I’ve got an idea. How about instead of writing something on a “To Do” List, just do it and get it done. Then you don’t have to worry about it. Deal with things as they come instead of deflecting them until later. That seems much more productive than writing, organizing, shuffling, shuffling more, deciding something isn’t important, rearranging and more shuffling.

Much energy and motivation is lost in all those steps. Maybe it works for someone who has an overfilled lifestyle but it isn’t practical in my life. I keep a planner and that’s all. I get my stuff done when it needs to be done and if I can take care of something right now, I do.

This began as “one page” and became two — the second page is a “details” page for several items on page one. The two-pager first included personal objectives and then excluded them, mainly because I wanted to be able to share my two-pager with colleagues. (I review personal objectives in the same Sunday afternoon session, keeping and updating handwritten notes.)

For me the critical part is implementation or execution. With respect to each person with whom I interact (or wish to interact), I write down my next action step. I look at the two-pager daily and act on it throughout the day. Then I update it again, every fortnight.

David Allen is more focused than I am, but that does not discourage me because I find that this discipline that I have embraced is increasing. Like any other habit, the more I do it the more natural it seems — the more disciplined I become. I encourage my colleagues (and others) to try this approach, which works for me. It is a great way to organize a hectic life and in doing so make sure you achieve what you actually want to achieve.

In a variation of the old saw, I say, “Be careful what you set out to do. You might actually achieve it.”