tiger, whether it be your paper files to be stored in your filing cabinets or if it is your books that you want to index to be able to find easily later.

So, it’s exciting to think about what that could mean for the introduction of options such as Digital Tiger. This system will enable users to “Find Anything in Your Office in Five Seconds or Less… Guaranteed.” And, imagine being able to access your information from anywhere with an Internet connection.

With Digital Tiger, you can index your paper files that you need to keep in hard copy format into Paper Tiger Online, and scan your paper files that you no longer need in hard copy format, then upload the PDF to Google Docs where it will be digitally stored, with other digital files you’ve uploaded, converted or created in Google Docs format — all in an affordable and efficient Gmail Google Docs digital filing cloud storage account.

Digital Tiger, powered by Google Docs, is designed to work seamlessly with Paper Tiger Online, and is now available in Basic and Pro accounts. Paper Tiger Online will now connect to your Google account, making it Digital Tiger so that you can find all of your information with just one search — your digital files that are stored in Google Docs, and your paper and other physical items indexed in Paper Tiger.

We have put together two new Digital Tiger training screen casts. These will help you easily learn how to set up and start using the new Digital Tiger. See our Getting Started with Digital Tiger for a Paper and Digital Filing System for instructions and to review these new screen casts.

Don’t forget to let us know about your initial experience connecting to and using Digital Tiger by completing the survey.

Register For Our Next Live Paper Tiger Expert Webinar

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012


Next Live Webinar

Thursday, February 16th

(6:00 PM GMT)
(10:00 AM Pacific/11:00 AM Mountain/12:00 PM Central/1:00 PM Eastern
/GMT-5)

Please join us for this FREE one hour webinar hosted by productivity expert, Anne McGurty of Strategize and Organize.

  • Are you drowning in paper?
  • Do you have stacks of paper everywhere and continually have to search through them to find what you need?
  • Do you also have a problem locating digital files?
  • Are you late for project deadlines because you can’t locate files?
  • Are you as productive as you can be?

During this webinar, Anne will be demonstrating how to use Paper Tiger more effectively so you can get organized and be more productive.

  • She will show you how to get started with Paper Tiger Online.
  • She will describe what is a Database, create a Database, create a Location, create Items, and print labels for your items.
  • She will be demonstrating a work-flow example by filing items from her inbox and how to organize things other than paper files.
  • She will be demonstrating how to connect Paper Tiger Online to Google Docs and search from Paper Tiger to find both paper and digital files.

In addition, she will demonstrate work-flow example request made during webinar registrations and discuss problems that people have getting organized, not only with their paper but other physical items. Find Anything In Your Office In 5 Seconds or Less…Guaranteed! Join us to learn more.

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Time:    1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

(6:00 PM GMT)
(10:00 AM Pacific/11:00 AM Mountain/12:00 PM Central/1:00 PM Eastern/GMT -5:00PM)

The webinar is limited, so don’t wait! Register today!
Don’t forget to answer the questions on the registration form.


After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Please visit www.strategizeandorganize.com to learn more about Anne and the services she provides including her special 30 day program, includes a 60 minute weekly coaching call and unlimited quick email questions.

Anne’s Personal Productivity 30-day Coaching special for only $297

To learn more about Paper Tiger and Digital Tiger, visit www.thepapertiger.com

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System Requirements for the Webinar

Please note that if you’ve had trouble joining a webinar, see

Common Issues When Joining Meetings on PCs

PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

or

Common Issues When Joining Meetings on Macs

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Commit to Declutter in the New Year and Get Organized!

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Overwhelming Stacks of Paper Files

This year, stick to the resolution to declutter your life by getting truly organized. It’s probably a task you have been putting off for ages because it seems like such an overwhelming task, yet can be such a simple thing to accomplish. It’s all about taking the first steps to get started. The first step is making the commitment to clear the clutter in your home, office or personal space, so that your life will begin to be less stressful and productive. Before you know it, you’ll actually have more time for yourself.

Eliminate the frustration you experience every time you try to locate an important document and cannot find it amidst the disorganized mess acting as your “filing system.” We receive calls and emails all the time from people telling us that they have stacks and stacks of files that is causing more stress than it’s worth and need help getting organized. Paper Tiger Filing System software helps companies, non-profits, government agencies, professionals and individuals all over the world get control of something they hate…filing the paper on their desk & in their office, and can help with the life-cycle of document management, but it’s Not Just For Filing Paper.

Reduce the stress and anxiety you are probably feeling without even realizing it from having your home or office in disarray. Make this year the year you completely organize your life.

How to Get Started

To stop the overwhelming feeling of getting started with a serious organizational system, start by making a plan of action — a step-by-step list of what to do and how to do it. Set goal dates for each step of your organizing process, and schedule time on your calendar for each step.

Working with paper files, documents and other items that traditionally get put into a filing system, you can start by going through one stack at a time, and decide what needs to be kept, which of these files are actionable and which ones just need to be filed for future reference, and which items should be tossed. Then index the paper files by typing in any possible keywords that could be used for each file so you can retrieve the item when needed by conducting a Google-like search in the database. Paper Tiger will assign a file number for each hanging file folder to match the item number in the database. You can add to those items in the database by simply editing the item and adding any new keywords relating to the new document being filed, and place it in the correlating file folder.

Of course for some people, the only way to make it happen is scheduling the time on the calendar, and simply diving in and getting the job done.

Whatever approach works for you is the best way to start, but just make sure to actually get started. By making and committing to a plan, you ensure that you will stick to your resolution. Please also take a look at our article Customize Your Filing System with Paper Tiger’s Indexing Method to help you see the filing system possibilities.

Using a Document Management System to Get Organized

Using a document management system is the best way to get and stay organized. The great thing is, you can use this same type of organizational system for things other than paper filing. Typically, you use an indexing system to control your document management system, but this same method can be used for almost anything causing clutter in your home or office. If it can be cataloged and numbered, it can be organized by using Paper Tiger’s indexing system.

If you want to organize other items in addition to paper files, you can start by separating these things into boxes or bins, whatever is appropriate for the types of things that you’re organizing. Using the same approach as with your paper files … go through the items and decide what needs to be kept and which items should be tossed, given away, or collected in a box for a yard sale.

Whether it is your DVD collection, books, even your seasonal decorations, you should use this opportunity to get rid of or sell the ones you no longer need.

From here, you use the indexing system to type in any possible keywords that could be used for each physical item you’re indexing so you can retrieve the item when needed by conducting a Google-like search in the database. You would affix an item number label to the item or box to match the item number in the database.

With Paper Tiger Filing System software, you have a document management system that will enable you to finally declutter and live an organized life. You will be able to find what you need, when you need it and be more productive, less stressed and have more time for yourself in no time!

Feeling Stressed by Managing Both Paper and Digital Files?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

CALL TODAY! Contact productivity expert, Anne McGurty of Strategize and Organize, to schedule 30 minutes to strategize and organize a FREE analysis of your situation.

Strategize & Organize, Productivity Expert

Are you managing both paper and digital files? Feeling stressed?

How do you bridge the paper world to the digital world?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The car industry got it right…it’s no longer a gas or electric decision — it’s both – a hybrid.

With your paper files and digital files, you need a hybrid as well. The solution is Paper Tiger Filing System Software for Document Management with its new addition of Digital Tiger.

Imagine

  • Improving customer service by being able to produce information faster
  • Happier employees as they can find what they need, when they need it
  • Reduce the stress in your work day

Why make the transition alone … it’s not a tactical project that you can piece-meal … you need a strategic solution to be in the hybrid world.

All you need to do right now is the make the decision to spend 30 minutes with Anne McGurty, productivity expert, to strategize and organize and engage in a free analysis.

Call 303 881-0174 or email at amcgurty@strategizeandorganize.com today to get on Anne’s schedule and take advantage of this free analysis!

No kidding – 30 free minutes! Call or email today!

Digital Tiger Now Available With Paper Tiger Online!

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Digital Tiger, powered by Google Docs, is now available in Basic and Pro Paper Tiger Online accounts. Paper Tiger Online will now connect to your Google account, making it Digital Tiger so that you can find all of your information with just one search — your digital files that are stored in Google Docs, and your paper and other physical items indexed in Paper Tiger.

We have put together two new Digital Tiger training screen casts. These will help you easily learn how to set up and start using the new Digital Tiger. See our BLOG post on these new screen casts.

In addition to the new Digital Tiger, the following enhancements have been made:

* Time zone can be selected from Database Preferences. We have chosen to make this per database since some companies have different databases in different time zones.

* Database can now be exported to Excel file.

* When editing an Item, the Location and Item Number show in the edit dialog box.

* When adding or editing an Item, clicking the X in the upper right corner without saving will present an error stating “You have unsaved changes. Either save or discard them before proceeding.” This will prevent the box from closing without saving your information.

* Dashboard enhancements:

> Option to minimize/maximize the Recent Activity log.
> Most recent blog post available with option to minimize/maximize.
> Link to Tutorials and Training.

We look forward to your feedback, which you can provide by completing the Digital Tiger survey or emailing support@thepapertiger.com. Any technical problems with the app should be reported to our support team, not in the blog comment section. If you happen to email us, it is always helpful if you include specific information including the Internet browser you are using and provide screen shots if possible.

Thank you for using Paper Tiger and Digital Tiger!

10 Great Reasons to Move to Paper Tiger Online Filing System Software!

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Outlined below are 10 great reasons to move to Paper Tiger Online for your document management and filing system needs!

1. FILE or FIND from ANYWHERE – You can sign onto Paper Tiger Online Filing System Software from any computer with an Internet connection. Find your paper files or other physical items no matter where you are. For example, if you are on a business trip and need to have a document sent to you or if you want to catch up on some paper filing while at home, Paper Tiger Online makes this very easy! In addition, with the new Digital Tiger enhancement added to Basic and Pro accounts, you can now search from Paper Tiger Online to find both your paper and digital files!

2. SHARING – When it comes time to adding others in your office (an administrator, co-workers, managers, etc.), Paper Tiger Online makes this a 60 second process! It could not be easier to share the information in your office. There is no computer networking or IT hassles to deal with, just decide who you want to add to your Paper Tiger Online account and presto…the new user is added to the account and they will be able to find anything in your filing cabinets in no time. You can even control what level of access that they have and what data they can see and/or modify. See our knowledge base articles for how the multi-user plans work.

3. COLLABORATION – Paper Tiger Online plays nice with Google Docs!  With the release of the new Digital Tiger, you will be able to save and then easily retrieve any electronic document you save in Google Docs.  Paper Tiger Online combined with Digital Tiger will allow you to have the best of both worlds … a great place to better manage your current paper files with Paper Tiger Online and the ability to search for your paper files and digital files in one place.  Digital Tiger is free with either the Basic or Pro Paper Tiger Online accounts.  You can turn your paper into .pdf format using your scanner or store any other type of digital file in Google Docs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) and now that Digital Tiger is available, you will be able to easily search to find the files from Paper Tiger Online and Google Docs in one place.

4. ANY DEVICE or ANY BROWSER or ANY OPERATING SYSTEM (OS) – Paper Tiger Online runs on the Web (“In The Cloud”). So, it will work great with any web enabled device (Apple iPad, Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPhone, Google Android phones or any other Web enabled device). It also works with almost any browser and on any operating system (including Windows, Mac or Linux).

-Mozilla Firefox 3 and newer

-Safari 3 and newer

-Google Chrome 4 and newer

-Internet Explorer 7 and newer

5. NO INSTALLATION – After creating your account, you simply sign in at https://app.thepapertiger.com/ so there is no software to install and all the updates to the system, including on-going feature enhancements, just automatically appear. You don’t have to do a thing to maintain the product. No more worries about which operating system works with which product or what software conflicts with what product, etc. Paper Tiger Online makes filing SIMPLE!

6. AUTOMATIC BACKUPS & EASY EXPORT – Paper Tiger Online is housed at the industry leading IT hosting provider Amazon Web Services. Amazon is a publicly traded IT hosting company (NYSE symbol AMZN) servicing cloud computing products like Paper Tiger Online. Your data is automatically backed up nightly and security, as well as system up-time, are their primary concerns. In addition, you can easily export a copy of your data from Paper Tiger Online to your local computer at any time, just for safekeeping, and you can print out a File Index report of your database.

7. EASY CONVERSION – If you are a Paper Tiger Desktop customer, your existing data will be converted and uploaded into Paper Tiger Online. The entire process takes about 10 minutes and we are standing by to help you, if you need assistance.

8. FEATURES – Paper Tiger Online currently has a more intuitive interface, is much easier to use, and is fast. New features, as they are released, will automatically appear in your system. You will be notified of new features as they are made available.

9. LOWER COST – When you and/or your staff’s time are considered, it is much less expensive to run software “In The Cloud”. You and your team are relieved of any and all computer/software/IT hassles. The system simply works! Paper Tiger Online is very low cost…teams can be on the system for a few dollars per person/per month. Paper Tiger Online will be there for you when you need it and you don’t have to spend any of your time worrying about software!

10. START IN 60 SECONDS! – setting up an account in Paper Tiger takes just 60 seconds! You will find the process SIMPLE and PAINLESS…almost FUN! Just like you will find using Paper Tiger Online every day to manage the paper in your life! Give it a try…we think you will love it.

Filing System Software Is Like Having a Professional Organizer

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

From dental offices to law enforcement agencies, almost all organizations and offices require a filing system of some sort. The issue can become troublesome however. Over time files become disorganized or put under different titles and not everyone knows what title to look for to retrieve the file. Hire someone new and just the time it takes to explain the filing system or for the new hire to actually work with it and make sense of it, can be costly man hours. Not to mention, that one person in the office who knows where everything is, goes on vacation or has to be out of the office for any length of time, and the frustration builds when documents can’t be found.

The paper filing system is an important task for any organization because retrieval is crucial. Without all these important documents organized properly, your company would be in chaos and could cause legal trouble. Come tax time, being able to get to all files necessary is what will make your timely tax preparation submission possible. Ever get audited and find yourself unable to locate certain records or receipts, and you could find yourself in trouble with the IRS.

Without an organized filing system you can’t accomplish what you need to in a timely manner. It is estimated that the average person wastes 150 hours per year looking for lost information.

Paper Tiger is Like Having a Professional Organizer in Your Office

With Paper Tiger Filing System software, you can declutter your professional office space and be certain your paper files are in order and can be found when needed. Not only that but you can be assured you will have a method in which you can save time, be more efficient, and train others to use it in no time at all. In other words, you can redesign your paper filing so that the workflow of your operation will be in perfect working order and never cause you stress again.

Your document management can be made simple, as well as new and improved, by implementing an indexing system for your paper files to remember for you where everything is! By using this type of document management software, you can have your hanging file folders numbered instead of trying to decide whether to alphabetize or what type of name to give something that everyone will understand and remember when searching for a file.

You simply type into the software database an item name and additional keywords that relate to all documents in each numbered hanging file folder and file it away. You can give items multiple keywords such as “Jones dental records” or “Xrays for Bob Jones” and any other keyword that would relate to the contents of the folder. By doing this, no matter what a staff member types in for a search term, he or she will be able to find the file with no problem. This enables anyone to find anything using this simple to use style of document management.

What Else Can You Organize With Filing System Software?

One of the great things about this type of indexing system is you can also use it for so many other things for both your professional and personal life. You can imagine how much easier it can be to declutter all aspects of your life by using this type of filing system. You can keep track of bins of collectibles or boxes for seasonal clothing or archive old paper files to an off-site storage and still be able to locate exactly where an item is with just a quick search in the database. As long as it can be numbered, it can be documented or indexed in Paper Tiger Filing System software.

How to Index Physical Items Other Than Paper Files

Example:  Different Colors of Paint Cans for Your House

  1. You can name a Location in Paper Tiger ‘Paint’ and say you have 10 colors, so your Location capacity would be 10. In the description for the Location, you can input where you will store your paint, such as ‘Paint is stored in Basement on top shelf of Shelf 1 of 2′.
  2. Print out labels from the database to be affixed to the paint cans.
  3. Enter Item Name for each color of paint that you have, i.e., Baby Blue. Click on Add Item, and when you add an item, Paper Tiger will assign a number to that color.
  4. Enter Keywords for each color, such as the room or item that this color is painted onto, i.e., baby’s room, lamp table in baby’s room
  5. Match Label Numbers and Item Names: Make sure the label number you affix to each paint can matches the color that you input for the Item Name.

Example:  Boxes of Seasonal Decorations

  1. You can name a Location in Paper Tiger ‘Decorations’ and say you have 5 boxes of seasonal decoration, so your Location capacity would be 5. In the description for the Location, you can input where you will store your boxes of decorations, such as ‘Decorations are stored in Basement on 2nd from top shelf of Shelf 1 of 2′.
  2. Print out labels from the database to be affixed to the 5 boxes.
  3. Enter Item Name for each theme of decorations that you have, i.e., Christmas or Thanksgiving or Spring. Click on Add Item, and when you add an item, Paper Tiger will assign a number to that color. In this example, box #1 item name might be Spring, box #2 item name might be Thanksgiving, box #3 item name might be Christmas, etc.
  4. Enter Keywords for each theme, such as in box #1, your Spring items might include a spring flag, bunnies, tablecloth and picnic items
  5. Match Label Numbers and Item Names: Make sure the label number you affix to each box matches the decoration theme that you input for the Item Name.

How One Stays Organized With Multiple Jobs

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

In this article, Linda Cossel says she’s retired, however in her retirement, she is a Wedding Minister, a writer, a hostess, and a Computer Graphics Designer. Wow! That’s a lot to keep up with! How does she do it? Well, read on to see how Linda uses Paper Tiger Filing System software to stay organized in every area of her life! How many jobs do you juggle and have to keep track of things in your work and personal life?

I use Paper Tiger in several ways!  First, I have a very busy retired life.  I am a wedding minister, a grant writer, a writer, hostess and computer graphic designer for a restaurant.  I also have an actual file cabinet that I store papers in and I have a virtual file cabinet where I store word processed documents.

As a wedding minister, I have to keep track of marriage licenses.  I also have to store business cards for other wedding services so that I can refer my brides to them.  In addition, I have to write numerous different ceremonies for my brides.  I store the licenses and business cards in my file cabinet (tab no 27 and 6) and the ceremonies in my virtual file cabinet (tab 27 also).

As a grant writer, I need files for active, reference, and archived grant information.  Under my active grants title, I have folders for all the grants that I am working on.  Under the research title, I have information on local granting agencies, forms that I might use while working on grants, and any other information that I might need to write a grant.  Under the archive area, I keep all past grants that have been accepted or denied.  These are all virtual files on my computer set up with numbered folders just as if I were actually setting up a physical file cabinet.

I keep all my writing information and research in virtual files, as well as all my graphic design work.  I simply set up a folder with a title, and then add 50 subfolders with numbers.  In Paper Tiger’s database, I list all the subfolders so that I know exactly where I have stored all my work.  This has greatly helped me to organize all the stuff on my computer and make it so easy to find!

In my actual file cabinet, I keep all the stuff that comes in the mail or that I collect in my Paper Tiger folders.  I also keep a current print out of my File Index report from Paper Tiger in the top drawer for easy access.  As I add to the folders, I write on the lines of my printout the new files and when I have time, I add them to the Paper Tiger program on my computer.

Before I started using Paper Tiger, I had so many piles and never could find anything.  Just keeping all my business cards together was horribly challenging.  Now, I have a place to put them so that they are available at a moment’s notice.

Recently, when my husband passed away, I had so many items that had to be dealt with from his estate.  I filed all the papers and notices in the Paper Tiger filing system and when the different deadlines came up, I had all the death certificates, cards, and other paperwork I needed at my fingertips.

Paper Tiger has organized my unorganized house!  I can find anything I need instantly and add new files just as quick.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being able to finally find the papers that used to be in piles everywhere in my house!

Linda C. Cossel
Wedding Minister/Writer/Hostess/Computer Graphics Designer

Sarek: Spock, you are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is: which path will you choose? This is something only you can decide.
Star Trek the Movie

Recording: December 15th Paper Tiger Expert Webinar

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Strategize & Organize, Productivity Expert

During this expert webinar, Anne demonstrated how to get started with Paper Tiger Online filing system software and demonstrated a work-flow example by filing items from her inbox through the life-cycle of document management to help you use Paper Tiger more effectively to get organized and be more productive. She included specific examples in how to use the File Cleanout Report to prepare for and possibly delegate purging or reorganizing your filing system, such as how to transfer files from Action to Reference locations (those actionable items that have been accomplished and now need to be moved from your action file drawer to the file cabinet), and gave some tips in how to maintain after your initial getting organized project. In this webinar, Anne also demonstrated how to index magazine articles, because anything you can number, you can Paper Tiger! Watch this webinar to see how you can Find Anything In Your Office In 5 Seconds or Less…Guaranteed!

As information, Anne is a professional speaker, productivity expert, professional organizer and author. If you want to learn more about Anne and her services, please visit her website at www.StrategizeAndOrganize.com.  She may be in Colorado, but she’s nationally recognized as an expert and works with people throughout the US in person and virtually.

See Anne’s SPECIAL, contact her to get on her schedule and you’ll be more productive in no time!

You can contact Anne at amcgurty@strategizeandorganize.com or by phone at 303 881-0174.

See more information here on Paper Tiger Filing System Software for Document Management


Filing System Q&A from the Webinar

Q: How much time to set this up, typically–several weekends, 2 months?
A: Of course, this depends on how much you have to organize, but the secret is to not get overwhelmed before you start. See our blog post Customize Your Filing System with Paper Tiger’s Indexing Method

Q: I used Paper Tiger years ago but got out of the habit when it required a paid upgrade whenever I was connected to the Internet.  Now I’m drowning in unfiled paper again.  How will the old Paper Tiger files I have migrate into the current version?
A: When you upgrade to the latest version of the desktop version or if you decide you want the online version that Anne is showing today, you will be able to convert your old desktop version database.

Q: What can I do to keep articles torn out of magazines to keep them in order?
A: If you have a lot of magazine articles that you keep track of, create a Location in your database specifically named Magazine Articles. You can then index your articles.

If you only have a few that you want to keep track of, you can index them in your Reference location, and maybe give these a Category named Magazine Articles.

Q: What’s the best way to organize books?  In a separate database dedicated to books?  Or, a location within a database??
A: That depends on whether you want to see search results for your books along with all other files. Having different databases is only advantageous if you want to keep different filing systems separate and do not want to search for all files in all databases at one time because Paper Tiger does not search across databases. For example, if you have an Office database and a Home database, you do not want items to pop up from your Office database when conducting a search for an item in your Home database.

Q: Specific dates as to how long to keep different types of records.
A: Please take a look at our articles we’ve prepared and posted on our blog relating to this topic. I think you’ll find these helpful: http://www.thepapertiger.com/blog/category/retention-how-long-should-you-keep-records/

Organize Your Business for a Professional Image

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Just because your small business consists of just one CPA, which is you, doesn’t mean you can’t be taken seriously as a professional. Whether you run your own insurance agency, travel agency, medical practice, antique store or any other type of small, independent business, you can get organized in a manner that will have your customers, clients or patients seeing you as professional as any larger, established business. The details are important, and one of the most vital steps is to be organized.

Getting organized is not just about putting things away or cleaning it up, but also to be able to retrieve those items again at the time that you need them. An important office management tool to assist you in retrieval is to use Paper Tiger Filing System software to keep track of what you have, what you are storing and where it is being stored so that the items can be easily and quickly retrieved. Whether you need to find a receipt for tax purposes or that antique plate for a customer, indexing your documents and other items you need to keep track of will cut down on time spent looking for items and cut down on stress because you can’t find something when needed.

Even if you are the owner, operator and entrepreneur behind your own home office based business, you have to keep things organized and make sure to keep your office area decluttered. The main trick to this is keeping your records in order. While many businesses and offices are switching to keep things as paperless as possible, it is not realistic to expect you will not have any physical documents to manage. Not to mention, some physical documentation just can’t be paperless, such as passports, books, binders, CDs, etc. For one reason or another, you are going to have some paper files or other documents, and have to create a filing system.

Organize to Function Efficiently

Thinking like a small business is one way businesses take a wrong turn. If you think like a small business, you will end up acting like one. In return your potential customers, clients or patients will see you the same way. Go ahead and envision your business as growing into the next megastar in the industry. Set yourself up for success this way.

One way you can do this is to make sure your office has the organization required to function like a larger business, agency or practice. It starts with the filing system you have set in place. As an example, if you have a travel agency and a couple comes in and you want to show them brochures for a trip to Italy, but cannot locate the documentation you need, you are going to come across as unprofessional. Not to mention, you will more than likely end up losing out on business each time you struggle to find some sort of document. This is true for any records for any type of business. People have less time than ever to wait while you try to find their health records, tax filing or whatever records they want or need.

Organize For Professional Success

Getting Paper Tiger file indexing system software in place is a great way to make the most of your record management system. What this software does is enable you to type into your database not only the names of files but also many other keywords that you could name each file. By using different search terms for each record, you will never have to struggle to recall what you’ve named the file and you’re not confined to the one or two-word name on the hanging file folder tab if you were filing alphabetically. To retrieve the document you will use the filing system software search engine to type in one of the possible keywords and your software will tell you exactly what file number it is and where it is located.

So for paper filing, you would first set up all hanging file folders in your file cabinets at one time using the numbered tabs that you print out from the software and they never change. You input information relating to each document in the database’s digital file location. Paper Tiger assigns the file number to the document or set of relating documents that you want to put in the same hanging file folder. You can give the document any name you want without any worry about finding it later. This is because the system will allow you to tag keywords that describe all documents that you put in your hanging file folders. For documents that you want to add to the same file, simply edit the Item and add additional keywords necessary for the new document(s).

Because the hanging file folders are already setup and waiting for your information, you eliminate the time-consuming hassle of having to find and create a file folder and tab each time you want to file something. Again, the software will assign an index number to each file you add to be put in the first available empty hanging folder.

When you’ve converted your filing system to Paper Tiger, and you need to find a file later, you simply conduct a Google-like search in the database for whatever keyword you’re thinking on that day to find where your file is located.

By indexing your paper files that need to be kept in hard copy, you don’t have to spend hours searching through stacks or boxes or filing cabinets just to find one particular file. It has never been easier to keep track of important company documents, and using Paper Tiger Filing System Software for document management will help you get organized and stay organized! And remember, anything that you can put a number onto, you can index into Paper Tiger for an organized life!

Benefits of Hiring a Productivity Expert to Get Organized

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

This article by Anne McGurty of Strategize and Organize, and a Paper Tiger Expert, gives us some of the benefits of hiring a productivity expert to super-charge the process of getting organized to become more productive! A productivity expert has already done the research on different types of products and will know what will work for your work-style. Also click here to see the latest webinar recording available where Anne demonstrates how to use Paper Tiger Filing System Software for Document Management more effectively.


Strategize & Organize, Productivity Expert

Are you ready to get organized, but stalling because of a lack of time, money, or motivation? Don’t despair! A productivity consultant is just what you need! Make an investment in yourself, your business, and your staff that will provide amazing advantages for years to come.

Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to once you get organized:

You can save money. Once you get organized, you’ll know what you already own, eliminating the need to buy duplicate items. You’ll also be able to buy what you need when it’s on sale, rather than buying at the last minute. Your productivity consultant can also help you find the perfect organizing and productivity products and technology for your space and work style, so you stop wasting money on notebooks and gadgets that just don’t work.

You can become more productive and efficient. A productivity consultant can create order and structure out of chaos. You’ll receive systems that work for your dominant learning style, your work style, your needs, your challenges, and your dreams. Whether at work or at home, you’ll increase productivity once you have an organized and efficient schedule to keep you on track. You’ll be amazed at how much you get done in shorter amounts of time. And by focusing on your priorities and goals, you’ll be able to finally move ahead toward reaching them.

You’ll have a positive self-image and ditch the shame. Once your office is neat and tidy, you won’t feel embarrassed to have guests visit. The guilt will fade away as you take pride in your surroundings. Your organized office will allow you to present a professional image to co-workers, clients, and superiors. Your organized office and new-found habits to keep it that way will set a great example for your staff and co-workers.

You can create a healthier environment. Physical and emotional clutter obscures your surroundings. A clutter-free environment is simply easier to manage. A productivity consultant can help you clear out your space so you can see that you and your surroundings are fine just as they are.

Your stress level will decrease dramatically. When you can find what you need, are on top of your to-dos, and arrive on time, you’ll feel calmer and have more peace of mind. No more feeling overwhelmed by life — you’ll be the one in control.

You’ll discover more time for yourself. When you’re organized, your days go as planned, and you get a lot done. That leaves more time to indulge in making money in your business or career and achieve a little “me time”.

Your energy will shine. Clutter is a mask. A productivity consultant can help you take off that mask and let people see your vibrancy! Once the clutter is removed, you can showcase your talents, skills, and personality and have the life you deserve.

Productivity Expert as Mentor and Coach

Getting organized is not about putting things away or cleaning it up, it’s about understanding what got you into a state of disarray and chaos. This chaos affects people in different ways. In the case of this particular executive, it was holding him back from hiring an assistant and re-energizing his business development after the recession lull of the last two years. We didn’t even touch on how it may be affecting him personally.

All that being said though, it came down to him saying to me that he needed someone to organize him. Do you sometimes think that you need someone to just tell you what to do? I think we all look for someone to tell us what to do at some point in time or another, but are we listening? Not always.

I told this client that I understood his frustration, because when you’re in such a state of chaos, you’re also possibly dealing with “a running tape of thoughts” in your head, saying things like “no one understands me”.

A perfectly put together professional who has all the answers may get his office organized, but he may not understand the need to have someone to be accountable to — like a coach. We hear about success stories all the time — someone who loses a ton of weight and then coaches others and is extremely effective. The reason the former overweight person is so effective is that they understand when the client is dying for that banana cream pie, the coach understands that having just a taste is not satisfying the behavior to eat the whole darn pie — it is sabotaging their success.

Our Productivity Solution

I told my client that I’m like the former overweight person; I wanted the whole banana cream pie. I often made a mess of my world because I wasn’t brought up in a naturally organized, balanced life or family setting. I grew up thinking you had to work all the time and if you didn’t work hard enough you weren’t worthy. (You can learn more about that when you hear my keynote!) I learned best by people who understood my journey … or bumpy road.

We came to the solution with my client that he needed someone to manage him. Yes, I would come in and get the office organized to start. Then, beginning with a fresh office, we would identify all the projects on his list and set his priorities. As we go through this process, his habits will become apparent and I can start making recommendations of where he needs to delegate and where we can incorporate efficient tools and systems to maximize his productivity. Along the way, we’ll hire an administrative assistant, someone to handle the daily tasks of organization (filing, phone calls, etc… that are not money making tasks for this executive). This project will be an opportunity to supervise his behaviors and give him tools to learn how to manage himself. A good mentor is really what he needs and as a productivity expert, mentoring  is a way to help someone learn how to move onto managing their own lives.

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ANNE’S SPECIAL!

Forward this to your friends and family!

Personal Productivity Development Coaching For ONLY $297

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About Anne:

Anne McGurty is CEO of Strategize & Organize, a company devoted to training individual’s to be more effective with the tools and resources to be productive in their work environment.

If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love Anne’s transforming productivity training and organizing products to help you organize your business — and yourself — ranging from productivity consulting for individuals and executives to small business coaching programs to keynote speaking and corporate training programs to improve efficiencies in the workplace and improve productivity.

While Anne is best known for her expertise in productivity and expert office organizing, her clients share that her biggest impact comes from her philosophy of “personalizing her programs to fit the needs of her clients so they can streamline more efficiently with existing processes” – ensuring to create a sustainable work environment. This, Anne says, is the most important key to bringing an individual to personal freedom with time and organization.

You can learn more about Anne and her services, programs, and products for small businesses at www.StrategizeAndOrganize.com. For residential organizing services, please visit www.ResidentialOrganizing.com. To hire Anne as a speaker for your next event, please visit, www.AnneMcGurty.com.

Plan for Your Filing System Year End Clean Out

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

It is that time of year again to get ready to clean out and dispose of those files and records you no longer need. Document management is an important tool for getting and staying organized, and keeps your filing cabinets from getting too full and over-flowing. Of course, much of it depends on whether you are cleaning out your filing system for your personal life or professional one. Either way, using an indexing filing system like Paper Tiger Filing System Software for document management, will help make your document review, tracking and disposal that much easier.

What Needs to be Organized, Kept or Tossed

The important thing is to realize what documents you should keep and which ones you can dispose of. Income tax statements for example, should be kept forever. While you should keep supporting documents like receipts in case of an audit, for a minimum of seven years, the actual filings should be kept for good. Other records to keep indefinitely include anything of a legal nature and for businesses, all of your financial records.

There are some things you should keep for around three to five years. See articles at Records Retention: How long should you keep records? to assist you in making your personal records retention policy. Getting your paper files in order for proper document management is an ongoing process, but setting up your filing system so that it is easy to maintain will help you carry forward your momentum.

Keeping Your Document Management System Organized

In order to keep your paper files in order, you of course need to file them first so that you can find them later, because retrieval when you need a file is most important, but you should know when you will be cleaning out your filing system as well. If it is only once a year, mark that date on your calendar so you have a goal date to start and to complete this task. It is a good idea however, to make sorting through your documentation on a more regular basis than annually or set action dates in Paper Tiger for when specific files should be tossed or archived at certain times throughout the year. Disposing of records, making sure they are in the right place or making sure paper files added are indexed into the filing system software database should be done on an as needed basis.

What is an Indexing Filing System?

Sure, you may know what a filing system is, but you may not be familiar with an indexing system. This is a way for you to keep track of what records you have and where you can find them. No more confusing file names or forgetting which topic you filed your papers under. When you receive a new document, you type the name and keywords of what it could be filed under into the filing system software database. For example, instead of just “car repair bill” as a file name, you may also put automobile maintenance, vehicle work or Audi repairs as keywords. If it is the result of an insurance claim, you may even use that and the word accident as keywords, too.

Once you enter the data, you put the paper in the corresponding numbered file in your filing cabinet. When you’ve converted your filing system to Paper Tiger, and you need to find a file later, you simply conduct a Google-like search in the database for whatever keyword you’re thinking on that day to find where your file is located. This also makes disposing of papers from your document management system easy. Instead of pulling out each file and shuffling through each paper to see if you need it, you can read the list of which papers you have and decide from your computer screen which to keep. Or you can print a File Cleanout Report from Paper Tiger to make the decisions ahead of time or for an assistant to complete.

Implementing Paper Tiger Filing System Software for document management will help put a stop to over-flowing filing cabinets, so you’ll be better organized and more productive.

Sample File Cleanout Report from Paper Tiger:

Simple Productivity Tips – Why Would You Want to Get Organized?

Friday, November 11th, 2011

This article by Ann Gomez of Clear Concept Inc., explains a few benefits of getting organized and gives us some great simple tips to boost productivity without being overwhelmed!

In addition to Ann’s paper filing tips, when you implement Paper Tiger Filing System Software for document management, you will be more productive, you’ll spend less time searching for files, and you’ll spend even less time filing new documents or re-filing documents you’ve pulled.

Many people are overwhelmed by the thought of getting organized. Managing the avalanche of information can be a bit like drinking from a fire hose. It’s been said that a weekday edition of The New York Times contains more information than the average person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 17th century England. More new information has been produced within the last 30 years than in the last 5,000. Yikes!

I like to be organized.

Ok – I admit it. I like to be organized. In fact, I sometimes find myself procrastinating by organizing. When I walk past an unorganized office, I need to resist the urge to jump in and start sorting. But enough about me …

Simple Improvement

Getting organized is one of the easiest ways to boost our productivity. It doesn’t strain the brain, yet it yields some immediate positive results.

Getting organized offers many compelling benefits:

  • We save time by not having to look for things
  • We significantly reduce chaos and distractions
  • We are able to focus more on our most important work

Getting organized is actually pretty simple.

Most of us know what we need to do to get organized. The biggest challenge is likely finding the time. So my first tip would be to clear your schedule for 2-3 hours. My second tip would be to recruit some help. An assistant, an eager colleague or a dutiful friend all work. Finally, make it fun! Bring some snacks, turn on some music or even uncork some wine.

A few simple tips will help focus your efforts.

As you dust off your piles, consider the following organizing tips:

  • Clear your desktop. Only keep the task that you are currently doing on your desk.
  • Set up a staging area (for example, on a back credenza) for work you plan to complete later that day or week.
  • Establish a home for everything. Create files. Group like with like. House things where you use them. Purge anything that is unnecessary.
  • Put everything else away. Worried you’re going to forget about it?  Write it down on your To Do list.
  • Commit to maintaining your organized office. Avoid creating a ‘to be filed’ pile. These piles multiple faster than rabbits. Instead, file it right away.

So there you have it – a low-key, easy project that can boost your productivity.

Ann Gomez is a productivity consultant and the president of Clear Concept Inc, which she founded in 2004.  Ann helps her clients effectively manage their products and leverage their time across their many competing priorities.  She works with several top law firms as well as large clients across Canada and the U.S. Recent clients include Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, AstraZeneca, Yahoo!, Procter & Gamble, Grand & Toy and Queen’s School of Business.  To learn more, see Ann’s full blog: www.clearconceptinc.ca/blog/ and follow her on Twitter: @ClearConceptInc.

Clear Concept Inc.

9251 Yonge Street, Suite 8922
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9T3

Tel: 905.237.1651
Email: info@clearconceptinc.ca
Web: www.clearconceptinc.ca

Recording: November 3rd Paper Tiger Expert Webinar

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Strategize & Organize, Productivity Expert



During this webinar, Anne demonstrated how to get started with Paper Tiger Online filing system software, such as describing what is a Database, creating a Location, creating Items, printing labels for your items. Anne demonstrated a work-flow example by filing items from her inbox through the life-cycle of document management to help you use Paper Tiger more effectively to get organized, be more productive, and Find Anything In Your Office In 5 Seconds or Less…Guaranteed!

As information, Anne is a professional speaker, productivity expert, professional organizer and author. If you want to learn more about Anne and her services, please visit her website at www.StrategizeAndOrganize.com.  She may be in Colorado, but she’s nationally recognized as an expert and works with people throughout the US in person and virtually.

See more information here on Paper Tiger Filing System Software for Document Management

You can contact Anne at amcgurty@strategizeandorganize.com or by phone at 303 881-0174.


Filing System Q&A from the Webinar

Q: Do you think its best to have one point person to triage all files in an office or to allow everyone to do their own filings?
A: This depends on your staff, the way your office works, and how your office has access to Paper Tiger. Of course, the more accessible that everyone has to office files, the more productive the office will be. If your office has one point person, then the office will be depending on that person to be available when a file is needed.

Q: How much is your coaching program?
A: Anne is currently offering a special to all Paper Tiger customers for a limited time for $297 (for a 30 day program) and includes 60 minute weekly coaching calls and unlimited quick email questions.

Q: What is the cost for Anne’s book? Incl shipping…
A: The cost for Anne’s book, Lost in Your Own Office, is $12.95 plus $3.95 s&h for a total of $16.90

Q: I am in a housing development office with many files, eg. finance will comprise numerous government financing sources and construction files.  It sounds like this system is geared more toward home offices.  Speak more toward real offices.
A: Of course, Paper Tiger can be used in any kind of office, home, small business or large corporation. The basic concept of setting up a filing system is the same across all industries no matter how small or large your office is. You will always have Action Files (those files that need action either short-term or ongoing permanent action files) and you will always have reference files in your filing cabinets. That’s why we recommend starting with naming your Locations within Paper Tiger, Action and Reference. Then depending on how your office operates, how your staff wants the paper files organized, and the amount of files you have for specific categories, will depend on other Location names within your database. For instance, larger companies would most likely have a Location specifically for Human Resources or Personnel/Employee Records. Additional Location names could be Invoices, Expenses, Utilities, Insurance, Software, Community Service, etc. The different Locations will depend on how much you want to separate or differentiate your files. Our blog post ‘Customize Your Filing System with Paper Tiger’s Indexing Method‘ might be helpful to further explain and give you more ideas.

Q: Are there any presentations that can be made to an office of potential users?
A: We have several videos on our website provided to you for free Paper Tiger filing system software training. In addition, you can contact Anne if you would like her to come into your office to speak to your staff and provide personal training.

Q: I have a very old version. Can I upgrade or do I have to purchase a whole new program, and then transfer the database?  How easy is the file transfer?
A: Yes, if you decide to stay with the desktop version of Paper Tiger, you can purchase an upgrade from our website by going to our Pricing page, then choose the platform DESKTOP (on your PC) button, then choose Professional upgrade or Network upgrade and be able to convert your database.

In addition, this would be a great time to switch to Paper Tiger Online. There would be no software to install and you would be able to access Paper Tiger from any computer wherever you are. If you decide to switch, you would simply choose the monthly or yearly subscription for the Pro plan.

It is usually very simple to convert the database to either version, but if you have trouble, our tech support team will be able to assist you.

Q: Evidently the newer versions have features not available on my version…  very cool.
A: Thank you! Yes, and we hope to continue to make Paper Tiger Online even better with additional enhancements.

Q: What do you do when a folder becomes too full?
A: You can either simply insert another hanging file folder in front of the one that has become to full and have the same Paper Tiger Item Number on both (to keep it in the same place) or you can decide if you might need to purge some of the paper files in that folder. If some of the paper files in that folder are from a previous year, it might be that you can archive the previous year’s files to an Archive Location. They would still be available if you needed them but not in your more frequent reference files.

Q: How do you file new items in same, existing folder?
A: You would select the Item that you want to insert new items into, then click the Edit button. You’ll then be able to type in additional keywords relating to the new items.

Simplify Your Company Filing System

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Have you ever been in the situation that you needed to find an important document and you know you had put it in a certain place or filed it in your filing cabinet, but just when you needed it, the file is no where to be found. You’ve searched your filing cabinet under different file names that it could be filed under and you’ve searched through the stacks on your desk and on top of the filing cabinet to no avail.

In this situation, you probably stop and think, if only you had the time to index your paper filing system that your company currently has in place. But just think how much time you would save and how less frustrating you would be if you could find what you need, WHEN you need it!

Having a paper filing system software, like Paper Tiger, is not something that is going to cost a lot of money to set up and maintain. In fact, it can actually help companies save a lot of money, because they are able to save a lot of time since they won’t have to search for files. Often, it can take a lot of time to search for a particular file, especially if the files are not properly organized, and the return on investment will far outweigh the cost and time you initially spend to index your files into Paper Tiger paper filing system software. You will be able to index your paper files and still be able to keep them in hard copy format when you need to, so you will also have almost instant access to each of those files through your computer by simply conducting a Google-like search in the database for whatever keyword you’re thinking of that day to find where your file is located.

Trying to Go Paperless?

If your company is trying to go completely paperless, it is going to be like fighting a losing battle. There are always going to be paper documents in any business. But, you can make a choice to scan each of these documents and put them into a digital filing system, or index them into paper filing software and store the paper files that you want or need to keep in hard copy format. You can go paperless by scanning the documents that you don’t need in hard copy, but you will still have those paper files that is needed in hard copy when and if you need them at a later date.

In addition, Paper Tiger Online will soon be able to connect Digital Tiger to Google Docs which will allow you to search for both your paper files and other physical items that you’ve indexed into Paper Tiger and your digital files that you’ve scanned, uploaded or created in Google Docs! Yes, we recommend Google Docs for your electronic files because it is the least expensive digital cloud storage that you’ll find anywhere. You’ll be able to search for both physical items and scanned or digital files from one search. This will make your time management and productivity even easier to maintain!

Easy to Use Software

One of the things that prevent a lot of people from using many software programs is that they are afraid to use them because of the level of difficulty involved. Many people feel that they are not going to be able to easily use the software provided for certain applications and that by purchasing it they are just going to be wasting their money. Paper Tiger is really user friendly and easy for anyone to use, no matter what their level of computer experience. Not only is this software easy to use, it is also very powerful, so you can organize all of the paper files in your office, and still have room left over to be able to add many new files in the future.

By indexing the paper files that need to be kept in hard copy, you don’t have to spend hours searching through stacks or boxes or filing cabinets just to find one particular file. It has never been easier to keep track of important company documents, and using Paper Tiger Filing System Software for document management is one of the best office management tools to come down the line in a long time.


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