To people who care about productivity, they all know what GTD is. There are plenty of books and tools out there just to help “getting” GTD works. We all tested and used all the available systems, both free and commercial. We also read all the productivity books, join the community of people who love GTD. We did with a hope to learn GTD, maximize it so it can help us achieve our goals. But we failed to achieve what have been set. Why?
Most of us think that getting to know GTD and using some tools would is enough. GTD is just a tool, and how the tool is used is much more important.
There are 3 highlighted factors that collapse the GTD system, making it just a myth to everyone.
1. Lack of discipline:
This is the number one reason why GTD doesn’t work. GTD needs discipline from people using it. If we don’t stick with what have been planned and consequently everything get passed by. The assigned tasks were extended, the projects didn’t meet its deadline and people ended up getting stressed.
2. Lack of commitment:
How many times you have been put a lot passion into an idea, and when the time going by you lost that passion and stop doing what you have planned? When we put too much hope into an idea but not enough commitment, it just never happens.
3. Loosing focus
In these busy days, there a lot of distraction that keeping from reaching our goals. Projects coming from other departments, incident tasks assigned to you from your boss, your family issues etc. It’s just so easy to get distracted than finding a quite place where you can just focus on what is important to you.
To me, GTD is good but not required to get your job done. The 1st thing is you have to make “yourself” work before using any support tools or systems. From the past before GTD people did a lot of achievements, without using a single system. All they need were just being disciplined, committed and focused.
How about you? What keeping you from achieving your goals?
REFERENCE:
* GTD is a shortened form of Getting Things Done by David Allen
* Popular tools employ GTD: Moleskine, Things, Evernote, Remember the milk
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think all the things you mentioned above are not only applicable to the GTD system but to everything else. If you don't have the discipline, you lack commitment, and you easily lose focus, then no productivity or organization system will work for you.
The GTD system of David Allen is not really a "tool" in the traditional sense of the word. The GTD in its entirety, if you correctly read the book, is a philosophy of practicing productivity. It is not merely a tool. In fact, Allen has emphasized that tools are only secondary to the system.
For implementing GTD you can use this web-based application:
http://www.Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
Comes with a mobile version too, and with an Android app.