3 Ways Project Management Software Is Like A Cleanse

Ah, January. That month when you step on the scale and cry tears of bitter regret for the crap you ate in December. We’ve all been there. Well, most of us anyway.

Creative agencies can experience something similar.

New business is as delicious as a gooey cinnamon bun, and it’s tempting to bite off more than you can chew. Before you know it, keeping track of everything on your plate is a full-time job, and your schedule is as bloated as the fat kid at a buffet.

What can you do? Well, if you’re really serious about fixing things, it’s time to consider a cleanse — of your business, that is.

Here are 3 ways that using a project management software is like a cleanse for your creative agency:

It Gives You a Renewed Sense of Optimism

My brother and his wife do the Wild Rose Cleanse (a gentle one that focuses on whole foods and minimizing sugar) when they want to clean up their act for a while. Each time, their eyes gleam with excitement as they stock the fridge with fresh kale and chicken breast. They know things are going to get better, and they can’t wait to get started.

Our new clients feel the same. Dry those tears. Change is coming, and it’s going to be great!

At First it May Be Difficult, But Then it Feels Amazing.

Of course, there’s that thing about change: it’s not always easy. Once the initial excitement of a cleanse wears off and you’re in front of yet another bowl of salad trying not to dump it on that jerk who brought doughnuts to the office AGAIN, you might wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into.

But after a few days, you start to appreciate the renewed sense of energy and aliveness you feel, and you begin to actually crave healthy food. Your friends notice your sparkling eyes and glowing skin. Your ex is seized with longing. The sweetness of an apple overwhelms you.

Implementing a project management software like Function Point can evoke a similar feeling if you’re coming from a bunch of spreadsheets. There might be a brief period while you’re still learning the tool, and using your old system, in which you have to put in a little extra time to save oodles of it later. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll never look back.

It Clears Out the Clutter

And here’s the obvious parallel: FP rids your business of administrative sinkholes the way a cleanse rids your diet of chemicals and calories.

A workflow management software like Function Point lets you slash the time you spend updating those spreadsheets. It saves you re-entering the same information on estimates, jobs and invoices. It streamlines communication with clients and stops people from trolling emails and shared folders looking for job-related info.

Important Differences

There are some important differences. My brother and his wife do the Wild Rose Cleanse a few times a year, but you only have to implement Function Point once.

Health experts are divided on the benefits of cleanses, but creative agency management experts (like the brilliant folks at Second Wind) generally agree that if you want your business to grow, you need project management software.

When you’re on a cleanse, you can waste hours squinting at labels. At Function Point, we don’t leave you to figure things out for yourself. Our customer success team is here to help you transition into a new way of being: one in which your profits and possibilities – not your workday (or your butt, since after implementing FP you’ll have time to go to the gym) – expand.

This article was contributed by former Function Point employee, Amanda Truscott.

Function Point Productivity Software is the leading all-in-one project management solution specially designed for ad agencies, design studios and internal marketing departments looking to organize and streamline their workflow.

Book a demo to learn how project management software can be a solution for your agency and its specific needs.