I have a few days off and am spending them for strict relaxation purposes at a spa in Ojai, CA. Coincidentally, Ojai is where David Allen lives, the productivity guru and author of the best-selling "Getting Things Done." I’m reading the Wired article about him and his animated life while I’m lying in the sun -- and getting nothing done. It's a shame, I know, I ought to write a book, an essay, or at least a postcard, but instead I'm just sketching a few random thoughts in my Moleskine notebook. That's good enough for some blog posts, but not for any grander form of output. And I'm thinking about the toll we all pay for our constant micro-publishing, our micro-creativity, and micro-productivity as it deprives us of the time needed to pursue something more lasting and meaningful. If I added all the emails, IM’s, blog posts I've written in the past, let's say, three years, their sheer volume could easily make perhaps five complete books. So why am I squandering my powers? Lack of focus, I guess, ultimate laziness, Protestant guilt (the reverse, dark side of laziness), and the irresistible merits of instant gratification. Perhaps all the chatter will add up to a real accomplishment in writing one day. I'm beginning to realize: It's not about being productive -- it's about using one’s productivity towards the right goal. David Allen, help me get it done!
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