GTD: What Are You Doing Right Now Redux
April 20, 2007
4 Comments
My previous attempt at a time-tracking script worked well for a while. But I wanted something that was self-contained so I could share it with my friends and coworkers. I also wanted to cut down on key strokes.
Since my internet connection has been intermittent the past couple of days and I couldn’t get much work done, I decided to switch gears and see what I could put together. Plus, I’ve been wanting an excuse to dig into Applescript more. This is my new and improved journalling script.
What is it and what does it do?
- Journal is an Applescript application designed to log your activity or act as a time-centric journal.
- This journal script uses one timed repeat variable between the hours of 9 to 5 PM (Option 1), and another the rest of the time (Option 2), using your system clock. I use these options to slow the journal updates after my regular work hours are over.
- It creates a folder on your startup disk called ‘Daily Journal’ and creates a date-stamped journal entry as a text file.
- Every X minutes (depending on the variables you set), a dialog opens asking you what you are doing. Type, and hit Enter.
- A time-stamped journal entry is appended to the daily journal entry text file.
- In the dialog box, you also have the option to open the journal file or cancel.
Benefits of using this application:
- It automates your time-tracking. Use it for billing, accountability, journalling, etc.
- It reminds you to get back to work if you’re still reading Digg.
- It gives you the big picture view of your activities for the day.
- It brings you back to the present moment, good for self-awareness.
- It’s downright simple.
- You could force your employees to use it and micro-manage their every movement.
How to use:
- Download the application and unzip.
- Double click the app or set as a login item. You can copy it to your ‘Applications’ folder or run it from anywhere.
- Default options are:
Option 1 startTime = 9 (9 AM)
Option 1 endTime = 17 (5 PM)
Option 1 timeOption1 = (15 * 60) — repeats every 15 minutes
Option 2 timeOption2 = (60 * 60) — repeats every hour
Modify to your preferences. - When the dialog box opens, type whatever you want and hit Enter.
Tips and Pointers:
- If you want to edit any of the variables, open Journal.app from within the Script Editor and set your options.
- Choosing ‘Open Journal’ will override the ability to add an entry to the journal. For this reason, I’ve included a raw, single-instance version of the journal script to run manually from the finder, script menu, or by a keyboard shortcut or Quicksilver action. Using this version will pull up the dialog window so you can add something to your journal in between scheduled entries or open the journal. If you don’t like the automatic interruptions of the app version, use this script instead.
- The Journal is a stay open app. I’m not sure why, but choosing ‘Quit Journal’ (Cmd+Q) doesn’t quit the program. The problem isn’t that it hangs. You can see in ‘Activity Monitor’ that it remains responsive. Until I figure out why, I either let it close when I shut down or I force quit.
- If you don’t respond to a dialog before the script repeats, you’ll get an ‘AppleEvent timed out’ error. So it’s a good practice to quit the Journal if you’re leaving your computer for any amount of time that’s longer than the next repeat. The other thing you can do is make the repeat time longer and just plan on typing more in each individual entry.
- If you want to go beyond just the concrete level of your moment-to-moment activities, the NLP Neurological Levels can give your journal entries some depth. You can note your current environment, your current and previous behaviors, what skills you are using, the beliefs you are operating under, what kind of person you are being, and who else might be involved. It’s good motivation and can help you remember why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Future plans:
- Add idle or pause controls.
- Add ability to set variables in a run dialog.
- Twitter integration.
I hope you enjoy using Journal as much as I enjoyed creating it.
If you want to be notified the next time I post something, sign up for email alerts or subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
(1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...Hit Songwriting Tips Podcast 04-17-07
April 17, 2007
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Topics covered:
The definition of a song, what a song is not, the purpose of a song, the way of the Samurai Songwriter.
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(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...John Lennon Hit Songwriting Teleseminar
April 17, 2007
0 CommentsAt this moment, you’re just a $20 click away from discovering the Hit Songwriting Secrets of John Lennon… even if you’re starting from scratch.
April 18th and 19th, 2007 6pm PST/ 8pm CST/ 9pm EST
Count me in! Please reserve my tele-slot for your LIVE teletraining so I too can discover the hit songwriting secrets of John Lennon … even if I’m starting from scratch!
I understand that during these LIVE training calls, you’ll reveal proven songwriting secrets that can dramatically improve my songwriting WITHOUT going through years and years of trial and error…
I further understand that you’ll reveal the identical songwriting techniques that have generated dozens of memorable and enduring hits!
By the end of these calls on April 18th and 19th at 6pm Pacific (9pm Eastern) I’ll have access to…
- Analysis of a number of John Lennon’s hit songs: You’ll receive a detailed analysis of the lyrics, melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and song forms of the legendary John Lennon.
- Four hit chord progressions to write a song over.
- Four hit song titles to get you started.
- Two teleseminars to ask questions and discuss songwriting - both teleseminars will be recorded and put online to download (in case you can’t make the scheduled time).
- Learn how to use the “Chorus Cheat Sheet” to write dozens of choruses.
- Learn how to create a songwriting flow so you can generate more ideas faster.
- Learn rewriting and editing techniques to help you improve your work based on what you’ve learned.
And so much more!
I will confirm my registration for this Samurai Songwriting live two-part teleseminar as follows:
VIP Code Registration - Saves you $79 on tuition
FREE $97 BONUS! If I’m one of the first 10 registrants for these live calls, I will also be eligible to claim the new “Songwriting Video Tutorial - From Start to Completion Using Today’s Technology.”
Normal Registration - $99 (No VIP Discount Code)
Warning: These LIVE teleseminars are available only to the first 50 people who register. Once 50 tele-slots are filled, registrants will be placed on our “Stand-By” list. (Sorry, there are absolutely no exceptions)
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Samurai Songwriting Issue 1 Is Now Available
April 16, 2007
2 CommentsIt’s time to dig into the first issue of Samurai Songwriting. If you’re not a subscriber, join now. If you want to purchase just this issue, you can do that here:
Here’s what we cover in this issue:
- The inner game of songwriting. Five common songwriting problems — which ones do you want to overcome?
- The Samurai Songwriter Code. How you could be breaking trust among your fellow musicians and what to do about it. And how to attract musicians that want to work with you.
- Four essential songwriting tools. These are tools that can drastically improve your songwriting workflow and productivity, as well as generate tons of ideas.
- You’ll learn some practical songwriting techniques. These are strategies that you can use to improve your songwriting immediately.
- The songwriting tool sheet. It’s purpose is to find out how the greatest songwriters do what they do and show you how to do the same. Extremely powerful.
- We take questions from songwriters. These are the answers you’ve been looking for.
- A real-time analysis of a hit song. We study the melody, chord progression, lyrics, rhythm, and song form of a top 10 hit so you can learn how the pros do what they do.
- Learn where you should put your songwriting priorities and why.
- Discover common rhyme mistakes, ways to give your chorus a lift, the best ways to create contrast between your verse and chorus, and so much more!
The cost for a single issue is $27. Subscription price begins at $9.95. Doesn’t it make sense to join today?
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5) Loading ...How To Think Like An eBay PowerSeller
April 14, 2007
0 CommentseBay PowerSellers are recognizable by the ‘PowerSeller’ badge next to their name. Maybe you’ve seen these sellers around — and to succeed on eBay, you want to think like they do.
How do people get the right to call themselves PowerSellers?
Continue reading ‘How To Think Like An eBay PowerSeller’
(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5) Loading ...