Introducing GTD®
* “If my mind had a mind, I wouldn’t need
a system.” – David Allen
* GTD® is the popular shorthand for
Getting Things Done®
* “…a powerful method to manage
commitments, information, and
communication.”
2. “Always On My Mind” What “stuff” is on your mind right now? Up to 7 things at once, maybe 10… “Mismanaged commitment = WORRY.” “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning” -Winston Churchill
3. Set Limitations (Haiku) By setting limitations, we must choose the essential. So in everything you do, learn to set limitations. By choosing the essential, we create great impact with minimal resources. Always choose the essential to maximize your time and energy. -from “The Power of LESS,” by Leo Babauta (p. 5)
4. Learn To Set Limits Email–Why check every 5 seconds? Text/Chat–Useful or distracting? Web Browsing–Really need to know that? “We” may be addicted… Single-tasking, not multi-tasking–Focus. Focus on the present, now. When overwhelmed and paralyzed, start with one little thing… and then repeat.
5. Get Out Of My Mind! Externalize things–OUT of your head! “Distributed Cognition” Simply write it down Basic pen/pencil and pad An app that takes only a few seconds to use Something easy to refer to or manage A SYSTEM to manage it all…
6. Introducing GTD® “If my mind had a mind, I wouldn’t need a system.” – David Allen GTD® is the popular shorthand for Getting Things Done® “…a powerful method to manage commitments, information, and communication.” www.davidco.com
7. A Two-Minute Video WorkFastTV http://www.fastcompany.tv/video/david-allen-on-getting-things-done-0 :38 to 2:20
8. Five Stages Of Workflow Collect Process Organize Review & Reflect Do (Actions)
9. 1. Collect Mental collection EVERYTHING on your mind Physical collection On your desk In your desk Around your desk, including old files 100% of your “incompletes”
10. 2. Process Is this actionable or not? Yes – Next action No – Trash, someday/maybe, or reference. Does it take less than 2 minutes? DO IT (now) Delegate it (to someone else) Defer it (waiting on something/someone)
11. "My three most important productivity tools are: The Trash Can, The Delete Key, and The Word 'No.’”- Patrick Rhone
12. 3. Organize Projects Actions (tasks) or Projects (more than one) Calendar (is sacred territory) Time/day-specific actions
13. 4. Review & Reflect Review to keep things off of your mind Cleanup, update, and delete Thorough weekly review
14. 5. Do (Actions) Context (Home, office, time, season) Time available (9:00 a.m. or 5:59 p.m.) Energy available Priority—What has the highest payoff? “You have more to do than you can possibly do. You just need to feel good about your choices.” –David Allen
15. Five Stages Of Workflow (again) Collect Process Organize Review & Reflect Do (Actions)
16. Six-Level Model For Review Runway: Current actions 10,000 ft: Current projects 20,000 ft: Ares of responsibility 30,000 ft: One- to two-year goals 40,000 ft: Three- to five-year vision 50,000+ ft: Life
17. Capture/Collection Tools Pen/pencil and paper Physical in-basket iPhone, Blackberry, Droid Voice-recording devices Email Software like OmniFocus…
18. OmniFocus (Mac Only, sorry PC) omnigroup.com/applications/omnifocus/ Screencast showing somecapabilities... (2:40 – 3:55) One application basedon the GTD® system
19. Go Get Things Done! Set limitations for yourself. Get a system that works for you. Feel good about your own decisions. Learn “the art of stress-free productivity.”
20. Online Resources David Allen www.davidco.com Leo Babauta www.zenhabits.net Merlin Mann www.43folders.com
There’s only so much you can think about at once, and all that’s rustling around in your head constantly because it has nowhere to go…
From “The Power of LESS”
Email can suck away our mental power, as well as all our time. We love our web browsing, but most of it is just a distraction. You MAY be addicted…In everything you do, do it in the moment. It’s not effective to try and jump ahead of yourself while ignoring the moment you’re in.
The brain doesn’t manage itself very well. It’s a sensing, feeling organ that remembers and forgets for the strangest reasons…The system is based on common sense, organized in a way that we can finally adhere to habitually… to get things done.
Prepare before presentation…
Quick overview, and then the details…
This step can take A LOT of time, so don’t get discouraged.
It only takes a few seconds to review, and then a weekly thorough review to stay on track…
Don’t have an in-basket? Then your home IS your in-basket…
Make a list of things you could CUT from your daily routine.It doesn’t need to be software. It can be a system of folders in your desk. There is one strategy that David Allen describes in detail.