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My GTD ‘Origin Story’

Since discovering GTD in 2004, it has helped me make the journey from stress and overwhelm to a rich, meaningful, and well-balanced life. Now I help others make that shift.

2004 – Discovery and Overwhelm

  • Discovered Getting Things Done (GTD) during a highly demanding period of life.

  • Commuting daily between Sheffield and Manchester while living in Manchester.

  • Managing a busy, meeting-heavy role with constant email pressure.

  • Family life included two young children, one with autism, increasing demands at home.

  • Sole income provider, supplemented with a side job tutoring for a former employer in Japan.

  • Felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and lacking in clear direction and quality family time.

2004–2008 – Gradual Transformation

  • Began applying GTD through the book, blogs, and experimentation.

  • Early wins created momentum and I gradually developed deeper understanding.

  • Began informally sharing GTD with other people and teams at work.

  • Experienced increasing control and effectiveness across work and life.

Late 2000s – Growth, Promotion, and Expansion

  • Promoted into a more senior role, due to improved effectiveness with GTD.

  • Continued informal GTD teaching alongside my senior management 'day job'.

  • Family life expanded further with the arrival of a third child.

  • Despite increased pressure, GTD made a complex life not just manageable, but sustainable.

Growing realisation that GTD aligned deeply with my personal interests and strengths, and that my purpose was now to share GTD as widely as possible and help others experience its benefits.

2016 – Career Pivot to GTD

  • Undertook formal certification as a GTD trainer with the David Allen Academy.

  • Left higher education and joined Next Action Associates, the UK’s only licensed GTD provider.

2016 – to date – Professional Development in GTD

  • Progressed from trainer to coach within a few years.

  • Achieved certification to deliver GTD training online - an uncommon qualification.

  • Established a fully aligned new career delivering corporate training for blue-chip clients and executive coaching for high-performing (usually C-suite) individuals

  • Continued to enrich other aspects of life outside of work, especially;