I’m a big fan of GTD. More than any of the dozens of books I’ve read on goals and time management, Getting Things Done by David Allen enriched my life and changed my outcomes. Most of the sentences in Getting Things Done can be followed by “no shit.” But, as my friend Julie Harris says, sometimes the “no shit” points are the most important.
All of us 2.0/3.0 agents here can do well to follow Jeff Brown’s stellar advice. But execution is the key, Just…do it.
Kludges are very helpful when we’re trying to get something finished. Worrying about if this is the ‘latest,’ productivity tool is usually a waste of time. Having dead simple tools like dry erase boards and index executed zealously is WAY more useful than having a half ass implementation of the worlds most perfect solution. I rock a Hipster PDA because there’s something unignorable about index cards. You can turn a Palm/Iphone off, but if you have things to do, they will be reflected in the stack of cards you’re carrying. Is it as slick as an Iphone? No, but since I made the damn thing it works.
Instead of having calendared reminders, I took a sheet of paper, and made a basic table:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
| Blog Post
Call 20 Past Clients |
Post to Facebook Groups
5 LinkedIn Questions answered. |
Blog Post contact 10 financial planners contact 10 attorneys |
…and so on. Click for a full version. Both 1.0 and 2.0 activities are on the list. If you’ve got a solid plan, it’s one of the easiest ways to force yourself to execute. If I’m behind, I have a VISUAL reminder. What’s hard is setting a realistic schedule and trusting it…that’s another post altogether. (And yes, I have a monthly version and a quarterly version, too…this has kept me from needing an assistant because I have my tasks laid out in a linear fashion.)
My page It’s laminated #70 card stock so it has some weight. I use a Vis a Vis wet erase marker to mark things I’ve finished. I wash my page every week. I do it roughly in order, and I try to time myself each day to strike a good balance.
If you are struggling with execution, go simple, low tech, FAST, and unignorable…that beats ignorable high tech noise any day.
Teri Lussier says:
>If you are struggling with execution,
Always.
>go simple, low tech, FAST, and unignorable…
Thank you.
June 17, 2008 — 4:23 am
Genuine Chris Johnson says:
Thanks TL. I wanted to have a schedule with 3.5-4.5 prospecting/marketing and the rest without..and this let me balance it. Doing 30 contacts is something that I do now in 50 minutes, a blog post takes 25ish (unless I do a bullet points post, that’s 15.) etc.
June 17, 2008 — 5:36 am
Barry Bevis says:
Clear, simple and, I think, effective.
Thanks for the encouragement.
I’m off to get something done today!
June 17, 2008 — 5:41 am
Christina Ethridge says:
Despite being organized, I too struggle at times with this. This is fantastic, so basic and rudimentary it’s laughable yet very MUCH needed. I sometimes get lost in the amount of Web 2.0 there is to participate in. THANK YOU!
June 17, 2008 — 6:55 am
miami beach native says:
I do a lot of SMO work and it does get hard to keep track of websites and blog posts. Try getting a wipe board/calendar to put above your desk. Each night before I go home I write out what I want to get done the next day. Just a suggestion!
June 17, 2008 — 7:23 am
Mark McGlothlin says:
Chris – great reminder that execution is the key. I tried a dozen different “systems” during a busy career as a physician and then investor/business owner, and GTD is by far the most logical, practical, and useful system I’ve ever seen. It revolutionized my personal productivity by breaking those tasks into the rational next step to execute. For those who haven’t given David Allen’s Getting Things Done a look, it’s more than worth your nickel and your more valuable time.
June 17, 2008 — 7:49 am
Joseph Bridges says:
Chris,
Low tech is really sometimes the key to completing all the necessary high tech tasks. My brother and I use half size sheets of paper and we have carry them around in our pants or shirt pocket until its done. It is amazing how a small piece of paper will motivate one to complete simple tasks.
We like our clients to create simple and short lists of tasks so that they actually get done. Small lists also make you feel like you got something done as well which is an added benefit.
June 17, 2008 — 9:43 am
John C says:
Thanks for this. I like GTD, too, but struggle with knowing what to schedule vs what to keep in lists. I have scoured the web to try and find GTD hacks for realtors to little or no avail. They should allow various professions to have subgroups on the GTD Blog.
This really helps. Also thanks for the link to the hipster PDA. New one on me. Great stuff, that blog is now in my reader.
June 17, 2008 — 11:25 am
Jeff Brown says:
Chris — Together we might be creating the cult of The Skinned Cat. 🙂
Did you get it done? Cool.
You don’t get asked ‘how’ until they find out you ‘did’.
Grandma once told me doers make news, while tryers read news.
You’re a doer in your DNA.
June 17, 2008 — 12:09 pm
Jonathan Blackwell says:
Excellent advice. I make two to do lists each day in a 5 subject spiral bound notebook and cross off things as I go. One before I go to bed and one after lunch.
As low tech as they come.
Jonathan Blackwell
http://www.atlantaforeclosuretour.net
June 17, 2008 — 2:50 pm
Sue says:
I like it Chris. I’m not a real high-tech person either, more visual. My “to dos” are in binders and on my calendar as well. I find I can flip thru this stuff a little faster and make quick notes. I do always put together a list the night before of what needs to be done the next day. Mine varies from week to week.
June 18, 2008 — 6:32 am
Andy Morris says:
I read GTD and a lot of what it said i liked. However at times his system I think is over complicated. And I always hated the never ending list. There is a book called Do It Tomorrow that almost took over a bunch of the GTD forums a while ago. It seems like a bad book for realtors but it has freed me and improved my productivity and stress. I sold my GTD book after reading DIT.
June 19, 2008 — 5:39 pm
Sue says:
DIT sounds pretty good to me right now! 🙂 I do love my lists…prioritized of course. Its a great feeling to cross something off.
June 20, 2008 — 10:06 pm
Dan says:
For implementing GTD you might try out this web-based application:
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 is available too.
As with the last update, now you can add or invite Contacts, and share your Projects and Contexts with them.
Hope you like it.
June 21, 2008 — 8:11 am