@EMotivate: Great insight on the reference materials. My daily task list helps me think about what stuff I’ll need to get the job done, so I’ll pack or prepare those things. Then when I’m done, there’s not that “what am I doing now & how do I do it” lag that leads to Twitter and internet diversions.

I still use a day planner, but with my own, very simple forms. Basically just to-do lists, and a list of open projects. The real power of the system came from keeping REFERENCE material handy.

I think there’s lots of people who’d say “Keep them planners coming!”

Kelly

The scheduled events thing is something that used to trip me up, too – I’d assume that I could get just as much done that day without thinking about the fact that I’d be in meetings.

You’ve made this dreary morning a lot brighter. Thanks!

@Naomi: I think the launch date was perfect, for many of the reasons you specify. What I meant to say, in my email about the time, was that the people who would most benefit are probably not going to be able to attend, not necessarily that you should absolutely move it. Wimps generally are going to be at work, and they’re generally not going to have the gusto to sneak a call in, so they’ll find that a very easy way to bail and say why they couldn’t do it.

But I do get what you’re saying. Give me a shout on how the planners are working for you.

In other news, I just want to totally second your second point — about not trying to build something for everyone. Havi and I have been dealing with this recently with Self Promotion for Wimps.

Normally I’m totally fine with negative feedback. Hate me? That’s cool, you’re entitled. But this stuff has been getting on my nerves for some reason. We’ve been getting a lot of emails — I know you sent one too — saying that we should offer the course at night. I agree, sure. But why was it bothering me so much?

I finally realized that it was pissing me off because I knew I’d get just as many emails if we offered the course at night. From parents who have kids to look after, from people who work nights, from people who say, “I work all day, I don’t want to come home and have to do this!”

But customers can’t ever really know that they’re not your only target. They’re providing their own (very legitimate) feedback that says, X would work better for me. They don’t know that X sucks for a lot of other people. Same went for our release date. “Can you offer it in two months when I have more money?” Problem is, in two months everyone will be bitching that it’s too close to Christmas and they’re broke.

OK, now I’m just rambling.

My point is, you’re right. You can’t please everybody.

Naomi Dunfords last blog post..Fear, Failure, Opportunity, Success, and Po Bronson

The planners are a little intimidating, and no, my mind does not work that way, but the challenge has been good for me. I thought it was important to let you know that your explanation of the basics helped and that using the planners has made my seemingly endless list of things to do much less intimidating.