Six years ago today, very soon after OmniFocus 2 for Mac was released into the wild, Learn OmniFocus opened its virtual doors. I’m taking some time today to celebrate this milestone, to reflect on the past six years, and to look forward to the future.
What started as an experiment…
When I first launched Learn OmniFocus back in 2014, I wasn’t sure if there would be enough interest to support an online community that centres around a specific app. I’m happy to report that Learn OmniFocus has since attracted members in over 80 countries and is going stronger than ever today.
Our NEW Website
As noted in a previous post, we recently launched a new website that sports a completely new look and includes a plethora of new features. This launch represents a key milestone in Learn OmniFocus’ evolution and paves the way for new content and services.
Most notably, the new website consolidates all of our content into a Content Library that can be filtered by a variety of criteria (e.g. the format and length of the content). We also have a new Knowledge Base that we’re planning to expand in the coming weeks and months.
Some of our longer-form content is now available in a course format, allowing you to keep track of what you’ve watched and to go back and review topics of particular interest. We currently have 11 courses in our library and will be adding more soon.
OmniFocus + Complementary Productivity Apps
Fundamentally, Learn OmniFocus is about teaching productivity principles and how they can be applied using OmniFocus in concert with other productivity apps.
While people in our global community represent a diverse range of cultures, professions, and circumstances, we all have one thing in common. We all use OmniFocus. I’ve found it very helpful to teach productivity principles when there’s a common app to focus on.
One key point that I’ve made many times over the years, is that OmniFocus is just one component of a productivity system. For a system to be effective, it’s also necessary to have tools and practices for developing ideas, managing schedules, and keeping track of reference information.
Moving forward, I’ll be putting even more emphasis on the apps and services that complement OmniFocus’ features. I’ll continue to share carefully-chosen apps that can be used in both personal and collaborative workflows and will be greatly expanding the recently-revamped OmniFocus App Directory.
For example, next month (July 15, 2020) the one-and-only Kourosh Dini will be gracing the virtual stage of Learn OmniFocus to teach us about Manifesting Ideas with OmniFocus + DEVONthink. Kourosh is the author of the popular Creating Flow with OmniFocus and recently launched Taking Smart Notes with DEVONthink, making him exceptionally well qualified to speak on this topic.
A Hub for OmniFocus Resources
From the beginning, one of my intentions was to have OmniFocus be a hub that provides a convenient place to access vetted OmniFocus-related material from a wide variety of sources.
Building on this vision, we’re continuing to expand the resources that are provided through Learn OmniFocus. For example, we’re currently getting ready to launch the OmniFocus Plug-In Directory, a growing list of carefully-chosen Plug-Ins that expand OmniFocus’ capabilities on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad using the Omni Automation technology introduced in OmniFocus 3.8.
And more…
Other expansive ideas that we’re currently contemplating include the addition of a Learn OmniFocus forum, adding subtitles to some of our content (most likely in French and Spanish to begin with), and new, innovative interactive sessions.
As always, requests for new content and services are welcome and appreciated. Drop us a line if you have ideas to share.
Heartfelt Thanks
This work is truly a labour of love. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us on our journey. I’ve met some amazing people along the way and my life has been greatly enriched through these interactions.
In closing, a special thanks to The Omni Group for all the time and energy they continue to put into OmniFocus and their other offerings. I was a software developer for years, and know that writing quality software is hard work.