World Sojourner : 3760

Last week or the week before one of the guys in my class sent an email around discussing the book, Getting Things Done.  His email was more concerned with finding tools for the Mac rather than actually discussing the book.  For some reason, I stopped what I was doing and started doing some research on the book which ended in about 20 minutes with me ordering it from Amazon.

The book summary is pretty simple.  The author, David Allen, walks the reader through an approach to managing information, projects and next actions for anything that is outstanding.  Wiki has a pretty good summary here.

The book arrived late last week and just reading the first chapter really struck a cord with me.  Allen discusses how most of us are really comfortable with our calendars because as a system it is complete.  We put meetings in there, events and moments in which our presence is needed.  Except for rare occurrences, like putting the wrong time in my calendar for a Class Gift meeting the process is pretty straight forward.

However, every other system for tracking our daily tasks, projects and actions isn’t complete.  He asks how many emails are in your inbox right now that need some type of action?  For me the number was around 120 with about 20 having something to do with current school projects and the other 100 mostly personal emails waiting, and waiting, and waiting to be replied to by yours truly.

I’m only part way through the system but a few additions to Outlook and GMail (GTDInbox plugin for Firefox) but find it is really helping me come to grips with all the things happening in my life including 3 big classes at school, preparing to move countries, organising my social time and business time and getting my emails under control. Chatter on the web says people who read this book become evangelists pretty quickly.  I understand why.

I think this concept (getting things done) weighs heavily on the minds of many people.  This isn’t rocket science, but I base most of my thoughts around people’s reaction to reading it.  For instance, riding on the tube a few days ago a person actually struck up a conversation about asking about the book.  Oddly, the only other book that had this reaction was one called Understanding Body Language in which I had a girl on an Indian train, second class accommodations, actually come up and ask to read it.  She borrowed the book for 20 minutes, read it intently, wrote the name down and gave it back.

I still haven’t finished the book (what if I don’t, irony huh?) but as of now I recommend it to anyone who feels overwhelmed by their current work load. 

 An interesting, and potentially helpful article in the Financial Times today, discusses the shift of power from New York City to London for the major investment banks. 

In need of a CEO for your investment bank?  Please go here: www.london.edu

Link to London’s rise concentrates minds in US: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Yesterday was a good day.  I woke up, had some coffee, went to school for a meeting then had lunch with Alissa.  From lunch, back to school to prep for a case discussion in NVD.  And, to conclude a good day, the case discussion yesterday was one of the best I’ve had at school.

So let’s go back to this lunch with Mrs. M.  It wasn’t just an ordinary lunch; nope not by a long shot.  Thanks to NVD from 6-9pm this lunch was to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary (for the record we’re going out to dinner tonight).  See, 4 years ago today I was, actually let’s be honest here, Alissa and her sister/mother were running around frantic preparing for the wedding ceremony.

I and the other family in town were happy enjoying coffee and breakfast during that same time.  Boys get the better deal on wedding days.  Assuming that ones hair is short and the tux fits it’s pretty straight forward.  Avoid the bride, stay sober, show up on time; answer all the questions ‘I do.’ Which, interestingly enough becomes a trend during the actual marriage.

Q: Want to help with the laundry?

A: uh, I do.

Q: Want to go to the store?

A: uh, I do.

Q: Want to have me answer the door in only a trench coat* fluffy hat?

for the non-married out there you get the idea. {*starting counter to see how long it takes for Mrs. M to check my blog and to receive a call, 4.15p }

The journey over the last four years has been great.  We enjoy spending time together and have very similar interests. 

However, and this has almost nothing to directly do with the marriage, the last four years haven’t been easy.  The move to England, working for HC, the MBA, my grandfather’s passing; all what one would call difficult situations.  Yet, Alissa has been there the entire way. She’s an extremely patient woman - especially with me.  Those who know me; know this has probably been the biggest reason we made it to the 4 year point.

I love her.  She loves me.  We’re a good pair; partners and friends.  The journey is just beginning with a move to the United States looming in our future.  Turbulence and change appear to be a constant in our lives and our next major task is to better learn how to handle all the changes; all the stress and become stronger.  It’s already happening.

So, we’re now on year 4, day 1 and the clock is ticking.  Both forward for our time together; and backward till a new chapter of our lives start.  The challenges never cease, only how we handle them and since we’re like peanut butter and jelly, things will be just fine.

Victory = Talent * # people * desire

I’m pleased to announce, thanks to a little insomnia and a scan of FaceBook that the London Business School retained the MBAT cup.

My questions have been answered.

Excellente!