Getting Things Done an SEO’s Tale
February 9th, 2006 by Michael Gray in Books, Business Issues, Random ThoughtsIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Read my top posts or learn more about Michael Gray. Want more frequent updates follow me on Twitter. Thanks for visiting!
Ok This is not technically an SEO type post, but since it did help me get my act together and get more work done I think it qualifies for going on this blog. I’ve always had a pretty decent memory and have been able to recall obscure little details without fail. I rarely forgot things and had decent ability to juggle multiple tasks at the same time. When I left Company X and went out on my own, things got more complicated and there were more balls in the air, but I still was able to keep up. However once the kids got old enough to be involved in activities and the work/school/family/activities schedules thing got all mixed up, my ability to keep track of it all grew progressively worse, and in late 2005 we had a mental and schedule meltdown.
It has been said by many who have come before me, you never are really going to change until you hit the bottom. It was at that point I came across Getting Things Done (no aff) by David Allen. Now I will admit his plans are a bit radical, and if I hadn’t been completely overwhelmed I never would have given his stuff a try. I will also admit I am slightly particular so I’m not implementing his plan exactly but in modified format.
I live in my email client (thunderbird) and browser (firefox). I’m also not big on paper (I avoid it if possible) preferring electronic versions, so my implementation is a bit digital centric.
- The first key was realizing checking your email every 5/10/15 minutes is not helpful, in fact it’s distracting and disruptive. I tried every 2 hours, then 90 minutes, and settled on checking no more than every 60 minutes.
- Next off I stopped autosubscribing and getting email notifications to forum threads I posted in, again less distractions. If I want to follow a thread or blog post where I made a comment I tag it with “follow” in del.icio.us and check on it tomorrow.
- Next I stopped checking my feeds for updates every 5 minutes. In the morning when I read my email, when I am eating lunch, that type of thing. I’m checking no more than 4 - 6 times a day now, again less interruptions.
- My email box has 6 folders Action, Hold, Notification, Respond, Waiting and Archive. It took a few days to get the rules to sort things for me as they come in, but now I know I only have to scan the unsorted inbox and action items right away, everything else can wait, as long as you run through it once or twice a day.
- The 2 minute rule, if something comes in and you can complete it in 2 minutes, no matter how trivial just do it. This one really is key, it encompasses the touch a piece of paper once rule. When you have a long block of time you can even expand it to 5 or 10 minutes, any longer is dangerous. Do it, delegate it or defer it, a concept to live by.
- Set up an ‘idea incubator’ or ‘things to think about’ file for all the crazy ideas you get. If you post them there you won’t have to worry about forgetting them. Review it once a month and cross out things that no longer make any sense
- Most forums and newsgroups have a new threads, recent posts, or posts since your last visit link, use them they will save you time.
- Forum and newsgroup discussions are helpful, debates are time wasters. Stay involved in discussions, remove yourself from debates no matter how tempting it is to respond
- Check your backups and make sure they are working. Archive monthly or weekly copies to disc. Check that you can restore the files once or twice a year. Store the CD’s in a media friendly fire resistant safe
- Organize and store your passwords somewhere in hard copy format. You may get hit by a bus and someone else will need that information. I use roboform
- Firefox, Thunderbird, and Roboform all have portable versions that can run from a USB jump drive. Keep a sync’d copy in your safe for safekeeping, or bring it with you when you might need to use a computer and lugging your laptop isn’t an option
- Consolidate your domain names into a few registrars. Log into them once a month and check to make sure nothing is expiring.
- Have a list of all the domains you own check them once a month. This helps you find hosts who forget to renew or send you renewal notices with no domain names and from email addresses like nobody@noreply.com
- Get some decent spyware and adware software, run it regularly
- Having a backup development server is different than having backups. If your development server crashes you can slide your backup development server into place in 5 minutes instead of trying to figure out the configuration settings again.
So I may not be using the official GTD methodology, but I am using enough of it in a way that fits my life and helps me GET MORE THINGS DONE, and that’s what really matters.
Sphere It
February 9th, 2006 at 10:22 am
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February 10th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
Great List. yea, email and reading blogs can really get distracting….can I go an hour with out checking….? I’ll try.
February 10th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Thank you.
I will do my best to avoid debates, I have spent to many unbillable hours on forums. I must add that avoiding smalltalk (weather, sports) and bigtalk (politics, religion) is a great time saver.
February 14th, 2006 at 9:40 am
Time management is a real issue with me. As most people here I have 100’s of ideas floating around my head. I set a goal of 10 things to get done a day they go on the top of my ttd list when they are done I transfer all the new ideas down to my wacky ideas list. Definately going to try some of your suggestions.
February 14th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
[...] Gray Wolf has a bunch of tips I have been trying ( they got me thinking about it in the first place). Mr Ploppies tools save time as well [...]