Comments on: The Essential Missing Half of Getting Things Done http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/ Personal Development for Smart People Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:10:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: A. Kevin Baynes http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-7018 A. Kevin Baynes Fri, 05 Aug 2005 19:13:39 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-7018 I found a great website to help identify the top-level goals : MaximumBalance.com. They have some nice worksheets that help you identify your priorities, which they categorize into 'Cornerstones' of life : Personal - Mind, body, soul Relationships - Partner, family, friends Career - Individual, team, functional Finance - Income, budgeting, investing Giving - Individual, family, corporate Granted, an entire human life can be divided and categorized infinitely, but I think this is a pretty good model and the worksheets help to kick off ideas. Imagine having a GTD project running in each of the above 12 categories at all times. Anyone know of any other high-level life models? I found a great website to help identify the top-level goals : MaximumBalance.com. They have some nice worksheets that help you identify your priorities, which they categorize into ‘Cornerstones’ of life :
Personal - Mind, body, soul
Relationships - Partner, family, friends
Career - Individual, team, functional
Finance - Income, budgeting, investing
Giving - Individual, family, corporate

Granted, an entire human life can be divided and categorized infinitely, but I think this is a pretty good model and the worksheets help to kick off ideas. Imagine having a GTD project running in each of the above 12 categories at all times.

Anyone know of any other high-level life models?

]]> By: mica http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-6690 mica Sat, 30 Jul 2005 19:09:39 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-6690 I also came upon your site through some hyperlink, someplace. I feel like I've just read something really important, and I'm trying to hold on to what you've said (in this one and in the Purpose=Freedom post.) So, thank you. It really is a lot to chew on and I want to fight whatever inner impulses which might rear up and put me back into cog-like habits. I also came upon your site through some hyperlink, someplace. I feel like I’ve just read something really important, and I’m trying to hold on to what you’ve said (in this one and in the Purpose=Freedom post.) So, thank you. It really is a lot to chew on and I want to fight whatever inner impulses which might rear up and put me back into cog-like habits.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-2883 Anonymous Wed, 08 Jun 2005 19:33:38 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-2883 I dont even remember how i reached your site but it doesnt matter, cause i'm so happy i found it, it really made me think, keep up the good work I dont even remember how i reached your site but it doesnt matter, cause i’m so happy i found it, it really made me think, keep up the good work

]]> By: Brett Philp http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-1156 Brett Philp Thu, 03 Mar 2005 12:54:18 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-1156 Thought I'd pass along a link to my free Lotus Notes template for implementing GTD. http://www.brettphilp.com/worksmart/ Cheers! Brett Thought I’d pass along a link to my free Lotus Notes template for implementing GTD.

http://www.brettphilp.com/worksmart/

Cheers!
Brett

]]> By: That Dwayne http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-1146 That Dwayne Wed, 02 Mar 2005 07:15:19 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-1146 <strong>Getting Things...Stuck?</strong> I'm noticing a proliferation of blog posts (for example, Punkey alludes to it,  as does Steve Pavlina) ... Getting Things…Stuck?
I’m noticing a proliferation of blog posts (for example, Punkey alludes to it,  as does Steve Pavlina) …

]]> By: bonsai bratwurst breiwerk http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-927 bonsai bratwurst breiwerk Wed, 16 Feb 2005 23:29:28 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-927 <strong>GTD is ook niet heilig</strong> Steve Pavlina's Blog - The Essential Missing Half of Getting Things Done: Ik probeer nu al enkele maanden de technieken uit GTD in de praktijk te brengen. Het is en blijft natuurlijk een slim truukje, en niets meer dan dat.... GTD is ook niet heilig
Steve Pavlina’s Blog - The Essential Missing Half of Getting Things Done: Ik probeer nu al enkele maanden de technieken uit GTD in de praktijk te brengen. Het is en blijft natuurlijk een slim truukje, en niets meer dan dat….

]]> By: getting things done, productively http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-866 getting things done, productively Fri, 11 Feb 2005 19:19:07 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-866 <strong>The Essential Missing Half of GTD</strong> Feb. 1, 2005 posting, detailing what the writer believes is lacking in the basic GTD model. BTW, you'll want to take the time to follow the cross-links within the post, as well as checking out the comments. Food for thought, to be sure! http://www.s... The Essential Missing Half of GTD
Feb. 1, 2005 posting, detailing what the writer believes is lacking in the basic GTD model. BTW, you’ll want to take the time to follow the cross-links within the post, as well as checking out the comments. Food for thought, to be sure!

http://www.s...

]]> By: MX http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-724 MX Fri, 04 Feb 2005 14:28:07 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-724 For God's sake, people, read Getting Things Done by Ed Bliss! It contains a much better approach than Covey. Covey has some good but impractical ideas, to which he adds very strong marketing.. and that's it. For God’s sake, people, read Getting Things Done by Ed Bliss!

It contains a much better approach than Covey. Covey has some good but impractical ideas, to which he adds very strong marketing.. and that’s it.

]]> By: JasonD http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-717 JasonD Thu, 03 Feb 2005 15:24:59 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-717 Steve, I'm curious as to how your <i>GTD</i> next actions fit into your planning lists. Is the 90 Day plan, the 30 Day Goals & Plans, the 30 Day Schedule, and the Daily To Do List and Schedule, ordered lists of next actions? Steve, I’m curious as to how your GTD next actions fit into your planning lists. Is the 90 Day plan, the 30 Day Goals & Plans, the 30 Day Schedule, and the Daily To Do List and Schedule, ordered lists of next actions?

]]> By: Steve Pavlina http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-712 Steve Pavlina Wed, 02 Feb 2005 18:36:52 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-712 I used to subscribe to Dave Pollard's blog, but I eventually unsubscribed because I found his attitude to be too heavily focused on problems and not enough on practical solutions. I even posted a comment on his blog to that effect and suggested he consider making more positive solution-oriented posts. Even when he seems to offer solutions, it's mostly about the "shoulds" and the "hopes" and not enough about what will actually work in the real world. His overall attitude also seems very negative and fatalistic to me, as if he expects his message to fall on deaf ears and his mission to fail. Just looking at his latest blog entry, his second sentence is: <i>Everywhere we look we see conflict, deprivation, violence, waste, suffering, greed, destruction, hatred.</i> Everywhere? If I want to adopt disempowering beliefs like those, I can simply watch TV news all day. I see something quite different "everywhere" I look. While he makes some good points, and while I agree with many of his environmental positions (I've been a vegan since 1997, and Pollard posted previously that he's working towards veganism himself), I can't stand his overly pessimistic style. It's disempowering instead of empowering. While it's important to be aware of problems, once you have that awareness, it's time to figure out what you can actually do about it, and take action instead of just dwelling on "shoulds." And in so doing, that circle of influence will gradually expand and changes will happen. I used to subscribe to Dave Pollard’s blog, but I eventually unsubscribed because I found his attitude to be too heavily focused on problems and not enough on practical solutions. I even posted a comment on his blog to that effect and suggested he consider making more positive solution-oriented posts. Even when he seems to offer solutions, it’s mostly about the “shoulds” and the “hopes” and not enough about what will actually work in the real world. His overall attitude also seems very negative and fatalistic to me, as if he expects his message to fall on deaf ears and his mission to fail. Just looking at his latest blog entry, his second sentence is: Everywhere we look we see conflict, deprivation, violence, waste, suffering, greed, destruction, hatred. Everywhere? If I want to adopt disempowering beliefs like those, I can simply watch TV news all day. I see something quite different “everywhere” I look.

While he makes some good points, and while I agree with many of his environmental positions (I’ve been a vegan since 1997, and Pollard posted previously that he’s working towards veganism himself), I can’t stand his overly pessimistic style. It’s disempowering instead of empowering. While it’s important to be aware of problems, once you have that awareness, it’s time to figure out what you can actually do about it, and take action instead of just dwelling on “shoulds.” And in so doing, that circle of influence will gradually expand and changes will happen.

]]> By: Evelyn Mitchell http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-710 Evelyn Mitchell Wed, 02 Feb 2005 17:19:42 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-710 Thank you for this post. You've given me a lot to think about. So much of what we belive is culturally determined. It's difficult for me to step into a place where all of our reponsibilities and choices are clear. It feels like I've got a lot of work to do. You may want to check out Dave Pollard's blog. He's pondering a lot of the same questions, in the context of the environment and right livelihood: http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/ Thank you for this post. You’ve given me a lot to think about.

So much of what we belive is culturally determined. It’s difficult for me to step into a place where all of our reponsibilities and choices are clear. It feels like I’ve got a lot of work to do.

You may want to check out Dave Pollard’s blog. He’s pondering a lot of the same questions, in the context of the environment and right livelihood:
http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/

]]> By: David Pickett http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-709 David Pickett Wed, 02 Feb 2005 14:55:12 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-709 I, too, think that he didn't really cover these higher levels well in the book. However, I think he does a much better job discussing these higher-level issues in the GTD Fast! audio CDs. It is another $90 to pick them up, but they were well worth it in my opinion. I, too, think that he didn’t really cover these higher levels well in the book. However, I think he does a much better job discussing these higher-level issues in the GTD Fast! audio CDs. It is another $90 to pick them up, but they were well worth it in my opinion.

]]> By: Douglas Johnston http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-708 Douglas Johnston Wed, 02 Feb 2005 14:04:59 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-708 I recently posted some <a href="http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/index.php/archives/2005/01/26/gtd-falls/">similar thoughts</a> on my weblog (and even received some <a href="http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/index.php/archives/2005/01/28/hate-mail/">hate mail</a> because of it), although I was nowhere near as articulate as you. I certainly agree with you in that the whole 50K feet analogy is mainly lip service: it seems as though it was just tacked on because of the realisation, "Hmmm... I've told them how to do all this nitty gritty day-to-day stuff, but I guess I should mention how to keep an eye on the big picture, too." I do certainly prefer GTD's daily regimen to that of Covey, but Covey is helping me to see the aforementioned big picture much more clearly than Allen. It's a matter of the quick daily fix versus life habits and principles. However, in the final analysis, I see no reason why these methods are mutually exclusive. ...Although, I have been accused of being a heretic for alluding to such concepts.... I recently posted some similar thoughts on my weblog (and even received some hate mail because of it), although I was nowhere near as articulate as you. I certainly agree with you in that the whole 50K feet analogy is mainly lip service: it seems as though it was just tacked on because of the realisation, “Hmmm… I’ve told them how to do all this nitty gritty day-to-day stuff, but I guess I should mention how to keep an eye on the big picture, too.” I do certainly prefer GTD’s daily regimen to that of Covey, but Covey is helping me to see the aforementioned big picture much more clearly than Allen. It’s a matter of the quick daily fix versus life habits and principles. However, in the final analysis, I see no reason why these methods are mutually exclusive. …Although, I have been accused of being a heretic for alluding to such concepts….

]]> By: Lorenz http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-704 Lorenz Wed, 02 Feb 2005 08:54:02 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-704 Steve, your articles tend to get a little bit long at times - why don't you try to add a little graphic/diagram here and there? For example, a pyramid shaped drawing with "purpose" at the top going down to projects and tasks. That would make understanding the long articles a little easier for non-native speakers like myself. That, and I know you have the skills from your game developer time :-) Great site! I will definately be reading all the articles you planned for this year! Steve,
your articles tend to get a little bit long at times - why don’t you try to add a little graphic/diagram here and there? For example, a pyramid shaped drawing with “purpose” at the top going down to projects and tasks. That would make understanding the long articles a little easier for non-native speakers like myself. That, and I know you have the skills from your game developer time :-)

Great site! I will definately be reading all the articles you planned for this year!

]]> By: Steve Pavlina http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-702 Steve Pavlina Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:16:41 +0000 http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/02/the-essential-missing-half-of-getting-things-done/#comment-702 Yes, David Allen pays lip service to the concepts of higher levels of thinking with his runway to 50,000 ft analogy. But IMO the coverage above the project level is too vague and isn't well integrated into the system as a whole. When you work GTD at the level of projects and actions, there's no immediate accountability to the level of purpose. No clear context is given for what 50,000 ft actually means and how it filters down to the lower levels. GTD just offers general advice to periodically think about the higher levels of your life; the advice isn't bad -- it's just not as rigorously developed and defined as the low level parts of the system. At the highest levels, the standard GTD system essentially fuzzes out. It's been previously mentioned that other authors such as Stephen Covey address these higher levels far more thoroughly and systematically integrate them from the top down. Allen's system is more bottom up. Really we need both though. I greatly prefer the lower levels of Allen's system vs. Covey's treatment of these same levels in <i>First Things First</i> and <i>The 7 Habits</i>. But Covey's treatment of the high levels of mission, roles, and goals trumps GTD's handling of them. Yes, David Allen pays lip service to the concepts of higher levels of thinking with his runway to 50,000 ft analogy. But IMO the coverage above the project level is too vague and isn’t well integrated into the system as a whole. When you work GTD at the level of projects and actions, there’s no immediate accountability to the level of purpose. No clear context is given for what 50,000 ft actually means and how it filters down to the lower levels. GTD just offers general advice to periodically think about the higher levels of your life; the advice isn’t bad — it’s just not as rigorously developed and defined as the low level parts of the system. At the highest levels, the standard GTD system essentially fuzzes out.

It’s been previously mentioned that other authors such as Stephen Covey address these higher levels far more thoroughly and systematically integrate them from the top down. Allen’s system is more bottom up. Really we need both though. I greatly prefer the lower levels of Allen’s system vs. Covey’s treatment of these same levels in First Things First and The 7 Habits. But Covey’s treatment of the high levels of mission, roles, and goals trumps GTD’s handling of them.

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