Comments on: Productivity Guru SMACKDOWN: Tim Ferriss v. Dave Allen

By: Do Less, Not More And Start Enjoying Yourself! - Work smart, play smart

Do Less, Not More And Start Enjoying Yourself! - Work smart, play smart — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:27:27 +0000

[...] Nowadays my productivity system is very simple. It involves printing out one of my weekly planner sheets, jotting down notes and ideas in a notepad and an attitude towards streamlining my workload. I know many people who have much more complex systems. Part of this is no doubt because they like to experiment and play with different tools, but it’s mainly just down to their workload being equally complex. People fall off the bandwagon and try new systems all the time. However, if you simplify your workload, you simply your system and those problems suddenly seize to exist. Try applying Tim Ferriss’s approach to streamlining and automating and then apply David Allen’s system to what is left over. [...]

By: Malcolm Bastien

Malcolm Bastien — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:04:43 +0000

Definitely found GTD complicated enough to understand in its entirety I give you that. I have 4HWW sitting on my desk that I’m lining up to read, but it seems people on the other side of 4HWW are living the life compared to those on the other side of GTD.

By: Risky

Risky — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:12:13 +0000

What happened to my previous post? Clay – any answers?

Anyways, Great article again Clay and excellent comments. I liked the book ‘Four Hour Work Week’ but haven’t read GTD.

What I took out of FHWW is:

What exactly am I making money for?

And I came up with this quote:-

“Grateful are those who see life in its simplicity, whose thoughts are not diluted through pop assumptions & social norms propagated through t.v, movies and media”. – Risky 2008

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:07:52 +0000

I’ve read both GTD and 4HWW. my point of view on them is that they work VERY well together.

GTD tells you how to manage your desired responsibilities, and 4HWW tells you how to minimize and/or get rid of your undesired responsibilities. this is VERY useful.

for example, if you want to be one of the world’s best at something. you will have to spend thousands of hours perfecting your craft and you have to make sure that each hour is well spent.

Each system (you) has a point where the productivity factor (dave) and the effectivity factor (tim) achieve optimal output.

By: Risky

Risky — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:24:33 +0000

I agree with all regarding “Clay, great article – good work man” I also want to thank everyone for their comments, it truly does open these type of books up and relaxes thought about do do do, why not just be. Do we have to ‘Do’ to just

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:18:40 +0000

Great article. I haven’t read GTD yet, but the 4HWW helped me quite my job and move to a tropical island. So the quite your job part is quite accurate.

By: Bill Greenberg - Good Computer Guy

Bill Greenberg - Good Computer Guy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:07:38 +0000

I’ve read both, starting with 4HWW. Interesting stuff, but not very realistic for most people, even me. My GTD-influenced system now really helps me stay organized. Heck, if I could get out of working I would, but it’s just not as easy as Tim says.

By: Minnesota Magician

Minnesota Magician — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:46:52 +0000

Great summary of the core concepts of both books. I have to agree with the verdict too: I learned a few useful concepts from GTD, but 4HW changed the way I look at life and work.

Very nice article.

By: Billy Gallagher

Billy Gallagher — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:24:38 +0000

Definitely a well written article and the timing was perfect for me as a moderate user of GTD and have just started reading 4HWW. I give credit to both for encouraging people to work smarter instead of harder. There are always new and better ways to accomplish something.

4HWW concept on outsourcing is valid in our society. In many ways, people use this and don’t realize it. Just ask yourself when was the last time you harvested your own crops, cut wood down to build your own house, or built your own computer from raw materials? We don’t do this anymore because we find the time required is not worth the effort, I think Tim takes this to a whole new level that is relevant in today’s society.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:22:58 +0000

Never really got into GTD, but I just finished reading 4HWW. And in my opinion, I prefer the 4HWW.

Why ??? Well…. why would I want to do everything on the list ???? It just takes too much time to do everything. I jut prefer to be selective and ignore some other stuff. Works fine and I get more and more free time to hang out with my family.

A nice change of lifestyle where I used to be doing everything and working loads and loads. Sometimes even with the idea that I loved to work crazy hours. Which I know realise was stupid. But hitting the wall one day made me think about priorities in life and some of the “guidelines” Tim Ferris writes about, I figured out already before I read the book….