Challenge: Designing A Digital Franklin Planner - Can It Be Done?

Is it possible to create a digital version of the Iconic Franklin Planner? Let's find out
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[@jrgarciab]

I'll say it--I was more productive back in the day when I used a paper Franklin Planner. Today's digital models can be fast and store enormous amounts of information, but they're missing the consistent curation that can only come from using stationery. Flipping through paper notes will quickly tell you how productive you've been the previous week and can sometimes be inspirational, providing needed momentum to get things done into the next week. Thank you, Carl. I'd love to see a lot more of this content.

[@STWHA_]

I switch between paper and digital. Often, I start in analog and then migrate what I need into Apple Notes. I have a smart folder set up for "Pinned Notes" and "Open Tasks," aka unchecked items. Where I would get lost in paper is in things like a Monthly Index/log. But where I get lost digitally is in events. I like paper where I can see key events and stuff on one page instead of using search in a calendar.

[@Carl_Pullein]

That['s what I've discoverd. It's the intentionality of writing out my tasks that encourages me to get them done.

[@jrgarciab]

This 3-month experiment will be great. Can't wait to watch the content.

[@PhilipStratton]

I, too, learned time management way back when the FP rep came to our military unit in the mid-90s to show us the system and equip us with the base binder and 2-page per day filler pages. I loved it! Today, I think the Microsoft Outlook and OneNote integration is the best digital adaptation available at this time. I have my tasks appear at the bottom of the calendar view so priority tasks can be dragged into an open time slot when planning out the day. I then have a recurring daily calendar event called "Daily Journal" that I open each morning and click the button to take notes in OneNote, which creates a new note using that day's date as the Note title, ready to capture notes, quick to do's, etc. It is just a great way to evolve this FP approach.

[@billdunham1913]

Another great video, thank you Carl. I was an early adopter of these planners and used Covey extensively up to retirement. I dabbled with digital systems, but I am still using my paper based versions today, for the delight of using my collection of fountain pens and coloured inks. It's a tactile pleasure a keyboard will never replace. Keep the faith, stay with your Lamy. Besties!

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you, Bill. That is so true, there is something wonderfully tactile about pen on paper.

[@jaywatson5438]

Carl, thank you! I’ve been wondering why someone hasn’t put this package together in the past. I tried Franklyn/Covey’s attempt at a digital equivalent in the 1990’s and it was too cumbersome. I think your construct is perfect, as long as (like you say) you strictly follow the rules of ruthlessly limiting your prioritized daily task list and indexing your notes! The only daily thing left is the daily roles and goals “book mark”, but I’m probably jumping ahead to the next video you are working on, sorry! I just can’t wait! I recently found an old copy of Hyrum Smith’s 1987 book, “The Advanced Day Planner User’s Guide” to try the same thing you are doing, extract ideas for a digital version, but you beat me to it, and much more elegantly! Thank you!

[@Carl_Pullein]

I haven't got to the goals and values section yet. I will and I'll see how that can be brought up to date.

[@chrismaresco3163]

Thank you for another excellent video, Carl. You are proving the Franklin Planner System is still the best overall system for identifying Values, Roles, Goals, and then implementing them through Monthly, Week, and, ulitmately, Daily Planning. The FPS can be applied digitally, on blank paper, journal, or on pre-formated planning pages that are available through Franklin Covey, Daytimer, etc. The Franklin Planning System simply works. There is no need to reinvent the process. Simply apply it to your life and enjoy the results.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Completely agree with you there, Chris.

[@john_harvey3]

Got my FP refill just this week and I have to say, it felt like I had picked up the phone (the rotary one that hung on the kitchen wall with the 25' curly cord) and dialed my best friend and talked for hours. I keep my "work calendar" up to date with my time blocks but all my tasks, notes, specific appointment info goes in the Franklin, project notes as well (blank pages in the numbered tabs) and I have to say that at the end of the day there is something about going through the hand written entries and making sure I really have done what I needed to do and if not moving it to the next day if I can't get it done today for what ever reason. Thanks for another great video Carl, can't wait for the next one.

[@Carl_Pullein]

When my refills arrived, I too felt a wave of nostalgia and excitement. Now to see if I can buy a rotary phone hahahaha

[@drog2000]

I've been using Anytime Organizer since 1995 and it's great. Looks like the Franklin Planner but it's on your computer so everything will move to the next day if you don't get it done. You can do so much with this organizer - you can buy from individual software

[@ozbolder]

Something that I find useful in apple reminders is you can set a priority to each task. 1,2 or 3 exclamations appear next to the task and you can sort them that way. Also if my schedule is really hectic I’ll flag the one or two tasks that must happen today.

[@michaeltdoan]

There was a FranklinCovey store near my house long ago. It was nerd heaven.

[@Carl_Pullein]

I remember finding the Franklin Planner store in Korea. I spent many happy Saturday afternoons in there :-)

[@username00009]

I’m doing this experiment alongside you! My Q4 inserts arrived yesterday and already I feel so much more calm. TBD whether I’ll stick with it, but when life (personal/work) is hectic it’s a great system even if it seems outdated.

[@Carl_Pullein]

That's something I've noticed too. A sense of calm when looking at what needs to be done today.

[@dirk.landers]

You are on fire. Just a couple of months ago, you broke 100K. You're now over 130K. Did your book help? Great book, by the way. I hope all 130k subscribers buy it. They won't be disappointed.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you, Dirk.

[@annleach7908]

I too was a Franklin person back in the day and now use a BuJo and wow . . . the parallels in my setups is striking, but until I watched your previous video about the Franklin and now this one, I hadn't made the connection. Now I'm wondering if BuJo creator, Ryder Carroll was once a Franklin user.

[@Carl_Pullein]

It's possible. It was the go-to time management system.

[@ChrisMartin-pz3mp]

Thank you, you have inspired me to run my own experiment. It has been amazing how the task of just writing everything down has helped me plan my day.

[@Carl_Pullein]

That's always been the draw of the Franklin Planner for me. That ten to fifteen minutes of planning every day. 🙂

[@sun_buddy]

i feel so nostalgic to live in the 90's and attend a two day course for franklin planner but I was only 7 years old in 1994 :( so iconic bro so iconic anyone here with the Lisa Frank-lin planner and ready and loaded up in the car to go to the two day class? ICONIC. I refuse to go digital 👀

[@Carl_Pullein]

Hahaha love that 🙂

[@meeluanistyn1644]

This is exactly what I want to see for my own productivity system - super video.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you.

[@ridwanslife]

Brilliant video as always, Carl!

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you 🙂

[@MitchellRixon]

Love these videos, very insightful and I'm looking forward to hearing about your learnings over the coming weeks and months

[@Carl_Pullein]

It's been a very interesting journey so far. 🙂

[@MitchellRixon]

@@Carl_Pullein I think there's a lot to learn from going back to the roots of keeping to a simple system in an age of rapid technological advancement. I have definitely been caught in the trap of tinkering instead of just 'doing the work'. Thanks again Carl and have a great day!

[@paulahunt414]

Why I love a paper. ... scheduling a meeting ..When I do it by paper, I see at a GLANCE the whole month, week and day in the monthly calendar. This prevent me from having too many meetings that month. Online calendar you must swich from month, to week, to day to see that info. I did it with a one page turn on paper. Love paper ❤

[@Carl_Pullein]

I have to test that. Thank you for sharing, Paula.

[@neitaoutdoors4278]

This is brilliant; thank you. I love this idea for times I'm at my computer. I'm trying to find a good balance between paper and digital. Even though I am "retired", I need a Time Management system. My life is in three categories: Medical / Core Work of Financial Management, Home Care, etc / Leisure & Pleasure (Learning, Social, Fun). I want to make time for Leisure & Pleasure while working around Medical appointments, yet also getting essential and priority Core Work done. But for 50% of my day, I'm nowhere near a computer and don't enjoy using my iPhone for collecting and note-keeping. It will evolve ... :) Looking forward to following your experiment.

[@christophersophys5363]

I have just order your book few minutes ago..... I would already have it in my hands 🥳 Thank you very much for all things an experience you share.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Aww thank you. Christopher. Enjoy the book.

[@NicoVeenkamp]

Nice project for implementation in Evernote. Now you can integrate tasks and calendar.

[@Carl_Pullein]

That's something I did think about, Nico.

[@SubtleForces]

It took a long time to watch. Whenever an approach was explained, I though that I should try it. Then, I set up the page with the prioritized to dos and of course, I thought I might as well do the As while I am here. Then, I went back to the video, got another idea, and tested it ou again. Maybe this digital world can indeed be made to be as good as the old paper world (and my palm III), Thanks!

[@Carl_Pullein]

That's the best way to learn 🙂

[@alexsaezm]

Nerd fact: there is a rather obscure (at least outside the IT world) book from 2005 called Time Management for System Administrators by Thomas A. Limoncelli where the author talks about how this system works and, in some degree, he also talks about a digital version approach.

[@Carl_Pullein]

Ooh, thank you, Alex. I'm currently reading all the old books on time management. I'll see if I can find a copy of that book.

[@paulahunt414]

I have my franklin paper planner ready to go

[@Carl_Pullein]

Enjoy it, Paula.

[@brittanykh]

The app NotePlan is set up this way so it would be easy to apply the FP concepts

[@maikeru86]

Most of Lamy fountain pens are enjoyable to write with :) I wonder, you're from UK and you don't have any Parker?? There is brillant new 51 model - which is new version of legacy 51 from 80's 🤔 Really really recommend! :)

[@Carl_Pullein]

Ooh, the Parker 51 (and Duofold) are on my wish list. I have quite a few Parker Sonnets and they gorgeous writers.

[@MrJammurr]

Great video but can I ask how you manage overlap? Are your prioritised tasks, calendar and notes in the planner and digital system?

[@Carl_Pullein]

This is an experiment. I haven't transfered my routine and I do check Todoist before I finish the day.

[@chaskinsnc]

I like the Full Focus Planner but struggle with wanting to do more digitally. I cannot get focus as I always look for apps to change my life and make me more productive.

[@Carl_Pullein]

I've struggled with that in the past. After 12 years of looking for the "perfect" app, I realised it does not exist and likely never will. At least with paper I can give it a go.

[@JordanNichollsYouTube]

With the references in a digital set up, now that you can link to a note (say on Apple notes) and it takes you right there, is it that important? If I have a daily note with collapsible headers do I need to number them, or could I just link the task to the note and see where the information is? I really want to try this but just need to make sure I’m not missing something! As always great videos. Love the fact it’s not choppy flashing content and is ACTUALLY NEW ways of using this stuff!

[@Carl_Pullein]

It will depend how many topics you have in the daily not. If it's just one or two, linking to the note without the reference would be find. The challenge comes when you have several topics. Youj may find it faster to add the number.

[@JordanNichollsYouTube]

@@Carl_Pullein that’s really helpful thank you. Just don’t want to fall into the trap (as I have done in the past) of doing too much that actually isn’t needed! Will be giving this a go next week when I start my masters course!

[@BritneyAlea]

Hi Carl! Can you do an updated comparison of the updated IOS 18 reminders with calendar integration vs Todoist?

[@Carl_Pullein]

I will be doing one soon. I'm testing things out at the moment.

[@JimSamuel267]

DayTimer was similar to the Franklin Planner. Back in the 1990s, DayTimer had a digital version of its planner. The software combined the worst of both the digital and analog worlds. It did not do what I find most valuable about paper-based planners: The ability to glance at a page and easily see everything for that day.

[@Carl_Pullein]

The Franklin Planner also attempted a digital version. It was horrible, and it looks like they no longer do it. David Allen pointed out that creating an app replicating the best of the paper systems is almost impossible.

[@JimSamuel267]

@@Carl_Pullein The two best digital planners I ever used were Borland's SIdekick for Windows and the desktop software that came with the Palm Pilot. Both presented all the information you needed in a single screen. They looked similar to a Franklin Planner two-day spread.

[@TheRealJohnnyCash]

Great video Carl, I desperately want to return to my Franklin Covey Planner. Any recommendations on handling tasks and keeping track of calendar events when it isn’t always possible to have my Franklin Covey Planner with me to reference?

[@Carl_Pullein]

I've been adding tasks and calendar events using my phone. That's still my ubiquitous collection tool. I can transfer those when I do my daily planning.

[@gstevens62]

No matter how much my head tells me how much more sense it makes to take full advantage of the convenience and speed of my digital tools, I can't get away from wanting to write things on paper. I too was a Franklin Planner user, and I went full digital a few years ago. I just received my Franklin Planner refill pack and I'm going back to using it for a while, so I guess I'm taking this journey with you. I went back and watched Part 3 of the Franklin Planner course, led by Gary Ritchins, to refresh my memory of the Franklin method. I look forward to seeing what I learn from planning on paper! If anyone wants to watch the Franklin course on using the planner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZmcXotsnseKZqMsi=p3TgA2dbI2y8FwbN

[@Carl_Pullein]

Thank you for sharing that. The whole series by Gary Ritchins is worth watching.

[@louisyurman]

What do you call a pharmacy (chemist) or gas (petrol) station in South Korea?

[@Carl_Pullein]

Yak gug 약국 (Chemist) and Ju Yu So 주유소 (petrol station) 🙂