Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity system developed by David Allen. The book provides a detailed methodology for managing tasks, projects, and information, emphasizing the importance of capturing all tasks and ideas, clarifying their meaning, organizing them into actionable lists, reviewing the system regularly, and engaging in the tasks. The GTD method is designed to reduce stress and increase productivity by externalizing tasks and using a trusted system to manage them. The book is divided into three parts, covering the overview of the system, its implementation, and the deeper benefits of integrating GTD into one's work and life[2][3][5].
The novella tells the story of a pilot flying home from RAF Celle in northern Germany to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk on Christmas Eve 1957. When his De Havilland Vampire aircraft experiences a complete electrical failure, he is lost in fog over the North Sea with no working compass or radio. The pilot uses a unique flying pattern to try and alert air traffic controllers, hoping to be 'shepherded' to safety. Despite the dire circumstances, a rescue aircraft appears, guiding him to safety in a dramatic and unforgettable ending.
In 'A World Without Email', Cal Newport argues that the constant digital communication, which he terms the 'hyperactive hive mind', has become a productivity disaster. He contends that this workflow, driven by email and other messaging tools, reduces profitability, slows economic growth, and makes workers miserable. Newport proposes a workplace where clear processes, not haphazard messaging, define task management. He advocates for each person working on fewer tasks but doing them better, with significant investment in support to reduce administrative burdens. The book lays out principles and concrete instructions for streamlining important communication and reducing the central role of inboxes and chat channels in the workplace.
Modern knowledge work jobs should be cushy gigs. Fixed hours, air conditioning, no hard manual labor, flexibility. So why are we so often burnt out and what can we do about this reality? In this episode, Cal draws a lesson from an unexpected corner of computer science, computer security research, about how we can fix some of the big problems of work in a digital age. He then answers listener questions and returns once again to the topic of AI in a final tech corner segment.
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Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Here’s the link: bit.ly/3U3sTvo
Video from today’s episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia
Deep Dive: You Are Not a Cog [11:00]
- Should I break my large tasks into many small ones? [38:18]
- How will AI affect living the deep life? [42:47]
- How can I say “no” to more incoming requests? [48:14]
- Should an architect take on broader roles that don’t necessarily add to career capital? [52:03]
- Can a nurse implement time blocking? [54:33]
- Can a Kansan system work across all departments without being overly complex? [58:11]
- CALL: Organizing the details of a Trello board [1:03:19]
CASE STUDY: Lifestyle centric value based planning for a young family [1:07:58]
TECH CORNER: AGI is not Super-intelligence [1:15:35]
Links:
Buy Cal’s latest book, “Slow Productivity” at calnewport.com/slow
Get a signed copy of Cal’s “Slow Productivity” at peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/
Cal’s monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba?
medium.com/@tony.infisical/password-requirements-are-still-confusing-in-2023-also-heres-our-flavor-44ce03a3255c
youtube.com/watch?v=ZzJMxh68RGI
Thanks to our Sponsors:
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Thanks to Jesse Miller for production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, Kieron Rees for the slow productivity music, and Mark Miles for mastering.
Deep Questions with Cal Newport 
