Re: Here's the problem with that Joe...

Gordon --

I said I was going to post a response to this then became sidetracked. We ran to a little town with a square not too far from here to check out a mercantile store and their quilting supplies. Then a visit to a used book store and taking my wife and daughters out to dinner. Just got back.

> Right there. The problem for many people is
> they do a lot of things well AND love to do
> them all.

You have hit the nail on the head. This is a crucial point and one that drove me nuts for many years. Some of us just have so many interests that it is very difficult to pin one down. And if you do pursue one to the exclusion of the others you begin to "miss out". Some would say your goals are out of balance - you know mental, spritual, family, work, etc. But with the multiple interests it really falls outside those classifications.

This has filtered into my life in many ways. Not the least of which is time management. The highly organized systems just don't work for more than a week or so when I try them. Some would say you just didn't apply yourself. Well -- I'm convinced it is more than that. Refer to the multiple interests and the overall way life works out. Some careers have more interruptions than others. Some things just can't be scheduled. Trying to do so just compounds the problem.

I liked Steven Covey's approach with breaking things into "roles". That was helpful. Gave me a way to mentally categorize various parts of my life.

David Allen has a book out called "Getting Things Done". At the core he uses context based lists tied to a master project list. The several months since adopting pieces of it have been my most productive in a long time.

When I perform I use a stage name. Adopting that was a huge help. Made it possible finally to put that whole area of my life into a compartment I could pick up or leave at any time.

For years it was an all consuming "role". Doing the thing I loved - became the biggest burden I had. I won't say any more - I know you understand - others still believe "do what you love the money will follow". But that is a whole other discussion. After reading your post prior to this one though I think the "multiple interests" and what I refer to in my first paragraph enter in...

> That often is the first RUT they have to
> climb out of. Picking and choosing what to
> do is not an easy thing.

Another "RUT" being the one they can fall in when other convince them they just aren't serious or have to pick *one* to the exclusion of the others.

> Those people who have not yet found what
> they do well and love to do it are the ones
> that are stuck in the rut. The action they
> need to take is to begin TODAY, where they
> are at, with what they have, and build from
> there.

I agree here except it might be easier to start from where they want to be and work backward - discovering how the varied interests can all blend together and not get lost. If you believe we do "things" because they support us in some way - then focusing on one to the exclusion of others will affect us - and not always in the way we want.

> people who are still doing the job they
> hated 5 years ago while sleeping on the
> acres of diamonds they have within.

Agree completely. And the acres of diamonds message is so relevant even in the "job they hated" environment. Just to open their eyes to what is right there will benefit so many other areas of their life. If they only knew.

> markers and red ink. Like you Joe, I disdain
> the "magic" approach.

I'm not sure what you are referring to in the "magic" approach unless it's the get mentally tuned and the world will line up at your doorstep. If so then I agree with you. Although that does play a part.

So there you go - a bit disjointed but a few loose points that "popped in" when I read your post.

Thanks for the stimulating thoughts.

-- Dan Butler


My little acre of diamonds...

Dan -

Excellent post that resonated with me as well - I have varied interests and the ability to juggle a lot of projects simultaneously, but have, in many ways, become a "jack of all trade, master of few":-) as Dien noted below. My problem is that, given my druthers, I'd rather be meandering around the town square instead of behind the DO NOT DISTURB sign:-)

As for time management "systems", I'm with you - all the $$$ I've spent on Franklin planners, planner pads, palm pilots, etc. would probably pay my mortgage for a few months!

What's finally worked for me is knowing myself and my traits - when I have a deadline, I do have laserlike focus and complete the tasks required with precision, and usually "know" the steps to completion without detailed documentation or tracking.

So, now I use my own system, including a mindmap to document the general steps of a project, working backwords as you noted, from the completion date. Then, daily, I look at the mindmap, update it, and write down appointments and a couple of to-do's related to the project steps so I'll get them done. It's worked well for me on a variety of projects that involve several steps to complete.

I use a REX PDA I bought from eBay to keep track of my appointments and to-do's, mainly because it holds all my contacts as well in a compact, business card size case.

Gordon's SQ1 paths of life have helped keep me in balance as well - they continue to be a valued resource!

It all boils down, for me, to how important is the project/task (regardless of underlying interest). If it's important, I'll move heaven and earth and get it done, if not, it'll probably slip until it rises in importance! For example, clearing my neighbor's bamboo roots out of our side garden bed was low in importance until the bamboo spread to the lawn. Then, I literally moved a lot of earth to eradicate the pestilence in a couple of weekends, researched bamboo barriers, and put the barrier in place without a to-do list or documenting the steps:-)

Just my rambling input to this excellent thread.

Bob

Bob --

> few":-) as Dien noted below. My problem
> is that, given my druthers, I'd rather be
> meandering around the town square instead of
> behind the DO NOT DISTURB sign:-)

Wouldn't we all! But an interesting thought from Jim Rohn I've been trying to put into practice recently - "wherever you are be there". When you are at work -- work. When wandering the square -- wander the square. And don't let work creep into your thinking. It's hard. I've spent a lot of time seeking ways to be able to be able to be available if needed but gone from the business otherwise.

> What's finally worked for me is knowing
> myself and my traits - when I have a
> deadline, I do have laserlike focus and
> complete the tasks required with precision,
> and usually "know" the steps to
> completion without detailed documentation or
> tracking.

Interesting you would say that. The "Getting Things Done" ideas speak of that but focus on getting peripheral thoughts out of your mind so you can focus.

> So, now I use my own system, including a
> mindmap to document the general steps of a
> project, working backwords as you noted,

I like the mindmaps. Very helpful.

> from the completion date. Then, daily, I
> look at the mindmap, update it, and write
> down appointments and a couple of to-do's
> related to the project steps so I'll get
> them done. It's worked well for me on a
> variety of projects that involve several
> steps to complete.

I'll have to contemplate this and see if it fits. One thing that wasn't clear in my earlier message was the way "Getting Things Done" defines projects. The definition there of project is any action with more than 1 step that you'll complete in 30-90 days. So it isn't really project in the grand sense that we tend to think of them.

> I use a REX PDA I bought from eBay to keep
> track of my appointments and to-do's, mainly
> because it holds all my contacts as well in
> a compact, business card size case.

I've not made the leap to electronic data. Something about the way my handwriting "feels" when I look at it. Makes it more personal. Plus I'm on the computer so much as it is.

> Gordon's SQ1 paths of life have helped keep
> me in balance as well - they continue to be
> a valued resource!

Agreed!

> It all boils down, for me, to how important
> is the project/task (regardless of
> underlying interest). If it's important,
> I'll move heaven and earth and get it done,
> if not, it'll probably slip until it rises
> in importance! For example, clearing my

I tended to be this way but it's getting better.

Appreciate hearing your thoughts.

-- Dan Butler


Stockings to Stuff? Start here...

> Wouldn't we all! But an interesting thought
> from Jim Rohn I've been trying to put into
> practice recently - "wherever you are
> be there". When you are at work --
> work. When wandering the square -- wander
> the square. And don't let work creep into
> your thinking.

Reminds me of my favorite Zen quote - "If you're going to stand, stand. If you're going to sit, sit. Above all, don't wobble!"

> I'll have to contemplate this and see if it
> fits. One thing that wasn't clear in my
> earlier message was the way "Getting
> Things Done" defines projects. The
> definition there of project is any action
> with more than 1 step that you'll complete
> in 30-90 days. So it isn't really project in
> the grand sense that we tend to think of
> them.

I tend to define projects the same way, breaking down "grand" projects into weekly, monthly and quarterly chunks to make them manageable.

I'll have to check out the Allen book - thanks for the resource.

> I've not made the leap to electronic data.
> Something about the way my handwriting
> "feels" when I look at it. Makes
> it more personal. Plus I'm on the computer
> so much as it is.

I like paper better too, and continually bounce back and forth. I find the PDA allows me to resked and recopy appointments and tasks quicker and neater than rewriting, and is a great portable rolodex. But,you're right, there's something subconsciously pleasing about writing on paper.

Bob

Bob --

> Reminds me of my favorite Zen quote -
> "If you're going to stand, stand. If
> you're going to sit, sit. Above all, don't
> wobble!"

Weebles wobble but the don't fall down! I like this quote you've shared. I chuckled tonight as I watched my youngest struggle at times between the sitting - standing - and wobbling. Depending on how involved she was in what she was doing.

> I'll have to check out the Allen book -
> thanks for the resource.

Let me know what you think about it. I had gone through it about two months before my job ended. After doing the "download" as described in the book I discovered I had *far* too many things going and just dropped several of them until the job was over. It was like an instant lifting of stress during an already stressful time. Then took a few weeks slow then picked up that other stuff again. Of course I explained this to the others involved.

> I like paper better too, and continually
> bounce back and forth. I find the PDA allows

I don't use anything electronic to track appointments. But then I don't really have that many. Need to set more with myself but that is another subject!

> right, there's something subconsciously
> pleasing about writing on paper.

Bob the example I always use is this. On my desk I can have many scraps of paper. Some are written in red, some blue, some black, some pencil. Some are printed documents that I've scribbled a note on. A few are documents someone else has handwritten to me and I may have jotted a note on. With all those varied documents I can still distinguish one from the other and find exactly the one I'm after. With computer printed documents they are all the same.

My address book has scratch throughs and updates. I see the old addresses for people and it brings back memories - of when I visited them at the old address and other things. It's a time line of my life.

Think of the love letters some save and revisit year after year. There is a look, a smell, a touch - unique to each. They take the owner back in the same way a high school year book does. What would this experience be if each of those documents was printed from a computer? [As an aside - for those that wonder if the phenomenon of age regression is real consider this paragraph in that light...]

Even a typewritten letter was signed with a certain pen, on a certain stationary, chosen by the sender. A special stamp they liked. All that is lost today.

What is the value of a personally written, carefully worded note today? What will it be in 10 years? 20 years?

These are things I ponder. And thoughts I endeaver to pass to my children.

Thank you for a stimulating conversation. I think I'll run touch this up and run it in my newsletter in December - it seems an appropriate time.

-- Dan Butler


Never be in the dark again...

> Even a typewritten letter was signed with a
> certain pen, on a certain stationary, chosen
> by the sender. A special stamp they liked.
> All that is lost today.

> What is the value of a personally written,
> carefully worded note today? What will it be
> in 10 years? 20 years?

> These are things I ponder. And thoughts I
> endeaver to pass to my children.

A year or two ago, an article appeared, written by, if my memory serves me correctly, a well known writer whose name escapes me for the moment.

In it, he told how he bought an old typewriter (antique), typed a note on it to his grandson - leaving the paper and note still in it - and gave it to his grandson as a gift.

I'll try and find it... in the meantime, someone else might remember it and find it first...

Michael Ross.

Dan - I got the Allen book today and it looks interesting - perhaps some foundational reorganization work in my office to clear the decks for a few 10 day projects. And I'll have an overwhelming multitude of initial inbox stuff as well - like a whole room:-)

Your point about the value of a well-written, thoughtful letter/document is interesting. In this day and age of automated template business letters, sales letters, resumes, etc., as well as the internet speak informal shorthand so prevalent in emails (I use it myself, so no guilt implied) coupled with the trend toward sound bite, flash visuals and power point bullets, who knows what a "well written, thoughtful" piece will be in ten years.

Probably a mixed media of messages, from olde English to flash speak. And the success of Levenger Corp., with it's opulent paper, inks and other expensive stuff bodes well for those who like the feel of the non-cyberic:-D

If you write this up in your NL, please post and/ or forward a copy to me. I'd enjoy reading it.

Bob

Bob

Bob

That sounds like a very cool gift. Thanks for mentioning it.

-- Dan Butler

> In it, he told how he bought an old
> typewriter (antique), typed a note on it to
> his grandson - leaving the paper and note
> still in it - and gave it to his grandson as
> a gift.

Bob --

Let me know your thoughts on the Allen book after you been through some of it.

I'm still sifting throught the initial inbox/download cycle. Sure a lot of stuff built up over the years - and I'm not that old. Just a lot of varied interests.

"The automated secrets of modern communication" - now that could be a title. And I automate as much as anyone. Templates the whole bit. But I still write those notes from time to time. And I'd like to automate and write more.

At my former job I was known for being the computer short cut guy. In reality I'm just a creatively lazy guy. If I do the same thing more than say twice on the computer I'll write a little program to do it for me the next time. Little things add up.

So one day a fellow pops his head in my office and asks if I know someones phone number. I say sure and open up the little printed copy of the office directory I kept next to my phone. He is dumbfounded as he thought I had some high tech way to access the info. Turns out he had the same printed copy on his desk but thought I could find it faster as he walked past. Ha!

The printed copy was always faster for me. All references off line are. They have a "locational" memory in that I can remember where things are and turn right to them. On a computer I have no equivalent.

You mention Levenger - my wallet felt lighter at the mere mention of the name.

I did write it up for the newsletter which goes out in at 9:00 am PST Thursday. I'll forward you a copy.

And Gordon and others interested in Product Development - if you are still seeing this. Be sure to check our Featured FAQ this issue. I didn't pick it but after considering it a moment think it will trigger many helpful thoughts. That's all I'll say.

I wonder how many are still reading this long meandering thread way down here?

-- Dan Butler

Dan -

I'll continue to meander down here:) Thanks in advance for your NL copy, and I'll read more of the Allen book today. I already read the part where he says to allow two or more days for the initial gathering and sorting - I'll probably need more!

You must be a visual thinker (in terms of NLP) in that visuals supposedly can handle stacks of stuff and remember exactly where things are with less problems than others.

I have the same ability to locate stuff on my desk amid supposed clutter - it drives my wife nuts:-) And I agree, most of the time, printed lists are more quickly accessed than on the electronic version, except for portability. Then the PDA may be handier for things like phone numbers, addresses, etc.

However,as I wrote the above, my mind flashed to the ease of reading a piece of paper while driving compared to starting and operating a PDA! So, I guess Levenger wins:-)

Bob