View source for Get Things Done: What Stops Smart People Achieving More and How You Can Change by Robert Kelsey

{{infobox1
|title=Get Things Done: What Stops Smart People Achieving More and How You Can Change
|author=Robert Kelsey
|reviewer=Ani Johnson
|genre=Business and Finance
|summary=Reading any self-help book is a case of taking the nuggets that help you and disregarding the rest.  Here Robert Kelsey has given us plenty to choose from making this a veritable bible for inadvertent procrastinators and time mis-managers as long as it's new to you.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=232
|publisher=Capstone
|date=February 2014
|isbn=978-0857083081
|website=http://www.robert-kelsey.co.uk/author.php
|cover=0857083082
|aznuk=0857083082
|aznus=0857083082
}}

We're all so busy these days it's easy to veer between headless chicken and cherry picking modes, or at least it is for me.  (I really hope my boss isn’t reading this!)  In fact procrastination is my super power which was why I grabbed [[:Category:Robert Kelsey|Robert Kelsey's]] book from the shelf with excited anticipation: in a self-help book with one of the longest titles known to man, he promises to help us become more efficient time managers and to stop putting things off.

Did the excitement last?  To begin with it actually waivered; the first section isn't the best.  Robert courageously confesses that he spent years in therapy to cure his procrastination and time management issues.  Perhaps not the sort of thing you want to admit when you're attempting to help people in a few hours via a book but I soldiered on.  

Then I became a little worried when he suggested all sufferers of the problem sit somewhere on an ADHD/attention deficit continuum; it didn't feel as if he was talking to me.  ''But'' once I got out of that first section, all the lights came on, the hypotheses stop, the practical assistance starts and all it becomes the book I was hoping for.

Once the tips start coming they pour out.  This is also where my job becomes harder because whether you'll find them useful or not depends on what you've tried/read before.  I'm a time management newbie so this review therefore comes with a caveat: what is new and exciting to me, may elicit jaded yawns from you.

I personally found it empowering in the way that the following three sections (discounting the first slightly less than helpful one), i.e. Part 2  ''Tools and Resources'', Part 3  ''Get Things Done'' and Part 4  ''Other People'', Robert leads us through a cornucopia of ideas.  Ok some work better than others.  For instance, in order for us to manage our day to the extent he suggests, we'll need bosses who allow us free rein over prioritising our own workload.  I have such a manager but not everyone can get their hands on one that easily.  (I'm willing to share but she may have other plans.)

However, he seems to think of most things: managing others (including our family members!), how to use the phone effectively, effective meetings, influencing others, right down to tips to ensure we're happy with our work stations.  (Actually, he tells us to ''love'' our workstations but I translated that for any Brits reading this!)  

So what do we have?  A self-help book that promises to help us stop our procrastination and manage our time better which enthuses me but may not do the same for you and with a first section that may not enthuse anyone.  Thank goodness for its accessible dip-in-friendly layout!  At least you can go to a bookshop and flick through it to make up your own mind.  

Personally I can see myself raiding it a lot for ideas as it calls me to tailor my plans, separate my trash from my treasure and stops my inbox ruling my life.  (Good luck with that one Robert!)  Will Mr Kelsey actually help me stop procrastinating?  Can I come back to you on that?

I'd like to thank Capstone for providing us with a copy for review.

Further Reading:  If this appeals, why not try [[What's Stopping You?: Why Smart People Don't Always Reach Their Potential and How You Can by Robert Kelsey|What's Stopping You?: Why Smart People Don't Always Reach Their Potential and How You Can]] also by Robert Kelsey.

{{amazontext|amazon=0857083082}}  

{{amazontextAud|amazon=B00MW7XEGG}}

{{amazonUStext|amazon=0857083082}}  

{{commenthead}}