Help center/Business Works today

Keep a list of jobs

You text each new job, and your assistant keeps the list with dates and what is done.

Suggested tools

You can set these up yourself. Get the app, follow the steps, then copy the prompt.

• Google Sheets

  Free with a Google account

  A free spreadsheet where you can keep your job list and share it or save it as a file.

  Download for iPhoneDownload for AndroidOpen the website

  1. Open your job list in Google Sheets.
  2. On a computer, click File, then Download, and pick CSV. On a phone, tap the three dots, then Share and export, and send a copy.
  3. Upload the file on your private files page.
  4. Text your assistant the message below.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • My job list is in Google Sheets and I want you to keep track of it. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: on a computer I click File, Download, CSV (on a phone: the three dots, Share and export, send a copy), then upload the file to my files page. Then tell me which jobs are open, which are late, and what to do first this week.

    Copy

  Your assistant reads a copy. It does not change your Google Sheet, so upload a new copy when the list changes.

• Numbers

  Free

  Apple's free spreadsheet app. It can save your job list as a CSV file.

  Download for iPhoneOpen the website

  1. Open your job list in Numbers.
  2. Tap the share button in the toolbar, tap Export, then tap CSV.
  3. Save the file, then upload it on your private files page.
  4. Text your assistant the message below.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • My job list is in Numbers on my iPhone and I want you to keep it from now on. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: I tap the share button, Export, CSV, save the file and upload it to my files page. Then keep it as my job list and show me the open jobs by date.

    Copy

  Your assistant reads a copy. It does not change your Numbers file.

What to text

• Start a list of jobs. First job: fix the fence on Oak Street, Tuesday.

  Copy

• New job: paint the porch at the yellow house, Thursday, quoted 450.

  Copy

• What jobs do I have this week?

  Copy

• The fence job is done and paid.

  Copy

• Which jobs are done but not paid?

  Copy

• Build a small tracker page for my jobs with a name, a date and a status.

  Copy

Steps

1. Text: "Start a list of jobs." Add your first job with the day.
2. Use short names, like "the fence on Oak Street." Leave out customer phone numbers and full names.
3. Each time a job comes in, text "New job:" and the details.
4. When a job changes, say so. For example: "The fence job is done and paid."
5. Each Monday, ask: "What jobs do I have this week?"

Example conversation

Make it stick

• Add the job the moment you say yes to it. One text.
• Ask for the week every Monday. Your assistant does not text you first.
• Want to see it as a page? See Build a page or tool.