Todoodlist Review: Technology Is Great, Pencils Are Better
July 31st, 2008
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I just read the simple productivity ebook Todoodlist by Nick Cernis, and it’s a rare pleasure to be able to recommend an ebook so unequivocally. 97 pages but an easy read, it’s worth the $14 price just for the entertainment value alone. In particular, the “7 fun essays exploring our complex lives, including Zen Kitten in a Box and Parrots in Space” had me cracking up. Nick does a great job poking fun at how needlessly complex our lives have become.
I’m not into all the complicated productivity systems like GTD (which I haven’t read yet, but I probably will someday). I’m also not into high-tech stuff, except at work (where I don’t mind spending hours on overly complicated things). I like keeping things simple, and Nick is totally on board with that, having abandoned his PDA three years ago in favor of simpler methods. He offers 5 terrific productivity solutions using good old pencil and paper. (Actually, I’ve always greatly preferred pens to pencils, but he says pens are OK if they work for you.)
I can’t really get into any specifics, because these solutions are so simple that even a summary would give away too much. But although they’re simple, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’re not using all 5 of them. In fact, I was only using one of them already. 2 of them aren’t for me, but the other 2 I’ll start using today.
Nick also describes a simple 5-step system for reducing complexity in your life. I found this part good but less original than his 5 productivity solutions, since we saw similar things in “The Four-Hour Workweek.”
There is an affiliate program paying 50%, and a 30 day no-quibble money-back guarantee. If you’re looking for good entertainment and simple productivity, look no further than Todoodlist. In fact, it’s going on the Resources page.
July 31st, 2008 at 2:25 am
Hi Hunter,
Doesn’t it seem like the simplest things always work the best? Like a pen/pencil and paper? I, too, have tried so many of the advertised ways to get more organized, and all that happened was I wasted money.
Based on your review, this sounds like great ebook.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen - Part 6 - Let’s Woop It Up
July 31st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Hey Hunter,
It’s true that so many tools try to be and do everything to everybody and ends up being overwhelming. However, I now swear by this free online tool:
http://todoist.com
In my world, that’s the greatest thing since sliced bread — and I’m not getting paid to say it.
It’s free, check it out!
ari
July 31st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
@ Barbara, well, it’s like Einstein said, “Make things as simple as possible, but no simpler.”
@ Ari, in the ebook, Nick talks about how he created his own online todo list program. He did it to improve on what was already out there, making something that was simpler, better looking, and more usable. He did, and his users loved it. But it was nevertheless a terrible flop! I haven’t heard of Todoist before, and I’ll check it out, but I think we always come back to the problem that for many people, an online solution is just not for them. YMMV.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:40 pm
“I’m not into all the complicated productivity systems like GTD (which I haven’t read yet, but I probably will someday). I’m also not into high-tech stuff” - same here.
Sounds like an interesting book.
Vereds last blog post..So, Another Guest Post
July 31st, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Thanks. Been meaning to pick this up. Just did thanks to you.
Ocaam’s Razor with a sense of humor I hope.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Seashells or Dalmations?
July 31st, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hunter, I’m sorry, but what is the PDA that Nick abandoned?
I guess I’m too simple to figure it out.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Ethics in Photography
July 31st, 2008 at 9:56 pm
@ Vered, I had a feeling you were the same way.
@ Janice, I think I had heard about it before and it was in the back of my mind. I do that with a lot of things, but I wish I had gotten to this sooner.
@ Ellen, sorry for the acronym - a PDA is a personal digital assistant, the most common example being the BlackBerry.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Those things take too much time to figure out. Pencil and paper is better.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Ethics in Photography
August 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
@ Ellen, yup, there are those of us who would agree!