GTD

GTD

PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http://code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:49:08 UTC

Contents
Articles
Getting Things Done David Allen (author) 1 4

References
Article Sources and Contributors Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 6 7

Article Licenses
License 8

Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity cover Author(s) Subject(s) Publisher Publication date Pages ISBN David Allen Business Penguin 2002 267 pp ISBN 978-0-14-200028-1 Reprint Edition 51540420 [1]

OCLC Number

Getting Things Done is a time-management methodology, described in a book of the same title by productivity consultant David Allen. It is often referred to as GTD. The GTD method rests on the idea of moving planned tasks and projects out of the mind by recording them externally and then breaking them into actionable work items. This allows one to focus attention on taking action on tasks, instead of on recalling them.

Methodology
In time management, task priorities play a central role. Allen's approach uses two key elements control and perspective. He proposes a workflow process to control all the tasks and commitments that one needs or wants to get done. There are six horizons of focus" to provide a useful perspective. Allen creates analogies between the six levels of focus and an airplane taking off, going to higher altitudes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Runway 10,000 feet level 20,000 feet level 30,000 feet level 40,000 feet level 50,000 feet level

Unlike some theories, which focus on top-down goal-setting, GTD works in the opposite direction. Allen believes that it is often difficult for individuals to focus on big picture goals if they cannot sufficiently control the day-to-day tasks that they frequently must face. By developing a system that clarifies and defines the regular workday, an individual can free up mental space to begin moving up to the next level of focus. A weekly review is done on different levels, and suggests that the perspective gained from these reviews should drive one's priorities. This in turn determines the priority of the individual tasks and commitments gathered during the workflow process. During a weekly review, determine the context for the tasks and put them on the appropriate lists. An example of grouping together similar tasks would be making a list of outstanding telephone calls, or the tasks / errands to perform while downtown. Context lists can be defined by the set of tools available or by the presence of individuals or groups for whom one has items to discuss or present.

Getting Things Done GTD is based on storing, tracking and retrieving the information related to the things that need to get done. Mental blocks we encounter are caused by insufficient 'front-end' planning. This means thinking in advance, generating a series of actions which can later be undertaken without further planning. The human brain's "reminder system" is inefficient and seldom reminds us of what we need to do at the time and place when we can do it. Consequently, the "next actions" stored by context in the "trusted system" act as an external support which ensures that we are presented with the right reminders at the right time. As GTD relies on external memories, it can be seen as an application of the theories of distributed cognition or the extended mind.[2]

Reception
In 2005, Wired called GTD "A new cult for the info age",[3] describing the enthusiasm for this methodology among information technology and knowledge workers as a kind of cult following. Allen's ideas have also been popularized through the Howard Stern Show (Howard Stern referenced it daily throughout summer 2012) and the Internet, especially via blogs such as Lifehacker,[4] 43 Folders,[5] and The Simple Dollar.[6] In 2005, Ben Hammersley interviewed David Allen for The Guardian, with an article called "Meet the man who can bring order to your universe",[7] saying "For me, as with the hundreds of thousands around the world who press the book into their friends' hands with fire in their eyes, Allen's ideas are nothing short of life-changing". In 2007, Time Magazine called Getting Things Done the self-help business book of its time.[8] In 2007, Wired ran another article about GTD and Allen,[9] quoting him as saying "the workings of an automatic transmission are more complicated than a manual transmission... to simplify a complex event, you need a complex system".

Software implementations
While GTD material is technologically neutral and advises people to start with a paper-based system,[10] many task management tools claim to be GTD compliant.[11] The following software applications are designed for this purpose.
Proprietary Binfire Evernote OmniFocus Organize:Pro Priority Matrix Remember The Milk Things Todoist Toodledo Open Source BasKet Note Pads Chandler Emacs Org-mode OpenERP Taskwarrior TiddlyWiki wikidPad

Getting Things Done

References
[1] http:/ / worldcat. org/ oclc/ 51540420

Further reading
Allen, David (2001). Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. Penguin Books. ISBN0-14-200028-0. Allen, David (2003). Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life. Viking Books. ISBN0-670-03250-6. Allen, David (2008). Making it All Work. Viking Books. ISBN978-0-7499-4103-1.

External links
David Allen & Co. official site (http://www.davidco.com/)

David Allen (author)

David Allen (author)

David Allen

Born Occupation Spouse(s)

December 28, 1945 Author, Consultant, Management Kathryn [1]

David Allen (born December 28, 1945) is a productivity consultant who is best known as the creator of the time management method known as "Getting Things Done". He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana where he acted and won a state championship in debate. He went to college at New College, now New College of Florida, in Sarasota, Florida, and did graduate work in American history at University of California, Berkeley.[2] His career path has included jobs as a magician, waiter, karate teacher, landscaper, vitamin distributor, glass-blowing lathe operator, travel agent, gas station manager, U-Haul dealer, moped salesman, restaurant cook,[1] personal growth trainer, manager of a lawn service company, and manager of a travel agency. He is an ordained minister with the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness.[3][4] He claims to have had 35 professions before age 35.[5] He began applying his perspective on productivity with businesses in the 1980s when he was awarded a contract to design a program for executives and managers at Lockheed. He is the founder of the David Allen Company, which is focused on productivity, action management and executive coaching. His "Getting Things Done" method is part of his coaching efforts. He was also one of the founders of Actioneer, Inc., a company specializing in productivity tools for the Palm Pilot. David Allen Company presenters, not Allen, regularly gives one-day public seminars on Allen's Getting Things Done methodology, which cost approximately $595[citation needed]. Allen himself gives public seminars only occasionally, which cost approximately $995[citation needed]. Allen has written three books, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, which describes his productivity program, Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life, a collection of newsletter articles he has written, and Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life, a follow-up to his first book. He lives in Ojai, California with his fourth wife, Kathryn,[1] whom he describes as his "extraordinary partner in work and life" in the dedication of Getting Things Done.

David Allen (author)

Bibliography
Allen, David (2001). Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. New York: Penguin Putnam. ISBN978-0-14-200028-1. Allen, David (2003). Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life. New York: Viking Books. ISBN978-0-14-303454-4. Allen, David (2008). Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life. New York: Viking Adult. ISBN978-0-67-001995-3.

References
[1] Paul Keegan, June 21, 2007 How David Allen mastered getting things done (http:/ / money. cnn. com/ magazines/ business2/ business2_archive/ 2007/ 07/ 01/ 100117066/ index. htm)Business 2.0 [2] Keith H. Hammonds, April 30, 2000. "You can do anything - but not everything" (http:/ / www. fastcompany. com/ magazine/ 34/ allen. html) Fast Company, retrieved April 8, 2010 [3] Jack Coats, 2000. "David Allen - Ministering to the Business Community" (http:/ / www. ndh. org/ template. php3?ID=65) The New Day Herald online retrieved Jan. 18, 2008 [4] Jack Coats, 2000. "Getting Things Done: David Allen's Keys to Completion" (http:/ / www. ndh. org/ template. php3?ID=64) The New Day Herald online retrieved Oct. 24, 2007 [5] David E. Williams, Feb. 9, 2007 Cutting through the clutter to get things done (http:/ / www. cnn. com/ 2007/ TECH/ internet/ 02/ 09/ david. allen/ index. html) CNN

Further reading
Beardsley, David. (April 1998) " Don't Manage Time, Manage Yourself (http://www.fastcompany.com/ magazine/14/managetime.html)." Fast Company. Issue 14, p.64. Fallows, James. (July/August 2004) " Organize Your Life! (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200407/ fallows2)." Atlantic Monthly. Vol. 294, No. 1, pp.1712. Wolf, Gary. September 25, 2007 Getting Things Done Guru David Allen and His Cult of Hyperefficiency (http:// www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/15-10/ff_allen?currentPage=all) Wired : 15.10 Mitchell, James. On Time Management and David Allen (http://www.jmitchell.me/essays/david-allen)

External links
The David Allen Company website (http://davidco.com/) David Allen's Blog in the "Living Now" section of The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ david-allen/) "Relaxed Focus" Interview on Humankind public radio (http://www.humanmedia.org/catalog/program. php?products_id=30)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Getting Things Done Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=551023029 Contributors: .marc., 121dot72dot149dot211, 16@r, 1ghost, AaronSw, Agarcialw, Ahoerstemeier, Alagahd, AlainDominique, Alan Liefting, Alex.g, Alexbrie, AltiusBimm, Amatulic, Andrea105, AndrewHowse, Andrewski, Anna Lincoln, Arda Xi, Avernet, Avocade, Babajobu, Balor1999, Batsonjay, Bbrown, Beirne, Bevo, Bigbrother52, Bihco, BillyPreset, Binfire, BitwiseMan, Bjdehut, Bluemask, Bmicallef, Bohemianroots, Boivie, Bonadea, Booretube, Boreal321, Brightpool, BruceMagnus, Burnayev, Bvelasquez, Cardozo, CatIAm, Cedricthecat, Cerrol, CharlesC, ChemGardener, ChrisG, ClaudineChionh, Connermcd, Cory Donnelly, Crubin, Cst17, Cybercobra, Cyberscribe, D6, DCDuring, DGG, Daf, Danieleocchipinti, Dank, DaveR, David Gerard, David Merrill, DavidTrey, Deanhouseholder, Dekisugi, Deroshenko, Desparoz, Devoss, Donebywhen, Dreftymac, Dreispt, Dzsino, E-boy, E.James, Editor2020, Edward, Ekaterin-nl, Eliazar, EliotSykes, Elwikipedista, Emil76, ErikStewart, Evolve75, ExplicitImplicity, FiBrown, Flairdrive1, Folletto, Footfun, Fourputt, Fraggle81, FrankTobia, Frasycl, Froid, Funiversity, Fuper, Gary King, Geneffects, Giannalapin, Goochelaar, Gorillamania, Gresmi, Gspederson, Gte910h, Gvozdok, Gwern, Habbie, Halo, Hannabee, Hateless, Heroville, Hexwizard, Hgfernan, HighKing, Hoppeduppeanut, Hu12, HungryJack, Husky, Ike9898, ImperfectlyInformed, Isaacbowman, JCrenshaw, Jack Greenmaven, Jag123, Jakeby, JamesMLane, Jarble, Jbsongaku, JeremyMcCracken, JeremyStein, Jeroen Baten, JesseStone, Jm34harvey, Johannes.klabbers, JohnWhitlock, Jonasfagundes, Jonik, Joyous!, Jsl83, Jsuplido, Jtdgreat, Juan M. Gonzalez, Justapersona, Kcren, Keithlard, Kesh, Kev, Kevinalewis, Khalid hassani, Khatores, KillerChihuahua, Kisholi, KitchM, Kjtobo, Klimov, Knhansen, Lamorak, Lausianne, Leafnode, Lechnpa, LeeHunter, LizHarward, LookingGlass, Lotje, Mabdul, Madduck.tv, Marcucio, Masontech, Mattarata, Mayerwin, Mb4seo, McGeddon, Mczack26, Meadow68, Meandtheshell, Memming, Michael Hardy, MichaelCaricofe, Mindmatrix, Mjs110, Mjsteiner, Mjwild, Mkoval, MoeDrippins, Molten tar, Mrwojo, Mschel, Muness, Myall4u, Mypine, NRLer, Napdynmite, Nathannielstott, Nbarth, Negrienko, Neitherday, NeonMerlin, Neschek, NetCentrics, Nicolas.soergel, Nodiscc, Norio De Sousa, Nothing1212, Nukeasylum, Offsky, Omphaloscope, One Night In Hackney, Onemln, Paranoid, Parker007, Parkerhome, Petdance, PeterSymonds, Phil Boswell, Purgatory Fubar, Pvera, RL0919, Rabanian, Random832, RandomHumanoid, Rdrozd, Realkodiak, Remorywl, Renesis, Requestion, Rhcastilhos, Ripalda, Riyazmd, RossPatterson, Rufous, Runtime, Samlowry, Scientizzle, Scorlosq, Sdayal, Sdedeo, Sevenp, Sgbirch, Shepard, Shokolada, Shphelps, Slavingia, Sound-Mind, Spikers666, Spoko, Stwissel, Syrthiss, T100520, TML, Tanitall, Tempest67, The saxon, TheRegicider, Thnidu, Thumperward, TideSwap, Tim Pritlove, Tiptoety, Tlroche, Tnxman307, Toby Bartels, Toddvasquez, Tpapastylianou, Tra11955, Travisowens@hotmail.com, Trobbs, Trondarild, Tuqqer, UnitedStatesian, Vectro, Veinor, VickiBrown, Vlauria, Voomoo, WangPublic, WatchAndObserve, Wenqi.chen, Wikigtd, Willygoose, Windcloud, Yousukehara, Ytroc, Zephyr789us, Zhitelew, Zlentz, Ztelona, Zzxxcc2, 567 , anonymous edits David Allen (author) Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=546197104 Contributors: Amalas, Andres, Archanamiya, Arthur347, Aydee, Barauswald, Beetstra, Beirne, Betsythedevine, Bhoeble, Bloghate, Booyabazooka, BrunoAssis, CGP, Calsicol, ChemGardener, Chipjoyce, Cirt, Cyberscribe, DCDuring, DGG, Damon Mah, Darin-0, David Gerard, DavidDouthitt, Dystopos, Editor2020, Elsendero, FeanorStar7, FrankTobia, Geneffects, Hall Monitor, Jarble, JoanneB, Johnpacklambert, Josephgrossberg, Just Jim Dandy, KConWiki, KillerChihuahua, Kwi, Lectonar, Lotje, Lukaszeq, MER-C, Maplegarden, Mary Spencer 20, MarySpencer10, Maxamegalon2000, MitchS, Mushroom, Natebailey, Ohnoitsjamie, Perfecto, Rajah, Requestion, Rightb, Rjwilmsi, SMasters, Sherool, Studerby, Taw, TheRealFennShysa, TheRegicider, TheWikiWiki, Wormcast, Xezbeth, Zenitram82, 35 , anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:David Allen.jpg Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:David_Allen.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: Robert Scoble

License

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/