My broken computer monitor is one of “Life’s Random Inputs” that can discombobulate the most organized professional. I felt bereft without my desktop computer. Most of the tasks on my project list required a full-size monitor.
I devoted the rest of the day and the following morning to troubleshooting my desktop computer. After a lengthy call to tech support and two trips to the Apple genius bar, it turns out that my desktop computer is fine, but my 23-inch HD cinema display needed to be shipped to the repair depot.
What do people do when they have a high-priority project but lack the resources and tools to engage in it productively?
The answer is to have a list of things you can do given the context, the time frame and the resources at hand. If you lost a few days of work due to a computer meltdown, how would you manage your workload?
The unexpected disruption of my workweek pointed out a major flaw in my actions lists. They all assumed a fully functioning desktop computer.
After transferred project files over the wireless network to my laptop, I scanned my action lists. What would it take to complete the action in terms of context, time frame and creative energy? I added these three types of meta-data (data about actions) to each action. David Allen calls these “Limiting Criteria.” He suggests that you assign all three when you define your work.
The point of this anecdote is not to take the day off and go to a matinee. But to pick from your lists some aspect of a project you can move on using another tool or resource...
I devoted the rest of the day and the following morning to troubleshooting my desktop computer. After a lengthy call to tech support and two trips to the Apple genius bar, it turns out that my desktop computer is fine, but my 23-inch HD cinema display needed to be shipped to the repair depot.
What do people do when they have a high-priority project but lack the resources and tools to engage in it productively?
The answer is to have a list of things you can do given the context, the time frame and the resources at hand. If you lost a few days of work due to a computer meltdown, how would you manage your workload?
The unexpected disruption of my workweek pointed out a major flaw in my actions lists. They all assumed a fully functioning desktop computer.
After transferred project files over the wireless network to my laptop, I scanned my action lists. What would it take to complete the action in terms of context, time frame and creative energy? I added these three types of meta-data (data about actions) to each action. David Allen calls these “Limiting Criteria.” He suggests that you assign all three when you define your work.
The point of this anecdote is not to take the day off and go to a matinee. But to pick from your lists some aspect of a project you can move on using another tool or resource...
