Beyond Margins

Today we're going full-on geek and talking about project management software with two of my fellow project management software nerds.

We're talking about why you would pick one particular software tool over another, the importance of making sure the software you pick works with your brain, and how to avoid sabotaging yourself with getting distracted by the latest shiny new tool.

Key take-aways:

- Different approaches to setting up our software and why we chose the particular software tool we did
- Philosophies of picking out or recommending software
- How constantly looking at new tools can result in self-sabotage
- Things Marie and Layla are doing in Notion and ClickUp that have really changed how productive or focused they’re able to be
- Strong systems create stability – something that we all can use right now

Show Notes

Most businesses grow on the fly. We add software and processes and systems here and there – patching in tools “for now” because “it’ll do”.

But “for now” almost always turns into “forever”. Because who wants to spend time picking out (and setting up) project management software when you could be out closing clients or delivering white-glove service?

You probably picked your project management software based on a recommendation or because it’s something you’re “supposed” to have. Maybe you got started on Asana or Trello because that’s what "everybody" was using at the time.

But now, 3 or 5 or 10 years down the road, it's become a major limitation to you and your team being able to actually DO your work.

When you're focusing on getting lean and efficient in your business, evaluating your software is an easy place to start.  For remote companies, not only is software usually one of the biggest expenses, but it's also usually a primary communication tool.

It's what you use to let your team know what to work on and it keeps everyone in the loop on what's happening. Or, at least it SHOULD.

So it's worth your time to take a few minutes and evaluate the tools you're using.

And that's why today we're going full-on geek and talking about project management software with two of my fellow project management software nerds.

Marie Poulin, of Notion Mastery, helps ambitious business owners level up their digital systems, workflow, and productivity, so they can spend more time on what matters. She's been an influential voice in the Notion community and has created a lot of the Notion resources available today.

Layla Pomper is a fellow member of Team ClickUp. She owns ProcessDriven.co where she equips “old school” teams with the right software to increase their consistency and profitability in day-to-day operations.

We're talking about why you would pick one particular software tool over another, the importance of making sure the software you pick works with your brain, and how to avoid sabotaging yourself with getting distracted by the latest shiny new tool.

Listen to the full episode to hear:
  • How we have different approaches to setting up our software and why we chose the particular software tool we did
  • What our philosophies are when you're picking out or recommending software
  • How constantly looking at new tools can result in self-sabotage
  • What cool things Marie and Layla are doing in Notion and ClickUp that have really changed how productive or focused they’re able to be
  • How strong systems create stability – something that we all can use right now
Marie’s Links:
Layla’s Links:
Susan’s Links:

Creators & Guests

Host
Susan Boles
Speaker, Podcaster & Consultant at Beyond Margins | 15+ years of experience as both a CFO and COO

What is Beyond Margins?

Can you build a business based on… “calm?” On Beyond Margins, host Susan Boles looks beyond the usual metrics of success to help you build a business where calm is the new KPI. With over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur, CFO, and COO, Susan shares the business strategies that lead to a business with comfortable margins—financial, emotional, energetic, and scheduling margins. Join her and her guests as they counter the prevailing “wisdom” about business growth, productivity, and success to provide a framework for making choices that align with your values and true goals. Episode by episode, you’ll get a look at the team management, operations, financials, product development, and marketing of a calmer business.