Chapter 10 - Getting Projects Under Control

 Allen digs into the "vertical" project level again.

 He suggests projects that may need more planning are first, those that still
have one’s attention even after defining next actions, and second, those for
which ideas just show up.

 The first require a revisit to the Natural Planning Model.

 The second require tools and structures to capture those random ideas.
 These may include a good writing instrument, paper, easels and whiteboards,
and the computer.
 Allen states that the very act of writing ideas down facilitates a constructive
thinking process like nothing else.
 Part 3 - The Power of the Key Principles
Chapter 11 - The Power of the Collection Habit

 In this chapter, Allen gets into the psychological aspects of his methodology, which in
essence explain why his process works so well.

 He also discusses the benefits he has observed his clients realize over the years, including
an increased level of trust with others and with oneself.

 He states that people feel badly about their unprocessed "in" boxes because the
incomplete items in them represent broken agreements with themselves.

 To remedy this, he advises three choices: don’t make the agreement, complete the
agreement or renegotiate the agreement.
 Chapter 12 - The Power of the Next-Action Decision

 Allen proposes that twenty minutes before the end of a meeting, one should ask, "So
what’s the next action here?" to increase clarity. This is radical common sense, yet it is
easy to avoid this more relevant level of thinking.

 He points out the dark side of a "collaborative culture" where people are too polite to hold
others accountable, but says it is impolite to allow people to walk away from discussions
unclear.

 Asking this question is key for knowledge workers to increase their productivity through
"operational responsiveness."
 Chapter 13 - The Power of Outcome Focusing

 Allen says even the slightest increase in the use of natural planning can bring significant
improvement.

 He lauds the ability to envision success when how to achieve it is still unclear. Being able
to generate lots of ideas, both good and bad, is a critical piece of creative intelligence.

 Honing and organizing ideas is a necessary mental discipline.

 Finally, choosing and taking next actions are the essence of productivity.

 Effectively applying these techniques is described as perhaps the major component of

professional competence for the new millennium.