Comments on: Should there be a GTD for Dummies?

By: John Forrister

John Forrister — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:21:24 +0000

Nathan — you’ve got the key points. If you get stuff out of your head, captured in a system that’s organized as you like it, you’re way ahead! The system doesn’t need to be complex. In fact, it should only be as complex as it needs to be to work for you.

One other thought: some people are more auditory, some more visual, etc. I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks, but some topics are easier for me if I have the physical pages to look at.

Best to you in your GTD journey,
John

By: Nathan Woodbury

Nathan Woodbury — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:24:51 +0000

I admit that I am struggling with the “GTD” audio book. I’m about half way through it and now admit that I am more confused than when I started. At first, I felt great about it and was excited, however, this system or whatever he’s explaining seem so complex that I’m trying to decide if I should spend the time to finish the audio book.

The main thing I’ve taken from it is that I need to have the ability to write down my thoughts, and organize them. Any more than that I still haven’t pieced together, because there seem to be a million folders and file cabinets… Am I looking at this the wrong way?

By: Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:44:40 +0000

Hey Michael, I second Kelly’s comment. Amen indeed.

I believe that GTD is like chess, basic rules that are easy to learn and grand strategies and complex tactics that take a little longer.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:09:42 +0000

there is a more simple version, it is called ‘Zen to done’ (a free e-book) and is what introduced me to GTD. I am glad I did not stop there and did buy the book by David Allen. Believe me, ‘Getting things done’ is as compact as it can get. Take David’s advice, read it, implement it and then reread it some 6 months later. That’s all you need and you’ll need it all…

By: Leslie S. Russell

Leslie S. Russell — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:41:48 +0000

I am a dummy and GTD works so well for me that people don’t think I’m a dummy anymore. Heck, I have even started to believe that my IQ is above 70.

By: Kelly Forrister

Kelly Forrister — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:27:22 +0000

Michael–you wrote:

I think sometimes people confuse GTD (the process David teaches in the book) with the endless amount of stuff generated by the GTD community — web sites, blogs, applications, etc. GTD can’t get any simpler. We make it complicated.

Amen!

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:05:33 +0000

By: Against Easy - Duncan Hart

Against Easy - Duncan Hart — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:17:11 +0000

I hope that GTD is never dumbed down. The benefit comes from the discipline and the rigor of applying the basic tenets. It’s too easy to dumb things down to a simple tickbox checklist. Let’s give credit where credit is due…. life is complex and the tools we need to use need to be sophisticated.

By: Venkat

Venkat — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:48:45 +0000

:) I wouldn’t call that GTD for dummies.

It is merely short-and-distilled GTD.

I don’t think GTD can truly be dumbed down. It takes a certain minimum self-awareness, honesty and basic intelligence to apply GTD.