Someday Maybe or New project

[david_navigator]

At our last company meeting we chatted about a new piece of software we're thinking about developing. Nothing concrete, nothing actually happening, so I've put it on my Someday/Maybe list.

Today I was reading an article in a journal when I thought, if we do create this new software AND we add in feature X we mentioned, then the information in this article will be really useful.
Now I don't want to file this article in my filing cabinet, 'cos I won't remember it's in there, so do I create a physical file labeled "someday maybe" and place the article in there or do I elevate the software project from someday/maybe to a real project (where the next action is "waiting for project to happen") and then file the article in that physical project file ?

Thought ?

 

[mcogilvie]

At our last company meeting we chatted about a new piece of software we're thinking about developing. Nothing concrete, nothing actually happening, so I've put it on my Someday/Maybe list.

Today I was reading an article in a journal when I thought, if we do create this new software AND we add in feature X we mentioned, then the information in this article will be really useful.
Now I don't want to file this article in my filing cabinet, 'cos I won't remember it's in there, so do I create a physical file labeled "someday maybe" and place the article in there or do I elevate the software project from someday/maybe to a real project (where the next action is "waiting for project to happen") and then file the article in that physical project file ?

Put the article in a folder for the project that may or may not happen. If you have other ideas about it, throw them it there too. Put the project on your someday/maybe list, with a reminder that you have a folder with potentially useful material in it; the reminder can be as simple as "(see folder)".

 

[tominperu]

Good one!

I'd put it in my general ref filing system, otherwise it's bound to clutter things up and then also put a read/review item in my someday/maybe. Something like "read article on .... (if doing project ...?)"

I'm unusual in that often use postdated tasks in the form of questions like "consider reading ...." or "read ....? dated to appear in my action list at a date in the future. You could also put these in your agenda.

I guess there are many ways to do this.

 

[Mark Jantzen]

Power of Someday/Maybe list

Now I don't want to file this article in my filing cabinet, 'cos I won't remember it's in there

I would go ahead and create a file with the name of the "thing" and also keep it on my Somday/Maybe list. The S/M entry then becomes an index or trigger to remind you not only about that potential project but also the file you've created.

The S/M entry might look something like:
Develop Software Project X
(see file)

(note: my lists are hand-written but you could put ideas or "see file" in the notes section of an Outlook Task)

Then the only way you forget about the file is if you don't review your S/M list.

Mark

 

[RuthMcT]

I keep my Project list and NAs electronically. When I started I was always forgetitng what I'd called the project file (I've got 77 projects at work including all the someday/maybe's).

So I now make a habit of noting the name of the file with the entry on the list or the NA. Also entries in the diary which have documents in the tickler file have a (T) beside them to remind me to take the documents with me

Ruth