Getting Things Done

In this summary you will learn

• How to master productivity in a stress-free way
• How to prioritize tasks effectively
• Which five steps will help you control your workflow
• How to get fresh projects under way

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Why you should read Getting Things Done

The metaphor of the stress-free mind as a still pond encapsulates the message of David Allen’s best-selling book. When a stone is thrown into a pond, the size of the ripples correspond to the size of the stone. Allen points out that the essence of stress-free living is getting the ripples of your mind to correspond with the size of the tasks on your to-do list. But you don’t reach Allen’s placid pond via a quiet, Zen-like path. Instead, you calm the waters of your mind by building and maintaining a rigid organizational system that’s so efficient that you never have to worry about any task once it’s been fed into the machine. The popularity of this book probably owes as much to the stress level of the book-buying public as it does to the level of innovation to be found in Allen’s method of organization. Often, the actual time-management techniques that Allen offers can get lost in fancy jargon and fall short of his general observations about stress, productivity and the mind. But getAbstract recommends this manual for a productive life to anyone looking for help in dealing with stress and an overheating to-do list you’re sure to end up with a fresh approach or two in your in-box.

About the Author

David Allen is president of David Allen & Company, and has had more than 20 years experience as a management consultant, executive coach and educator. He is especially known for his work on productivity, and has been a keynote speaker and facilitator for many organizations, including Oracle, L.L. Bean, QVC and the World Bank. He writes a biweekly e-mail newsletter, “Productivity Principles,” and his work has featured in many magazines and newspapers, including Fast Company, Fortune and the Los Angeles Times.