Other Good Time Management Books?

[Rogaine Warrior]

Other than David's "Getting Things Done," what other time management books do you think are the best for boosting personal productivity?

[Bryan]

Glad to suggest a few!

Covey: First Things First. (It's funny that on other GTD boards, "Franklin" is synonymous with "Evil". I think that's from the old Franlin ABC-123 daily priority lists. So to be clear, here's the disclaimer. I make a distinction between Franklin's ABC-123 system and Covey's original works...I realize they're one company, but Covey focuses on broader strategic perspectives.) 7 Habits and Principle-Centered Leadership are both great as well.

Winton: The Organized Executive; a *classic* of years gone by, recently reissued. Many similar ideas to GTD.

The On-Purpose Person (author temporarily escapes me): Written in the vaguely dippy story format of the One-Minute Everything books, it's still a neat summary and blend of both the operational and strategic levels. Incidentally, it's very list-based which enhances GTD compatibility. And it's ridiculously short and easy to read. (Takes an hour, tops.)

I'll be interested in seeing others' recommendations, too!

Cheers!
-Bryan

[Anonymous]

If you're like me you'll have all you can do to get the GTD system implemented.

I think that you should focus on that first (if you havent) and once you have your local lists up to speed start on the big picture stuff.

[Anonymous]

This is not strictly a time management book, but it can boost your productivity: "The Effective Executive" by Peter Drucker. Time management to me generally equals self management.

[Frank Buck]

My vote is for Time Power by Dr. Charles Hobbs. For those who use a paper planner a Day-Timer or Franklin planner, it's a must read and the best guide available on how to use a paper planner.

For those who use a PDA, the vast majority of the book is still very applicable. The chapter on creative procrastination is exceptional (and sounds alot like GtD as talks about putting all of your calls in a list and making them all at one time).

[earlofmar11]

Here is another one I liked when I came across it some years ago: "PEP (Personal Efficiency Program)" by Kerry Gleeson. There also, quite some ideas I found back in GTD. The one most important phrase is "Do It Now", which -if you read what's behind it- comes fairly close to the 2 minute rule and some other aspects of the workflow diagram. Recommended.

[tallmarvin]

There is a paperback out, don't know if it's still in print,

'No BS Time Management' By Dan Kennedy

He's pretty hardcore. I like what he has to say about being on time (something I have struggled with all my life).

A second:

'How to have a 48 Hour Day' by Don Aslett

Like all Aslett's books, you should read carefully, and pick/choose the tips that apply to you, but still highly recommended.

M

[kkirksey]

Other than David's "Getting Things Done," what other time management books do you think are the best for boosting personal productivity?

The personal productivity "trinity" that's always in arm's reach on my desk:

Getting Things Done
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
The Time Trap - Alec Mackenzie

[billjw]

Wow! After reading the posts on this subject I realise I have around 80% of the books! Now just to get organised to read and implement! :oops:

Bill

[Anonymous]

an awful lot are not readily implemented and have no self-repair feature--they make people feel terrible--GTD has many self-repair features--that is, if it is not working you can put the failure into the system and work on it's cause or understanding it and fixing it. This community is a gret help in that, too. That being said, I feel that most ideas in time mangement books are worth trying for a few times with some attention to why they do or do not work for a given person with a given challenge in a particular setting. I also think it is important to have a system that you can implement a part at a time. As I am going through a truly monumental in-to-empty I am also doing weekly reviews and I would say I am at least 30% more productive in a happy way. I would also say that managing time is a misleading concept but work analysis and related concepts are more accurate way to focus. The author whom I truly love is Lillian Gilbreth (the mother in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen)--she was an industrial psychologist and mother of 12--she and her husband really launched ergonomics and work analysis. I also love Pam Young and Peggy Jones but all their books will probably not seem readily applicable to the corporate or office world. For another web site of interest see worksimp.com.

[andmor]

Other than David's "Getting Things Done," what other time management books do you think are the best for boosting personal productivity?

I have read a lot of books on related topics and consider Stephanie Winston's "The Organized Executive" to be the most comprehensive. I also like the anecdotal-style of Mark McCormack in "Getting Results for Dummies". 2 books I have not yet read that invariably have glowing recommendations (and are on my future reading list) are the books by Hobbs and McKenzie listed above in this thread.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

I have a book called "The ten natural laws of successful time and life management", written some 10 yrs ago by a guy called Hyrum Smith , from the Franklin Quest Co. (the Franklin Daily Planner ) , at that time, no connection with Stephen Covey, as far as I know. He says that the planner was named Franklin in honor of Benjamin Franklin , who devoted his life to self-improvement and self-discipline.
The point is, the higher your level of self- discipline is, the better a system will work. Any system. Any planner. NO planner at all.
We crave for planners because of our lack of self-discipline.
GTD is the best system because it is very flexible and allows for our human weaknesses like procastination, bad or no planning, plain laziness, lack of objectives, lack of interest in objectives, and also illnesses, accidents, and so forth.
I re-read this book last weekend and it is very inspiring , but this planner is not for me.

Myriam

[rossw]

"The Means and Manner of Obtaining Virtue" - Benjamin Franklin (thanks to m torok for reminding me.

[Mardo]

Ben Franklin's autobiography is short. It covers his early years in Boston, Pennsylvania and England and was written for his son. It talk a lot about how he spends his time and why, as well as focus on virtues. Its a fantastic time management book.

[Anonymous]

I fully agree with Guest above who said that time management is essentially self-management.

For me, the most electrifying book I have found on pure self-management is “Take Control” by Michael A. Janke. Don’t be put off by the SEAL context – the books is a highly motivating read, and is bulls-eye accurate on the need for self discipline.

It dovetails perfectly with GTD as far as I can see, and it’s almost frightening to think what one could accomplish if fully implementing both. Janke for drive, and GTD for clarity.

Busydave

[Anonymous]

Just have to add one more:

Conquering Chaos at Work - Harriet Schechter - she likes talking about maintenance as a 90% item in life. Unfortunately, I tend to agree with her.

Also, I've found the Time of Your Life by Anthony Robbins (tape program) to be very useful, that combined with David's @ categories really help me to maintain my focus and Get things Done.

PS, I've also read most of the books listed above - the Covey First Things First stuff is very useful, as is the Hyrum Smith. If you want back to basics you could try: How to Get control of your Time and Your Life by Alan Lakein - a pioneer in the ABC prioritizing methodology book was published in 1973.

After all the reading, basically it comes down to one thing though - you've got to make the system fit you, that's why mine is a blend of so many - mostly because I couldn't just slip into someone else's complete methodology.

Christine

[andmor]

I have found that the GtD thinking for Organization works best for me. Many of the other books that I have read (especially 7 Habits) have helped me in the mental parts of GtD - Processing and Review. But they haven't offered a better formulation of the written pieces of the system. Such is the GtD influence that my non-GtD Daily Plan/Schedule/Journal has been designed in a way that preserves the principles inherent in the GtD Workflow Diagram.

For me, GtD is now the benchmark against which the ideas in other books are evaluated.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Although it is not exclusively focused on "time management", the best companion I've found for GTD = a (Palm e)book, about $7 (price compare!!), called HABIT BUSTING. Visit ebooklocator.com---> select "Palm ebook" if you have that platform, or just leave it blank otherwise, re the first drop-down box. In the "Title" section enter the one word >> Habit. For those without handhelds, a desktop Adobe version is available. (I have no clue re print copies. Perhaps a search at Amazon...)

Among the things that vexed me was actually performing daily and weekly reviews. There were also some bad habits I was trying, earnestly, to break, but just wasn't successful. It was like a part of me was rebelling, and working HARD against me. In frustration, I ran a search at ebooklocator using the word HABIT, which is how I discovered this gem. Like David Allen, the author explains, without being preachy. And, definitive steps are laid out to assist in cementing new habits, while killing the grrr ones.

Since the development/elimination of habits invariably spells success/failure for getting one's personal organizational scheme together, I consider this text to be on a par with David Allen's. Easy and funny reading, yet profoundly productivity-enhancing, in terms of long-term effects.

----
dpg

[earlofmar11]

What a coincidence: I'm just in the process of reading "Habit Busting" (on my Palm).

What you say is very true: the successful adoption of any system (including GTD) relies on the development of a set of routines and habits, and as we all know, changing existing habits is extremely difficult. In this sense, I'm very interested in this subject too, and this little book -apart from being an easy read- looks promising.

But I'm quite curious how this will work out in practice once I've finished reading it: will it really change anything? Here, the answer is quite simple: it really depends on me. Just reading it may give some nice ideas but won't finally change very much. It's only if I can convince myself to really practice what's in this book that I may have a chance at succeeding... So a question of motivation and self-discipline!

Marc.

[Anonymous]

But I'm quite curious how this will work out in practice once I've finished reading it: will it really change anything? Here, the answer is quite simple: it really depends on me. Just reading it may give some nice ideas but won't finally change very much. It's only if I can convince myself to really practice what's in this book that I may have a chance at succeeding... So a question of motivation and self-discipline!
Marc.
Marc,
Well, as funny as it will undoubtedly sound, I started at the polar opposite end of my work-related concerns. In a word, housework. Figured if I could build a habit there, I could do it anywhere. Decided that every night before **allowing** my head to hit the pillow, I would check the kitchen to be SURE all countertops, tables and sink were empty and clean, withOUT harrassing family members in the process. (Hubby's junk has a maddening determination to apparently make love to every flat surface in the kitchen! Then my junk tries to make it a orgy.) Why focus on that, initially? Have to go through the kitchen to get to the garage, so seeing a mess in the morning & evening = a guaranteed daily irritataton. I figured I'd "feel" that benefit immediately... and I was correct. Now it's an auto-pilot thing. With that accomplishment in mind, it was TONS easier to start implementing work-related GTD stuff. All in all, I'm doing much better now, but still have one thorn in my side >> receipts. Seems there's something inside of me still allergic to placing them all in ONE spot, so I can then input into my database program and scan. We're talking raw procrastinaton here, with a vengeance. As for the weekly review, I cheat a bit-- since a set Friday appointment was rarely kept, I keep it looser now-- it has to be done on the weekend, defined as anytime between Thursday evening and Monday morning. Worked!

So, yes, the Habit Busting text definitely helped, but my discipline remains sho-'nuff lacking as regards receipts. I need a mental trick here, which I've yet to conjure, so the whole receipt deal has now eased over to the someday/maybe category. Not good, but I haven't given up. Hold a good thought for me, eh?! :roll:

----
dpg

[mondo]

Another one for those who manage teams is "The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey". Another book on the same theme is "Monkey Business" (although I don't think this is as well written)

Basically, Monkeys are next actions that often get delegated upwards, so the book is about delegating properly, having proper reviews to ensure the monkey gets fed (i.e. not forgotten). This is a Waiting For approach that uses meetings to track the WF's.

[Mardo]

I have two books that I have found useful. Both are as a complement to all that GTD is.
The first I heard about I think through the GTDPalm list serv on yahoo. Its called "The War of Art" Break though the Blocks and Win your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield.( He is the author of the Legend of Bagger Vance) Its about battling procastination as a writer but its written in such a way that it can be used for anyone for anything in battling procrastination. Its short, witty and and very inspiring. The guy who wrote the introduction which is short did a great job. the last section talks about muses and angels. That may be a stretch for many readers but dont let hold you back from reading the book.

The second book you have probably seen in most bookstores. Its The Power of Full Engagement Managing Energy not Time is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.
These two guys were and are coaches for athletes altho in coaching athletes they don't coach them as to the mechanics of their sport. They define and work with althletes to perform consistently at the highest levels under intense competitive pressure. What they found was that energy was the X factor. As word spread of their success other groups began to use it and they found that the performance demands that most people face in everyday work enviorments dwarf those of professional athletes. Why? althletes train 90% of the time to perform 10% of the time, they have very specific routines for mananging energy, have an off season, and dont do this for many years.
They say in order for the rest of us to have great performance we must become coporate althletes. Among other things they suggest a series of rituals or habits that allow for down time even if only for a few minutes. The book is well written with great explanations on how to perform at your highest capacity. I found it well worth the money and am working as a GTD project at incorporating some of this into my life.

[mondo]

In the flavour of the GTD and Zen discussion, I would also have to suggest "Do Less, Achieve More" by Chin-Ning Chu

[earlofmar11]

I just finished another nice one today: "Get Everything Done and Still Have Time to Play by Mark Forster. You can check out his website on www.markforster.net. It is not a big book, but it's well written and contains some nice ideas, among others:

- Before applying any system or technique, you should make an inventory of all things requiring your attention; as you can only do so much, a first step is to weed out the superfluous things, else you'll just end up processing trivia more efficiently.

- He proposes to work in focused bursts of determined duration, rotating through a series of projects/activities, in order to benefit from what he calls the "end-effect", which says that you get more done if you have a definite end time looming over you (like before you leave on vacation).

- To decide what to work on next, you should pick the activity towards you feel the most resistance, as that will generally be the thing that really needs to be done. Moreover, once these are out of the way, the rest of your day is easier, and it generates a sense of achievement and satisfaction, while doing away with stress, whichy tends to build up as you give in to resistance.

The subject of resistance is also extensively covered in "The War of Art" mentioned previously, which I also warmly recommend (I was the one mentioning it on GTD_Palm, by the way).

MArc.

[Anonymous]

To kkirksey,

Just noticed your post: a year or two ago I wrote an essay on the GTD forum run by Marria on Delphi forums about how these three books inter-lock.

Covey gives the best guidance on how to navigate the 50,000 foot level, GTD helps you track all of the commitments you bring back from the 50,000 foot level, and Mackenzie makes damn sure you DO stuff.

As a P.S. to that essay I wrote that Anthony Robbins will provide the rocket to get you to the 50,000 foot level: I for one need to be reminded from time to time that I have a right to make plans for my own life.

Dave

[Longstreet]

Here is another good book:

"Managing multiple projects" by Irene and Michael Tobis. There is an excellent section in there on differentiating between tasks on master lists and a weekly commitment list. There is also a nice spreadsheet example to determine your current level of commitment and therefore if you can reasonably take on a new project. Very worthwhile reading, I believe.

Regards,
Longstreet :)

[Anonymous]

Of all the time management books that I have read the best books of all times are below:

1. Getting Things Done
2. What They Don't Teach You At Harvard Business School by late Mark McCormack
3. The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker
4. First Things First by Stephen Covey, et al.

In fact, Mark McCormack was the first person to write that he had the habit of noting whatever was on his mind and ensure that the relevant thing would pop up at the right time. That way he would keep his mind free and effective. DA on the other hand goes much more beyond the assertion and gives a comprehensive and detailed nuts and bolts on implementing the scheme.

Frankly, if one could internalize and implement GTD properly, other books would not be necessary. For those who have read it between the lines GTD is much more than a book on time management.

Ashok Atluri

Quote: If only I had spent my time on managing my time rather than reading books about managing my time, I would be a much better person today.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the book listings. I copied them into a document and forwarded to some professional couples I know having these same time and organizing issues. I am new to this site and look forward to the "Human Aspect" of GTD. I just started my own rep agency (1rep just me) and have a little more time to "Get off my backside"...or is that GOMBS. Have only read Ready for Anything and bought the CDs to listen to while driving and waiting at Airports. Thanks again for the insight.
Jeff

[silvia225]

"How to Get control of your Time and Your Life" - Alan Lakein
"The Time Trap" - Alec Mackenzie
"Do It Tomorrow" - Mark Forster

and GTD - David Allen, of course.

[clango]

Are you forgetting Making it all work?

[TesTeq]

David Allen's books are not about time management. They are about commitments management.

[abhay]

Any book about time management is not about time management.

But I found GTD from the links on the "time management" page on wikipedia!

And in the MIAW interview at FreeLibrary, DA says that you don't need to read any other book on time management after MIAW!

"Time management" names a subject familiar to everybody, though many don't know that the name does not suit the subject!

Regards,
Abhay

[sarah_9]

Hello,

Time management is the hottest topic to discuss, it is related to our day to day life and we all follow our unique techniques to maintain our time management, some time books and keynotes also help us in managing our time.


Regards,
sarah_9

[JohnV474]

I have read Zig Ziglar, Stephen Covey, and Tony Robbins and others, but after finding David Allen, those fell into obsolescence.

However, I do recommend the classic Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It is a "top-down" approach, so to speak, but it works well with GTD as far as keeping your 10k-50k views clear.

JohnV474

[sarah_9]

Hello,

If you are looking for time management books consider Clemmer`s work, it is pretty good and helpful.


Regards,
sarah_9

[productivity]

I'm also looking for time management books I can get a hold of. Thanks for your wonderful shares.

[bishblaize]

GTD is a little exclusive, in that its a system that precludes any other pure "time management" books.

That said GTD is mainly about "how to do the things you want to do". Thats different from "what do you want to do" and "what else is stopping you".

in the "what do you want to do" vein, First Things First is really excellent as other said. I close my eyes when I get to some parts, but the parts about balancing your life, paying attention to all your roles and particularly about making a contribution, are excellent.

In terms of "what else is stopping you", Neil Fiore's "the now habit" is really superb. Again, i close my eyes early on when he mentions ABC priorities - instead i focus on the really excellent and insightful work on emotionally intelligent people procrastinate.

[ggoldman]

I have read and enjoyed

Alan Lakein's book as well along with Mark Forster's Do It Tomorrow. Also I have a couple of free ebooks at.

www.simple-time-management.com which some people like.

[smithshn]

Time is a valuable thing for any person.
Each movement is valuable for any work to the person.
I also think it is important to have a system that you can implement a part at a time.
For doing any effective work or productive work in time has required fresh thoughts and excited mind.

[vacationguy]

I spend so much of my time in my car, I switched to CD versions of most books when I can get them.

[rdgeorge]

As our Polish friend pointed out, GTD is not about time management per se.

I recommend reading all three David Allen books and concentrate on them. Don't let your focus wander. Your success will not be determined by how many "self help" books to read. Read fewer books but pay closer attention.

Select a general approach and work it as well as you can.

rdgeorge

[JohnV474]

I keep a copy of David Allen's GTD Fast! seminar in my car, as well as the GTD audiobook, and MIAW will be shortly.

I often put one of these in while driving around town or on trips. I have listened to GTD Fast! so many times I could probably lip sync to much of it... and yet I still find new nuggets of insight each time.

JohnV474

[SGTM]

I also like Do It Tomorrow by Mark Forster. It is a pretty simple system using a page a day diary. He has written some simple systems called Autofocus which are free on his site.

[celia19O5]

Yeah I have finished reading Do It Tomorrow. I guess it is very useful for us to make plan for everything. I like that book and it is surely among my favorite books :)

[pghjeff]

This is my first post on GTD forums. I will post more on my journey to GTD, but I got here by way of all things Franklin Covey. After trying Day Runners in the early 90's, I got introduced to the 7 Habits and then read most of Covey's other works, (Principled Leadership, First Things First, 8th Habit) are not time management books per se, but life management books. They are all about context.

After 15 years of trying to make the ABC/123 list system work, (and always wondering why they didn't) I have to say that if you can impliment the GTD filing system, eliminate all ideas of the dreaded "To Do" list, then Covey's works in particular are excellent.

Just avoid the "To Do"'s and it will all be good.

[Spalding]

Working Smart by Michael LeBoeuf is a small paperback published in 1982 that I have reread every few years, until Getting Things Done replaced it a few years ago. I can't tell you exactly what's in it, but it reminds me a lot of GTD.

Good thread here. I want to get The Now Habit and others that focus on getting lazy people like me to actually do stuff!

[Spalding]

I just started reading this and I like it. It is very similar to GTD, simple and effective. I highly recommend it.

It basically reinforces what we all probably already know, that you alone control how you respond to outside stimuli. He has some nice tools too, mainly a simple worksheet. It reminds me a lot of GTD. I read all of the author's blog entries since he started blogging in July 2010. The author is Andrew Bernstein.

http://themythofstress.com