Review: Getting Things Done

I’d heard so much over the past year about GTD this and GTD that. I had no idea what folks were talking about until Richard Poole began blogging about his desire for personal organization and how using the “Getting Things Done” principles found in David Allen’s book had helped him.

During his process, he also began reviewing several pieces of software that applied the GTD concepts. They included Thinking Rock, iGTD, and Omnifocus.

Since I am a fluid thinker and tortuous multi-tasker, I filed the book away mentally as something I’d like to get done… It wasn’t too long before a particularly overwhelming week hit that provoked me to finally order the copy of the book that had been sitting in my Amazon Wishlist.

I’ve been plowing through it for several weeks, and I must admit that it almost immediately began transforming my workspaces and habits. One of the primary points of Allen’s material is that our brains are profoundly able to retain information…. That’s not necessarily a good thing for many of us.

Every little to-do, project, honey-do, and urgent item that has ever crossed your mind is still buried in there somewhere. Over the course of time, you began to feel stressed and overwhelmed because you’re juggling so much mentally. Even things that carry relatively no weight – things that you just occasionally want to get to “someday” – occupy your mind with equal frequency as the need to finalize that big project.

So the first thing you do with GTD is simply to begin the collection process. Allen recommends setting aside an entire day for this. It’s a literal, physical collection process. Everything that lying around your house, office, in files on your computer, bulging email inbox, and floating around in your brain becomes part of this process. The goal is to simply empty it all into appropriate “collection buckets.” Whether file folders, trash cans or folders on your computer, Allen’s book guides you through this process.

As I’ve done this, I must admit that it’s mentally freeing to see accumulated piles of stuff – some things in them dating back a few years! – disappearing and being acted on, filed, or trashed.

The next step is “processing.” After collecting everything into one spot, now begins the time-consuming step of going through it all. He advocates a 2-minute rule in this step. If you come across something that you realize you could get done within 2 minutes, then stop and do it then. You’ll be surprised – I was – of how true that is. It’s also VERY encouraging to see things dwindling and getting done.

The next step is “organizing.” It’s this step that I’m still working on, but I’ve purchased a little file stand for my new filing system. Allen recommends the following broad categories: a “tickler” file (Someday/Maybe), Errands, Waiting (things that you’ve passed off to someone else but need to remind yourself of), Projects, and Reference (things you don’t need to act on but want to keep).

Obviously, you’ll also begin to create a more indepth filing system, but those are essential. Allen’s book is definitely not “pie-in-the-sky;” rather, it’s extremely practical and immediately useful.

After processing comes “reviewing.” You must carve into your weekly calendar a set time to sit down and review what you’ve filed. If you don’t, you’re in danger of simply getting things out of your mind and forgetting what you got them out of your mind for. You do the mind-dump in order to become more proficient and focused on what you begin to “do.”

And that’s the final step – “doing.” Start asking yourself about each project, task and floating idea, “What’s the next action step I could take on this that would advance it forward?” As you take that step, (and more like it as you then identify the next step after it), you’ll see even the largest, most daunting duties reducing in size and complexity.

I’m passing this book off to wifey, in the hopes she’ll digest it as well. It’s going on my yearly read/review list because I sense it’s one of those areas that in which I’ll need to be challenged again.

By the way, I finally bought Omnifocus after writing this review and using it for a while. It’s incredible. I especially like the ability to email myself and it automatically be put into my Omnifocus task or project lists. Another interesting new tool – with less features but a cleaner look – is Things.

Here’s the process:

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U.S. has slowest “high speed” internet?

Watch this 8 minute video featuring Walt Mossberg as he discusses before a panel in Finland the necessary steps for the digital revolution to take the next step in the United States. He points out that the U.S. has the slowest high-speed internet around, and that provider companies of DSL, cable internet, etc. purposely “throttle” speeds (bandwidth) so that they can charge more. 

One startling statement he makes is that what we consider high-speed internet in this country is laughed upon in other developed countries. He calls upon the next President to weigh in on creating some bandwidth policies and access readily available. He says that we should consider it just as strategic as we did the interstate highway infrastructure. 

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What’s your homepage?

Top ‘o the week t’ya!

I’m curious this morning… what do you have set for your homepage when your browser comes up?

Here’s mine:

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Mourning duck damage

I just can’t believe it.

Twice in one week, I have inadvertently broken two priceless family heirlooms (no wise cracks there, please).

The first accident came Wednesday evening as I was putting clean coffee mugs back into the cabinet after unloading the dishwasher. I saw it happening – as if in slow motion – but could do nothing about it. My Donald Duck coffee mug (one of my oldest) tottered on the edge of the shelf, teetering for a split second as if in hesitancy, before it committed suicide onto the counter below.

I was shocked at such utter disregard for the value of life. I wondered if I hadn’t been using it enough lately. What could it have been thinking, I wondered in numbness. I had obviously yelled out during the moment because my wife and daughter came running. They saw my crestfallen face and each responded in their normal fashion – Carolyn cackled; Adelyn comforted. Specifically, Adelyn went promptly to her room and drew me a picture of Daisy kissing Donald (which she traced from one of her books). It’s now hanging on the wall behind my computer.

The second incident occurred this morning and resulted in some perfectly parsed profanity, I’m sad to say. I reached across my bureau to get our Noble Media Services file folder, and in doing so my porcelain, musical wind-up Donald jumped off the shelf in another fit of self-hate. Fortunately, my foot broke most of its fall, but not before Donald broke his foot in the process. You can see the chip off the foot in the picture. Now I have a chip off the old duck…

I have collected Donald paraphernalia since reading Disney comics as a kid. Donald is my favorite character – bar none. I am deeply worried about his self-esteem however and am looking for duck depression doctors – but don’t recommend to me some quack.

I really thinks something fowl is afoot. My feathers are ruffled, and I’m worried about what Donald may do when I’m not looking. So, if you have any helpful thoughts, be sure to leave them as you take a gander at the rest of my site. By the way, beak-airful out there. It’s a dangerous world for ducks.

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Stealing from a church?

The following video is one church’s response to the folks who took their trailer with sound equipment, Bibles, children’s ministry items, and everything this new church owned, basically.I’d encourage you to watch it and see how grace can drastically impact a Christian’s response to setbacks. 

I’m thrilled to be part of a church that also welcomes losers. I should know since I see one in the mirror daily!

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First-time blogging and Tumblr

“Blogging” is such a huge, insurmountable concept for most people. Even if they journal or write regularly, the thought of trying to produce a blog – the technicalities, the how-to’s, etc. are overwhelming. After all, for someone who simply wants to type something in and have it show up in an attractive fashion on the net, there’s few options.

Even services like Typepad, Multiply, Vox, WordPress.com, and others offer so many features, that a first-timer can go cross-eyed and in a sudden case of info-overload, give up. Yet, there are probably thousands of folks like that who could make invaluable contributions to friends, family and the globe if they could be encouraged to “take the next step.”

That’s why I recommend Tumblr for first-timers. It’s wonderfully easy, and very intuitive. For instance, this is what I see when I log into my Tumblr dashboard:

Pretty simple, huh. If I want to post a simple paragaph or two, I click “Text.” If a photo, then voila, click “Photo.” It’s that easy.

Now for the really cool part… some of you have been following the Lifestream series with interest, and Tumblr allows you to combine the different services you use and have them all posted in your Tumblog (the name given to a blog on Tumblr). While most first-time bloggers aren’t using Twitter or YouTube or Flickr, they might in the future, and Tumblr lets you import your information in the form of an RSS feed from those services. Most of the stuff in my Tumblr are feeds imported from other places. I actually don’t input directly into Tumblr that often. It may be one of the best Lifestream compilers out there – since you can customize its look and feel.

So… for those of you would-be bloggers out there, stop by Tumblr today, and create your first Tumblog. Send me the link, and I’ll be sure to publish it here so you’ll get some initial traffic and feedback! If you do stop by, mention my name, and you’ll get a good seat…

For further reference and resources:

• Theme customization:
  - wisdump.com – 5 Tumblr themes
  - tumblrthemes.com – Nice assortment of attractive Tumblr themes
  -And, of course, you can always Google “Tumblr themes”

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Rain and preaching

I left Little Rock Sunday morning early so that I could arrive in Newark, Arkansas in plenty of time to visit with pastor/friend Jody Smotherman. It rained on me the entire way there, and as I exited Highway 167, the words my dad said to me the night before bounced around my cranium, “Do you think you can get there?”

I had been aware of the massive flooding in north and northeast Arkansas over the past two weeks as a result of a stalled weather system that dumped 7-9 inches of rain on the area. As the system moved out of the area, to the north and east, it continued to fill rivers and creeks with damaging waters.

However, as I sat there, with my car idling on Highway 14 staring at the blocked road, my only thought was “uh-oh.” How was I going to get to church to preach on time?

Fortunately, I was able to drive down a parallel highway for a half mile or so and found a connecting gravel road that put me on the other side of the flood. After preaching, I returned home another way – through Batesville.

All of that brings me to a question… do you remember a place in scripture where someone had to “return another way?” Where was it? Why was it? And go further… What practical implications for our lives might there be in doing things differently than we’ve done them before?

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WordPress theme winner, blog commenting, and networking

Woohoo! Just got word this past week that I won a premium WordPress theme from ithemes.com. Many thanks to Ian Stewart over at themeshaper.com for the contest. All you had to do was…

Just let the community know what you think the next WordPress default theme should be like. All you have to do is leave a comment here with your great idea or ideas. Any idea is fine. You don’t need to be a theme developer, all you need is an opinion. Not enough room? Write a post on your own blog outlining your ideas (and to make sure I find it, leave a comment here with a link to your post). The three best ideas/proposals, as judged by iThemes and ThemeShaper, will be awarded the prizes. If we think they’re good ideas, you win! Simple.

A couple of thoughts about this process…

1. Commenting on blogs is important. For reasons that I’ve listed before, I prefer having interaction with readers and authors. There are only a couple of blogs that I read that disallow commenting. The authors’ reasons for doing this (for the specific two I refer to) are to enable them to focus on quality content. My contention, however, is that content is augmented and enhanced by the comments of others. It also allows readers to feel more ownership and to feel like they’re contributing to that particular blog’s community.
2. If I hadn’t commented, I wouldn’t have won.
3. There is network value in blog participation. Readers who see my/your comment on someone else’s blog – if it is an insightful or significant one – will often swing by your site to see who you are/what you’ve written. Every now and then, one of those will become a regular reader of your own site.

Here was my contribution to the contest:

I think the next theme should be able to teach beginning users of WordPress more about the basics of WordPress. Rather than simply clicking on the theme, I think it would be awesome if the next them contained a mini database of WordPress how-to’s that the user could peruse at his own leisure.I also think the header should be more customizable. I’d vote for something like Derek Punsalan’s Grid Focus.

I threw it out as a kind of pie-in-the-sky idea. Anything that could be built into WordPress to facilitate an easier blogging experience for beginners is better for all of us. I’ve been blogging for more than two years – regularly – and although my blog hasn’t ever hit the “big time,” I do consistently hear from friends, colleagues, former classmates, church members and others that I wouldn’t hear from otherwise.

I began on Typepad, fell in love with the discipline of writing and the generation of a network that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Blogging has enabled me to begin several online friendships, build a better business network and meet some really sharp pastors and Christian leaders from across the globe as a result of blogging.

My idea about making the next default theme of WordPress a built-in tutorial for bloggers would make an immense contribution to the blog world. It would make it easier for others jump into the global conversation. Some of you out there who have always been readers to this point have wonderful things in your head. You might not ever be a daily blogger, but perhaps your weekly or monthly contribution to your own blog would generate its own following.

So WordPress gurus out there, please give this idea some thought. The WordPress Codex is a great contribution and resource, but it’s generally difficult to navigate unless you know what you’re looking for. At present, you need to be able to speak “WordPress” or php in order to find what you need. A more user-friendly introduction and walk-through would be a wonderful help for us all.

Thanks to those over at themeshaper.com who left encouraging and kind comments about my idea as well. Digg it. Who knows? It might catch on.

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Compiling social website lifestreams

Over the past few weeks, I’ve used several sites to test out their lifestream capabilities. You can see some of them in other entries in this series. However, I wanted to comment on three in particular here: FriendFeed, Plaxo, and MyBlogLog.

Each of the three are able to take the different social networks you use and compile them into one RSS stream. You can see the result in the image below from my Plaxo feed:

Of those three, I would say that Plaxo and FriendFeed do the best job. MyBlogLog kept missing things, inexplicably. Also, with the first two, you can actually subscribe to this compiled RSS feed so that friends and family who have no life and want to live vicariously through you can subscribe to your lifestream feed from one of these services.

I continue to use the Actionstream plugin to pull my various feeds into my column on the right, but I suppose I could simply pull in one of the feeds from these two services above, rather than enter all the different feeds individually in the plugin. I am also using the RSS Stream plugin to generate the feeds on this page.

I’ve yet to decide which service I’ll use the most. I find myself using Plaxo to help sync my contacts the most – it works great with Mac Address Book. Google has yet to develop a nice lifestream or a way to sync contacts with the Mac well, or I would probably be using it because with BusySync (review to come later), I can now sync my Google calendars with my iCal from either end.

I think there’s a lifestream race on at the moment. The service that compiles all of these features into one of easy integration with your computer and portable device will win out. (Hello, iPhone?)

Oh, and of course, there’s Tumblr…

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Got a vision? Sit on it.

Fonzie from Happy Days used to dispense “Sit on it” as if it were a prescribed medication for overactive teenagers. Spoken in the midst of an exasperating situation, the leather-coated royalty of cool would command, “Sit on it!” and all in earshot would respond immediately.

I began reading Andy Stanley’s Visioneering this week, and only two chapters in, I am enjoying it immensely. It’s probably the first book on vision-casting that I’ve read many moons. Of course, I’ve read dozens – many of them by vision architext Aubrey Malphurs. back in the late 80s and 90s, a corporate or organizational vision was the surefire way to get us all out of the mess we were in.

Things have settled down since then, mostly because company presidents, pastors, CEOs and others realized it wasn’t enough to have a pithy vision statement scrawled on marble, letterhead or church walls. Simply having a vision didn’t direct, implement, or assist anyone in pursuing a preferred future.

Visioneering was written on the tail-end of the vision rush (compare to the Gold Rush). Authors, motivational speakers, leaders and pastors exhausted the vision vein at the end of the 90s, not because vision had been tried and found lacking, but more often because vision tried us and found us lacking – in energy, commitment, resources, tenacity and old-fashioned follow-through.

Stanley’s book offers a much-needed corrective to the jump-on-the-bandwagon folks in chapter 1. Got a vision? he asks. Sit on it.

“The truth is… that a clear vision does not necessarily indicate a green light to begin. In fact, I have witnessed a good many people with what seemed to be God-ordained visions charge out of the starting gates too early. And the result is always the same. Failure. Discouragement. Disillusionment.

A vision rarely requires immediate action. It always requires patience.”

The rest of the chapter is devoted to what happens in us and through us as a vision is allowed to percolate. Perhaps the best storage for a vision is a crock pot.

I’ll try to share more on vision as I digest this excellent resource. I know many of you have already read the book, but if you haven’t pick it up used off of Amazon, and join me in this feast of future thinking.

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