“Control - Shift - K will make your Day!”

by Skip Colfax

“Control - Shift - K will make your Day!”

Do you remember hearing that quote in Getting the EDGE? It is often attributed to my colleague, Robertt Young, but I recently learned that the source of the phrase is actually a student who participated in a Getting the EDGE class that Robertt lead some time ago. The rhyme is simple and it makes me smile. I use that short cut multiple times each day for entering new Actions into my EDGE System; knowing that my system is only as good as its user… ME!

I use Control – Shift – K whenever I recognize something that I need to do; whether I’m processing information in my e-mail inbox, reading through meeting notes, or talking with people on a conference call. I’m always processing information… and doing it pretty quickly. I guess it’s no surprise that my laminated copy of the EDGE Deciding Model is right in front of me every day, all day. I’m continuously adding to my task list, lest I forget something and let it fall through the cracks. As I’m processing, I’m not only adding tasks, I’m adding calendar items also, but not as many. On average, about 85% of my actions go on my task List.

Sometimes I get a hot assignment from my boss and jump right into it to complete it quickly. If I haven’t entered a task for it, I feel cheated! So, I “Control – Shift – K” and add the task, so I have a record of my activities. But then, I turn around and check it off as completed! Checking things off my list makes me feel good.

I do have a surrogate for Control – Shift – K for times when I’m away from my computer. As soon as I think of something that I need to do, I’m thinking, “Control – Shift – K” but I’m grabbing my trusty notebook to write it down! Those items in my notebook get a Star to the left of them, so they are easy to identify when I’m emptying my notebook. My days are full of “Control-Shift – K” with a sprinkling of “Control – Shift – A” as needed.

Control – Shift – K does make my day! It keeps my system up-to-date, reliable, and helps keeps my head clear! Sure beats trying to remember all of that stuff!