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October 27, 2005

Treo dimming

Any Treo users out there know why my Treo keeps going into a dimmed backlight view? I swear it wasn't doing this until a week ago, but it seems to go into a power-save lighting mode or something after about a minute. I can't find the setting for this anywhere. Anyone have any ideas on this? Thanks...Kelly

Posted by Kelly at 12:04 PM | Comments (2)

October 21, 2005

Great handheld application

A GTD'er turned me on to a great handheld app called City ID. It automatically displays the city and state for incoming or outgoing calls on your phone. Works with Palm Treo, Pocket PC, Windows Smartphones and Symbian devices. Very handy when getting calls and the person is not in my address book. City ID automatically tells me where they are calling from so I can make a better guess about who it might be (and whether or not to take the call!)

Posted by Kelly at 11:45 AM | Comments (1)

October 20, 2005

Yes, it's really about the NEXT action

I think one of the gems of GTD is the practice of capturing the very next action. When I see things getting stale on my lists, or I realize I'm procrastinating, it's often because I haven't captured the very next action versus just a next action.

Even after 14 years practicing this GTD, things still can slip onto my lists and clog my system if I haven't really spent the time clarifying what the very next thing is that I need to do. This week's annoyance was some CDs that I need to send to a friend for her birthday. My list had "send CDs", but really I need to buy wrapping paper before I can even send them. A common one is a phone call on my @Calls list, but I don't have the phone number. This can create what David Allen calls, things on your lists that repel you, not to mention internal stress and frustration.

Is there anything on your next action lists that is repelling you? If so, take a look to see if you have really identified the very next action. Ask yourself, do I have everything I need in order to do this? If the answer is no, back yourself up until you get to the very next action. What do you see yourself doing FIRST?

Posted by Kelly at 03:32 PM | Comments (1)

October 14, 2005

Creating Windows Shortcuts

I learned a fun trick yesterday for creating Windows Shortcuts. I created one for sending email from anywhere in Windows, which can be handy since usually shortcuts require I be in the program. Here's what to do:

* Right click on your desktop
* Click New, Shortcut
* In the box that says "Type the location for the item" enter mailto: (be sure to add the colon at the end of mailto)
* Click Next
* Type a name for the shortcut, such as "New Email"
* Click Finish

You should now see an icon for your mail program on your desktop, named New Email, or whatever name you chose. Drag that to your Quick Launch bar so it's easily accessible. Try out your new shortcut by clicking on it. A new blank email should automatically open for you.

Posted by Kelly at 09:24 AM | Comments (6)

October 11, 2005

Palm Security

If you're planning on synching ANY sensitive data to your Palm handheld, then I would suggest marking it as private, in case your Palm ever falls into curious hands.

I'm on a Treo 650, so getting to this might be slightly different for you, but here's the general idea:

- Go to Applications (the home button)

- Tap on Security (for older Palms, this might be under Prefs/Security)

- Assign a password. As someone suggested to me, don't make it too guessable (don't use your home street, birthday, your name followed by a "1" etc.) But given you'll be entering this on your Palm fairly often, don't make it too hard to enter either.

- Under current privacy, select Show Records, Mask Records or Hide Records. Show Records means whether a record is marked private or not, it will show up in the list for anyone to view. Mask Records (the one I keep it on) means a bar will appear through the subject line so I know something is there, but I need to enter the password I assigned to view the text. Hide Records means you won't even know the record is there unless you change the preference for all records back to Show or Mask.

For records to be affected by security, you need to check them as Private. If you open any Contact, Calendar Entry, Task or Memo, you will find the Private checkbox under Details.

You can open individual items marked Private, enter your password, and view just that record. Once you close that item it will return back to the previous security. Or, you can change the security for all records by going back to Applications, Security and changing it for all records. If you change it to Show Records, just remember to change it back to Hide or Mask, since it won't do this automatically if you've changed it for all records.

I've tried the Turn Off and Lock feature you'll see under Security, but found it so cumbersome to have to enter a password every time I turned my Palm on.

I hope this helps.

Posted by Kelly at 04:19 PM | Comments (2)

October 06, 2005

Keeping the GTD flame alive

I was exchanging emails with a client today about how to keep the GTD flame alive. I led a one-day seminar for them this summer. Discipline is certainly part of it, but what inspires us to even stay disciplined? Here was my response:

I think you nailed it about discipline and for me it's also finding a meaningful outcome to stay attracted and motivated toward it. If it seems like "work" it's hard for me to stay on track. I look at it like exercise: it's not so fun to walk on the treadmill, but how I feel afterward makes it worth it. GTD is the same way. How I feel, think and can relax about my life with a clear head and trusted system makes it all worth slogging through the weekly review. One of the other things I often do is change my system around, like new list categories (@online and @offline instead of @computer), getting new fun gear from Palm (Treo 650), Levenger (Circa pad) etc. so that I really like and stay engaged with the tools I'm using. It's kind of like getting a new pair of shoes--all of a sudden I'm excited and I want to find somewhere to go.

Posted by Kelly at 07:25 PM | Comments (0)