G
GTDer88
Guest
Hi.
How would you guys suggest getting the following outline into my system?
I.Improve business
..A.Improve product line
...1.Create new products
......a.New product 1
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......b.New product 2
......c.New product 3
...2.Improve existing products
......a.Packaging of existing product 4
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......b.Design of existing product 5
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
..B.Get more sales
....1.Prospect new customers
......a.Prospect 1
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......b.Prospect 2
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......c.Project: Participate in trade show to prospect
....2.Get new sales for existing customers
......a.Customer 1
...........i. Sell product 7
..........ii. Create new product 9 for customer 1
..............aa. Action 1
..............bb. Action 2
......b.Customer 2
..C.Improve business processes
....1.project 1
......a.Action 1
......b.Action 2
....2.project 2
II.Improve self
..A.Project 1
..B.Project 2
Since we are using a project list to track our current projects, should projects be something you can actually complete and cross off as done?
Should a desired outcome that is never-ending in nature (such as prospect new customers, create new products) be considered a project or would it be better off written as a checklist? Or would it be considered main project that you’d have to make sure always has subprojects under it?
Could some of the items above be a goal instead of a project? It’s beginning to feel as if projects are simply more specific goals… what's the threshold between a goal and a project?
Do you guys make sure that your projects are not orphaned and have a *mother goal*?
And finally, I’m using a paper system so how do you suggest I write them down?
How would you guys suggest getting the following outline into my system?
I.Improve business
..A.Improve product line
...1.Create new products
......a.New product 1
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......b.New product 2
......c.New product 3
...2.Improve existing products
......a.Packaging of existing product 4
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......b.Design of existing product 5
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
..B.Get more sales
....1.Prospect new customers
......a.Prospect 1
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......b.Prospect 2
...........i. Action 1
..........ii. Action 2
......c.Project: Participate in trade show to prospect
....2.Get new sales for existing customers
......a.Customer 1
...........i. Sell product 7
..........ii. Create new product 9 for customer 1
..............aa. Action 1
..............bb. Action 2
......b.Customer 2
..C.Improve business processes
....1.project 1
......a.Action 1
......b.Action 2
....2.project 2
II.Improve self
..A.Project 1
..B.Project 2
Since we are using a project list to track our current projects, should projects be something you can actually complete and cross off as done?
Should a desired outcome that is never-ending in nature (such as prospect new customers, create new products) be considered a project or would it be better off written as a checklist? Or would it be considered main project that you’d have to make sure always has subprojects under it?
Could some of the items above be a goal instead of a project? It’s beginning to feel as if projects are simply more specific goals… what's the threshold between a goal and a project?
Do you guys make sure that your projects are not orphaned and have a *mother goal*?
And finally, I’m using a paper system so how do you suggest I write them down?
to read the manual, which in this case is the GTD book. The book makes clear and simple distinctions between projects and higher-level goals and areas of responsibility. If prospecting for new customers is an important, distinct part of your job, I would probably consider it a focus area aka area of responsibility. It would be on a list of my major current responsibilities I review about every month. A 1-2 year goal like "Increase sales by XXX" would go on a different list, the so-called 30,000 foot 1-2 year goal list. Both of these lists drive the project list, which in turn drives the next action list. While some people use a very structured outline, I think most people using a looser coupling of the various levels, as David Allen does. I don't know of many people who tightly structure in outline form on paper, because of the obvious inflexibility.