April 20, 2007

Signing off for now

Well, I'm signing off from this blog for now. It's just the most sensible thing for me to do right now. I'll leave you with my thoughts on prioritizing, since essentially halting any project / area of focus represents a shift in priorities.

I have often heard David Allen talk about whether he, or others, have "the bandwidth" to take on a new endeavor. It's interesting language, and I love the way it doesn't assume any lack of time or energy. By saying I do or don't have the bandwidth for something, I get to decide what I want to focus on, how much I can focus on at once, and where the limits and guidelines are about that.

It's remarkable to me to hear from countless people in our network who wear many hats with success. I intersect with some of these people thorugh the GTD Connect inteviews, others at the RoadMap seminars, and others who bump into us at seemingly random places along the road. And while these people come from all industries (medicine, finance, HR, small startup companies, education, the list goes on...), there is a common thread to their success. They model to me a fine balance between clear focus and an ability to maintain altitude and perspective, while wearing many hats. In the RoadMap seminar, which is truly one of my favorite events, David talks about control and perspective. Quite the combination, and quite the dance, in my experience, to keep them both going at once.

So here I am at another mini-reflection point, doing my weekly review and looking at all my hats like this rich colorful display in a store window. It's been a real pleasure, readers, hearing from you. I hope you'll consider this an open invitation to stay connected with me in and about this work.

You can still catch me around on the GTD Connect forums. Don't hestitate to drop me a line.

Posted by Lisa at 11:56 AM | Comments (1)

March 25, 2006

About Me: Sense & Sensibility

If you're wondering about the name of my blog, Sense and Sensibility is one of my favourite novels by my absolute favourite author, Jane Austen. The name seems to fit because my life is a wonderful blend of balancing my practical side with all kinds of wildly creative endeavors. While it may be easy to identify the world "sense" with GTD and personal productivity, I identify sensibility (synonymous with emotion, affection, or sensitivity) as an equally important part of GTD. For me, this work is all about living life to the fullest by making smart choices that free up creative energy. So don't be fooled by the name, this is as much as space for innovation and intuition as it is a place for practical solutions.

I am currently the Director of GTD Connect Services, David Allen's new membership program. Off the top of my head, here are the 3 things I love most about this role:

• I get to hang out with some wonderful and talented members who get the value of GTD. I watch for the "ah-ha" moments and encourage people to get on track. I am a teacher at heart.
• Total immersion is a great way to learn. The more I watch, listen and read, the more I deepen my understanding of the tools that just plain work.
• Reason enough on its own, I am a part of a company that practices its principles.

I am currently working on a MA in psychology at the University of Santa Monica. It's where I hone my communication skills and discover the real fruits of life. You may also find ruminations here about my ever-changing interests and pursuits. Truthfully, I see a connection between Getting Things Done and just about everything. This is because GTD really works for me, in all contexts and at all moments, because I make it work. I hope you'll find seeds of ideas and tidbits of productivity that you can make your own.

I welcome your comments and correspondence at lisa@davidco.com.

Posted by Lisa at 12:32 PM | Comments (7)