Business Book Review: Getting Things Done by David Allen
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by having too much ‘to-do’ weighing on your mind, this book is your guide to your next right action.
My Rating: ★★★★
Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Penguin books
Released: 2015 (originally published 2001)
Key Takeaways for Personal Branding
Productivity expert David Allen shares his secrets for stress-free productivity. This edition of his iconic book, Getting Things Done, is a complete rewrite of earlier versions. Tweaking his proven principles for enhanced clarity.
Allen’s book is a plethora of tips and tricks for taking action. Much like a choose-your-own-adventure for the reader, it can be followed to a tee or used to pull out ideas that most resonate. With this in mind, here are just a few of my personal favourites:
Off your Mind and into Action
Allen proposes that the reason some things are on your mind is because you want it to be different from what it is, yet you:
Haven’t clarified the intended outcome
Haven’t decided what the next physical action step is and/or
Haven’t put reminders of the outcome and the action required into a system you trust
The next time something is weighing on your mind, ask yourself if any of these are the reason why. And then ask yourself what the next action is.
While there is no shortage of productivity experts and advice, Allen's point here is perhaps the single most important I’ve seen made on the topic. The reason you’re overwhelmed by an idea project is that you have too much physically on your mind, and not enough being taken out of it and onto paper - into a trusted system that takes care of itself.
The 2-Minute Rule
Once you have clarity on what your next action is, you have three options:
Do it: If the action will take less than two minutes, do it the moment you define it.
Delegate it: If it will take longer than two minutes, ask yourself if you’re the best person to be doing the action. If the answer is no, delegate it to the person who is.
Defer it: If the action will take longer than two minutes and you’re the best person to be doing the action, defer it for the best time on your ‘next actions’ list.
“The key to managing all your stuff is managing your actions.”
Someday/Maybe List
Allen advocates for having a list for everything. As one who personally keeps dozens of structured lists on my phone, this resonated strongly. However, one list Allen proposed was a standout I was lacking. And one I’d never seen positioned so simply by any industry counterparts - a Someday/Maybe List.
I’ve seen others pitch life goals and bucket lists, but there was a refreshing simplicity in this ‘maybe’ list. One that captures life ideas in the moment, without the pressure of calling it a goal. Accepting that it may or may not be. Perhaps one for anyone who’s ever been curious about learning another language or a skill, but cannot prioritise it as important in the present. Or perhaps you aren’t even sure that it will ever be a priority over other things:
“It can be useful and inspiring to maintain an ongoing list of things you might want to do at some point but not now.”
Your ‘Someday/Maybe List’ is described as a parking lot for projects that would be impossible now, but you don’t want to forget about it. But, keeping the list with the ideas all together, helps remind you of this at regular intervals.
Favourite Quote
“The big secret to efficient creative and productive thinking and actions is to put the right things in your focus at the right time.”
Getting Things Done by David Allen: Available on Amazon.
