Comments on: Productivity Tips For People That Hate GTD: My Thoughts

By: Where Is My Towel

Where Is My Towel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:03:47 +0000

By: Marina Martin

Marina Martin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:32:01 +0000

I find it strange when I hear people complain that GTD is too structured. I work mostly with type-A personalities, and GTD is way, way too open-ended to work for us. The theories are great, but it needs structure added on to it to work effectively for type-A’s (who, for the sake of this comment, I am going to define as different from creatives, although type-As can certainly be creative).

I read a book a few years ago by Marc Allen called The Type-Z Guide To Success… maybe that’s more up Leo’s alley.

By: Paul Gardner

Paul Gardner — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:36:18 +0000

By: James

James — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:01:03 +0000

Thanks for the comments as ever. Glad you all agree with my comments on the to-stop list.

Personally, I’m torn about this whole creativity distinction. Honestly, is it that black and white? Nobody is totally creative or totally analytical. Nobody uses pure GTD or nothing at all.

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:15:14 +0000

Ah! Love your comment on the to-stop list. So great. I read this article and the comments on Zen Habits and I found it interesting that everyone loved that one point so much. You’ve hit the nail on the head here, why make another list? Figure out what actions you need to take to stop whatever it is, and add that to your existing list.

I don’t think GTD is overly complicated, now that I’ve been using it for a while. It’s what you make of it. Great additional thoughts here.

By: Daryl Furuyama

Daryl Furuyama — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:40:44 +0000

Cool. Pleasure to read, as always. When I started reading I was going to point you to Paul, but I see you already covered that.

As for the to-stop list, it sounds good in concept, but it probably won’t work for the things that you need to stop doing. If I’m addicted to chocolate, is it going to help me to write down not to eat chocolate? Probably not because it is more of an impulse than a logical decision. It would probably be better to get rid of the chocolate in my house, so I won’t be tempted in the first place.

By: Ben Brooks

Ben Brooks — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:13:40 +0000

I agree with what you are saying. With regards to GTD not fitting with creative people I think it is important to remember that GTD itself is designed to maximize a person’s creativity. I too had not heard that creative types did not like the system, as some of the most creative people I know embrace this type of system, they just may not call it GTD.