Getting Things Done: What's the point?

Here's a question for those of you who are Getting Things Done fans. As you devour GTD books and create systems that allow you to squeeze more productivity per square minute than should be humanly possible, have you ever wondered, "What's the point?"

Don't get me wrong. I'm not criticizing taking a GTD approach. I could use an uber-sized chunk of that in my own life. I mean the question more literally. What is the point to it? Where are all your jam-packed days leading you? 

Today over on Half-a-dozen Monkeys, there is a post on the need to incorporate a long-term framework into your GTD efforts. 

The post got me thinking about all the clients I have worked with who have been masterful at getting things done, but ultimately realized that all the energy and effort they were putting into their highly productive days wasn’t actually taking them anyplace they really cared to go. 

If you think about GTD in terms of ROI, the payoff doesn’t just come from being able to tick a higher density of things off your to-do list. It also comes from the cumulative effect of day after day, after month, after year of doing those things. If it’s not taking you anywhere that feels meaningful and fulfilling, you’ll likely come up empty.

That's the case regardless of whether or not you are a GTD afficionado. Take a look back at last week. What did you do? What actions did you take? What items did you tick off your to-do list? Was any of it leading you in a direction you really care about? 

If the answer is no, I encourage you to spend some time exploring that long-term vision so you can tap into the cumulative potential of day after day spent taking action aimed in a direction that matters to you. Until you do, your career is at risk of amounting to little more than a series of well-executed steps taken for their own sake. 

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by Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst

Comments

[Sfassmann]

That has been the question floating around since 7 Habits. There seems to be a bias in school and corporations to focus on the task not the destination. It isn't just about following your passion but what do you want to be when you grow up?

[Curt Rosengren]

Re the bias towards focusing on the task, I think ideally it's a matter of finding the right mix. All tactical and no vision can make for a soulless experience. At the same time, without an effective approach to getting it done, the vision is at risk of remaining little more than a daydream.

[Kristen]

I really like the thought behind this post. For me, the time I spend *with* people and doing things is my greatest commodity, so I'm very thoughtful about how I spend my time. I can multitask like nobody's business, but in the end, I need to feel like what I'm "tasking" makes a difference to me on all levels. Is that blog going to help people? Will it help my reputation? Is my FB posting something to let my friends know what's going on in my life? Is that person I'm meeting for coffee someone I want to continue a relationship with? Do I want to go to a movie with friend A or spend quality time with my niece and nephew? It's all about what makes me feel better about myself in the long run and the legacy I leave personally and professionally.

[Duff]

The GTD methodology is about clarity of thinking, *not* about how many things you can get done in a given day, nor how jam-packed your schedule is. David Allen re-emphasizes this every time he gives an interview.

Allen claims that "clearing the decks" by getting clear about all your commitments frees up creative energy for higher-level thinking like you are advocating. I've found this to be the case--and *more* effective than trying to do the high-level thinking without first being in control of all my stuff.

If you aren't organized about what's on your plate now, the high-level thinking has a tendency to be escapist (if only I had a 4-hour workweek, lived on Hawaii, etc.). Being grounded and in control of the day-to-day, the higher level thinking is reality based, leading to greater likelihood of actualization.

In addition, the GTD methodology has *always* had a system for higher-level focus in what Allen calls the altitudes.

That all said, few people actually understand the purpose of GTD, even though it explicitly on nearly every page of the book. Sometimes I have to wonder if anyone has actually read it, or if we instead only read "productivity blogs" which exactly fall into the problems mentioned in this article. I say go back to the fundamentals and forget all the time-wasting productivity pr0n. And now to take my own advice....

[Curt Rosengren]

Kristen, thinking, "How does this add to the legacy I want to leave" is a great way to frame it. Obviously not everything needs to be in the context of a personal or professional legacy (sometimes I just want to do something mindless that has no real intrinsic value), but the more aware we are of that bigger picture, the more likely we are to make those kinds of choices.

Duff, thanks for adding the "clearing the decks" perspective. You're right. The more clear and focused you can be, the less "noise" there is and the more you have available to put into that higher-level thinking.

[harry]

Great point. If things you get done aren't really moving you closer to your goals, then what's the point.

You may also want to check out GoalsOnTrack. It's a web 2.0 style goal setting and productivity tool that is really cool for helping you reach goals.

[Tim]

Curt:

Nice post with some interesting thoughts...I've read GTD and studied the 7 habits. But you bring up some big picture questions that we need to answer or reflect upon before we become the productivity "machines" that we desire to be. I don't know if this means creating a value or vision statement. But you are right we need to consider the big picture.