I have been working hard on learning and developing the skills and mindset for Getting Things Done since January of this year. At times progress has been slow, at others, I have cranked an impressive number of widgets. This week’s Weekly Review was the most streamlined and efficient one yet, which is saying something, as I used to get tired of it after about three hours of slogging through my different inputs and sorting the contexts. Now it is down to an hour or so, with some time left for creative thinking.

Feet on the ground, Head in the clouds

Since the end of the month and the end of the Quarter are approaching, I spent my creative thinking time at the 50,000 foot level. In fact I have been preparing for the Quarterly Review since last week, to get the greatest benefit from this higher-level thinking tool. The less-frequent evaluation of your long-term goals is where you are able to see the “Bigger Picture”. This is where you do the Life-purpose thinking that David Allen discusses at the end of chapter 8 of Getting Things Done. Allen specifically says that the focus of his book is on the lowest levels of organization - the “Runway” to “20,000 feet”, which should give you better time management results and the motivation and energy to think about larger life goals. Making your life more fulfilling is the implicit purpose of Getting Things Done.

Principles and Practices

In Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.) there is a chapter entitled Keep Asking Yourself, “What’s Really Important”

“Reminding myself of what’s really important helps me keep my priorities straight…despite my multitude of responsibilities, I have a choice of what is most important in my life and where I put my greatest amount of energy…

…I find that I’m more present-moment oriented, in less of a hurry, and that being right loses its appeal.”

Taking the time to evaluate your Principles, and review how they support your purpose is the investment that pays off in a stress-free and fulfilling life. Stephen Covey discusses principles in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: (selected quotes)

“Natural laws that govern human effectiveness…Examples of these are Fairness, Integrity, Honesty, Patience - deep, fundamental truths that have universal application.”

Principles are not practices, principles are the unchanging foundation of your practices. There are many specific activities that we do as a matter of course where the basis is standing on a principle, but the actual steps may vary due to circumstances and conditions. Some additional principles will be specific to your own situation, i.e. a restricted diet for health or religious reasons. Your principles will be ultimately self-defined, and will influence the practices that lead you to fulfill your purpose.

What is your Life’s Purpose

I am about to share with you the answer to your deepest desires, the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything.*

42

You didn’t really think that it was going to be that easy did you? Discovering your life’s purpose is the highest level of thinking that you can do. “42″ notwithstanding, here are some resources that may be helpful in working it out:(in no particular order)

• Goal Setting Tutorial - by Ellesse
• The Meaning of Life - by Steve Pavlina
• The Purpose Driven Life - by Rick Warren
• Goal Setting Guide -by Agent Sully
• Goal Setting - by Gene Donahue
• Goal Setting at Black Belt Productivity
• 100 Day Challenge at Personal Strategic Plan
• Success is Never an Accident at How to Be an Original

I will be using all of these resources this weekend as I do the most complete Review to date. Next week I will have a couple of posts detailing how it turned out, and where I am heading. Good luck with your own Goal Setting, and I welcome any additional tips or links in the Comments.