Web Application: RPM?

If you’ve read my blog you’ve probably noticed I’m big into goal setting and achievement. I’ve tried many time/life management software programs and none have really worked for me. Probably the best piece of software for the desktop is Plan Plus by Franklin Covey. I was going to write about turning the Covey software into a Web application, even through his time management system doesn’t work well for me. But after some research I found that there was, in fact, a version created for the Web. In lieu of talking about Plan Plus, I am instead going to discuss the Rapid Planning Method (RPM) from the Anthony Robbins Companies. 

Anthony Robbins (Yes, the big guy with the teeth from the infomercials) has probably created the best time/life management system on the planet. Although, the introduction to his system is much more complex than Coveys, but is well worth the effort to learn. Recorded on 16 CD’s (in the audio program Time of Your Life), Anthony Robbins guides you step by step through his RPM system. To provide a tool for users, he originally created a paper planner to go with it. Later, he also put out at least two versions of a software program that most users, including this blogger, found useless. Users couldn’t believe that such a powerful system of life management wouldn’t translate into a powerful software program to assist the user in the management of their life. 

Currently, the software has been discontinued, though if you still use paper planners they’re still available from the company website. Talk on the company message board seems to indicate that software for both desktop and mobile apps are in production, but most RPM users are not holding their breath.

This brings us to the idea of turning the RPM desktop planner into a Web application. A Web application could be a remedy to any memory or size constraints that would also provide a steady stream of income for the company, since a Web site like this would be subscription based. 

With a Website like this, the user could plan their whole life in one location and access it from anywhere (as long as they had an Internet connection). Also, just like the software program was supposed to do, the user would be able to plan out their year and then move the goal and action item(s) to the correct month, week, and day, that the user scheduled for it to be worked on (saving a ton of retyping), something the software program was never able to accomplish. Additionally, on the daily plan, especially if JavaScript were utilized, the user would be able to take a goal for the day with its action items under it and move the entire block, depending on what order they wanted to accomplish their goals, without the need to rewrite.