Comments on: Getting Things Done: The Five Phases of Project Planning

By: Portable Toilets

Portable Toilets — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:50:06 +0000

Quality post. Productivity is definately not one of my strong points.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:19:59 +0000

BLESS you, Trent!!!

If I had never gotten anything of value out of TSD before (and I’ve added several of your recipes to my faves; one day I’ll have to toss a few your way!), this article would make reading it every day worth while. Not that I always do make it every day, as you can see by the time stamp, but I don’t delete your daily email feeds from my inbox when I go a few days between — I just store ‘em up.

I’ve tried to get Getting Things Done through our library, but it’s nowhere in the county system, and going outside the county is longer and less certain. Now I am going to ask our favorite local used-book dealer to find us a copy, new or used. (Yes, we could do this ourselves, but this is a case where I enjoy supporting a neat local business that has expertise and contacts I lack. Lenore’s *great.*)

Meanwhile, I am going to get started using what you’ve written in your reviews here. I have no less than THREE major projects, plus a couple of lesser ones, that have been at the Piddling Around stage for too long, due to not know how to really get started. The clear illustrations with your two projects help me really get it for the first time.

Thanks again!

By: loohire

loohire — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:59:27 +0000

All this is common sense, I’m thinking that if someone needs to be educated in the basics of project planning they’re never going to be able to do it!

By: SRS

SRS — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:47:32 +0000

Hi…once you have organized your brainstorm, how do you plan for sequential and parallel actions? There are some actions one can start immediately and some others need previous actions completed.

By: David

David — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:33:54 +0000

Any chance you’ll be showing us applications that you use to keep track of all of this? I got the notebook part, but after you process your inbox, where does it go so you have your lists with you all the time?

By: nicole

nicole — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:07:39 +0000

This is interesting to read and very helpful for both work and personal at home projects. I’ll have to check out this book when I go to the library next.

By: investments

investments — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:46:17 +0000

There are in fact mostly obvious things for someone that handles projects no everyday basis, but for someone not accustommed to this it surely will be usefull

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:53:10 +0000

A lot to digest here, Trent, but great post.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:56:39 +0000

After trying to practice GTD I found the entire process to be tough for my personality. While I have taken some great things from David’s book such as @David’s comment about a nightly brain dump… I found reading books like “The Power of Less” and “making ideas happen” to be better for me. Thanks for the round up on it none the less Trent!

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:49:10 +0000

Thanks for this thorough reveiew of David Allen’s book. I read Getting Things Done about 5 years ago and again a few years ago. It is without a doubt one of the best books I ever read!!Your review caused me to decide to read it yet again applying techniques I have not yet used. Just using his filing and tickler system revolutionized my life and radically reduced stress. I’ve told many people about it. Your very thorough review of the book has reinspired me to apply strategies to certain summer projects we have planned at our house. Keep up the great work. I so enjoy your site!

By: David/MoneyCrashers

David/MoneyCrashers — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 09:17:29 +0000

I do a mini version of this every nite before I go to bed to plan out my next day–it really improves my productivity.

By: Men's Online Magazine

Men's Online Magazine — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:07:27 +0000

I definitely got to get this book and read it

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:01:06 +0000

Another comment: by far the best tool for making trade-off decisions by a team that I have found is ChoiceAnalyst 4.1. Indeed, you may like for family decisionmaking (where to take a vacation, what to name the new puppy, etc.). Great software. I have no connection with the company but made a lot of (successful) use of the DOS predecessor.

By: Leisureguy

Leisureguy — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:50:42 +0000

Some things I would add:

After the plan has taken shape, do a brainstorming session with the premise that the project has been completed and failed, and try to figure out why it failed. This can point out weak points that need shoring. (The assumption is necessary because otherwise people don’t really work at finding the weak points because it’s sort of negative.)

The “lessons learned” document is very important, and one should be written and discussed after each stage of the project.

By: McKay Clarey

McKay Clarey — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:49:14 +0000

I hope you got Strasburg in tonight in your fantasy league, I bet those strikeouts are worth something. Go Nationals, and thanks for all the great writing.

By: Shannan

Shannan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:07 +0000

The whole purpose and principles thing is a bit harder that it seems. I might start with a vague notion that something needs to be done, but its not until I spent the time on being clear about what it is I want that I say what I what, that I’ve truely completed this step

Once I have clarity on purpose of action and the guiding principles, everything else seems to fall into place.

Cheers
From Shannan
(Artist & Maze Architect)