Yay! I just got my own iPad… and to be honest, it’s the most exciting piece of equipment I’ve bought for a while. I can see SO many amazing marketing opportunities using the iPad, and soon I’ll start creating some videos about that.
But for today, I want to just share a really cool iPad app I got shown by my friend James Schramko at Internet Marketing Speed. It’s called “Things” and it helps you be more organized.
Inside the video, I show you how I use it.
Let me know what you think ok?
Gideon Shalwick
Transcription Of Today’s Video
Click Here To Read The Transcript
Hello and welcome to this video. My name is Gideon Shalwick and inside this video I want to talk about productivity.
I’ve just recently started using a brand new tool to help me get things done. I’ve always admired people who get stuff done and so I’ve been studying it to the nth degree because I know that the faster you can get things done the more successful you will be in life (given that you’re going in the right direction).
There are some things that you can do to be really effective in the way you use your time. I’m going to show you something that I’m currently using with my new iPad that helps me get stuff done. If you don’t have an iPad it doesn’t matter because you can use a pen and paper to help you achieve the same thing.
Just this small thing that I do every single day helps me get things done really fast. In fact I probably get four or five times more things done than other people that I’ve seen just because I use this simple little system.
The way that it works is I divide all my tasks into different projects. For example, I’ve got four or five different projects running at the same time, some are small projects, some are bigger projects, but for each of those projects I have a separate set of tasks.
What I do for each of those projects is I prioritize each task in order from the most important to the least important. Once I have that list for each of my projects all I do every day is go through each of the different projects and select the tasks that need to get done for that day and then I focus on those tasks and make sure that is what I try and get done for the day.
Let me show you how that looks inside the application I use on the iPad which is the “things” application.
It’s just over here on my iPad. If I open it up and go to the projects view over here you’ll see that I’ve got a whole bunch of projects. For example lets have a look at the Free Magic Live project . You can see I have a bunch of different tasks that I’ve already entered and they’re in order of priority and some of them I’ve added to my today list. You can see they are the yellow ones. Then I do that for all of my projects. If you go to my “today” list you’ll see all of the different tasks from each of the projects that I want to get done for today.
All I do then is prioritize these tasks on my daily task list and start working from the top of the list and work my way down the list. It’s pretty straight forward. That’s essentially how I do it.
Now, you can do exactly the same thing with a pen and paper. If you have a little note pad like this one it’s really straight forward. What you need to do is use a new page for each new project. So write your tasks down for each project on a separate page, you might have four different projects. Write the tasks for each project on a different page and then every single day you use a new page for your daily tasks.
That’s the secret. You use your project pages as a collection device to collect all of the tasks you want to do for that project and then every single day you go through those different projects and grab the important tasks you want to get done for that particular day and write them on your daily task list. Then that daily task list is what you use for navigating for the day and keeping you focused. I normally have it right in front of me (it’s just one sheet of paper or in the case of the iPad I have it next to the computer) so that I can constantly see it and I’m constantly reminded of what I’m supposed to be working on. Which, if you’re working on the internet especially there are so many distractions and you’ve got to find a way to help you focus. This is a really good way of doing it.
So that’s it! That’s my system. Give it a go. See if it works for you. I’m sure you’ll have your own way of doing it, your own modifications, you may even have some ideas that I haven’t thought about. If you do, please leave a comment below the video and I look forward to interacting with you.
If you want to see more videos like this and also get a copy of my latest report for Rapid Video Blogging just go to my blog at www.gideonshalwick.com.
See you soon!
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Tagged as: ipad apps, ipad productivity tool
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
[..YouTube..] Cool stuff! But still expensive..
That’s a really nice method you got for staying productive. I’ve got my own system but that Things app looks very useful.
Can’t wait for the iPad to land up in these parts. A trip to London to grab one may be in the cards… or something.
There’s probably heaps of other ways of using the Things App – I’m sure my system is quite elementary compared to most people
So far the iPad is definitely worth it – had some doubts beforehand, but it really kicks ass.
Just keeping up to date with my YouTube subscriptions is already SO much easier. I think one of the best things of the iPad for me is it’s mobility. Like for example, if I get sick of sitting in front of the iMac, I just grab the iPad and go and play with it on the couch for a while.
Nice to give my desk chair a break from time to time
Talk soon!
Gideon
I don’t have one yet but this is what I will love about the iPad…
I now have a MAC and love it to death. By far the best investment I have made in my entire 22 years of existence.
But, I believe in the iPad and everything it has to offer. The portability is nice especially for short trips. If I am going to Chicago for the weekend to visit my bro and wish to work for an hour or 2 then I can simply bring the iPad which will take up less room and is simply easier to use.
Worth the cost but I also need to wait since I just bought my MAC
I am SO glad you have taken the plunge!
Not sure if I mentioned this to you, but when I switched from PC to Mac, my productivity went up about 10 times! For anything video related at least!
And for the iPad… even though it could be seen as a distraction, it’s actually helped me get focused a lot more in the last few days and I’ve been able to get quite a lot more done! So, it’s another “worth it” investment for me so far
All the best!
Gideon
Here is a tip for people who have too many items to start with (lets face it too long a list can be intimidating) to work out what is really important but also more urgent.
Make a post it note for each item:
- Stick them on the wall from left to right in order or IMPORTANCE. (Right being the most important).
- Whilst doing this place the most URGENT ones higher on the wall.
Now the items at the top right are the things you should be doing first.
Nice practical tip James – I wonder if there is an iPad app for that?
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/priority-matrix/id364906005?mt=8 looks similar
Nice – quite a lot cheaper though… hmmm
Cheers!
If you use Things the way I do for adding stacks of notes into the projects you might consider using basecamp with an outsource team and have them action the items.
Ah yeah great idea – I love Basecamp – I wonder if they have an iPad app – gonna look for it now…
Oh boo – basecamp is only on the iPhone still. Will just have to wait till it gets on iPad!
Cheers for the idea James!
Gideon
Here’s what my friend Dean Hunt told me, some sites work better straight in the browser with the iPad – you don’t need the app. Basecamp is brilliant on the ipad in safari. So is Facebook. Use bookmarks and you have a speedial !
[..YouTube..] I use SpiveyWorks Notes to keep notes that I can access from my phone, computer or an iPad. In today’s world, the information is what makes you productive and the different form-factors of the devices have to give you access to that information.
I just couldn’t take my eyes off that cute little pink gift basket in the background!
Hey Fran
Hehehe – yeah that was a gift from my parents for Lucy – cute teddy with some beautiful flowers!
I notice you’re giving your own blog a nice face lift – looking great so far!
You’ll meet Lucy soon
Gideon
Hello, Gideon,
The idea is really neat! Yes, there are too many distractions when online! I got your point. Thank you for sharing it!
James
[..YouTube..] Cool idea! I normally just write a “to do” list and have everything all mixed together with stars next to the important things. I don’t have an iPad but I’m gonna implement this on scratch paper.
[..YouTube..] If you have a spreadsheet program like Excel, you can do that with separate sheets too, and it’s very easy to copy/paste, and sort things by different priorities too.
[..YouTube..] OK, so essentially, the secret to get things done is a PLANNER?
[..YouTube..] If I can get even a smidgin of the success you have achieved online by copying this, it is done, lol, thanks for sharing Kathy
[..YouTube..] Gideon, I appreciate the fact that you give options. Instead of just promoting the high ticket item, iPad, you also promote the use of old-fashioned methods (note pads and pens), which are great for the individual with less cash flow.
[..YouTube..] Valuable information Gideon, thanks for sharing
Damayanthi
[..YouTube..] Hey Gideon, great tip aside from your pad and paper suggestion. Retranscribing list items is a wasteful activity. Unless you write something once, I always suggest to my clients they are better off using electronic means to manipulate data (just like your IPad app does). For your suggestion I have put together a simple Excel spreadsheet that your subscribers can download from Google Docs. I can’t post the link here, so anyone can send me a message my inbox to get access to it . Cheers, Patch
[..YouTube..] Thanks Gideon… going to get this app. Like you many projects on the go.
Cheers
[..YouTube..] Thanks Gideon! I would so agree there are soooo many distractions when you are working online! Thanks for the tip to keep me single eyed and steadily working on my passion!
[..YouTube..] Distractions are my main bug-a-boo. I always need something to keep me on task. Jotting down my tasks for the following day before bed usually helps. When I don’t have a list, I have no direction.
Excellent tips … Thanks for sharing and reinforcing a tactic that works well.
Best regards,
John Fisher
Portland, Oregon
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[..YouTube..] Hi Gideon, Amazing content. Very simple but powerful way of keeping yourself more focused. I love it!
Dr. Said
[..YouTube..] Great advice Gideon! I’m been trying to centralize all my todo’s that are starring at me with big buldgy eyes from my multi projects. No great success, so I’ll put your method to work as soon as tonight!
Thanks for the tip!
Janice
[..YouTube..] I am so impressed, my channel is morganslv I have not monetized my channel yet is there a chance to become an affiliate with your company I have brought a lot of business to some local company’s here but I am thinking much bigger. Please check out my channel and leave me your answer ! again I am so impressed !!!
[..YouTube..] That’s it! I have to download “Things” it seems that fits my system as well. I was using multiple notebooks over a single page. Looking forward to connecting in the near future.
i like the GTD metod alot, I usually used a system called Tracks which has a webinterface wich is nice and also allows for several users and project managers if you would like that. Its nothing super advanced (not like MS Projects gah!) it follows th ekeep it simple methodology. The best part is that there is a free iPhone/iPodTouch/iPad app for connecting to the server, downloading the days tasks and checking them off.
It made me much much more productive.
Though now that Google has added a taskts function in their groupware suit of gmail/docs/calendar I imagine that it is even more powerfull. Goolge is really cool that way, they do things similare to apple making you more productive and making easy to use services.
Though the best investment I have ever made must be my iPhone. Suer iPad is a great thing, but the iPhone is a life changer. I cant imagin my life with out it.
I check the google analytics on my iPhone, something you could look into. THere are a few free apps that are pretty decent with paid version that are awesome as a compliment to your analytics account.
great for spotting conversion ratios.