FV and FVP Forum > Prioritized FV - Part 2
I agree that the chain should not be reset after every task, as a general rule. I don't think Mike D's summary of the rules is an accurate summary of the general rules.
Perhaps Mike D deals with tasks in such a way that after working on any given task, his situation DOES change and he needs to re-evaluate and see where things are at. So, he can do a reset after every task, because he feels the need to double-check the relevance of his current chain. That's simply a special case that is already covered in Mark's standard FV rules.
Everyone will have his or her own rhythm of how often to do a reset, or a partial reset, depending on how quickly their circumstances and priorities change, due to new incoming work, changing external directives, or who knows what other reasons.
Again, my point is that FV handles these situations very well, no need to adjust the rules.
Perhaps Mike D deals with tasks in such a way that after working on any given task, his situation DOES change and he needs to re-evaluate and see where things are at. So, he can do a reset after every task, because he feels the need to double-check the relevance of his current chain. That's simply a special case that is already covered in Mark's standard FV rules.
Everyone will have his or her own rhythm of how often to do a reset, or a partial reset, depending on how quickly their circumstances and priorities change, due to new incoming work, changing external directives, or who knows what other reasons.
Again, my point is that FV handles these situations very well, no need to adjust the rules.
May 20, 2012 at 18:28 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
Seraphim:
<< Deven wrote:
<< Yes, and this is why standard FV pulls your attention from high-priority tasks to deal with things like this. >>
Deven, you repeat this idea in several different ways in your post: the idea that FV draws your attention mostly to the root items. I think you really haven't got a feel for how FV works. Standard FV does NOT focus your attention on the root item, the first item in the list. It draws one's attention to the END of the list. >>
Ah, but it does, because the root item is the ONLY one that is automatically added to the chain, everything else is discretionary.
<< The way it works for me, the things down near the end of the list that receive dots are the things that are high importance and/or high urgency. They receive most of the attention. As I move through them, moving up the chain, taking action as needed, it moves faster and faster till I then arrive at the other, less pressing things closer to the top of the list. Often those things get DELETED because, having just focused my time and attention on truly important things, I clearly see that they are really not that important and I don't want to be committed to them.
Sometimes I end up deleting the root item itself, for the same reason. Usually, though, I just take some small action, "opening the file", taking a closer look, thinking for a few minutes what needs to be done, and why this item has been on the list for so long, etc.
My main point is the root item and other items near the top of the list do NOT get the bulk of the attention, which you repeatedly stated in your post. They get deleted, or get some small action that helps break the ice.
The idea of the root item in FV is not to draw your attention there, but to get you to make a decision about items that have been sitting in your list for a long time WITHOUT a decision. By the time it's reached the root position, you've had plenty of time to sift that item, little and often, consciously and unconsciously. >>
You've had plenty of time BECAUSE standard FV takes as long as possible to cycle tasks into that root position. Prioritized FV is designed to reduce procrastination on high-resistance high-priority tasks and to avoid diverting attention away from high-priority tasks for low-priority tasks.
Mark recommends processing at least 3 chains per day, preferably more. When one chain takes 2 weeks to complete, you've drifted away from the way FV is intended to be functioning.
Mind you, I have the same problem -- I keep having chains take days to complete because I get distracted or just spend enough time on each item that it adds up. I'm trying to speed up my processing of each chain with the goal of getting to 3 chains/day, but I'm not there yet. But I'm definitely finding that the more chains I work, the better Prioritized FV works for me.
<< Deven wrote:
<< Yes, and this is why standard FV pulls your attention from high-priority tasks to deal with things like this. >>
Deven, you repeat this idea in several different ways in your post: the idea that FV draws your attention mostly to the root items. I think you really haven't got a feel for how FV works. Standard FV does NOT focus your attention on the root item, the first item in the list. It draws one's attention to the END of the list. >>
Ah, but it does, because the root item is the ONLY one that is automatically added to the chain, everything else is discretionary.
<< The way it works for me, the things down near the end of the list that receive dots are the things that are high importance and/or high urgency. They receive most of the attention. As I move through them, moving up the chain, taking action as needed, it moves faster and faster till I then arrive at the other, less pressing things closer to the top of the list. Often those things get DELETED because, having just focused my time and attention on truly important things, I clearly see that they are really not that important and I don't want to be committed to them.
Sometimes I end up deleting the root item itself, for the same reason. Usually, though, I just take some small action, "opening the file", taking a closer look, thinking for a few minutes what needs to be done, and why this item has been on the list for so long, etc.
My main point is the root item and other items near the top of the list do NOT get the bulk of the attention, which you repeatedly stated in your post. They get deleted, or get some small action that helps break the ice.
The idea of the root item in FV is not to draw your attention there, but to get you to make a decision about items that have been sitting in your list for a long time WITHOUT a decision. By the time it's reached the root position, you've had plenty of time to sift that item, little and often, consciously and unconsciously. >>
You've had plenty of time BECAUSE standard FV takes as long as possible to cycle tasks into that root position. Prioritized FV is designed to reduce procrastination on high-resistance high-priority tasks and to avoid diverting attention away from high-priority tasks for low-priority tasks.
Mark recommends processing at least 3 chains per day, preferably more. When one chain takes 2 weeks to complete, you've drifted away from the way FV is intended to be functioning.
Mind you, I have the same problem -- I keep having chains take days to complete because I get distracted or just spend enough time on each item that it adds up. I'm trying to speed up my processing of each chain with the goal of getting to 3 chains/day, but I'm not there yet. But I'm definitely finding that the more chains I work, the better Prioritized FV works for me.
May 20, 2012 at 18:33 |
Deven
Deven
Deven, my main issue with P-FV is that by introducing even a single star, you completely change the dynamics of the system.
If you like the new dynamics, great, go for it! But it is not accurate to state, as you often have, that this is only a very minor change to the rules that puts more emphasis on what's important.
With a single star, your attention is drawn to the root item, the one with the star. Your attention is thus drawn to the beginning of the list, where the most stale items tend to sit, rather than the end of the list, which is where the freshest and newest and highest urgency and high priority items would naturally flow.
If you like the new dynamics, great, go for it! But it is not accurate to state, as you often have, that this is only a very minor change to the rules that puts more emphasis on what's important.
With a single star, your attention is drawn to the root item, the one with the star. Your attention is thus drawn to the beginning of the list, where the most stale items tend to sit, rather than the end of the list, which is where the freshest and newest and highest urgency and high priority items would naturally flow.
May 20, 2012 at 18:38 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
<< Ah, but it does, because the root item is the ONLY one that is automatically added to the chain, everything else is discretionary. >>
We will have to agree to disagree. Yes, the first item is always included in the chain. This does not necessarily mean that the first item gets the bulk of your attention.
We will have to agree to disagree. Yes, the first item is always included in the chain. This does not necessarily mean that the first item gets the bulk of your attention.
May 20, 2012 at 18:40 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
<< You've had plenty of time BECAUSE standard FV takes as long as possible to cycle tasks into that root position. >>
High-priority tasks never make it into that position. They may have *appeared* to be high priority when first added to the list. FV's algorithm helps you sort out the *real* priorities from the *faux* priorities. P-FV has no mechanism for that. You better hope your stars are actually the real priorities. With lots of conflicting priorities and commitments and projects, that's a really hard call to make. FV sorts it all out for me, automatically.
High-priority tasks never make it into that position. They may have *appeared* to be high priority when first added to the list. FV's algorithm helps you sort out the *real* priorities from the *faux* priorities. P-FV has no mechanism for that. You better hope your stars are actually the real priorities. With lots of conflicting priorities and commitments and projects, that's a really hard call to make. FV sorts it all out for me, automatically.
May 20, 2012 at 18:44 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
<< Mind you, I have the same problem -- I keep having chains take days to complete because I get distracted or just spend enough time on each item that it adds up. >>
Personally I don't see it as a problem if it takes a long time to get through chains, as long as my work is getting done. Sometimes that's just the way it goes.
<< I'm trying to speed up my processing of each chain with the goal of getting to 3 chains/day, but I'm not there yet. >>
If you find that it helps you, great!
<< But I'm definitely finding that the more chains I work, the better Prioritized FV works for me. >>
OK, great! If it works for you, I am not opposing that. I am opposing what I see as misunderstandings of the dynamics of FV. :-)
Personally I don't see it as a problem if it takes a long time to get through chains, as long as my work is getting done. Sometimes that's just the way it goes.
<< I'm trying to speed up my processing of each chain with the goal of getting to 3 chains/day, but I'm not there yet. >>
If you find that it helps you, great!
<< But I'm definitely finding that the more chains I work, the better Prioritized FV works for me. >>
OK, great! If it works for you, I am not opposing that. I am opposing what I see as misunderstandings of the dynamics of FV. :-)
May 20, 2012 at 18:52 |
Seraphim
Seraphim
I created a new followup thread, since this one is getting too long again:
http://www.markforster.net/fv-forum/post/1832264
http://www.markforster.net/fv-forum/post/1832264
May 21, 2012 at 18:29 |
Deven
Deven
<< If you're only doing this "partial reset" once per day, I agree that is arguably within the rules, although I don't know if it's wise. My other thread about "Losing Momentum Overnight" was aimed at the question of whether doing this routinely every morning is a good idea or not.>>
The rules don't say "no more than once per day". They say "when your preselected list is no longer relevant". When several major priorities are in the midst of thrash, my priorities can change several times during the course of a day. It happens sometimes. FV handles it very well, and this rule works. When the thrashing stops, this rule doesn't need to be applied, and I can return to simply working through my chain. FV works perfectly fine in both situations.
Whether a reset should be done every morning or not depends on whether your situation changes substantially overnight. The only way I know for sure is to check my emails, check my voicemails, check my meetings for the day, etc. So, the first task I do every day is my "reset": check emails, check voicemails, check calendar, check tickler, add those new tasks to my list. Then I just start working my list as dotted from yesterday. If I find my mind being drawn to all the new stuff I just added, instead of focusing on my chain, then I do the reset.
For other people who don't have so much new incoming stuff all the time, maybe a morning reset isn't needed at all. They can just keep working through their existing chain.
FV handles both situations perfectly.