Comments on: 9 Reasons Why Getting Things Done Sucks!

By: C Mac

C Mac — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:07:20 +0000

Yes it does suck. I don’t need it, want it, use it or buy it. Okay so that might be harsh. David Allen proposed a well thought out system, but it is one that does not work for everyone nor does everyone need it. I am so sick and tired of people gushing about it like it’s the next Jesus walking on water. If someone chooses to implement the system then good for them, but people and organizations should not cram it down other people’s throats. Okay so maybe I do hate it. It’s a book people!

By: Syn

Syn — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:06:22 +0000

GTD sounds like it would work well for someone with endless energy, but I get fatigued easily and that is generally my reason for not getting things done. All the organization in the world can’t help me if I don’t have the energy to do things!

By: Marcin

Marcin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 21:31:20 +0000

This comment that “the book has too many pages” is so funny. I’d say that it has too much marketing crap in it, things like /when I coached BMW CEO/ etc., but intelligent person can filter this out. The argument that the system is outdated is strange too, you can keep nearly everything online, I don’t see any problem with it. BTW I did MANY things as described in the book, without even knowing what GTD is, so I like it, it gave some final touch to my system.
I personally use my own Covey + Allen DIY merge, feel very comfortable with it. GTD’s cool for me for low level execution, Covey enlighted me in some “higher” areas… and after all you should use your own creativity.

By: James

James — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:00:42 +0000

Thanks for the comment Farley. I would have to agree with you about David Allen’s reaction to the popularity of his system. Just reading the first couple of chapters of his new book, Making It All Work, it’s almost as though he always knew it was going to be a success. He has every right to take such a Kool Aid fueled view because he’s been able to make a lot of money out of it and he needs to keep pulling in potential customers. But even so, I think more people have got caught up in the marketing than in the actual system.

By: Farley Marlen

Farley Marlen — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:06:28 +0000

The success of GTD absolutely mystifies me, and, I have to suspect, mystified David Allen himself at first (though at this point he’s no doubt drunk his own Kool Aid). The only thing useful about the system is the intelligence of the people who have used it, meaning they’ve attached their own intelligence to making it work themselves. Personally, I think the emperor has no clothes and I would never, ever, ever recommend it for anyone.

I think he has one (one!) good suggestion, and it goes like this: the best thing about organizing systems is to use tricks like the equivalent of putting things in front of your door before you go to bed if you can’t afford to leave the house without them in the morning. But then people treat his system the opposite way like it’s far from a practical trick, like it’s some actual system that was, as someone above mentioned, brought down from the mountain. Unless I’m missing a lot of IQ points, it’s not.

By: Slaughter Development

Slaughter Development — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:31:05 +0000

By: Productivity In Context

Productivity In Context — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:07:36 +0000

By: Geeks Guide To Productivity

Geeks Guide To Productivity — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:08:21 +0000

By: Did I Get Things Done?

Did I Get Things Done? — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:28:27 +0000

By: When I Grow Up

When I Grow Up — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:21:43 +0000