January 23, 2008

David Allen’s Presentation Notes

“GTD and the Two Keys to Sustaining a Healthy Life and Workstyle”

October 19, 2007

 [The following are taken directly from the slides he used in his PowerPoint presentation.]

I . GTD as a Martial Art

  • Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to concentrate.
  • Your ability to concentrate is directly proportional to your ability to eliminate distraction.
  • Distraction is created by mismanaged commitments.
  • Your mind is limited in its ability to manage commitments, because it is handicapped in its ability to remember and remind.
  • But until it trusts there is a better system, it cannot let go of the job.
  • There is usually an inverse proportion between the amount something is on your mind and the amount it is getting done.
  • If you don’t give appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.
  • In order to get things off your mind, you must know that:
a) you have captured, clarified, and organized your commitments, at all horizons, and
b) you will engage consciously with them as often as you need to.
  • Your ability to refocus, rapidly, on the right things at the right horizon at the right time is the master technique of knowledge work athletics.
  • Perspective is your slipperiest and most valuable commodity. Therefore, methods for maintaining perspective are your most important tools.

II. The Two Aspects of Self-Management

  1. Control: conscious focused engagement, aware of all options at any one time and place.
  2. Perspective: aligned and clear about decisions, directions, and priorities.

III. The GTD Models

Mastering workflow (Control): The five keys to gaining control.
  •  
    • Collect
    • Process (clarify)
    • Organize
    • Review
    • Do
Horizons of focus (Perspective): The six levels of work.
  •  
    • 50,000 ft - purpose, principles
    • 40,000 ft - vision
    • 30,000 ft - goals
    • 20,000 ft - areas of focus/responsibility
    • 10,000 ft - projects
    • Runway - next actions

IV. The Old Models …

  • only dealt with one aspect
  • were not complete
  • compressed the models
  • disconnected from reality
  • were system-dependent

V. How I came up with this …

  • I needed a better job
  • I’m lazy
  • I’m enthralled with efficient process
  • I value clear space

VI. Where is GTD going?

  • A standard for corporate culture?
  • Education (time for “mental intelligence”)?
  • Dissolving the work vs. life myth?
  • Accepted, assumed practice?
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