I am so excited about a new productivity tool called the Productive Environment Platform or iPEP.  It was created by the Productive Environment Institute and PBWorks (formerly PBWiki).  The Productive Environment Institute (formerly Paper Tiger Productivity Institute), founded by the "Paper Tiger Lady" Barbara Hemphill, has developed many systems and strategies for office organizing and personal productivity over the years.  This collaboration with PBWorks will revolutionize how we store and share information that relates to our physical filing system and our electronic information. 

I foresee people relying on iPEPs just like they do cell phones.  Personally, I no longer memorize phone numbers because they are all on my cell phone and are searchable in so many different ways.  If I was without my phone for even a day, I would feel completely lost.  Now that I am putting more and more data into my iPEP, I am relying on it to hold all of the information that passes through my life every day.  Eventually, I will be lost without it as well.

What is an iPEP?  An iPEP is a completely customizable, web-based information management system.  Using Web 2.0 technologies, it becomes a collaboration tool as you can share your information with other people.  Because it is web-based, you have access to your information from any device that has an Internet connection.  This includes smart phones such as iPhone and Blackberries. 

I am finding that the more information I put into my iPEP, the less dependent I am on my laptop.  Because I carry my Blackberry with me all of the time, I can pull up my iPEP anytime, anywhere.

Here is how I am using it for my information management.

• I have organized and indexed the physical files in my office.  I use a numerical filing system, but the iPEP allows me to add an unlimited amount of keywords to search for the location of my files.
• I have organized my digital notebooks (for those of you who are subscribers to my newsletter, you may be using digital notebooks too), into my iPEP so that the information is consolidated in one place and not on my computer hard drive.
• I have uploaded some of my electronic files that I need with me when I am away from my office.  Not only is this convenient, but it is clearing up precious hard disk space on my computer.
• I am also uploading project files for collaborative, team projects.  This avoids the problem of everyone having multiple versions of the same files on their own computers.
• Because of the high levels of security, I have created a login/password iPEP page so that I have that information with me always.
• I do all of my brainstorming or mind mapping in my iPEP.  I still do it the old fashioned way, but when I get an inspiration while I am away from my computer, I can easily add it to the iPEP page through the "Comments" feature.
• I organize all of those little details that usually exist on sticky notes into iPEP pages.  Examples include: book recommendations, quotes, packing lists and the contents of my safe deposit box (including scanned copies of important documents).
• I have a future goal of transferring information like health records and automotive service records into my iPEP so when I am in the doctor's office or at the repair shop and they ask those questions like, "when was the last time you did...", I can whip out my phone, pull up my iPEP and give them the correct information, instead of my best guess.

...and I am just getting started.  I have only been using the iPEP for a few weeks and I know that I will discover even more creative and productive ways to use it.  I see this as a really great place to "dump out my brain" so that I don't have to rely on my fading memory for all of the little details.  I can't begin to tell you how excited I feel about how this tool is going to increase my personal productivity, and I was already pretty productive before.  I can only imagine what it will do for others who struggle with productivity issues!

The Productive Environment Institute is offering a free preview webinar on the product on Tuesday, May 19th at 12:00 PST if you would like to see the technology in action.  There is information and registration links on my website at http://www.meyerorganizing.com/index.php/productive-environment-platform-ipep

I encourage you to check it out and feel free to contact me if you have questions or need information.  I recently became a Productive Environment Specialist and if you decide this is a tool for you, I will personally walk you through the setup of your own personal iPEP.

As I often close with the statement "One step closer to an organized life...", today I will leave you with this...

One giant leap toward a productive life!

Tamara Meyer
Personal Productivity Consultant and Speaker
Meyer Professional Organizing, LLC
www.meyerorganizing.com