Does your project list contains areas of focus where the outcome is maintenance of a standard rather than attainment of a goal?
If you are feeling less inspired by your projects, it may be due to the former.
This chapter is about getting thinking off your mind.
Allen writes, "The most productive approach is to think of as little as you can get by with but as much as you need to. How do you get today off your mind?"
He says that several times during the day we need to reassess all the actions required to accomplish what you are committed to.
Each week we need to review all our projects at a higher view level.
Every month or so we need think through the checklist of all areas of responsibility of your life and work. Over the weekend, inspired by a personal development book, I chose ten outcomes I want to achieve over the next three months. I had many more projects on my list, but I decided to focus on these ten projects and I regularly review the next actions of these ten projects to plan my week. Each day I identify 3 actions from these lists that I want to achieve.
Allen describes the need for regular reviews at all levels (altitudes) with the habit and commitment to revisit them at regular intervals. I have set up recurring appointments in my calendar for these reviews, with a link to the appropriate checklist.
I review my GTD system at the beginning of the day and product a written plan for the day ... the 2 or 3 really important things that will have the most impact on my personal and professional life (the "Big Rocks") then other items which also need to be done.
This chapter is about the different levels or altitudes of thinking and operation. Allen's advice is if you get stuck in your thinking, go to a higher level for a broader picture.
To be in control, you have to accept what game you are playing and to know what your goal is. An interesting metaphor of comparing life to a game. As we know, the rules of life constantly (or suddenly) change and sometimes we define the rules, and at other times we have to follow the rules set by others.
When you can see your target and identify with getting there, you can cope with the obstacles and your current situation by setting your vision on the goal. When the path ahead looks too complicated, you can do one thing: determine the next move. At that moment, the next action is what matters most.
So in order to achieve clarity and be fully and positively engaged in what you are doing, you must:
However, if you have the opportunity to observe how you are playing the game (from a higher level), maybe with the aid of a coach, then you could make a better choice of next action.
Success in life may have more to with how fast you adapt and get started on the new game than with how good you got at playing any of the old ones. In other words we need to adapt to change and let go of the old ways. This reminds me of the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson - a parable about coping with change.
Above all, we need to be engaged with life.
Questions for this chapter:
My answers to the questions:
How I approach getting results in my job. My work is developing E-learning training materials. My challenge is identifying objectives and confirming with stakeholders, then obtaining the technical information to develop the course in a timely manner.
The only time I can get a higher view on life is to have a holiday and go away from the usual daily distractions and environments. I always take a paper journal and pens to jot down my ideas and draw Mind Maps.
When I am away from the workplace. A lunchtime walk is a good way to get perspective.
New technologies can be used for training, and I need to keep up with emerging technologies and how they can be used. I need to learn about new tools and new versions of existing tools. On the home front, I regularly have new challenges as my daughters grow up, and my wife wants to pursue further study and change jobs in the next year or two.
And a reminder about the 6 altitudes:
The six levels of focus also known as altitudes are:
As you view your work and goals at higher levels, you can consider the bigger picture. Looking at things at different levels allows you gain more perspective.