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Many readers of this blog are fond of the GTD (Getting Things Done) system of David Allen. I had a GTD moment this past week. Here’s the skinny:

1. I was in the waiting room at a doctor’s office.
2. Rather than twiddle my thumbs, I began to read a magazine about cell phone plan swapping.
3. Lightbulb- I feel like I pay too much for my cell contract- what would it look like to “someday/maybe” swap with someone else?
4. Collect- rather than let this moment pass or simply ignore the connection between my desire for a cheaper bill and the article I was reading, I decided to take action.
5. Process- I found a piece of scrap paper and wrote down the websites that the article recommended.
6. Once I got home, I spent about 10 minutes reviewing the websites.
7. After that, I entered into a list on my Palm Treo the items I wanted under the heading “Cell Trade In”.

For GTD purists, this represents at least a snapshot of how the system works. Gather, collect, process, take action. Simple as that. Rather than letting good ideas get lost in the sauce, GTD allows you to streamline and then integrate them in meaningful ways.

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” Paul J. Meyer