GTD users - check out Autofocus

[Steve Wynn]

 I would urge anybody, especially GTD users to give Autofocus a try - the new system from Mark Forster.  This system combines the power of an open list - such as GTD based lists. With the structure of a Closed List - re DIT.  It is so simple it makes you wonder why somebody never thought of it before!!

 

Beta Testers can still sign up and it is a simple process. Once you sign up you are emailed the instructions about 4 pages worth - which includes a quick start guide to get going straight away.

 

Link is here for those interested,

 

http://www.markforster.net/blog/2008/12/22/new-developments-testers-wanted.html

 

As mentioned if you use GTD in any shape or form - this way of working will probably really suit you.  There is also the added advantage that MLO can easily be configured to utilise the system. In fact with the new MLO Beta and colour coding options - as JD puts it - 'MLO works like a charm' .

 

All the best

 

Steve

[scoobie]

Steve
What's better about it than just using GTD on its own?

On 9 Jan, 12:36, "Steve Wynn" <steve.w...@startupcomputer.com> wrote:
>  I would urge anybody, especially GTD users to give Autofocus a try - the new system from Mark Forster.  This system combines the power of an open list - such as GTD based lists. With the structure of a Closed List - re DIT.  It is so simple it makes you wonder why somebody never thought of it before!!
>
> Beta Testers can still sign up and it is a simple process. Once you sign up you are emailed the instructions about 4 pages worth - which includes a quick start guide to get going straight away.
>
> Link is here for those interested,
>

> http://www.markforster.net/blog/2008/12/22/new-developments-testers-w...
>
> As mentioned if you use GTD in any shape or form - this way of working will probably really suit you.  There is also the added advantage that MLO can easily be configured to utilise the system. In fact with the new MLO Beta and colour coding options - as JD puts it - 'MLO works like a charm' .
>
> All the best
>
> Steve
>
>  big_grin.gif
> < 1KViewDownload

[Steve Wynn]

I would say simplicity - think of GTD without the bells and whistles. For the most part you deal with one list - two if you want home and work to be separated.

Splitting the one list into pages - splits the one list into workable units, that are by default Closed Lists. In other words once a page is full - nothing new is added to the page. Hence it is Closed/Defined. All new items get added to the last page. In contrast to GTD - a context list has items completed and new items added. That is in essence an Open list - of typical ToDo list fashion. What Autofocus does is combine the power of the Open List format - the ability to continually enter new items as they surface. With the structure of the Closed List format - you work on a page at a time - moving forwards through the pages.

There is more to it than this because it utilises something called 'structured procrastination' - but as the system itself is in a beta phase in order to get the full instructions you would need to sign up. Mark has requested for the moment that the instructions are not made publicly available.

To set it up within MLO takes a matter of minutes really - it is so easy to adapt MLO to suit this type of working it does seem to fit really nicely.

I would give it a try if you use GTD - because if you thought GTD was simple/easy to use - then this is even simpler. If you have any doubts - check through the discussion group on Mark Forster's website - you will see the typical issues/questions people are having with the system,

http://www.markforster.net/forum/

All the best

Steve

[Mike De Bruyn]

O.K.  I read the instructions, got confused, drew a flow chart (which I gave to Mark) and now that I have it figured out and implemented, I conclude that it is possibly the simplest and most effective system for EXECUTING the DOING phase of time management.  It does not deal with filing, or planning, or any number of other issues one might encounter.  It is FOCUSED on DOING the RIGHT task and keeping MOVING while FILTERING OUT the "someday/maybe" things in an ongoing way.

Don't expect this system to make your morning coffee, but it is so damn efficient that it boggles the mind.  And I'm not even messing with a computer implementation.  I'm just using my pocket notebook and it is super simple and effective.

You've GOT to sign up for beta testing.  (Which is an odd term because what you get is an email with a list of instructions on how to set up a notebook.)  But once you figure out how to do it, you'll wonder why no one thought of this before.  One place it REALLY shines is getting past the whole tangle of projects v. next actions v. actions.  Simply put, it does not matter.  Put anything on the list and when you get to it, you'll know what to do next ... and if you don't finish it, it goes back on the list for the next pass.  Brilliant.

Just my $0.02.

On Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 9:47 AM, Steve Wynn <steve...@startupcomputer.com> wrote:

I would say simplicity - think of GTD without the bells and whistles.  For the most part you deal with one list - two if you want home and work to be separated.

Splitting the one list into pages - splits the one list into workable units, that are by default Closed Lists.  In other words once a page is full - nothing new is added to the page.   Hence it is Closed/Defined.  All new items get added to the last page.   In contrast to GTD - a context list has items completed and new items added. That is in essence an Open list - of typical ToDo list fashion. What Autofocus does is combine the power of the Open List format - the ability to continually enter new items as they surface. With the structure of the Closed List format - you work on a page at a time - moving forwards through the pages.

There is more to it than this because it utilises something called 'structured procrastination' - but as the system itself is in a beta phase in order to get the full instructions you would need to sign up.  Mark has requested for the moment that the instructions are not made publicly available.

To set it up within MLO takes a matter of minutes really - it is so easy to adapt MLO to suit this type of working it does seem to fit really nicely.

I would give it a try if you use GTD - because if you thought GTD was simple/easy to use - then this is even simpler.  If you have any doubts - check through the discussion group on Mark Forster's website - you will see the typical issues/questions people are having with the system,

http://www.markforster.net/forum/

All the best

--
Cheers,
Mike

[scoobie]

Can I have the flowchart please? I first pass it sound like someone
just reinvented the notebook which doesn't sound that impressive to
me.

On 12 Jan, 15:13, "Mike De Bruyn" <mikes.mail.li...@gmail.com> wrote:
> O.K.  I read the instructions, got confused, drew a flow chart (which I gave
> to Mark) and now that I have it figured out and implemented, I conclude that
> it is possibly the simplest and most effective system for EXECUTING the
> DOING phase of time management.  It does not deal with filing, or planning,
> or any number of other issues one might encounter.  It is FOCUSED on DOING
> the RIGHT task and keeping MOVING while FILTERING OUT the "someday/maybe"
> things in an ongoing way.
>
> Don't expect this system to make your morning coffee, but it is so damn
> efficient that it boggles the mind.  And I'm not even messing with a
> computer implementation.  I'm just using my pocket notebook and it is super
> simple and effective.
>
> You've GOT to sign up for beta testing.  (Which is an odd term because what
> you get is an email with a list of instructions on how to set up a
> notebook.)  But once you figure out how to do it, you'll wonder why no one
> thought of this before.  One place it REALLY shines is getting past the
> whole tangle of projects v. next actions v. actions.  Simply put, it does
> not matter.  Put anything on the list and when you get to it, you'll know
> what to do next ... and if you don't finish it, it goes back on the list for
> the next pass.  Brilliant.
>
> Just my $0.02.
>
> On Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 9:47 AM, Steve Wynn

> <steve.w...@startupcomputer.com>wrote:

[Mike De Bruyn]

On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 2:17 PM, scoobie <paulphilli...@gmail.com> wrote:

Can I have the flowchart please?

No.  The author asked that people sign up on his website and get the information from him and engage in extensive conversation about the system there.  I respect that.  He wishes to get feed back and limit the dissemination of specific information such that a lot of misinformation is not spread far and wide before he finishes developing his system.  Clearly that makes sense.  It is a small request and for that everything else is open and free!
 

 I first pass it sound like someone
just reinvented the notebook which doesn't sound that impressive to
me.

On a first read of GtD it sounds like someone just reinvented TODO lists, not at all impressive.

--
Cheers,
Mike

[Grant]

Hahaha, sorry all, I signed up, read the instructions, and no way
would that work for me... I would list: watch movie, play BioShock, go
for a walk, play with kids, etc... I would only pick the fun things,
not the things that really had to get done - this system offers no way
to enforce a discipline around choosing things related to your
priorities and goals does it? I have to admit, I did not read it too
deeply, since it did not immediately get me excited as a solution for
the majority of us hedonists.
Cheers,
Grant

[joshuawerling]

Grant,

Honestly, you shouldn't be writing about it then. I am currently part
of the beta tester team and I would advise you to either read the
instructions again carefully, check out the discussion forum on Mark's
site (great source of additional information), and start using the
system - or just forget about it. Laughing about it and rushing out
with judgment while admittedly not even having read the instructions
carefully, let alone tried the system, is ... well, I think you know
where I am going.

If you knew Mark Forster, you'd know that he has a major background in
Time Management and all that goes with it (psychology, years of hands-
on experience helping people, etc.), and that he would not come up
with a system that does not make sense. I am not saying it's perfect,
but it's not what you are making it out to be. And if you had read
the instructions and tried it for, let's say, a week, you would
probably have found, to your own surprise, that the system does indeed
work.

Kind regards,

Joshua

[Mike De Bruyn]

Grant,

I'm not prosthletizing by any means but do you think it is appropriate to start off with "Hahaha" and then say that you put in only "fun things" and therefore the system does not work ... then acknowledge that you don't know what the system even IS?

I mean, really.  What are you trying to do?  You are conveying no information ... because you have not bothered to gain any.  Would it not make sense to either try it or ignore it?  What do you get from this kind of post?

And you are actually wrong about it not having any method to enforce choosing activities related to goals.  Had you read in detail you'd see that it does indeed accomplish that ... and very elegantly, I might add.

Oh, and BTW, do you really speak for all "hedonists"?

--
Cheers,
Mike

[Grant]

Can't disagree with you Mike, but you just did the same... I did ask,
and you say it does, but did not say how, so I am still not
enlightened...

But seriously, I did read it, also before the first post, but I read
it again now. This is how it works: you make a long list of
everything you want to do in life, that others want you to do, etc all
on a page or two.... Then:
Go through the page more slowly looking at the items in order until
one stands out for you.
This is the heart of the system. Don't try to prioritise items
mentally - this will interfere with the balance between the rational
and intuitive parts of your mind. Instead wait for a feeling of
release about an item. It's hard to describe but easy to recognise.
You just feel that the item is ready to be done. If you go on down the
page, you may find that you feel drawn back to that item. Once you get
that feeling about a task all resistance to doing the task vanishes,
and it becomes easy to do.

Come on, you got to be kidding... life's decisions are just not that
easy.... but I gotta respect that this guy is going to get rich
turning that one paragraph into a book.. and if it make you feel like
you are doing the right things in life, then more power to you! But
it won't work for me - guess I am too shallow... or perhaps I am
afraid to face the fact that the tasks to meet my lifes goals fit on
one measly page of paper with no obvious priority...

Cheers,

Grant

On Jan 16, 2:12 am, Mike De Bruyn <mikes.mail.li...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Grant,
>
> I'm not prosthletizing by any means but do you think it is appropriate to
> start off with "Hahaha" and then say that you put in only "fun things" and
> therefore the system does not work ... then acknowledge that you don't know
> what the system even IS?
>
> I mean, really.  What are you trying to do?  You are conveying no
> information ... because you have not bothered to gain any.  Would it not
> make sense to either try it or ignore it?  What do you get from this kind of
> post?
>
> And you are actually wrong about it not having any method to enforce
> choosing activities related to goals.  Had you read in detail you'd see that
> it does indeed accomplish that ... and very elegantly, I might add.
>

[Mike De Bruyn]

As the wise man said: "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

On Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 6:45 PM, Grant <gran...@gmail.com> wrote:

Can't disagree with you Mike, but you just did the same... I did ask,
and you say it does, but did not say how, so I am still not
enlightened...

--
Cheers,
Mike