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Should a newbie use the Outlook add in or the GTD white paper?
- Thread starter skford
- Start date
white paper
you are new to both GTD and Outlook? I was once also. I learned that I knew almost nothing about Outlook.
Outlook is an awesome tool. When I started I downloaded the GTD add-in thinking it would help me. But I found it difficult to learn GTD and Outlook at the same time. I cancelled the purchase after the trial period.
What I decided to do, and it worked for me, was to learn GTD essentially as a paper based system. On my to do list was to increase my fluency in Outlook. Step 1 was to upgrade my outlook to the current edition (at the time 2007). Over time, as I became more comfortable with outlook, my GTD system found itself migrating to it, and then it eventually became obvious that the netcentrics would be helpful. In fact my system cried out for it. Your case may be different. How dependent on email are you?
I suggest getting a dummies type Outlook book first and start using the software -- experimenting. Use the excellent GTD white paper next. And watch the GTD Connect webinar on Outlook -- VERY helpful.
In my case as I learned GTD and Outlook I learned about many other plug in/ add ons to Outlook which help. One by one I added them as the need arose. For example, in my current Outlook set-up I have Norton (spam), FedEx (shipping and tracking using my existing contacts), Dymo printer (a MUST -- print labels for folders and address labels), Gwabbit (grabs contact info from emails and puts it automatically into my address book), Evernote, You Send it, Single Click Filing, Xobni (love it!) and so on. While not explicitly an Outlook add in, I bought a Fujitsu scanner. So, now instead of faxing, I scan and email -- which then gets archived in my outlook and is easily found by Xobni. All these tools made my experience more efficient -- saving/finding/tracking contacts, files and tasks.
BTW -- Add ons I tried but discarded -- Lookeen (I absolutely loved it but it was more than I needed -- I may revisit it at some point), NEO pro, Clear Context (very good -- perhaps an alternative to Netcentrics but wasn't needed), Plaxo and others.
The great thing about the Netcentrics add in is that once you know Outlook, and you have the basic workings of GTD under your belt, the GTD add in walks you through everything. I get an email, I click the next actions, put it right on the correct list and then sync everything up with my phone. tracking the projects is easy too.
One of my complaints is that the lists in outlook are tucked way off in a corner -- if I could rearrange the screen I'd make them more central. (If anyone knows a work around please let me know!)
I now spend most of my day in Outlook. I am currently looking to upgrade my computer system and am considering a dual screen set up with one dedicated to Outlook -- which is not to say that I don't have Omni Focus envy -- but this system works and that's what it is all about.
Oh I did I mention Outlook's Notes -- do read David Allen's short paper on them -- I had no idea how useful they could be.
good luck -- lets us know how you make out
you are new to both GTD and Outlook? I was once also. I learned that I knew almost nothing about Outlook.
Outlook is an awesome tool. When I started I downloaded the GTD add-in thinking it would help me. But I found it difficult to learn GTD and Outlook at the same time. I cancelled the purchase after the trial period.
What I decided to do, and it worked for me, was to learn GTD essentially as a paper based system. On my to do list was to increase my fluency in Outlook. Step 1 was to upgrade my outlook to the current edition (at the time 2007). Over time, as I became more comfortable with outlook, my GTD system found itself migrating to it, and then it eventually became obvious that the netcentrics would be helpful. In fact my system cried out for it. Your case may be different. How dependent on email are you?
I suggest getting a dummies type Outlook book first and start using the software -- experimenting. Use the excellent GTD white paper next. And watch the GTD Connect webinar on Outlook -- VERY helpful.
In my case as I learned GTD and Outlook I learned about many other plug in/ add ons to Outlook which help. One by one I added them as the need arose. For example, in my current Outlook set-up I have Norton (spam), FedEx (shipping and tracking using my existing contacts), Dymo printer (a MUST -- print labels for folders and address labels), Gwabbit (grabs contact info from emails and puts it automatically into my address book), Evernote, You Send it, Single Click Filing, Xobni (love it!) and so on. While not explicitly an Outlook add in, I bought a Fujitsu scanner. So, now instead of faxing, I scan and email -- which then gets archived in my outlook and is easily found by Xobni. All these tools made my experience more efficient -- saving/finding/tracking contacts, files and tasks.
BTW -- Add ons I tried but discarded -- Lookeen (I absolutely loved it but it was more than I needed -- I may revisit it at some point), NEO pro, Clear Context (very good -- perhaps an alternative to Netcentrics but wasn't needed), Plaxo and others.
The great thing about the Netcentrics add in is that once you know Outlook, and you have the basic workings of GTD under your belt, the GTD add in walks you through everything. I get an email, I click the next actions, put it right on the correct list and then sync everything up with my phone. tracking the projects is easy too.
One of my complaints is that the lists in outlook are tucked way off in a corner -- if I could rearrange the screen I'd make them more central. (If anyone knows a work around please let me know!)
I now spend most of my day in Outlook. I am currently looking to upgrade my computer system and am considering a dual screen set up with one dedicated to Outlook -- which is not to say that I don't have Omni Focus envy -- but this system works and that's what it is all about.
Oh I did I mention Outlook's Notes -- do read David Allen's short paper on them -- I had no idea how useful they could be.
good luck -- lets us know how you make out
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
I´m "living" on OL, too, but up to now I don´t have any other program in use.
So, regarding this, could you please add some more information?
(what they do / why you discarded them)
I´m "living" on OL, too, but up to now I don´t have any other program in use.
So, regarding this, could you please add some more information?
(what they do / why you discarded them)
BenvenutoCellini;93361 said:Evernote, You Send it, Single Click Filing, Xobni (love it!)
BTW -- Add ons I tried but discarded -- Lookeen (I absolutely loved it but it was more than I needed -- I may revisit it at some point), NEO pro, Clear Context (very good -- perhaps an alternative to Netcentrics but wasn't needed), Plaxo and others.
Beyond white paper - going mobile + Omni
Questions for BenvenutoCellini:
1. Which mobile device(s) are you using, and how are you implementing GTD-using-Outlook on it/them?
2. If you have OmniFocus envy (or, at least, don't not have it), why stay with Outlook?
Your answers might help me make some decisions on which path to take right now.
Thanks.
Questions for BenvenutoCellini:
1. Which mobile device(s) are you using, and how are you implementing GTD-using-Outlook on it/them?
2. If you have OmniFocus envy (or, at least, don't not have it), why stay with Outlook?
Your answers might help me make some decisions on which path to take right now.
Thanks.