I've yet to meet
a consultant who LIKES keeping track of their time (billable or non), but most
I've met like to get paid. So, doing your invoicing is (sadly still) part of
the job.
I have found
that I can significantly decrease the time I spend on doing my weekly timecard,
increase the accuracy of my time entries, AND provide better received billing
notes for client invoices. To do this requires a bit of technohelp…at least for
me.
I use SnapTimer
(freeware) from Dan Hersam (http://dan.hersam.com/software/snaptimer/
) to keep a countdown timer running on my desktop and to automatically pop up a
simple text file log every 30 minutes.
I have
configured the SnapTimer to launch automatically so I always have it up on my
desktop. My configuration causes it to countdown from 30 minutes and thing
start ringing a chime and then launching a Notepad instance with a datetime
stamp prepopulated. I then record what I
did (or didn’t do) for the last 30 minutes. I try to put this in a format that
carries easily into the billing system. For
example, here is this morning’s entries….
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon 02/17/2014
08:15 AM
..
Arrive 6:45
Admin = 1.5Hrs = Relocate
desk, minor chatter with Mr.X
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon 02/17/2014
08:30 AM
..
Admin = 0.25 Hrs = email
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon 02/17/2014
09:01 AM
..
Training = 0.50 Hrs = Research AngularJS
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon 02/17/2014
09:32 AM
..
Admin = 0.50 Hrs = email
and NetFlix slidedeck
------------------------------------------------------------------
I’ve provided a
zip file with all the goodies you’ll need but you’ll need to configure it for
your system/setup:
Note that SnapTimer is a
standalone .EXE so you can run it from a USB key or whatever. I myself locate the SnapTimer folder at:
C:\Program Files\SnapTimer
Then, for
various personal preferences (e.g. perms on the Program Files folder, my SOP
for my BAT files), I put the two supplemental .BAT and .LOG files into a folder
in my Documents folder. I then configure
the SnapTimer (after you read its ReadMe and launch it) to launch my .BAT file
at the end of the countdown. I then
configure the .BAT file to point to the .LOG file (path).
Finally,
remember to put a shortcut to the SnapTimer.EXE in your StartUp folder for
autolaunch at login.
Holler if you’d
like help with the initial configuration. Plus, please share your thoughts and
suggestions for more efficient time tracking (with or without SnapTimer).
