We’ve just finished developing a video and a graphic to introduce people to a famous productivity system called Getting Things Done® (GTD®). Having just finished Purim and with Pesach right around the corner, we all have many more tasks than time. While GTD® won’t kasher your oven, it will help you schedule that task at the right time.

We’d love your feedback on two questions in particular:
1) After looking at the graphic, watching the video, and reading the text, do you feel that you have a decent understanding of GTD®?
2) Which of the three formats (graphic, video, text) did you find most helpful?

We recommend that you
1. Download the graphic here.
2. Watch the video
3. Read the text
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to help install the concepts in your long term memory.

———————————————————————————————————————–

Get our weekly Brevedy Email:

———————————————————————————————————————–
Here is the graphic:

———————————————————————————————————————–
Here is the text description:
The Concepts of GTD®

GTD® is a 5 step system for collecting, processing, organizing, reviewing and doing your tasks and projects.

These 5 steps will get all your files, papers, projects, tasks & ideas into an organized set of lists and files.

This process gets your stuff off your mind and into a system that promotes effective and efficient task/project execution.

Here are the five steps of GTD:

1. Collect all of your files, papers, projects, tasks and ideas.

2. Process each inbox item and determine if it is actionable in the short term or not.

3. Organize each list and file in a manner that will facilitate performing the items they contain.

4. Review your lists and files regularly and keep them up to date.

5. Do your actions using your lists and files.

The lists and files of GTD® fall into two major categories:

Those containing items that are actionable in the short term.

Those containing items that are not actionable in the short term.

“Short Term Actionable” Items

Waiting For items require somebody else to work on them.

Next Actions are single action items to be done as soon as possible.

Calendar items are single action items due on specific dates.

Projects are items with multiple actions.

Project Plans are the key ideas, vision and outcomes of your projects

“Not Short Term Actionable” Items

Trash items are not needed at all.

Tickler items are filed and will be used or re-examined at a specific future date.

Someday/Maybe items might be needed for a future action.

Reference items might be useful for a future purpose.

Now let’s discuss the steps.

Step 1: Collect

Step 2: Process

Step 3: Organize

Step 4: Review

Step 5: Do

Let’s Review the 5 steps:

1. Collect all of your files, papers, projects, tasks and ideas.

2. Process each inbox item and determine if it is actionable in the short term or not.

3. Organize each list and file in a manner that will facilitate performing the items they contain.

4. Review your lists and files regularly and keep them up to date.

5. Do your actions using your lists and files.

If you want to learn more, read the book, visit gettingthingsdone.com and join the Linked In GTD® group.

Years ago (like eighteen), when I first decided to wear a kippah at work, something seemed strange also. At the time, I felt self-consciousness about wearing it in public. But then it occurred to me that in New York City, people aren’t pretentious about going out in public with purple-dyed hair, a chain as a belt and piercing in their eyes, nose and mouth. I realized that if I had some physical or psychological barrier, it was of my own creation, not anyone else’s. But upon showing up at work wearing it after a two-week vacation, no one said a word.

At first, I thought my friends and colleagues, all of whom I had been working with for at least a year, all knew that I was Shomer Shabbos. I wondered whether they thought it looked strange but were just too polite to say anything. After a few days, two of my colleagues asked if they could ask me a personal question. Of course, I said yes to which they asked, “Have you always been wearing a kippah or did you just start?” After telling them that I started several days before, I asked, “Why do you ask, wasn’t it obvious when I showed up after vacation the other day with it on?” They told me that they had a bet. One said I just started and the other said that I had been wearing it all along.
Read more The Company Picnic ›