Getting Things Done

Ep. 202: 5 GTD App Design Principles

20 snips
Apr 11, 2023
In this discussion, Eric Mack, creator of a top productivity tool grounded in Getting Things Done (GTD), shares his innovative design principles for productivity software. He emphasizes user-centric design and the importance of minimizing cognitive load to boost efficiency. Eric also highlights the evolution of productivity tools and the shift in mindset they can instigate. Listeners can engage in his workstyle survey to identify frustrations and improve their productivity, paving the way for future innovations in tools designed for optimized workflow.
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ANECDOTE

Summit Misunderstanding

  • At the 2019 GTD Summit, David Allen revealed his "ultimate GTD system."
  • Multiple developers claimed they could build it in months, misunderstanding its complexity.
INSIGHT

PIMs to Plans

  • David Allen's 1990s article on PIMs (personal information managers) failures became a software business plan.
  • This led to an attempt to create software that supports, not replaces, personal thinking.
ANECDOTE

Software Can't Think

  • Many software developers misunderstand GTD's core principle: users do their own thinking.
  • Software facilitates action and tracking, not prioritization or decision-making.
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