August 8, 2011

In the August edition of Randy Ingermanson’s free (wonderfully  helpful) newsletter, there was a link to a free e-book describing a new time management system Randy is using. (For back issues of Randy’s newsletter, go here.)

 Since “free” is one of my favorite words, and I’m always looking for ways to manage my time better, I downloaded it to skim.

Hooked!

Skimming quickly turned to reading carefully, and soon I’d read the whole 57-page e-book by Jim Stone called Clear Mind, Effective Action. It deals with the subject of “fractal planning.” Fractal has to do with breaking something large into smaller parts. (You can get the free e-book here.)

In some ways fractal planning is unique, and some parts are a combination of the best time management ideas from the past twenty years.

In the free e-book, the author explains how to implement his system on your own (on paper or spreadsheet or Word document), if you don’t want to subscribe to his service. (I’m using a Word doc–for now–to see how it goes. I have to admit that–so far–it has boosted my productivity and ability to focus significantly.) If you’d like to go directly to the Fractal Planner page and check out the features, you can do that here.

If you try the fractal planner or read the e-book, let me know. I’d like to hear about your experiences–plus or minus–if you try it out.

9 Comments »

1. 

   I just ordered the free e-book and signed up for Randy’s newsletter. Thanks! I read a couple of archived issues and they were very helpful (esp one about handling email – an article of Mary DeMuth’s he reposted).

   I just started reading Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog” (or some title like that) about managing ourselves and time. Short, easy-to-read, inspiring chapters. It has helped me.

   wb

   Comment by Warren Baldwin — August 12, 2011 @ 10:39 am

2. 

   Warren, I’m glad you found Randy’s newsletters. They are some of the best ones I’ve ever read. I read Mary’s article too and put her tips on my fractal planning list. I have gotten my 3,500+ emails down to 84! And I unsubscribed from 40+ newsletters (not Randy’s)—and now I don’t dread opening my email. I have that “eat the frog” book somewhere too. Tracy has quite a few good things available on that topic. Inch by inch by inch…

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 12, 2011 @ 11:19 am

3. 

   I enjoyed the e-book, “Clear Mind, Effective Action.” It is enlightening to realize procrastination is often a result of failing to see the big picture. I will now consider how my current projects may or may not fit into my whole-life plan. I think it will help to identify points of conflict. Then, I can either discard the idea or break it down into smaller pieces.

   Comment by Deanna — August 12, 2011 @ 12:54 pm

4. 

   Deanna, I was also surprised by that realization. There were a couple of paying projects I needed to do, but was procrastinating on, until I read the ebook and remembered that these projects were supporting something else I wanted to do very much that is a high priority to me—but costs money. Now I can tackle the work a bit every day and see it as a step forward on this other goal.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 12, 2011 @ 4:19 pm

5. 

   Hello,
   I have just finished reading the clear mind ebook and thought I’d share. I think the idea has great potential, it has a more organized structure than I use but I could very easily put all my tasks together with his method. I had a very similar task list program for my palm but when I combined my mobile devices to a blackberry I could not find a similar software
   That said I also didn’t really know how to set-it up again without the software, now I do and i can use the software on my bberry.
   I plan to give this method a test-run. Will let you know how it goes.
   Cheers

   Comment by Ally M — August 13, 2011 @ 9:24 pm

6. 

   Ally, you’ll have to report back. I’d be interested to hear how you higher-tech people find this system. I hope the creator brings out software I can just buy and install on my computer that doesn’t connect to the Internet. That’s the one I use for writing mostly, and I just don’t WANT to be connected or hear beeps and be tempted to get on FB and look at my grandkids’ newest pictures ten times a day.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 15, 2011 @ 6:20 am

7. 

   Hi,
   Here is a short reply about fractal thinking. (Will provide another one next week)
   I’ve been thinking about fractal organization & utilizing the concept this week & I’ve found that it does help. I’ve been very productive this week. I am still setting up my Excel workbook – have only added my work related “fractals” right now & I think I’m going to stick with it.

   I’ve also realized that my husband already thinks this way… this organization process explains his thinking almost perfectly.
   I like that I now have a better insight into how my husband thinks & can better work with him instead of against him.

   Cheers Ally

   Comment by Ally M — August 17, 2011 @ 11:27 am

8. 

   Hello,

   Here’s another update: Still using the fractals to organize my life & it does seem less cluttered. the only down fall is when I get “over-stressed” even stepping back to look at the bigger picture seems daunting, I’ll have to find a way to work through that.

   Using Excel is great, I can add & delete lines as I need to under many different headings and I can do this on my Bberry which is great. I can’t imagine how you would do this on paper… a complete notebook with tabs maybe?

   Definitely an eye opener on how to use the potential you already have to be more effective and efficient…
   
   Cheers

   Comment by Ally M — August 25, 2011 @ 11:29 pm

9. 

   Ally, thank you for the updates! I am still using mine too–as a Word doc. I wish there was a paper way that would work, but it sounds way too complicated. I do know that I’m getting more done now, and I’m finally tackling some marketing projects that I have put off for way too long. I am still lousy at Excel–probably because I don’t use it often enough to remember how to do such simple things!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — August 26, 2011 @ 10:00 am

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