David Allen Penguin, "Getting Things Done"

The Power of the Next-Action Decision

When a culture adopts "What's the next action?" as a standart operating query, there's an automatic increase in energy, productivity, clarity, and focus.

The Source of the Technique

Determine for what the next physical action is that will have something forward
 

Creating the Option of Doing

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one - Mark Twain
Without a next action, there remains a potentially infinite gap between current reality and what you need to do.

Why Bright People Procastinate the Most

- Bright people have the capability of freaking out faster and more dramatically than anyone else.
- Ceasing negative imaging will always cause your energy to increase.
- No matter how big and tough a problem may be, get rid of confusion by taking one little step toward solution. Do something. - George F. Nordenholt
- Avoiding action decisions untuilo the pressure of the last minute creates huge inefficiencies and unnecessary stress

The Value of a Next-Action Decision-Making Standard

The "What's the next action?" question forces clarity, accountability, productivity, and empowerment.
- Talk doesn't cook rice - Chinese proverb
- Productivity will improve only when individuals increase their operational responsiveness. And in knowledge work, that means clarifying actions on the front end instead of the back.
- People are always blaming their  circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. - George B. Shaw

The Power of Outcome Focusing

- the power of directing our mental and imaginative processes to create change has been studied and promoted in thousands of contexts - from the early "positive thinking" books to recent discoveries in advanced neurophysiology.

- applying the principle in terms of practical reality

- a "yes" to all of these questions: does it help get things done? and, how do we best utilize it in managing the work that allow us to produce what we want to have happen with less effort?

Focus and the Fast Track

As you begin to use it habitually as your primary means of addressing all situations, your personal productivity can go through the roof.