Get Things Done – Part 2

Watch this, then you will know how gaining control and perspective are the two key elements to self-management in life and in work.
• Control means taking charge of your everyday commitments.
• Perspective means knowing where to place these commitments on the horizons of your goals and aspirations.

Gaining Control

The ultimate purpose of gaining control is to be able to clear the distraction.

1. Capturing: Scanning everything that’s on your mind and writing them down.
2. Clarifying: Deciding what each of those captured items mean.
3. Organizing: Putting things where you believe they belong.
4. Reflecting: Reviewing everything that you have externalized.
5. Engaging: Getting started on the actionable items.

The most powerful and effective way to gain control of your long list to do is by focusing on one horizon at a time, which brings us to perspective.

Gaining Perspective

Gain perspective about where our commitments and goals belong.

1. Runway perspective: All the physical, tangible actions. They are single-step events. (Ex: Wash your car; Draft your proposal.)
2. 10,000 feet perspective: Projects that can be finished in a year. Miniature goal. (These projects should be reviewed once a week to keep you moving in perspective.)
3. 20,000 feet perspective: Responsibilities. 10-15 categories that you are responsible for or interested in. (Ex: If you want to work and live comfortably, you need to keep your health and energy at the reasonable level. So you must pay some attention to your body, exercise, eating, and sleep.)
4. 30,000 feet perspective: Goals and Objectives. Goals you are eager to accomplish in a year or two. (Ex: Publish a book; Get out of debt. These should be reviewed monthly or quarterly.)
5. 40,000 feet perspective: Vision. Issue that have impact on multi-year time frames. (Ex: Life style; Career goal. At once vision is set, then create new short-term goals of objectives.)
6. 50,000 feet perspective: Purpose and Principles. The ultimate source of perspective is at this horizon, your purpose ultimately acts as your compass and your principles make sure you can maintain your core value on road.