A "Not-To-Do" List

Busy professionals and academics often find solace and guidance in constructing "to-do" lists. However, it might be useful to think about a "not-to-do" list. On the Voir Dire Blog I have occasionally highlighted the blogging of Tim Ferris, author of The Four Hour Work Week. His book is somewhat controversial and he is as well. Regardles of how one views Ferris, I think that we can glean valuable insights from his blog postings. For instance, the 80/20 Pareto principle that he advocates (not his idea, he just promotes it) can be employed in analyzing the utility of many endeavors, both professionally and personally.

I list below the nine habits he suggests that we stop doing now. To read his rationales for these suggestions, you'll have to read his post. You may or may not agree with any one of these points, but I think that they provide some good food for thought.

1. Do not answer calls from unrecognized phone numbers

2. Do not e-mail first thing in the morning or last thing at night

3. Do not agree to meetings or calls with no clear agenda or end time

4. Do not let people ramble

5. Do not check e-mail constantly - "batch" and check at set times only

6. Do not 0ver-communicate with low-profit, high-maintenance customers (the 80/20 principle is discussed in this rationale)

7. Do not work more to fix overwhelm - prioritize

8. Do not carry a cellphone or Crackberry 24/7

9. Do not expect work to fill a void that non-work relationships and activities should

Comments

[Patrick S. O'Donnell]

1. I NEVER answer the phone unless I'm expecting a call at a particular time: my friends all know this so they leave a message and understand that if I'm not involved in something I'll pick up during the message or return their call when convenient.

2. I compose e-mails whenever I take a break from work.

3. I only attend condo. assoc. meetings and we always have an agenda.

4. I only let people ramble if I suspect they're in a fragile or vulnerable psychological state such that the rambling is cathartic or helpful to them.

5. I check e-mail if I'm at the computer reading blogs and the like. If I'm composing a document or reading an article or articles online I ignore e-mail.

6. N/A

7. ?

8. I don't own a cellphone or a Blackberry.

9. Easier said than done, but I'm working on it.

[Kathy Stanchi]

This is a genuine question: how do you stop people from rambling without being rude? This is why I love email -- if someone rambles on email, I can just read it later, or not at all. But rambling is tough for me, especially if the person (read: colleague or student) is in MY office. Somehow whenever I say I have to go, or give some excuse, people look miffed or hurt. Or they ignore me until I repeat it. Maybe it's my delivery?

I thank all the powers that be that there was no such thing as a Blackberry when I was engaged in the full time practice of law.

[Jeff Yates]

Kathy - Ferris elaborates on this point and gives practical advice in his post, so you might want to check that out - there's even more in his book on this - btw I am not paid by him in any way :-) I do think that Patrick has a good point on this, um, point - there's a time and a place when you should let people babble; it's fairly rare, but sometimes it happens.