Steveer Robbins here. Welcome to the Get It Done Guys quick and dirty tips to work less and do more.

Today's topic is keeping track of your chaotic life. The quick and dirty tip is to use mind mapping

software as a flexible, extensible dashboard. I do not follow my own advice. I admit it. Despite having my to-do lists,

my posted pads, and my getting things done system, I sometimes commit myself to a teeny

bit more than I can handle, like when my friend came over needing some help with his new

faster-than-light teleportation system. How could I say no? Listen to my episode 15 and honest no for the

answer to this rhetorical question. Overcommitting isn't a big problem. I'm used to no sleep,

dropping important projects halfway through, and disappointing those who love me. The problem is

keeping track of it all. There are always a thousand details and they they change all the time. My solution is to create a

dashboard that I look at every day. When I start a new project or think of something I need

to track, and don't know where else to track it, it goes on my dashboard. Just like a car dashboard

keeps all the important information right there, my dashboard is in front of me daily with all

the things that are top of mind. Then front of me daily with all the things that

are top of mind. Then I delve into the details in the areas that are a priority for today.

For my dashboard, I use mind mapping software. It lets me easily and quickly create a set of

broad categories. For example, initiatives I'm in charge of, or ideas for book topics, or items of interest to my

corporate overlords. Then, under each category, I just type details of each item. Then I get a phone

call. It's Carol, reminding me that we're traveling to New York next Thursday. I have to start

collecting the material we'll be presenting. There's nowhere on my mind map that this would fit.

So, I create an upcoming events branch and add New York under that branch.

Over the next few weeks, upcoming events proves to be a useful category.

I've already added parties, meetings, and of course December 21st, 2012.

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