I just had a really interesting conversation about time management with one of the engineers with whom I work. He says that he has jettisoned his PDA in favor of a 3x5-based system pioneered by a guy named David Allen. The 3x5 system has some great benefits: It's infinitely flexible and can store any information that can be recorded on a 3x5 card. There is even a web page where one can print out 3x5 cards optimized for tracking certain kinds of information. There's no expensive PDA to worry about losing or being damaged (although 3x5 cards are also subject to water damage). There's no requirement to synchronize the PDA with a desktop computer or the internet. In short, very similar to a Day-Timer.
The demonstration of his paper-PDA segued into a discussion of personal efficiency techniques. David Allen has a system for optimizing personal efficiency with which I am not familiar. The engineer and I agreed that some effective techniques are:
A reason that this is interesting to me is that I am presently working on a corrective-action management task management system. The basic idea is that someone will perceive a problem. They'll log into the system and fill out a form which will be routed depending on the problem described. Users will then have the opportunity to weigh in on various ways to a) solve this instance of the problem (if it has not already been solved), and b) prevent the problem from reoccurring in the future. The system will also support searches so users can see how previous, similar problems were addressed.
We agreed that writing is cathartic and also helpful for determining where one is going and whether or not it is important for one to continue in that direction. I think for a lot of folks this is an important value of a blog.
There was a mention in yesterday's New York Times of a book called Ultimate Blogs: Masterpieces from the Wild Web. This seems like web 0.0's take on web 2.0. Why bother making this a book? Isn't a review of blogs itself a blog, even if it's printed? I agree with an observation quoted in the article, that most blogs are merely collections of references to other blogs and web sites, without substantial unique content.
Many writers of blogs like to have readers, and google encourages writers to focus; to center themselves around a particular topic such as charting or politics. Many blogs are commercial in nature, written as a way to keep interested customers informed of new developments at a company. A lot of blogs were created because the author had something very specific to say (perhaps about the Iraq War, or bad customer service at a store) and once the author has vented the blog no longer is updated.
The demonstration of his paper-PDA segued into a discussion of personal efficiency techniques. David Allen has a system for optimizing personal efficiency with which I am not familiar. The engineer and I agreed that some effective techniques are:
- Do it now rather than later, when possible.
- Make lists and review them.
- Everything should have a place.
- Always ask yourself "where do I want to go?" and then "am I getting there?"
- I can easily make backup copies
- Sorting and organizing is quicker (and takes less space)
- Windows Search Companion
- No real need ever to throw anything away
A reason that this is interesting to me is that I am presently working on a corrective-action management task management system. The basic idea is that someone will perceive a problem. They'll log into the system and fill out a form which will be routed depending on the problem described. Users will then have the opportunity to weigh in on various ways to a) solve this instance of the problem (if it has not already been solved), and b) prevent the problem from reoccurring in the future. The system will also support searches so users can see how previous, similar problems were addressed.
We agreed that writing is cathartic and also helpful for determining where one is going and whether or not it is important for one to continue in that direction. I think for a lot of folks this is an important value of a blog.
There was a mention in yesterday's New York Times of a book called Ultimate Blogs: Masterpieces from the Wild Web. This seems like web 0.0's take on web 2.0. Why bother making this a book? Isn't a review of blogs itself a blog, even if it's printed? I agree with an observation quoted in the article, that most blogs are merely collections of references to other blogs and web sites, without substantial unique content.
Many writers of blogs like to have readers, and google encourages writers to focus; to center themselves around a particular topic such as charting or politics. Many blogs are commercial in nature, written as a way to keep interested customers informed of new developments at a company. A lot of blogs were created because the author had something very specific to say (perhaps about the Iraq War, or bad customer service at a store) and once the author has vented the blog no longer is updated.
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