About
I’m Miles, a Manchester-based effectiveness coach who specialises in teaching the Getting Things Done® methodology ('GTD' for short) - the work-life management system that has transformed the lives of busy people around the world since 2001. My work focuses on helping people of all kinds get things done - more quickly, more easily and with far less stress.
I bring over 30 years of experience in teaching, training and coaching, and I’ve supported senior leaders and teams in some of the UK's best-known organisations including KPMG, Barclays, KFC, the Co-op and The Open University. I hold a Masters in Coaching and Mentoring along with GTD coaching and training certifications, and qualifications in project management and teaching and learning.
Away from work, life is also full. I'm involved daily in the lives of my three kids and three step-kids (mostly as cook and taxi-driver!), I'm a Boeing 737 flight simulator instructor and part-owner of a flight simulator business in Manchester, and I'm a keen owner of an allotment. It’s a busy life, and GTD is the reason it all works.
GTD origin story
The Early Years (1984-ish)
I’ve always been drawn to finding smarter ways of working. At school, I once received an A5 on a report: A for attainment and 5 for effort. It bothered me at the time because I cared very much about doing well but I didn’t always look like I was working hard. What looked like 'not trying' from the outside was really me starting to figure out effective ways of studying that helped me get results without the stress and drama. I didn’t know it then, but those early instincts were pointing towards my future.
Discovering GTD - A Turning Point (2005)
Fast-forward twenty years. Life had expanded in every direction: a full-time university job - hundreds of emails a week, meetings all day, teams to manage - a long commute every day, a side business in Japan and two young kids that I didn't spend enough time with. I felt overwhelmed and stretched thin, and I couldn’t see a way out of the cycle other than to just work harder.
Then, in what would prove to be a life-changing piece of luck, I came across GTD. I started to use some of the techniques that it recommended and found that they made a difference, so I kept going back for more. GTD had my attention so I read the book again, visited discussion forums, read the blogs and watched the videos. And, slowly but surely, life got easier.
Learning - Slowly But Surely (2005–2010)
GTD didn’t transform everything overnight but the more I experimented with the practices, the more things shifted. I found myself with more mental space, more focus, and more energy for the people and projects that I cared about. Work became more manageable, even when I got promoted to a bigger job and another child came along. I no longer felt like I was constantly chasing my tail and it was the first time I saw a way to get on top of life without sacrificing my health, family or sanity.
Sharing - Starting to Help Others (2010–2015)
As GTD made my life easier, I wanted others to feel the same relief. I started sharing what I’d learned with my colleagues - running informal workshops, speaking at their meetings and away days, and helping anyone who was drowning in their work. Soon I became known as the person who could help you get clear, organised, and back in control.
Teaching GTD - Fulfilling a Calling (2015 to Today)
Eventually, my future became obvious. In 2015 I became an officially certified GTD trainer with Next Action Associates, the UK's sole official GTD training company, and a couple of years later certified as a coach and virtual coach with the David Allen Company, the global home of GTD. Since then I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of delivering training and coaching full-time for some of the world’s best-known organisations, helping thousands of people work with more clarity, confidence and calm, and truly changing their lives.
So, as you can see, GTD changed my life. If you’d like to find out if it could change yours, too, then feel free to get in touch to arrange a chat.