What Is Working Yellow?
Working Yellow, a methodology derived from Macktez’s internal processes over the past decade and half, has been designed to help you manage time and planning and carry out projects effectively . The Working Yellow process incorporates our team-customized approach to projects, comprising elements of Getting Things Done, Inbox Zero, Kaizen, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, The Checklist Manifesto, and numerous other approaches to efficiency, organization, and productivity. We at Macktez invest heavily in these skills and are now sharing our techniques with the public in the form of a workshop series geared toward creatives.
Why Yellow? The story of yellow started with a whimsical collection of yellow objects from friends and colleagues that brighten up our office, and over the years it has become a theme-color for us and is associated with our identity. We think colors have personalities and we associate yellow with focused attention, which is a central idea of Working Yellow.
Focus your attention. Don’t let sudden urgencies distract you. The top email in your inbox is not the most important, it’s just the most recent. We live in a world of computers and tablets, video conferencing and social media, and sometimes the speed and volume of information we’re processing can be overwhelming. To harness these powerful technological tools, the first thing most people need to do is slow down. All these tools are useful, but only if used well and carefully.
At Macktez we understand that technology is all tools, not just computers, wireless keyboards, and backup solutions — we mean all the tools you use to carry out your business and go about your life. Sometimes that’s a portable computer, sometimes it’s a pen and a notebook, other times it’s a mental technique or system. One isn’t inherently better than any other — they have different strengths and are best suited for different jobs.
The Working Yellow system and seminar series consists of three workshops, each with a topic that builds on and enhances the others.
Workshop One: Make a Project Plan
The hardest part of any project is getting started. For Working Yellow, planning is key. Some very specific advice:
· Start with a deadline. In our experience projects or tasks with no clear due date float undone indefinitely. What specific date you set is less important than setting some kind of deadline.
· Write it down. Get your thoughts out of your head and written down. Initially, just write down everything that comes to mind and don’t distract yourself by switching gears and organizing yet — there’s time for that later.
· Iterate and revise. Organize your written thoughts and expand the detail with each pass. Be realistic with yourself about building in buffers and downtime and remember to use your calendar. It’s an invaluable asset.
Workshop Two: Follow Your Plan and Stick with It until You Get to the Finish Line
With no boss or producer to tell you what to do, create that role with deadlines and a plan so you can relax and follow it.
· Tools. A tool is anything that can help you get the job done, from a computer to a day planner to an old-fashioned sticky note and pencil. We can help you figure out how to pick the tools that will help you best to reach your goals.
· Follow-through. Building habits takes time, but you might be surprised to see what a big difference a couple of small adjustments to your daily routine can make. We can show you some tricks we’ve honed over the years to help us keep ourselves organized.
Workshop Three: Documentation, Practice, and Checklists
When working with others, common and consistent communication is key.
· Checklists are an invaluable tool. We’ll explain how they differ from project plans, and some ways to make them work for you.
· Iteration is an art. Making small improvements slowly over time can yield big results. A group making small improvements yields even bigger results more quickly.
· Good collaboration means good communication. Figuring out which tools and techniques work for everyone can streamline your workflow and help your team function as a whole. We have suggestions for good ones we’ve used for years, and they might help you too.
In Conclusion
If you come up with a system that works for you and you stick with it, it can be an excellent tool for reducing stress. An organizational system that you trust is reassuring, and with it you can allow yourself to fall back on your routine without fear of forgetting something critical. Part of any good system is building confidence in the system; part is continuously modifying the system.
No one is perfect at this kind of thing; everyone can use a refresher, and the chance to re-focus. Learn more at WorkingYellow.com
