In David Allen’s book Getting Things Done, he explains the “Natural Planning Techniques” as having five distinct phases. These phases are both necessary and are part of everyone’s decision making process in some shape or fashion.

These five phases are: purpose, principals, vision/outcome, brainstorming, and organizing. As I have said many times before, I believe one of the keys in the decision process is defining purpose, or asking “why?” David goes on to say:

 

Here are just some of the benefits of asking “why?”:

• It defines success.
• It creates decision-making criteria.
• It aligns resources.
• It motivates.
• It clarifies focus.
• It expands options.

David believes that everyone wants to win. While I believe this to be generally true, I believe there is a much more fundamental reason: I believe everyone wants to know “why?”:

• Why do I need to write this new syllabus?
• Why do I need to spend time doing the dishes?
• Why am I here and why do I exist - what is my purpose?

In other words, we seek validation - validation for many things, be it something simple like, ”Am I doing a good job on a new project I’m working on?”, or something more complex such as, “Am I being the best father I can be?”

While there are many sources we look towards for validation, and each of us focuses in differing levels of consciousness on the “why” question, fundamentally we all want to know why we are doing something or why we should do something - but for some reason it doesn’t always make itself clear to us.

But is “why” good enough?

Sure you are getting data by asking why, but are you gaining actionable intelligence? The information is now in your hands to assimilate and apply. In other words, the application of your gathered information directed towards a desired outcome is required for success - required to win.

That means you not only have to know how to ask “why” questions, but why you need to ask why. You see my friends, “why” questions can help you uncover your purpose, but asking why is academic unless you are willing to trade fanciful philosophy sessions for rubber-meets-the-road execution.

Those who want to know “why” want to win. In defining purpose, we awaken to realize we are standing on a very dangerous precipice - between action and inaction; and there is a choice to be made. Should we falter in not taking action, we will most assuredly fall into the category of the loser. Asking “why” does not dictate successful outcomes but I believe David Allen said it best:

People love to win. If you’re not totally clear about the purpose of what you’re doing, you have no chance of winning.

Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.

Zanshin is a Japanese term referring to a state of relaxed alertness and awareness. In Aikido, we practice this constantly - how to clear your mind, not to anticipate, react to the action at hand - no more and no less.

David Allen has this to say in his book Getting Things Done (link in the sidebar):

Imagine throwing a pebble into a still pond. How does the water respond? The answer is, totally appropriately to the force and mass of the input; then it returns to calm. It doesn’t overreact or underreact.

… The power in a … punch comes from speed, not muscle; it comes from a focused “pop” at the end of the whip… a tense muscle is a slow one. So the high levels of training in the martial arts teach and demand balance and relaxation as much as anything else. Clearing the mind and being flexible are the key.

Anything that causes you to overreact or underreact can control you, and often does.

Imagine finding a constant state of Zanshin. Is that even possible?

I for one don’t know yet if that is possible. However, I must remember it is a path to be walked not a destination in which we arrive.

What would be the goal of this you say?

Well, imagine if you will being able to slip into a highly productive state at will. For those that care about being productive, this would be a definite must have, right?

The danger I would surmise most of us “Type-A’s” have would be in the simple fact that we allow our life to become unbalanced. I allow work to flood into my life because I work in a profession, job, company, and role I truly love. However, by letting it become all-consuming, I risk polluting my “mind of water” and I can actually feel the physical and mental drain this begins to cause; I can feel the creep towards burn-out.

The other thing I have begun to realize is that I have allowed my physical well-being to slip. I eat what I want, not what I should; I do not exercice on a regular schedule outside of Aikido, lowering my endurance - both mentally and physically. I do not take enough time for spiritual enrichment. I do not take enough time for family and friends.

The sad thing is that I can rationalize just about any of this: Oh, there’s too much work to do to allow for the other things, just this one project needs to be done, If I only had 1 more hour in the day. But the truth is, as you all know, there is always something waiting around the corner for us productive people and there is never enough time in the day.

And as I step back and re-evaluate my tactical objectives in relation to my life goals, I realize I have taken a detour once again.

So remember: relax but do not become complacement, seek to clear your mind of clutter, and maintain balance in mind, body, and spirit.

Another great link is over at Zen Habits.

David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, has become quite legendary in technology circles as almost a de facto bible of “how-to’s” on being productive and organized.

I have picked this book up for the second time because my life needs another injection of organization - and SANITY…

I have added the link in my sidebar, for those of you interested in what I’m presently reading.

It has been about 2 years since I read the book, and ironically I never finished the book. It’s OK, you can chuckle now.

I got to the last section of the book and stopped. I was supposed to “git ‘r dun” but I realized I had to work on some fundamentals recommended in part 1 and 2 before I could really take on the final section.

So, I embark upon a bold new journey - not to follow this as a religion, but to pick-up just another few tips to help me stay sane and hopefully stay nimble in my responsiveness.

I must confess, I am already encouraged; as I was reading the introduction, David confessed this book was the culmination of 20 years worth of trial and error, and scientific study “in the trenches”. That tells me learning these tips and tricks is not magic. They do take some training and dedication.

Well, I’m off. Wish me luck, and I do encourage you to pick-up a copy and give it a read. It has some really wonderful ideas.

For those of you who are interested as well, David Allen has just released the sequel to this book, Making It All Work. I’m putting the link in ”My Amazon Picks in the sidebar.

Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.