David Allen Quotes (119 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

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Getting Things Done

David Allen

David Allen: 119 quotes1 like

Famous David Allen Quotes

“Your mind is for having ideas, not for holding them.”

13 November 2009 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/5673602109 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“When we truly need to do is often what we most feel like avoiding.”

David Allen

Source: Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done

“You can fool everyone else, but you can't fool your own mind.”

David Allen

Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

“Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax.”

David Allen

Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

“You can do anything, but not everything.”

David Allen

“The less you are driven by what goes on in this material world, the more you will pay attention to its details.”

David Allen

29 October 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/29053579357 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

David Allen: Trending quotes

“Much of the stress that people feel doesn't come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they've started.”

David Allen

“Whether you know what you're doing or not, efficiency & style are your only improvement opportunities.”

David Allen

16 September 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/24608868849 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“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.”

David Allen

Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001), Chapter 1

David Allen Quotes

“Keys to getting things done: know what "done" means & what "doing" looks like.”

David Allen

14 January 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/158292486358446081 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Your mind doesn't have one. If it did, it would only remind you of something when you could do something about it.”

David Allen

1 September 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/109338835162374145 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“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.”

David Allen

Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001), Chapter 1

“The latest & loudest thing in your psyche is seldom the most important thing that should take up residence there.”

David Allen

3 August 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/98970279044321280 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“GTD gives freedom to the right, structure to the left”

David Allen

brains, that is! 12 April 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/12042191961 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“My daily meta-map lists: events coming up; major projects for me; emerging interests; my accountabilities.”

David Allen

21 April 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/193919597991301123 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Freedom to create a mess is proportional to your ability to know what "no mess" is and how to get there.”

David Allen

15 July 2009 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/2645749878 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Great question to ask, to relax: What should I consider right now, decide what, and let go?”

David Allen

2 July 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/220039630240747521 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Being in control isn't forceful manipulation but rather highly cooperative engagement w/ what's really going on.”

David Allen

4 August 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/20314349285 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“"Organization" for most people is simply an incomplete list, or amorphous piles, of still-unclear commitments.”

David Allen

14 January 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/25756431076560896 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“There is never enough time to do what you really don't want to do. Time managemet is really value management.”

David Allen

2 December 2009 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/6259124760 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Collect, process, organize & review what has your attention, so you can stop half-trying to be doing all that, constantly.”

David Allen

15 March 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/180374838857318400 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“How can you justify keeping a calendar & still keep most of your other commitments w/yourself in your head?”

David Allen

10 July 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/89936622044450816 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“A commitment kept only in your head will be given too much or too little attention.”

David Allen

23 June 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/16821970790 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Making decisions when you can vs. when you have to makes for better decisions.”

David Allen

8 August 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/20590785465 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“It's hard to say no when you're not aware of everything you've said yes to.”

David Allen

19 July 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/93386722926276609 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“GTD supplies the reset button for all parts of life & work.”

David Allen

19 May 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/14255178696 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Being organized simply means that where something is matches what it means to you. No more, no less.”

David Allen

22 August 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/105536813661298688 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Even the smallest knoll to climb, to see a little more than the machine guns firing at me, is salvation.”

David Allen

30 November 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/142134392679186432 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“GTD 2.0 = what to do with your head, once it's clear.”

David Allen

8 January 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/23815709830156288 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Living life in "emergency scan" mode self-perpetuates instead of self-corrects. Deal w/a non-emergency before it is one.”

David Allen

4 November 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/318242203639809 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Maximizing is not optimizing. Sustainable engagement wins, in the end.”

David Allen

8 October 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/26778825813 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“If you admit your wildest dream & uncover why you want it, you have a big key to make tomorrow a better day.”

David Allen

28 May 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/14933593727 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Changing what you want to get done takes a second. Recalibrating & getting the new thing to happen is a martial art.”

David Allen

7 December 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/144476364966346752 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“What people call an "Interruption" is simply new input inappropriately managed.”

David Allen

19 June 2009 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/2240630593 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Get things under control first, then get focused. If your ship is sinking, you don't care where it's pointed.”

David Allen

25 January 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/8192067730 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“What would you do w/more space, if you had it? Without a good answer, you'll not have the juice to really do #GTD.”

David Allen

5 January 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/155111659122339840 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“If u can't see everything you've committed to, at all levels, you'll be driven by latest and loudest. #SmallBizChat”

David Allen

3 June 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/15288280784 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Things hold your attention hostage until you give them the appropriate attention.”

David Allen

27 June 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/85187098725974016 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy Variant: Your attention will continue to be grabbed by anything until you give it the appropriate attention.

“If you could stop thinking, letting go of trying control your world w/your mind, where would your attention go?”

David Allen

3 December 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/10514000022343680 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Freedom to give full attention to what you want (vs. It being held hostage by unmanaged stuff) is the GTD promise.”

David Allen

17 December 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/148127884798730240 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Resistance to deciding the next action (before we have to) stems from how it exposes the vulnerability of our intelligence.”

David Allen

28 June 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/17222176055 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Valuable thought occurred today to share. Obvious in the moment. Can't retrieve now. Didn't capture. I teach this. Damn.”

David Allen

18 November 2009 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/5819997093 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“When you "have to get organized," you're probably not appropriately invested yet in what you need to get organized for.”

David Allen

Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life (2003)

“To be free to be spontaneously & creatively shallow requires depth of character & a disciplined focus.”

David Allen

29 April 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/63977062188335104 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Are you overwhelmed pulling weeds, when you really just need to replant the garden?”

David Allen

16 February 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/170372170025934848 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“When you know you'll get email to zero, you're free to deal with the ones you choose, when you choose. Most productive.”

David Allen

23 November 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/139536702476783616 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“You'll be motivated to exercise the #GTD method to the degree you really care about what you're doing.”

David Allen

1 November 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/29413783209 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Hold still enough to grapple w/the simple questions, & the complexities become clear.”

David Allen

6 July 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/88499341613989888 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“When "this isn't right" changes to "this isn't optimal" in your vocabulary, you've moved up the food chain.”

David Allen

9 February 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/35205999514091520 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“GTD essence: attention cleared of residue & distraction, pointed at the right thing.”

David Allen

20 November 2009 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/5878721689 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“You've really done your job when what's true? (Challenging question for all of us!)”

David Allen

4 March 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/43507841134362624 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“If you're appropriately engaged w/your life, you don't need more time. If you're not, more time won't help.”

David Allen

15 August 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/235900635395022848 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Eternal #GTD paradox: when you get the principle, the tool doesn't matter. But simultaneosly it matters so much more.”

David Allen

16 February 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/9169795220 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Perfection is graciously dealing with imperfection.”

David Allen

4 November 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/29641324869 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“If your backlog of stuff isn't zero'd regularly, you're hostage to your own incessant angst that you should.”

David Allen

5 March 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/43813369337217024 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“When you know how, any time, to get to the place where it's all sort of funny, you've mastered GTD.”

David Allen

8 December 2011 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/145022728494264321 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“You don't have to like your life to get it off your mind. You DO have to renegotiate your agreements w/yourself about it.”

David Allen

15 August 2010 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/21206170236 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Meetings handled well reduce email. Email handled well reduces meetings.”

David Allen

18 January 2012 https://twitter.com/gtdguy/status/159780367153373184 Official Twitter profile (@gtdguy) https://twitter.com/gtdguy

“Most often, the reason something is "on your mind" is that you want it to be different than it currently is, and yet: you haven't clarified exactly what the intended outcomes is; you haven't decided what the very next physical action step is; and/or you haven't put reminders of the outcome and the action required in a system you trust. That's why it's on your mind.”

David Allen

Source: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2001), Chapter 1

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