David Allen Company has just released a new Setup Guide that includes great coaching advice for structuring a solid GTD system in Lotus Notes. Written by David Allen and his senior coaches, this guide explains how to:

• Set up Lotus Notes To Do’s for your projects and actions
• Use the calendar as a critical foundation for actions
• Get email to zero consistently
• Create useful reference lists
• Organize contacts
• Move faster with speed keys and shortcuts

Instructions in the Guide are primarily written based on Notes 8.5, with helpful references to differences in previous versions.

Read a free sample from the first few pages

Buy now from the DAC Store

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What would your organizational structure be like if everyone had full accountability for the roles they hold, both implicitly and explicitly? Can you imagine meetings where the things that you have your attention on are consistently and efficiently processed to concrete Projects & Next Actions? Join David Allen and Kelly Forrister as they speak with the experts from HolacracyOne, Brian Robertson and Tom Thomison. They’ll talk about the “Holacracy” operating system, how it’s been integrated into the David Allen Company, and how it complements GTD.

This is the latest in a series of free podcasts.

[Editor's note: Good news for Chrome users, the podcast page is now Chrome-compatible.]

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This post on planning a baby shower is from the Art department at the David Allen Company.

Here’s a great reminder of how helpful GTD is for any project, personal or professional.

Our team at the David Allen Company is planning a baby shower for  a co-worker.  We met today to do the following:

1. Brainstorm and mind map the project
2. Decide on next actions
3. Assign people to the identified next actions
4. Decide when to loop around again for further planning

Here was our simple mind map that helped clarify the tasks:

Our 20-minute meeting allowed everyone to move forward on this fun project with their own clearly-defined tasks.

GTD can help integrate your professional and personal life. Simple, easy, and fun planning — that’s a “GTD” baby shower!

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The Managing Projects & Priorities seminar is a wonderful opportunity to take GTD to the next level in your professional and personal life. Upcoming seminars in 2011 will be held in Boston, Chicago, and Dallas.

You will learn:
• The power of creative brainstorming
• How to define your priorities through the Horizons of Focus® Model
• The advantages of using the Natural Planning Model®
• How to effectively develop and move your projects to the next level

This is how David Allen Company staff member Kari McGee described her experience with Managing Projects & Priorities:

Sometimes a vision seems to be all we have, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s the lesson I walked away with after attending the David Allen Managing Projects and Priorities seminar. I realized that the projects piece of GTD is where the magic really happens. To be able to work through clear purpose and not just be prepared for the latest and loudest is really where the bigger dreams start to take shape on the GTD Journey.

[Read more →]

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TEACH GTD IN YOUR ORGANIZATION
Are you an experienced in-house corporate trainer, interested in learning how to provide the GTD methodology within your organization? The GTD® Essentials Trainer Certification Program provides the education to get you certified to do just that. Get started now. Sign up for our next three-day Certification Program, October 4-6 in San Diego, CA.

Help manage overwhelm and uncertainty by providing affordable, convenient, and accessible GTD training to those critical workers who are responsible for taking your organization to the next level.

This certification program is perfect for training and empowering staff, managers and front-line workers for the constant change and complexities facing your organization today.

[Read more →]

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Lots of interesting nuggets in this new interview recorded by Andrew Mason over at the 8BIT podcast.  David answers a wide range of questions, including if he personally procrastinates.  Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

“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)

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David Allen Company has an immediate opening for a highly skilled and effective Washington, D.C.-based Business Development Director. The ideal candidate has 10+ years successful professional services sales experience and strong relationships with senior decision makers in private sector industries and the federal government. Major job responsibilities include managing existing accounts in the Washington, D.C. area and being proactive in managing new sales opportunities. Prospecting is a very big part of the job. Required competencies include consultative sales skills, account management, executive presence, strong business acumen, and strategic account planning. Qualified applicants are invited to submit a cover letter and their resume to jobapplicants@davidco.com.

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The eProductivity team has just launched a flurry of new products and improvements. In addition to a brand-new website, they released a free version, a new standalone product, and price reductions on all new subscriptions.

You may know that David Allen uses eProductivity.  It’s also the GTD app of choice for his staff at the David Allen Company. If you use Lotus Notes, eProductivity is well worth a look. It’s the only app for IBM Lotus software to receive the GTD Enabled designation.

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See how David Allen uses the creative brainstorming technique of mindmapping. Hear how he uses it to capture ideas, create “ideal scenes”, brainstorm projects, and more.

When: Tuesday, May 17, 10am-11am Pacific Time

Where: Webinar hosted by GTD Connect, our online learning center

Who: Open to all GTD Connect members (monthly, annual, or two-week guest pass)

Learn more about GTD Connect or login now to register for the webinar. If you can’t make the live event, the recorded replay will be available in the GTD Connect media library a few days after the event.

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“What tools should I use for GTD?” That question usually comes up early when someone begins implementing GTD. And in our tech-focused world, they usually mean, “Which software is the best?” But it’s also important to ask which tools will help us stay physically motivated.

An obvious but rarely noticed tool may be my key to ultimate productivity.

At David Allen Company, we consider many things when setting up a workspace. I recently reconstructed my workspace in a way that has stepped up my energy and focus to a whole new level. I made this improvement by switching to a stand-up desk. This is an amazing tool that has helped me to be more productive and ergonomically correct; a win for my company and for me.

The benefits of a stand up desk have really surprised me. [Read more →]

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