this is my latest version of this topic. I have added information about the Pomodoro Technique and some more online tools.

1. Getting Things Done (GTD)
For Geeks
Woody Pewitt
Director of Software Development
King Schools
woody@pewitt.org
@woodyp

2. Who Are You?

3. Who Are You?

4. Who Are You?

5. Who Are You?

6. WHAT GETTING THINGS DONE IS NOT!

8. WHAT GETTING THINGS DONE IS!

9. Getting Things Done
• Getting Things Done is an organizational method
created by David Allen, described in a book of the
same name.
• The Getting Things Done method rests on the
principle that a person needs to move tasks out
of the mind by recording them externally. That
way, the mind is freed from the job of
remembering everything that needs to be done,
and can concentrate on actually performing those
tasks.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done

10. Getting Things Done Book
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142000280/

11. What’s it all about?
Control
And
Perspective

13. Know your Self!

14. “Always On My Mind”
• What “stuff” is on your mind right now?
• Up to 7 things at once, maybe 10…
• “Mismanaged commitment = WORRY.”
“Let our advance worrying become advance
thinking and planning”
-Winston Churchill

16. Mind Like Water

17. Set Limitations (Haiku)
1. By setting limitations, we must choose the
essential. So in everything you do, learn to
set limitations.
2. By choosing the essential, we create great
impact with minimal resources. Always
choose the essential to maximize your time
and energy.
-from “The Power of LESS,” by Leo Babauta (p. 5)

18. Learn To Set Limits
• Email–Why check every 5 seconds?
• Text/Chat–Useful or distracting?
• Web Browsing–Really need to know that?
– “We” may be addicted…
• Single-tasking, not multi-tasking–Focus.
– Focus on the present, now.
• When overwhelmed and paralyzed, start
with one little thing… and then repeat.

19. Get Out Of My Mind!
• Externalize things–OUT of your head!
• “Distributed Cognition”
– Simply write it down
• Basic pen/pencil and pad
• An app that takes only a few seconds to use
• Something easy to refer to or manage
• A SYSTEM to manage it all…

20. A Two-Minute Video
• WorkFastTV
• http://www.fastcompany.tv/video/david-
allen-on-getting-things-done-0
– :40 to 2:20

21. Five Stages Of Workflow
1. Collect
2. Process
3. Organize
4. Review & Reflect
5. Do (Actions)

22. 1. Collect
• Mental collection
– EVERYTHING on your mind
• Physical collection
– On your desk
– In your desk
– Around your desk, including old files
• 100% of your “incompletes”

23. 2. Process
• Is this actionable or not?
– Yes – Next action
– No – Trash, someday/maybe, or reference.
• Does it take less than 2 minutes?
– DO IT (now)
– Delegate it (to someone else)
– Defer it (waiting on something/someone)

24. "My three most important productivity tools
are:
• The Trash Can,
• The Delete Key, and
• The Word 'No.’”
- Patrick Rhone

25. 3. Organize
• Projects
– Actions (tasks) or Projects (more than one)
• Calendar (is sacred territory)
– Time/day-specific actions

26. 4. Review & Reflect
• Review to keep things off of your mind
• Cleanup, update, and delete
• Thorough weekly review

27. 5. Do (Actions)
• Context (Home, office, time, season)
• Time available (9:00 a.m. or 5:59 p.m.)
• Energy available
• Priority—What has the highest payoff?
“You have more to do than you can possibly do.
You just need to feel good about your
choices.” –David Allen

28. Five Stages Of Workflow (again)
1. Collect
2. Process
3. Organize
4. Review & Reflect
5. Do (Actions)

29. Collect
Do (Actions) Process
Review &
Organize
Reflect

30. Six-Level Model For Review
• Runway: Current actions
• 10,000 ft: Current projects
• 20,000 ft: Ares of responsibility
• 30,000 ft: One- to two-year goals
• 40,000 ft: Three- to five-year vision
• 50,000+ ft: Life

31. Capture/Collection Tools
• Pen/pencil and paper
• Physical in-basket
• iPhone, Blackberry, Droid
• Voice-recording devices
• Email
• Software like Outlook, OneNote…

32. My Tools…

33. My Tools…

34. My Tools…

35. My Tools…

36. The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique
Pomodoro Technique® in 5 minutes

37. Go Get Things Done!
• Set limitations for yourself.
• Get a system that works for you.
• Feel good about your own decisions.
• Learn “the art of stress-free productivity.”

38. Online Resources/tools
• Visual Studio
– http://wpew.it/97Nm36
• David Allen
– www.davidco.com
• Leo Babauta
– www.zenhabits.net
• Merlin Mann
– www.43folders.com
• EverNote
– www.evernote.com
• WorkFlowy
– www.workflowy.com
• iDoneThis
– www.idonethis.com

39. Thanks For Listening!
• Questions?