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Ev Williams: Achieving balance with GTD
Merlin Mann | Nov 27 2005
evhead: Ten Rules for Web Startups Ev's ten rules for a startup are all strong, but #10 particularly caught my eye:
Right on. Slightly off-topic, but on my mind...as I commented earlier today, I'm finding myself increasingly uncomfortable framing techniques like GTD strictly in terms of "productivity" (although the ability to be more efficient and productive is definitely a nice perk). GTD fights stress not by transforming you into a drone or a brainless corporate cog, but by affording a framework for recovering and maintaining smart focus. What you do with that focus is entirely your affair -- clearly people will use it for everything from building a very swell startup to managing their music career and beyond. Gratefully, nowhere does The David say you have to turn into an enormous-toothed White Guy running sales seminars at the La Quinta Inn. In any case, when we're doing GTD right, Ev is right on the money: balance is sewn into every stitch of your week. Even two years into using GTD, I have to say I'm still pleased -- and sometimes even surprised -- at how well it still works for me. Whenever I fall off the horse, I'm usually just a mini-review away from feeling retuned to my priorities and commitments. I agree with Ev; it's powerful stuff. I do wonder if there's a better term for GTD's goals and methods than simply "productivity" or even "time management" What do you think? Does it matter? 19 Comments
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 Hmmm. I don't mind the...Submitted by korinthe (not verified) on November 29, 2005 - 3:37am.
Hmmm. I don't mind the "productivity" tag, because in my current work, productivity means being able to hold a whole system in my head and reason about it effectively and efficiently, i.e. without too many distractions, red herrings, or errors of reasoning. The number of ensuing lines of code is only a secondary (or lower) measure of productivity. Using GTD certainly helps reduce the level of distraction and the feeling that I've lost track of something critical. OTOH, productivity in my non-work life has a lot to do with completing craft projects, recipes, photo projects, home improvement, exercise sessions, etc. All very quantifiable and time-able. The challenge there is to NOT treat those activities as mere productions, but to be aware of the whole "doing" experience. Considering the overall balance is all it usually takes to stay within whack. Consider this another vote for "teach effective task balancing skills to kids BEFORE college and work". I thought I was organized in high school, but it was really the small scope of assignments that made it possible for me to manage a lot of things. College was a lot harder to manage and I floundered. Using GTD would have helped at least moderately. » POSTED IN:
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