Ep. 197: Slice of GTD Life with Tamara McLendon

Mar 7, 2023

Tamara McLendon, President of LongLeaf System and Network Specialists and a certified GTD trainer, shares her inspiring journey from journalist to IT leader. She discusses how implementing the GTD methodology transformed her approach to productivity and employee training. Tamara dives into project management strategies, including the effective use of a tickler file system, and how to foster a culture of accountability within her team. Her insights on navigating challenges in a remote work environment and personal development are both practical and motivating.

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ANECDOTE

GTD Discovery

Tamara McLendon's first encounter with GTD involved a chaotic office and a need for better organization.
Reading the GTD book, she had a moment of clarity, finding the practical utility of the tools appealing.

ADVICE

Early GTD Implementation

Use a Waiting For list to track commitments from others, especially when collaborating with creatives.
Implement a Tickler file system for recurring projects, breaking them down into actionable steps.

ANECDOTE

Tickler File as Guide

As a freelancer, Tamara used a physical Tickler file to manage her team's daily work.
She incentivized checking the Tickler file with small rewards.

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Tamara McLendon is the personification of a high achiever who adopts GTD to achieve even more. In this interview, she describes her journey from working for others to growing her own business. Along the way, she began implementing GTD, and has gone on to become a certified trainer. You'll hear her describe her own system and tools. She also goes into detail about how she trains and supports all of her employees in a culture of accountability and professional development. Tamara is the president of LongLeaf System and Network Specialists, a nationwide managed IT services provider.

You can listen to the entire conversation from March 2020 at GTD Connect®.

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