Comments on: Is The Hype Over GTD Still Going Strong? http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/ Work smart, play smart Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:38:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: LJ http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/comment-page-1/#comment-21977 LJ Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:27:02 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/#comment-21977 Reading the Yahoo groups devoted to both GTD and Do It Tomorrow, there are lots of comments about applying GTD - good and bad. What I have noticed is that a lot of people expect GTD to be an out-of-the-box solution, but it doesn't fit everyone or every situation. I personally use GTD for my work with a perfect, seamless fit; but my personal life is ruled by DIT. Reading the Yahoo groups devoted to both GTD and Do It Tomorrow, there are lots of comments about applying GTD – good and bad. What I have noticed is that a lot of people expect GTD to be an out-of-the-box solution, but it doesn’t fit everyone or every situation. I personally use GTD for my work with a perfect, seamless fit; but my personal life is ruled by DIT.

]]> By: James http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/comment-page-1/#comment-21960 James Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:11:22 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/#comment-21960 Thanks for the comments as ever. Jarod, you are right about Allen offering his services in a niche area. He never (as far as I am aware) claimed GTD was for everybody. It was everybody else who assumed it was. Summy, I look forward to reading your continuing thoughts on GTD 2.0! Rolf, as ever you have pointed me to something interesting. Maybe I will have to write about Shuhari too in the near future too... Thanks for the comments as ever.

Jarod, you are right about Allen offering his services in a niche area. He never (as far as I am aware) claimed GTD was for everybody. It was everybody else who assumed it was.

Summy, I look forward to reading your continuing thoughts on GTD 2.0!

Rolf, as ever you have pointed me to something interesting. Maybe I will have to write about Shuhari too in the near future too…

]]> By: Rolf Katzenberger http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/comment-page-1/#comment-21951 Rolf Katzenberger Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:50:28 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/#comment-21951 The hype cycle concept matches the public image of a technology. In terms of personal involvement, it is mirrored quite well by the old concept of learning according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shu_ha_ri" rel="nofollow">Shuhari</a>: Shu, "learning fundamentals, techniques, heuristics, proverbs" means that you learn the techniques you've got to know; maybe you're mistaken to believe that techniques are already the solution (peak of inflated expectations). Ha, "finding exceptions to traditional wisdom, reflecting on their truth, finding new ways, techniques, and proverbs" means that you're struggling with situations where the mere application of techniques obviously doesn't work (trough of disillusionment). Ri, "there are no techniques or proverbs, all moves are natural" means that you've developed a deeper understanding about what you've learned so far (plateau of productivity). I think having a mind like water is a nice alternative wording for this state. Observing my own learning in various fields, I notice that I need to go through all states, there is no shortcut. Probably, the predominant culture isn't willing to accept that sowing and harvesting is a much better metaphor for learning than a quick fix is. Which makes a nice link between GTD and Covey's 7 Habits, by the way. The hype cycle concept matches the public image of a technology. In terms of personal involvement, it is mirrored quite well by the old concept of learning according to Shuhari:

Shu, “learning fundamentals, techniques, heuristics, proverbs” means that you learn the techniques you’ve got to know; maybe you’re mistaken to believe that techniques are already the solution (peak of inflated expectations).

Ha, “finding exceptions to traditional wisdom, reflecting on their truth, finding new ways, techniques, and proverbs” means that you’re struggling with situations where the mere application of techniques obviously doesn’t work (trough of disillusionment).

Ri, “there are no techniques or proverbs, all moves are natural” means that you’ve developed a deeper understanding about what you’ve learned so far (plateau of productivity). I think having a mind like water is a nice alternative wording for this state.

Observing my own learning in various fields, I notice that I need to go through all states, there is no shortcut. Probably, the predominant culture isn’t willing to accept that sowing and harvesting is a much better metaphor for learning than a quick fix is. Which makes a nice link between GTD and Covey’s 7 Habits, by the way.

]]> By: Summy http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/comment-page-1/#comment-21945 Summy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:31:25 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/#comment-21945 People need to expand GTD to fit their needs. GTD is very useful but everyone agrees it's not perfect. I'm trying to put together a GTD 2.0 at my site. Then once that's settled someone will come up with a GTD 3.0. To be more productive we need to keep refining our systems. People need to expand GTD to fit their needs. GTD is very useful but everyone agrees it’s not perfect. I’m trying to put together a GTD 2.0 at my site. Then once that’s settled someone will come up with a GTD 3.0. To be more productive we need to keep refining our systems.

]]> By: Jarod http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/comment-page-1/#comment-21944 Jarod Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:37:04 +0000 http://www.organizeit.co.uk/2008/03/12/is-the-hype-over-gtd-still-going-strong/#comment-21944 If I'm not mistaken, didn't Allen say in his book that GTD didn't offer all of the answers but rather some solutions to common problems? I'm speaking in a general sense here when I say this - when people criticize GTD for not solving their problems, I think that they're missing the point. Anybody that says that their productivity system can solve everybody's problems all the time is an outright liar. Allen is being very smart by offering his services in a niche area of productivity. I can't fault the guy. GTD hasn't solved all of my problems though it has definitely helped me out tremendously. I've used the ideas that work and discarded the rest. It's best if implemented with other ideas/systems. If I’m not mistaken, didn’t Allen say in his book that GTD didn’t offer all of the answers but rather some solutions to common problems?

I’m speaking in a general sense here when I say this – when people criticize GTD for not solving their problems, I think that they’re missing the point. Anybody that says that their productivity system can solve everybody’s problems all the time is an outright liar.

Allen is being very smart by offering his services in a niche area of productivity. I can’t fault the guy. GTD hasn’t solved all of my problems though it has definitely helped me out tremendously. I’ve used the ideas that work and discarded the rest. It’s best if implemented with other ideas/systems.

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