David Allen
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David Allen

GTD revisions / *Getting Things Done* (2015 ed.)

David Allen is a productivity consultant and founder of the David Allen Company. He developed the Getting Things Done (GTD) framework, a five-step method for capturing, clarifying, and organising tasks to achieve what he calls a 'mind like water' state. His book *Getting Things Done*, revised in 2015, has become a foundational text in personal and professional productivity.

@gtdguyWikipedia
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Frameworks

Attributed to David Allen

Mental models, principles, and operating frameworks extracted from sources where David is the credited author or speaker.

23frameworks
01
Context-Based Action Lists
Organize your next actions by where you are and what tools you have, not by project
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
02
Horizons of Focus (Six-Level Model for Reviewing Your Work)
From runway to 50,000 feet -- six altitudes to define and align all your work
Strategy·from Getting Things Done
03
Mind Sweep (Incompletion Trigger Process)
Systematically empty your head of every open loop using category-based prompts
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
04
The Better Choices Compass
Measure progress by the percentage of better choices, not by any single outcome
Self-Mastery·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
05
The Channel Capacity Principle
Clean your systems and abundance flows in; clog them and opportunity flees
Self-Mastery·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
06
The Clarity Ladder
When stuck, shift up or down in altitude to find the level where clarity lives
Strategy·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
07
The Energy Follows Thought Protocol
Put things in front of your mental door to direct focus automatically
Productivity·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
08
The Five Stages of Mastering Workflow
Capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage -- the complete action management loop
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
09
The Four-Criteria Model for Choosing Actions in the Moment
Context, time, energy, priority -- the real-time decision filter for what to do next
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
10
The Mundane-to-Sublime Gateway
Physical cleanup of small things is the secret passageway to creative vision
Mindset·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
11
The Natural Planning Model
Five steps your brain already uses to plan -- purpose, vision, brainstorm, organize, next action
Strategy·from Getting Things Done
12
The Open Loops Principle (Managing Internal Commitments)
Anything pulling at your attention that doesn't belong where it is is an open loop draining your energy
Mindset·from Getting Things Done
13
The Principles-Over-Policies Framework
Prime shared values so people self-govern instead of requiring micromanagement
Leadership·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
14
The Psychic RAM Liberation Model
Free your mind's working memory to unlock creativity and reduce stress
Productivity·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
15
The Relaxed Readiness Principle
Your power is proportional to your ability to relax under pressure
Mindset·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
16
The Silent Running Systems Design
The best system is one you never think about because it just works
Productivity·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
17
The Six-Level Work Audit
Map your total commitments across six altitudes to know where you truly stand
Productivity·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
18
The Someday/Maybe List
A parking lot for dreams, interests, and possibilities you're not ready to commit to yet
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
19
The Three-Fold Action Decision Model
Choose what to do now by weighing context, work type, and commitment altitude
Productivity·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
20
The Threefold Model for Evaluating Daily Work
Three types of work activity -- predefined, as-it-shows-up, and defining your work
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
21
The Visionary-Doer Partnership
Reconcile your creative thinker and executor through structure
Mindset·from Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Getting Things Done
22
The Waiting For List
Track every ball in someone else's court so nothing falls through the cracks
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
23
The Weekly Review
The master key to maintaining trust in your system and freedom in your mind
Productivity·from Getting Things Done
Domains

Framework distribution

23frameworks
Productivity13 frameworks · 56.5%
Mindset4 frameworks · 17.4%
Strategy3 frameworks · 13%
Self-Mastery2 frameworks · 8.7%
Leadership1 framework · 0.1%
Bibliography

Sources by David Allen

4sources
Book
Video
Appears alongside

Top neighbors of David Allen

8people
Last updated
10 May 2026
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