Getting Things Done (GTD), the time management system based on David Allen’s best-selling book, is loved by many. It’s also no secret that not everyone finds it smooth sailing. GTD can become a cause of pain for some people, maybe for you. I often work with people who have tried GTD and after a while…
Category Archives: Planning
My One and Only Resolution for 2012
I spend my weeks helping other people make plans for their work and their lives – plans that are compelling, challenging, powerful, and juicy. And I believe that the best plans are as simple as possible. So here’s my resolution for me and my wish for you for 2012.
Four School Lessons to Unlearn Now
We’ve all been told that studying hard and doing well in school were necessary for our future success. But there are some things you learned in order to do well in school that you really need to unlearn in order to successfully start and run your own business. Here are four school rules that flunk…
Vision & Mission – What’s the Difference?
Having a clear vision and mission in your work can make a powerful difference in how easily you’re able to move ahead. Think about it: a calendar full of tasks will never get anyone to spring out of bed in anticipation, but a compelling vision and clear mission will. Are you one of the…
The Planning Fallacy: Why You Don’t Know How Much You Can Do This Year
Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law. – Douglas Hofstadter, Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid As you make your plans for 2011, do you feel that you didn’t do much, or enough, last year? Do you feel that you really want this year…
How Much Time Should Planning Take?
If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable. – Seneca Once in a while a client avoids planning on the ground that it takes too much time. They’d much rather dive right in and spend that time getting some of their work done, instead of reviewing goals, choosing…
Why Tasks Hang On – Three Productivity Traps to Avoid
Take a look at your to-do list. Are there things that have been lurking there for weeks, maybe months? How do you feel when you think of those tenacious tasks? Tired? Discouraged? You can get rid of those “Velcro jobs” faster if you know how they got to be clinging to your days in the…
No Regrets
When I asked my father, then aged 85 and about to move out of the home he’d built with his own hands 25 years earlier, whether there was anything more he really wanted to do, his response was memorable: “You can always think of more things to do in a day than you can get…
Worth repeating – August posts from New Leaf News
I’m sharing a few posts from the New Leaf archives. Here’s what was on our mind in August during the past couple of years. Productivity depends on being able to work in comfort. Eliminate at least one pain in the neck with a wireless headset. Successfully planning for the future requires acknowledging past wins. Are…
Claim your spot in the "Plan to Thrive" teleclass
Does business planning really matter, or do all business plans sit forgotten on a shelf? According to a recent study, lack of a well-developed business plan is a factor in 78 percent of all small business closures. In fact, planning is one of the best practices you can habitually engage in to bring success and…