No matter how consistent the system is, if it is not current (i.e. completely up to date with all items in a category) it still can’t be trusted in a way that relieves the psyche of the job of remembering and sorting. You’ll look at a list and some part of you knows it’s not the whole list, so (a) you won’t totally trust your choices and (b) you’ll still try to use your head to keep track. And if your brain still has that job, instead of trusting your lists, you won’t be motivated to keep your external system going (it will be too much work for the value received.) You’ll feel like it’s hard work to keep the list and will resist looking at it anyway because you’ll know it’s only partial and it will remind you that you’re “behind.” – David Allen

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In my last post, I challenged you to look at how much you’re choosing to sit in your email inbox versus work from your lists.  That sure seemed to strike a nerve of truth with some of you.  So WHY can lists start to repel us? Here are a few reasons why and some ways to resolve that:

• You know your lists are not current so you dread having to clean up while you scan (Done a Weekly Review lately?)
• You know there are things on there that require more thinking (Ask yourself, “Do I have all of the information I need to do this?” If not, you don’t have the next action. Get more specific.)
• You have things on your lists that you don’t think are your job (Get clear on your Areas of Focus & Responsibilities–what’s your job and what’s not)

[Read more →]

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If you’d like to hear a sample track from the new GTD System CDs, we just posted a great one with David and two of the coaches on the Weekly Review.  Listen Now

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Avid GTD’er Barb wanted to share her experience and review of the CDs that come with the new GTD System.  She wrote:

If you’re fairly new or brand new to GTD: This product is definitely for you. It is much easier to understand than reading the book might be because there are stories to explain various points. Also, from what I can see, the 3-cd set called “Three Days to Clarity” is a quick start to the system. [Read more →]

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Thanks to all of you who joined the GTD “Tweekly” Review I did this morning. Hope you found value!  Let me know if you’d like me to do another one. If the pace was a bit too speedy for you, you can always go back and review the Tweets I sent.  Here are all 11 steps to the GTD Weekly Review, for your reference:

GET CLEAR

• Collect loose papers and materials
• Get “In” to zero
• Empty your head

[Read more →]

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In case you hadn’t heard, I will be hosting a free, guided GTD “Tweekly Review” through Twitter tomorrow.

What: It will be a working Twitter session. I’ll guide people through the 11-steps of the GTD Weekly Review through a series of Tweets. You’ll want to be in front of your system (at least calendar, lists, email, inboxes etc.) to take action based on the Tweets.

When: Thursday, Aug 13, 9am – 10am PDT (Los Angeles time–find your local time)

How: Follow @GTDSpecialEvent or just launch this web page during the event to follow the Tweets.

Who: Probably good to have at some basic understanding of GTD workflow model and at least a basic structure of GTD setup for yourself already.

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I’m planning on offering another free, guided GTD “Tweekly Review” for you Twitter fans.  If you missed the last one, here’s how it will work:

On Thursday, August 13th from 9am-10am PDT (Los Angeles, California time), I will lead a one-hour GTD Weekly Review through Tweets sent from the @GTDSpecialEvent Twitter account.  Approximately every 5 minutes, I will send out a Tweet with one of the 11 steps of the GTD Weekly Review.  I will intersperse them with tips, tricks and helpful advice about that step. [Read more →]

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The GTD Tweekly Review today was great fun for me and seemed like it worked well for those who followed.  I will do another one.  Don’t know when yet, but will be sure to post on GTD Times, GTD Connect and Twitter when I come up with a date and time.  And, please don’t wait for me to do a Weekly Review on your own!  It’s all in the book, in the free article, System Guides and more.   I know there’s a special sauce factor of having a David Allen Coach lead you through it, but you can always find those motivators for yourself too!  Make it fun, give yourself a reward, find a buddy, give yourself a time limit like I did, or focus on one step and do it completely–whatever works.

Here are all 11 steps to the GTD Weekly Review, for your reference:

GET CLEAR

• Collect loose papers and materials
• Get “In” to zero
• Empty your head

GET CURRENT

• Review Action Lists
• Review past calendar data
• Review upcoming calendar
• Review Waiting For list
• Review Project (and larger outcome) lists
• Review any relevant checklists

GET CREATIVE

• Review Someday/Maybe
• Be creative & courageous

“Best to not be too tied up in how often you “should” be doing a Weekly Review. Then, like avoiding writing your relatives because there’s just too much to catch up on, if you’re not getting to the Review regularly, you’ll just think it’s too much to catch up with, and you quit. Any time, any frequency, is better than not at all.” – David Allen

Until we meet again…

Kelly

GTDCoachKelly

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Follow the Twitterfountain: http://www.gtdtimes.com/gtd-tweekly-review-twitter-fountain/

Follow GTDCoachKelly: http://twitter.com/GTDCoachKelly

Search on the hashtag: #Tweekly

I’ll Tweet the 11 steps of the GTD Weekly Review, one every 5 minutes.

- Kelly

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The response to my blog post on the first Worldwide GTD “Tweekly” Review on Twitter has been amazing!  I’ll be leading whoever wants to join through the 11 steps of the GTD Weekly Review.  Some of you have asked me to change the time.  We’re going to keep it at the scheduled 10am California Pacific Time.  Sorry, I know for some of you that’s wee early.  So if I do another one, I will certainly take that into account.

Here are the particulars:

Thursday, May 28th – 10am – 11am Pacific Time (California) time. Find your local time.  Here’s a sample of local times:

• 11am Mountain time (Denver)
• 12pm Central time (Chicago)
• 1pm Eastern time (New York)
• 6pm UK time (London)
• 7pm Poland time (Warsaw)
• 2am Japan time (Tokyo)
• 3am Australia time (Sydney)

A few of you have asked how much of GTD should you know before joining the guided Tweekly Review. I would highly recommend understanding the essential Mastering Workflow principles of GTD:

• Collect
• Process
• Organize
• Review
• Do

The GTD book, is one of the best ways to learn those principles.  Part one (about 86 pages) will give you a great overview.  If you’ve been through a GTD class with us, review your workbook.  Short on time or just want a refresher of the best practices?  I would at least download these free articles from the DAC store:

• GTD Weekly Review
• 5 Phases of GTD: Mastering Workflow
• GTD Workflow Diagram

Here are three different ways to follow:

• Follow GTDCoachKelly on Twitter
• Search the hashtag “#Tweekly” on Twitter
• Follow the Twitterfountain on GTD Times.

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