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Getting Things Done: One Organization Method

By Becky McCray

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.

Technorati tags: rural, small, biz, entrepreneurs, business, town, getting, things, done, merlin, mann, gtd
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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.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

March 22, 2006 Filed Under: tools Tagged With: review

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Comments

  1. Mike says

    August 11, 2006 at 3:50 pm

    Check out the king of “Getting Things Done” at http://www.davidco.com/. Highly recommended! I use Allen’s techniques often and they have really helped me.

  2. Becky McCray says

    August 11, 2006 at 9:01 pm

    Thanks for the tip, Mike. I appreciate your input. Hope to hear more tips from you in the future.

  3. Anonymous says

    April 1, 2008 at 2:26 am

    Office Supplies are pretty boring, but what about organization, productivity, office humor and annoying your coworkers?

    http://blog.officenmore.com

    ===========================
    P. Greene
    http://blog.officenmore.com
    ===========================

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