David Allen welcomed Blinkist into his apartment in Amsterdam for a casual conversation about GTD, writing the book, and his love for clear space. Please accept statistics cookies to watch this video.
Category Archives: Productivity Tips
Are You Capturing Your Good Ideas?
How many thoughts and ideas do you have daily which represent useful things to do or potentially enhance or improve projects, situations, and life in general? How many have you had and forgotten, and forgotten that you’ve forgotten? “I ought to call Susan and ask her about where she stayed in Hawaii…” “I need to …
GTD and Information Overload
People complain about “information overload.” But, in truth, the most information-rich environment is the most relaxing–nature. We are actually more relaxed and stimulated by a plethora of input and multiple horizons, and nature provides that in spades. If you really wanted to go nuts, just put yourself in a room with no input (sensory deprivation.) …
EPISODE #38 – The Power of Outcome Thinking
David Allen explores the power of outcome thinking in front of a live audience. This talk will reveal just how much the thoughts we hold in our head have the potential to affect the types and qualities of action we take. From athletic performance to prepping for that next big meeting, what we think about …
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What is GTD®?
Someone recently asked David Allen to share the underlying principle to Getting Things Done® (GTD®). He said: There are several, but the main ones are: 1. CLEAR YOUR HEAD – Your head is for having ideas, not for holding them. In other words, build and maintain an “external brain” to hold all your significant reminders …
Turning Inside Out
I am beginning to get it. The ultimate ingredient for really getting things off my mind is to nurture the part of me that lives from the inside out. Now, when I say, “I’m beginning to get it,” please keep in mind that I’ve been “beginning to get it” for at least 50 years, consciously, …
GTD and Todoist
Our new GTD & Todoist Setup Guide is now available in our online store! This Guide will show you how to: – Understand the fundamental GTD best practices – Optimally configure Todoist in the way we have found works best for GTD – Integrate your actionable email – Create project and next actions lists in …
EPISODE #37 – Tips for a Year-End Review
The new year is always a great excuse to zoom out and recalibrate how your system is running, and a year-end review is an excellent way to do exactly that. In this conversation that first showed up on GTD Connect, David Allen & Coach Kelly Forrister give us some quick and practical tips for successfully …
The Big Secret About Goal Setting
Goals are tools, not golden calves. I was facilitating a senior level discussion in a medical technology company, and they were grappling with the issue of the role of R&D and how to “fill the pipeline” with new products that would keep them competitive. As one top exec proposed some aggressive goals for the number …
Episode #36 – Overcoming Procrastination
Listen to a fascinating segment with David Allen where he outlines the sources of procrastination, shares a few fun examples of the dynamics at work, and talks about the steps you can take to overcome it. Listen Now Subscribe or Download iTunes Stitcher Libsyn Google Play Music Spotify SoundCloud
GTD Tips for Getting Your Inbox to Zero
Looking for a quick summary on how to get your inbox to zero? Click here for a helpful free article from one of the GTD coaches.
Get a Grip on Your Process, or Give It Up
If you’re not willing to commit to keeping your head completely empty, it’s not worth trying to make any “personal management system” work. Give it up. Don’t kid yourself. Throw your productivity tools away. OK, I’m becoming more direct and succinct. (At 72 I think that serves us both, and I choose not to beat …
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Episode #35 – The Case for Capturing
Listen to an engaging presentation David Allen gave on the case for capturing. In it, David explores the concepts of psychic RAM, society’s move into knowledge work, and the freedom we feel as we begin to implement the GTD methodology. Listen Now Subscribe or Download iTunes Stitcher Libsyn Google Play Music Spotify SoundCloud …
Work/Life Balance
There’s not really work/life balance, there’s just balance. I mean, work is anything you want to get done, right? It doesn’t have to be pejorative. Having a good vacation can be work. Just think of the affirmation: Wow, this really works! Is that a bad thing? There’s a lot of stuff we have to do …
Are You Micromanaging Your Mind?
One of the greatest traps in growing a business is also a pitfall for self-management: If you don’t trust your system, you can’t let go of operational details and you’ll limit your ability to create at a bigger level. Many successful entrepreneurs I have worked with over the years could be characterized (and have been, …
Episode #34 – Crafting Your External Brain
David Allen presents a webinar on how to craft integrated external systems that allow you to focus more productively. He explores the cognitive science behind the external brain, what the purpose of it is, and how you can use it most effectively with your GTD system. Listen Now Subscribe or Download iTunes Stitcher …
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Commitments kept in your head
What’s on your mind?
Going the Distance to Mind Like Water
There is a light-year of difference between a system that has merely a lot of our stuff objectified, and one that has 100%. Few people have experienced what I’m talking about, because there are few people who have ever gotten to a 100% empty head—absolutely every project, action item, and potential commitment we have made …
Episode #33 – Wrangling Your Priorities
David Allen and Coach Meg Edwards give expert coaching on wrangling your priorities. The discussion includes three common challenges: competing priorities, mapping day-to-day priority choices to your higher level goals, and prioritizing as a group. Listen Now Subscribe or Download iTunes Stitcher Libsyn Google Play Music Spotify SoundCloud
5 Signs You’re Getting Better at GTD
1. It feels weird to keep stuff on your mind Capturing what has your attention is a key practice with GTD. Getting better at GTD means you are capturing what’s on your mind when it shows up, moment-by-moment and keeping something ON your mind, well, it just feels weird. 2. You empty your inboxes regularly …
