Oliver Starr served as editor to GTD Times from its launch, through March 2009.
Oliver Starr served as editor to GTD Times from its launch, through March 2009.
GTD Connect is David Allen’s subscription product for people that are serious about GTD. Not only are there original articles from David and other David Allen Company GTD Trainers that you can’t find anywhere else, there are also videos, audios and even forum discussions.
An annual subscription to this amazing service runs $40 per month but right now you can try it for fourteen days absolutely free. I don’t know how long this free offer will last so if you haven’t already become a subscriber you probably want to head over to the trial registration page and sign up before it’s too late!
Here’s an example of the sort of material that GTD Connect members can access any time day or night, 365 days a year. You simply won’t find material or information like this anywhere else.
From GTD Connect’s exclusive library:
The Simpsons Interview:
What happens when you cross GTD with the world’s most successful TV comedy show? You’ll find out in this high-energy and humorous dialog between David and three of the writers of The Simpsons. Listen as Dan Greaney, Rob LeZebnik, and Danny Chun share how they’ve implemented GTD principles, each in his own way, and how they get things done in a unique professional environment. The way they produce creative comedy by committee may have some lessons for all of us!
Here’s a link to a sample of the interview. If you want to hear the entire thing use the link below but be warned that you do have to register to access that material (registration is free).
Link to full interview on GTD Connect:*
Ismael Ghalimi Interview:
Ismael Ghalimi is the epitome of the new global and virtual professional. He runs a successful high-tech software company in Silicon Valley. He’s also the creator and driving force behind the annual Office 2.0 conference. And, as a dedicated GTDer, he manages himself with totally web-based software. Listen as Ismael shares with David his perspectives on getting things done in his highly mobile world.
A link to a sample of the interview is here. Use the link below to listen to the entire program.
Link to full interview on GTD Connect *
Once again you can register for the free trial of GTD Connect here.
*Please note that free registration is required in order to listen to the interviews hosted at GTD Connect’s private site.
Wow! What an amazing turnout! We’ve finally selected our winner and the runners up in the GTDtimes / David Allen Company Executive Workflow Contest. You guys certainly didn’t make it easy. We were overwhelmed at the number of high quality entries from the GTDtimes readership. .
There are so many people with compelling reasons as to why they needed coaching and interesting jobs that they’re doing that we could easily have awarded ten days of coaching! Well, maybe next time. For now here are your winners and the runners up:
Grand Prize Winner: Jeff Goza – Jeff wins a full day of executive workflow coaching at his home or office as well as the full cost for the coach to travel to his location and any other expenses incurred in the course of providing Jeff with his full day of training.
Upon learning that he’d won, Jeff had the following to say:
“My name is Jeff Goza. I have the pleasure of working at a facility that serves over 500 men & women with Mental Retardation. We provide 24/7 care to those who can’t care for themselves due to various mental & physical issues. As you can imagine, our workload is high and many of the things we do can literally be life & death issues for those we serve.”
“My experience with GTD has been very helpful since I read “THE BOOK” and started implementing many of the GTD principles. Like others, I have fallen off the wagon numerous time but with the help of the GTD Community and rereading various chapters I have been able to come back into the fold. I have struggled with various parts of the system as I try to fit into my day-to-day work but I have found GTD to be flexible enough that it can be done.”
“I am very grateful to the David Allen Company and GTDtimes for making the opportunity for Executive Coaching available. I will look forward to writing a full accounting of my day in the near future.”
First Runners Up: The below-named runners up will each receive free registration for a regularly scheduled David Allen Company public seminar to be used before the end of 2009.
Ran Barton
William Brown
Mike McCollum
Second Runners Up: The below-named individuals will each receive a copy of David Allen’s recent GTD Live Ten CD Set from the David Allen GTD Online Store.
Greg GardnerCongratulations to all our winners! Well Done!
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two part series on Action Support Folders and Tickler Lists. The first part can be found here.
In the prior post I wrote a little about a recent coaching call I had with DAC Certified Coach, Julie Ireland and shared how she recommended that I set up my Tickler List and how I connect those items in it to my calendar where such items have a hard landscape deadline of some sort.
A number of readers chimed in with interesting comments and additional good suggestions – be sure to read the comments from the prior post to see some other excellent ways in which people are making sure that their reminders are doing their job.
Today I wanted to talk a little bit about the other rarely mentioned folder – the Action Support folder and how Julie recommends that it should be used as well as to briefly touch upon another folder that Julie suggested I incorporate into my system the “In Progress” folder.
In Julie’s system Action Support is a highly specific and constrained folder that contains only items for actions that are going to be undertaken in the very near future. She was careful to distinguish between items in an Action Support folder and items in a Project Folder. The former, she says should generally contain items specific to individual actions – a shopping list for the next trip to the grocery store for example versus, say a spreadsheet with statistics that is being used as research for a white paper that you are writing. The latter of course should be placed in a Project Folder specific to that white paper – one among the likely many resources that are being used for that particular complex project.
An estimate for an auto repair would also go in the action support folder provided that this was a one-off occurrence and not a restoration project for instance.
My problem is that I have certain things that I’m doing that require more than say a single document in support of a single task, but perhaps multiple documents in support of a single task. Let me give you an example:
Right now I’m disputing a bill with my insurance company. I’m reluctant to call this a project (in spite of the fact that my insurance company is determined to turn it into one!) for two reasons, first because it is just a single situation that should be possible to resolve with a single thirty minute period @phone – however it does require supporting documentation, to wit a bunch of insurance documents that I already have in my (making me) Blue (and) Cross folder.
I’ve already gone to the trouble to pull the documents that I needed out in preparation for the call. The issue is that every time I sit down at the phone determined to get this solved I dial the number and get a message that it will be thirty minutes before someone can take my call. I don’t have thirty minutes to sit around on hold during the day – does anyone?
So now I’ve got the paperwork out and ready to go but the call may not be happening for another day or two. I don’t really want to put the documents back into my BlueX folder only to have to go get them again in a day but I don’t really want to leave them stacked on my desk either (which is what I had been doing anyway prior to my call with Julie).
The In Progress folder is her solution to a situation like this. I can simply put the documents into this folder (which should never have more than a couple items in it or there’s some other problem that requires more coaching then I am capable of providing) and they’ll be ready to go when I find either that I have thirty minutes during which I suddenly crave an elevator muzak concerto or when I win the game of cell-phone roulette and actually get a real person instead of a machine when I call my delightful insurers.
Julie recommends that the In Progress Folder be located in your in box or somewhere that’s within easy reach so that you can access it at a moment’s notice when your context is appropriate for tackling some task for which you’ve already prepared thanks to this convenient strategy. It’s a lot better than having a bunch of documents that are too active to put away but not quite ready to be in use that moment.
I’m sure that some of you have other strategies that allow you to deal with similar situations in an equally efficient manner. Perhaps a few of you would be kind enough to share your methods with other GTDtimes readers? Let us know in the comments. Thanks.
I had a coaching session today with Julie Ireland, a DavidCo Certified Coach and felt like what she said made so much sense that it merited sharing with the community. Since I’ve hardly ever seen discussion about Action Support Folders or Tickler Lists and since I felt like my approach towards both needed some tweaking I asked Julie if we could spend some time on that area today. I am glad I did.
First let’s clarify what I mean by a tickler file: the tickler file to which I am referring is a distinct file folder (Mine says “Tickler” on it thanks to my trusty labeler) that contains items that are already processed but which are not yet complete and which have some need to be completed by a particular time.
Before my call today I was struggling with this a bit – I didn’t want to put something that I’d processed back into the inbox but since I was still working with it I didn’t want to put it away in a reference file either (by the way, in my setup I have active reference files – those that are involved in some current project as well as current bills and payment records and thigs like that and archive files for work that is completed and reference material that I wish to save but which is not part of any active project at the time).
Julie told me that she has a tickler file where she puts all things that have a hard deadline such as bills due by a certain date, invitations that are on paper – etc. and that she then enters the date for which each item is due on her calendar (she says that the discipline to check one’s calendar every morning first thing is very important and I couldn’t agree more).
In addition to entering the due date for each tickler item into her calendar she organizes the items in the tickler folder in chronological order with the items due first in front. This prevents having to shuffle through a bunch of stuff to find the item that your calendar is telling you is due on that day.
This is pretty simple and straightforward just so long as you take the time to enter the due date or deadline for each tickler file item into your calendar and then stay on top of that calendar like nobody’s business.
I’m going to try this method and see how it works for me. If other folks have a different method of dealing with these sorts of items I would love to hear about it in the comments.
Much as people malign Microsoft, there are still plenty of people that couldn’t live without some of the software cooked up by the company. Most especially Outlook – which in spite of its many usability issues is still by far the most popular email client and calendaring application on the planet.
Many GTD’ers have lamented the lack of good “how to” information with respect to using Outlook as the centerpiece or even just as one of the core components of a GTD system. Well, Rob who blogs at 7 Breaths has come to the rescue (at least partially) with a very useful post about using Outlook and OneNote 2007 as part of a GTD system.
Rob has a number of other GTD related posts on his site beside this one – it is certainly well worth a look especially if you’re strugging to find a good way to implement GTD using Microsoft products.
You’re going to want to be sure that GTDtimes is either in your RSS reader, linked via your iGoogle or NetVibes page, that you’ve subscribed by email. The point is we’ve got some content in the hopper that you’re going to want to read.
First, we’re going to announce the big winners in the GTDtimes/David Allen Company Executive Workflow Coaching Contest. Second, seeing as how they are so popular with our readers we’ll be giving away another great book and third and most exciting we’ll be posting a brand new hour long interview that I just conducted with David. (I assume by now that everyone knows that when say “David” it means THE DAVID aka Mr. David Allen).
I’m excited about this interview which is exclusive to GTDtimes. David was kind enough to spend a full hour letting my pepper him with questions. We spent a long time discussing software, especially his new concept of “the five I’s” and we delved into some other interesting stuff besides. I won’t say more know but check back in so you don’t miss this great information.
One last note, for those of you that won a copy of “The Myth of Multitasking” don’t forget you promised to share some of what you learned with GTD readers. So far I haven’t heard a peep. This is your little nagging reminder – be sure to put it in your “next actions list”. Thanks.
In case you live under a rock and only check your email and RSS feeds every other week you might not have heard about the contest we’re having for a free day of Executive Workflow Coaching courtesy of the David Allen Company and GTDtimes.
This is your chance to have one of David’s personally certified GTD Workflow Coaches come to your home or office location and spend a full day helping you implement or fine tune your GTD workflow. The prize includes the full cost of a day of coaching including the expense to bring the coach to your specified locale.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to save thousands of dollars on training that has the potential to change your life by making your radically more productive. The testimonials that we’ve heard from people that have experienced this life-enhancing training are nothing short of amazing. Wouldn’t you like to add your testimonial to the list?
Well don’t delay. We’re only acceptling entries until the end of the day on October 24th so hurry over to this site and fill out an entry. THere’s nothing to buy and the hoops you have to jump through and very small. Even a caveman could do it – whether a caveman can practice GTD is debatable, however.
Friend of David Allen and the David Allen Company, James Fallows was kind enough to give GTDtimes a very favorable mention in the Atlantic, one of the most lauded and influential publications in the country.
James, that’s high praise and a very generous compliment especially coming from a nationally recognized journalist like yourself.
Yes! You heard it correctly. One lucky person is going to win a full day of Workflow Coaching with one of David Allen’s executive coaches. This is the same coaching that the David Allen Company provides to executives in some of the world’s most progressive organizations…
Now – courtesy of GTDtimes – one lucky person is going to cash in big and get this life changing experience absolutely free. This prize includes the complete cost (travel, etc.) for the executive coach to come to your office and spend a full day with you to fine tune your GTD System, work through your current projects list, capture your commitments, blaze through piles of stuff that have been there for way too long and generally help you to become a lean, mean, productive machine.
So if you’re the sort of person that thinks that a day with a world class GTD professional would do you some good here’s what you have to do to enter:
That’s it. Nothing to mail. No purchase necessary either. The team at GTDtimes and the David Allen Company will select the winner from all entries within one week of the close of the contest. *
In addition to the Grand Prize there will also be a number of “runner up” prizes awarded to a few lucky people chosen at random.
Be sure to get your entries in by October 24th, 2008 so that you don’t miss your chance to win big. Finally, be sure to subscribe to GTDtimes via RSS or email so that you don’t miss out on other contests or special events in the near future.
If you enjoy this publication, please help spread the word. Would someone you know appreciate the information and advice that you get from GTDtimes? Don’t keep us a secret!
*Please note the decision of the team at GTDtimes and the David Allen Company are final. Employees of the David Allen Company and GTDtimes as well as their families are not eligible for this contest. For this contest you must live in the United States to be eligible. Winners will be announced on GTDtimes and the individual winners will also be notified by email and will have 48 hours in which to respond to claim the day of coaching. If the prize is not claimed within the 48 hour period, the offer will be rescinded and another winner will be declared. The coaching day must be completed by December 31, 2008. This coaching day has no cash value and may not be transferred, sold or otherwise assigned.
–
Editor’s Note: This just in from DOW Jones…
IBM Offers Lotus Notes For Apple’s iPhone
Sep 30, 2008 00:01:00 (ET)
SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)–International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) said Tuesday it was making its Lotus Notes tools, including email and calendar applications, available for Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone.
Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM said that the latest version of Notes would allow customers to access the software via the Safari browser on the iPhone.
The iPhone, which is still primarily a consumer device, has begun to attract the interest of corporate customers as a competitor to Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIMM) BlackBerry device, since Apple launched a software developers’ kit allowing anyone to develop applications for the phone and making it easier for the phone to be connected to corporate IT systems. Network operators have begun offering corporate tariffs for the iPhone.
When Apple launched a 3G version of the iPhone in June, the company’s chief executive, Steve Jobs, said that 35% of the Fortune 500 companies had signed up to trial the phone.
Other business software companies including Oracle Corp. (ORCL) and SAP AG (SAP), offer software for the iPhone.
Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today’s most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/al?rnd=ssOOQJa0bVq17iQhEhuI6g%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 30, 2008 00:01 ET (04:01 GMT)
