Comments on: Forget email bankruptcy; try Getting Things Done bankruptcy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:45:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: links for 2008-04-26 « just links http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-146351 links for 2008-04-26 « just links Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:52:51 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-146351 [...] Forget email bankruptcy (tags: topost toomuch) [...] [...] Forget email bankruptcy (tags: topost toomuch) [...]

]]> By: Ann http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-113050 Ann Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:02:14 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-113050 At first I panicked and imagined that the email of my lifetime was somehow locked in that Outlook view that will never come back. But then things got sort of cushy. For one thing, my B and C list totally went away because people reminded me about stuff on my A list, but no one said a word about the other stuff and I couldn’t remember most of it. At first I panicked and imagined that the email of my lifetime was somehow locked in that Outlook view that will never come back. But then things got sort of cushy. For one thing, my B and C list totally went away because people reminded me about stuff on my A list, but no one said a word about the other stuff and I couldn’t remember most of it.

]]> By: Just Released: Chapter 13 Plan Training Workbook » 713Training.Com http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-111770 Just Released: Chapter 13 Plan Training Workbook » 713Training.Com Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:33:58 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-111770 [...] Estate Miami - Pre-constructio.. When to Consider the Bankruptcy Option - SavingAdvice.com Blog Forget email bankruptcy; try Getting Things Done bankruptcy » Brazen.. James Duncan Davidson – Effective Email Bankruptcy Illinois Business Law Journal: Bankruptcy [...] [...] Estate Miami – Pre-constructio.. When to Consider the Bankruptcy Option – SavingAdvice.com Blog Forget email bankruptcy; try Getting Things Done bankruptcy » Brazen.. James Duncan Davidson – Effective Email Bankruptcy Illinois Business Law Journal: Bankruptcy [...]

]]> By: Peter C http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110334 Peter C Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:17:54 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110334 You might want to try Google stuff. Email, Calendar, Contacts, etc. It's probably more intuitive than Outlook, and is stored remotely so you can access it anywhere. It's more hip and less stodgy and dorky, too. Sure you'll need to learn some new things but its worth it. No one at Cannes uses Outlook. You might want to try Google stuff. Email, Calendar, Contacts, etc. It's probably more intuitive than Outlook, and is stored remotely so you can access it anywhere. It's more hip and less stodgy and dorky, too. Sure you'll need to learn some new things but its worth it. No one at Cannes uses Outlook.

]]> By: Scot Herrick http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110254 Scot Herrick Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:31:25 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110254 <p>Self-management is really about control and perspective. The GTD methodology provides both, but both needs to be executed.</p> <p>The context lists (not A, B, C lists) need to have some thought around them for what the actual next thing is to be done. This is not easy when starting out, but this is the control part.</p> <p>The perspective part is doing a Weekly Review -- a weekly reflection time where you analyze what you are doing with your process and your lists. Without the reflection time, there is no perspective.</p> <p>When I first implemented GTD, I significantly overcomplicated the entire process (and this one, Penelope, sounds like you really overcomplicated it!) and didn't really spend enough time reflecting on how I was doing things.</p> <p>While I didn't have a GTD bankruptcy, I've redone my system three times over 2.5 years -- each more simplified and closer to the book implementation than the one before. I've done this because I tried to over-engineer the discipline and didn't take the time to consistently reflect on how I was doing stuff.</p> <p>I have not seen a more flexible system. It works for organization nuts by having a place for everything as well as for people who hate regimentation by getting things out of your head and into a trusted system so that you can be free to do whatever spontaneous thing you want to do...</p> <p>Keep working it. With all the things happening right now for you, a trusted system to park stuff is going to be very important to maintain balance. Perhaps sanity...</p> * * * * * * <I> Thanks for the comment, Scott. You have good perspective. You actually make me want to give the whole thing another try. Thanks for the inpsiration. -Penelope</I> Self-management is really about control and perspective. The GTD methodology provides both, but both needs to be executed.

The context lists (not A, B, C lists) need to have some thought around them for what the actual next thing is to be done. This is not easy when starting out, but this is the control part.

The perspective part is doing a Weekly Review — a weekly reflection time where you analyze what you are doing with your process and your lists. Without the reflection time, there is no perspective.

When I first implemented GTD, I significantly overcomplicated the entire process (and this one, Penelope, sounds like you really overcomplicated it!) and didn't really spend enough time reflecting on how I was doing things.

While I didn't have a GTD bankruptcy, I've redone my system three times over 2.5 years — each more simplified and closer to the book implementation than the one before. I've done this because I tried to over-engineer the discipline and didn't take the time to consistently reflect on how I was doing stuff.

I have not seen a more flexible system. It works for organization nuts by having a place for everything as well as for people who hate regimentation by getting things out of your head and into a trusted system so that you can be free to do whatever spontaneous thing you want to do…

Keep working it. With all the things happening right now for you, a trusted system to park stuff is going to be very important to maintain balance. Perhaps sanity…

* * * * * *

Thanks for the comment, Scott. You have good perspective. You actually make me want to give the whole thing another try. Thanks for the inpsiration.

-Penelope

]]> By: Kate http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110231 Kate Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:26:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110231 Penelope, I guess you are taking this a little bit too hard. GTD can be just a book of tips, how to organize your life. I think that everyone needs to establish his own GTD system. I use Wrike.com for mine. They tool creators support the GTD idea http://www.wrike.com/blog/9/4/2007/Getting_things_done_with_Wrike_saves_us_hours, but offer a somewhat different approach to it. I like it first of all because it’s so easy to follow. And BTW Wrike is web-based, you don't have to back-up your data, they will back it up for you. I've asked them, they do it every hour. :) Penelope, I guess you are taking this a little bit too hard. GTD can be just a book of tips, how to organize your life. I think that everyone needs to establish his own GTD system. I use Wrike.com for mine. They tool creators support the GTD idea http://www.wrike.com/blog/9/4/2007/Getting_things_done_with_Wrike_saves_us_hours, but offer a somewhat different approach to it. I like it first of all because it’s so easy to follow. And BTW Wrike is web-based, you don't have to back-up your data, they will back it up for you. I've asked them, they do it every hour. :)

]]> By: Tiffany http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110211 Tiffany Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:27:42 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110211 Thank you! I'm so glad you posted this, because smug people reminding you to backup stuff after the crash - NOT HELPFUL. Also, I've found a tough time writing more than a regular to do list with GTD. Do I really need to remind myself to take lunch to work? I mean, yes, I still forget it sometimes, but what's the likeliness I'm going to look at my list before 8:30 a.m.? Thanks for the reminder that it's OK to let some things go! Thank you! I'm so glad you posted this, because smug people reminding you to backup stuff after the crash – NOT HELPFUL. Also, I've found a tough time writing more than a regular to do list with GTD. Do I really need to remind myself to take lunch to work? I mean, yes, I still forget it sometimes, but what's the likeliness I'm going to look at my list before 8:30 a.m.? Thanks for the reminder that it's OK to let some things go!

]]> By: sarahd http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110208 sarahd Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:57:58 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110208 this is a very timely post - I've found myself crippled by GTD lately. Personally, I just do too much. It's that simple, but I'm not yet ready to give anything up, and GTD just makes me feel under more pressure (probably for the reasons that it's so good too i.e. it's very clear to you precisely what needs doing at any one time) Plus, having everything scheduled so clearly and precisely makes me really want to rebel, by not doing anything, or by doing anything but what I'm supposed to be doing. It's very strange, and I'm not sure why. I had a bit of a crash too a couple of weeks ago, where I had just let the whole thing build up and then dumped the lot to start over again with a clean slate. Refreshing! But probably not great for my career. I still want to try to make elements of it fit my life though - it's probably aspirational, I want to be that disciplined. this is a very timely post – I've found myself crippled by GTD lately. Personally, I just do too much. It's that simple, but I'm not yet ready to give anything up, and GTD just makes me feel under more pressure (probably for the reasons that it's so good too i.e. it's very clear to you precisely what needs doing at any one time) Plus, having everything scheduled so clearly and precisely makes me really want to rebel, by not doing anything, or by doing anything but what I'm supposed to be doing. It's very strange, and I'm not sure why.

I had a bit of a crash too a couple of weeks ago, where I had just let the whole thing build up and then dumped the lot to start over again with a clean slate. Refreshing! But probably not great for my career. I still want to try to make elements of it fit my life though – it's probably aspirational, I want to be that disciplined.

]]> By: JimB http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110183 JimB Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:18:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110183 At last Someone able to bring a dose of reality to the over-engineered neurosis of the GTD world. Whatever happened to spontaneous activity and disruptive chaos? My feed traffic is too clogged with gtd tips and lifehacks. Maybe a gtd flowchart can get me through it. At last

Someone able to bring a dose of reality to the over-engineered neurosis of the GTD world. Whatever happened to spontaneous activity and disruptive chaos? My feed traffic is too clogged with gtd tips and lifehacks. Maybe a gtd flowchart can get me through it.

]]> By: NW Guy http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/comment-page-1/#comment-110170 NW Guy Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:36:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/10/29/forget-email-bankruptcy-try-getting-things-done-bankruptcy/#comment-110170 I love your analogy of backing-up data and eating salad; neither of which happens often enough. Glad to hear that you survived the crash, wiser and carefree. There are several email threads on projects that go through my inbox. My approach is to only check about every 10th one; let the conversation flow and resolve a few items and then help address the real issues. I love your analogy of backing-up data and eating salad; neither of which happens often enough. Glad to hear that you survived the crash, wiser and carefree.

There are several email threads on projects that go through my inbox. My approach is to only check about every 10th one; let the conversation flow and resolve a few items and then help address the real issues.

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