What struck me is most about this list is that I tend to list these essentials in the reverse order for a very particular reason. When getting started with Getting Things Done, or when getting back on the wagon after a lapse, the best way to begin is with stuff.

Some good beginning behaviors to tackle stuff:

Clean a drawer
Purge (or setup!) your A-Z files
Get an inbox
Collect your stuff in one neat corral
Process your inbox using a Workflow Diagram
Process your email backlog
Clean out your purse, wallet, or trunk

Now what about essential work? This phase tends to come in only once you have a good enough overview of your "stuff" to see what your work actually is! Now that you're clean and clear, review your lists and ask yourself if this work is bad, good, or great. I've found using Michael's tips on the 3 types of work has been very valuable. I try to get as many "great work" items on my projects list as possible, and when I see an item that has been stale for a long time I ask myself if it's because it's bad work and needs to be re-evaluated, clarified, or creatively enhanced. The great thing about GTD is that it gives you the freedom to ask these questions about your work, moment-to-moment and during the weekly review.

Essential people? Often people least expect GTD to be a tool for enhancing relationships, and they are shocked when it does precisely that. How can GTD help you keep essential people in your life? It's simple really. The more you are clear on your agreements and communicate consciously about them, the more the quality of your relationships will become apparent. It's easy to maintain and enhance essential relationships when you know who's got the ball and what your successful outcome is as a team. It's also easier to spot relationships that are no longer serving their purpose when you have a system in place to track how things are moving along, who's keeping their agreements, and the true vision and purpose of the endeavor.

Thanks to Michael for the gems he puts out there!

Now go out there and use GTD to "Get clear, get current, get creative!"