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David Allen is the architect of *Getting Things Done* (GTD). His core insight is that 'your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. ' He teaches that stress comes from open loops—commitments we haven't clarified or captured. By getting everything out of your head and into a trusted system, you achieve 'Mind Like Water. ' He teaches that productivity is not about working harder, but about engaging with your work with a clear head.
"When you "have to get organized," you're probably not appropriately invested yet in what you need to get organized for."
Website: Wikiquote - David Allen (Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life (2003))
"Here's how I define "stuff": anything you have allowed into your psychological or physical world that doesn't belong where it is, but for which you haven't yet determined the desired outcome and the next action step. Ch. 1"
Website: Wikiquote - David Allen (Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001))
"What people call an "Interruption" is simply new input inappropriately managed. 19 June 2009"
"First of all, if it's on your mind, your mind isn't clear. Anything you consider unfinished in any way must be captured in a trusted system outside your mind, or what I call a collection bucket, that you know you'll come back to regularly and sort through. Ch. 1"
Website: Wikiquote - David Allen (Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001))
"The goal is to get projects and situations off your mind, but not to lose any potentially useful ideas. Ch. 3"
Website: Wikiquote - David Allen (Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001))
"I suggest that you use your mind to think about things, rather than to think of them. You want to be adding value... not simply reminding yourself they exist. Ch. 11"
Website: Wikiquote - David Allen (Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001))
Seeing how David Allen approaches Productivity helps you apply the idea with more precision.
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"Use this collection whenever you need David Allen's lens on Productivity."