Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
The wow factor
TerryVog | Apr 12 2007
Hi folders, I don't mind about being a bit controversial and maybe I don't get it yet because I am just starting with GTD, but I really don't get it the way Merlin wants to work. I am glad that it works for him and I am not criticizing, but it doesn't appeal to me. I don't like QuickSilver at all; to me it is a more modern way of using the command-line interface we Mac users hate. If I would have a black screen with only a cursor on it, nothing tempts me to get started with GTD. The success is totally dependant on my personal drive to get something useful started. GTD seems pretty exiting, but why is it wrapped up in such a boring office-like interface like kGTD or iGTD offer? Where is the wow-factor we contemporary Mac users love? The GTD-system I dream of is much more like Apple's FrontRow, or the interface of the Apple TV. Huge simple icons invite you to Collect, Process, Organize, Review or Do. If one is chosen, its icon whooshes to a corner, clearing the screen for menu items to invite me to the next step. Inviting me to do next actions, showing me all files related to a project, syncing with iCal, you name it. I know I should train myself to daily empty the in-box, bring up the tickler file, view the calendar, etcetera, but why couldn't my GTD application bring that up daily? Being male, I am familiar with the seductive power of beauty. It can be very distractive. For that reason, I understand Merlin Mann in choosing an entirely black screen to avoid distraction. But I believe we also can use the seductive power of beauty to get things done. I am a graphic designer and I would love to team up with programmers to cooperate in such a project, to build a 2007 worthy, next generation GTD app. Terry 13 Comments
POSTED IN:
 The tools I tried so...Submitted by mdl on April 13, 2007 - 5:53am.
TerryVog;8938 wrote:
Have you tried Midnight Inbox? It looks more-or-less visually slick, more Mac OSX like--at least when compared with kGTD. I looked at it briefly, but found the workflow and user interface less-than-intuitive. Or you might wait for OmniFocus: http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnifocus/ Seriously, though, what instantiation of GTD won't primarily consist of verbal lists? If lists really don't work for you, my only other suggestion would be to use folders on your desktop with catchy icons. Then you could use files or folders as visual reminders of stuff you need to work on, especially if you insert custom icons. You also might try using mind-maps (either on the computer or on paper). For over the top visuals and loads of fun (but a lot of work to set up), you might even try the memory palace method (i.e., visualizing reminders in your mind with memorable images). E.g., imagining your boss standing in his office in a kilt with spaghetti on his head saying "I don't wear eyeliner"--that kind of thing. [Warning: difficult, may cause psychological trauma, and violates GTD principle of getting everything off your mind.] I think it's helpful to remember, however, that you won't be doing your work "inside" your GTD system. Rather, whatever system you use is simply a tool for helping you organize your work as efficiently as possible. So once you glance at your lists and decide to do something, then you go back to the real world of work. It's important to try to stay in the system as little as possible. In the end it should be as invisible a tool as a pen, a pad of paper, or your computer itself. » POSTED IN:
|
|
| EXPLORE 43Folders | THE GOOD STUFF |
