http://www.davidco.com/forum/ Public Forums: Getting Things Done en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:37:13 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.davidco.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png http://www.davidco.com/forum/ http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13300-Where-should-things-like-reading-a-book-go&goto=newpost Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:47:06 GMT I am using omnifocus iPad to deal with things, but it seems very bogey when things like reading a book keep living in my project list, I can't simply mark it as done. So where should they be? ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done AlexanderChow http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13300-Where-should-things-like-reading-a-book-go http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13295-Transitioning-from-personal-GTD-to-company-GTD&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:12:08 GMT I have been using GTD on a personal level for the last 4-5 years. I've loved it, sometimes used it more than others, adapted the system a little to my own requirements, but overall it has been a fantastic system which has served me well.

A few months ago I joined a new company. On of my briefs was to 'make the company more efficient'. I had several other projects as well as that one, so I concentrated on achieving results in those other areas whilst learning how the company currently functions, so that I can provide input and restructuring productively, rather than making change for the sake of it.

Now I'm starting to really focus on the efficiencies side so have started to bring my GTD habits to the workplace. My chairman stopped off at my desk the other day and I produced a list of things that I needed to speak with her about. She asked me about it and I showed her the GTD book and told her I thought that it was great. The next day she told me she'd ordered a copy, the day after she told me she was reading it avidly and it'd already started to help, the day after that she told me that she'd bought a copy for the two people that work most closely for her, and last week I was asked to give an overview of the book and how I used it to those people.

What's great is that it has gained a lot of momentum quickly. In fact, much more quickly than I'd planned. But now it's happening I intend to strike while the iron is hot and make the most of it, so it is now the most important thing I have to do.

So now I am looking at ways of implementing it with my company, but as I've used it very much as a personal paper based system previously, I am running into a few challenges and would welcome input from others who might have faced similar things in the past.

1) We use a pretty outdated CRM / enterprise system within our company and we have a policy of using that for 'ToDo's (tasks), and logging all client / supplier correspondence. Eventually this will be replaced but that won't happen for at least 1-2 years so I'd like to implement a GTD based system whilst still using this.

There are obviously benefits of using a shared electronic system, including:
- keeping a record of all correspondence which is backed up
- allowing all ToDos / diary appointments / other info to be shareable across the company

It would be a pain (as the system is so outdated) but it would be possible to adapt the system to implement a context based set of lists for everyone to be able to use, which would benefit from maintaining everything electronically. However I am then very concerned that the full benefits of GTD wouldn't be realised and therefore it may fall flat, including:
- the portability - if everyone only has their GTD system when they're sitting in front of their computer, what happens when they aren't (my personal system is based on a 12 slot folder in which I keep all of my lists under different categories and it works brilliantly - partly because it is always with me)
- the focus of having hand written lists that David Allen talks about - that if a list is on a computer then it is easier to let items sit there for days until they don't even get noticed

Any advice is gratefully received. ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done PaulD http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13295-Transitioning-from-personal-GTD-to-company-GTD http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13294-Working-by-context-or-by-project&goto=newpost Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:09:05 GMT Assuming that you have control of your context there are two different way you can work: by firing through all of your next actions in one context or changing your context to work on actions related to a particular project. Which strategy do you employ most often? EO Assuming that you have control of your context there are two different way you can work: by firing through all of your next actions in one context or changing your context to work on actions related to a particular project. Which strategy do you employ most often?

EO ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done ero213 http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13294-Working-by-context-or-by-project http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13291-MMM...(Perhaps-a-silly)-question-about-filing&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:27:21 GMT Hello,

I've read the book in Hebrew, so perhaps the terminology I use might look a bit odd.

I got stuck a few times in the part discussing the filing of "assistance stuff",

meaning stuff that I don't need to do anything about it other than filing it

for future use (for example manuals of electric equipment).

It said in the book that I have to keep a big amount of files for this purpose.

The question is: how do those files look like? Can someone maybe attach a picture

showing how this filing drawer should look like?

Best Regards,

Ariel ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done abolotsky http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13291-MMM...(Perhaps-a-silly)-question-about-filing http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13290-The-work-by-routine-tray&goto=newpost Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:07:20 GMT Hi All, A few days ago I finally got to understand that a certain type of items in my in-box gets my processing phase longer than it should be. I can get every day a dozen or more items with which I should do a relatively short, predefined chain of steps, which can change slightly depending... Hi All,

A few days ago I finally got to understand that a certain type of items in my in-box gets my processing phase longer than it should be.

I can get every day a dozen or more items with which I should do a relatively short, predefined chain of steps, which can change slightly depending on the exact case, and those actions should better be done as soon as possible.

A few examples:

A new prospect client called, and after the conversation he asked to be sent information- I have to add the lead to my CRM system, and could be I have a template with the information he requests, and it needs only to be filled with the contact info and can be sent to him by fax or email.

A signed order got in, I took it from the fax machine and it's in my inbox. I need to close the reminder to check if it came in (in waiting), update the client's account, set a reminder to produce and ship the item ordered, and produce an invoice for the charge.

I worked for a few hours for a client, outside the office, upon coming in I dropped the note including the billable hours worked for him into the inbox. I have to feed the information to my system, calculate the price for the time, and update the client's account, and if the work is finished - produce an invoice.

All of those issues, and there are more type of such items, should better be done sooner than later. If I don't send out the information the prospect asked for, I might lose the lead. If I don't ship the item ordered, the client might get upset, and without sending the invoice to him- the payment will also be delayed.

So, till now I used to actually DO those things immediately while processing my in-box, but it made processing slow, because it takes much more than 2 minutes to do, and often my inbox did not get empty on a daily-basis.

I now think I should make a special tray for this kind of items, processing them from the inbox will be short- What is it? An order. Need action? Yes- it's a rutine item, put it there to be done.

And I think that even though my system is basically electronic, this tray will by itself be the 'container' and the context, I don't need to list these items, I just have to sit down - pick an item and just do what's needed. I can even pick the one I think needs to be done first, even though it is not the top one - this tray is not an in-box - it's a context.

What do you think?

Michael ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done Mic http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13290-The-work-by-routine-tray http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13286-Is-quot-Doing-quot-even-part-of-GTD&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:21:35 GMT A couple of recent threads have led me to consider this question.

On one hand, yeah of course it is -- it has its own chapter in GTD and everything.

On the other hand... hmmm. Taking a good look at that chapter, it doesn't really talk about Doing itself very much. The chapter is properly titled "Doing: Making the Best Action Choices". But the process of making the best choice of what to do isn't really Doing.

So it may be that Doing, itself, lies outside the scope of GTD. Which I'm totally okay with. I'm just a bit surprised that it's taken me this long to notice.



Cheers,
Roger ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done Roger http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13286-Is-quot-Doing-quot-even-part-of-GTD http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13285-Should-you-keep-your-head-empty-Or-even-should-you-get-things-done.&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:01 GMT "Maybe what you're doing is important, interesting, or useful; or maybe it isn't but it has to be done anyway. In the first case you want to get as much return as you can on your investment of time and energy. In the second, you want to get on to other things as fast as you can, without any nagging loose ends.". -----David

There might be things you want to keep in your head, or sometimes you can't help thinking it, like the vacation you are going to spend, romance you are going to develop. Just getting excited by just thinking about them.

And as you are doing these things, you don't just want get them down, nor you are doing them for a result. I mean, Come on, if you are ever doing things for a maximum possible return, then when are you going to enjoy it? ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done AlexanderChow http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13285-Should-you-keep-your-head-empty-Or-even-should-you-get-things-done. http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13284-Focus-and-Current-Events&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:12:42 GMT GTD is about focusing on what is most important now. Part of managing focus is keeping up with current events without getting overwhelmed by noise and chatter. One approach is to read a weekly news publication. A few years back, I acted on a recommendation from this forum and subscribed to... GTD is about focusing on what is most important now.

Part of managing focus is keeping up with current events without getting overwhelmed by noise and chatter. One approach is to read a weekly news publication.

A few years back, I acted on a recommendation from this forum and subscribed to The Week. Lots can happen in two years. So, before I renew, just thought I would ask: Do you have a favorite weekly 'read' that keeps you current?

Thanks,
Rob ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done ArcCaster http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13284-Focus-and-Current-Events http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13282-How-to-control-the-situation&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:51:41 GMT I'm an owner of company and want to structure business process. I just prepared and sent an email to my team:

I decided to start business process workout. Suggest to go in a few stages:

1. Prepare a list of business process of a dept (resp. dept. manager, 17/02/2012)

2. Connect the process: add needed, delete useless (reps. GM, 24/02/2012)

3. Describe shortly each process using enclosed form (resp. dept. manager, 8/03/2012)

4. Connect business process (GM, 23/03/2012)

5. Prepare control documents (esp. dept. manager, 6/04/2012):

Now I need to control that and keep that total process somewhere to remind me if I want to add something to it. Should I put a next action @WF st of business process of a dept (resp. dept. manager, 17/02/2012) and put into my Project List Develop Business Plan item. I'd love to keep my project plan in a Word file but afraid of a mess when a project list would live it's own life when my Word file with plans it's...

What's wrong here? ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done Petr http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13282-How-to-control-the-situation http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13280-Importance-of-collection-habit&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:27:46 GMT I was very busy last days. A lot of calls on the phone on the run and without any paper&pen around. Needed to write promises into my iPhone when the call is over. Not so productive as when I have pen & paper by hand. Anyway some of the thoughts are captured and translated into actions. Nice feeling of control :) ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done Petr http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13280-Importance-of-collection-habit http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13279-project-management-concern&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:18:27 GMT Hi, I am a software project manager, we use a framework called "SCRUM" to manage projects.
My questions is what need to go to the trusted system, should they look granular? ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done AlexanderChow http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13279-project-management-concern http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13278-What-is-the-most-difficult-in-gtd-for-you&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:15:33 GMT I'm curios what do you find the most challenging aspect of gtd? ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done supergtdman http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13278-What-is-the-most-difficult-in-gtd-for-you http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13272-GTD-Hangout-On-Google-Plus&goto=newpost Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:42:03 GMT Just wondering if anyone would be interested in a meeting up on google plus to share ideas and chat about GTD?

It's a bit like a group skype call.

Good time might be 8:30PM GMT / 3:30PM EST / 12:30 PST on Sunday? ]]> timjamesbrennan http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13272-GTD-Hangout-On-Google-Plus http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13270-Lonely&goto=newpost Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:31:43 GMT Any ideas on how to make friends and manage relationships? Any ideas on how to make friends and manage relationships? ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done Suelin23 http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13270-Lonely http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13266-Processing-catchup&goto=newpost Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:01:30 GMT I'm way behind in processing due to an acknowledged overload of work, which I'm told isn't likely to abate until end of June this year. I thought about doing some processing catchup at home - using my laptop, in front of the TV it will hardly feel like work. But the problem is I have limited network connectivity, I can access my emails fine, but other connections to the network drives, and software such as adobe acrobat only seems to work intermittently via remote access. For example I got an email about a data migration project that might affect me, but the email contains several links to the detailed project info that fails to open. So should I just leave this in my inbox until I'm back in the office, or make a NA to check the links next time I'm in the office and get it out of my inbox while I'm at home? I'm a bit concerned that if I move things like this out of the inbox while they're not fully processed I might miss things. But if I leave it in the inbox I might not catchup until later anyway and seeing 752 emails in my inbox is stressing me out. ]]> PUBLIC: Discuss Getting Things Done Suelin23 http://www.davidco.com/forum/showthread.php?13266-Processing-catchup