Zen to Done - GTD as modified by Leo Babauta

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I am a GTD covert. I thought it was a new thing until I read the book. But it doesn’t quite fit everyone’s tastes. For one, I have no one to delegate to currently and when I do it will probably be through the internet where it will automatically be placed on a "Waiting For" list. Another thing is I have things that need done daily. Do I just erase and rewrite my first actions list every day or is there a better way. I am not the office type. I have an office but my backpack qualifies as an office than my desk.

I just downloaded Zen to Done by Leo Babauta. For less than ten bucks, you can’t beat it. I figured a blogger has to have a handle on what I am talking about. Maybe I can stop my little modifications of GTD and the fact that I have to change about 43 habits from day one to start using GTD. I am on page 9 now. It’s a great book so far. Leo also address some bitches about GTD I have had but haven’t even mentioned yet.

4. GTD tries to do too much, which ends up stressing you out. GTD doesn’t discriminate among all the incoming stuff in your life, which again is part of its beauty. But the problem is that we put everything on our lists, and end up being overloaded. We try to do everything on our lists. This isn’t really a problem with GTD, but a problem with how we implement it. But it should be addressed.

Solution: ZTD focuses on simplifying. Take as much stuff off your plate as possible, so you can focus on doing what’s important, and doing it well.

Takes the words right out of my mouth. And puts them in better English. I owe the blog traffic here going up to GTD. I also owe an increase of about 67% in affiliate earnings in the last month to putting things in order and getting them done. If Leo’s book is a good as I think it will be, maybe the increase over the next few months will be even better.

By the way, Leo is definitely on the A list. You can subscribe to his blog over a Zen Habits.

Oh and I will be writing further about the book after I finish it.

Tags: getting things done, gtd, leo babauta, zen habits, zen to done

6 Nov, 2007 Blogging, Business, Journal, Uncategorized, ZTD

11 Comments so far »

Filter: What is this?

Heather (Profile)

Heather said

November 9 2007 @ 11:18 am

Okay, I just wandered over to Leo’s site and I think I may be an addict soon. SO much good stuff over there.

Was this comment useful to you ?
Stephan Miller (Profile)

Stephan Miller said

November 9 2007 @ 2:44 pm

I have been looking for a way of getting everything I want to done since I was young. When I was in my teens, I kept a list of things that I wanted to learn next, go to the library religiously, check on subject off the list when there were no books on the subject left, and add a new subject to my list. I still do it today by having a stack of six books around that I am reading all at once. Each a different subject, so that I have a selection and no excuse that one subject is boring because I have plenty of subjects to choose from.

But life is way more complex now. I needed more than a simple list. I tried the Covey system and basically realized that I didn’t have the time to spend on it. I had done pretty well for myself flying by the seat of my pants but it took every second of my free time. Why waste more time on a system that I knew I had no time to stick to? I don’t care what some people say. Some days I only have a hour of free time. Any amount of planning to utilize time better would subtract more time than it actually gave. So I just applied some of the concepts generally and threw the system itself out.

GTD came along and it involves mainly keeping lists. Sweet, I was already doing that. This book may give me some pointers. But it lacked the samurai sword of priorities that would cut out all indecision and take you directly to the answer of what to do next.

Zen to Done does that and accounts for true human nature. Habits are hard to build. Too many habit changes at once will defeat you before you start. It gives you a system to put everything you need to do in and by assuming that the ideal, dedicated person is a myth, gives you tools to work around your current habits and excuses.

Was this comment useful to you ?
Adjusting to Sporadic Cash | Stephan Miller said

March 4 2008 @ 8:43 am

[...] countries. But I really haven’t had to. By focusing my efforts with techniques I learned from Zen to Done and other books, I have steadily been increasing my online income. In fact, if I take one of the [...]
Dilemma of a Blogger Follow Up | Me Myself and I said

March 6 2008 @ 3:14 am

[...] a review on Zen to Done other than the information given on Zen Habits, I recommend you read his posts (and buy it through his referral link if you decide to get it yourself [...]
The Curses of A Contact Form | Stephan Miller said

March 7 2008 @ 3:42 pm

[...] effects. Yesterday I had the epiphany that I am a complete idiot. I have been looking for ways to get things done quicker. One way is to pry the padlock off of my wallet or at least redirect some advertising [...]
The Continuous Process of Change | Stephan Miller said

April 22 2008 @ 5:52 am

[...] Zen to Done [...]
Jasko (Profile)

Jasko said

April 22 2008 @ 1:29 pm

Leo’s blog is excellent - I am a follower already for a longer time, I do not apply a lot of things that he is so compassion about (I wish I could) but in a nutshell - the very core of his thinkings could be applied for the great benefit.

Jasko’s last blog post..Entrecard Experience

Was this comment useful to you ?
Stephan Miller (Profile)

Stephan Miller said

April 22 2008 @ 3:09 pm

I read his blog a lot. But I actually bought this book first and that made me a regular reader. I try to apply most of it. And some of the things I tossed out in the first place I am coming back to and re investigating.

Was this comment useful to you ?
How to Mask Procrastination and Wasted Time | Stephan Miller said

April 27 2008 @ 1:59 pm

[...] Zen to Done [...]
Jeremy G. (Profile)

Jeremy G. said

June 22 2008 @ 5:49 am

I’m reading a very similer book right now called “Getting From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be.” I think a ton of people brush off the thought of reading a self help book because they have this matcho idea of “I know what I’m doing, why would I need to learn from someone else?”

This thought if retarded of coarse, and I think we could all learn from others experiences. And this is coming from a guy who used to think “I don’t need any help,” amazing what a good book can do for your perspective.

Jeremy G.’s last blog post..MTV: Pimp My Computer!

Was this comment useful to you ?
Stephan Miller (Profile)

Stephan Miller said

June 23 2008 @ 7:26 am

I tend to read these books slow, because just the act of picking up the book and reading a few pages every day sets it in your mind. Once you are done, it’s harder to keep the details in your mind and stick to the plan. Which is why I reread them every once and a while. It helps when most of the people you meet in your daily life are on a totally different track then you. It’s an antidote.

Was this comment useful to you ?