How refined are your open loops?

How refined are your open loops?

It came to me, as many of my moments of inspiration do, when I was doing something completely unrelated. I was enjoying a beautiful walk in the hills with my wife last weekend, and it occurred to me: “we all have lots of things we need to do, our ‘open...
Riffin’ on GTD

Riffin’ on GTD

Earlier in the month I took a week off, as I do every year, to join a group of about 80 musicians who gather to play jazz music in the hills of Surrey here in England. It’s an intense week, about 14 hours a day for seven days, filled with rehearsals, workshops,...
Future? Possible

Future? Possible

Back in September, my blog was a call to action. I wanted as many of our readers as possible to share with us their favourite reminders from their GTD systems. The goal was to turn over the microphone to you, to inspire, amuse, and reinforce the value of GTD...

How do you get started?

Back in September, I asked people to send in their favourite GTD Projects, Next Actions, and Someday/Maybe list entries. Loads of people have gotten in touch, and if that’s you then thank you very much for your support. Today I’ll focus on the Next Actions that you’ve sent in. 

Future? Possible

Doing your bit to solve the productivity puzzle

Lack of productivity growth is a very hot topic in the news these days, and the source of much discussion and consternation in board rooms and among government ministers. The Conference Board, a global think-tank, reckons that global productivity fell 0.2 percent last...
Future? Possible

There’s More Than One Way to Be a Victim

Ever had an overwhelming sense that the world is coming at you so fast that you can’t keep up? The emails and instant messages are arriving faster than they’re being dealt with. The stacks of paper on your desk are growing, not shrinking. When you see the boss headed...
Future? Possible

Productivity with Alice in Wonderland

We’re offering a new intermediate-level GTD seminar these days, Projects and Priorities, and I’ve run several of them over the last couple of months. It’s a day for expansive thinking; about building on the basics of GTD that enable us to stay in control of our...
Future? Possible

How much would you pay for this?

  I’ve had an idea for a service business. It’s about helping people to make sure they’re reminded about the things they need to do in their lives. It’ll work like this. You tell it what you want to be reminded about, and it will remind you. It will remind you at...
Future? Possible

Remedies for “Too Much On”

I was on a long plane flight earlier this week, about six hours in the air. While I don’t particularly relish time away from home, I do find that the time I spend on planes is some of the most productive time in my life. On a plane all of my various mobile devices are...
You’re Already on the Journey

You’re Already on the Journey

When it comes to making things happen, does your world look like this?  Things that need your attention arrive. Some are generated by other people and appear without any effort on your part, like email, or your friends’ Facebook posts. Other things that grab your...
You’re Already on the Journey

Busy is out there. And it’s coming for you.

You’re being stalked right now. No, not by people in camouflage gear and woolly hats. It’s Busy. Busy is after you. When Busy catches you, it gets you to do things. Lots of things. (Doing things is good, though, surely?) Well, Busy has rules. You have to stay in...
You’re Already on the Journey

Doing Isn’t Everything

Most of us are back at work now after the summer break. Hands up now – anyone struggling to stay busy? Didn’t think so. Staying busy isn’t a problem. There are always things to be getting on with, in both our personal and professional lives. But just being busy at the...

Spearmint on the Brain?

I’m just back from the States, having spent a week visiting family and friends on the west coast. In addition to the challenge of dealing with 8-hour jet lag, now that I’m back in Europe I find myself reflecting on trans-Atlantic cultural differences. This has...

Only You Can Prevent Brain Abuse

  I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who would argue that their brain was unimportant (and if they did, you would wonder how well it was functioning anyway). Yet on our travels we find that many people misuse their brains. They expect it to perform...

It’s easier to be mindful if your mind isn’t full

  It seems like the practices of “mindfulness” are everywhere these days. Senior politicians and successful entrepreneurs talk about its transformative value in reducing physical and psychological stress. Talk show hosts from Oprah on down encourage their...

Worth Celebrating

Last week my father had a birthday, and it’s got me thinking about celebrations. We celebrate things that represent progress, like the calendar reaching another milestone; though in my father’s case he says he would prefer not to be reminded of the number of...

Want to experience less stress? Create more tension.

I was working with a client a few weeks ago in a one-on-one coaching session. He works in a creative industry, and has had a very successful career. He brought us in to help him get back in control of his work world, which seemed likely to overwhelm him.  Given his...
You’re Already on the Journey

Are you a Worksop?

It’s been 30 years since the publication of one of my favourite books, The Meaning of Liff. In it Douglas Adams, who also wrote the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and John Lloyd created a dictionary parody that sought to give names to “common experiences,...

Are You Committed? Should You Be?

So the flip-flops are put away, the digital snaps are posted to Facebook, and you’ve had maybe a few weeks back at the office. Are you still feeling the restorative effects of your holiday? I’ve always found this time of year a bit overwhelming, especially...
You’re Already on the Journey

Stop Thinking!

Earlier in the month I was in California, taking part in the annual jamboree that is the David Allen Company staff meeting. This is always a great chance to catch up with many far-flung members of the GTD family and to spend some time with David Allen himself, who...