Importance of Realistic Expectations
Stephen Covey observed that many people seek a "Magic
Tool" which they hope will magically, effortlessly, get them
organized. But in reality it's not that simple: In addition to
choosing the right tool and using it properly, we must manage
paper and phone calls, set priorities, deal with crises, juggle
multiple projects, and plan for the future. Many people have a
To-Do list dozens of items long, including tasks that have been
waiting for months. Is such a list more effective just because
it's "in the computer"? Obviously not!
Choose Carefully, Then Learn to Use It
Don't get me wrong -- I'm no Luddite. I love computers. I'm
totally dependent on my contact management and scheduling
software -- it literally saves me hours each week. (In case
you're curious, I use Goldmine). Yet few people seem to get the
full benefit of the technology they’re using. For some
users, these products even waste as much time as they save --
although the victim is too close to the situation to see it.
Perhaps they never really learned to use it, so they're only
using a fraction of its potential. Or they're using the wrong
software for their needs. Many people even use two or three
software packages that do basically the same thing -- so the time
wasted switching back and forth (not to mention the confusion
that results!) outweighs any benefits. Last but not least is a
problem that’s completely self-inflicted and easy to
prevent – I refer to data loss due to failure to back up
your data and guard against battery failure.
It's Still Up To You
Truth is, calling such software or handheld computers
"organizers" is a misnomer. They're really just places
to store information. In themselves, they do not organize
anything. WE do --through a comprehensive system of time, paper,
task, and information management. So, if you're tempted to buy an
electronic "Magic Tool," choose very carefully. Then,
once you've bought it, take the time to find out all it can do --
and then use it to the max!
