Welcome to Conspire’s Fun Friday Links, a weekly collection of interesting discoveries from around the Web. Most of the time, the goal is to get you thinking differently about innovation, collaboration, business culture, and life in general. Other times, we may toss an infographic or fun video your way. Submissions are welcome, and you can send them to conspire@mindjet.com for consideration.
The Father of “Getting Things Done”: You’re Getting Me All Wrong
The practice of Getting Things Done — or GTD — is a popular one amongst pretty much all business productivity and efficiency experts. But, according to David Allen (the guy who invented it in the first place), today’s version of the philosophy has run a little askew from its origins. From Fast Company:
“Allen doesn’t think GTD is really about productivity either, at least not in the traditional business sense. “Being productive means producing desired experiences or results. Do you want to relax? If it takes you three quarters of your holiday to relax from the last two days of getting ready—not exactly your most productive vacation.”
GTD consists of five basic steps: capture, clarify, organize, reflect, and engage. Capturing means making a list of all the things which consume your attention. Many people already run into trouble at this stage. “A big addiction is to keeping stuff in your head,” says Allen. “I think it gives people a false sense of control: ‘I will feel more out of control if I look at how out of control I am.’”
‘People get mad at me for their list and I am going, ‘I’m sorry. ‘That ain’t my list, sweetie. You are the one who made those commitments.’”
17 Thought-Provoking Quotes About Fathers and Success
What with Father’s Day being celebrated this weekend, it’s a good time to look at what some of the most successful dads around the world have to say about the connections between having kids and having a great career. From Inc.:
“To be the father of growing daughters is to understand something of what Yeats evokes with his imperishable phrase ‘terrible beauty.’ Nothing can make one so happily exhilarated or so frightened: It’s a solid lesson in the limitations of self to realize that your heart is running around inside someone else’s body.”
Christopher Hitchens
“The most important thing that people can do in their business–and in life–is be generous. That was one of the best lessons my dad taught me.”
Homer Lundberg, Lundberg Family Farms
“Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating…too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.”
John Wooden“
Learning From The Best: My Father’s Lessons On Leadership
Some of the best things we learn, we learn from our parents — whether in life, or in business. From Forbes:
“Some people are born leaders, exuding a natural confidence and demonstrating an innate ability to encourage and nurture those around them. Most leaders, however, learn by watching the example set forth by others. I fall into the category of ‘learned leader’ The charisma that often defines the natural leader has never come easily for me. Fortunately, I’ve had great mentors who have helped me to learn and grow, both personally and professionally. Of all the people who have provided strong examples of leadership, no one stands out more than my father.
My dad started his company when he was 29 years old. He was working at an engineering firm when one of his clients, a little company called Coca-Cola KO -0.15%, asked him to strike out on his own. They promised to come along with him if he left, but he had no formal guarantee. He had a young family at home that depended on him, but he was shrewd enough to recognize the incredible opportunity ahead of him. After weeks of agonizing and soul-searching, he made the decision to move forward on his own. He knew that there was risk involved, and he had the courage to move forward in spite of it.”
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