Tuesday, January 16th, 2007...12:29 pm
GTD: Framework or Set in Stone
Happy New(ly Productive) Year!
Hello to all of our readers. I apologize for the lack of post in the new year. Over the break, I found out that my email server box is slowly beginning to die, so I have been frantically trying to get things in place for a new email server at my work. I hope to start posting more very soon.
I have had growing frustration while reading the Official Forums at DavidCo. It seems that there is an increasing amount of posts that follow the same form:
Hey everyone. I have been using GTD for XX amount of time. I know that I am not an expert at GTD, but I think that XXXXX would be a good addition to my system. IS THIS ALLOWED? [caps are mine]
I think that a lot pf people do not understand that GTD is a framework for increasing productivity. There is one user that peppers the forums with many of these types of requests. I do not think that the user understands the book as it was written. David Allen even states that explicitly,,
“What follows is a compilation of more than two decades’ worth of discoveries about personal productivity - a GUIDE to maximizing output and minimizing input…” [1] [caps are my emphasis]
You have to read, re-read, and even re-read a third, fourth or maybe a fifth time to internalize all of the concepts that David Allen puts forth in Getting Things Done. I am about to embark on my fourth reading through the book, and I have gleaned some very important additions to my system with each reading.
I have always realized that whatever works for you, may not work for me. It is all about getting YOUR things done in a way that you enjoy. As David states, your system has to be fun for you use, for you to use it.
I wrote about constant tweaking of your system in my last post a few weeks ago. Some people find the tweaking as part of the fun. I am falling into the category of trying to find a stable system as I am near the magic 2 year mark in using GTD. I did add one aspect to my system and that is adding the mGTD to my Moleskine implementation. It is a very useful form that Stephano Karanos created [Disclaimer: I helped with the redesign of the version 1.0 of the mGTD.] I have found it to be a VERY useful tool for me to have. I have one color for work and another color for personal. [NOTE: He is in the middle of changing servers right now, but as soon as his server is back up, I will post the links to his site.] Please take a look at it if you use a Moleskine…it is well worth printing some off and keeping them in your Moleskine.
If you have questions about using something in your implementation, please don’t go asking me, or Jason, or 43F forums, or even DavidCo forums for permission. Just do it…it is your system and you need to use it.
Michael
[1] page xii, Getting Things Done by David Allen
8 Comments
January 16th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Here, here! The very best feature of GTD is that it is “skeletal.” It’s up to you to flesh it out.
I have enjoyed tweaking my implementation as well. I’ve reached a point where it’s time for an overhaul. I’ll start by re-re-reading the book (3rd time’s a charm, right?) and going back to the basics. Simple lists. Then, I’ll figure out the best way to handle those lists without getting overly complex.
My challenge right now is giving “weight” to my Next Actions and Projects. Also, to define stellar and meaningful contexts. I guess those qualify as New Year’s resolutions.
January 17th, 2007 at 1:25 am
[...] Black Belt Productivity reminds me of something that I wrestle with all the time: GTD isn’t a static framework. While there are a few unbending rules (like review frequently), there still isn’t a stone tablet hidden away in David Allen’s office with the “perfect” blend of productivity tools. Really, most of it is open to interpretation. I have always realized that whatever works for you, may not work for me. It is all about getting YOUR things done in a way that you enjoy. As David states, your system has to be fun for you use, for you to use it. [...]
January 17th, 2007 at 7:27 am
I couldn’t agree more. I am on the MLO email group and there is a similar conversation going on in this group that people are abandoning some elements of GTD to adopt Mark Forrister’s closed list approach. Yet, they are still tracking projects, doing a weekly review, organizing their closed lists by context. They aren’t abandoning GTD at all - they are simply implementing the GTD framework in a system that works well for them and creating their trusted system. For me - the words trusted system - are probably to two most important that David offers on a consistent and regular basis.
January 18th, 2007 at 3:36 am
[...] These are my rules. For now. The best in this way of approaching your working life - I think GTD is more something like that than a framework or system - is its flexibility. I’m pretty sure that in 5 years, my priorities and contexts would change. But chances to use a GTD-enabled approach will still be high. Share this post on:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
January 18th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Kara, I have never heard of this “Mark Forrister’s closed list approach.” Would you by any chance have some pointers to suggest? Many thanks in advance.
Pascal
January 18th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
[...] Black Belt Productivity reminds me of something that I wrestle with all the time: GTD isn’t a static framework. While there are a few unbending rules (like review frequently), there still isn’t a stone tablet hidden away in David Allen’s office with the “perfect” blend of productivity tools. Really, most of it is open to interpretation. I have always realized that whatever works for you, may not work for me. It is all about getting YOUR things done in a way that you enjoy. As David states, your system has to be fun for you use, for you to use it. [...]
January 19th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
@Pascal
Check out Mark Forster’s homepage at http://www.markforster.net/ and his blog at http://www.markforster.net/blog.
You should be able to find some stuff there about it.
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 am
[...] Black Belt Productivity recently posted about GTD and whether it is a flexible framework open to interpretation or something that is set in stone with strict rules that need to be followed to allow it to work. Its pretty safe to assume that it is the former David Allen’s book gives you much freedom on how to adopt GTD and more importantly what tools you wish to achieve it. Everyone works and lives differently and has different expectations and demands so its important to create an approach that fits around you. [...]
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