Chris Y. at Gearfire Productivity is working towards GTD Mastery by posting on how to implement each of the 100 items on the GTD Mastery 100 Checklist. As part of my personal development program for 2008 (more on that later, maybe next week) I have been inspired to go through the list and start working on the items that I have not yet checked off.

I am able to check as “done” 21 of the 25 items on the first part of the list, “The Basics”. The four that are not checked off:

• 10. I have listened to GTD on audiobook.  This one will remain open [actually deleted] as I am not a fan of audiobooks, nor do I have a convenient way to do this. I much prefer the actual book, where I can jot notes in the margin, highlight passages, and make notes for myself.
• 23. I attend a weekly productivity group centered around the GTD methods. I would love to do this! If anyone who reads this is in the Portland/Brunswick, Maine area, let me know [ stephen (at) hdbizblog.com]. We will work together on putting this into practice and recruiting some folks to join us.
• 24. For the first 6 months of implementing my GTD system, and often thereafter as needed, I keep a GTD journal in which I write a “how’d I do?” update nightly. This step I have begun to implement in my Book of Days, giving myself a letter-grade of A through F for the day’s performance. Yesterday, BTW, being a day off to spend shoveling snow and relaxing with my lovely bride, got an “n/a” for being off the grid.
• 25. I review my notes from my GTD journal weekly and monthly to keep myself improving and on track. This is an awesome tip. Since the Book of Days is not meant to be a GTD journal, my Weekly Review will begin to include a review of the previous week’s letter grades and any notes that I Tickler-file for myself that day. I have a 5″ x 7″ note card under the clear surface on my desk labeled “GTD Mastery Notes” and I will jot any notes on it. This will be done weekly, and then Tickler-filed for the Monthly Review.

In addition, there are a few items on the “Intermediate” steps list that remain un-checked. Number 28 has to do with the audiobook again, so we’ll skip that one. The remaining items, however, are pretty important and I am sad to say that I have not been very good about managing them since the end of October. Numbers 32, 34 and 35 all have to do with emptying your in-boxes each day. I used to be very good at this, but January will be a month for getting back on track and getting these things done. Since I have changed the layout of my home office, I need to create new habits. These items have also been noted on the GTD Mastery Notes card to serve as a reminder to work on this practice.

How do you score on the Mastery 100?

Click this link to see the list for yourself, and download if for review. I would be interested to hear from you all on how you score. Leave a comment and I will post the results next week.

The unchecked items on the “Advanced” portion of the list will be addressed for February. Stay tuned.