How to get things done
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In the fast-paced world of startups, managing tasks and keeping stress at bay can be as challenging as finding a unicorn with a startup idea of its own.
What can here be of great help ist the ultimate productivity solution:
"Getting Things Done: Startup Edition!"
This GTD method is inspired by the New York Times bestselling author David Allen and described more precisely in his book "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity".
If your ToDo List is never ending, the following lines will save your day!
5 Steps to Getting Things Done
1. Capture
Picture this:
You're in the middle of a meeting when ding!—a brilliant idea pops into your head. But wait, you also have to remember to order more coffee for the office and remind your co-founder to call the tax lawyer. A thousand things are running through your head. Puh! This only brings chaos and stress. Solution? An inbox that can capture all your moments and reminders. To put it clearly: Write down your tasks and goals!
2. Clarify
Is your new idea actionable or just another wild fantasy?
Maybe it’s best to take a moment to clarify your tasks and goals. Ask yourself, what you need to do to complete the task/goal. The answer makes it clearer whether your efforts will be worthwhile. And, if your task/goal is actionable: Roll up your sleeves and get to work!
3. Organize
Sort your tasks into folders.
Put Not Actionable Tasks into one of the following three folders:
???Trash: Say goodbye to tasks you’ll never get to, or that just don’t matter for your startup anymore.
???Someday/Maybe: Every startup founder has that "crazy but maybe brilliant" idea tucked away somewhere. Keep it in your Someday/Maybe list because who knows? A self-driving car was once a crazy idea too!
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?? Reference: This is the right place to store information on certain topics, course material, etc. that you will need in the future.
Actionable Tasks go into one of those:
??? ?Projects: If a task requires more than one action step, break it down into bite-sized, manageable actions. Just like trying to eat a 20-inch pizza alone, it's easier one slice at a time.
??♂??Waiting: Here, you can list tasks that you want to delegate to your team or other individuals for future completion. E.g. “Ask Maggie to create a first draft for our website.” ?So, while your startup soars, keep tabs on what others are doing for you.
???Calender: Mark appointments, meetings and other things with a set time and date
???Next Action List: Here all next tasks from all projects are in place Now, you should have a solid system in front of you, a clearer mind, and more space for creative ideas. Yeah!
4. Reflect
Startups move at warp speed, so it's essential to pause and reflect on your projects, active project plans, Next Actions, Agendas, Waiting for and even Someday/Maybe.
Weekly reviews keep your priorities straight. Sounds boring? But it helps!
5. Engage
Finally, the moment you've been waiting for—action!
While planning is crucial for success, execution is the backbone of it. So, dive headfirst into your tasks. With the new system in place, you’ll be able to execute and get things done without much stress and procrastination.
So, dear entrepreneur, with the GTD Startup Edition, you'll be managing tasks like a pro, even if your company is run out of a garage (or a fancy co-working space). No stress, just success!
Until next time, keep getting things done!
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thank you , here is what came to my mind 1?Write down your tasks and goals! 2 clarify 3 3. Organize - yes. Sort your tasks into folders. - No! - I ceased to do this when i realised early on that gmail gave me a searchable database whereas i lost minutes of my two second attention span trying to decide what folder to put something in - let alone recall where it had been folded, and the rest of this point 3 sadly was outside my attention span 4. reflect. yes, night and day 5 engage and get shit done. perfection for me is at 80% which comes at 20% of the time I started happiness coaching in 2006, in a 90 minute session. My dad later said, what makes you think people want to listen to you for 45 minutes nigel when i proposed a talk on happiness. and yes, who would. TED talks are 17 minutes, my happiness coaching now varies between 20 seconds and two minutes , and you are welcome to drop me a line if you feel lke a free schnupper ... ( Did one yesterday, waiting for feedback ! )