Getting Stuff Done Like a Boss

  • Metadata

  • What's a Workflow?

  • Objectives:

    • Understand key principles of GTD
    • Create a personalized system using digital tools

  • What is a workflow? A workflow is a series of containers and checklists.

  • Containers to stay organized

  • Checklists to take action

  • 5 Phases of GTD

  • GTD is: "A toolset toolset to help people focus their energy strategically and tactically without letting anything fall through the cracks"

  • It is about automating as much of productivity as possible so we can focus on the best parts

  • Status quo = crisis response mode, there are psychological benefits that trick us into thinking it is better

  • 5 Phases

    • Collect everything into one place
    • Process each thing to clarify outcomes
    • Organize reminders
    • Review regularly
    • Do the actions

  • Open Loops on Your Mind

  • The first step is to have a comprehensive task list to capture everything

  • Stress is caused by mishandling commitments

  • Uncaptured commitments are called Open Loops

  • Challenge: Every Open Loop needs to be written down, no matter how trivial

  • How to Capture Open Loops

  • Start with the inboxes. This can include apps, recorders, task managers, email, etc...

  • 3 Rules:

    • Every loop must be captured in an inbox
    • You must have as few containers as possible
    • You must empty them regularly

  • For step 2, start by installing a task manager

  • Then setup one digital container and one physical one

  • Unit 3: Processing tasks

  • 3 rules for processing

    • Process top item first
    • Process one at a time
    • Never put anything back in the inbox

  • First question

  • Second question, is it actionable?

  • If it isn't actionable, send it to trash, someday/maybe, or your reference system

  • Next step is to setup a reference container (in this case Evernote)

  • After this should have a concrete and comprehensive list of tasks that are highly actionable

  • Let's Get Physical and Specific

  • What's the next physical action for each item?

  • Physical action because it is hard to decide exactly what needs to be done, whereas focusing on physical actions makes it very concrete

  • Most items in the task manager are actually projects that need to be broken down by several levels and next physical action identified

  • Lots of words used for todo items that are unclear: "set meeting", "decide on", "check out", "organize", etc...

Linked References