Category Archives: Productivity

A Balance of Concepts and Tactics

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 0 Comments

When I look at my own attempts to improve, there are two things that have made all the difference in my ability to do better work: concepts that help me understand my work and tactics that help me do it.

For too long, I’d focus on one or the other and the impact on the way I work was insufficient. As I continue to improve, I’ve come to value the relationship between “how” and “why” we go about achieving our ambitions.

For those looking to get a better sense of both the concepts and the tactics that can help, today is a good day. Two very smart friends are introducing projects; one offers an in depth look at the concept of mastery over how we work and another shares actionable tactics in many of the key areas of productivity.

Workflow by Kourosh Dini

It’s rare that logic and beauty can occupy the same space, it’s especially rare that this would happen in a productivity book. Workflow is a unique book. It speaks to the concepts far more than the tactics (although there are plenty of useful takeaways that will improve the way you work). It looks to infuse meaning and offer a better understanding of ideas that have lost their very definitions in an age of quick fixes.

It’s very much a textbook of self-mastery. It is meant to be read slowly and carefully. It’s accessible for a novice audience, but is targeted for those who want to take a deep dive into the concepts of productivity, creativity, workflow and mastery.

Workflow is available throughout May for $30 and will double in price starting in June. This 500+ piece masterwork is well worth its full price, but you should seriously consider getting it now at the introductory pricing.

For more information, be on the lookout for a more comprehensive review of Workflow over at Workflowing.

The Productivityist Workbook by Mike Vardy

Just as Workflow is aimed at those looking to study the subject, The Productivityist Workbook focuses more on the immediate challenges that keep people from accomplishing their goals. In this easily accessible workbook, Mike Vardy offers tactics that will help you do a better job of dealing with email, task, time and idea management. This book is meant to be ready quickly and you can start implementing the tactics in it right away. It offers insights and methods that will benefit those looking for a 101 introduction to several key areas of personal productivity.

The Productivityist Workbook is available today for $5.

I’m a biased fan of both Kourosh Dini and Mike Vardy, but I believe their latest projects – especially the complementary balance of concepts and tactics between them – will prove helpful to anyone struggling to do a better job of approaching their work and life.

Filed Under: Creativity, Productivity

My BitQuill Interview

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 4 Comments

Yours truly on what’s changed in my life because of this site:

This may sound like hyperbole (and probably is), but I’m a different person for this experience. Or at least a far better version. I know myself better; I do more to mitigate my many, many shortcomings; I have a far better sense of what I want from the world and have developed a few of the skills needed to actualize those ambitions.

[…]

Don’t get me wrong, I still have a ways to go. There are far too many days where I tip more towards the “mess” than the “better,” but more than any other time in my life, I feel as if my life is moving in the right direction.

You can read the rest of the interview here.

Related side note: never, ever follow Pat Dryburgh in an interview series.

Filed Under: Productivity, Self-Improvement

The Hunt For A New RSS Reader

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 0 Comments

I’ve received a few questions about what I plan to use as a replacement for Google Reader. While I still believe that it is too early to pick an alternative, I’m starting to consider my options.

Rather than continually post on the subject, Mike Vardy and I have setup a “Running List” post over at Workflowing. We will continue to update this with what we believe to be the best options as well as the direction we’re both leaning and why.

There’s still time before the July 1st shutdown of Google Reader, but RSS plays a vital role in how both Vardy and I read the web. We’re anxious to choose an alternative, but at the moment we’re going to sit tight and keep an eye on how our options evolve. If you’re starting to consider your options as well, we’d welcome your feedback.

Filed Under: Productivity

Getting My Workflowing

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 0 Comments

For far too long, I’ve wanted to align more of the work I’m doing. This is especially true of what I create for the web. At the moment, I write for this site, I co-host a podcast with Mike Vardy and collaborate with him on a newsletter (and since that isn’t enough, we also have a second podcast associated with said newsletter). In theory, each project has an identity of its own, one that needs to be nurtured. In reality none of these identities are being managed particularly well.

All Over The Place

I’m spread too thin, this holds true for much of my life, but it’s especially true on the web. It’s a mess of my own making and it’s one I need to start cleaning up. I’m taking the first step towards bringing more of my work together; I’m also not doing it alone. Today Mike Vardy and I are introducing Workflowing.

What is Workflowing? I encourage you to check it out for a deeper look at why we wanted to create this and what we intend to do, but at its core it’s a site that aims to do a better job at helping people to actually do better.

Darn You Patrick Rhone

While we are introducing Workflowing today, we’re not officially “launching” it until later this summer. Rather than working in private, we plan to continue to develop the project in public. Those who have listened to the latest Mikes on Mics episode know that I’m somewhat obsessed (read: very obsessed) with Patrick’s recent launch of Minimal Guides. In the span of a week he took a question on App.net and turned it into the first in a series of guides.

He also did much of the work in public, which helped shape and improve the end result. He worked hard, he worked out in the open, he encouraged feedback and, in the span of a week, turned his idea into something tangible. It’s a project that continues to improve as we speak. We’ve been inspired to follow Patrick’s lead. There’s still a lot to be done, but Workflowing is no longer just an idea; it’s something that exists and will now continue to evolve. We hope you’ll follow along.

So… What Does This Mean For A Better Mess?

As of today, not much. If you’ve noticed, I haven’t been writing a ton of “how to” posts. It wasn’t intentional at first, but I’ve already been changing this over to a slightly more personal site (or at least focusing more on the personal aspects of my own attempts at self-improvement). A Better Mess is not going away; it is however becoming a Workflowing project. One that I’m very proud of and passionate about. It will continue to remain as active as ever. Some things will make their way over to Workflowing, but if you enjoy the site today, I expect you’ll enjoy it tomorrow.

And What About The Rest Of Your Projects?

For the time being, we’re looking at Workflowing as an umbrella for all of the work that Mike Vardy and I create. It will also serve as a place to share the work that helps and inspires us. Over time, things may change, but as of today A Better Mess, Vardy’s Productivityist and Mikes on Mics will continue.

Rather than maintaining separate social media accounts for each project, everything will now be shared and promoted under Workflowing. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, ADN and Google+ (that last one was Vardy’s idea). To help things along and help align things we will be shutting down Mike Techniques in favor of focusing our energies on making Workflowing the best that it can possibly be. Subscribers should have already received an email from us explaining what comes next.

We have big plans for Workflowing. I encourage you to check it out and see if what we’re working on has the potential to help you do better.

Filed Under: Productivity, Self-Improvement

Yes, You Have A System

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 2 Comments

Talk about workflows and productivity long enough and you eventually find yourself listening to those who say that they either do not have or do not need a system. It’s a subject we touched on when Matt Alexander joined us for an episode of Mikes on Mics and it came up again on this week’s Systematic podcast with Myke Hurley (et tu, Myke?). Frequently as I hear one version of this or another, I’m not sure the assertions jive with reality.

The truth is that everyone has a way that they go about their work. Most just aren’t aware of it or don’t care about it. 

Now you’re probably expecting me to put up some fight about how this is a problem. And since we all have a system we should all be thinking about how to make our own better. Not so. There are many who don’t need to think about this at all. Their natural aptitude is either sufficient (as is the case with both Myke and Matt) or their ambitions aren’t all that lofty and they don’t require it. I envy the former and question the latter, but – much as I may envy them both – there’s nothing wrong with either one. If what you’re doing is working for you, if you’re able to achieve all that you set your mind to (ambitious or otherwise), you’d likely be wasting your time trying to figure out how to do even more.

You’re Making The Wrong Assertion

Framing the conversation as do you or don’t you have or need a system is the wrong way to look at things. It’s not an issue of the existence of the system, it’s a question of its effectiveness.

If you’re yet to really consider your system, don’t ask yourself if you need one. Don’t start by asking yourself something along the lines of “do I need to read Getting Things Done?” Instead, start by asking this: is how I’m working, working? If the answer is yes, great! Get back to work. If not, don’t worry, but start looking to understand the system you’re pretending not to use and then start figure out how to make it better.

You may not want to acknowledge or address your system (or as is the case with Myke and Matt, you may not need to), but this has nothing to do with its existence (for further proof, take a look at every bad habit you’ve been ignoring). If you start off by questioning if you need a system, you’re ignoring the fact that you already have one. 

Does This Even Matter? 

It’s easy to write this off as a semantic argument, but there’s a risk that comes along with pretending you don’t already have system. If and when you finally decide to improve the way you work, you’ll end up building upon a broken foundation. And when you start with a bad foundation, the “system” you choose will often do very little to actually improve your potential.

Do or do you not need a system is the wrong question, so stop asking it. Instead, consider the only thing that matters, is it or isn’t it working? If it is, why on earth are you still reading this? If it isn’t, there are plenty of sites, books, tips, tactics, apps and methodologies that can help you understand and improve that system you’ve been ignoring for far too long (this site is hopefully one of them, so be sure to subscribe for free by email or RSS).

You have a system. Just make sure you’re happy with it and then go make something amazing with it.

Filed Under: Productivity, Self-Improvement

Getting Back Into Gear

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 3 Comments

As I’m gearing back up from some downtime, I figured I’d share a few of the ways I get back into the swing. For some, getting back to work is a breeze. Solidifying broken habits is no worry. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I tend to be momentum driven and gaining momentum can take time. Here’s the process I often use to get things going after finding myself behind at work or at home.

Begin With A Review

Whenever I experience a significant break from my routine, I go into review mode. Even if it is mid-week, I go through the same process that I would during my weekly review (especially considering this is one of the first habits to go when things get dicey). This forces me to take a look at everything, get a feel for what’s missing and creates an opportunity to reassess what’s most important. It forces me to clear my desk and clear my head, both of which tend to be messy after a break.

Make A Plan

After I review, I’ll sit down and plan out the rest of my week. I don’t tend to do this normally. In most cases, I trust in my system to show me the information I need to plan my days. Normally I sit down at my desk each morning, take out one of David Seah’s Emergent Task Planners and use a combination of OmniFocus, my calendar and any notes on my desk to create a rough plan for the day. When getting back from a break in the routine, I trust my trusted system just a little less and want a bit more scaffolding. To achieve this, I plan my day, but go one step further. I don’t lay things out exactly, I just try to determine the “big rocks” for every day of that week. Even determining the projects I plan to work on each day can go a long way towards getting my mind back on doing a single task rather than obsessing over all the tasks I have to do..

Start Smart

There’s a temptation to go as hard as you can as long as you can until you’re caught up. Don’t you worry; plenty of hard work will go into getting back up to speed and back into a routine. It just won’t help you to hit the ground running, at least not right away. One of my favorite takeaways from Crossfit is the concept of a sprint start on an rowing machine. When you’re racing for time, you’re tempted to just start pulling as hard as you can to get going as fast as you can. As those who try this approach quickly learn, it isn’t an effective strategy. Instead you go through a progression of smaller strokes that get the flywheel going. By the time you’re ready for that first pull, things are already in motion. Taking the time to review and plan go a long way toward getting things going, but also give yourself a few lightweight manageable tasks to build some momentum up before you really start pulling.

Suck

Last but not least, be ready to suck and for things to suck for a little while. Having just gone back to the aforementioned Crossfit after a nearly two-week absence away, I can tell you that things were not fun and pretty. That said, had I waited any longer, they would only grow less fun and less pretty. I needed to get back in the swing of things and the only way to do that is by going through the motions. I had to get through the initial work before I could get back to doing my best work.

Yesterday wasn’t my best day at work, my best day of writing or my best day at the gym, but taking the time to clarify, structure and ease back into the work along with a willingness to suck at it is going a long way toward making today just a little bit better.

How do you go about getting back into gear when you lose your momentum? I’m still getting mine back, so all tricks and tips are welcome.

Filed Under: Productivity

An Unclear Kickoff

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Michael Schechter • 3 Comments

As an OmniFocus user, I’m always looking out for applications that can bridge the gap between my own task list and the work I do with others. This is especially true with my podcasting partner-in-crime, Mike Vardy. While I still hold out hope for a collaborative aspect to OmniFocus down the road, I needed a collaborative tool that would manage conversations and expectations but that still allowed me to do the heavy lifting on my own. In the past, I’ve experimented with Asana, but it always felt like I was managing two full-fledged task managers rather than a task manager and a collaboration manager. So I was excited when I first heard about Kickoff.

The early implementation of Kickoff seemed to meet my needs. It provided a lightweight environment for managing conversations and expectations. While it didn’t have everything I’d hope for, the execution was well done and the platform had promise. The beta was already mature enough to start using and, after seeing that Apple was featuring the app as an Editor’s Choice, I purchased both the Mac and iOS versions. Based on the early product and the prominent features, I was optimistic that it would continue to gain traction and features. 

Kickoff Featured on the Mac App Store

Except here’s the thing… it wont be gaining any new features. Despite not disclosing this on their site and in their description on the App Store, the team behind Kickoff was acquired by payment platform Stripe on March 11th. While they promise to maintain the app, they have no intention of adding new features. Of course I only realized this after spending my money on the app – and only discovered the acquisition news by accident.

Don’t get me wrong, purchasing an application is a risk. You should always assume that you will never see an update, that you’re only paying for what you initially get. Updates are gravy, not an expectation. That said, it seems dishonest that this isn’t being clearly and prominently disclosed. Yes, they are open about this on Twitter. Yes, the developer blogged about the acquisition, but the average customer will not discover this (hell, I’m a geek and I didn’t realize it).

Much as I’d like to think of this as an oversight, it seems the lack of a clear disclosure appears to be by design. It seems unlikely that Apple would be featuring the application so prominently. It’s also unlikely that people will be as excited by the app with the knowledge that it will not see any new features. While this is purely speculation, there seems to be only one logical reason not to share the good news on their website – it would limit sales. 

I don’t mind that I took a chance on an app that didn’t pan out. That happens. I do mind that it appears that the developer is limiting disclosure. More than anything this is meant to serve as a heads up to anyone who, like me, was optimistic about the potential of Kickoff but would be reticent in light of their acquisition. 

It’s also a question to developers out there: Is this even close to the right way to go about this? Acquisitions happen, but is this even close to how someone should go about handling the aftermath? People may have been frustrated when the popular iOS email client, Sparrow, was acquired, but at least they were clear about it. There’s a good chance that I’m just being entitled here, but this just seems…wrong.

Filed Under: Productivity