GTD Cafe: Does Getting Things Done Help Your Career?

J0395896 I've been in many job interviews and not once have I said, "You should hire me because I practice GTD."  After getting hooked on Penelope Trunk's blog Brazen Careerist, I started thinking about how GTD relates to one's career.



GTD makes you unique. This past week, I conducted some practice interviews for a business class here at school.  Time and time again, I wanted to hear what each student could offer that was unique.  GTD is for the potential employee, a USP or unique selling point because it shows the future boss that you take productivity seriously.



GTD makes you powerful. No, I'm not talking about the number of reps on the bench press but I do believe that a healthy dose of GTD enables you to get more done in less time.  Where I come from, that ability to do is like fire in a bottle.



GTD allows you to think clearly. When you can think clearly about projects, tasks and commitments, you have clarity.  Clarity enables focus and focus enables success.



GTD is a great recipe for relaxation. I'm not necessarily talking about taking a nap in your backyard hammock (but let's not count that out!).  Rather, I think that GTD allows you to get through the day without totally losing your mind.  How's that for a reality check of relaxation!



In conclusion, it's clear that GTD helps with work but does it help propel one's career?  While the case is still open, I can say from my own experience that Getting Things Done certainly can't hurt.



Resources for the Road
Penelope Trunk on Working With a Recruiter,  Job Hoppers Have the Best Vacations, Advice for New Managers: Be Nice 




GTD Cafe: Alternative Ways to Learn GTD

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Each Wednesday I'll be hosting the GTD Cafe, an opportunity to reflect on some of the finer points within the GTD system.



I've just returned from two days of high adventure retreat at River Valley Ranch in northern MD.  While we had a super time and did some dangerously fun things (800 foot zip line, 45 foot giant swing, etc.), we always try to do a post-game and ask: how effective is a one day retreat?  My answer is always the same.



There is only so much you can do, comprehend, "get" out of one day.  This of course got me thinking- how do we learn GTD?  Perhaps we attended the GTD Roadmap seminar or have signed up for GTD Connect or maybe it's just been a catch-as-catch-can process via the internet.



Imagine some alternative learning styles for getting GTD to stick:



  • GTD Bootcamp: a one week GTD retreat in which fun and relaxation is mixed in with serious, morning seminars on GTD


  • GTD Breakfast clubs: a Saturday morning 'group' that meets in your geographical area


  • GTD Regional Conferences: a weekend experience of networking and training in a large venue setting


  • GTD Licensed Coaching: as FranklinCovey certifies folks to teach their 7 Habits material, would David Allen's group ever consider widening the net so as to allow others to teach GTD in an official manner?


Quote for the Road
"Productivity is going to be a critical issue. And
it's not just about getting more time for professors in the classroom.
It involves reexamining the learning experience and restructuring
faculty and the use of faculty time."
~Roy Romer


Resources for the Road
Kelly Forrister, has a great piece called "Can People Get GTD In One Day?".
Mark Horne on learning GTD


Introducing the GTD Cafe!

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Each Wednesday I'll be hosting the GTD Cafe, an opportunity to network and reflect on some of the finer points within the GTD system. 



Today I'd like to focus on split second decisions within the GTD system.  Imagine that you're in your workspace and you have your list of things to do for the day.  A phone call interrupts your thought process, 10 emails hit you at once and then Bob from marketing pops in for no apparent reason: what to do?



One of the great things about GTD is the emphasis on knowing what to do at the right time.  I teach ethics and philosophy on the high school level and we use case studies to dig deeper within a moral dilemma.  GTD offers the knowledge worker much of the same: a set of habits that enable you to make the best decision at the right time.  In a sense, each of us is a case study...in the practice of GTD. 



I've found two things to be absolutely essential when it comes to split-second decision making within GTD:



1. Time of day: if it's early, I can tackle the unpleasant stuff.  Just like am journaling or working out, if I don't do it early, it probably won't get done.  As Brian Tracy says, "eat that frog" becomes a mantra for dealing with those tasks that you know you'll avoid as the day goes on.  Suggestion: know what's on your list of things to get done and deal with it early in the day.



2. Physical energy: when I'm tired, I'm not a good decision maker so I know that I have to pace myself.  Just after lunch, for example, is a lousy time to deal with complex reports or budget spreadsheets.  Suggestion: go for a walk after lunch (even 5 minutes outside goes a long way) to get the digestion going and get you back on track.



Question: what works for you when it comes to split-second decision making?  How does GTD help you to keep on track as the day rolls along?



Resources for the Road



Fortune: Making Your Work Work for You



How I Work: A Dozen Super-Achievers Share Their Secrets



Overcoming Serious Indecisiveness







6 Ways to Overcome Procrastination






Part II in a series on “dangerous P’s”.



 



Yesterday we looked at the danger of perfectionism and today
we’ll focus on another threat to personal productivity: procrastination. Procrastination is defined as “to put off till
another day or time; defer; delay” and can paralyze even the best of
us. Without a strong defense of personal
habits that propel success, procrastination can sidetrack a good project and
make mincemeat out of a busy schedule.



 



First, a personal note on procrastination: I am a recovering
procrastinator. It’s out there, I admit
it! Like someone with a substance abuse
issue, I am never fully cured but see myself as a “work in progress”. I admit that I enjoy procrastinating for what
it provides in the moment.



 



The In-The-Moment Feeling



Let’s face it, we wouldn’t put things off unless it felt
good on some level. I don’t have to deal with that right now… Unfortunately, putting
things off always comes back to haunt us. Like the bad knee that needs replacement or the fractured relationship
in need of repair, we put off things that are uncomfortable or perceived as “too
hard”.



 



Hiders or Pilers



Most of us deal with difficult tasks in one of two ways: we
hide them or pile them up. Hiders don’t
want to deal with things and put them out of sight. Pilers can bear seeing them and walk by them
in an attempt to ignore or defer responsibility for the task. I tend to hide more than pile so for me I need
to force myself to tackle things before they tempt for me to hide them. Filing paperwork is one of the things that I
hate to do so I try to file things as I go rather than let them pile up.



 



Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination



  1. Map it out. Draw on paper or a
         writing board what the project will look like. Just putting it down in bubbles or
         squares will help your brain understand the project and what it takes to get
         it done.


  2. Write it down. Get into the habit
         of writing things down, no matter the stage of the game. Don’t let a thought escape when it comes
         to getting something done. For
         example, if you have a birthday party coming up and have a quick thought
         about what Sheila will like for her big day, write it down. A few weeks later, when you are shopping
         for her, you’re much more likely to press the “recall” button and find
         that perfect gift.


  3. Ask, “what’s the next action?” Momentum is super important when it comes to productivity. If you can honestly figure out what the
         absolute next step is in a given project, the likelihood of success if
         increased exponentially.


  4. Tell
    someone about it    . Why not “go
         public” with a tendency to put things off. Having a workout partner practically ensures that you’ll go to the
         gym so why not replicate this with your work habits?


  5. Identify patterns. If you hate to
         file paperwork, recognize this and attack it with zeal. If shopping for gifts is something you
         detest, figure out a different way of doing it.  Some people with social anxiety find
         internet shopping a great way to get things done. The more patterns you can figure out,
         the more you can solve. They may
         never disappear entirely but you’ll be able to make some serious progress.


  6. Review your project list often. Stay on top of your 30, 50 or 100 life projects. Look at this list weekly and keep the
         momentum in high gear. If you can’t
         deal with something in the next week, schedule a time when you will be
         able to dedicate more energy and creativity.


Resources for the Road



Dealing
with Procrastination



15
Simple Steps to Getting Things Done



Lazy
and Unmotivated?



 



 



 




The Mystique of the Weekly Review

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What is it about the weekly review that fascinates us so much?  It's hard to do...it's easy to do...we do it one week...we don't do it the next and on and on we go.  Sometimes you just have to do it and be done with the thing!



Someone recently asked me about approaching a tough project that she'd been putting off for some time.  No silver bullet here or suave way of putting it.  "You just have to buckle down and bite off a piece of it," I said.



I've found the weekly review to be (no joke here) a lot like praying- hardly urgent but very important.  When I haven't done the weekly review, it all hits me by about Wednesday and then it's too late.  But I'd like for us to consider a very simple perspective of the weekly review: whatever it looks like, no matter how simple, just do it.



My weekly review from this past week was hardly contemplative but it got the job done: I was sitting on a step a few feet away from my office in the basement.  My son was playing a video game.  My youngest was playing on the carpet in front of me and there I was, calendars spread out before me and weekly review unfolding.  Hardly a mysterious process but it worked. 



Some great resources about the weekly review:
Michael Hyatt on automating the weekly review
43 Folders on weekly review
ToDoOrElse on weekly review
Zen Habits on weekly review
Achieve It on weekly review



Oh and by the way, in case you missed my free download from Monday about choosing the right planner, you can access it here:  Download which_planner_is_right_for_me_tds.pdf