What's the next action

Matt takes the red pill

05 02 07 - 21:38 - Bookmark this post

He's already a month forward in his business but I still want to congratulate Matthew Cornell on taking the leap. A while ago he emailed me saying...

I wanted to let you know that I've left my University job of 12 years to do workflow consulting. I read David Allen's book "Getting Things Done," which made a huge improvement in my life and lead to a crash-course studying modern productivity techniques. I then created my own seminars and started doing one-on-one consultations, with great feedback. So far I've been working in the Northeast with people from mid- to large-sized organizations, including senior staff and faculty at UMass, and the results have been exciting. I'm now getting requests from around the US, so it looks like it's time to expand.

He describes it on his own blog as "Taking the big leap", I would like to name it "Take the red pill" and see how The Matrix is. In his blogpost the reason why he's doing this is very clear

In my case, it's simply that I'm driven to do this - I feel I have no choice.

This is what happens when you get your mind clear. When you get the daily list of to do's out of your head and into a trusted system. Your mind gets free to think creatively. You don't have to worry about getting catfood, talking to Robert about the planning or calling Jim on those new bookshelves. You can decide to not think about those things and get your mind in other places. Like about what is really important to you, your family, your career, your life. It takes time to see that and appreciate that. I know. I sometimes have my moments when I just can relax and not worry too much about stuff going on in my life. But to see it all from a distance, as a whole, and look at it and see the pearls. See the rotten apples. See the points that need some clearification. This may sound like a very simple excercise but try it without wondering of to other commitments and projects screaming in your head to get done. It has a lot of subtleties to really see those important things. Now I know this sounds like Californian Naanaa-Noonoo stuff (blatantly stolen joke from The Dave) but trust me, once you get your stuff organized, not done! Organized, you will find a new freedom. Make sure you recognize and make the right decision. Just as Matt did.

Matt, all the way from the Netherlands, the best of luck with your new business as a workflow consultant and we will talk some more in the very near future!

Thanks so much, Frank. I think your analysis is spot-on, and points out the big picture with GTD – clearing the head of the incessant noise of life can foster big changes in perspective. I joke that the book ought to come with a warning label :-)
Matthew Cornell - 06 02 07 - 01:28