Quotes from David Allen

I am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp; I know what I want to do, but I don't know where to begin.

Things rarely get stuck because of lack of time. They get stuck because the doing of them has not been defined.

The beginning is half of every action.

You are the captain of your own ship; the more you act from that perspective, the better things will go for you.

Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax

It was helpful to be able to call a lawyer...it turns out, that not only did they help me, but they really helped the whole community.

If you don't pay appropriate attention to what has your attention, it will take more of your attention than it deserves.

Most of the stress people experience comes from inappropriately managed commitments they make or accept.

A complete and accurately defined list of projects, kept current and reviewed on at least a weekly basis, is a master key to stress-free productivity.

Change - even change meant to improve our lives - creates stress. We can get comfortable with our problems.

I think positive stress is actually a good thing. It's sort of the stretch goal "Wow, let me see how much faster I can run" or "Let me see how many more ideas I can generate in five minutes."

Stress such as you experience in exercise is what creates builds focus, strength, and the capability for expanded expression; and the same is true for any kind of performance.

The balance you have between drive and patience may be your master key to success.

Decide the outcome and the action step, put reminders of those somewhere your brain trusts youll see them at the right time, and listen to your brain breathe easier.

Focusing on values does not simplify your life. It gives meaning and direction-and a lot more complexity.

At at any point in time, knowing what has to get done, and when, creates a terrain for maneuvering.

The real issue is how to make appropriate choices about what to do at any point in time. The real issue is how we manage actions.

Trust yourself to do what you really feel like doing, and what you feel like doing will change. Don't, and it will plague you.

Once a week, do a thorough review of all your projects in as much detail as you need to. If you do, your systems will work. If you don't, no system will work.

The hardest thing about being productive is not the work, but the split second it takes to decide to take control.

Why do people complain that there's no time to get their work done? Because there is more work to do than the work they think they have to do.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. —WILL ROGERS

At at any point in time, knowing what has to get done, and when, creates a terrain for maneuvering.

Reacting is automatic, but thinking is not.