David Allen Quotes

Clearing the deck is great, but sailing adventurous waters is the real game. (Just can't do it w/out a clear deck.)

When you "have to get organized," you're probably not appropriately invested yet in what you need to get organized for.

Most often, the reason something is "on your mind" is that you want it to be different than it currently is, and yet:
• you haven't clarified exactly what the intended outcomes is;
• you haven't decided what the very next physical action step is;
• and/or you haven't put reminders of the outcome and the action required in a system you trust.
That's why it's on your mind.

Getting things done requires two basic components: defining (1) what “done” means (outcome) and (2) what “doing” looks like (action). And these are far from self-evident for most people about most things that have their attention.

A commitment kept only in your head will be given too much or too little attention.

My daily meta-map lists: events coming up; major projects for me; emerging interests; my accountabilities.

(1) collect things that command our attention; (2) process what they mean and what to do about them; and (3) organize the results, which we (4) review as options for what we choose to (5) do.

Appropriately used, checklists can be a tremendous asset in enhancing personal productivity and relieving mental pressure.

What maps do you need to review, to see where you are & what to do next? Core to self-management systems.

Are you overwhelmed pulling weeds, when you really just need to replant the garden?

"Most people have major leaks in their collection process. Many have collected things but haven't processed or decided what action to take about them. Others make good decisions about "stuff" in the moment but lose the value of that thinking because they don't efficiently organize
the results. Still others have good systems but don't review them consistently enough to keep them functional. Finally, if any one of these links is weak, what someone is likely to choose to do at any point in time may not be the best option."

Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought. — Henri Bergson

Being organized simply means that where something is matches what it means to you. No more, no less.

How can you justify keeping a calendar & still keep most of your other commitments w/yourself in your head?

Freedom to create a mess is proportional to your ability to know what "no mess" is and how to get there.