What does “done” means?
What does “doing” looks like?
David Allen, the writer of the famous Getting things done, shares his methodology for elevated effectiveness and efficiency to reach a state of “Mind Like Water”.
Water can overwhelm, but not overwhelmed…
Still but not impatient…
Can be forced to change courses, but is never frustrated…
Vision the following state:
To have an overwhelming number of things to do, yet a clear head.
A positive sense of relaxed control, time disappears, and attention under command. You are “On”.
Clear and relax your mind – a tense muscle is a slow one.
The story is about capturing all “things”/”stuff” that needs to get done or processing. Inserting them into a logical and trusted system outside your head. Then directing yourself to front-end decisions for all the “inputs”, and lastly, caring and coordinating all that content.
System properties:
- Set of coherent behaviors and tools
- Save time and effort
- Manage multiple levels of priority
- Facilitate doing
- Incorporate “big-picture” thinking and the smallest of open details
- Control system
You must use your mind to get things off your mind
The real problem is a lack of clarity and definition about what a project is – and the associated next physical action.
Clearing the mind gives openness and responsiveness. You are more engaged with your world.
The goal:
- Increase in productivity, proactivity, responsiveness, and focus
- Ease and control in managing results
- More done with less effort
- Front-end decisions
- Create a standard operating procedure
The two main parts of action management and control:
- Horizontal:
- Maintain coherence across all activities involved
- Tracking system
- Supply required information on demand
- Allow quick and easy shift-focus
- Vertical:
- Thinking management and development
- Coordination of individual topics and projects
- “Project planning”
- Single-focus
- Brainstorming ideas, priorities and handling them
To be continued