Everything and the Mobile Software Universe…

After few months of “Getting Things Done” practice I can began to draw some conclusions. First I’ve learn…what procrastination means, and how it may be, after all, really usefull to help time management.
Then I’ve adapted the GTD methodology to my needs, really simplifying it: for me small (and, ok, fun) is always beautiful.

After those months of practice here are summed up the concepts I daily use and rely on.

• Task list is your main tool.
• “If something takes less than 5 minutes, do it now”, it may sound stupid but it really helps to keep it in mind everytime.
• Delegate as much as possible, but delegation is the easy part: have a way to keep easily track of the follow up is a key point.
• Take the time to find and list your next actions to complete some higher level tasks: a task list with entries that can’t be done is pointless. If nn item is not actionable, cause it is too high level, or is simply a rough idea jotted quickly on paper or outlook, take the time to break it in piece and extract the things to do to achieve it.
• Tasks lists exists : DO NOT keep your todo’s in your brain, be confident in your system, else your mind will be cluttered with short term goals and actions, and you won’t be able to focus on longer term ideas/project etc…
• Make your system as simple as possible: the fewer the steps/concepts, the more you will be able to maintain it and … rely on it.

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As a proud gadget geek, I’ve got my first palm (a palm III) when I was still a student: at this time in France it was more of a geek oddity than the cool and fashionable gadget for young executives it was in the US. (things have changed, and now in France or US it is no more than a “has never been” gadget )
I was REALLY using it, for all my contacts and all those tiddibits of information one needs to acced/enter anytime. Then I grow up, I began to work with a wifi notebook and above all a cellphone was always in my pocket: my beloved palm Tungsten 3 had been downgraded to a poor game boy like device…And one inspired day I bought a Treo 650 on eBay.
I’m really amazed by this device:

• The keyboard is BRILLIANT, fast, precise: I can really use it to enter data (like this post, or above all ideas/todos).
• It is a phone…so it is CONNECTED email, sms, web all in one package, in comparison my bluetooth phone + my tungsten T3 was a lame package (The treo phone part is good enough to forget easily my K700i).
• And above all it is COOL&FUN to use it

The key part of the equation is that I’ve became addicted to my own adapted (rather simple) GTD methodology, and the treo, as a great data gathering and consulting device really makes the whole thing …hum…should I say efficient?
A next action to add/change/mark as complete…treo. A whiteboard to be saved after a meeting…take a picture with the treo. A new idea that will revolutionize the whole world (hey a boy also can dream)…add a todo or note in the treo.A quick mail check/send…treo.
I’ll describe more precisely my GTD implementation in another, long term due, post.
Anyway I’ve came up with few downsides:

• The treo is far from being as thin as my K700i, and you look like a kind of goldorak/bioman/power ranger with this small brick on your ear … Now I really use my bluetooth headset
• If you have a good keyboard…it is easier to write messages…my sms plan has exploded.
• If you have a good browser/mail app and it is easy and quick to be connected….your data plan, like mine, will explode
• Add/test/remove/configure applications … Procastination takes a looooong time, but it is sooooo fun (more on my treo setup in yet another post)

So for now I use my treo everytime, for everything… Did I say waiting for the next gadget? Anyway I really feel this time I USE my gadget, I’m not only PLAYING with it…perhaps after all I’m really growing up…brrrr…frightening isn’t it?