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Franklin
Covey Planner software for
the
Palm Computing platform - a FAQ |
If you don't
have Javascript enabled, there are HTML links at the very bottom of every
page.
This FAQ arose
out of a Usenet thread. Many thanks to the party involved for their intelligent and
interesting feedback.
Up front, I offer you this: the
Franklin Covey software for the Palm is not just 'different' to the built in Planner
applications (e.g. 'ToDo'), but far better. IMHO (as always).
I say this because of the holistic planning system underlying the software:a philosophy of
life and time management that works (for me).
But please read on and decide
for yourself. |
| Q: Should I use the Franklin
Covey applications for the Palm? Patience.
Persistence. Decision.
The Franklin Planner software is irrelevant unless one embraces the Franklin Covey
life and time management philosophy - the software and the technique
compliment and reinforce one another. Don't bother using it if you don't
like the Franklin Covey planning philosophy.
So. If you don't dig the FC groove, the
software will shit you. But if you hunker down with Doctor Stephen and his 7 Habits, you
may find the software to be an excellent productivity addition to your life.
Having said that, the first three words of my
post become relevant: FC planning requires change in the way you (probably) do things now,
and change requires patience and persistence. Then decide if its for you.
If you're a 2 Meg'er Piloteer: RAM is at a premium and these apps add up to
approximately 350k.
If you don't know much about the Franklin
Covey system, follow the link (right) to Amazon.com and read what others have had to say
about the book the applications are based on: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. |
The Seven Habits of Highly
Effective People
If you think this book is
crap, don't get a
Franklin Covey edition Palm unit. |
| Q: How should I use the
Franklin Covey applications for syncing my Palm? I use the Franklin Covey software on a Palm Vx (see below) and it
works wonderfully with the Franklin Covey bolt-on for Outlook 98/2000 which gives you all the
(unchanged) functionality of Outlook as a PIM - the software merely replaces Outlook Today
with its life planning tools (including a revamped version of the stock Outlook Today
screen). This is the new patched version of the FC software and conduit.
Yes, the first version
of Franklin Planner for Outlook was buggy. But its been fixed in Version 1.1
Upgrade.
So, you'll only have to reinstall the upgrade, or simply get the upgraded Version
1.1 when you purchase it.
Slipstick Systems (probably the BEST
resource on Microsoft Outlook on the Internet)
has a very detailed section on ALL the tech. issues
relating to Franklin Planner for Microsoft Outlook.
Ummm...syncs perfectly and quickly, too. For me. No worries at all. These things
often do work well if you read the Manual first.
I'm also fond of the multi-application layout. I think the standard Palm Desktop
does suck and has very little to do with being organised and developing successful
planning and more to do with managing the Palm device databases. It seems odd that
e-mail and scheduling applications should be separated. But, again, that is my
opinion.
Bottom line: I think Franklin Planner for Microsoft Outlook is fantastic.
Each to their own!
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Q: What are the Franklin Covey
Palm applications?
Do they work with other applications like DateBk 3 or 4?DateBk3 uses the standard Palm
datebook database and provides additional views. Datebk4 uses all four
Palm databases (ToDo, Calendar, Address, Memo) and provides additional and combination
views for all of them (view your Memo's in Calendar, for example).
Now each Franklin Planner component is a seperate Palm application. Together they comprise
the processes taught at Franklin Covey 'What Matters Most' seminars and what you'd get in
a Frannklin Covey binder. The Franklin Planner Palm applications use the Palm Datebook
database but their own application databases for the other facets of planning inherent to
the Franklin Covey system:
Daily Task List, Master Task List, Values, Roles, Goals,
Mission, Weekly Compass, and Daily Record of Events.
The Daily Task list replaces the Palm 'ToDo' application, and the Daily Record of Events
is a 'journaling' feature that (in some respects) replaces the Palm Memo application. You
use whatever Datebook application you use now (for example, DateBk3, DateBk4, the Palm
Datebook).
These Franklin Covey Palm applications integrate very nicely with each other: there's a
little compass icon on the far left corner of the title tab that drops down a list of the
other applications, allowing you to jump rapidly from one to another. For example, a Role
you create in the Roles application can be linked to a Long Range Goal in the Goals
application which may link to your Mission Satement. When you are ready to begin
implimenting Long Range Goals, these can connect to Tasks in your Master Task List, Daily
Task List, or the Palm Datebook.
What this means, however, is that if you are using an application like DateBk3 or 4 that
offers you a combined view of Tasks and Appointments, you cannot view the Franklin Covey
Tasks as they do not use the Palm 'ToDo' database (something to do with how the Tasks are
prioritised under the Franklin Covey system). The Daily Task List does allow you to move a
task to and from the Master Task List, the Palm datebook, or a different day. Repeat items
can also be entered the re-appear in the future after they've been completed (for example,
'Pay Rent' on the 15th of every month).
I do wish you could have the combined Task and Schedule view using the Franklin Covey Palm
applications, but given all the other functionality offered, this is a small gripe. |
Q: What about
the 'standard' Palm software, can I still get that?
Totally - be cool about these
things: you're not getting a 'different' Palm unit, just a co-branded (Palm Computing and
Franklin Covey) unit.
The Franklin Covey software isn't even installed by default - so you get a 'clean'
device. If you want the Palm Computing games, just download the .prc files from Palm
here and install in
your next hotsync (see...its not so worrysome is it?). All the 'standard' Palm
applications 'ToDo', 'Memo', etc. are included - they are in the Palm's ROM, so you can't
even (really) delete them.
(yes, I am aware that HaRDcoRe
PaLM haKKer Dudez will say that last comment is open to interpretation - it'll do for 99%
of users, though).
Q: What's this about
Microsoft's Outlook security update - I've heard it nuts up your Palm!?
Oh, you mean Microsoft's new "gee,
whoops...you mean when we fixed an Outlook security hole we also screwed up your Palm
Pilot?"
An easy tip for you: Don't apply the
patch. It screws with HotSyncing, i.e. you won't be able to. At all.
Not even a little bit.
Outlook is vulnerable because it offers some custom features that integrate nicely with
the Microsoft Office suite of products, so it's a choice between having to be thoughtful
and not operating your computer like driving drunk, or giving up some of Outlook's
functionality power. I use Outlook 98 (with the Franklin Covey bolt-on) and think its
brilliant.
There's some good info at the Franklin Covey
Technical Support site reabout the Outlook e-mail security update. Much of it refers
directly to Franklin Planner for Outlook, but there is some good general information there
as well. For example, it appears the update can be removed without uninstalling all
of Outlook provided one is only using a local machine: http://www.franklincovey.com/customer/techsupport/outlook_security.html
Use your anti-virus tool(s) carefully and simply scan your attachments before
executing them. Think and then do. Not the other way around. Not only
true for downloading e-mail attachments, but for life itself. :-)
Q: You may say the Palm
software is 'better', but is it 'different'?
Franklin Palms are bundled with a 'Task
List' rather than the 'ToDo' list (though the ToDo list does stay resident of your Palm
and its completely useable), and this syncs fine with everything.
You can use DateBk3 (as does the Good Doctor Salami) for scheduling.
The only difference is that the Franklin Planner 'Task List'
application uses a different database than the Palm 'ToDo' application, so if you're using
BateBk3, it will not show task views: this is fine by me but may be mind-bendingly
horrific for you. But at least you know now and awareness is cool because you get to
make informed decisions.
Q: What about syncing with two
computers?
So easy. The Good doctor
does this with his home and work PC's: no problems. Some people have had
difficulties (so I have heard) but all I can offer you is that, for me, this is entirely
possible - it can be done and done flawlessly. But you'll need another Cradle or
Hotsync cable.
To sync with two PC's,
you'll need one of these...
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Q: Tell me
more about the Franklin Covey System...
I warm to a concept of a 'decision support'
mechanism - a 'rules filter' for one's life, as it were. The FC system attempts to build a
tool that helps a user of this tool create 'happiness' or 'productivity' or 'life
affirmation'. These as concepts are incredibly difficult to quantify as, by their very
nature, their actual meaning amongst individuals differs.
I once read that the secret of life was simple - thus:
"First say what you would be. Then do what you have to do."
An easy conceptualisation but with depth: it implies that 'success' is entirely
self-defined and transcends messages about what society (Western, in particular) holds as
having 'made it'. I believe the FC system of life and time management to be a very
effective tool - because the tool is multi-faceted and incredibly flexible: not just the
software, but the intellectual environment in which one uses the software. It enables,
through a system, a discovery of the first part (what you would be) and then an
implementation (do what you have to do) , again through a system but a system intimately
connected to the first part.
We often hear the refrain (often in our place of work): "I never have enough time,
there must be some planner, software, desktop application, palm device that will help me
organise my life."
...and there are many. But until one knows what is truly important in one's life, the use
of any tool without this 'rules filer' or decision-support mechanism will still lead to a
feeling that time is not being spent as effectively as it could. Until you know what
is the most important to you in life, no amount of planning will give you a true feeling
of managing your time, because all is in flux; you don't know your 'constants'.
This is what I mean by multi-faceted: the FC desktop systems (although I use the Outlook bolt-on) and Palm software support a holistic approach and aid
in a user by providing portable tools that do help one determine (as they say) 'what
matters most'.
I agree with what some people in various threads on Usenet that the FC system have said:
determining these factors ('what you would be) is as equally important than the day-to-day
planning. Search on Deja and you'll find
quite detailed posts on how to emulate the FC system with existing Palm and (I think, freeware) applications. Do this if its for you - but
it's not for me. |
The fundamental belief I took from my time spent studying the FC system was that
one's life path is aligned with one's principles. Principles, by their very nature are
immutable. I have never found my responsiveness to be choked back by the FC system: you
simply choose how to respond to an increasing pace of external stimuli in a manner that
affirms your principles. It is in that eyeblink between stimulus and response that the
worth of the FC approach resides: an environment of self-awareness affords strength and
commitment - and the pace of change around you does not affect this.
But then, this is all my experience: there are other methods. But I like these sort of
posts because others get to assimilate these ideas and create a more informed opinion to
guide choices. And they lead one to critically examine one's current beliefs and weigh
these against the legitimate, intelligent observations of others. I invite you to comment on this. |
If you're into
this stuff,
I sincerely commend this book to you:
Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen Covey
(The Good Doctor owns this and
'7 Habits of Highly Effective People')
|
Q: What Accessories do you use
with your Franklin Covey Palm?
|
The Palm Folding Keyboard folds into a case that is only slightly larger
than the Palm organizer itself.
You get a full QWERTY keyboard. Read my review.
The Palm Foldable Keyboard is really, really, really good for use in meetings,
especially capturing your daily information in the 'Daily Record of Events' Palm
application (which syncs so very nicely with the Journal feature of Outlook when using the
Franklin Covey Planner for Outlook bolt-on, or syncs with the
functionality of the same name when using the Franklin Planner desktop app.) or just using the Memo feature of the
Datebook to record important notes during particular meetings. |
| Q: I've e-mailed Franklin
Covey (or Palm, or Handspring, or Microsoft, or anyone else) and don't have a reply.
What should I do? This doesn't
have much to do with Franklin Covey, but I see this question so many times...
Give them a call.
I've found that although e-mail is a wonderful productivity tool, until one forms a
working relationship with another or develops a sense of reliability, always follow-up
with a phone call and be assertive if required. |
You can learn more at the Franklin Covey Website.
(in particular, look in the 'Online Communities' technology forum)
Click here to visit
the Franklin Covey Article of the Month: Charles Schulz
Tell others about
Doctor Salami's Palm Pages
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