White October's Book Club review of 'Getting Things Done' by David Allen.

1. Book Club
The art of ‘Getting Things Done’

2. What we did
● ‘Read’ the book
● Tried some exercises
● Tried out different systems
● Demoed them at the pub

3. The ‘Getting Things Done’ Principles
● Have a system
● Write everything down
● Organise everything

4. Great tips...

5. Write things down
● Record things as you think of them
‘There is no reason ever to have
the same thought twice, unless
you like having that thought’

6. Process now, action later
● Read all email as soon as you get it
● If it takes less than 2
mins, do it
● Otherwise write
down the next action

7. Dump, then sort
● Have a ‘bucket’ to dump ideas/ thoughts/
tasks
● Then sort into lists

9. Systems
Next Actions Project List Ticklers

10. Stuck on a project?
Focus on the next action
2 minute exercise

11. Have space to work at home

12. 3 takeaways from the book
● Never leave a meeting without identifying the
next action
● Try the 2 minute brainstorm exercise
● Lists

13. Not so great tips...

14. Downsides
● What the hell is a memo?
● Chapter 4 is a detailed explanation of organising filing
cabinets and stationary
● Chapter 7 outlines the 20+ lists that the author
maintains, including a 43 folder system for setting up
reminders for any day in the year
● Chapter 11 describes the four-criteria model for
choosing actions, the threefold model for evaluating
daily work and the six-level model for evaluating your
work

15. Yep, 43.

16. Choice quotes from the author
● “You can ignore the physical world and its realities and trust in the
universe. I did that, and it was a powerful experience.”
● “At the risk of seriously offending a lot of people are already using hanging
files”
● “If I had to set up and emergency workstation in just a few minutes, I would
buy a door, put it on top of two two-drawer filing cabinets”
● “(one at each end)”

17. Review
Some good principles, but very dated
and sometimes a bit OTT

18. Wow, book club looks awesome! Can I join?
Yes you can!
Next book

19. HHaavvee aa ggrreeaatt rreesstt ooff yyoouurr lliiffee!!!!