David Allen
American productivity consultant and creator of the Getting Things Done method
David Allen (American productivity consultant and creator of the Getting Things Done method) has appeared as a guest on 1 episode in TMT. Topics they speak about most include Getting Things Done.
In their words
Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.
Getting Things Done
Allen argues that externalizing commitments is essential because people can only feel at ease about undone tasks when they know what they are.
“But you can only feel good about what you're not doing when you know what you're not doing”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #885: How to Simplify Your Life — Tips from Oliver Burkeman, Chip Conley, Elizabeth Gilbert, and More (Oct 2, 2026) · Listen from 23:19
Allen argues that broken agreements with oneself can be avoided by declining, completing, or renegotiating commitments.
“If you don't want to have a broken agreement, you have three options. One is don't make the agreement”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #885: How to Simplify Your Life — Tips from Oliver Burkeman, Chip Conley, Elizabeth Gilbert, and More (Oct 2, 2026) · Listen from 24:12
Allen reports that mid- to senior-level professionals typically need one to six hours just to capture everything on their minds.
“it takes one to six hours just to capture what has their attention. Not to organize it, not to prioritize it”
The Tim Ferriss Show: #885: How to Simplify Your Life — Tips from Oliver Burkeman, Chip Conley, Elizabeth Gilbert, and More (Oct 2, 2026) · Listen from 20:31
Appearances
#885: How to Simplify Your Life — Tips from Oliver Burkeman, Chip Conley, Elizabeth Gilbert, and MoreThe Tim Ferriss Show · Oct 2, 2026 · 47 min
Tim Ferriss compiles advice from Chip Conley, Greg McKeown, David Allen, Elizabeth Gilbert and Oliver Burkeman on decisions that simplify life.
Often appears with
- Tim Ferriss · 1 shared episode
- Chip Conley · 1 shared episode
- Greg McKeown · 1 shared episode
- Elizabeth Gilbert · 1 shared episode
- Oliver Burkeman · 1 shared episode