Get Everything Done

I'd love to read Kathy's suggestion of the explanations behind AF but I'd also like to see different case studies on how to apply AF to different situations, eg:
- project managers lots of hard deadlines
- home makers
- students
- work at homers
- combinations of the above
- different types of professions
- people with little discretionary time

Even though I've been given the rules of AF for free, I'd happily pay for a book that discussed it in more detail and gave a summary of the questions raised in the discussion forum with your own take on the answers.

As a college student, I think one business opportunity for you would be selling a pamphlet in college bookstores. If you can make it slim (perhaps bundled with a Moleskine or other notebook) and cheap, and title it something snappy (Autofocus is snappy, but college students will respond well to titles involving their grades), I think it would sell well. Alternatively, you might consider podcasting, and selling a 15 or 30 second ad at the beginning of that podcast. It would be informative, easy, and straight profit (outside your time).

One other option is to license a website devoted to Autofocus. I would encourage you to make it a full-blown website, not just an app-- you should certainly have an app attached, but I think it is key that people be able to access it from their desk as well as their phone. Even if you charge $5/year (or a similarly reasonable amount) plus a few dollars for the app itself, you'll pull in some money. Perhaps shift these forums to that website and build it up as a community, while enjoying the profit.

I agree with the ebook folks, but I think a tangible slim volume sold on a college/university campus would sell rapidly.

Catherine CS's post made me think of the Open Source model. There are many companies, some of them very large, that make their living providing support for Open Source systems. The software itself is free -- the expertise is not.

O'Reilly (the publisher of so many excellent technical books) publishes many books on Open Source systems and software. For example, their series of books on the Perl programming language includes titles such as:
* Learning Perl - beginning code and exercises to learn main concepts
* Programming Perl - their main reference book on the language
* Perl Cookbook - example programs of all shapes and sizes
* Perl Best Practices
* Mastering Perl
* Perl Hacks

I'm imaging a parallel approach -- the basic AF methodology is free (and already available at this website). But then you could create and sell an ebook, maybe 20-30 pages, called "Learning Autofocus", where you provide the system, but with a bit more explanation and a few more examples. I see ebooks all the time like this, selling for about $10 US. E.g., http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/

An "Autofocus Cookbook" could have the kind of material that CatherineCS describes in her post: examples of how Autofocus could be applied in many different life and work situations. Each chapter could be a "day in the life of ...", and then tell the story of how a particular kind of person has found Autofocus to be useful.

Mark wouldn't even need to write all these himself. He could start a free, open Wiki, where all kinds of people could contribute their examples. (E.g., http://pbwiki.com/). Mark could then assemble the most interesting / illustrative examples into a book (ebook or traditional book), of which he would be the editor-in-chief.

(Mark, I'd be happy to start a Wiki like that, if you want -- we could link to it from the Yahoo Group that Mel started.)

The other Perl book titles suggest their own Autofocus parallels.

Even the Perl.org website suggests a possible Autofocus parallel.

FWIW, YMMV, etc.

I would start by putting a Donation button on this page. The other thing is I would look at how David Allen and others have turned their systems into great business ventures. The thing with GTD is that it's a bit like reading a philosopher who makes just enough sense that you think that if you just buy this book or the cd you will get the rest. It has an elusive quality that lends itself to further marketing opportunities. But I would take a look at how these folks manage to take a rather simple concept and turn it in to an empire. I personally think your system works, and his doesn't, at least for me. Although I did learn a lot from what didn't work in GTD, and I learned about breaking tasks up into actionable items and so on. Thanx for making this available to us all. But alas gratitude doesn't pay the bills.

How about a piece of software that incorporates sort of life vision / goals then into projects and then tasks. The tasks then drop into the AF list (electronic). The list can be 'dotted', moved forward, crossed off etc. Its then possible to maybe view only tasks in a specific project - filter view. Maybe different project tasks can be colour coded in the AF list.

I like to weekly plan at a goal / project level and then drop the tasks into an AF list but I am never certain if the task is allready in the list. This also shows whick projects I am working on the most. and which I am ignoring.

Regards

Hi Mark, check out the dana principle. You gather a lot of enthousiasm from the crowd, you are a teacher. I think your stated motivation about taxpaying is far from it. What you need is some bread to all the butter that is spread on your head, if that's a working metaphore. Good luck with dana!

If you do write a book Mark, I wish you would add some of your input on how to Autofocus "life goals." Put in a section about how to use AF to identify these life goals and then use AF to filter them out. It's kind of adding a top-down approach where I think AF can be bottom up - but in the hands of the right person, I think it would be a good tool.

I identified my top goals for the year on Jan. 1 and one of them was "follow Mark Forster's new time management approach" (thinking I'd give it a 30 day trial and if it didn't work, keep going on my search for something that did.) Thank God you came out with it on Jan. 5 because I didn't get anything at all done between Jan. 1-5. So for me, it's been working to help me accomplish my other 8 goals because I keep putting in tasks that move them forward. One goal I just entirely dismissed because I kept not feeling like doing the tasks related to it on the list. It was a relief to get rid of it.

I haven't figured out yet how to get it to help me go on a diet though, although I have thought of putting "eat a new vegetable" on the list. :-)

Jacqueline

A simple AF tip for dieting - add a task to "lose 1lb". You can either add it periodically e.g once every two or three pages, or every page is you wish, or just readd each time completed. Each time you lose a 1lb you can cross it off. If it becomes the last item on the page and it is not achieved you can just dismiss it - and readd it if and when appropriate. No detail needed, no pressure. And you can just do it from your last weight, eg if you happen to put on a few pounds just treat each "lose 1 lb" as from your last weigh in.

In my opinion, the great thing about AF is its simplicity. If you made it into a book, you would need more pages which would likely require more intricacies. I love the idea of an e-book as you could keep that shorter. Since the momentum around this is mostly internet based there is also a nice symbiosis with that. I saw another idea about an AF Branded notebook with simple instructions at the beginning, also a great idea. I do think that you should try and make money from this great idea as you deserve it.

Yes, by all means a branded "My AF List in various formats with a condensed list of rules in the front (with flow chart! ;-) BIT ... I think that a book with pictures/ illustrations of a dummy AF list working through all the steps ... just like the video shows ... would be great. I think the video was more comprehensible than the instructions ... my a mile ... at least ;-)

You could get the same effect by writing the "rules" in a more chatty, descriptive style (as the video does) and where you point to your list, show an illustration of a dummy page. Make up actually pages with page numbers, high lights, cross offs, Xs for completed pages, etc. It sure would have saved me some head scratching. ;-)

These are all great ideas - so many so fast! I think the first thing is to for Mark to trademark "AutoFocus" if that is still possible. Donations are also an excellent start. I can visualize an AutoFocus web application based on the model of say "Nozbe" or "Don't Forget the Milk". The advantage is that you have a targeted group of users willing to pay for various levels of service. The free access would be a basic list with perhaps some basic instructions. The "Premium" (paid) access would include more detailed instructions, examples of use, an active user forum and perhaps ongoing live participation from Mark along with discounts on purchases that Mark recommends/uses. Another benefit of this approach is it's availability: mobile phones, computers at work, PDA's, public computers with internet access, etc. Once this web app is established the opportunities will multiply in unexpected ways: a sort of "critical mass" of diverse AutoFocus users!

Mark,
I think your best bet for making a lot of money with the least effort is to create a certification program for coaches and time management consultants. You can start by teaching the program yourself and then teach some high level users on how to teach the Auto Focus training program so it becomes passive income (and you can go back to retiring!)

You don't need to do this in person either you could hold monthly webinars that are trainings for facilitating AF. You can use Skype plugins for this or platforms such as Go To Meeting which will allow users to call into a bridge line and hear you speak and then ask questions. You could have this up and running in a week and have a sold out first training just from the people currently visiting your site.

I am an online marketing coach and have already begun sending my clients to your web site to use Autofocus to get their marketing tasks completed. I have explained in my own words how to use it but it would be great to say that I was a 'Certified Autofocus Time Management Trainer' or some such thing.

-Doug
www.SiteOptimized.com

Just a quick vote for a "donate" button on the site.

I believe that if you are going to write a (rather small) book as a kind of compressed version of all the discussed points here in this forum, just your answers to all sorts of questions that came up about the AF system, that would be an interesting one - for two reasons:

1. At least I like to read your precise and concise answers to questions. How they come straight to the point. How helpful they are. And from my experience, if I like how somebody writes, a lot of people do as well :-)

2. The AF system being free is no hindrance to this, but rather publicity. Someone may come to this website, read the instructions, the forum etc. and maybe think "Hey, that's worth a try". He or she tries it out, finds it's working like magic, even better than expected - it's only natural to desire to know all that is to know about that system. If one is adopting a task management system: This is something very central for your life. It's absolutely no question to spend some money on it in order to understand it as fully as possible.

For example, take GTD. It's no problem to find out how this thing works. The system is explained in Wikipedia, on a -zillion websites... You can easily collect everything you need to know to start it.

But - I bought Allens book nevertheless. Just because I was interested to get a glimpse of the inventor of it. Just out of the desire of completeness. It did cost me 10 euros, so what? That's no money for an important part of one's life.


BTW, I'd like to argue AGAINST a donation button. Asking for donations is selling oneself under value. If one feels that what one has to offer has value, one is absolutely entitled to demand a precisely defined amount for it.

That is to say that the presence of a donation button on a website that is NOT a charity website usually makes a bad impression on, at least, me.

I'd buy an Autofocus book written by Mark. In fact, I've been sort of waiting for him to announce one was "coming soon." :-D

Plus I've gotten a lot out of reading these forums, but I'm sure I've missed some great tidbits. (And forgotten a few others.) Having these things laid out in a book would be great.

Andrea & Mark;

I originally, I think, suggested the "donate" button in a different post.

Andrea wrote:
"BTW, I'd like to argue AGAINST a donation button. Asking for donations is selling oneself under value. If one feels that what one has to offer has value, one is absolutely entitled to demand a precisely defined amount for it."

I would like to suggest that having a donation button is not "asking for donations" as much as it is an opportunity for those who understand the flow of money, i.e. giving money to people/organizations who allow you to have a better life, the chance to do so.

Literally in the online world, it is an action. Eliminate the word "please" if you don't want to ask. Or add the link: "Have you found this information valuable to your life or business?" and then drive them to a dual opportunity: 1. to share the link with friends via email, and 2. a chance to donate.

From my point of view, there is no "under selling" as much as it is an acknowledgment of:
Yes, I'm giving away freely, trusting all that exists to return to me freely and without coercion or manipulation. I have come to the point I no longer NEED to ask, but am giving you opportunity to express your gratitude with the energy called money." It's a form of casting your bread upon the waters.

"That is to say that the presence of a donation button on a website that is NOT a charity website usually makes a bad impression on, at least, me."

Dr. Suzette Elgin wrote something years ago, that your statement truly proves: False perceptions have real consequences. The consequences vary person to person, and can be handled pre-emptively as suggested above and in other ways.

You certainly aren't the only one with false perceptions. I run a health clinic and when I wear my white doctor's jacket, i get better compliance and "respect" from patients, etc. However, my "doctorness" is within my mind, body and soul, not some magical coat.

So I offer these suggestions so Mark might get the process off HIS dismessed list, as it is HIS site.

Thank you both

Bob



I totally agree with the right to "ask" for what you think something is valued for. I run brick & mortar businesses, but don't ask for donations. Yet, I freely give a percentage of all I collect, something most businesses have yet to learn the value of.

Andreas and Mark... Would a compromise be to offer a donation to a charity selected by Mark. This may create a win/win situation as those people who have benfitted from Marks valuable, yet free advice are able to show some appreciation, and a selected charitable cause would then also benefit.

Lots of suggestions in the posts above mine, and there will be more afterwards.

I reckon a few options/streams could be explored by Mark to focus on each:

- eBook first, easily upgradeable as the AF momentum grows, amplified by examples, testimonials etc (no shortage there).
- Software route, preferably hooking into Outlook as that is the most widespread calendar/task application
- Leather/faux/vinyl etc cover (especially for Moleskine, A4. A5, then expand to US sizes) with instructions, small CD inside for eBook.

Me? I'd like the last one so my Moleskine slim large (not the extra large, more like A5) notebook can be protected. Sections inside could take 5 x 3 cards, business cards, pen/pencil/highlight loops, phone/PPC pockets, kitchen sink, etc ;-). Why? Because I've tried paper, went electronic, back to paper for "classic" AF, Outlook for the time-bound stuff.

I wish you'd set up a coaching structure and seminar business (not totally dependent on you) like Best Year Yet or similar. In reading your other 3 books over again after trying the systems for *doing* things in them but not being successful at continuing with the implementation, I have realized again how very much you have to offer the time management world that goes way beyond AF. Reading them over again with the perspective of AF has been very enlightening.

Not to put too much pressure on you or anything, but I think you have an obligation to the world. Someone could probably solve the world hunger problem following this system.

Other thoughts - could you team up with someone like Marla Cilley (flylady) who has a large base of satisfied customers, but also has a lot of *flylady failures* that can't follow routines? AF is perfect for this.

I think you need to get more viral as well - and what better way to do that than through all the people posting on this board who probably post on other boards as well? It's all well and good to have people posting on this board, but if they're really committed, they should be spreading the word. Get other people working for you - that's one way we can give back for all you've given us.

It's not about "compromise." It's about Mark doing what
he wants with his website, his system. If he wanted,
he could pull all posts, create a membership site at
$10 to $20/month.

Basically, his choice to create his world.

bob

PS for an interesting insights to the fallacies of
"win/win" negotiations and how the Japanese
usually eat up win/win people, read Jim Camp's
Start with No or his newest book NO

Jacqueline,

Wow! Love your idea about doing a joint venture
with someone with such a huge base, and it really
works with the strengths of Mark's system.

I hope he pays attention to it, and adds previous
ideas together to create something he likes and
enjoys doing.

Bob

Bob, Of course Mark can do what he wants - I don't think I need telling that. it was meant to be a constructive suggestion, I don't appreciate your cynical remarks one bit.

A couple of points:

- Putting a donation button allows people to contribute what they can ... and in these times that is a consideration.

- In my personal experience when people have donated to me, they have given me far more than I would have asked for.

- Asking for a payment of what something is worth, is a far more "fair" way to approach things, IMO. If you are offering something of great value, that should be recognized, and probably will be. If what you are offering does not get much in the way of payment, then maybe the value is not there. At least that is the way I see things.

- I don't find donations tacky at all. It tells me that the person would like to be paid but does not want the overhead of running a business and so is trading that off and simply accepting donations which, if less than he might get from running a business with a payment system, may pay off more because he can focus on what is important to him and not incur overhead.

IMO, it comes down to where the interest lies. Running a consulting business, giving courses, writing books ... those are all different things that speak to different desires and probably different personalities. There are lots of ways to make money but not so many that "feel right".

Write articles for magazines, make some money from that. Each article is "how to get your life organized in 10 minutes" or whatever, using autofocus, and tailored to the magazine's readership. So you'd end up with each article being really "autofocus for.... (insert audience here)."

Autofocus for managers
Autofocus for mums
Autofocus for housewives / househusbands
Autofocus for writers
... designers
... artists

And so on.

- here in the US/Canada, there are loads of multi-speaker events who have speakers like Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar types but also more practical speakers like your message on time mgmt. You don't have to do the work of setting everything up then.
- Harv Eker (Millionaire Mind) in his Warrior Camps etc. has other guests in to present their programs - about 3-4 hours - he also brands and does back of the room sales of other people's material (hypnotherapy, etc.), also has T-shirt sales etc. ("Just Frickin' Do It!" is the one I own - always a good conversation starter.) :-) Tony Robbins has guest speakers as well. Also about 10-12 years ago, I belonged to a monthly coaching group of Harv's - I think the cost was ~$150/mo. and there were about 80-100 people registered in 5 cities across Western Canada.
- I liked the review Trent from The Simple Dollar did on your GED / DIT, I think he's a GTD-er as is Leo from Zen Habits, they have a pretty big base and are supposed to be all about simplicity, which AF is.
- Tim Ferriss (the 4 Hour Workweek) would be an awesome ambassador and I think your concepts mesh well with his philosophy
- work with the people from 43 Things, there's a lot of people who set goals on there, but don't follow through
- Brazen Careerist - can present a practical approach to actually succeeding in a career using AF/other time management ideas
- I think if you could co-author a book with Paul McKenna, it would be sensational - "I Can Make You Do Things" :-) or "I Can Make You Reach Your Goals". And I'd love to see a TV program based on it as well.
- can you get on one of those home improvement shows - I'm thinking of the ones where people renovate a house (eg. The Property Ladder) but you can tell a lot of them have no project management aptitude and have a very scattered approach, get unmotivated in the process - they need a coach for those times. Same thing with some of the cleaning kinds of TV shows where these strange women come in to houses that are filthy and get them to clean it, those people need a system/coach to keep it going
- The "No Diet Diet" people are UK based and they have a system of changing habits based on choosing daily actions which are outside of your comfort zones which would work perfectly with AF
- re. e-Book(s), I think it's a great idea and can be geared towards various concerns people have
- I personally find a "donation" button kind of cheesy - I recall that Steve Pavlina had it on his site and I found it off-putting, but having a Paypal link wouldn't be
- can you get booked on a weekend lineup of self-help authors such as Hay House? You probably have to be published with them.
- What about a radio show on the Hay House internet network? Again, have to have published with them, but you probably have a contact there with Michael Neill. I think some people have shows on there prior to publishing though.
- Flylady has a radio show on an internet network as well
- co-author with Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup) - I don't recall that he's done anything with time management
- add a re-engineering aspect and market to corporations - with the economy the way it is, we're all having to do more with less and with major layoffs to boot
- affiliate with personal development training companies
- I'd like to see you dump John Kremer's "1001 Ways to Market Your Books" into AF and see what comes out of it. :-)

It's hard to be more specific - like you said in one of your books, if someone said figure out a way to make a car work better, you'd be hard pressed to do it, but ask them to figure out how to improve their steering wheel and they can come up with answers. I think the question needs to be more specific to find out things that are more suited towards you and your goals - eg. if you don't want to have to travel, do want to write another book, don't want to be a coaching type of person, do want to be on TV. That's JMHO.

The two people whose 'self-help' books I have found to be most powerful are Paul McKenna and Mark Forster. I second Jacqueline's suggestion and I want that collaboration SOON!

One of the affirmations Paul McKenna routinely uses in his hypnosis CDs is "You're getting more done". It's mentioned in passing but he never develops exactly how you're meant to "get more done". Autofocus is the 'missing link'.

Hey little b, I also love Paul McKenna's hypnosis CD's - when I remember to play them, I enjoy falling to sleep with them or even listening to one I have on mp3 when I'm at work - and wish he would come up with something related to time management (with Mark, of course). I can almost hear it now - "you are joyfully doing every task that stands out", "you find it easy to accomplish everything you set your mind to", "you always know the task that's ready to be done", "you are an achiever", "when faced with distractions, you easily come back into focus" ... lol
Come to think of it, Mark doesn't need PM himself, just a good hypnotist to work with to get a CD out - I really like Marshall Sylver's hypnosis too, and Neil Fiore is a hypno guy as well. I just really looooove PM's voice and his scripts are great.
I'll have to put a note in my book to listen to PM more often because I always feel great about myself when I do. :-)

Could Mark do some collaboration with one of the coaching federations/associations - similar to Thomas Leonard - where he didn't coach anymore (before he died, that is) but did provide programs for the ICF I think. I met him once at a speaking event, very different kind of guy, but his concept of eliminating *Tolerations* would mesh nicely with an AF approach to doing so.

Leon,

Is it possible you've taken my remarks as cynical? I admit, they CAN
be read that way, however, I would like to point out they weren't meant
to be that way.

Now this one is sarcastic, so add any voice inflections as you read to make
it such:
Ahhhhhhhh! The joys of communicating in written language without visual
and auditory feedback loops.

peace,

Bob

Hi Bob, fair enough - and thanks for your thoughts. I guess it's easy to misinterpret a communication when approx 85% of it is not available to understand. Group hugs all round!

Don't forget to improve the autofocus page. It strikes me as odd the first thing you see is about Chinese transalations. Shouldn't that go down a side bar?

This page is where you connect with the audience (and the forum). It's good to have them come back to read the directions. But after that, what is the reason to keep coming back, and not just go on happily with your life w/AF? Ask people to come back and share a testimonial?

Donation button would be good, I'd donate.

Hi Mark,

How could your earn money with AF ? Simple

-Just write a new book very simple with examples, photos like a notice just to explain how to use it and with what kinds of tool paper, binder, computer, excel, special tool.

- Make something simple

you have created a very interesting tool. A lot of people have cotributed giving ideas and testing in every ways the system. I realy thing you have enough for it.

- Do a real book if you have time to do it

- Do a little book on pdf and sell it on paypal fo a chip price but with the same idea giving example of things to do and not to do and a lot of images

- May be an iphone soft with the one who made it you could make a partnership with him even if i dont realy believe in your method with a software anyway...

Dont forget to make a summery and example to make it atractive. remember a picture is better than a text. People are not interested by feeling and philosophy they are in trouble because of this crazy world and they need results and facts.

I just want to indeed thank you for making AF free. It helped a lot of people beginning by me.

I forgot : Do it in all languages and make it available in the all world !

I don't like the idea of a donation button, that to me states I don't know how to value this so I will let you decide. I would sooner somebody state a price or give it me for free etc. Then I know where I stand.

I think you need to keep the momentum going with Autofocus (AF), the user base as it stands needs to spread the word far and wide. We need some active discussions on the popular boards with direct comparisons against other popular systems. We need user contributed success stories, dedicated AF discussion groups, there needs to be a sense of community for the AF users. The whole focus to my mind needs to be on building the user base but also building the community. Once AF is the most popular system around, then I would imagine people will approach you with revenue generating ideas.

Perhaps even part of the hook could be that it is free and will remain free - available to anybody. But based on that you could build up a series of Autofocus related products that target specific areas, that expand on the initial idea.

You could sell Autofocus T-shirts: http://seraphim37.googlepages.com/autofocusTshirt2.jpg

Good one Seraphim !! :-) Should Total World Domination be chunked down or rewritten, or at least make a project plan for it: Step 1 - collect minions . . .

Donation button on the AF home page. Definitely. At least three times in the past month I've been sitting at my desk at work thinking, "Bloody hell I'm getting SO MUCH done now!!!". You'd probably get a $10 donation from me each time it happens. :)

Mark,

personally I have bought two of your books, but i probably got even more positive ideas from autofocus. I would be quite happy to pay / donate a specific amount since I got a lot of value from this simple yet effective system.

On another level I would love to read a book (electronic or paper) about further background on af with fleshed out instructions and usage examples. Even though the system itself is quite clear by now I would still want to buy this book.

Reading in this forum I have noticed that there are always people who want things to be presented the easy way: do this, then that, buy a notebook from this manufacturer and write your name on the first page. If an item is done, put a line through it, etc. For this clientele it might be wise to write "autofocus - the missing pages" and maybe sell all the necessary gadgets (notebooks, inboxes, task diaries, folders, list making paper...

Maybe you have really gone too far with autofocus? When I look at a three lettered system from a certain guy in the states that seems in fashion at the moment I can't fail to notice that he needed to write three books in order to help people understand his system. Some still don't! And in order to do it right they absolutely need the right hardware!

In contrast when I learned about autofocus I read the instructions once in german, then once in english to make sure I didn't miss anything. Then I smiled, got out an old notebook and started... Way too simple! ;-)

Please keep up the good work and keep thinking about excellent organisational systems for the rest of us.

With anything, building a business is about choosing your target market. The people Autofocus currently reaches are Internet browsers who probably spend quite a bit of time learning one productivity trick or method after another -- "productivity porn" addicts of one kind or another.

Is that the target market you'd want for a more commercial version of Autofocus? What are the unique selling points of Autofocus against other TM methods, and what target market are those points most likely to appeal to?

Today I stumbled onto your website and I was sold on the system! Thanks.

About ways to make some money: talk with 37signals.com about creating a web application. They want to provide the world with intuitively operated software for clearly defined tasks. I.e. the opposite of MS-Word.
The idea of 43folders.com with their scripting system celtx that works both on line and off line (needs a download) is brilliant. Apply that idea if possible.
Once software has been built it can be offered/sold with no effort.

The same applies to publishing a book. Start with publishing through lulu.com (or any other on demand publisher) and when the book takes off switch to a hard copy publisher.

Barbara Sher (the Wishcraft lady) runs some retreats in places like Greece, France, etc. They run for about 5 days, it's on my someday list to do after retiring. Here's the link for the one in April:
http://www.barbarasher.com/RennesleChateauScannerRetreat.html

The net on that for 5 days would only be around $20k USD, I'm not sure if the juice would be worth the squeeze on it.

She's got project management and time management built in to the retreat, but I've tried the techniques in her books and AF is better than her system - I wish Mark could collaborate with her.

OR do a retreat of his own - I would travel to do a 5 day retreat in a foreign country - and surely "scouting for a spot to hold the retreat" is tax deductible in Britain like it would be over here? Or a cruise - it's common to see groups of people go on cruises in NA built around specific topics.

I've scanned a lot of these comments, but didn't see any mention of Moodle (if there is and this is a repeat, apologies!). Moodle is an open source Learning Management System which is free and ideal for developing simple interactive on-line courses. Having recently studied a rather good online CBT training (which uses Moodle) I'm struck by how much easier and more enjoyable it is to learn things online rather than reading a book.

A range of reasonably priced online Autofocus courses - perhaps with the same initial content then specialist points for different target groups - would be ideal.

An online course:
- provides "instant gratification", no waiting for a book to arrive in the post.
- doesn't destroy trees
- can be purchased with an individual or "site license" so companies can train staff in the system
- allows you to learn at your own pace whenever you want (without falling asleep as I often feel tempted to reading a book!)
- would save Mark the time, travel and effort of endless presentations of the same material, allowing his creativity to move on to refinements of the system or the next excellent idea...

Mark, you may like to investigate possible synergy from linking up with http://mindtools.com/

Two things I would be interested in buying, that I'm struggling to find for sale in the UK are:
* pen and highlighter in one to reduce what I'm carrying
* double bookmarked so I can mark where I'm working in the list and where I'm adding items

If you had branded versions of these I would be interested in buying them.

Well, I think you should make a "kit" and sell it. Put in a little instruction book, as mentioned. Produce a video, use a younger chap to follow around, and then intersperse with explanations by Mark and key points. Throw in a "first book" with the number of lines per page. And voila! Make it clean, well designed, and graphically unified in some way - color, logo etc. That woud be simple way to package the "idea" while providing more physical substance. FWIW

Hello Mark,

Two months on and lots of great ideas have been posted and several likely to have flowed into your AF stream. It would be good to get an update from you on current progress, or the ourcomes.

Here's to your increased tax bill :)

Jonathan
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Here's a question for all you creative thinkers on this Forum. As you know, I've made the AF system itself entirely free of charge. But I'm conscious of all those bankers and politicians who need my taxes to keep them in the style to which they are accustomed - so I feel an obligation to do my bit by earning more than I do at the moment.

So here's the challenge: How can I make pots of money out of AF? I've already thought of the obvious things like run seminars and write a book. But how about some not so obvious suggestions?
February 9, 2009 at 15:45 | Mark Forster
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How about a weekly podcast that is about $1-5 where you discuss AF with a guest or two that has implemented it, talk about new strategies/thoughts, and sort of summarize what you're experimenting with, expand on ideas of others, etc.

I wouldn't limit it to AF, definitely include your other books too!

Mark, you could register a domain for autofocus and set up a simple website and move all the instructions over there and put google adds on the site and make money from the hits

Also, you could sell 15min personal telephone consultation slots