In this Dorm Room Tycoon interview on huffduffer, David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, explains how entrepreneurs can be in control, and why planning and having an overall purpose are keys to success.

David Allen: Getting Things Done Interview – Getting your Startup Under Control: Business

David Allen, Author of “Getting Things Done,” by Kevin Ohannessian in Fast Company

Has productivity changed as technology has evolved, from the utility of iPhones to the connectedness of Facebook? We continue our examination of the business book Getting Things Done with an interview of author David Allen.

Why do you think the book was so successful and resonated with the business world?

I think people were hungry for a model that was hip enough and current enough to deal with the kind of world everyone was in. Most of the other models that had to do with time management or personal organization or any of that all had good stuff, but most of it was way too structured for the speed and volume of change that people were dealing with.

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“The ability to make a creative mess, I think, is the optimal state to be in terms of your productivity, creativity, and it’s just a cool place to be.”

-David Allen

Listen now (about 20 minutes)

What’s your plan for a summer vacation? Or is it a staycation for enjoying your home? And how connected will you be to work, while you’re on vacation?

How Vacations Help the Business Brain

In exactly 12 days, I will be going away on a 10-day vacation. The thought of this impending time off from the daily in and out of work exhilarates me — and worries me.

On the pro side is the anticipation of rest, renewal and relaxation. Weighing in on the negatives are preparing to go in the first place and a heavier workload when I return. 

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Being More Productive

An Interview with David Allen and Tony Schwartz by Daniel McGinn

Is the secret to effectiveness the right system or the right state of mind? Two leading experts weigh in.

David Allen and Tony Schwartz knew of each other’s work for years, but they’d never met. . . .  Then last summer Allen dropped in on a presentation that Schwartz was giving at a trade show. In the months since, they’ve gotten together several times to talk about their approaches to improving the performance of knowledge workers. In this edited conversation with HBR, they discuss the distractive pull of e-mail, how they’ve been influenced by each other, and why you should do your most important task first thing in the morning (even though only one of them does).

Read more. 

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Listen to more free podcasts from the David Allen Company

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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1. eProductivity for Lotus Notes
2. Blackberry synchronization with Lotus Notes
3. MindManager from Mindjet
4. ActiveWords
5. Pamela Professional for Skype

Read more . . .

Did your philosophy come together before you actually wrote the book “Getting Things Done”?
The book was really written after 20 to 25 years of developing and researching the model which was the core of my consulting and training business. I didn’t really know what I figured out concerning methodology and how unique it was for about 10 or 15 years. And finally, when I was able to test it in some of the best, busiest and smartest environments and people in the world, I found out that it really did work universally, and I was ready to put it down into a book form. I actually wrote it as a manual – in case I got run over by a bus I wanted to make sure the knowledge I discovered, uncovered and formulated would be available to everyone.

Read more of the interview…

What’s your advice to people who aspire to get organized and stick to it?
If you’ve ever wanted to have more time to do the things you really care about, whatever that is, then you owe it to yourself to get organised. The idea that creativity and being organised are somehow mutually exclusive is completely false in my opinion. If you stick with it, GTD becomes a set of habits that helps you to spend more time on the things you’re passionate about. If you get too hung up on the method and peripheral issues such as having the right pen, notebook or file labeler, etc., you’ve fundamentally missed the point.

Read the full interview…

If you like learning more from others implementing GTD, our In Conversation and Slice of GTD Life Series on GTD Connect give you a peak inside how other people are making GTD work for them.

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Like this podcast? Subscribe to our free podcast series.  We also do frequent podcasts with David and the Coaches on GTD Connect®, our online learning center (over 108 podcasts available to Connect members more added all the time…)

Ken Case: The big thing that we tried to do as we were designing the application is really think about the parts of the GTD workflow that we could address, and automate those, and then maybe not try to touch the parts that didn’t make as much sense. For example, we don’t do calendaring; we leave that to whatever calendaring system you already have. I use the calendar app that’s built-in to the iPhone, but you can use a paper calendar or whatever works for you for that part of the system. We do focus on the GTD collecting and processing–capturing stuff out of your head and getting it into your inbox. We tried to make that really easy with a keystroke…

LISTEN NOW>>

Grab a list of all of the OmniFocus speed keys.

“There’s a strange paradox. You want it simple and it won’t be cool enough for you. And if you want it really cool, you’re gonna have to have discipline and sophistication of really understanding GTD to make it work and gain the power out of it.”  – David Allen

LISTEN NOW

Q: You developed the Getting Things Done Program because…
A: I had discovered that applying some rather simple techniques could have profound results, immediately, in people’s ability to focus, stay relaxed, and make positive progress in their work and lives

Q: What is the difference between GTD and normal task planning?
If you mean by “Normal task planning” that you make a list of things to do today, or this week, then the difference is that GTD recommends you keep track of every action that you might be able to take, plan as little as possible, and trust that you’ll make good intuitive decisions moment to moment from all your options. In other words, you need to remain flexible and open to all the new inputs and changes that are happening more and more frequently; and if you over-plan, it will get in your way.

Q: Order above all. That is the first rule of the GTD Program. What is the second one?
“Order above all” – not sure what that refers to (I never said it). There are not really any “rules” in GTD – only observations of principles. If you want to have a clear mind, you must capture externally whatever is keeping it from being clear, make executive decisions about what you’re committing to do about it, and park the results into some system that you can trust will reflect it back to you at the appropriate time.

Q: How soon after proper Program implementation could we see its first results?
Results happen immediately. As soon as you start capturing what’s on your mind, and as soon as you start deciding the next action required on them, it will lower stress, improve focus, and facilitate getting things done.

Q: In what order should we empty our “buckets” so that it would be most efficient – starting from the oldest tasks, the more important ones or the least important items?
All of your incoming “stuff” should be processed every 24-48 hours – doesn’t matter which ones you handle first. Then deciding which action to take, once your IN-baskets are empty, should depend on the combination of strategy, context, time, and energy available.

Q: What could be the percentage increase in efficiency in case of implementing GTD Program in the organization? Have you conducted appropriate studies?
No one has ever done a study of efficiency. Some surveys, however, have indicated that by applying GTD methods it can save 30-45 minutes of time a day.

Q: Is the system flexible, or is it necessary to abide strictly by the rules?
It’s not a system, but rather a systematic approach. Again, there are no rules. The basic principles are true – if you keep commitments in your psyche instead of some external system, you will reduce your clarity and effectiveness. That’s not a “rule” so much as it is an observation of reality.

Q: How to deal with urgent matters that disturb the work system?
Urgent matters ARE your work. Your system needs to be able to incorporate surprise and change.

Q: What to do if we have to carry out several equally important projects at the same time?
If they are truly of equal importance, then it doesn’t matter which one you work on. You can only do one thing at a time, no matter how many projects you have; Generally you are better off taking a project to completion before moving on to the next one. It is good to have all the next actions on all the projects available to pick from, and, again, one action may be easier to do at a certain time than some of the others, simply because of time, energy, and context you’re in.

Q: Does the GTD Program have any limitations, or is it applicable in any corporation, regardless of its size or business it is in?
GTD is simply how anything gets done, and the principles apply not just to any business but to any person in any aspect of their life. As soon as you have more than one thing to do, that you can’t finish the moment you think of it, then you can apply the GTD methods to increase your ability to manage what you’re doing well.

Interview – Part One

Interview – Part Two

Enjoy!

The GTD Summit is only three weeks away, can you really afford NOT to attend?  If you or your team are one of the many people that are suddenly being asked to do more with less, attending the GTD Global Summit might actually be one of the most important investments you could make.

The knowledge you can acquire from the world-class line up of experts on not only GTD, but also entrepreneurship, creativity, productivity in general, life hacking, military strategy, leadership, ethics and more will be far more enduring than any other use of funds we can imagine.

Nevertheless, we understand that for some people it simply isn’t possible to take two days off from your job, school, or family, while for others, the full price of the summit might simply be out of reach at this time.

Regardless of your reasons, the team at the David Allen Company is sensitive to your situation.  It should go without saying that David’s commitment to helping people achieve more, learn more and get more out of life goes far beyond any financial element and this attitude permeates the entire company.  It is for this reason that the team decided that unlike many conferences that are an all-or-nothing sort of affair, the GTD Global Summit will be different and will offer people the ability to attend just a single day of their choice if that is what someone wants to do.

Day passes are now available for each of the two days.  Pick one day or two.

Each day pass includes:
Autographed copy of David’s new book.
Exhibitor Expo
Coach’s Corner – your chance to sit down with a GTD coach one on one
Coach’s Theater – “how to” presentations from senior GTD facilitators
Breakout sessions with high impact presenters and moderators
All meals and beverages

The Best Part?

You will see and hear from some of the world’s leading minds on productivity, making change and adapting to our changing world. Intelligent conversations.  Compelling speakers. And more.

HOW TO REGISTER:
Pick the day pass that best suits your schedule.

Thursday, March 12th

Friday, March 13th

DAY ONE PASS – MARCH 12th

David Allen & Guy Kawasaki: Welcome & Keynote
James Fallows, Marshall Goldsmith and General Randy Fullhart
Breakout Session One
Self Management as Strategy: GTD and Leadership
Good Things Getting Done: GTD Serving Service
GTD at Home: From the Boardroom to the Living Room
Breakout Session Two
A GTD Workforce – Is There a New Industry Standard?
Innovation – Getting New Stuff Done.
GTD as Super Charger and Safety Net: Life Transitions and Transformations.
Breakout Session Three
Entrepreneurs and GTD – Making it up and Making it Happen
GTD and Education: Reading, Writing. Arithmetic and GTD
The Virtual Workplace – Does it Work?
Book Signing – David and other authors
Exhibitor Expo Wine and Cheese Reception.

Register here for your Thursday, March 12th Day Pass

DAY TWO PASS – MARCH 13th

David Allen presents “GTD Making It All Work”
Plenary Session – How the world works, and should we care?
Dave Logan
Ron Kaufman
Sanjiv Mirchandani
Michael Winston
David Allen
Breakout Session Four
Best Practices to Good Habits: Can I Make GTD Stick?
Your Brain on GTD: Why it Works
Productivity Tech: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Breakout Session Five
Critical Behaviors in the Crunch – GTD and Organizational Change
GTD and Sales. Customers and Relationships
Creativity and Clear Space – Inseparable, or Mutually Exclusive?
David Allen Final Remarks
Book Signing – David and other authors
Exhibitor Expo Wine and Cheese Reception.
Register here for your Friday, March 13th Day Pass

HOW TO REGISTER:

Pick the day that works best for you and register now. A limited number of day passes are available. See you there!

Day Pass for Thursday, March 12th

Day Pass for Friday, March 13th

David Allen describes himself as a very lazy person. This laziness was the impetus to develop what is now known as “process improvement”. David devised a number of “tricks” to more easily succeeded in and develop his career.

Two basic elements of GTD that he quoted during his interview are:

1. Collection of everything you have in our head
2. Determining your next action step

He got the advice that the publication of a (bestselling) book would make a significant strategic step forward for the expansion of his business. It took another 4 years for Getting Things Done to appear on the market.

David had to first learn what it meant to write a book. He had never written a book before nor  had he developed a business plan around that. After learning these things, he needed a year to find a publisher and another year to write the first draft of Getting Things Done-The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Then came the second draft and work on the title and graphics.

David did all this in addition to his regular full-time job. But that’s “not recommended” he says!

GTD it is easy to understand and to implement because it starts from our own concrete experiences – that is the reason why GTD is so successful according to David Allen himself.

What’s unique about GTD, is the fact that it takes the position not of starting from what we think we should be doing, but  rather from how we can simply and effectively improve how we think and how we do things.

Thanks to GTD, you get immediate control (back) over your thoughts and actions. In this way you can then develop your productivity.

The immediate effect of GTD in David’s own life was of relaxation. Thanks to his own techniques, David Allen succeeded in emptying his head ["mind like water"].

David describes himself as a researcher and educator. He had 25 years to acquire the knowledge that allowed him to become who he is today. The next 25 years will be focused on the dissemination of this knowledge.

In the accompanying audio track you hear a piece of David Allen’s life philosophy, guaranteed a great tip for you. Enjoy!

David Allen will give his public seminar in Amsterdam on February 19: GTD Seminar Making It All Work!

Posted by Bert Verdonck on www.lifehacking.nl (translation Nathaniel Stott) on February 3, 2009

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.