We are very happy to announce that the next version of FruitfulTime TaskManager has been launched today.

FruitfulTime TaskManager 2 is a major product release with many improvements and new useful features, such as grouping, advanced filtering, and search as you type functionality.

To learn more about FruitfulTime TaskManager 2, click here.

It has been a busy time over here making sure we develop a product that people will love to use and find useful.

We are now going out to celebrate this launch after months of hard work

FruitfulTime TaskManager 1 was our first product launch. A simple, lightweight, powerful to do list management tool, that helps people get things done.

Following that release we continued to look into ways of improving the product to make FruitfulTime TaskManager more powerful and easy to use. We believe that software should just work, i.e. help you carry out whatever you want to do without getting in the way.

Based on that belief we reviewed the whole product to enhance the current features and add new useful capabilities. We received a lot of positive feedback and feature requests. We thank you all for your feedback. It is indispensable for us to get your feedback to improve the product further and make it more useful for you.

The following is a brief rundown of the new features in FruitfulTime TaskManager 2.

• An always visible search as you type box allows you to easily search through your tasks, subtasks, or notes.
• Filtering has been extended to include new task details such as priority, status, and progress, and also subtask details.
• Organizing tasks through tags is now very easy to do. Multiple ways to tag tasks have been included, such as right-click context menus and shortcuts to simplify and fit the way you work.
• Progress on tasks and subtasks is now more granular, in increments of 10% instead of 25%.
• Due Date and Start Date can include both a date and time.
• As before, multiple reminders can be specified, but now reminders on the same day are supported, such as 12 hours before, 1 hour before, 30 minutes before and so on.
• A popup dialog is displayed to remind you of upcoming tasks and subtasks. You can snooze or dismiss reminders.
• You can optionally choose to chime a sound when reminders are displayed to draw your attention.
• Contact details are now stored and managed in one place so you do not need to retype data when adding the same contact to different tasks.
• Tasks and subtasks can be assigned to a person from your contacts list. You can then filter your task list to view the tasks assigned to John, for example.
• Password protection is now optional. At any time though you can specify a password to encrypt and protect your task list.
• Menu items, shortcuts, toolbar icons, and context menus have been introduced to allow you to work the way you are most comfortable with.
• The main area where the tasks and subtasks are viewed has been redesigned to make it cleaner and more functional.
• Columns in the task and subtask lists can be hidden if you do not use them, to create more space and reduce clutter.
• The tasks and subtasks can be viewed in list mode as is right now, or else in group mode. For example, in group mode tasks could be grouped on the due date under headings like today, tomorrow, this week and so on.
• In list mode, tasks and subtasks can be ordered manually by dragging and dropping tasks and subtasks in the list.
• Simple reports can be generated with clean graphs to show you statistics, such as how many tasks you have according to priority or status.
• Tasks can be archived to clean up your active task list.
• Accidentally deleting tasks into oblivion is a thing of the past thanks to an integrated deleted tasks list. When tasks are deleted from the active task list or the archived task list they are moved to the deleted tasks list. From there you can permanently delete a task or else restore it.
• As mentioned above, three views are now available: Active Tasks List, Archived Tasks List, and Deleted Tasks List.
• Printing of tasks and subtasks has been enhanced to include more combinations.
• Tasks can be duplicated, making it easy to enter repetitive tasks.
• Hotkeys are provided to quickly and easily minimize FruitfulTime TaskManager to the system tray to carry on with your work, to add a new task, and to view your task list.
• From the installation you can choose to add a shortcut on the desktop and to load FruitfulTime TaskManager each time Microsoft Windows starts.
• When you close FruitfulTime TaskManager, the current display status and settings are saved so that the next time you load FruitfulTime TaskManager it will look exactly the same as you left it.
• Tasks and subtasks can be exported to CSV, XML, and HTML.
• Various tweaks to improve the stability, robustness, and efficiency of FruitfulTime TaskManager.

As you can see from the above feature list, we were quite busy lately, and therefore we are now very proud to announce the release date of FruitfulTime TaskManager 2.

FruitfulTime TaskManager 2 will be released on the 1st of July 2008.

Just in time to celebrate Independence Day with one more triumph. Your ability to conquer your to do list and with it stress, to live a more balanced and independent life.

Users who bought FruitfulTime TaskManager 1 will be able to upgrade to version 2 at the special price of $14.99, a whopping 50% discount to thank you for supporting us.

If you buy FruitfulTime TaskManager 1 during the month of June you will get version 2 for FREE. So what are you waiting for? Download the 10 day free trial of FruitfulTime TaskManager 1 now. Try it out and then buy it for $29.99 only. We will then send you a license key and information from where to download the new and improved FruitfulTime TaskManager 2 on the 1st of July 2008.

Below you can find a preview screenshot of FruitfulTime TaskManager 2.

In the coming days we will provide more in depth information and screenshots on FruitfulTime TaskManager 2. So come back often or subscribe to the blog to watch this space for more information on FruitfulTime TaskManager 2.

You’re probably bombarded by messages like “Don’t do this” or “Don’t do that” on a daily basis by media or by some other source.  While that sort of thinking might work to help you keep rules and regulations in mind, it’s not a very healthy outlook to keep for the other factors of your life.

The Power of Positive Thinking

As kindergarten as it might sound, thinking good and happy thoughts actually affects your outward disposition and behavior.  Job applicants are the most popular anecdotal example because those who think positively and believe that they will get the job are a lot more relaxed and confident.  Your behavior is a psychological aspect of yourself, so changing the way you look at things will definitely affect the way you walk, talk, and act.

And it’s not all about just thinking good things that makes a difference.  When you think positively and, say, imagine yourself achieving your goal, you keep yourself focused on the finished line.  Thus, your actions are more probable to bring you one step closer to that finish line.  When you think positively despite setbacks or difficulties, you keep yourself from getting distracted with negative comments, and you get back on the road a lot more quickly.

Visualize and Affirm

You can break down positive thinking into two components - one that stretches from the time you prepare yourself to the time you actually work for a goal and another for the period of time after you have made your effort.

Before you set out to meet the challenge, set a clear goal and visualize yourself achieving that goal.  In your head, see yourself making that grade or winning that competition.  See yourself shaking the boss’ hand as he tells you that you just got yourself the promotion.  Imagine yourself crossing that finish line victorious.  You might call it mere fantasy, but it’s actually very effective preparation.  It helps you tune out the small, irrelevant, and insignificant disturbances to allow you to focus more on where you want to go and how you can get there.

If you managed to reach your goal, celebrate.  Congratulate yourself.  It sounds like gloating, but it’s actually affirmation because you’re telling yourself that you did a great job and was, thus, able to achieve the goal.  Affirm the good traits you brought out and positive actions that you did.  Tell yourself that you were confident.  Tell yourself that you were focused.  Doing so makes it easier to tap into those same things the next time around.

If you don’t reach your goal, on the other hand, affirm and use positive language nonetheless.  Don’t tell yourself that you didn’t place first in the race.  Tell yourself that you won second, and that you’d like yourself to go faster and stronger next time.  You give yourself congratulations for whatever you were able to achieve while at the same time provide a strong motivation for practice and improvement.

Have you tried reading but you end up reading one line over and over again or you end up staring at a page for a considerable length of time?  This could be frustrating if you’re trying to study for an exam or you are trying to rush a work for a deadline.  Have you experienced talking to someone and finding your thoughts wandering?  Have you experienced sitting in class and finding out that an hour has passed and you didn’t hear any word that your professor said?  Concentrating can be a challenged for some people.

What is Concentration?

Simply put, concentration is a person’s ability to focus his thoughts in a particular direction for a considerable time without getting distracted by other things.  Everyone has the ability to concentrate.  Some people are quite good with concentrating.  There are people though who find it quite difficult to focus their attention in one particular thing without their thoughts wandering.  This can be quite frustrating.  If you find difficulty concentrating, you need to practice and develop your concentration skills.

Your ability to concentrate may depend on a lot of factors.  It can depend on your commitment to your work.  It can also depend on your enthusiasm for a project, an assignment, or a work.  If you don’t know how to go about doing the job, you might be quite disinterested and end up losing your concentration.  If you have problems and you are tired and stressed out, you’d have problems concentrating.  If the place is not conducive to concentrating, you might not be able to concentrate on your work at all.

Tips on How to Improve Your Concentration

If you want to improve your concentration skills, here are some tips that you can follow:
a.    Redirect your thoughts.  When you find your thoughts straying from what you should be concentrating on, redirect it.  Do not let it wander off.

b.    Set aside distracting thoughts.  Commit a time to what you should be concentrating on.  Do not allow yourself to be distracted by problems or worries.

c.    Setup an award system for yourself.  Promise yourself rewards for maintaining concentration.

d.    Create an inviting and calm environment to allow you to concentrate.

e.    Keep yourself fit.  If you are too sleepy to concentrate, it is highly doubtful if you’d be able to finish a paragraph of a book you’re reading.

f.    Do not force yourself if your mind keeps wandering.  It doesn’t help at all.

Are you scared to speak in front of an audience and you get all clammy, complete with butterflies in your stomach?  Welcome to the club because even the best speakers experience the same thing when they are about to speak to an audience.  The only difference is that the latter has enough confidence to get past that stage and take control of their fear of public speaking.  Many times, people we know who lack self confidence tend to stay in the background and get less recognition compared to those who do have that trait.

Build Your Confidence

There are several things you can start doing to make you more confident.  Sure, it may seem awkward when you are just starting, but eventually, you will catch on.  Dressing smartly is one way of building that self confidence.  You notice during job interviews that interviewees who come in business attire tend to look capable of taking on the job compared to those who come in rugged clothing.  When you notice a person walking with confidence, you notice that they don’t drag their feet, but they walk straight ahead with purpose.  That shows a man who knows where he’s going and what he ought to do.  These people tend to give the impression that they are important, and you would want to be labeled as such yourself. 

A good posture tells a lot about your self confidence, too.  Many others will slump back on their chairs or walk with drooped shoulders, and they look like losers.  Get a winning posture and see how people will start thinking you got something they don’t, including self confidence.  As we move from outward manifestations of self confidence, we can start examining ourselves to polish on our own self confidence.  Find out the things you are good at and focus on these.  Look at your weaknesses as opportunities for improvement.

Too Much Confidence 

Too much or too little of anything is not good, including confidence.  So, how do you differentiate an overconfident person from one who exudes the right dose of confidence?  For one, the former are generally unlikable.  Speak with other people, but don’t talk them down.  Ask nicely in a firm voice, but don’t get bossy with them.  Get the courage to be friendly instead of aloof at other people.  We do want to reinforce positive things about us, but it does not mean we would think negatively of everyone else around us.

Need a mantra to help you believe in yourself? Try mine. “I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!” It’s too simple, you tell me. But saying it and actually doing it are two different things. The first one is easy, the latter a totally different story.

Know the Real You

Have a one on one with yourself. List down questions and answer them truthfully. Who am I? What are my interests? What field am I good at? What skills do I possess? In which areas do I consider myself as ineffective or weak? How do I know I am weak at these? Have I tried these yet? Have I done anything to improve any of my shortcomings?

Asking these questions will aid you in understanding who you really are, from what you want to where you’re good at. Remember to stay honest in your answers as it will eventually affect the way you see yourself. You shouldn’t claim to be good at something you’re not nor should you be too humble to admit your talents. It might help to keep in mind that this list is only for your eyes! You can brag all you want as long as it’s true!

Focus on the Positive!

After realizing where you’re good at, direct your efforts to maximizing these. Do not limit yourself or set a ceiling. This will just bound you from achieving more. As for your weaknesses, make an effort to improve but never dwell on these. Do not let the negativity pull you down. Know that what you lack, some people possess and vice versa.

Be Your Own Cheerleader

Go ahead and give yourself a pep talk! Don’t wait for other people to praise you before you feel good about yourself. No need to say it out loud for others to hear. In your mind, shout out loud, “I am so good at this!” or “I can definitely pull this off!” Doing this whenever you start doubting your capabilities will give you an extra boost.

People usually say you become what you think you are. Perhaps true, perhaps not. But would you risk it? Knowing your worth will cost you nothing but a better way of seeing things, of doing work, and of living life. It puts you in control rather than letting others run your life. Keep the mantra. Believe that you can, no matter what.

Can you call yourself an optimistic person?  Are you a positive thinker?  Do you believe that you can shape your own future and command your happiness?  You don’t have to be at the mercies of fate.  Your success in life and your happiness starts with having a positive mindset.  When you think positively, you become the master of your life.  You own your dreams, actions, happiness, and ultimately, your success.  When you are a positive thinker, it doesn’t mean that you deny the existence of misery, failures, or problems.  You just have an optimistic outlook.

Who is a Positive Thinker?

When you are a positive thinker, you believe that you can overcome any crisis that life throws your way.  People who tend to think positively accept their shortcomings but know how to channel their weaknesses to something positive.  They do not let their weaknesses get the best of them.  Instead, they make an effort to focus on their strengths.  They also try to remedy their weaknesses.  This attitude comes with a positive mindset.  A positive thinker knows that if he lets despair and helplessness get the best of them, they will lose.

How to Start Thinking Positively

Once you start thinking positively, you start a habit.  You then equip yourself with the capacity to become successful.  How do you start thinking positively?

a.    Decide to have a positive mindset.  This means committing to a positive attitude, controlling negativity, and deciding to have a control on how you react to challenges and setbacks that life throws your way.

b.    Surround yourself with positive people.  Avoid those who exude negativity.

c.    Focus on your strengths.  How you perceive yourself consciously will affect your subconscious, and this will ultimately reflect in your actions.

d.    Be open-minded.  Do not allow yourself to be put in a box.  If you do this, you limit and restrict possibilities.

e.    Strengthen your knowledge and skills.  When you acquire more and more knowledge, you become more confident.  The more confident you are about your abilities, the more positive you are about your life.

f.    Have long-term goals.  When you have goals, you have direction.  You do not allow yourself to be defeated easily by challenges and setbacks.

g.    Do not limit yourself.  Believe that you are capable of reaching immeasurable heights.  Believe that you have capabilities that you do not even know you possess.

h.    Have faith.  Do not ever lose your faith in yourself.

i.    Constantly motivate yourself.

j.    Keep yourself healthy.

Is the office trying to kill you by boredom?  Do you have nothing to do on a beautiful summer morning?  You want to do something that could augment your income part time?  The management suddenly wants you to operate new software, a new product or implement a new process?  You could learn new skills to increase your productivity or maximize the use of your spare time.

Of course, learning something is not easy for many people like me who tend to settle on things that I could do better.  You need to exert effort and spend time to learn things as it happen.  While learning something can be quite fun, you should not waste part of your time, money, and effort in vain.  You should learn something new the ‘right’ way, i.e., forging what you know to attain what you want to learn.

Learn by using what you know

Learning can be a lot more fun and easier if you will try to learn by using what you already know.  If you’re fond of cooking, why not go up another level and learn to bake some cakes and pastries?  It would be lot more fun if you’re not messing up the entire kitchen.  If you know some techniques with some thread, why not try to learn some pattern making technique, like burlap and crochet?  With some basic knowledge on the things you do, you can forget about the hassles of learning it first and concentrate and doing it best.

Familiarity with gadgets and intricacies that comes with a certain skill would come handy if you want to learn another skill.  This is especially true for technical and scientific skills like carpentry and computer programming.  Save yourself from waste of time and save yourself from unwanted accidents by working on something that you can do without injuring yourself.

Do Not Be Afraid

Ultimately, learning something should give you the results you intended.  If you want to learn some bit of carpentry, you should learn how to make simple carpentry projects and not how sharp the saw would cut your fingers.  When you want to learn how to make cakes, you should learn how to mix a good batter, not how to spoil a good one.  By using a skill you have learned before, you can eliminate these and go straight on what is important.  Its important to make sure that learning process, while maybe difficult, is productive.

In an ideal world, we all want to establish good working relationships with people we have to deal with, especially those we have to meet on a regular basis.  But that will not always be the case.  In reality, we do get our share of colleagues who make it seem their career to make life just a little bit harder for you.  Unluckily for us, we do get pressures and stress from having to deal with the daily grind of life, and here, on one hand, we have to contend with these annoying colleagues.  So, how should you deal with it?

Stay Above Water

You can stay above office politics by not rising to the bait.  Many realize that these kinds of people already look foolish as it is, and calling other people’s attention to them will only be a waste of time.  Understand your job description and stick to it.  No one can force you to go over and beyond what is expected of you unless you do so of your own accord.  It may be for purposes of self improvement, but if it’s extra work for you that will cause you to lose track of business and other usual stuff, then don’t let them push you around.

Keep a watchful eye and ear around you for trouble that may come or has already occurred.  Be prepared with facts, logical reasoning, and figures, if necessary.  This is one of the reasons why one should keep important documents including emails in your personal file or folder.  You may need to reference these materials as evidences in case something like this comes up.  If you anticipate a possible issue or possible conflict of projects, make sure to procure your supervisor’s approval or let them know about your situation.  There would be times when you need someone to back you up when things get out of hand.

Need a Break

When you find yourself unable to keep your cool any longer, it might be time to get some time away from these people.  This is a viable situation especially when you have tried ignoring them and limiting your interaction with them.  But because the nature of your work requires you to keep in constant communication with them, you may want to rethink your options.  A person can only take so much at some point, and getting out even for a short while may be the exact remedy you need.

You will notice with most successful people that the one thing they have in common is that they are very passionate with what they do.  While the meaning of success is relative, it still does include the fact that people who consider themselves successful, regardless of material wealth, have a strong love for their chosen careers.

They are happy doing what they do, and because they have fun, it’s almost like not going to work at all; hence, work becomes a happy place despite the occasional pressures.  When work becomes a less stressful place, you will also notice that you and everyone you work with become more productive.

Less Becomes More

You’ve probably worked for or been around people who seem to work 24/7 and still end up not accomplishing much or failing at it that they always go back to square one, and the process starts all over again.

It seems that no matter how much hard work they put in, targets are not met, deadlines are not delivered, and they end up with more losses than profits.  However, people who are less stressed at work know how to designate.

Even if you’re boss or a regular staff member, designating or delegating certain tasks makes everything simpler and easier.  You not only end up doing less and avoiding overworking yourself, but you also have more time to do recreational activities.  After all, all work and no play is bad for your health.

Good Working Environment

One other thing that contributes greatly to people’s accomplishing more at work, or simply put, being more productive is a good working environment – literally, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

If your place of work is messy, hot, and such, and it makes you uncomfortable staying there for at least eight hours per day, chances are, you’re going because you need the money and nothing more, or you’re about to quit.

However, a clean and aesthetically pleasing work place is not enough.  A good working environment is more importantly dependent on the kind of people you work with and their characters.

A high-paying job isn’t worth much if you end up hating your boss at the end of the day, or you dread getting up each morning to go to work.  This will not only result in making you an unhappy employee, but there’s also a very big chance that you will not be as productive and creative as you should be.

In the end, to accomplish more without exerting yourself to your limits, your work and the work place should be something that you love.