The Why

Something special happens when people personally put their commitments on paper: They live up to what they have written down.

— Robert Cialdini, Influence

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.

— Elinor Smith, Aviatrix

I’d been building GemTimer and IdeaKache for a few months when one day I looked at the weekly calendar and todo list I completed by hand and realized I should try and build that too. While the calendar turned out to be a tricky problem for later, the todo part was something I could do.

GemTodo is not the first todo product (and it won’t be the last either). I’m aware of the jokes about the world needing another one. I built GemTodo anyway because it’s something that I wanted. After a few months of working on it, it’s exactly what I want.

I also built GemTodo because I’ve learnt a thing or two about todo lists. I’ve been experimenting with todo lists for nine years. I previously taught sessions on getting organized (including todo lists) to incoming Analysts and Associates at McKinsey. All these experiences led to my current system, which I’ve had for a couple of years. That system has become GemTodo.

Since GemTodo reflects the todo system I use every day, I know it can be used by other people each day as well. GemTodo has helped me get more things done, so I know it can help other people get more things done too.

Given you’re here, it’s clear you want to become better. Maintain the discipline of using GemTodo every day and you’ll soon become too good to ignore.