Episode #251: Projects and Next Actions

This was the first of several planned GTD Skills Lab webinars. In this installment, we focus on the fundamentals of projects and next actions. Through a set of fun quizzes, engaging practice scenarios, and lively group discussions, this is a valuable opportunity to fine-tune your GTD practice.

Episode #248: Workplace Challenges – Improvements

For many, the workplace is broken. We may not realize it, but our tools can shape us in unproductive ways, and we’ve become conditioned to accept this as normal. In this recording, David Allen and John Forrister talk With Eric Mack about his 8 Practices of Intentionally Productive Work, which provide a framework to help you shift your mindset and uplevel your work.

Episode #247: David Allen talks with Kevin Kelly

David Allen has a wide-ranging talk with Kevin Kelly about many aspects of technology. Kevin’s new book, Excellent Advice for Living, will be available in May. They discuss artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and more. Kevin has a long association with technology and the internet, including as a co-founder of WIRED magazine. He still writes about the culture of technology.

Episode #246: Slice of GTD Life with Rene Lie

Rene Lie started his career as a musician, and has branched out in surprising ways. From his home in Norway, he describes how he started with GTD, the tools he has used, and his decision to become a GTD trainer. He has even found ways to do the seemingly impossible — get family and colleagues to do GTD, or at least parts of it. He’s also still an active musician.

Episode #243: Slice of GTD Life with Renese King

We have a new Slice of GTD Life recording with Renese King. She is a longtime GTD practitioner who has tried multiple paper and digital solutions for her GTD system. She describes how she heard about GTD, and her current combination of digital and paper tools.

Episode #242: Slice of GTD Life with Richards and Spurgeon

This is a special Slice of GTD Life, because it’s with two people instead of one, and because they talk about how their GTD practice is involved with running the company Sauna Space. Brian Richards and Christal Spurgeon discuss the tools they use for GTD, how their employees learn and use GTD, and how GTD fits with the self-managing approach the company runs on.

Episode #241: David Allen and Mark Tigchelaar

David Allen talks with psychologist Mark Tigchelaar about how the brain deals with distractions, and how long it takes to recover from distractions. Mark points out that dopamine inflation leads to our seeking out new stimuli. His advice: “Minimize the number of switches that you make during the day, without missing what’s important.”

Episode #240: David Allen talks with Justin Hale

David Allen talks with GTD trainer Justin Hale about his journey with GTD. Justin notes that the journey includes cultivating self-awareness about our habits. He emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice to change behaviors. More than a set of hacks, he considers GTD to be a complete system.

Episode #239: Slice of GTD Life with Becky DeWaters

Becky DeWaters gives us a detailed look into her OmniFocus system. She also shares what she has learned about the relationships between goals, areas of focus, projects, and next actions. She mentions plenty of illustrative examples, and weaves helpful metaphors into the discussion.

Episode #236: The Art of Balancing Predefined Work

David and Dave explore the art of balancing predefined work that you may have told yourself is important for today, with work that shows up. They discuss the importance of having protocols and agreements for communication on your team, including expected response times. Then they consider the different types of notes you might take in meetings. That leads to a perennial question: How to get others to do GTD? David’s answer is that happens when someone exemplifies outcome and action thinking.

Episode #233: The Value of Writing Things Down

Jukka Backman is a GTD trainer and coach, as well as the managing director for GTD in Finland. In this recording, he shares about the multifaceted value of writing things down. Jukka says, “There is definite power in writing things down. When externalized (from the mind) our perception of the things that took our attention, changes.” He talks about the specifics of how to use a worry list, how to start or refine your use of the Mind Sweep, harnessing the power of your self-talk, and his use of the Intention Journal.

Episode #232: Paper vs. Digital

In another installment of their occasional chats, David and Dave talk about travel productivity, and paper versus digital. They also weave in discussion of the psychology and philosophy of GTD.