Community Contribution from Mike Vardy

I’m about to state the obvious.

We’re all human.

Ergo, we make mistakes. Like creating words like “ergo.”

Beyond “The Royal We,” we’re individuals. I’m sure you didn’t create the word “ergo” but I am pretty certain you’ve made other mistakes. I know I’ve made my share. For example, starting off this article as I have. That’d be one.

Another I make is getting off track rather than Getting Things Done. Hey, it happens to the best of us, right? [Read more →]

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A few months ago, a new GTDer named Michael started sending me his experiences of reading Getting Things Done.  He read a chapter a week and would recap what he learned. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading these, as it’s been fun to see GTD through a newcomer’s eyes.  He just finished the book and sent his final summary. I thought you might all enjoy this.

Over the past few months, I’ve gone through Getting Things Done (GTD) with the proverbial fine-toothed comb, reviewing one chapter each week. During this time, I’ve completed a second draft of a novella and moved into a new apartment.

At the very least, GTD prepared me to fully complete these two tasks and any other task that I might happen upon. The novella is a complete story, beginning to end. I’ve organized my new apartment into a livable space, and I’m completely unpacked.  Learning how to identify a task and follow it to completion has been a key element of my GTD learning experience. [Read more →]

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Hey, not a bad place to read a book!  Thanks to Susan from Rhode Island for sharing this from her recent vacation in the Caribbean.

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Dear David and Co.,

About three years ago, on a long plane ride, I was able to fully deploy GTD into a paper-based system.  I had read the book. And the book suggested writing down all active Projects, Tasks, and Waiting Fors.

After writing down all my projects, I looked at the list. It was easy to see I had too many irons in the fire.  Looking at the Projects list, I knew what I had to to next.  More importantly, I knew what I had NOT to do.

Within several hours of getting off the plane I was able to gracefully unplug for three major initiatives which a) were soaking up a lot of time, b) did not mesh well with a heavy travel schedule.

This was a revelation. It was the first time I felt that I could control my work world. Up to that point, my work, and my interests had been controlling me.

With a functioning GTD system, I now end up launching far fewer new projects. Paradoxically, this enable me to get much more done.

Thanks for your hard work in bringing such a useful system to the world.

Steedman Bass
Cambridge, MA

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David’s second book, Ready For Anything, is a wonderful little book, chock full of inspiring essays and helpful coaching questions.  It was born out of the “Food For Thought” essays he does in the free Productive Living newsletter (formerly called Productivity Principles.)  Kim, a mom in Ohio, wrote to David to share her experience with Ready For Anything.

I just wanted to let you know that I really have gained a lot from your book, Ready for Anything!  I am not a business person, or an entrepreneur.  In fact I do not even get paid for my work…but I do work — I am a Stay At Home Mom.  And, while I know I am not your target audience, I just wanted to let you know that this SAHM really got a lot from listening to your audio book. [Read more →]

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A Community Contribution from Mike Vardy

As the first quarter of 2010 passes us by, I’m going to ask it: How many of you have stuck to your “resolutions” that you made at the start of 2010?

I’m betting that some of you – perhaps most of you – have faltered on them in some form or another.  It’s to be expected.  In fact, it can be preferred.

I’ve heard David Allen say you need to make a bunch of resolutions – essentially goals – and the real challenge is making some of them stick.  When I first heard this, I couldn’t believe it.  I mean – c’mon – surely we should have some focus on what we want to get out of ourselves and the year ahead.  Why not hone in on a few resolutions from the onset? [Read more →]

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I want to share this wonderful email I received from Gerald today.  Not only because he shares about GTD Connect (which of course we think is terrific!)–but he shares a common experience I think some people have in trying to implement GTD.  Some people try GTD, put it (kick it) aside, then come back to give it another go and it just pops for them.  If that’s you, give it another go. You may find you have fresh eyes and a deeper understanding to make it work for you.  And if it’s not for you, that’s OK too (although I doubt you’re even reading GTD Times if that’s the case.)

I want  you know that since I have returned to GTD (over 2 months now), I have joined GTD Connect and listened to 38 podcasts out of the 145 from Connect [Read more →]

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A community contribution by Meghan Wilker. Join Meghan and Coach Kelly Forrister on the upcoming Webinar for GTD Connect Members–”Productive Use of Social Media.”

When Google unveiled Buzz a few weeks ago (and Wave a couple of months before that), it got me to thinking about how the emergence of each new technology often means an associated emergence of a new inbox.

These new inboxes now can sometimes creep up without us noticing right away. For example, when I got an iPhone in 2007, texting suddenly became a major new source of input. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a self-professed “Geek Girl” — it’s not like I didn’t have a phone capable of texting before 2007. I did. But, it was rather clunky and I didn’t use it often. Most people I knew didn’t use it much (I’m a Gen Xer, so we don’t text as profusely as those Gen Y youngins do). Once I got an iPhone, texting was suddenly dead simple. Once my PARENTS got iPhones…good night. Suddenly I was getting texts from my Baby Boomer dad (“Hi, honey!” “Did you get that?” “Is this working?”) [Read more →]

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People ask us all the time how to get GTD to stick in their organization.  Here’s a great testimonial for how to build a network of GTD’ers:

David,

Just a quick note to let you know my company is still employing GTD and getting better at it!  We conversed a few years ago about a group we created at my business for people to implement and be accountable for creating their systems and establishing the habit of the Weekly Review…

Well…I am pleased to say we are still doing it!  And, we resurrected the group again in January, and this time there are 12 participants (voluntary of course).  I wanted to let you know some of the successes and insights we have had during this session.   [Read more →]

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David Allen refers to your day-to-day Calendar and Action choices as the “Runway.”  In the Horizons of Focus model, covered in Getting Things Done and more extensively in Making It All Work, it’s the ground floor:

• 50,000 – Purpose
• 40,000 – Vision
• 30,000 – Goals
• 20,000 – Responsibilities
• 10,000 – Projects
• Runway – Calendar & Actions

We got a letter from Mike who has been reading the Getting Things Done book and shared his experience with us of what David’s means by “keeping the runway clear.” [Read more →]

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