Vast and Infinite

The payoff of the Getting Things Done (GTD) organization system is that it allows you to get everything out of your head so you can focus on the very next thing you have to do. This is great. It really works. Earlier this week it worked too well.

I was sitting in yet another meeting when my project manager asked “do you know who’s working on the so-and-so project.” I thought it over and nothing came to mind. So we eliminated all the people it couldn’t be then started calling around. We called Adam (names changed to protect the innocent).

Adam: Yeah, I’m working on the so-and-so project. Gordon and I had a meeting about that last week.

Me: ???

Adam: Yeah, remember, you came over to my cube and….

Me: I’m really sorry. I don’t remember that at all. I believe you. I’m just having a moment or something. I’ll go back and check my notes for that.

I really, really could not remember the meeting. And it stayed that way for a minute or two. Then I vaguely recalled meeting with him, but it seemed a long time ago. It was several more minutes later before I remembered the outline of what we talked about.

So it turns out I did meet with him and I did do some rough documentation for a couple of hours on a project he was working on. However it was three weeks ago, not one, and I had filed the draft away and put an item on my waiting-for list to await more information so I could finish the document. With the note in my system, I really had put it out of my mind (and memory.) After the meeting, I looked at my waiting-for list and found the note.

So maybe this is what it’s like to have a “senior moment.” Can’t say I like it one bit.