Great interview with David Allen on Getting Things Done
27 07 2008
Image by .nele via FlickrAs of lately I have been quite into the "Getting Things Done" methology. I'm very bad at implementing it myself, but I'm quite good at telling other people how and why they should use it. I just found this interview by Robert Scoble on fastcompany.tv where he interviews David Allen to get some of the core stuff of GTD out from him. http://www.fastcompany.tv/video/david-allen-on-getting-things-done
As I have been listening to one of David Allens seminars I've been completely sold on the idea of GTD. Although I've only implemented a small portion of the system I really feel a lot less stressed. Earlier I had problems sleeping because there were so many ideas floating around in my mind that I had to keep track of. Now I'm using a tool called Things to keep all those ideas for me. A huge relief not having to remember everything at all times.
The next step for me is to get really good at the weekly review. Because without having a good routine for that, everyone will fail to fully implement the system. I'm not saying that because David Allen says so, but because I'm 7 months into implementing the system, and I've noticed that I look at my lists far to seldom nowadays. If I do the weekly review, I will put the right stuff on the right list at all times and will probably check the lists more often.
That leads me to the biggest problem I have with the system. How do you keep your lists? It's quite good when I'm by my computer, but then at the store and so on there is no way that I would carry around a bunch of paper lists just to see what's on there. Now with the Iphone, there are a lot of new tools for keeping those lists, but in some ways I think it's a bit too complicated since it is still a platform specific solution.
Enter rmindr.com, my main on-the-side project. It's an online GTD app much like any other GTD app out there. With one big difference. The userinterface just works. It is highly inspired by Things (mentioned above) because that fells natural for me. I don't really think this service will make me rich or anything, but what it does is that it solves a problem, in particular My problem. With rmindr you get all of your context lists avaliable on any device through RSS. Collaboration is really simple with drag-n-drop ease to delegate tasks. Collection is really simple through the API where collecting a new task through any medium or tool will be possible, and as easy as a HTTP Post to a specific URL, or a MMS/SMS/Phonecall to a specific number.
With the RSS context lists I'll be able to see my grossery store shopping list with any phone while I'm in the store.
The service will be launching shortly as I'm putting the last bits and pieces together. Stay tuned for more info. I won't have a beta sign up page unfortunately, but if you subscribe to the rss of this blog you'll no when it opens.
For implementing GTD you might try out this new web-based application:
http://www.gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
A mobile version and iCal are available too.
Hope you like it.
Thanks! I just created an account and I’ll check it out. From first looks it’s not exactly what I have been looking for in terms of usability, but you definitely have all the features necessary.
Good luck with your business and make sure to try Rmindr once I launch it.
//Anders
I have used some of the GTD methods for years and strive to implement more, it just works. Agree with the mobile problem, I use Evernote with GTD tags, works like a chamr on bothmy Mac and my iPod Touch (soon an iPhone).
I also found the productivity tips in the book 4 Hour work week complements GTD in a good way.
Anders,
Great info about GTD - it’s a very interesting method!
But I reacted on this: