David Allen – Getting Things Done – SIV #053 Shownotes
“You have to think about your stuff more than you think, but not as much as you’re afraid you might.” - David Allen
David Allen literally changed my life. Before I read his book Getting Things Done, I was constantly flying by the seat of my pants, stressed out, missing deadlines and wondering why I seemed to forget so many important things that I needed to do.
When someone put David’s book in my hand, the subtitle absolutely sang to me. How could I not hope against hope that David was going to teach me the Art of Stress-Free Productivity? (Tweet That)
I devoured the book and then went back and read it step-by-step, implementing the teaching he outlined. It wasn’t easy, but I dedicated two full days to capturing everything I had running around in my mind, my email, physical inbox, the piles on my desk and the unfinished projects I had started.
I can’t tell you the relief I felt even before I started to tackle the projects and tasks I had now cataloged.
David will never know how much he has helped me. I appreciate him jumping on with us today, but I am forever thankful that he wrote Getting Things Done!
Now SERIOUSLY get out your pen and notepad. If this doesn’t help you, I’m worried about you!!!
Things David And I Talked About
- It’s truly a global world.
- He held 35 jobs by the time he turned 35.
- He didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up.
- While helping other’s build their business he learned methodologies that he was able to turn into a consulting practice.
- Developed Getting Things Done as a package of best practices.
- The difference between outcome and action thinking.
- Execution comes down to the micro level.
- Water appropriately engages with its universe.
- GTD is about getting a clear head so you can stay appropriately engaged with your universe.
- The stress of opportunity – How many things could you be doing right now?
- Stress is defined as something I want to be true but isn’t true yet.
- Asking yourself, “What has your attention and why has it got your attention?”
- Deciding not to decide is fine as long as you have a decide-not-to-decide system.
- “Set a meeting” is not a next step.
- “Buy cat food” takes up as much space in your brain at 3:00am as “Create a life.”
- A lot of people are trying to wait until they know what to do before they’ve decided what doing looks like.
- The average person has between 30-100 would, could, should, or need to’s running around in their head.
- Keep your filing system simple or you won’t file. You will stack instead.
- When in doubt, throw it out… When in doubt, keep it… WHAT!?!?
- “Neat” and “Organized” are two entirely different things.
- You need as many files as you need.
- Most people live in “emergency scan modality.”
- Your ability to deal with surprise is, to a large degree, your ability to have zero backlog.
The Books david and i Talked About
As always: Click on the links below to learn more or purchase through Amazon.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey
The Organized Mind – Daniel Levitin
Brain Chains – Theo Compernolle
Breaking Rank – Steven Coutinho
Getting Things Done – David Allen
Where To Connect With david
next week
You will definitely want to join me again next week when I bring on Geoff Woods, the President of the "One Thing" company. The One Thing is a New Your Times bestseller and has sold over one million copies. Geoff and I had an amazing conversation that you will kick yourself if you miss.
Until then, I wish you great SUCCESS! I’ve heard it’s VOLUNTARY…
