This link has been bookmarked by 42 people . It was first bookmarked on 29 Aug 2006, by Per Hakansson.
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18 Jun 08
miz minhurgent importantIt's been awhile since I posted anything controversial on this blog. This might make up for that. I suspect to hear some "it's not that easy" protestations. I'm ready for them -- I've walked the talk on this.
You're probably familiar with Covey's urgent/important quadrants, shown in the graphic at right. Covey's thesis is that we spend so much time on quadrant 3 matters (urgent but unimportant) that some quadrant 1 matters (urgent and important) may get neglected (since often they're onerous and time-consuming), and most quadrant 2 matters (important but not urgent) get pushed down the priority list and never get done at all (until/unless they become urgent quadrant 1 matters, which quite often happens too late, like on our deathbeds).
One of the things I've done with my GTD list (see model below) to try to address this tendency, is to flag urgent items on my list in italics, and important items in bold (and quadrant 1 items in bold italics), and pledge to do at least one important (quadrant 1 or 2) 'next action step' every day.
Dave's Getting Things Done process and list format
workflow diagram 3
A: ACTIONS WITH A FIRM DATE/TIME
DATE TIME /DURATION ACTION
2005.12.16 Fr 17:00 /2 Appointment with Jo
2005.12.17 Sa 18:00 /4 Meeting with K
2005.12.19 Mo 17:00 /6 Discuss proposal for TNE with John
...etc
B: ACTIONS WITH NO FIRM DATE/TIME
TENTATIVE DATE TIME /DURATION ACTION
2005.12.16 Fr 09:00 /3 Discussion paper on AHA!
2005.12.16 Fr 13:00 /3 MIC research
2005.12.17 Sa 09:00 /6 Followup coaching session with R
ASAP Donate old Christmas tree to charity
ASAP Submit PKM paper to journal
...etc
C: OBSTACLES
PROJECT NAME OBSTACLES (UNBLOCKERS)
Recurring Activity x cumbersome (call G to discuss)
Writing Project y too big (break into shorter actions)
Entrepreneurship/Education Project z not thought through (call J to discuss)
Innovation Project q not sure I want to do it (decide!)
Knowledge/Tech/Coaching Project r customer not ready (set up proposal)
Project Outside Current Competency s don't -
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Melcome FeldsbarGetting Things Done (GTD): Just Say No to Urgent Unimportant Tasks
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06 Sep 06
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30 Aug 06
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Covey's urgent/important quadrants
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Why does it so often take a crisis, a kick in the head, to wake us up to some simple changes that can transform our lives, and make us so much happier and fulfilled?
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What's an unimportant, distracting chore to you can be something important, satisfying, even joyful to someone else. Let go, stop being a control freak about your responsibilities and you may be amazed how much others will willingly, even enthusiastically take off your plate, while creating no obligation to you to 'return the favour'.
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Doing chores and routines less often really doesn't have any long-term consequences, and can free up all kinds of time
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Five years from now, what will the consequences turn out to be if I simply don't do this urgent unimportant task -- not today, not ever?
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if the person you're trying to train is your boss and s/he makes your life miserable because you're not spending 90% of your life doing stuff s/he thinks is important but you know isn't, maybe it's time to stop acting like a trained seal, 'fire your boss' and find some meaningful work
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you need to train other people not to give you urgent unimportant tasks, and, when they do, not to expect you to do them
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29 Aug 06
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28 Aug 06
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