Getting Things Done [Paperback]

The basic concepts in his book are simple enough and are represented by a flow chart, but there are so many other golden nuggets of "best practice" information within this book that you have to study it to get them all. I've read the book and listened to his second (audio) book "Ready for anything" four times in a row just to reinforce the great points within this book.

The result of implimenting his structure of workflow has suprisingly allowed me to act with more freedom and creativity in my job and a reduction in stress. I can even find stuff easily since setting up my folders and buying a label making machine (his recommendation).

He's really on to something big with his "next action" thinking approach (chapter 11) and his two-minute rule.

One of the best books I've read in the last three years.

The best advice David Allen gives is to ask what the next action is for any project. That helps my inactivity at times. I have had general tasks like: "do expense account", on my to do list for weeks. The right thing for me was: organize receipts from last trip.

The author tells you to get rid of the tasks that take under two minutes to complete. Most of my tasks that take "two minutes" or less are not important, and I can sidetrack my self with "two minute" projects resulting in a wasted day. I'm not sure I buy that portion of his program. I do tend to respond quickly to most simple requests, but there are a lot of those every day. Some need to be put off in favor of more meaningful projects.

I put together the tickler file and inventoried my office, even made a plan for Friday review. I don't end up looking in my tickler file, as my work is fluid and I can't follow a structured "to do" list. I have a number of projects going, and I re-prioritize all day long. Friday can be a good day for reflection, or not. I think the office inventory is very helpful if you've allowed yourself to get backlogged.

There is no answer here for reducing your workload. Which is what all our "time management" problems boil down to. No one really can work 24/7. And the more outside of work commitments you have, including family obligations, the less of the 24 hours there are. Being efficient, and keeping good records can only help so much.

I am glad for some new ideas... but really what I want is a vacation!!

Not so with David Allen's "Getting Things Done." He offers clear, concise insights on action-oriented steps anyone can implement to make their worklife more productive and stress free. (He recommends the same approach for dealing with your personal life, and while they may work in this context, I'm not sure how many folks really want to run my family like a business).

Yes, a lot of Allen's advice is simple common sense and he tends to offer lists which simply added pages instead of help. Nonetheless, he presents obvious insights in useful context by showing how they've worked with his clients and it's simple to skip the unnecessary lists. The key is (and this is why I awarded five stars instead of four) Allen's advice is aimed at folks who live in the real world. You can actually implement what he talks about and see results.

While the book may not change your life, it will certainly help you keep it organized and focused. "Getting Things Done" is an ideal gift for the colleague who is more of a "big picture"-type than a detail person.