The Two Gears of Getting Things Done® (GTD®) Adoption

I've published a whitepaper that presents the concept of the "two gear of GTD adoption". This concept is part of my research into introducing the concepts of Getting Things Done. I also touch on methods for adopting GTD.

Here is a preview...

The "first gear" of GTD adoption is effectiveness and the "second gear" is doing it all stress free.

GTD is not about speed, it is about momentum:

The idea of the two gears of GTD adoption comes from the concept of converting energy into momentum.

Just as a manually geared car (i.e. stick shift) stalls if you try to take off in 2nd gear, so will GTD if you try stress free before you've mastered effectiveness.

You need to get some speed up before you can change to the 2nd gear. Changing gears too early will stall your progress; i.e. focusing on the finer details of GTD too early will kill your enthusiasm. Likewise, changing gears two late will break your engine, i.e. working all the effectiveness techniques and routines without learning the critical thinking will have you exhausted before you experience the truly profound benefits of mind like water.

... Download the white paper to read more...

Grappling with questions about the tools you use for GTD

For those of you who are still grappling with questions about the tools you use for GTD, check out this 2 minute video from David Allen:

http://www.gtdtimes.com/2010/04/21/how-important-are-the-tools-you-use-with-gtd/

GTD best practices for CEOs and senior-level executives

David Allen shares the systematic processes and GTD best practices for CEOs and senior-level executives.

http://www.gtdtimes.com/2010/04/19/the-essential-gtd-skills-for-a-ceo/

Whitepaper: Processing e-mail using Outlook 2007

I’ve produced a white paper on processing e-mail using Outlook 2007.

It provides my view on how Outlook can be setup and used to process dozens of e-mails effectively.

Download my whitepaper here.


David Allen's article (http://www.gtdiq.com/media/pdf/Getting%20Email%20under%20control.pdf) provides the backdrop to managing e-mail with Outlook and also provides suggestions on handling larger volumes.

Stress Free Effectiveness is…

Stress Free Effectiveness is basically this – the ability to focus completely on what you are doing at any given moment, and the knowledge that what you are doing is the most appropriate thing you should be doing at that moment.

The issue for most of us is two fold: firstly it is difficult to completely focus on what you are doing because of interference from others and more importantly your own thoughts; and secondly, confidence you are doing the most appropriate thing at any given moment assumes you know everything you aren’t doing at that moment. The reality is that most of us don’t have a complete inventory of everything we should or could be doing.

The solution is both easier and harder than you may think… here it is…

(1) clear your mind and keep it that way.
(2) get everything you should or could be doing on to lists.
(3) keep those lists up to date and reviewed often enough that you trust the contents to be correct and complete.

Why the weekly review is crucial and some great tips on how to do it

In March's Productive Living Newsletter, David Allen provides an excellent summary on why the weekly review is crucial and some great tips on how to do it.

http://www.davidco.com/newsletters/archive/0310.html

The thing I have enjoy most about GTD is ...

When I read the following reflection of life since adopting GTD I was immediately drawn to wanting to share it. Not only because I feel in a little way proud for sharing David Allen’s material but because the thoughts were real, unsolicited and an excellent example of how peace and freedom can be found in the simplest of things. Oh and by the way, whilst I am not related to David Allen, I am related to the author, Lorraine Allen, she is my Mum. Enjoy:

I think the thing I have enjoy most about GTD is having a desk of my own (which I hadn't thought about before), also having everything that I need readily available saves me a lot of time running around looking for things (like sticky tape, stapler, two hole punch, calculator). I have also purchased a small tool kit so now I can put my hand on Allen keys, or a small screwdriver without rummaging through your Dad's shed! I do love the simple filing system too, now I don't have to wrack my brains about where I put some Specialist referral, notes on repotting Orchids, name of a good video, etc. I did tell you too that I believe I feel a lot more relaxed when I do watercolour now as I feel confident that I have attended to the important things that had to be done and everything else is in a place I know it will pop up when I have to think about it. It is funny too that once I didn't believe I had time to do the ironing! It was something that I left to do just before we went out (usually in a rush). Now I can allocate some time to ironing (usually I watch a good program on TV at the same time) and not feel guilty that I should be making better use of the time.

Lorraine Allen, BA,

Semi-retired Office Manager,

mother of 4,

grandmother of 10