What’s Your GTD Story?

 Photo by soylentgreen23

When we meet people its an opportunity to listen to their story.  This is a natural part of building relationships and sharing stories is what makes life interesting.

Often, as I listen to people, I hear in their stories something that strikes a chord with me.  maybe it’s an issue I’ve struggled with and overcome,(and I can help them), or they have a success story that I can see would be highly beneficial for me.

But so often, when people are telling me something that they think will benefit me, (Note: After they had done everything else right first – They listened to my story (issue) and they waited for me to enquire as to their success in the area), they waffle on, don’t get to any real specifics and lose me along the way.

I believe that to help people, to really add value for them, with their issues around life (time) management, we should be able to tell our GTD story.  Here’s my take on the how’s and how not’s to telling your story:

 Photo by Clearly Ambiguous

Don’t

• Push too hard to tell your story.  Listen first and if possible wait to be asked about how you achieve what you do;

• Be too long with your story.  Droning on and on will only bore your listener;

• Be unclear about what you’re saying.  Your listener shouldn’t walk away wondering about what you actually meant; and

• Act superior about your subject.  Be humble.

Do

• Be concise.  Tell your story in less than 60 seconds.  Your listener can always ask follow up questions if need be;

• Be passionate but don’t “sell”.  Easier said than done sometimes I know;

• Use the following basics for your story:

1. State your situation before GTD (one aspect only);

2. What event made you actually start GTDing; and

3. How things are since starting GTDing (Remember you’re on a journey and not perfect!)

My Story

My desk was always covered with paper, I couldn’t find what I needed and having those piles there took my mind off what I was trying to do.

One day I let my wife down badly over something I’d promised to do (it was on my desk) so I put some time aside and dove into GTD properly.

Since then my desk is clear apart from what I’m working on, and I’m confident that I have a handle on everything.  It means I can work on the important things in my life without having urgent things bite me in the backside (and cause angst and pain to others who I would have let down).

Your Story

What’s your story with GTD?

Can you tell it, passionately, in less than a minute?

If you want to add value to the lives of your friends, if you want to really help them, it’s important that you can do this.  Practice now – Tell me your GTD story in a comment below.