A few exciting projects - Divided attention

Need to learn to complete one before jumping to another one

[Habtom]

I have a few projects I am working to be completed, well, whenever that is going to be. I start a project of my own with a burning desire to complete it soon, then some other equally bright idea comes in, ending up on working on that too. :)

How do you manage working on projects parallelely?

[Marshall]

I try to concentrate on one project at a time. If an idea pops into my head, I make a few quick notes, finish the project i am working on, then start a new one. This assumes the new one does not have a deadline earlier than the one I am working on.

Marshall

[Habtom]

Marshall - thanks for the idea and not keeping this thread orphan :)

For me, my recent discovery as why I keep projects started, yet going, but never got them finished was a big step forward. The last few days, I have been prioritizing the more important ones on top, and the less important or time consuming projects down on the list.

And, I felt quite a sense of control, my priorities are all the best now.

"the good is the enemy of the best" :)

Habtom

[bcc1234]

Check out David Allen's "Getting Things Done". It's an amazing course.

[Marshall]

Hey! I could not keep you hanging out there by yourself. But I know exactly what you mean about ideas and I REALLY hate it, especially when truly great idea pops into your head. It is even worse when you are working on something with a deadline. It is like having to eat a really bad dinner to get to the greatest desert.

Marshall

[Habtom]

bcc1234, the guy talks as if he has been watching me all the time.

Very relevant, thanks.

I read 4 of his free articles. He might be right on this one:
“Be steady and well-ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.”

[edited by: Habtom at 7:49 am (utc) on Oct. 1, 2007]