Comments on: Zen to Done - GTD as modified by Leo Babauta

By: Stephan Miller

Stephan Miller — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:26:59 +0000

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.

By: Jeremy G.

Jeremy G. — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:49:27 +0000

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!

By: How to Mask Procrastination and Wasted Time | Stephan Miller

How to Mask Procrastination and Wasted Time | Stephan Miller — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:59:28 +0000

[...] Zen to Done [...]

By: Stephan Miller

Stephan Miller — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:09:36 +0000

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.

By: Jasko

Jasko — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:29:36 +0000

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

By: The Continuous Process of Change | Stephan Miller

The Continuous Process of Change | Stephan Miller — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:52:47 +0000

[...] Zen to Done [...]

By: The Curses of A Contact Form | Stephan Miller

The Curses of A Contact Form | Stephan Miller — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:42:34 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Dilemma of a Blogger Follow Up | Me Myself and I

Dilemma of a Blogger Follow Up | Me Myself and I — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:14:44 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Adjusting to Sporadic Cash | Stephan Miller

Adjusting to Sporadic Cash | Stephan Miller — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:43:14 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Stephan Miller

Stephan Miller — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:44:49 +0000

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.