Self-management (Psychology) · Planning · Decision making
Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life by David Allen — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2008305 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.0 (1)
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What is Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life about?
The long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Getting Things Done. David Allen's Getting Things Done hit a nerve and ignited a movement with businesses, students, soccer moms, and techies all the way from Silicon Valley to Europe and Asia. Now, David Allen leads the world on a new path to achieve focus, control, and perspective. Throw out everything you know about productivity--Making It All Work will make life and work a game you can win. For those who have already experienced the clarity of mind from reading Getting Things Done, Making It All Work will take the process to the next level.David Allen shows us how to excel in dealing with our daily commitments, the unexpected, and the information overload that threatens to drown us. Making It All Work provides an instantly usable, success-building tool kit for staying ahead of the game.Making It All Work addresses: how to figure out where you are in life and what you need; how to be your own consultant and a CEO of your life; moving from hope to trust in decision-making; when not to set goals; harnessing intuition, spontaneity, and serendipity; and why life is like business and business is like life. This eagerly awaited follow-up to Getting Things Done is guaranteed to find an audience in today's competitive business environment and among David Allen's many fans.
A glimpse inside
Integrating Control and Perspective
Allen argues that true productivity comes from balancing two essential elements: control (managing the details and commitments of daily life) and perspective (understanding your broader goals and values). Most people, he suggests, focus on one at the expense of the other, leading to either chaos or stagnation. By systematically reviewing both your current tasks and your long-term objectives, you can make decisions that move you forward meaningfully, not just keep you busy.
The Horizons of Focus Model
A central concept in the book is the 'Horizons of Focus'—a layered framework that ranges from immediate actions up to life purpose. These horizons include: current actions, projects, areas of responsibility, one- to two-year goals, longer-term visions, and ultimately, life purpose. Allen encourages readers to regularly review each horizon, ensuring that daily actions are aligned with higher aspirations. This model helps clarify priorities and prevents getting lost in either minutiae or vague ambitions.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.0 / 5
1 ratings
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Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1Integrating Control and Perspective
- 2The Horizons of Focus Model
- 3Becoming Your Own Life CEO
- 4Moving from Hope to Trust
- 5Harnessing Intuition and Spontaneity
Popular quotes from Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life
“You can only feel good about what you’re not doing when you know what you’re not doing.”
“You don’t have to do it all, you just have to know what you’re not doing.”
More by David Allen
Frequently asked
The long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Getting Things Done. David Allen's Getting Things Done hit a nerve and ignited a movement with businesses, students, soccer moms, and techies all the way from Silicon Valley to Europe and Asia. Now, David Allen leads the world on a new path to achieve focus, control, and perspective. Throw out everything you know about productivity--Makin