Often, your project support will include documents on your computer like Word or Excel files. You can attach the actual document, but what happens if you update the original? How can you be sure you have the latest attached? We got this very question from a GTD’er and thought it would be useful to pass …
Surviving the holidays GTD-style
Meghan Wilker–mom, social media maven, and GTD’er-extraordinaire, brings her tips for surviving the holidays GTD-style. Enjoy! This weekend kicked off the holiday season which, for most people, is synonymous with utter chaos. Often, work projects need to be wrapped up by end-of-year, we are inundated with party invitations from friends, clients, and vendors and — …
Taking care of family
This community contribution comes from Tara who uses GTD to care for her ill mother. It’s a wonderful story from someone who–already naturally organized and productive–found ways to improve on her systems to provide the best care she could for her mother. Dear David, I’m probably in the camp of those who need GTD the least …
A quick guide to GTD and projects
Some of the most common questions we get are about managing projects. Here is how one of the Coaches replied when someone new to GTD was asking how to manage projects and all of the related steps with GTD. There are 3 components to consider with your projects: 1. Tracking the outcome on a Projects …
Be your own post office
A longtime stalwart of David Allen’s personal GTD setup is his Tickler File System. This 43-folder system is like having your own post office to mail things back for your attention and awareness–exactly when you need to see them again. “The Tickler File demands only one-second-per-day new behavior to make it work, and it has …
Falling into "professional crastination"
It certainly has been a while since I’ve written anything for GTD Times, so long that one might think I’d fallen off the wagon. Not true – somewhat. It’s not as if I’d fallen and couldn’t get up – it was that I was buried and couldn’t dig out. Like most of you, I have …
Giving more attention to your kids than your BlackBerry
We wanted to share this amazing letter from Kevin, who recently attended a GTD Mastering Workflow class. He describes what he did after the class, including a wonderful experience of connecting with his daughter. For those of you feeling like you’re in “always on” mode in your work and personal life, Kevin’s story may be …
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WSJ takes a look at GTD – the "reigning gorilla"
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 …
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Develop and Maintain Successful Business Relationships with GTD
Readers of my site know that I am a big fan of David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” methodology, which the cool kids call “GTD” (see my 5 must read business books post). GTD for some is a life changer. I can tell you that I personally went from work drawers full of paper piles to …
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When email becomes a two-headed monster
Q: I think email is becoming a two-headed monster. It is vital but more and more people ignore them, don’t read fully etc. How can we move forward with accomplishing goals in this environment? Are there ideas you can offer regarding effective corporate communications and task handoffs? David Allen’s answer: Essentially email is no different …
Getting Started with GTD
Check out this 5 minute podcast from David Allen on what he suggests for getting started with GTD. If you’re not yet a subscriber to our free podcast series, here’s how to get started.
Why it's important to keep your system current
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 …
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Organizing on the iPhone
Thanks for this community contribution from Pete Tambroni. Here’s how he has setup his GTD organization on the iPhone… In the original Getting Things Done, much of the focus was on paper systems with an electronic complement. These days much of our world is the opposite. I try to have as much as possible in …
Save some bucks on postage
The new GTD Workflow Map + DVD now also comes in a folded version, which is packaged in a flat-rate envelope, which makes international shipping much more economical. You can also still get the rolled version, that ships in a tube, if you prefer that. What’s different about this map versus the diagram that’s in …
A vast majority of professionals are in “emergency scanning” mode
David Allen has a regular column on Wired UK these days. One of his recent articles, Focus on the Unimportant, is a great read for those of you who are still looking for more guidance on the priorities piece of GTD. “A vast majority of professionals are in “emergency scanning” mode. Their self-management consists of …
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How David Allen uses mindmaps
Dean, an architect, wrote to David to ask for detail on using mindmaps in his GTD system. Here’s the whole thread: Hi David, I have enjoyed reading Getting Things Done and Making It All Work. I own an architecture firm in Michigan, and have been implementing your GTD system into my work and life plan. …
iPhone and Lotus Notes
What’s out there for Lotus Notes users who want to sync To Do’s to their iPhone? Nothing. As far as I know. Believe me, I’ve searched for nearly a year. As a Notes user who was enchanted with an iPhone, I thought surely a To Do synching solution could not be far behind. Nope. Nothing. …
A ton of FREE GTD Resources
Here is a list of all of the FREE GTD resources offered by the David Allen Company: GTD Times – This is the the official blog for the David Allen Company. Loads of helpful advice, tips, special offers, tricks & strategies for implementing GTD. Podcasts – Includes the GTD best practices series with David & …
Thriving in the unexpected
We’ve all had experiences in life that feel like an sucker punch to our world. In a matter of minutes, things are not as they were. We received this heartfelt letter from André, who wanted other GTD’ers to know how he dealt with a difficult family situation using the GTD principles and practices. The last …
Facing the (Sometimes) Ugly Truth
We GTD enthusiasts sure do like showing off our workspaces. And, naturally, we show them off when they are looking their best: inboxes in a near-pristine state and folders lined up tidily with their labels gleaming in the sunlight. Honestly, I love it. Like many other GTD geeks, I get a perverse pleasure from looking …
