Comments on: Facing the (Sometimes) Ugly Truth

By: Meghan Wilker

Meghan Wilker — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:37:44 +0000

Josh:

I took the tickler file setup I found in this article:
http://www.gtdtimes.com/2009/08/17/ways-to-organize-your-workspace/

Previously, I had my folders on a file riser on my desk. This setup is way easier to deal with. You can see it in this video here as well:
http://www.youtube.com/geekgirlsguide

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:17:18 +0000

I want to know what your new tickler file looks like? What did you change? What makes it better?

By: John B. Kendrick

John B. Kendrick — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:48:09 +0000

I agree totally Meghan – especially with your view of inboxes are never done. Mine are rarely done, well maybe for a minute or two. I have a bad habit of trying to handle my email inbox as items are pouring in, just processing them into my GTD workflow could keep me busy all day at times. I have to “just say no” and get some work done when I find myself trapped by the email demon. John

By: Russ Eisenberg

Russ Eisenberg — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:00:54 +0000

“there is no such thing as “done.” We have to get comfortable with that fact.”

This is the best thing about GTD for me and the hardest.

By: Aeon J. Skoble

Aeon J. Skoble — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:03:33 +0000

Meghan- I just listened to your “In Coversation” interview this morning, which I found very helpful and inspiring, so it was great to follow that up with a look at your work space! I think you put it very well when you noted that in a larger sense, we’re not “done” and that that’s not the best way to think about prefectionism; rather, think in terms of continual progress. And a work space that gets messy sometimes isn’t a problem, as long as you have a reliable method (and, ideally, time) for getting clear. Thanks for sharing!

By: Meghan Wilker

Meghan Wilker — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:18:35 +0000

John (wave_man):

Excellent point!

While I am a “knowledge worker” I am also, in many ways, a “maker”. There are projects I do that result in the creation of a thing (most often a web site or application).

The main point I was trying to make was that my work now is vastly different from the job I had working in a warehouse when I was 19. I got orders, I filled orders, I went home when the whistle blew. Simple, clean and easy. I knew when my work was done because the whistle told me so.

Now? Well, now I can do my work from home, from the office, or from a beach in Mexico (I wish!). So, it’s up to *me* to decide when the work is done (or “done enough” as I’m starting to think of it), and that can be a very hard thing to do. I don’t think our brains are wired that way quite yet. We have to remind ourselves to stop.

I do appreciate you calling me on the finer points of how I communicate that point. I love word nerds (and the Four Agreements, too)!

Thanks for weighing in.

By: DCB

DCB — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:05:05 +0000

I’m coming off a horrendously busy 8 days:

*A 13 hour car trip
*The loss of a friend to cancer
*Two major speaking engagements to prepare for and deliver
*Leading a three day conference I’ve been planning for nine months
*Another friend calling to say she was having heart surgery.
*Normal work stuff

What I love about GTD is that while I had stuff everywhere, a simple sweep of it all into my blue OFFICE folder and a quick toss of it all into my Inbasket and my desk was neat again to the unknowing eye. After tomorrow, however, I’ll be back in office and will face the blue monster and all the junk I’ve thrown to it.

In the pre-GTD days, it would all be tossed into my bottom drawer and across my desk and the mess would bug me incessantly.

By: Jervis Groeneveld

Jervis Groeneveld — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:30:50 +0000

Great article, thank you!
Instead of living the illusion of being able to capture the whole of the mountain of things to do, I’d rather be a happy mountain goat, being with the what’s so and powerfully dealing with any breakdowns!

By: Lola LB

Lola LB — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:03:50 +0000

You make me feel better! Right now, my desk is more clean than not. It’s a daily struggle, though. I’ll see about getting a picture taken later this evening to send it off to you.

By: Daniel Williams

Daniel Williams — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:58:27 +0000

THANK YOU! One thing I keep reminding myself and others that eventhough we GTDers have things “orginized” it doesn’t mean that we aren’t busy – very busy!!

By: Tracey Wilson

Tracey Wilson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:45:45 +0000

“Ultimately, my desk tends to reflect my state of mind: when my desk is a mess it means that, before I just go about mindlessly cleaning it, I need to get my head back in order.” Wow, Meghan, this line really spoke to me. I have been feeling overwhelmed and this brought home what I needed to do. Thanks! (And no way I’m sending a pic of today’s desk… ugh!)

By: Rebecca Wise Girson

Rebecca Wise Girson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:33:17 +0000

This article comes at the perfect time because my desk is currently FAR from perfect. In fact, clearing it off is one of the MAIN things I want to “get done” today. And my inbox is nothng close to zero. I must admit that I have fallen off of the GTD wagon and seriously need to climb back on. Where, oh where, to begin….?

By: John Fisher

John Fisher — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:48:47 +0000

I totally relate to so much of that, save…

I am a widget maker, who is also a knowledge worker, and my work is also never done. I am not sure, and don’t want to make assumptions (4 agreements is even bigger than GTD in my life if you can believe…) but I think you may have just suggested that to be a knowledge worker implies that you are not also a “maker” (I prefer the simpler term). If so !! How’s that for being impeccable in my word? :^)

My desk (at home for sure, work’s not too bad) by the way is a s%&t-hole right now, and I am feeling too tired to care after thirteen hours at the “mill”. So be nice or I’m coming for your widgets!

A sensitive maker,

wave_man

By: Brooke

Brooke — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:36:26 +0000

Are you saying that is a messy desk? Jeeze-a-whizzers, please do not inspect my lair as it is quite definitely not remotely as neat and accessible as yours, nor am I feeling in control. I realize the Weekly Review is key, and it’s hard to make it happen. The article is lovely and inspiring. Perhaps I will read it again and it will fire me up. Thank You,
-Brooke Millington.

By: Wellington Grey

Wellington Grey — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:46:34 +0000

My desk is spotless right now, but that’s only because I just did my weekly review yesterday and the first item on my checklist is ‘clean desk’.

I think it’s completely OK to let the mess creep into your life, as long as you’ve scheduled regular times to sweep it away.