Chapter 1 "A New Practice for a New Reality" (Post #2)

After reading the title of the 1st chapter in Getting Things Done, "A New Practice for a new Reality," I'm sure I have you on the edge of your seat. David Allen states that this new way of doing things could represent a huge paradigm shift. (I'll let Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne, explain)

So for those of you who took the red pill let's dive in to chapter 1.

David Allen says that the methods presented in this book are based on two key objectives:

1. Capturing all he things that need to get done - now, later, someday, big little, or in between-into a logical and trusted system outside of your head and off your mind
2. Disciplining yourself to make front-end decisions about all of the “inputs” you let into your life so that you will always have a plan for “next actions” that you can implement or renegotiate at any moment.
   

Allen goes on to state that he considers work to mean, “anything that you want or need to be different than it currently is…Many people make a distinction between ‘work’ and ‘personal life,’ but I don’t : to me, weeding the garden or updating my will is just as much ‘work’ as writing this book or coaching a client.”

Allen then shows the reason we must implement new systems in our lives is because work today is very different than work has been in the past. Work was self evident in the past. “Fields were to be plowed, machines tooled, boxes packed, cows milked, widgets cranked. You knew what work had to be done-you could see it. It was also clear when the work was finished you could see it. Work today has few “edges” Allen points out, “Most people I know have at least a dozen things they’re trying to achieve right now.”

In the Zone (or 'Mind like Water')
"Reflect for a moment on what it actually might be like if your personal management situation were totally under control, at all levels and at all times…What if you could dedicate fully 100 percent of your attention to whatever was at hand, at your own choosing with no distraction?" Allen says that our minds will continually dwell on unfinished or unprocessed ideas or projects. This will distract us unless we have a trusted system outside of our heads to keep us in order. Allen calls this a "Mind like Water" ( or peaceful) or being "in the zone." Take for example something I remember Michael Jordan saying years ago. Jordan said that there are some moments in a game that he is so focused and "in the zone" that the basketball rim feels as big as a doorway. I think David Allen is saying that if we don't clear out our unfinished ideas/tasks/projects etc. we will never be able to really focus on the right/best/next thing properly.

More to Come later. I'll be reviewing chapter 2 very soon. I think Allen is going to get into some practical aspects of his theory in the upcoming chapter. In the meantime if anyone is reading this it would be great to get a comment or an email from you about your experience with productivity/time management systems that have worked for you.