Getting Things Done... Divine Direction

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

Getting Things Done, the art of stress-free productivity, has been a David Allen classic for the new productive person. In the 21st Century, it has been the go-to book on being a productive, and effective person. His goal is to show you how to get more done with less effort, more of life you want and less stress getting there.

The Goal:
Capturing all things you need to do out of your brain, off your mind. Creating a personal discipline to make decisions and move to the next step. Whatever causes you to under-react or over-react is controlling you.

Managing internal commitments requires clearing your mind of unfinished business
--be clear on commitments and what you must do.
--review your need actions daily and do them daily....
Getting things done!

We all have a conscience. Our minds keep reminding us of what we commit to or feel a commitment to follow through until we do them. When we don't, our conscience brain keeps reminding us we need to do this. When we have several things undone, the brain starts to get cluttered with these messages. This then adds up to that overwhelming feeling. The good news is it happens because you are a conscientious person, the bad news is it creates stress. The good news is you can manage this for less stress and greater fulfillment in life.

Getting Things Done is a book you really should study to get the greatest benefit. Allen is thorough in explaining how to make his personal productivity system work for you. Like exercise, it's not necessarily fun while doing it, but the benefits make it all worthwhile.

The 5 stages of Work flow
1. Collect what demands your attention.
2. Process meaning and value to the immediate, long-term, overall.
3. Organize results so they have value and you can use them.
4. Review options to choose from and consider best value to you.
5. Do what needs to be done, where it's most important.

Relaxed control is having clearly defined projects and actions that move them to closure. Put reminders in a trusted system you can review later.

Getting "In" to empty.
--trash what you don't need.
--hand off to others what can be delegated.
--sort out the reminders that take more than 2 minutes.
--identify larger commitment projects you have.

7 primary types of things you need to track.
1. Project lists
2. Project support materials
3. Calendared actions and information
4. Next Actions list
5. Waiting for the lists
6. Reference materials
7. "Someday/maybe" lists; How to do it?

Define strategic, systematic actions.
1. Send email
2. Write a note
3. Leave a voice mail
4. Add to agenda for next meeting
5. Talk directly either face to face, phone

The David Allen Formula (flow charted in the book)

"Stuff" to
"in" basket
What is it?
Is it actionable?

If No, then,
Trash
Someday/maybe (tickler file, hold for review)
Reference (retrievable, when required)

If Yes, then,
What's the Next Action?
Multi-step projects Projects (planning) or
Project plans (review for actions)
Then what's the next Step.

If "What's the Next Action" will take less than 2 minutes

If Yes,
Do it!

If No,
Delegate it
Waiting for some else to do

Defer it
Calendar(to do it at specific times)
Next Actions (to do it as soon as I can)

It's worth having the book just for the flow chart. Put it in front of you where you work for constant reference.

Allen does a thorough job of helping you develop his key areas.
He also elaborates on the Power of Collection, the Next Action and Outcome Focusing.

He summarizes with these words:
--Get your personal organization hardware set up, work station organized, get in-baskets, create a personal filing system, get a good list management organizer.
--Set aside some time to tackle one area of your work space.
--Share what you gleaned from his principles that would help you.
--Review Getting Things Done every 3-6 months.
--visit his website where there's lots of free stuff.
http://www.davidco.com/

Brian Tracy is a national leader in time management strategies. One key principle he has learned that is highly effective is to constantly ask yourself,

“What is the best use of my time right Now?”

Your subconscious is your slave (a sophisticated system, even more sophisticated than the most advanced computers). It will work a solution for you when you ask. Your subconscious keeps you focused in your purpose, goals, and mission in life. If you pre-plan, constantly program your thinking, it will keep you on a “purposeful” track.

His insights to time management are revealed in his book, Time Power. Here’s an outline.
Time Power by Brian Tracy…
the Essence of Good Time Management Getting Yourself Organized.
"Before you do anything, you have to do something first."

Plan Everything in Advance
Top 3%… persistent, continuous planners constantly writing and re-writing their goals and priorities

Each minute in "planning"
Saves 10 min. in "execution"
Planning gives 1000% return
Most failures come from "poorly planned" actions

Think through.
Plan out.
Then act.

Personal Organization
1.Make neatness a habit
2.Stand back (look at how you work)
3.Refuse to make excuses
4.Work from a clean desk

Organize Your Workspace
Begin by
1.Clearing your desk
2.Assemble everything you need
Have all you need at your fingertips
3.Handle each piece of paper only once

How to handle paperwork
1.Throw it away. Your waste basket is your best time management tool.
Discard; get out of sight material not relevant.

Practice the 3 D's
Don't dilly-dally around
Decide--make a decision quickly
Do it-- do it now, then move on

2. Delegate
Get info to the right person
Use other people to get things.
3. Personal Action folders done
Keep a folder that requires your personal action.
Put your greatest priority personal action items there.
4. File it for future reference.
Remember 80% of papers filed are never needed.
Most things you throw away you never miss again.
Put things away
When finished, put all related to it away.
Then organize for your next project.

Time Management Tools and Techniques
1. Use a time planner system (Note book system, Outlook, PDA)
(Take the company's course on how to use time better.)
2. Always work from a list
3. Organize your list by priorities
(hint: number high pay off or priority with an "A" beside it.
"Must do soon" with a "B"
"Get to when you can" with a "C".
Then every day "make sure you do all your A's.)
4. Revise list constantly... good time managers are constantly reviewing and revising their lists. Resetting priorities Daily.

Tools for personal organization
1. Prepare the night before and end of work day.
2. Schedule your time....include tasks, returning phone calls, running errands, etc.
3. Get an early start.
Have quiet think time before you begin the day or before you come to work.
4. Use and organized filing system...take time to develop a system for yourself.
5. Do important work at prime time... when you are most productive.
6. Make drive time productive... return phone calls, listen to educational tapes.
http://www.briantracy.com/

How do we plan a day.
God has the perfect plan for each day.
He said He would guide our steps, when we walk with Him and He walks with us. The Spirit tells us exactly what to do. The Bible has several examples of where God gave specific instructions. He guided Elijah specifically.

"Then the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.' So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook."
(1 Kings 17: 2-6, NLT)

Then, when he got there, the Lord directed him again.
“Then the LORD said to Elijah, 'Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.'”
(1 Kings 17: 8, 9, NLT)

Joshua was told to follow these instructions carefully.
"Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.
Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.
Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Study this Book of Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
(Joshua 1:7-8, NLT)

Jesus gave specific instructions for His disciplines to follow when He sent them out into the marketplace.
"Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:
'Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God's lost sheep.Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"
(Matthew 10:5-8. NLT)

The results were so outstanding, they were amazed. When they returned, "they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"
(Luke 10:17, NLT)

Peter was given special direction in what to do next, and who to trust.
"Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him,"Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them."
(Acts 10:9, NLT)

When you ask, God Himself tells you His secret plans.
"Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."
(Jeremiah 33:3, NLT)

He knows everything and can very precisely direct your path.
"Oh, that my people would listen to me!
Oh, that my people would follow me, walking in my paths!
(Psalm 81:13, NLT)

It is important to write them down and follow precisely, in a timely manner and persistently.
"Write down everything God gives you
and make it plain on tablets
so that whoever hears it may run with it.
For these divine instructions wait for just the right time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, seems to take a while, wait for it;
it will certainly come and so persevere in your pursuit of it."
(Habakkuk 2:2-3)

He ask us to walk in the ways He sets out for us. God spoke in detail. When you follow in detail, Great things will happen. What God has spoken has been recorded in detail, to be reviewed throughout the Centuries.

Detailed instructions, directions are important.
The Spirit gives us details, when we ask. It will many times come in a whisper.
“And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”
(1 Kings 19:12, NLT)

We need quiet times to hear,
then write it down.
And respond exactly, precisely as directed.
Ask Him, listen, then follow.

And confidently expect Great Things !