Getting Things Done: One Organization Method

Merlin Mann, at organization blog 43 Folders, has been Getting Things Done. What is GTD? “Basically, you make your stuff into real, actionable items or things you can just get rid of.”

Mann has been doing this for a year, and now has a review of his progress.

So how does GTD work?

This is a really summarized version, but here it is, PowerPoint-style:

1. identify all the stuff in your life that isn’t in the right place (close all open loops)
2. get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or you don’t need right now
3. create a right place that you trust and that supports your working style and values
4. put your stuff in the right place, consistently
5. do your stuff in a way that honors your time, your energy, and the context of any given moment
6. iterate and refactor mercilessly

If you are interested in using these organization tools to Get Things Done, 43 Folders is a good place to start.

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.

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