My 20-Year GTD Journey: Lessons Learned Over Two Decades
As I reflect on my 20-year journey with GTD, I see it not as a linear path but as a series of phases, each shaping my approach to productivity and personal effectiveness. This is the story of my evolution with GTD and the key lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Phase 1: The "Pre-GTD" Days
Like most people, I spent the early part of my life without any formal system for managing tasks and projects. Through high school and college, I did pretty well without any significant need for a structured system. My natural organizational skills and motivation were enough to keep me on track. But, in retrospect, I can see the early signs of procrastination, particularly during a memorable (or not-so-memorable) high school project where I crammed three months of work into one all-nighter. Looking back, I often think, "If only I had GTD back then."
Phase 2: The Breaking Point
By 2004, my life had changed significantly. I was newly married, renovating a home, and had just found out I was going to be a father—all while working a high-pressure job in finance. The sheer volume of "stuff" I had to manage was overwhelming, and I found myself paralyzed by procrastination. This was a pivotal moment. In a desperate Google search for help, I discovered *Getting Things Done* and immediately ordered the book on October 11th, 2004. That simple action would kick off what I now call my "GTD Phase 2."
Phase 3: Solo GTD Practice
At first, my GTD journey was a very personal one. I read the book, did the mind sweep, bought the label maker, and started following the steps diligently. It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but I gradually started to see improvements. For a long time, I was the only one in my circles practicing GTD. It helped me keep my procrastination at bay and allowed me to juggle the many demands of life more effectively. During this phase, I didn’t talk much about GTD; it was my personal system, quietly transforming how I handled both work and life.
Phase 4: Bringing GTD to the Team
When I started building a team at my job, GTD naturally became part of how we worked together. It started simply—every new employee I hired received a copy of the book. Over time, the team adopted key GTD practices like the weekly review, and soon, we were all speaking the same language of next actions and projects. This was a major turning point, as GTD became not just my personal system but a foundational part of how we worked together as a team.
Phase 5: GTD at Arkus
The next big shift came when we started Arkus. From day one, GTD was baked into the DNA of the company. With three co-founders who all practiced GTD, it wasn’t hard to build a culture around productivity and personal effectiveness. As we grew, every new hire read the book, and soon GTD was a core part of our operational philosophy. We weren’t just following GTD; we were living it, and it became one of the cornerstones of our success at Arkus.
Phase 6: Becoming a GTD Trainer
The final phase in my GTD journey came when I decided to get certified as a GTD trainer. This was more than just a professional milestone—it was a personal validation of everything I had learned and practiced over the years. Going through the training solidified my understanding of the methodology and gave me the tools to help others achieve the same clarity and productivity that GTD had brought to my life.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Now, 20 years in, I’ve done over 1,000 weekly reviews, helped countless people adopt GTD, and even had the privilege of being interviewed by David Allen himself. But what stands out the most to me is the ongoing nature of this journey. GTD isn’t something you "finish"; it’s something you practice, refine, and adapt to your ever-changing life and work.
If I’ve learned anything from this 20-year journey, it’s that GTD is more than just a system for getting organized—it’s a mindset that empowers you to manage complexity with grace and tackle the chaos of life with calmness. And as I look ahead, I know there are still more phases of this journey to come.
Want to talk GTD? Reach out to me on LinkedIn, or reach out to the Arkus team through our contact form.
