Getting Organized

If you don’t already know, I’m a big fan of Highrise and Basecamp (products from 37 Signals).  Both are tools to help you get and stay organized.  I’ve been using both for at least a year now, never to their full potential though.

In the last month or so, I upgraded my package on both apps to include new features (more projects and time tracking for Basecamp and for the “Deals” feature in Highrise).  2009 will be the year I become “religious” about using both these tools because I truly believe they can make my life easier and more productive.

As I started to use the time tracking feature in Basecamp, I had a question about what the clients could and could not see.  I first looked up the FAQ, which answered my question, as well as logged in as a client to “see what they see”.  From there, I took a quick detour to the Forums just to see what others might be asking (you can learn a lot by reading how others are using something).

One of the first posts I read was a rant about what the time tracking feature didn’t do.  My first thought was, “You idiot, did you bother reading about the feature before you upgraded.”  It clearly doesn’t do what they thought it should.

Beyond that, I wonder how many people buy something thinking it will do what they want without actually reading about the features before the purchase.  I wonder how many people use the wrong “tool” for a job.  I wonder if it is the tool’s fault, the user’s fault or maybe the marketer’s fault.

I my opinion, it is rarely the tool’s fault.  It does what it does.

If you’re using a hammer to drive a screw…  Having all-wheel drive doesn’t mean you can go off-roading (Porsche Turbo).  The picture on your new 46 inch LCD TV isn’t going to be better if you’re still using an analog antenna on your roof.

Sometimes the “marketing” of a product or service isn’t entirely accurate.  Just because an app can send email messages doesn’t mean you can use it as an email marketing tool. Just because your phone has internet access doesn’t mean you’re going to be able visit YouTube and watch videos.

Back to Highrise and Basecamp, more often then not, I find myself and  my clients using them incorrectly and/or with unrealistic expectations.

I need to stop trying to make the tool do something it wasn’t designed to do.  Or, maybe I need to find a different tool.

In the end, if you use the right tool, at the right time, in the correct way, you just might be able accomplish something you never thought possible.