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Anne Gennett
The Power of Lists
It’s all in my Palm. And I know you laugh, I’ve seen you nudge each other and make sly remarks. You think I’m an organizational obsessive/compulsive. Go ahead, laugh…I’ve got it and you want it. You know you do...
It’s my lists, or David’s lists or Jason’s lists. You know, the Memo section in the Palm, the Notes section in Outlook or the reference section in your paper planner. That’s where your lists live. Right there at your fingertips. What you want, when you want it. I’ll give you some examples from my lists and see if there isn’t something there you could use to make your life easier.
First I have a category called David Allen Company. It’s chock full of things like FedEx numbers, server connection numbers, our Principles, product pricing and the Getting Things Done seminar schedule. Anything reference that has to do with work goes in there. Calling card numbers, conference call codes and numbers, check. Holiday schedule, check. Crucial IT support contact info, check. I’ve got it, no matter where I am.
I have a category titled Personal. I carry air-hotel-train-car membership numbers. Medical information for my parents, just in case. I’ve got a birthday list, the clothing sizes for all the important people in my life and gift ideas (which you’ll need if you have any teenagers in your life……ever been to Tower Records with NO idea?). I have insurance information, banking information, mutual fund information. I can track my weight and blood pressure and have an instant history next time I’m at the doctors. My mind has absolutely let go of these little details…..I track them in my Palm.
There’s a category titled Lists, because in the Palm you can only have 15 categories, so this one is a total catch-all. I’ve got lists of books to read for both work and pleasure, along with books I’ve read… just in case you need a suggestion. I’ve got a list of movies to rent, music to buy, and wines to taste. I’ve got a list that has the sizes of my printer cartridges, my P-touch tape and the odd light bulb on my porch.
Or how about my travel list. Here I’ve got all the great restaurants you’ve recommended, divided by city. Where to eat in Quebec? San Antonio? Texas? New York? I’ve got it. There’s my travel checklist, which is a list of things to handle before I leave for a long trip (lower the thermostat, cancel the paper, arrange for someone to shovel the snow….good, huh?, did you ever forget to do that?). Any piece of information I glean that might help me when I travel goes in here. It’s been invaluable.
I collect quotes, so I drop them into a list. Whenever I’m shopping for something big, like when I bought a new stereo, I started a list of stores and prices so I could comparison shop over time. It’s endless, really….anything you think you might need with you can be dropped into a list.
So I leave you with some additional suggestions for lists or checklists, see if there isn’t something in here for you;
Job responsibilities, The Weekly Review, New Hire Checklist, Focus Areas, Key People, Key Clients, Things to take Camping, Vacation destinations, Fun Things to do with the Kids, Next time in…., Affirmations, Personal Timeline, Job History and References.
Surely there’s something you can use! And after you’ve seen the light, found the power in the lists, you’ll know, as I do, that when people point and shake their heads, they’re just jealous.
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