So, why me, right? 

Why am I the right person to guide you through your GTD journey?

Well, let me tell you a little about me.

I fell into project management way back in the early 1990s. I was working for an artist and found myself managing all sorts of projects. After many years, I moved on to help a friend who was in need of someone to manage a couple of strategic projects - moving their entire operations without any down time including managing the fit-out of the new space, and inventorying four floors of stuff while in the process to make it available online and generate money from stuff that was previously just clutter. From there I went on to work with the architect and build firm that we’d done the fit-out with. (Funny how life happens like that!) And then I ended up on the technical side of construction in the audiovisual world. First managing client projects and then managing all operations of one company, then on to work with a manufacturer and then an integrator. Lots of change. Lots of new roles. Tons of projects of all shapes, sizes, and kinds.

All that to say, I’ve been managing projects my whole adult life. Probably before then if I really think about. I was known as the bossy one with a nick name of Peak Freane. That was a cookie from the late 70s with a jingle tagline of “Peak Freanes are a very serious cookie. If you’re a grown-up or plan to be one, you know what we mean.” Ha!

When I transitioned from project manager to project manager + director of operations at that first AV company, I realized that I needed something more than just my simple project list with the next two or three deliverables that were due to be able to balance it all. Actually, that did work at first, but then I found I was making no progress on my longterm, slow-burn, operational projects. And the search was on!

My boss had heard about David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, and suggested I read it. We had a copy in our shared space library. This was late 2008. I got into the section with the mind dump and I ran for the hills. I was just too busy and it was overwhelming. About six months later, after our move to new offices was complete, I reread Getting Things Done® again. This time the angels sang, “Hallelujah!” It was exactly what I was looking for. And then I started the search for the right tool. Now mind you, I worked in the AV industry, so tech was really a thing. I started listening to the GTD® Virtual Study Group, then hosted by Tara Rodden Robinson, and learned about the options that were available to me and what the painpoints were. 

I think I searched for a tool for about six months! I mean, I had requirements! I wanted to be able to sync seamlessly. I was so done with the 15-step syncing process some of our institutional apps required. And I wanted my task management system to be available to me while at the office, at home, in a cab, on the subway - so available when connected to the internet or not. And I didn’t want any syncing hiccups with data or between my multiple devices (phone, computer, laptop, iPad). And I was deeply a Mac girl. The only one that met all my requirements at the time was OmniFocus. It was an expensive purchase for me at the time too, especially since this GTD thing was all new to me and who knew if it would work. So in Feb 2010 (I just found my receipt!) I purchased Omnifocus for my computer, watched a week’s worth of videos across multiple websites to get a sense of how to set it up, got set up, and then bought licenses for my phone and iPad.

Long story longer, I spent the next six months tinkering with my GTD system in OmniFocus. At first it was primarily an outline of my projects that I managed pretty much the same way I had on regular paper. Then eventually I figured out a structure that helped the projects make more sense. Then I learned how to filter my list in a way that made the hundreds of captured tasks more manageable. This made it possible for me to start using contexts in the way that David Allen intended. And, wow, did my productivity soar!! It was incredible! And after a bit of time, I finally started to flesh out my higher horizons which added depth to my system.

It’s been an incredible journey. Learning how to really manage all of my ongoing projects, big and small, slow- and fast-burn, professional and personal. I honestly can’t imagine a life without GTD now and am incredibly grateful to David Allen for putting this out in the world!

Oh, and speaking of life’s surprises, in 2013 I joined the GTD® Virtual Study Group as a host. This is the podcast I’d been listening to, learning from, and participating in when I could since 2009! It’s been my privilege and honor to host this amazing group since then.

So… that’s why me. I was in the trenches just like you probably are, struggling to keep my head above water with all the projects I had on my plate, looking for a better way to manage it all. My path was slow and methodic. I spent a lot of time honing my system to really serve me on many levels with everything in my life. I literally watched every video I could find on Omnifocus on the internet (like a week’s worth) and then tinkered for six months getting it just right. I’ve been practicing GTD® for almost a decade now and think I have a pretty solid setup. And I’d like to help you save some of that initial setup time. I hope you’ll join me in bringing a lot more stress-free productivity to the world (in the paraphrased words of the venerable David Allen)!