Discussion Forum > Articles on the love of/futility of Lists
Thanks, Neil. Very interesting article.
I do however have a problem with the opening paragraph of the Forbes article:
"Do you really believe Steve Jobs kept a running task list and asked himself several times a day, “What’s my next action?”"
The reason why people in very high executive positions don't have to do this is because they have people to do the donkey work. If I want to fly to New York for a meeting I have to check my own visa, book my own hotel, order my own airline tickets, print out my own meeting notes, etc. I would imagine that if Steve Jobs wanted to to the same, he would have just told one of his aids to fix it.
The aid might need the running task list though.
I do however have a problem with the opening paragraph of the Forbes article:
"Do you really believe Steve Jobs kept a running task list and asked himself several times a day, “What’s my next action?”"
The reason why people in very high executive positions don't have to do this is because they have people to do the donkey work. If I want to fly to New York for a meeting I have to check my own visa, book my own hotel, order my own airline tickets, print out my own meeting notes, etc. I would imagine that if Steve Jobs wanted to to the same, he would have just told one of his aids to fix it.
The aid might need the running task list though.
February 27, 2016 at 11:29 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
"I do however have a problem with the opening paragraph of the Forbes article:
"Do you really believe Steve Jobs kept a running task list and asked himself several times a day, “What’s my next action?”"
Absolutely. It seems a bit of a disingenuous or even ignorant opening statement. Delegation is patently a key factor in many a magnate's success.
"Do you really believe Steve Jobs kept a running task list and asked himself several times a day, “What’s my next action?”"
Absolutely. It seems a bit of a disingenuous or even ignorant opening statement. Delegation is patently a key factor in many a magnate's success.
February 27, 2016 at 16:41 |
Neil Cumming
Neil Cumming
According to this article, Steve Jobs was a notorious micromanager and spent most of his work time reading and writing emails. http://allaboutstevejobs.com/persona/steveatwork.php
February 28, 2016 at 1:32 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Seraphim:
That's not quite what I get out of the article. He basically hived off all the normal functions of a CEO to other people so that he could directly manage the vision of the company. He could only do that if the donkey work was done by other people.
The opening remark of the Forbes article makes even less sense now!
That's not quite what I get out of the article. He basically hived off all the normal functions of a CEO to other people so that he could directly manage the vision of the company. He could only do that if the donkey work was done by other people.
The opening remark of the Forbes article makes even less sense now!
February 28, 2016 at 9:56 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/the-four-reasons-i-love-lists-even-if-they-make-me-inefficient-a6895771.html
...in reaction to a more comprehensive 'Forbes' article on the futility of long to-do lists, which echoes much of what Mark has been saying lately.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2016/02/17/your-to-do-list-where-important-things-go-to-die/#79ebbb009dd2