The David Allen Getting Things Done Revisit
So a few years ago in my other blog I reviewed (slammed, nay skewered... no no... filet'd ya that's it filet) the tape "Getting Things Done" and I thought well I'm like 3 years more mature, I can probly deal with this now in a very objective way and I might even get something out of it.
before I answer that let me tell a little story about going back to visit my high school after like 10 years to give a lecture to just two classes in comp sci. I kept telling myself that I was 18 when I was there last. I thought most (not all) of the staff had their heads up their asses back then, it can't possibly be true today. It was 10 years ago and you were 18. I just kept telling myself that.
Walking out I was saying, "I had my shit together when I was 18 I guess... most of them are in the position of no hair loss as their scalps haven't gotten any sun in 10 years. Yup without a clue. Not to say I was an above average 18 year old, I got a lot of C's (they stood for average back then, not like today's report card where that means... completed... or confident... who the fuck knows? they keep changing it).
I did go to a gifted school. We took Latin. They said "It gives you a strong base for all the other European languages" Eddy Izzard says "why the fuck don't I just take the other European languages?" I have to agree as I can't Spanish my way out of a wet paper bag. What is Spanish for "hey let me out of this wet paper bag?" I don't know... see? But it must suck teaching or working in a place where the student's are way smarter on average (see even me) than you. It's enough to get one to stick ones head... nevermind.
So in short they did in fact have their heads lodged securely up their asses.
So does David Allen.
He says when I get a piece of information I might want to incubate it. Excuse me? It's likely a problem so fuck that I don't want it grow. Seriously he means I'm not sure what to do with it so I'll put it off til x. Oh yipeee procrastination built right in. His example is not at all incubation. It's an action pure and simple and its been time activated. He says "call my broker after march 1st". OK how is that incubating I might ask? It's not its an action. watch closely as my fingers never leave my hands....
3/1/2004 Schedule a time to call Sally (she's my broker) re: 401k rollover.
Did ya see that? Is it incubating? NO. It's just an action and its just been time activated. No need to apply heat and moisture.
Why do we complicate such simple things?
So in short. His tape still has its head up its ass.
before I answer that let me tell a little story about going back to visit my high school after like 10 years to give a lecture to just two classes in comp sci. I kept telling myself that I was 18 when I was there last. I thought most (not all) of the staff had their heads up their asses back then, it can't possibly be true today. It was 10 years ago and you were 18. I just kept telling myself that.
Walking out I was saying, "I had my shit together when I was 18 I guess... most of them are in the position of no hair loss as their scalps haven't gotten any sun in 10 years. Yup without a clue. Not to say I was an above average 18 year old, I got a lot of C's (they stood for average back then, not like today's report card where that means... completed... or confident... who the fuck knows? they keep changing it).
I did go to a gifted school. We took Latin. They said "It gives you a strong base for all the other European languages" Eddy Izzard says "why the fuck don't I just take the other European languages?" I have to agree as I can't Spanish my way out of a wet paper bag. What is Spanish for "hey let me out of this wet paper bag?" I don't know... see? But it must suck teaching or working in a place where the student's are way smarter on average (see even me) than you. It's enough to get one to stick ones head... nevermind.
So in short they did in fact have their heads lodged securely up their asses.
So does David Allen.
He says when I get a piece of information I might want to incubate it. Excuse me? It's likely a problem so fuck that I don't want it grow. Seriously he means I'm not sure what to do with it so I'll put it off til x. Oh yipeee procrastination built right in. His example is not at all incubation. It's an action pure and simple and its been time activated. He says "call my broker after march 1st". OK how is that incubating I might ask? It's not its an action. watch closely as my fingers never leave my hands....
3/1/2004 Schedule a time to call Sally (she's my broker) re: 401k rollover.
Did ya see that? Is it incubating? NO. It's just an action and its just been time activated. No need to apply heat and moisture.
Why do we complicate such simple things?
So in short. His tape still has its head up its ass.
posted by J.R. at 1:28 PM
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