Costco Connection - December 2008

cover
story
Getting
things done,
your way
Process,
organize,
flow
Stuff

“IN”

THE GETTING THINGS Done approach sets up a systematic way of processing tasks, partially illustrated at right. The goal: Reduce effort and free up the mind for more creative pursuits.

The key is to stick with it. It may take a full day to get your inbox to zero, clear your desk and set up a filing sytem. But the result is worth it: a system that lets you handle emergencies when they pop up and address day-to-day tasks during a designated time.

Allen understands that everyone’s comfort level regarding messes, overflowing inboxes, etc. is different. With a little effort and dedication each week, you can get things done like Allen himself.

For more information, refer to Allen’s Web site at www.davidco.com.

—Stephanie E. Ponder

What is it?

Trash/ recycle

Eliminate

Is it actionable?

NO

If multi-step, what is the desired outcome?

Incubate

Possible later actions

Projects

YES

What’s the next action?

Someday maybe lists / folders

Reference

Planning

Do it

If less than 2 minutes

Paper & digital lists/folders

Project plans

Delegate it
Defer it

In communication system, and track it on ...

Review for actions

For me to do, specific to a day or time

For me to do, as soon as I can

Waiting for

Lists/folders

Next action

need it or pretend they don”t need it, and both of
those take up a lot of time. People have a lot of low-
level stress in their lives, and they”re willing and able
to tolerate a lot more of it than they need to.

The Costco
Connection
David Allen”s newest bo ok,
Making It All Work, releases
on December 28 and will be
available at most Costco
locations and costco.com.
Getting Things Done is
available at costco.com.

How is GTD different from all of the other
self-help and productivity-training books and
programs that exist?

The biggest difference, experientially, is that most of these other programs start with where you should be, and so people look at these books or programs at a deficit to begin with: “I’m not where I should be. Oh no.” What GTD does is start with exactly where you are, lets you feel successful about that, and helps you get to the top of your game immediately. It’s no good

24 The Costco Connection DECEMBER 2008

Action reminder lists/folders/trays

feeling bad about where you’re not. Let’s start with where we are and get better from there.

What would you like readers to take from GTD?

The first sentence of Getting Things Done: It’s possible to surf on top of this game. It’s not that hard. It’s not free. In other words, you can’t just be on top because you want to; you have to work for it. But it’s not like learning a new language or a new technology. You can learn these new behaviors. They’re not hard to learn. Try it out. You’ll like it. C