What's the next action

Anything that's a "problem" is a "project"

The GTD Road Map is full on. Already there are some reviews popping up like on Buzz Bruggeman’s site and this one. There is also a presentation in slides and audio. Looks like some nice readingmaterial for a couple of moonlight-hours….Anyone else has some interesting reviews from the Roadmaps?

24 08 05 - 15:51 - Permanent link - one comment

TiddlyPedia?

From the install-instructions: “To use the TiddlyPedia skin on your own TiddlyWiki, copy the contents of TiddlyPediaPackage tiddler and tag it as ‘systemConfig.’ “ C’mon….can’t we think of a less laughable name than TiddlyWiki and TiddlyPedia? I think it’s stupid.
On the other hand, I also think it’s time for a personal tool-stop and start working on my own system with the tools I have. And not try new stuff whenever I am stuck with the current ones. So no Tiddly-Whatevers for me for a while. Just my Outlook, Moleskine, FeedDemon (yup, dropped OnFolio, way to heavy on the resources) and some printouts of the DIY Hipster PDA. Like I said earlier, it’s time to consolidate.

24 08 05 - 09:07 - Permanent link - No comments yet

Problem with webfeed?

Hmmm..it seems there is a slight problem with my Feedburner-based webfeed (forget that RSS-webfeed debate...) and it doesn’t show up properly. I don’t have a solution right now but will look into it on a later time this weekend.

19 08 05 - 13:57 - Permanent link - one comment

Rule of thumb to put something in a list?

I was working through my Inbox this morning and had a few mails I had to delegate to someone else. Short questions, little assignments. But I need an answer from the receiving party to move the project forward. Not now, but whenever possible. I was thinking and in doubt. I use the GTD Outlook plugin so I have the possibility to put a request in my Waiting-For list with one click. But then I thought to myself, “I think she is going to answer pretty quick, since it’s such a simple question. Why should I put in my WF-list? When I put it in, perhaps an hour later I can throw it out! Maybe I should just email and not put a reminder on my list.”
But I was in doubt because what if she doesn’t respond in an hour? What if she gets flooded with mail and doesn’t find the time?
Anyway, the whole process of doubt and thinking took me more than 2 minutes so I decided to put it in my WF-list anyway and see how it works out the coming days/weeks. If, during my Weekly Review, I find a lot of already answered mail, perhaps I should find another way. Maybe another context? @ShortAnswer?

Any thoughts on little rules of thumb on these issues? How do you deal with it?

12 08 05 - 09:19 - Permanent link - four comments

The Empty Cup Principle

Through some other searchword, I came on this weblog and I found a nice article about The Empty Cup Principle. It defines in an excellent way what I wrote about earlier. It is not good to know everything at any given time. Your mind will overflow like a full cup of tea.

“We can react to new opportunities (call them challenges if you must) with much greater success if we use the empty cup principle.”

10 08 05 - 11:27 - Permanent link - No comments yet

A time to consolidate

The past couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about my implementation of GTD in both personal and professional life. And I have decided that it’s time to really stop tinkering and tweaking the system and just leave it for a while. As a lot of GTD-devotees tend to do, I also kept tweaking my work system, implementing new ideas I read here and there, trying new software (Yes, I will get back on those evaluations, thanks for the reminder!) and testing ideas from The Book. But for the last couple of days I have found myself in a state of mind where I think my system is pretty OK for me at this point and I should really focus on succesfull outcomes for my different projects. Ofcourse this is a goal you should always have, but I feel I should leave my system as is right now and go further with some projects. What are those projects? Well, apart from my professional projects I always have stuff to do in the house. This varies from hanging some lights to painting the outdoors. But I also have some projects regarding this weblog. I have ideas for a new layout, perhaps a more commercial approach of this blog. And I am working to put my 10 year old thesis on scenemarketing online as a open source project for everyone to benefit from.

How do I manage those projects? Simple. I have found out that in my personal life, the need for a fully implemented system with different contexts, projectlists and actions is not really necessary. I don’t have a lot of pressure to change the layout of this blog, so whenever I feel like working on it, I work on it. I read some weblogs on making money, but I don’t have a grand scheme on how to implement it. I just go along with the flow. And when I have a weekend planned to paint the frontdoor, but something else comes along? Ah well, deal with it. Next weekend is just 6 days away.
I know, it’s a strange conclusion to draw, but really, this is a nice way to look at it. Ofcourse, there are some things that need to Get Done in a specific timeframe, like paying the bills. But you know what? I have these activities planned on a solid day of the week. Same with cleaning parts of the house. So because I have a trusted system for some of the activities, I can have more flexibility in time and resources for other activities.
Personal life: System is consolidated right now. Professional life: Same issue. I think I implemented GTD in a nice way around the workflow we already have at our office. More on that in a later post!

10 08 05 - 06:17 - Permanent link - two comments

Temptation Blocker

So, have a major deadline looming or ripe opportunity closing and just don’t have time to waste playing Half Life 2 or checking Bloglines one last time? Well then, add Half Life 2 and Firefox to the list of programs you want to block in Temptation Blocker, set the timer for how long you want to block them and then hit the “Get Work Done!”-button.

Free Software: Temptation Blocker – WebJillion

*Excellent!*

03 08 05 - 09:09 - Permanent link - four comments

meereffect.nl

For all the dutch readers willing to read more about GTD in our native language, check out Taco’s weblog meereffect.nl (translated “More effect”) where he gives the lowdown about GTD, explaining some of the core principles and how he thinks about it. Subscribed!

03 08 05 - 08:44 - Permanent link - No comments yet

10 Steps To Better Meetings

To-Done has some great tips and steps on holding better meetings. Not just by content, but also by context. For instance: Start on time. Sounds easy? You should know how many time I’ve wasted waiting on people “just having one more smoke”, “just finishing this phonecall” or any other lame excuse to show up late. And what if you adress it to them? “owww c’mon don’t be so nitpicky….” exhausting man….exhausting…
Another tip? Have a leader. I have been in meetings with absolutely no coordination, no agenda, no notes. Nothing. They last a couple of hours, take forever to make decisions.
Oh the frustration when I see that list. Because part of me knows I have been a bad boy too when it comes to meetings (and sometimes still am) but part of it also knows that meetings can be held in a better way. But for some reason, people don’t listen…

02 08 05 - 23:39 - Permanent link - No comments yet