9. Getting Things Done
• Getting Things Done is an organizational method
created by David Allen, described in a book of the
same name.
• The Getting Things Done method rests on the
principle that a person needs to move tasks out
of the mind by recording them externally. That
way, the mind is freed from the job of
remembering everything that needs to be done,
and can concentrate on actually performing those
tasks.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done
14. “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
17. Set Limitations (Haiku)
1. By setting limitations, we must choose the
essential. So in everything you do, learn to
set limitations.
2. 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)
18. 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.
19. 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…
20. A Two-Minute Video
• WorkFastTV
• http://www.fastcompany.tv/video/david-
allen-on-getting-things-done-0
– :40 to 2:20
21. Five Stages Of Workflow
1. Collect
2. Process
3. Organize
4. Review & Reflect
5. Do (Actions)
22. 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”
23. 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)
24. "My three most important productivity tools
are:
• The Trash Can,
• The Delete Key, and
• The Word 'No.’”
- Patrick Rhone
25. 3. Organize
• Projects
– Actions (tasks) or Projects (more than one)
• Calendar (is sacred territory)
– Time/day-specific actions
26. 4. Review & Reflect
• Review to keep things off of your mind
• Cleanup, update, and delete
• Thorough weekly review
27. 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
28. Five Stages Of Workflow (again)
1. Collect
2. Process
3. Organize
4. Review & Reflect
5. Do (Actions)
30. 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
31. Capture/Collection Tools
• Pen/pencil and paper
• Physical in-basket
• iPhone, Blackberry, Droid
• Voice-recording devices
• Email
• Software like Outlook, OneNote…
37. 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.”
38. Online Resources/tools
• Visual Studio
– http://wpew.it/97Nm36
• David Allen
– www.davidco.com
• Leo Babauta
– www.zenhabits.net
• Merlin Mann
– www.43folders.com
• EverNote
– www.evernote.com
• WorkFlowy
– www.workflowy.com
• iDoneThis
– www.idonethis.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.
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…
http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/
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.