I then read the book and took to using the philosophy. slowly at first, only for the one thing that troubled me a lot - my mail management which for the record was a disaster. I did everything that was wrong (so told the experts online) and I decided to change.
I decided to be a ZERO INBOX person and Get Things Done.
It worked, like a charm.
Here is quick snapshot:
- I do not scan emails for importance. I see each one in my inbox. Decide whether I can do something immediately. If yes, I do. If not, I decide if it needs to be done on a particular date. If yes, its in filed under that date. If its something that I need to do something about, I decide how much time I need on it. I think mark a to do with the time I may need for it and file it under that.
- I clear the inbox to ZERO. Take a stretch break, enjoy the view from my office or something. Feel good.
- Then get to work on my TO DO.
The GTD (that is what it's called like everything else the acronym works) philosophy is not about emails only, really. The most powerful stuff in it for me is the 'What Can I do next?'. Just one step next, towards getting it all wrapped up. It makes a world of difference.
There's also the Projects and Someday and Top View etc. But what I love, is that the simple philosophy gets me going. It not only encourages me, it propels me towards action, taking me a step closer to what I want and a step away from just sitting there doing nothing.
Well, this post is not just about GTD by David Allen, but in general about getting things done.
The following rules/guidelines/my way of looking at it (MYWOLAI! - pronounced My-Woh-Lai - not yet trademarked, but I will if enough of you start using it ;):
1. Start a separate sheet / note / file or each project/activity/ task that is important.
I used to try and do everything on Evernote earlier, but now I am back to using Pen & Paper. I like it and I am not ashamed. I divide this paper into 2 parts, one is 2/3rd of the paper the other 1/3rd. The 2/3rd part is for a simple to do list, things that I know I have to do. I write them down, and then strike them off as I complete them or put names & dates against them if I have delegated them to someone. The other 1/3rd is for ideas that come from working on the project. Stuff that is still just a thought, a fleeting, teasing thought, that if not captured will go to the next entrepreneur who was ready to put it down. It makes it so much fun to do stuff!
2. I know what is a my success or at least what success on that project looks/feels/sounds/tastes like. There was a time when I couldn't stop improving the things I was doing well enough. I was going for 'world-class' where 'good enough' was really good enough. I don't do that anymore. I know what I want to do, and when we( my team & I ) get there, we celebrate the success. We may choose to make it better, that is another project all together.
3. I celebrate. My team knows I have done something and I am happy with myself, when I storm into their area with this smile playing on my lips and me looking around eagerly for the person on the team that I want to immediately share it with. Oh ya, I don't celebrate alone. I show off and let the team know I did it. They do the same with me, cheeky people!
4. I have accepted I have a limited amount of time, focus and energy and that I need to use that with respect. I no longer get carried away (except when I am browsing. - wow, on that also in detail some other day, but I schedule sometime for me to just explore, browse, let the internet take me to places/directions I have never been before, one click at a time. It is so amazing!) Rest of the time, I have decided what my key initiatives are and till those are not complete to my satisfaction, I take on no more.
5. Process. Not the stuff that you have to chisel in stone, but definitely a system that defines what works how, when and who does it and why. We not have processes/systems for most of the tasks that are critical to our business/service offering and we want to adhere to them. The temptation to skip a few steps is always there, but we try and put checks & balances in place. Formats, standard talk lines, automated workflows add to all that.
6. I tear my to do lists after I am done & It feels so gooooood! I use RTM for all my electronic reminders, but honestly, deleting something on the phone is nothing compared to tearing a paper ( a thick one at that - I use Rubberband products - awsm stuff ).
There then, a quick into into GTD and all that.
I new acronym coined today - MYWOLAI! - pronounced My-Woh-Lai - My Way Of Looking At It.
And a lot of ideas in the 1/3rd part of the paper as ideas for more posts.
Keep reading, keep doing more, keep succeeding!
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