Josh Mitchell, a longtime enthusiast of paper planners, discusses past and current versions, sharing about pens and highlighters. They compare the Time Design System and Franklin Planner, and explore the transition from paper to digital productivity tools. The history and discontinuation of the GTD Coordinator are also discussed.
Different versions of paper planners were used for GTD (Getting Things Done) purposes, including the Time System or Time Design planner.
The 1997 version of the Time System planner had unique features such as a clear plastic tab ruler, fold-out project overview pages, and an A to Z directory.
Deep dives
Overview of Paper Planner History
In this podcast episode, Josh Mitchell gives a detailed tour of the history and features of paper planners, specifically focusing on the Time System or Time Design planner. He shares his motivation for exploring these planners and why he wanted to understand how they were used for GTD (Getting Things Done) purposes. He discusses the distinctions between the Time System and Time Design versions, highlighting the same planner design with minor differences in terminology. He also mentions the transition from paper to digital productivity tools, with a reference to the Palm Pilot.
Features of the 1997 Version
Josh provides an in-depth look at the 1997 version of the Time System planner. He showcases the layout and functionality of the daily plans, activities, and overview sections. He explains the customizable nature of the planner, including options for priorities, delegated tasks, and start/due dates. He highlights unique design features such as the clear plastic tab ruler for easy navigation, the fold-out project overview pages, and the A to Z directory. Additionally, he mentions the archival box used for storing extra forms and past calendars.
Comparison to Franklin Covey Planner
Josh mentions the competition between the Time System and Franklin Planner, discussing how the Time System aimed to convert Franklin Planner users to their method. He points out differences in design, such as the 6-hole system versus the 7-hole system, the inclusion of comprehensive details in the daily plans section, and the flexibility to customize and adapt the planner to individual needs. He also compares the size of the planner to the palm pilot and highlights the intentional placement of information, demonstrating careful design choices.
Introduction to the GTD Coordinator
Josh briefly presents the GTD Coordinator, a planner exclusively available at Staples. He mentions the bright orange branding and the collaboration with at a glance, a part of Mead company. He acknowledges that the coordinator became discontinued after 2013, paving the way for the digital GTD organizer released in 2014.
Josh Mitchell has a longtime interest in paper planners. In this recording, he shares past and current versions of paper planners, including the type that David Allen used until the mid-1990s.
In addition to talking about several planners, Josh shares about pens, mechanical pencils, and highlighters that go with his system.
You can listen to the entire conversation from March 2022 at GTD Connect®.
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