Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

You often need to make it up in your mind before you can make it happen in your life.

you won’t see how to do it until you see yourself doing it.

that focus instantly creates ideas and thought patterns you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Frequently, projects and situations that have begun to feel scattered and blurred grow clearer when someone brings it back home by asking, “What are we really trying to accomplish here?”

If you’re not sure why you’re doing something, you can never do enough of it.

Often the only way to make a hard decision is to come back to the purpose of what you’re doing.

Here are just some of the benefits of asking why: It defines success. It creates decision-making criteria. It aligns resources. It motivates. It clarifies focus. It expands options.

“Let’s brainstorm!” With everyone in the room, the boss asks, “So, who’s got a good idea here?” When not much happens, the boss may surmise that his staff has used up most of its internal creativity. Time to hire a consultant! Of course, if the consultant is worth his salt, at some point he is probably going to ask the big question: “So, what are y

You can try it for yourself right now, if you like. Choose one project that is new or stuck or that could simply use some improvement. Think of your purpose. Think of what a successful outcome would look like: where would you be physically, financially, in terms of reputation, or whatever? Brainstorm potential steps. Organize your ideas. Decide on