David Allen shares the Essence of GTD
March 11th, 2010 GTD Times Team - Staff ContributorsCategories | Best Practices of GTD | David Allen | Inspiration
Want to see more videos of David? Check out GTD Connect.
Want to see more videos of David? Check out GTD Connect.
One of the most common questions we get is how to get started with GTD. New people, especially, will ask this after coming to us dazed and confused by what GTD is really about. And, lots of people seem to be hoping a piece of software will teach them GTD. Sorry, but that’s kind of like buying a car and then learning how to drive. You’ll make your way down the road, but it won’t be pretty.
As a GTD Coach, and also intimately involved in the education and offerings from David Allen, I would suggest one of the following products:
The GTD System – This is, in my opinion, one of the best educational products we offer. You get a ton of resources to learn GTD at your own pace. You get the GTD book, coaching CDs with David Allen, GTD Connect and more. Good stuff. [Read more →]
For those of you who haven’t seen this, it’s one of the best descriptions out there for distilling the essence of Getting Things Done®. It’s also a good reminder that GTD® is not just about inbox zero, or picking a cool list manager, or doing a Weekly Review. It’s a whole workflow ecosystem that David has laid out here. As he says, “it’s more than meets the eye…”
Sophisticated without being confining, the subtle effectiveness of GTD lies in its radically common sense notion that with a complete and current inventory of all your commitments, organized and reviewed in a systematic way, you can focus clearly, view your world from optimal angles and make trusted choices about what to do (and not do) at any moment. GTD embodies an easy, step-by-step and highly efficient method for achieving this relaxed, productive state. It includes: [Read more →]
The problem is not information overload, by David Allen
E-mail overload has gotten a lot of press lately – the quantity, the distraction it creates, and our inability to do much about it. There was even a recent debate in a global newspaper between readers voting for keeping e-mail at zero vs. those who use the digital in-basket as a giant library keeping useful information at hand with no concern for the volume. The issue is tied closely with the popular concern about our always-on culture – that we seem to never unhook from the incessant demands of being in touch, put upon us by our clients, our bosses and ourselves.
What’s the problem? There is one, but not the one that’s been popularized. “Information overload” has been the commonly identified culprit, coupled with universal access. That gives the picture of a mounting pile of stuff under which we are constantly and increasingly buried. And if incessant information bombardment is what we are trying to deal with, then help shows up as attempts to filter, sort and organize it faster and faster so we can feel in control of it.
But information overload isn’t the problem. If it was, you’d walk into a library and die. The first time you connected to the Web, you’d blow up, and merely browsing a newspaper would make you a nervous wreck. [Read more →]
For those of you looking for the best ways to implement GTD with Lotus Notes®, join the next Webinar class on GTD Connect, our subscription-based online learning center. It will be held February 4th at 12pm Pacific Time. If you can’t make the live event, the replay will be posted to the GTD Connect Media Library (screenshot shows all of the replays currently available.)
GTD Connect is a great way to get practical & tactical coaching advice on implementing GTD. Webinars are held about twice a month on a wide range of topics for GTD’ers. If you’re not a GTD Connect member, check out the free trial (which will also allow you to take a Webinar class during your trial membership.) If you decide to join beyond your trial, it’s only $48 a month and you can cancel anytime. The free trial is a great way to see if GTD Connect is for you. Trial members can access to the full site except for podcasts and downloads.
I’m a retired teacher who now has a tiny gem or a business called ‘Life in the Flow Lane.’ I read Getting Things Done a couple of years ago and implemented some things. I am a GTD Connect newbie. The Webinars are simply invaluable. You have given me a much greater understanding of the whole GTD process. For example, I really get that I need to have a list that attracts rather than repels me! It seems obvious, but you show how to make that happen. All the resources on Connect work well together. I think the mix you have put together is simply outstanding. – Sharry Teague
The latest Productive Living newsletter included a great set of questions from David Allen on year end completions. It’s a great exercise to go through for completing 2009 and setting your intentions and directions for creating 2010. Here’s a sample of some of those questions:
Completing and remembering 2009
What was your biggest triumph in 2009?
What was the smartest decision you made in 2009?
What one word best sums up and describes your 2009 experience?
What was the greatest lesson you learned in 2009?
What was the most loving service you performed in 2009?Creating the new year
What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2010?
What advice would you like to give yourself in 2010?
What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2010?
What would you be most happy about completing in 2010?
What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2010?
What would you most like to change about yourself in 2010?
What do you do to complete the year?
ASTD is hosting a free Webinar with David Allen next Wednesday for its members. Visit ASTD site to learn more.
The Wall Street Journal took a closer look at the phenomenon of Getting Things Done. They also reviewed some time management approaches like Covey and The Pomodoro Technique. While there are quite a few differences in each of the 3 (GTD is actually not time management and much different than what the other 2 approaches are intended to do), it’s a good, quick read. Here’s a link to the article.
