Comments on: Beyond Getting Things Done: Lateral Action

By: The Art of Non-Conformity: an Interview with Chris Guillebeau — CYBERZOO interactive

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:13:43 +0000

[...] the rest of you, I’d say it’s hard to think of anyone who embodies the principles of lateral action more than Chris. Read his book and you’ll discover how he managed [...]

By: Incendarius

Incendarius — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:03:16 +0000

Just a quick thought:

Wouldn’t
Creativity * Produvtivity = Success be a better analogy?

To me (rooted in a mathematical M.O.) this would
a) show the Synergy between productivity, freeing up time for creativity and creativity spend towards increasing productivity and
b) show that both depend on each other and a lack of one can’t be made up with “giving 200%”

hope i could made my intention clear, no native speaker.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:01:54 +0000

Thanks Marcy, yes sometimes its a lesson we learn the hard way. Hopefully not forgotten!

By: Marcy Gerena

Marcy Gerena — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:57:05 +0000

Mark,

Excellent article with resounding truths that made me take a step back and reflect.

If I work on what is closes to my heart, first, it will unleash creativity, passion, and nourish my soul. It is this time, I am in the zone.

In the past, when I operate in the zone, things get done. Lateral action occurs naturally. I have put other things in front of what is closes to my heart and the result is soul destroying.

Marcy

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:25:56 +0000

@Errol – “It’s not easy, but doable, as so many entrepreneurs have shown.”

Exactly. Yeats called it “the fascination of what’s difficult”.

By: Errol Moo Young

Errol Moo Young — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:51:03 +0000

I’m a late entry into the conversation.

Your quotes from Steven Covey and others, combined with your insights about squeezing time into moving the important, creative objectives forward, really resonated with me. So often, we’re bombarded with “urgent” messages on the phone, the “urgent” need to answer emails, IM, the need for “Instant” replies to the messages on the Blackberry, unnecessary meetings, power lunches, all take up valuable time. Valuable time that could be more usefully utilized for what we know to be important. Covey reminds about putting first things first. Only we can decide what’s first.

For me, it was painting and drawing. But once it’s decided, every effort, must be made to create the time for serious input in the #1 priority. I used to escape in a bookstore at lunchtime, work late at nights, sometime on long weekends. While at the same time, not forgetting family duties. It’s not easy, but doable, as so many entrepreneurs have shown. Thanks for the reminders. Errol.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:58:21 +0000

Duff — great to hear that, it’s what we’re here for!

By: Duff

Duff — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:36:25 +0000

Thank you for this article and this blog. It is sorely needed in the productivity/personal development online space.

You’ve inspired me to take on a personal project that has been bubbling. Thank you!

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:41:42 +0000

Thanks Francis, yes I don’t think creative work habits are very amenable to one size fits all solutions.

By: Francis Wade

Francis Wade — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:50:09 +0000

I read you book some time go and enjoyed it greatly.

I love to find people who are looking to provide these custom solutions because it helps to give people a great example of how they can think about their own time management system as something that they own and can customize.

I’ll mention your ebook on my site as an example of a custom time management system, and perhaps some more “creatives” will be inspired to be inventive in this area of their lives also.