ferriswren;48451 said:
I'm having trouble implementing GTD because it seems as though almost nothing takes two minutes or less. Mail a letter -- neighbor at the mailbox. Simple web inquiry -- Safari freezes on an unfriendly site; site not organized well-enough to provide specific info. Phone inquiry -- voice recognition maze; can't reach anyone who can resolve issue. Print calendar -- printer out of paper, toner. Change light bulb -- it's not the bulb, it's the lamp.
If you can't do it in two minutes it's probably not a next action, and certainly not a two-minute next action. Before you do a two minute next action there are two necessary conditions that must be met.
1. Is this the very next physical action I can take in order to make progress toward my objective?
2. Am I in the right context to do this next action.
Let's take a look at each one in turn:
1. Mail a letter--I guess it depends on what you mean here. There are actually several next actions here many of which would be two minutes next actions some not. "Write letter" is probably not a 2 minute action even assuming you have all the information you need to write the letter. "Send Letter" is probably not a project though it may be part of one. To me "Send Letter means... I have a typed letter ready to print, sign, put in an envelope, attach a postage stamp and put in outgoing mail. I can usually do all of that within two minutes at my desk (which is where I typically process and do two-minute actions). Mail letter(s) probably goes beyond the context of @Office or @Desk. It either goes on @Errands: Post Office or is handled as a routine (e.g. not tracked) everyday task. (On your way to work you get all outgoing mail and drop it off on the way...) David talks alot about IN baskets, but doesn't say much about OUT. It still has its uses.
Dealing with a neighbor at the mailbox could be an interruption unless you have "Neighbor: talk to Bob about his dog barking all night" on your @Agendas list... In any event running to the mailbox is probably not a two minute next action, but send letter (meaning getting it ready to mail and in the outbox) is probably sufficient, particularly if it's combined with a checklist that includes dropping off the outgoing mail each day...
2. Simple web query - This is likely only a 2 minute action if you are familiar with the web site you intend to query. Otherwise it may be a next action but probably can't be completed in two minutes. We all wish the web granted instant access to the information we need but we're a long way from that nirvana...
3. Phone Inquiry - Only 2 minute action if I know the person I'm calling and I'm dialing their cell phone. I either get them and I'm done or I leave a message on their voicemail and I create a @waitingfor. Dealing with customer service is always a project at a minimum, and may be a 30-50,000 foot issue...
4. Print Calendar - Printer out of paper is an indication that regular maintenance checklists aren't in place for those low energy brain-dead times. An Office Maintenance @Office next action could have a check list of stuff to check on when your brain and body are so fried you barely sit let alone stand. Things like check printer paper, check printer ink, check paperclib supply etc. go in the notes section on this next action. In outlook its great to make this a recurring task which regenerates only after the task is completed...
5. Change Light Bulb - It's not the bulb it's the lamp. Assuming you can either reach the lamp or have your ladder handy, and have the right kind of bulb and the light bulb is in your @Office context this could be a two-minute action. Chalk it up to Murphy that this two minute action becomes a project: Fix Lamp.
ferriswren;48451 said:
More generally, how does GTD cope with Murphy's Law?
This is a great question. I think the answer is that Murphy shows up and you have to cope. GTD is flexible enough to allow you to do so. If you try to do a next action and fail then its probably not really a next action. The question is why not? What is the next action? Now that you have more information re-think what the next action is and either do it or put it on the right list.
