Chapter 7 discusses the necessity to have airtight organization for your focus to remain on the broader horizon. There are seven primary types of things that must be kept track of and managed. These items are: a “projects” list, project support material, calendared actions and information, “next Actions” list, a “waiting for” list, reference material, and a “someday/maybe” list. These items must be kept visually, physically, and psychologically separate from one another.
David also provides a great list of Action Reminders that include: calls, at computer, errands, office actions, at home, agendas, read/review. He says we must think carefully about where and how you can and can’t do which actions, and organize your lists accordingly. This really does make good sense. One of the examples is the Errands action item. It makes sense to group all these together so that when I am out and about, I can look at this list and everything is in one place instead of all over the place. I am continually out and about trying to remember things I need to pickup or accomplish. Inevitably I remember these items after I am already back home! So this one tip is going to save me quite a bit of time.
-Diane Halweg