Show notes 📝 Getting Things Done identifies how you can maximize your ability to plan and actualize tasks and projects. GTD has now become a popular approach for getting professional and personal tasks completed within the management realm. That said, Allen’s approaches are meant to be generalizable to all facets of your life. 

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Disclaimer: This is an unofficial summary and analysis.

StoryShots Summary and Review of Getting Things Done by David Allen

David Allen's Perspective

David Allen is an author, consultant, international lecturer, and founder of the David Allen Company. Forbes recognized David Allen as one of the top five executive coaches in the United States. Leadership Magazine quoted him as one of the “Top 100 thought leaders.” Finally, Fast Company hailed David Allen, “One of the world’s most influential thinkers” in the arena of personal productivity.

Quick Analysis

Getting Things Done identifies how you can maximize your ability to plan and actualize tasks and projects. GTD has now become a popular approach for getting professional and personal tasks completed within the management realm. That said, Allen’s approaches are meant to be generalizable to all facets of your life. 

StoryShot #1: Get in Control of Your Life

An out of control life will make it impossible to think strategically or plan effectively. So, Allen recommends obtaining control of your daily tasks before focusing on the bigger picture. Getting things done is a bottom-up approach to productivity. The goal of this approach is to establish a sense of control over your work. This control will free up the mental energy required to think about lifelong goals.

StoryShot #2: Define Your Perception of Finished

To get things done, you have to understand your own definition of finishing something. Most people have a list of to-dos that don’t even have a clear vision of what a finished task looks like. This approach does not align with your natural tendencies. Your brain is designed to solve problems where you understand what the endpoint is. This means you should always seek to establish a clear stopping point. If you are struggling to make progress, ensure that you are still aware of what done looks like.

StoryShot #3: The Five Phases of Effective Work

StoryShot #4: Stop Storing Things in Your Head

First published on 12 Sept 2022.

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