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The Missing Link in GTD
Dan Grover | May 4 2006
So last week, I was determined to get into GTD, got my tickler file, my index, my next action lists....and it didn't work out. I had started composing a post to this board a few days ago, but found the post sufficiently dumb and myself sufficiently vented and relieved after writing it, that I decided not to finish. My problem was just that everything in my inbox seemed unactionable, something that seemed unique to my situation as a high school student. Then I started listening to the book all over again (audio book thingy I got a long time ago), and I realized the piece that I was missing was the "project materials". Like I picked up a chemistry worksheet the other day. I knew I couldn't do it right then and there, it didn't make sense to "file", or put in the tickler, and certainly I could say "what is it" and write down the appropriate action on my next actions list, but what the hell do I do with it after that? I've got it on the list, but it's still in front of me. Now I realized that everything has to have an organized place. So I'm getting binders or containers for all my projects that don't already have them. Right now, I just carry around a chemistry book, the independent study workbook, and my notes, so obviously i'll have to bundle those together somehow, and have a folder for current work. It seems like an incredibly basic idea, but it eluded me for so long. My "line cook" system I'm abandoning, unless I try the thing mentioned in the "would you like fries" thread (some of the other printable ceo stuff looks real slick). I didn't like all that stuff hanging over my head, though, literally. Did anyone else have this kind of problem? 7 Comments
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Also, I had a big...Submitted by mcnicks on May 4, 2006 - 11:23pm.
Also, I had a big problem with throwing things out. I used to keep every bit of paper and email that came across my desk and it felt very, very weird hiting the delete button or tossing stuff in the wastebasket. I am now addicted to it, but it did take me a while to "get it". If you are spending ages trying to work out whether something is actionable - maybe it isn't? » POSTED IN:
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