GTD 101

Overview of David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology

By Todd Dailey

GTD Workflow Cheat Sheet

http://www.getrichslowly.org/forms/GTD-diagram.pdf

Big purpose of GTD is to clear your psychic RAM -- get out what you need to do out of your mind and into an external storage device (note cards, computer, post-its, etc)

Used to use Franklin planner was great until you stopped using it.

FP has Weekly, Monthly, Yearly goals, and you should never have to go back and cheat by entering a task down that you've already done -- like you do w/ FP.

GTD is more about ACTION.

Not about what you did last year

It's about getting stuff done NOW.

If a task takes less than 2 minutes, then just go ahead and do it now.

It gets you moving and doing things rather than spending all day planning on doing things.

"State of constant readiness"

Always be ready for boss walking in and asking you to switch to doing something else.

Clear your head so that you can be more agile

Don't freak out when you're interrupted.

If you're organized, then it's easier to come back and do it later

"Clearing your psychic RAM"

It's a freeing process b/c you don't have to keep everything in your head.

Create a process that you can count on remembering

DOn't have to always remember, can focus on what your doing.

When you're driving home -- in that context -- then you can look up what you're doing.

Projects and Context

Each project has a context

• Make phone call when near the phone
• Stop at ATM? when running errands

Five Basic Steps to GTD

• COLLECT
• PROCESS
• ORGANIZE
• REVIEW
• DO

Google for "GTD Workflow PDF" & click on third link: GTD workflow.id

GTD Workflow Cheat Sheet

http://www.getrichslowly.org/forms/GTD-diagram.pdf

Collect and DO is the main thing -- don't get caught up in the process.

Collect and everything that you want to do in your life EVER -- from buying mayonase to planning retirement

Will turn it into a process later -- BAD TODO = "Plan for retirement" -- not an action -- that's a project

During Process phase

Collect everything inside your head and get it in

Audience comment: time management is a joke --

don't have to do everything -- Is it going to make me money? WHen you can blow people off.

The 4-hour workweek

During process -- clean up your inbox

Geeks love process

GTD is flexible, and you can customize and change it

It's fetishistic and cultish

Weekly review phase -- be religious about reviewing a purging and weeding your TODO list