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Clarification on some of the books principles.

Hi all. I've just finished reading Getting Things Done about a week ago, and am starting on my second pass (hitting the main topics) to try and cement these ideas. However, I'm still left with some uncertainties on a few topics. Reading through some past posts cleared a couple up, but there's still some remaining. I'm hoping with the vast experience some of you seem to have, you wouldn't mind helping this amateur out a little bit. ;)

First up: projects. I took David's advice and created a project reference file system. I'm used to planning out projects when I get them, and detailing the steps needed on the road to completion, albeit at usually a broader scale, so I decided to refine this. When processing a project from "in", I plan it out right there, except instead of a broad set of steps, I create a list of narrowly defined next actions, write the first NA on it's proper list in my organizer, and file the project plan. However, from the sounds of it, you can/should only have the current NA for a project on list, but I find that if I'm not at home where my filing is, and I complete the NA, yet have time to do more, how do I know what my next NA is (since I shouldn't be keeping that in my head)? Do you guys take project plans with you in whatever you use to organize things? Do you write down the next few NA's on a list, just incase? I'm probably over-thinking this, I just don't want to become terribly inefficient.

Aw, son of a... I had more questions, but for the life of me I can't remember them at the moment (my memory is terrible. Hence my attempt at GTD :p ). They'll probably come to me in a day or two, so I'll reply again when they pop up.

Thanks for now!

SteveC's picture

From the sounds of it,...

Kris;10154 wrote:
From the sounds of it, you should only have one NA for a project. But what if there are a couple things that could be done next on the project, independantly of one another? Lets say I could make a call to someone about one part of the project, or pick up some needed supplies for another part of the project. Is it a bad idea to put an NA on both my @Phone and @Errand lists? Is this acceptable? Am I thinking about this wrong? :confused:

NAs in different contexts are fine. It's putting things on the action lists that aren't actions which causes the problem. So, an NA saying

@calls-phone Fred about project X

and

@errands-buy chipboard for project X

is fine.

In fact, I see nothing wrong with

@calls-phone Fred about project X
@calls-phone Harry about project X
@calls-phone Jane about project X

As long as the calls are INDEPENDENT. If you need information from Fred before you can speak to Harry, then phone Harry is not an NA. Similarly, if you need to talk to Fred before buying the chiboard, then the latter is not an NA (yet).

Does that help?

Steve

 
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