The fundamental thinking process of GTD (Getting Things Done) is simple, but not simplistic. Whether you are applying it to an email that just landed in your inbox, a problem that just showed up for you to solve, or a great idea that just popped into your mind—there is gold to be mined from these questions in clarifying what “done” and “doing” looks like. Here’s a quick exercise to try:

1. Write down a project or situation that is most on your mind at this moment.
2. Now, describe in a single written sentence your intended desired outcome for this problem or situation. What needs to happen to mark this done?
3. Next, write down the very next physical action step required to move the situation forward.
4. Put those answers in a system you trust.

From David Allen (Getting Things Done)  – www.davidco.com

The minute Amazon.com alerted me to this book (pretty much the day it came out) and I saw the title, I bought it – and that was YEARS ago. I was ready for it and it has made a huge difference for me. It’s not a primer on time & paper management, but is more for the person who has some systems working and is ready for something more. I have listened to his seminars on tape as well and while his delivery can be somewhat irritating to some people (and I’m sure people say that about me, too), his content is powerful. You may want to sign up for his electronic newsletter www.gettingthingsdone.com. There are myriad tips and reinforcements that he and his consultants provide each time the e-zine comes out.  

David Allen has become an icon of sorts because of his GTD terminology…and he has a huge fan base.  I’m in that group, too. 

If you love having books arrive FAST, be sure to sign up for Amazon Prime…free 2-day shipping for one flat rate each year (and you can have 4 family members all using it.  Such a bargain for those of us who want books NOW vs. later!)

Given that I’m up to my eyes in an office clean-up at the moment, this is my question:  What is your can’t-do-without it organization tool and how do you use it?

 I can’t do without several things:

1. A good inbox (I’m a David Allen fan and his whole thing about get it all into the inbox and get it processed really struck me and has helped a lot). I have a wonderful (large) basket that I can load everything into and it doesn’t crush it or topple out…and then I empty it everyday.
2. A tickler file (the 1-31/January – December). I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t use this type of file. Stuff would go back to just being piled around on my desk, hoping that I remembered it when I went somewhere or when I needed to do it or whatever. Not pretty.
3. A labeler. It’s true, just like the article says. I have a Brother P-touch that I got at Office Depot and it makes a difference. My handwriting is dreadful and there really is something about having things labeled that just makes stuff look better. Supplies in the closet of my office are labeled, certain working files are labeled, etc.
4. Paper Tiger software (for my files). I can’t imagine trying to find anything without it. When I used categories or alphabetical, etc….things didn’t’ get filed and when they did, I pretty much couldn’t find them…but with PT (which I’ve now used since it was version 1.1 and it’s now 4.1 – they only upgrade “majorly” every couple of years), I can find everything. If you use a Mac, it doesn’t work, but if you use a PC, it does. I should probably do a little webinar to show people how it works.  Contact me (meggin@meggin.com) if you would like to purchase Paper Tiger software from me. 

Some others I love having…

• 2 screens (instead of just one monitor). Sure makes me more productive.
• Good desk

Hope this helps. Sorry I couldn’t narrow it to one

Meggin

It might be worth taking a look.  We all have to focus on what we can control…not on what we can’t.  There’s PLENTY that we can’t and that’s what is freaking us out.  Focus on what you can…it may have a calming influence.  It has for me.

Meggin,  I am a visual person and love the mind mapping process.  I take out the plain white paper or larger poster paper and my markers and fill it until there isn’t any white space left.  Now, I want mind mapping software for presentations.  After using a search engine, I was amazed at the choices.  Have you come upon mind mapping software in which you really like?

Posted by Kelly Eveleth | 8/6/07

Answer:

I also love to mind map, and I usually use big white paper and go from there (and a book that really helped me to get going on mindmapping is called Mapping Inner Space by Nancy Margulies). 

However, for awhile, I have been looking at software–and I took a teleseminar from David Allen (the guy who wrote Getting Things Done, one of my favorite productivity books of all time).  He uses and recommends Mindjet MindManager (which I am now using, too).  I was looking on the website to see if I could find the previous seminar he did and I found a ton of them and am intrigued, so I’ll be listening to more of them in the next few days!  WOW!  Anyway, click here to access the past webinars that have been recorded. 

Meggin