1. Resistance is futile....

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by James Kendrick

2. I can't say I'm sold by all the hype on the moleskin. While I would say that taking notes on paper is many times easier (and more accepted in meetings for example), to go back to using paper for more than quick note taking or some quick brainstorming seems to be a step backwards to recapture some nostalgia of paper based notebooks.

One of the things most organizing experts preach is to keep it simple, and if I have to start tracking things in a paper based notebook plus my computer that to me just seems to add more complication life. And I've gotten too much value out of having things on the computer to be able to easily search items, sort, prioritize, create links and easily find information. To read Omar's post about keeping his personal GTD items in the moleskin and business on the computer, seem counterproductive. And if you are worried about privacy, there are many more options for securing data on a computer than on a paper notebook which anyone can pick up and read unless is it locked in a drawer (which of course is counter to having it available all the time). And between my notebook PC and my Treo I always have my digital info with me.

Just some food for thought:)

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Greg

3. Greg:

You make some good arguments but ultimately I think you may be missing the point. If the object of the exercise is to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency in and of itself, what you say is inarguable. There is no way you can compare the efficiencies of an always synchronized PDA/phone like your Treo and a powerful tool like a current notebook PC with a paper journal from the perspective of efficiency - whether you're talking about filing, retrieving, or capturing).

But if you read what Omar, Mike, Merlin, and others are saying, that's not the ultimate goal of the exercise. Understand that you're talking about people who have already made a huge investment of time and energy to create order out of chaos. They have a solid handle on their workflow and are now looking for ways to transcend the merely productive and get back in touch with something beyond that.

I know that sounds awfully lofty but I have found myself getting really frustrated at the pedantic arguments in some communities I regularly visit about the intricacies of which labeling schema offers an additional 2% improvement in filing efficiencies. Anything can be taken to an extreme and when it is, almost without exception, a degree of artfulness is lost.

One of the real attractions GTD has always had for me is that is inherently not proscriptive in nature - David Allen does not say "you must do it this way or you're doing it wrong". The method is a means to an end, not an end unto itself. The real goal (for me anyway) is to achieve that elusive "mind like water" state and if the ultimate degree of efficiency is sacrificed to that higher ambition - so be it.

I've really come to dislike the restrictions a PDA places on me and I personally find the Treo to be an awful device from an ergonomics perspective. The trade-offs it requires are unacceptable to me. And I hate cell phones - always have. I think they breed boorish behavior and are entirely too invasive. I've designed my work and my personal life so that a cheap pre-paid phone is all I need. That's what works for me.

Yes, I still use a PDA but almost entirely as a reference tool and an entertainment device. I don't want to enter information into a PDA - ti's cumbersome and inefficient. I much prefer scribbling and sketching in a journal when I'm interacting with other people and then I transfer what's actionable into my Tablet PC.

Is that less efficient? Almost certainly. Does it add a huge additional burden of time on my day - not really. It actually gives me the opportunity to review what I've written down, reflect on it for a moment or two, and them make a considered decision about whether I need to add it to my actionable (or someday) list or just keep it, permanently, on paper.

For the same reason, I'm completely hooked on the Tablet PC. And endlessly intrigued by how I can use mind maps instead of plain text to help visualize and organize my thoughts and projects.

So, while it would be futile to argue that there is currently a fair amount of Moleskine hype, it's not like that's a new thing in this techie world we occupy. The same thing happened a few years back with a resurgence in interest in the Franklin Covey Planner (this time with a holder for PDA. Levenger's Circa binders have a serious cult of fans. The Time Design system (and more recently the PlannerPad line) are a current buzz trend in the GTD community.

Ultimately, you should go with what works best for you.

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant

4. Actually, I don't think we are far apart on this one. I'm with you 100% on the fact of too many efficencies creeping into everything, including our personal lives. It definitely helps to take a step back sometimes and look at things in a different way.

All I'm saying is that if you start mixing paper and computer planning/reference systems, it has the opposite effect in my case of creating more stress and confusion. And yes GTD and others don't mandate specific tools for planning but most seem to agree that you should use one or the other as your main planning so things are in one place when you need them. I'm not against using paper and pen, and in fact, I work similarly to you in that I will often take notes on paper and transfer key items, next actions, etc. into my computer. The key here is that it ends up in one place which then synchs to my Treo. The Treo is OK for short notes in hurry, but not for extensive note taking. Long note taking is either on my laptop or paper (although if I had a tablet PC, that might tempt me to go all-electronic). However when it comes to planning, organizing and reference it is all in one system and available on my PC or the Treo when I need it.

To take it a step further, if some folks like pen and paper, then I say go for it and use it for all your planning and reference. At least you've got ONE system. For me I couldn't give extra capabilities I get from electronic planning.

Hope that clarifies things:)

Cheers,
Greg

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Greg

5. Also, one further clarification (so as not appear schizophrenic here) on my original post: When I stated that I would only use paper for "quick notetaking", I meant that as being able to "quickly" take notes when a laptop or desktop is not available or practical vs. taking "short" notes as I might do on my Treo sometimes.

Greg

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Greg

6. I personally think any geek caught using a Moleskin should be put on trial by the geek tribunal as traitors to the cause and executed at dawn. Betrayers of the faith! Next you'll be telling us that those abacus things are really quite neat.

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Cameron Reilly

7. Cam:

Nah! The abacus makes too much noise mate ;^)

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant

8. I have been using one of the small pocket sized ones for my travel information for years. The night before a trip it is a ritual of sorts to write my flight info, rental car, hotel and client information on a new page. Then the pocket in back is where my reciepts are held until I get back and do my expense report.
Great Stuff!

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Brian Kennemer

9. I was introduced to Moleskines by a crusty retired English professor who has been using them for years.
We thought we were being delightfully archaic, as befits or receding hairlines and expanding waistlines.
I am horrified to find that we are now trendy.
Next I suppose you young pups will start bidding up the price of vintage Esterbrook pens on eBay!

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Tom

10. Resistance is futile....

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by James Kendrick

11. I can't say I'm sold by all the hype on the moleskin. While I would say that taking notes on paper is many times easier (and more accepted in meetings for example), to go back to using paper for more than quick note taking or some quick brainstorming seems to be a step backwards to recapture some nostalgia of paper based notebooks.

One of the things most organizing experts preach is to keep it simple, and if I have to start tracking things in a paper based notebook plus my computer that to me just seems to add more complication life. And I've gotten too much value out of having things on the computer to be able to easily search items, sort, prioritize, create links and easily find information. To read Omar's post about keeping his personal GTD items in the moleskin and business on the computer, seem counterproductive. And if you are worried about privacy, there are many more options for securing data on a computer than on a paper notebook which anyone can pick up and read unless is it locked in a drawer (which of course is counter to having it available all the time). And between my notebook PC and my Treo I always have my digital info with me.

Just some food for thought:)

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Greg

12. Greg:

You make some good arguments but ultimately I think you may be missing the point. If the object of the exercise is to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency in and of itself, what you say is inarguable. There is no way you can compare the efficiencies of an always synchronized PDA/phone like your Treo and a powerful tool like a current notebook PC with a paper journal from the perspective of efficiency - whether you're talking about filing, retrieving, or capturing).

But if you read what Omar, Mike, Merlin, and others are saying, that's not the ultimate goal of the exercise. Understand that you're talking about people who have already made a huge investment of time and energy to create order out of chaos. They have a solid handle on their workflow and are now looking for ways to transcend the merely productive and get back in touch with something beyond that.

I know that sounds awfully lofty but I have found myself getting really frustrated at the pedantic arguments in some communities I regularly visit about the intricacies of which labeling schema offers an additional 2% improvement in filing efficiencies. Anything can be taken to an extreme and when it is, almost without exception, a degree of artfulness is lost.

One of the real attractions GTD has always had for me is that is inherently not proscriptive in nature - David Allen does not say "you must do it this way or you're doing it wrong". The method is a means to an end, not an end unto itself. The real goal (for me anyway) is to achieve that elusive "mind like water" state and if the ultimate degree of efficiency is sacrificed to that higher ambition - so be it.

I've really come to dislike the restrictions a PDA places on me and I personally find the Treo to be an awful device from an ergonomics perspective. The trade-offs it requires are unacceptable to me. And I hate cell phones - always have. I think they breed boorish behavior and are entirely too invasive. I've designed my work and my personal life so that a cheap pre-paid phone is all I need. That's what works for me.

Yes, I still use a PDA but almost entirely as a reference tool and an entertainment device. I don't want to enter information into a PDA - ti's cumbersome and inefficient. I much prefer scribbling and sketching in a journal when I'm interacting with other people and then I transfer what's actionable into my Tablet PC.

Is that less efficient? Almost certainly. Does it add a huge additional burden of time on my day - not really. It actually gives me the opportunity to review what I've written down, reflect on it for a moment or two, and them make a considered decision about whether I need to add it to my actionable (or someday) list or just keep it, permanently, on paper.

For the same reason, I'm completely hooked on the Tablet PC. And endlessly intrigued by how I can use mind maps instead of plain text to help visualize and organize my thoughts and projects.

So, while it would be futile to argue that there is currently a fair amount of Moleskine hype, it's not like that's a new thing in this techie world we occupy. The same thing happened a few years back with a resurgence in interest in the Franklin Covey Planner (this time with a holder for PDA. Levenger's Circa binders have a serious cult of fans. The Time Design system (and more recently the PlannerPad line) are a current buzz trend in the GTD community.

Ultimately, you should go with what works best for you.

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant

13. Actually, I don't think we are far apart on this one. I'm with you 100% on the fact of too many efficencies creeping into everything, including our personal lives. It definitely helps to take a step back sometimes and look at things in a different way.

All I'm saying is that if you start mixing paper and computer planning/reference systems, it has the opposite effect in my case of creating more stress and confusion. And yes GTD and others don't mandate specific tools for planning but most seem to agree that you should use one or the other as your main planning so things are in one place when you need them. I'm not against using paper and pen, and in fact, I work similarly to you in that I will often take notes on paper and transfer key items, next actions, etc. into my computer. The key here is that it ends up in one place which then synchs to my Treo. The Treo is OK for short notes in hurry, but not for extensive note taking. Long note taking is either on my laptop or paper (although if I had a tablet PC, that might tempt me to go all-electronic). However when it comes to planning, organizing and reference it is all in one system and available on my PC or the Treo when I need it.

To take it a step further, if some folks like pen and paper, then I say go for it and use it for all your planning and reference. At least you've got ONE system. For me I couldn't give extra capabilities I get from electronic planning.

Hope that clarifies things:)

Cheers,
Greg

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Greg

14. Also, one further clarification (so as not appear schizophrenic here) on my original post: When I stated that I would only use paper for "quick notetaking", I meant that as being able to "quickly" take notes when a laptop or desktop is not available or practical vs. taking "short" notes as I might do on my Treo sometimes.

Greg

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Greg

15. I personally think any geek caught using a Moleskin should be put on trial by the geek tribunal as traitors to the cause and executed at dawn. Betrayers of the faith! Next you'll be telling us that those abacus things are really quite neat.

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Cameron Reilly

16. Cam:

Nah! The abacus makes too much noise mate ;^)

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Marc Orchant

17. I have been using one of the small pocket sized ones for my travel information for years. The night before a trip it is a ritual of sorts to write my flight info, rental car, hotel and client information on a new page. Then the pocket in back is where my reciepts are held until I get back and do my expense report.
Great Stuff!

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Brian Kennemer

18. I was introduced to Moleskines by a crusty retired English professor who has been using them for years.
We thought we were being delightfully archaic, as befits or receding hairlines and expanding waistlines.
I am horrified to find that we are now trendy.
Next I suppose you young pups will start bidding up the price of vintage Esterbrook pens on eBay!

Posted at 6:20AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Tom