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In a recent blog, I covered the basic definition of working smart and provided a helpful tip to assist you in your efforts to working smart. The first tip is to work intentionally. Working intentionally requires you to think about your outcome and manage the information that will help you get there and let go of the rest.  This is much like the idea of think before you act, however, it has huge implications when it comes to managing information, since most of us are so awash in it.

So the next tip is this:

• Prioritize your focus.  There’s not enough time to do everything. You don’t have time to put everything neatly away, there’s not enough time to stay up on all the topics of interest, not enough time to read all the email and blogs coming in.    Manage information based upon what’s important – which is defined by the first step.  Identify and live with intentionality.    That brings a relatively narrow focus, or as the movie “City Slickers” defined it, “know what’s number 1″ – and I would add to it, know what’s number 1, and how you plan to get closer to it today.

Your job is probably not to be the “library of congress.”  A job where everything is neatly in its place, or to please everyone.  It is, for the purpose of this blog, to work smart, to live smart, and when that comes to managing information, it means narrowing the focus based upon your priorities and desired outcomes.   That’s where you want to spend your time and that’s where it’s most important to track and manage information.

I don’t need to get everything done, just the priority one items. And on the priority one items, I need a system that allows everyone who touches that to work in a coordinated, collaborative, up-to-date manner, anything short of that isn’t working smart.

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Want to save money on your office supplies beginning with your next print cartridge order? Then buy a compatible inkjet cartridge! A compatible inkjet cartridge is a cartridge manufactured to supply the same quality that branded and original cartridges provide, but at a lower price. The cost savings can really add up, especially for a compatible black ink cartridge because it is the most widely used color. In fact, most people go through two black ink cartridges to one color cartridge.

Most compatible or alternative manufacturers use the same amount of ink as that of the OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturer. To assure accuracy, the ink is weighed and measured to follow the same specifications set by the OEM. Cartridges are carefully pressurized and filled during the process so they do not leak. Before a compatible inkjet cartridge is sold, tests are performed so you are assured that the ink and toners are high quality when you use compatible printer ink cartridges.

Obviously, quality of the ink is very important because it affects the quality of the output. The ink could also clog the print head of the cartridge if it does not match the specifications of the OEM which include the drying time, viscosity, color values, surface tension and pH value. All reputable companies that sell compatible inkjet cartridge supply a warranty, so in case you encounter any problem with their products, you can return them hassle-free.

Besides saving a ton of money, you should also know that a manufacturer of a printer you are using cannot void your warranty because you use an inkjet cartridge or refill kit manufactured by someone other than the printer manufacturer. It’s true! If you prefer to buy name brand inkjet or toner cartridges, that’s great, but it is NOT required for warranty purposes. An excerpt of the MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY IMPROVEMENT ACT states: “(c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name…”

No matter what brand you buy, keep in mind that an ink cartridge should be placed upright for at least 30 minutes prior to use; this will allow the ink to flow down to the print head and allow any oxygen bubbles to rise up and away from the print head. Purchasing compatible printer ink cartridges instead of OEMs is one of the best ways to save money on your office supplies without sacrificing quality.

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