A Killer App That Keeps Me Organized and On Top of My Game

David Allen is a trainer and renowned author who helps busy people stay organized and motivated, or in his words, “Get Things Done”. His Outlook plug-in helps me in many ways.

One of my biggest challenges has always been managing the combination of my email inbox with my tasks and scheduled events. Over the years, I have created several shortcuts and personal folders to help me bring order to chaos. But it wasn’t until I started using David’s plug-in that I realized just how unorganized and ineffective I had been over the years.

Overall, what makes this the leading killer app in my arsenal is that it’s actually easy to use and implement on a daily basis. I’ve found it challenging, if not impossible, to follow and use most time-management systems. While they sound good philosophically, many aren’t practical or realistic to use on a day-to-day basis.

While this app has dozens of powerful features, what makes it invaluable to me are the following:

First, it follows a simple and proven time-management framework. Second, it leverages all the features and capabilities of Outlook. I was amazed at the number of features and capabilities available in Outlook that I had never used in the past.

The features I use most often are the email shortcuts that give me the ability to:

• Delegate an email/task with one click
• Defer an email/task with one click
• Take action and create a request for an email/task with one click
• Add to my “someday” task list with one click
• Snooze an email with one click, making it leave my inbox until I choose to bring it back
• File any email into a personal folder with one click

This killer app has helped me in many other ways. It has increased my effectiveness at managing the most important tasks during my day. It has helped stop important tasks and emails from slipping through the cracks; and it helps create order and focus in my Outlook inbox. Finally, it has increased my creativity and passion by reducing the clutter, both in my mind and in my inbox.

The bottom-line: this killer app, combined with David Allen’s time-management principles, has created the most personal impact and business value for me in 2006.

I highly recommend you try it.

David Allen, Outlook Plug-in, Time Management

Comments

[Matthew Bowe]

Dave... so right on. This is one of the best focused and most efficient software products/add-ons that I've ever used. You are the ultimate techpragmatist.