Re: GTD: Tags or Custom TODO states?

From: Carsten Dominik <carsten.dominik@gmail.com>
To: Jonathan Arkell <jonathana@criticalmass.com>
Cc: "emacs-orgmode@gnu.org" <emacs-orgmode@gnu.org>
Subject: Re: GTD: Tags or Custom TODO states?
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:21:21 +0200	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <FAAD2685-2947-4405-A721-C518D1AE3A3F@gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <4147DA15-E59B-46BC-ABA4-CF74AE2D8895@criticalmass.com>

On Jun 23, 2010, at 6:28 PM, Jonathan Arkell wrote:

> On Jun 18, 2010, at 4:51 PM, Matt Price wrote:
>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> So, I'm going to try to implement David Allen's Getting Things Done
>> using org-mode, as so many other people have done already.  I'd like
>> to set things up more or less right the first time, but since GTD is
>> brand-new to me (just finished the book today!) and I'm still only
>> barely competent at org-mode, I'm a little anxious about the  
>> choices I
>> need to make.  I think I understand some of the steps I have to take
>> now, but would love some advice from all the GTD'ers out there.  So
>> here goes:
>
> Don't be anxious, just do it!  Imagine if I came to you and said:
>
> "I'm going to try to make a 3d movie like Toy Story using (latest- 
> and-greatest-3d-package-here), as so many people have done already.   
> I'd like to set things up more ore less right hte first time, but  
> since 3d animation is brand-new to me, I'm a little anxious about  
> the choices I need to make."
>
> Start Simple.  Just get used to the todo state changes, and how they  
> work, then maybe dive into org-remember (not too deep!  That whole  
> thing is going through a re-write, so do just enough to get the job  
> done!).  This will at least get you through the Collection phase of  
> things.
>
> Next up, learn about Refiling and how that works, then you've got  
> the Process/Organize end of the equation sorted out.
>
> After that, Learn about the Agenda--stuck projects in particular  
> will be a BOON.  This will help you in the review cycle, not only  
> weekly, but daily, and perhaps even the higher-level 20-50K feet  
> reviews as your system matures.
>
> But be prepared for the first draft of your system to be exactly  
> that, a first draft.  You're just learning about org-mode **and**  
> GTD, both of these things are deep and full of much mojo.  So 3  
> years from now, your approach to GTD, and implementation in org-mode  
> are going to be radically different.
>
> The thing about org-mode is that it starts as being a reasonably  
> functional system out of the box for GTD, but hte more you take the  
> time to learn it, the better you can customize it to make it  
> **your** GTD implementation.
>
> Bernt's Doc has been invaluable to my own implementation process.
> http://doc.norang.ca/org-mode.html
>
> Don't try to do EVERYTHING there, just pick and choose which  
> features you feel you really need.
>
> Cheers!

What a wonderful and true post, thanks Jonathan.

- Carsten

>
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>
> Jonathan Arkell
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- Carsten