We just released an A4* size of our new GTD & BlackBerry Guide. For those of you who will print the Guide and prefer this size instead of the standard U.S. letter size, you will now find it in our David Allen Company online store.

This 45 page Guide, created by David Allen and the senior coaches, will show you how to:

• Manage your email effectively on the BlackBerry–including how to get email to zero
• Use BlackBerry Tasks for your Projects and Actions–including descriptions and examples of what goes on different lists
• Use the Calendar as a critical foundation for actions–with shortcuts for switching between different views
• Create useful reference lists in MemoPad–for managing the “non-action” part of your life as well
• Move faster with speed keys and shortcuts–referenced throughout the Guide and on handy quick reference sheet
• Navigate around the BlackBerry easily–with tips on customizing some settings to match the way you work

*210 MM wide and 297 MM tall (about 8 1/4 x 11 3/4 inch), used in Europe, and rest of the world, except the US and some neighboring countries where ‘letter-size’ paper (8 1/2 x 11 inch) is used.

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A contribution from Eric Mack with ICA, developers of the “GTD Enabled” application eProductivity for IBM Lotus Notes

Does your employer block productivity apps on your BlackBerry, iPhone, or Android Smartphone?

With the recent discussions about Apps and how consumers want the freedom to find, evaluate, and purchase Apps for their Smartphones, I wonder how many users are able download and use a productivity application and how many have policies that prevent them from doing so.

If you found a productivity application for your mobile device that was proven to increase your performance, would you: a) be allowed to install it? b) encounter resistance (or refusal) from IT to allow you to install it? c) make a business case to management for why this App should be allowed?

Please take a moment to take the quick poll then scroll down to share your comments.

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Community Contribution from Jason Verly

On April 3, 2010, Apple released the iPad to the world.  A day later I completely changed how I do my weekly reviews.  Like most avid GTD’ers, I kept my weekly review to be a sacred and solemn time.  I normally did my reviews on Sunday evening in my home office so I could really dig into what was happening so I could get clear about what I had coming up the next week.  My weekly review was anchored to a time and place where I believed I needed to be to get through my lists.  Not anymore.

The weekend the iPad came out my weekly review was done on the couch sitting next to my 5y old son while he watched a movie.  I have to tell you, it was great.  I was in a relaxed place, with little distraction, and I was able to focus and process like never before.  Now before you hit enter on your comment asking how could I concentrate while sitting next to my son while he was watching a movie or stating there is no way someone could get a good weekly review done in that kind of setting, see if you can give me two more minutes to explain.  I’ll bet I can convince you it can be done in that kind of setting and it is so worth it. [Read more →]

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Many of you have been searching for the GTD Coordinator® paper planner.  Created in partnership with Mead, this paper planner is designed GTD-style.  It quickly sold out in the DavidCo store (except for blank refill packs), but you can still find the full 2010 GTD Coordinator in many Staples retail stores throughout the U.S.   Here’s specifically what to look for:

Letter-size GTD Coordinator- Item #805099 - Last we heard, there were 4,700 units available in Staples stores.

Junior-size GTD Coordinator- Item # 805102 – Last we heard, there were 900 units available in Staples stores.

So, which Staples stores have them? This is where the adventures begins…

The easiest way to locate one is to  do a live chat with Staples.com to find the location of the store closest to you with inventory.  They have access to the full inventory and will be of great assistance. Give them the item numbers above or the name “GTD Coordinator.”  Unfortunately, if you call a Staples store the staff will not be able to find one, but the live chat agents will at least save you from hunting around to all of your local Staples stores.  If you do find one, they will be in the paper planner or calendar section of the store.

We’ll post what we know about 2011 inventory as we learn more about Mead’s plans.

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There’s still time to get a FREE set of the GTD System File Folders (an $18.95 value) if you order the GTD System Starter Kit by May 1st.  Aligned to the principles of GTD, six of these folders are imprinted with the essential categories:

1. In
2. To Home
3. To Office
4. Read/Review
5. Action Support
6. Waiting For Support

An additional six folders are blank for you to label as you wish.  Paired with the GTD System Starter Kit, you’ll have all of the key ingredients for getting a solid GTD system off the ground. Simply add “FREE FOLDERS” to the notes section of your order on checkout (no need to add them to your cart) and the File Folders will be included for free with your order. International orders qualify too!   Questions? Contact customerservice@davidco.com.

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For those of you who are still grappling with questions about the tools you use for GTD, check out this 2 minute video from David Allen:

For more GTD videos, check out GTD Connect, our online learning center. You’ll find nearly 100 Videos on GTD Connect, from “2 Minutes with David Allen” clips to replays of our monthly Webinar classes.

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A Community Contribution from Brian Isikoff, sharing how he manages GTD lists on his new iPad

I’m a four+ year adoptee of GTD, an IT Procurement professional since 1992, podcast producer, writer, and all around nice guy. Lastly, I’m the owner of a sparkly new iPad.

That iPad has quickly become the center of my GTD system. The form factor is the key for me.  The device is highly portable – certainly around the house, neighborhood, and many of my favorite destinations. The iPad’s planner-ish size and capabilities allow me to not only implement GTD but take many of actions captured in the system. To complement the native Apple calendar, contacts, and email, I added Toodledo (which syncs with the free web service of the same name.)

My iPhone  also running a synced copy of Toodledo (and calendar, email, safari, etc.) which provides the little notepad / Moleskine equivalent to my system. It’s also a little more discrete than pulling out an iPad – ideal for the BART train, while on a walk, coffee break or arriving at a meeting a little early.

Implementation Specifics [Read more →]

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One of the most common tools we get asked about is the iPhone–specifically, our recommendations for syncing Tasks to an iPhone.  Here’s some helpful information around that:

What does the David Allen Company recommend for implementing GTD® Task lists on the iPhone?

The iPhone was not built with a Tasks application, so you will need to find an App that will support the GTD best practices for a list manager (e.g. sort by category/context, allow but not force due dates, allows related notes to be attached to the Task, etc.)  What you choose for the iPhone would depend primarily on what do you need to sync it to.  The corresponding application you want to sync it to (Mac, PC or Web) would narrow down the best application for you to install on the iPhone for Tasks. The end result is that you would have a Tasks application on the iPhone–>syncing through a service–>that then shares that information with a corresponding application on the web or desktop. [Read more →]

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I suggest that people build into their personal systems whatever checklists might prevent things from glitching on the back end, assuming they are reviewed appropriately. A great example, for people who travel, is the “travel checklist”–everything that you might ever want to take with you anywhere.  Doesn’t mean you have to pack it! Just that you want to consider the option so you don’t miss something. People often jokingly ask for mine to start with, to save them some time, so… here it is.

(I suggest you copy and paste into your word processor, and customize it for yourself. If you have a boat, go fishing regularly, or have other special kinds of trips, you might want a separate checklist for those. I used to additionally have a “take to boat” checklist, when I was sailing regularly.)

David Allen’s Travel Checklist

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For those of you who get itchy sitting all day, have you considered walking while you work?  One of our clients shared how they stay on the move at their desk.  David posted a picture of it on Twitter yesterday.  Since then, some of you have been writing asking, “How can I get that??”  It’s called TrekDesk.  It essentially turns a treadmill into a desk.  We’re not affiliated with these guys, or endorsing this as a “GTD” solution, but some of you may find it helps your productivity to keep your body moving.  The folks at TrekDesk seem to think so.

If you’re the “mover” type, would you use something like this?

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