Regardless of what form it takes a personal productivity system is really meant to be two things: a funnel and a filter.
Life is full of stuff coming at you. It’s an ongoing stream of information, questions, demands, problems, opportunities, emails, calls, conversations, and various other things. There are always other things. Hence the need for the funnel and the filter.
The funnel’s job is to take in all of the wide spray of things out there, and narrow it down into a flow that the intended container can except. That’s the first job of any productivity system: to take the wide stream of things coming at you in your life, and narrowing it down into something that the intended container—your mind—can handle.
If you’re going to have any hope of reaching your potential, you’re going to have to get good at using a funnel. If you don’t, you’re taking your chances by simply randomly grabbing at that wide array of stuff flying around in your life. Sure, you may grab it something helpful and valuable every once in a while. But most likely, you won’t.
The filter’s job is simple, but crucial: sort what isn’t helpful out from what is; let the latter come through, and keep the former out. In other words, keep your mind clear of what’s not important, so you have room for what is.
Whatever your system is—however you organize things and set up what needs to get done—make sure it’s both a funnel and a filter. Make sure it works to narrow down the stream of life, and separate the signal from the noise.
For me, this system—the card, the score, the S3, the daily and weekly reflection—they have served as my funnel and my filter. I used to be awash in the wide stream of life. But for the first time in my life, I’m no longer awash. I’m afloat. I’m swimming. I’m making headway.
Find your funnel. Find your filter. Find that system. Make sure you can feel it funneling and filtering the craziness of life into goals achieved and pride each day at what you’re accomplishing.
If you haven’t found your funnel and filter—give The Today System a shot. At least fill out a card today. See if you don’t end the day feeling a little less awash.
