For those of you not familiar with GTD (Get Things Done) sites, let me say this. A large percentage of the GTD sites out there are simply a Weblog with useful tips to help you GTD faster and more efficiently.
In themselves GTD sites are extremely useful. The problem, however, is that lately there has been 100 GTD sites started every day. So now we’re faced with a few problems: 1) Which one do we listen to? 2) How do we find the methods that work? and for the site owners themselves 3) How can your GTD site hold more value than the next GTD site?
Recently a fire was lit under the authors of these sites by complaints that there were far too many GTD sites being started. And not only were their complaints about the GTD saturation, but also about the fact that some of the sites had described how to do some of the most fundamental things which lessened the value of that site. I think most of us are perfectly qualified to wipe ourselves, yet some sites were running out of material or something.
So, what would I like to see from GTD sites that I do not currently see? I’m glad you asked.
I’d love to see a GTD site that wasn’t just just a Weblog. Weblogs inherently are a quick and easy way to provide content and receive feedback. So if a GTD site would like to have a Weblog on their site to get the community’s opinion(s) on numerous ways to GTD, I’m fine with that. But let’s say that there were tried and true ways to get specific things accomplished, should I have to traverse months and months of archives to find the ones that worked out?
Perhaps if GTD sites would put together lists based on genre of activity or perhaps occupation, that consisted just of methods to GTD that had been tried and received favorable community opinion. These opinions could come in the form of Weblog comments I suppose, but perhaps there could be a way to actually rate different methods on the site itself – and the highest rated methods made their way onto these lists automatically. Lifehut.org attempts to use a rating system, but I do not see a way to filter those methods based on rating, so of what value is the rating system?
If the whole point of GTD sites is to help me GTD faster and more efficiently, shouldn’t the sites themselves reflect that same goal?
I also wouldn’t mind seeing GTD sites that were focused. Solution Watch comes to mind, as it is focused mainly on pointing people towards software to help them GTD. I think it’d be good if there were GTD sites that focused on writing code, building databases, cooking, working on your car or perhaps doing your hair. At least at that point, I’d be able to subscribe to the things that I’m most interested in, rather than needing to wade through all the junk.
About Colin D. Devroe
A huge problem I see with GTD sites is that the author isn’t really an authoritative voice on the subject. It might just be a random person, with a blog, who feels like he or she knows how to GTD better/faster than you. But does that make them any more qualified to tell how you to run your life?
And on the same point, who is qualified to tell someone how to GTD any faster, cheaper, or better? What type of background would be best for someone who wants to be an expert at getting things done faster? Is that even something to aspire to, or do people just rely on keen common sense and experimentation to figure out new ways to do stuff?
Mike: You’re definitely right on that. I’m not sure anyone is qualified enough to tell someone else what to do. I am sure, however, that certain people have experience enough on how to accomplish tasks in an efficient manner.
I can’t knock the authors themselves, unless they are putting up junk content.
First, I must say, thanks for the link love.
Now to some of the comments. I opened up guest authoring specifically for some of the reasons you mentioned up above. I certaintly do not have any right or background to offer advice on many different topics. Some people know more then others, so I give them the opportunity to express their opinion in an article or posting.
Some of the topics posted on my site are basic and seem like common sense. However, I personally think a good chunk of our world lacks common sense (even if we think we have it). Some postings (current and future) may be simple and basic, whereas others are complex.
I was inspired by To-Done to build my site, but I also have a passion for trying to help people. I felt, if there was any genre to blog about where I feel I have an interest/background, it would be what LifeHut is about.
I think it’s easy to criticize the overuse of GTD sites (btw, has GTD just started becoming “the word of the moment or something”), but I think with any genre of sites you are going to run into the fact that they are overdone. “Web Standards” type sites, IMO, are overdone.
You will probably start seeing sites popping up similar to BusinessLogs and then those will be overdone.
I don’t understand what you mean by “different methods”. I was lucky to have Chris Davis help me out with the rating plugin I use. It’s definitly not a complicated plugin as someone could spend all day clicking “Vote” and it will add it up. I don’t think there is a detriment to the rating system I have in place, but with anything, it can always be approved upon. The site is young, and there will definitly be changes down the road, just like 9Rules and how it is always evolving.
Good post and again, thanks for the link love.
Bryan: GTD sites are supposed to figure out methods to getting things done efficiently. So, I’d like to rate a specific method (which you offer). But, how can I find the highest rated methods in a specific category? Currently, I do not see that available on your site or anyone else’s.
Maybe we can work together to “get that way” done…:)
I understand what you mean now.
Very well said. I’ve been noticing a few complaints on the web about the intrusion of GTD genre sites. There are valid points for both the authors of these sites and the complainers.
I think the term and movement towards GTD seems to be so large mainly because of the individualism behind it and the ease at which information/websites can be created. There are a lot of people out there that think they are experts at something. So they think that they can make some money by jumping on the newest bandwagon.
The real trick is to find the people that truely are experts in their fields. People that have the experience and knowledge and are looking to share it.
Similarities can be drawn to GTD from all types of recent activity on the web. First there was web standards – it took off and everyone was doing it. Now it’s started to slow down but the true experts continue to maintain their presence. Then we had AJAX which is still going strong but the top experts are maintaining their realistic view of the techniques and guiding it properly – just like web standards. Now we have GTD which is still on the upswing. What will happen to this “movement”? Who knows. Only time will tell for sure.
I think GTD is just going through the same growing pains that everything else did. The only difference is that we have gone through these pains in other areas and are quicker to catch on and make comments on the idea/technique/technology.
My apologies if I got a little off topic, I wanted to portray a bit of a broader scheme.
I find these discussions very interesting.
First of all “what is a GTD site?” I don’t ask that to be a pain, I’m just curious. For example, To-Done is often called a GTD site, yet it’s not about GTD specifically. It was inspired by the book, at least at the start, but if there was a “focus” it’d be work/life balance not really GTD.
Second, GTD isn’t about “how to” or “diy” or “lifehacking” or most of those things it gets lumped in as. It’s a system, on of many, that provides a frame work for being more productive. I would totally agree with Colin in that it’s best when talked about applied to something specific. And, as Mike S. mentioned, it’s all about how an individual uses it. There is no “one way” to GTD, even though there is a specific system and guidelines.
Third, what constitutes authority when it comes to GTD? I would agree with Mike in general, but I’m no GTD guru (except for the fact that I get a ton of stuff done, maybe that counts) but people seem to have got quite a bit out of my writings on the subject. But then again, I just tell my stories and what’s worked for me or things I’ve found to be helpful and not much more.
(It’s kind of like Scrivs talking design…) ;0)
Having said all of that I put a call out this week for some honest and open discussion about the topic. I got very little response in relation to my readership, so I guess this GTD hype isn’t a big issue to a lot of folks. As well, I’ve asked about GTD on lifehacker and it was by far what people wanted to read about.
I would agree that there is a high noise level when it comes to GTD on the Web, but it’s just like everything else, there is a certain responsibility on the readers end to take what is useful to them and read those sites they find valuable.
What about a Wiki? 43folders is a fairly trusted reference.
Keith: Thanks for chiming in. I look forward to what you do by adding multiple authors who will, no doubt, have differing opinions on the best methods. However, have you ever given any thought to adding any additional features to your site to allow non-subscribers to find proven methods?
Colin: I’ve not thought about that specifically. But then again my posts aren’t really written that way and To-Done isn’t really what I’d call a “GTD” blog. Even thought that is a core topic.
I do see how that could be very useful. It’s easier said than done though. ANYway, I see that as a good idea. Not sure if it’s 100% right for my site though.
I do want to change To-Done a bit so that it’s a bit broader (in a good way) and can showcase more voices. We’ll see if I’m able to do that.
WEll if you want to add a rating mechanism to your GTD site, like the one that is on lifehut, that is a plugin I wrote for WordPress.
I am also going to be giving lifehut another plugin I wrote that will allow you to find the top rated ‘methods’.
So if anyone else is looking for this type of mechanism I would be glad to work with you to rool it into your site.
You know where to find me.