Getting My ACT Together

ACT! 2009 Demo Database

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:48:00 GMT

When you install your ACT! software, a demo database is also installed so that you can play with your new software and learn more about using it before you create your own customer and prospect database. Ever wonder who creates and updates the database? Yeah I know... probably not. But as a piece of trivia, it is me.

Each year when I write and update the ACT! QuickStudy Guide, I also update the demo database as well. The demo is used for practice exercises in the QuickStudy Guide, so it helps if I can design the database in a way that ...

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:46:13 GMT

Social Networking is the hot topic these days. I've recently started playing with linkedIn and Twitter. Can it make you any money? Not sure yet, however, in filling out my profile, LinkedIn asked if I would like to see other members that went to the University of Kentucky during the same years that I was there.

I have tried to find my college roommates several times over the years, but it can be hard to find women if they have since married. I knew their maiden name, but have no way of knowing what their married name might be. I ...

ACT! PlatinumCARE Release-Huh?

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:50:43 GMT

ACT! just released this new product offering PlatinumCARE. It has taken me a bit to get my arms around what they are offering. Even for partners, they are sending us information in multiple e-mails, each with 4-5 documents attached explaining different parts of the program. For me I like to see things all in one place so I can analyze what the deal is. Well I finally put it all together on my Platinum CARE web page and I think it is a pretty nice offering (only available until 9/30/2008). If you are already an ACT! 2008/10.0 user, the deal ...

Yeah, It's Finished

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:47:56 GMT

The final pdf, edited version of The Official ACT! QuickStudy Guide is off to the printer. In order for me to write, I need to have long periods of uninterrupted time. I don't see clients. I limit my access to emails (a very easy distraction). I sit on the couch cross-legged with my PC on my lapdesk and write away. My family brings me meals and then clears them away so I can continue on with unbroken chains of thought. I eat popcorn when I am stumped with how to more clearly explain features. Some years I gain more weight ...

ACT! by Sage QuickStudy Guide

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:12:21 GMT

Memorial Day usually marks the start of my 4+ week hibernation period. For the next few weeks I will be writing and editing the 2009 (11.0) version of the ACT! QuickStudy Guide. Since there is only a narrow window of time between when a software is ready for testing and when it is ready for shipping, I have to work fast. I usually spend about 12-16 hrs a day editing and updating the almost 600 page manual on all things ACT!. I’m looking forward to writing about the new features (with corresponding screen shots). I’d like to also ...

Annual ACT! Certified Consultants Conference

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:50:43 GMT

I’m just back from our nation’s capitol. I am alternately invigorated and exhausted when I attend these conferences. There were close to 3000 Sage-affiliated Business Partners and over 200 ACT! Certified Consultants from around the world in attendance. There were lots of new ideas, camaraderie, and friendships developed. No one gets much sleep since we are all connecting with other consultants. I love it, so I put off sleep until this week. Then there was the trade show where we could see all the add-ons in action (the subject of the next Houston Area ACT User’s Group ...

Are You Keeping Up With Reading?

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:13:57 GMT

According to the US Department of Labor and a survey by Yahoo! Chief Solutions Officer, people who read at least 7 business books a year earn over 2.3 times more than people who read only a single book each year. What books have you read lately to fuel that constant flow of new ideas and strategies to help take your business to a new level? ...

ACT Tips on Video

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:48:14 GMT

ACT! asked me to write the lead article for their e-newsletter (being released tomorrow). Entitled "Three Quick Tips for the New Year", it covers how to create and send an e-mail merge template for quick follow up with clients and prospects. The article also include instructions on creating groups based on queries for quick lookups that are always automatically updated by ACT!. Finally I included a reminder that by even learning just a few new tips and tricks using "The Official ACT! by Sage QuickStudy Guide" that readers could make a huge difference in their productivity for the year.While some ...

Kaizen

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:30:22 GMT

In making New Years Resolutions, it is tempting to create life-changing Mount Everest types of goal which can seem overwhelming and many times cause us to abandon the climb before even starting out.

At this time of year, I try to keep the concept of kaizen in mind. Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning change for the better. It is also frequently used in conjunction with productivity programs that encourage you to pursue continued improvement. Similar in concept to the "baby steps" from the movie "What About Bob", kaizen encourages us to make even the tiniest imaginable change. Even the smallest incremental ...

New Year's Again

clark@cornerstonesolutions.com (Susan Clark) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:39:00 GMT

I'm getting a late start in new year's planning as I got the crud that is going around the country right before New Years. Sitting on the couch and watching movies that I didn't like the first time around is not really conducive to productive planning. In reviewing my goals from last year, I am reminded of an article I read once that suggested that we replace the word "resolution" with "intention" in our annual planning. Last year I replaced New Year's Intentions with the verb "choose". I choose to be happy I choose to ...