Software

Hacking Mail and iCal for GTD

Yes, we know it makes for a great debate, but GTD really is for men or women, PC or Mac, paper or digital.  It’s an approach that gets overlayed onto the tools that work for you.  Since so many GTD’ers are on a Mac, and we’re always looking to feature a wide-range of GTD’er styles, Meghan Wilker was chosen as one of David Allen’s upcoming “In Conversation” interviews for GTD Connect members.   It will be posted on GTD Connect this summer.  We’re also excited that Meghan will soon be a regular contributor to GTD Times.

She recently did a great write up on her experience of GTD on a Mac:

My System

When I started implementing GTD about four years ago, I was working on a company PC. I configured Outlook (as outlined in the GTD and Outlook whitepaper) and everything hummed right along. Three years ago, I left that job and transitioned to a Mac. Suddenly, I was adrift without a system and I ended up falling into a trap that I think a lot of GTD practitioners (and geeks) fall into: I started over-analyzing my needs and evaluating software to the point that my system stopped working very well. I tried Backpack, Remember the Milk, OmniFocus and a score of others.  Finally, I decided the best approach would be to figure out a way to bend the applications I already use all day, every day to my will.   Read more>>>

By the way, David’s In Conversation series on Connect has featured some of the biggest GTD fans out there, including… [Read more →]

Best practices of GTD Collect

David Allen & his team sat down to record a podcast on the best practices of Collect.

In this 35 minute podcast they talk about:

  • Some of their favorite tools for capturing anywhere, anytime
  • The essential tools for work and home spaces
  • What makes or breaks a good collection tool?
  • The essential “red folder
  • Collect versus organize and why most people don’t get the difference
  • Why an empty inbox reduces interruptions
  • What’s it like to work in a GTD culture?

Listen now>>>

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Inside David Allen’s ‘Brain’

The recording of the webinar David Allen did on GTD & PersonalBrain is now live. It’s about an hour long. David starts off with a good overview of the GTD Control + Perspective models, then moves on to talk about the PersonalBrain software. You’ll even get to see his own personal stuff (which most GTD’ers seem to go crazy for!)  Check it out.

The Perfect GTD List Manager - Part II

We received a tremendous response to the podcast from David Allen & his tech team on finding the “Perfect GTD List Manager.”  Some of you were delighted that we continue to hold true to GTD being an approach that is “tool-agnostic,” applicable to nearly any tool you choose.  On the other hand, some of you were pretty vocal that you were upset that we still didn’t tell you which tool to use.  Fair enough!  We know there is a balance to give you between theory and application, and some of you would like some more direction on this. So David and his team sat down for further conversation on The Perfect GTD List Manager. This time, David actually does reveal “the secret” and it may not be what you think…

Listen Now

Getting Things Done with IBM Lotus Notes

In our new series called GTD Toolbox Tours, we’ll be highlighting and reviewing different tools, products, software and gear that can support your GTD implementation.  We’ll cover list managers, labelers, pens, file folders and everything else that makes your GTD system hum like a Ferrari.  This week we’re starting with a podcast with Eric Mack, the designer of a software tool called eProductivity for IBM Lotus Notes.

In our recent podcast  on The Perfect GTD List Manager, we shared that one of the most common questions we get is, “Which tool should I use for my GTD lists?”  Specifically, you want to know which tools David Allen uses!  While the GTD approach is tool-agnostic, we have our personal favorites, as we know many of you do as well.  eProductivity for IBM Lotus Notes is one of those, and is the tool David (and most of the staff at DavidCo) use to help manage our workflow.  Even if you are not a Lotus Notes user, we think you’ll find value in hearing from Eric about what he learned would make the ultimate tool for David Allen to use.

In this podcast, Eric Mack (@EricMack) shares with Coach Kelly Forrister (@GTDCoachKelly) on some of the design philosophy and underlying features and principles that make eProductivity a tool David recommends.  (Note: There’s a free trial and on the podcast Eric also offers a $100 off to the first 50 people that contact him by June 15.)  Some of the features discussed on the podcast will make more sense if you check out some screenshots.    LISTEN NOW