Comments on: Lifehacker: How to Ditch Dedicated GTD Apps

By: Michael Willits

Michael Willits — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:48:07 +0000

I had the same dislike with trying Outlook and OneNote. I just don’t need — nor want — that degree of organization. It seems to be a matter of how I think. Keeping notes on Mac OS X’s built-in Stickies App has been more useful to me than OneNote ever was in terms of fitting into my workflow. And, since they’re always on my desktop, I don’t forget about them. I never accomplished this using OneNote as it just never fit into my daily routine, and thus I wouldn’t remember to check my notes on projects and action items.

By: Jered

Jered — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:58:34 +0000

Whew! Now I understand. I think you are completely correct that trying to jump back and forth in how you manage your system can be the “craphack”.

I remember early in my GTD experience I suffered from this condition, until OmniFocus was released, probably why I made such an impassioned response. That or my dislike of iCal and Mail To Do’s.

By: Michael Willits

Michael Willits — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:46:45 +0000

My point wasn’t to say, nor that it was implied, that GTD is a static system, if anything but so. In fact, it is very clear about the importance of flexibility as life and work changes (e.g., regularly revisiting the ground level, 10K foot + elevations on up to purpose).

To maintain this flexibility, it’s absolutely necessary to scan the horizon of what’s next and be okay letting go of older systems when appropriate. That said, my emphasis was that we can go too far, thus my comment about always pursuing the next best thing.If our pursuit of the next best productivity tool or system usurps actually _being_ productive, then we’re missing the point entirely.

By: Jered

Jered — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:57:49 +0000

I found the article interesting and I think Best makes a point: Find a system that works, even if it is baked into something you already have.

I cannot agree with your comment on always searching for the next thing. David Allen and Getting Things Done do not require that personal workflows be set in stone.

I think part of the Weekly Review is to scan your workflow and see where improvements can be made. If that means adding an application to specifically handle your tasks, or signing up for a web app that converts your cellphone calls to emails, then it should be incorporated, only if it increased the efficiency of the workflow.

I think Best’s main thrust is towards the large and ever increasing group of GTD practitioners who jump from iGTD to OmniFocus to Things, not letting their workflow solidify. If we were to follow Best’s thought to the most logical conclusion, we wouldn’t use computers for our tasks at all, we have had pen and paper for much longer, after all.

I think this may be a topic for a podcast.