Comments on: Get a Grip on Your Process, or Give It Up

By: Mari

Mari — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:40:39 +0000

Hello Mr. Allen,
I loved how forward, blunt and honest you were in this message. I must admit that I needed to hear what you said in the very fashion that you presented it.
I started using your system many years ago, and I was always at my best. This past year, everyone was telling me to “get with the digital age” so I did, and I failed miserably! Personally, I have always loved using and seeing my goals, plans, actions, and schedule on paper. The feel and rhythmic, ceremony-like action of writing everything down was (in my opinion) partly soothing, and most importantly, had allowed me to cement in my mind what I was to do, how to do it, and by when it needed to finalize.
When I made the mistake of using technology, it was as if I was missing a huge step that allowed my brain to process my work in a manner that made me focus, retain and memorize what I was to do.
With technology, it was far too easy to get sidetracked and lose sight of what needed doing.
For the past year, I felt overwhelmed; have been the least creative and productive, and have been overly stressed.
This coming year, I will be returning to my old system and will use technology as a backup when I am unable to carry my planner with me.
Thank you for all that you do, and continue doing. You are such an asset, and are much appreciated!

By: David Drake

David Drake — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 00:49:06 +0000

In reply to David Drake. I forgot to add this important statement: GTD rocks!!

By: David Drake

David Drake — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 22:17:31 +0000

Wow….tell us how you REALLY feel, David! What a great kick in pants. I am so glad you decided to be bold and blunt. I need to print his out and put it on my bulletin board next to my computer. Cheers!

By: Hailong Tan

Hailong Tan — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 09:17:00 +0000

Just attended a GTD introduction meet up gathering in Shanghai China, 24th Nov, which was hosted by Kate and presented by Twinson Wu, and the seminar definately allowed me to access several productivity boost methods through the sharing best practices. On the journey of “mind of water” the first step reread and set up the system to release my brain power from memorizing all the staffs.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 19:18:16 +0000

So true! I appreciate the directness of your reminder.

By: Mary Donceel

Mary Donceel — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:52:25 +0000

Well said. Thank you David for laying down the gauntlet. I started this morning taking a critical look at what I am doing and not and am heading back to the book.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 10:56:38 +0000

Thanks, I needed that!

By: Tiago Miranda

Tiago Miranda — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 22:53:51 +0000

I know so many people who should read that! Now I have backup whenever someone starts ranting on about GTD: “Hey, buddy… Please, just read this before you bluster away.”

By: Sean Leary

Sean Leary — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 21:21:19 +0000

Reading GTD was the first big shift I made toward becoming truly productive (and successful). A life-changer, thank you David. And while like most I’m not letter-perfect with the implementation, I do agree that the key is “either your head is the place to keep track of stuff, or it’s not”.

I find that I tend to allow myself some reasonable leeway in a couple of areas:

1. Reviews. I do them, but not at a set interval. That means I end up reviewing either too often or not often enough. I can sense that this adds some ‘slop’ in my otherwise tight gearing at times.

2. Collection/capturing. While I don’t keep multiple lists, I sometimes allow a few things to rattle around upstairs – often while I evaluate whether I really care about them, or allow them to form into a ‘thing’. So, while there’s no permanent parking in the head, I am guilty of some brief double-parking from time to time – I’ll just be a minute…

But even with those non-perfect implementations, as long as I’m ‘very good’ (say A-minus/B-plus), about keeping things out of my head and in an external, organized, and reviewed system, GTD works quite beautifully.

The thing to keep in mind, and what I remember attracting me to the book years ago, was in the sub-title: “Stress-Free Productivity”. Anyone can run around like mad and get things done. The key is being able to enjoy being highly effective and efficient. And that takes discipline in the form of staying true to GTD’s main tenet, but not necessarily being perfect in every aspect of the methodology.

By: Jerry Stevens

Jerry Stevens — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:16:33 +0000

I’m guilty of only partial implementation but not of complaining to anyone.. except myself.