Time Management - Marc Mancini

Power Tools for Time Management 139
order to use it effectively. And learning new systems can drain
away valuable time that might be better spent doing your job. So,
as discussed earlier, start by identifying the reasons you have for
needing the equipment and then find the make and model that
will allow you to meet those needs in the easiest way possible.
If you use your printer largely for text documents and correspondence,
you won’t need a full-color laser printer. If you do
need a full-color laser printer (e.g., for proposals), you’ll want to
find one that doesn’t require resetting a vast number of your
computer’s internal configurations before each use.
Complexity of operation almost always requires a proportionate
commitment of the time and effort you’ll need to invest
in learning how to use the product. And your own skills and talents
should suggest the level of complexity you can manage
effectively without taking a six-month training course on using
the product.
Dependability
When buying any technological tool, dependability is a significant
factor. Every malfunction or breakdown wastes time. The
following tactics should reduce the possibility of downtime and
minimize the effects:
Determining a Product’s User-Friendliness
One way to find out just how user-friendly a product might
be: ask the salesperson to demonstrate the product’s features for
you—or to allow you to try them out yourself, then and there.
When you begin to shop for a product, take a list of the activities
you’ll need to perform with it and review each of these with the salesperson.
Have him or her show you the simplest way to do things on
the unit you’re contemplating purchasing, and then what additional features
might be easily incorporated to improve results.
If you find yourself quickly getting lost with the salesperson’s explanations,
you may either need a better salesperson or a different product.
If you shop around and still can’t find someone who can explain
the product’s operations in terms you can understand, the problem is
probably with the product itself.