Comments on: Maker Vs. Manager: How I Schedule My Day

By: Stacey

Stacey — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:58:07 +0000

I have the same issues. I have client appt spaces which are 60 or 30 mins, then I have some mobile clients where I have to account for either 90 or 60 mins (for travel) then I have client follow up work which I pencil for an hour but if it goes over this I freak out. Then I have the big tasks like web updates, accounts, newsletters etc which might need 2-3 hour chunks. But then I’m finding my social networking is slipping and replying to client enquiries is getting done ad hoc. I’m an early bird, but I also have to work late for clients after work (I’m a PT) so that means I’m doing 12- 14 hour days which isn’t great – so I’m trying to work out whether I really have too much on my plate or if I’m wasting time somewhere or if my general systems aren’t tight enough which is making each task take longer than it should be. Hmmmmm… today I’m in the office trying to come up with a solution

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:14:57 +0000

I give a mixed review. It was helpful to think in terms of manager vs maker for scheduling time. But getting up earlier doesn’t make the day longer. At some point you have to look at your areas of responsibility and decide if you are overcommitted.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:57:17 +0000

This is not a great article or a good advert for GTD and let me tell you why!

The section on the meetings I agree and I tend to bunch mine together and try to have mornings or afternoons to get my ‘stuff’ done on certain days. The part about I have to work weekends, get up earlier and still work evenings, that doesn’t sound right to me.

Don’t get me wrong, I do a lot of that too, but I blame myself and my lack of mastering GTD (and also Tony Schwarz’s work.) I aspire to having more free time and still getting my ‘stuff’ done when I do eventually gain more competence with GTD.

The second section of this article just said to me, you need to spend even more time on your work to get it done; ergo not a great message or article!

By: David Drake

David Drake — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:19:50 +0000

Here is an interesting article on scheduling time for creative work — much of what the maker schedule is all about!

http://the99percent.com/tips/6956/Getting-Creative-Things-Done-How-To-Fit-Hard-Thinking-Into-a-Busy-Schedule

-David

By: Gayle

Gayle — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:47:50 +0000

The words themselves, “maker” and “manager,” really struck me. I am going to think more about MAKING my day as well as managing it. And yes, my intention is to get up earlier as well. One strategy someone passed on was to lie in bed for a few minutes and imagine three things you are really going to enjoy doing or getting done. So far works for me!

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:51:08 +0000

I find that mindfulness of my available energy to be an important scheduling concern.
I like to do ‘maker’ tasks in the morning when I have what I call ‘fresh’ time and avoid such tasks in the afternoons.
I tend to re-charge when I am working with others so having meetings and group working sessions in the afternoon is far more productive for me.

By: Geoff Airey

Geoff Airey — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:21:41 +0000

In my comment, that should be Pre 8, not a smiley.

Thanks

By: Geoff Airey

Geoff Airey — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:19:24 +0000

I don’t have the dilemma you have as I’m pretty much a full time manager in charge of an IT company, I rarely get an hour uninterrupted never mind three.

I like the article though and some of the principles I follow may help yourself or others:

I’m also a reluctant riser, but I find the time between when I get in (pre 8) and 9 O’Clock to be really productive.

I always try to book meetings in the afternoon. I tend to have more energy in the morning so I get more done then.

I try not to pack my days with meetings, but that’s so I can catch up in between, but then I don’t get the solid blocks of time you get.

I also tend to only check email three times a day, otherwise I’m sucked into constant replies.

By: Leo

Leo — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:47:29 +0000

Thank you for that write up! I love your idea of scheduling lone meetings at the end of the day and packing a day more in to make it easier on the other days!

By: Bernadette Pawlik

Bernadette Pawlik — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:25:56 +0000

I appreciated your comments and I think they were absolutely spot on. I’d add another element to the Maker/Manager title..and that would be Thinker. Any project I need to complete…long or short term..goes far more smoothly if there is thinking time factored into the steps in the project. For example, if a project is estimated to take 4 hours, at least 20 minutes is pure strategic thinking about resources, steps, etc. A great thing about thinking is that it can overlap with the mundane and automatic. Some of my best thinking has been done walking to the train for my daily commute.