126: Decision Making at the Higher Horizons

A very special panel discussion for this episode of the GTD Virtual Study Group. In this episode we discuss the ability to make tough decisions with more clarity of focus and with strategic vision by leveraging GTD and the six Horizons of Focus. A very big thanks to Art Gelwicks, Jeremy Roberts, Raymond Sidney-Smith, and Mike Vardy, for joining co-hosts Daniel Gold and Michelle Gunn for this one!

We recorded this episode via Google Hangout. If you would like to see the video version, you can watch it here.

SPOILER ALERT: This was also a very special “Un-Farewell” episode, as Daniel announced that this is his last official episode as a co-host. I would like to sincerely thank Daniel for everything he has brought to the GTD Virtual Study Group! He will definitely be missed!! -MG

Download the podcast here!

125: Developing Your Higher Horizons

In this live call, the GTD® Virtual Study Group talks about developing our higher horizons. Always an interesting topic, this call generated a lot of great discussion on the subject. Enjoy!

Resources from the call:

• OmniFocus

• Evernote

• “Making It All Work” by David Allen

• “Getting Things Done” by David Allen

• OmniOutliner

• Powerpoint

• Keynote

• Personal Board of Advisors

• Stephen Covey

• “The 8th Habit” by Stephen Covey

• Productivity Book Group

• “Willpower Instinct” by Kelly McGonigal

Download the podcast here.

124: Getting Set Up for GTD®

A special second live call for the month of May. On this episode, we covered another great Back to Basics topic -- Getting Set Up for GTD®. 

Resources from the call:

• Remember The Milk

• OmniFocus

• Evernote

• Team Viz

• Outlook

• Toodledo

• Life Balance

• GTD® Review music (DavidAllenCo Forum link)

Download the podcast here.

123: Back to Basics - The Runway & Doing

We’re going back to basics again, this time with the Runway & Doing -- Current Actions & Next Actions. A great conversation covering this Horizon of Focus and last step in the GTD® workflow.

Resources from the call:

• Doit.me

• Team Viz

• Evernote

• OmniFocus

• Pomodoro Technique

• Bullet Journal

• Remember the Milk

• ToDo.ist

• If This Then That

Download the podcast here!

122: The Art of the Capture with Mike Vardy, Productivityist

NEW! Watch the video interview!

In this pre-recorded GTD Virtual Study Group call, we welcomed into the virtual studio the Productivityist himself, Mike Vardy! Mike and I had a really great conversation about how critical the very first phase of Getting Things Done® methodology of is for everyone!

Resources:

Where to find Mike Vardy: http://bit.ly/1hZKHSc

Notebooks:

• Moleskine: http://bit.ly/1hZKtuq

• Rhodia: http://bit.ly/1hZKs9O

• Doane Paper: http://bit.ly/1hZKqyG

• Whitelines: http://bit.ly/1hZKvSU

• FieldNotes: http://bit.ly/1hZKkXO

• Word Notebooks: http://bit.ly/1hZKoH7

• AquaNotes: http://bit.ly/1hZKzCj

Apps:

• Evernote: http://bit.ly/1hZKyhq

• Springpad: http://bit.ly/1hZKEpk

Download the podcast here!

121: Back to Basics: Capture and Collection!

In this live call, we take it Back to Basics with the very first phase of the GTD workflow and that is the important element of capturing and collecting everything that's on your mind! We'll cover some really great ideas such as journaling, the Drafts app, default inboxes, time spent on capturing, mindsweeps, and so much more! Check the resources below for some really helpful products and apps discussed during this great live call!

Resources:

• Microsoft One Note

• Remember The Milk

• Springpad

• OmniFocus

• Evernote

• Dropbox

• Drafts

• Listacular

• Day One

• Basecamp

• Livescribe

• Last Pass

Download the podcast here!

120: Getting To the Value of Simple

Inside the virtual studio today is my guest Joel Zaslofsky. Joel is also the self-titled Chief Simplifier, Curator, and Founder of Value of Simple. He hosts the popular Smart and Simple Matters podcast and most recently, the author of Experience Curating: How to Gain Focus, Increase Influence, and Simplify Your Life.

In this episode, we dig deep into understanding simplicity, minimalism, the art of capturing information, and how to be more mindful and curate your existence. What I learned was that curating is actually tied very closely to the tenants of capturing, processing, organizing, and reviewing in GTD. 

You'll be as fascinated as me as Joel talks about how his personal renaissance began led him to leaving a cushy six-figure corporate job to lead what many would consider to be an unconventional career path. He set out to help people simplify, organize, and be money wise. He says his goals are straightforward: to help you rock the unsexy and undervalued side of life.

Show Notes

• Courtney Carver - be more with less - life on purpose

• Joshua Becker - becoming minimalist

• Elizabeth Loftus - Why Your Memories Can't Be Trusted, TED Talks

• Robyn Scott - The 30 second habit with a lifelong impact

• Gordon Bell - Total Recall

Where to find Joel:

• Joel’s website

• Spreadsheets and You: How and Why to Put Your Life in Them

• Value of Simple podcast

• Joe’s upcoming conference Simple Rev

• Google+ | Twitter | Facebook

Download the podcast here!

118: Getting Things Done with Evernote Ambassador Bryan Lee: My Interview On His Podcast, LaunchByte

One of the best parts of what I do for an international community of folks who are looking to become more productive and successful in their lives is meeting and getting to know people from all corners of our globe. Yesterday was a great example! I was asked to be interviewed by Bryan Lee, the Evernote Ambassador for Fitness in Singapore, for his Google+ Hangout/podcast, LaunchByte!

Bryan is an entrepreneur, a writer and a self-taught software developer. He is the co-founder of Intraix, and a software company that helps commercial building to become more energy efficient. Particular to the productivity scene, Bryan speaks on how to increase productivity using Evernote to both schools and corporations.

Bryan wanted to interview me to talk about GTD®, Evernote, and overall principles about productivity. We covered a lot of topics in this 35 minute interview. For instance, do you need to strictly adhere to the tenants in GTD if you are getting things done with a modified system, can you implement the system in David Allen's book if you never actually read the book; and how I am teaching my productivity coaching clients how to implement both Todoist and Evernote together to lead a more productive and stress-free life. Oh, and then there was the question about what would I do if Evernote shut down tomorrow! You'll want to listen to all 35 minutes to know more!

Thank you again to Bryan for a very awesome interview. I feel quite grateful for the generous invitation and for making feel like I was sitting next to him in Singapore!

Here's the links you need for the show!

• Watch the interview on YouTube

• LaunchByte Audio Version

Here's where to find Bryan Lee:

• Website

• Subscribe to the podcast

• Bryan on Twitter: @leetucksing

• LaunchByte on Twitter: @LaunchByte

• Bryan Lee on Google+

• LaunchByte on Google+

• LaunchByte YouTube

• Evernote Fitness Ambassador

• Evernote Forums

119: Ask the VSG!

A great call covering a mixed bag of GTD topics, asked and answered by those on the live call. We started out with a follow-up to last month’s call hearing about Mike Schroff’s implementation using OneNote. From there we moved on to overflowing email inboxes, Inbox Zero, collaborative platforms, ‘mind like water’, weekly reviews, daily reviews, and more. A little something for everyone in this fun call! Hope you enjoy!

Resources:

• Contact Mike Schroff for more information on his OneNote GTD system

• Microsoft Office OneNote

• QuickSteps in Outlook

• MsgFiler for Apple Mail - keystroke filing

• Text Expander

• Basecamp

• Sharepoint

• Devonthink

• OmniFocus

• “Experience Curating: How to Gain Focus, Increase Influence, and Simplify Your Life” by Joel Zaslofsky

Download the podcast here!

117: What Happens When You Veer Off the GTD Path?

In this podcast, we'll talk about what happens when you veer off the GTD path!

A listener wrote in asking specifically, “…for those who decide to not rigidly conform to the GTD rules, what is their understanding of the principles involved, and why do they choose not to follow the rules in these cases?” 

What an excellent topic. You'll hear from folks what parts of the GTD® methodology they couldn’t live without, plus what modifications or additions they’ve included in their systems. This was a great call, so hit play now!

Resources

• Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition 

• GTD NYC 

• GTD DC 

• GTD Tickler File

• Augusto Pinaud’s 25 Productivity Tips 

• OmniFocus 

• David Sparks MacPower Users 

• Omnifocus Ninja Screencasts 

• Curt Clifton Omnifocus scripts 

• Dan Byler Omnifocus scripts 

• Remember the Milk 

• David Allen Interview 

• David Allen Company webinar on Natural Planning Model  

Download the podcast here!