Comments on: NGTD and ReaderBox Zero

By: John Larkin

John Larkin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:34:46 +0000

‘Mark all read’ is a not so secret delight that I indulge in from time to time. The first time is quite a hit. Reassure myself that the sun will still rise in the east during the following morning. Regardless, if a cleared post was truly significant it will cross my path one way or another in the coming weeks.

NGTD, not a bad idea. How boring would it be for our relatives if they have absolutely nothing to do after we depart this world for realms elsewhere? Makes me think of dad.

My father left a number of things for us to sort out after he passed away. Yet, among his belongings he left little notes for us to find. On one box of belongings, for example, he left this message, “First in, best dressed.” Makes me laugh.

Cheers, John.

By: Susan WB

Susan WB — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:29:01 +0000

Files are for stuff I’m finished with or need to archive.

That goes for real paper and email too.

GTD process is only useful for people with that particular habit of mind/work anyway. Why spend a lot of time trying to force yourself to be something you’re not (and meanwhile get upset with yourself for not being that way) when you could just focus on gettting some work done instead?

By: Teddy

Teddy — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:24:13 +0000

You mean I’m not the only one who doesn’t use folders for my inbox?! I agree: search works just find. As for another way to NGTD (and I also agree with your assessment that GTD seems focused more on the process), I don’t use “real” files and file cabinets either. Everything I really need is in various piles on my desks or floors. It’s a logical system (for me), and I don’t waste all that time filing. :)

By: Mike K

Mike K — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:19:26 +0000

That nagging sense of dreaded unread email, growing more palpable and ponderous as it accumulates. Your technique sheds this weight like a sin in the confessional is converted to a long forgotten thought.

As you are one of the founders of NGTD thinking I would ask you: Is not the email inbox a tool of the GTD movement? I propose a NASA style national effort called “Serendipitous”, which would prohibit email delivery at all except for those messages that arrive in the 10 minutes prior to when you randomly check your email. The “Serendipitous” plugin would work only with gmail of course. While the project poses some issues with solving time travel equations, it does address the issues of working memory, that is why worry about more than 7 (+/- 2) things? This plugin used by the elite NGTD, would penalize the GTD listers who by nature check email once daily at 3:05 pm EST. So knowing their listy ways we can send them email but they would only by chance (not in their charter) be able to send us email.