Genuine Curiosity

Author Dwayne Melancon is always on the lookout for new things to learn. An ecclectic collection of postings on personal productivity, travel, good books, gadgets, leadership & management, and many other things.

 

SpeedFiler 2 is a boon to email filing

I recently upgraded to version 2 of Speedfiler from Claritude Software. I've been a loyal v1 user for a long time now, and it's an awesomely easy way to file Outlook emails. If you're a version 1 user, you'll find that version 2 is much faster to load, and it has an eerily accurate ability to predict what folder you want to file messages in, even if they are on a new topic. I'm not sure how it does it, but it is way cool.

A full list of features is available on Claritude's site. Version 1 users can also find out what's new in v2.

Outlook's clunky old filing

If you ever use Outlook's [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[V] keystroke combo to move messages to filing folders, you know that it is a good habit to develop, but it requires a lot of steps if you use subfolders (the Outlook UI is a little clunky). I've been using this since I got hooked on David Allen's "Getting Things Done".

If, for example, I want to use the traditional Outlook UI to file a message in a folder called Inbox/Customers/Fictional, I have to:

    1. type [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[V] to get the move dialog,
    2. type "IN" to get to the Inbox folder,
    3. hit the [Right] arrow to expand the subfolders under the Inbox,
    4. type "Cust" to get to the Customers Folder,
    5. hit the [Right] arrow to expand the subfolders under Customers,
    6. type "Fict" to get the the Fictional folder,
    7. hit [Enter] to save the message to that folder.

SpeedFiler's better way

SpeedFiler replaces Outlook's dialog for filing. To do the same thing with SpeedFiler, I would:

  1. type [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[V] to get the move dialog,
  2. type "Fict" to get the the Fictional folder,
  3. hit [Enter] to save the message to that folder.

Much easier, and a lot less hand movement. By the way, you don't have to start with the first letter of the folder name. For example, if you have a folder called TwilightZone, you can just type "Zone" and it will show up in the list. This is handy when you can't remember the precise folder name but you know one word that is in the folder name.

Another cool thing - if you have multiple folders with similar names, SpeedFiler narrows down the list as you type - you can see an example in the screenshot I snagged and posted here, in which I begin to narrow down my various "...reference..." folders.

Other tips and observations:

  • SpeedFiler helps with retrieval
    • One of the drawbacks of filing is that it gives you more folders to navigate through when you want to retrieve things. SpeedFiler helps there - their CEO, Itzy Sabo, turned me on to a very cool shortcut:
  • When you want to navigate to one of your folders, hit [Ctrl]+Y, and the SpeedFiler dialog pops up and you can start typing to narrow down the folder you want to go to. When you've typed enough, hit [Enter] and you're looking at your folder. Beats the heck out of mouse-based navigation. Itzy's blog has some great productivity articles, as well.

So - what's the big deal?

As David Allen says in his book, filing needs to be easy or it won't get done consistently. SpeedFiler makes it easier to do mundane filing, therefore it is more likely you'll file things consistently.

If you're an Outlook user (using Getting Things Done or not), I recommend you give it a whirl and download the 30-day trial of SpeedFiler.

By the way, I use SpeedFiler in conjunction with ClearContext (which I've also written about), and the two work flawlessly together - there are some instances when I use topics with ClearContext, and others when I want to hit [Ctrl]+[Shift]+V to invoke SpeedFiler to do the job.

Other, gadget-related items

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Digby - Blackberry’s best friend?

I've been using a handy new utility called "Digby" that lets me find gift ideas, send gifts to people, and that sort of thing - right from my Blackberry. Digby is a Blackberry-only application that provides a great front-end for a bunch of merchants. As you can see, they use a dog's paw as their logo, so I think you're supposed to think of Digby as a faithful companion that fetches things for you.

You start by browsing for categories (wine, chocolates, gift baskets, romantic gifts, electronics, music, etc.) and then you're presented with selections from their partner merchants.You can get descriptions, pictures (in some cases), and prices for a wide variety of gifts and place the orders in a quick, easy process.

You can see a demo of Digby in action, or get an overview of features at the Digby demo page.

I'm not sure how the service will expand over time, but its current selections seem like they're most useful for people who send gifts professionally - to clients, prospects, and business associates. And, for those occasions when you need to make a deposit in your spouse or special friend's emotional bank account, there are categories in Digby which are fit for that purpose (gift ideas for her, gifts for the man who has everything, gifts for two...).

You can check out the app for free (you don't even have to sign up to browse the categories and merchants) by pointing you Blackberry at http://www.digby.com/download - it's quick and easy to install and give it a spin. Who knows - once you take Digby home, you just may want to keep him.

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My latest site banner

I've had a few inquiries about the picture on my latest site banner. Here's the story - it's from a picture of a curious ground squirrel, which I snapped on a recent campout. It was definitely not shy, and I took the picture as it was trying to get into a bag of trail mix in one of our tents (it later jumped up on the lap of another guy who was there, trying to get to his food). You can see the whole scene here: CuriousChipmunk.jpg (204 KB).

This reminds me of a very funny video that's been making its rounds, called "The Dramatic Chipmunk" - you can watch it below, or on go see it on YouTube. Funny stuff!

This is the best thing since Chocolate Rain and the Chocolate Rain parody (and there are many more...).

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One-liners for life

I just discovered a very cool idea, courtesy of Gretchen and The Happiness Project.  For the last year, she's been keeping a One Sentence Journal for a year now - I am very intrigued, and thinking of doing the same.  Consider this, from her post:

"Each night, I write one sentence (well, actually, usually it's three or four sentences, but by calling it a "one sentence journal" I keep my expectations realistic) about what happened that day to me, the Big Man, and the girls.

Right now, I can't imagine forgetting the time when the Little Girl said politely, "Can I have some more pajamas on my pasta?" when she meant "parmesan," but I will, I will."

Don't know about you, but I think that's pretty cool.  She also has plans to create bound books of the sentences for her girls and her husband.  Check out the details in her post.

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[Review] Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior

One of my mentors (Barry Rhein, the guy who gave me the words to name my "genuine curiosity") recently gave me Richard Marcinko's book, "Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior." This is not a new book, and I'm surprised I haven't run across it before. But man - I am very glad I know about it now.

Marcinko's "in your face" writing style initially led me to believe this was about the most irreverent management book I'd ever read. As I got into it, I realized I'd missed the point. Marcinko is actually very respectful - to those who've earned his respect, regardless of their rank, position, etc. And, in stark contrast, he is absolutely (scathingly) irreverent toward anyone who refuses to learn how to be a better leader, or chooses to be comfortable in a life of incompetence.

The Ten Commandments of the Rogue Warrior

This book takes you through a comprehensive set of management principals by introducing you to each of the "Ten Commandments of the Rogue Warrior." Each "commandment" is explored in Marcinko's colorful way, then illustrated with vivid, memorable true-life stories that really drive the point home. Some of the stories are Marcinko's own, while others draw on great leaders of history (not just military leaders, by the way) to explain how they dealt with difficult situations in a manner consistent with the ten commandments.

I won't go through them all in this review, but here are a couple of the commandments to give you a feel for what they're like - I picked these because I learned significant new things from them:

4. I shall punish thy bodies because the more thou sweatest in training, the less thou bleedest in combat.

This one is about being prepared, but goes beyond "thinking" about being prepared. Marcinko urges businesses to conduct "war game" like exercises (red team vs. blue team) to vigorously test out strategies, and come to view your own company as your competition sees you. Very powerful.

8. Thou shalt never assume.

Excellent illustrations here about the fatal potential of relying on conventional wisdom, flawed first impressions, and thinking you know what others expectations are without confirming them.

The stories in these chapters make these commandments come alive.

The Rogue Warrior's Leadership Code

The "ten commandments" are all derived from The Rogue Warrior's Leadership Code, which has been defined, refined and exemplified by Marcinko throughout his career. The principles are:

  • I will test my theories on myself first. I will be my own guinea pig.
  • I will be totally committed to what I believe, and I will risk all that I have for these beliefs.
  • I will back my subordinates all the way when they take reasonable risks to help me achieve my goals.
  • I will not punish my people for making mistakes. I will only punish them for not learning from their mistakes.
  • I will not be afraid to take action, because I know that almost any action is better than inaction. And I know that sometimes not acting is the boldest action of all.
  • I will always make it crystal clear where I stand and what I believe.
  • I will always be easy to find; I will be at the center of the battle.

--Richard Marcinko, "Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior"

Marcinko's point is this: Whether you lead in life-or-death situations, or you lead in a "normal" corporate environment doesn't matter much - you need to aspire to great principles to be a great leader. What a powerful way to lead - and live.

The bottom line: This book is a wonderful combination of inspiration, instruction, admonishment, and motivation. I highly recommend it.

One word of warning: the language in this book is rough - it's peppered with "f-ing and blanking" - but the message, concepts, and stories are golden.

Related items:

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