Session 3: Time

In 2003, Front Porch had rebooted a year earlier and we were starting to grow. My role in the company changed. I was responsible for two teams of people, I was hiring new people at the pace of about one per month. I was active in college ministry and our third daughter was born. Meanwhile, I found myself absolutely buried in tasks and especially in the UNDONE tasks.

I knew that I needed to change how I approached the things in my life and work that needed to be done if I was going to survive and if our company would have success. I participated in a two-day time management program called Mission Control and I read a book called Getting Things Done. This week I want to share with you the tools and mindsets from those programs without spending days and money!

My philosophy of time management is that it must create FREEDOM and not guilt or stress. We can never adapt any principal or tool that feels burdensome or adds guilt or shame to our lives. So, as you survey some tools, look for what might give you freedom and joy.

• Prepare for this by printing out this page and checking each box that applies to your life then considering these questions: - What is your "score" on the list? What does that suggest about the impact of communication channels and sources on our lives? - Use 2 highlighter colors and highlight the 3-5 most important channels and the 3-5 most distracting/stressful channels. Enter your answers here. 

  
  

• My summary of Mission Control Freedom (https://www.loom.com/share/615ba743b0a7417fa7ea1a26e6244493)

• Mission Control's Capture Tool Video: https://www.missioncontrol.com/capture_tool-preview/

• My summary of Tools 2-4 of Mission Control (https://www.loom.com/share/2f550d67bc7b46d48d96e5f5a388f54c)

• The Getting Things Done system is based on 43 folders (1 for each day of the month and 1 for each month). This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG0FU_M_YB8) describes how to use it. This system can be used with physical folders or digital folders on your computer.  Or try a digital version:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4bVaF1PY-c or Trello:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pqVe-FX0ks. (only watch what is interesting and helpful to you)

• Do you have a calendar or information management tool that you like, be prepared to share it with the group. I'll share my implementation of Mission Control.