GETTING THINGS DONE®

by David Allen (presented by Kevin Davison)

“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

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)

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.

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…

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

A Two-Minute Video

WorkFastTV http://www.fastcompany.tv/video/david-

allen-on-getting-things-done-0:38 to 2:20

Five Stages Of Workflow

1. Collect

2. Process

3. Organize

4. Review & Reflect

5. Do (Actions)

1. Collect

Mental collectionEVERYTHING on your mind

Physical collectionOn your deskIn your deskAround your desk, including old files

100% of your “incompletes”

2. Process

Is this actionable or not?Yes – Next actionNo – 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)

"My three most important productivity tools are:

The Trash Can, The Delete Key, and The Word 'No.’”

- Patrick Rhone

3. Organize

ProjectsActions (tasks) or Projects (more than one)

Calendar (is sacred territory)Time/day-specific actions

4. Review & Reflect

Review to keep things off of your mind Cleanup, update, and delete Thorough weekly review

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

Five Stages Of Workflow (again)

1. Collect

2. Process

3. Organize

4. Review & Reflect

5. Do (Actions)

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

Capture/Collection Tools

Pen/pencil and paper Physical in-basket iPhone, Blackberry, Droid Voice-recording devices Email Software like OmniFocus…

OmniFocus (Mac Only, sorry PC)

omnigroup.com/applications/omnifocus/ Screencast showing some

capabilities... (2:40 – 3:55) One application based

on the GTD® system

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.”

Online Resources

David Allenwww.davidco.com

Leo Babautawww.zenhabits.net

Merlin Mannwww.43folders.com

Thanks For Listening!

Questions?