autofocus was Re[8]: OT sidetracked sisters

Hi Mike,

Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 5:48:36 AM, you wrote:

> I just came across this post on the AF list.  I thought I'd share it with

thanks :-)

> It's like doing the AF on speed. Its amazing how stuff I've been resisting
> gets done just because its the quickest way to get to the juicy task I
> really want to do. I love it.

I have been doing this lately. There is one book I want to read and another one I need to but don't really want to read it. So I decided I cannot read the book I want that day unless I read some of the book I need to read first. I have to read a certain # of pages so it can go back to the library on time. (Not just read one paragraph so I can say "done".) I am actually reading more each day than the goal.

I would worry though if the person only does the things with the quick turn around.. it would seem they would reach a point where all the hard items were left.

> So I am just bending one of Mark's steps; the one where I check if there is
> another task on the current page that is ready to be done after I have
> crossed off the first one.

I can see where it would be good or bad to not look for an item on the current page. If you spend too much time going over the old then the new will back up. If you only focus on the new then the older stuff will never get done until it becomes a fire.

> I don't get that excited about my list ;-)  but I've seen so many people who
> do!  LOL ;-)

You would probably think I am too excited about my lists...

> Just for fun, some of the people on the Mark's forum have been posting
> pictures to Flickr ... gad, people do love their Moleskines!  I've tried and
> tried, but I can't see a $15 bound book for a To Do list!  LOL ;-)

In the Time Management book I mentioned by Anne McGee-Cooper, you would see how she is motivated by getting new office supplies. I would be more like her and you would probably be more like Duane her business partner. (I wrote Anne-McGee before which was putting the hyphen in the wrong place.)

> >  Anyway,
> you can see books and software and all kinds of tweaks with lines, boxes
> filled in, tracking metrics and tags ... oh, just about anything imaginable
> ;-)

> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahmichelef/3404249811/in/photostream/

> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonaz/3304749058/in/pool-autofocustimesystem/

Thanks for the links :-) It helps to see how other people are doing things.

I think in this case I would do my list on the computer or Palm unless I could find a really good reason not to. (For example, I was thinking it might help me to have to 
manipulate the 3x5 cards vs just writing things in the computer.) I usually don't like to do stuff in handwriting.

I will answer the longer email later.

-- 
Brenda