This is my GTD story so far
Before GTD I was like any other successful entrepreneur. I was free, I had people’s respect and I was miserable. I spent all of my life building my business and because of that I had little time left for anything else. Although I was successful at my business, I had no time to do anything else. I was constantly tired and when I did manage to squeeze time for myself, I would spend it worrying about the business.
Then, I just said that I had enough. I was tired of not having a life. So, the first thing that I did to get started was to look for a software package designed for productivity so that I can get organized.
I looked through several options until I finally decided to get organizing software to make my life easier. All of the post-its and sticky notes I was leaving around the house were not working and it was also created a whole lot of mess.
After going through what is available in the market, I decided to purchase and download a productivity software package from Netcentrics. It broke down the work everyday into manageable tasks that I can allocate time for. For three days I locked myself in the room with my computer and I started putting in task after task in to the program. At the end of three days I was exhausted but I had all my tasks documented and I was ready to try things out.
There was some improvement after getting the software, mainly because I now knew the thing that needed to get done, but tasks still seemed to be falling through the cracks. After three month of using the software, I was still being overwhelmed with all the work that I needed to do and things were not getting done.
The Netcentrics Software had several buttons but I was basically using just the task button for the past three months. I felt I was not using the software to its full potential so I searched for instructions on how to use it. I came across a video detailing the steps to effectively use the software.
When I saw the video, it was like a light was turned on. There actually was a system in place to help me use the software and increase my efficiency. The video talked about concepts that were foreign to me but the video helped in many ways.
After watching the Video, things seemed to fall into place. Tasks were definitely getting done. Activities that used to fall into the cracks were now getting done in record time and I had more free time to pursue my interests. There was one problem, though. After three months of using the software I was getting frustrated again. Yes, I had more time for myself but I was always thinking about work and my schedule. I felt like I needed to do something again.
I went off in search of productivity audio books that would ease the pressure off of me. I started downloading the audio books on how to get things done by David Allen. It explained that the whole thing was going to be a process and it all starts by establishing a work flow process. I had found the missing piece of the puzzle and suddenly it dawned on me. The audio book, the instructional video and the software all came from the same source and use the same program.
Armed with my newfound knowledge, I started fresh. I entered all of the tasks into the program again and I found that I had over three and half thousand tasks to be done. No wonder I was overwhelmed, I was drowning at work.
I implemented the system and after three months of using the system, a funny thing happened. I was not as stressed as before and things even got better a few weeks after that. The thoughts that was dominating my head all used to be work related but now I can spend time daydreaming and coming up with ideas. I also discovered that 90% of my workload was rubbish that I did just to fill my empty day. That was why when a friend called to invite me to holiday with them; I was finally able to say “Yes”.
This was the first vacation I had in 5 years and upon realizing that I broke down in tears. I was a ball of emotion as a sigh of relief came out of me. I was relieved that I no longer was running around like a headless chicken but it also made me sad to think about all the missed holidays and family gathering because I was “too busy” to be there.
I had just come back from my vacation and I felt recharged. I was now able to do some forward planning for my business. Before, I was just reacting to one crisis after another but now I had the power to determine my direction and move forward.
After a few months went by, I noticed that I was getting more and more frustrated. I was somehow putting a connection between being organized and being frustrated. I know it sounds weird but the fact that I had everything laid out in front of me opened my mind to wander to find things to pick on. I discovered that I was extremely self loathing and harsh to myself.
I worked on the business and social life. Now, it is time to work on myself. The journey to self discovery is an unending path to righteousness and I was on it. I would never have had time to work on myself if not for the GTD System.
So, here I was. I have a successful business, a booming social life and at this time I was even teaching the system to some of my clients. Things could not be better, right? Wrong! Between the period of December to February, I slacked off and in an instant I was working stupid long hours, I had gained 8 Kilos and I was more stress than I have been in months.
Self doubt crept in my head. I asked myself if I was doing something wrong because the system worked before. I listened to the tapes again and I was amazed. It was like I was hearing everything again for the first time. I could not believe it. With every tape that I listened to, it seem like there was something new that I was learning from the tapes. For one thing, listening to the audio files again helped me understand that one of the most important parts of the process is the weekly review. It also helped me realize that the commitments were not locked in concrete, you can renegotiate them.
Overall, I owe a lot of my success to David Allen and the GTD team. Like many business owner and professionals before me, I got results. My business is thriving, I now have a personal life, and I and happier. What more can a guy ask for.
For those who are ready to do the things that need to be done, there is no better system to get your life back on track and I am proof that this system works because if it worked for me. After all, the old me would not have had the time to write this… . If you want to get hold of me Click on the www.smilepleaservices.com
