CoStructure

Putting our brains on a diet, together 
« Back to blog

Double Accountability Works

Something remarkable happened today.

For the first time since I can remember, I finished all the items on my day's to-do list.

It took 14 hours (with ample breaks in between), and I only inched forward on some of the less desirable items, but I made forward progress nonetheless.

The winning formula? A combination of a 9am/5pm CoStructure call with Whitney, and use of the Pomodoro method.

Accountability to someone else and accountability to myself.

Between the two, I managed to find sufficient motivation to get done both the top-of-mind items on my list as well as a few things I had been avoiding.

Even if there is something of a placebo effect here, if I can be more relaxed and satisfied with my daily life and maintain the same level of productivity, I'd consider the effort a huge success.

But, just like getting one's body in shape, getting one's mind in shape entails an ability to sustain the fitness over time.

If I can continue to improve and continue to get undesirable things done and be happier doing it, then I must be doing something right.

Loading mentions Retweet

Comments (2)

Sep 22, 2009
Whitney Hess said...
I got everything done before midnight, too! Go us!!

Sep 22, 2009
Sean Savage said...
Bravo Tony!

Small world... I've been thinking a lot lately about Pair Programming techniques, particularly those honed by Pivotal Labs and Hashrocket, and adapting them to apply to other specific disciplines beyond programming, and to work in general. (Google "pair programming" for details but it's all about pairing up with a partner, one of you serving as strategic-thinking "navigator" watching tactical-working "driver," then switching roles.) Double accountability is definitely one part of the productivity boosts that Pivotal et al enjoy.

Great ideas you're putting into practice here, I'll keep an eye on CoStructure...

Sean

Leave a comment...

 
Got an account with one of these? Login here, or just enter your comment below.
Posterous-login    Connect    twitter