GTD Meets Web 2.0
Not too long ago I picked up the book Getting Things Done by David Allen and became hooked. After years of being a disoraganized slob who never knew what was coming next, I realized the error of my ways. Suddenly there was a beacon of light, a map through the organizational wilderness. Mr. Allen's book provided me with a simple system that promises to allow us to free our minds so we can achieve new heights.
Part of the allure of the system is its abstract nature. Purposefully, the book tells us what we need to do without saying exactly how we must do it. For instance, the book says that we need to keep a reminder list of the next things we need to do across all aspects of our lives, but it doesn't dictate that this list must be on Form 23297-A of the GTD system management portfolio. Likewise, it doesn't dictate some fancy technological gizmo to try to wedge our personal lifestyles into. The book basically asks us to find a system that works and stick with it.
The amazing result of this system is the potential for personal variation and the amazing collaboration that goes on between adherents to find the best solutions for each and every person. Sites like 43 Folders and numerous newsgroups and mailing lists have cropped up to help everyone learn from eachother.
Personally, as I've navigated through this trove of information and opinion, I've yet to find a system that works perfectly for me. PC based solutions won't work because I have two computers at home and several at work. I need to have all of my information available in one place, and synchronizing between all of these systems won't cut it. PDAs and paper based systems also have a major flaw for me. I have to carry them around. Between car keys, house keys, cell phone, wallet, cash, receipts, and all the various other junk that accumulates in my pockets throughout the day, I'm simply out of space. If I thought inbox clutter was bad, pocket clutter is worse!
Finally, I came to the conclusion that I needed to develop my own system, and that the web was the perfect place to host it. Gmail and del.icio.us convinced me that this was the right course of action. After seeing a truely high quality web based email service, everything else just seemed obsolete. These systems are simple, easy to use, and accessible from anywhere.
Once I decided to go ahead and build this system, I then decided that it would be silly to keep it to myself. Instead, I am going to develop a system that will be publicly available and designed with a broad audience involved.
My primary design goals are:
Part of the allure of the system is its abstract nature. Purposefully, the book tells us what we need to do without saying exactly how we must do it. For instance, the book says that we need to keep a reminder list of the next things we need to do across all aspects of our lives, but it doesn't dictate that this list must be on Form 23297-A of the GTD system management portfolio. Likewise, it doesn't dictate some fancy technological gizmo to try to wedge our personal lifestyles into. The book basically asks us to find a system that works and stick with it.
The amazing result of this system is the potential for personal variation and the amazing collaboration that goes on between adherents to find the best solutions for each and every person. Sites like 43 Folders and numerous newsgroups and mailing lists have cropped up to help everyone learn from eachother.
Personally, as I've navigated through this trove of information and opinion, I've yet to find a system that works perfectly for me. PC based solutions won't work because I have two computers at home and several at work. I need to have all of my information available in one place, and synchronizing between all of these systems won't cut it. PDAs and paper based systems also have a major flaw for me. I have to carry them around. Between car keys, house keys, cell phone, wallet, cash, receipts, and all the various other junk that accumulates in my pockets throughout the day, I'm simply out of space. If I thought inbox clutter was bad, pocket clutter is worse!
Finally, I came to the conclusion that I needed to develop my own system, and that the web was the perfect place to host it. Gmail and del.icio.us convinced me that this was the right course of action. After seeing a truely high quality web based email service, everything else just seemed obsolete. These systems are simple, easy to use, and accessible from anywhere.
Once I decided to go ahead and build this system, I then decided that it would be silly to keep it to myself. Instead, I am going to develop a system that will be publicly available and designed with a broad audience involved.
My primary design goals are:
- Ease of use
- Simplicity
- Speed
- Fun! ('cause without fun, what's the point?)
posted by Brian Glick at 12:18 PM
1 Comments:
Good luck. I use Outlook 2000 and Gmail to get 'er done and it's been really great.
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